West Ham United 2 Aston Villa 0
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate were among the scorers as the Hammers
extended their impressive unbeaten run at the Boleyn Ground to eleven games
as the Hammers secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Slaven
Bilic's side have made Upton Park a fortress this season and have not been
beaten at home since the defeat against Bournemouth back in August. The
Hammers played the majority of the game with an extra man after Jordan Ayew
was shown a straight red card early in the first half. And the result was
never in doubt after Antonio opened the scoring with an impressive header on
58 minutes and Kouyate finished the job with a well taken finish at the end
of the game. West Ham maintained their position in the top six and will be
full of confidence as they prepare to face Southampton on Saturday. The home
side started brightly and could have opened the scoring after just two
minutes. Dimitri Payet weaved his way into the box and saw his shot strike
Antonio and the ball fell inches past the post. Villa, who were desperate
for the points also had their chances and Carles Gil saw his shot from
25-yards on ten minutes comfortably saved by Adrian in the West Ham goal.
The away side were demanding a penalty just sixty seconds later after they
claimed Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross had struck the arm of Antonio, but
referee Jonathan Moss waved for play to continue.
Things got even worse for the struggling away team when they were reduced to
ten-men on 17 minutes after Ayew was shown a straight red card after he
elbowed Cresswell in the face. The Hammers were determined to make the extra
man count and Antonio could have got his name on the scoresheet a lot
earlier when he was picked out in the box by Payet on 23 minutes and flicked
a header just wide of the goal. The home side came close again on 31 minutes
when Aaron Cresswell's cross eventually fell to James Tomkins who saw his
fierce shot towards goal flicked over the bar by Enner Valencia. The best
chance of the first half fell to Valencia on the stroke of half-time when he
struck a free-kick from 30-yards which flew inches past the post. Villa were
clearly putting ten-men behind the ball and it was hard for the Hammers to
break them down, but they were throwing everything at the Villa goal.
Mark Noble's cross on 50 minutes fell perfectly to James Collins who
directed a header towards goal, but Micah Richards produced a great piece of
skill to clear the ball off the line. Just moments later we could have seen
one of the goals of the season at the Boleyn Ground after Payet's corner
picked out Noble on the edge of the box and he saw his volley superbly saved
by Mark Bunn diving away to his left hand side. The Hammers were then denied
by the woodwork on 54 minutes after Payet saw his curling free-kick from a
tight angle strike the post. It was a question of time before the deadlock
would be broken and the Hammers finally opened the scoring on 58 minutes.
Noble's cross-field ball superbly picked out Antonio who produced a great
header from close-range and the ball flew past Bunn into the corner of the
net. Cresswell almost grabbed a second in spectacular fashion on 75 minutes
as he took the ball down inside the box and fired a right-foot shot which
flew inches past the post. The Hammers were rewarded for their second half
dominance when they added a second on 85 minutes and secured all three
points. Valencia burst clear into the Villa half before playing the perfect
through ball to Kouyate and he made no mistake firing the ball into the roof
of the net.
West Ham: Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Collins, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate (Obiang
90mins), Antonio (Jelavic 88mins), Noble, Payet, Valencia (Moses 86mins)
Subs not used: Randolph, O'Brien, Oxford, Cullen.
Bookings: Collins, Song, Noble
Aston Villa: Bunn, Richards, Okore, Bacuna, Gana-Gueye, Agbonlahor (Sinclair
80mins), Lescott, Veretout, Ayew, Gil (Richardson 70mins), Cissokho
Red Card: Ayew
Subs not used: Guzan, Clark, Lyden, Grealish, Mason
Attendance: 34,914
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Westley outlines Academy plans
WHUFC.com
Mail Online deputy sports editor Matty Lawless talks to Academy Director and
Head of Coaching and Player Development Terry Westley...
When Terry Westley arrived at West Ham 18 months ago he put his 'neck on the
block'.
He had to. Following the man who had manufactured a production line of
England internationals spanning across four decades was never going to be an
easy feat.
Westley knew there would be immediate questions. For instance: 'Where's the
next Rio Ferdinand?'
Fortunately, within three months of taking over as Academy Director in 2014,
Westley had discovered the answer to that.
The heir to Tony Carr's guardianship had found 'the one'.
The one who would restore the club's proud reputation as 'The Academy'.
The one? Reece Oxford.
"From experience, you need just one to kick it off," says Westley. "When I
arrived, I put my head on the block with Reece and said I'm having him."
Oxford was just a schoolboy at the time who hadn't even taken his GCSEs. Yet
he was being courted by some of the best clubs in the country, all desperate
to steal his signature.
Westley knew he nor West Ham could afford to take the risk of losing 'the
one'. And so, Oxford was fast-tracked into the Development Squad and handed
the captaincy. At 15.
"I took some stick for that," confesses Westley. "Some of it was from the
players who Reece had stepped over, who I knew that when their contracts
were up they were going to leave.
"Yet working with Reece Oxford for three months I just knew that this boy
needed pushing.
"The challenge for him and any elite athlete or great performer is that they
need stimulation. Reece got that by being named my Under-21 captain at just
15.
"The owners, to be fair, backed me right up. When Manchester City, United,
Chelsea and Arsenal came for Reece Oxford at 16, we didn't flinch. He could
see with us he had a chance. And that bared fruit by him playing in the
first game of the season."
Since Oxford's incredible Premier League debut at Arsenal last August, he
hasn't returned to the Development Squad to train. He remains their captain
but his place is with Slaven Bilic's squad, rubbing shoulders with Academy
graduates James Tomkins and Mark Noble; the latter of whom is hosting an
all-star Testimonial match next month in tribute for his service to the
Club.
"Reece can't train in our group because he would take a step backwards,"
Westley explains. "He now has to train with the first team. So every day he
has [James] Collins, he has [Winston] Reid and he has [Mark] Noble all after
him. If he's not doing anything properly, they're coming after him. He can't
afford a bad day. He's taken all of that on board and now moving to another
level.
"When Reece made his debut, he stood in the tunnel at Arsenal and looked
around him. He knew this is where he should be.
"He wanted to be at the Colosseum, standing in front of a full house. He
didn't want to be at a pub singing in some small gig. He wanted the main
event. And that's how he played. And that's what he believes in.
"We have a four-year plan for all of our players. It's like an Olympic plan.
Take Katerina Johnson-Thompson, for instance. She competed at the London
Olympics. But at Rio, four years on, she is expected to win Gold. Her whole
plan is to beat Jessica Ennis-Hill and do that. Nothing else will do.
"And if you went through any young elite athlete, you'd say, 'Well what is
the plan for the next four years?' If you come in the building at 16, by 20
Reece Oxford's gold medal is being a regular in the Premier League. Now you
sit down with Reece Oxford or any other young player – they've all got these
from nine-years of age. It's called an Individual Development Plan – an IDP.
They'll look at what is required.
"As part of that, they might go to a theatre to see an elite show. And he'll
go with his mentor, who will ask: 'See how many mistakes he makes an hour
and a half. He won't trip over his feet, he won't get his words wrong. Yet
your concentration on the pitch is you make too many errors'. So, we open
them up to all of that type of stuff.
"Reece's four-year plan? Well, he'll look at it and say, 'No, no, no. It's
not four years for me, Terry'. He's saying, 'I've got to be in the team next
year. I've got to be a regular'. And he's constantly challenging himself and
breaking boundaries. He always wants more."
So, what is next for the prodigal 17-year-old defender?
"Well, we now need to look at whether for 15 games should we get Reece
playing in the Championship? That's a conversation I have had with Slaven
and his staff.
"Or is Reece better off training every day with the first team and being
around this environment? That is what we discuss as management on a weekly
basis."
Whatever happens, Westley insists West Ham will do everything in their power
to hold onto the boy labelled the 'new Rio' for years to come.
Westley is adamant West Ham will keep the 'predators' away when it comes to
protecting their hottest talent – especially Oxford, the club's highest-ever
paid teenager.
"As soon as top clubs spot a weakness, they try and come in and take them,"
he says. "We've had that already with Reece. So we had to make a real
statement to say, whatever you're throwing at him, we need to keep him more.
"What's the point in doing what we do if you let your very best ones
disappear?"
After 18 months in the job, Westley believes things are coming together
nicely.
Unbeaten in their last ten games, the Development Squad is littered with
promising talent. Oxford is just the beginning.
"We've got some very good players. And we have to keep them together…
Keeping the likes Oxford, Anthony Scully, Declan Rice and bringing in the
likes of George Dobson and Martin Samuelsen. There is Vashon Neufville,
Jamal Hector-Ingram, Lewis Page, Josh Cullen. The list goes on.
"Don't forget Reece Burke either. We don't talk about Burke yet he will have
played first-team 50 games by the end of the season.
"Then there is Marcus Browne. The manager can't believe what he has got in
Marcus Browne. I'm not sure Marcus Browne quite believes it either yet what
a talent he could be. Kyle Knoyle too.
"So the constant message here from when I arrived, is that we need to keep
the predators away and show these boys that there is a pathway into the
Olympic Stadium."
Westley has a long way to go before he can emulate Tony Carr's success. But
he is well on the way.
The future for West Ham has never looked brighter.
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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
Evening Standard reporter Ken Dyer has been covering West Ham United over
land and sea for more than 40 years and gives his views on the FA Cup draw
with Liverpool and looks ahead to the Aston Villa game on Tuesday night....
It was a fair result on the day against Liverpool. Darren Randolph had to
make a couple of good saves and probably Liverpool had the bulk of
possession. But with West Ham losing a couple of players in the first half,
it disrupted them quite a bit and it was a fair result in the end.
Nobody wants a replay, least of all Liverpool but West Ham must fancy their
chances at home. Let's hope we can carry on in the competition and it will
not be our last ever cup tie at the Boleyn Ground. Before then we switch our
attentions back to the Premier League and start with another important home
game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night. Mark Noble said to me the other
week that he told Slaven Bilic at the start of the season that our most
difficult games would be against teams at the bottom of the table, because
they are all fighting for their lives and Villa are certainly in dire
straits at the moment. The manager needs points badly and I am sure West Ham
will not be complacent. We have been on a great run and it will give them a
lot of confidence. What gives you added confidence is that Carroll and Sakho
are not far away and Emenike will be ready soon. We have been short in that
area for a large part of the season so it is coming together at the right
time. If you have got flair upfront and are solid at the back then you are
on a winner. That is hard to find. History tells you we have had the flair
quite often in the past, but we have not had it at the back. We have been
able to beat anyone on our day, but any team has been able to beat us. We
defend well as a team now, not just as a back four and that has made us hard
to beat. February is a big month and they will not be easy games against
teams who are struggling. Every month is crucial but this is a pivotal month
because if we can stay unbeaten and remain in the FA Cup, then the
excitement grows even more and people will say this could really be our
season.
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West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa: Jordan Ayew red costs Remi Garde's side at Upton
Park
By Simeon Gholam
Last Updated: 02/02/16 10:19pm
SSN
West Ham beat 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 after Jordan Ayew was sent off for an
elbow at Upton Park. The striker was dismissed in the early stages after
catching Aaron Cresswell, before Michail Antonio headed the Hammers in front
after half-time. Cheikhou Kouyate then added the second on the
counter-attack as Villa pushed for a late equaliser. The result leaves Aston
Villa 10 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table while West Ham
stay in sixth, six points off the top four. Micah Richards nearly scored an
own goal inside two minutes when Dimitri Payet's cross deflected off the
Villa defender and just wide of the post, but after that it was the away
side who emerged brighter in the early stages. That was until Ayew's
entirely unnecessary red card after 17 minutes, when he swung his elbow into
the face of Cresswell, even though the West Ham left-back was doing very
little to antagonize him and the ball was halfway up the pitch. Referee Jon
Moss wasted no time in brandishing his red card, and boss Remi Garde
wouldn't even look at his striker as he trudged off the pitch and down the
tunnel.
The first half became something of a training exercise for West Ham after
that, but only Enner Valencia came close to scoring, as they lacked their
usual zip going forward. Right-back James Tomkins fired a cross-shot right
into the path of the West Ham striker, but his header from six yards flew
over when it looked been easier to find the back of the net. Slaven Bilic
must have got stuck into his players at half-time, because the Hammers
emerged from the break looking far brighter and it took just 13 minutes for
them to find the lead via Antonio. Mark Noble picked the ball up just inside
Villa's half, before pinging a lovely pass right over the away defence onto
the head of his team-mate, and Antonio used all the power in his neck
muscles to head it past Mark Bunn while on the move.
The goal absolutely flattened Villa after they had worked so hard to stay on
level terms, with Richards in particular doing all he could to keep his side
in with a chance. But, with confidence already so low, there was no way back
after going behind. West Ham dominated the rest of the game and finally
sealed the result with five minutes left to go, breaking away from a Villa
corner before Valencia played it through for Kouyate in the box, and he made
no mistake with the finish to send the home fan into raptures.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (6), Tomkins (7), Reid (6), Collins (6), Cresswell (7),
Song (7), Kouyate (7), Antonio (7), Noble (7), Payet (7), Valencia (7)
Subs: Obiang (n/a), Moses (n/a), Jelavic (n/a)
Aston Villa: Bunn (5), Richards (6), Okore (5), Lescott (5), Cissokho (5),
Bacuna (5), Gueye (5), Veretout (5), Gil (5), Agbonlahor (4), Ayew (1)
Subs: Sinclair (5), Richardson (n/a)
Man of the match: Mark Noble
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West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa: Hammers boost Euro hopes after Ayew madness - 5
things we learned
22:00, 2 FEB 2016 UPDATED 22:07, 2 FEB 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The visitors eventually surrendered after Jordan Ayew was sent off for a
ridiculous elbow. Here's what Darren Lewis learned from the game at Upton
Park
The Mirror
West Ham United 2 - 0 Aston Villa
M. Antonio 58
C. Kouyaté 85
West Ham boosted their European hopes with a 2-0 win at Upton Park which
keeps Aston Villa 10 points from safety. The visitors were up against it
from the 17th minute when Jordan Ayew was sent off for a ridiculous elbow on
Aaron Cresswell. However it took the Hammers until the second half to make
the breakthrough, Mikael Antonio glancing a header in off the far post.
Cheikhou Kouyate prodded home to make sure of points for Slaven Bilic's West
Ham side.
Here's what Darren Lewis learned from the game at Upton Park...
1. Villa are finished
Nothing new there but they did threaten a brief revival with a win against
Palace and draws against Leicester (somehow) and West Brom. Once Ayew went
off, though, that was it.
2. West Ham CAN win when Payet isn't playing well
The mercurial Frenchman has been the inspiration for his side's victories so
often this season. Today, however, he was strangely subdued. Even if he did
hit the post from a free-kick.
3. It is easy to see why Remi Garde wanted a new keeper
With hapless Brad Guzan on the bench, Mark Bunn was fumbled to gift Valencia
a free header. He was also slow to react for Antonio's goal.
4. Jordan Ayew deserves whatever punishment he gets
Villa has been the better side and dominating West Ham early on when the
striker lost his mind and needlessly elbowed Cresswell to see red.
5. West Ham have no intention of fading away from the European places
They are strong at home. They can win when they are not playing well and
even with Sakho and Carroll injured and Payet off his game they were too
good here.
Player Ratings:
West Ham
Adrian 6. Not as authoritative as usual. Especially on set-pieces.
Tomkins 6. Shaky defensively but good chance after robbing Gil on 36.
Collins 9. MOTM. Solid, decisive and brave throughout. Justified his place
yet again.
Reid 6. Didn't seen to communicate that well with Collins.
Cresswell 7. Recovered well after elbow on him from Ayew.
Song 5. Decent shift in midfield but struggled to influence. Booked.
Kouyate 8. Well-taken finish to make the game safe.
Noble 8. Sizzling volley saved. Great cornfield ball for Antonio's goal.
Booked.
Payet 6. Strangely subdued. Yet still managed to hit the post from a
free-kick.
Antonio 5. Nice headed finish across goal to open the scoring.
Valencia 6. Should have scored from point-blank range on 30 min.
Subs: Moses (Valencia 86), Jelavic (Antonio 89), Obiang (Kouyate 93)
Aston Villa
Bunn 5. Slow to react for Antonio's header across him.
Richards 6. Good 50th-minute clearance from Collins header to prevent a
certain goal.
Lescott 5. Focused first half but found it hard second.
Okore 5. Struggled to cope as West Ham turned the screw.
Cissokho 5. Antonio ghosted past him to open the scoring.
Bacuna 6. Rolled his sleeves up to work hard after Ayew saw red.
Gueye 5. Decent battle in midfield first half. Faded second.
Veretout 6. Tried to take the game to West Ham before Ayew dismissal.
Ayew 4. Rightly sent off for elbowing Cresswell. Brainless.
Gil 5. Lucky that Tomkins didn't score after robbing him on 36 min.
Agbonlahor 4. Struggled to make any real impact throughout
Subs: Richardson (Gil 71), Sinclair (Agbonlahor 80)
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West Ham WOULD have gambled on Charlie Austin transfer at £4m insists
co-owner David Sullivan
20:30, 2 FEB 2016 UPDATED 21:01, 2 FEB 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Hammers chief slammed last summer for saying Southampton's then-QPR striker
was too big an injury risk clarifies that all happened when the fee was £12m
The Mirror
West Ham chief David Sullivan has revealed he would have bought Charlie
Austin if he had known he was available for just £4million. Then-QPR striker
Austin agreed a shock switch to Southampton last month for that bargain fee,
then headed their winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford on his
debut. He is now set to face Sullivan's Hammers on Saturday. Co-chairman
Sullivan was criticised by the 26-year-old marksman last August for
revealing the player had failed a medical when set to join Hull and would be
a "big risk" at £12m. Sullivan has now moved to clarify his comments,
writing in the match programme ahead of Tuesday night's game against Aston
Villa. He said: "Our next league game is away at Southampton and I just want
to clarify my views on the Charlie Austin situation. "Contrary to reports,
he is a player I have always greatly admired and his climb through the
divisions is inspiring. "I once said at £12million he was a gamble, with his
injury record. However, if his financial demands are reasonable, Southampton
have got fantastic value at £4m. "Had I known he was available at that
price, I would have taken the gamble myself — and I am sure half the Premier
League clubs would have as well."
* TEENAGE West Ham defender Reece Oxford is a target for Southend. The loan
window opens next week and boss Phil Brown hopes to lure the 17-year-old to
his League One promotion chasers.
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Slav praises our professionalism and patience
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Slaven Bilic praised his team's professionalism as we recorded yet another
Boleyn victory. The manager declared that after a great start Villa
controlled the game until a crazy incident when Ayew threw elbow into the
face of Aaron Cresswell and was red carded . And Bilic said: "I wouldn't say
the red card decided the match but it obviously affected it particularly in
the second half when we were very professional and patient.
"We didn't rush the final ball but tried to find the solution and eventually
broke them down but even then we didn't lose our composure and shape.
"It was a very good goal from Michail Antonio and after that we controlled
the game and played good football. However, you are always nervous until the
second goal but when we got it we deserved it."
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Marvelous Noble sets up precious win
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Magnificent Mark Noble picked up a thoroughly deserved man of the match
award as the Irons finally shoved Villa out of the way to pick up three more
invaluable points.
Once again the Hammers were slowly away in the first half which saw Ayew
sent off for the most disgusting elbow in the face of Aaron Cresswell after
17 minutes.
The Irons just couldn't get on their game during a depressing first half but
it changed dramatically in the second as Noble ran every blade of grass and
finally set up Antonio for the opener.
He picked out a magnificent diagonal ball for Antonio to fire in a fabulous
header from some distance which curled into the far corner.
And as the bottom of the table outfit faded and tired Kouyate smashed home
the second when from a counter attack he and Valencia ran from their own box
to make it 2-0 at the other end after a Villa corner.
Noble revelled in a more forward midfield role which had been allowed with
Song sitting deeper at the back and although Dimi Payet was not at his
outstanding best the Hammers always had too much after the manager had
clearly got into them at the break.
It means we remain unbeaten at Upton Park since August and now move on to a
clash with Southampton at the weekend followed by the FA Cup replay against
Liverpool.
We have maintained sixth place, five points ahead of Saints and one behind
Manchester United – the story goes on.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, February 2
Daily WHUFC News - II 2nd February 2016
Preview - Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
The background
It's back to the Barclays Premier League on Tuesday when West Ham United
host bottom club Aston Villa in a 7.45pm kick-off. The teams last met only
on Boxing Day, when Aaron Cresswell's goal on the stroke of half time was
cancelled out by Jordan Ayew's penalty for a 1-1 draw. The Hammers are
protecting a ten-game unbeaten home record, which has seen them win five and
draw five since last tasting defeat in E13, way back in August to AFC
Bournemouth. Villa's difficult season continued at the weekend with a 4-0
Emirates FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, although they have enjoyed
slightly better fortune in the league in recent weeks, not losing in their
last three. Victory over Crystal Palace ended a five-month wait for maximum
points, and they have followed that with draws against Midlands rivals
Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion. They are still six point adrift at
the foot of the table and ten shy of safety, while West Ham go into the
Boleyn Ground contest hoping to move back into the division's top five.
The history
The historical record between the Hammers and Villa is very evenly matched,
with West Ham having won 39 of the 110 contests, Villa 38 and the remaining
33 ending all square. The Hammers have not conceded in their three home
games against the Villans since winning promotion back to the top flight in
2012, triumphing 1-0 in 2012/13 and drawing 0-0 in the last two seasons.
Hammers defender James Collins spent three years at Villa Park between
2009-12, playing 108 games for the Club before returning to West Ham for his
second spell in E13.
The match
Team news
West Ham United
West Ham will need to check on James Tomkins' fitness after the defender
suffered a facial injury in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Liverpool. Andy Carroll,
Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho are all getting closer to returns, but
Tuesday's game will come around too early for the trio. Adrian missed
Saturday's game at Liverpool to attend the birth of his first child, but
will return to the fold in time for the visit of Aston Villa. New arrival
Emmanuel Emenike, meanwhile, is awaiting international clearance following
his loan move from Al Ain.
Aston Villa
For Villa, manager Remi Garde, he is likely to be without Carlos Sanchez and
forwards Libor Kozak and Rudy Gestede. Defender Alan Hutton and midfielder
Ashley Westwood are also fitness doubts.
Match info
Tuesday's match referee is Jonathan Moss. The Tyne and Wear-based official
has refereed 21 games this term, dishing out 63 yellow cards. Two of the
three reds he has issued this year have been in Hammers games – one to Carl
Jenkinson against Bournemouth and another to Nemanja Matic as West Ham
defeated Chelsea 2-1. Simon Bennett and Jake Collin are the assistant
referees while Mike Dean is the fourth official.
There have been just five goals scored in the last five Premier League
meetings, with the fixture at Upton Park ending goalless in each of the
previous two seasons.
Aston Villa managed a season's best eight shots on target against West Ham
in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.
The Hammers have only lost one of their last 10 league matches (W3, D6).
They are enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run at home in the Premier League
game (W4, D5).
Fourteen players have scored a Premier League goal for West Ham United this
season, a joint-high with Chelsea.
Their only away win in the last 14 attempts came at Bournemouth on the
opening day of the season (W1, D3, L10).
The Villans have scored just eight goals in 12 Premier League games under
Remi Garde.
Tickets, travel, coverage and other info
Tickets for Tuesday's game have SOLD OUT, although they may become available
online as Season Ticket Holders relist.
The District and Hammersmith & City lines are set to serve Upton Park
station as normal on Tuesday.
A clear night is expected on Tuesday, with temperature at a chilly 6C (43F)
at kick-off.
If you are not heading to the game, make sure you follow the action on our
digital channels. The whufc.com Live Match Centre has audio commentary and
text updates, in-running stats, photos and more, and you can get involved
with the conversation on social using #WHUAVL
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Tactically speaking - Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
An in-depth analysis of how Aston Villa could approach Tuesday's Barclays
Premier League fixture...
Aston Villa have tried all manner of formations, systems and playing styles
in an increasingly desperate attempt to arrest their slide towards the
Championship. The Villans have used no fewer than five different formations
in their 23 Barclays Premier League matches, with 4-3-3 being the system
utilised more than 50 per cent of the time. However, that shape has been
ditched by manager Remi Garde in recent weeks, with the Frenchman adopting a
4-4-2 diamond formation, with encouraging results. The new approach has seen
Villa restore forgotten Czech Republic centre forward Libor Kozak to the
starting XI, with the target man giving his side the opportunity to play
with a more direct style. The towering Kozak allows Villa to loft balls
forward from deep, with the big striker either flicking the ball on or
holding it up and bringing his teammates into play. Goalkeeper Mark Bunn has
developed a habit of lofting goal kicks or free-kicks from inside his own
half long to Kozak, who will attempt to find Ayew or Gil running in behind.
Gil will usually run through the middle, with Ayew pulling wide onto either
flank to find space. Once in the final third, Villa's more skilful
attacking players have had more joy than in previous months, combining to
good effect to open up the opposition defence.
Second-striker Jordan Ayew will start from a deeper position near to Spanish
attacking midfielder Carles Gil, giving Villa an arrowhead-shaped front
three. The talented Ayew – widely considered to be Villa's best attacking
player – has been given what many would call a 'free role' as the second
centre forward, roaming into space across the front line. While the movement
and interplay from Villa's attackers has become more effective in the
diamond formation, Villa's chosen tactic to get the ball into the penalty
area as quickly as possible.
Ayew and full-backs Leandro Bacuna and Aly Cissokho get forward into wide
areas and beyond the line of the opposition penalty area before either
crossing for Kozak or cutting the ball back for supporting midfield players
Jordan Veretout and Ashley Westwood. Senegal international Idrissa Gueye
will sit deep as Villa's defensive shield. The 24-year-old is a natural
athlete and uses his physical capabilities to good effect, while his
anticipation of where the threat may arise is outstanding.
At the back, right-sided centre-half Jores Okore is another strong, quick
defensive-minded player who tracks runners well and has the speed to recover
if caught out positionally. Alongside him, experienced former England man
Joleon Lescott is left-sided.
In midfield, Westwood is a neat and tidy player who always presents himself
to receive the ball and has a decent range of passing. Alongside him, French
youngster Veretout is also decent in possession. Both 'wide' midfielders in
the diamond will tuck in narrow and allow the full-backs to overlap into the
space and support the attack.
All of this sounds great, so why have Villa struggled for so long this
season? Statistical analysis website WhoScored.com lists Villa's weaknesses
as follows: Avoiding individual errors, finishing scoring chances, avoiding
fouling in dangerous areas and defending against through balls. In recent
matches, Villa have kept the ball better, made less mistakes and cut out the
defensive errors which had led to defeat after defeat in the preceding
months. If they can maintain those habits on Tuesday and going forward,
Garde's side may give themselves a chance of pulling off what would be the
greatest of Premier League escapes.
Possible starting XI: (4-4-2 diamond) Bunn, Bacuna, Okore, Lescott,
Cissokho, Gueye, Veretout, Westwood, Gil, Ayew, Kozak
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Terraces - Joe Difford
WHUFC.com
Fan blogger Joe Difford takes a look back at Saturday's 0-0 draw with
Liverpool
Having already comfortably defeated Liverpool twice this season, fans were
hoping for a hat-trick to be completed at Anfield on Saturday. However, a
combination of early injuries and a group of fired-up youngsters determined
to prove themselves meant that a replay is needed to decide whose name stays
in the hat. Jurgen Klopp continued to use a young squad, again not because
he isn't taking the FA Cup seriously, but simply because injuries mean that
he doesn't have enough fit players. Perhaps it was the magic of the FA Cup
or that they were turning out in front of 45,000 fans at Anfield, but the
young lads stepped up and were confident and composed. Slaven Bilic went
with the strongest squad available to him once again, with the cup more
important than a Champions League place to him, and understandably so.
Adrian and Mark Noble were the only two without injuries who didn't feature,
the Spanish shot-stopper at his wife's side as she gave birth to his first
child, and the skipper who had the flu midweek. Early injuries forced the
Hammers into two substitutions, with key men James Tomkins and Cheikhou
Kouyate leaving the field. In their place came Joey O'Brien and Nikica
Jelavic, and this is where the home side gained an advantage. O'Brien, who
hadn't kicked a ball in months, was tasked with covering an area controlled
by the impressive Joao Teixeira, and his lack of action this season meant
that our attacking threat wasn't as fluid as usual. Bilic bringing on
Jelavic was a positive change, showing that he was going for the win and not
the replay, but having to make a change like this so early is sometimes a
problem. Dimitri Pay et was forced out wide to accommodate, where he was
quickly closed down and stopped from being the influence he usually is.
Liverpool came closest in the first half, forcing a spectacular fingertip
save out of Darren Randolph, who was excellent all game. Enner Valencia
should have scored when he misjudged a cross and headed back out wide
towards the touchline, but Pedro Obiang's volley from distance was the
closest the visitors came to taking the lead in the opening 45, his effort
bouncing past the post. We had a good case for a penalty when Jelavic headed
the ball onto the arm of Steven Caulker, with the Liverpool man pushing it
away from goal, but the referee ignored the subdued protests. The kids of
Liverpool dominated possession in the second half, but Michail Antonio
almost won the tie in the dying seconds, seeing his header come back off the
post, but the linesman had already flagged for a push on Jose Enrique. The
replay at the Boleyn Ground will be the fourth meeting of the two sides this
season, with the Hammers unbeaten. Liverpool have an excellent FA Cup record
against us, not losing in seven games, but this has been a season for ending
droughts. The winner of the replay will go on to face Blackburn Rovers, and
although anyone can win in the cup, Bilic and Co. will fancy their chances
in that tie. Our round against Liverpool is not over though, but expect
another strong West Ham line-up, another inexperienced Liverpool one, and
hopefully our name in the hat for the next round. For more West Ham fan
views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
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Youthful Dev Squad extend run
WHUFC.com
A youthful Development Squad extended their unbeaten run to 11 games
following a 1-1 draw away at league leaders Derby County. Despite blustery
conditions at St. George's Park, the young Hammers put in a near faultless
display, one that was made even harder when Marcus Browne was somewhat
harshly sent off after just 30 minutes. Despite going a goal down, the
Hammers refused to be cowed and regrouped manfully, keeping the scores level
at half-time. The claret and blues efforts were rewarded on the hour mark
after Grady Diangana won back possession and drove forward, before playing
an incisive through ball into Luka Belic who finished his chance with
aplomb. However, as the game wore on, the extra man slowly began to aide
Derby's cause and they equalised after a period of pressure on 77th minutes
when Ivan Kalero headed home from close range following a corner. There was
still time for plenty of drama as Rams' defender Tom Koblenz was given a
second yellow card after tripping Jahmal Hector-Ingram. From the resulting
free-kick, Leo Chambers, talismanic all evening as captain, saw his header
crash off the crossbar and away. Another stand out Hammer was Djair
Parfitt-Williams who was a constant outlet all evening. His pace, trickery
and desire to run at people, almost bore fruit but the Derby goal was not to
be breached again as he fired viciously into the side-netting.. With just
minutes to go Derby went close to stealing an unlikely victory, yet Sam
Howes, largely untested pulled off a magnificent fingertip save to earn his
side a deserved point.
The victory takes the Hammers to five in the Barclays U21 Premier League
division two table with 24 points from 16 games.
Derby County: Mitchell, Ssewankambo, Stabana, Hanson, Buxton, Koblenz,
Elsnik, Calero, Vernam, Bennett, Guy
Subs: Santos, Ravas, McDonald, MacDonald, Cover
U21: Howes, Pike, Neufville, Dobson, Chambers ©, Rice, Diangana (Nasha),
Makasi, Belic (Hector-Ingram), Browne, Parfitt-Williams
Subs: Brown, Akinola, Kemp
Referee: Sarah Garratt
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Westley delighted with Dev Squad dedication
WHUFC.com
Academy director Terry Westley said his Development Squad deserved to beat
league leaders Derby County at St George's Park. With Dev Squad regulars
either out on loan or being saved for the first team's game with Aston Villa
tomorrow evening, Westley named a young West Ham side which included ten
U18s in the squad, seven of which featured on the pitch. Reflecting on a
hard-fought point, Westley said: "We did very well considering, they are
league leaders, playing in very difficult conditions. "Then, playing for an
hour with ten men makes it even more difficult. But the way we kept the ball
and moved it around, you'd think we were the team with the extra player. "We
deservedly went a goal up, we didn't quite hold out for the win but we can
be very proud. Tonight, every player looked like they could have a career in
the game based on that performance."
Despite being a man down after Marcus Browne was somewhat harshly dismissed,
the Hammers took the lead through Luka Belic who netted his first goal for
the club after being played in by Grady Diangana. However, Derby's man
advantage slowly took it's toll and their superior numbers paid off as Ivan
Kalero equalised from close range from a corner. Westley continued: "We've
got a very tired dressing room. But that is the limit you need to push
yourselves to. We'll get back late tonight and then we're in for a recovery
session tomorrow morning, but that's how it is. They are the demands you
need to put on young players. "Nowadays they get things given to them so we
need to be tough with them and really work them hard."
The draw sees the young Hammers extend their phenomenal unbeaten run to 11
games, and Westley is pleased to see his squad benefit from the confidence
generated from the titillating form.
"At any level, in any sport, it is hard to go 11 games unbeaten. Everyone is
trying to beat us, so to have gone this far is not easy. Tonight was a real
challenge and we've come out the right side of it. "We finished up with
seven U18s on the pitch, and they did very well but also our more
experienced players – Chambers, Dobson, Declan Rice and Moses Makasi were
all fantastic. I also have to give a word to Luka Belic up top, he did
really well for us, that's the best he's done and he needs to maintain that
belief. "We've got to keep going, we're developing a winning mentality.
Tonight we very nearly won the game, yes Sam (Howes) made a good save right
at the end but we had chances to win it, one I think would have been a
deserved victory."
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We are The Academy of Football!
WHUFC.com
Over the past 65 years, West Ham United has become synonymous with producing
some of the finest footballers in English football history. The Academy of
Football has earned a reputation for excellence and professionalism, on and
off the pitch, producing no fewer than 145 first-team players since it was
founded by manager Ted Fenton with the publication of the seminal book
'Youth Soccer with the Hammers' back in 1950. On Tuesday, 20 Academy
graduates and former staff members, including long-time Academy Director
Tony Carr, U18s coach and Hammer of the Year Steve Potts and both FA Youth
Cup and FA Cup winners, will be at the Boleyn Ground as guests of the Club.
While it always has been and always will be the players themselves who take
the headlines, there are dozens of full and part-time staff behind the
scenes who make the Academy of Football what it has been, is today and will
be in the future. West Ham TV met six of those special people who make The
Academy of Football what it is – one of the finest producers of young
footballers and young people anywhere in the world.
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Belic delighted to score first Hammers goal
WHUFC.com
After netting his first goal in claret and blue, striker Luka Belic is
hoping it is the first of many. After being played in by a defence-splitting
pass by Grady Diangana, the Serbian fired the Hammers into the lead away at
Derby County however the Rams salvaged a point when Shaquille McDonald
equalised late on. Speaking after the final whistle, Belic said: "That's my
first goal for West Ham United and I hope there are going to be more goals,
I've had a couple of assists but my job is to score. The most important
thing is that we should've won tonight.
"A draw, with ten men, we're happy. We showed great character to respond to
going a man down. "I want to thank Grady, I am very grateful because he gave
me a great ball. The keeper gave me an opportunity to hit it in the near
corner so I took it and it went in. It was a great team goal."
The point sees the Development Squad extend their unbeaten run to a
staggering 11 games. With the Dev Squad in the hunt for a play off spot as
well as being in the semi-final of the U21 Premier League Cup, Belic has
high hopes for the business end of the season. He continued: "We were very
tired towards the end, we had the wind against us in the second half too,
everything was against us. We showed great character, it was a great team
effort and even a draw is not a bad result. "Eleven games unbeaten, that's a
great, great run. I hope it continues for the rest of the season, that's our
goal. We want to get promoted and win the cup, I hope we achieve it, I
really believe we can. "I've never been 11 games unbeaten in my career, we
are all really happy. The club is doing great, the first team is doing
great. I am really happy with everything and I hope we make it 20 games
unbeaten!"
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Moses delighted by Emenike reunion
WHUFC.com
Victor Moses expects fellow Nigerian Super Eagle Emmanuel Emenike to soar
after joining the winger at West Ham United. The pair, who won the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations and appeared together at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
finals, have been reunited after striker Emenike linked up with the Hammers
on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce. Moses, who is himself enjoying a
season-long stint in E13 on loan from Chelsea, revealed that he played a
part in convincing his fellow countryman to move to London. "I've probably
played about 20 games with him in the same Nigeria team," Moses began.
"Since I've been playing for Nigeria he's been there and we were together in
the team who won the African Nations Cup, where he was top scorer in the
tournament. "I'm really looking forward to him coming to the Club and I am
going to make sure he feels at home. "He called me up and told me the club
were interested in him. I told him 'You should come and play in the Premier
League, West Ham are a family club, everyone here is friendly, we have a
good manager here and the people are lovely. I said to him 'Come and express
yourself and you will do well'."
Emenike has the attributes to do well in a Claret and Blue shirt, having
already shown his strength, pace and finishing ability in international
football, the UEFA Champions League and the top divisions in both Turkey and
Russia. Moses expects his compatriot to hit the ground running after
swapping Istanbul and the Super Lig for London and the Barclays Premier
League. "His strengths? He's quick and strong at the same time," said the
No20. "With the Super Eagles we call him 'The Big Man'. Once he has the ball
he has the strength to go through players and he makes sure he wins his
battles. "I firmly believe he will be good in the Premier League and for
West Ham as well. Having a player such as him up front gives you that
strength. "He's always played up front for the Super Eagles and hopefully he
will come here and show everyone what he can do."
Emenike will not be available for Tuesday's visit of Aston Villa to the
Boleyn Ground, as he awaits international clearance, but Moses is hopeful
the Hammers can pick up another important home victory for their new
teammate. "This won't be an easy game because they are fighting against
relegation," said Moses. "At the same time we need to go out, keep our
concentration and make sure we get those three points."
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Slaven Bilic: West Ham don't have Champions League ambitions
SAM LONG
Evening STandard
Slaven Bilic has claimed West Ham do not have ambitions to finish in the top
four this season, despite lying just six points outside of the Champions
League places. The Hammers have enjoyed an impressive run of results during
the early stages of the Croatian manager's tenure and have lost just one of
their last 10 top-flight fixtures. Such a rich vein of form has reignited
hopes the east Londoners can claim a place in Europe ahead of their summer
move to the Olympic Stadium but Bilic has played down the likelihood his
side will claim a place at the continent's top table next season. The
47-year-old is adamant West Ham need to stay focused on maintaining their
form rather than looking up the Premier League table: "We don't have
Champions League ambitions, we are very far away from that," Bilic told the
Daily Star. "We want to keep winning and see where it takes us, we just want
to be constant. Playing like we are, you are becoming a victim of your own
success. "That's a better position to be in, of course, it's what everyone
wants, because it means you are winning and inspiring your fans."
West Ham host strugglers Aston Villa at Upton Park tonight and will be
installed as clear favourites against Remi Garde's side as they look to
leapfrog Manchester United and climb to fifth place in the table. Villa,
meanwhile, are rock bottom of England's top tier but Bilic remains wary of
the visitors, who have avoided defeat in their last three games. "Villa have
struggled. On the other hand, they have improved a lot and they are picking
up points now but are paying the price for their bad start and a long, long
time without points," he added.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham vs Aston Villa preview: Victor Moses backs Emenike to be a big hit
at the Boleyn
KEN DYER
Evening Standard
Victor Moses has seen enough of West Ham's new signing, Emmanuel Emenike, to
be sure the 'Big Man' will be a success in the Premier League. Moses, on
loan at West Ham from Chelsea, was a Nigeria international team-mate of
Emenike, who has signed a loan deal from Fenerbahce until the end of the
season. The pair were team-mates when the Super Eagles won the Africa Cup of
Nations in 2013 and Emenike was the tournament's top scorer with four goals,
despite missing the final with a thigh injury. "I probably played about 20
games with him in the same Nigeria team, where we call him 'the Big Man',"
said Moses, who is in West Ham's squad for tonight's home Premier League
match against bottom club Aston Villa. "Since I've been playing for Nigeria,
he's been there and we were together in the team who won the Cup of Nations,
where he was top scorer. I'm really looking forward to him coming to the
club and I am going to make sure he feels at home. "He called me up and told
me the club were interested in him. I told him, 'You should come and play in
the Premier League, West Ham are a family club, everyone here is friendly
and we have a good manager here'. "I said to him, 'Come and express yourself
and you will do well'."
So what does Moses think are 28-year-old Emenike's major strengths?
"He's quick and strong at the same time," he said. "Once he has the ball, he
has the strength to go through players and he makes sure he wins his
battles. "I firmly believe he will be good in the Premier League and for
West Ham as well. Having a player such as him up front gives you that
strength. "He's always played up front for the Super Eagles and hopefully he
will come here and show everyone what he can do." There were hopes that
Emenike would be available to manager Slaven Bilic for tonight's match but
he is yet to receive his international clearance.
"This won't be an easy game tonight," added Moses. "Aston Villa are fighting
against relegation. At the same time we need to go out, keep our
concentration and make sure we get those three points."
West Ham are hoping that midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will be fit after
coming off in the first half of Saturday's FA Cup tie at Liverpool with a
slight leg strain. Goalkeeper Adrian could also be back in the team after
returning from Spain to be at the birth of his son, Enzo, while captain Mark
Noble has recovered from 'flu.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers clear up O'Brien speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham received no offers from Joey O'Brien from Sunderland or anywhere
else during the transfer window. Stories were circulating on Deadline Day
that Sunderland had wanted to take the right back to the Stadium of
Light…but it never happened. And a club insider told us this morning: "
There was no inquiry or offer from Sunderland or elsewhere. "We wouldn't
have allowedhim to leave anyway – he did very well indeed when he appeared
at Anfield on Saturday and showed that he has a role to play until the end
of the season. "He is in the squad for the game against Aston Villa this
evening and although he may be allowed to leave on a free transfer at the
end of the season, we wouldn't have been happy about letting him leave at
this stage."
There was a lot of media speculation over JOB yesterday (Mon) but our source
added: "He's been a great servant to this club and we wouldn't want to stand
in his way of landing a final decent contract."
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Emenike 'complications' revealed
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan faced two major complications in his negotiations for new
loan striker Emanuelle Emenike. The first was the well known problem in
dealing with parent club Fenerbahce AND his loaned outfit Al Ain where
financial considerations were a serious issue. However, beyond that was the
fact that the Turkish outfit were desperately determined to push through a
straight purchase rather than agree a loan deal and wanted around £8
million. West Ham had to make it clear that the three month arrangement was
the only show in town as they needed to take a close look at the 28 year old
Nigerian but the issue took up a lot of negotiating time. Finally, as talks
dragged on towards deadline day the Turks agreed but wanted an appearance
clause that would trigger a purchase agreement. We understand that this was
set at 12 although the word 'start' is imperative as substitute run-outs
will not apply. However, the option to buy has been agreed but the Hammers
would certainly not agree to £8 million. The chance of the player making a
dozen starts is remote with just 16 League games and possible FA cup
appearances left in our season. A source said: "We got what we wanted in the
end and the deal was very much Slaven-driven. We backed him as we back all
our managers. It was really his drill – he knows the player and likes him.
"If he does well then the permanent switch could be on but not at the same
sort of price as we intend to play for Lanzini – that doesn't work."
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Contract cancelled …but we still pick up bill!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
EXCLUSIVE
West Ham will continue to pay Carl Jenkinson wages of around £30k a week
plus the remained of a £1.5 million loan fee …despite the two clubs agreeing
to tar up his contract. Some had assumed that news of the development would
give the Irons a big finanical saving but ClaretandHugh was told exclusively
this morning that is definitely not the case. The defender has now returned
to Arsenal with a cruciate knee injury and last night the clubs agreed to
cancel the contract between them. But in simple terms there was nothing
within that contract which allowed the Hammers to escape payments to the
north Londoners or Jenkinson should such an injury occurrence take place.
Our usual Hammers source explained: "We of course save tiny bits and pieces
on appearance bonuses but the loan fee and wages are paid by us until June.
The only reason for doing it was to free the way for a loan signing but that
didn't happen of course so we gained nothing from the move."
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Irons reveal Jelavic fee
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Exclusive
Nikica Jelavic's move to China is awaiting a rubber stamp and the Croatian
striker expect to be on his way to join his new squad members over the next
few days. And contrary to some reports that the player will be allowed to
leave on a free transfer there will be a fee of around £1.5 million from
Guangzhou Evergrande. He will follow the likes of Chelsea's Ramires who
moved east earlier this month to join Jiangsu Suning in a stunning
£25million deal. Newcastle United's Cheikh Tiote is also wanted to play in
Beijing. Jelavic joined West Ham from Hull City in the last transfer window
and has scored three goals in 13 appearances, 11 of them as sub. With the
Chinese season opens at the end of February but the club are hoping to get
the deal done over the next few days although the player could be involved
against Aston Villa this evening. ClaretandHugh was told this morning: "It
is not true there is no fee involved. We will pick up around £1.5 million
which represents a small loss on what we paid for him.
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Lanzini deal to be done on injury recovery
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Exclusive
West Ham will complete the Manu Lanzini deal once the player has shown
himself to be completely recovered from the thigh injury he has suffered
with over recent weeks. The brilliant ball carrying midfielder sustained the
injury against Southampton after returning following the same injury against
Liverpool but is now within days of a comeback. Before the Saints game
chairman David Sullivan had fired the player up by saying he would be
completing his signing from Al Jaziera in February rather than at the end of
the season. However, the injury issue has put that on hold until the club
has seen 'The Jewel' has made a complete recovery from the problem.
ClaretandHugh was told exclusively this afternoon: "As explained many times
our contract with the Saudis is watertight and we intend to do the deal as
soon as Manu has returned and proved himself fully recovered from injury.
"That could be later this month but we full intend getting it done as soon
as the injury problem is shown to be history."
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Sam Byram reveals 'sleepless nights' at West Ham and Everton decision
London 24
12:28 02 February 2016 Brad Pinard
West Ham full back Sam Byram admits leaving Leeds United for the Hammers was
the biggest decision of his life. 1 The impressive defender arrived at Upton
Park for around £3.5million earlier in January and made his debut against
Manchester City under the lights in east London just a few days later.
Everton made first move for Byram but West Ham heard of the talks and
convinced the 22-year-old that a move south was the way to go and a deal was
done within 48 hours. Byram admits he had a few sleepless nights but is
excited to continue his improvement with Slaven Bilic's side. "It was the
biggest decision I have had to make in my life up until now," Byram told the
Telegraph. "There were a few sleepless nights thinking about the different
things but when it came down to it and I had spoken to the manager and with
what he said and with the new stadium, then I had to choose here." "You see
young players getting their chance in the Premier League and that is my
dream also and I was given the chance to come and fight for a place at West
Ham and it was something that I could not turn down. It was definitely the
right time for me to move. "I just liked the way he (Slaven Bilic) spoke,
the way he spoke about the club and how he did things. That was the feeling
I got. "He had really done his homework on me with a real attention to
detail – the number of games he had watched that I had played in, the areas
where I could improve. It made me feel that under him I was going to get
better."
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I need to play every game, says West Ham's Alex Song
By Ted Thompson
Posted on February 2, 2016
www.squawka.com
Alex Song says he needs game time to get back to his best after an
injury-hit season for West Ham United so far. The 28-year old was impressive
in his loan spell at Upton Park last season under Sam Allardyce prompting
the club to bring him back for another season in the 2015 summer transfer
window. He has, however, had a frustrating start to his second year in east
London, missing the first 12 games of the campaign with an ankle problem. He
has then subsequently struggled to get back to full fitness having been in
and out of the team over the Christmas period.
However, there are now signs that the Cameroon international looks to be
getting back to somewhere near his best. He played 90 minutes for the first
time this season against Manchester City in the club's last Premier League
outing and put in a composed performance, boasting a pass completion rate of
84% as the game finished 2-2. Speaking on his return to the starting XI to
the club's official website, Song said: "I am very happy to be back in the
team. For seven months it was not easy and the team was doing very well. It
was hard for the manager to give me time on the pitch. "For me to get back
to my level I need to play every game but it was hard for the manager
because the other midfielders have been playing so well. "If I want to get
back to my level I need to play. I have been given my opportunity in the
last two games and I feel I am getting back my levels again. I am very happy
with how the manager has managed me and how the team are doing. "We want to
achieve something this year. I want to contribute to the team and when the
manager needs me I want to give something back. "We can do more this season.
At the moment, we are doing very well and we just need to take it step by
step. We are stronger than what we were last season."
Alex Song has 71% of his headed duels in the Premier League this season. He
completed 90 minutes against Liverpool FA Cup on Saturday and continues to
indicate that he is well on his way to being the dominant midfield force he
was for the first half of last season. The game finished 0-0 and Slaven
Bilic's side will host the Reds next Tuesday at Upton Park for the replay.
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How Darren Randolph has silenced his West Ham critics
Julian Shea for Metro.co.ukTuesday 2 Feb 2016 2:07 pm
One of the dangerous things about Twitter is the way it preserves forever
things people probably wish, in hindsight, that they had not said. Rarely is
this more true than in the somewhat opinionated, often rather hasty tweets
of football fans. For proof, look no further than comments about Darren
Randolph on David Gold's timeline earlier in the season.
Fair enough, the arrival of a 28-year-old former Charlton, Motherwell and
Birmingham player on a free transfer is not exactly a marquee signing, but
the stick given to the Republic of Ireland keeper – and the club's co-owner
for having signed him – was ridiculous.
Six months down the line, and with first-choice keeper Adrian sidelined at
what could be a pivotal moment such a hugely important season in West Ham
history, Randolph has been asked to take a big step up – and answered the
challenge superbly.
So maybe those whose tweeted comments like 'we all know he is not good
enough… not Premier class… put Jenkinson in goal…. Whose idea was he…. I'd
rather have Shaka back' to Gold back in August when Randolph was first
thrust into the team by Adrian's suspension might want to reconsider those
thoughts.
And particularly the person who tweeted 'Mr Gold & Mr Sullivan, I am willing
to bet £100 with each of you do we NOT win a game while Randolph is in
goal.'
Admittedly, that money looked pretty safe in Randolph's first Premier League
start, a 4-3 loss to Bournemouth – a performance and a result which seem a
lifetime ago for West Ham now (they have not lost at home in the league
since then).
A second home defeat in the week at the hands of a team West Ham would have
comfortably expected to beat was marked by poor defending across the board,
so blaming the newly thrust-in keeper was unfair – and the fact that the
other two starts he made during Adrian's ban were both clean sheet wins,
against Liverpool and Newcastle, only served to underline the point.
Give him a bit of time to get settled, and we could have someone useful
here.
Adrian is undisputedly West Ham's first-choice keeper, and will remain so,
but it is reassuring to see that, once again in January, when he has been
unavailable, Randolph stepped into his shoes with ease.
An FA Cup win over Wolves and another draw at Anfield have helped enhance
Randolph's reputation (to say nothing of his exploits in helping the
Republic of Ireland beat world champions Germany on their way to securing a
place at the European Championships), and with next opponents Aston Villa so
ineffective at the moment, he will fancy his chances of adding another clean
sheet to his collection whilst Adrian is engaged in family business back in
Spain.
So take your time enjoying the joys of new fatherhood, Adrian. Whilst you
have your hands full learning your new job, the good news is that your other
one is in very safe hands too.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham must not get complacent against struggling Villa
By Frankie Levin - Feb 2, 2016 0
westhamworld.co.uk
It may not have been the most exciting affair, but we fought out a hard
earned 0-0 draw at Anfield to earn a replay last weekend, which could be the
last ever FA cup game at the Boleyn, but we are all hoping that is not the
case. We went into the game with a lot of optimism having beaten them twice
before, and once again we proved we are good enough to come away from
Anfield having not conceded again. Tomkins and Kouyate both picked up
injuries, with Kouyate looking the more serious of the two. We are yet to
hear the extent of his injury, but Tomkins should be back to face Aston
Villa, as to will Mark Noble, and we will also have Sam Byram available
after he was cup tied.
On Sunday it was announced that Emenike has signed on a loan deal, lasting
until the end of the season, but he won't be able to feature against Villa
because he's still awaiting international clearance. Aston Villa are a team
lacking fighting spirit and a lot of people are writing them off as the
first certified relegated side of the season. I do feel sorry for their fans
as they have had to put up with a lot this year, but we must not take this
as an easy three points..
Yes it is a game we should be looking to win comfortably if we are going to
push for fifth or even fourth, but that is no reason to lack discipline and
not give 100% against them because we will come unstuck. Lanzini, Sakho and
Carroll are all close to returns according to David Gold, so how much truth
there actually is in this I do not know, but once they return we will be a
much stronger side. Dimitri Payet did not have the best of games against
Liverpool and I have seen people say that his good spell is over. These
people need to have a hard look at themselves as he proves people wrong time
and time again, and one bad game does not define a player.
I do not think that Kouyate will be fit to play and Noble should be the one
to come in for him, and it showed against Liverpool that without Noble,
there is a lack of organisation across the pitch. Byram should come in for
Tomkins and Moses should replace Obiang, purely because we can be more
expressive against Villa. We are going to have to keep an eye on Jordan
Ayew, as he is a very good player and was arguably their best player against
us earlier in the season. I never end without a prediction, and I must say I
am confident about this one, so I am going to go with a 3-1 win to us.
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Kenny Sansom backs West Ham's Aaron Cresswell for England call-up
HITC
Sean Lunt
The West Ham star has been in fine form for Slaven Bilic's side again.
Speaking to Sky Sports, former England full-back Kenny Sansom has backed
West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell for an England call-up. The
defender enjoyed a fine first year at the club last season following his
move from Ipswich Town, being named Hammer of the Year and Players' Player
of the Season come the end of the campaign. He has continued that splendid
form this season, playing regularly as the Hammers have impressed under
Slaven Bilic. And Sansom has now backed him for an England call-up, saying
that he believes the West Ham man has the ability to feature for Roy
Hodgson's side. "I like Aaron Cresswell," he told Sky Sports. "He's a young
lad and I think it's up to him as a player. Obviously he has got to play for
West Ham but he's got to go out and perform and show people how good he is."
"I think Cresswell has got the ability. If he really pushes himself and the
manager at West Ham gives him the confidence, he has a really good chance."
There is certainly a chance for Cresswell to head to France in the summer as
well, with that currently a spot up for grabs in England's team. Leighton
Baines is likely to be first choice in the side should he remain fit until
the end of the season, but behind him there is still a space in the squad.
Luke Shaw is unlikely to feature after his injury ruled him out for the
season, while Kieran Gibbs does not feature regularly for Arsenal, meaning
Cresswell could find himself in the squad if he continues his current form
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
The background
It's back to the Barclays Premier League on Tuesday when West Ham United
host bottom club Aston Villa in a 7.45pm kick-off. The teams last met only
on Boxing Day, when Aaron Cresswell's goal on the stroke of half time was
cancelled out by Jordan Ayew's penalty for a 1-1 draw. The Hammers are
protecting a ten-game unbeaten home record, which has seen them win five and
draw five since last tasting defeat in E13, way back in August to AFC
Bournemouth. Villa's difficult season continued at the weekend with a 4-0
Emirates FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, although they have enjoyed
slightly better fortune in the league in recent weeks, not losing in their
last three. Victory over Crystal Palace ended a five-month wait for maximum
points, and they have followed that with draws against Midlands rivals
Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion. They are still six point adrift at
the foot of the table and ten shy of safety, while West Ham go into the
Boleyn Ground contest hoping to move back into the division's top five.
The history
The historical record between the Hammers and Villa is very evenly matched,
with West Ham having won 39 of the 110 contests, Villa 38 and the remaining
33 ending all square. The Hammers have not conceded in their three home
games against the Villans since winning promotion back to the top flight in
2012, triumphing 1-0 in 2012/13 and drawing 0-0 in the last two seasons.
Hammers defender James Collins spent three years at Villa Park between
2009-12, playing 108 games for the Club before returning to West Ham for his
second spell in E13.
The match
Team news
West Ham United
West Ham will need to check on James Tomkins' fitness after the defender
suffered a facial injury in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Liverpool. Andy Carroll,
Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho are all getting closer to returns, but
Tuesday's game will come around too early for the trio. Adrian missed
Saturday's game at Liverpool to attend the birth of his first child, but
will return to the fold in time for the visit of Aston Villa. New arrival
Emmanuel Emenike, meanwhile, is awaiting international clearance following
his loan move from Al Ain.
Aston Villa
For Villa, manager Remi Garde, he is likely to be without Carlos Sanchez and
forwards Libor Kozak and Rudy Gestede. Defender Alan Hutton and midfielder
Ashley Westwood are also fitness doubts.
Match info
Tuesday's match referee is Jonathan Moss. The Tyne and Wear-based official
has refereed 21 games this term, dishing out 63 yellow cards. Two of the
three reds he has issued this year have been in Hammers games – one to Carl
Jenkinson against Bournemouth and another to Nemanja Matic as West Ham
defeated Chelsea 2-1. Simon Bennett and Jake Collin are the assistant
referees while Mike Dean is the fourth official.
There have been just five goals scored in the last five Premier League
meetings, with the fixture at Upton Park ending goalless in each of the
previous two seasons.
Aston Villa managed a season's best eight shots on target against West Ham
in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.
The Hammers have only lost one of their last 10 league matches (W3, D6).
They are enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run at home in the Premier League
game (W4, D5).
Fourteen players have scored a Premier League goal for West Ham United this
season, a joint-high with Chelsea.
Their only away win in the last 14 attempts came at Bournemouth on the
opening day of the season (W1, D3, L10).
The Villans have scored just eight goals in 12 Premier League games under
Remi Garde.
Tickets, travel, coverage and other info
Tickets for Tuesday's game have SOLD OUT, although they may become available
online as Season Ticket Holders relist.
The District and Hammersmith & City lines are set to serve Upton Park
station as normal on Tuesday.
A clear night is expected on Tuesday, with temperature at a chilly 6C (43F)
at kick-off.
If you are not heading to the game, make sure you follow the action on our
digital channels. The whufc.com Live Match Centre has audio commentary and
text updates, in-running stats, photos and more, and you can get involved
with the conversation on social using #WHUAVL
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Tactically speaking - Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
An in-depth analysis of how Aston Villa could approach Tuesday's Barclays
Premier League fixture...
Aston Villa have tried all manner of formations, systems and playing styles
in an increasingly desperate attempt to arrest their slide towards the
Championship. The Villans have used no fewer than five different formations
in their 23 Barclays Premier League matches, with 4-3-3 being the system
utilised more than 50 per cent of the time. However, that shape has been
ditched by manager Remi Garde in recent weeks, with the Frenchman adopting a
4-4-2 diamond formation, with encouraging results. The new approach has seen
Villa restore forgotten Czech Republic centre forward Libor Kozak to the
starting XI, with the target man giving his side the opportunity to play
with a more direct style. The towering Kozak allows Villa to loft balls
forward from deep, with the big striker either flicking the ball on or
holding it up and bringing his teammates into play. Goalkeeper Mark Bunn has
developed a habit of lofting goal kicks or free-kicks from inside his own
half long to Kozak, who will attempt to find Ayew or Gil running in behind.
Gil will usually run through the middle, with Ayew pulling wide onto either
flank to find space. Once in the final third, Villa's more skilful
attacking players have had more joy than in previous months, combining to
good effect to open up the opposition defence.
Second-striker Jordan Ayew will start from a deeper position near to Spanish
attacking midfielder Carles Gil, giving Villa an arrowhead-shaped front
three. The talented Ayew – widely considered to be Villa's best attacking
player – has been given what many would call a 'free role' as the second
centre forward, roaming into space across the front line. While the movement
and interplay from Villa's attackers has become more effective in the
diamond formation, Villa's chosen tactic to get the ball into the penalty
area as quickly as possible.
Ayew and full-backs Leandro Bacuna and Aly Cissokho get forward into wide
areas and beyond the line of the opposition penalty area before either
crossing for Kozak or cutting the ball back for supporting midfield players
Jordan Veretout and Ashley Westwood. Senegal international Idrissa Gueye
will sit deep as Villa's defensive shield. The 24-year-old is a natural
athlete and uses his physical capabilities to good effect, while his
anticipation of where the threat may arise is outstanding.
At the back, right-sided centre-half Jores Okore is another strong, quick
defensive-minded player who tracks runners well and has the speed to recover
if caught out positionally. Alongside him, experienced former England man
Joleon Lescott is left-sided.
In midfield, Westwood is a neat and tidy player who always presents himself
to receive the ball and has a decent range of passing. Alongside him, French
youngster Veretout is also decent in possession. Both 'wide' midfielders in
the diamond will tuck in narrow and allow the full-backs to overlap into the
space and support the attack.
All of this sounds great, so why have Villa struggled for so long this
season? Statistical analysis website WhoScored.com lists Villa's weaknesses
as follows: Avoiding individual errors, finishing scoring chances, avoiding
fouling in dangerous areas and defending against through balls. In recent
matches, Villa have kept the ball better, made less mistakes and cut out the
defensive errors which had led to defeat after defeat in the preceding
months. If they can maintain those habits on Tuesday and going forward,
Garde's side may give themselves a chance of pulling off what would be the
greatest of Premier League escapes.
Possible starting XI: (4-4-2 diamond) Bunn, Bacuna, Okore, Lescott,
Cissokho, Gueye, Veretout, Westwood, Gil, Ayew, Kozak
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Terraces - Joe Difford
WHUFC.com
Fan blogger Joe Difford takes a look back at Saturday's 0-0 draw with
Liverpool
Having already comfortably defeated Liverpool twice this season, fans were
hoping for a hat-trick to be completed at Anfield on Saturday. However, a
combination of early injuries and a group of fired-up youngsters determined
to prove themselves meant that a replay is needed to decide whose name stays
in the hat. Jurgen Klopp continued to use a young squad, again not because
he isn't taking the FA Cup seriously, but simply because injuries mean that
he doesn't have enough fit players. Perhaps it was the magic of the FA Cup
or that they were turning out in front of 45,000 fans at Anfield, but the
young lads stepped up and were confident and composed. Slaven Bilic went
with the strongest squad available to him once again, with the cup more
important than a Champions League place to him, and understandably so.
Adrian and Mark Noble were the only two without injuries who didn't feature,
the Spanish shot-stopper at his wife's side as she gave birth to his first
child, and the skipper who had the flu midweek. Early injuries forced the
Hammers into two substitutions, with key men James Tomkins and Cheikhou
Kouyate leaving the field. In their place came Joey O'Brien and Nikica
Jelavic, and this is where the home side gained an advantage. O'Brien, who
hadn't kicked a ball in months, was tasked with covering an area controlled
by the impressive Joao Teixeira, and his lack of action this season meant
that our attacking threat wasn't as fluid as usual. Bilic bringing on
Jelavic was a positive change, showing that he was going for the win and not
the replay, but having to make a change like this so early is sometimes a
problem. Dimitri Pay et was forced out wide to accommodate, where he was
quickly closed down and stopped from being the influence he usually is.
Liverpool came closest in the first half, forcing a spectacular fingertip
save out of Darren Randolph, who was excellent all game. Enner Valencia
should have scored when he misjudged a cross and headed back out wide
towards the touchline, but Pedro Obiang's volley from distance was the
closest the visitors came to taking the lead in the opening 45, his effort
bouncing past the post. We had a good case for a penalty when Jelavic headed
the ball onto the arm of Steven Caulker, with the Liverpool man pushing it
away from goal, but the referee ignored the subdued protests. The kids of
Liverpool dominated possession in the second half, but Michail Antonio
almost won the tie in the dying seconds, seeing his header come back off the
post, but the linesman had already flagged for a push on Jose Enrique. The
replay at the Boleyn Ground will be the fourth meeting of the two sides this
season, with the Hammers unbeaten. Liverpool have an excellent FA Cup record
against us, not losing in seven games, but this has been a season for ending
droughts. The winner of the replay will go on to face Blackburn Rovers, and
although anyone can win in the cup, Bilic and Co. will fancy their chances
in that tie. Our round against Liverpool is not over though, but expect
another strong West Ham line-up, another inexperienced Liverpool one, and
hopefully our name in the hat for the next round. For more West Ham fan
views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
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Youthful Dev Squad extend run
WHUFC.com
A youthful Development Squad extended their unbeaten run to 11 games
following a 1-1 draw away at league leaders Derby County. Despite blustery
conditions at St. George's Park, the young Hammers put in a near faultless
display, one that was made even harder when Marcus Browne was somewhat
harshly sent off after just 30 minutes. Despite going a goal down, the
Hammers refused to be cowed and regrouped manfully, keeping the scores level
at half-time. The claret and blues efforts were rewarded on the hour mark
after Grady Diangana won back possession and drove forward, before playing
an incisive through ball into Luka Belic who finished his chance with
aplomb. However, as the game wore on, the extra man slowly began to aide
Derby's cause and they equalised after a period of pressure on 77th minutes
when Ivan Kalero headed home from close range following a corner. There was
still time for plenty of drama as Rams' defender Tom Koblenz was given a
second yellow card after tripping Jahmal Hector-Ingram. From the resulting
free-kick, Leo Chambers, talismanic all evening as captain, saw his header
crash off the crossbar and away. Another stand out Hammer was Djair
Parfitt-Williams who was a constant outlet all evening. His pace, trickery
and desire to run at people, almost bore fruit but the Derby goal was not to
be breached again as he fired viciously into the side-netting.. With just
minutes to go Derby went close to stealing an unlikely victory, yet Sam
Howes, largely untested pulled off a magnificent fingertip save to earn his
side a deserved point.
The victory takes the Hammers to five in the Barclays U21 Premier League
division two table with 24 points from 16 games.
Derby County: Mitchell, Ssewankambo, Stabana, Hanson, Buxton, Koblenz,
Elsnik, Calero, Vernam, Bennett, Guy
Subs: Santos, Ravas, McDonald, MacDonald, Cover
U21: Howes, Pike, Neufville, Dobson, Chambers ©, Rice, Diangana (Nasha),
Makasi, Belic (Hector-Ingram), Browne, Parfitt-Williams
Subs: Brown, Akinola, Kemp
Referee: Sarah Garratt
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Westley delighted with Dev Squad dedication
WHUFC.com
Academy director Terry Westley said his Development Squad deserved to beat
league leaders Derby County at St George's Park. With Dev Squad regulars
either out on loan or being saved for the first team's game with Aston Villa
tomorrow evening, Westley named a young West Ham side which included ten
U18s in the squad, seven of which featured on the pitch. Reflecting on a
hard-fought point, Westley said: "We did very well considering, they are
league leaders, playing in very difficult conditions. "Then, playing for an
hour with ten men makes it even more difficult. But the way we kept the ball
and moved it around, you'd think we were the team with the extra player. "We
deservedly went a goal up, we didn't quite hold out for the win but we can
be very proud. Tonight, every player looked like they could have a career in
the game based on that performance."
Despite being a man down after Marcus Browne was somewhat harshly dismissed,
the Hammers took the lead through Luka Belic who netted his first goal for
the club after being played in by Grady Diangana. However, Derby's man
advantage slowly took it's toll and their superior numbers paid off as Ivan
Kalero equalised from close range from a corner. Westley continued: "We've
got a very tired dressing room. But that is the limit you need to push
yourselves to. We'll get back late tonight and then we're in for a recovery
session tomorrow morning, but that's how it is. They are the demands you
need to put on young players. "Nowadays they get things given to them so we
need to be tough with them and really work them hard."
The draw sees the young Hammers extend their phenomenal unbeaten run to 11
games, and Westley is pleased to see his squad benefit from the confidence
generated from the titillating form.
"At any level, in any sport, it is hard to go 11 games unbeaten. Everyone is
trying to beat us, so to have gone this far is not easy. Tonight was a real
challenge and we've come out the right side of it. "We finished up with
seven U18s on the pitch, and they did very well but also our more
experienced players – Chambers, Dobson, Declan Rice and Moses Makasi were
all fantastic. I also have to give a word to Luka Belic up top, he did
really well for us, that's the best he's done and he needs to maintain that
belief. "We've got to keep going, we're developing a winning mentality.
Tonight we very nearly won the game, yes Sam (Howes) made a good save right
at the end but we had chances to win it, one I think would have been a
deserved victory."
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We are The Academy of Football!
WHUFC.com
Over the past 65 years, West Ham United has become synonymous with producing
some of the finest footballers in English football history. The Academy of
Football has earned a reputation for excellence and professionalism, on and
off the pitch, producing no fewer than 145 first-team players since it was
founded by manager Ted Fenton with the publication of the seminal book
'Youth Soccer with the Hammers' back in 1950. On Tuesday, 20 Academy
graduates and former staff members, including long-time Academy Director
Tony Carr, U18s coach and Hammer of the Year Steve Potts and both FA Youth
Cup and FA Cup winners, will be at the Boleyn Ground as guests of the Club.
While it always has been and always will be the players themselves who take
the headlines, there are dozens of full and part-time staff behind the
scenes who make the Academy of Football what it has been, is today and will
be in the future. West Ham TV met six of those special people who make The
Academy of Football what it is – one of the finest producers of young
footballers and young people anywhere in the world.
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Belic delighted to score first Hammers goal
WHUFC.com
After netting his first goal in claret and blue, striker Luka Belic is
hoping it is the first of many. After being played in by a defence-splitting
pass by Grady Diangana, the Serbian fired the Hammers into the lead away at
Derby County however the Rams salvaged a point when Shaquille McDonald
equalised late on. Speaking after the final whistle, Belic said: "That's my
first goal for West Ham United and I hope there are going to be more goals,
I've had a couple of assists but my job is to score. The most important
thing is that we should've won tonight.
"A draw, with ten men, we're happy. We showed great character to respond to
going a man down. "I want to thank Grady, I am very grateful because he gave
me a great ball. The keeper gave me an opportunity to hit it in the near
corner so I took it and it went in. It was a great team goal."
The point sees the Development Squad extend their unbeaten run to a
staggering 11 games. With the Dev Squad in the hunt for a play off spot as
well as being in the semi-final of the U21 Premier League Cup, Belic has
high hopes for the business end of the season. He continued: "We were very
tired towards the end, we had the wind against us in the second half too,
everything was against us. We showed great character, it was a great team
effort and even a draw is not a bad result. "Eleven games unbeaten, that's a
great, great run. I hope it continues for the rest of the season, that's our
goal. We want to get promoted and win the cup, I hope we achieve it, I
really believe we can. "I've never been 11 games unbeaten in my career, we
are all really happy. The club is doing great, the first team is doing
great. I am really happy with everything and I hope we make it 20 games
unbeaten!"
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Moses delighted by Emenike reunion
WHUFC.com
Victor Moses expects fellow Nigerian Super Eagle Emmanuel Emenike to soar
after joining the winger at West Ham United. The pair, who won the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations and appeared together at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
finals, have been reunited after striker Emenike linked up with the Hammers
on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce. Moses, who is himself enjoying a
season-long stint in E13 on loan from Chelsea, revealed that he played a
part in convincing his fellow countryman to move to London. "I've probably
played about 20 games with him in the same Nigeria team," Moses began.
"Since I've been playing for Nigeria he's been there and we were together in
the team who won the African Nations Cup, where he was top scorer in the
tournament. "I'm really looking forward to him coming to the Club and I am
going to make sure he feels at home. "He called me up and told me the club
were interested in him. I told him 'You should come and play in the Premier
League, West Ham are a family club, everyone here is friendly, we have a
good manager here and the people are lovely. I said to him 'Come and express
yourself and you will do well'."
Emenike has the attributes to do well in a Claret and Blue shirt, having
already shown his strength, pace and finishing ability in international
football, the UEFA Champions League and the top divisions in both Turkey and
Russia. Moses expects his compatriot to hit the ground running after
swapping Istanbul and the Super Lig for London and the Barclays Premier
League. "His strengths? He's quick and strong at the same time," said the
No20. "With the Super Eagles we call him 'The Big Man'. Once he has the ball
he has the strength to go through players and he makes sure he wins his
battles. "I firmly believe he will be good in the Premier League and for
West Ham as well. Having a player such as him up front gives you that
strength. "He's always played up front for the Super Eagles and hopefully he
will come here and show everyone what he can do."
Emenike will not be available for Tuesday's visit of Aston Villa to the
Boleyn Ground, as he awaits international clearance, but Moses is hopeful
the Hammers can pick up another important home victory for their new
teammate. "This won't be an easy game because they are fighting against
relegation," said Moses. "At the same time we need to go out, keep our
concentration and make sure we get those three points."
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Slaven Bilic: West Ham don't have Champions League ambitions
SAM LONG
Evening STandard
Slaven Bilic has claimed West Ham do not have ambitions to finish in the top
four this season, despite lying just six points outside of the Champions
League places. The Hammers have enjoyed an impressive run of results during
the early stages of the Croatian manager's tenure and have lost just one of
their last 10 top-flight fixtures. Such a rich vein of form has reignited
hopes the east Londoners can claim a place in Europe ahead of their summer
move to the Olympic Stadium but Bilic has played down the likelihood his
side will claim a place at the continent's top table next season. The
47-year-old is adamant West Ham need to stay focused on maintaining their
form rather than looking up the Premier League table: "We don't have
Champions League ambitions, we are very far away from that," Bilic told the
Daily Star. "We want to keep winning and see where it takes us, we just want
to be constant. Playing like we are, you are becoming a victim of your own
success. "That's a better position to be in, of course, it's what everyone
wants, because it means you are winning and inspiring your fans."
West Ham host strugglers Aston Villa at Upton Park tonight and will be
installed as clear favourites against Remi Garde's side as they look to
leapfrog Manchester United and climb to fifth place in the table. Villa,
meanwhile, are rock bottom of England's top tier but Bilic remains wary of
the visitors, who have avoided defeat in their last three games. "Villa have
struggled. On the other hand, they have improved a lot and they are picking
up points now but are paying the price for their bad start and a long, long
time without points," he added.
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West Ham vs Aston Villa preview: Victor Moses backs Emenike to be a big hit
at the Boleyn
KEN DYER
Evening Standard
Victor Moses has seen enough of West Ham's new signing, Emmanuel Emenike, to
be sure the 'Big Man' will be a success in the Premier League. Moses, on
loan at West Ham from Chelsea, was a Nigeria international team-mate of
Emenike, who has signed a loan deal from Fenerbahce until the end of the
season. The pair were team-mates when the Super Eagles won the Africa Cup of
Nations in 2013 and Emenike was the tournament's top scorer with four goals,
despite missing the final with a thigh injury. "I probably played about 20
games with him in the same Nigeria team, where we call him 'the Big Man',"
said Moses, who is in West Ham's squad for tonight's home Premier League
match against bottom club Aston Villa. "Since I've been playing for Nigeria,
he's been there and we were together in the team who won the Cup of Nations,
where he was top scorer. I'm really looking forward to him coming to the
club and I am going to make sure he feels at home. "He called me up and told
me the club were interested in him. I told him, 'You should come and play in
the Premier League, West Ham are a family club, everyone here is friendly
and we have a good manager here'. "I said to him, 'Come and express yourself
and you will do well'."
So what does Moses think are 28-year-old Emenike's major strengths?
"He's quick and strong at the same time," he said. "Once he has the ball, he
has the strength to go through players and he makes sure he wins his
battles. "I firmly believe he will be good in the Premier League and for
West Ham as well. Having a player such as him up front gives you that
strength. "He's always played up front for the Super Eagles and hopefully he
will come here and show everyone what he can do." There were hopes that
Emenike would be available to manager Slaven Bilic for tonight's match but
he is yet to receive his international clearance.
"This won't be an easy game tonight," added Moses. "Aston Villa are fighting
against relegation. At the same time we need to go out, keep our
concentration and make sure we get those three points."
West Ham are hoping that midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will be fit after
coming off in the first half of Saturday's FA Cup tie at Liverpool with a
slight leg strain. Goalkeeper Adrian could also be back in the team after
returning from Spain to be at the birth of his son, Enzo, while captain Mark
Noble has recovered from 'flu.
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Hammers clear up O'Brien speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham received no offers from Joey O'Brien from Sunderland or anywhere
else during the transfer window. Stories were circulating on Deadline Day
that Sunderland had wanted to take the right back to the Stadium of
Light…but it never happened. And a club insider told us this morning: "
There was no inquiry or offer from Sunderland or elsewhere. "We wouldn't
have allowedhim to leave anyway – he did very well indeed when he appeared
at Anfield on Saturday and showed that he has a role to play until the end
of the season. "He is in the squad for the game against Aston Villa this
evening and although he may be allowed to leave on a free transfer at the
end of the season, we wouldn't have been happy about letting him leave at
this stage."
There was a lot of media speculation over JOB yesterday (Mon) but our source
added: "He's been a great servant to this club and we wouldn't want to stand
in his way of landing a final decent contract."
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Emenike 'complications' revealed
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan faced two major complications in his negotiations for new
loan striker Emanuelle Emenike. The first was the well known problem in
dealing with parent club Fenerbahce AND his loaned outfit Al Ain where
financial considerations were a serious issue. However, beyond that was the
fact that the Turkish outfit were desperately determined to push through a
straight purchase rather than agree a loan deal and wanted around £8
million. West Ham had to make it clear that the three month arrangement was
the only show in town as they needed to take a close look at the 28 year old
Nigerian but the issue took up a lot of negotiating time. Finally, as talks
dragged on towards deadline day the Turks agreed but wanted an appearance
clause that would trigger a purchase agreement. We understand that this was
set at 12 although the word 'start' is imperative as substitute run-outs
will not apply. However, the option to buy has been agreed but the Hammers
would certainly not agree to £8 million. The chance of the player making a
dozen starts is remote with just 16 League games and possible FA cup
appearances left in our season. A source said: "We got what we wanted in the
end and the deal was very much Slaven-driven. We backed him as we back all
our managers. It was really his drill – he knows the player and likes him.
"If he does well then the permanent switch could be on but not at the same
sort of price as we intend to play for Lanzini – that doesn't work."
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Contract cancelled …but we still pick up bill!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
EXCLUSIVE
West Ham will continue to pay Carl Jenkinson wages of around £30k a week
plus the remained of a £1.5 million loan fee …despite the two clubs agreeing
to tar up his contract. Some had assumed that news of the development would
give the Irons a big finanical saving but ClaretandHugh was told exclusively
this morning that is definitely not the case. The defender has now returned
to Arsenal with a cruciate knee injury and last night the clubs agreed to
cancel the contract between them. But in simple terms there was nothing
within that contract which allowed the Hammers to escape payments to the
north Londoners or Jenkinson should such an injury occurrence take place.
Our usual Hammers source explained: "We of course save tiny bits and pieces
on appearance bonuses but the loan fee and wages are paid by us until June.
The only reason for doing it was to free the way for a loan signing but that
didn't happen of course so we gained nothing from the move."
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Irons reveal Jelavic fee
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Exclusive
Nikica Jelavic's move to China is awaiting a rubber stamp and the Croatian
striker expect to be on his way to join his new squad members over the next
few days. And contrary to some reports that the player will be allowed to
leave on a free transfer there will be a fee of around £1.5 million from
Guangzhou Evergrande. He will follow the likes of Chelsea's Ramires who
moved east earlier this month to join Jiangsu Suning in a stunning
£25million deal. Newcastle United's Cheikh Tiote is also wanted to play in
Beijing. Jelavic joined West Ham from Hull City in the last transfer window
and has scored three goals in 13 appearances, 11 of them as sub. With the
Chinese season opens at the end of February but the club are hoping to get
the deal done over the next few days although the player could be involved
against Aston Villa this evening. ClaretandHugh was told this morning: "It
is not true there is no fee involved. We will pick up around £1.5 million
which represents a small loss on what we paid for him.
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Lanzini deal to be done on injury recovery
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Exclusive
West Ham will complete the Manu Lanzini deal once the player has shown
himself to be completely recovered from the thigh injury he has suffered
with over recent weeks. The brilliant ball carrying midfielder sustained the
injury against Southampton after returning following the same injury against
Liverpool but is now within days of a comeback. Before the Saints game
chairman David Sullivan had fired the player up by saying he would be
completing his signing from Al Jaziera in February rather than at the end of
the season. However, the injury issue has put that on hold until the club
has seen 'The Jewel' has made a complete recovery from the problem.
ClaretandHugh was told exclusively this afternoon: "As explained many times
our contract with the Saudis is watertight and we intend to do the deal as
soon as Manu has returned and proved himself fully recovered from injury.
"That could be later this month but we full intend getting it done as soon
as the injury problem is shown to be history."
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Sam Byram reveals 'sleepless nights' at West Ham and Everton decision
London 24
12:28 02 February 2016 Brad Pinard
West Ham full back Sam Byram admits leaving Leeds United for the Hammers was
the biggest decision of his life. 1 The impressive defender arrived at Upton
Park for around £3.5million earlier in January and made his debut against
Manchester City under the lights in east London just a few days later.
Everton made first move for Byram but West Ham heard of the talks and
convinced the 22-year-old that a move south was the way to go and a deal was
done within 48 hours. Byram admits he had a few sleepless nights but is
excited to continue his improvement with Slaven Bilic's side. "It was the
biggest decision I have had to make in my life up until now," Byram told the
Telegraph. "There were a few sleepless nights thinking about the different
things but when it came down to it and I had spoken to the manager and with
what he said and with the new stadium, then I had to choose here." "You see
young players getting their chance in the Premier League and that is my
dream also and I was given the chance to come and fight for a place at West
Ham and it was something that I could not turn down. It was definitely the
right time for me to move. "I just liked the way he (Slaven Bilic) spoke,
the way he spoke about the club and how he did things. That was the feeling
I got. "He had really done his homework on me with a real attention to
detail – the number of games he had watched that I had played in, the areas
where I could improve. It made me feel that under him I was going to get
better."
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I need to play every game, says West Ham's Alex Song
By Ted Thompson
Posted on February 2, 2016
www.squawka.com
Alex Song says he needs game time to get back to his best after an
injury-hit season for West Ham United so far. The 28-year old was impressive
in his loan spell at Upton Park last season under Sam Allardyce prompting
the club to bring him back for another season in the 2015 summer transfer
window. He has, however, had a frustrating start to his second year in east
London, missing the first 12 games of the campaign with an ankle problem. He
has then subsequently struggled to get back to full fitness having been in
and out of the team over the Christmas period.
However, there are now signs that the Cameroon international looks to be
getting back to somewhere near his best. He played 90 minutes for the first
time this season against Manchester City in the club's last Premier League
outing and put in a composed performance, boasting a pass completion rate of
84% as the game finished 2-2. Speaking on his return to the starting XI to
the club's official website, Song said: "I am very happy to be back in the
team. For seven months it was not easy and the team was doing very well. It
was hard for the manager to give me time on the pitch. "For me to get back
to my level I need to play every game but it was hard for the manager
because the other midfielders have been playing so well. "If I want to get
back to my level I need to play. I have been given my opportunity in the
last two games and I feel I am getting back my levels again. I am very happy
with how the manager has managed me and how the team are doing. "We want to
achieve something this year. I want to contribute to the team and when the
manager needs me I want to give something back. "We can do more this season.
At the moment, we are doing very well and we just need to take it step by
step. We are stronger than what we were last season."
Alex Song has 71% of his headed duels in the Premier League this season. He
completed 90 minutes against Liverpool FA Cup on Saturday and continues to
indicate that he is well on his way to being the dominant midfield force he
was for the first half of last season. The game finished 0-0 and Slaven
Bilic's side will host the Reds next Tuesday at Upton Park for the replay.
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How Darren Randolph has silenced his West Ham critics
Julian Shea for Metro.co.ukTuesday 2 Feb 2016 2:07 pm
One of the dangerous things about Twitter is the way it preserves forever
things people probably wish, in hindsight, that they had not said. Rarely is
this more true than in the somewhat opinionated, often rather hasty tweets
of football fans. For proof, look no further than comments about Darren
Randolph on David Gold's timeline earlier in the season.
Fair enough, the arrival of a 28-year-old former Charlton, Motherwell and
Birmingham player on a free transfer is not exactly a marquee signing, but
the stick given to the Republic of Ireland keeper – and the club's co-owner
for having signed him – was ridiculous.
Six months down the line, and with first-choice keeper Adrian sidelined at
what could be a pivotal moment such a hugely important season in West Ham
history, Randolph has been asked to take a big step up – and answered the
challenge superbly.
So maybe those whose tweeted comments like 'we all know he is not good
enough… not Premier class… put Jenkinson in goal…. Whose idea was he…. I'd
rather have Shaka back' to Gold back in August when Randolph was first
thrust into the team by Adrian's suspension might want to reconsider those
thoughts.
And particularly the person who tweeted 'Mr Gold & Mr Sullivan, I am willing
to bet £100 with each of you do we NOT win a game while Randolph is in
goal.'
Admittedly, that money looked pretty safe in Randolph's first Premier League
start, a 4-3 loss to Bournemouth – a performance and a result which seem a
lifetime ago for West Ham now (they have not lost at home in the league
since then).
A second home defeat in the week at the hands of a team West Ham would have
comfortably expected to beat was marked by poor defending across the board,
so blaming the newly thrust-in keeper was unfair – and the fact that the
other two starts he made during Adrian's ban were both clean sheet wins,
against Liverpool and Newcastle, only served to underline the point.
Give him a bit of time to get settled, and we could have someone useful
here.
Adrian is undisputedly West Ham's first-choice keeper, and will remain so,
but it is reassuring to see that, once again in January, when he has been
unavailable, Randolph stepped into his shoes with ease.
An FA Cup win over Wolves and another draw at Anfield have helped enhance
Randolph's reputation (to say nothing of his exploits in helping the
Republic of Ireland beat world champions Germany on their way to securing a
place at the European Championships), and with next opponents Aston Villa so
ineffective at the moment, he will fancy his chances of adding another clean
sheet to his collection whilst Adrian is engaged in family business back in
Spain.
So take your time enjoying the joys of new fatherhood, Adrian. Whilst you
have your hands full learning your new job, the good news is that your other
one is in very safe hands too.
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West Ham must not get complacent against struggling Villa
By Frankie Levin - Feb 2, 2016 0
westhamworld.co.uk
It may not have been the most exciting affair, but we fought out a hard
earned 0-0 draw at Anfield to earn a replay last weekend, which could be the
last ever FA cup game at the Boleyn, but we are all hoping that is not the
case. We went into the game with a lot of optimism having beaten them twice
before, and once again we proved we are good enough to come away from
Anfield having not conceded again. Tomkins and Kouyate both picked up
injuries, with Kouyate looking the more serious of the two. We are yet to
hear the extent of his injury, but Tomkins should be back to face Aston
Villa, as to will Mark Noble, and we will also have Sam Byram available
after he was cup tied.
On Sunday it was announced that Emenike has signed on a loan deal, lasting
until the end of the season, but he won't be able to feature against Villa
because he's still awaiting international clearance. Aston Villa are a team
lacking fighting spirit and a lot of people are writing them off as the
first certified relegated side of the season. I do feel sorry for their fans
as they have had to put up with a lot this year, but we must not take this
as an easy three points..
Yes it is a game we should be looking to win comfortably if we are going to
push for fifth or even fourth, but that is no reason to lack discipline and
not give 100% against them because we will come unstuck. Lanzini, Sakho and
Carroll are all close to returns according to David Gold, so how much truth
there actually is in this I do not know, but once they return we will be a
much stronger side. Dimitri Payet did not have the best of games against
Liverpool and I have seen people say that his good spell is over. These
people need to have a hard look at themselves as he proves people wrong time
and time again, and one bad game does not define a player.
I do not think that Kouyate will be fit to play and Noble should be the one
to come in for him, and it showed against Liverpool that without Noble,
there is a lack of organisation across the pitch. Byram should come in for
Tomkins and Moses should replace Obiang, purely because we can be more
expressive against Villa. We are going to have to keep an eye on Jordan
Ayew, as he is a very good player and was arguably their best player against
us earlier in the season. I never end without a prediction, and I must say I
am confident about this one, so I am going to go with a 3-1 win to us.
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Kenny Sansom backs West Ham's Aaron Cresswell for England call-up
HITC
Sean Lunt
The West Ham star has been in fine form for Slaven Bilic's side again.
Speaking to Sky Sports, former England full-back Kenny Sansom has backed
West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell for an England call-up. The
defender enjoyed a fine first year at the club last season following his
move from Ipswich Town, being named Hammer of the Year and Players' Player
of the Season come the end of the campaign. He has continued that splendid
form this season, playing regularly as the Hammers have impressed under
Slaven Bilic. And Sansom has now backed him for an England call-up, saying
that he believes the West Ham man has the ability to feature for Roy
Hodgson's side. "I like Aaron Cresswell," he told Sky Sports. "He's a young
lad and I think it's up to him as a player. Obviously he has got to play for
West Ham but he's got to go out and perform and show people how good he is."
"I think Cresswell has got the ability. If he really pushes himself and the
manager at West Ham gives him the confidence, he has a really good chance."
There is certainly a chance for Cresswell to head to France in the summer as
well, with that currently a spot up for grabs in England's team. Leighton
Baines is likely to be first choice in the side should he remain fit until
the end of the season, but behind him there is still a space in the squad.
Luke Shaw is unlikely to feature after his injury ruled him out for the
season, while Kieran Gibbs does not feature regularly for Arsenal, meaning
Cresswell could find himself in the squad if he continues his current form
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Daily WHUFC News - 2nd Feb 2016
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic had nothing but praise for Darren Randolph after he earned a man of the match display to help the Hammers earn a replay against Liverpool in the Emirates FA Cup tie at Anfield.
Randolph has been forced to wait patiently for his chance but he showed everyone his quality once again with a number of fine blocks – including a superb triple save in the second half.
Adrian flew back to Spain to be with his wife ahead of the birth of their first baby, but the Hammers boss confirmed that Randolph was always going to start the game and will be the Hammers keeper in the FA Cup this season. Bilic said: "Darren was supposed to start anyway and it was not because Adrian went back to Spain. We wish his wife well. "Darren was in goal against Wolves and he is going to play in the cup because he is a great goalkeeper and he deserves to have his games. "He has never let us down and every day he shows in training what he can do. It was a great triple save in the second half but every time he did well for us."
Bilic had nothing but praise for his players after they managed to keep another clean sheet at Anfield and is already looking forward to the replay which takes place at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 9 February. Bilic added: "We got a draw and kept a clean sheet. We had good defending and we deserved a replay. "It is not ideal because nobody wants a replay at this stage of the season but we can live with one. "It is going to be another great football night with an FA Cup replay at the Boleyn Ground and we are going to try and knock them out."
The Hammers boss revealed that James Tomkins remains a doubt for the Premier League game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night after he suffered a head injury, but Cheikhou Kouyate should be ready to take his place despite leaving the pitch towards the end of the first half.
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Joint-Chairman thrilled with Emenike signing
WHUFc.com
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan is thrilled to have finally secured the signing of Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike and hopes he will bring plenty of goals to the first-team. Mr Sullivan has worked tirelessly behind the scenes with club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the deal concluded after having to negotiate with both Fenerbahce and Al-Ain where he has been on loan in the United Arab Emirates this season. Emenike arrived at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday and is now hoping to be a big success in the Premier League this season. Mr Sullivan has no doubts he will bring pace and power to the Hammers attack and feels it will be another exciting addition to the squad. He said: "I am delighted to welcome Emmanuel Emenike to the club. "We hope he will bring goals and we have an option to sign him at the end of the season. "Our manager knows him from Turkey & Russia and says he is a very good player. He is very fast and you can never have enough goals or pace in any team. "It took two weeks of tortuous negotiations and hard work by myself and our club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the player to the club. It was one of the most difficult deals we have ever done as we were dealing with two clubs not one. "I would publicly like to thank Andrew, as he really is an unsung hero of the club, for all his hard work on this transfer, all the other transfers we have done in the last few years and the dozens we tried to do and failed with."
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Emmanuel Emenike - Ten Fast Facts
WHUFC.com
Find out more about our latest arrival with ten fast Emmanuel Emenike facts…
- Emmanuel was born in Otuocha, Nigeria on 10 May 1987 and began his career in his homeland with Delta Force.
- His professional career took off when he moved to South Africa in 2008, first playing for MP Black Aces and then Cape Town FC.
- After serving his apprenticeship in Africa, a first taste of European football followed when Karabukspor took him to Turkey.
- A highly productive 2009/10 campaign saw him being named the best foreign player in the Turkish 1.Lig, as he helped Karabukspor win promotion to the top flight.
- He also notched on his Super Lig debut, going on to total 14 goals in 23 appearances that campaign.
- Next stop for Emenike was Russia and Spartak Moscow, where the 5'11 striker spent two years, scoring 24 goals in 51 appearances.
- His continued prolific scoring rate took him back to Turkey, with Fenerbahce splashing out a reported £10.2m to secure his signature in August 2013.
- He tallied 12 goals in his debut season, but was on the move again last summer when he joined Abu Dhabi club Al Ain on loan.
- Internationally, Emenike was a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria and also featured at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
- However, after nine goals in 37 caps, he announced his retirement from the national team in October 2015.
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Joey's thrilled to be back
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien made an emotional return to the pitch following a six-month injury lay-off in Saturday's Emirates FA Cup stalemate at Liverpool. The Irishman had missed virtually the entire season to date with a niggly ankle problem, but came through his Anfield runout unscathed, much to his delight. Now, having marked his comeback he is determined to play his part over the closing part of the campaign. He explained: "It's great to be back on the pitch. It's been a long time since I played in the European games in the summer, and coming to a place like Anfield it what it's all about. "Getting on earlier than I even dreamed off was nice. Over the years I've had some bad times [with injury], and people were saying 'you haven't played in a long time', but I had two-and-a-half years without playing before. "People forget that, but I don't and I take inspiration from that time that I missed back in the day. Six months is nothing really, but it is great to come back. "I hurt my ankle in a practice game against Crystal Palace and thought nothing of it at the time. "It was a lot worse than we thought and it lingered on, but it's over now and playing these games is what you do the rehab for. "We were disappointed not to win on Saturday. Very few times have I come up to Anfield and been disappointed with a draw, but we're looking forward to the replay and hopefully doing the business."
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Bilic welcomes Emenike arrival
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic says new signing Emmanuel Emenike will bolster West Ham United's attacking options. The Nigeria forward became the Hammers second – and expected to be final – capture of the January Transfer Window when he joined on loan from Fenerbahce on Sunday. Bilic knows Emenike well, having previously managed in the same city as the 28-year-old in both Moscow and Istanbul, and expects the No29 to add versatility and firepower to his squad. "We got the deal done and we are happy and of course he is happy too, I suppose!" said the manager. "We wanted him because Mauro Zarate left for Fiorentina and there is a possibility that Nikica Jelavic will go. "We have a couple of strikers injured, who will hopefully be back very soon, but we needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar. "I have known him for a long time and he's a great player and I hope that he is going to do a great job for us."
Emenike spent two seasons in Russia with Spartak Moscow, the second of which saw him come up against Bilic's cross-city rivals Lokomotiv. In summer 2013, both made the switch to Turkey, where Bilic took charge of Besiktas and the forward moved to Fenerbahce, where he scored 12 goals won the Super Lig title in his first season. "He is not that tall, but he is big, he is strong and he is extremely quick and he is really direct, he is a good goalscorer and he will work well for the team and run the channels," said Bilic, who went on to confirm that the Club will not be actively seeking any new signings on Monday. "We won't be busy on Deadline Day. We are finished. That's it – in and out."
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Loan round-up
WHUFC.com
Martin Samuelsen came on at half-time for Peterborough United as Posh secured a replay against Premier League West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. The visitors came back twice from Saido Berahino strikes through Shaquile Coulthirst and Jon Taylor. Samuelsen almost scored himself and bamboozling to Baggies his shot was well saved by Boaz Myhill.
Sam Howes has been recalled from his loan spell at Wealdstone FC after Raphael Spiegel picked up an injury. The England youth international went straight into first team action as he was named on the substitute's bench an Anfield.
Lewis Page played the full 90 minutes as Cambridge United secured a 3-1 win away at Leyton Orient. Page played alongside Orient manager Kevin Nolan in the early rounds of the Hammers' Europa League campaign this season, however it was the youngster who came away with the three points.
A Ben Williamson brace and a Jimmy Spencer goal secured the win which takes the U's to eleventh in League Two.
Jaanai Gordon has joined Irish outfit Sligo Rovers on loan. The forward will join up with his new teammates in time for the start of the League of Ireland season.
Diego Poyet was an unused substitute as the Addicks recorded a much needed win in emphatic style with a 4-1 away victory at Rotherham.
A Simon Makienok brace and goals from Igor Vetokele and Ademola Lookman sealed the three points.
Clarke Bogard and Ross Elsom both started as Tilbury FC drew 0-0 at home with Haringey Borough. Elsom went close to breaking the deadlock with a rasping shot while Brown made a string of saves to earn a clean sheet.
Tim Brown played the full game for Chelmsford City as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Sutton United.
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Ladies beaten in penalty thriller
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies crashed out of the Capital Women's Cup on penalties at the quarter-final stage on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
In the early stages of the game, Avilla Bergin put Spurs ahead with a well taken finish, before Italian forward Romina Pinna equalised for the home side with a rocket of a free-kick.
Neither team could break the deadlock for the remainder of the game, so it took a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner where defender Danni Ritson's spot kick was saved by former Hammer Toni-Anne Wayne before Sydney Hinchcliffe sealed the win for the visitors.
After last weekend's FA Cup second round heroics against Crystal Palace Ladies, manager Marc Nurse made just one forced change to his starting eleven. Midfielder Shirvae Edwards was unavailable for selection, allowing Erika Campesi to return to the Hammers midfield.
A couple of weeks ago the Hammers fell to a different cup defeat away to Tottenham where the score ended 5-0 and Spurs couldn't have been blamed to eyeing up a similar result after just five minutes when Bergin found room inside the penalty box to fire the visitors ahead.
Nurse's side were out to gain victory though and refused to be pushed aside and suffer the same consequences. Pinna, along with new French signing Cindy Ferreira and Whitney Locke were causing the Spurs defence all sorts of problems.
That is where the Hammers' equaliser came from too. After Alexandra Keown fouled Pinna just outside the box, the Italian star stepped up and bent an unstoppable free-kick into the corner of the net past Wayne.
The hosts could have then even pushed themselves ahead on several occasions as the time ticked on towards extra time, but Locke spurned a good opening, whilst Campesi smashed a shot off the crossbar that appeared to bounce over the line before being cleared.
Into extra-time and Nurse's side were the much stronger team and most likely to win it, with Pinna having several chances inside the box but failing to get a meaningful shot off at Wayne's goal.
The referee blew for full time after 120 minutes of pulsating football meaning penalty kicks were needed to decide which team would face Camden Ladies in the semi-finals.
Pinna, captain Katie Bottom, Ferreira, Campesi, Gemma Abela and New Zealand-born Rosie Missen all converted their efforts, before former Palace defender Ritson saw her penalty saved by Wayne, allowing Hinchcliffe to confidently beat Hammers keeper Lauren Picton and secure the victory.
The Ladies return to cup action on Sunday 7 February as they host FA Women's Premier League North side Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the FA Women's Cup third round at AFC Hornchurch, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm.
Ladies: Picton, Ritson, Bottom (c), Wheeler, Sammons, Abela, Missen, Campesi, Pinna, Ferreira, Locke. Subs not used: Kelly, Hinz, Strange, Smith
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Alex back on Song for the Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Alex Song believes he is getting back to his best form and has nothing but praise for the way Slaven Bilic has eased him back into first-team action. Song suffered a frustrating start to the campaign when he was forced to miss the first few months with an ankle injury. But the former Barcelona and Arsenal star has been working hard behind the scenes to regain full fitness and is now starting to show the form which saw him become a fans favourite at the Boleyn Ground last season. Song was outstanding against Manchester City in the last Premier League game and also played his part in another impressive display against Liverpool in the Emirates FA Cup against Liverpool on Saturday.
The Cameroon midfielder is now hoping to maintain his high standards when the Hammers face Aston Villa at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday night and says the club can achieve big things this season.
Song said: "I am very happy to be back in the team. For seven months it was not easy and the team was doing very well. It was hard for the manager to give me time on the pitch. "For me to get back to my level I need to play every game but it was hard for the manager because the other midfielders have been playing so well. "If I want to get back to my level I need to play. I have been given my opportunity in the last two games and I feel I am getting back my levels again. I am very happy with how the manager has managed me and how the team are doing. "We want to achieve something this year. I want to contribute to the team and when the manager needs me I want to give something back. "We can do more this season. At the moment we are doing very well and we just need to take it step by step. We are stronger than what we were last season."
Song is excited by the arrival of new signing Emmanuel Emenike and feels he will add even more quality to the Hammers attack this season.
The 28-year-old played against the Nigeria international in the Champions League when he was at Barcelona and can still remember the tough challenge he faced at the Nou Camp. Song added: "I played against him three-years ago when I was playing centre-back for Barcelona. He was so strong and I was asking 'who is this guy'. He was so strong. "It is great for us to have a player like this and I am very happy that he has signed for the club and can help us achieve what we want this season. "He is very strong and very quick and it is good to have players like him who can make a difference."
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Phillips delighted with Academy win
WHUFC.com
Under-18s coach Mark Phillips was delighted with both the performance and result after the Academy secured a 2-1 win over Swansea City at Little Heath on Saturday.
Swans striker Brandon Griffiths put the visitors ahead early in the game, before former Chelsea winger Danny Kemp fired the hosts level from the penalty spot after Idris Kanu was tripped in the box.
For the second week in a row, Jahmal Hector-Ingram struck the winner in the second half, securing a pleasing result for the Hammers youth coach.
"I was delighted with the first half and thought it was one of our best 45 minute performances of the season, even though we was behind for a little while," admitted Phillips. "We passed the ball really well into midfield, through the midfield and into the final third but strangely, we weren't creating as many opportunities as you'd expect from a performance like that.
"Swansea seemed to sit really deep in the first half and they allowed us to control possession and play our game in the midfield, whereas after a telling off at half time from their coach, they came out and pushed us back a bit more, which then opened up pockets in behind their defence that we could try to play into.
"In the second half, we had around four clear-cut opportunities to score where you're wondering if it's ever going to go in, but Jahmal popped up with the winning goal for the second week in a row and we are pleased with the three points and the performance.
Since the Academy opened 2016 with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Reading, they have now secured three important 2-1 home victories over Aston Villa, Southampton and Swansea.
Phillips admitted that the Reading game was a bad day at the office and explained how they have turned their fortunes around in recent weeks.
"It was a bad day at the office where nothing went right for us," continued Phillips. "That's not me making an excuse for our performance because we didn't play well and didn't deserve to win that day.
"Steve [Potts] and I looked back at that game on DVD with the boys and analysed where we went wrong and worked on those areas ahead of the three home games.
"In hindsight, it might've been the wake up call that we needed, although we obviously didn't intentionally lose that game. We've come out of it really well though and the boys worked hard to win the next three games 2-1.
"I'm proud with the way that the boys recovered mentally from that defeat and turned their fortunes round themselves, especially because the game that followed the Reading defeat was against Aston Villa who are a very tough and competitive team.
"I was really disappointed in our performance in the first half against Southampton the following week, but then equally delighted with out first half performance against Swansea.
"At the end of the day, it's ups and downs that you get in Under-18 football and the boys will learn more from the game when they experience the highs and lows."
Phillips and the Academy head south to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday morning as they end their regular season with another tough fixture, hoping that if they come away with the win and other teams drop points in their remaining games, the Hammers could still sneak into the top four play-off group in the end-of-season phase.
"It's obviously still a possibility, but we need to make it four wins out of four games first because that will give us 37 points and after looking at the table, we'd need others to slip up to help us out," he added.
"Chelsea are the team most likely of winning the league, whilst Reading already cannot be caught as they are already on 41 points and Fulham should pass our 37 point total with the games they've got left too.
"It looks like that fourth spot is still open though and we may need Villa or Arsenal to slip up in their remaining games, but more importantly, we need to concentrate on ending the season with three points at Brighton.
The match against the Seagulls kicks-off on Saturday 6 February at 11am, with live updates available through the club's official channels.
Under-18s: Matrevics, Eggleton, Rice, Akinola, Borg, Carter (c), Lewis (Sylvestre), Diangana, Kanu, Kemp, Hector-Ingram. Subs not used: Henry, Hammam, Leonard, Coventry
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Hammers play-off hero given his cards
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Ricardo Vaz Te - whose goal sent West Ham back to the Premier League in 2012 - has been released from his contract at Charlton after just two-and-a-half months at The Valley. The 29-year-old forward returned to London at the beginning of November in order to join the Championship side until the end of the season. However Charlton confirmed late this evening that Vaz Te had been released from his contract with immediate effect - with no reason given for his early exit. "Charlton have terminated the contracts of Ricardo Vaz Tê and Franck Moussa by mutual consent," read a statement posted on cafc.co.uk. "Former Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United forward Vaz Tê joined the Addicks in November, making his debut away at Birmingham City, and went on to make 11 further appearances. "
The Portuguese forward earned himself a place in Hammers folklore on 19 May 2012 when he scored the 87th-minute winner that returned the club to the Premier League - although he soon found himself surplus to requirements following promotion. Vaz Te - who had also been training with Premier League Bournemouth prior to joining the Addicks - made a total 61 appearances for West Ham during his three years at the Boleyn Ground, scoring 19 goals in total.
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Teddy on his toes - after just nine months
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Teddy Sheringham's stint as manager of Stevenage came to a premature end this afternoon, when he was fired just nine months after taking the role. The 49-year-old former striker departed West Ham at the end of last season having landed his first management role at Broadhall Way.
However his tenure at the League Two club ended abruptly today after he received his cards. A statement released by the club this afternoon (Monday) said: "Stevenage FC have today parted company with manager Teddy Sheringham following a run of results that's seen the team take three points from the last 24 available. "The club are just above the relegation zone with just six wins from 29 games this season."
Chairman Phil Wallace added: "Teddy has had the worst luck I've seen in the 16 years I've owned the football club. Normally we'd have one or two major ops on key players in a season but we've had more this season than the last three combined. "You also occasionally lose points in the last few minutes of games but we've been in this situation in four of the last eight matches. However, we are where we are and the club have to make a change. "Teddy came in having to work on a lower budget than we've had before and the lack of available funds has made it difficult to get the players he'd like. He's given it his all but it hasn't worked and now we have to thank him for his efforts and move on."
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Joey bid rejected
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are understood to have rejected an approach by Sunderland for full back Joey O'Brien. The 29-year-old defender, who made his first appearance for West Ham's first team since last July in the goalless draw at Liverpool last weekend was the subject of interest by the Wearsiders earlier today. However Sunderland - currently managed by former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, who brought O'Brien to the Boleyn Ground five years ago - have been told unequivocally that the Irish international is not for sale, according to the Mail Online. In other transfer titbits, West Ham have been linked with a deadline day swoop for Liverpool's perma-crock Daniel Sturridge. KUMB understands that the chances of this one happening are on par with Lionel Messi leaving the Camp Nou for the Boleyn Ground.
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Ox linked with Southend switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford is being linked with a transfer deadline day switch to League One club Southend United. The 17-year-old central defender, who can also operate in midfield was set to join Championship side Charlton last week but the move was vetoed by Addicks manager Jose Riga. And that has alerted the Shrimpers, who currently play in the tier immediately below Charlton, who KUMB understand have contacted West Ham view view to taking the England youth international on loan for the remainder of the season. Oxford, who has made eight appearances for West Ham's first team this season was an unused substitute for the first team last weekend when Slaven Bilic's side drew 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield.
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Jelavic set for £9million swansong
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Nikica Jelavic is set to sign a contract worth a bumper £9million with a Chinese Super League club. The 30-year-old Croatian striker, who only joined West Ham last summer in a £2.5million switch from Championship front-runners Hull City will earn in the region of £60,000 per week over the course of three years by moving to Asia. Jelavic, who KUMB understands will undergo a medical this week is scheduled to leave England after the trip to Southampton, next weekend. He is set to move on a free transfer. Since moving to the Boleyn Ground, the back-up striker has scored three goals in 19 appearances - most of which have come from the bench. Chinese Super League clubs have spent in excess of €135million on transfers during the current transfer window - more than any other national league.
Recent high-profile arrivals include Ramires (Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning), Gervinho (Roma to Hebei China Fortune) and Fredy Guarin (Inter to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua).
Jelavic: career stats
2002-2007: Hajduk Split - 35 apps, 8 goals
2007: Waregem - 23 apps, 3 goals
2008-2010: Rapid Vienna - 75 apps, 31 goals
2010-2012: Glasgow Rangers - 54 apps, 26 goals
2012-2014: Everton - 69 apps, 21 goals
2014-2015: Hull City - 49 apps, 13 goals
2015-2016: West Ham Utd - 19 apps, 3 goals
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Jenkinson loan terminated
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Carl Jenkinson's season long loan has been officially terminated, it has been revealed. The Arsenal full back returned to The Emirates last week after sustaining a cruciate injury which is likely to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season And it was exclusively revealed on the KUMB Forum this evening that the defender's long-term loan contract has been torn up tonight.
That move would allow West Ham to bring in an extra player on loan - however KUMB understands that the club are unable to replace the former England international due to time constraints.
And the club's stance is very much as it has been since earlier in the day, when Slaven Bilic told Sky Sports that the club's transfer window business has been completed with the capture of striker Emmanuel Emenike from Fenerbahce.
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West Ham United v Aston Villa
TUE, 02 FEB 2016
PREMIER LEAGUE
19:45
Venue: Boleyn Ground
BBC.co.uk
TEAM NEWS
West Ham defender James Tomkins could miss Tuesday's game against Aston Villa after suffering a head injury against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Sam Byram returns after being cup-tied but fellow new signing Emmanuel Emenike looks likely to miss out as he awaits international clearance.
Villa are likely to be without injured forwards Rudy Gestede and Libor Kozak. Carlos Sanchez remains sidelined, while Ashley Westwood (calf) and Alan Hutton (hamstring) are doubts.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Conor McNamara: "A half-full Villa Park for the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City on Saturday says it all. Reaching the final of that competition last season seems a long time ago now. "Aston Villa can concentrate on the league but lamentably they have had more cup wins this season (3) than league victories (2). "And yet, three league games unbeaten is - relatively speaking - a purple patch for Remi Garde. He will be desperate to keep it going. "West Ham's fine season sees them still in the hunt for a European place and home form is crucial. Slaven Bilic's team haven't lost in the Premier League at Upton Park since August."
Twitter: @ConorMcNamaraIE
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: "We want the same spirit that we showed in the home game against West Ham. We will have to play better football than against Man City, for sure. "And then we have to start stronger in the games. It has been a problem in a few matches. That will be very important."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
There have been just five goals scored in the last five Premier League meetings, with the fixture at Upton Park ending goalless in each of the previous two seasons.
Aston Villa managed a season's best eight shots on target against West Ham in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.
West Ham United
The Hammers have only lost one of their last 10 league matches (W3, D6).
They are enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run at home in the Premier League game (W4, D5).
Fourteen players have scored a Premier League goal for West Ham United this season, a joint-high with Chelsea.
Nikica Jelavic has scored in his last two Premier League appearances against Aston Villa.
Aston Villa
Villa are unbeaten in three Premier League games (W1, D2), their longest run since a five-match streak in December 2014
They have 13 points after 23 games - the only side with the same record to avoid relegation from the Premier League were West Brom in 2005.
Their only away win in the last 14 attempts came at Bournemouth on the opening day of the season (W1, D3, L10).
The Villans have scored just eight goals in 12 Premier League games under Remi Garde.
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Emenike deal a tortuous process, admits Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan believes new signing Emmanuel Emenike can hit the ground running.
The Nigerian international, who was the club's main January target finally signed in at the Boleyn Ground last night - just 24 hours ahead of the transfer deadline.
And Sullivan, who has worked diligently in recent weeks to bring the 28-year-old to east London was delighted to finally land his man following protracted negotiations with parent club Fenerbahce and UAE club Al Ain, where Emenike had been scheduled to spend the entirety of the current season.
"It took two weeks of tortuous negotiations and hard work by myself and our club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the player to the club," he told the club's website. "It was one of the most difficult deals we have ever done, as we were dealing with two clubs not one.
"I would publicly like to thank Andrew, as he really is an unsung hero of the club, for all his hard work on this transfer, all the other transfers we have done in the last few years and the dozens we tried to do and failed with."
The co-Chairman has been accused in the past of signing the occasional 'Sulli special' - a term coined to describe the series of cheap, unknown foreign players introduced to the club and not necessarily with the incumbent manager's approval.
However Sullivan believes that Emenike, who has scored goals wherever he has played, represents good value for money - and is set to hit the ground running.
"We hope he will bring goals," he added. "Our manager knows him from Turkey and Russia and says he is a very good player. He is very fast - and you can never have enough goals or pace in any team."
The deal - which brings Emenike to the Boleyn Ground for the remainder of the season - includes an option to make the contract permanent upon completion, according to Sullivan. That potential fee is thought to be in the region of €11million.
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ExWHUEmployee Exclusive Column: Our transfer deadline activity explained here
January 31, 2016
West Ham Way.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
So here is my latest column on the eve of the transfer deadline day and we have just announced the signing of Emeneke on loan until the end of the season via www.thewesthamway.co.uk writer Jack Sullivan. This is a transfer that I exclusively revealed was happening two weeks ago here:
http://www.thewesthamway.co.uk/#!ExWHUEmployee-another-Transfer-Exclusive-Emmanuel-Emenike-to-join/maip4/569ec6490cf2dd2c16645e3d
He has a lot of potential to be a very useful player for the club. He is big, strong and quick and has all the attributes to fit in quickly in the Premier League. He has been a top scorer at the African Nations Cup in 2013 and has almost averaged a goal every two games throughout his career. The deal does not include a final purchase fee despite what is being reported because we couldn't get his agent to agree to it, which has meant the deal has dragged on. I can also confirm that there is no such deal for us to pay £11m euros for him if he plays 10 games. The transfer has been described by top club sources as "the longest deal we have ever had to conclude" so the clubs hierarchy obviously believe this is a deal worth doing. Thankfully he is also match fit and will go straight into the squad for the Villa game. This deal should give us four very competent Premier League forwards something which we haven't had in many previous seasons and shows the good work of the chairman.
The club expect to make NO further first team signings, something which David Gold hinted at in his tweet last night. The club expect Carroll back in one week and Sakho and Lanzini back in two so do not believe they need anyone. Jelavic will leave to China a story first mentioned exclusively in this column http://www.thewesthamway.co.uk/#!ExWHUEmployee-Column-Jelavic-set-to-leave-Zarate-could-follow-Zaza-in/maip4/5692ca580cf263fc5a82916a soon. At the moment we will probably hold onto him until Carroll and Sakho return as the Chinese season is yet to start. Although this could change at ANY point as we do not want to stand in the way of the deal so will cooperate fully.
I can confirm however that Steven Fletcher will not be joining. I regret my "spat" with Darren Lewis over this and it was out of character as such. I have heard from journalists that I respect that he is a decent bloke and have tried to say sorry three times now. I have had a tough week but that doesn't excuse it at all. I wish I had just said I don't think he will join, sat back with a cigar as one follower said and left it at that. Anyway we move on…..
There will be some players leaving especially at youth level. Jordan Brown who was a highly rated youngster who we signed from Arsenal has been on trial in Germany in the third division and whilst he was there a higher league club has noticed him and hope to conclude a deal to sign him. Terry Westley is actively looking to loan out a number of players. There could be some big names such as Cullen, Oxford and Howes potentially getting loan moves. The moves have to be to clubs where Westley thinks they will get first team football at a competitive level as he firmly believes this is the best way to develop a young player with Burke, Poyet and Samuelsen being the obvious examples.
We have also finalised the naming rights to the stadium, something that I have reported in previous columns but due to a few disputes still going on with the stadium it cannot be announced just yet. It is said to be very profitable for the club and the last I heard the company involved will come up with some options for the fans to vote on for the new name. Next year's kit has also been designed and it is looking very nice for the new stadium apparently.
We have many exciting projects coming with the site. Please make sure that you also follow our twitter account which will be providing details of all the latest transfers from across the English leagues plus any exclusive news that we can bring about West Ham. I admit now though there may not be very much to report, especially in terms of buys.
It has been a great window for the club and once again our future is very exciting. COYI
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Liverpool vs West Ham FA Cup replay selected by BT Sport for television coverage
17:37, 1 FEB 2016 UPDATED 17:38, 1 FEB 2016
BY JAMES WHALING
The Reds face a trip to the East End with a fifth-round berth up for grabs after the two sides played out 0-0 bore draw at Anfield
The Mirror
Liverpool's FA Cup fourth round replay against West Ham will be televised live on BT Sport. The match, which kicks off at 7.45pm next Tuesday, will decide who progresses to the fifth round to take on Blackburn at Ewood Park. West Ham frustrated Jurgen Klopp's side in the first game at Anfield, as the two sides played out a drab 0-0 draw. The German bemoaned the result and the extra fixture, due to to Liverpool's already hectic schedule. They have reached the Capital One Cup final after a penalty shootout victory over Stoke in midweek, and are preparing to resume their Europa League commitments with a last-32 tie against FC Augsburg. "We had the bigger chances but now we have to play again," Klopp told BT Sport. "West Ham have good quality in their team and play well in the league. We tried everything, you need a bit of luck. "I was pleased with the whole team. Steven Caulker played for the first time in his position in defence and did well but I cannot fault anyone, they tried and gave all. "We played much better than we did at West Ham, but we didn't score so it is not over. "[On any injury news] Not now. I was fully focused on this game. The 10 players we changed had the day off today so hopefully nothing happened to them."
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Sturridge? West Ham halt the madness
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Ridiculous rumours that Daniel Sturridge is a transfer window target for West Ham are total and complete nonsense. The 'story' first emerged in the Brentwood Gazette earlier this month claiming he could be on his way to the Irons next summer. But various media outlets have recycled it with a new spin today claiming he is on the radar for a late Deadline Day bid. But ClaretandHugh can reveal (if it needs revealing at all) the club has no interest whatsoever in returning to Merseyside for striker with ongoing injury problems after the Andy Carroll nightmare. Sturridge has only played 106 minutes for Liverpool since Jurgen Klopp became manager on October 9 and has not been sighted since the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 6, when he damaged his hamstring. So the idea that David Sullivan, particularly given his outspoken comments on AC and Charlie Austen in the past could be tempted, would be entirely out of character at best and entirely ludicrous at worst. We were told few minutes ago: "We know everything gets blown out of proportion on Deadline Day but the idea of going in for Sturridge given our past experiences beats all."
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The £1.3m pound striker gamble
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H
So we finally got our man, Mr Emmanuel Emenike, although it feels like an anti climax this morning. We reportedly paid a £760,000 loan fee together his wages thought to be £36,000 per week plus a £9,500 per match appearance bonus. With 15 weeks of the season remaining that's an investment of £540,000 in wages even if he doesn't play which is £1.3m in total.
David Gold has confirmed on twitter that Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho should all be fit enough to play some part in the Liverpool FA Cup replay on Tuesday 9th February which asks the important question when exactly is Emenike going to play?
He was not registered in time to be available for the Aston Villa match tomorrow night because he lacked International clearance and so the Southampton away game on Saturday might be his only real opportunity to impress. He is ineligible for the FA Cup replay the following Tuesday.
Let's just hope he doesn't just feature in only one game! At £1.3m for one match he would rival Kieron Dyer for value for money in a West Ham shirt.
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Emmanuel Emenike will miss Villa clash
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
New West Ham signing Emmanuel Emenike will miss Tuesday night's game with Aston Villa under the Boleyn Ground lights after it was not possible to register him before the 12pm deadline today.
The 28-year-old Nigerian has yet to receive international clearance and until then the player can not be registered.
Like many, Claret and Hugh had assumed the match fit striker would go straight into the squad tomorrow and looked certain to play some part of tomorrow's Premier League clash but that is not the case.
A source close to the club said "We never said he would be eligible to play on Tuesday night, we need to get his international clearance sorted first. We will clarify on WHUFC.com later"
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Bilic has done homework on loan signing
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Slaven Bilic has dubbed Emanuelle Emenike "a good goalscorer and he will work well for the team and run the channels."
And on the basis of that it seems the Nigerian is more in the Diafra Sakho mould than Andy Carroll both of home are expected back within the next 10 days.
Sak has changed his game under Slav to run the channels and move defenders around which creates space for the likes of Dimi Payt and Manu Lanzini. Bilic has had plenty of time to do his homework on a player of whom he became aware via the Russian and Turkish Leagues so despite some of us knowing anything much about the front man the "Trust Slav" slogan must be kept firmly in mind! And the manager – explaining he was signed following Mauro Zarate's departure and the likliehood of Jelavic noving to China – added: " "We needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar. "I have known him for a long time and he's a great player and I hope that he is going to do a great job for us. He is not that tall, but he is big, he is strong and he is extremely quick and he is really direct. Bilic,confirmed the club's business was now done saying: "We won't be busy on Deadline Day. We are finished. That's it – in and out."
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West Ham fan attacked in Liverpool
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
James Tomkins was not the only person to leave Liverpool with a sore head, West Ham fan, Shaun Manning was one of the 3,000 strong away army supporting his team at Anfield but he left the city with a bandaged head.
Tweeting a photo his blood stained shirt and bandaged head he said "Go to watch West Ham in Liverpool and ended up getting hit with a brick 5 times but still going strong"
Shaun explained he was in the city centre after the match when some man started hitting him with a brick several times in an unprovoked attack.
Shaun told Claret Hugh's associate editor "We was in the town centre and some guy was started on every one that walked past him so we told him to shut up and go away, he then carried on spat at my mate and punched him and then run of up the road come back down with a brick and went for me. He hit me five times in the head as we was kinda fighting and went to the floor then got split up and then come back down with a pole and assaulted me again I got stitches and glue in my head were there was like five big cuts"
Shaun had earlier told his twitter followers that the police arrested his attacker and he doesn't believe the attack was football related saying: "The police got him and arrested him that night. It wasn't football violence! I got on with the fans in the fans in the pub"
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A MONTH WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM
By Benjamin Cronin 1 Feb 2016 at 22:00
WTID
Embed from Getty Images
I don't think I'm the only person that feels like this month has flown by. I've barely had time to digest my Christmas dinner and the January transfer window is about to close. I guess that means it's the perfect time to reflect on what has been another interesting few weeks in the life of a West Ham fan. This period is usually spent trying to decipher which of the countless transfer rumours have a thread of credibility about them, yet for once, we haven't been linked with every player under the sun and it's been a relatively quiet month where we can just enjoy the football.
While there hasn't been much to speak of in terms of comings and goings, the action and talking points have occurred where they should do, on the pitch. The start of the year got off to a flyer as we managed to complete the double over Liverpool for the first time in 52 years with a rather convincing 2-0 win. Next up was a scrappy FA Cup third round tie against Wolves that may not have produced the impressive display we saw the previous week, but the outcome was still the same and that was really all that mattered. The decent run of form continued into the mid-week fixture against Bournemouth where a second half comeback, inspired by a delightful Dimitri Payet free-kick (we'll forget about the tiny deflection) saw another three points added to our tally for the season. The moment the pessimists were waiting for came halfway through the month in an away fixture against Newcastle, with a lacklustre performance bringing an end to a ten game unbeaten run. The final Premier League fixture in January epitomised our season, a 2-2 draw against Manchester City that would have previously been seen a massive triumph but this year, felt like a major disappointment.
Our most recent fixture is one that I wouldn't like to dwell on for too long but is one that proved a point many have been making this season, the fact that we are a team that is incredibly hard to beat. Apart from a dominant opening twenty minutes in terms of possession and a few openings late on (and of course a couple of stonewall penalty claims), Liverpool had by far the better chances and thanks to the new fan favourite, Darren Randolph, we earned a fourth round replay at Upton Park. Given our level of consistency in performances this season, we perhaps should have taken advantage of an inexperienced Liverpool side but we can take confidence into the reverse fixture and hopefully be in the next round to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Whilst many fans will be glued to Sky Sports News this evening, hoping for that unexpected late night deal that brings a world-class to their club, we have been afforded the luxury of focusing on tomorrow night's fixture against the Premier League's bottom side, Aston Villa. It is most certainly a game we can't take for granted, and one I'm sure Slaven Bilic won't allow the players to either. It seems strange but the worry I have when coming up against a side who it would seem can't buy a win, is that they must be due one soon. I sincerely hope and to a point, expect, Villa don't eke out only their third win of the season at The Boleyn Ground. Failing to win against a side who sit ten points off safety, fresh from a 4-0 drubbing at the weekend, would really be a hard one to take. It's one game that may not have the biggest impact in terms of our position in the table, but one that should be used to cement our position and put pressure on the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham.
The old adage goes 'we'll take one game at a time', so without looking too far ahead, just a quick word on our FA Cup replay against Liverpool. Taking place next Tuesday (9th February) and, as expected, being shown live on BT Sport, it offers a great opportunity to progress and maintain hope of winning a trophy this season. More often than not, our performances this season have been a joy to watch and it feels like a great time to be a Hammer. What an end it would be to the Boleyn Ground era to win the FA Cup in our final season there, whilst having our best season in recent years along the way. It may be considered a bit greedy but there's no reason why our league form can't be transferred into a cup competition and with a few bits of luck along the way (and a couple of kind draws), if we manage to progress into the next round, we really do have a solid chance of getting our hands on some silverware.
Embed from Getty Images
It's refreshing to have a relatively quiet month on the transfer front. There is some level of enjoyment and excitement with all the gossip that goes around but if you're linked with players every day of the week, it usually means something isn't right with the squad. We've made a couple of decent acquisitions this month, without shelling out the silly amounts of money that appears to be the norm nowadays. Sam Byram is a player of real potential and someone who has had plenty game time to gain experience in The Championship over the last few seasons. The 22-year-old Englishman seems quite adaptable in terms of the position he plays but will most likely be utilised at right-back, he is certainly a player that I can see being a regular in the starting XI before the end of the season. Emmanuel Emenike is a harder one to call. The Nigerian international comes to our club with a bit of a mixed reputation. Apparently known to cause a stir in the dressing room, if there is any sort of attitude issues, Bilic is the man you'd want to have a crack at getting it under control. At first glance he's a bit of a powerhouse who can certainly finish, with a ratio of a goal in just over every two games. I'll play it safe and hold out before passing judgement on the 'complicated' loan deal (slight confusion over our option to buy at the end of the season, despite it being announced on the official website) but I have faith in Bilic and so should everyone else given his track record with signings thus far.
All in all, it's been a quiet, yet pleasing start to the new year for the club from my perspective. We might have our own opinions on certain players we could have, or maybe should have, brought in but unfortunately, we don't really have that much of a say. We've strengthened where we've needed to and if we manage to start February in the same fashion we started January, there won't be much to complain about. Until then, let's just seen what happens.
COYI!
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Slaven Bilic excited by new West Ham signing Emmanuel Emenike
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 01/02/16 10:35am
SSN
Slaven Bilic says his latest signing Emmanuel Emenike is a strong, quick, direct goal scorer and stated there will be no more deals at West Ham. West Ham manager Slaven Bilic believes new signing Emmanuel Emenike's versatility will be a big asset for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old striker has joined from Turkish side Fenerbahce until the summer when West Ham will have the option of making the deal permanent. Emenike played in Russia and Turkey when Bilic was managing other clubs in the same leagues and he has long been an admirer of the Nigerian forward. Bilic admitted Nikica Jelavic may be allowed to leave the club if the right offer comes in and, with Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll out with thigh and hamstring injuries respectively, he was keen to bolster his striking options. "We got the deal done and we are happy of course and he is happy," Bilic said. "We wanted it because Mauro Zarate left as you know to Fiorentina and there is a possibility that Jelavic will go. "With a couple of strikers injured still - hopefully they will be back very soon - we just needed a player who can play in three positions up front. "Emenike has been on our radar and I know him for a long time. He is a great player and I hope he is going to do a great job for us. "He is big. He is not that tall but he is big and strong. He is extremely quick and he is very direct. He is a good goal scorer and he works for the team. He goes in the channels. He is a really good player." When asked if West Ham planned to do any more business before the window closes, Bilic said: "No. That's it, it is finished... I think."
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Slaven Bilic warns West Ham of Aston Villa danger following poor display in Liverpool FA Cup tie
22:30, 1 FEB 2016
BY DAVID MADDOCK
The Irons are expected to beat the bottom side at home on Tuesday but their boss is worried because Remi Garde's men are starting to pick up points
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has warned his West Ham team that complacency could scupper their European hopes. The Irons are expected to beat rock-bottom Aston Villa with ease on Tuesday night and take a step closer to the top four. But, despite a run of just one defeat in 12 games, boss Bilic still had strong words for his sixth-placed team after a poor display in the FA Cup against a Liverpool second-string side on Saturday night. He said: "Villa are struggling, and on the one hand we should be confident because of our run. "But on the other, it's the Premier League, and if you go into a game five per cent less than the red zone then your chances are reduced not by five per cent, but by 55 per cent. "In this league every team is well organised. Villa have struggled, but they have improved a lot and they are picking up points now. "So, we have to show the right attitude. Not only that, but if we play like we did against Liverpool we will have to be lucky to win."
The Midlands side are 10 points adrift of safety and Villa chief Garde said: "One or two new players would have been helpful, but we still need to believe. "I have a strength inside of me. I will cope with every situation I have to. I am proud to manage this club."
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Byram suffers slight knock
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Sam Byram has suffered a slight knock and will not start tomorrow David Gold has confirmed on twitter tonight. Asked whether Byram would start against Villa tomorrow Gold "Sadly, No. Small injury. dg"
However, Gold did have some good news saying that Tomkins was included in the squad and Kouyate had a 50% chance of making the squad. Gold posted "Hard to believe but James Tomkins is in the squad for tomorrow's game against Aston Villa after receiving 13 stitches in his forehead. dg" On Kouyate he said "He's 50/50 but I'm hopeful he will make it. dg"
He also confirmed Reece Oxford will be tomorrow's squad by tweeting "I don't know if he will play tomorrow but he's in the squad. (Reece Oxford) dg"
To signal the end of the January transfer window Gold confirmed it was now safe to go to bed "Our press officer Paul Stringer has just rung me to say that our club secretary is about to leave. So I assume it's safe 'to go to bed'. dg"
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Emenike may get chance as AC/Sakho head back
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Emanuelle Emenike may not have been entirely impressed by the timing of a David Gold tweet as he signed on the dotted loan for his Hammers loan deal. The 28 year old – coming in for the soon to be gone Nikica Jelavic – was probably unintentionally reminded of his place in the strikers pecking order soon after signing by the so chairman. For DG was keen to explain to followers that both Andy Carroll and No 1 striker Diafra Sakho will be back and ready to stake their claims within the next 10 days. It could of course be that that Emenike may get some game time as the two come back to full fitness but clearly the duo are seen as the pair to reclaim their places up front. Despite that the Nigerian could easily get an early chance to impress as with neither fit for Tuesday night's game against Villa, an opportunity may be beckoning. "We were told: "Unlike many of these winter loan signings, he's been playing regularly and is fit and ready to go if required."
DG had tweeted in the meantime: "Shortly after the window closes we will see the return of Andy, Manuel and Diafra. All could play some part in the Liverpool game. dg" And a top source has told ClaretandHugh several times over past days as the deal stalled and stuttered: "This signing is a safety net against injury with Jelavic leaving. His deal in China looks done and dusted before the start of their season in February. "We are committed to spending between £20- £25 million on a top striker in the summer but we will take a good look at Emanuelle when the opportunity arises between now and the end of the season and then make a decision on whether we make him permanent."
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"Half of Europe" chasing top Irons target
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are fully aware that they have competition "right across Europe" for the top Marseilles striker Michy Batshuayi. Whilst the loan arrival of Emanuelle Emenike has been preoccupying the Hammers headlines, the real hard work has been concentrated on Batshuayi during January. We were told early in the window that with things being very quiet most concentration would be on lining up the main summer signing – that 20 goal striker who has eluded us for so many years. With relationships good with the French club from the signing of Dimitri Payet, the Irons have been in conversations over the last two or three weeks. But it's been clear for some time that clubs right across Europe are into the player who has so far managed 21 goals in 26 games for Marseille. We were told: "It's well known that he loves playing with Payet and has made his appreciation of the player very clear. You look for every edge you can get. "But it's already very clear that half of Europe want the lad and it will be a very tough fight."
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Ticket office struggles under Liverpool demand
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham's ticket office hotline and website is struggling under heavy demand this morning as fans scramble for tickets for the FA Cup replay against Liverpool on Tuesday 9th February.
It appears Liverpool have been given the whole of the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower and Upper stands which have 5,900 seats so Season Ticket Holders in those stands will need to relocate to other parts of the stadium. Season ticket holders wanting to choose their seats online are being greeted by a message on the website saying you are in a queue but they are able to get in to the website after a wait of about ten minutes when Claret and Hugh tried this morning. Callers to the 10p per minute telephone hotline are less fortunate and when we tried to call this morning around 9.45am we were placed as Number 64 in the queue with an estimated wait time of 33 minutes! Tickets have been priced for Season Ticket Holders at £20 for Adults, £10 for Over-65s and Under-21s £10 and £5 for the Under-16s. Non-Season Ticket Holders will pay £25 for Adults, £15 for Over-65s and Under-21s £15 and £10 for Under-16s. Members will get a chance to buy tickets on Wednesday 3rd February and it will go on General Sale on Thursday 4th February if any seats remain by then. Many areas of the Boleyn Ground have already sold out for the Tuesday game and there remains limited availability in the remaining sections of the ground this morning.
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Sullivan confirms option to buy Emenike
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan believes loan signing Emmanuel Emenike will bring a new pace and power element to the Irons attack. And he spurned suggestions there is no option to buy the player at the end of the season confirming ClaretandHugh's reports declaring: "I am delighted to welcome Emmanuel Emenike to the club. We hope he will bring goals and we have an option to sign him at the end of the season." Speaking to the official site DS explained: "Our manager knows him from Turkey and Russia and says he is a very good player. He is very fast and you can never have enough goals or pace in any team. "It took two weeks of tortuous negotiations and hard work by myself and our club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the player to the club. It was one of the most difficult deals we have ever done as we were dealing with two clubs not one. "I would publicly like to thank Andrew, as he really is an unsung hero of the club, for all his hard work on this transfer, all the other transfers we have done in the last few years and the dozens we tried to do and failed with."
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Aston Villa, Swansea and Bournemouth consider bid for former Manchester United prodigy Ravel Morrison
Ex-Manchester United man Ravel Morrison could leave Serie A side Lazio
Morrison swapped east London for Rome last season on a free transfer
However, Morrison has only featured six times for the club since his move
Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Swansea are all considering a deal for him
Follow all the latest transfer deadline day news here
By LAURIE WHITWELL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 10:55, 1 February 2016 | UPDATED: 11:02, 1 February 2016
Ravel Morrison is potentially on the move from Lazio. The former Manchester United prodigy and West Ham player is on the market and being considered by Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Swansea, Torino and Sampdoria. Morrison, who turns 23 on February 2, has been offered to clubs after making only six appearances for Lazio this season. He moved to Italy last summer after leaving West Ham on a free following a loan spell at Cardiff of only seven games. He has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him in early days at Old Trafford, or the dazzling form he showed under Sam Allardyce at the start of the 2013-14 season - but managers in need of a creative spark may take the gamble. Lazio manger Stefano Pioli is open to letting Morrison go and the player himself suggested a departure by posting a message on Twitter that read: 'January...' The chance of a Premier League return depends on whether Villa, Bournemouth or Swansea believe his potential can be extracted.
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West Ham transfer news: Slaven Bilic admits there is a 'possibility' Nikica Jelavic could leave the Hammers today
SAM LONG 10 minutes ago0 comments
Evening Standard
Slaven Bilic has admitted there is a 'possibility' Nikica Jelavic could leave West Ham on transfer deadline day. The 30-year-old joined the Hammers from Hull City as recently as last summer but has struggled for regular football in recent months. The striker has started just one Premier League game this season and is set to slip even further down the east Londoners' pecking order after Emmanuel Emenike's arrival on loan. Bilic has confirmed he completed a deal for the Nigerian not only to provide cover for the injured members of his front line but also in preparation for Jelavic's potential departure. "We got the deal done and we are happy - of course," he told Sky Sports News. "We wanted him because [Mauro] Zarate left to Fiorentina and there is a possibility [Nikica] Jelavic will go. "With a couple of strikers injured still - hopefully they will be back very soon - we just needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar. "I have known him for a long time. He's a great player and I hope he can do a good job for us."
Emenike, who has won 37 caps for the Super Eagles, arrives from Turkish club Fenerbahce and West Ham have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer. Bilic, meanwhile, expects the forward to be the last player to arrive at Upton Park during the current transfer window. When asked whether he expected to be busy for the remainder of the day the Croatian manager replied: "No. That's it. It's finished."
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Striker: What I think of former rival Slaven Bilic after done deal
NIGERIA striker Emmanuel Emenike says the opportunity to finally work with manager Slaven Bilic rather than against him convinced him to join West Ham.
By JOE SHORT
PUBLISHED: 08:52, Mon, Feb 1, 2016 | UPDATED: 09:04, Mon, Feb 1, 2016
Express.co.uk
Emenike, 28, has agreed a loan move at the Hammers from Turkish club Fenerbahce until the end of the season. He has the chance to make it a permanent move in the summer, when West Ham will be preparing to move into the Olympic Stadium. Emenike has twice played against rival teams managed by Bilic, in Moscow and in Istanbul. And the 6ft forward explained to West Ham TV why he decided to move to the Premier League. "I'm very, very happy and very, very excited that I'm here," Emenike said. "I have always known West Ham as a great club. I've always been watching them. "West Ham's a great club and I'm happy to be here. "I've known him [Bilic] for years. When he was at Lokomotiv Moscow, I was at Spartak Moscow, then he came to Besiktas and I was in Fenerbahce, so we've known each other for a long time. I'm happy to be here and happy to play for him. "We've followed each other's careers and thank God we are here today and we are here together." Emenike has replaced Mauro Zarate at Upton Park, while he will also provide cover for Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho.
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Emmanuel Emenike explains what he will bring to West Ham after loan switch
London 24
07:48 01 February 2016
West Ham have confirmed the signing of Nigeria centre-forward Emmanuel Emenike on loan for the rest of the season from Fenerbahce. 0 The 28-year-old hopes to have an instant impact for Slaven Bilic's squad, having known the Irons manager from his spells coaching in Russia and Turkey. "I have always known West Ham as a great club. I have always been watching them. West Ham's a great club and I am very, very happy and very, very excited that I am here," Emenike told West Ham TV. "I've known him (Bilic) for years. When he was at Lokomotiv Moscow, I was at Spartak Moscow, then he came to Besiktas and I was in Fenerbahce, so we have known each other for a long time. I'm happy to be here and happy to play for him. "We have followed each other's careers and thank God we are here today and we are here together." Emenike added: "That is why I am here, to always be in the first XI, always try to make the fans happy and to make myself happy. I really hope it works out. "The Premier League is the best in the world, it is everyone's dream to come and play here. I am excited to be here. "But it is not always just about the player, it is team work and it is all about us as a team. I am here to play with the team and work with the team." Emenike, capped 37 times by the Super Eagles, spent part of this season on a loan spell at Arabian Gulf League side Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The Hammers have the option to make the transfer permanent in the summer, and the forward will provide some welcome attacking options for Bilic with Andy Carroll currently sidelined again by injury.
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Why West Ham have already won the transfer window after signing Sam Byram and Emmanuel Emenike
Julian Shea for Metro.co.uk
Monday 1 Feb 2016 8:35 am
To buy or not to buy, that is the transfer window question – but if you are West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, the answer is neither; borrow instead. The last few hours before the closing of the window can resemble a Christmas Eve afternoon trolley dash, with clubs who have failed to plan ahead grabbing whatever they can off the shelves, regardless of quality, whilst more organised shoppers go in armed with a list of exactly what they want and how much they have to spend, and generally faring better.
Mercifully, Irons fans find their manager in the latter camp. With his biggest problem at the start of January – a right back – solved by the purchase of Sam Byram from Leeds (a piece of business which is now all the more commendable given Carl Jenkinson's serious injury and James Tomkins's new penchant for picking up facial injuries), the only place where Bilic's squad could be improved was up front. And rather handily, he has done just that.
With Enner Valencia newly fit and in in form, and Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini all approaching a return to fitness, arguably the Irons did not really have to be active in this transfer window, but given the extremely promising position in which they find themselves – sixth in the table, still in the FA Cup, and with a favourable run of fixtures in February to consolidate things – Bilic has decided to go for it by bulking up his options up front.
Attack, it would appear, is the best form of attack – and after years of watching West Ham teams with an approach of concentrating on avoiding defeat, and regarding anything else as a bonus, this is a wonderfully refreshing approach. So welcome to the club, on loan, Emmanuel Emenike.
Although someone with no experience in England, the Nigerian comes to Upton Park having proven himself in plenty of other demanding arenas, including the World Cup, Champions League and Russian and Turkish domestic leagues, both during times when Bilic was coaching in the same competitions, so he is clearly something of a known quantity to the manager, if not to West Ham fans.
All of these achievements explain why, although names like Demba Ba, Galtasarary's Burak Yilmaz and – rather bizarrely – Sunderland's Steven Fletcher were in the mix at various times, Bilic has had his sights on his man for some time, and has managed to complete the deal safely in advance of the deadline.
On Monday, other teams and managers may scrabble through the bargain bins and the shelves of over-priced but unsold players, throwing their money around as the potentially season-deciding seconds tick away.
West Ham fans, on the other hand, can sit back with a degree of satisfaction and enjoyment and be happy with the improvements that their manager has managed to make to the side. Byram at the back, and now Emenike at the front. What West Ham needed is exactly what they have got. The ideal transfer window upgrade.
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REPORT FROM THE SUPPORTERS' ADVISORY BOARD
By Iain Dale 31 Jan 2016 at 22:53
WTID
Safe Hands reports from the Supporters Advisory Board
Embed from Getty Images
Despite having an agenda for this meeting, we didn't get anywhere near it as the Q&As took up all the time so they've been scheduled for the next meeting (which will be sooner rather than later). Karren Brady was due to do an introduction but unfortunately she had to leave early on club business to get to City airport – despite our questions of where she was headed, they repeated 'on club business' … I'll leave you to fill in the blanks :)
I haven't put the full detail of each discussion as this would be a very long article so I've summarised and hopefully included the salient points:
Olympic Stadium
• When asked about the ground sharing, the response was that no ground sharing has been proposed – the club's needs must come first and it's not practicable for another PL club to share it with us.
• Travel to the ground – the club will publish all this info idc but they have discussed travel discounts with railway companies but it's proving hard to pin them down especially if they're about to reapply for their franchise. FYI Westfields are building another car park.
• The club were asked about the travel and access for disabled fans and those with mobility issues/infirmities. Cohesive information will be released idc but here's a few snippets: there will be 50 disabled car parking spaces (20 at the Boleyn); 253 wheelchair spaces in the OS; large passenger lifts; a recent BBC accessibility survey to stadia says it will be 2nd best in the country.
• West Ham take over the occupancy of the ground on 26 June.
• Naming rights – it hasn't been agreed as yet but it will be announced idc by E20/LLDC.
• Delaware North will be the caterers and the prices won't be as inflated as during recent events. The food concession stands will open earlier although they won't necessarily be open the whole time the game is on as people will then be getting up and shuffling along the seated fans to get out. Food will be available after the game if there's the demand.
• Champions Place stones will be laid in June and those that were purchased together will be laid together. The statue will also move there and something will be put in its place in the area. However, it may not be at the same location as Newham are thinking of changing that road junction.
• Concerns were raised about standing. As the OS is a 'family stadium' there are no family sections, so there will be children everywhere and people who don't stand could be mixed with those that usually do. Standing is not permitted and it'll be for people to ask other supporters to sit down and/or the stewards to be involved.
• The club are speaking to the sponsors about what can be done outside the stadium in the QE Park – Aston Villa were mentioned as they do a lot for kids before the game.
Ticketing
• Priority points will stay the same, ie 1 point for every away game attended.
• Nothing will happen to the current phone or online ticketing system this season. There will be a new system next season and you will be able to view things such as priority points and credits online.
Other points
• There are lots of groups represented at the SAB, and newly represented is Pride of Irons. It's a LGBT group founded a year ago (we had someone from it who wrote an article on here) and they'll be a point of contact for assisting the club with national initiatives as well as supporting them on issues that may arise. For information, you can search for them on Facebook or you can look at their Twitter account @PrideofIrons.
• Support was requested for the club to consider what can be done to help fans with autism. The club reported that they have had meetings with the National Autistic Society to see what can be done now and at the OS.
• The First Team and Academy will swap training grounds at the end of the season – Little Heath will not change.
• The Academy: the club are planning for growth and they hope to get Terry Westley to the next SAB; the latest the matches can kick off is 19.00 due to the players' age; the remainder of their games will not move to the Boleyn so as to protect the pitch.
• They will investigate why there aren't as many female security guards at the turnstiles.
• The last game – the club have had discussions with the PL and Sky so they know where we stand. However, if we or Man U progress in the FA Cup, that game could be moved which may result in that one being the last game at the Boleyn.
• The official site has audio commentary for all the games … except the recent Wolves game as the provider's systems failed which affected not only us but other clubs.
• Matchday programme is available online from 9 am on the day of the match but it will now be available from midnight if not earlier.
• There's to be a review of what's shown on the coaches as there's a limit to how many Only Fools and Horses you can watch!
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Sam Byram: West Ham boss Slaven Bilic did his homework - it was as if he had studied me
INTERVIEW - Sam Byram signed for West Ham instead of Everton because of Slaven Bilic's eye for detail, he tells Jason Burt
Jason Burt By Jason Burt6:48PM GMT 31 Jan 2016
Telegraph.co.uk
It has been a blur for Sam Byram but the moment when he decided to sign for West Ham United was a point of stillness in that "whirlwind". It came after the West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, sat him down and analysed the way Byram played in almost forensic detail. "It was as if he had studied me and knew exactly what I was good at and what I could improve on," Byram said.
"I just liked the way he spoke, the way he spoke about the club and how he did things. That was the feeling I got. He had really done his homework on me with a real attention to detail – the number of games he had watched that I had played in, the areas where I could improve. It made me feel that under him I was going to get better."
The 22-year-old chose West Ham over Everton – he even met manager Roberto Martínez to discuss personal terms after a £3.7 million fee was agreed – but, he revealed, there were also other Premier League clubs interested when Leeds United decided to sell in the January transfer window with Byram's contract up in the summer.
"It was the biggest decision I have had to make in my life up until now," Byram said. "There were a few sleepless nights thinking about the different things but when it came down to it and I had spoken to the manager and with what he said and with the new stadium, then I had to choose here."
West Ham's move to the 54,000-seat Olympic Stadium at Stratford was indeed a factor for Byram and may become a significant bargaining chip for the ambitious club when it comes to acquiring other players; as is the presence of Bilic and the style of football he wants. Plus, Byram says, Aaron Cresswell.
"Obviously he [Cresswell] came from the Championship [signed for £2 million from Ipswich Town in July 2014] and has done unbelievably well. So to see that pathway from there to the first team and into the Premier League gives me confidence," Byram said during this, his first, newspaper interview since the move.
West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium played a big part in Byram's decision
"The Olympic Stadium is a huge factor as well – the thought of playing in front of so many fans in an iconic stadium in London. I already knew about it but they said it's going to be an unbelievable time to play for the club and in front of so many people. So it was a factor but, to be honest, it really came down to the football side of things. That was the major point – the style of football, the way I can get better, the chance of fighting for my place.
"We are sixth in the table and there is the chance of Europa League or even Champions League football. And the squad are doing unbelievably well. Everything about it is moving in the right direction."
Bilic said Byram was bought for the future. The full-back made the bench for West Ham's home fixture against Manchester City but was soon in the team with Carl Jenkinson injured. Jenkinson has now returned to Arsenal, having sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury, and is out for the rest of the season. So an immediate opportunity has opened up for Byram, who was cup-tied for the FA Cup fixture at Liverpool on Saturday, having played for Leeds in the third round, but is hoping to start against Aston Villa on Tuesday.
First that debut. "It's probably been one of the best weeks of my life – from joining the club to getting my Premier League debut. It's been a whirlwind," Byram says. "I think I did all right given the circumstances. I had not trained a lot because of the transfer and then to come on against one of the best teams in the league…"
Byram made his Hammers' debut against Man City
Byram cramped up badly near the end: "I was hobbling. I think it was a combination of the occasion, a few nerves, taking its toll physically because I normally run a lot further than I did in that game."
Was it any different? "I think on the ball it almost felt a bit easier. Just in terms of the movement of the players, you've got a lot more options, the way you can pass the ball. The main difference was when they [City] had the ball around our box, then the pace at which they move it, the one-twos, that was a big difference compared to the Championship."
Despite his delight at the move it was a wrench to leave Leeds, who Byram had joined aged 10. "It's a huge club with a massive fan-base. You see it every away day with the number of fans they take. The training ground, the stadium, everything about it is a big club.
"But I am 23 this year. You see young players getting their chance in the Premier League and that is my dream also and I was given the chance to come and fight for a place at West Ham and it was something that I could not turn down. It was definitely the right time for me to move."
And, in a sense, move back home, also. Byram, with a distinctive Yorkshire accent, is actually from Essex. He was born in Thurrock and lived there for the first two years of his life. "My dad then got a job in York, in a bank, so we moved up north and I have been there ever since.
"My mum's side of the family live in Eltham [south-east London]– my uncle, auntie and three cousins. They are all big West Ham fans and are season-ticket holders. It didn't influence my decision because it was really all about the football but it was an added bonus."
Despite his talent and versatility, and despite the fact a number of Premier League clubs have been tracking him, Byram has not yet represented England at any level. "I was meant to go to the under-20 World Cup [in 2013] and went to the training camp but had to pull out because of an injury, which I was gutted about. Since then I think there have been players in my position who are already in the Premier League and who are then naturally going to get picked over someone in the Championship. But I am working hard and it [playing for England] is another goal. It's something I want to achieve..
"There's Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard who have proved that if you get a few good games in the Premier League and do well for your club, then you can have a shot at being called up."
That, Byram hopes, is for the future. "I am just very proud at how far I have come," he says, having signed a 4½-year contract at West Ham. From being in the academy at Leeds, putting an unbelievable amount of hard work in, to get to where I am today. I am just glad it is starting to pay off."
Sam Byram is a part-time trader on eToro, the world's leading social trading network. As an Official Partner of West Ham Utd, Byram is donating the money to The Moore Family Foundation at the end of the season. www.eToro.com
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic had nothing but praise for Darren Randolph after he earned a man of the match display to help the Hammers earn a replay against Liverpool in the Emirates FA Cup tie at Anfield.
Randolph has been forced to wait patiently for his chance but he showed everyone his quality once again with a number of fine blocks – including a superb triple save in the second half.
Adrian flew back to Spain to be with his wife ahead of the birth of their first baby, but the Hammers boss confirmed that Randolph was always going to start the game and will be the Hammers keeper in the FA Cup this season. Bilic said: "Darren was supposed to start anyway and it was not because Adrian went back to Spain. We wish his wife well. "Darren was in goal against Wolves and he is going to play in the cup because he is a great goalkeeper and he deserves to have his games. "He has never let us down and every day he shows in training what he can do. It was a great triple save in the second half but every time he did well for us."
Bilic had nothing but praise for his players after they managed to keep another clean sheet at Anfield and is already looking forward to the replay which takes place at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 9 February. Bilic added: "We got a draw and kept a clean sheet. We had good defending and we deserved a replay. "It is not ideal because nobody wants a replay at this stage of the season but we can live with one. "It is going to be another great football night with an FA Cup replay at the Boleyn Ground and we are going to try and knock them out."
The Hammers boss revealed that James Tomkins remains a doubt for the Premier League game against Aston Villa on Tuesday night after he suffered a head injury, but Cheikhou Kouyate should be ready to take his place despite leaving the pitch towards the end of the first half.
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Joint-Chairman thrilled with Emenike signing
WHUFc.com
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan is thrilled to have finally secured the signing of Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike and hopes he will bring plenty of goals to the first-team. Mr Sullivan has worked tirelessly behind the scenes with club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the deal concluded after having to negotiate with both Fenerbahce and Al-Ain where he has been on loan in the United Arab Emirates this season. Emenike arrived at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday and is now hoping to be a big success in the Premier League this season. Mr Sullivan has no doubts he will bring pace and power to the Hammers attack and feels it will be another exciting addition to the squad. He said: "I am delighted to welcome Emmanuel Emenike to the club. "We hope he will bring goals and we have an option to sign him at the end of the season. "Our manager knows him from Turkey & Russia and says he is a very good player. He is very fast and you can never have enough goals or pace in any team. "It took two weeks of tortuous negotiations and hard work by myself and our club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the player to the club. It was one of the most difficult deals we have ever done as we were dealing with two clubs not one. "I would publicly like to thank Andrew, as he really is an unsung hero of the club, for all his hard work on this transfer, all the other transfers we have done in the last few years and the dozens we tried to do and failed with."
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Emmanuel Emenike - Ten Fast Facts
WHUFC.com
Find out more about our latest arrival with ten fast Emmanuel Emenike facts…
- Emmanuel was born in Otuocha, Nigeria on 10 May 1987 and began his career in his homeland with Delta Force.
- His professional career took off when he moved to South Africa in 2008, first playing for MP Black Aces and then Cape Town FC.
- After serving his apprenticeship in Africa, a first taste of European football followed when Karabukspor took him to Turkey.
- A highly productive 2009/10 campaign saw him being named the best foreign player in the Turkish 1.Lig, as he helped Karabukspor win promotion to the top flight.
- He also notched on his Super Lig debut, going on to total 14 goals in 23 appearances that campaign.
- Next stop for Emenike was Russia and Spartak Moscow, where the 5'11 striker spent two years, scoring 24 goals in 51 appearances.
- His continued prolific scoring rate took him back to Turkey, with Fenerbahce splashing out a reported £10.2m to secure his signature in August 2013.
- He tallied 12 goals in his debut season, but was on the move again last summer when he joined Abu Dhabi club Al Ain on loan.
- Internationally, Emenike was a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria and also featured at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
- However, after nine goals in 37 caps, he announced his retirement from the national team in October 2015.
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Joey's thrilled to be back
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien made an emotional return to the pitch following a six-month injury lay-off in Saturday's Emirates FA Cup stalemate at Liverpool. The Irishman had missed virtually the entire season to date with a niggly ankle problem, but came through his Anfield runout unscathed, much to his delight. Now, having marked his comeback he is determined to play his part over the closing part of the campaign. He explained: "It's great to be back on the pitch. It's been a long time since I played in the European games in the summer, and coming to a place like Anfield it what it's all about. "Getting on earlier than I even dreamed off was nice. Over the years I've had some bad times [with injury], and people were saying 'you haven't played in a long time', but I had two-and-a-half years without playing before. "People forget that, but I don't and I take inspiration from that time that I missed back in the day. Six months is nothing really, but it is great to come back. "I hurt my ankle in a practice game against Crystal Palace and thought nothing of it at the time. "It was a lot worse than we thought and it lingered on, but it's over now and playing these games is what you do the rehab for. "We were disappointed not to win on Saturday. Very few times have I come up to Anfield and been disappointed with a draw, but we're looking forward to the replay and hopefully doing the business."
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Bilic welcomes Emenike arrival
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic says new signing Emmanuel Emenike will bolster West Ham United's attacking options. The Nigeria forward became the Hammers second – and expected to be final – capture of the January Transfer Window when he joined on loan from Fenerbahce on Sunday. Bilic knows Emenike well, having previously managed in the same city as the 28-year-old in both Moscow and Istanbul, and expects the No29 to add versatility and firepower to his squad. "We got the deal done and we are happy and of course he is happy too, I suppose!" said the manager. "We wanted him because Mauro Zarate left for Fiorentina and there is a possibility that Nikica Jelavic will go. "We have a couple of strikers injured, who will hopefully be back very soon, but we needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar. "I have known him for a long time and he's a great player and I hope that he is going to do a great job for us."
Emenike spent two seasons in Russia with Spartak Moscow, the second of which saw him come up against Bilic's cross-city rivals Lokomotiv. In summer 2013, both made the switch to Turkey, where Bilic took charge of Besiktas and the forward moved to Fenerbahce, where he scored 12 goals won the Super Lig title in his first season. "He is not that tall, but he is big, he is strong and he is extremely quick and he is really direct, he is a good goalscorer and he will work well for the team and run the channels," said Bilic, who went on to confirm that the Club will not be actively seeking any new signings on Monday. "We won't be busy on Deadline Day. We are finished. That's it – in and out."
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Loan round-up
WHUFC.com
Martin Samuelsen came on at half-time for Peterborough United as Posh secured a replay against Premier League West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. The visitors came back twice from Saido Berahino strikes through Shaquile Coulthirst and Jon Taylor. Samuelsen almost scored himself and bamboozling to Baggies his shot was well saved by Boaz Myhill.
Sam Howes has been recalled from his loan spell at Wealdstone FC after Raphael Spiegel picked up an injury. The England youth international went straight into first team action as he was named on the substitute's bench an Anfield.
Lewis Page played the full 90 minutes as Cambridge United secured a 3-1 win away at Leyton Orient. Page played alongside Orient manager Kevin Nolan in the early rounds of the Hammers' Europa League campaign this season, however it was the youngster who came away with the three points.
A Ben Williamson brace and a Jimmy Spencer goal secured the win which takes the U's to eleventh in League Two.
Jaanai Gordon has joined Irish outfit Sligo Rovers on loan. The forward will join up with his new teammates in time for the start of the League of Ireland season.
Diego Poyet was an unused substitute as the Addicks recorded a much needed win in emphatic style with a 4-1 away victory at Rotherham.
A Simon Makienok brace and goals from Igor Vetokele and Ademola Lookman sealed the three points.
Clarke Bogard and Ross Elsom both started as Tilbury FC drew 0-0 at home with Haringey Borough. Elsom went close to breaking the deadlock with a rasping shot while Brown made a string of saves to earn a clean sheet.
Tim Brown played the full game for Chelmsford City as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Sutton United.
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Ladies beaten in penalty thriller
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies crashed out of the Capital Women's Cup on penalties at the quarter-final stage on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
In the early stages of the game, Avilla Bergin put Spurs ahead with a well taken finish, before Italian forward Romina Pinna equalised for the home side with a rocket of a free-kick.
Neither team could break the deadlock for the remainder of the game, so it took a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner where defender Danni Ritson's spot kick was saved by former Hammer Toni-Anne Wayne before Sydney Hinchcliffe sealed the win for the visitors.
After last weekend's FA Cup second round heroics against Crystal Palace Ladies, manager Marc Nurse made just one forced change to his starting eleven. Midfielder Shirvae Edwards was unavailable for selection, allowing Erika Campesi to return to the Hammers midfield.
A couple of weeks ago the Hammers fell to a different cup defeat away to Tottenham where the score ended 5-0 and Spurs couldn't have been blamed to eyeing up a similar result after just five minutes when Bergin found room inside the penalty box to fire the visitors ahead.
Nurse's side were out to gain victory though and refused to be pushed aside and suffer the same consequences. Pinna, along with new French signing Cindy Ferreira and Whitney Locke were causing the Spurs defence all sorts of problems.
That is where the Hammers' equaliser came from too. After Alexandra Keown fouled Pinna just outside the box, the Italian star stepped up and bent an unstoppable free-kick into the corner of the net past Wayne.
The hosts could have then even pushed themselves ahead on several occasions as the time ticked on towards extra time, but Locke spurned a good opening, whilst Campesi smashed a shot off the crossbar that appeared to bounce over the line before being cleared.
Into extra-time and Nurse's side were the much stronger team and most likely to win it, with Pinna having several chances inside the box but failing to get a meaningful shot off at Wayne's goal.
The referee blew for full time after 120 minutes of pulsating football meaning penalty kicks were needed to decide which team would face Camden Ladies in the semi-finals.
Pinna, captain Katie Bottom, Ferreira, Campesi, Gemma Abela and New Zealand-born Rosie Missen all converted their efforts, before former Palace defender Ritson saw her penalty saved by Wayne, allowing Hinchcliffe to confidently beat Hammers keeper Lauren Picton and secure the victory.
The Ladies return to cup action on Sunday 7 February as they host FA Women's Premier League North side Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the FA Women's Cup third round at AFC Hornchurch, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm.
Ladies: Picton, Ritson, Bottom (c), Wheeler, Sammons, Abela, Missen, Campesi, Pinna, Ferreira, Locke. Subs not used: Kelly, Hinz, Strange, Smith
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Alex back on Song for the Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Alex Song believes he is getting back to his best form and has nothing but praise for the way Slaven Bilic has eased him back into first-team action. Song suffered a frustrating start to the campaign when he was forced to miss the first few months with an ankle injury. But the former Barcelona and Arsenal star has been working hard behind the scenes to regain full fitness and is now starting to show the form which saw him become a fans favourite at the Boleyn Ground last season. Song was outstanding against Manchester City in the last Premier League game and also played his part in another impressive display against Liverpool in the Emirates FA Cup against Liverpool on Saturday.
The Cameroon midfielder is now hoping to maintain his high standards when the Hammers face Aston Villa at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday night and says the club can achieve big things this season.
Song said: "I am very happy to be back in the team. For seven months it was not easy and the team was doing very well. It was hard for the manager to give me time on the pitch. "For me to get back to my level I need to play every game but it was hard for the manager because the other midfielders have been playing so well. "If I want to get back to my level I need to play. I have been given my opportunity in the last two games and I feel I am getting back my levels again. I am very happy with how the manager has managed me and how the team are doing. "We want to achieve something this year. I want to contribute to the team and when the manager needs me I want to give something back. "We can do more this season. At the moment we are doing very well and we just need to take it step by step. We are stronger than what we were last season."
Song is excited by the arrival of new signing Emmanuel Emenike and feels he will add even more quality to the Hammers attack this season.
The 28-year-old played against the Nigeria international in the Champions League when he was at Barcelona and can still remember the tough challenge he faced at the Nou Camp. Song added: "I played against him three-years ago when I was playing centre-back for Barcelona. He was so strong and I was asking 'who is this guy'. He was so strong. "It is great for us to have a player like this and I am very happy that he has signed for the club and can help us achieve what we want this season. "He is very strong and very quick and it is good to have players like him who can make a difference."
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Phillips delighted with Academy win
WHUFC.com
Under-18s coach Mark Phillips was delighted with both the performance and result after the Academy secured a 2-1 win over Swansea City at Little Heath on Saturday.
Swans striker Brandon Griffiths put the visitors ahead early in the game, before former Chelsea winger Danny Kemp fired the hosts level from the penalty spot after Idris Kanu was tripped in the box.
For the second week in a row, Jahmal Hector-Ingram struck the winner in the second half, securing a pleasing result for the Hammers youth coach.
"I was delighted with the first half and thought it was one of our best 45 minute performances of the season, even though we was behind for a little while," admitted Phillips. "We passed the ball really well into midfield, through the midfield and into the final third but strangely, we weren't creating as many opportunities as you'd expect from a performance like that.
"Swansea seemed to sit really deep in the first half and they allowed us to control possession and play our game in the midfield, whereas after a telling off at half time from their coach, they came out and pushed us back a bit more, which then opened up pockets in behind their defence that we could try to play into.
"In the second half, we had around four clear-cut opportunities to score where you're wondering if it's ever going to go in, but Jahmal popped up with the winning goal for the second week in a row and we are pleased with the three points and the performance.
Since the Academy opened 2016 with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Reading, they have now secured three important 2-1 home victories over Aston Villa, Southampton and Swansea.
Phillips admitted that the Reading game was a bad day at the office and explained how they have turned their fortunes around in recent weeks.
"It was a bad day at the office where nothing went right for us," continued Phillips. "That's not me making an excuse for our performance because we didn't play well and didn't deserve to win that day.
"Steve [Potts] and I looked back at that game on DVD with the boys and analysed where we went wrong and worked on those areas ahead of the three home games.
"In hindsight, it might've been the wake up call that we needed, although we obviously didn't intentionally lose that game. We've come out of it really well though and the boys worked hard to win the next three games 2-1.
"I'm proud with the way that the boys recovered mentally from that defeat and turned their fortunes round themselves, especially because the game that followed the Reading defeat was against Aston Villa who are a very tough and competitive team.
"I was really disappointed in our performance in the first half against Southampton the following week, but then equally delighted with out first half performance against Swansea.
"At the end of the day, it's ups and downs that you get in Under-18 football and the boys will learn more from the game when they experience the highs and lows."
Phillips and the Academy head south to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday morning as they end their regular season with another tough fixture, hoping that if they come away with the win and other teams drop points in their remaining games, the Hammers could still sneak into the top four play-off group in the end-of-season phase.
"It's obviously still a possibility, but we need to make it four wins out of four games first because that will give us 37 points and after looking at the table, we'd need others to slip up to help us out," he added.
"Chelsea are the team most likely of winning the league, whilst Reading already cannot be caught as they are already on 41 points and Fulham should pass our 37 point total with the games they've got left too.
"It looks like that fourth spot is still open though and we may need Villa or Arsenal to slip up in their remaining games, but more importantly, we need to concentrate on ending the season with three points at Brighton.
The match against the Seagulls kicks-off on Saturday 6 February at 11am, with live updates available through the club's official channels.
Under-18s: Matrevics, Eggleton, Rice, Akinola, Borg, Carter (c), Lewis (Sylvestre), Diangana, Kanu, Kemp, Hector-Ingram. Subs not used: Henry, Hammam, Leonard, Coventry
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Hammers play-off hero given his cards
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Ricardo Vaz Te - whose goal sent West Ham back to the Premier League in 2012 - has been released from his contract at Charlton after just two-and-a-half months at The Valley. The 29-year-old forward returned to London at the beginning of November in order to join the Championship side until the end of the season. However Charlton confirmed late this evening that Vaz Te had been released from his contract with immediate effect - with no reason given for his early exit. "Charlton have terminated the contracts of Ricardo Vaz Tê and Franck Moussa by mutual consent," read a statement posted on cafc.co.uk. "Former Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United forward Vaz Tê joined the Addicks in November, making his debut away at Birmingham City, and went on to make 11 further appearances. "
The Portuguese forward earned himself a place in Hammers folklore on 19 May 2012 when he scored the 87th-minute winner that returned the club to the Premier League - although he soon found himself surplus to requirements following promotion. Vaz Te - who had also been training with Premier League Bournemouth prior to joining the Addicks - made a total 61 appearances for West Ham during his three years at the Boleyn Ground, scoring 19 goals in total.
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Teddy on his toes - after just nine months
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Teddy Sheringham's stint as manager of Stevenage came to a premature end this afternoon, when he was fired just nine months after taking the role. The 49-year-old former striker departed West Ham at the end of last season having landed his first management role at Broadhall Way.
However his tenure at the League Two club ended abruptly today after he received his cards. A statement released by the club this afternoon (Monday) said: "Stevenage FC have today parted company with manager Teddy Sheringham following a run of results that's seen the team take three points from the last 24 available. "The club are just above the relegation zone with just six wins from 29 games this season."
Chairman Phil Wallace added: "Teddy has had the worst luck I've seen in the 16 years I've owned the football club. Normally we'd have one or two major ops on key players in a season but we've had more this season than the last three combined. "You also occasionally lose points in the last few minutes of games but we've been in this situation in four of the last eight matches. However, we are where we are and the club have to make a change. "Teddy came in having to work on a lower budget than we've had before and the lack of available funds has made it difficult to get the players he'd like. He's given it his all but it hasn't worked and now we have to thank him for his efforts and move on."
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Joey bid rejected
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are understood to have rejected an approach by Sunderland for full back Joey O'Brien. The 29-year-old defender, who made his first appearance for West Ham's first team since last July in the goalless draw at Liverpool last weekend was the subject of interest by the Wearsiders earlier today. However Sunderland - currently managed by former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, who brought O'Brien to the Boleyn Ground five years ago - have been told unequivocally that the Irish international is not for sale, according to the Mail Online. In other transfer titbits, West Ham have been linked with a deadline day swoop for Liverpool's perma-crock Daniel Sturridge. KUMB understands that the chances of this one happening are on par with Lionel Messi leaving the Camp Nou for the Boleyn Ground.
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Ox linked with Southend switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford is being linked with a transfer deadline day switch to League One club Southend United. The 17-year-old central defender, who can also operate in midfield was set to join Championship side Charlton last week but the move was vetoed by Addicks manager Jose Riga. And that has alerted the Shrimpers, who currently play in the tier immediately below Charlton, who KUMB understand have contacted West Ham view view to taking the England youth international on loan for the remainder of the season. Oxford, who has made eight appearances for West Ham's first team this season was an unused substitute for the first team last weekend when Slaven Bilic's side drew 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield.
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Jelavic set for £9million swansong
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Nikica Jelavic is set to sign a contract worth a bumper £9million with a Chinese Super League club. The 30-year-old Croatian striker, who only joined West Ham last summer in a £2.5million switch from Championship front-runners Hull City will earn in the region of £60,000 per week over the course of three years by moving to Asia. Jelavic, who KUMB understands will undergo a medical this week is scheduled to leave England after the trip to Southampton, next weekend. He is set to move on a free transfer. Since moving to the Boleyn Ground, the back-up striker has scored three goals in 19 appearances - most of which have come from the bench. Chinese Super League clubs have spent in excess of €135million on transfers during the current transfer window - more than any other national league.
Recent high-profile arrivals include Ramires (Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning), Gervinho (Roma to Hebei China Fortune) and Fredy Guarin (Inter to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua).
Jelavic: career stats
2002-2007: Hajduk Split - 35 apps, 8 goals
2007: Waregem - 23 apps, 3 goals
2008-2010: Rapid Vienna - 75 apps, 31 goals
2010-2012: Glasgow Rangers - 54 apps, 26 goals
2012-2014: Everton - 69 apps, 21 goals
2014-2015: Hull City - 49 apps, 13 goals
2015-2016: West Ham Utd - 19 apps, 3 goals
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Jenkinson loan terminated
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
Carl Jenkinson's season long loan has been officially terminated, it has been revealed. The Arsenal full back returned to The Emirates last week after sustaining a cruciate injury which is likely to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season And it was exclusively revealed on the KUMB Forum this evening that the defender's long-term loan contract has been torn up tonight.
That move would allow West Ham to bring in an extra player on loan - however KUMB understands that the club are unable to replace the former England international due to time constraints.
And the club's stance is very much as it has been since earlier in the day, when Slaven Bilic told Sky Sports that the club's transfer window business has been completed with the capture of striker Emmanuel Emenike from Fenerbahce.
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West Ham United v Aston Villa
TUE, 02 FEB 2016
PREMIER LEAGUE
19:45
Venue: Boleyn Ground
BBC.co.uk
TEAM NEWS
West Ham defender James Tomkins could miss Tuesday's game against Aston Villa after suffering a head injury against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Sam Byram returns after being cup-tied but fellow new signing Emmanuel Emenike looks likely to miss out as he awaits international clearance.
Villa are likely to be without injured forwards Rudy Gestede and Libor Kozak. Carlos Sanchez remains sidelined, while Ashley Westwood (calf) and Alan Hutton (hamstring) are doubts.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Conor McNamara: "A half-full Villa Park for the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City on Saturday says it all. Reaching the final of that competition last season seems a long time ago now. "Aston Villa can concentrate on the league but lamentably they have had more cup wins this season (3) than league victories (2). "And yet, three league games unbeaten is - relatively speaking - a purple patch for Remi Garde. He will be desperate to keep it going. "West Ham's fine season sees them still in the hunt for a European place and home form is crucial. Slaven Bilic's team haven't lost in the Premier League at Upton Park since August."
Twitter: @ConorMcNamaraIE
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: "We want the same spirit that we showed in the home game against West Ham. We will have to play better football than against Man City, for sure. "And then we have to start stronger in the games. It has been a problem in a few matches. That will be very important."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
There have been just five goals scored in the last five Premier League meetings, with the fixture at Upton Park ending goalless in each of the previous two seasons.
Aston Villa managed a season's best eight shots on target against West Ham in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.
West Ham United
The Hammers have only lost one of their last 10 league matches (W3, D6).
They are enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run at home in the Premier League game (W4, D5).
Fourteen players have scored a Premier League goal for West Ham United this season, a joint-high with Chelsea.
Nikica Jelavic has scored in his last two Premier League appearances against Aston Villa.
Aston Villa
Villa are unbeaten in three Premier League games (W1, D2), their longest run since a five-match streak in December 2014
They have 13 points after 23 games - the only side with the same record to avoid relegation from the Premier League were West Brom in 2005.
Their only away win in the last 14 attempts came at Bournemouth on the opening day of the season (W1, D3, L10).
The Villans have scored just eight goals in 12 Premier League games under Remi Garde.
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Emenike deal a tortuous process, admits Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan believes new signing Emmanuel Emenike can hit the ground running.
The Nigerian international, who was the club's main January target finally signed in at the Boleyn Ground last night - just 24 hours ahead of the transfer deadline.
And Sullivan, who has worked diligently in recent weeks to bring the 28-year-old to east London was delighted to finally land his man following protracted negotiations with parent club Fenerbahce and UAE club Al Ain, where Emenike had been scheduled to spend the entirety of the current season.
"It took two weeks of tortuous negotiations and hard work by myself and our club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the player to the club," he told the club's website. "It was one of the most difficult deals we have ever done, as we were dealing with two clubs not one.
"I would publicly like to thank Andrew, as he really is an unsung hero of the club, for all his hard work on this transfer, all the other transfers we have done in the last few years and the dozens we tried to do and failed with."
The co-Chairman has been accused in the past of signing the occasional 'Sulli special' - a term coined to describe the series of cheap, unknown foreign players introduced to the club and not necessarily with the incumbent manager's approval.
However Sullivan believes that Emenike, who has scored goals wherever he has played, represents good value for money - and is set to hit the ground running.
"We hope he will bring goals," he added. "Our manager knows him from Turkey and Russia and says he is a very good player. He is very fast - and you can never have enough goals or pace in any team."
The deal - which brings Emenike to the Boleyn Ground for the remainder of the season - includes an option to make the contract permanent upon completion, according to Sullivan. That potential fee is thought to be in the region of €11million.
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ExWHUEmployee Exclusive Column: Our transfer deadline activity explained here
January 31, 2016
West Ham Way.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
So here is my latest column on the eve of the transfer deadline day and we have just announced the signing of Emeneke on loan until the end of the season via www.thewesthamway.co.uk writer Jack Sullivan. This is a transfer that I exclusively revealed was happening two weeks ago here:
http://www.thewesthamway.co.uk/#!ExWHUEmployee-another-Transfer-Exclusive-Emmanuel-Emenike-to-join/maip4/569ec6490cf2dd2c16645e3d
He has a lot of potential to be a very useful player for the club. He is big, strong and quick and has all the attributes to fit in quickly in the Premier League. He has been a top scorer at the African Nations Cup in 2013 and has almost averaged a goal every two games throughout his career. The deal does not include a final purchase fee despite what is being reported because we couldn't get his agent to agree to it, which has meant the deal has dragged on. I can also confirm that there is no such deal for us to pay £11m euros for him if he plays 10 games. The transfer has been described by top club sources as "the longest deal we have ever had to conclude" so the clubs hierarchy obviously believe this is a deal worth doing. Thankfully he is also match fit and will go straight into the squad for the Villa game. This deal should give us four very competent Premier League forwards something which we haven't had in many previous seasons and shows the good work of the chairman.
The club expect to make NO further first team signings, something which David Gold hinted at in his tweet last night. The club expect Carroll back in one week and Sakho and Lanzini back in two so do not believe they need anyone. Jelavic will leave to China a story first mentioned exclusively in this column http://www.thewesthamway.co.uk/#!ExWHUEmployee-Column-Jelavic-set-to-leave-Zarate-could-follow-Zaza-in/maip4/5692ca580cf263fc5a82916a soon. At the moment we will probably hold onto him until Carroll and Sakho return as the Chinese season is yet to start. Although this could change at ANY point as we do not want to stand in the way of the deal so will cooperate fully.
I can confirm however that Steven Fletcher will not be joining. I regret my "spat" with Darren Lewis over this and it was out of character as such. I have heard from journalists that I respect that he is a decent bloke and have tried to say sorry three times now. I have had a tough week but that doesn't excuse it at all. I wish I had just said I don't think he will join, sat back with a cigar as one follower said and left it at that. Anyway we move on…..
There will be some players leaving especially at youth level. Jordan Brown who was a highly rated youngster who we signed from Arsenal has been on trial in Germany in the third division and whilst he was there a higher league club has noticed him and hope to conclude a deal to sign him. Terry Westley is actively looking to loan out a number of players. There could be some big names such as Cullen, Oxford and Howes potentially getting loan moves. The moves have to be to clubs where Westley thinks they will get first team football at a competitive level as he firmly believes this is the best way to develop a young player with Burke, Poyet and Samuelsen being the obvious examples.
We have also finalised the naming rights to the stadium, something that I have reported in previous columns but due to a few disputes still going on with the stadium it cannot be announced just yet. It is said to be very profitable for the club and the last I heard the company involved will come up with some options for the fans to vote on for the new name. Next year's kit has also been designed and it is looking very nice for the new stadium apparently.
We have many exciting projects coming with the site. Please make sure that you also follow our twitter account which will be providing details of all the latest transfers from across the English leagues plus any exclusive news that we can bring about West Ham. I admit now though there may not be very much to report, especially in terms of buys.
It has been a great window for the club and once again our future is very exciting. COYI
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Liverpool vs West Ham FA Cup replay selected by BT Sport for television coverage
17:37, 1 FEB 2016 UPDATED 17:38, 1 FEB 2016
BY JAMES WHALING
The Reds face a trip to the East End with a fifth-round berth up for grabs after the two sides played out 0-0 bore draw at Anfield
The Mirror
Liverpool's FA Cup fourth round replay against West Ham will be televised live on BT Sport. The match, which kicks off at 7.45pm next Tuesday, will decide who progresses to the fifth round to take on Blackburn at Ewood Park. West Ham frustrated Jurgen Klopp's side in the first game at Anfield, as the two sides played out a drab 0-0 draw. The German bemoaned the result and the extra fixture, due to to Liverpool's already hectic schedule. They have reached the Capital One Cup final after a penalty shootout victory over Stoke in midweek, and are preparing to resume their Europa League commitments with a last-32 tie against FC Augsburg. "We had the bigger chances but now we have to play again," Klopp told BT Sport. "West Ham have good quality in their team and play well in the league. We tried everything, you need a bit of luck. "I was pleased with the whole team. Steven Caulker played for the first time in his position in defence and did well but I cannot fault anyone, they tried and gave all. "We played much better than we did at West Ham, but we didn't score so it is not over. "[On any injury news] Not now. I was fully focused on this game. The 10 players we changed had the day off today so hopefully nothing happened to them."
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Sturridge? West Ham halt the madness
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Ridiculous rumours that Daniel Sturridge is a transfer window target for West Ham are total and complete nonsense. The 'story' first emerged in the Brentwood Gazette earlier this month claiming he could be on his way to the Irons next summer. But various media outlets have recycled it with a new spin today claiming he is on the radar for a late Deadline Day bid. But ClaretandHugh can reveal (if it needs revealing at all) the club has no interest whatsoever in returning to Merseyside for striker with ongoing injury problems after the Andy Carroll nightmare. Sturridge has only played 106 minutes for Liverpool since Jurgen Klopp became manager on October 9 and has not been sighted since the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 6, when he damaged his hamstring. So the idea that David Sullivan, particularly given his outspoken comments on AC and Charlie Austen in the past could be tempted, would be entirely out of character at best and entirely ludicrous at worst. We were told few minutes ago: "We know everything gets blown out of proportion on Deadline Day but the idea of going in for Sturridge given our past experiences beats all."
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The £1.3m pound striker gamble
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H
So we finally got our man, Mr Emmanuel Emenike, although it feels like an anti climax this morning. We reportedly paid a £760,000 loan fee together his wages thought to be £36,000 per week plus a £9,500 per match appearance bonus. With 15 weeks of the season remaining that's an investment of £540,000 in wages even if he doesn't play which is £1.3m in total.
David Gold has confirmed on twitter that Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho should all be fit enough to play some part in the Liverpool FA Cup replay on Tuesday 9th February which asks the important question when exactly is Emenike going to play?
He was not registered in time to be available for the Aston Villa match tomorrow night because he lacked International clearance and so the Southampton away game on Saturday might be his only real opportunity to impress. He is ineligible for the FA Cup replay the following Tuesday.
Let's just hope he doesn't just feature in only one game! At £1.3m for one match he would rival Kieron Dyer for value for money in a West Ham shirt.
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Emmanuel Emenike will miss Villa clash
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
New West Ham signing Emmanuel Emenike will miss Tuesday night's game with Aston Villa under the Boleyn Ground lights after it was not possible to register him before the 12pm deadline today.
The 28-year-old Nigerian has yet to receive international clearance and until then the player can not be registered.
Like many, Claret and Hugh had assumed the match fit striker would go straight into the squad tomorrow and looked certain to play some part of tomorrow's Premier League clash but that is not the case.
A source close to the club said "We never said he would be eligible to play on Tuesday night, we need to get his international clearance sorted first. We will clarify on WHUFC.com later"
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Bilic has done homework on loan signing
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Slaven Bilic has dubbed Emanuelle Emenike "a good goalscorer and he will work well for the team and run the channels."
And on the basis of that it seems the Nigerian is more in the Diafra Sakho mould than Andy Carroll both of home are expected back within the next 10 days.
Sak has changed his game under Slav to run the channels and move defenders around which creates space for the likes of Dimi Payt and Manu Lanzini. Bilic has had plenty of time to do his homework on a player of whom he became aware via the Russian and Turkish Leagues so despite some of us knowing anything much about the front man the "Trust Slav" slogan must be kept firmly in mind! And the manager – explaining he was signed following Mauro Zarate's departure and the likliehood of Jelavic noving to China – added: " "We needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar. "I have known him for a long time and he's a great player and I hope that he is going to do a great job for us. He is not that tall, but he is big, he is strong and he is extremely quick and he is really direct. Bilic,confirmed the club's business was now done saying: "We won't be busy on Deadline Day. We are finished. That's it – in and out."
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West Ham fan attacked in Liverpool
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
James Tomkins was not the only person to leave Liverpool with a sore head, West Ham fan, Shaun Manning was one of the 3,000 strong away army supporting his team at Anfield but he left the city with a bandaged head.
Tweeting a photo his blood stained shirt and bandaged head he said "Go to watch West Ham in Liverpool and ended up getting hit with a brick 5 times but still going strong"
Shaun explained he was in the city centre after the match when some man started hitting him with a brick several times in an unprovoked attack.
Shaun told Claret Hugh's associate editor "We was in the town centre and some guy was started on every one that walked past him so we told him to shut up and go away, he then carried on spat at my mate and punched him and then run of up the road come back down with a brick and went for me. He hit me five times in the head as we was kinda fighting and went to the floor then got split up and then come back down with a pole and assaulted me again I got stitches and glue in my head were there was like five big cuts"
Shaun had earlier told his twitter followers that the police arrested his attacker and he doesn't believe the attack was football related saying: "The police got him and arrested him that night. It wasn't football violence! I got on with the fans in the fans in the pub"
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A MONTH WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM
By Benjamin Cronin 1 Feb 2016 at 22:00
WTID
Embed from Getty Images
I don't think I'm the only person that feels like this month has flown by. I've barely had time to digest my Christmas dinner and the January transfer window is about to close. I guess that means it's the perfect time to reflect on what has been another interesting few weeks in the life of a West Ham fan. This period is usually spent trying to decipher which of the countless transfer rumours have a thread of credibility about them, yet for once, we haven't been linked with every player under the sun and it's been a relatively quiet month where we can just enjoy the football.
While there hasn't been much to speak of in terms of comings and goings, the action and talking points have occurred where they should do, on the pitch. The start of the year got off to a flyer as we managed to complete the double over Liverpool for the first time in 52 years with a rather convincing 2-0 win. Next up was a scrappy FA Cup third round tie against Wolves that may not have produced the impressive display we saw the previous week, but the outcome was still the same and that was really all that mattered. The decent run of form continued into the mid-week fixture against Bournemouth where a second half comeback, inspired by a delightful Dimitri Payet free-kick (we'll forget about the tiny deflection) saw another three points added to our tally for the season. The moment the pessimists were waiting for came halfway through the month in an away fixture against Newcastle, with a lacklustre performance bringing an end to a ten game unbeaten run. The final Premier League fixture in January epitomised our season, a 2-2 draw against Manchester City that would have previously been seen a massive triumph but this year, felt like a major disappointment.
Our most recent fixture is one that I wouldn't like to dwell on for too long but is one that proved a point many have been making this season, the fact that we are a team that is incredibly hard to beat. Apart from a dominant opening twenty minutes in terms of possession and a few openings late on (and of course a couple of stonewall penalty claims), Liverpool had by far the better chances and thanks to the new fan favourite, Darren Randolph, we earned a fourth round replay at Upton Park. Given our level of consistency in performances this season, we perhaps should have taken advantage of an inexperienced Liverpool side but we can take confidence into the reverse fixture and hopefully be in the next round to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Whilst many fans will be glued to Sky Sports News this evening, hoping for that unexpected late night deal that brings a world-class to their club, we have been afforded the luxury of focusing on tomorrow night's fixture against the Premier League's bottom side, Aston Villa. It is most certainly a game we can't take for granted, and one I'm sure Slaven Bilic won't allow the players to either. It seems strange but the worry I have when coming up against a side who it would seem can't buy a win, is that they must be due one soon. I sincerely hope and to a point, expect, Villa don't eke out only their third win of the season at The Boleyn Ground. Failing to win against a side who sit ten points off safety, fresh from a 4-0 drubbing at the weekend, would really be a hard one to take. It's one game that may not have the biggest impact in terms of our position in the table, but one that should be used to cement our position and put pressure on the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham.
The old adage goes 'we'll take one game at a time', so without looking too far ahead, just a quick word on our FA Cup replay against Liverpool. Taking place next Tuesday (9th February) and, as expected, being shown live on BT Sport, it offers a great opportunity to progress and maintain hope of winning a trophy this season. More often than not, our performances this season have been a joy to watch and it feels like a great time to be a Hammer. What an end it would be to the Boleyn Ground era to win the FA Cup in our final season there, whilst having our best season in recent years along the way. It may be considered a bit greedy but there's no reason why our league form can't be transferred into a cup competition and with a few bits of luck along the way (and a couple of kind draws), if we manage to progress into the next round, we really do have a solid chance of getting our hands on some silverware.
Embed from Getty Images
It's refreshing to have a relatively quiet month on the transfer front. There is some level of enjoyment and excitement with all the gossip that goes around but if you're linked with players every day of the week, it usually means something isn't right with the squad. We've made a couple of decent acquisitions this month, without shelling out the silly amounts of money that appears to be the norm nowadays. Sam Byram is a player of real potential and someone who has had plenty game time to gain experience in The Championship over the last few seasons. The 22-year-old Englishman seems quite adaptable in terms of the position he plays but will most likely be utilised at right-back, he is certainly a player that I can see being a regular in the starting XI before the end of the season. Emmanuel Emenike is a harder one to call. The Nigerian international comes to our club with a bit of a mixed reputation. Apparently known to cause a stir in the dressing room, if there is any sort of attitude issues, Bilic is the man you'd want to have a crack at getting it under control. At first glance he's a bit of a powerhouse who can certainly finish, with a ratio of a goal in just over every two games. I'll play it safe and hold out before passing judgement on the 'complicated' loan deal (slight confusion over our option to buy at the end of the season, despite it being announced on the official website) but I have faith in Bilic and so should everyone else given his track record with signings thus far.
All in all, it's been a quiet, yet pleasing start to the new year for the club from my perspective. We might have our own opinions on certain players we could have, or maybe should have, brought in but unfortunately, we don't really have that much of a say. We've strengthened where we've needed to and if we manage to start February in the same fashion we started January, there won't be much to complain about. Until then, let's just seen what happens.
COYI!
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Slaven Bilic excited by new West Ham signing Emmanuel Emenike
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 01/02/16 10:35am
SSN
Slaven Bilic says his latest signing Emmanuel Emenike is a strong, quick, direct goal scorer and stated there will be no more deals at West Ham. West Ham manager Slaven Bilic believes new signing Emmanuel Emenike's versatility will be a big asset for the rest of the season. The 28-year-old striker has joined from Turkish side Fenerbahce until the summer when West Ham will have the option of making the deal permanent. Emenike played in Russia and Turkey when Bilic was managing other clubs in the same leagues and he has long been an admirer of the Nigerian forward. Bilic admitted Nikica Jelavic may be allowed to leave the club if the right offer comes in and, with Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll out with thigh and hamstring injuries respectively, he was keen to bolster his striking options. "We got the deal done and we are happy of course and he is happy," Bilic said. "We wanted it because Mauro Zarate left as you know to Fiorentina and there is a possibility that Jelavic will go. "With a couple of strikers injured still - hopefully they will be back very soon - we just needed a player who can play in three positions up front. "Emenike has been on our radar and I know him for a long time. He is a great player and I hope he is going to do a great job for us. "He is big. He is not that tall but he is big and strong. He is extremely quick and he is very direct. He is a good goal scorer and he works for the team. He goes in the channels. He is a really good player." When asked if West Ham planned to do any more business before the window closes, Bilic said: "No. That's it, it is finished... I think."
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Slaven Bilic warns West Ham of Aston Villa danger following poor display in Liverpool FA Cup tie
22:30, 1 FEB 2016
BY DAVID MADDOCK
The Irons are expected to beat the bottom side at home on Tuesday but their boss is worried because Remi Garde's men are starting to pick up points
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has warned his West Ham team that complacency could scupper their European hopes. The Irons are expected to beat rock-bottom Aston Villa with ease on Tuesday night and take a step closer to the top four. But, despite a run of just one defeat in 12 games, boss Bilic still had strong words for his sixth-placed team after a poor display in the FA Cup against a Liverpool second-string side on Saturday night. He said: "Villa are struggling, and on the one hand we should be confident because of our run. "But on the other, it's the Premier League, and if you go into a game five per cent less than the red zone then your chances are reduced not by five per cent, but by 55 per cent. "In this league every team is well organised. Villa have struggled, but they have improved a lot and they are picking up points now. "So, we have to show the right attitude. Not only that, but if we play like we did against Liverpool we will have to be lucky to win."
The Midlands side are 10 points adrift of safety and Villa chief Garde said: "One or two new players would have been helpful, but we still need to believe. "I have a strength inside of me. I will cope with every situation I have to. I am proud to manage this club."
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Byram suffers slight knock
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Sam Byram has suffered a slight knock and will not start tomorrow David Gold has confirmed on twitter tonight. Asked whether Byram would start against Villa tomorrow Gold "Sadly, No. Small injury. dg"
However, Gold did have some good news saying that Tomkins was included in the squad and Kouyate had a 50% chance of making the squad. Gold posted "Hard to believe but James Tomkins is in the squad for tomorrow's game against Aston Villa after receiving 13 stitches in his forehead. dg" On Kouyate he said "He's 50/50 but I'm hopeful he will make it. dg"
He also confirmed Reece Oxford will be tomorrow's squad by tweeting "I don't know if he will play tomorrow but he's in the squad. (Reece Oxford) dg"
To signal the end of the January transfer window Gold confirmed it was now safe to go to bed "Our press officer Paul Stringer has just rung me to say that our club secretary is about to leave. So I assume it's safe 'to go to bed'. dg"
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Emenike may get chance as AC/Sakho head back
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Emanuelle Emenike may not have been entirely impressed by the timing of a David Gold tweet as he signed on the dotted loan for his Hammers loan deal. The 28 year old – coming in for the soon to be gone Nikica Jelavic – was probably unintentionally reminded of his place in the strikers pecking order soon after signing by the so chairman. For DG was keen to explain to followers that both Andy Carroll and No 1 striker Diafra Sakho will be back and ready to stake their claims within the next 10 days. It could of course be that that Emenike may get some game time as the two come back to full fitness but clearly the duo are seen as the pair to reclaim their places up front. Despite that the Nigerian could easily get an early chance to impress as with neither fit for Tuesday night's game against Villa, an opportunity may be beckoning. "We were told: "Unlike many of these winter loan signings, he's been playing regularly and is fit and ready to go if required."
DG had tweeted in the meantime: "Shortly after the window closes we will see the return of Andy, Manuel and Diafra. All could play some part in the Liverpool game. dg" And a top source has told ClaretandHugh several times over past days as the deal stalled and stuttered: "This signing is a safety net against injury with Jelavic leaving. His deal in China looks done and dusted before the start of their season in February. "We are committed to spending between £20- £25 million on a top striker in the summer but we will take a good look at Emanuelle when the opportunity arises between now and the end of the season and then make a decision on whether we make him permanent."
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"Half of Europe" chasing top Irons target
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham are fully aware that they have competition "right across Europe" for the top Marseilles striker Michy Batshuayi. Whilst the loan arrival of Emanuelle Emenike has been preoccupying the Hammers headlines, the real hard work has been concentrated on Batshuayi during January. We were told early in the window that with things being very quiet most concentration would be on lining up the main summer signing – that 20 goal striker who has eluded us for so many years. With relationships good with the French club from the signing of Dimitri Payet, the Irons have been in conversations over the last two or three weeks. But it's been clear for some time that clubs right across Europe are into the player who has so far managed 21 goals in 26 games for Marseille. We were told: "It's well known that he loves playing with Payet and has made his appreciation of the player very clear. You look for every edge you can get. "But it's already very clear that half of Europe want the lad and it will be a very tough fight."
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Ticket office struggles under Liverpool demand
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham's ticket office hotline and website is struggling under heavy demand this morning as fans scramble for tickets for the FA Cup replay against Liverpool on Tuesday 9th February.
It appears Liverpool have been given the whole of the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower and Upper stands which have 5,900 seats so Season Ticket Holders in those stands will need to relocate to other parts of the stadium. Season ticket holders wanting to choose their seats online are being greeted by a message on the website saying you are in a queue but they are able to get in to the website after a wait of about ten minutes when Claret and Hugh tried this morning. Callers to the 10p per minute telephone hotline are less fortunate and when we tried to call this morning around 9.45am we were placed as Number 64 in the queue with an estimated wait time of 33 minutes! Tickets have been priced for Season Ticket Holders at £20 for Adults, £10 for Over-65s and Under-21s £10 and £5 for the Under-16s. Non-Season Ticket Holders will pay £25 for Adults, £15 for Over-65s and Under-21s £15 and £10 for Under-16s. Members will get a chance to buy tickets on Wednesday 3rd February and it will go on General Sale on Thursday 4th February if any seats remain by then. Many areas of the Boleyn Ground have already sold out for the Tuesday game and there remains limited availability in the remaining sections of the ground this morning.
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Sullivan confirms option to buy Emenike
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 1, 2016 in Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan believes loan signing Emmanuel Emenike will bring a new pace and power element to the Irons attack. And he spurned suggestions there is no option to buy the player at the end of the season confirming ClaretandHugh's reports declaring: "I am delighted to welcome Emmanuel Emenike to the club. We hope he will bring goals and we have an option to sign him at the end of the season." Speaking to the official site DS explained: "Our manager knows him from Turkey and Russia and says he is a very good player. He is very fast and you can never have enough goals or pace in any team. "It took two weeks of tortuous negotiations and hard work by myself and our club secretary Andrew Pincher to get the player to the club. It was one of the most difficult deals we have ever done as we were dealing with two clubs not one. "I would publicly like to thank Andrew, as he really is an unsung hero of the club, for all his hard work on this transfer, all the other transfers we have done in the last few years and the dozens we tried to do and failed with."
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Aston Villa, Swansea and Bournemouth consider bid for former Manchester United prodigy Ravel Morrison
Ex-Manchester United man Ravel Morrison could leave Serie A side Lazio
Morrison swapped east London for Rome last season on a free transfer
However, Morrison has only featured six times for the club since his move
Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Swansea are all considering a deal for him
Follow all the latest transfer deadline day news here
By LAURIE WHITWELL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 10:55, 1 February 2016 | UPDATED: 11:02, 1 February 2016
Ravel Morrison is potentially on the move from Lazio. The former Manchester United prodigy and West Ham player is on the market and being considered by Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Swansea, Torino and Sampdoria. Morrison, who turns 23 on February 2, has been offered to clubs after making only six appearances for Lazio this season. He moved to Italy last summer after leaving West Ham on a free following a loan spell at Cardiff of only seven games. He has failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him in early days at Old Trafford, or the dazzling form he showed under Sam Allardyce at the start of the 2013-14 season - but managers in need of a creative spark may take the gamble. Lazio manger Stefano Pioli is open to letting Morrison go and the player himself suggested a departure by posting a message on Twitter that read: 'January...' The chance of a Premier League return depends on whether Villa, Bournemouth or Swansea believe his potential can be extracted.
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West Ham transfer news: Slaven Bilic admits there is a 'possibility' Nikica Jelavic could leave the Hammers today
SAM LONG 10 minutes ago0 comments
Evening Standard
Slaven Bilic has admitted there is a 'possibility' Nikica Jelavic could leave West Ham on transfer deadline day. The 30-year-old joined the Hammers from Hull City as recently as last summer but has struggled for regular football in recent months. The striker has started just one Premier League game this season and is set to slip even further down the east Londoners' pecking order after Emmanuel Emenike's arrival on loan. Bilic has confirmed he completed a deal for the Nigerian not only to provide cover for the injured members of his front line but also in preparation for Jelavic's potential departure. "We got the deal done and we are happy - of course," he told Sky Sports News. "We wanted him because [Mauro] Zarate left to Fiorentina and there is a possibility [Nikica] Jelavic will go. "With a couple of strikers injured still - hopefully they will be back very soon - we just needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar. "I have known him for a long time. He's a great player and I hope he can do a good job for us."
Emenike, who has won 37 caps for the Super Eagles, arrives from Turkish club Fenerbahce and West Ham have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer. Bilic, meanwhile, expects the forward to be the last player to arrive at Upton Park during the current transfer window. When asked whether he expected to be busy for the remainder of the day the Croatian manager replied: "No. That's it. It's finished."
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Striker: What I think of former rival Slaven Bilic after done deal
NIGERIA striker Emmanuel Emenike says the opportunity to finally work with manager Slaven Bilic rather than against him convinced him to join West Ham.
By JOE SHORT
PUBLISHED: 08:52, Mon, Feb 1, 2016 | UPDATED: 09:04, Mon, Feb 1, 2016
Express.co.uk
Emenike, 28, has agreed a loan move at the Hammers from Turkish club Fenerbahce until the end of the season. He has the chance to make it a permanent move in the summer, when West Ham will be preparing to move into the Olympic Stadium. Emenike has twice played against rival teams managed by Bilic, in Moscow and in Istanbul. And the 6ft forward explained to West Ham TV why he decided to move to the Premier League. "I'm very, very happy and very, very excited that I'm here," Emenike said. "I have always known West Ham as a great club. I've always been watching them. "West Ham's a great club and I'm happy to be here. "I've known him [Bilic] for years. When he was at Lokomotiv Moscow, I was at Spartak Moscow, then he came to Besiktas and I was in Fenerbahce, so we've known each other for a long time. I'm happy to be here and happy to play for him. "We've followed each other's careers and thank God we are here today and we are here together." Emenike has replaced Mauro Zarate at Upton Park, while he will also provide cover for Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho.
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Emmanuel Emenike explains what he will bring to West Ham after loan switch
London 24
07:48 01 February 2016
West Ham have confirmed the signing of Nigeria centre-forward Emmanuel Emenike on loan for the rest of the season from Fenerbahce. 0 The 28-year-old hopes to have an instant impact for Slaven Bilic's squad, having known the Irons manager from his spells coaching in Russia and Turkey. "I have always known West Ham as a great club. I have always been watching them. West Ham's a great club and I am very, very happy and very, very excited that I am here," Emenike told West Ham TV. "I've known him (Bilic) for years. When he was at Lokomotiv Moscow, I was at Spartak Moscow, then he came to Besiktas and I was in Fenerbahce, so we have known each other for a long time. I'm happy to be here and happy to play for him. "We have followed each other's careers and thank God we are here today and we are here together." Emenike added: "That is why I am here, to always be in the first XI, always try to make the fans happy and to make myself happy. I really hope it works out. "The Premier League is the best in the world, it is everyone's dream to come and play here. I am excited to be here. "But it is not always just about the player, it is team work and it is all about us as a team. I am here to play with the team and work with the team." Emenike, capped 37 times by the Super Eagles, spent part of this season on a loan spell at Arabian Gulf League side Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The Hammers have the option to make the transfer permanent in the summer, and the forward will provide some welcome attacking options for Bilic with Andy Carroll currently sidelined again by injury.
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Why West Ham have already won the transfer window after signing Sam Byram and Emmanuel Emenike
Julian Shea for Metro.co.uk
Monday 1 Feb 2016 8:35 am
To buy or not to buy, that is the transfer window question – but if you are West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, the answer is neither; borrow instead. The last few hours before the closing of the window can resemble a Christmas Eve afternoon trolley dash, with clubs who have failed to plan ahead grabbing whatever they can off the shelves, regardless of quality, whilst more organised shoppers go in armed with a list of exactly what they want and how much they have to spend, and generally faring better.
Mercifully, Irons fans find their manager in the latter camp. With his biggest problem at the start of January – a right back – solved by the purchase of Sam Byram from Leeds (a piece of business which is now all the more commendable given Carl Jenkinson's serious injury and James Tomkins's new penchant for picking up facial injuries), the only place where Bilic's squad could be improved was up front. And rather handily, he has done just that.
With Enner Valencia newly fit and in in form, and Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini all approaching a return to fitness, arguably the Irons did not really have to be active in this transfer window, but given the extremely promising position in which they find themselves – sixth in the table, still in the FA Cup, and with a favourable run of fixtures in February to consolidate things – Bilic has decided to go for it by bulking up his options up front.
Attack, it would appear, is the best form of attack – and after years of watching West Ham teams with an approach of concentrating on avoiding defeat, and regarding anything else as a bonus, this is a wonderfully refreshing approach. So welcome to the club, on loan, Emmanuel Emenike.
Although someone with no experience in England, the Nigerian comes to Upton Park having proven himself in plenty of other demanding arenas, including the World Cup, Champions League and Russian and Turkish domestic leagues, both during times when Bilic was coaching in the same competitions, so he is clearly something of a known quantity to the manager, if not to West Ham fans.
All of these achievements explain why, although names like Demba Ba, Galtasarary's Burak Yilmaz and – rather bizarrely – Sunderland's Steven Fletcher were in the mix at various times, Bilic has had his sights on his man for some time, and has managed to complete the deal safely in advance of the deadline.
On Monday, other teams and managers may scrabble through the bargain bins and the shelves of over-priced but unsold players, throwing their money around as the potentially season-deciding seconds tick away.
West Ham fans, on the other hand, can sit back with a degree of satisfaction and enjoyment and be happy with the improvements that their manager has managed to make to the side. Byram at the back, and now Emenike at the front. What West Ham needed is exactly what they have got. The ideal transfer window upgrade.
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REPORT FROM THE SUPPORTERS' ADVISORY BOARD
By Iain Dale 31 Jan 2016 at 22:53
WTID
Safe Hands reports from the Supporters Advisory Board
Embed from Getty Images
Despite having an agenda for this meeting, we didn't get anywhere near it as the Q&As took up all the time so they've been scheduled for the next meeting (which will be sooner rather than later). Karren Brady was due to do an introduction but unfortunately she had to leave early on club business to get to City airport – despite our questions of where she was headed, they repeated 'on club business' … I'll leave you to fill in the blanks :)
I haven't put the full detail of each discussion as this would be a very long article so I've summarised and hopefully included the salient points:
Olympic Stadium
• When asked about the ground sharing, the response was that no ground sharing has been proposed – the club's needs must come first and it's not practicable for another PL club to share it with us.
• Travel to the ground – the club will publish all this info idc but they have discussed travel discounts with railway companies but it's proving hard to pin them down especially if they're about to reapply for their franchise. FYI Westfields are building another car park.
• The club were asked about the travel and access for disabled fans and those with mobility issues/infirmities. Cohesive information will be released idc but here's a few snippets: there will be 50 disabled car parking spaces (20 at the Boleyn); 253 wheelchair spaces in the OS; large passenger lifts; a recent BBC accessibility survey to stadia says it will be 2nd best in the country.
• West Ham take over the occupancy of the ground on 26 June.
• Naming rights – it hasn't been agreed as yet but it will be announced idc by E20/LLDC.
• Delaware North will be the caterers and the prices won't be as inflated as during recent events. The food concession stands will open earlier although they won't necessarily be open the whole time the game is on as people will then be getting up and shuffling along the seated fans to get out. Food will be available after the game if there's the demand.
• Champions Place stones will be laid in June and those that were purchased together will be laid together. The statue will also move there and something will be put in its place in the area. However, it may not be at the same location as Newham are thinking of changing that road junction.
• Concerns were raised about standing. As the OS is a 'family stadium' there are no family sections, so there will be children everywhere and people who don't stand could be mixed with those that usually do. Standing is not permitted and it'll be for people to ask other supporters to sit down and/or the stewards to be involved.
• The club are speaking to the sponsors about what can be done outside the stadium in the QE Park – Aston Villa were mentioned as they do a lot for kids before the game.
Ticketing
• Priority points will stay the same, ie 1 point for every away game attended.
• Nothing will happen to the current phone or online ticketing system this season. There will be a new system next season and you will be able to view things such as priority points and credits online.
Other points
• There are lots of groups represented at the SAB, and newly represented is Pride of Irons. It's a LGBT group founded a year ago (we had someone from it who wrote an article on here) and they'll be a point of contact for assisting the club with national initiatives as well as supporting them on issues that may arise. For information, you can search for them on Facebook or you can look at their Twitter account @PrideofIrons.
• Support was requested for the club to consider what can be done to help fans with autism. The club reported that they have had meetings with the National Autistic Society to see what can be done now and at the OS.
• The First Team and Academy will swap training grounds at the end of the season – Little Heath will not change.
• The Academy: the club are planning for growth and they hope to get Terry Westley to the next SAB; the latest the matches can kick off is 19.00 due to the players' age; the remainder of their games will not move to the Boleyn so as to protect the pitch.
• They will investigate why there aren't as many female security guards at the turnstiles.
• The last game – the club have had discussions with the PL and Sky so they know where we stand. However, if we or Man U progress in the FA Cup, that game could be moved which may result in that one being the last game at the Boleyn.
• The official site has audio commentary for all the games … except the recent Wolves game as the provider's systems failed which affected not only us but other clubs.
• Matchday programme is available online from 9 am on the day of the match but it will now be available from midnight if not earlier.
• There's to be a review of what's shown on the coaches as there's a limit to how many Only Fools and Horses you can watch!
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Sam Byram: West Ham boss Slaven Bilic did his homework - it was as if he had studied me
INTERVIEW - Sam Byram signed for West Ham instead of Everton because of Slaven Bilic's eye for detail, he tells Jason Burt
Jason Burt By Jason Burt6:48PM GMT 31 Jan 2016
Telegraph.co.uk
It has been a blur for Sam Byram but the moment when he decided to sign for West Ham United was a point of stillness in that "whirlwind". It came after the West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, sat him down and analysed the way Byram played in almost forensic detail. "It was as if he had studied me and knew exactly what I was good at and what I could improve on," Byram said.
"I just liked the way he spoke, the way he spoke about the club and how he did things. That was the feeling I got. He had really done his homework on me with a real attention to detail – the number of games he had watched that I had played in, the areas where I could improve. It made me feel that under him I was going to get better."
The 22-year-old chose West Ham over Everton – he even met manager Roberto Martínez to discuss personal terms after a £3.7 million fee was agreed – but, he revealed, there were also other Premier League clubs interested when Leeds United decided to sell in the January transfer window with Byram's contract up in the summer.
"It was the biggest decision I have had to make in my life up until now," Byram said. "There were a few sleepless nights thinking about the different things but when it came down to it and I had spoken to the manager and with what he said and with the new stadium, then I had to choose here."
West Ham's move to the 54,000-seat Olympic Stadium at Stratford was indeed a factor for Byram and may become a significant bargaining chip for the ambitious club when it comes to acquiring other players; as is the presence of Bilic and the style of football he wants. Plus, Byram says, Aaron Cresswell.
"Obviously he [Cresswell] came from the Championship [signed for £2 million from Ipswich Town in July 2014] and has done unbelievably well. So to see that pathway from there to the first team and into the Premier League gives me confidence," Byram said during this, his first, newspaper interview since the move.
West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium played a big part in Byram's decision
"The Olympic Stadium is a huge factor as well – the thought of playing in front of so many fans in an iconic stadium in London. I already knew about it but they said it's going to be an unbelievable time to play for the club and in front of so many people. So it was a factor but, to be honest, it really came down to the football side of things. That was the major point – the style of football, the way I can get better, the chance of fighting for my place.
"We are sixth in the table and there is the chance of Europa League or even Champions League football. And the squad are doing unbelievably well. Everything about it is moving in the right direction."
Bilic said Byram was bought for the future. The full-back made the bench for West Ham's home fixture against Manchester City but was soon in the team with Carl Jenkinson injured. Jenkinson has now returned to Arsenal, having sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury, and is out for the rest of the season. So an immediate opportunity has opened up for Byram, who was cup-tied for the FA Cup fixture at Liverpool on Saturday, having played for Leeds in the third round, but is hoping to start against Aston Villa on Tuesday.
First that debut. "It's probably been one of the best weeks of my life – from joining the club to getting my Premier League debut. It's been a whirlwind," Byram says. "I think I did all right given the circumstances. I had not trained a lot because of the transfer and then to come on against one of the best teams in the league…"
Byram made his Hammers' debut against Man City
Byram cramped up badly near the end: "I was hobbling. I think it was a combination of the occasion, a few nerves, taking its toll physically because I normally run a lot further than I did in that game."
Was it any different? "I think on the ball it almost felt a bit easier. Just in terms of the movement of the players, you've got a lot more options, the way you can pass the ball. The main difference was when they [City] had the ball around our box, then the pace at which they move it, the one-twos, that was a big difference compared to the Championship."
Despite his delight at the move it was a wrench to leave Leeds, who Byram had joined aged 10. "It's a huge club with a massive fan-base. You see it every away day with the number of fans they take. The training ground, the stadium, everything about it is a big club.
"But I am 23 this year. You see young players getting their chance in the Premier League and that is my dream also and I was given the chance to come and fight for a place at West Ham and it was something that I could not turn down. It was definitely the right time for me to move."
And, in a sense, move back home, also. Byram, with a distinctive Yorkshire accent, is actually from Essex. He was born in Thurrock and lived there for the first two years of his life. "My dad then got a job in York, in a bank, so we moved up north and I have been there ever since.
"My mum's side of the family live in Eltham [south-east London]– my uncle, auntie and three cousins. They are all big West Ham fans and are season-ticket holders. It didn't influence my decision because it was really all about the football but it was an added bonus."
Despite his talent and versatility, and despite the fact a number of Premier League clubs have been tracking him, Byram has not yet represented England at any level. "I was meant to go to the under-20 World Cup [in 2013] and went to the training camp but had to pull out because of an injury, which I was gutted about. Since then I think there have been players in my position who are already in the Premier League and who are then naturally going to get picked over someone in the Championship. But I am working hard and it [playing for England] is another goal. It's something I want to achieve..
"There's Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard who have proved that if you get a few good games in the Premier League and do well for your club, then you can have a shot at being called up."
That, Byram hopes, is for the future. "I am just very proud at how far I have come," he says, having signed a 4½-year contract at West Ham. From being in the academy at Leeds, putting an unbelievable amount of hard work in, to get to where I am today. I am just glad it is starting to pay off."
Sam Byram is a part-time trader on eToro, the world's leading social trading network. As an Official Partner of West Ham Utd, Byram is donating the money to The Moore Family Foundation at the end of the season. www.eToro.com
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