Daily WHUFC News - 4th March 2016

Antonio - I completely forgot my celebration!
WHUFC.com

West Ham United winger Michail Antonio admits he completely forgot his
planned worm celebration after making it four goals in his last four home
games with the winning strike against Tottenham. Antonio stole the show
against Sunderland on Saturday and made even more headlines with his
Simpsons celebrations. The 25-year-old was the star performer once again as
his seventh-minute headed winner was the difference against title-chasing
Tottenham and made it another famous night under the lights at the Boleyn
Ground.
Antonio was determined to do another memorable celebration if he scored but
said the emotion of scoring in such a big derby got the better of him and he
ended up doing more of the Carlton Dance from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
programme!

Antonio said: "It is nice to make it four goals in my last four games - this
really feels like home to me!
"As soon as the ball was played over I was thinking this ball is heading
right for me and I didn't even see it go in. "I completely forgot my
celebration that I had planned. I had planned it so much and it was going to
be the worm, but the emotion of scoring in a derby got to me and I ended up
doing the Carlton dance!
"I prefer to play on the right and be more of an attacking threat, but as
long as the gaffer is picking me, I will give 100 per cent and try and give
everything I can. "I got a dead leg late in the game which was sore but I
soldiered on and it was a great result. "We will not get carried away with
it and I always believe in just winning the next game. If we keep doing that
we will be up there anyway. "We can say we won the last game against Spurs
at the Boleyn Ground and they can never take that back from us now. "We had
some injuries to contend with but it shows we have got the squad to do it.
We keep losing players and we are still getting results. Our squad is
unreal. "We lost our attacking players earlier in the season but we were
still scoring goals and then we started losing our defenders and I have been
playing right back. We just want to work for each other and it shows on the
pitch. "We believe we can go anywhere and get a result. We will now head to
Everton and not go for a point, we will go for the three points and see what
it happens. The fans might even see the worm if I get another goal!"

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Bilic - It feels great
WHUFC.com

Michail Antonio scored for the fourth home game in a row

Slaven Bilic celebrated an emotional Farewell Boleyn victory over Tottenham
Hotspur by receiving a kiss from celebrity Hammers fan Russell Brand.

Comedian and broadcaster Brand, who served as guest reporter for West Ham TV
following West Ham United's 1-0 Barclays Premier League win, planted a
smacker on the smiling manager's cheek to complete a memorable night under
the lights.

The winning goal came after just seven minutes from the in-form Michail
Antonio, who scored with a thumping header from Dimitri Payet's corner to
net for a fourth home game in succession.

"It feels great and you know better than me that if you have to take one
game in a season as being more special than the others, it is home against
Spurs, of course," said Bilic, who won the tactical battle by using an
unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation to nullify Tottenham's rampaging full-backs.

"To do it against a Spurs who are doing very well this season and who have
conceded the least goals and scored the most goals, blah, blah, blah and to
do it in style means they should be happy with the result, not us.

"We were fantastic. It was maybe the best performance so far. In every
aspect it was the perfect game. From the first whistle we were on the front
foot and dominating and on our front foot.

"The goal helped, but we didn't stop. It was great. In every aspect we
over-ran them. We were better technically, tactically and we got to every
second ball and all that."

Brand asked Bilic if he believes West Ham can qualify for next season's UEFA
Champions League after his side closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester
City to a single point.

The manager says that, while a top-four finish is not beyond the realms of
possibility, he does not want expectations to get so high that they start
affecting performances and results in the final ten Barclays Premier League
fixtures.

"I hope we can aim for Champions League in the future, and long-term I don't
have a problem saying it should be part of the plan, what with moving to the
new Stadium and with all the revenue and the fans and the size of the Club,"
said the gaffer.

"This season it's not realistic but there's nothing wrong with dreaming
about it or trying to achieve it!

"We are not approaching the remainder of the season thinking we're aiming to
quality for the Champions League. On the contrary, we're down on the Earth
and concentrating on facing Everton on Saturday."

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Randolph is a Reading Star!
WHUFC.com

Randolph is aiming to inspire school children to read more

West Ham United's Darren Randolph is aiming to inspire schoolchildren to
enjoy reading, as the Club's Reading Star this World Book Day.

The goalkeeper signed up to help support the Premier League Reading Stars
programme, an initiative run in partnership with the National Literacy
Trust, which aims to inspire children to read.

The programme - now in its 13th year - sees each Premier League club select
one player to become a Reading Star, talk about their favourite books and
set reading challenges via online videos.

During the launch of the initiative, Randolph selected "A Very Special Mouse
and Mole" by James Mayhew as his favourite children's book and "The Blind
Side" by Michael Lewis as one of his most recent reads.

Randolph said: "Reading is something I really enjoy. It's a great way to
relax and as a footballer, we have a lot of time in between games. I tend to
read on the way to games, on the train and in the hotel.

"I actually struggled with reading at school, but the older I've got, and
the more I've read, the more I enjoy it. Once you've found a subject you
really enjoy, and then you're away, it's fantastic."

This year, Premier League Reading Stars has launched a brand new digital
resource, which boasts 60 online challenges. The website extra-time.org can
be used at school, in a library or at home, which means parents can get
involved too.

By completing literacy activities, participants can unlock exclusive
rewards, including video clips of their favourite players, signed
certificates and player profiles. In addition to access to the website and
downloadable resources, teachers receive a box of books, National Literacy
Trust Network membership and a toolkit and physical resources to run 10
Premier League Reading Stars sessions.

Studies show that Premier League Reading Stars has had a positive impact on
both children's reading enjoyment and attainment. In 2014/15, there was a 50
per cent increase in the number of children who enjoyed reading at the end
of the programme and, in the previous year, three out of four pupils'
reading levels increased by six months or more.

Premier League Reading Stars Senior Programme Manager Marian Keen-Downs
said: "The National Literacy Trust's Premier League Reading Stars programme
has been designed for reluctant readers. It targets pupils, particularly
boys, who love football but don't see the relevance of reading to their
lives.

For any fan, learning about the current season is hugely appealing and we
use that appeal to stimulate reading and build reading stamina."

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'I like to always beat Spurs!'
WHUFC.com

Reece Oxford gave his Mum an early Mother's Day gift by helping West Ham
United to a 1-0 Barclays Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The 17-year-old produced another mature, assured and strong display as a
second-half substitute for the injured James Collins on Wednesday evening,
helping to nullify Spurs' potent attack.

As a childhood Arsenal fan, Oxford was even prouder of the performance he
put on in front of his watching mother.

"It was a good game," he began. "I was a bit surprised when I got thrown in
because at half-time I got told to be ready, but that was for Angelo and not
Ginge, as Angelo had a little knock but he's fine now.

"When it happened, they were just screaming at me to get back to the bench
and get ready, so I got ready and went on. The players alongside me, Angelo
and Cheikhou, really helped me out.

"It was a big result for the Club and for where we are in the table.
Personally, me and my Mum like to always beat Spurs!"

Amid a host of fine West Ham performances, Kouyate was truly outstanding in
a role on the right side of three centre-halves - but Oxford was far from
surprised by the No8's dominant display.

"It was good from him," he said. "He was talking to me and helping me. We
were all talking to one another and I don't think there were any shots on
goal after I came on. We played well together."

For Oxford, Wednesday was yet another illustration of the promise possessed
by the England U19 defender, whose calm composure and technical ability set
him apart from other players of a similar age.

For Slaven Bilic to hand the teenager another chance to shine in a
high-pressure game against a Spurs side going for the Barclays Premier
League title shows the faith the manager has in the youngster.

"I appreciate it. I am happy that he has faith in me to play in a Premier
League game at that stage."
Despite his outstanding talent, it is easy to forget that Oxford is not yet
18, so does he get nervous?

"I just don't show it! No, I do get a bit nervous but I try not so show it
because strikers and midfielders can feed off that. I am human!"

One man who helps to relax Oxford is match-winner Michail Antonio, who sits
in the locker next to the youngster in the Home dressing room.

Having scored the winner, Antonio followed his 'Homer Simpson' celebration
against Sunderland with a dance tribute to Fresh Prince of Bel Air character
Carlton Banks.

"He sits next to me in the dressing room and he told me he was going to the
Fresh Prince of Bel Air dance! I asked him what it was and he showed me!

"When he scored, I knew he was going to do it. I was just pleased he scored!
He really helps me and speaks to me a lot and tells me to be patient and
keep it going."

Having risen to within a point of the top four and reached the Emirates FA
Cup sixth round, what does Oxford think West Ham can achieve by the end of a
memorable season, both for him personally and for the Club as a whole?

"The boys are buzzing but we're trying not to let it get too much over the
top because we've got a hard game against Everton this weekend.

"Hopefully we can get another win and go higher in the table and keep
steady."

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Moose's Memories - Paolo Di Canio
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Ian 'Moose' Abrahams hears the great entertainer Paolo Di Canio pay a
personal tribute to the Boleyn Ground...

Down the years, West Ham have some great players who were also great
entertainers. When I first started coming here in 1977, there were Trevor
Brooking and Alan Devonshire, then there was Wardy, Bishop, Moncur. I hope I
haven't upset anyone by missing them out.

Right now we have Dimitri Payet. Prior to Dimitri, was Di Canio who, like
Payet, was a magician on the ball, a genius of a player.

It would have be criminal in our last season here not to have spoken to
Paolo, so without any further ado, this is what happened when I caught up
with the eccentric Italian, who always wore his heart on his sleeve.

"I have fantastic memories of Upton Park, it was an amazing period of my
life, not only as a footballer but as a person," he told me. "I have
fantastic memories to keep with me for the rest of my life."

Paolo can be prone to the odd exaggeration, as you'll no doubt see as you
read through the rest of the interview.

THAT GOAL.

NOW, if I asked what was the best goal in Premier League history, there's a
fair chance you'd say Paolo's against Wimbledon here - an amazing volley in
front of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand back in 2000.

I'll let Paolo tell you all about it.

"I remember we moved the ball across with Foe, our friend who is no longer
with us, for Sinclair on the right side. He delivered the ball across with a
fantastic delivery and I remember this ball, for an instant I wasn't sure
what I would do. Kennedy from Wimbledon was in front of me, but in an
instant I decided to go for a bicycle kick that I also used to try in
training. This time I was very lucky because the technique was perfect. It
wasn't easy and I think it was an amazing goal."

Paolo said he tried it in traning, but what gave him the confidence to do it
in front of 30,000 fans in a game?

"I have very high self-belief, sometimes the madness you have got in the
brain, because if you kick the ball in the wrong way probably the people are
going to laugh for two years but this time I did very well. It was perfect,
with my style and balance it was a perfect shot, a perfect moment of
technical ability in my opinion but difficult with both feet off the ground
in a wide area. The angle was tight and the ball finished in the net without
bouncing on the field, so it was a perfect shot. It was a perfect angle with
a perfect goal, impossible to stop for any goalkeeper, I think."

Last week we were drawn away to Manchester United in the FA Cup. That game
will be on Sunday 13 March and it rekindles memories of another iconic
moment for Paolo - that FA Cup goal at Old Trafford when Fabian Barthez
tried to outwit him, standing in front of him with his arm raised in the
air.

"I didn't respect the policeman that tried to stop me and I broke the rules
in this moment," Paolo told me. "There were 12 minutes to go I remember and
there was a good, good play by Kanoute. He kept the ball. The defensive line
from United came up to make an offside but I was too clever and I made a
movement to avoid the offside.

"The pass from Kanoute left me one on one with Barthez. He tried to play a
game, but I was more clever than him because I pushed the ball in the net. I
thought if the referee gave offside there is no problem, so I pushed the
ball in the net. We went off to celebrate. There were 9,000 people at the
stadium and they followed us from London. West Ham fans were amazing in this
day and it was an amazing day. We won 1-0 and went through in the FA Cup, it
was another day to remember."

UNPREDICTABLE

THE only predictable thing about Paolo is that he is unpredictable. For
example, who would've foreseen his amazing act of sportsmanship at Everton,
when he caught the ball in the box from a corner to allow the injured
goalkeeper Paul Gerrard to get treatment?

I wondered what made Paolo pass up the chance of a goal that day when at Old
Trafford he went on to score.

"At Old Trafford there wasn't any player down injured, there was a player
who tried to play a game and to cheat in some way because the referee didn't
stop the game," he explained. "At Everton it was clear the 'keeper was
injured, we had the advantage of the ball with Trevor Sinclair but when he
tried to get up everybody had the sensation that something big had happened,
because he collapsed and in his legs he was screaming in pain.

"Sinclair delivered the ball but for me in this instant the game was stopped
because it wasn't fair, even if it wasn't illegal to score a goal, for me in
this moment, it wasn't possible to keep going. I stood there and the ball
arrived at me. I wasn't a saint in this moment, like I wasn't a devil when I
pushed the referee, that was wrong, but I wasn't the devil."

And he received an award.

"Yes, thanks to the people, but I did something natural from my point of
view. The people exaggerated in this point of view, but it is good they
exaggerated in this way to try to show me as a good person."

Paolo's last appearance at Upton Park came a few years ago now in Tony
Carr's Testimonial and he told me he had no hesitation in taking the chance
to play in front of you the West Ham fans that night.

"I came for Tony Carr because he is another symbol of West Ham, because he
worked for many, many years behind the scenes, improving the squad and the
club with his quality as a scout and a coach," he explained.

"It was amazing to feel again the atmosphere of Upton Park and of the fans,
and it was amazing again to wear that shirt. It was fun, it was a reunion
with my family that I can't see every day, but are still in my heart every
single moment."

TATTOO

I ASKED Paolo if, of all the clubs he played for, West Ham meant most to
him.

"Of course, of course, it's the only club tattoo that I got because this is
what I felt when I did that and I did that many years after I left West Ham,
not when I was there, which shows West Ham is still in my heart and my blood
and nobody can cancel this cord.

"The fans felt I gave all my soul, all my blood for this club, but what I
did is nothing compared to what I got from the fans. I will be a fan of this
club for the rest of my life."

So, that's a yes then!

I ended my chat with Paolo by asking what his funniest moment as a West Ham
player was. Perhaps it is no shock that it involves Razor Ruddock and
Wrighty.

"When I arrived at West Ham, I met Razor Ruddock and Ian Wright and the
other senior footballers. Some weeks before they had celebrated a goal and
recreated my situation with [the referee] Paul Alcock, reminding everyone of
it.

"Once I met them and joined the club they were amazing with me. They tried
to let me integrate with the rest of the group quicker and since then I have
thought of this dressing room as my home, so thanks to them I understood
straight away what it means to wear this shirt."

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Slaven Bilic: Champions League 'not realistic' for West Ham
BBC.co.uk

Michail Antonio grabbed the only goal against Tottenham on WednesdayWest Ham
manager Slaven Bilic feels qualification for the Champions League this
season is unrealistic. The Hammers are sixth in the table and a point behind
behind fourth-placed Manchester City, following Wednesday's 1-0 win over
Tottenham. "This season it's not realistic but there's nothing wrong with
trying to achieve it," said Bilic, whose side next face Everton on Saturday.
"I hope we can aim for Champions League in the future." He added: "Long
term, I don't have a problem saying it should be part of the plan, what with
moving to the new stadium and with all the revenue and the fans and the size
of the club."

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Colchester United's West Ham loanee Leo Chambers models himself on Rio
Ferdinand
BBC.co.uk

Leo Chambers is an ex-England Under-19 international, while Rio Ferdinand
earned 81 full international capsColchester United's West Ham loanee Leo
Chambers says he models himself on former England defender Rio Ferdinand.
The 20-year-old helped the U's end their 19-game winless league run with a
2-1 victory at Bradford on Tuesday. "The only centre-half I've modelled my
game on is Rio Ferdinand - he's come from 20 minutes down the road from me
in south London," said Chambers. "He's come through West Ham's academy and
we have sort of similar playing styles."
Former England Under-19 international Chambers added to BBC Essex: "If I
could be half the player he was, I'll be alright. "I've watched his game
closely and one of the things he does is bring the ball out and is
comfortable."
The centre-back, who had about two years out of the game with injury, has
helped League One's bottom club earn four points from two matches since he
joined on a one-month loan.
That started with a first clean sheet since former Hammers coach Kevin Keen
took charge as manager for the Football League's worst defence - having
conceded 79 league goals - against Shrewsbury on Saturday.
And 6ft 1ins Chambers, who says he is not "the typical centre-half" because
of his height, says taking on Bradford forward James Hanson was a tough
test.
"In under-21s football you're either playing against people your age or
younger so you can get away with the extra touch because you can put your
arm there or something," he said.
"But in this league, as I found on Tuesday, you take an extra touch and
there's a big hard man there. Sometimes you just have to get one step ahead
and do the simple thing."

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The opposition view: Tottenham
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd March 2016
By: Staff Writer

The mighty Spurs were giving a good old-fashioned hiding at the Boleyn last
night - for the very last time.
Revel in the thoughts, the hurt pride, the multitude of excuses and the
misplaced arrogance of our deluded and embittered friends from N17 as they
reflect on having blown the opportunity to go top of the Premier League...


"Down to earth with a bump! Poor performance, the worst we've put in this
season. We didn't click at all first half, and let them come at us too
quickly and take control. Pretty turgid game to watch. Dropping three points
isn't the end of things by any means, it was going to happen in the run-in
at some stage, but it's just galling that it was against that lot, and they
will milk it. But they were better than us last night. The main thing now is
the players picking themselves up, and putting things right on Saturday. We
have seen what they can do after a defeat, so let's hope for the same
reaction after this one."
- Glenda's Legs

"I'm so annoyed at the absolute bog standard, reductive state of the British
football press. We lost last night but does it have to mean we are suddenly
too tired, bottled it or that nerves got to us? We played away in an intense
atmosphere on a rubbish pitch against a team that for some reason views us
with absolute disdain and will raise their game to our level. We knew before
the game it would be really tough and indeed it was - they are a good side.
Still seemed like we fought as much as we could but splendidly we came up
against a side at the top of their game. It happens."
- BrainOfLevy

"For the first hour tonight West Ham were the team that's played best
against us all season.
No-one else has stopped us playing like that. Usually we get the best of
50/50s and outwill and bully teams. Not against West Ham. Even when we lost
to Leicester they sat back and just survived somehow and hit us on the
break. Bilic was right to treat the Europa qualifying with distain at the
start of the season."
- Modric THFC

"The pitch was a joke for a Premier League team. How can team get tens of
millions of pounds in TV money, be out of most competitions and have a pitch
that bad? West Ham played to their pitch. Nearly every meaningful pass they
played was in the air because that's how they play."
- parj

"I had to sit in with the West Ham fans. So much for their so called
atmosphere. The only ones that made a real noise were the ones behind the
goal next to our lot. My seat wasn't great, I was too low down to really see
how the game was going. And very unlike me, I got drunk before the game to
add to it. I saw it as a very average football match with very little
quality at times. We weren't ourselves and it looked like the mounting
number of games is catching up. It's never nice losing to them just because
their fans are annoying pricks. Well apart from the four I went with last
night."
- TottenhamMattSpur

"Saturday will be a completely different game. The pitch will be flat and we
will have opponents that value the rolling qualities of a football. Arse's
playing style will suit us much better than West Ham's hoofmania. And this
is our derby, which will fire up our fans and players, just like West Ham
experienced yesterday. We're also likely to have one set of rules for both
teams too, with a new referee in charge."
- Robbo

"Ref was awful. They just wanted to spoil the game, the ball boys holding on
to it, the little kick away every time we had a free kick. Was a very ugly
game, just glad it's out the way now."
- diego_maradona

"The hard training sessions that are needed for our pressing game that has
been so good this season could start to take a toll in these last few weeks.
I thought some of the players looked jaded tonight and there are still a lot
of games till the end of the season with Europe as well. Bilic got his
tactics spot on tonight as he has a few times this season against the 'top
teams'. He's a very good manager and if Poch does go in the summer to Real
or Barca - and the rumours seem to be getting stronger - I would think he
could be good for us."
- SPURSLIFE

"I hope we file an official complaint about that fudgeing clam Mariner! What
an utter clam! Worst I've seen in a long long time! I usually don't say much
about refs, because I am one myself, but this was a disgrace! Fudgeing
joke!"
- Kandi1977

"Disappointed with both the result and performance tonight. We were
out-muscled and out-thought for the first half resulting in 0-7 attempts on
goal. We improved a bit in the second half but really didn't deserve
anything out of the game. Toby's long range shot was about our only attempt
on target. Really everyone was below par and nothing came off. The boggy
pitch and driving rain didn't help. We missed some physicality without Alli
and Dembele in particular. Thankfully City and Scum both lost today so not
too much damage done. Our winning run had to end sometime, it's just a shame
it was against this lot."
- Pirate55

"Tactically, Bilic did us. We were never allowed to get into our rhythm or
dictate the play. And therefore we never got into a comfort zone. Bilic did
this simply by pressing the full backs back and pressurising Lloris and Dier
when they were in possession. It stopped us being able to play out from the
back which means the ball was in the air a lot more, which is something we
struggled to handle."
- Sevens

"It's the first game in 28 league games that we deserve fuck all from. We
can't disagree with that. We shouldn't be angry at that. What I would say is
they had more desire to win their 'cup final', than we did to go top.
Beginning to end I thought they battled more, wanted second balls more, and
in general showed more determination. That coupled with us playing really
poorly, no fluidity, poor passing etc, meant we were never going to get
anything. Some really poor individual performances. A really poor collective
performance. One shit game in 28 is bloody good going. It's just a bit of a
typical time for it to happen."
- Typical Spurs

"I was very disappointed last night after the match but on reflection I
think we simply were beaten by the better team on the day which happens.
Looking at the other results on the night, if we had to lose one game then
this was the one to lose. So vital we get a win on Saturday though, if we
lose or draw that then we really are in trouble. I still believe we can do
it, a win on Saturday and the belief will come back for everyone."
- HildoSpur

"Some perspective is needed. We have to give the opposition credit for
stopping us playing. If anyone has paid attention this season they'd know
that our weakness is when teams turn games into scraps and get physical, it
upsets our rhythm and as a result we don't get any rhythm going, West Ham
did that, not to mention pinning our full backs and leaving Kane isolated
against three defenders. You have to hold your hands up and say that Bilic
had our number, so fair play to him. I think we've played our hardest match
of the run-in considering the circumstances, as West Ham were always going
to be up for that match. We've just got to move on now, starting with
Saturday."
- Shadydan

"We could have gone top too soon. I can live with tonight."
- Hotshot-Tottenham

* Comments originally posted at thefightingcock.co.uk, glory-glory.co.uk,
twitter and spurscommunity.co.uk.

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Collins to miss FA Cup quarter final
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd March 2016
By: Staff Writer

James Collins is out of West Ham's FA Cup quarter final with Manchester
United after sustaining a hamstring injury during las night's 1-0 win over
Tottenham.

The former Welsh international pulled up midway through the second half
after pulling the muscle and is likely to be out for the next month as a
result.

"It's a hamstring and it's not a couple of days," said manager Slaven Bilic
after the game. "We're going to assess him tomorrow (Thursday) and do a scan
the day after tomorrow or when it settles down.

"My initial information is that we should be happy if he only misses three
games, which takes us to the international break. It's a big blow for us,
because he's been magnificent the whole season."

Collins will definitely miss this weekend's trip to Everton, the FA Cup
quarter final at Old Trafford the following weekend and the away clash with
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 19 March.

With an international break to follow those three fixtures, the 32-year-old
will be targeting the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on 2 April
for a potential return.

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'Lazy' Avram in trouble again
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd March 2016
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammers boss Avram Grant is in trouble with his current employers -
for spending too much time in Europe.
Grant, who has been the national manager of Ghana since November 2014 has
been roundly criticised by officials close to the Ghanaian FA and ordered to
return to the West African state as soon as possible.

Speaking earlier today, Ghana Football Association spokesman Ibrahim Sannie
revealed that Grant - who managed West Ham for just one season before being
fired - had been told to return to Ghana as soon as possible.

"We have ordered him to return from Europe to monitor the local league,"
said Sannie. "Important matches against Mozambique are approaching and we
need him."

Meanwhile Ghanaian MP Kojo Baah Agyemang has also hit out at Grant, telling
a local radio station that he has been "taking the nation for granted",
according to a quote in the Guardian.

Grant was hired by West Ham's Board to replace Gianfranco Zola, who was
fired at the end of the 2009/10 season despite retaining West Ham's Premier
League position against the odds.

However it proved to be a disastrous appointment by the club's new owners
with Grant - who was later accused of falling asleep in his office at
Chadwell Heath during training sessions - leading the Hammers to relegation,
finishing bottom of the league.

After being unceremoniously dumped by West Ham immediately after the final
away game of that season - a 3-2 defeat at Wigan, where he was fired in the
tunnel by vice chair Karren Brady - Grant re-emerged in Serbia, where he
spent 18 months as boss of Partizan Belgrade.

After resigning from his post with in May 2012, Grant was hired by the
Ghanaian national team where he remains to this day - although for how much
longer remains to be seen.

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James Collins to miss at least three West Ham games
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 03/03/16 11:57am
SSN

James Collins will not play for West Ham until next month after injuring his
hamstring during Wednesday's win over Tottenham.
The centre-half was replaced during the second half, leaving the Hammers to
finish the game with a back three featuring teenager Reece Oxford, a
hobbling Angelo Ogbonna and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate.
Collins will not be fit for a club return until after the next round of
international friendlies, according to manager Slaven Bilic, who is now
without at least six defenders for Saturday's trip to Goodison Park.
"It's his hamstring and it's not a couple of days," Bilic said. "We will
wait until it settles down and assess it. The first information is that we
should be happy if he only misses three games.
"After three games there is an international break, Easter and all that. But
it's a big blow for us, the whole season he has been magnificent." Angelo
Ogbonna (C) needed an ice pack on his foot after the Hammers' 1-0 win

West Ham vice-chairman David Gold tweeted an update on Ogbonna's condition
on Thursday, saying: "His foot was covered in a ice pack after the game but
he said he would be OK."
But Bilic is definitely without Winston Reid, James Tomkins, Joey O'Brien,
Carl Jenkinson and Sam Byram this weekend.
And Collins, whose participation in Wales' friendlies against Northern
Ireland and Ukraine later this month must now be under threat, will also
miss the FA Cup tie at Manchester United and a Premier League trip to
Chelsea.

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DERBY DAY TO REMEMBER By Zaman Siddiqui
www.westhamtillidie.com

What a wonderful night of football it was! Our last match against Tottenham
at the Boleyn won't be one to forget for months. We are currently projected
62 points, and are a single point away from the top 4. Likewise, Pochettino
and Alderweireld will be disappointed they couldn't get anything on their
birthdays. It is the first time Tottenham have lost away from home since the
opening weekend. Well, we haven't lost at home since August for a reason! I
am immensely proud that our players are giving it their all toward the end
of the season. I am also encouraged by the fact there haven't been any late
goals in our narrow, but deserved wins against Sunderland and now Spurs!
Tottenham's own goal frame has been struck 14 times this season, more than
any other side in the Premier League. They weren't going to get that lucky
this time. Additionally, they failed to hit a single shot in the first half.
It is only the second time it has happened in the last 13 years. It serves
to emphasise our superiority in the first half. We needed to start off well
early on in order to win.
I must say Bilic is a man of action. I was a bit perplexed when I saw the
team sheet. We ended up playing with three at the back. He is capable of
adapting our styles of play depending on the situation. Most managers don't
have the audacity to play in a rather unorthodox way against terrific
opposition. Not top of the league terrific, as yesterday's match exhibited,
but good. We were most impressed by Super Slav with our win in the opening
weekend back in August. I can still remember Reece Oxford pocketing Mesut
Ozil. Yesterday's match bore a lot of similarities to that fixture. The
future looks very bright. Only Leicester and Tottenham have lost fewer games
than us this season. Oh, and Antonio deserves an England call up.

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WEST HAM 1, SPURS 0. WHY NOT US? By David Hautzig
www.westhamtillidie.com

I told Iain I couldn't do a report today. Work, kids, and an aborted
delivery of a new refrigerator due to a very small patch of ice on my
driveway made the day too tight. Gotta live without me, boss. Which I have
no doubt he can.
But I need to participate in this. I cannot sit this evening out entirely.
It was too special. Too invigorating. I didn't and couldn't take notes, so
much like the Liverpool match I'm going to do this from memory and from
emotion. So it will be free flowing, maybe somewhat disjointed, but joyful
as hell.
When you are able to combine a high level of intellect with a high level of
ingenuity, you are bound to be very good at whatever it is you do. When
Slaven set us up with a back three (although he referred to it as a back
five when talking to the BBC), Spurs looked like a boxer that trained to
take on a right handed fighter but got a southpaw. The midfield, Payet in
particular, controlled the tempo and tenor of the match. There may have been
more physical space behind them than Spurs anticipated, but the path there
was blocked. It was as if Bilic saw what would happen in various scenarios
and chose the one that he knew would succeed. And believe it or not, he
didn't create a pseudo Italian name for himself afterwards. Bilicenzo,
anyone?
As dreadful as we've been on corners this season, we were excellent at them
tonight. In the opening minutes, Payet whipped in a set piece that was
essentially a corner and Lloris did very well to punch it out of danger. But
the signs were there that on this night, West Ham might just..wait for
it...turn a corner!
Sorry.
Minutes later, Payet sent an actual corner into the box with such pace and
accuracy that as long as decent contact was made the ball would only be
stopped if it went directly into Lloris. In fact, he got a hand on it but
such was the power generated by Antonio's neck muscles that it's a wonder
Lloris still had circulation through his fingers the rest of the match.
West Ham 1, Spuds 0.

I was listening to a podcast recently, either KUMB or Stop Hammertime, and
one of the pundits wondered aloud if Mark Noble's attacking play was always
there, but that Curbs put the breaks on him and made him think that joining
the attack was like joining The National Front. Zola surprisingly didn't
help much in that regard, Grant didn't help in any regard, and Sam would
rather actually join The National Front than commit more than one player
forward. But Bilicenzo has other ideas, most notably that if an attack goes
astray and leads to the opponent scoring, life goes on. I'm guessing that
more than anything has allowed Noble to express himself. Later in the first
half, he forced a very good save from Lloris on the play that has become
Noble's calling card. Meet the ball served up by Payet while running in and
drill it.
Can I say something about Emenike? Of course I can, but I'm just being
polite. He played well. Very well. His pressure runs at Lloris were actually
comical from a Spud point of view. Each time Lloris looked panic stricken as
Emineke bore down on him, I imagined music from an old silent movie or
cartoon. The only thing missing was the punch line where the ball bounced
off our man and into the net. All kidding aside, he held the ball up well,
involved others in buildup play, and even looked pretty useful with the ball
at his feet. I'm not suggesting the 8 million pound option is likely, but he
was certainly part of the success.

West Ham dominated the first half by pressing the team that is supposed to
be the best pressing team in the land, and one of the best in Europe at the
moment. It could easily have been far worse for the visitors than just
one-nil. And while you knew Pochettino would make adjustments for the second
half, you also knew Bilic would counter them with changes of his own. And so
it was that Spuds best and only real chance to find an equalizer came in the
63rd when Toby Alderweireld tried a long range shot that made Adrian go down
to his right to make the stop. But the West Ham keeper couldn't hold on to
the rebound, and there was you know who waiting to tap in the rebound. Never
mind that Hannibal Lecter was offside on the original strike by
Alderweireld, which would have made the tap in beyond infuriating. The
football gods knew this and pushed the ball away from danger. Divine
intervention at its finest.

My favorite moment of the match came three minutes later. Ogbonna had been
hobbling and limping. He looked in agony from a challenge by Mason earlier
in the match. The announcers kept proclaiming their shock that nobody was
warming up to replace him. My guess is he gave Bilicenzo enough looks that
said "take me out of this game and I'll bloody kill you" that Slaven feared
for his safety. Then, Ginge came off with an injury that looked worse than
whatever Ogbonna was dealing with, and on came Oxford. As he was about to
enter the game, Bilic and Terzic both embraced him. Obviously I don't know
what they said to him. But as a dad of someone less than three years younger
than Reece, I can guess it was something like this; "Go out there and enjoy
yourself. Have fun, because we all know you're capable of doing this. Ok?"
And the kid didn't miss a step. He was solid, composed, and while I may be
reading too much into it he looked happy.
The final 20 minutes were stressful because the demons of the way both games
ended last season were still fresh. But instead of laying back to absorb all
the body blows and karate kicks to the temple, and then being convinced we
had to play that way, we worked the ball out of trouble as much as we simply
cleared the ball from danger. We even had a chance through Payet and Sakho
late in the second half to counter, but Payet out-thought himself with one
too many moves instead of feeding Sakho on the right.
Final Score. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.
I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way, but I'm not really pulling
for Leicester City to win the title. It's definitely petty of me, but I
wanted us to be the biggest surprise story of the year. And even if they
don't win it all, they are almost locked into a Champions League spot for
next year. Which is the most stunning sports story in recent years on either
side of the pond. But while my bias is obvious, it doesn't mean I'm wrong to
believe we are in a better position long term, with a stronger base to build
on, than they are. Would it surprise any of us if they are in a relegation
battle next season on Saturdays while playing Bayern and Madrid on Tuesdays?
I think not.
As for this season, we are only a point out of fourth place. The possibility
of Slaven managing Champions League matches while Pep is preparing for some
team from Luxembourg is still remote. But deliciously possible. What if this
is the start of our best run of the season? We might have our strongest side
available since the beginning of the campaign, and that's a reality nobody
has really been asked to live through. Could it happen? If this is the
season when the only thing that is predictable is the unpredictable, why
can't we shock the world?
Or more succinctly; Why not us?
On a personal note, and please forgive me the self-indulgence, but the club
did a story on me and my best mate Jon coming over. I'm proud of it, even if
it's a bit childish. And I want to share it.

COYI!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hungry and combative West Ham out-Pochettino visiting Tottenham in pursuit
of a top 4 finish
BY DARRENLEWIS
The Mirror

Never mind trying to spite Spurs , impressive West Ham had business of their
own to attend to in Wednesday's -compelling contest.
They'd started the night just four points behind fourth-placed Manchester
City. They ended it having made clear their intention to hunt down Manuel
Pellegrini's Manchester City in search of a shock top four finish.
As statements go they quite comfortably made their point.
Boss Slaven Bilic switched to three at the back and his men produced an
outstanding display to out-Pochettino the visiting Spurs boss.
West Ham were hungry and combative , refusing to allow their London rivals
time to breathe let alone play the kind of football that had taken them to
within touching distance of the Premier League title.
West Ham United FC
Tripped up: Kieran Trippier had a torrid time for Spurs at right-backTwelve
months ago, under Sam Allardyce, the Hammers were in freefall, desperately
trying to pull the rip cord as they managed just three league wins over the
final five months.
Since then, co-owner David Sullivan has been a de facto director of
football, clearing out deadwood and tying up deals - including the one for
Dimitri Payet - to make this the best West Ham squad in over a decade.
It is a measure of the club's rapid progress over the ensuing period that
there is mounting optimism as they go into final three months of this quite
incredible campaign.
In pictures - West Ham 1-0 Spurs:
VIEW GALLERYUpton Park is one of the toughest places to go in the league
right now.
West Ham are unbeaten here in 14 league and cup games, winning nine and
drawing five, and have kept five clean sheets during their last seven home
league games.
They are determined to have their say in both the title race and the battle
for the top four, and have still to host Arsenal and Manchester United and
must travel to Leicester.
Yet no matter how slim their chance, but they intend to take it.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reece Oxford set to play against Everton as West Ham's injury crisis deepens
with James Collins blow
11:25, 3 MAR 2016
UPDATED 11:25, 3 MAR 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS

Reece Oxford is set to be called up by Slaven Bilic for Saturday's trip to
Everton as West Ham battle an injury nightmare. The Irons have had the gloss
taken off their superb win over Spurs on Wednesday night with the news that
defender James Collins is out for four to five weeks.
West Ham moved to within a point of the Champions League places with their
stunning win to end their London rivals' six-match winning streak.
But Collins suffered a hamstring injury. West Ham are awaiting scans but are
already resigned to losing him until next month.
It is a big blow as 32-year-old Collins, who rejected a move to relegated
QPR last year, has been one of West Ham's best players this season.
The Hammers are also already without Winston Reid who is not expected back
for a fortnight. James Tomkins is also another ten days away with a calf
injury.
And Angelo Ogbonna, their only fit centre-half, left Upton Park last night
with his foot in an ice-pack.
It is not thought to be serious and either midfielder Cheikou Kouyate or
Alex Song would drop into defence if need be.
But Bilic is likely to opt for teenager Oxford, still just 17, for the trip
to Goodison Park.
Hammers co-owner David Gold tweeted: "Ogbonna's foot was covered in an ice
pack after the game but he said he would be OK, James Collins, it looks like
a hamstring, Antonio ran himself into the ground but is OK great goal."
West Ham also have problems at right-back where Sam Byram is suspended for
the next two games. Winger Michail Antonio - the match winner against Spurs
- will continue to deputise.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Collins suffers hamstring setback
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 3, 2016
C and H

West Ham co-chairman, David Gold took to Twitter after the final whistle to
confirm it looks like a hamstring injury for James Collins. Another West Ham
supporter also asked Gold about Michail Antonio who he thought picked up a
knock in the victory but the West Ham confirmed that was not the case.
"James Collins, it looks like a hamstring," he tweeted. "Antonio ran himself
into the ground but is OK."
Collins is expected to be out for four to six weeks depending on the
severity of the tear. Antonio later explained in an interview he had a dead
leg and was sore during the match.
Angelo Ogbonna also struggled in the second half with a noticeable limp and
is said to have played in pain for the second 45 minutes.
Slaven Bilic confirmed Winston Reid should be returning within the next week
in his pre-match press conference on Monday morning.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Gold refuses favour for Lord Sugar
Posted by Sean Whetstone
C and H

Spurs fan Lord Sugar wrote to West ham Vice Chairman Lady Brady and
Co-Chairman David Gold on twitter yesterday morning before kick off to ask
for a favor to help Spurs go top of the league.
Apprentice star Sugar requested to the pair "I need a favour from you
tonight for West Ham to let us win so Spurs will go top of the league.Please
advise."
Post victory at the Boleyn Ground Gold replied to Lord Sugar saying "Dear
Lord Sugar all I can suggest is that a lie down in a dark room might help.
dg"
Upset at the loss at the Boley Ground Lord Sugar told his apprentice co-host
Lady Bady to"shut up' after she posted "Fantastic performance and very well
deserved. COYI" he later added "she won't mind as she knows me"
We await Lady Brady's witty response to Lord Sugar.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michail Antonio does Carlton dance celebration
Posted by Sean Whetstone
C and H

Fresh from his Homer Simpson goal celebration last Saturday against
Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground, Michail Antonio celebrated his goal last
night with a new celebration which resembled the Carlton dance from Fresh
Prince of Bel Air.
Antonio told WHUFC.com "I completely forgot my celebration that I had
planned. I had planned it so much and it was going to be the worm, but the
emotion of scoring in a derby got to me and I ended up doing the Carlton
dance! I prefer to play on the right and be more of an attacking threat, but
as long as the gaffer is picking me, I will give 100 per cent and try and
give everything I can. I got a dead leg late in the game which was sore but
I soldiered on and it was a great result."We will not get carried away with
it and I always believe in just winning the next game. If we keep doing that
we will be up there anyway."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Pochettino blames long ball & state of pitch
Posted by Sean Whetstone
C and H

"Always it is difficult, it was a game that was more physical than others,
in the way that they play, always this long ball, and they try to fight in
every action, and they are very strong," Pochettino told Sky Sports.
"For us it was difficult for the way that we want to play, and the pitch
wasn't good and didn't help us. But I think in the second half we had more
freedom, played better and created chances. "
"First half was difficult for us to adapt in the different circumstance, the
pitch was the first.
"The second, they play a very strong team and it was difficult to manage and
to play how we play in the last few games.
"It wasn't a good day for us, but in the second half we managed and created
chances. We had the control of the game and possession of the ball."


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Exclusive: Sullivan hails his heroes
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895
C and H

David Sullivan has hailed the amazing Hammers after their astonishing
victory over Spurs last night in which every player emerged a hero.
The 1-0 victory is probably the sweetest of the season given that it stopped
a title charge by the deadly enemy and showed the team at their attacking
best and most defensively resilient.
Sullivan was thrilled with the victory declaring exclusively
toClaretandHugh: "It was a fantastic night and a fantastic performance by
every player.
"Now we have 11 Cup Finals to go this season - and hopefully two more if we
beat Manchester United."
The co-chairman also confirmed that the only bad news was the Jams Collins
injury which will rule him out of first team action for the next four weeks.
But Angelo Ogbonna looks to be okay after a heroic second half performance
after receiving an accidental 'stamp' during the first half.
Sullivan told ClaretandHugh: "Hopefully, he is okay but Collins is likely to
be out for three or four weeks."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DG: "This was the sweetest yet"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895
C and H

West Ham's wonderful victory over Spurs has been greeted with the word "the
sweetest yet" by co chairman David Gold.
Still basking in the glory of a fabulous victory he said: "There have been
some wonderful moments this season but that beats all - it's the sweetest
because it's Spurs."
It was clearly hard for the chairman to properly explain his feelings such
was his joy but he told ClaretandHugh exclusively: "When you see the right
full back for the night at the near post heading home a wonderful goal from
a corner you realise you are watching something special.
It was a managerial masterstroke putting in five at the back - a touch of
genius. Both he and Aaron Cresswell were playing as genuine wing backs. Then
came the second half and the astonishing performance by the defence.
Andy Carroll's introduction made a big difference too. He got his foot on
the ball, held it up and made life more difficult for Spurs.
Now we move on to Everton with some absent players because of injury but you
are not going to bet against this team now. Who know where we are going.
Europe is a real possibility and perhaps now it's more a case of which
competition!
It as a fans' night - they will have loved that. To beat Spurs at any time
is such a joy - to beat them at this particular stage of this particular
season was wonderful."


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leroy: Irons on edge of something very big
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895
C and H

That was a truly fantastic performance and Slaven's decision to play five
across the back with three central defenders was an absolute master stroke.
Michail Antonio is probably on the hottest streak of his career and that
near post header was an absolute classic. Many said it was all about the
delivery by Payet but had the lad not got there they would have said the
opposite.
Dimitri, Antonio and Kouyate were absolutely immense for me and when Cheik
had to go into the back line after James Collins went off he was
extraordinary and nursed young Reece Oxford though the game - brilliant.
But every one of them stepped up last night and it's almost unfair to name
names such was the extraordinary performance.
These Irons are on the edge of something very big and I don't want to jinx
anything by discussing which European competition they may make but I'm sure
something is in store for us next season.
Last night was special because it had come at a point in the season where -
unlike Arsenal on opening day - Spurs knew what we were all about. and still
COULDN'T STOP US!
There were very few players on their side you would have swapped for any of
ours as we showed ourselves to be offensively brilliant in the first half
and defensively insurmountable in the second.
We were awesome over 90 minutes and neither Spurs or their manager can have
any excuses. The better team won - end of - and anything is now possible.
COYI


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