Daily WHUFC News - 16th May 2016

Stoke City 2-1 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Substitute Mame Biram Diouf scored a late winner for Stoke as they recorded
a 2-1 win over West Ham in the final game of the season but the Hammers
could still qualify for the Europa League.
Slaven Bilic's side looked to be in pole position after Michail Antonio had
fired them into the lead in the first half. But second half strikes from
Giannelli Imbula and Diouf's late header ensured Stoke came away with all
three points at the Britannia Stadium. With Southampton beating Crystal
Palace the Hammers are now relying on Manchester United to beat Palace in
the FA Cup Final next weekend to keep alive their hopes of playing in
Europe. Bilic will be wondering how his side failed to get anything from the
game after they created the best chances and were just millimetres from
scoring the crucial second goal after Cheikhou Kouyate's shot was cleared
off the line by Glenn Whelan. With Dimitri Payet ruled out with an ankle
injury the Hammers faced an extra challenge of trying to secure all three
points. But they still dominated the first half proceedings and got off to
the perfect start when they opened the scoring on 23 minutes. Manuel
Lanzini's deep corner picked out Winston Reid who headed the ball back for
Antonio who produced a clever turn inside the box and fired a low shot past
Shay Given. After scoring the crucial equaliser against Manchester United in
the final home game on Tuesday, Antonio was determined to show off his new
celebration once again as he celebrated his ninth goal of the season for the
Hammers. Antonio was causing all kinds of problems for the Stoke defence and
came close to adding his second of the game on 26 minutes when he burst
towards the box and struck the ball inches over the bar. Antonio then turned
provider sixty seconds later as he played the perfect ball into Diafra Sakho
inside the box and he drilled a low shot just wide of the post. It was all
one-way traffic and the Hammers continued to mount pressure on the Stoke
goal. They came close again on 34 minutes when James Tomkins played a neat
ball into Cheikhou Kouyate who saw his deflected shot fall inches over the
bar. The Hammers were strong defensively and only had one threat to deal
with on 39 minutes when Bojan cut inside from the left hand side and drilled
a low shot just wide of the goal but Darren Randolph appeared to have the
shot well covered diving low to his left.

West Ham kept pushing for a second goal and should have doubled their lead
on 51 minutes. Antonio burst clear of the Stoke defence once again before
crossing in for Sakho who only had Given to beat but he fired his
close-range shot straight at the Republic of Ireland keeper . The Hammers
were made to pay as Stoke drew level on 55 minutes with their first shot on
target as Imbula struck a left-foot shot past Randolph into the corner of
the net. Bilic made two changes bringing on Enner Valencia and Emmanuel
Emenike as he looked to find that crucial second goal. And the change almost
paid off straight away as Valencia blew a golden chance to make it two for
the Hammers on 70 minutes. Mark Noble's deep cross into the box picked out
the Ecuador international who headed the ball just over the bar. With
results going against the Hammers, they needed a second goal to guarantee
European football for next season and they were desperately unlucky not to
clinch a winner. Lanzini's corner on 76 minutes fell to Kouyate who saw his
shot blocked by Whelan. The rebound fell to Valencia whose close-range shot
was blocked by Given and then the Stoke keeper produced another fine save to
deny Emenike. You could sense it was not going to be West Ham's day after
Whelan then came to Stoke's rescue once again on 78 minutes when Valencia's
over head kick fell to Kouyate who got the slightest of touches and his shot
was cleared off the line by the Stoke midfielder. Stoke substitute Charlie
Adam tried an audacious chip from his own half and his 50 yard shot was
tipped over the bar by Randolph. Despite all the Hammers dominance, it was
Stoke who grabbed a late winner on 88 minutes when Diouf directed a
close-range header into the roof of the net.

The Hammers will now be relying on United to do them a big favour at Wembley
next weekend and keep alive their dreams of playing in the Europa League.

Stoke City: Given, Cameron, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, Whelan, Walters,
Arnautovic, Imbula, Bojan (Adam 78), Joselu (Diouf 73)
Subs not used: Haugaard, Bardsley, Muniesa, Shaqiri, Crouch
Bookings: Imbula, Diouf

West Ham: Randolph, Tomkins (Moses 86), Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble,
Kouyate, Antonio, Lanzini, Sakho (Emenike 61), Carroll (Valencia 66)
Subs not used: Spiegel, Byram, Collins, Obiang
Bookings: Kouyate
Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 27,721

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Hammers face wait on Europe
WHUFC.com

West Ham United will have to wait until the outcome of next week's FA Cup
final to discover whether they will enter the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League
qualifying rounds. Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Stoke City leaves them seventh in
the Barclays Premier League table, but should Manchester United win the FA
Cup final against Crystal Palace, the Hammers will still qualify for Europe
by virtue of their league position. If the Red Devils are victorious at
Wembley on Saturday, the Hammers will enter the Europa League at the third
qualifying round stage.

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Valencia - It is difficult to understand
WHUFC.com

Enner Valencia could not understand how West Ham United failed to win their
final Barclays Premier League fixture of the season at Stoke City. The
Hammers dominated for long periods both before and after Michail Antonio had
given the visitors the lead at the Britannia Stadium. However a succession
of missed chances and miraculous saves – including one from Shay Given to
deny Valencia – and goal line clearances from the Potters meant Slaven
Bilic's side ended scarcely believable 2-1 losers. "It was a very tough
result to take for us, because in the first half it was all about West Ham,
then in the second half they managed to score two goals out of nothing,"
said the No11, whose overhead kick also led to Glenn Whelan's amazing
clearance from Cheikhou Kouyate's goal-bound flick with the scores level at
one-all. "It is difficult to understand how we didn't win the game because
we had three chances cleared off the line and were so close to getting the
second goal, but it just wouldn't go in. "It's the end of my second season
here at West Ham and overall this season has been a happy one for us as a
team, because we have finished seventh in the table."
For Valencia, defeat at Stoke brought an end to a campaign that brought five
goals and three assists in 24 appearances in Claret and Blue – highlighted
by a match-winning double at AFC Bournemouth in January. Next up for the
26-year-old is South America's premier international competition, the Copa
America, which celebrates its centenary with a mouth-watering tournament
hosted by the United States. Ecuador, who have made an outstanding start to
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, will kick-off against Group B favourites
Brazil in Pasadena, California on 4 June, before tackling Peru in Glendale,
Arizona four days later and outsiders Haiti in East Rutherford, New Jersey
on 12 June. "Now, I have a short time to be with my family and I will then
start to prepare for the Copa America," he explained. "We are in a group
with a massive team in Brazil, but we have a very good chance to get through
to the next stage because Ecuador is doing very well in qualification for
the 2018 World Cup. "We also have Peru and Haiti in our group and we hope to
have a very good Copa America. It will be played in the United States, too,
where I scored against England, so I am looking forward to it very much!"

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Bilic - We were simply the better team
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic has no doubts that West Ham deserved to finish the season with
a victory and is disappointed that his team missed out on a top six finish.
The Hammers manager felt his side dominated the game at the Britannia
Stadium and should have been celebrating another victory which would have
guaranteed European football next season. After Michail Antonio fired West
Ham into the lead, the away side had a number of chances to extend their
lead and were millimetres from adding a second when Cheikhou Kouyate's shot
was cleared off the line by Glenn Whelan.
But despite having 20 shots in total, the Hammers were made to pay for their
missed opportunities when Stoke scored a dramatic late winner to secure all
three points. The Hammers can still qualify for the Europa League next
season if Manchester United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final next
weekend and Bilic says it will be just rewards after a memorable campaign.
Bilic said: "No matter if we are going for sixth place we have to win this
kind of game. From the way we played we deserved to get something. "We were
simply the better team and after we went one goal in front it should have
been two or three. "We had big chances and then they equalised but we could
have scored after that. How many times have you seen this in football that
if you don't score the other team goes and gets something and it was one of
those games. "I am very disappointed because we lost sixth place but on the
other hand I can't be negative when we have played like this. "When Cheikhou
had that shot off the line you were just waiting for someone to blow the
ball over the line but it didn't! We are gutted because we deserved to
finish the season with a win because we were the better team than Stoke. "If
Manchester United beat Palace we will still qualify and hopefully they are
going to do it. Despite the defeat, Bilic is still proud of the job his
players have achieved and feels it has been a memorable campaign in the
final ever season at the Boleyn Ground. Bilic added: "It has been a great
season. Apart from Leicester we have been praised the whole season and this
has been very important for us with the last year at the Boleyn Ground. "We
are now moving into the new Stadium and we should be very proud. We have a
new adventure and I told the guys to rest and have a good six weeks. "Some
of the boys will go to the Euros but we will then start again and hopefully
have the same pattern."

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West Ham rely on Man Utd for Europe
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 15th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's hopes of featuring in European competition next season
rely on Manchester United beating Crystal Palace in next week's FA Cup
Final. After ending the campaign in 7th place having been overtaken by
Southampton today, West Ham will only enter the Europa League next season IF
Manchester - who have already qualified for the competition - beat the
Eagles at Wembley. That would ensure a further space would be available for
the next highest-placed Premier League team which happens to be West Ham.
Champions Leicester, runners-up Arsenal and third-place Tottenham have
qualified for the group stages of the Champions League next season, whilst
Manchester City will enter the Champions League play-offs. Manchester United
and Southampton have qualified for the group stage of the Europa League,
whilst West Ham will join the qualifying rounds if Alan Pardew's side fail
to beat the former.

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ExWHUEmployee Exclusive: Transfer Targets Named and Departures Confirmed
May 15, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee

Today was a really disappointing result. We dominated the first half and I
thought Ogbonna was really showing his class. I think he will be even
better next year and I will stick my head out and say he will be an early
contender for Hammer of the Year. I believe he has a lot of qualities and
as he adapts further to the Premier League he will get better and better. I
also thought Lanzini was looking good too. We had chances to score and as
always didn't take them. This is the story of our season and perhaps our
history in some respects.

The chairman are fully aware of how much we need a regular goalscorer. I
have spoken myself with DS and he has expressed how much we need one and how
he feels Payet's talents are not utilised as much as they should as we don't
have someone consistently putting away the chances he creates. Who that
forward will be is unclear. I have regularly told how Lacazette is the
number one target and it remains that way. He is the one that all efforts
will turn to. We are preparing a near £30m bid for him. The transfer will
smash our current £15m record with Andy Carroll, who picked up an injury at
the end of the match. Of course there are other top targets: Batshuayi is
another top target and again we will make moves for him but we face a lot of
competition for his signature. Vardy was the player who I spoke about last
week and we are prepared to activate a release clause and double his salary
to sign the player, whether he will want to come is a different matter. The
list of forwards that we have is around 10 (including three Argentinians and
Ibrahimović). Most of which I have covered in previous columns and we will
sign at least one other forward.

We will bring in another right back too. I spoke last week again of these
targets which include: Gregory van der Wiel, his PSG teammate Serge Aurier,
Debuchy of Arsenal, Rafael da Silva the ex-Manchester United right back and
a couple of other French right backs. Slav also has a couple from his
Turkish days that he is interested in too.

I reported in my fanzine column that we were interested in wingers from
clubs that could potentially be relegated and they both have gone down now.
The targets were Townsend (who has an £8m release clause) and today's
goalscorer Wijnaldum, who we have been interested in previously and Redmond
of Norwich City. Tore, from Turkey is another potential signature. There
has been some interest in Walcott and the player is apparently keen to come
but we are unlikely to pay his wage demands, for a player who is injury
prone. . We have a clear policy to avoid injury prone players now.

Remember we have already signed Harvard Nordtveit, a Norwegian defensive
midfielder, this signature should be confirmed on the official site in the
next few days.

The game against Manchester United was special and the perfect sign off for
the stadium that we all love. The reporting of the bottle incident after
the match was a very poor effort by the press in my eyes and one that didn't
tell the true story. Yes the bottles shouldn't have been thrown, it was
disgusting and should have no place in football, however there is a build up
to the event. Firstly I cannot understand why Green Street was not shut.
It took me 35 minutes to walk from the station to The Ribman, a journey
which usually takes five. At times it felt like I was about to get crushed
as there was just too many people trying to fit down the road with moving
cars, parked cars and police horses and vehicles. The police seriously
underestimated how many people would show without tickets and were regularly
shouting and pushing fans into spaces and directions where they couldn't go.
People in the Boleyn had been drinking from very early on and there is no
way the coach should have been going past at the time that it did, into a
packed Green Street. The police were very close to creating another
disaster outside that ground and the whole story has been underplayed. Even
at the end of the match when we were trying to film "The West Ham Way TV"
footage the police had formed a line spreading the width of the street and
were moving everyone away from the stadium for some apparent reason. As is
the case with most police officers nowadays unfortunately, you were unable
to ask them anything without getting shouted at either.

The Manchester United game was obviously billed as the last game at Upton
Park and people have taken offence to the fact that Jack Sullivan had tried
to arrange a game to support the ladies team. I understand the fact that
people saw Bobby Moore switching off the lights as the fitting end and that
there should be no more games but the fact is there are a few charity
matches scheduled to take place there anyway. The ladies game is just one
more and a chance for those that perhaps didn't get tickets in ballots to
say goodbye to the stadium. I understand both points of view and think if
the fans want the ladies game cancelled then all other matches should be
(although one has already taken place). To read some of the comments
directed towards Jack though was very disappointing. I can assure you that
his intentions were only to raise money to help the ladies football team.

The club/Jack stood to make no money from this and in fact would have made a
loss because of the cost to steward the event and so on. All money was to
go to the ladies team and that was his intentions. Yes perhaps it could
have been marketed differently, maybe if it had been announced way in
advance of the Manchester United game, people wouldn't have reacted so much
and there has been a few mistakes with how it has been billed but the
intentions were good. I have met Jack and speak to him regularly, both he
and Dave Jnr both support many good causes around the club. This was the
intentions here. Whether it was the right move to do this game, the poll
shall decide, but it has to be said that the Sullivans meant no malice by
this game.

Jack will be future chairman of the club, joint with his brother and they
have to start learning the ropes sooner or later. It is like most father
and son businesses' the youngster learns from his dad step by step as he is
growing up and this is no different.


The summer promises to be an exciting one and there will be 7-8 players
leaving including O'Brien, Song, Moses, Emineke, Lee (who is set to announce
this departure in the next few days), Chambers, Valencia (with a likely move
to China or Spain) and possibly Sakho. Sakho is a frustrating player. On
his day he is brilliant but he is too inconsistent. It is felt that Slaven
maybe losing patience with him over his recent injuries, lack of clinical
finishing, reaction to being dropped and requests for a pay rise. David
Sullivan has a soft spot for him having brought him over from France and so
whether he stays or not is unclear.


Another player who is wanting a pay rise is Reece Oxford, well more so his
agent wants one. Talk of him moving to Manchester City, Arsenal and
Manchester United have been instigated by his agent as a way of getting the
club to discuss a new deal with him. I cannot see him leaving myself and if
we secure Europe, with Manchester United winning the cup, he would figure in
a lot of those games if he isn't loaned out for the season.

The preseason promises to be an exciting one. The West Ham Way will have a
new website launching this week. The website is a massive upgrade on the
current one and I am sure you will all love the new format. We will
continue to produce videos over the summer and again have exciting guests
lined up.
The fanzine sold really well and the IPhone download charted again. I am
delighted with how the site has grown and to be able to donate almost £5k to
charities this season has given me the greatest pleasure. I would really
like to thank all of the West Ham Way team (there is about 25) from the
bottom of my heart for all the effort they have put into everything and a
massive thank you to the fans that have supported us too. We will continue
to strive to improve and welcome any feedback on the new site launch.

Have a great summer and you know where to stay for the breaking transfer
news first.
COYI

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Stoke 2-1 West Ham: Hammers beaten by late Mame Biram Diouf header
By Patrick Surlis
Last Updated: 15/05/16 6:44pm
SSN

West Ham must rely on a favour from Man Utd to qualify for the Europa League
after they were beaten 2-1 by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday
afternoon. Michail Antonio put the visitors in front with a low finish on 23
minutes but they were pegged back by Giannelli Imbula's strike shortly after
half-time. The Hammers squandered several opportunities to restore their
lead and were floored by Mame Biram Diouf's 88th-minute header as Stoke
earned their first win since March 19. After a fantastic season West Ham
started the day with hopes of a fifth-place finish, but defeat leaves them
seventh in the table and they will only secure a Europa League spot if
United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. As for the hosts, the
final-day victory secures a top-half finish for Mark Hughes' side, who end
the campaign ninth. Bilic made one change from the dramatic win over Man
United, replacing the injured Dimitri Payet with James Tomkins. The
reshuffle allowed Antonio to move further forward and he opened the scoring
after 23 minutes, latching on to Winston Reid's knock-down from a corner to
turn and fire past Shay Given. Stoke failed to muster a shot on target in a
disappointing first half, and the visitors had further chances to extend
their advantage before the break. Diafra Sakho dragged an effort past the
near post after good work from the lively Antonio, before Sakho slipped at
the crucial moment after holding off the challenge of Philipp Wollscheid.
The wasteful finishing continued with Andy Carroll and Sakho guilty either
side of the interval, and Stoke made them pay when Imbula drilled home the
equaliser after 55 minutes. The Stoke midfielder was allowed onto his
stronger left foot and arrowed a firm shot past Darren Randolph in the West
Ham goal. Despite the setback, Bilic's side looked more likely to grab a
winner and the game became stretched in the final stages. Enner Valencia
headed over from four yards and Emmanuel Emenike and Antonio were both
denied by Given in quick succession. West Ham thought they had their goal
with 11 minutes to play, but Glenn Whelan cleared Cheikhou Kouyate's
goal-bound shot off the line with Given beaten. Charlie Adam nearly caught
Randolph out with a long-range strike from inside his own half, but Hughes'
side looked happy to settle for a point after a run of one win from nine
games. But they snatched victory with a bullet header from Diouf, who darted
in front of Valencia at the near post to power past the West Ham 'keeper.

Paul Merson's verdict

West Ham were the much better team in the first half. Stoke were getting
booed and the fans were getting very frustrated and they went in 1-0 at
half-time after a good goal by Antonio.
West Ham turned it on again in the second half and should have scored,
Valencia had one great chance which Given saved and at 2-0 it would have
been game over. Ryan Shawcross says he is proud Stoke finished their season
on a high after beating West Ham 2-1. But they didn't and the game turned,
Imbula made it 1-1 then West Ham had a couple more chances, one of which was
cleared off the line. Then at the end Stoke had a corner and Diouf made it
2-1 with a good header. You do feel for West Ham, but you watch Stoke and
that was them all over. They were poor first half, but then 15-20 minutes
into the second half they turned it on, and when they did they were very,
very good.

Player ratings

Stoke: Given (8), Pieters (6), Wollscheid (5), Shawcross (6), Cameron (6),
Whelan (5), Imbula (8), Bojan (6), Arnautovic (6), Walters (6, Joselu (5)
Subs used: Adam (6), Diouf (7), Bardsley (6)
West Ham: Randolph (6), Tomkins (6), Reid (6), Ogbonna (7), Cresswell (6),
Noble (6), Kouyate (7), Antonio (7), Lanzini (6), Sakho (6), Carroll (5)
Subs used: Moses (6), Emenike (6), Valencia (5)

Man of the match: Giannelli Imbula

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West Ham starlet Reece Oxford puts new contract on hold over concerns about
first-team playing time
14:06, 15 MAY 2016 UPDATED 14:46, 15 MAY 2016
BY JOHN CROSS
The 17-year-old midfielder or defender has been offered a long-term deal by
the Hammers but is also being eyed by Arsenal and both Manchester clubs
The Mirror

Reece Oxford is ready to keep West Ham waiting before committing himself to
a new contract. Talented teenager Oxford wants to get more playing time on
the pitch before deciding whether to sign a new deal. Mirror Sport has
revealed the Hammers have offered the 17-year-old a new long-term contract
to try to tie down their most sought-after youngster. Arsenal , Manchester
City and Manchester United have all been watching developments, and could be
tempted to make a bid this summer. Oxford, who has two years left on his
current deal, is seen as an England star of the future and can operate both
in midfield and central defence. But after making a spectacular start to the
season with a Man of the Match display in West Ham's opening day win at
Arsenal he has not been a regular, making just five appearances in 2016 and
starting just one of those games. Londoner Oxford was even one of the poster
boys for England's new kit launch in March because he is seen as such a star
name of the future. After captaining the Irons side that won this season's
U21 Premier League Cup, he wants first-team football to help his career
development and is set to wait before committing himself to the Hammers.

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Europa fixture clash at the Olympic Stadium
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Should West Ham qualify for the Europa League by virtue of Manchester United
winning the FA Cup they will face a new challenge in where to play early
home games in the early rounds. UK Athletics have exclusive use of the
former Olympic Stadium until 1st August meaning the Hammers would need to
find another ground or ask special permission to swap a possible home and
away tie for the third round. Should West Ham qualify, they would join the
competition in the third qualifying round with the first leg scheduled on
28th July and the second leg on 4th August. It takes seven days to transform
the osstadium from an athletics stadium to football mode and West Ham are
set to play their first game there on the 7th August against Juventus in a
pre-season friendly. The Sainsbury's Anniversary Games will see a two day
Diamond League meeting take place on Friday 24th July and Saturday 25th
July, with an IPC Grand Prix coinciding with National Paralympic Day on
Sunday 26th July. With the a seven day turn around, the very earliest the
stadium could be ready for a football game is 2nd August, two days the
second leg on the 4th August but this would require the agreement of UK
Athletics. West Ham would need to fit in another home match in August should
they progress to the play-off stage with the first leg scheduled on 18th
August and the second leg on the 25th August

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West Ham earn £85m for seventh place finish
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham earnings from TV rights have topped £85m this season. The Hammers
received an equal share of UK TV rights worth £21,968,793 which all twenty
Premier League clubs get, next comes an equal share of Overseas TV worth
£27,757,371 plus another equal share of £4,932,630 from the commercial
central pool. The Hammers had 15 games broadcast live on UK TV earning them
a further £13,162,740 in facility fees. Finally, each club earns a merit
payment based on their finishing position. The seventh place merit payment
gets another £17,428,572. Add that all up and the seventh place position
earns the Hammers £85,250,106. We must now want to see if Manchester United
win the FA Cup to keep our European dreams alive. West Ham picked up
£76,339,564 for finishing twelfth last season so it is a significant
financial improvement of over £10m.

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