Daily WHUFC News - 28th August 2017

Martinez reveals pride in West Ham United U23's five-star win
WHUFC.com

Toni Martinez has expressed his pride at how well West Ham United U23s
performed in the 5-2 win over Swansea City on Sunday. Martinez scored two of
West Ham United's five finishes in an impressive victory over the south
Wales side, with Nathan Holland, Dan Kemp and Grady Diangana also finding
the back of the net.
The 20-year-old is thrilled with the Hammers' showing in the victory and is
delighted with how he and his teammates carried themselves to a dominant
win. "I'm feeling really good," Martinez told whufc.com: "It was very
important to win the game and today was a great performance by everyone. I'm
really proud of all of my teammates."

It took West Ham United just 21 seconds to take the lead in a frantic and
entertaining encounter at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Holland scored
with a superb strike after the Irons took possession from Swansea's
kick-off. Martinez believes the Irons' incredible start to the game comes
down to the work put in on the training field. The forward said: "It all
comes down to training. We've been training so hard this week. We started
the match with a lot of quality and we were able to score after 21 seconds.
Nathan [Holland] hit a perfect shot and it was a perfect start for us."

Martinez hit the third and fifth goals for West Ham although there had been
some contention that the forward's second finish was in fact an own-goal.
However the Spaniard was insistent that the ball ended up in the net from
his head and is eager to continue his goalscoring run when West Ham United
return to action on Thursday, against Tottenham in the Premier League
International Cup. "It's my goal," Martinez laughed when asked about his
second finish: "The second is a good header. I'm really happy with it. "My
first goal was down to a good combination with Kempy [Dan Kemp]. It was a
lovely one-two in the box. I got a bit lucky but it was really good to
score. I'm delighted to score twice. "We want to keep working and keep
getting wins. If I can keep scoring I'm happy."

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Terry Westley praises perfect performance from U23s
WHUFC.com

Terry Westley praised a perfect performance from his Under-23 side as the
young Hammers ran out comfortable 5-2 winners over Swansea on Sunday
afternoon.
Goals from Nathan Holland, Grady Diangana, Dan Kemp and two from Toni
Martinez – his first of the season – ensured West Ham romped to victory over
last year's PL2 Division Two champions. From start to finish, it was the
perfect display. "I've got to give tribute to the players, all the staff
that work with the players" Westley said. "Today is a combination of
everything we've done, everyone involved in the academy because that was
near on the perfect performance. "Make no mistake, that was a really strong
outfit [Swansea] that were taken to the sword today from our attacking play
today."

The two sides met in Division Two last season, with Swansea City winning on
both occasions, but on Sunday, it was certainly Terry Westley's men who flew
into the ascendency. 21 seconds after kick-off, Nathan Holland wriggled his
way through two Swansea defenders, into the box and slotted coolly into the
bottom corner to give the Hammers a dream start. "We've really got to come
out of the blocks hard and quick – that was the message to the group today"
Westley explained.
"And we did that better than they did. Right from kick-off, we got the
ball, we drove at them and he's scored a magnificent goal."

Holland produced a man-of-the-match display, at the heart of most of West
Ham's dangerous attacking play, and Westley was full of praise for the
number eleven once more: "That's possibly as good as I've seen anyone play
at this level for a long, long time. Both with and without the ball, but
every time he got the ball he was an absolute threat."

George Byers levelled the score on 16 minutes for Swansea, but from then on
West Ham were in control. Holland turned provider for the second goal,
combining with Grady Diangana who fired his shot from the edge of the box in
to the top corner. Diangana almost scored minutes later when his shot, at
the end of a superb solo-dribble, hit the underside of the crossbar before
it was then cleared. The biggest celebration of the afternoon came when West
Ham scored their third of the afternoon just before half-time. Without a
goal in competitive football this season, Toni Martinez finally ended his
run by scoring a classic goal-poachers effort from close range as the match
entered first half stoppage time. After half-time, Dan Kemp scored the goal
of the afternoon as he lobbed the Swans goalkeeper from the best part of 40
yards out, before the game was finally wrapped up when Martinez headed in
Holland's cross from close range.

West Ham remain unbeaten this season, after their opening day draw with
Everton and last Monday's win at Tottenham, and Westley admits that the
Hammers expectations for the campaign are beginning to change. "We looked at
Friday's results, and so if you start pitching it and wondering where you
could be – from 'maybe survival' to now 'we could do a little better than
that'. "I really think our attacking play and regaining the ball is as good
as anything I've seen so far, so with that attacking play and that high
press, we've got a chance against anybody."

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Hart: We'll sit down together as a unit and put this right
WHUFC.com

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and there are not many
footballers with a tougher character than Joe Hart. As England's No1
goalkeeper for nearly a decade and a two-time Premier League champion, Hart
has spent his entire career under the most intense of spotlights. For that
reason, while he is honest enough to admit that West Ham United have started
the season poorly, he is experienced enough to know that the Hammers still
have ample opportunity put things right. To do so, though, Hart says they
need to ignore any external pressures and look within. "It's been a
frustrating start to the season and we've only really got ourselves to
blame, so we'll have to get together as a team, as a unit, and put this
right because it's not good enough," he said, following Saturday's 3-0
defeat at Newcastle United. "We're going to put our finger on it, but it's
that important and that serious that I think we should out our finger on it
as a group and as a team. It's not about talking now, but about actions. "We
need to get this international break out of the way. The lads who are going
away need to go away, enjoy their football and come back, and the boys who
are still here need to get ready for Huddersfield."

Hart is one of a host of seasoned, senior internationals in the West Ham
dressing room, including a number of national-team captains. And when times
are hard, as they unmistakably are at present, he knows that those sensible
and mature heads will be needed to eradicate the factors which have led to
three straight defeats to start what was hoped would be a successful season.
"Unfortunately, we're going to have to do that [press the reset button and
pick up points from 35 games rather than 38], because we've got no other
choice," he observed. "We're not going to panic because it's three games in,
but it's hard to look at the bigger picture when you're so emotional and so
raw. "I've been in situations like this before and I've been in a lot better
ones and you need to stay level-headed, organised and you need to keep the
belief in each other, have it out in any which way you need to have it out,
and all pull in the same direction."

Hart's last but not least words were saved for the Claret and Blue Army, who
have travelled nearly 1,000 miles to Manchester, Southampton and Newcastle
for very little reward. "We have phenomenal support," said the stopper, who
made a number of impressive saves at St James' Park. "To ask them to do four
away games in the first month and for it to not go exactly how we wanted it
to, rightfully a few of them told us to do one and that's their right. "I'm
always grateful for any support. I know it costs a lot of money and emotion
to be a supporter of a football club. "Emotionally it's taxing and
financially it's taxing, so we can give them a little clap and whatever, but
we've got to take the tough stuff [when we don't produce the desired
results]. We do appreciate the fans and there is only one way to show our
appreciation and one thing they really care about and it's not us clapping
them but getting results for them."

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Slaven Bilic's position put under review as West Ham eye Rafael Benitez as
successor
By Kaveh Solhekol
Last Updated: 27/08/17 3:25am
SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says it's crucial to be confident in the bad and
good times after reports his future is under review. Slaven Bilic's position
as West Ham United manager is under review after their latest defeat at
Newcastle United, according to Sky Sources. The club's owners David Sullivan
and David Gold have stood by previous managers but Sky Sports News
understands they are considering dismissing Bilic after losing all three of
their opening Premier League games this season. A senior source at the
Hammers has told Sky Sports News that the team's performance in a 3-0 defeat
at St James' Park on Saturday was totally unacceptable and the board were
very worried by what they saw.
Sky Sports News has been told "no decision has been made yet" over whether
to keep Bilic or to dismiss him with the international break coming up, but
"there will be in the next few days". West Ham's owners had stood by Bilic
after a disappointing campaign last season and backed him in the transfer
market this summer by committing funds players such as Joe Hart and Javier
Hernandez. But they are now worried that the Croatian will not be able to
get the best out of the squad they have assembled. Bilic has one year left
on his contract and talks about extending his deal were cancelled earlier
this year after a series of poor results. West Ham's owners are big admirers
of Rafael Benitez, whose own future at Newcastle is uncertain. The Spaniard
has recently expressed discontent at the club's activity in the transfer
market. Benitez was hours away from becoming West Ham's manager when they
appointed Bilic two years ago but he was offered the Real Madrid job at the
last minute. Sky Sports News understands Benitez has a release clause in his
Newcastle contract that is more than £5million.

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Sacking West Ham manager Slaven Bilic would be harsh, says Jason Burt on
Sunday Supplement
Last Updated: 27/08/17 12:21pm
SSN

Jason Burt says there is a real concern over Slaven Bilic's future at West
Ham, but insists any sacking would be harsh at this stage. Sacking West Ham
manager Slaven Bilic this early in the season would be harsh, says Jason
Burt on the Sunday Supplement. Bilic saw his side lose 3-0 at Newcastle on
Saturday, as West Ham sit bottom of the Premier League without registering a
single point from three games. Despite being heavily backed in the transfer
market this summer, Bilic's position is under review, according to Sky
sources, but the Daily Telegraph's chief football correspondent Burt says
any decision to sack him seems crazy.
He said on Sunday Supplement. "The nature of the defeat has caused real
ruptures at West Ham. I think there's real concern now, losing all three
games and conceding 10 goals. "I think it's a real hangover from last
season, when there was talk as to whether Bilic would survive. "I think
they're going to have a discussion with the manager this week, possibly as
early as Monday. They do have a Monday debrief at West Ham anyway, but I
think it's going to take on a new dimension going into the international
break. "It seems crazy, in some ways, three games into the season after
letting him bring in the players he wants, and I think it would be harsh.
But the concern is there from the board. "I think it's in the balance, I
think it's under consideration, but I think it would be harsh."

The Sunday Times' football correspondent Jonathan Northcroft also believes a
decision this early in the season would be wrong, particularly given the
investment in the squad so far this summer. "The judgement shouldn't be so
quick. What I don't understand is, if they had doubts coming out of last
season, why allow Bilic the investment and wages, I mean Chicharito, Pablo
Zabaleta and Joe Hart are big wage investments as much as anything else. "To
make a change so quickly would be another example of the craziness of the
business sometimes, to make this huge investment and without even playing a
home game to get rid of him. I would have thought he's done enough to earn a
bit more time."
Neil Custis believes Bilic's signings have not improved the team, and says
bringing in experience in Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and Javier Hernandez has
not necessarily worked. "You look at his recruiting of Hart, Zalabeta and
Hernandez, and it actually doesn't look good. Zabaleta has been found out
quickly, a brilliant player for Manchester City, but was on the wane. Hart
has been poor. "Hernandez, people were saying how they couldn't understand
why Manchester United got rid of him. I could understand why they got rid of
him, because every time he started a game he barely made an impact."

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WILL BILIC'S STUBBORNNESS COST HIM HIS JOB?
By Blind Hammer 27 Aug 2017 at 17:00
WTID

Blind Hammer wonders if Bilic has sufficient flexibility for the task.

Readers of my column will know that I have been concerned all summer about
West Ham's preparation for the upcoming season. I fundamentally disagreed
with the statements from the club hierarchy that our defence was "OK" and
that we flirted with relegation last season because we lacked strikers.

It was obvious to most observers last season, not least those of us who
attended games that our overwhelming weakness was our defence. This is not a
recent but long running flaw in both Bilic and our team. A year ago we were
shipping 4 goals at home to Watford following the conceding of 4 goals away
to West Bromwich Albion. Since January 2016 we have had one of the worst
defences in the league.

The reason that addressing weaknesses in defence should be a priority should
be obvious but we should spell it out. No less a person than Sir Trevor
Brooking explained it best a few years ago. He explained that in the hardest
and most competitive league in the world the most difficult thing to do is
to score goals. If you set up a team which is easy to score goals against in
this harsh environment you will pour enormous pressure on the offensive part
of the team. Equally importantly you will decimate any confidence in the
team. No team can thrive by shipping goals and will instead approach matches
fatalistically, expecting to lose. Your team and attackers must at least
feel that scoring 1 or 2 goals will win a game. If you cannot do this you
will inevitably be a candidate for relegation.

These were wise words by Sir Trevor but Bilic seems a stranger to these
truths. Two weeks ago I expressed frustration that Bilic is experiencing a
problem that he has actually solved before. The fact is that he can set up a
West Ham team that does not routinely concede goals. However Bilic has only
been able to do this in recent history by playing 3 at the back. Despite the
relative success of this formation and the calamitous failure of playing
with a back 4 I could not understand how, over the summer, Bilic and his
team showed no interest in preparing to play this formation. All summer the
preparation and transfer recruitment priorities ignored the option of
playing 3 at the centre of our defence. The club publically announced that
Burke and Oxford were not required because we already had "4 "centre backs".
Given that our centre backs are suffering from similar injury proneness as
that experienced by our forwards this statement only makes sense if you
never intend to develop the option of playing 3 centre backs. Why is this
option so obviously despised by Bilic and his team? From the top to the
bottom of the club they seemed determine to jettison the option of playing
this formation. It is not just Plan B but appears to be Plan Z, only
resorted to in extremis.

Bilic obviously has a stubborn streak. This is normally a good thing, with
self-belief and confidence essential aspects of a successful Manager.
However he persisted with the Antonio experiment for far too long and he is
now showing similar inflexibility with his tactical formations.

Bilic has apparently resisted changes to his coaching and fitness team. Only
the medical team has been refreshed, a team Bilic himself did not appoint.
The deficit in defensive coaching is clear now for all to see.

I wrote before the season that we could enter the home game against
Huddersfield without a single point and that we would still need patience. I
retain this patience but Bilic's inflexibility, his insistence on playing a
failing tactical system against the evidence of not just the last 3 games
but the last 18 months is stretching my own patience thin,

There is still time to recruit quality defensive cover and for Bilic to
recover his tactical nouse. If however Bilic continues to be blind to the
deficit in defensive personnel within the squad, and he continues to play a
predictable and easily countered system of fighting fire with fire even my
patience will be stretched. If Bilic plays a naïve tactical set up to invite
yet another heavy home defeat, most likely against spurs his days may be
rightly numbered. If he repeats the famous win last season against Spurs,
incidentally achieved by playing 3 at the back, the pressure will be off and
many will forgive the pain of recent weeks.

COYI

David Griffith

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WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG AT OUR CLUB?
By S J Chandos 27 Aug 2017 at 08:00
WTID

That is a question that is undoubtedly exercising the minds of a lot of West
Ham fans at present. We have had a good summer transfer window, even to this
point, but it is just not translating on the pitch. West Ham's performance
at St James Park was an embarrassment. There is no two ways about it, they
were right royalty outplayed and outfought by a team that had hitherto been
struggling even more than us. Even without Arnautovic we should have had
more than enough to get a result, but this is a team lacking cohesion,
conviction and, perhaps worst of all, belief. Yes, the early season absences
of Lanzini, Kouyate and Reid have not helped, but we should have the basic
strength in depth now to cope without them.

If there was not a crisis before, there certainly is one now and predictably
the knives are out for Bilic. I cannot blame the fans for seeing Bilic's
management as the essential root cause of our poor results. It seems that
the struggles of last season have just tipped over in to this current
season. Yet, Bilic has been backed by the board in the transfer market, but
he cannot seem to gel the players in to an effective unit. Why do Bilic and
his staff seem to be unable to motivate the players and get half-way-decent
performances? Something is clearly and fundamentally wrong at the club and
it must be put right as soon as possible. At this point, I am not clear if
Bilic will do that or a new manager will replace him (whoever that might
be?) and be given that responsibility? What I do know is that although Bilic
takes the flack, there are also questions to be asked about the basic
professional pride and application of the playing staff. What I have seen
from our players this season is just not good enough.

We probably have not reached the point at which there will be a change of
manager. The impression I get is that Bilic is genuinely popular with the
club's owners. And it is almost certain they will give him the rest of the
transfer window to bring in one or two extra additions. The clock is likely
to start ticking once the window closes and we face Huddersfield Town at
home, which is now a massive game for Bilic and the club. Lose and the board
could conceivably bring forward their plans to replace him. Win and he will
buy himself some much needed extra time. More than anything, Bilic needs his
senior players to rally around and give him a timely and inspired
performance on 11 September 2017. I do not think the board want to sack
Bilic, but they will if the situation does not change markedly. In the
highly charged world of the PL there is no room for sentiment. West Ham need
to be in the top tier. Beyond that 'bottom line,' they need to be seen to be
moving forward as a club.

Bilic is in a very uncomfortable place right now and one feels for him. He
is due to discuss the situation with the co-owners this week. No doubt his
position will be made clear to him at that meeting. The trigger fingers at a
lot of PL clubs would be getting very itchy right about now, but I believe
that Sullivan and Gold will hold fire for a further period of time to see if
Bilic can turn it around.

Personally, if I was in Bilic's shoes I would start working on a 3-5-2
system for the Huddersfield Town match, giving Zabaletta and Cresswell the
latitude to push forward down the flanks. I might also be very tempted to
recall Adrian to the team. We shall see on 11 September 2017 whether Bilic
agrees?

SJ. Chandos.

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Bilic's West Ham haven't been bad for just three games - they've been poor
for 12 months
West Ham's manager is under enormous pressure after the club fell to a third
defeat in a row
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
17:11, 27 AUG 2017

It's not as if we are all reacting to the first three games of the new
season - West Ham under Slaven Bilic have been poor for the past 12 months.
It's not just the three games this season he is being judged on either, it's
in fact three wins in the last 17 games and by anyone's standards, that's
unnacceptable. Saturday's debacle at St James' Park was one of the worst
performances by a West Ham team under Bilic, it was just awful. If it were
not for Joe Hart, it could have been five or six. There have been some bad
ones - West Brom away last season, Watford at home, Liverpool at home to
name just three - but yesterday was simply shocking. Last seasons transfer
windows were abysmal as only Andre Ayew, Arthur Masuaku and Edimilson
Fernandes remain in and around the first team. Jose Fonte is woefully out of
form and his fellow January signing, Robert Snodgrass, has been loaned out
to Aston Villa just eight months after signing. Simone Zaza, Havard
Nordveit, Gokhan Tore, Jonathan Calleri, Sofiane Feghouli, Ashley Fletcher -
all players signed last summer - didn't make the grade. The Croat needed a
strong start to the season to even entertain the idea of extending his
contract past this season - you can absolutely rule that out now. Whether it
is this summer or sooner, Bilic is unlikely to be in charge of West Ham next
season barring a miraculous turn around.
Tactically, Bilic has been found wanting and his team selection even more
so. Fernandes isn't ready for the first team, Mark Noble is clearly on a
downhill slide, Declan Rice is - while extremely talented - very raw and
young - yet that was the starting midfield against Newcastle with Cheikhou
Kouyate on the bench. Rice made a mistake that led to Newcastle's opening
goal by Joselu yesterday and what did Bilic do? Subbed the kid off which is
poor man management. It was up to Joe Hart to give encouragement to Rce
after the mistake, gee him up, then his manager hooked him at half time.
Snodgrass has since tore into the manager for playing him out of position,
we've seen Fernandes playing left wing, we've seen Michail Antonio play
right back as well, remember that? Bilic persists with the one main striker
too - Javier Hernandez this season - who is as far removed from a target man
as you can be. It's pointless lumping the ball up to him like Andy Carroll,
Chicharito needs the ball to feet. The lack service up to him in the opening
three games has been non-existent. It's a case of when, not if, Bilic is
dismissed or he might even walk. The Hammers board have been very tentative
when it comes to getting rid of managers but this time around, they can't
be. Will Bilic be in the dugout for the first home game of the season? Who
knows, but it's not a definite he will be there.

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Aston Villa loanee Robert Snodgrass on his deteriorating relationship with
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic
Snodgrass has joined AVFC on loan until the end of the season
Birmingham Mail
BYMAT KENDRICK
18:00, 27 AUG 2017

Aston Villa loanee Robert Snodgrass has given a brutally honest assessment
of why he had to get away from West Ham. Snodgrass has joined Villa on a
temporary deal until the end of the season, just seven months after signing
for the Hammers. The 29-year-old Scotland international is excited and
relieved to be reunited with his former Hull boss Steve Bruce at Villa. His
relationship with Slaven Bilic deteriorated because the West Ham manager
insisted on playing him out of position, says Snodgrass. Bilic wanted to use
him on the left-wing as a replacement for Dimitri Payet, whereas Snodgrass
prefers to play on the right or as a No.10.
"I think last season my quality was scoring goals and creating goals and I
did that in the first part of the season (at Hull)," said Snodgrass. "I went
to West Ham and I had a manager that played me out of position. To be honest
with you it was very tough to take. "Sometimes , with the way you've been
brought up, you try to just put your heart on your sleeve and play anywhere.
"To get the best out of any player you need to play him in his best
position, it's as simple as that."

Snodgrass, who has also played for Leeds United and Norwich City, insists
most of his success has come playing on the right or as a second striker.
"I've done it my full career," he said. "I've scored goals, created goals
everywhere I've been. "You need to play your right position and this is the
reason why I made the step to try and go and play football. "I spoke to the
manager there (West Ham) and said to him, 'You wanted me to try and replace
Payet, it's not my position'. "I couldn't have made that any more clear.
When I spoke to him this season I said 'I need to play my position, I need a
run of games in my position'. "This is the reason why I've come here. "I've
got a manager who knows what I'm about. "He's signed me for a lot of money
at Hull. To get the best out of any player you need to play them in their
right position, it's as simple as that."

Snodgrass, who is contracted to West Ham until summer 2020, is set to make
his Villa debut after the international break when Brentford visit Villa
Park in the Championship on September 9. "I just get a smile on my face
talking about it," he said. "It's a terrific club with a great set of fans.
"I've played against them many times and I just can't wait. "I haven't
enjoyed not knowing what's happening (at West Ham). "Nobody's spoken to me
at West Ham really and it's a weird feeling.
"I've always had a Bristish-based manager who has talked to me and had a
good relationship with, so to have that feeling back is a good feeling. "I
can't wait. I've got that feeling knowing what the Championship's all about,
knowing you're coming here with some terrific players. "The lads have got
some great quality, there's some great lads here that I've worked with.
"Once you go on that run of games and believing that you can achieve
promotion. That's the key, everybody needs to believe." Snodgrass was
talking to Villa's official media channels.

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Doubts over Slaven Bilic's future could derail West Ham's William Carvalho
transfer
The latest West Ham transfer news sees fresh doubts of William Carvalho's
proposed Hammers move
Footbal London
BYKEVIN BEIRNE
15:30, 27 AUG 2017

Fresh doubts have been cast over West Ham's move for William Carvalho with
reports claiming that Slaven Bilic could be about to be sacked as Hammers
manager.
The Croat is coming under increased pressure following his side's third
straight league defeat of the season on Saturday. The east Londoners were
thrashed 3-0 by Newcastle in a limp display at St James' Park which has some
fans questioning Bilic's ability to lead the team forward. Bilic's opposite
number yesterday, Rafael Benitez, has become the frontrunner to take over
the reigns at the London Stadium. With just a few days remaining until the
transfer window shuts at the end of the month, the Hammers are running out
of time to get a deal for Carvalho over the line. But the Portuguese
midfielder may be forced to reevaluate his desire to join West Ham if the
rumours over Bilic's sacking intensify. Carvalho's proposed move to West Ham
has been held up by disagreements over his transfer fee.
The Hammers are said to be growing increasingly frustrated with Sporting
Lisbon's negotiating tactics, accusing the Portuguese club of moving the
goalposts over their asking price. They have even sent out feelers about a
move for Sunderland's Didier Ndong as an alternative for the Euro 2016
winner. But if Carvalho does not receive reassurances over who is manager
will be should he make the switch to England, he may decide to simply stay
put in Lisbon for now.

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West Ham may return for Slavisa Jokanovic, months after eyeing him as Bilic
replacement
HITC
Olly Dawes

According to The Express, Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is likely to be in
the frame for West Ham United, as they consider the future of manager Slaven
Bilic.
After a disappointing season last term, the West Ham board decided to back
Bilic rather than sack him, enabling him to bring in Joe Hart, Pablo
Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez to boost his squad. However,
results in the opening stages of this season have been poor. Whilst three
successive away games is a tough start, due to West Ham's London Stadium
being used for athletics, 4-0, 3-2 and 3-0 defeats at Manchester United,
Southampton and Newcastle United respectively aren't good enough. Slavisa
Jokanovic Head Coach of Fulham looks on prior to the Carabao Cup First Round
match between Wycombe Wanderers and Fulham at Adams Park on August 8, 2017
in High Wycombe, England. The defeat at Newcastle was particularly awful,
and Sky Sports report that West Ham are now claiming that Bilic's position
is under review, as the Hammers consider making an early season change in
the dugout. Whilst Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez could be a target, The
Express claim that West Ham are likely to be back in the market for Fulham
boss Slavisa Jokanovic, months after their initial interest.
Sky Sports claimed back in April that West Ham were keen to land Jokanovic
if they decided to let Bilic go, but the Serbian ended up staying at Craven
Cottage when Bilic's future was secured. Jokanovic impressed last season,
taking Fulham to the play-offs with an attractive brand of football, though
he has been frustrated by the club's transfer policy, and Fulham have made a
shaky start to the season. West Ham may now choose to go back in for
Jokanovic this summer should they choose to replace Bilic, offering him a
chance in the Premier League having been replaced as Watford boss after
winning promotion in 2015. Fulham won't want to lose Jokanovic, but given
his frustration over his lack of input in the club's signing, he may well
fancy a move to the London Stadium.

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