Daily WHUFC News - 27th May 2016

Late goal downs Valencia's Ecuador
WHUFC.com

Enner Valencia's Ecuador were beaten 1-0 by the USA in a Copa America warm-up match on Wednesday night. The South Americans faced the tournament's hosts in Texas but a last minute strike by Darlington Nagbe of the Portland Timbers saw the States grab the victory. Hammers striker Valencia played 90 minutes in the final game before the competition kicks-off next month for the Yellows, who will go up against Brazil, Haiti and Peru in Group B of the tournament which is the first to be held outside South America. Despite the defeat, Valencia remains confident his side can progress from the group stages. He said: "I had a short time with my family after the season with West Ham finished and then we started preparing for the Copa America. "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!"
Ecuador kick-off their campaign against five-time World Cup winners Brazil in California on 4 June, before heading to Arizona to take on Peru four days later. Their final group stage game against Haiti is in New Jersey on 12 June. They are currently joint-top of the South American qualification standings, with only Uruguay keeping apace at the summit with 13 points.

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Former Player Interview - Frank McAvennie
WHUFC.com

Hammers legend Frank McAvennie believes his former Club can achieve even bigger things under Slaven Bilic when they move into the new Stadium and sees no reason why they cannot challenge for major silverware. McAvennie was thrilled to be back in east London for the final ever game at the Boleyn Ground as he saw West Ham record a famous victory over Manchester United.
The 56-year-old has nothing but praise for the job Bilic has done following his move back to the Club last summer and feels he has assembled one of the best squads in recent years. With the Club moving into a new 60,000 Stadium, McAvennie is convinced the the Hammers will only grow stronger and can mount a serious challenge for a Champions League place. McAvennie said: "I said as soon as Slaven got the job that he would be fantastic. "The first signing he made was Julian Dicks and they have been brilliant together. He is such a legend down here and used to be my room-mate. "The fans are onside straight away and they both look like they are enjoying it. It is the same as any job - when you are enjoying it you smile and it makes you a better manager and a player. There is a good atmosphere down here now. "The supporters deserve a good team and they deserve a team who are fighting for Europe. "It can only get better from now on when they move into the new Stadium. "Slaven has got his eye on a few players. He has brought some great players in and West Ham deserve to be challenging for a Champions League place."

McAvennie will never forget his memorable spell at the Boleyn Ground and became a fans favourite after being part of the one of the greatest ever strike forces at West Ham United. The former Scottish international enjoyed a formidable partnership with Tony Cottee where he scored 60 goals in just 190 appearances and helped the Hammers secure their highest ever finish in the top flight when they finished third back in 1986. McAvennie is still treated like a hero every time he makes a return to the Club and says he will always have a special relationship with the West Ham United fans. McAvennie added: "I am always amazed how well the fans treat me. I was born and bred in Glasgow but the fans down here are incredible. I feel so welcome here and feel at home. "It gives me pride when I look back at my time here and we enjoyed our football under John Lyall. "I remember when I played with Tony, it was not when we were going to score but what type of goal we were going to score and that rubbed off onto the supporters. "It a shame that John Lyall was not able to see the end of the Boleyn Ground but I am sure he is looking down smiling."

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New Stadium progress report
WHUFC.com

The concourse of West Ham United's new home has a familiar feel to it, with all three of the Hammers' World Cup winners adorning a giant model shirt.

In this, the summer of the 50th anniversary of England's World Cup triumph, the names of West Ham's three home-grown heroes of 1966 are now displayed in all their glory.

The imposing shirts, each four-metres wide, were installed in succession over the past 24 hours and now sit as both a permanent and striking reminder of the Club's famous three sons, Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.

Five-time Hammer of the Year and 1980 FA Cup final hero Sir Trevor Brooking has likewise been honoured, joining the legendary Billy Bonds and newly-crowned Hammer of the Year Dimitri Payet.

As has been the Club's commitment to supporters from the outset, West Ham will celebrate its heroes of yesteryear throughout the Stadium, with six such shirts already in situ around the world-class arena.

Elsewhere on the concourse, Hammers fans will be greeted by a colossal set of the iconic crossed hammers, complete with the lettering TIW, a nod to the rivet hammers used in the Thames Ironworks.

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Sylvestre pens new Hammers deal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that Swiss midfielder Noha Sylvestre has signed a professional deal with the Club. The 18-year-old was a regular for the Hammers' U18s side last season, making 17 appearances and scoring once, while he also featured on a handful of occasions for the Development Squad. Thrilled to put pen to paper on a one-year deal, Sylvestre said: "It's like a dream for me. It's a dream for everyone who plays football to get a professional contract but the hardest thing now is to keep going and pushing and working hard. "I've enjoyed my time here so far very much because as soon as I joined, I felt really comfortable with my teammates and everyone at the Club and it's a big family for me. That's why my football has been good as well. "My target next season is to play every game for the U21s and get my place in that team, and then you never know. Why not go with the first team a couple of times and train with them if I can? I want to do as well as possible."

Sylvestre, who describes himself as an "aggressive number four" who "likes to make a challenge" is the son of former Swiss international Patrick, who hopes his career can inspire his son to a successful time at West Ham. "I'm delighted for Noha to sign his first contract. West Ham is an incredible Club. With the last year in this stadium, and with the people here, it's a great story and with the next year in the new stadium, it's good. "I hope for Noha [to follow in my footsteps] but there is a lot of hard work to do. To play in England is a dream. Now he has to work hard and maybe one day it is possible [for him to play for Switzerland]."

With the Club moving to their new home on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ahead of next season, Sylvestre admitted it is an exciting time to be involved with the Hammers. "It's going to be a massive thing," he continued. "I've always come here to watch the games and seeing the Club develop like this really means something for me. "I've only been here three years, but I'm really looking forward to it all."

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Bilic linked with 'the Turkish Ozil'
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are said to be considering making an offer for Besiktas star Oguzhan Ozyakup. A team mate of Slaven Bilic's top transfer target Gokhan Tore, 'Ozzy' - as he is popularly known - is a Dutch-born midfielder who appeared for both the Netherlands and Turkey at youth level before deciding to feature for the latter at full senior level. The 23-year-old started life at AZ Alkmaar's Academy before joining Arsenal's youth set-up in 2008 - where he remained for four years, making just two first team appearances, before joining Besiktas for whom he has already featured on 110 occasions. Although Ozyakup was already at Besiktas before Hammers boss Bilic became general manager in 2013, he became a firm favourite of the Croatian manager's. And only last year, Bilic hailed the midfielder as Turkey's best player - likening him to Arsenal's Mesuit Ozil.
"Oguzhan Ozyakup is, for me, Turkey's most talented footballer," he said during an interview last October. "The intelligence and quality in the pass really needs to be appreciated. "I liken him to a snake, he moves like a snake, he rules out the competition. The more muscle means you are less limber. See Mesut Ozil, physically he and Oguzhan are exactly the same."

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Noha signs one-year deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Yet another young Hammer has put pen to paper on their first professional contract. 18-year-old Noha Sylvestre, a regular in the Under 18s last season has signed a 12-month contract with the Hammers. And the young midfielder hopes to become a regular with Terry Westley's Development Squad next season, after experiencing a handful of games at the higher level last term. "My target next season is to play every game for the U21s and get my place in that team," he told West Ham's website. "I want to do as well as possible. "I've enjoyed my time here so far very much because as soon as I joined, I felt really comfortable with my team mates and everyone at the club. It's a big family for me - and that's why my football has been good as well." Basel-born Sylveste - who joined West Ham from Concordia Basel as a 16-year-old and couldn't speak a word of English when he first arrived in London - made 17 appearances for the Under 18s last season, scoring just once.

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Michy Batshuayi "attracted" to Premier League switch as Tottenham send scout to watch West Ham target
21:44, 26 MAY 2016 UPDATED 21:44, 26 MAY 2016
BY ED MALYON , ADRIAN KAJUMBA
Batshuayi is expected to move this summer and Liverpool and West Ham also interested in the £30million-rated centre-forward
The Mirror

Tottenham and West Ham target Michy Batshuayi admits he is "attracted" to the Premier League. But Marseille's Belgian striker, 22, won't decide on his future until after the Euros. Batshuayi hit 27 goals for club and country this season to attract interest from Spurs, the Hammers and Italian duo Juventus and Roma. He said: "Everybody likes the Premier League. It has a lot of spectacle, a lot of goals and many good players.
"It is natural that every good player is attracted by that league. "(But) I don't think about that (a transfer). I prefer to concentrate 100 per cent on the Euros. Then we will see what happens."
Marseille's caretaker boss Franck Passi has already confirmed Batshuayi will be allowed to leave the Ligue 1 club this summer. Tottenham's head of recruitment Paul Mitchell watched Marseille's Michy Batshuayi in the French Cup final last weekend but faces a struggle to convince the Belgium striker to sign on the dotted line. Batshuayi is expected to move this summer with Liverpool also interested in the £30million-rated centre-forward. The 22-year-old is concerned about penning a long-term deal at White Hart Lane when he is likely to be backup to homegrown star Harry Kane. The young Englishman has established himself as one of the Premier League's best after sustaining the remarkable form of his breakout 2014/15 campaign. Batshuayi prefers a move to Tottenham over other Premier League options, with Mauricio Pochettino's side playing in the Champions League. But sources in France have told Mirror Sport that he may seek contract clauses that would allow him to leave for a set fee if guarantees over playing time are not met.

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Gokhan Tore: super sharp shooter
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Gokhan Tore is close to sealing a move to West Ham United, despite Besiktas holding out for an improved transfer fee. So we asked one of the KUMB Forum's Turkish members to give us the lowdown on the highly-rated, 24-year-old winger who Slaven Bilic views as integral to future success. "Tore is excellent on the wing," said Turk123. "He's fantastic with the ball at his feet, possesses great pace, great vision and above average shooting. "He had a spell with Chelsea when he was a youth player so adapting to Premier League is unlikely to be a problem. However he's crazy. A pure, crazy guy. "Turkey's national team will be missing Leverkusen's Omer Toprak this summer because he refused to play alongside Tore. That's because a friend of Tore's put a gun to his head a couple of years ago. "He will also miss the first two games of Turkey's Euro 2016 campaign because he was sent off recently."

Expanding upon the 2013 firearms incident, Toprak's club and international colleague Hakan Calhanoglu revealed how they found Tore and a friend in their hotel room following an international fixture. The situation arose after Tore became incensed after learning his ex-girlfriend was now in a relationship with Calhanoglu. "Gokhan's friend walked over to Omer, pulled out a gun from his jacket and told him he would be shot if he didn't lay flat on the floor," he told German TV. "I was hit and then I was lying in a corner. He then came up to me and said: 'Don't move or I will shoot you'. I was curled up in the corner of the room, I couldn't move, I was scared for my life."

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Besiktas reject Tore bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's £12million bid for Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore has been rejected by his current club. And the Hammers have been told to come back with an improved offer if they intend to land one of Slaven Bilic's key summer targets. Although KUMB understands Tore has privately expressed a desire to move to England, Besiktas are unwilling to do business unless West Ham raise their offer by £5million. Besiktas spokesman Rebecca Wood said: "Gokhan Tore is an important part of our team. We will participate in the Champions League next season and are in favour of keeping Tore. "For us to consider selling, we would look for a fee of around £17million." Tore moved to Turkey in 2013 when he spent a season on loan at Besiktas, before making the switch from Russian side Rubin Kazan permanent. The Super Lig side paid in the region of €4.5million for his services.

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Hammers linked with second Lyon star
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United are said to have expressed an interest in signing Lyon winger Rachid Ghezzal, according to reports emanating from France. Although Besiktas forward Gokhan Tore remains Slaven Bilic's first choice, the Hammers are reported to have also taken a look at Ghezzal, a French-born, Algerian international. Speaking recently about Ghezzal's situation, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas admitted that his immediate future remained uncertain with the player having just 12 months left on his current contract - which he has thus far refused to renew.
"We have real affection for him," said Aulas. "He's a boy who for years did not have a chance. He's shown six months of high quality; he's found the urge. "He has one year on his contract. Either he re-signs with Lyon or we will sell. We'll see. We have made a valid proposal and we'll do everything we can to keep him."
The 24-year-old - who had only been a regular fixture in Lyon's first team since the beginning of 2016 - is also reported to be on the radar of Sunderland and former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce.

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Tottenham and West Ham target Michy Batshuayi says he will move clubs after Euro 2016
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 26/05/16 9:27am
SSN

Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi says he is attracted by a move to the Premier League but he will not change clubs until after Euro 2016. The Belgium international, currently part of his country's preparations for the tournament next month, is of interest to Tottenham and West Ham, as well as other top clubs in Europe. After scoring 24 goals in Ligue 1 last season, he has confirmed he is leaving the French club, who must sell him due to financial difficulties. But the 22-year-old insists he is concentrating on performing for Belgium first. "I don't think about that, I prefer to concentrate 100 per cent on the Euros, then we will see what happens," Batshuayi told Sky Sports News HQ. "Everybody likes the Premier League. It has a lot of spectacle, a lot of goals and many good players. It is natural that every good player is attracted by that league." Belgium play Switzerland in Geneva on Saturday as part of their Euro 2016 preparations, where they will compete in Group E alongside Italy, Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

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Hammers "excellent" midfielder deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

ClaretandHugh has learned that West Ham did an extraordinary piece of business in convncing midfielder Havard Nordtveit to join the club on wages of around £35k a week. The former Borussia Moenchengladbach man joins the club on July 1 with the Hammers reportedly beating off off competition from several top European outfits to land their man. Nordtveit, 25, signs on a five-year deal and returns to London six years after leaving Arsenal to join Monchengladbach. However, to have picked him up on such "sensible" wages is a coup for the Hammers who did a great job in selling the club to the player. And it's another indication of the club to ensure that they get true value for money with a source saying: "He's a genuine utility player and to have picked him up on the sort of wages we are talking about was excellent business. "He can play as a defensive midfielder which is his strongest position but is also capable of slotting in to the defence at right back or central defence."

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Hammers linked with Inter Milan centre back
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham are said weighing up a move for Inter Milan centre back Jeison Murillo in the summer, according to Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset.
The report claims the 23-year-old is wanted by Leicester City, Stoke City, Everton in addition to the Hammers and was previously a target for Manchester United. It has been claimed that Murillo, whose present contract with Inter Milan runs until 2020, could fetch around £15m, meaning the Italian club are open to letting him go. He has 16 caps and a goal for Colombia to his name and is expected to represent his nation in the Copa America next month. One major concern is Murillo's disciplinary record after he was sent off four times last season. Corriere dello Sport claim the 23-year-old centre-back has turned down approaches from Stoke City, West Ham and Everton in the hope that he can attract a "bigger club" A source close to player allegedly told the Italian press "Murillo is a hot name on Inter's transfer list and the club has already fielded inquiries from West Ham, Stoke City and Everton. But Murillo will hardly choose to go to a lower level club than Inter. He is prepared to wait for a big proposal."

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Season ticket holders put pressure on Umbro
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham season ticket holders are applying pressure to Hammers kit partner Umbro to release a high definition version of the advert they used in the last ever West Ham programme at the Boleyn Ground. The advert is claimed to contain the name of each and every Irons season ticket holder at the Boleyn Ground in the last season, thought to be in excess of twenty-six thousand supporters. Each name has been printed in very, very small typeface incorporated secretly in the advert. A social media campaign on twitter has been asking Umbro UK to release the advert in a version that supporters can read their own names, this is turn has led to an online petition to persuade the kit manufacturer to publish a high definition version. The petition reads "Please will you produce and share a large high resolution copy of your excellent advert in the West Ham United V Manchester United programme. It would be great for season ticket holders to be able to find their names as it was a thoughtful and excellent idea and would be sad to go to waste.

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Batsuhayi talks on his future
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 26, 2016 in News
C and H

Michy Batsuhayi has revealed that he may be leaning towards a Premier League move this summer. The striker though is refusing to give any hint of where he may finally end up as West Ham, Spurs and various other PL clubs watch the Belgian striker. The player is now with his national squad ahead of the Euro 2016 Finals in France and inerviewed by Sky Sports made it clear the Premier League interested him. He said: "Yes I like the Premier League. It is exciting with lots of goals and excitement." But he added however: "But I don't think about it now – I am focused 100 per cent on the tournament an I'll think about that afterwards."

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TV cash hike hits Hammers transfer talks
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham's hopes of landing top players this summer are being handicapped by the massive influx of TV money next year. The club has admitted through Jack Sullivan's twitter account that they are struggling to find value for money in the market place. With, for example, around £100 million available to the bottom placed club next season the financial inducements to players to ply their trade in the Premier League are huge for players globally. And ClaretandHugh has been told that already demands on transfer fees and wages are on a "big inflationary upward spiral." A top insider told us: "The new TV money aailable is great in itself but I would estimate that t has already put around 10 – 15 per cent on prices for players but we have a list of around 25 and we will be sorting things as the summer progresses. "The attitude of selling clubs is understandable – it may be a seller's market but we won't be held to ransom."

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West Ham could play Europa in Athletics mode
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Claret and Hugh understands that West Ham have an emergency contingency plan to play the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round in Athletics mode at the former Olympic Stadium if they are forced to do so. The first leg of the Europa League is due to be played on Thursday 28th July but UK Athletics only finish their Olympic Stadium weekend event on Sunday 24th July. It takes seven days to convert the stadium from Athletics mode to football mode by bringing the retractable seats forward. Although many of the seats are on wheels many need to be craned in and built manually each time the stadium switches from Athletics to football use. Should West Ham be unlucky in not drawing the first leg away they will ask UEFA and their opponents to switch the legs around. In the unlikely event UEFA or their opponents refuse that request they will play the 28th July first leg tie in Athletics mode with the running track between the pitch and the crowd. The proper conversion could then take place between Friday 29th July and Thursday 4th August which would allow the Hammers to play the 7th August Juventus friendly in football mode at the Olympic Satdium.

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Irons hand Beskitas a Tore response
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have reacted with great cynicm to reports they will need to find £17 million to land Beskitas winger Gokhan Tore. The club is today reported as having seen a £12 million offer rejected by the Turkish club who are quoted as wanting £17 million for the player – double what it was claimed we were ready to pay when one of the regular reports surfaced a couple of months back!
A cental striker remains the club's main priority and they have made it clear on several occasions that for Tore to arrive someone is going to have to leave. We were told again today – as we were two months ago: " Our spending plan well mapped out. We need a top striker and a right back. "For us to get involved in a serious move for Tore, somebody would have to leave. Iit was claimed back in March that we would announce him as a signing at around £8.5 million in May – what happened to that? "And regular statements from Besiktas that they want this, that or the other should be taken with a pinch of salt. That's not the way business is done if talks have reached an advanced stage."
Besiktas spokesman Rebecca Wood is reported as saying today: "Gokhan Tore is an important part of our team. We will participate in the Champions League next season and are in favour of keeping Tore. For us to consider selling, we would look for a fee of around £17million."

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Slaven Bilic signs up for Euro 2016
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic has signed up to the ITV commentary team for Euro 2016 Championships in France. ITV's team will be based at a studio in Paris, overlooking the Seine and the Notre Dame. A press release from ITV says their team will criss-cross the country to deliver build-up, live coverage and analysis of games from in and around the stadia in the various tournament locations. Those joining Slaven Bilic in ITV Sport team include Mark Pougatch, Lothar Matthaus, Glenn Hoddle, Ian Wrigh, Lee Dixon, Peter Crouch, Tony Pulis, Emmanuel Petit, Christian Karembeu, Louis Saha, Norman Whiteside, Eniola Aluko and Richard Dunne. Key fixtures on ITV include England's first and final group games against Russia and Slovakia, Northern Ireland v Ukraine, Russia v Wales and the Republic of Ireland's games against Belgium and Italy. ITV's group stage coverage also includes all of holders Spain's matches and a standout tie between World Champions Germany and fierce rivals Poland. ITV will have first pick of the round of 16 and semi finals, whilst joint Euro 2016 broadcaster, the BBC, has first two picks of the quarter-finals. Both ITV and BBC will show the final.

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Besiktas name their price for West Ham target Gokhan Tore
Gokhan Tore is rated as £17m by Besiktas
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Thursday, May 26, 2016

Besiktas have slapped a £17m price tag on West Ham target Gokhan Tore, according to reports in Turkey. Former Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic is a big admirer of the winger, having signed him from Rubin Kazan for £3m back in 2014, and now wants to bring him to east London. West Ham have held preliminary talks with Besiktas and a deal of around £12m had been mooted. However, according to Fanatik, the Istanbul club have now raised their asking price by a further £5m which has forced West Ham to stall in their pursuit of the 24-year-old. But, having already failed with bids for Alexandre Lacazette, Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie, West Ham are worried about seeing another potential deal fall through and are likely to return to Besiktas with a higher offer.

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STABILITY - EVERYONE NEEDS IT, BUT DOES ANYONE WANT IT?
By Benjamin Cronin 26 May 2016 at 08:00
WTID

He's often seen as a managerial enigma. Some see him as a tactical genius, while others say he can only buy success. The self-proclaimed 'Special One', Jose Mourinho, has amassed 21 trophies in his career; the Champions League, Europa League, domestic titles and cups from Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. The soon to be Manchester United manager certainly has decent grounds for argument against anyone who contests he isn't one of the best managers in the world. You'll be pleased to know, this article won't be focussing on what Mourinho brings to Manchester United, nor the impact his employment will have on West Ham. Instead, it's to analyse a quote taken from his interview with Gentleman's Journal;

"I think the managers are the only ones that want stability. Nobody else wants stability. Agents don't want stability – stability doesn't make money. What makes money is instability. Players, they don't want stability. Players want to be in the market. They want to go to better clubs. The media don't want stability. Stability doesn't sell. Clubs – some want stability."

Take from that what you will. You can agree with it or disagree with it but one thing can't be argued, it raises some interesting points. There's no denying the fact that the notion of stability has wavered amongst football clubs in England in recent times. Whether it's financial, managerial, stability amongst players, styles or as we've recently found out, location, absurd amounts of money and desire for instant success mean things change far too often in what is now loosely referred to as 'the beautiful game'. It may seem obvious to those who pay to watch their club play every week that sticking to a plan and having the confidence to see it through could lead to success, yet the multi-million pound owners seem intent on changing things the minute it doesn't go exactly how they planned.

Leeds United is one example of a club that love a managerial shake-up. The blame may lie with their crazed owner owner, Massimo Cellino, but they have sacked a staggering six managers (assuming Steve Evans will soon be out the door) in less than two years. The stats make more interesting when looked at over a longer period though. In the last 20 years, Watford have hung 17 managers out to dry, Southampton 18 and Crystal Palace 19. When you compare that to the fact that West Ham have had 15 managers in their entire history, it begs the question; why are these managers given just a year to prove their worth?

A lack of stability is perhaps most obvious when looking at managers, but even players nowadays have an incredibly limited amount of time to impress at a new club. Angel Di Maria cost Manchester United nigh on £60m almost two years ago, yet with just one season of Premier League football under his belt, he was shipped off to PSG for a £15m loss. Liverpool shelled out £16m for Mario Balotelli and after 16 appearances, they already appear to have given up on the Italian. These are just two fairly high profile examples, but it's now seen as the done thing to send a player off on loan after less than a year of plying their trade and give someone else a shot.

Constant changes in football might be most evident amongst those who make the difference on the pitch, but it's also become a rather frequent occurrence amongst those who make the decisions in the boardroom. I'm not just talking about mega money takeovers at the likes of Manchester City, Leicester and Everton. Aston Villa (who have also recently been taken over) board members David Bernstein and Mervyn King had their feet under the desk for less than two months before deciding to pack up and leave.

So, money may be the overriding factor, but does this approach really work out? Have these clubs that change things up on a consistent basis really achieved the success that they so desperately crave? In a word, no. There may well be evidence to suggest otherwise but I just can't see it. The hope is that West Ham and our current board implement a different approach and buck the trend of modern football. A change of ground may not sit well with a lot of fans but it's certainly one that can take the club forward. The challenge will be to guard against the those who benefit most from instability, the agents.

West Ham has the potential to grow as a club and challenge the top four in the Premier League, but only if we hold on to our most valuable assets. In Slaven Bilic, we have a great tactician who knows how to man manage his players. He's someone we need to stay at the club in order to progress to where we want to be. Whilst rival clubs may become a tempting option for Bilic, they could also potentially nab some of our best players. Reece Oxford is one notable option that, according to the media, could be convinced to make a move for more money (although the claim will be to progress his career). A potential transfer of Dimitri Payet to Real Madrid may seem absurd to some of us but there will always be a seed of doubt, courtesy of the wage figures that get banded around. Manuel Lanzini is only half a season of decent performances away from being linked to here, there and everywhere and I can already predict some January transfer talk of Kouyate to Arsenal when they are still in need of a ball-winning central midfielder.


This article isn't here to prove a point, I simply want to open up the floor to opinion. Can West Han consider themselves a 'stable' football club and if we are, will we remain so? If we want success, is stability the best way to go about achieving it?

COYI!

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