Daily WHUFC News - 3rd September 2017

Chicharito and Mexico qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup finals
WHUFC.com

Chicharito and Mexico have qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals
after beating Panama 1-0 in Mexico City on Friday evening. The West Ham
United forward played the full 90 minutes at the Azteca Stadium, where
Hirving Lozano's second-half goal secured El Tri's progress to Russia.
Mexico became the fifth team to secure a spot at next summer's competition,
joining host Russia, Brazil, Iran and Japan. Chicharito was at his lively
best on home turf playing in the 26th FIFA World Cup qualifier of his
illustrious career, unleashing three shots on Panama's goal, and he now has
the opportunity to play at his third finals. The Hammers forward was making
his 97th appearance for his country and will hope to reach his century
before next summer's tournament. Cap number 98 should arrive on Tuesday
evening, when Mexico travel to Costa Rica. Should they win, Chicharito and
company will secure a first-place finish in the CONCACAF qualification
table.

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Arnautovic gears up for Wales tie
WHUFC.com

Two Hammers could go head-to-head in FIFA World Cup Qualifying on Saturday,
as Marko Arnautovic's Wales head to Cardiff to take on James Collins' Wales.
Group D is finely poised, with both Austria and Wales just four points
behind joint-leaders Serbia and Republic of Ireland, so a victory would go a
long way for either side. The pair played out a 2-2 draw in Vienna at the
start of the campaign – with Arnautovic on target twice – and the
28-year-old is keen to get back to winning ways after having to sit out the
Hammers' trip to Newcastle last weekend suspended. He said: "We dominated
that match [against Wales] and deserved the victory, so on Saturday we
should give gas, and everyone should fight for each other until the end. "I
know how to deal with the pressure. I only focus on football and not on what
people say, write or mean."

Arnautovic was disappointed to start his Hammers career with a sending off
at Southampton but is looking forward to his return to action after the
international break and helping his side turn their early season form
around. He added: "I'm really looking forward to the new task, the team has
a lot of potential."

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International round-up: Hart keeps clean sheet in England win
WHUFC.com

A host of West Ham United internationals were in action on Friday with Joe
Hart playing the full 90 minutes for England. The goalkeeper kept a clean
sheet for the Three Lions in the 4-0 victory away at Malta to keep Gareth
Southgate's side unbeaten and at the top of their World Cup qualifying
group. Two goals from Harry Kane and a finish apiece from Ryan Bertrand and
Danny Welbeck secured the win for England. Left-back Aaron Cresswell was an
unused substitute for England in this match.

At U19 level Dan Kemp had an excellent game for England against Poland,
providing two assists in the 7-1 win. The 18-year-old – in great form for
the West Ham United U23s – started the match and created two of England's
seven finishes while hat-tricks from Sheffield Wednesday's George Hirst and
Arsenal's Edward Nketiah, as well as a goal from Sunderland man Elliot
Embleton, secured an emphatic victory.

Andre Ayew meanwhile played 68 minutes for Ghana as the Black Stars battled
back to earn a 1-1 draw with Congo. It took a late finish from Thomas Partey
to secure a point for Ghana but their chances of qualifying for the World
Cup are now in serious danger. They sit five points behind leading side
Uganda in their group.

Arthur Masuaku had been included in DR Congo's international squad for
Friday's match with Tunisia but the defender was not a part of the match-day
squad. His side lost 2-1.

Finally summer signing Sead Hakasabanovic was an used substitute for
Montenegro in the 3-0 win over Kazakhstan That win puts Montenegro second in
Group E of World Cup qualification, on 13 points.

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Ewens: Adaptability will be key for Ladies in Chichester City Cup tie
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Ladies assistant manager Josh Ewens believes adaptability
will prove to be the crucial attribute in this Sunday's FAWPL Cup match with
Chichester City. The Ladies secured their first win of the new season last
weekend in a 4-3 thriller against Cardiff City and will now focus their
attention on their Determining Round fixture with Chichester. The West
Sussex side are yet to claim a win in the FAWPL Southern Premier this
campaign but Ewens is aware that Chichester will be a significant challenge
for the West Ham Ladies to overcome. And the coach reckons Chichester City
will prove a good test for his side's ability to react on the field as the
game develops. "I think Chichester will be a tough test," Ewens told
whufc.com. "I think it depends on how they set up, and then it will be about
how our players respond to the challenges Chichester pose us. "No matter how
they decide to play our training will hopefully have prepared our players to
react appropriately and resolve those problems on the pitch in real time. As
long as we continue with what we've been doing we should be okay."

The match with Chichester City Ladies is the first step on the path of a
season-long journey to the final Last campaign the West Ham United Ladies
were eliminated at this stage of the competition by eventual winners
Tottenham Hotspur, and Ewens is targeting a much better push this season.
The assistant manager also wants to see continued progression in the level
of performance and believes winning the right way is also vital for the
team. Ewens, when asked about the Ladies' aims for this cup competition,
responded: "We want to do as well as we can. Like everything we will go in
with the view of playing as well as we can and hopefully going all the way
and winning it, but we want to do that in our way and in the right way. "As
well as that it's another game to try and play the way we want to play.
Hopefully we get a result as well as a good performance. The performance
isn't necessarily more important than a win but what I will say is how much
we win in the future will be dependent on the level of performance."

Ewens was also keen to offer praise the other members of the Ladies coaching
team, who have dedicated their time and efforts to making the West Ham
United side a better outfit. "There's definitely a good feeling in the camp
but there's lots to work on, lots to improve on and we're all looking
forward to Sunday's game.
"We've got some really good and dedicated staff here. Whether it's a win or
a loss we all work incredibly hard. Greg de Carnys, Karen Ray, Myles Smith,
Dan Blewett, Cav Francis-King and Neo Charalambous all deserve credit for
what they're doing with the team. "We are all working incredibly hard to
ensure that performances continue to improve and I think we will start to
see that transferring into regular positive results."

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Key man Kemp pivotal in emphatic England win
WHUFC.com

Dan Kemp expressed his delight after creating two goals as England's U19s
recorded an emphatic 7-1 friendly victory over Poland on Friday. The West
Ham United winger, who has been on fire for the Club's U23s this season with
three goals in just four appearances, teamed up with the young Lions for
their matches against Poland and Germany. And the 18-year-old collected two
assists as the hosts scored seven times through Sheffield Wednesday's George
Hirst and Arsenal's Edward Nketiah – both of whom fired in hat-tricks – as
well as Sunderland man Elliot Embleton. After the thrashing, a thrilled Kemp
said: "I'm delighted to have first started the game as it's always an honour
to represent my country. I have started twice before but the feeling is
always fresh and new and always amazing. "To get the assists at the end of
the day is just part of my job as an attacking player – to create and score
goals – but obviously I'm delighted to have got two assists.
"I'm still looking for my first goal but I feel it will come soon enough and
the most important thing is that we won and the team played great. "I hope
to keep doing well when playing for England and work hard to keep improving
and getting better and better with each game and training sessions with the
boys. "The aim for us as a group is to keep getting working together to be
ready to perform well and hopefully retain the European Championship at the
end of the season. The feeling I get when I play for my country is special
and such a honour."

The U23s were beaten heavily by Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, but had a
number of key men missing, including the likes of Nathan Trott, Josh Pask
and Martin Samuelsen, as well as Kemp. Prior to the defeat, Terry Westley's
Hammers were unbeaten in all competitions and Kemp has taken great
confidence from the superb start to the season. "I feel I've had a great
start to the season with West Ham and I am really enjoying my football and
this has helped me to take this onto playing for England," he continued. "I
am so happy to get the opportunity to play for my country and start our U19
campaign so well. "I enjoy scoring and providing goals and nothing is better
than this for an attacking player like me. This season, I have I set myself
bigger goal and assists targets and I am now just really hoping to achieve
them."

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THE SQUAD? THE BOARD? THE MANAGER? THE WINDOW!
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 2 SEPTEMBER 2017 AT 11:38AM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

Written By Malcolm Atkins @malatk

Well that was a strange one. A few weeks ago we were all delighted with the
window. Arnautovic, Zabaleta and Hart were joined by Chicarito; the quality
finisher we had been missing. We were all delighted, even my old sparring
partner Fareham was calling for a Knighthood for DS – maybe a little tongue
in cheek but certainly like other long term board sceptics he felt a lot
more optimistic. Then we offloaded most of the players that most of us had
wanted rid of and sat back awaiting the last couple of pieces of the jigsaw
and then world domination, or at least a decent challenge for 7th!

Then the season started! Three losses, all pretty abject with an
unconvincing cup win over lower league opposition the only straw to clutch.
The away factor re-ignited the anti-board folk while those of us who are far
from convinced by Bilic were yelling for him to be sacked.

Window was still open so we waited; Bilic to go, and new signings? Bilic to
stay, and new signings? Neither, so now everyone is unhappy.

Despite being a long time board supporter I think they have got this wrong.
If they were keeping him they should have stumped up for the player he
wanted. If not – move him on (though this should have been done in the
summer really, they are paying for keeping a manager they are not sure
about. I find it mysterious; it has gone very quiet from the Sullivans and
David Gold – I can not help but think there is something else happening to
which we are not privy. Something is clearly very wrong at the club, and
yet…..

The squad on Paper is really not that bad, I saw a point made that if the
signings had all been made this week it would feel very different and I
think that has merit. Looking at the manager's preferred 4-3-3 In goal,
England's Keeper, backed up by Adrian, called up by pain not so long ago.
Cresswell (England squad) and Masuaku for left back, League winner Zabaleta
backed up by Byram at Right Back. Reid, Ogbonna, Fonte and Ginge for two
places could also be covered by Rice and Kouyate.

Midfield three from Obiang, Kouyate, Noble, Fernandes and of course Lanzini
– Rice has also been playing there. Hernandez/Carroll/Sakho/Martinez up top
– flanked by Antonio and Anautovic covered by Ayew and Sakho or Lanziniagain
as well as unknown quantity of Haksabanovic.

Throw in Quina, Holland and maybe Samuelson this is not a squad that should
be looking at relegation etc. The squad has options, can easily go 4-4-2 or
three at the back. Why does it all look so bleak? Well they are seriously
underperforming. No oomph, look unfit, confidence is fragile, defeats turn
into hidings. For me these issues point to a need for a change of manager.
The board however deserves criticism. Either reluctant to spend, indecisive
or both they have once again created a situation where expectation has risen
only to end in disappointment. The atmosphere round the club is terrible. I
think they figure there is too much quality to be relegated and if Slav does
not turn it round they can let him go with if need be a January war chest to
tempt a new manager (maybe their old target of Rafa). Dangerous game!
Momentum is so important, we could get in a real mess and then fail to
attract the right man while adding to the already terrible atmosphere around
the club. With many unconvinced by the stadium move they needed to make a
statement and have totally messed it up, meanwhile the "on paper squad"
could suddenly not look so good with Sakho's temperament and injury record
and an injury free Carroll squad about as likely as a lift from Wayne Rooney
we could be a Chica injury from trouble up front. Lanzini is the only
established creative midfielder and Zabaleta looks vulnerable in the current
system.

A couple of wins can put a different spin on things and while I desperately
hope that happens I would really like a change. Improved fitness, a new
impetus and a system that either gives Zab the protection of a wide right
player or (my choice) on the right of a back three as well as finding a way
to get Chicarito in the box and I still think we could look pretty decent
with what we have.

One thing is for sure, defeat against Huddersfield will bring about a fan
meltdown which will see the owners and manager under fire like never before.

Fortunes always hiding – ain't that the truth.

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Bilic is content, states Chairman Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 1st September 2017
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan says that manager Slaven Bilic is "content" with West Ham's
summer transfer business. Although he fails to offer his own opinion on
Bilic's buys during the statement, published on whufc.com tonight (Friday),
Sullivan insisted that he is "behind" Slaven. The club's co-owner also
revealed that he spurned the opportunity to sign Bilic's long-term target
William Carlvalho on transfer deadline day - but claimed the manager had
told him he possessed "the tools to turn around our form and rectify our
disappointing start to the season". "Overall Slaven is happy with the
business we have done during the summer transfer window," he said. "We
received the manager's wish-list before the window opened and we have
managed to get the top four players on it. "It is no secret that we made a
club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho but unfortunately
that offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago. "Late last night Sporting
Lisbon made contact to accept the original offer, but unfortunately it was
just too late in the day. "We simply did not have enough time to put the
player through a medical and we were not prepared, as a club, to buy a
player for that amount of money without him having gone through adequate
medical checks. "Grzegorz Krychowiak and Renato Sanches were both offered to
the manager before their switches elsewhere, but he told us that he is happy
with the squad he has. "As a Board we are behind Slaven."

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Joe Hart not to blame for West Ham's start, says Mark Noble
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 02/09/17 10:16am
SSN

Mark Noble insists goalkeeper Joe Hart is not to blame for West Ham's poor
start to the new season. Hart joined West Ham on a season-long loan from
Manchester City in the summer, but is so far yet to keep a clean sheet, with
the Hammers losing their first three Premier League matches. The 30-year-old
did manage to keep a clean sheet in England's 4-0 victory over Malta on
Friday and midfielder Noble believes West Ham's outfield players must
provide more protection for their No 1.
"Joe has had a tough start to his West Ham career, but that's down to the
whole team," the West Ham captain told The Daily Mail. "He's England's No 1,
he's a fantastic goalie and I think he'll stay No 1 for a while yet to come.
"He's a fantastic character. He's played in massive tournaments and won the
Premier League so it's always nice to have that experience. "We probably
haven't protected him as well as we should have done in the first three
games, but he's a leader, a great person and hopefully he can start his
enjoyment of West Ham from next Monday night."

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Slaven Bilic turned down Renato Sanches, says West Ham's David Sullivan
By Rory O'Callaghan
Last Updated: 01/09/17 11:55pm
SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic rejected the chance to sign both Renato Sanches
and Grzegorz Krychowiak this summer, according to Hammers joint-chairman
David Sullivan. In one of the shock moves of the summer transfer window,
Euro 2016 winner Sanches joined Swansea on a one-year deal after being
allowed to leave Bayern Munich on loan - less than 18 months after joining
the Bavarians in a £27.5m transfer from Benfica. Sanches is set to be
reunited with Swans boss Paul Clement, who worked alongside the Portuguese
youngster during his time as assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti at the
Allianz Arena.
However, Sullivan claims Sanches could well have signed for West Ham this
season if Bilic had given the transfer his approval. "Grzegorz Krychowiak
and Renato Sanches were both offered to the manager before their switches
elsewhere, but he told us that he is happy with the squad he has," Sullivan
said. "As a Board we are behind Slaven, and he believes he has the tools to
turn around our form and rectify our disappointing start to the season."
West Ham signed a number of fresh faces over the course of the summer
window, with Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez among the
new arrivals. However, the London Stadium club missed out on William
Carvalho after Sporting Libson left it too later to accept a bid from the
Hammers. "Overall Slaven is happy with the business we have done during the
summer transfer window," said Sullivan. "We received the manager's wish-list
before the window opened and we have managed to get the top four players on
it. It is no secret that we made a club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's
William Carvalho but unfortunately that offer was rejected a couple of weeks
ago. "Late last night Sporting Lisbon made contact to accept the original
offer, but unfortunately it was just too late in the day, and we simply did
not have enough time to put the player through a medical. "We were not
prepared, as a club, to buy a player for that amount of money without him
having gone through adequate medical checks."

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IF THE BOARD HAS DECIDED SLAVEN IS TOAST, THEY NEED TO SHOW DECISIVE
LEADERSHIP
By Iain Dale 2 Sep 2017 at 10:02
WTID

This is the statement David Sullivan gave the club website yesterday. It
makes for some interesting reading…

"Overall Slaven is happy with the business we have done during the summer
transfer window. We received the manager's wish-list before the window
opened and we have managed to get the top four players on it. It is no
secret that we made a club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho
but unfortunately that offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago. Late last
night Sporting Lisbon made contact to accept the original offer, but
unfortunately it was just too late in the day, and we simply did not have
enough time to put the player through a medical. We were not prepared, as a
club, to buy a player for that amount of money without him having gone
through adequate medical checks. Grzegorz Krychowiak and Renato Sanches were
both offered to the manager before their switches elsewhere, but he told us
that he is happy with the squad he has. As a Board we are behind Slaven, and
he believes he has the tools to turn around our form and rectify our
disappointing start to the season."
The point about Cavalho is an interesting one. He says there wasn't enough
time to put the player through a medical. I beg to differ. As I understand
the rules, as long as the paperwork has been submitted the medical could
have taken place after the deadline.

Given what I am told by sources close to the club, and indeed the words of
this statement, I can only draw one conclusion. Slaven Bilic is toast. The
timing of his departure is the only issue. It's a question of when, rather
than if. I have always been a Slaven supporter but my view is that if the
Board has decided he isn't the one to take us forward, then they do no one
any favours by not being decisive now. If I read this right, there are
regrets that they didn't do the dirty deed after the Newcastle game, and our
lack of activity in the last week of the transfer window is entirely down to
the fact that they don't want to spend money for a manager who isn't likely
to be here much longer. There is a certain logic to that. I have little
doubt that if we lose to Huddersfield on Monday the axe will fall.

If that happens, what then? I've always belonged to the school of management
that if you decide to fire someone, you need to have your ducks in a row.
And that's the rub here. It's not obvious who would, could or should succeed
Slaven. It may well be that the decision is being delayed until Rafa
Benitez's position at Newcastle becomes clearer. THIS article in yesterday's
Guardian seems to indicate that he would certainly be open to a open to a
move to West Ham and has decided that he can't stay at Newcastle. Even more
interesting was THIS article in which Newcastle supporting Sky Sports
reporter Pete Graves said this…

"There's something that's worried me since the day Rafa Benitez arrived at
Newcastle United. Something that has always been at the back of my mind. A
nagging fear that one day a certain club might come in for him, and believe
it or not – that club was West Ham. My heart sank a little last (Saturday)
night. The news reached us at Sky Sports News that West Ham were considering
the future of Slaven Bilic and that indeed Rafa Benitez would be top of
their potential list of suitors. Furthermore they were aware there was a
clause, a fairly significant one (more than £5m) but ultimately a way to
effectively buy Rafa Benitez out of Newcastle United.

But why are West Ham the club that I've feared so long?? Why did I not blink
when the links with China and even Arsenal were reported in the national
press? Well the reason is, because Rafa has always maintained privately that
he feels indebted to West Ham and would have to consider any approach from
the Hammers if it should ever materialise and here's why;

In 2015 Benitez was on the brink of becoming West Ham's manager. He'd spoken
to the owners and was planning for life at Upton Park. However at the
eleventh hour Real Madrid offered him the opportunity to move to the
Bernabeu and it was too good an offer to turn down.

What impressed Rafa so much was the way the West Ham board accepted his
decision. They understood that the opportunity to manage Real Madrid was too
much for a Spanish manager to disregard and they gave Rafa their blessing
and subsequently appointed Slaven Bilic. The rest as they say is history and
now we are where we are…Bilic on the brink and Rafa in their thoughts.

Now let's throw into the mix that Rafa has grown increasingly frustrated at
NUFC this summer. He wanted more investment and he's stood and watched while
even fellow 'promotees' Brighton and Huddersfield have spent significantly
more. Meanwhile West Ham have signed Joe Hart (a player Rafa wanted) and
submitted a bid of close to £40m for William Carvalho (another Rafa target).
Let that sink in…A 40 million pound bid for ONE player, that's more than
Newcastle have spent on six new arrivals so far. That's financial muscle.

Only this week Rafa said that he no longer viewed NUFC as a long term
project…Not my words, the words of the manager, whilst he's also said he's
"signing the players he can, not the ones he wants". Needless to say the
positivity of last seasons's promotion has disintegrated. And Rafa is
clearly frustrated AND not afraid to tell the world.

Now let's consider West Ham as a long term project. They have the Olympic
Stadium, they are based in London, in my opinion with the right manager at
the helm they could be challenging the 'big boys' in the next 3-5 years both
on and off the pitch. It's am attractive proposition on paper.

Now, from a personal point of view, I was gutted to be roundly criticised by
lots of fellow NUFC fans for reporting the story both on air and online last
(Saturday) night. Let me say there's absolutely no agenda from me, so to be
accused of stirring things up or creating stories to disrupt the club is
absolutely ridiculous.
Convincing, isn't it?

The only two high profile alternatives who are not in current employment are
David Moyes and Alan Pardew. Last time we were looking for a manager Moyes
was one of the favourites but he wanted £5 million a year. That was before
his Sunderland debacle, though. I cannot believe the Board would countenance
him as manager, but sometimes desperate people do desperate things.

Pardew is more of an interesting proposition. He has said previously that he
considers he has unfinished business at West Ham after his departure all
those years ago. I liked Pardew as a manager. I liked his enthusiasm, the
fact that he seemed to live every kick of the ball on the touchline and his
style of play. My problem with him is that he seems to move from being the
most brilliant manager with a 12 match unbeaten run, to someone who
seemingly can't get another result. At his best he's very very good. At his
worst he's terrible. Look at his record at every club he's been to. Hero to
zero in a matter of matches. Then hero again. Then back to zero. The word
'consistency' doesn't really appear in his lexicon. I'd certainly pick him
over Moyes, but is he really a long term prospect? If Slaven goes next week
I could see him being a stop-gap appointment until the end of the season,
but probably no more than that.

It would not surprise me at all if there had been some sort of contact
between David Sullivan and Benitez's representatives. And frankly, if they
see him as their man, they need to move heaven and earth to make sure it
happens. But is Rafa really the right man? He's one of those big name
managers who will expect a very large transfer budget. A very large transfer
budget indeed. Would his style of play suit West Ham? Would he get on with
the Board? Would he seek to gut the current squad and bring in a whole new
raft of players? So many questions…

One thing is clear. However long it takes for Slaven to leave. Even if we
win the next four games and climb up the table, he will not be offered a new
contract with West Ham. He's in his last season. Often the players can
resolve to get the manager out of a crisis. This time, I'm not sure they
want to. They may like him. They may even respect him, but if the players
have come to the conclusion the manager is a gonner, then psychologically
it's very difficult for them to rally to his aid. That's just my
supposition. We'll find out the reality on Monday night.

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