Daily WHUFC News - 25th August 2017

West Ham United to host Bolton Wanderers in Carabao Cup third round
WHUFC.com

West Ham United will host Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers in the third
round of the Carabao Cup. Thursday morning's draw pitted the Hammers against
the Trotters for the London Stadium tie, which will be played in the week
commencing 18 September. Slaven Bilic's men booked their place in the third
round with a 2-0 win at Cheltenham Town on Wednesday, with Diafra Sakho and
Andre Ayew on target.
Bolton, meanwhile, have seen off Crewe Alexandra and Sheffield Wednesday to
reach this stage of the competition. They currently sit 22nd in the table,
with two points from four league games, and last took on the Hammers when
both clubs were in the Premier League in the 2010/11 season - Bolton winning
3-1 at the Boleyn Ground and 3-0 in Lancashire.

Phil Parkinson's team currently have Hammers duo Josh Cullen and Reece Burke
on loan, although the pair will be ineligible for this cup tie,

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Team news: Manuel Lanzini set for Newcastle return
WHUFC.com

West Ham United will welcome Manuel Lanzini back to the squad when they take
on Newcastle United at St. James' Park on Saturday. The Hammers have been
without the creative Argentine since he picked up a knee injury in
pre-season, but the midfielder is now set, having trained with Slaven
Bilic's side for the whole of this week, to make his return. And though it
may be too premature for the 24-year-old to start the Hammers' clash in the
north east, Bilic insisted it will be a huge boost to have him back in the
dressing room. "Manuel started training with us without any restrictions
this week," said the boss. "He was back with the squad on Monday, and he
looks really sharp. "Of course he's hungry, because he was missing while he
was injured and we are going to see what we think tomorrow [about his
involvement]. "But he is definitely going to be involved in the squad, and
we will see how much we use him. It's a big boost and it's good he and
Cheikhou [Kouyate] are back. Cheikhou played 20 minutes [against Cheltenham]
to see how he feels. "He also looks sharp and that's good for us. The
players are all coming back now. It's good for us to be fair."

With Kouyate back in contention after recovering from what was also a
pre-season knee injury, the Hammers' only certainties to miss the trip to
Newcastle will be the suspended Marko Arnautovic and the injured Winston
Reid. "Yes [Arnautovic is suspended], and apart from him and Reid – who was
injured before Southampton – we have the full squad on the pitch this week
from Monday onwards," Bilic continued. "That's the first time in ages that
we are all training on the pitch. Maybe it's too early for some of them,
Newcastle. "Some joined us after a long break and we'll see tomorrow. But
what's really encouraging is that they're all back, apart from Reidy, who
should be back for Huddersfield."

Andy Carroll scored 33 times in 91 appearances for hometown club Newcastle
United, and could potentially face his old side this weekend. Bilic, though,
moved to reassure supporters the Big Man will only feature for the Hammers
when they deem him to be fully fit and ready. "When he's fit, we all know
what he brings. That's why we want him not to rush with his training and to
this time, train for a longer period," the Croatian added. "He is a major
player. He will play a major role this season, but only when he is fit. We
want him around long-term. It's frustrating when he is not available for a
long period. "It's a big blow for us and for him [when that happens]."

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Bilic: Away day syndrome, Newcastle, transfer update and Cresswell's call-up
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of this
weekend's Premier League fixture at Newcastle United. The West Ham United
boss was asked to reflect on his side's opening four games, all of which
were played away from home, Newcastle United's own difficult start and to
give an update on potential transfer dealings. Bilic also found time to
praise England international Aaron Cresswell and midweek scorer Diafra
Sakho.

Here is what he had to say…

On the road again, and again, and again…

Logistical work at London Stadium means West Ham United will not play a home
Premier League game until Monday 11 September. By then, the Hammers will
have travelled nearly 1,150 miles to Manchester United, Southampton and
Newcastle United and back, in addition to the 250-mile round trip to
Cheltenham Town.
Just as they have speculated that Tottenham Hotspur are suffering a 'Wembley
curse', so the media have jumped on West Ham losing at Old Trafford and St
Mary's Stadium as 'proof' that playing away from home is a major issue. That
suggestion of course ignores the midweek win at Cheltenham, and the fact
that the Hammers finished last season unbeaten in their last three away
matches. "It's not a factor," said Bilic, firmly. "This is a league where
you have two away games or two home games quite a lot, frequently. It's not
a big thing – OK it's four away games in a row, and we'd love to have one
home game in-between, but it is what it is and it will even up by the end of
October. "We don't have a point yet, but if you say two away games and then
one against Manchester United, they are a good team, you say it's not a bad
story. We should be very optimistic to know what we have to do before
Newcastle. "Then we have a break and the next four games we have three home
games. We have Huddersfield at home then West Brom away before Spurs and
Swansea at home so it will even up then. It is what it is but it's not a bad
situation. "I don't know how we can talk about away game syndrome when we've
played only three and won one. And one in special circumstances against
Southampton."

Pointless

West Ham United are not the only Premier League side without a win from
their opening two fixtures. AFC Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal
Palace and Saturday's hosts Newcastle United are also pointless. The Magpies
were reportedly booed by their own fans after losing to Championship side
Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup at St James' Park on Wednesday evening,
so does Bilic believe the Hammers can take advantage of the perceived
unhappiness on Tyneside? "It's a single game – it's a new game," said the
manager, who is hoping the midweek defeat will play on Newcastle's minds
come kick-off. "They need points, but everyone does. "They're looking
forward to the game, they've lost the first couple like we did and they lost
in the cup but it affects you. It affects the morale and it's better if you
win any game, even if it's the cup. "They have an experienced manager [Rafa
Benitez] and they should recover for the game on Saturday."

Sympathy for Rafa?

So, in light of Newcastle's losing start and speculation of the club's
supposed inactivity in the transfer window, does Bilic have sympathy for his
opposite number, considering he led the Toon to the Championship title and
back to the Premier League at the first attempt? "He is a big manager, he
has done it in Spain, Valencia, then England with Liverpool and then
Napoli," said the gaffer, yet again revealing his encyclopaedic football
knowledge. "He's a top manager. "In this transfer window I don't know
exactly what has happened but I've followed who they have bought and sold
and they're not happy but they've spent more money than we have spent in
this window. In terms of net money. "OK, they came from the Championship and
needed more players to strengthen but they're a big club and I don't see
them as not ambitious. They were all buzzing and won the league and 'Now
we're going to build the world' and maybe they tried. "But maybe they were
unable to get their targets, like we did last year. Maybe they were thinking
too big and players didn't want to come. They are an ambitious club. With
Rafa, they are lifted up even more."

Any other business?

As is the case in every Slaven Bilic press conference held during the
transfer window, and many of those held in between, the manager was asked
about potential ins and outs. Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho has been
linked with a move to east London, but Bilic refused to be drawn on the
Portugal international. However, he did admit signing a top-class defensive
midfielder has been long been a priority. "There is nothing new, to be
fair," he began. "It's not frustrating, it's the position that we have been
in trying to do for a few seasons. "In my opinion, we need someone to boost
our team and quality and we need that position and that's why we also
offloaded some players to get the budget for a player for that position.
"It's not a squad player we need – it's a quality player. It's not easy to
get them but we are doing our best and hopefully we're going to do it."

And finally…

West Ham United saw two players named in Gareth Southgate's England squad
for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers with Malta and Slovakia. Joe
Hart's inclusion was widely expected, with the goalkeeper having started 43
of England's last 45 competitive matches. Bilic was also pleased to see
left-back Aaron Cresswell included again, and tipped the 27-year-old to
forge a successful international career for himself over the next few
seasons. "It's not a surprise anymore," he said. "He is becoming a regular
and there's continuity and it's great for him and us. We are proud we have a
couple of players in England's squad. Cress deserves it. He is very
consistent. "He had his ups and downs last season because of the injury he
got in pre-season but he is a great player, a great pro, has got a great
left-foot and he's a very important age for England and he's a player with a
bright future. He's a top player."

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Collins targets League Cup final return
WHUFC.com

James Collins is targeting a second Carabao Cup final appearance after
inspiring West Ham United to a second-round victory at Cheltenham Town. The
veteran centre-half was recalled to the starting XI at Whaddon Road,
enabling him to celebrate his 34th birthday and 200th Hammers appearance
with a clean sheet, a win and a deserved Sky Sports Man of the Match award.
And Collins, who was a runner-up for Aston Villa against Manchester United
in 2010, would love to return to Wembley for a second crack at lifting the
trophy. "I've played in the League Cup final a few years ago and it's a
great competition to be in," he said. "With the squad we've got now, it's a
great chance for the lads to come in and perform "It's not like we're
playing lads who are not experienced, so if the gaffer does want to make
changes, we can hopefully play an experienced squad all the way through.
Hopefully we can go a long way. "You've got to have a right go at it.
Obviously you want to win every game you play, but this is a good tournament
for our team and our squad. It gives a chance for the lads to play and it's
a day out at Wembley, which everyone enjoys."

After conceding seven goals in their opening two Premier League fixtures,
Collins' return helped the Hammers to keep their first clean sheet of the
season, with the Welshman using his experience to shackle a determined and
direct Cheltenham attack. "We knew we had to come here and do the basics,
defend well and defend crosses well and we got our goals and the quality
showed in the end," he observed. "We got our goals and probably should have
seen the game out a bit better at the end, but it's job done and into the
next round. "I said it before the game that it doesn't matter who it is
against, a clean sheet is good for confidence. Getting the basics right is
vital to win any game of football and we need to get back to that to win
games in the Premier League."

Next up in the Premier League is a trip to Newcastle United – who were
knocked out by Nottingham Forest on Wednesday – this weekend.
Unsurprisingly, Collins is eyeing a recall after missing last Saturday's 3-2
defeat at Southampton. "I'd love to play. I'll be involved. I watched the
game at the weekend and was obviously just as disappointed as everyone else,
so as soon as I'm needed to come in and help out or I get my chance, I'll be
raring to go. "Wednesday night was big and a few of the boys probably don't
realise how big it was. I've been around the game a long time and a result
like that can get the momentum going, and hopefully it can do that. "We can
go to Newcastle and if we can stop the individual errors, with Chicha, Andy
and Diafra we can score goals and win games."

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23 clearances completed: James Collins celebrates his birthday in style at
Cheltenham
WHUFC.com

West Ham United secured a first win of the season away at Cheltenham Town in
the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but it was the defensive masterclass of
birthday boy James Collins that got fans excited. It was a day of jubilation
for the Welsh international defender as Collins celebrated both his 34th
birthday and his 200th appearance for the Hammers, while he was named the
Sky Sports Man of the Match for his showing. And it was with good reason too
that Collins got the acknowledgement from the broadcaster. The centre-back
was solid at the back and added strength, leadership and stability to the
defensive line. As a team against Cheltenham Town the Hammers made 42
clearances in the Carabao Cup tie and Collins was responsible for a very
impressive 23 of them – more than half of the side's total. No other player
on the pitch came close to matching the Ginger Pele when it came to battling
for the ball in the air either. Collins won an incredible nine aerial duels
in this content – only one other player on the pitch won more than five in
Cheltenham's Jordan Cranston, who succeeded with six. It wasn't just in
defensive work that Collins excelled either. The No19 alone held 7.8% of the
ball possession in the entire match. This figure was the joint-best on the
pitch, equalled only by the 18-year-old Declan Rice on his second start for
the Hammers. Collins' teammates clearly trusted the centre-back with the
ball and with any sign of danger possession was sent straight back to the
Welshman, who in turn calmed the play down and sent Slaven Bilic's side back
on the offensive.

West Ham United's birthday boy even made an impact in the opposition penalty
area, coming close to scoring a celebratory goal as a headed effort narrowly
shot over the crossbar. It wasn't the only effort Collins had either. The
defender registered three efforts on goal on Wednesday – the joint-second
most of any player in the match. Only Diafra Sakho (4) had more attempts. It
seemed Collins enjoyed his birthday outing for West Ham United and has given
manager Bilic food for thought heading into this weekend's Premier League
outing against Newcastle.

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Dan Kemp named in England U19 squad for Poland & Germany clashes
WHUFC.com

West Ham United youngster Dan Kemp has been named in the England U19 squad
for their friendly internationals against Poland and Germany in early
September.
Fresh from winning the UEFA U19 European Championships this summer, Paul
Simpson's side get their new campaign underway with the brace of friendlies
in the Midlands. The Young Lions take on Poland first at St George's Park on
Friday 1 September, before heading to Mansfield Town's One Call Stadium four
days later to face Germany. Kemp earned his first England call at the end of
the 2016/17 campaign, helping an U20 side retain the Toulon Tournament
title. The Academy winger has also started this season strongly, scoring the
winning goal in the U21s Checkatrade Trophy opener at League Two side
Swindon Town last week.

Reece Oxford - on loan from West Ham United at Borussia Monchengladbach -
has also been named in the England U20s squad for the upcoming games against
the Netherlands and Switzerland. Oxford will be a part of the 21-man team
that takes on the Netherlands on Thursday 31 August before travelling for a
contest with Switzerland four days later.

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Trott and Oxford named in England U20s squad for Netherlands & Switzerland
contests
WHUFC.com

West Ham United youngsters Nathan Trott and Reece Oxford have both been
called up to the England U20s squad for the upcoming matches against the
Netherlands and Switzerland. Trott and Oxford will form part of Keith
Downing's 21-man squad that faces the Dutch national side on Thursday 31
August, before travelling to play Switzerland four days later. Trott found
success this past summer under Downing with England U19s team as the Three
Lions lifted the European Under-19 Championships. The 18-year-old is
already an established player in the West Ham United U23s and looks set to
continue his international development with the U20s. Oxford meanwhile is on
loan at Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach and while the 18-year-old
is yet to play a competitive match for the German side, he has previously
made two appearances for the England U20s.

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Lanzini, Chicharito, Arnautovic among six Hammers called-up for
international duty
WHUFC.com

Manuel Lanzini, Chicharito and Marko Arnautovic are among six West Ham
United players who have been called-up for vital 2018 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers.

Andre Ayew, Edimilson Fernandes and Robert Snodgrass have also been included
by their respective nations as the race to reach Russia hots up.

Lanzini is in line for his first competitive appearances for La Albiceleste
when Jorge Sampaoli's squad tackle South American rivals Uruguay and
Venezuela.
Argentina need to beat their third-place neighbours in Montevideo, as they
sit fifth in the CONMEBOL qualifying table, with only the top four
automatically qualify for next summer's finals. The No10, who debuted in a
friendly against Brazil in Melbourne in June, will be confident of victory
over bottom side Venezuela in his home city of Buenos Aires.

Chicharito will almost certainly earn caps 97 and 98 for Mexico when El Tri
face Panama and Costa Rica in CONCACAF qualifying. Mexico are on course to
reach their 16th World Cup in 21 attempts as they sit top of the Round 5
qualifying table and need just one win to secure their place in Russia.

Closer to home, Arnautovic's Austria take on Wales and Georgia knowing two
victories are vital if they are to close the gap on European Group D
pace-setters Serbia and Republic of Ireland. Austria sit fourth in the
group, level on eight points with Wales, with the two leaders four points
clear with four matches to be played. The group winners qualify, with the
runners-up likely going into a two-legged play-off.

Snodgrass' Scotland are also desperate for points against Lithuania and
Malta – the only two nations below them in Group F. The Scots have eight
points from six matches, but England (14), Slovakia (12) and Slovenia (11)
are above them in the table.

Sead Haksabanovic is in Montenegro's 24-man squad for their Group E
qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Romania. The Montenegrins are in good shape
as they aim to reach their first World Cup finals, sitting second in the
table behind Poland and ahead of Denmark on goal difference. Victories over
their struggling rivals would put them on course for a play-off position, at
least.

In Africa, Andre Ayew's Ghana simply must win both matches in their Group E
double-header with Congo to give themselves a chance of overhauling group
leaders Egypt. Ghana have just one points from their opening two ties and,
with Egypt on six points and just four matches to be played, the Black Stars
need to take maximum points from the winless Congo.

Finally, Declan Rice will continue his development and gain more valuable
experience if he makes his Ireland U21 debut in a UEFA European Championship
qualifier in Azerbaijan. Rice, who could partner on-loan Hammers youngster
Josh Cullen in midfield, will hope to help Ireland build on their victory
over Kosovo in their opening Group 5 fixture.

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Hart and Cresswell named in England squad for World Cup qualifiers
WHUFC.com

West Ham United pair Joe Hart and Aaron Cresswell have been called up by
England for their two FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month. The Three Lions
take on Malta in Attard on 1 September before hosting Slovakia at Wembley
three days later as they look to extend their lead at the top of Group F.
England currently sit two points clear at the summit of the European
qualifying group and could potentially secure their spot for Russia 2018
next month. Hammers goalkeeper Hart will be hoping to add to his 71
international caps with his first as a West Ham United player, while
Cresswell – twice capped by his country – will fight with Ryan Bertrand for
a spot at left-back. Both the full-back's caps – in friendlies against Spain
and France – have been won under current boss Gareth Southgate and the
27-year-old will want to prove what he can do in a competitive fixture for
his nation. Hart, on the other hand, has been a regular for the Three Lions
since cementing his spot as the country's first choice stopper after the
2010 FIFA World Cup. In England's last home fixture, he captained his
country for the second time, leading them to a comfortable 2-0 victory
against Lithuania. England were forced to come from behind to grab a late
draw against Scotland at Hampden Park in their last qualifier, but will be
keen to get back to winning ways in Malta. The Three Lions have faced Malta
just four times in their history, winning every meeting, and anything but a
win in Attard would be a shock result. Slovakia at Wembley could prove a
tougher test, however, with the UEFA Euro 2016 group stage opponents just
two points behind Group G's leaders in qualifying.

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Zabaleta eager to extend unbeaten Newcastle run
WHUFC.com

It would be fair to say that Pablo Zabaleta enjoys facing Newcastle United.
In ten career appearances against the Magpies for his former club Manchester
City, the right-back ended up on the winning side on nine occasions.
Zabaleta has also recorded three assists against Newcastle – more than
against any other opponent bar Hull City – and West Ham United's new No5 is
targeting another positive experience when the Hammers head to St James'
Park in the Premier League on Saturday. With both teams still pointless
after two rounds of top-flight fixtures, the 32-year-old also knows the
importance of continuing his personal outstanding record to his new
employers. "It's a tough place to go but it's a crucial game for us and for
them, as both teams lost their opening two games of the season," observed
Zabaleta, who is expected to return after being rested for the midweek
Carabao Cup second-round win at Cheltenham Town. "We are looking for our
first Premier League win of the season. It's a shame that we lost the last
game at the end, but there were a lot of positive things to take from
Southampton, especially our attitude and the spirit of the team. "We all
know each other better and we have players coming back from long-term
injuries, so we will improve."

One of those returning players is Manuel Lanzini, who will undoubtedly boost
West Ham's chances of success on Tyneside. The Argentinian has been out of
action since injuring his knee in pre-season training in Germany a month
ago, but is expected to be part of the travelling party on Friday afternoon.
With former Magpie Andy Carroll and Cheikhou Kouyate also in contention,
Zabaleta is feeling optimistic. "Manu was one of the main players for West
Ham last season and he is one of the best players in the squad," he said of
his compatriot. "Of course, he, Andy Carroll and Cheik are all important
players and hopefully we will have all of them available on Saturday."

While Lanzini, Carroll and Kouyate could all feature at St James' Park, one
player who will not make the trip to the North East is Marko Arnautovic. The
Austrian is suspended after being sent-off in the 3-2 defeat at Southampton
last weekend and has since apologised for his offending challenge on Saints
defender Jack Stephens – a move that has been endorsed by his new teammate
Zabaleta. "We had gone down to ten men after Marko's reaction, but he came
out and apologised to everyone," said the defender. "We all make mistakes
and it's good he has shown that respect to everyone. Now it's time to move
on and think about the next game. "I'm really confident that the team will
improve in the next few games, but we need to get a good result this
Saturday."

West Ham United's third Premier League fixture of the season kicks-off at
Newcastle United at 3pm on Saturday 26 August, with Live coverage on
whufc.com from 1pm.

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Ray: Ladies will use Gillingham loss as fuel against Cardiff
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Ladies general manager Karen Ray has called on the team to
use the disappointment of last weekend's defeat as motivation to secure a
positive result against Cardiff City. West Ham Ladies will make their first
home appearance of the new season against Cardiff on Sunday with free
admission available for all season ticket holders and Claret Members.
Tickets are also available on general sale for just £1. The Ladies suffered
an unfortunate loss away at Gillingham last weekend, despite dominating the
contest, but will be hopeful of putting their first points on the board
against the south Wales side at Rush Green. Ray believes the loss against
Gillingham can work as the fuel needed to fire the team to a win on Sunday.
"The players are very focused and determined for the upcoming game against
Cardiff City. It's our first home game and we are playing on a pristine
pitch which will suit the way we play," Ray said. "Greg and Josh are
preparing the Ladies very well for the challenge ahead and continue to do a
fantastic job at managing a switch in focus. Every defeat hurts but we have
an opportunity this weekend to use the loss as fuel to get a win and build
confidence. "We will need to show mental strength and this comes from our
own internal demands. We are fully aware of the external pressure that comes
with being a West Ham United Ladies member. As women's football grows so
does the expectation for immediate success. "However , we know within
ourselves that we will take each game as its comes because we are building a
sustainable infrastructure that will see us rise to the top of the women's
game.
Ray has also praised the playing style the West Ham Ladies are cultivating
this season and has called on supporters to see this attractive football for
themselves this Sunday. "I work closely with both players and staff on the
pitch so I am fortunate enough to see first-hand the environment being
created. Anyone who enjoys watching exciting, special football should get
themselves down to Rush Green on Sunday. I am confident that the way in
which our players move the ball will have any and all fans in awe. "We are
all ready to show up on Sunday and really build upon a dominate performance
against Gillingham. We know we need to convert our chances and I have no
doubt we will get the result we deserve after a positive week of training."

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CHELTENHAM TOWN 0-2 WEST HAM – MATCH REPORT
AUTHOR: BRIAN KNOX. PUBLISHED: 23 AUGUST 2017 AT 10:53PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Match Report by @WestHamAmerican

After two heartbreaking Premier League matches to open the 2017-18 season,
Slavin Bilic took his club west for a less formidable opponent, as the
Hammers opened up their Carabao Cup campaign with a second-round match up
against Cheltenham Town.

After an uneventful first half, without much goalkeeper play on either side,
West Ham scored in somewhat of a flurry as both Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew
each etched the score sheet within minutes of each other.

In the 40th Sakho took a pass from Sam Byram, turned in the penalty area,
and fired it into the far corner of the goal. Three minutes later, it was
Ayew's turn as his right footed shot found the goal after the ball was
played in by Sakho.

With the two goal lead and momentum on his side, Bilic made no changes
during the break. Early on the second half, James Collins, both celebrating
his 200th first team start, and his 34th birthday, almost found himself on
the score sheet as his header off a Mark Noble free kick was slightly over
the crossbar.

Despite his failure to score, James Collins was clearly the man of the
match. He led the team in passes, clearances, and possibly possession.
Collins continually disrupted the Robin's offense. He was an imposing
presence against the League Two opponents.

Late match substitutions of Javier Hernandez and Cheikhou Kouyate were
welcome by the 1,000 or so West Ham supporters who attended the match,
however neither player was able to add to the two goal lead.

After three minutes of added time, Oliver Langford's whistle ended the match
and the Hammers had earned their spot in the (Chinese overnight?) round
three draw. For West Ham, Bilic was able to give minutes to some younger
players, and he left the ground with no major injury. Pedro Obiang took a
strong challenge but he remained in the match for the final 15 minutes of
play, and looked to be fine.

Saturday, the still-homeless Hammers head to Newcastle to face their fellow
winless Magpies in what will be a very important match for both clubs.
Against Manchester United the club were out matched, against Southampton the
club were out disciplined. Hopefully Slavin Bilic can turn things against a
struggling Geordie opponent.

Stay updated as the transfer window closes by keeping an eye on
TheWestHamWay.co.uk Ex will have updates regarding transfers and our
roster prior to the Newcastle match so stay tuned…

Cheltenham- Flatt, Grimes, Cranston, Storer, Atangana, Pell, Wright,
Winchester, Boyle, Eisa, Foster.
Subs- Lovett, Dawson, Holman, O'Shaughnessy, Bower, Thomas, Graham

West Ham- Adrian, Byram, Ogbonna, Collins, Masuaku, Noble, Rice, Obiang,
Fernandes, Ayew, Sakho.
Subs: Hart, Cresswell, Fonte, Kouyate, Hernandez, Quina, Haksabanovic

Attendance: 6,259

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Hammers duo named in England squad
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th August 2017
By: Staff Writer

Joe Hart and Aaron Cresswell have both been named in Gareth Southgate's
latest England squad. The on-loan goalkeeper and full back are both included
in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and
Slovakia. However there is no place for Michail Antonio, who has only
recently returned from injury, although youngsters Nathaniel Chalobah
(Watford) and Harry Maguire (Leicester) have both received their first
call-ups. England face Malta on 1 September and Slovakia at Wembley three
days later. The full squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers
Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (West Ham United, on loan from
Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton).

Defenders
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Aaron Cresswell (West
Ham United), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry
Maguire (Leicester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones
(Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker
(Manchester City).

Midfielders
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford), Eric Dier
(Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester
United), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
(Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Forwards
Jermain Defoe (AFC Bournemouth), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus
Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy
(Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic keen to add quality in midfield
By Greg Grimes
Last Updated: 24/08/17 5:21pm
SSN

Slaven Bilic says West Ham have offloaded players this summer in order to
make room for a "quality" central midfielder. West Ham are in talks with
Sporting Lisbon for Portugal international William Carvalho. The 25-year-old
midfielder has scored nine goals in 137 appearances for the club in four
seasons and has a £40m release clause in his contract. When asked if the
club were any closer to signing the Euro 2016 winner, Bilic said: "Nothing
new. I am not frustrated. It is a position we have been trying to do that
(strengthen) for a couple of seasons now. We need someone to boost our team,
quality and everything. "We need that position and that is why we have
offloaded some players to get the budget for him. I am not talking about the
player (Carvalho), I am talking about the player for that position. The
quality player not the quantity one. It is not easy to get them but we are
doing our best."
This summer West Ham have already brought in Javier Hernandez, Marko
Arnautovic, Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta who have all gone straight into the
starting XI.
Bilic says he wants to bring quality into his squad rather than quantity and
will not look elsewhere if he is unable to secure his first choice target.
"I think you say OK, no problem we have good players," Bilic added. "We are
not talking about the quantity, we are not talking about boosting our squad.
We are talking about boosting our game. It is impossible to find many of
them in our case."
Angola-born Carvalho was an integral part of the Portugal team which won the
European Championships in France last summer and has previously been linked
with moves to Arsenal and Manchester United. West Ham go to Newcastle on
Saturday looking for their first win of the Premier League season.

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22 games without a clean sheet! Joe Hart's miserable run of form compared to
other Premier League keepers
The West Ham 'stopper' has shipped seven goals in his first two Hammers
appearances, but it is his lack of clean sheets which will worry him more
The Mirror
BYDAVID DUBAS-FISHERMARK JONES
13:39, 24 AUG 2017UPDATED13:41, 24 AUG 2017

After a slow start to the goalkeeper's loan spell at West Ham, all the
indications are that he's going to lose his place at England's No. 1 to
Stoke's Jack Butland when the Three Lions take on Malta and Slovakia next
week. Hart has won 71 caps for his country and been his nation's undisputed
first choice keeper for the last six years, but after being bombed out of
Manchester City by Pep Guardiola last summer his career has taken a serious
nosedive. Last season's loan spell at Torino didn't bring the return to form
that he'd have hoped, and he's started his current loan spell at West Ham by
conceding seven goals in two games to Manchester United and Southampton. And
those matches have extended a quite miserable recent record for Hart - one
which compares disastrously to other Premier League goalkeepers. In terms
of games for club and country, it is now 12 matches since Hart last kept a
clean sheet (England's 2-0 win over Lithuania in March). Among Premier
League keepers, Burnley's Tom Heaton and Brighton's Matthew Ryan are next on
that list with six. But it is when you only take club games into account
that Hart's record looks incredibly bad. He's gone a remarkable 22 games
without a shutout in the colours of Torino and West Ham, with his last clean
sheet in a club game coming in Torino's goalless draw with Sassuolo in
January. Heaton and Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois are next on that list with a
measly five.
To make matters worse for Hart, when he was rested for the Hammers' Carabao
Cup clash at Cheltenham on Wednesday night, his replacement Adrian promptly
kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win. Could the Spaniard be taking Hart's place
in the Premier League soon?

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WEST HAM INFORMED OF TERMS TO COMPLETE CARVALHO TRANSFER
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
readWestHam

It seems as if Sporting have settled on a price for their star midfielder
William Carvalho this summer. Ken Dyer of the London Evening Standard
reports that the Liga NOS side are demanding a package worth £37.5m to allow
Carvalho to complete his move to West Ham before next week's transfer
deadline. It's understood that the Hammers and Sporting are currently around
£5m apart between valuations at this stage as talks begin to stall, but the
Portuguese club have made their demands clear at last. West Ham had been
keen on paying the transfer fee in installments, but Sporting want a large
chunk of it up front, demanding £20m immediately as the transfer is
completed, with the rest of the £17.5m fee paid early next year, giving the
Hammers a chance to spread the payments out but Sporting still receive
plenty of cash to reinvest. Carvalho has agreed personal terms with West Ham
and is keen to finally make a move to the Premier League but Sporting are
playing hard ball over a fee for the 25-year-old. The Hammers have lined up
Sunderland's Didier Ndong and Benfica's Ljubomir Fejsa as alternatives if
they can't agree a deal with Sporting for Carvalho, who is now also a
reported target for Chelsea.

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Aston Villa favourites to sign West Ham's Robert Snodgrass on loan
KEN DYER
ES Sport

Aston Villa are favourites to West Ham midfielder Robert Snodgrass on loan.
Bilic's side face a home draw against Championship club Bolton in the next
round of the Carabao Cup, following their 2-0 victory at League Two
Cheltenham. Welsh international defender James Collins has put himself in
line for a team spot in Saturday's Premier League clash at Newcastle with an
outstanding display against a direct, physical Cheltenham side. Collins,
celebrating his 34th birthday, could be the answer to West Ham's current
defensive fragility with seven goals conceded in two Premier League matches
so far. There was also more good news for Bilic, with the form of
injury-plagued striker Diafra Sakho and 18-year-old midfield player Declan
Rice. Sakho, who missed most of last season with a chronic back injury,
scored the first of West Ham's goals with Andre Ayew netting the other,
while Rice once again demonstrated his emerging talent with a mature
display.
"Nothing gives you confidence like a win so this is very important," said
Bilic. "Like every defeat harms your confidence, every win, every goal and
every clean sheet gives you confidence. "So a little bit of this is going to
help us in preparation for the game against Newcastle on Saturday. West
Ham's Senegalese midfield player Cheikhou Kouyate also came on in the second
half to prove his fitness and could be included in Bilic's squad for the
trip to Newcastle.

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Aston Villa boss provides update on transfer chase for West Ham flop
Snodgrass
The Villains boss is keen on taking one of his former players to the
Midlands
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
11:47, 24 AUG 2017

Aston Villa are heavy favourites to land West Ham winger Robert Snodgrass on
loan this summer and their boss Steve Bruce wants to get a move done.
Snodgrass has flopped since since joining the Hammers in January from Hull
City for £10m and has not been a part of the squad for the first two Premier
League games this season and the Carabao Cup win over Cheltenham. The
official line is the Scotsman is injured but the majority believe he has
been left out due to his expected departure from the club, following Sofiane
Feghouli out of the London Stadium door. The Hammers and Villains are in
deep discussions over the winger and ahead of Villa's trip to Bristol City
tomorrow, Bruce spoke about his desire to bring his former charge on board.
Bruce said: "He will add that bit of sparkle, if you like, up front. "He can
play in any position across the front line and is a very good player. "Let's
hope we can do something." Snodgrass, who turns 30 next month, has been told
he can leave with the Hammers keen to get his wages off the bill in E20,
albeit temporarily as it stands. Bruce added: "I had the pleasure to work
with him, very briefly, at Hull. "He's got all of the stuff you talk about,
experience, quality, in abundance. He's been there, done it and got the
t-shirt. "It hasn't quite worked out for him at West Ham. We're trying our
best to get it over the line but it hasn't quite happened yet. "We've had
the conversations. But it's not just a done deal yet."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
By Goatygav 24 Aug 2017 at 12:00
WTID

Before you read another word I should explain. I'm on holiday and, at time
or writing, have shared a couple of bottles of local tempranillo and a jug
of Sangria with my good lady wife whilst out for a family meal. I watched
last night's (by the time you read this) game in a 'Costa del Sol'
restaurant and took notes on an A5 sized reverse side of a boarding pass.
Despite all that there is certainly plenty to talk about.

I would like to draw comparisons to the, now famous, boys of '86
Tonight showed me, and my boys, numerous positives. To date I would like to
draw a comparison to the, now famous, boys of '86. A losing start. Amongst
others a new striker and midfielder added to an, already talented, squad.
Everyone writing off our chances and expecting nothing. Personally I'm
extremely excited about what I believe we can do this term. So much so I'm
off to the bookies to add West Ham making the top 6, and winning a cup, to
my accumulator. Seriously folks – another couple of wins and things are
going to start looking extremely good. If we can avoid injuries to key
players in '17-18 we're going to be a group of very happy Hammers come May!

So we fielded a, supposedly, weakened side. Adrian, Byram, Og, Ginge,
Masuaku, Fernandes, Rice, Nobes, Obiang, Sakho & Ayew. If that's a weakened
side then, frankly, I'm confident of a strong squad for this season. OK – so
in midfield it looked quite defensive but there was some great experience
mixed with youthful talent on show.

Around the 5 minute mark a nice footballing move ended in the ball being
slightly overrun and the keeper smothering it on the line. A few minutes
later (excuse the vague references to timings but the screen I was watching
cut off the clock and score) Ayew was wasteful with good options around him
following another quick break shortly before a beaut of a ball down the line
from Byram found him in headless chicken mode.

We got lucky after Cheltenham created their first opportunity. They found
our defence flat but the resulting shot constituted nothing more than a pass
in to Adrian's arms. Shortly after they threatened around the edge of the
box but Rice expertly watched the striker, with great body shape, to deny
even a sniff of an opportunity to shoot. Cheltenham aimed a speculative ball
at our back line that found Ogbonna in time and space and under no threat. I
wasn't impressed by his lack of confidence as he had time to bring it under
and find a team-mate but opted to head it straight back to the opposition.
Perhaps he didn't get the shout he should have but I expect better from an
international CB – especially an Italian one. After that, however, he did
show great confidence and was unlucky to see his powerful header cleared off
the line shortly followed by a shot from the ever busy Sakho saved well.
Diafra chased a lost cause to gain a free kick on the Cheltenham goal line.
Great attitude and application from the Senegalese striker put him in a
great position to receive a lovely slide rule pass on the edge of the box. A
lovely touch and turn followed by a well placed finish saw us one up.
Vintage Sakho and well deserved IMO.

Personally I am a fan of Diafra. In our last Boleyn Ground season I took
both my boys to the Half Term open training session and shirt signing. We
queued with shirts in hand in the club shop. My older lad wearing his own,
orange, club colours of the team that he was playing for at the time. When
we got to the table Payet and Og were nice enough but didn't really engage
with my lads at all. Diafra showed interest and spoke to both – commenting
"Good Man" to my oldest. Maybe it was a language thing but I got the
impression that he was more a 'club' man than the other two. That definitely
turned out to be the case where Payet was concerned. On the pitch he's a
handful for any defence. He's a natural finisher who works like a trojan in
the channels – creating time and space for others. My lads think a great
deal of him and so, when they found out there were accusations of common
assault against him leading to his reported arrest, they were crestfallen.
Later rumours of him being sold by the club didn't cheer up my boys either
but last night, for me, he showed us what he's all about. I know Ginge got
MOTM, and Declan Rice was in contention for that too, but Diafra was equally
in the running for the award for my money. I'm hoping to see the name Sakho
on the scoresheet for us several times alongside Hernandez and Carroll this
season. Would be great to see Martinez get a few too. Only question I would
ask is 'was he putting himself in the shop window'? I prefer to believe that
he's been motivated by this Summer's signings and that we're going to see
the best of him this term.

Three minutes after the first goal the lads broke quickly again and, this
time, Ayew showed us what he's about. He slotted a good finish to make it
2-0 following good movement and nice give and go football. Overall the first
half was good but there's still one or two concerns for me.

It saddens me to say it but Nobes was inconsistent during the game. Two
occasions spring to mind in particular. Early in the second half he headed
the ball back towards his own goal straight to a Cheltenham player in a very
dangerous position. Later on he took on two men in Red & White shirts – but
back towards his own goal before losing control and giving away a silly free
kick in his own half after he found himself in a good position in the right
half of the pitch. On a more positive note he did use the ball well when
linking things up with one touch passes in the middle of the park but I'm
concerned for him this season. I'm a big fan of his but I wonder whether
he'll start less games. Remains to be seen. You watch Nobes in games like
the Spudz at the OS/LS and you can't deny his impact but how often does he
have games like that and why does he not get so up for 'normal' fixtures?

Ginge certainly staked a good claim for more future starting berths. Again
he looked like the rock that finished last season so well. He blocked,
dominated in the air and, overall, inspired confidence in front of him. As
the team grew in confidence you felt that they 'smelled' goals. When Chicha
came on Ayew immediately showed a good understanding with him. It was good
to see Cheik take the field again as well as Quina get a run out and Rice
play yet another good game.

This game couldn't have come at a better time for the team. The fact that
the forthcoming weekend's opposition had a poor game is a bonus. It's more
about us though. Like a much needed shot in the arm it will boost confidence
and morale. St James' park is a tough place to go but I genuinely believe
it's going to kickstart our Premier League campaign.

COYI! West Ham for the Cup!

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WEST HAM AND THE LONDON STADIUM–ARE E20 "WORKING TO RULE?"
By Blind Hammer 24 Aug 2017 at 08:00 98 comments
WTID

UPDATE: West Ham have drawn Bolton Wanderers at home in the next round of
the League Cup. The tie will be played on 18 or 19 September

Blind Hammer asks if E20 are still good partners for West Ham?

There are worrying signs that all is not rosy in the garden shared between
the London Stadium Operators E20 and West Ham United

The most obvious indication of this lays in the stalemate around the
returning of Stadium capacity to 60,000. E20 appear to be protracting the
application for a safety certificate.

Last season, as a supposed "temporary measure", capacity was reduced from
60,000 to 57,000 after early difficulties with crowd management.

Despite the fact that over the season arrangements at the Stadium have
settled down, and the appearance at least that every authority, including
the police, have settled into routine crowd management, there has been no
suggestion that the reduction in capacity be reversed. The crucial point is
that the power to make an application for restoring Stadium capacity lies
with E20 and not West Ham.

No application has been forthcoming from E20. There appears not just little
interest from the Stadium Operators in reversing the cut in capacity but
also a generally decidedly chillier attitude when compared to the positivity
which existed before the move.

Sean Whetstone, on Claret and Hugh, asked E20 6 months ago when an
application would be made to the Safety Advisory Board to restore stadium
capacity. The response they he received was that there was a need for a
health and safety assessment.

Fair enough you might think but when this question was repeated last week
Claret and Hugh received the following response.
""Any future application for an increased capacity at the Stadium is
dependent upon an ongoing assessment from a legal, health and safety, and
commercial perspective. This has yet to be concluded."""

In other words any plans to increase stadium capacity have been put out into
bureaucratic long grass. There is no positive indication of when an
application is likely to be made. It even places in question if any
application will be made at any time.

You have to wonder what the E20 Agenda is. The reference to the Health and
Safety Assessment seems disingenuous in the extreme. Health and Safety is
always important but a Risk Assessment should take days to complete rather
than months. The suspicion that the Stadium Operators have in reality
another agenda is reinforced by the fact that E20 have shown that they have
few if any "Health and Safety" concerns in relation to the vast crowds
assembling for the recent World Athletics Championship. They have shown that
they are perfectly happy to deal with crowds of 65,000 over several days of
the championship.

Apparently having 65,000 filling the stadium for day long events lasting for
several hours from the afternoon into the evening is perfectly acceptable
from a health and safety perspective whilst returning 3,000 spectators to a
smaller capacity event for a 2 hour football match is currently not on any
agenda.

Further evidence of a potentially contrary attitude was revealed in the
response to the request by fans for "Draught Beer" as the London Stadium.
Whilst this is a relatively minor issue the nature of the chilly and distant
E20 response is instructive. This is what they said.

"E20 and its operator provide catering at the Stadium in line with the
Concession Agreement requirements. The Concession Agreement does not require
draught beer to be provided, although E20 nevertheless does provide it in
many areas of the stadium. E20 intends to honour all of its obligations
under the Concession Agreement."

The tone of the response is not one of genuinely engaging with and trying to
meet the needs of customers at the stadium but instead a more defensive
minimalist position of honouring all of its obligations under the Concession
Agreement." It reads like they are "working to rule".

So what is the agenda which may be causing E20 to appear so unhelpful and
obstructive? The critical term in the first E20 statement about their
failure to make an application to increase capacity may be their references
to "commercial assessment". The suspicion is growing that motivating these
chilly statements may be a desire for E20 to renegotiate the concession
agreement with West Ham.

As reported elsewhere on claret and \Hugh the Stadium is currently budgeted
to experience Operating Losses of around £36 million until 2020. The
Achilles heel of the Stadium project is the cost of relocating seats during
the yearly transition from Athletics to Football mode.

In other words a feeling is growing that E20 may want to use its power to
apply for stadium capacity increases as a way of leveraging extra commercial
return from West Ham. You get a sense that E20 are "hard balling" for a new
contract agreement. If this is the case then West Ham may have cause for
serious worry.

If you consult the Concession Agreement there is no guarantee that even
57,000 seats will be available, let alone 60,000. Under the concession
agreement only 53,500 seats are guaranteed in Football mode. In Athletics
mode the Stadium only has to provide 49,000 seats. As an aside the
possibility of using the stadium in Athletics mode with 49,000 seats may be
a part if not ideal solution to the problem of early Europa League games
scheduled before the Stadium has transitioned from Athletics to Football
mode.

So there is scope for the Stadium to use, in the future, further reductions
in capacity to try and pressurise West Ham into paying more for the
Agreement. If there are any idiots out there who intend anti-social
behaviour in the Stadium they should be aware that this is the very real
threat which hangs over us. Further incidents may well result in further
reductions in capacity.

Certainly the often quoted ambitions of the owners to increase the Stadium
capacity to 66,000 seats seems a distant pipedream in the face of this
apparent reluctance to engage with growth from E20.

E20, along with other legacy bodies, are responsible for ensuring the
sporting legacy of the Olympic Games. Obstructing the addition of
potentially not just 3,000 but 9,000 spectators every 2 weeks into the
London Stadium does not seem a fitting or just disposal of the
responsibilities associated with safeguarding this sporting legacy.

Surely E20 should be doing all in their power to maximise the attendance at
the London Stadium. This is their clearest responsibility in line with the
successful legacy from the 2012 games. It is to be hoped that other agendas
do not distract from this most important imperative. E20 can dispel this
growing suspicion of their motives by making a clear and public commitment
to maximise stadium capacity in football mode. Watch this space in case this
emerges but I personally will not hold my breath.

COYI

David Griffith.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
End of England's Joe Hart era looms as Gareth Southgate ponders playing Jack
Butland against Malta
Long-time first-choice keeper has joined West Ham on loan to try to keep his
Three Lions place but there is a growing belief the Stoke star will take
over before next summer's World Cup
The Mirror
BYJOHN CROSS
22:30, 23 AUG 2017

Joe Hart is losing his grip on being England 's No1. Manager Gareth
Southgate names his squad for next week's World Cup qualifiers with Malta
and Slovakia on Thursday, and his goalkeeper selection is a key issue.
Southgate is giving serious consideration to installing Stoke's Jack Butland
between the posts for the trip to minnows Malta on Friday week. He watched
Butland keep a clean sheet against Arsenal last Saturday and rates him
highly, having worked with him when he was boss of the Three Lions'
Under-21s. There is a growing belief the 24-year-old will become England's
first-choice keeper before the World Cup finals in Russia next summer. The
only issue is when the change is made from Hart to Butland. Suddenly,
Southgate is blessed with a real selection dilemma in the keeper department.
Everton new boy Jordan Pickford is the other emerging goalie on his radar,
but the older Butland is ahead of him in the queue. Hart fears for his place
and moved to West Ham on a season's loan from Manchester City so he would
play regularly in the Premier League, with the priority to re-establish
himself as Southgate's No1. But he has had a sticky start, conceding four
and three goals in their opening two matches, and there are worries about
form and confidence which Southgate will monitor closely over the next few
international get-togethers. Hart's status as the best keeper in the nation
was called into question after Euro 2016 — his mistakes against Iceland and
Wales, together with suggestions he got over-hyped before games, raising
serious alarm bells. His performance was questioned again after letting in
two goals direct from free-kicks away to Scotland at the end of last season,
and Southgate used Burnley's Tom Heaton and Butland in the following game
against France. That friendly in Paris signalled the beginning of the end
for Hart who now faces a battle, with Butland, Pickford, Heaton and Fraser
Forster of Southampton all vying for a place in the squad. Hart, Butland and
Pickford would appear to be the top three in Southgate's mind now, with the
emergence of the latter since his move from Sunderland to Goodison piling
pressure on Heaton and Forster. Southgate has shown with his handling of
record scorer and former captain Wayne Rooney — dropping him for the last
two squads before he announced his international retirement on Wednesday —
that he is prepared to be ruthless, and the warning signs are now there for
Hart.

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