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Preview - Man Utd
WHUFC.com

The background

A place at Wembley is on the line on Wednesday night when West Ham United welcome Manchester United to the Boleyn Ground for their Emirates FA Cup sixth round replay.

Remember this game kicks-off at the earlier than usual time of 7pm.

Following a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last month, the teams will do battle again for the right to face Everton in the semi-finals a week on Saturday.

The Hammers could count themselves a touch unfortunate not to progress at the first time of asking, after Anthony Martial's late equaliser cancelled out Dimitri Payet's stunning free-kick.

However, the Hammers did not allow that to dishearten them, and are unbeaten since that game, while Manchester United have defeated Manchester City and Everton, but were beaten comfortably by Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.

They are a point ahead of the Hammers in the Barclays Premier League table, in fifth place, and have seen off Sheffield United, Derby County and Shrewsbury Town in their Cup run so far.
The history

Manchester United have won eleven FA Cups to the Hammers' three, with their last success coming back in 2004.

West Ham and the Red Devils have met in eight previous FA Cup ties, with both teams winning four each. The last meeting came in 2012/13 when a 2-2 Boleyn Ground draw was followed by a 1-0 replay win for the north west club.

Earlier this season the teams played out a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, when both Winston Reid and Mauro Zarate struck the woodwork for the visitors.
The match

Team news

West Ham United

Diafra Sakho misses Wednesday's FA Cup meeting with the Red Devils after picking up a knee injury in training at the end of last week.

Sam Byram is cup tied, but James Collins returns to the squad after overcoming his hamstring injury.

Darren Randolph is likely to feature in goal after playing in all of the Hammers' FA Cup ties so far this season.
Manchester United

Wayne Rooney made his comeback following two months out for the Red Devils' U21 side on Monday and could play.

Phil Jones and Timothy Fosu-Mensah will be assessed, the latter having picked up an injury against Tottenham on Sunday.
Match info

Roger East takes the whistle for Wednesday's game, and a good omen for the Hammers is that he was the same referee for their replay win against Liverpool earlier this season. He will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Peter Kirkup, and the fourth official is Neil Swarbrick.
The last three meetings between the Clubs have been draws.
West Ham have drawn their last four matches in all competitions.
The Hammers have only lost two of their last 24 games in all competitions (W10, D12).
Dimitri Payet has been involved in 23 goals in all competitions this season (12 goals, 11 assists) - 13 more than any other Hammers player.
Manchester United have been knocked out in both of their last two sixth-round appearances, including a 2-1 home defeat by eventual winners Arsenal last season.
United have only failed to score in two of their last 15 away trips to Upton Park.
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info

Tickets for this gave have completely SOLD OUT.
The District and Hammersmith & City lines will serve Upton Park station as normal on Wednesday. Click here for the latest news on TfL services and here for National Rail.
A sunny day is expected on Wednesday, leading into a dry evening. Temperature at 7pm is predicted to be 15C (59F).
If you're not heading to the game, remember you can follow live across our digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre has live audio commentary, text updates, in-running stats and pictures. You can get involved in the conversation on social using #WHUMNU.

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Noble - We need to keep going
WHUFC.com

Mark Noble says the Hammers are ready for the second game in their 'massive' week. Following Saturday's thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal, a place at Wembley is on the line on Wednesday night, when Slaven Bilic's men play host to Manchester United in their Emirates FA Cup sixth round replay. Noble would love nothing more than to lead his team out under the Wembley arch, especially as a good result against the Red Devils would set them up for the trip to league leaders Leicester City. He said: "Our attention is on Manchester United, as we would love to give our fans a Wembley day out. Then we have the potential champions in Leicester next weekend. The team spirit is great and we just need to keep on going. "I think Leicester will go on to win the league if they continue as they have been and so this week will be a tough one for us. We are still going to push for the Champions League. There are a lot of points still to play for."
Noble was thrilled to see Andy Carroll score a quickfire hat-trick on Saturday and says an England call for this summer's Euro 2016 is not out of the question. He added: "Everybody knows what Andy is like, he is the best when the ball is in the box. When you cross the ball into him, he is simply unplayable at times. He should definitely be looked at for a place in the England squad. He's been and done that before, but the most important thing is to keep him fit and he will help us out massively. "We've got a great bunch of lads here. We were two down against a very good Arsenal side and it is fantastic to come back to be 3-2 up. At the moment, there are small margins that are making us draw games rather than winning them."

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Slaven Speaks - Manchester United
WHUFC.com

Manager Slaven Bilic hosted his pre-Manchester United press conference on Tuesday morning, where he discussed the Boleyn Ground's final FA Cup tie, an important week for West Ham United, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho...

Slaven, can you please sum up what Wednesday evening's Emirates FA Cup sixth-round replay with Manchester United - the final FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground - means to West Ham United?

"It's the final FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground, it's Manchester United and it's the quarter-finals, so it can't be any bigger an occasion. We are of course fully motivated and want to go through.

"We have played them twice this season at Old Trafford and drawn both games. Now, it's the first time we will play them at home and it's an important game. We then play them at home in the final Premier League game here, which will also be massive.

"Wednesday's game is massive for them and massive for us. OK, they lost their last game 3-0 but they are Manchester United and they have great players.

"For their standards, of course, they've not been very consistent but they are still above us in the table, and they are very capable of beating any team on their day."

You played Arsenal on Saturday and go to leaders Leicester City in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday, so do you have those games in mind when you select your team on Wednesday?

"We got to Leicester City on Sunday in the Premier League, and I have said before we have a big week, but we take it game-by-game and we didn't think about this game before the Arsenal game.

"When we make the team selection, we take this game on its own. Of course, we know we have to play the other games but that is not affecting our selection or the way we are training or resting and all that.

"When it comes to the games, in the position we are in, we cannot prioritise and we are going to put everything we can into every game. We will pick the best team we can."

Can you believe how well things have gone this season?

"It has been a long season, one which began on 2 July, but we had always planned to be in this position if possible. That is the reason why we are in these jobs - to finish as high as possible, to win as many games as we can. We have done all right.

"All that we were doing in the pre-season and during the season was to put us in the best-possible position and we're playing well.

"We know the competition is strong in the Premier League so you never know what is round the corner, but we've coped with it well so far. We've reached the hardest part in the league and in the FA Cup, but we're going to give everything to take it all."

How do you reflect now on Andy Carroll's hat-trick performance against Arsenal on Saturday?

"Andy Carroll did brilliant for us on Saturday against Arsenal. My opinion on him is that when he is fit and on form, he is a very special kind of player. He brings you something that very few players can.

"He is different, he is hard to cope with and hard to deal with, and he has done really well for us every time he has been fit. He doesn't have to score, because his presence on the pitch gives us another dimension."

Finally, what is the situation with regard to Diafra Sakho?

"The situation with Diafra Sakho is very simple. He reported an injury after training on Friday and was not in the squad for Arsenal. He had a scan on Monday and it reported a little bit of a problem, so he is out for hopefully not more than one week. We hope to have him back on Monday."

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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update - in association with Spire Roding Hospical...

Hello everyone and welcome to From the Treatment Room - 24 hours earlier than usual due to our FA Cup sixth-round replay with Manchester United on Wednesday evening.

The Medical and Sports Science department were delighted to see Andy Carroll score a fantastic hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday, when the team played some very good football which we all enjoyed.

We all know that when he is on top of his game that he is unplayable and, as a staff, we like to see any player who has had an injury history on the pitch and on top of his form.

A further positive was that we did not pick up any injuries from the game. The players were a little fatigued by the end, so we rested, recovered on the pitch on Monday and trained fully on Tuesday ahead of Man United.

We welcomed back James Collins, James Tomkins and Sam Byram back to full training. Unfortunately Sam is cup-tied but we hope to have all three of them back in first-team contention soon.

West Ham is becoming a top team at all levels - Stadium, training ground, the players we have signed - and a top team has a high number of games so we all have to rise to the challenge.

We hope that this intensity and busy fixture list is going to sustain into next season because we are playing in the UEFA Europa League or even the UEFA Champions League, and also have two good domestic cup runs.

I and a number of my staff have worked at clubs which have progressed into European competition previously and I can assure you that the staff relish the adventure like the supporters do.

We work seven days a week anyway, so it is nice for the staff if this work includes travelling in Europe. It's good, and the amount of games is not a problem because if you weren't playing matches, you would be training hard anyway. It doesn't make a difference.

With Ginge, Tonks and Sam back in training, we have just the one injury at present, and that is Diafra Sakho.

Diaf picked up a minor right knee injury in training on Friday and we hope to see him back on the pitch either at the end of the week or the beginning of next week.

Looking ahead to Wednesday's game, I was part of the Medical and Sports Science department when we went to Wembley for the 2012 Play-Off final and I would love to take my team back there to work in the semi-finals and final.

We have a young, educated and motivated staff here at West Ham United and are as eager as the players to achieve more.

Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science

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Bobby Moore OBE
WHUFC.com

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of West Ham United's finest-ever player and captain - Bobby Moore OBE...

Bobby Moore OBE, West Ham United's greatest-ever player and England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain, was born on this day 75 years ago. The central defender made 646 league and cup appearances for the Hammers, scoring 27 goals. Moore was born in Barking on 12 April 1941, making his debut for his local club in a 3-2 win over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground as a 17-year-old on 8 September 1958. It was the start of a glittering career that is remembered fondly by football fans the world over. As a West Ham player, Moore lifted the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. A year later, he was back at Wembley to complete an unforgettable hat-trick by lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany. Moore would go on to star at the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico before moving to Fulham, for whom he played against the Hammers in the 1975 FA Cup final. Following his retirement, Moore moved first into management and then into the world of broadcasting before his life was cut short by cancer in February 1993. He was just 51. Fellow Hammers legend Billy Bonds MBE recalls Bobby's memory fondly. He said: "Mooro was an absolute icon. I respected a lot of team-mates and opponents down the years but he was the only person in my entire career, who made me feel that way. "He was fantastic to me from the day that I arrived and I loved him as a player and as a person. Bobby Moore had a presence both off and on the field. "There was no side to him at all and, having lifted the World Cup, he'd been the most famous person on the planet on that July afternoon at Wembley in 1966 but, despite all of that, Bobby wasn't the slightest bit lairy. Mooro treated everyone the same, no matter who they were. "Bobby Moore wasn't a particularly good header of the ball and he wasn't very quick either but, boy, his timing was impeccable. He didn't need to be good in the air or fast because he could read the game so well - he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to nick the ball off a centre-forward. "And he was just so good at bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks, too."

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Fans' Forum catch goalkeeper trio in good spirits
WHUFC.com

Hammers' heroes Adrian, Darren Randolph and Chris Woods participated in a highly successful Accessibility Fans' Forum on Monday evening at the Boleyn Ground.

The trio fielded faced a gruelling question and answer session where they faced a wide range of questions which raised plenty of laughs.

Reflecting on his penalty heroics last season against Everton, Spanish stopper Adrian beamed: "My penalty against Everton was one of my best moments here at West Ham, I was like an outfield player!

"It was a strange feeling, unusual. But I took my gloves off because I was confident my goalkeeper work was done! Lucky for me I scored."

Meanwhile Darren Randolph was equally in just as high spirits ahead of Wednesday's quarter-final replay: "We haven't been practising penalties, I don't think we'll need them, I'm feeling confident!"

After emerging from the inquisition unscathed, the trio, all good friends, posed for photos with the guests and signed merchandise in what was a highly enjoyable evening for all.

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The Big Interview - Andy Carroll
WHUFC.com

Andy Carroll sat down with West Ham TV to talk hat-tricks, starting places, the FA Cup and more ahead of Wednesday's last-ever FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground.

The No9 bagged his first treble in six years against Arsenal on Saturday to make an emphatic return to Slaven Bilic's team, and now he is targeting more goals and glory against Manchester United.

With a place at Wembley Stadium in a semi-final with Everton at stake, Carroll is looking to build on his outstanding performance on what promises to be a historic evening in east London.

A few days on, how do you reflect on your hat-trick and the positive response from fans and the media alike?

"It was good getting another hat-trick as it's been a while! It was a good game and a tough game, but I'm looking forward to the game on Wednesday now. If the ball comes in the box then I think I'm favourite. I am happy to challenge for it and if the timing is right, I think I'm going to get there."

Slaven Bilic has spoken of the superb impact you have made off the substitutes' bench, but you started on Saturday and presumably you want to keep your place in the team?

"It's been tough not starting but it's worked well and I've done the right thing in training to keep myself fit and getting on for the last 30 minutes, but it's not the place I want to be. I want to be the main man in the middle.

"I've said this before that he is a great manager and a great man. That's something I've got to appreciate and respect and I do. It's his decision to make the team and I've just got to fight for it in training and that's what I've been doing.

"It's something I've got to work for and when I get a start like I did at the weekend, I've got to show him what I'm all about."
Slaven has made quite an impact since he arrived last summer. What have you made of his approach to managing West Ham United?

"He's a great manager and a great bloke, to be honest. You can talk to him about football or not about football, and when it comes to games his tactics are spot-on. Every game, he takes each game as it comes and it's different tactics, different set-ups and different formations.

"He has changed a lot and brought all the lads together and with all the staff he's brought in, it's been very good. With the way we've played this season, it's shown he has brought in the way he wants us to play and the lads are enjoying it.

"Going down 2-0 at Arsenal, in the past you'd think it was over but we showed we could fight to get back in the game and we went ahead. We were unlucky not to win the game and that's what has changed."

The team spirit is fantastic, isn't it?

"When the lads come into training, wherever we're from we're all sat on different tables and there are no separate groups. At the training ground, we're all mates and all go on the pitch together as a team and work together."

And so to Wednesday and it's Manchester United in the last-ever FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground?

"It's going to be great. We're all looking forward to it and the fans are, so it'll be a great night and hopefully we'll get a result.

"Maybe I can get another hat-trick, why not! It'll be nice to get a few more goals. It doesn't really matter about a hat-trick, but it would be nice to be the last one to get a hat-trick at the Boleyn Ground.

"It would be nice to get my hands on the FA Cup trophy. We'll just have to see what comes and not look too far in the future, but just at this game against Man U."

It's four years here now - you're part of the furniture!

"I'm loving it here and loving it at home. Everything is spot-on and I'm really happy and enjoying it. Give it a few more years and I'll get a Testimonial!"

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West Ham United v Manchester United
WED, 13 APR 2016FA CUP - SIXTH ROUND - REPLAY
19:00
Venue: Boleyn Ground

BBC coverage
How to follow:
Watch live on BBC One from 19:00, listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website

TEAM NEWS

West Ham will be without Diafra Sakho for Wednesday's FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United. Hammers manager Slaven Bilic insists a knee injury - rather than a rift - will keep the forward out for a week.

Wayne Rooney returned after two months out with a knee injury for Manchester United's Under-21 side on Monday and could be involved at Upton Park. Phil Jones will also be assessed along with Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who was injured in Sunday's loss at Tottenham.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Wilson: "What better way for the Boleyn Ground to say goodbye to cup football. "West Ham are as exciting as anyone to watch just now - always threatening to score with Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payet and Andy Carroll offering very different, but very potent threats. "The Hammers haven't lost a home game since August, but should be wary of a favourites tag. "United may have been drubbed by Spurs on Sunday, but just when you think Louis van Gaal's fate is sealed they seem to come up with a win - as Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City will testify. "Expect a thrilling game, a raucous atmosphere - and goals."

Twitter: @SteveWilson1967

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Andy Carroll (who scored a hat-trick in the 3-3 draw against Arsenal Saturday): "I don't know about the England squad. I said my opinion about him and it doesn't vary to most of the football people's opinion of Andy - when he is fit and in form he is very special and gives you something. He is different. "It is hard to mark him and hard to cope with him. For us he has done really good every time he is fit. He doesn't have to score, his presence on the pitch gives us another quality and dimension."

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "I've seen the Andy Carroll show and I think our problem against Tottenham was also the miscommunication of our central defenders. I hope that we improve our communication because it is very important this game for us. "Carroll has special qualities. We have seen that in the match that he played on Saturday. It was also against Arsenal and they have great central defenders but still he could do that. "So we have to cope with Andy Carroll and not only Andy Carroll, the other players. They have a certain player called Dimitri Payet, for example; he can also play, and (Manuel) Lanzini can also score goals."

Andy Carroll
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

This will be the last FA Cup match at Upton Park. These sides will also meet in West Ham's final home league match on 10 May.
The past three meetings have been draws.
West Ham

West Ham have drawn their past four matches in all competitions.
The Hammers have only lost two of their past 24 games in all competitions (W10, D12).
Dimitri Payet has been involved in 23 goals in all competitions this season (12 goals, 11 assists) - 13 more than any other Hammers player.
Manchester United

The 11-time FA Cup winners last lifted the trophy in 2004.
They have been knocked out in both of their past two last-eight appearances, including a 2-1 home defeat by eventual winners Arsenal last season.
United have only failed to score in two of their past 15 trips to Upton Park.

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Nolan loses Os role - after just three months
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 12th April 2016
By: Staff Writer

Former West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan has been removed form his role as player/manager of Leyton Orient - just three months after accepting the post.

However in a bizarre twist, the 33-year-old - who won seven of his 15 games in charge at Brisbane Road but managed just one draw from the last four games - has not been fired by the League Two club but told instead to concentrate on his playing duties.

"Everyone at the club is fighting hard to make sure we reach the play-offs this season," Orient chief executive Alessandro Angelieri told Orient's website, after it was revealed that former Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler would be replacing Nolan with immediate effect.

"Whilst that aim remains within reach, we have decided that Kevin should focus entirely on his playing contribution until the end of the season. Andy will take charge of the first team in the interim.

"We believe Kevin will be able to make a bigger impact without the distraction of managerial duties."

Liverpudlian Nolan, who spent four years at the Boleyn Ground between 2011 and 2015 has also been linked with the vacant managerial post at Bolton, a club where he spent a decade as a player.

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A clean bill of health - bar Sakho
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 12th April 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's Head of Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has given West Ham's first team squad a full bill of health - with the exception of just one player.

Diafra Sakho, whose absence from a club event and Saturday's 3-3 draw with Arsenal led to much speculation last weekend is unlikely to return to action until this coming weekend at the earliest, according to Vandenbroucke.

"With Ginge, Tonks and Sam back in training, we have just the one injury at present," he told whufc.com in his earlier-than-usual weekly round-up. "That is Diafra Sakho.

"Unfortunately Sam is cup-tied, but we hope to have all three of them back in first-team contention soon. Diaf picked up a minor right knee injury in training on Friday and we hope to see him back on the pitch either at the end of the week or the beginning of next week."

Vandenbroucke, who in addition to two spells at West Ham has worked for the likes of Dynamo Moscow and Anji Makhachkala - plus the Chinese and Albanian national teams - believes that the club is well prepared for another European excursion - should they achieve qualification via the Premier League or FA Cup this season.

"West Ham United is becoming a top team at all levels - stadium, training ground, the players we have signed - and a top team has a high number of games so we all have to rise to the challenge," he added.

"We hope that this intensity and busy fixture list is going to sustain into next season because we are playing in the UEFA Europa League or even the UEFA Champions League, and also have two good domestic cup runs.

"I and a number of my staff have worked at clubs which have progressed into European competition previously and I can assure you that the staff relish the adventure like the supporters do."

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Olympic Stadium bosses claim "millions" could be lost after they are ordered to reveal details of West Ham deal
04:16, 12 APR 2016 UPDATED 08:08, 12 APR 2016
BY NATALIE EVANS
LLDC must publish details of the funding for the Olympic Stadium amid suggestions of a lack of transparency over the use of public money in the project
The Mirror

The details of deal which saw West Ham secure the Olympic Stadium are set to be revealed after the London Legacy Development Corporation lost an appeal. An information tribunal rejected the LLDC appeal against a London Assembly ruling that the contract between it and the Premier League club should be made public. It means details of the funding for the Olympic Stadium, built for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, must be published, amid suggestions of a lack of transparency over the use of public money in the project.

A spokesperson for LLDC, which is responsible for transforming venues used for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: "We are disappointed by the tribunal's decision. "We have already published the vast majority of the contract and only undertook this appeal following very clear legal advice that to release the remaining details could significantly impact the stadium's ability to act competitively. "The ruling will result in significant challenges given the commercial realities of a highly competitive market, which could amount to many millions of pounds being lost over the term of a 99-year deal. "We are considering the judgement very carefully before we decide on the next steps to take."

LLDC could appeal against the decision. West Ham were awarded tenancy of the 60,000-seat Olympic Stadium ahead of Tottenham and will leave their Upton Park home this summer. The Hammers are due to move into the arena in time for the start of the 2016-17 Premier League season. The venue is also to host the 2017 IAAF and IPC Athletics World Championships. Olympic Stadium Coalition, a coalition of 14 supporters' trusts and groups, has been campaigning for the contract to be published.

A spokesperson said on its website: "We're naturally delighted with the outcome, as we see this as an issue of fairness to the taxpayer, to clubs near and far, and to football as a whole. "We now respectfully request that the LLDC do what is right, waive the right to an appeal, and publish the deal in full so that it can be properly assessed and its implications understood."

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Diafra Sakho to miss Manchester United tie as injury confirmed
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 12/04/16 10:57am
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says scans show Diafra Sakho was injured at the weekend. Sakho was not in the squad for Saturday's 3-3 draw with Arsenal, and a message posted on social media sparked reports of a falling-out with his manager. But that was denied in the aftermath of the game by Bilic, who revealed the striker had pulled out citing an injury. And Sakho will not be fit for Wednesday's FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United - the last cup tie at West Ham's Boleyn Ground. "The situation with Diafra is very simple," Bilic said at his pre-match press conference. "He reported an injury after training on Friday. He was not in the squad. "Yesterday he had a scan, which showed a little bit of a problem and he will be out for one week."
Andy Carroll, fresh from his hat-trick against Arsenal, will start up front as the Hammers aim to book a Wembley date against Everton later this month. Bilic said: "It's the final FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground, it's Manchester United and it's the quarter-finals. It can't be bigger. "We are fully motivated and it is a massive game of course. It is massive for us and it is massive for them."

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Louis van Gaal says Andy Carroll poses a threat to Manchester United
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 12/04/16 6:28am
SSN

Louis van Gaal says Manchester United will need to nullify the threat posed by West Ham forward Andy Carroll if they are to keep their FA Cup hopes alive. Carroll scored a stunning 10-minute hat-trick in the 3-3 Premier League draw with Arsenal on Saturday - his first three goal haul for nearly six years - and is likely to start for the Hammers against United in their FA Cup quarter-final replay at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday. Van Gaal watched United ship three goals in six second-half minutes to lose 3-0 at Tottenham on Sunday and he is well aware that a similar display could spell the end of his side's FA Cup chances. "I've seen the Andy Carroll show [against Arsenal] and I think our problem against Tottenham was also the miscommunication of our central defenders," the United manager said. "I hope that we improve our communication because it is very important this game for us. "Carroll has special qualities. We have seen that in the match that he played on Saturday. It was also against Arsenal and they have great central defenders but still he could do that. "So we have to cope with Andy Carroll and not only Andy Carroll, the other players. "They have a certain player called Dimitri Payet for example, he can also play, and [Manuel] Lanzini can also score goals."

West Ham have not lost at the Boleyn Ground since August and Van Gaal was keen to point out that the Hammers will enjoy the benefit of an extra day's rest ahead of the cup clash. "It is our last chance of a title so it is very important for the players, the club, the manager and the fans," he added. "And still we have one day less than West Ham United. That's also important. We have proved against Arsenal and Manchester City, in spite of less days to recover, we could beat them. "So I hope we can recover very good, also mentally because the defeat to Tottenham was a blow of course. Everybody knows this is the last chance."

Wayne Rooney continued his recovery from a knee injury by playing 60 minutes for United's U21s against Middlesbrough on Monday, but he is unlikely to be involved against West Ham.

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Exclusive Interview with Neil Finn-at the time-the youngest person to play in the Premier League
April 11, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
The West Ham Way

I was delighted to discover by chance that Neil Finn followed me on my twitter account and so I really wanted to hear about his unexpected debut for the club. I remember listening to the game on the radio, there were no internet streams in those days and hearing he was playing. I spent the rest of the game wondering what the experience must have been like in front of a large crowd at Maine Road. Neil talks exclusively about this game and his experience at West Ham

You were a member of the FA Cup youth runners up team that included Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, who else made it in the game from that team? What was that experience like?

Being a member of that youth team and being with my friends every day for two years was the best experience, just a fantastic time and with the team being so successful it made it all the better. It certainly made me the man I am today! Many players had long & successful league careers: Lee Hodges, Joe Keith, and Chris Coyne to name a few and most of us went on to play local non-league.

Did you think at the time that Rio and Frank would go on to achieve all that they have in the game? Was there any other players who should have also achieved more?

Yes. They were the stand out 2 players at all levels: youth, reserve and first teams. Every single member of my teams knew them boys would be full internationals and lifting trophies in the future. There was huge quality in our squad and I believed at the time that most of the boys would have long first team careers in the top two leagues but it's not always the case. That step up is so tough & cut throat!! Total respect to the boys that made it professionally!!

You were suddenly thrust into the first team on New Year's Day 1996 when Sealey was injured and Ludo suspended! How did that come about?

20 years ago now. Yes, Ludo got sent off vs Everton and was suspended and I believe Ian Feuer had just been sold to Luton. So it was just Les and I on the books as full times back up goalies. I got a call from Frank Senior a couple of days before the game to say I was travelling with the first team to Maine Road. I was buzzing!! Thinking that I wouldn't even make the bench as Harry would put all outfield players on there...I was just looking forward to the ride!

A day before the game I turned up at the Swallow Hotel to meet the team coach and a few of the players (Dicks & Hutchinson mainly) were giving me stick about me being nervous etc. I didn't really get what they were talking about to be honest. It was only when I got on the coach that Harry & Frank said that Les had torn his calf yesterday in training and that I was playing tomorrow. I wasn't buzzing anymore!!! I would like to say that Ludo, his wife and Les travelled up to Maine Road to support me and looked after my Mum & Dad (who I called as soon as I found out & they traveled up too) and they gave me such good advice during the whole experience.

What did Harry Redknapp say to you at the time and before the game? Did any other of the first team players offer any words of advice?

I don't really remember exactly what was said, but Harry and Frank just said do what you've been doing in the youth team and you'll be fine! The players were fantastic, protecting me always. Also the fans were superb singing my name throughout the game...

You became the youngest ever Premier League player at the time, were you nervous?

Yes but the goalies (Les & Ludo) made me feel comfortable & settled me down and it sounds a cliché but once that whistle went I did concentrate on the game and tried not let the occasion get to me!

You were injured yourself for that game weren't you?

Only a tight hamstring from the previous youth game, nothing serious.

What do you remember from the game and after?

I remember I didn't have a great deal to do during the game apart from to pick the ball out the net twice from Niall Quinn goals. I did believe and was told before the game that City will be swinging in crosses and being very physical but it didn't happen!

After the game I was told not to talk to the press and just get straight on the coach for the journey home.
I got home around 1 AM and I remember reporting into training the next day to train and do my duties, cleaning boots etc.! Back with a bang eh!?!

That went on to be your only game for the club and you never played professionally again. Why do you think that was? Did the one game have a negative impact?

I was certainly realistic enough to know that I wasn't good enough for high level first team football. I did believe that I was good enough for 3rd Division / Conference level & spent the next four or so years playing/training for every local club at that level, with no success at all. It wasn't without trying, but it just wasn't to be. I'm certainly not bitter and really enjoyed my extremely short football journey.

That one game didn't have a negative impact at all, I am very proud of that one game and 20 years on people still want to chat to me about it.

Who were you friends with in the youth team and first team squad?

Our youth & reserve teams was very close and I was friends with all of them. We used to socialise together as a squad and I have great memories of the years I was there! Good friends at the time were Frank, Chris Coyne, Joe Keith, Lee Hodges, Chris Saines and many more!

You had some good nights out on the Essex scene, any interesting stories?

Nope!!!!??

You are still good mates with Frank Lampard is that correct? Do you see each other much?

Yes, we are very close. I saw him last at his wedding, which was an absolutely fantastic.
As you know he lives in New York now. I'm looking forward to visiting him in the summer.

Are you friends with any other ex-players?

Social media has been good in the last few years for me to keep contact with old team mates.

Rio and Frank seemed very close when at West Ham but seemed to drift apart when they left? Any particular reason?

I don't think they drifted apart, it was more logistics, that they didn't see each other as much; one played for Leeds/Man Utd and one played for Chelsea.

Are you involved in football now? If not what do you do for a job?

I was at Romford FC in the Ryman League for over ten years. Nine years as a player and a year or so as coach. Once my daughter was born the travelling as a non-player became too much and unfair on my family. I work for a company called Castacrete Ltd & I am General Manager of the Natural Stone department, importing stone from all over the world.

You've been invited to the last ever game at Upton Park, what can you tell us about that?

Yes I have. I received a DM tweet from WHUFC asking for my email regarding the last game. I then received a letter from Karen Brady inviting me. I am over the moon with the invite!

What do you make of the current West Ham team and the season we are having?

Fantastic. A pleasure to watch.

Are you a West Ham fan?

Yes. My father took me to my first game at Upton Park as a young schoolboy. Sitting at the very back row of the main stand. It was vs Manchester Utd. We lost 3-1 with Liam Brady scoring a consolation penalty.

I had a season ticket for three consecutive years as a young teenager in the south bank and then the Chicken Run. I have great memories of watching my heroes like Ludo, Dicks, Breaker, Cottee, Bishop and more and then for me to sign full time for West Ham, it was a dream come true!

Are you excited about the stadium move?

Very much so. What a great move anc we could be seeing European games there in the first season!
Also, living in Harold Wood makes the journey so easy and I have great plans of taking my son and daughter over there!

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Exclusive article by the Daily Mail's Lee Clayton who gives is opinions on Andy Carroll
April 11, 2016
TheWestHamWay
Lee Clayton

The fella who sits close to me in the West Stand Lower has it in for Andy Caroll. "Run Carroll," he booms whenever a ball is sent into the channel. "You lazy git!"

I don't know the chap - I don't want to know him - but it seems he's not a Carroll fan. He's one of those supporters who will focus on the negative aspects of Carroll's skillset - the injuries, the lack of pace and mobility, the temptation for a team to play it long when they have a big centre forward. He pays his money too and he's entitled to his opinion, of course, but shouldn't every West Ham fan recognise how important a fit and firing Carroll is?

I get it that it's easy to write this after he has scored a hat-trick but he remains a very important asset to the club. I remember when every team had a centre forward like Carroll. A target man. West Ham had them too; some good like David Cross. Others not so good. Ok, there was a loose arm that might have brought a second yellow card when challenging Gabriel, but this team is due a favourable refereeing decision after recent weeks.

With his rugged efforts Carroll, my friend who sits behind me clearly thinks, is a dinosaur - and a relic from yesteryear. But, at 2-0 down, when Aaron Cresswell received a short lay-back from Dimitri Payet, set himself and then whipped a delicious left footed cross arrowing in towards the penalty spot, is there any other striker you would rather have attacking the ball?

There seems a mood around the club that Carroll will be sold in the summer and replaced by a younger, modern forward who is fitter and more mobile. He may even have been sold in the last transfer window if someone (Newcastle, Sunderland) had offered enough. He has cost a lot of money and there is a sense they haven't got enough value while another criticism is that he appears to enjoy life of the field a little too much. Slaven Bilic often talks about him needing to showing more consistency and professionalism while, at Liverpool, they were astonished that he applied old school attitudes off the pitch when modern football is about fitness and nutrition.

Bilic (and just about all the rest of us) thinks Carroll can be so much better, but that is no reason to sell him. By all means increase competition, buy another forward, someone with a better fitness record, but keep Carroll too. Few rival teams have that type of striker and rival defences - once used to playing regularly against a target man - cannot cope with what he can do. He's only just turned 27! If he is fit. If he gets the service (yes, two big ifs). then he is the best man to be West Ham's no9.

The national media, as is the custom, typically respond to Carroll at his best by asking if he should be recalled by England. But if you are of the West Ham persuasion, who cares? I'd rather he spend the summer working hard and getting his fitness right for what will be an important and challenging season at the new stadium.

The Andy Carroll we witnessed at Upton Park terrorising Arsenal's central defenders is the Andy Carroll we want to see more often. And who gives a damn if he doesn't chase lost causes and run into the channels? Save your energy for scoring goals, lad.

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West Ham target Michael Carrick as Manchester United stall on new deal
April 12, 2016
TheWestHamWay
BKHammer

According to the Sun, West Ham are ready to jump on Manchester United's dithering by offering Michael Carrick a return to east London. Carrick's future at Old Trafford is in limbo with the club yet to decide whether to hand him a one-year extension to the contract that runs out at the end of the season. And with United failing to make their minds up, West Ham have made a tentative approach about the possibility of agreeing a 12-month contract with the England midfielder. Alex Song will be leaving the Hammers at the end of the season, and manager Slaven Bilic is aware he needs to bolster his squad with the possibility of Europa League football and a push for a top four finish next season. Carrick's ability and experience is seen as an ideal option, and there is a belief he can also help develop the game of highly-rated 17-year-old Reece Oxford.

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Mr Durham adopts Katie Hopkins approach :-)
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 12, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H

Ok, let's put the Adrian Durham thing to bed before it gets out of hand - the guy is not to be taken overly seriously. I first came across him when he was working for ClubCall years ago when he may have become aware of me as a contributor - one arm of my various freelance activities at that time. I recall some telephone calls from him before he disappeared to re-emerge on talkSPORT a few years later. His modus operandi has been to operate as a 'shock jock ' - a ploy used by some to promote their own profile rather than that of the person of whom they writing. It's the Katie Hopkins approach to media success!!!!!!!
Here's how the Guardian describes him in his Wiki profile: "An "expert phone-in troll, arrogantly spouting inflammatory football opinions in the hope of prompting some indignant phone rage from an uppity fan."
Today he has taken a pop at Slav for his baiting of referees which is utterly absurd as I've never heard the manager speak badly of anyone. He also advises the manager to seek some evidence and a good lawyer which is actually all a bit stupid as Slav has a law degree anyway. I believe Mr Durham's thinking was, that as Slav has done so brilliantly as a manager and a person since he arrived at Upton Park, he will get exactly the sort of reaction he wants by slagging him off. My opinion - that's all Adrian.

Do not take this man seriously - PLEASE!

Goodbye Katie ..err sorry Adrian!

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Irons United hopes get a boost if this is true
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 12, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Now I obviously understand that it's dangerous to believe what one reads in the Sun but should it be true, there's a story in there this morning which will give the Irons all the more hope of a huge result tomorrow night. It's not a hard story to write of course but the down market tabloid declares that all dressing room confidence in LVG disappeared totally after the weekend defeat in north London. It reports that "Louis Van Gaal pinned the blame on his Manchester United players when he started making tactical changes at half-time against Tottenham and adds that when the got back to the dressing room after Sunday's 3-0 mauling at White Hart Lane they had turned on the manager. The 'report' says: "Respect for Van Gaal, supposedly one of the great managerial minds, has gone. These players are openly questioning him, wondering out loud how the club can seriously keep him beyond the end of the season."
At the same time as this there are reports that Wayne Rooney could be back tomorrow night after an appearance i the youth team when surely he can hardly be ready after several months out.
But never mind it's all good news for us Irons who should be pretty confident of a result in our present for anyway

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West Ham to miss out on England captain
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in News
C and H

West Ham are set to miss out on landing England U17s captain and the son of ex-Ipswich and Spurs midfielder Jason Dozzell reports in the Daily Mirror today. Liverpool are said to be currently leading the race to land Andre Dozzell from Ipswich. Liverpool are claimed to have already started talks with the Championship club for Dozzell, who has the same agent as Gareth Bale. The midfielder will not be 17 until next month and the Suffolk side are set to pocket around £1.5million in compensation when he finally moves on. Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham are all said to be keen to get the signature of the son of former Ipswich and Spurs player Jason Dozzell as a potential Premier League star of the future. He is another ambitious target as Terry Westly looks to rebuild the West Ham academy and complete with the top six for the best talent around.

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West Ham U21's involved in mass brawl
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 11, 2016 in Videos, Whispers
C and H

There were ugly scenes at Villa Park tonight after a mass brawl broke out between twenty players during a Hammers Under 21 game against Aston Villa U21's. The Villa youngsters scored in 88th minute to make 3-2 on the night but just before the 90th minute a very nasty Villa tackle led to a confrontation of around 18 players until Kevin Toner was shown the red card for Villa.
West Ham's George Dobson led the retaliation against Villa captain Kevin Toner for the two awful challenges.

U21: Spiegel, Pike, Henry, Oxford, Page (Neufville '46), Dobson, Makasi, Diangana (Hector-Ingram '59), Browne, Hendrie (Kemp '83), Ford. Subs: Trott, Akinola.

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Bilic to support Sakho
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H

I fully expect Slaven Bilic to support Diafra Sakho in his press conference this morning ahead of tomorrow's FA cup replay against Manchester United. Sakho has made the paper headlines in the last few days since he left training with an alleged knock on Friday. He didn't stay with the team on Friday evening and missed attending the London Derby on Saturday lunchtime against Arsenal. The media have suggested he threw his toys out of his pram when he found our he was not in Bilic's plans for Saturday and told medical staff he felt pain in his knee.

Journalists will be hungry for the truth at 10am today and you can guarantee it will be the first question asked. Bilic will almost definitely dismiss a rift between the two and take Sakho at his word that the social outburst was not aimed at West Ham or himself. Sakho's agent also wants to play down the story and he contacted Sky Sports yesterday to make it clear Sakho is happy at West Ham. Sky reported the message - posted on the social media platform Snapchat - was a private matter and not aimed at Bilic or West Ham in any way whatsoever. They also made it clear reports that he is frustrated at West Ham are wide of the mark and talk of a new deal is premature, with Sakho signing an improved contract at West Ham within the last 18 months.

Yesterday, Claret and Hugh revealed challenges has in Sakho's private life with his daughter living in France and a new born daughter, Sadio Sakho born days ago to his former girlfriend Mya Hassan. I believe Slav will show his support by playing down the incident on Friday by insisting the player is carrying a small knock and there is no ill feeling between them. Hopefully this case will be closed until the summer.

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Sakho out for one week says Slaven Bilic
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic has been giving his pre match press conference ahead of tomorrow's FA cup sixth round replay with Manchester United under the Boleyn ground lights. When asked about the Sakho situation he confirmed he reported an injury after training on Friday and had a scan yesterday which he claims showed a little bit of a problem which will keep him out for a week.

Slav told the press "It's the final FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground, it's Manchester United and it's the quarter-finals. It can't be bigger. We are fully motivated and it is a massive game of course. It is massive for us and it is massive for them. They are Manchester United and they have not been as consistent this season, but they are very capable of beating any team."

"Andy Carroll, when he is fit and in form is a very special kind of player. He is different, and it is hard for defenders to cope.He doesn't have to score, but his presence on the pitch gives us another dimension. He had a great game on Saturday"

"The situation with Diafra is very simple. He reported an injury after training on Friday. He was not in the squad. Yesterday he had a scan, which showed a little bit of a problem and he will be out for one week."

"For Manchester United, it's the stature of the club that they're not happy with losing games, with being fifth in the table. It's hard to be a manager. It's the greatest job in the world, but at those massive clubs you're expected to win every game. The fans will be important of course. They were great on Saturday - they are one of the reasons why we are unbeaten at home for this time"

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Happy 75th Birthday Mooro
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham United and England legend Bobby Moore would have celebrated his 75th birthday today. Mooro, who lifted the FA Cup in 1964 and European Cup Winners' Cup 1965 with West Ham, rose to football immortality when he became England's World Cup winning captain in 1966, receiving the Jules Rimet Trophy after Hammers team-mates Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters had scored the goals that led their country to a 4-2 win over West Germany at Wembley. A year later, Moore was made an OBE but he was never knighted. Born in Barking on 12 April 1941, Moore played 108 times for his country and made 646 appearances for West Ham. During his career, the elegant central defender earned a reputation for being one of the finest players in the world. An enduring image of Moore is that of him embracing the great Brazilian forward Pele following the 1970 World Cup match in Guadalajara, Mexico, which Brazil won 1-0. Tragically, Moore died from bowel cancer on 24 February 1993 at the age of 51.

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Referee decisions table gap widens for West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

An expert panel put together by ClubTalk.com reviewed several highly-dubious decisions in the West Ham v Arsenal game last weekend. The panel agreed West Ham suffered another two crucial incorrect decisions which cost them 2 goals on Saturday.

Andy Carroll red card escape v Arsenal: The West Ham striker certainly made his mark on the match, hauling the Hammers back into the match with a deadly double on the stroke of half-time, before putting them 3-2 ahead by completing his hat-trick shortly after. However, the Hammers forward was arguably lucky to still be on the field, having been booked for a poor lunge on Laurent Koscielny in the third minute, he then caught Gabriel with a flaying elbow in the second half. Despite ref Craig Pawson awarding the foul, three of our five-man panel felt a second booking would have been harsh. Verdict: Correct decision

Manuel Lanzini disallowed goal v Arsenal: The Argentinian thought he'd handed West Ham an early lead in the match when he converted Carroll's overhead kick from close range. However, the linesman waved Lanzini offside, though replays showed he was clearly played on by Hector Bellerin. Verdict: Incorrect decision

Nacho Monreal penalty appeal v West Ham: The Spanish full-back felt he deserved a spot-kick after a collision in the box upended him. However, there was not enough in it to warrant a penalty, with the passage of play leading directly to Mesut Ozil's opener for Arsenal. Verdict: Correct decision

Possible Mesut Ozil offside in Arsenal's opener v West Ham: The German handed Arsenal the lead when his well-taken shot beat Adrian, though the Hammers felt Ozil could have been offside. However, replays showed the playmaker was level with Angelo Ogbonna when latching onto Danny Welbeck's pass and the officials were right to let play continue. Verdict: Correct decision

Possible offside in build-up to second Carroll goal v Arsenal: The Gunners felt Michail Antonio was offside as the ball was dinked back into the box just ahead of Carroll's equaliser on the stroke of half-time. However, the West Ham wing-back, while stood in an offside position, was not interfering with play and again it was right for the goal to stand. Verdict: Correct decision

Lanzini penalty appeal v Arsenal: The Argentinian completed an unfortunate afternoon when he was denied what a possible penalty following a challenge from Bellerin in the area. Although you can understand why the referee, with what initially looked like an innocent coming together, waved play on, our panel felt (with the benefit of replays) that the Spaniard had both an arm on his shoulder and also slipped and fell onto the player's legs. Verdict: Incorrect decision

Dimitri Payet disallowed goal v Arsenal: West Ham felt they'd been denied a goal when Payet fired in after Koscielny and David Ospina had allowed the ball to escape them both under heavy pressure from Carroll. But our panel voted 3-2 in favour of the referee, who'd deemed the West Ham striker to have fouled Arsenal's French defender. Verdict: Correct decision

Gabriel red card escape v Arsenal: The defender carelessly lost possession when under pressure from that man Carroll and stuck out a leg at the end of a theatrical tumble to not just impede, but complete prevent the striker, at the least, getting a shot in on goal. Our panel however felt that the Brazilian's challenge was a yellow card at worst. Verdict: Correct decision

The updated table (below) shows West Ham now have a net total of 11 incorrect decisions against them, almost double that of Swansea who are second from bottom who have a net total of six against them. In contrast, tomorrow's opponents, Manchester United lead the table with a net total of 7 incorrect decisions in their favor showing potential favouritism to bigger clubs.

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Fans confident that FA cup semi final is possible
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Over 68% of supporters who voted are optimistic and believe West Ham will win tomorrow's FA Cup Quarter Final replay over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground to face Everton in the semi finals at Wembley on St George's day.

Over 16% of you are pessimistic and have a bad feeling and think our FA Cup journey will end tomorrow. The remaining 15% have decide to sit on the fence and believe it is too close to call or don't know what the outcome will be.
The ClaretandHugh poll of over 800 supporters should be statistical accurate to the general feeling of West Ham supporter's confidence ahead of the 7pm kick off tomorrow.
West Ham remain third favourites at 9/2 to win the FA Cup behind Everton 9/4 and Manchester United 7/2. For Wednesday's quarter final at the Boleyn Ground bookies have us as marginal favourites at 6/4 (1.5-1) with Manchester United at 17/10 (1.7-1) to win the sixth round.

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Shock jock calls on Bilic to get a lawyer
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 12, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

TalkSport shock jock Adrian Durham has accused West Ham manager Slaven Bilic of damaging the reputation of match officials with his constant post match moaning. And he has challenged him to back it up with evidence if he thinks there is an orchestrated conspiracy against West Ham. Durham speaking in his Daily Mail column today said: "Bilic damages the reputation of referees and officials by blasting them consistently. Unless he actually thinks there is an orchestrated conspiracy against West Ham in which case he should make that clear, and try to back it up with evidence. If he does that, I suggest he gets a decent lawyer behind him." There is no conspiracy of course. I went back over the 3-3 draw on Saturday to assess all the decisions. The Hammers were right to be upset about the disallowed Lanzini goal, but what about others that go unmentioned by Bilic and the fans?"

A quiet word Mr Durham: Slaven Bilic has a degree in law and is fluent in German, Italian and English.

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West Ham striker Diafra Sakho to miss next two games after suffering knee injury
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho's knee injury will sideline him for two games
Sakho failed to report to the team hotel ahead of the 3-3 draw with Arsenal
He posted a cryptic message on his Snapchat account about being 'hated'
Andy Carroll will start up front for the Irons against Manchester United
By OLIVER TODD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:12, 12 April 2016 | UPDATED: 12:12, 12 April 2016

Diafra Sakho will miss West Ham's next two games after a scan revealed the severity of the knee injury which saw him fail to report to their team hotel before Saturday's 3-3 draw with Arsenal. Manager Slaven Bilic revealed the Senegal striker had the problem checked out by doctors on Monday and they advised that he will be unable to play for at least a week. Sakho, 26, was told he would be on the bench for the Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal but then insisted he was injured and did not join his team-mates at a hotel the night before the game.
Bilic held talks with the forward, who has scored six goals this season, on Monday but says his medical check-up confirmed 'a bit of a problem' with his knee. He will now be absent from Wednesday's FA Cup quarter-final replay with Manchester United and the trip to leaders Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. 'The situation is very simple,' Bilic said. 'He reported the injury after training on Friday, then he was not in the squad and then yesterday (on Monday) he had a scan and the scan reported a little bit of a problem. 'He's out for one week - hopefully not more than a week but for this week he is definitely out. Hopefully he's going to be back on Monday.'
Sakho's failure to check-in with the rest of Bilic's squad on Friday night was followed by a cryptic message posted on Snapchat at 4.35am, little more than eight hours before kick-off, which referenced being 'hated'. In Sakho's absence, Irons striker Andy Carroll led the line and scored a hat-trick against Arsenal at home 'When I am hated I do not give a f***, I do everything to be more hated,' it said, complete with fist-bump emoji and two-fingered peace sign. Sources close to Sakho claimed the message was a 'private matter', relating to personal problems rather than his omission from the team. Andy Carroll, who scored a hat-trick in Sakho's place against the Gunners, is set to continue up top against United having reported back with no fresh injury problems after just his second start in three months. 'He is fit. We didn't train properly yesterday on Monday, but we will see today (Tuesday). He didn't report any knocks or problems so he should be OK for Wednesday,' Bilic said.

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is on a crusade to blame referees for everything - but what's the truth behind his conspiracy theories?
Slaven Bilic has been persistent in his criticism of referees this season
He has decided officials are to blame if West Ham don't make top four
But Bilic conveniently ignores everything that goes the Hammers' way
Against Arsenal on Saturday, they profited from various favourable calls
Andy Carroll shouldn't have been on the field when he scored his third goal
By ADRIAN DURHAM FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:21, 12 April 2016 | UPDATED: 08:10, 12 April 2016

Slaven Bilic is upset. Having spoken relentlessly about referees week-after-week, he chose not to this week, but the message was clear from the West Ham manager: by saying nothing, he was saying yet again that he was upset with decisions. Bilic's message that West Ham have been the victims of poor decisions from referees has been heard and adopted by the fans. And there was an obvious incorrect call very early when Lanzini's goal was ruled out for offside. In the same game Andy Carroll could easily have seen a second yellow for a forearm smash on Gabriel, but the ref chose not to show a card. A last warning for Carroll perhaps? Well no, because minutes later Carroll fouled Koscielny, Payet put the ball in the net, but no card for Carroll, who then scored a third goal. Amazingly after Payet's goal was correctly ruled out, the Hammers fans started singing to Craig Pawson: 'You're not fit to referee.' The man who had chosen to let Carroll stay on the field was suddenly the bad man in the eyes of the home fans. I'm a huge Carroll fan, always have been, but he shouldn't have been on the pitch to score that hat-trick third. But let's not just assess a couple of isolated incidents from Saturday's game at Upton Park. Let's look at all decisions, because the complaint has been clear from Bilic. Refs have robbed West Ham. Bilic is on a mission to make sure any blame for a failure from his team to make the top four this season is laid firmly at the door of referees. It's a shame really, because West Ham have been great to watch, Bilic has been very refreshing for the Premier League with his attitude, particularly towards the FA Cup, and he's done very well in charge at a club whose season began way back last July. They've had some harsh decisions, no doubt about that. But his analysis is rendered completely meaningless and devoid of credibility if he chooses to ignore anything that actually goes the Hammers' way. Throwing in stats about how many penalties they don't get is meaningless without context. There is no set number of penalties a team should receive per season, home or away. That would be ridiculous. For it to be a worthwhile discussion, more information is needed, details and specifics. Have they deserved any penalties? If so, how many? Were they definite penalties that were harshly turned down? Or is it a case, as with most fans, that you only see what you want to see?

Bilic damages the reputation of referees and officials by blasting them consistently. Unless he actually thinks there is an orchestrated conspiracy against West Ham in which case he should make that clear, and try to back it up with evidence. If he does that, I suggest he gets a decent lawyer behind him. There is no conspiracy of course. I went back over the 3-3 draw on Saturday to assess all the decisions. The Hammers were right to be upset about the disallowed Lanzini goal, but what about others that go unmentioned by Bilic and the fans?
No free kick for Arsenal when Payet caught Monreal after 10 minutes
Noble could have been booked for a foul which broke up an Arsenal attack after 15 minutes.
Just before Arsenal's first goal, Monreal was caught in the box, no penalty given. Debatable decision, but if West Ham really are the victims of bad calls a penalty is given.
On 24 minutes West Ham were given a free kick in a dangerous position after a very innocuous challenge from Coquelin.
15 minutes later Coquelin was floored by Kouyate, nothing given.
Either side of the break the crowd voiced anger at the ref for not giving them a penalty when Noble and then Lanzini went down in the box. Neither incident was a penalty.
Halfway through the second half lovely play from Ozil and Ramsey left the latter in the box on goal, a sly kick from Kouyate went unnoticed by the ref but was enough to put Ramsey off.
Late on Winston Reid dived to win a free kick despite Welbeck clearly pulling out of the challenge.
Ogbonna and Reid made challenges in the box late on, neither were fouls but a ref who wanted to give decisions to hurt West Ham would surely have taken the chance to give Arsenal a late penalty.
Reid lucky to escape a yellow after breaking up an Arsenal counter attack on halfway. Antonio was booked for something very similar a moment later.

So that's a proper analysis of Craig Pawson's decisions and how they affected West Ham. They clearly benefited from several debatable decisions. Yes a disallowed goal, but Carroll probably should have seen red, which would have meant no hat trick, and the Hammers playing with 10 men for most of the second half. That's a balanced look at the ref's performance from a neutral perspective. That's why Bilic repeatedly whipping up a frenzy against refs among West Ham fans is so wrong and why he should be sanctioned for it. The reality is he's frustrated, and yes we get it. Like Jose Mourinho earlier this season, his only way of handling the pressure is to blast referees. As a decent defender in his playing days, he should really be directing his anger towards his own players and the way they conceded the three goals Arsenal put past them. But we all know managers defend their own players, and are prepared to put referees right in the firing line, if it means they can hide any failings from their own team. Unfortunately Hammers fans have fallen into the trap, and have got it into their heads officials are deliberately targeting their club with poor decisions. The reality is that all clubs get tough breaks sometimes; that's the way it goes. The real issue is not referees making mistakes - we've loved football for decades without that being such a huge problem that we had to change things drastically. No, the bigger issue is players cheating. This weekend we saw West Brom's Craig Gardner rake his studs down the back of Sergio Aguero's ankle, forcing the striker to limp off. The Baggies midfielder had no chance of winning the ball, he just wanted to impede his opponent. And what about Lee Cattermole crunching in on Danny Drinkwater's foot long after the ball had gone early in the game at The Stadium of Light on Sunday?
Designed to do nothing but harm the Leicester midfielder, and reduce his impact. Those defending Cattermole might excuse it as a challenge that let the England man 'know he was there.'
Most of us realise that like Gardner on Aguero, Cattermole was trying to 'affect' Drinkwater because it's the only way these limited players can deal with more talented opponents.

So next time you feel like berating a match official for getting a marginal call wrong, think again. Remember the players who roll around pretending they're injured. And the other so-called professionals who think it's fine to commit a challenge knowing full well it has more chance of injuring an opponent than anything else. What's worse, a ref making an honest mistake? Or a player going into a challenge knowing that there is absolutely no way he can get the ball, but also knowing there is a good chance he may cause an injury to an opponent?
In making honest decisions - whether right or wrong - Craig Pawson knew he might anger Bilic and the Upton Park crowd. But in making those decisions the referee showed more bravery this weekend than the likes of Gardner and Cattermole displayed with their disgusting fouls. Decide for yourself who deserves more criticism, but take the blinkers off first. And Slaven Bilic has been brilliant hasn't he? He should quit the ref bashing, stay classy, and not turn into another moaning Mourinho.

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Louis van Gaal: This is why I fear FA Cup clash with West Ham
LOUIS VAN GAAL has admitted he's wary of Andy Carroll's 'special qualities' ahead of Manchester United's FA Cup replay with West Ham.
By JAMES CAMBRIDGE
PUBLISHED: 07:23, Tue, Apr 12, 2016 | UPDATED: 07:37, Tue, Apr 12, 2016
Express.co.uk

United take on the Hammers tomorrow night (7pm) at the Boleyn Ground in the FA Cup quarter-final replay. The two sides drew 1-1 when they first met thanks to a contentious late equaliser from Anthony Martial. And Van Gaal admits he's taking nothing for granted, especially after Carroll's heroic display against Arsenal at the weekend, in which he scored a hat-trick. "He has special qualities. We have seen that in the match that he played on Saturday," he said. "It was against Arsenal and they have great central defenders but still he could do that. "So we have to cope with Andy Carroll."

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