Daily WHUFC News - 22nd March 2016

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic believes his side's fantastic form is
down to the players' belief that the Club is moving forward. The Hammers
picked up a 2-2 draw at champions Chelsea on Saturday to end a week in which
Cheikhou Kouyate extended his stay at the Club. Dimitri Payet was also
recalled to the France national squad due to his impressive performances and
Bilic said his players are relishing turning out in claret and blue. He
said: "Cheikhou [Kouyate] signed, which is great for the Club. and Dimitri
[Payet] is in the national team.
"It shows that the players are enjoying playing for West Ham and they feel
that the Club is moving forward. "They like to work hard when they know that
the board is not just trying, but that they are keeping the best players.
It's great to have them all. "We are playing good. We have a good team, we
have momentum, we have character and we are defending well with numbers and
passion. "When we have the ball we are calm, and we're calm at the back. The
midfield and up-front has pace and quality so it's great to work with this
team."

Looking back on the draw at Stamford Bridge, the Croatian was pleased with
the point but couldn't help be disappointed that it wasn't more. "We played
fantastic [against Chelsea] and it was a really good game of football. We
came really close to winning. "Of course, they are champions and have a good
team, but I think we deserved to win this game and we were basically the
better team. "It's never a bad point – we are playing Chelsea away. But the
way we played, and the time we played them, and the way the second goal [is
conceded] makes us totally gutted.
"But it was a fantastic game for West Ham fans and for me to watch. We
played fantastic and we did great and we deserved more than a draw."

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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

It was really hard to see us concede a late goal two weeks in a row and for
two weeks in a row to draw games we could and should have won. It clearly
wasn't a penalty on television, but nobody can blame the referee for getting
such a marginal decision wrong in real time rather than a slow motion TV
replay. What hurts me is we get no such marginal calls our way. The Dimitri
Payet penalty at Manchester United could easily have been given and there
are a dozen occasions this season where we could have got penalties and
didn't. We have not had an away penalty in the league in four seasons and we
have had less penalties in four seasons than any team in the Premier League.
It's great that with eight league games to go five are at home and only
three away. We have it all to play for and we are still in the FA Cup,
though Manchester United are rolling into form at the wrong time for us!
However, we fear nobody at the Boleyn Ground having been unbeaten since
August. It was great to see Andy Carroll back on the scoresheet on Saturday
and he made a big impact scoring a goal and having one cleared off the line.
It showed us all what a very special player he is and hopefully he can play
a big role for us in the final stages of the season. With the international
break taking place this week our next game at the Boleyn Ground will be Mark
Noble's testimonial on March 28. I'm so pleased that game is sold out. It
shows the respect the supporters have for our captain. It's so generous of
him to give the proceeds to three very good charities and with so many
former players making a return including Rio Ferdinand and Paolo Di Canio,
it promises to be a memorable occasion.

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Lanzini - I'm happy to be back on the scoresheet
WHUFC.com

Manuel Lanzini is no stranger to scoring a wonder goal this season and few
could forget his memorable strike against Everton at the Boleyn Ground back
in November. However, the Argentine star went one better at the weekend and
fired a stunning strike past Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois into the top
corner at Stamford Bridge. Lanzini has been one of the star performers for
the east London Club this season following his loan move from Al Jazira last
summer and has played a major role in helping the Hammers make a strong
challenge for a top four finish. The 23-year-old was thrilled to net his
fifth goal of the campaign against Chelsea and says he is relishing his
partnership with Dimitri Payet in the West Ham team this season. Lanzini
said: "It was a nice strike and I am really happy to get back on the score
sheet, especially to give us the lead like it did. "Dimitri and I get along
very well. The ball fell to me and I shot at goal. I am very happy that it
went in. "I am looking forward to seeing it again because when you are on
the pitch, you don't always see the movement of the ball. I think it was
similar to the one I scored against Everton at Upton Park. "The goal was
great and we were able to celebrate it, but the overriding feeling is one of
disappointment, to leave without the three points."
Lanzini is upset that the Hammers failed to hold onto a victory which would
have seen them move back into the top four after Cesc Fabregas netted a
controversial penalty with just three minutes left on the clock. The Hammers
forward was also disappointed over the first goal by Fabregas on the stroke
of half-time after the defensive wall were positioned 12-yards from the goal
instead of the required 10. Lanzini added: "We are all very disappointed
because we knew that there wasn't very long to go. I think there is
controversy over both of their goals. "Their first goal came just before
half-time and then their second goal came right at the end. "When you are
winning and then to concede an equaliser in that way, you end up with a sour
taste in the mouth. "We can't use this as excuse though, because that is
what happened, but that is the reason that we are bitterly disappointed.
"Let's hope (we can get a top four finish). I think we need to continue
working the way we are and to keep focussing on the next game. We will see
if the points we manage to get will help us towards our goal."

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Ladies fall at home to Cardiff
WHUFC.com

West Ham Ladies fell to a 2-0 defeat against Cardiff City Ladies at AFC
Hornchurch on Sunday afternoon. The visitors led after 13 minutes through
Alys Hinchcliffe's rocket into the top corner before Hope Suominen sealed
the points in the final few minutes of the game. After securing a 2-2 draw
away to Cardiff just a week earlier, manager Marc Nurse made three changes
to his starting eleven. Beth Griffiths returned in goal, while Kelsey Smith
made her first start at right-back in place of Danni Ritson. Italian Erika
Campesi stepped in for Gemma Abela in the midfield. The Hammers worked hard
for the result a week earlier, but their Welsh opposition came out strong as
they looked to end the positive run of results that Nurse's side have been
on.
Kelly Isaac, Kerry Bartlett and Laura Williams were causing the hosts plenty
of problems, but in typical fashion, the home defence stood strong and
cleared all the danger. Unfortunately though, there was nothing they could
do to deny Hinchcliffe from opening the scoring when the ball fell nicely to
her feet just outside the box, before she unleashed an unstoppable strike
into the top corner. As the game progressed, the visitors continued to
press, but Griffiths made a number of outstanding saves to keep the hosts in
the game. Down the other end, the Hammers' front-three of Whitney Locke,
Cindy Ferreira and Laura Curtis tried their hardest to break through the
Cardiff defence, but their efforts were in vain. As the hosts tried pushing
for an equaliser late in the second half, Cardiff launched a counter-attack
which ended with Suominen just managing to bundle to ball past Griffiths.

Nurse's team now have just one fixture remaining in the 2015/16 season, with
Queens Park Rangers the visitors to AFC Hornchurch's Bridge Avenue stadium
on Sunday 10 April at 2pm.

LADIES: Griffiths, Smith, Wheeler, Bottom (c), Sammons, Ray (Abela), Missen,
Campesi, Ferreira, Locke (Ritson), Curtis (Bentick). Subs not used: Hinz.

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Di Canio - It is a great honour for me
WHUFC.com

West Ham United legend Paolo Di Canio insists he cannot wait to meet up with
his second family again when he makes an emotional return for Mark Noble's
Testimonial on March 28.

Di Canio will be making his final ever appearance on the hallowed turf at
the Boleyn Ground and headlines a number of former stars who are paying
tribute to the Hammers skipper.

The Italian last appeared in east London for Tony Carr's Testimonial back in
May 2010 but jumped at the chance to re-appear alongside the likes of Rio
Ferdinand, John Moncur, Ian Bishop and Julian Dicks.

Di Canio says he has been working hard to get himself in the right shape for
the game and hopes to entertain the fans in what looks to be a special day
for Noble and the Hammers fans.

In a personal message to Noble, Di Canio said: "Hello mate. I am training to
get fit for your Testimonial on March 28.

"It is a great honour and privilege for me. You are giving me the chance to
play with my old team-mates at the Boleyn Ground which is fantastic.

"You are also re-uniting me with my second family - the Claret and Blue
fans. I cannot forget it and I cannot wait to join you and the rest of my
family so see you there on March 28."

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Former Player Blog - Alan Curbishley
WHUFC.com

Alan Curbishley made 85 league appearances for the Hammers as a player
before returning many years later as manager. He led the Club to Premier
League safety in 2006/07 despite the side's perilous position when he
arrived. A top-half finish followed the season after, before he left the
Boleyn Ground in September 2008…

Hello everyone,

West Ham are in terrific form at the moment and they're enjoying their
football. Slaven Bilic deserves great credit for the side he has built. For
me, I can't believe it's now seven-and-a-half years since I left the Club.

I came arrived at West Ham in difficult circumstances and I left in
difficult circumstances, which I was massively disappointed with because I
felt that I put a team together that would have a real go.

But now I'm watching West Ham and it's great. The team is a Premier League
side in every aspect. It's got all the components that you need to be
successful in this league.

It can defend, it's very athletic, it can counter-attack, it can score goals
and they've got a couple of players who can turn a game. It makes them very,
very dangerous and David Gold and David Sullivan deserve a lot of credit.

I know everyone's talking about Slaven, and the players – who have been
excellent – and everything else, but the Board certainly deserves a lot of
credit. They took over in difficult circumstances and even got relegated and
have managed to turn the Club around since then in a short period of time.

To be going into a new stadium with such a good side is great credit to the
two of them, and I expect West Ham to be just as strong next season in the
Premier League.

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Phillips - We showed character
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Under-18 coach Mark Phillips praised the attitude of his
players after the Hammers came from two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw at
Chelsea on Saturday.

The hosts took a two-goal lead through Ike Ugbo and Jacob Maddox before
Danny Kemp's penalty and Jahmal Hector-Ingram's strike ten minutes from time
secured a Barclays U18 Premier League Group One Play-Off point for the
visitors in Cobham.

And Phillips was full of praise for the way his side battled back to earn
the result.

He said: "The boys showed unbelievable character. It didn't really matter
that Chelsea had a game on Friday night because whatever team they put out,
you know it's going to be a good one. They have so much quality at Under-16,
17 and 18 level.

"It was great character and resilience from the boys to get back into the
game, rather then quality play if I'm totally honest.

"I think their second goal was against the run of play because we made a
tactical change at half time and changed the formation where we could get
Matty Carter on the ball more often and it seemed to help us get a foothold
in the game.

"Both their goals were brilliant, especially the second one and when you're
2-0 down, you're left thinking that you're dead and buried.

"But we got one back quickly from Dan Kemp's penalty after Matty Carter was
dragged down in the box and then Jahmal popped up shortly after with the
equaliser.

"After that, I think anyone could have won the game, which was quite similar
to what we heard about the first team game where it was end-to-end late-on."

Saturday's goal for winger Kemp – against the side he left earlier this
season – means that the 17-year-old now has six goals in his last seven
appearances for the Hammers and Phillips admitted it probably meant a lot
for the youngster.

"I think that goal was extra special for Danny today. Scoring away at your
former club when you've put real shift in is very pleasing.

"It must've been a fantastic penalty as the keeper went the right way and he
still beat him in the corner.

"He has a great record with penalties and he worked really well off the ball
too so I was very pleased with Danny Kemp."

As for Hector-Ingram, Phillips was delighted with the England youth
international's performance and goal.

"Jahmal has really added that extra work rate to his game recently and it
seems like he has realised that as a striker, you may have to make five or
six decent runs before you get the ball.

"When you're an Under-10, you could probably make one run and get the ball
every time, but at the older age groups when the defenders get better, you
need to be constantly threatening the defence."

Next up for the Hammers is a trip to Manchester City on Saturday 9 April,
and Phillips thinks his side will have to perform even better to pick up a
result.

"I don't think you can get a much harder run in Academy football than
Chelsea and Manchester City both away.

"Apparently the facilities and the new Academy stadium they have up there
are meant to be amazing so we'll go up there, enjoy the game and hopefully
get a result.

"I think we can play much better against Manchester City than we did at
Chelsea because I can't fault the effort from the boys, but we are
definitely capable of a much better performance technically."

Sunday also brings a different challenge for Phillips, as he takes part in
the Brentwood Half-Marathon for two charities, one of which holds a place in
most West Ham hearts.

"At the moment, I have a really bad cold which is a pain because I've been
training really hard for the past six months or so but I'll be out there
getting myself round the course.

"I believe there are 4,000 people taking part in the run this year so I'm
looking forward to it.

"I'm running for two charities – DT38 which is a charity extremely close to
my heart, as I knew Dylan very well having coached him for years at the
club, and the local autistic home in West Horndon where my son lives as he
is autistic. They are two amazing charities that deserve the support."

U18: Howes, Neufville, Borg (Hammam), Rice, Akinola, Sylvestre (c), Scully
(Kanu), Diangana, Kemp, Ford (Carter), Hector-Ingram. Subs not used:
Matrevics.

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Monday musings: The Bridge of lies
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 21st March 2016
By: Graeme Howlett

By rights, West Ham United should be looking forward to an FA Cup semi final
whilst peering down at the rest of the Premier League from a lofty fourth
place. And that would indeed have been the case had referees Martin Atkinson
and Bobby Madley made the correct calls at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge
respectively, in the Irons' two most recent outings. The weekend before
last, West Ham were denied an FA Cup semi final spot - for now - when
Atkinson deemed a Man Utd equaliser to be within the laws of the game,
despite Bastian Schweinsteiger clearly bundling 'keeper Darren Randolph into
the net as Anthony Martial prepared to shoot. And having allowed Man
United's dodgy 84th-minute equaliser to stand - a goal that forced a replay
at the Boleyn Ground - Atkinson infuriated West Ham further by ruling out
what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate, last=gasp strike by Michail
Antonio for offside.
Fast forward seven days and West Ham, leading Chelsea 1-0 in the Premier
League at Stamford Bridge concede a free kick on the edge of the penalty
area in the closing stages of the first half. United defenders remonstrate
with official Madley as behind him and unseen, Cesc Fabregas moves the ball
a yard or two further away from goal in order to gain a better angle for a
shot meaning West Ham's 'wall' is now 12-13 yards from where the kick will
be taken. But their protests are ignored as the Spanish midfielder drops
the ball over the wall and into Adrian's top right corner to level the
scores.

Fast forward another 45 minutes or so and West Ham, having restored their
lead through substitute Andy Carroll and therefore set to rise above Man
City into fourth place in the Premier League are punished yet again by a
terrible call from Madley. The Wakefield-born referee decides to award
Chelsea a 90th-minute penalty despite the offending tackle by Antonio on
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - if it was even a foul at all (video evidence suggests
otherwise) - having occurred outside the penalty box. All of which took
place just yards from where the official was placed. Fabregas steps up again
to score from the spot and West Ham lose two vital Premier League points.

Last season a long-running thread on the KUMB Forum put to bed the common
misconception that "these things even themselves out over the course of the
season". The evidence collected during the course of the 2015/16 campaign
suggested this simply wasn't true, and once again West Ham - who have now
gone some four seasons without being awarded a penalty away from home - have
been left feeling wronged after facing one of the nation's elite clubs.

So instrumental have those decisions been in the last two games that even
Slaven Bilic, one of the managers least likely to resort to blaming
officials for his team's misfortunes decreed recent examples such as those
above as "unacceptable".

The irony of all that is that Bilic may well get fined by the Premier League
for telling it how it is - whereas the substandard Atkinson and Madley are
unlikely to face any action from the PGMOL, the unaccountable and
untouchable quango who control the appointment of match day referees.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.

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West Ham's Slaven Bilic: I'd be lying if I said I knew Manuel Lanzini would
be this good
March 21, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
BKHammer

Slaven Bilic has said he 'would be lying' if he said he thoughtManuel
Lanzini would prove such a success at West Ham. Lanzini joined the Hammers
on loan at the beginning of the season from UAE club Al Jazira and they are
expected to make that switch permanent for a fee in the region of
£7.4million in the coming days. The 23-year-old scored the opener and had a
hand in Andy Carroll's second-half strike as West Ham drew 2-2 with Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to keep the heat on their top-four rivals.
And Bilic is delighted to finally have Lanzini at his disposal after
tracking the Argentine for some time. "I would be lying if I said that I
was thinking when we got him that he would play like this, so consistent on
a high level," Bilic said. On the other hand, he has got that potential. He
was my target when I was at Besiktas. "He was playing for River Plate, and
when a club like River gives you the No. 8 when you are the age of 18, they
give you that for a reason - that you can also take the responsibility and
cope with the pressure. "So he had it all the time. That's why we got him,
but he clicked straight away, which was also a surprise for me because he is
young lad, 23."

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David Sullivan bemoans lack of West Ham penalties
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 21/03/16 2:02pm
SSN

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan claims his club have been getting a
raw deal with penalty decisions for years. The Hammers have been awarded
just one spot-kick this term, and have not been given one away from home in
the league in the last four seasons. They were denied a victory at Chelsea
on Saturday after the hosts snatched a 2-2 draw with a late Cesc Fabregas
penalty. Referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot after Ruben Loftus-Cheek
went down under Michail Antonio's challenge, although any contact appeared
to be outside the area.

By contrast, a week earlier Dimitri Payet's appeals for a penalty were waved
away after he was clipped by Marcos Rojo in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at
Manchester United. Sullivan told West Ham's official website: "It was really
hard to see us concede a late goal two weeks in a row and for two weeks in a
row to draw games we could and should have won. "It clearly wasn't a penalty
on television, but nobody can blame the referee for getting such a marginal
decision wrong in real time rather than a slow motion TV replay.

"What hurts me is we get no such marginal calls our way. The Dimitri Payet
penalty at Manchester United could easily have been given and there are a
dozen occasions this season where we could have got penalties and didn't.
"We have not had an away penalty in the league in four seasons and we have
had less penalties in four seasons than any team in the Premier League."
Mark Noble scored West Ham's solitary spot-kick this term, at home to
Bournemouth in August. They have been given nine penalties - all at home -
in the last four seasons, while leaders Leicester have been awarded 10 this
season alone. The Hammers have not had a penalty away from Upton Park in the
Premier League since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2012.
Their last came in a 1-1 draw at Wolves in October 2010, also scored by
Noble.

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Ref Watch with Dermot Gallgher
SSN

MATCH: Chelsea 2-2 West Ham, Saturday

INCIDENT: Chelsea are awarded a penalty for a foul by Michail Antonio on
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but there are questions over whether Loftus-Cheek was in
or outside the box when Antonio tripped him up.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: No penalty

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: I think it's a foul, at that point the referee doesn't
know where it is, he's got to look to the assistant who makes that call
looking across the line - is he in, is he out ? If he (the assistant
referee) has made that call he's made it incorrectly, because it was outside
the penalty area.

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Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi and Alexandre Lacazette are transfer
targets for West Ham
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 21/03/16 3:29pm
SSN

West Ham have identified Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi and Alexandre
Lacazette as priority transfer targets in the chase for one of Europe's top
centre-forwards this summer, Sky sources understand. The Hammers are on
course to finish in a European qualification spot and could even claim a
Champions League place, and they believe they are in a position to attract
the best talent. The club have earkmarked Marseille's Batshuayi, Liverpool's
Benteke and Lyon's Lacazette, and sources in France have told Sky Sports
News HQ they are prepared to pay as much as £40m to land one of these
players. Benteke has struggled to nail down a first-team place at Liverpool
since Jurgen Klopp's arrival and his future at Anfield remains uncertain.
The Belgium international has not started a Premier League game since
January 2 against West Ham and he has scored just once in his last 16
appearances. Interest in 22-year-old Belgium international Batshuayi,
meanwhile, is high, and he would be available for upwards of £30m.
Tottenham, Newcastle, Stoke, Juventus and Atletico Madrid have all made
inquiries and, on the back 17 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions
this season, he is expected to move on this summer. France international
Lacazette, 24, has scored 16 goals in 35 appearances for Lyon this season -
a resurgence after a difficult spell last year.

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Pressure ? "Look down" says Slav!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 21, 2016 in News
C and H

Positive and upbeat Slaven Bilic has shrugged of the 'Great Stamford Bridg
Robbery' and told the players they are in a position to be worshipped! It's
a message for the fans too, still smarting from the unfair loss of two
precious points in the race for a Champions Lleague place. The manager said:
"This is a situation we should worship and enjoy. I'd love us to be in this
situation every year. "Do you know what pressure is? It is down there, with
Newcastle, Villa and Sunderland. That is real pressure, fighting for your
life. Then you are counting points and goals. Here you are enjoying it.
"There is no better thing than positive pressure. I don't feel we need to
have big meetings, or talk about pressure. They are enjoying it, enjoying
training. "The way we approach it, and I hope the players are the same when
they talk among themselves, is, 'Look, we are playing well, what is the next
game? It is difficult but, if we play the way we are doing, we have a chance
to win.' And then do it for the next game… and the next game…. and see where
that takes us."
Aaron Cresswell said: "If someone had said, 'With eight games to go, you are
going to be fighting for the Champions League', you'd snap their hands off.
"Why can't we dream? We want to finish there and we are going to fight and
give everything we have. West Ham were minutes away from replacing
Manchester City in fourth place."

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Irons hunt goes on as Benteke ruled out
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham plan to attract a 20 goal a season striker without breaking through
their FFP ceiling but it won't be Christian Benteke. The Belgian is on
£125,000k a week at Liverpool and whilst manager Slaven Bilic likes the
player our top source at the club said: "They aren't the sort of wages we
will pay. He added: "If it were it just the case of a transfer fee there
would be no problem but any new front man will have to fit into the FFP
regulations."

ClaretandHugh has regularly outlined that scenario but the new element to
the position is that the vast majority of the transfer budget has been
reserved for a striker after the club has paid for Sam Byram (£3.8m) and
Manu Lanzini (8 m). Our source said: "That is the case but like Andy Carroll
before him – the new front man would need to be brought in on a pay level
below those sort of figures. He added: " We believe it is possible because
it is often the free signings that want the huge salaries because they claim
the club should load what would have been the transfer fee into the wages!
"It doesn't work that way as far as we are concerned. We have our financial
plan for the summer and the priority is a striker and the money required for
a transfer fee will be put aside for that. "However, whoever he is and
however much he may cost is one thing – the wages will be the issue so it's
a balancing act."

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Slav so pleased for Payet
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 21, 2016 in News
C and H

Slaven Bilic is delighted that main main Dimi Payet has received a call up
for France and reckons he will return to West Ham "a little taller." Dimi
hasn't been involved with his international team since June 2015, but has
been called up for the Euro 2016 hosts for their friendlies against
Netherlands and Russia. Bilic will be relying on his playmaker as we head
for the final push but welcomes his inclusion saying: "He is happy, we are
happy – he deserves it," West Ham manager Bilictold the Daily Mail. "France
have two very good games and hopefully he is going to play in them. "He will
train there with his friends, with top-quality players and coaches and he is
going to come back a little taller."

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They've got Payet... West Ham United star links up with France squad
alongside collection of Premier League stars
Dimitri Payet and N'Golo Kante linked up with France colleagues, Monday
Didier Deschamps picked a myriad of Premier League stars for his squad
France face Holland and Russia in two upcoming international friendlies
By JOHN DOWNES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:05, 21 March 2016 | UPDATED: 15:20, 21 March 2016

The latest France squad arrived at the national team training base in
Clairefontaine on Monday, for the first day of practice ahead of their
friendlies against Holland and Russia. Didier Deschamps picked a myriad of
Premier League stars for his pre-Euro 2016 group of 23, including West Ham
United attacker Dimitri Payet and Leicester City revelation, N'Golo Kante.
The pair were pictured linking up with fellow English-based players, not
least: Manchester City's Bacary Sagna, Manchester United's Anthony Martial,
Crystal Palace's Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United's Moussa Sissoko and
Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho. Manager Deschamps will be hoping for a positive
result when his team play Holland at Ajax's Amsterdam ArenA on Friday
evening, as he prepares for his country's host European Championship this
summer. The squad then head back to France again to take on Leonid Slutsky's
Russia at the Stade de France on Tuesday night. Real Madrid striker Karim
Benzema has not been a part of Les Bleus' set-up since October 2015's
friendly against Armenia, after which he was questioned by police and
charged with conspiracy to blackmail former France colleague Mathieu
Valbuena over an alleged sex tape. The criminal case came to light on
October 13 when ex-France striker Djibril Cisse was among four people being
questioned by police. Lyon attacking midfielder Valbuena then defended
Cisse - who denied any involvement in the attempt to extort money from his
former Marseille team-mate and was released without charge - by suggesting
the ex-Liverpool man 'conducted himself as a friend by trying to help me'.
The scandal is reported to have started in June last year. While Benzema
has been suspected of being a part of the supposed extortion scam, which he
denies any wrongdoing in, the French national football federation (FFF) has
indicated that he - who has scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for his
country - cannot play for Les Bleus until his legal position has been
clarified. Nonetheless, there was some debate as to whether Deschamps would
still include the hitman in his squad, but the head coach has instead opted
for forward players Kingsley Coman, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Olivier Giroud,
Antoine Griezmann, Martial and Payet. Benzema returned from an injury to his
right biceps femoris to score for Real in their emphatic 4-0 La Liga victory
over Sevilla on Sunday. Despite his injury woes, Benzema has made nearly
every one of his 25 Los Blancos appearances count, with 24 goals in all
competitions (20 in 21 in La Liga).

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West Ham continue to think big after getting the best of draw at Chelsea
Jacob Steinberg at Stamford Bridge
@JacobSteinberg
Sunday 20 March 2016 22.30 GMT

Although West Ham United left with regrets over missed chances and
grievances over a highly debatable late penalty, the loss of two precious
points could not dampen the pride they took from a performance that
demonstrated how far they have come since they visited Chelsea on Boxing Day
in 2014 and rolled over instead of taking the game to their more illustrious
opponents.

Although there should be nothing but appreciation for the repair job
overseen by Sam Allardyce during his four years at Upton Park, equally there
were times when his pragmatism stifled his players and on Saturday, as West
Ham attacked in numbers, constructed moves with some wonderfully fluid
football and scored two splendid goals, thoughts drifted back to the way
they lifted the white flag on their previous visit. Slaven Bilic's
predecessor rested two of his best players, Diafra Sakho and Alex Song, and
West Ham played so meekly in a 2-0 defeat that it was hard to believe they
were fourth at kick-off.

Shorn of a little belief, the stuffing knocked out of them just enough to
make an imperceptible but crucial difference, two days later West Ham lost
at home to Arsenal despite the return of Sakho and Song to the starting
line-up, slowly slipped out of the battle for the European spots and limped
over the line in 12th place.

Style matters. West Ham have been fearless under Bilic, beating Liverpool
home and away, winning at Arsenal and Manchester City, overwhelming Chelsea
and Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park. With eight games left, they are firmly
in the fight for Champions League qualification.

They would have secured their first league double over Chelsea since the
2002-03 season if Robert Madley had not awarded the hosts the penalty that
allowed Cesc Fàbregas to equalise in the 89th minute, the referee having
failed to spot that Michail Antonio's foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek took place
outside the area.

If Bilic had one criticism of his side, it was that they played "too sexy,
not penetrating enough" when they were on top. Ahead early on thanks to
Manuel Lanzini's beautiful goal, they had chances to kill Chelsea off after
responding to Fàbregas's excellent free-kick on the stroke of half-time by
regaining their lead when Andy Carroll scored with his first touch after
replacing Sakho. Yet it was a lack of game management that let Willian lead
the break that culminated in the penalty.

They are a developing side, with kinks that need to be ironed out. Enjoying
themselves in fifth place, however, Bilic does not want his players to think
too far ahead. "I don't feel we need to have big meetings, or talk about
pressure," West Ham's manager said. "Of course there is pressure, we are
playing in the Premier League for West Ham and it is a big club, but that is
a positive kind of pressure, a kind of motivation for us.

"On the coach we'll look at the table and think there we are with eight
games to go, but that is wrong. Spend half an hour tonight, but the way we
approach it, and I hope the players are the same when they talk among
themselves, is: 'Look, we are playing well, who is next game? It is
difficult but if we play the way we are doing we have a chance to win.' And
then do it for the next game, and the next game and see where that takes us.
I'd love us to be in this situation every year. There is no better thing
than positive pressure."

Man of the match Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United)

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West Ham look to tie down linchpin Lanzini
The Guardian

Dimitri Payet was at it again for West Ham United on Saturday, creating Andy
Carroll's goal with a lovely pass, deceiving the Chelsea defenders by
looking one way and sending the ball in the opposite direction, an assist
that came straight out of the Ronaldinho playbook. Yet his excellence should
not obscure Manuel Lanzini's contribution. For all the praise that has
rightly been lavished on Payet, who steals headlines with isolated but
defining moments of brilliance, Lanzini is the player who gives West Ham
balance in midfield, linking the play with his shuffling running style,
technical ability and ease on the ball. The scorer of a sumptuous opening
goal at Stamford Bridge, a curling shot from 25 yards that gave Thibaut
Courtois no chance, the little Argentinian has been one of the finds of the
season and it is no surprise that West Ham intend to sign the on-loan
midfielder on a permanent basis from Al Jazira. "I would be lying if I said
that I was thinking when we got him that he would play like this, so
consistent on a high level," Slaven Bilic said. "On the other hand, he has
got that potential. He was my target when I was at Besiktas. He was playing
for River and, when a club like River Plate gives you the number eight when
you are the age of 18, they give you that for a reason, that you can also
take the responsibility and cope with the pressure. So he had it all the
time. That's why we got him, but he clicked straight away, which was also a
surprise for me because he is a young lad, 22." Jacob Steinberg

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