Daily WHUFC News - 15th May 2016

Preview - Stoke City
WHUFC.com


The background

West Ham United face their final Barclays Premier League game of the season on Sunday when they head to Stoke City.

After Tuesday's dramatic Farewell Boleyn victory over Manchester United kept European qualification in their hands, the Britannia Stadium clash is sure to have and edge to it as Slaven Bilic's men look to secure UEFA Europa League football.

Victory would mean the Hammers would finish no lower than sixth – and could come fifth should Manchester United fail to beat AFC Bournemouth, but defeat could see Southampton and Liverpool leapfrog them.

So there is plenty riding on the 3pm kick-off as West Ham look to finish off a memorable season in style.

Stoke will finish ninth, tenth or eleventh in the table, so will want victory themselves to ensure a top half spot.

However, they have been in poor form of late, losing four of their last six games and winning none of them.
The history

West Ham and Stoke have met on 89 previous occasions, with the Hammers winning 34 and Stoke 32.

The first Football League meeting was in the Hammers' first season in the competition – 1919/20, with Stoke emerging 2-1 victors on that day.

In more recent times draws have been the order of the day, with the last three games ending all-square.

Earlier this season the Potters visited the Boleyn Ground in the middle of West Ham's attacking injury crisis and went back to the Midlands with a 0-0 draw.
The match

Team news

West Ham United

The Hammers only have one absentee in the shape of goalkeeper Adrian, who is sidelined with a minor calf problem.

Diafra Sakho is likely to retain his place in the team after scoring on his return to the starting XI against Manchester United.
Stoke City

The Potters are without midfielder Stephen Ireland, who suffered a broken leg in training this week.

Goalkeepers Jack Butland and Shay Given remain sidelined, as do Ibrahim Afellay, Glen Johnson and Marc Wilson.
Match info

Sunday's match referee is Mike Jones. He will be assisted by Marc Perry and Mark Scholes. The fourth official is Geoff Eltringham.
Stoke are winless in six league matches (D2, L4).
They have gone four home games without a victory (D2, L2). Failure to beat West Ham will seem them equal their longest-ever winless home Premier League run.
The Potters have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine league games.
West Ham have only lost one of their last 12 league games (W6, D5).
They have scored in each of those games, their longest-ever scoring run in the competition.
The Hammers are unbeaten in five away league games (W2, D3), scoring at least two goals in each of those matches.
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info

Tickets for West Ham United supporters for this game have SOLD OUT.
Click here for the latest travel news on the trains and here for the roads.
A mixture of sun and cloud is expected in Stoke on Sunday. Temperatures will peak at 15C (59F).
If you can't make it to the game our digital channels are the place to follow all the action. The whufc.com Match Centre will have live audio commentary and social media updates, along with in-running stats, photos and more. Meanwhile, use the hashtag #STKWHU to get involved in the conversation on social.

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Delighted Diangana turns professional
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that explosive winger Grady Diangana has signed professional terms with the club.

Following impressive displays for the U18s and Development Squad this season, the 18-year-old south Londoner has put pen to paper on a two-year contract.

Speaking pitchside at the Boleyn Ground after committing his future to the Hammers, Diangana beamed: "I'm very, very happy to have signed my professional deal. I've been working towards this moment for a long, long time now. I'm really raring to go now.

"I just had a huge grin on my way, I was very, very happy. I was told after a training session which was a surprise but it made it even better.

"It's very proud moment for my family; it's a very special moment."

This term, Diangana netted 7 goals in 14 league games for Steve Potts' U18s before moving up to the Development Squad where he scored against Swansea City.

Looking back at a highly prosperous season, Diangana continued: "It's great to see the staff show faith in me and my ability. They trust the ability I have and I am very grateful for that.

"I am very pleased with my season. I've done well with my age group the U18s, then stepped up to the U21s, did well but could do better. Overall I should have got more goals.

"It's also great training with the first team. I'm not used to that speed so it is a good learning curve. It's a massive step up so I realised how big a step it is into the first team. But it's a step I am confident I can one day make."

Having reached his boyhood dream of turning professional, the youngster is already looking forward to next season.

He stated his goals as: "My targets for next season are to train more regularly with the first team, be around them, get used to it and the pace of the game. Then see what happens from there really.

"I haven't seen the stadium myself but what I've seen from pictures and the boys that have been, it looks amazing. I'm sure it'll feel amazing playing in that stadium, I can't wait!"

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Manchester United bus attack: Suspect arrested
BBC.co.uk

Police released images of three men they still wish to speak to after Tuesday's attack
A man has been arrested in connection with an attack on Manchester United's team bus outside West Ham's Boleyn Ground.
The suspect, 28, handed himself in at an east London Police station on Friday, the Met said.
He arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and was bailed until mid-August.
Images of three men still wanted over Tuesday's attack were released by the force.
Bottles and other objects were thrown at the coach as it got stuck in traffic en route to the stadium.
The disorder left four policemen injured and West Ham said it would ban for life any fan found responsible.
Two men, aged 18 and 47, who were arrested for pitch incursion have been bailed to return on a date in late May.
A 20-year-old man who was arrested for throwing bottles at police officers has been bailed to return on a date in August.

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Slaven Bilic backs West Ham winger Michail Antonio for England
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 14/05/16 9:58am
SSN

West Ham winger Michail Antonio should be considered for an England call-up, according to Slaven Bilic.

Antonio, who joined the Hammers from Nottingham Forest last September, has enjoyed a superb debut season in the Premier League and managed to score his seventh goal for the club in their thrilling 3-2 win over Manchester United on Tuesday.

In recent months, the 26-year-old has been filling in at right-back, but has continued his strong form and helped take West Ham to the verge of qualification for next season's Europa League.
Roy Hodgson will announce his provisional squad for the European Championship on Monday and Bilic feels the England manager should contemplate selecting Antonio.

"He's quality, the way he is playing, the big impact that he's had on our game and also on the Premier League," the West Ham manager said.

"I'm saying as his club manager he's scored some goals, he's made some assists, he's defending really well.

"Of course Roy Hodgson has got a good team, he's not struggling for names. England qualified with 10 out of 10 wins so it's very hard for some players to break in - somebody has got to get injured or somebody has to lose a place in his club long term.
"But if you ask me, does he have enough to offer? Yeah, definitely. He's a player who when he's one against one, he's got pace, he's got strength, he's got the quality of going up and down, he's dangerous on goal. He's a great player for us."So does he have potential? Definitely."

A victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday - live on Sky Sports 3 HD - will guarantee Europa League football for West Ham.
West Ham were knocked out of the Europa League in the third qualifying round last August, with Bilic using a mixture of fringe players and youngsters.

But Bilic has insisted that the Hammers intend to have a real crack at the competition next season, if they do indeed qualify.

"When it's there, you want to do it," Bilic added. "In England, in the media it's always 'is it good to qualify because you have a dip because you're not used to playing three games a week', and that's a minus.
"But it doesn't matter, we really want to qualify and so we're going to do everything we can.

"Last summer was too early, me and my staff were new and we didn't have enough players. "We didn't want to go out, we wanted to qualify, but without damaging or harming the Premier League. If we qualify (this year) it's totally different to last year. "You don't have to start too early but what is more important is we're going to have a thicker squad, or a squad that is ready."

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Dimitri Payet: Slaven Bilic a big part of my West Ham success
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 14/05/16 12:24pm
SSN

Dimitri Payet says he owes plenty to manager Slaven Bilic after his impressive first season with West Ham.

After signing from Marseille last summer, Payet has been one of the standout players in the Premier League and has scored 12 goals in all competitions.

He scooped five prizes at the club's Player of the Season awards and, speaking to Soccer AM, said he was delighted with his debut season.

"It's been a great season for me. I try to make a difference in every game, although it isn't always possible," he said.

"I have a good relationship with the coach. I owe so much to him. The fact I am playing at this level is down to him signing me and providing the best possible conditions. He's had faith in me since day one, which has allowed me to fulfil my potential.

"It was easy for me to settle at this club. Everyone is down to earth and has the same aim which is to win, while always giving our best."

Payet has particularly impressed with the number of free-kicks he has scored this season.

The French midfielder has netted five times direct from free-kicks since January and said: "I worked hard on them at Marseille last season, but I didn't score any.

"I did lots of free-kick practice earlier in the season, until scoring my first one against Bournemouth. As I'd found my technique, I stopped practising. But I have been practising more recently as they haven't been going in!"

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OS Chelsea ground-share update
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 14, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Karren Brady's admission that Chelsea have inquired about ground sharing the Olympic Stadium "in 2018″ will not be kicked into touch without a second thought from West Ham.

The vice chairman revealed in her Sun column today (Sat) hat she had shown Chelsea officials around the OS adding: "I have very good relations with Chelsea and, yes, they have enquired about a ground share in 2018.

Any final decision on letting the Blues move in will be ours and not the London Legacy Development Corporation's, or indeed Chelsea's."

We spoke to a top insider at the club this morning and it was made crystal clear the fans' position would be the first consideration in any decision.

He said: "We have good relationships with Chelsea. There was never any question of us sharing with Tottenham Hotspur but you would look at Chelsea in a different light. However, any arrangement could only be for a temporary one year and we would wait on the fan reaction."

Were such an arrangement to go ahead it would give the Hammers a financial windfall in the shape of halved rent for the season.

Our source said: " West Ham is entitled to a 50% discount on their £2.5m annual rent if we share but I don't know how appealing the prospect would be to Chelsea or any other club because the stadium is so very West Ham. The stadium now looks and feels like our home.

"We have the shop and the only offices so I'm really not sure it works for anybody else. We have to agree fixtures with Premier League so that's possibly a stumbling block."

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Sakho: Will he stay or will he go?
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 14, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Diafra Sakho's future has never been far off the fans' radar over recent months with the more pessimistic among them claiming he won't be around next season.

This is based on him apparently having a bit of ruck on the training ground – not entirely abnormal – that he doesn't have too many pals, and badly misses his daughter.

This has had people putting two and two together and claiming he wants a return to France where he and his little girl can be reunited.

All very soft lights, sweet music and romantic but somewhat removed from the financial and footballing facts of life which show that no club in Ligue 1 could afford his wages or a transfer fee currently estimate at between £15 – £20 million

There is only one person who will decide Sak's future – the manager Slaven Bilic – and although it's pretty much an open secret that all was not well between them ahead of the Arsenal game, since then the striker has appeared in games against Watford, West Ham, Swansea and Manchester United in which he of course scored a crucial goal. The body language between them has also looked good.

Sak compares his estrangement with his his daughter to that of his own father as a boy when the head of the family did exactly the same thing – went off to earn money for the family.

Sakho said: "My Dad was away from home all the time. He was a bus driver between Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. I effectively grew up without my father. "That was the path that he showed us. He helped us a huge amount and we were always grateful for that."

And he added: ""I have two brothers and a sister, my mother and my daughter to support. Obviously the choice to come to West Ham was both sporting and financial and I am just happy I am able to support the family by doing this."

So unless the boss decides he no longer wants him around, Sak will stay with a contract which ties him to West Ham until June 2018

Were Slaven want to get rid, now would be the time to do it with two years left on the player's deal with a better price available than in a year's time.

But given our striker problems it's hugely unlikely and the player has little incentive to return to Ligue 1 to cure any home sickness for his child given that he will be earning a lot less than what he's getting now.

Our verdict – Sak STAYS!

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