Daily WHUFC News - 1st December 2017

Pedro Obiang recalls the day he finally broke his West Ham duck
WHUFC.com

Pedro Obiang recalls the day he finally broke his duck in a West Ham United
shirt, in a 3-1 win at Southampton on 4 February 2017…

THE BUILD-UP

For many West Ham United players, the wait for their first goal in Claret
and Blue was a short one. Among those to have scored on their debuts were
Carlton Cole, Bobby Zamora, Mauro Zarate, Ian Wright, Alvin Martin, Tony
Cottee and 1940 War Cup final hero Sam Small. For others, however, the same
wait goes on seemingly forever, with supporters beginning to ask if he will
ever find the net for the Hammers. Two-time Hammer of the Year Steve Potts,
who famously scored just once in 505 appearances, had to wait until his
118th game to register his first goal for the Club, against Hull City in
1990. Another defensive great, Ken Brown, marked his 279th appearance, a 5-0
thrashing of Birmingham City in October 1962, to net the first of his three
West Ham goals. And spare a thought for Alfred Earl, too. The right-back
played 206 times between 1925 and 1933 and did not score a single goal – the
most games played by a West Ham outfield player without finding the back of
the net. As the calendar flipped from January to February 2017, Pedro Obiang
was still anxiously awaiting his first goal in a Claret and Blue shirt. The
Spanish midfielder had, to be brutally honest, not really threatened to get
off the mark, firing a few hopeful shots narrowly wide, over or close enough
to the goalkeeper to be saved fairly comfortably. Hammers fans were
beginning to wonder if the popular Obiang, who was enjoying a breakout
second season at the Club, would ever be able to celebrate a West Ham goal
of his own. "Scoring goals is not my main job, of course, but I wanted to
score one!" the 25-year-old reflected, with a smile. "I had to wait for a
long time for my first goal at Sampdoria, so maybe we should not be
surprised that we had to wait a long time for my first goal at West Ham. "I
did try to score before, though, I promise. I had some shots, but for
whatever reason, they didn't go in!"

THE MATCH

West Ham's 2016/17 season was something of a stop-start struggle from the
off. Five defeats in six Premier League matches left the Hammers in the
relegation zone and only a run of three slightly fortuitous straight wins in
December pulled them into the relative comfort of mid-table. Back-to-back
and convincing victories at the end of January, at home to Crystal Palace
and at Middlesbrough, saw Slaven Bilic's side rise to a season-high tenth in
the table. A humbling 4-0 home defeat by Manchester City soured moods
somewhat, but West Ham still travelled to Southampton with confidence on 4
February. Obiang was named in the team for his 55th Hammers appearance. That
confidence looked to have evaporated just 12 minutes in, when Saints new boy
Manolo Gabbiadini marked his own debut by blasting high past Darren
Randolph. Two minutes later, however, Man of the Match Obiang took
centre-stage for the first time, threading a superb through ball for Andy
Carroll, who converted his fourth in four games with aplomb. And seconds
before half-time, the No14 finally broke his duck to put West Ham into a
lead they would never relinquish. When Southampton cleared a corner only as
far as Obiang, he took a touch and sent an accurate, low, skimming –
'bobbling' may be a fairer description – shot through a forest of legs and
into the bottom left-hand corner of Fraser Forster's net. Cue wild
celebrations. Obiang was mobbed by his happy teammates and lifted into the
air by Winston Reid. In the stands, the fans marked the big moment with a
cheer and a song for their new goalscoring hero.
Captain Mark Noble would add a third goal after the break and West Ham went
on to win 3-1, delighting Obiang. "For the team, for the supporters and for
the Club this is great, because after the game against Manchester City we
were all angry. That's normal, but after today we can be calm for this week
and try to take another three points on Saturday against West Bromwich. "I
was happy for the supporters – we had over 3,000 of them there and they come
every time.
"I know we have nice supporters. They come to us every time, whether we have
lost or won."

THE REACTION

Obiang was naturally delighted to score his first goal for the Club, all the
more so because he had recently become a father for the first time, with
baby Jeremih being born in summer 2016. "It feels very, very good to score
my first goal for West Ham," he beamed. "This goal is for my baby because I
am now a Dad, and I am very happy because many times I have seen the other
guys score. I've enjoyed that and now I have scored, so I am very happy.
"One time before, the same ball arrived and I tried to cross. When it came
to me again I thought 'it's your time'. If I score, then OK, and if not, no
worries. This time I scored! "It was important for us to go in front at that
stage. We started the game well, but they scored quickly and we needed to
recover. We did that, and then after my goal we had a really nice game."

Unfortunately, West Ham would fail to build on their morale-boosting win at
St Mary's Stadium, failing to win any of their next seven matches to slip
down the table. By 8 April, the Hammers were 15th and needed a vital 1-0
home win over Swansea City – the first of five games unbeaten – and a 2-1
final-day win at Burnley to end the season in a creditable eleventh
position.

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Chantelle Mackie marvels at morale
WHUFC.com

"Just mention about when Hannah Wheeler dropped her phone down the toilet,"
Chantelle Mackie says, while grinning mischievously. Mackie is eager to make
sure her defensive teammate's mishap is included – a sign of the bond that
she shares with Wheeler and indeed the rest of the squad at the West Ham
United Ladies.
"She was so distressed and it was so funny," Mackie continued. "It was
honestly one of the funniest moments so far this year and only she and I saw
it happen. But that's just the nature of the team. We can banter each other
about anything! "We're all like a family now which is really nice. We are
all really close which is a massive help."

A major aspect of that feeling comes from the 3-1 win away at Charlton
Athletic last month – a result the Ladies are still talking about. Mackie
says the win over the league leaders at The Valley cannot be underplayed,
highlighting the importance of the victory on West Ham's confidence. She
said: "I think it gave us a massive confidence boost. From that win, we
started to believe in ourselves a whole lot more. It helped us so much and I
don't think the significance of that result can be understated. "Everyone
after that game seemed to realise that we are good players and we can play
good football."

While manager Greg de Carnys is happy to try different approaches on the
pitch, it appears the first-team boss is happy with his defensive line.
Mackie, the right-back in the usual set-up, believes that comes from hard
work on the training pitch. "We all work really well together," she said on
the defence: "Our communication is excellent and we all work off each other.
If one of us is stepping up the other three are there, covering them. It's
almost instinctual now. We've got a really good understanding. "We've worked
a lot on it, especially communicating. We know we need to pass messages all
along the line and through the team and our development and progress as a
back-four really shows in our games."

Despite being the Ladies' No2, Mackie isn't scared to push up the field, and
harbours a desire to get on the score-sheet at least once this season. "I've
been a right-back for eight years and I really enjoy defending and putting
in the tackles. I do really enjoy attacking though. I do want to get more
assists and maybe try to get at least one goal as well – I'd really like
that." But if she had to pick between a goal and a clean-sheet? "I'd always
pick a clean-sheet over getting a goal any day. Those are more important to
the team, 100 per cent. "We just want to keep winning and get up the table.
We're focused on the football, and the next game. We're all improving in the
present. "And I would really like a goal!"

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Adrian returns for City test
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

Reserve goalkeeper Adrian is set to return to first team action this Sunday
when West Ham tackle Manchester City at the Etihad. The Spanish stopper has
had to settle for a spot on the bench for much of the campaign following the
arrival of Joe Hart on a season-long loan. However with the England
international prevented from playing against his parent club this weekend,
Adrian is poised to make his first Premier League start since May, some six
months ago. The 30-year-old, a regular first team member under Sam Allardyce
and Slaven BIlic (for most of his tenure) has made just three appearances so
far this season, all in the EFL Cup.
During those three matches Adrian has managed to keep clean sheets against
League One Cheltenham and Championship side Bolton, something Hart has
failed to achieve in his last seven appearances (albeit against Premier
League opposition). Hart was roundly condemned last night for the error that
led to Everton's third goal, when his attempted clearance fell at the feet
of Wayne Rooney - who sent it straight back into an empty net from the half
way line. Should Adrian perform well this coming Sunday, he could spark a
major battle for the number one slot once again.

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Kouyate under fire from fans
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham midfielder Cheik Kouyate has come in for some heavy critricism from
supporters after a video illustrating how he failed to track his marker was
published on social media. The 16-second short details how the Senegal
international allowed veteran Wayne Rooney to sprint past him before
applying the finish for Everton's second goal in last night's crushing 4-0
defeat at Goodison Park. And it has been used as a prime example of the
perceived general lack of fitness and effort from some of West Ham's senior
players. "The spine of the team is weak and they lack discipline, passion
and courage," wrote KUMB member ads78. "Kouyate should both be nowhere near
a team that needs to be fighting for every point - he lacks the discipline
to be a top class footballer." "He plainly doesn't bother to chase back -
Rooney ran straight past him and left him for dead," added Crossd-Hammrs.
"Kouyate gives up before the ball is crossed and makes minimal effort as it
goes past him to Rooney. Too many players have been lazy for too long."
Already many fans have called for the reinstatement of club captain Mark
Noble, who has spent the first two of David Moyes' three matches on the
bench.

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Time to stand up and be counted, says Ayew
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

Andre Ayew says that he and his team mates need to begin shouldering
responsibility for West Ham's below par performances. The Ghanaian
international started last night as West Ham were thrashed 4-0 by fellow
strugglers Everton, leaving David Moyes' side firmly entrenched in a
relegation battle. And with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal to follow
in the next three games, Ayew says it's time the squad started to show a
little fight. There are no words. We came here with lots of determination
to do something," he said in reaction to last night's defeat. "We leave here
with zero points and four goals conceded. It's not normal. "We need to stay
strong, be men, take responsibility and move forward. It's not going to be
easy. It'll be difficult as we have tough games coming up - but we need to
tune our minds, fight and try and get the maximum points that we can from
those games. "It's been frustrating, but we need to turn our season around."

Last night's defeat left West Ham in 18th spot in the Premier League with
just 10 points from their opening 14 matches - one more than Crystal Palace
and Swansea, who could both rise above the Hammers this weekend with a point
each.

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Moyes sweating on scan results
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 30th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

David Moyes expects Andy Carroll to return for this weekend's trip to
Manchester City - but is sweating on the results of a scan on defender
Winston Reid. Moyes, whose team were beaten 4-0 by fellow relegation
candidates Everton last night is facing a fresh injury crisis after losing
two of his key first team players within the last 48 hours. However the big
striker - who was once again absent last night - should return in time to
face the league leaders at the Etihad this weekend, according to a
shellshocked Moyes. "We don't think his [Andy's] injury is that bad," he
told the media following last night's reversal. "We had it scanned and
nothing showed up."

Meanwhile Reid - who had only recently returned to the first team - is
expected to undergo a scan today in order to determine the extent of the
damaged sustained to his hamstring which, depending on the severity, could
keep him out of action for anywhere between two and six weeks. Slightly
better news for Moyes was the return to first team action last night for
Michail Antonio, whilst key striker Javier Hernandez - who has also been
sidelined in recent weeks with a hamstring, picked up on international duty
- is touch and go for this Sunday's trip to Manchester.

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MOYES NEEDS TO LEARN FAST.
By Blind Hammer 30 Nov 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Blind Hammer reflects on another dismal performance.

One of the more memorable remarks Moyes made on entering the London Stadium
was to claim he was a "man in a hurry". The point however is to not just
hurry but know where you are going. Most people finally now accept that the
most important, distressing tactical weakness that West Ham has displayed
over the last 18 months has been their abject defending. It is only a
sadness that this obvious weakness was never addressed in the summer
recruitment priorities and we stumbled into the season with a limited set of
largely aged and/or injury prone defenders. The club were so obsessed with
remedying Carroll's and Sakho's injury issues they completely ignored this
more critical weakness. My readers will know this inept glamour recruitment
policy worried me sick over the summer and I feel even worse now.

The consequences of this strategic folly are now coming home to roost. Clubs
struggling before they play us all manage to score freely. Brighton
Southampton Newcastle and now Everton have all recovered their form against
us. Crystal Palace was unfortunate to only score 2.

Over the last 18 months the only consistent defensive solidity that Bilic
has ever achieved has been with a defensive three, most effective when
marshalled by James Collins. It is a mark of our current defensive weakness
that the return of the injury prone Collins, a passionate and committed but
limited player at the end of his career is now look upon as a possible
saving grace for our team in the weeks ahead.

Yet Bilic never embraced the 3 at the back in his squad strategy and
stubbornly insisted on developing a glamour team built on lose sand,
erecting a failed flimsy and rickety defensive setup.
Now Moyes has come to the helm he appears to share Bilic's analysis of the
squad and he also has tried to set up a team with a flat back four. The
results so far are sadly completely predictable and West Ham continues to
ship goals at a rate of 2-3 goals a game. The Moyes' magic wand could not
reasonably be expected to work on a unit which had failed for the previous
18 months.

Moyes is also obviously limited by the squad options he has inherited. It
seems unlikely that with any defensive cover of quality that Obonna would
have retained his place. Certainly Tomkins would walk into this side. Before
and during the game many called for Declan rice's inclusion. However the
Premiership is a tough baptism for an 18 year old and when Rice eventually
entered the frayed he was instantly beaten by Williams for Everton's third
goal. The squad will need a major defensive overhaul in January and the
reported "war chest" of £20 million for Moyes will not be anything like
enough. In fact it is laughably inadequate. I can only hope that this figure
is an attempt to depress market transfer expectations with a higher figure
held up a sleeve. If we, for example, managed to attract a buyer for Obonna
it is likely that we would have to let him go on the cheap or alternatively
pay him off to leave as, his wages far exceed that which could be afforded
by Italian clubs. Similarly for Jose Fonte, which club in Europe could
afford a defender on £65,000 a week? We are unlikely to achieve any value
out of these transfers.

It seems that we need to recruit at least 2 centre backs, at least 1,
arguably 2 full back and bolster up midfield with pace and aggression. I
hope that this recruitment is on track now for the beginning of January
rather than waiting for the slam door at the end. We are in a hurry to
recruit and we cannot play the longer game looking for value at the last
minute.

Still there are several weeks during which we will need to work with our
current squad. It may be that Moyes will prove me wrong but by persisting
with a back 4 we will simply invite heavy defeats not just against the big
clubs but the likes of Bournemouth and Stoke. Planning for 3 at the back now
will not necessarily prevent further defeat, but may limit the confidence
shattering heavy reverses we experience against poor or average sides.

It is not fair to criticise Moya so early but in his own words there are
difficulties that he will have to learn fast about if we are to recover any
semblance of form Orr confidence. I can accept for example, that he may want
to build a team around the strengths of Andy Carroll. However Carroll's
propensity to injury should not be a shock. A plan B of replacing Carroll
with Ayew as a like for like is surely not viable in a team set up to play a
long ball? I imagine Chico will similarly struggle with this kind of
service. In that context I can only conclude that Sakho's failure to start
reveals that his attitude in training must stink. If it is really that bad
he needs to be shipped out on January 1st and his replacement arrive
simultaneously. If it is to be long ball from now until the end of season so
be it, but recruit players for this plan rather than try to squeeze round
pegs into square holes.

COYI
David Griffith

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Dean Ashton reveals the dressing room nickname West Ham players had for new
West Brom boss Alan Pardew
Ex-West Ham star lifts lid on what Hammers stars called old boss
The Mirror
ByMatt Lawless
09:56, 30 NOV 2017

Dean Ashton has revealed the nickname what West Ham players had for Alan
Pardew : 'chocolate'. The retired former England striker now works as a
pundit.
Speaking to talkSPORT after Pardew's appointment as new West Bromwich Albion
boss, Ashton insisted that his ex-Hammers boss will do well at the
Hawthorns.
He believes Pardew's self-confidence will inspire the lowly Baggies after
explaining the West Ham dressing room's fond monicker for the 56-year-old.
"He's not short of confidence," said Ashton, who was signed by Pardew at
Upton Park for £7million from Norwich in 2006. "His nickname, and what he is
fondly know as, is 'chocolate' - because he would eat himself if he could.
"But that's what great about him. Players feed off that confidence and he'll
make you feel special as a player. "I remember when I signed for West Ham, I
went and met him at a hotel and he put on a PowerPoint presentation on how I
would integrate into the team, how the team would work around me and do you
know what, he wasn't lying. That was how it was. "It was all about how the
team attacked and how it got the best out of me. I'm sure he was saying that
to all the other players and that's what he is very, very good at."

Former Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Pardew vowed to control his 'ego'
after he was unveiled by the Baggies on Wednesday, penning a
two-and-half-year contract to replace Tony Pulis . And Ashton, 34, reckons
Pardew will get the 17th placed Premier League club on a 'roll' with his
brand of attacking football.
"The first thing he'll look at is the way they attack teams because that's
his philosophy," he said. "He likes to play attacking football. "He's got a
bad reputation for some of the runs he has had at some clubs he has been at.
He certainly is a streaky manager. "But he's got two teams to the FA Cup
Final who probably had no right to get there. "I think that shows that when
he gets a group together, they really can get on a roll."

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David Moyes reveals what he said to West Ham players in dressing room during
4-0 hammering by Everton
West Ham conceded four without reply and now sit in the relegation places
The Mirror
ByDavid Maddock
northern Football Correspondent
07:46, 30 NOV 2017

David Moyes has admitted he was ashamed to put his name to West Ham's first
half performance at Goodison. And while a good old fashioned half time
dressing room rollicking at least changed the Hammers' attitude after the
break, the new boss conceded that his team simply didn't deserve anything
after a 4-0 defeat by Everton. "The second half I could put my name to the
performance, I didn't want to put my name to the first half that's for
sure," he said. "We didn't perform in the first half so we didn't deserve
anything from the game, that's certain."
West Ham trailed 2-0 by the break after two strikes from the experienced
Wayne Rooney, but a missed penalty by Manuel Lanzini scuppered any fight
back, and Rooney produced a wonder goal from inside his own half to defend
Moyes to another defeat. It means he has spent 39 consecutive games in the
bottom three with Sunderland and now West Ham, just one shy of former
Swindon boss John Gorman's record. And the manager conceded he is concerned
about his side's attitude...especially with a visit to Manchester City
coming up at the weekend. "I got into them yes at half time, there were
tactical changes, but we had to improve mentally. Individual mistakes cost
us, each time," he said. "The three games we've been in, it's not tactical
or not that we are not running enough, it's just individual mistakes and we
have to eradicate them. "The first half worried me, yeah, because we were
submissive we never played, we never had a threat, in saying that we could
have gone in 2-1 and it would give us a lift. "But one thing I will say we
came out second half and gave it a real go, we improved and we had a chance
to get back into the game. I don't think the scoreline reflected the game."
Moyes is now looking for a miracle at City to kick start his side after
taking just a point from his first three matches in charge. "I have got to
hope that this is where 'you never know what happens in football' comes in.
"We are not favourites for sure, but you are expecting we will go there
(City) and get nothing, but you never know, it's exactly right – you never
know." Andy Carroll missed the trip to Goodison after twisting his knee is
training and is a doubt for the weekend.

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