Slaven Speaks - Stoke City
WHUFC.com
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic held his final pre-match press conference of the season on Friday.
The boss looked ahead to the meeting with Stoke City, spoke of his hopes for European football and more…
Is fifth place realistic?
SB: "Fifth is difficult, It's the last game of the season and the situation is the same for a few clubs in a few countries. Real Madrid are hoping that Barcelona don't win their last game – it's unlikely but when it comes to the last game it's always possible with the pressure and everything.
"But we shouldn't be concentrating on that, not even with one ear. We have to do the job, we have a very difficult game because Stoke want to finish on a high and if they win they are breaking their record of points. They have a good team and all we have to do is try to replicate that performance from Tuesday night and win the game.
"If we win the game we will be happy, definitely, because we will be sixth minimum, fifth possibly if Manchester United slip, or fourth if Manchester City lose 25-0!"
What are your reflections of the season as a whole? What moments stand out?
SB: "Now is not the time to talk about that. We have a massive game in front of us, so I'm not ready to analyse the whole season apart to say in once sentence it has been a brilliant season for West Ham United."
Stoke have been on a bad run recently, so how do you rate your chances of winning on Sunday?
SB: "We have a chance because we are a good team. They've been on a bad run but I've watched their games and it's been more like they've been playing teams who have been on fire.
"They've conceded three or four goals in a couple of games, but on their day they are capable. Against Spurs, in the first half Stoke were quite unlucky, and ok they lost to Palace and drew with Sunderland, but I didn't see a dip in their energy.
"They are a good team, who have a few individuals who can harm you – Arnautovic, Bojan, Shaqiri, Diouf, Walters, Crouch. They have good players, and unfortunately we are expecting a difficult game and we will have to be on top of our game to do the job."
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Randolph relishing Stoke showdown
WHUFC.com
Randolph is aiming for Europe!
Hello everybody,
I want to start by thanking everyone for the happy birthday wishes for yesterday, I had a great day, made extra special by all your messages.
All in all it's been a rather special week, hasn't it? Tuesday night was one of the best atmosphere's I've played in, probably the best alongside the Ireland games with Germany and Bosnia.
As a goalkeeper, I was obviously closest to the fans, and the noise was just incredible. We knew it would be loud given the last game, but it topped anything we expected by a long way!
It was a very special night for everyone and a proud moment, one that I can look back on and say that I played a part in.
Now we look ahead to Stoke and hopefully we can add the cherry on top of this season's extra special cake by qualifying for Europe.
They will be a very difficult team to play, they always are, especially at their place. We won't underestimate them, final game of the season or not. We know what's at stake so we want to go there and get a win.
We've spoken a little bit about Europe, of course we have, but we're not getting carried away.
Whatever happens on Sunday, we've had a great season. We've had some amazing games, both home and away, a good cup run and the send-off to the Boleyn Ground, so it's been a huge season for us and one where everyone has contributed.
This season has made me realise how much I took the Premier League for granted first time round when I was at Charlton. I was 16, 17 and I thought I'd be in the Premier League for ever.
Obviously it didn't quite work out like that, but I'm delighted to be here and play a part. I love coming into training and being around my teammates.
Roll on Sunday!
Darren
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Academy stars seek Dutch success
WHUFc.com
Following there U21 Premier League Cup success, a youthful West Ham United squad including the likes of Martin Samuelsen and Lewis Page have travelled to Uitgeest, northern Holland to compete in the annual ICTG youth tournament this weekend.
The Hammers are in Pool A, and will face Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro and Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar after getting the illustrious tournament underway in shortened games against hosts FC Uitgeest at 11am on Saturday 14 May.
Later that day, they play AZ Alkmaar at 1.20pm before playing there third and final group game with Cruzeiro at 3.40pm.
At the same time, teams in Pool B - Vitesse Arnhem, Panathinaikos, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Atletico Paranaense, will also be competing in the competition.
After all group fixtures have been completed, the tournament divides into a series of play off games which will be played throughout Monday 16th May.
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SUN, 15 MAY 2016
PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: Britannia Stadium
BBC.co.uk
Stoke City v West Ham United
TEAM NEWS
Stoke will be without Stephen Ireland after the midfielder suffered a broken leg in training this week.
Jack Butland, Shay Given and Ibrahim Afellay remain sidelined, while Glen Johnson and Marc Wilson are nursing knee injuries and aren't expected to feature on Sunday.
Darren Randolph will again deputise in the West Ham goal for Adrian, who has a calf injury.
The Hammers otherwise have no injury concerns.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTESMartin Fisher: "Tuesday's victory over Manchester United <http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36189168> on such an emotional night kept West Ham firmly on course to kick off life at the Olympic Stadium with European football.
"A win at Stoke will secure a top-six finish and with it a place in next season's Europa League.
"Slaven Bilic will be determined to have some tangible reward from such a memorable season.
"Mark Hughes will be frustrated by his side's decline over the last couple of months which killed off their own European challenge, but three points from this one could see Stoke finish in ninth for the third successive season."
Twitter:@martfisher1 <https://twitter.com/martfisher1>
LAWRO'S PREDICTIONI do not see the Potters losing at home again, especially because they did not play in midweek while West Ham had that emotionally draining final game at Upton Park.
Prediction: 1-1
Lawro's full predictions v X-Men star Ben Hardy <http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36243983>
* Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game. <http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/predictor>
MATCH FACTSHead-to-head
* Stoke are unbeaten in five league meetings, although the last three have been draws.
Stoke
* Stoke are winless in six league matches (D2, L4).
* They have gone four home games without a victory (D2, L2). Failure to beat West Ham will seem them equal their longest-ever winless home Premier League run.
* The Potters have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine league games.
* Marko Arnautovic needs one goal to become Stoke's outright top-scorer in a Premier League campaign.
West Ham
* West Ham have only lost one of their last 12 league games (W6, D5).
* They have scored in each of those games, their longest-ever scoring run in the competition.
* The Hammers are unbeaten in five away league games (W2, D3), scoring at least two goals in each of those matches.
* Dimitri Payet has been involved in 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances (three goals, eight assists).
SAM's verdictMost probable score: 1-1Probability of draw: 27%Probability of home win: 30%Probability of away win: 42%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by Professor Ian McHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.
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Liverpool & West Ham could face Europa League play-offBy Frank Keogh & Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport
Liverpool and West Ham have already met four times this season, with West Ham winning on three occasionsWest Ham and Liverpool could face a play-off to determine who qualifies for the Europa League.
The Hammers lie sixth in the Premier League before the final round of matches, while Liverpool are eighth.
The Reds also play Sevilla in the Europa League final <http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36279287> knowing that a win would secure a Champions League place.
If they have to qualify for Europe through the league, there is a scenario that has both clubs level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
How it could happenWest Ham would have to lose 1-0 at Stoke City AND Liverpool beat West Brom 2-1; or the Hammers lose 2-1 while it finished 3-2 to the away side at The Hawthorns, or so on. In addition, seventh-placed Southampton would have to be denied a win against visitors Crystal Palace.
Those scorelines would leave the London and Merseyside clubs level after 38 matches of a season lasting nine months.
Final is outstanding opportunity - KloppIf they were tied, the play-off would only be needed if their finishing spot is in a Europa League position, and Sevilla were to win next week's final in Basel.
A Premier League spokesperson confirmed an extra game could take place, although the likelihood is small.
League rules state: "If at the end of the season either the league champions or the clubs to be relegated or the question of qualification for other competitions cannot be determined because two or more clubs are equal on points, goal difference and goals scored, the clubs concerned shall play off one or more deciding league matches on neutral grounds, the format, venue and timing of which shall be determined by the board."
Any date or ground has not been decided upon.
Europa League qualificationManchester City are already assured of at least a Europa League place after winning the Capital One Cup.
If they finish in the top four, that place in the Europa League third qualifying round will pass to the sixth-placed team.
The same will happen if they secure a place in the Europa League group stage by finishing fifth - and realistically, goal difference means City are unlikely to finish lower than fifth.
If Liverpool win the Europa League, they will qualify for the Champions League group stage. If Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, they will enter the Europa League at the group stage. If Manchester United win, that place will be given to the seventh-placed team.
There are no longer any Fair Play places allocated to the Europa League.
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Stoke v West Ham preview: Slaven Bilic's side look to leapfrog Man Utd
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 13/05/16 6:51pm
SSN
Watch Stoke v West Ham on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 2.55pm
West Ham will cap off an impressive season with a top-six finish if they beat Stoke at the Britannia on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
After coming from behind to win against Manchester United in midweek, the Hammers could pip United to fifth if they get a favour from Bournemouth on the final day.
Manager Slaven Bilic hopes they can replicate the performance that saw them beat United 3-2 in their final game at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday.
"Stoke will want to finish on a high, but all we have to do is try to replicate the performance from Tuesday night and win the game," he said. "That will give us minimum sixth and if Manchester United slip up, we can move to fifth."
While the Hammers are looking up the table, Stoke are in danger of finishing in the bottom half after a poor run of form over the last two months.
Stoke have won just one of their last nine games and slip down to 11th if they lose to the Hammers and Swansea beat Manchester City.
Team news
Stoke midfielder Stephen Ireland is expected to be sidelined for eight or nine months after suffering a double leg fracture in training during the week.
The Potters also have Ibrahim Afellay, Marc Wilson (both knee) and Jack Butland (ankle) unavailable.
Sunday's game could see Glen Johnson and Shay Given back involved after spells out with knee and groin problems respectively.
Goalkeeper Adrian remains West Ham's only absentee as he is still recovering from a calf problem, so Darren Randolph will continue to deputise.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic apologised after some fans threw bottles and other objects at Manchester United's team bus on Monday
Boss Slaven Bilic has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.
Opta stats
Stoke are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against West Ham (W2 D3).
The Hammers have won just one of their six final day Premier League matches away from home (W1 D1 L4).
Stoke have won none of their last four Premier League matches at the Britannia Stadium (D2 L2). Not beating West Ham would see them equal their longest run without a home win in the Premier League (five games September 2012).
Stoke have slipped down the table after a poor run of form
West Ham are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W2 D3), scoring at least two goals in each of those matches.
West Ham will finish the season with a positive goal difference (currently +15) for the first time in a top-flight campaign since 1985/86.
Paul Merson's predictionsSee who the Magic Man is tipping to win on the final weekend <http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15205/10279216/mersons-predictions>
The Hammers have already registered their best-ever points haul in a Premier League campaign (62, five more than their next best return of 57 in 1998/99).
Austrian attacker Marko Arnautovic needs one goal to become Stoke's outright top-scorer in a single Premier League campaign (currently level on 11 with Ricardo Fuller 08/09 and Mame Biram Diouf 14/15).
Merson's prediction
I'm doing this game for Soccer Special and I think the Hammers will win. If they do they have a chance of finishing fifth and after all their hard work the other day, they will be keen to get another good result. Stoke have played some good football through the season but sometimes they are not as hard to beat as they used to be.
They are good footballers and you are always going to get hot and cold when you get those kind of players. Some of them are luxury players and when they are hot they are hot and when they are cold they are cold.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (15/2 with Sky Bet
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Slaven Bilic urges West Ham to finish strong against Stoke to secure Europa League football
By Michael Kelleher & Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 13/05/16 12:02pm
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic wants to cap an impressive season with European qualifcation
Slaven Bilic has urged West Ham to replicate their performance against Manchester United when they face Stoke, live on Sky Sports 3, as they attempt to nail down a place in the Europa League.
The Hammers, who defeated United 3-2 in their final match at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday , will secure a place in next season's Europa League if they win at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 3.
"Stoke will want to finish on a high, but all we have to do is try to replicate the performance from Tuesday night and win the game. That will give us minimum sixth and if Manchester United slip up, we can move to fifth.
"Stoke have been on a bad run, but I've watched their games and it's like they've played teams that have been on fire. We are expecting a difficult game and we will have to be on top of our game to do the job.
"It would be nice to have Europa League football because we have had a good season and it would be good to get something out of it."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic apologises after some fans threw bottles and other objects at Manchester United's team bus on Tuesday
With Manchester City certain to finish no lower than fifth due to their goal difference, the Europa League berth they earned by winning the Capital One Cup will go to the sixth-placed team.
If Crystal Palace win the FA Cup, they will enter the Europa League at the group stage. However, if Manchester United win, that place will be given to the seventh-placed team.
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