Daily WHUFC News - 16th April 2016

Carroll - We are all focused on Leicester
WHUFC.com

Andy Carroll is hoping the Hammers can bounce straight back against
Leicester on Sunday and says the players are excited at the prospect of
facing the Premier League leaders.

Carroll has nothing but praise for the way the Midlands Club have surprised
everybody in the game by storming their way to the top of the table and now
stand on the verge of securing their their first ever Premier League title.

The Hammers striker is keen to spoil the party at the King Power Stadium on
Sunday as his team-mates look to get straight back on the winning trail
following their disappointing defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup
quarter final on Wednesday night.

And with the chance to secure a European spot at the end of the season,
Carroll insists his side have still got everything to play for.

Carroll said: "The result against United was disappointing, it was one of
those days when things didn't happen for us. Now, we are all focussed on the
game against Leicester who have done fantastically this season.

"They were probably favourites to go down and they have turned that round.
They are where they are for a reason and we are all really excited to go up
to Leicester and play to our best.

"People kept putting them down and saying that they won't be able to keep it
up, but week after week, they prove they can and they stay strong.

"I think that if you look at a lot of the games in the last few weeks, there
are quite a few games in which we feel like we have dropped two points.

"Under Slaven we concentrate more on the other team than we did in the past.
Before, we focussed more on our own tactics, but now, we vary our tactics
from game to game."

After scoring a stunning hat-trick against Arsenal last weekend, Carroll is
desperate to stay among the goals as he looks to keep alive his hopes of
playing for England at the European Championship Finals during the summer.

Carroll said: "It's nice to be talked about like that (with England).
Getting back on the international stage is something I think about a lot.
But at the moment I am just concentrating on the way I am playing and trying
to play as best I can.

"Slaven has been great with me. He understands what I have been going
through with the injuries and he wants me to be on the pitch just as much as
I do. He knows how frustrating it is to be out with injury."

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Slaven Speaks - Leicester City
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic says his team will need no added motivation when they head to
Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City on Sunday. The Hammers were
left deflated following Wednesday's Emirates FA Cup sixth-round replay
defeat by Manchester United in midweek, but have to pick themselves up
immediately for what is the toughest assignment in English football at
present.
However, Bilic is confident his players will have shaken off their
disappointment and will be revved up to continue their own challenge for a
top-six finish and European qualification.
"It was a huge disappointment because we wanted to go to Wembley and then go
on and win the Cup," said the manager. "But we want to finish high and we
are motivated to do that in our final six games, starting at Leicester on
Sunday. "We need points to finish high in the table. Do we need to win on
Sunday to qualify for the Champions League? Well, we know we need points if
we are to finish high."

Bilic confirmed that Winston Reid will be fit to face the Foxes after
missing the midweek defeat with tight muscles, while Sam Byram will be
available after being cup-tied.

Whoever he picks, the manager knows his players must be on their game to
prevent Leicester playing to their many strengths – namely
counter-attacking, releasing Jamie Vardy into space in behind the defence,
allowing Riyad Mahrez to isolate and run at his man and set pieces.

"It's hard to play them because obviously they are winning games 1-0 or
whatever. They are very patient and their transition is unbelievable,
offensively or defensively.

"They are not a one-dimensional team. OK, people are saying they catch you
on the break and all that, but they have Vardy who didn't stop sprinting
from the first game and that's amazing.

"They also have good crossing, people in midfield who can take the ball from
you like Kante or Drinkwater, but they can also travel with the ball, pass
the ball and shoot. Not to mention Mahrez on the right who can beat three or
four players and do something special, so they are very versatile.

"They are playing simple football, but they have players who are capable of
counter-attacking, beating three or four players in a tight space, and they
are great on set pieces. They are very hard to beat.

"Every manager says they have to stop them counter-attacking or Vardy going
into spaces, but they are doing that week-in, week-out."
As one of only two clubs to have beaten West Ham on home turf in the Boleyn
Ground, 2-1 back in August, did Bilic expect Leicester to go on and
challenge for the title?

"I wouldn't say I thought they would be in this position – nobody would have
said that at that time – but what was obvious after their first two games, I
said to myself, my staff and Claudio Ranieri that they had a team which was
going to be extremely hard to beat, no matter who they played against.

"I didn't know they were going to be big-time favourites to win the league
in this moment."
Bilic had warm words for Dimitri Payet following his nomination for the PFA
Player of the Year award, pointing to the fact that he will be among a
number of candidates on the pitch on Sunday.

"It's a great thing for him and it's great for the Club, because it proves
that we're playing well and having a good season. He made, as I have said so
many times and everybody agrees, a great impact not only for West Ham but
for the league. He deserves it.

"I think he's there for a reason and nobody was surprised that he was
nominated for the Player of the Year award. Hopefully he's going to win it,
but if not him, it has to be connected with something your club has achieved
and done, so if Leicester win the league it should probably be Vardy.

"If, for some reason, they don't win it and Spurs win the league, it should
be Harry Kane because he will probably score more goals. It has to be a
little bit connected with your club's achievements."

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Young Hammers ready for Royal battle
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U18s will look for their first play-off stage win tomorrow
as they take on Reading at Little Heath. The young Hammers have so far
picked up two draws and a defeat in the first three matches of their
top-group play-offs, while the Royals have won once and lost three. Academy
Head of Player Development Peter Trevivian praised the U18s for their
qualification to the upper stages of the play-off system. He said: "It's
fantastic that the U18s are playing the likes of Liverpool and Everton and
Manchester City in this top group. "Those are the types of clubs these lads
should be competing against. Clubs gain reputations over a period of time
and West Ham are a team that others look forward to visiting. "That's why we
should be entertaining the top teams, and the U18s have done extremely well
to make sure they're doing that at the minute."

Former FA coach Trevivian joined the Club earlier this season, and he has
been impressed with what he's seen so far, particularly from the U18s.
"There's a real buzz to the [Academy] at the moment. Obviously when I came
in, I knew things were going well, but add to the U21s reaching the Cup
final the fact that the youths have made the top group, it's been great.
"It's been on top of the good work that's happening with the first team.
With the work we're doing at the Academy, we're getting a lot of good
feedback so hopefully we can carry that on."

The U18s' match kicks off at 11am on Saturday.

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Leicester City v West Ham United
SUN, 17 APR 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
13:30
Venue: King Power Stadium
BBC.co.uk

TEAM NEWS

Premier League leaders Leicester have a fully-fit squad to face West Ham at
the King Power Stadium. The Foxes have named the same starting line-up in 11
of their last 13 games and could do so again on Sunday.
West Ham will be without forward Diafra Sakho for a third match because of a
knee injury. Defender Winston Reid is expected to be fit after muscle
tightness caused him to miss Wednesday's FA Cup defeat against Manchester
United.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Wilson: "The sight of Claudio Ranieri holding back tears after his
side's win at Sunderland last Sunday was one of the images of the season -
delightful and touching. "Ranieri may still be talking about fantasies, but
the rock solid adherence of his players to the principles of teamwork look
set to turn those sweet dreams into solid silver. "West Ham will be smarting
from their FA Cup exit. Leicester would be right to be wary of Slaven
Bilic's excellent side - but just three more wins seal the title."

Twitter: @SteveWilson1967

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Again, Leicester play before Tottenham, so can open up a 10-point lead again
if they win, which is what I think will happen. Prediction: 2-1

Leicester City
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Leicester have won the last three meetings in all competitions by a 2-1
scoreline.
Andy King has scored the winner with four minutes remaining in two of those
three games.
Leicester City

Leicester could win six consecutive top-flight matches for only the second
time. They previously did so in March 1963 on their way to a club record
seven wins in a row.
Victory against West Ham would give Leicester an outright top-flight club
record of 22 victories in a season.
Eleven of Leicester's 14 clean sheets have come in their last 15 league
matches.
They have kept a top flight club record of five consecutive clean sheets, as
well as seven in their last eight home league matches.
Jamie Vardy has 21 league goals this season. He is the first Leicester
player to pass 20 in the top flight since Gary Lineker in 1984-85.
West Ham

West Ham have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games (W6,
D6, L4).
However, they have only won one of their last five (D2, L2).
Their last league clean sheet away from home came on 20 December against
Swansea.
Dimitri Payet has been involved in seven goals (four assists, three goals)
in his last seven league games.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 62% Probability of away win: 15%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by Professor Ian
McHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of
football matches.

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Slaven Bilic buys into 'the West Ham way' - John Hartson
By John Hartson
MOTD pundit
BBC.co.uk

West Ham are out of the FA Cup and look like they might fall short of a
top-four place too, but they should still be proud of their achievements
this season. They have so many reasons to be excited about this summer's
move to the Olympic Stadium and what it means for the Hammers' future. But
on top of that, there is a real togetherness at the club at the moment. The
fans and the board are totally behind the manager Slaven Bilic, and they
have a group of players who give everything every week. A top-six finish is
still on and, with the quality and experience in their team as well as their
will to win, I do not see their season just fizzling out.

It shows how far the Hammers have come that they expected to beat Manchester
United in this week's FA Cup quarter-final replay, and I think they will be
disappointed that they did not win the tie in the first game at Old
Trafford. The reason they were so confident ahead of Wednesday's 2-1 defeat
was that until then they had not been beaten at home for almost eight months
- 16 games in all competitions since 22 August. All the emotion of their
final season at the Boleyn Ground after 112 years definitely played its part
in that incredible run, but it would not have happened without Bilic's
arrival last summer. He was seen by some as a gamble because he had not
managed in the Premier League before but I think he is the perfect fit as
Hammers boss.

Bilic, 47, previously managed Hadjuk Split, Croatia, Lokomotiv Moscow and
Besiktas and was a popular player at West Ham in the 1990s West Ham are a
club whose fans do not want to lose their traditional playing style - 'the
West Ham way' - which is all about attacking football that is easy on the
eye. Bilic buys into all of that. He spent money very wisely in the summer
and some of the stuff I have seen them play under him this season has been
incredible. He has brought in these brilliant individuals like Dimitri Payet
and Manuel Lanzini, but has got the team ethic right too.

How the Hammers have improved in attack

I loved my two years as a West Ham player but I soon realised that some of
their supporters would not even mind being relegated as long as their team
is playing the right kind of football.
To say they are not bothered at all about winning is wrong, but they want to
be entertained by players who will get them out of their seats and on to
their feet. Even if it gets results, they do not want dull or boring
football, which is what they were seeing under Bilic's predecessor Sam
Allardyce. That is why a lot of fans turned on him. Allardyce can hold his
head high because he did the job he was brought in to do, which was to get
West Ham promoted and stabilise them in the Premier League, but Bilic has
taken them to the next level now.

West Ham's attack in the Premier League (and rank)
Season 2014-15 2015-16
Passes per game 357 (18) 394 (16)
Passing accuracy 74.6% (16) 77.4% (13)
Possession 45.4% (13) 47.6% (12)
Shots per game 12.8 (10) 14 (5)
Shots on target per game 4 (9) 4.7 (5)
Shot conversion rate 12.7% (12) 15.4% (6)
Goals per game 1.16 (13) 1.63 (=5)

Statistics don't always do justice to a team's style of play, but here they
help to show how the Hammers have improved in every attacking area this
season compared to last. The Hammers are more effective going forward under
Bilic but they are also well-drilled at the back and look solid whoever is
playing at centre-half. They have not become any more open.

West Ham's defence in the Premier League (and rank from fewest to most)
Season 2014-15 2015-16
Shots faced per game 15.5 (17) 14.7 (16)
Shots on target faced per game 4.7 (15) 4.5 (14)
Goals conceded per game 1.24 (7) 1.25 (9)

Their goals - and wins - dried up a bit when Dimitri Payet was injured in
November but they remained hard to beat during that period.

West Ham with/without Dimitri Payet
'If something is not working, Bilic will change it'

At the start of the season, West Ham earned some impressive wins at Arsenal,
Manchester City and Liverpool by playing on the break and not worrying about
possession. But that is not the only way they can play. There have been 12
league games home and away in 2015-16 where they have had more possession
than the opposition, and they have only lost two of them. If something is
not working, Bilic will change it - whether it is players or formations -
and he is versatile with his tactics too. Jump media playerMedia player
helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Having
Andy Carroll back at full fitness has given him another option and I do not
just mean pumping balls into the box. Yes, Carroll is very effective at
getting on the end of crosses and either heading for goal, knocking the ball
down for runners into the box or making sure defenders cannot clear their
lines properly. But he can play on the floor too, and is great at holding
the ball up, like I tried to do as a player. Carroll has been great as an
impact substitute in recent weeks but the way West Ham finish games has
They could not quite force an equaliser on Wednesday because of the
brilliance of United keeper David de Gea but they scored late goals against
Wolves and Liverpool on their way to the quarter-finals. In the league, only
Tottenham have earned more points from losing positions this season.

'You have to move with the times'

Olympic Stadium

I can only see West Ham being stronger next season although it might take a
while to adjust to the Olympic Stadium - especially for some of the fans.
The players will have to get used to it too, because the atmosphere will be
different to the Boleyn Ground. There is no way around that, sadly. I loved
playing there for West Ham, especially in night matches. We always fancied
ourselves against anyone under the lights, with a little bit of dew on the
pitch and with the fans getting right behind the team. It was electric. It
is an amazing ground that I always enjoyed going back to, but I cannot wait
to go to watch them at their new stadium because it is going to be very
special, too. To compete with the best, you have to move forward and move
with the times. The bigger attendances at the Olympic Stadium will allow the
club to grow and right now they are in very good hands.

John Hartson was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

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Slaven Bilic column: West Ham face a true test of character against
Leicester after FA Cup exit
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard

The FA Cup defeat by Manchester United was bitterly disappointing - there is
no escaping that. This was our big chance to win a trophy this season and it
didn't happen. The players, the board, the staff, the fans, myself — we were
all down afterwards. Now, though, what will be the reaction? We have six
matches to go and 18 points available. What will we do? Are we going to feel
a little sorry for ourselves and let our season fizzle out, after all the
hard work we have put in? Or shall we find the resolve to come back stronger
and truly show what we are made of? These last six matches will be a true
test of character and I am confident this team — these players — will not be
found wanting. Of course we were all gutted after Wednesday night but it is
not my style to be down too long. It is part of my job now and that of my
staff, to focus on what is in front of us for what remains of this season.
We haven't experienced too many disappointments over the last few months so
when they come, it can be more difficult to accept. It can happen in
football, though. Look at how Barcelona's season has almost imploded in the
space of one week. If it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone.

On Sunday we play at Leicester and that challenge should be more than enough
to occupy us over the next couple of days. The facts speak for themselves
with only three Premier League defeats for Leicester all season and without
a goal conceded in the past five matches. They play a little like underdogs
no matter if it is home or away — they don't give you space to attack and
when they go forward, it is so quick, it is hard to stop them. When you have
possession they have a lot of players behind the ball and it is difficult to
counter-attack them but then, when they have the ball, it happens so quickly
— whether it is a long ball to Jamie Vardy or great skill from Riyad Mahrez
— in no time they are on to you with four or five players.
They also have a presence at set-pieces so they are not playing football
that is high risk to them. I haven't seen that the opposition have been
unlucky when they have played Leicester or that their goalkeeper Kasper
Schmeichel has had to make five saves per game. I am sure every manager over
the past few months has said to their team: "Don't let them counter-attack
you, don't let Vardy run in behind."

Sam Allardyce would definitely have said that last weekend but it still
happened. You have to give Leicester massive credit for that. Now, they are
big time in the driving seat for the title. They have a cushion of points
and maybe would only start to feel negative pressure if it comes down to a
three-point gap. Now, though, it must only feel like positive pressure. They
can afford to drop a few points and, on Sunday, they will know it will not
be a disaster if they don't win. Claudio Ranieri is a very experienced
manager, he has worked at big clubs and he is having the time of his life.
He inherited a team who were in good form for the final couple of months
last season and has brought in players who have not only made them more
solid but also given them a different dimension offensively. They must be
revelling in what they are doing but we are also enjoying our season. Maybe
we would have had a little bit more of the spotlight on us for what we have
achieved, had not Leicester been the story of the season but there are no
complaints from us — they have deserved every accolade.

In many seasons there is a team who come through unexpectedly but not like
this — not from bottom to top — it is truly amazing. They have some good
candidates for the PFA Player of the Year. I am biased, of course, in favour
of Dimitri Payet, who has been magnificent for us and has made a massive
impact on the whole league but if he is not winning it, I would go for
Vardy.
Okay, Mahrez has been terrific and N'Golo Kante a revelation in midfield but
Vardy epitomises Leicester's incredible rise. It is not only his goals, it
is his general work-rate. For defenders, he is a real pest!

For us, there is still much at stake. Even if we were in the middle of the
table there is no valid reason why we should lose the motivation but
sometimes then, it is natural you are not in the red zone and you just lose
that five per cent. Our situation is totally different, though. We were
always trying to do as well as we could in both League and cups — that is
why we put out strong teams in every game. Now, unfortunately, one route has
closed for us but we still have the League. We have to come together, raise
our level, stop conceding and try to win these six games. I am not happy
with the way we have defended in the last couple of games — we should have
done better in that department — but also we were playing against Arsenal
and Manchester United, don't forget that. We have to remember what we did
earlier in the season, we have to recall that work-rate which gave us so
many wins. We can't lose that. I don't believe we are tired. In the last
couple of games, although we have made mistakes, we have ended stronger than
our opponents. I didn't think we looked tired at the end of Wednesday
night's match. We hope Winston Reid will be fit for Sunday. He had tight
hamstrings after the Arsenal game and it was too much of a risk the other
night but he should be okay for Leicester.

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Slaven Bilic ensuring West Ham do not dwell on FA Cup defeat
By Ben Reynolds
Last Updated: 15/04/16 12:49pm
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic wants his side to forget their FA Cup defeat
and focus on Leicester City in the Premier League. West Ham boss Slaven
Bilic insists his players will not be feeling sorry for themselves when they
return to Premier League action to take on leaders Leicester on Super
Sunday. The Hammers were knocked out of the FA Cup on Wednesday night
following a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Upton Park and must pick
themselves up quickly to resume their bid for European football next season.
Bilic's side currently sit sixth in the Premier League, five points behind
Manchester City in fourth, and the Croatian is confident his side will be
ready to play a team that is seven points clear at the top of the table.
"We are disappointed but we are in a great position in the league and
everything to play for," Bilic said. "We are totally motivated for the next
six games and it starts against Leicester. We have to do everything we can.
"We need points to finish high so yes we have to win, whether it's fourth,
fifth or sixth. United and Man City, five points to City is big with six
games to go, but there are also teams below us playing well and hoping to
get a European place next year."
Bilic admits he has been as surprised as anyone by Leicester's incredible
title challenge this season and did not see it coming despite losing 2-1 at
home to Claidio Ranieri's side earlier in the campaign. "I didn't think
Leicester that they would be in this position. Nobody would have said that
then," he added. "When I watched their first game and then after our game
and I said to myself, and to Claudio Ranieri, they had a team that will be
extremely hard to beat by anyone. But I didn't know they would be big
favourites to win the league."

Much of West Ham's fine season has gone through Dimitri Payet, who was named
on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year earlier
this week, and Bilic was full of praise for his midfielder. He said: "Of
course it's a great thing for Dmitri and a great thing for the club. It's
proof the whole club is playing well all season. Everybody agrees that he
has made a great impact not just for west ham but for the league. He
deserves it. He's there for a reason. "Nobody was surprised he has been
nominated. And I hope he is going to win it. If not him then, in many ways
it has to be connected to what the club does. If Leicester win the league it
should be one of them - probably Jamie Vardy is my choice. If for some
reason, they don't and Spurs win it, it should be Harry Kane."

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Leicester v West Ham preview: Foxes look to extend lead at top
Last Updated: 15/04/16 5:09pm
SSN

Leicester can move a step closer to winning the Premier League with victory
at home to West Ham on Super Sunday.

The Foxes start the weekend with a seven-point lead at the top of the table
after five successive victories without conceding a goal.

They have beaten the Hammers in the league and Capital One Cup this season
and another win would move them 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham,
who travel to Stoke on Monday Night Football.

West Ham have seen their top-four hopes fade in recent weeks following three
successive draws in the league.

They also lost their FA Cup quarter-final replay to Manchester United on
Wednesday, but manager Slaven Bilic says there will not be any hangover.

"We are disappointed but we are in a great position in the league and
everything to play for," he said. "We are totally motivated for the next six
games and it starts against Leicester. We have to do everything we can.

"We need points to finish high so yes we have to win, whether it's fourth,
fifth or sixth. United and Man City, five points to City is big with six
games to go, but there are also teams below us playing well and hoping to
get a European place next year."

Team news

Leicester have no new injury concerns, so Claudio Ranieri is likely to name
the starting line-up for the 12th time in 14 league games.

West Ham can welcome back defenders Winston Reid and Sam Byram after Reid
missed the FA Cup defeat to United with a tight hamstring and Byram, fit
again after a recent spell out injured, was cup-tied.

Striker Diafra Sakho is still sidelined with the knee knock which forced him
to withdraw from the squad to face Arsenal last weekend, but he is expected
back in training on Monday.

Opta stats

West Ham have won twice as many of the meetings (10) between these two sides
in the Premier League than Leicester (five), with two draws.

The Hammers have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games
(W6 D6 L4).

Leicester have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight Premier League
matches at the King Power Stadium.

Just two of Andy Carroll's 12 Premier League goals since the start of
2014-15 have come away from home.

The Foxes have only trailed for 47 minutes in their 22 Premier League games
played since the start of November 2015.

Dimitri Payet has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League
appearances (three goals, four assists).

Paul Merson's prediction

I was really disappointed in West Ham the other night. I had only really
seen highlights of Slaven Bilic's side this season and thought they looked
excellent, but having watched the whole game against Man United, they were
really poor.

United put in a very good display at Upton Park but for me, West Ham didn't
do enough. They didn't get enough crosses into the box and there is no point
playing Andy Carroll if you are not going to get the ball into the penalty
area. If you'd have asked me for a prediction on Monday I'd have said I'm
not sure, but now I can't see anything but a Leicester win.

However, I still see a twist to come in the title race.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)

Betting

Leicester are odds-on at 17/20 with Sky Bet to secure another three points
in their chase for the title with victory over West Ham (16/5), with the
draw priced at 13/5. The Foxes are 1/5 to complete the fairy-tale, while the
Hammers will be looking to bounce back after their midweek FA Cup exit to
Manchester United.

Leicester have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home games and
are 6/4 to extend that run. West Ham recorded wins at Everton and drew with
Norwich and Chelsea in their last three away games scoring two or more goals
in each of those and are 9/4 to score two or more again on Sunday. Get the
latest odds and tips from our Sky Sports pundits here.

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Sport Football West Ham United FC
New TV deal will prevent Premier League clubs signing bargain players,
claims West Ham boss Slaven Bilic
22:30, 15 APR 2016
BY JON WEST
Bilic warned that no club will now sell cheaply to an English top-flight
side once the £5.14billion TV deal kicks in
The Mirror

Slaven Bilic believes Premier League clubs can forget about landing
Leicester-style bargains next season.

Bilic takes his West Ham side to the King Power Stadium on Sunday hoping to
arrest the Foxes' amazing charge towards a first league title.

Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante have been the stars of the season
and cost just £7million between them.

But Bilic warned that no club will now sell cheaply to an English top-flight
side once the £5.14billion TV deal kicks in.

"It's going to affect the price of the players, make no mistake," he said.

"It was always like that, because last year it was like that and now it's
going to be even more.

"Definitely the directors or the chairman of the board of the clubs in
Europe, they have one phone for England and the other phone for the rest of
the world and they are all going for the English one!"

Bilic revealed he had wanted to bring Kante to West Ham.

The midfielder instead joined the Foxes for £5.6m from Caen last August and
has been an inspiration.

He said: "We were quite close. He's one of those players that you think
after 20 minutes that there are twins, that there are two of them because
the energy and the cleverness.

"But then we got some players before in the same positions and it would
simply be too many players for the same position."

The Hammers banned Bilic from speaking about the controversial financial
arrangements surrounding their move to the Olympic Stadium in the summer.

But co-chairman David Sullivan insisted a deal that sees the Hammers pay
just £15m plus £2.5m a year was good for the nation, even though the
taxpayer is picking up the rest of the bill.

He said: "We've done a great job for West Ham but believe you me, we've done
a great job for the nation, too.

"We've done a great job for the country, we've done great for jobs in
Newham, for tourism, for business for Westfield - this is a win, win for
everybody.

"We, along with the operators and Newham council, have saved that wonderful
stadium. Instead of being like the eyesores and white elephants in Beijing
and Greece, it will be there for 100 years."

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Sullivan talking of Bilic deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Irons chairman David Sullivan last night insisted that Slaven Bilic was
virtually assured of a new deal and killed off talk of a return to Turkey
with Fenerbahce. The Turkish giants aren't alone in their admiration of the
Irons boss who has had a fabulous start to his career in East London as the
club boss following his departure from Besiktas And it was ironic that
reports emerging this morning (Fri) of interest in him after Sullivan had
spoken of his future in his talkSPORT interview last night. Sullivan said:
"He has a three year contract here and at some point before the three years
we will sit down and try to persuade him to stay if things go on as they
have been going. "He's happy here and he's the least money motivated manager
I've ever spoken to. He is half a Socialist so he is very keen to look after
his staff. He's not really into money himself."

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DS doesn't want our players in England shirts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Sullivan doesn't want Andy Carroll to go to the Euros or any of our
players "to go and play for England." The co chairman – made his position
clear towards the end of a talkSPORT interview in which he defended the
Olympic Stadium deal struck by the Irons. Asked whether he believed Carroll
should go to France he said: "I know it's a horrible thing to say but I
don't want any of our players to go and play for England. "I saw what
happened to Dean Ashton. We lost a vital player and we never got a penny
compensation from the FA." And he explained: "For me as a club owner when
they go away, they play extra games and they risk injury. It does nothing
for me. "If you want to sell it probably increase their value but we have no
desire to sell any of our players. Wearing my West Ham United hat I wish we
had no internationals and a nice long break. "That's because often players
involved in these big competitions struggle the next season because they
don't get a long enough break in the summer."

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Irons striker could be on the move
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham's striker problems may have been dominated by Diafra Sakho over
recent days but it's Enner Valencia's future which is now focusing minds
inside the club. The Ecuador striker produced a less than mediocre
performance against Manchester United and not for the first time his
performance took a battering from the fans on social media. Bought for £12
million, Valencia has managed just nine goals in 56 League and Cup matches
and looked to be right out of touch when recalled for the FA Cup replay
against Manchester United. Apart from his lack of form there have also been
injury absences which haven't helped and the the Hammers may now be ready to
let him move on if they can get a reasonable price in the summer. A senior
source this afternoon (Fri) refused to rule out talk of a possible move for
the player hen ClaretandHugh asked the question. He said: "There's been a
lot of focus on all three strikers because Emineke will definitely be
allowed to return to Turkey. "Enner Valencia has often been reported as a
target for a couple of clubs and every player has a price. He has had some
problems. Speculation always becomes intense at this time of the year but it
would be wrong to rule anything out or in at this point."

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Bilic dispels Fenerbahce rumours
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic gave his pre match press conference in advance of our away game
against Premier League leaders Leicester City.

Bilic said : "It looks like Reidy should be ok. He had tight muscles but was
not injured. Nothing major happened on Wednesday. Burns is available. It was
a huge disappointment because we wanted to go to Wembley and then go on and
win the Cup. But we want to finish high and we are motivated to do that in
our final six games, starting at Leicester on Sunday. We need points to
finish high in the table. Do we need to win on Sunday? Well we know we need
points if we are to finish high.It's a great thing for Dimitri Payet being
nominated for the PFA award. It's a great thing for the Club as it shows
we're going well. Hopefully he's going to win it but if not him, then it
should be connected with something your club has achieved."

"If Leicester win the league then Vardy is my choice. If they don't and
Spurs do, it has to be Harry Kane.I wouldn't have said in August when they
beat us that they'd be in this position but then nobody would have said that
after their first two games I said to my staff and Claudio Ranieri that they
had a team that was going to be very hard to beat. [On Fenerbahce] I have
many friends in Turkey but I am happy here. In Turkey there is only one club
for me and that's Besiktas."

"We have to bounce back and we're playing away to a team that's firm
favourites to win the league. It's a big test They play very simple football
but it's very effective. It's hard to create clear-cut chances against them.
They protect their box really well and have a great goalkeeper but we're
capable of creating chances and do in every game we play. We drew too many
matches on one hand, but on the other hand we lost very few matches – only
six. Of course it would be better if we had won more but overall we are
doing really good and sitting high in the table. So far we're having a
really good season but we've got six games left and we want to finish it
well and as high as we can. Every manager says we have to stop Leicester
counter attacking and Vardy running into spaces, but they're still doing it
every week. We cannot afford to lose the ball and them to break on us."

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West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic admits Leicester City's fairytale season
has put his team's achievements and every other Premier League side in the
shade
Slaven Bilic has led his Hammers side to a remarkable season this term
West Ham sit in sixth place and could still reach the Champions League
But Bilic admits they haven't matched the achievements of the Foxes
Leicester are on the verge of winning the title and sit seven points clear
The Foxes host West Ham on Sunday as they continue their title bid
By OLIVER TODD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:00, 15 April 2016 | UPDATED: 14:00, 15 April 2016

Slaven Bilic accepts Leicester City's 'unbelievable fairytale' has left
everyone else's achievements in the shade this season. West Ham manager
Bilic takes his side to the league leaders on Sunday with an outside shot at
Champions League qualification still on the cards. But that narrative will
be lost somewhat at the King Power Stadium, with all the focus on Leicester
as they hone in on the nine points they need to take the title. Bilic says
that even though West Ham have been handed plenty of praise, the Foxes'
achievements are putting his good work 'in the shadows'. 'People recognise
we are having a good season, playing good football and praising us,' Bilic
said. 'But what Leicester have done puts our successful season a little bit
in the shadows. It's like a fairytale and they deserve all the credit they
are getting. It is unbelievable.' Leicester's shock rise to the top, where
they now sit seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham, came as a
surprise to the Barclays Premier League - but Bilic had something of an
inkling months ago. The Foxes won 2-1 at Upton Park back in August and the
West Ham manager had words with opposite number Claudio Ranieri about the
strengths of his side post-match. 'I wouldn't say then I thought they would
be in this position, no-one would have said that,' Bilic conceded. 'But what
was obvious, even then I said to Claudio: "You have a team who will be
extremely hard to beat". But I didn't know they would be big-time favourites
now to win the league. Nobody did.'
West Ham's star man Dimitri Payet is up against three Leicester players in
the running for this season's PFA Player of the Year award: Jamie Vardy,
Riyad Mahrez and Ngolo Kante. Unsurprisingly, Bilic's vote would go to Payet
but looking at the shortlist without bias, he would back Vardy for the
honour. 'I can't be very objective talking about him (Payet),' the Croatian
coach said. 'He is there for a reason and no-one was surprised he was
nominated. I hope he is going to win it. 'If not him, it's an individual
award but it has to be connected to the club. So if Leicester win the league
then it probably should be one of them, and Vardy would be my choice.'

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Leicester v West Ham: Team news, kick-off time, probable line-ups, odds and
stats for the Premier League clash
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 13:17, 15 April 2016 | UPDATED: 13:17, 15 April 2016

TEAM NEWS

West Ham
West Ham can welcome back defenders Winston Reid and Sam Byram for the trip
to leaders Leicester on Sunday. Reid missed Wednesday night's 2-1 FA Cup
defeat by Manchester United with a tight hamstring while Byram, fit again
after a recent spell out injured, was cup-tied. Striker Diafra Sakho is
still sidelined with the knee knock which forced him to withdraw from the
squad to face Arsenal last weekend, but he is expected back in training on
Monday.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, Cresswell, Collins, Reid, Ogbonna,
Tomkins, Byram, Hendrie, O'Brien, Oxford, Kouyate, Noble, Obiang, Song,
Lanzini, Payet, Moses, Antonio, Valencia, Emenike, Carroll.

Key match stats (Supplied by Opta)

West Ham United have won twice as many of the meetings (10) between these
two sides in the Barclays Premier League than Leicester (five), with two
draws.
The Hammers have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games
(W6 D6 L4).
Leicester City have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight Premier
League matches at the King Power Stadium.
N'Golo Kanté has made the most tackles (146) and interceptions (134) in the
Premier League this season.
Jamie Vardy (21 goals) is the first Leicester City player to surpass the
20-goal mark in a top-flight season since Gary Lineker in 1984-85 (24).
Just two of Andy Carroll's 12 Premier League goals since the start of
2014-15 have come away from home.
Leicester City have kept five consecutive clean sheets in the top-flight for
the first time in their history.
The Foxes have only trailed for 47 minutes in their 22 Premier League games
played since the start of November 2015.
Dimitri Payet has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League
appearances (three goals, four assists).
Payet has created 94 goalscoring chances for the Hammers in the Premier
League this season; 49 more than any other player (Mark Noble – 45, the next
best).

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