Daily WHUFC News -

Academy youngster Browne pens pro deal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that Academy youngster Marcus Browne has signed his first professional contract with the Club. The midfielder, who turns 18 next month, now takes the next step in his career with the Club he has been with since the age of eight. Appearing regularly for the Under-21s this season, and scoring his first goal at that level in the recent 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Browne is thrilled to have put pen-to-paper. He said; "It's a massive opportunity to be at a Club like West Ham at my age. I've been here for a very long time, since I was eight years old, so this is a proud moment for me. "This is just the start, so I want to kick on and get more contracts in the future and continue to improve.
"I'm very pleased with how I've progressed. I was out for five months last year with a hamstring injury, but I've come back well so I'm happy with that and if I just carry on doing when I'm doing and enjoying football I'll kick on to bigger things."
Browne hailed the influence of Academy Manager Terry Westley in his development, while pointing to the progress made by the likes of Josh Cullen and Reece Oxford as inspiration for his own future. He added: "Terry has been a massive influence for me since he's come in and has helped me a lot, especially this season. They've helped me get better and better, so it has been good.
"I've played with both Reece Oxford and Josh Cullen so it's good to see where they're at. I'm pleased for both of them and it gives us encouragement that young players can do it, so I'll keep plugging away and hopefully I'll be at the top soon."

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Chadwell Chatter - Alex Song
WHUFC.com

Hello everyone,

I was very happy to be back on the pitch against Crystal Palace on Wednesday because it has been six months since I last played. Wednesday was my first game back and I got 60 minutes, which was good. We've worked very hard, so it's very good to come back to the pitch. I have to say thank you to the medical staff because they have done a great job. I was at Barcelona and Arsenal and the staff here are one of the best in the way they work. I am very happy with the way they've done everything with me and now I'm looking forward to coming back. I don't want to rush, which is why we've taken the time to come back step-by-step. On Wednesday I played 60 minutes, that's one step, and now I have a couple of weeks to try and build my fitness. I know it won't be easy because I've been out for a long time, but I need to come back to the game so I'm looking forward to it.

On Wednesday we saw some players who needed some minutes, and some players like me who need to come back from injuries. That's what you need to build your fitness. I was happy with the way I played and the way I moved. I need some time to come back, but the way it went on Wednesday made me happy. I've been seeing the guys and they've been doing very well. I just wanted to come back to give my contribution, especially with some important games coming up. We play Tottenham and Man Utd in the next few weeks and I have to be ready. I'll work very hard in the next few weeks to be ready for those games.

See you on the pitch soon!
Alex

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This is our time
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th November 2015
By: Stuart Patten

This is our time. Or so I am being told by the co-Chairman of my wonderful football club. And I have to go along with such a bold statement, and agree, it really does feel as though something special is about to explode across the east of London.

However I am tempted to stay on the cautious side of letting myself get carried away with where we are going as a club. I remember being unbelievably excited the day I heard West Ham were being bought out by a team led by football agent Kia Joorabchian and that two Argentine superstars in the shape of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were on their way to join us.

That was almost ten years ago now and I vividly recall emailing my friend in New Zealand explaining how we were on the verge of becoming one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Nine months later we had just beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford in the final match to stay in the League – things did not go according to plan that season.

So here we are in 2015 with a Board that I personally think have been incredible for this club and a manager who epitomises everything we as West Ham fans want from the main man. Passion, desire, tactical awareness, ambition, excitement and more than all of tha,t he just simply looks like a bloke you'd love to go down the pub and share a pint or two with.

Super Slav enjoys his rock music and the occasional ciggy (or at least he did in his playing days) and well, he just gets it doesn't he? He gets what West Ham means. He gets what this part of London is about. He gets that we've never been in this to see our team churn out trophy after trophy but above all else we just want to see hard work, a bit of flair and some excitement injected into our lives on a Saturday afternoon.

Bilic wasn't with us long in the mid-nineties but his relationship with the club and the fans took off straight away and let's be honest, it feels like he's never been away. Seeing him prowl along the touchline with those steely eyes and exercising the vocal chords, you can tell he's almost gearing himself up for another leap above a centre-forward to head clear a cross into our box. He lives and breathes football and so do we.

It is early days of course but it does feel like a match made in heaven. As always though, managers are judged on results and a glance at the fixture list in the summer threw up some tough away games to start with which were compromised by some promising looking home matches. Let's not forget though - this is West Ham.

Seriously, how many other clubs can you think of that would beat Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea but would fail to overcome Leicester, Bournemouth, Norwich, Sunderland and more recently, Watford? However, I'm sure he will get the formula right sooner rather than later and he really seems to be enjoying it. We certainly are as fans.

I have had my season ticket for 25 years now – a quarter of a century dedicating most of my Saturday's to visiting The Boleyn Ground - and I love it. I mean, I truly love it. I am an away fan too and try to get to around ten matches per season, which is a totally different experience to a home match. The days out are brilliant fun and it's almost a sense of "we're all in this together". The atmosphere is awesome and when you do see a win, be it famous or not, it makes for a fun journey home that's for sure!

However, the bread and butter - and the reason I became a fan - is the Boleyn Ground.

My Dad is from West Ham and attended Pretoria School but his parents moved out to Dagenham which is where he met my Mum. Dad has been going since the early 1960s and has far more memories of The Boleyn than I do and I am extremely jealous of some of the things he has experienced first-hand.

The atmosphere against Eintracht Frankfurt was quite something; witnessing what many say was the best performance by an opposition team when Dinamo Tblisi turned us over in 1981 (I appreciate good football, too), but more than anything just being in the North or South Bank and watching the many, many great players wear the claret and blue must have been something to behold.

I would love to have been around to see Bobby Moore lead our team out, watch 'Budgie' Byrne torment many defences and Geoff Hurst smash in six against Sunderland. We are known for being a family club and I think most West Ham fans can relate to that. The majority of us would have been taken to our first match by a family member and that sticks with you.

It's something that is handed down through generations – almost as though our elders are saying "we've had to endure this down the years, over to you kiddo!" And all of those early memories involve trips to the Boleyn. No matter how good or bad the football has been down the years, we've always looked forward to getting down there on match day to sample that unique atmosphere. It's a special place and I guess if you're not one of us, you just won't get it.

I grew up in Dagenham and watched the Daggers a few times before Dad took me to The Boleyn for my first match in 1988 – a 1-3 defeat to Charlton. I can't confess to say I was hooked that night because I simply don't remember it that well. In fact the first game I do remember is a 5-0 victory over Sunderland the following season and thinking I wanted to be Eamon Dolan when I grew up.

I started going regularly with Dad and we had our first season tickets together in that 1989-1990 season which ended in relegation. We won at times and lost more, but I just loved going down to Upton Park.

I recall the old Portacabin shop outside the old West Stand, the school playground which adjoined the forecourt area (and thinking that those school kids are the luckiest in the world getting to play a game of footy in the shadows of the stadium) and the endless queues to the ticket office as we started buying tickets for the occasional away game.

All happy memories as a kid growing up but then in the early to mid-nineties this stadium that I had started to love was beginning to change. First, the old South Bank was knocked down and replaced with the Bobby Moore Stand, which is where I've had my season ticket for the past 22 years.

I remember being at school and the PE class were tasked with doing a project on anything we wanted to do which related to sports, which would contribute towards our GSCE grading. I chose the redevelopment of the South Bank at the Boleyn and recall my Dad and me driving to the deserted ground on many occasions to take photographs and making pages of notes for my school project.

I absolutely loved working on that project and achieved 61 marks out of a possible 63 and was told it was rolled out by the teachers as an example for future students. I wish I had made a point of asking for it when I left school, but hopefully it helped the kids of Dagenham gain a decent grade in their exams in the years that followed! The fact I threw everything into my work demonstrated how much passion I had for my club from an early age and I got a lot of satisfaction out of expressing a little bit of my creative side whilst trying to reflect what was happening in E13.

The erection of the Sir Trevor Brooking stand followed, which stands on the famous old North Bank site. And then the West Stand had an upgrade in 2001 which I believe is the biggest single stand in London and one of the best in the country. It's imposing but due to the way it was built (the shell was built around the old stand meaning our crowds didn't slip too much during construction) the famous tight ground was no more. The distance between the front row of seats and the edge of the pitch had now become vast to the extent ball boys were needed!

This wasn't what the Boleyn was famed for but it did suddenly become one the best stadiums in London. And to be honest, this is the Boleyn that I and many fans of a similar age have considered the "famous old Boleyn". Granted the atmosphere isn't always what we had heard from years gone by – that Frankfurt match in 1976 takes some beating by all accounts according to my Dad - but there have still been many, many memorable occasions. The modern-day "Frankfurt" being the Ipswich play-off match in 2004.

What a night, oh my goodness! I've never heard or experienced a night quite like that. The atmosphere around the ground prior to kick off was at fever pitch and when Matty Etherington smashed in the first goal of the night to draw us level on aggregate, well I reckon the vibrations from the stadium that night must have been felt right across London.

Christian Dailly nudged in the winner with his curly hairs and we had won. The moment that struck me that night was at full time when every single person inside the stadium rose to their feet, put their arms in the air and belted out the most ferocious version of 'Bubbles' I have ever heard. It was truly remarkable and memorable and those fans that were lucky enough to be there that night will never forget it. I certainly won't. Truly hairs on the back of the neck stuff. We lost the Final, of course!

There is something special about attending a West Ham home match under the floodlights. I don't know what it is but the atmosphere is like no other and if you're lucky enough to witness a famous win then the evening will stay with you forever. Who will ever forget beating Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in the snow? The noise levels increase as the cold air filters its way through the east London skyline and I wish we could bottle that up and take it along with the Champions Statue when we move to Stratford next summer.

The history inside those four stands is unique and you can feel it whenever you enter through the turnstiles. The face of the stadium has changed down the years but the tradition never did and is woven into the fabric of the name, the Boleyn Ground. I challenge you to say those words and then imagine West Ham not being associated to them any more. Horrible isn't it? It leaves emptiness inside and a gaping hole the size of an Olympic Stadium. But alas we move forwards and hope and pray for many new memories.

A big highlight for me was when I got to play on the hallowed turf back in 2013. Most kids in my school wanted to play for West Ham and whilst it wasn't actually for the Hammers, I did manage to play in a match which was organised by a friend of mine. We used the home dressing room and even came out to Bubbles over the PA system.

Our team drew 4-4 and I managed to "live the dream" and get on the scoresheet that day, which will live with me forever. It was the most deadly strike you'll ever see from six yards! To cap it off it was right in front of the Bobby Moore Stand and I'll be a liar if I said I didn't look down on that area of the pitch and relive that memory every other week when I take my seat for a home match.

There have been plenty more memories down the years, some highs and plenty of lows, but it's a place of worship no matter what. Even if things aren't going great personally, it's okay "cos I'm at West Ham on Saturday". The place just fixes things for you. Even if you come away cursing the team's performance you know you'll be back next week because it's just what we do.

We're a passionate, loyal and honest bunch and I can never imagine growing up to support another club as a kid. It's who I am and I'm sure if you cut me there would be a little bit of sky blue that is mixed in with the claret.

I will never tire of going to watch West Ham but we are about to embark on a new journey from next season and as we prepare to leave the Boleyn Ground, I also understand things will never be the same. The journey to a game will be better I am sure due to impressive transport links, but come on, we all love joining the queue at Upton Park tube stretching round the back of Queens Market don't we? Especially if it's raining!

After all these years it still fascinates me that no one has ever thought about cutting down the tree that sticks out on the bend where it's branches continue to flick the endless queue of people around the side of the head. Walking towards the entrance, past all the hundreds making their way to the back of the queue, is interesting depending on the result; it just feels like a proper football tube station doesn't it? The dimly-lit road, the cobbled pathway, the crowds all jostling along together – it's great and I will miss it.

The final game against Swansea on 7th May is going to be awful. There won't be a dry eye in the house and I'm dreading it. I still can't comprehend that soon I will make my last ever trip to Upton Park tube station, I probably won't walk along Green Street again and I won't ever walk through the turnstiles at The Boleyn Ground following the match against the Swans.

It's one thing walking away for the final time but I think it will really hit home when the bulldozers come in and knock the entire place down. That will kill us fans and everything we have all grown up and immersed ourselves in will be gone.

But things must change. We want to become bigger and better and compete at the highest level. I firmly believe this club can become the best and sit at the top of the tree with what has been presented to us now. I have attended almost 1,000 matches following the Hammers (600 at home) and I have never before even contemplated saying the above. But with this new stadium it scares the life out of me how big we can now become.

I think we're going to surprise a few people along the way in terms of the support we're going to be bringing to matches. This club is bigger than most people think and I probably include some of our own fans in that statement. We have a huge fan base, massive. Everywhere you go you'll meet a Hammer. This really will propel us into the light and out of the shadows of our more so-called illustrious neighbours and with that, people WILL stand up and take notice of this sleeping giant.

We have a wider support than Chelsea – I mean support - not people that claim to like the Blues and are willing to part with a tenner to a stall on Oxford Street to buy a shirt that barely resembles the word "official". One question I've been asked plenty of times is "do you think you will you fill it?" Of course we will. I have never had any doubt whatsoever that we will fill it.

Before the new West Stand was built we sold out every game and got 26,000 through the turnstiles. All of a sudden we had 9,000 more seats to fill and people were worried then! Don't forget, this club averaged above 30,000 in the Championship not so long ago too. Even David Dein, the former Arsenal Vice-Chairman, apparently once told former Chairman Terry Brown it "frightens him to death" how big West Ham could become if we moved into a bigger stadium. Well David, that time is coming.

Of course, people will doubt the move and feel a little apprehensive but I am looking forward to it immensely. I strongly believe that there are plenty of other clubs' fans and Chairmen that are looking over their shoulders and towards the claret and blue corner of east London now and I love that.

I've watched some dross down the years but kept going back for more. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of success now to be honest. I wouldn't mind seeing us competing with the best in Europe. But I don't want that to be totally compromised by the injection of huge amounts of cash meaning the ethic of this wonderful club is sacrificed. We should never lose that and I don't think this set of fans would stand for it.

Money will obviously play a part somewhere along the line, but if players aren't pulling their weight in a 54,000 capacity stadium, wow they're going to know about it. But if they're willing to put the hard yards in and win us a few games, I honestly believe the appreciation they'll feel won't be rivalled anywhere else.

It's going to be an extremely emotional day on 7th May, but come the following August I feel a new kid may have just arrived on the block. And I cannot wait.

Is this our time…?

Too damn right it is.

COYI!

My top 10 Boleyn memories: what would be on your list?

1) Yossi scoring an 85th minute winner to deny Spurs a place in the Champions League – lasagne has always been my favourite dish!

2) 4-3 victory over Spurs when our new signings Kitson and Hartson showed what they're capable of on a windy and rainy February evening. A proper football match.

3) This season's 2-1 win over Chelsea. What a great atmosphere and Roy of Rovers stuff seeing big Andy nod in the late winner – scenes.

4) Ipswich in the 2004 Play-off semi-final 2nd leg. I've never experienced an atmosphere like that or seen it replicated anywhere else. Incredible night.

5) Seeing Paolo come off the bench in our ill-fated 2002-03 season to score the winner against Chelsea in what would be his last ever match at The Boleyn. Tears were aplenty from the Italian magician.

6) A true "I was there moment" as I witnessed the best goal ever scored by a professional footballer. Di Canio's volley against Wimbledon. I don't need to say anymore.

7) During the influx of the foreign legion down West Ham way in the Redknapp era, we had this little gem of a player who produced what I still say is the best individual performance I've ever seen live. Hugo Porfirio destroyed Nottingham Forest in the League Cup as we ran out 4-1 winners. Even more remarkable was Dowie notched two that night but Hugo was a class apart from anything I've seen over a 90 minute period. Class.

8) Paolo twisting Martin Keown inside and out with a delicious little flick before curling the ball into the top corner in front of the Bobby Moore – chaos in the stands, absolute chaos.

9) Not a win, but the most satisfying draw a West Ham fan has probably ever experienced as Ludo had the game of his life and we held Manchester United 1-1 to deny them the title – again. Obscene…

10) A Youth Cup match. The 2nd leg in the Final followed a 3-0 victory at Coventry and a capacity crowd of 26,000 crammed in to witness one hell of a show. We won 6-0 (9-0 on aggregate) and the talent was amazing, including a certain Joe Cole that looked like he was having the time of his life. However it was another player that grabbed my attention that went under the radar big time that night – Michael Carrick was absolutely astonishing.

To finish up, I asked family and friends for their chosen words which encapsulates their feelings towards what it means to be a West Ham fan and how The Boleyn Ground has had an impact on their lives. I believe the following reflects our collective thoughts and feelings….

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Palace stars impressed by Zarate show
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th November 2015
By: Staff Writer

He many not have scored during the game, but West Ham striker Mauro Zarate certainly left a lasting impression on Crystal Palace's players following yesterday behind-closed-doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground. KUMB member Row X was travelling from Essex to West Ham on the tube yesterday afternoon when three Eagles stars - including first team players Brede Hangeland and Connor Wickham - joined him at Upton Park.

And according to our man, the trio were eulogising over the performance of Zarate during United's 1-0 friendly win - secured thank to Jaanai Gordon's second half strike. "I was travelling in from Elm Park with my headphones in," said Row X. "When the Palace lads got on I instantly recognised Brede, as he was massive! All three looked shattered. "I didn't know we were playing Palace, but put two and two together and thought it might have been a behind-closed-doors friendly. So I switched my music off straight away to listen in on what might be said."

According to Row X, Wickham and Hangeland agreed that Zarate had been "quality" during the game, whilst the Norwegian defender praised his attitude, adding "he ran that game today". Meanwhile the third, unidentified player decreed that the West Ham number 10 had been "the stand out player", whilst all three agreed that summer signing Yohan Cabaye was the only Palace player capable of performing in a similar manner for the Selhurst Park outfit. "As we pulled into West Ham, Wickham said his goodbyes," added Row X. "It was a shame I only got to listen to their conversation for a few minutes, but you could tell they were impressed with Zarate!"

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Come on folks, do keep up!
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th November 2015
By: Paul Walker

James McCarthy should have been sent off. There you go, I've said it again.

Referee Paul Tierney got it wrong and those of a blue persuasion have been on my case ever since.

So now I am about to break my rule that says I should not get involved in slanging matches over something I have written for KUMB. People write on fans' sites and expect to get stick, everyone is entitled to their views and football is a passionate business, it's why we are all so involved.

The whole point is writing for you own fans means you don't have to be impartial, you are able to be biased and a piece that provokes debate--and sadly--some abuse, is what you expect. I can handle that, I am old enough and ugly enough.

And in the midst of all this I want to apologise to Everton and their fans for the shocking, way out of order, comments about the late, great Howard Kendall from some so-called West Ham fans.

How his name got dragged into this, I cannot fathom. But because I was annoyed with some Everton fans being spiteful and just nasty about Dimitri Payet, wishing him the worst possible damage, is absolutely no excuse for any sick remarks about Kendall.

Must admit, I was horrified. Kendall was a long-time professional acquaintance of mine, not a friend as such, but someone I talked to regularly in my former life for close on 20 years!

He was one of the nicest, most helpful managers I have ever met. He was very kind to me when I first moved to Liverpool to work--we both escaped Manchester at about the same time--and he went out of his way to cooperate with me.

I recall a long chat over a glass or two of wine about the 1964 FA Cup Final, when Howard played for Preston against us. He became the then-youngest ever player in a cup final that day, just beating our own John Sissons.

Sissons went on to become the youngest, at the time, scorer in a final and the pair left the pitch with their arms around each other, being friends and room mates for England Youth. That they never played for the full England side was a disgrace, and a chat about that day with Kendall was a memory of him I will never forget.

When he died recently I was away in Majorca on holiday, and still there when he had his funeral, a wonderfully fitting farewell at Liverpool cathedral. I was upset then, still am. So I am disgusted with any sick remarks from West Ham fans' forums. Some things are way out of line, and this is one of them.

Sadly, all clubs have their brain dead, pond life who hide behind invented names to abuse people. Sites should do more to filter out such filth, as well as death threats. Come on, do they think they are Reggie Kray?

Now back to my original point. Everton fans keep saying in countless postings that McCarthy got the ball, so that's OK. Where have they been these last couple of years?

Whether you touch the ball first with a scissor tackle is nothing to do with it. The new interpretation is all about how strong or reckless the referee feels the tackle is. The damage is done, as with Payet, with the trailing leg.

One post from 'Martin' insisted that it wasn't intentional and McCarthy got the ball. I have no idea whether McCarthy was trying to hurt Payet, only he knows that, or whether he's a nice boy and wouldn't hurt a fly, as 'Helen' from Wigan thinks.

Someone going under the name of 'Avishek' even used as mitigation the theory "that he could not control his trailing leg". That mate is just the point, and why the directive to referees has been made.

Payet posted a picture on twitter which showed McCarthy had two feet off the ground. Another picture shows his tackling foot about six inches off the ground with studs showing. Referees have been told to penalise this. Tierney, in my view, got it wrong and only booked the Everton player.

Countless refereeing pundits have made it very clear on this issue that players can be sent off even if they do get the ball first. Is that clear? I hope so.

And there have been Everton fans moaning about the scissor tackle from Spurs' Eric Dier on Tom Cleverley that put their midfielder out for months. And Luke Shaw's injury was also mentioned in mitigation.

The assault on Cleverley was not even penalised with a free kick, and Shaw's assailant was even named man of the match by the Dutch press. Both tackles were red card offences and should have been punished. That they were not is surely not an argument in McCarthy's defence.

Oh, and then Kevin Nolan's name gets thrown into the mix, something about a challenge he made while at Newcastle. He wasn't a West Ham player then and is not now. And whatever he has done still does not excuse McCarthy, or what I feel was a referee's mistake.

And finally, I did not mention anything about McCarthy's previous. Also not important. But I believe he and Morgan Amalfitano do not exchange Christmas cards.

The bottom line is that McCarthy should have walked. Simple as that, but none of this will get Payet back playing any quicker.

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West Ham say they are 'protecting' Reece Oxford in Premier League
Last Updated: 12/11/15 10:27am
SSN

West Ham teenager Reece Oxford has been kept out of the first team to help nurture his development, the head of the club's medical team has revealed. The midfielder played in three of the team's opening four Premier League games this season, having made his league debut in August, aged 16 and 236 days in the surprise 2-0 win at Arsenal. But the player has not featured for the Hammers since August 29 and the club have explained their reasons for keeping the youngster out of the first team. West Ham's head of medical Stijn Vandenbroucke told the club's website: "Reece Oxford has had some significant development over the last few weeks. "We have been working with him to prepare him for the demands of the Premier League. "He is obviously a big talent and it is my responsibility to protect him, along with the responsibility of the manager, who is fully on board with how we are managing Reece."

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THANK YOU MR BILIC
By Tony Hanna 12 Nov 2015 at 16:05
WTID

The West Ham Way? Not sure when this term or colloquialism came about? Like a few others on this site I was lucky enough to watch the Moore, Hurst and Peter's team of the Greenwood era and the Brooking, Bonds and Devonshire team under John Lyall. During those two era's I never heard the "West Ham Way" term used. But that is not to say it is not part of our ethos. Just as the "Academy of Football" phrase was booted around in past years there has to be a starting point for any catchphrase. The philosophy around the term is spot on. Whatever anyone's view on the subject, the transformation of our football club within a few short months has been enormous. Not only do we have some fantastic ball players at the club now, but they are being played! The injury to Dimitri Payet has robbed us of one of the seasons delights so far, if only for three months. We can only wish that he can return as soon as possible. It would be great to see Payet, Lanzini and Song all on "song" in the same team. We could really take someone apart!


For those with short memories we were actually 4th at Christmas last year. I really doubt we will be able to equal or better that by this festive season. However, even disregarding the nosedive that transpired in the second half of last season, this season has already been more of a success for me. The depth of the squad, in my opinion, is the best I have ever seen at the club. We have had better players in certain positions in the past, but never the riches of back up we currently have except perhaps in the fullback positions. Sakho gets injured and Andy Carroll returns. Reid and Ogbonna both out and in come Tomkins and Collins. Payat gets injured and Song returns. Even Randolph is a great understudy to Adrian. There are many more examples and you don't need me to explain any further. This squad may not be able to break into the top four or six, we shall see, but they have not only provided a feast of entertaining football but some absolutely cracking goals to savour as well. Twenty three goals in just twelve matches shows a little more forward thinking than respect the point. It is also refreshing that we as fans can stop looking at future fixtures wondering how and where we can amass enough points to avoid relegation.

Now I am 60 next birthday and some will say I am old and some will say I am still young, depending on their own age and outlook on life. But I must admit, I was really starting to think I would never see the Hammers win at Anfield again in my lifetime. Thank you Slaven Bilic! That is one hell of a chip off the old shoulder. However, Everton still remain our bogey team on home and away form. I still remember them making me cry at a football match for the first time when I was about 13 because we were so unlucky against them in a 1-0 home defeat. A 1-1 draw last weekend is not the end of the World, but the injuries to Payet and Valencia were at a higher cost than the loss of two points.

For me, all the feel good factors that have made this season so far are wide and variable. The silky skills of Payet and Lanzini; the pace of which we break from defence, the outstanding wins at Arsenal, City or Liverpool, or just the fact we are trying to play football again. But one man is largely responsible for making all this possible and it is he who has also brought respect back to our club with his honesty and humility in pre and post match interviews. Once again, thank you Mr Bilic.

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West Ham receive major fitness boost with Alex Song set to return to first team
22:30, 11 NOV 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
The former Arsenal midfielder played 45 minutes in a friendly and could be back in the Hammers squad after losing Dimitri Payet for three months
The Mirror

West Ham have received a huge boost with the return to fitness of Alex Song . The ex-Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder played 45 minutes of a friendly win over Crystal Palace. Song could now feature against Tottenham in the Hammers' first game after the international break. Impressive during the first half of last season, he has yet to play for the Irons this time around after ongoing ankle surgery during the summer. But he has now been training with the first team for over two weeks and the club are happy with his progress. It is a welcome relief for the club after they were left reeling by the news earlier this week that star man Dimitri Payet will be out for three months following a crunching tackle from Everton's James McCarthy. West Ham are also hoping to have news later this week on Enner Valencia who was also injured in the same game. The club are concerned that he too could be set for another lay-off.

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Irons striker told to do what experts say
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham's top brass are hoping Enner Valencia will take expert advice when he meets a top specialist in London on Monday. The club have still not given details of the striker's injury and he is back in Ecuador tonight but there are fears he may have suffered a reaction to the injury that sidelined him for 12 weeks.

At the time of the last injury Valencia appeared caught between two stalls and hit out at the club claiming : "West Ham seem to have forgotten that I'm injured. But they don't let me speak to another doctor. I don't understand why West Ham doctors are doing this to me. The truth is that West Ham have not been supporting me."

Valencia later moved to smooth the waters with a statement on West Ham's official website saying: "I have had a number of consultation meetings with specialists in London, accompanied by members of the club's medical staff, and they have always kept me updated me on my injury.

"It has been a frustrating time, but I would like to make clear that I have the utmost respect and confidence in the club's medical team and the specialists I was referred to and I would like to apologise to them and the club for any issues arising from the recent press coverage.

However, ClaretandHugh insiders told us at time that the striker was unhappy at the prospect of surgery and it was that which may have been at the root of the problem."

And tonight we were told: "He returns tomorrow (Fri) and the expert will say what needs to be done on Monday. Last time there was no operation as he didn't want it and that's POSSIBLY why its gone wrong again.

We really hope he has the operation this time IF the expert says he needs it."

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OS: Band 4 issue riles fan
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Information has reached Claret and Hugh HQ that season ticket holders from Bobby Moore Lower have been forced to upgrade to band 3 to get a comparable seat in the Lower Tier of the Olympic Stadium.

One season ticket holder in the back row of the Bobby Moore Lower contacted Claret and Hugh this week to say he wasn't offered any seats in the lower tier as a band 4 ticket at £499.

When he visited the Stratford reservation centre earlier this week he was offered band 4 seats in the upper tier.

The sales person did offer him a comparable seat which is back row of the lower stand behind the goal at the Olympic Stadium but the catch is he would need to upgrade to band 3 which is £100 more expensive.

The irritated season ticket holder of 45 years told us "Gobsmacked mate is the only thing to say, as predicted we were offered back row lower tier seats, which fits the bill nicely with an almost identical sight line to the BML today, so why am I upset as I appear to have got what I wanted?

"Well BML Band 4 has suddenly become OS Band 3 £599. I if I want Band 4, I am upstairs row 2 backwards, so after venting my annoyance I was swiftly met with the retort, 'Band 3 is cheaper than what I pay for band 4 today, so that makes it all OK then?'

Ultimately, it's not the money, as what is a ton in the great scheme of things over the course of a season, but it's the principle. BML and STB lower tiers are band 4, there's a reason for that which is distance from the pitch and only a forward view aspect, just the same as the OS will be.

"As for newbies, two friends came with us, and were offered only upper tier, they ended up with some nice looking seats in line with the left corner flag for Band 4, but friendship only goes so far, so they are up there whilst we elevated to Band 3″

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Irons wait on Valencia Ecuador medics
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have taken a cautious approach to releasing full details of Enner Valencia's injury until his international team medics have had the opportunity of examining the striker.

The national team are involved in a match against Uruagay tonight (k/0 9pm GMT) and the Irons – having fallen foul of Senegal in a similar situation, when Diafra Sakho sustained a back injury, are playing this one by the book.

ClaretandHugh @blogger @ExWHUemployee – who is in the process of setting up his own exciting website project in conjunction with us – tweeted earlier: "The hold up with Valencia's scan is because when a player is meant to be on international duty they have to assess first before the club.

"The reason the national team assess first is if there is a call-up and they pull out! Man U had a habit of saying players were "injured."

It's for reasons like this that the rule was introduced and we obviously had issues with Sakho last year too."

A West Ham source said: "Once bitten twice shy. There is no question about Enner's injury"

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Hammers talk on defender 'interest'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham are unlikely to be making a move for reported target FC Lorient defender Lamine Kone. The Ivory Coast international is apparently bang on the Irons radar according to morning reports although club sources have played down the supposed interest. Sunderland and Aston Villa are also reported to be interested and with the Irons well stocked with central defenders it would be a surprise if they weren't left to fight it out among themselves. Kone has had a great season but the Hammers are more than happy with the central defenders available to them at the moment. ClaretandHugh was told: "We have Winston Reid, James Tomkins and Angelo Ogbonna available along with James Collins. "And we have made it clear in the past that we may be ready to recall Reece Burke from his loan spell at Bradford City if needed. "Quite apart from anything else, there is no money avaialble and players will have to leave for us to bring in new ones. However, that won't be at central defence."

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Gold: 'Footballers and beef burgers don't mix'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham Chairman David Gold has hit back at former Hammer Benni McCarthy by saying 'Footballers and beef burgers don't mix!" In response to sexist comments made by McCarthy about Karren Brady, Gold tweeted "More importantly Benni. Footballers and beef burgers don't mix. dg" McCarthy recently said about his time at West Ham "I saw so many things in my life and in football for me, it was nothing. Woman and football, it's not such a good combination.I was just hurt and when I returned, I was not the same. You have to get into shape. People forget that if you did not feed for twelve weeks and you do not come back for a game, it's very hard to find your best level. You have to link several games before, maybe, to get fit."
When McCarthy was released in 2011 after 13 disappointing appearances for the Hammers McCarthy hit out at Karren Brady saying "It makes me want to throw up. There's the devil with a set of tits." Brady later rebuked "At least I'm supposed to have tits"

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Irons player gets special protection
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News
C and H

Slaven Bilic is taking big precautions with Reece Oxford, putting the 16-year-old and it is working. Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has explained the player's absence this season after is great start explaining the club are not ready to overwork their teen prodigy. He explained: "Reece Oxford has had some significant development over the last few weeks. We have been working with him to prepare him for the demands of the Premier League. "He is obviously a big talent and it is my responsibility to protect him, along with the responsibility of the manager, who is fully on board with how we are managing Reece. "He is away with England Under-19s now and will be involved in their matches with Holland and Japan."

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Irons progress on several fronts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Whilst Dimitri Payet's injury is the most significant blow to the club, there's been great progress on various other fronts. Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke was delighted with yesterday's match against Palace reporting:"We played Crystal Palace on Wednesday in a behind-closed-doors game which was very competitive because both clubs put out strong squads which could have played in the Premier League. "Alex Song played 70 minutes in this game without any problems, which was a good step in the right direction as it was his first game in six months. "Also positive is that Winston Reid came through 90 minutes against Everton on Saturday after four weeks out. He is now going to have a few days rest and we can build him up again for the Tottenham Hotspur game. "Diafra Sakho has been out running on the pitch this week and we are very confident we can recover him from his quadriceps injury for the trip to Tottenham, should he not suffer any setbacks. "Pedro Obiang is continuing with his own rehabilitation following the quadriceps injury he suffered in training before the Watford game."

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West Ham made summer bid for Raul Jimenez
11:58, 12 NOV 2015 UPDATED 11:58, 12 NOV 2015
BY RICHARD BEECHAM
Mexico hero claims he turned down an offer from Slaven Bilic to join the Irons, opting instead for a loan move to Benfica.
London 24

Benfica's Raul Jimenez in action against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez said he turned down a summer move to West Ham. The 6ft 3in forward was one of a number of strikers linked with the Hammers over the summer of 2015, but Jimenez opted for a loan move to Portugese giants Benfica . "There was also an offer from West Ham and for several days I had to think about the two options and in the end chose Benfica because I felt it was the club that could give me what I needed," he told Portuguese newspaper A Bola .
"It's the best club in Portugal and they can help me a lot to continue to improve and grow as a footballer." After impressing in the Mexican league with Club America , the 24-year-old was snapped up by Atleti as a replacement for Diego Costa. However, the Mexico international struggled for form in his first season in Spain, scoring just one goal.

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HANGING UP YOUR BOOTS
By Terence Bates 12 Nov 2015 at 09:00
WTID

Ex Hammer Teddy Sheringham currently manages Stevenage. He recently announced his intention to play again in an FA Cup match at the age of ninety-eight… (ok forty-nine then!)… It does feel like an eternity that he's been around, but maybe that's me not wanting to acknowledge or accept I am further along the conveyor belt of life than him!

His playing comeback as it happens… well it didn't happen, but it begs the question of when is it time for players to hang up their boots from playing, especially at the higher level in the Premier League? And have the standards improved so much in football that a playing career is now shortened age wise? Is burn-out something we are all facing in an ever stressful and speedier life?

Benni McCarthy is also in the news after making sexist comments about Karen Brady. His spell at West Ham was a disaster due to his inability to knuckle down and get fit. As we get older it is harder to stay fit and for most of us to keep the pounds off. McCarthy was around thirty-three years old when he was contracted to play for West Ham and he was a big fat flop. It was already game over because he could not work at fitness levels and stay in shape, as David Gold has tweeted in defence of Karen Brady "More importantly Benni "Footballers and beef burgers don't mix." Quite.

I realise football-wise age is subjective, in so much that some players are genetically blessed, have better fitness, a better attitude towards diet, have less injuries or can adapt to a different positional role. Sheringham to his credit played top flight football until he was forty plus, playing for the Hammers in the heartbreak FA Cup Final against Liverpool in 2006 and thus becoming the third oldest player to appear in an FA Cup Final. His legacy also includes being in the top ten of all time goal scorers in the Premier League at 147 goals, he stands in the top twenty of all-time appearances in the Premier League and is still the oldest player to have ever set foot in a Premier League match at the age of 40 years, 272 days or thereabouts! Add to this he holds the record for being the oldest goal scorer in the Premier League…. Well I'll have some of what he's drinking please!

Before Teddy, West Ham had the legendary Billy Bonds who looked like he would go on ad-infinitum and he too played in the top flight albeit pre-premier league, past the age of forty before injury convinced him to call it quits. The difference of course is that Billy Bonds spent twenty years at Upton Park whereas Teddy Sheringham shared his career with several clubs, the majority playing time between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Both players it could be argued possessed a certain elixir of youth or indeed an elixir of the right attitude, an element perhaps lacking in the DNA of Mr McCarthy.

History is littered with great veteran players, the most famous of whom is the great Stanley Matthews who finally hung up his boots from playing at an incredible seventy years of age, five years after he started claiming his pension! Matthews still holds the record for being the oldest man to play at the top level in the UK at fifty and the oldest to play for his country. Matthews was credited as a non-smoking vegetarian teetotaller, which is an interesting point making him way ahead of his time from a health thinking perspective, however it still didn't stop him endorsing cigarettes as a healthy lifestyle choice in a newspaper advertisement!

Stanley Matthews the oldest footballer was yes... a health freak!
The holy chalice called Bobby Moore saw his career all but fall apart in the disastrous England World Cup game game against Poland that subsequently became the catalyst for not only his career at the top being over, but that also of the England Manager Sir Alf Ramsey. Moore's final game for England was in 1974 against Italy, he was 33. Shortly after also saw the end of his career with West Ham. Thirty-three years of age even by the standards back then was relatively young. Bobby Moore's final match for West Ham was in their reserves. We can only surmise what the underlying health issues of Bobby played in a relatively short career at the top.

The question to be asked is whether any of these past players or indeed our current premier league players would ever be able to compete in the same way now at such ripe ages? Football at the highest level is becoming a young mans game where performance, speed, health & fitness and athleticism is paramount and the thought of Bonzo having a bottle of beer before the game, McCarthy munching a dozen Big Macs or Slaven Bilic as a footballer sucking on several fags at half time would send the media into a frenzy and pull in the men in white coats.

And with all this in mind I bring up thirty-two year old James Collins or 'Ginger Pele' as he is affectionately known by the West Ham faithful, who is way younger than Sheringham, Bonzo or even Bobby Moore at the tail end of their careers. James Collins was in my view a disaster pre-season and in the Europa Cup where he was being outrun and ultimately found himself being sent off after two clumsy challenges against pacier opponents, which in turn greatly contributed to our exit from the competition. Collins then repeated this in the Hammers annoying defeat against Watford.

At the beginning of the season I could see Collins being shown the exit door, which I am sure others would agree would have been really sad. Collins has spent ten years over two spells at the club and clearly loves both club and supporters. To his credit he has redeemed himself since by putting in some good performances without a lot going wrong, but…. will it last? I have my doubts as the game against Watford has shown.

This flagging of fitness, slowing down through ageing and nagging injuries scenario also led to Kevin Nolan leaving the club and disappointedly (from his perspective), even his favourite manager Sam Allardyce has not yet rescued him and rekindled the working relationship they held for years by heading towards Allardyces's new club Sunderland, although of course who knows that could change. I think it is unlikely that a premiership club will hire Nolan, but again I could be wrong, perhaps Bournemouth who look like they are facing a serious relegation battle, might turn to him to help.

Of course any sympathy one has to current footballers whose careers are in a slide is tempered by the knowledge that these guys are earning ridiculous amounts of money and we ultimately pay their wages. Do the maths, ten years at an average of 30 -50k a week equates to an overall income of around £15 to £25 million…. Nice work.

Elsewhere in the premier league, I believe it is no coincidence (despite the Mourinho shenanigans) that Chelsea are struggling and so is John Terry who at thirty-five is showing signs of maybe having to hang his Premier League boots up. Maybe there's one last hurrah in the American MLS or one last pay day in the Far East. No player can now be carried at the top level in the Premier League, especially if you want to win trophies even John Terry. I am sure of course most Hammers fans will be sad to see John Terry's exit from the PL!

In the past it was generally found that age combined with fitness filtered from youngest at the front, to the oldest playing career being the mantle of the Goalkeeper. Players could adapt their game and position as age, fitness and injury prevailed, central defenders could easily go onto their late thirties, West Ham had such players like Alvin Martin and of course Billy Bonds. But I doubt this is the case anymore, it is highly unlikely we will see players in their late thirties or post forty (even as a goalkeeper) playing in the Premier League, unless it is some kind of symbolic run out in an unimportant match.

I am filled with wishful thinking for the popular James Collins and really hope that I am wrong in singling him out for the exit door, as it is easy for those of us sitting with our beer belly's munching a Kit Kat, whilst sitting at a computer or tapping away on a tablet screen to make such ironic judgement on another man's age, fitness and career. Dig in Ginger Pele… prove us wrong, work at it and keep lacing those West Ham boots up… the Olympic Stadium beckons!

Terence Bates

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WEST HAM BATTLE NEWCASTLE AND ASTON VILLA FOR HIGHLY-RATED DEFENDER
By Dylan Bregman
IronsInTheCircle

According to The Daily Star West Ham United are tracking 26-year-old Ivorian centre-half, Lamine Kone. Kone has really started to become one of Ligue 1's best centre half's this season and he could be at the centre of a tug of war in the January transfer window. The Lorient defender has played 9 games this season and has caught the eye of scouts from England. Lorient's next game is at home to Paris Saint-Germain and this will be Kone's chance to prove that he is good enough for the top tier of English football. The centre-half is valued around €3m, however, it may not be a case of simply buying him. Sunderland, Aston Villa and Newcastle are also keen to get in on the act. With the high demand for the Ivorian, Lorient could easily bump up his price and get up to double his value if the English clubs are as interested as they seem. With rumours that club hero James Collins might be heading towards the exit at the Hammers, West Ham may need a new centre back to do a job for them when they need.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 12th November 2015

Hammers at War
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's Club Historian John Helliar looks back at how the Second
World War affected the Hammers...

Today is 11 November, Armistice Day – a day when the people of Britain pay
tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice in conflicts around the
world.

On 3 September 1939, Great Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany
following Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland. This and subsequent events over
the next seven years led to an upheaval in World events that had not been
seen since the last great conflict of 1914-18, which had been 'a war to end
all wars' – in the words of the politicians. Nothing could have been further
from the truth. Football would quickly pale into insignificance next to the
atrocities that would follow.

Preparations for the 1939/40 Football League season had begun in an unreal
atmosphere of what became known as the 'phoney war', as the dark clouds of
war loomed once more over Europe.

West Ham United had kicked-off their campaign in the Second Division on 26
August with a 3-1 away win at Plymouth Argyle, which had been followed up
two days later with a 2-1 home win over Fulham. On 2 September, the Hammers
had suffered a loss by two goals to nil at home to Leicester City. Within 24
hours all thoughts of sporting activity had been put aside as war was
declared.

In 1914 the Football League programme had continued until the end of the
following April, before being replaced by regional war-time competitions for
the next four seasons. However, in 1939, there were a different set of
circumstances prevailing, with fears of immediate mass air-raids.

The Government introduced measures to restrict large gatherings of crowds at
cinemas, football grounds and other outdoor venues. Thus, the League season
was abandoned after just three games and those matches were deleted from the
official records.

In his book At home with the Hammers, future manager Ted Fenton, who was one
of the star players at Upton Park at the outbreak of war wrote: "In 1939, we
really and sincerely thought we were going to do it (be promoted). We had
the balance, the power and the experience necessary. We saw it as our season
of fulfilment".

The dreams of Fenton and his team-mates – like many other footballers of
that era – were shattered and left unrealised – as by the time League
football resumed in England, many players had seen their careers ended by
the seven-year suspension.

That being said, the War had also provided little opportunity for younger
players to obtain the requisite experience to be themselves ready for the
1946 return of soccer. By then, many stars would appear no more, overtaken
by age and tiring muscles, while others had been tragically killed on
military service.

Eventually, the restrictions were relaxed and, after a short period of
friendly matches in the autumn of 1939, organised football began again on a
regionalised format.

The Government had realised that sport was one way of taking people's minds
off of the conflict which was now engulfing not only Europe but the most of
the world.

West Ham were grouped with teams in the south of England which covered an
area from Norwich City in the north through all the London teams down to
Portsmouth and Southampton on the south coast.

As the FA Cup had also been suspended, knockout football was initially also
run along regionalised lines in the early rounds. The Football League War
Cup competition was introduced, with local winners in different areas then
meeting up in the later rounds.

A pressing concern for all clubs was the potential disruption that
conscription – players being 'called-up' into the Armed Forces – would
cause.

Before war had actually been declared, the Hammers squad had volunteered for
service with the Reserve Police – Charlie Bicknell, the captain at 34
years-of-age being an example – while others joined the Territorials in the
Army and were drafted into the Essex Regiment and spent much of the war
based in East Anglia and London on searchlight sites.

Others, such as Fenton, were stationed at the Aldershot barracks, and Archie
Macauley – who played for Scotland – found themselves in the Army as PT
Instructors because of their physical fitness.

Charlie Walker was one who did not return to Upton Park until the start of
the 1945/46 season, having spent a long spell in the Far East in the RAF.

Soon Charlie Paynter, the manager, found that his players were scattered
around the country as they made their contribution to the war effort. With
many of his regulars unavailable, Paynter – like most other managers at
clubs around the country – was forced to spend his time negotiating with
commanding officers for the release of his own players or with other clubs
for the services of 'guest' players who might be stationed in units in the
London area.

Although some 85 per cent of all war-time appearances were made by players
who were already on the Hammers' books, or would be by 1945/46, there were
some impressive 'guest' appearances from such as the Arsenal trio of Ted
Drake, Eddie Hapgood and Bernard Joy, Manchester City's Northern Ireland
international inside-forward Peter Doherty, Willie Corbett and Tommy Deans
of Celtic and Hearts' Tommy Walker.

The War Cup of 1940 proved to be one of the highlights during this difficult
period of the Hammers' history. After early round victories over Chelsea
and Leicester, then Huddersfield and Birmingham, the Hammers met Fulham in
the semi-final at Stamford Bridge, beating them 4-3.

In the final at Wembley, they met a strong Blackburn Rovers side in a match
which was played on a Saturday evening in June at 6.30pm to avoid high
levels of absenteeism amongst war workers.

The crowd was restricted to 50,000 and, to their credit, both clubs were
able to name line-ups which were free of guests.

The only goal of the match was scored by the Hammers' Sammy Small, who was
an ambulance builder, with both Bicknell and Fenton sharing with the rest of
their team-mates in what was West Ham's first Wembley triumph.

While they did not return to Wembley, the Hammers were always well placed in
the different war-time league competitions. In seven campaigns, they
finished runners-up on five occasions, even though the format of the
competitions was changed often.

In the late summer of 1944, the horrors of the war did eventually arrive at
the Boleyn Ground when a V1 flying bomb landed on the pitch, destroying a
large part of the South Bank terrace (where the Bobby Moore Stand is now
situated) – including blowing off the roof – as well as that end of the Main
West Stand. The Club offices were also devastated, causing many records to
be lost.

Forced to play away from home, the Hammers strung together nine consecutive
wins, only to lose 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on their return to Upton Park in
December 1944!

It would be some time before suitable repairs could be made to the actual
structure of the affected areas, as materials for rebuilding were rationed
even after the war was ended.

Although the War ended in the summer of 1945, there was only enough time to
organise a competition called the 'Football League South' for the 1945/46
season, although this did comprise a more familiar 22-club format with teams
from the pre-war First and Second Divisions.

It was not until August 1946 that actual Football League Second Division
football finally started up again in England.

John Helliar is West Ham United's long-serving Club Historian and Boleyn
Ground tour guide. His father, Jack, also edited and published the matchday
programme for many years.

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Doing it for Dad
WHUFC.com


Yellow Advertiser football correspondent Brian Jeeves is a regular in the
Boleyn Ground Press Box. However, it was never meant to be like this for the
Southend United daft son of a Hammers fan
I always take my seat this early, I like to sit with a cuppa and watch the
ground gradually fill up. I take a slurp of the steaming brew, browse
through the match programme and have a nose around. Two elderly chaps have
just taken their seats, they are here most weeks, and I've no doubt they've
seen it all. A young lad stands with his dad at the top of the stairs,
gazing wide-eyed across the stadium. It's his first time here, a fledgling
dream has come true. Meanwhile down by the players tunnel, a clutch of kids
wait patiently for any sign of a player who might be willing to scribble an
autograph in their books.

I continue to breathe in the atmosphere and anticipation of the fans as they
arrive for the rollercoaster ride ahead. I glance up at the clouds hanging
above the Chicken Run and smile to myself. You see, it was never meant to be
this way!

I am the son of Anthony Jeeves, a railwayman from nearby Forest Gate. Dad
drove the huge steam engines between Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street.
He was a massive Hammers fan and quite clearly wanted me to follow suit. Dad
and my mother moved to Rochford in 1958, but he still watched the Hammers
whenever he could. Following my arrival ten years later, his grand plan was
for son to follow in his footsteps leading all the way to Green Street. But
his momentous blunder was taking me to Roots Hall for my football
inauguration. He believed he could 'blood' me at Southend United, then ease
me in at Upton Park along the way.

But much to the old man's frustration I'd fallen head-over-heels for my
local team. Try as he may, there was no way back, I was a die-hard Shrimper.
Of course, in time this led to many ensuing quarrels, usually starting with
dad saying "The trouble with Sarfend is…"

And my dedication to Southend made life tough for me at school too. South
east Essex is a West Ham hotbed. Hopelessly outnumbered by Hammers fans, any
crumb of success for the Shrimpers was belittled by the claret and blue clan
on the King Edmunds playground. I must admit, West Ham United had become a
bit of a nemesis!

Amongst dad's earliest childhood memories were of being lifted over the
Upton Park turnstile and passed above the crowd's cloth caps and placed
behind the North Bank goal. He remembered looking up and seeing a man in a
bottle green sweater hanging on the rigging of the goal and smiling back at
him. It was Hammers goalkeeper Ernie Gregory, and he instantly became the
old man's first hero. Dad told me how he would go to Gregory's house with
his school friends to ask for autographs. A woman, perhaps his wife or
landlady, would come to the door and hand out squares of paper with the
treasured squiggle adorned across it.

In 2003, about a month before he passed away, I was out with the old man on
Southend seafront when he seethed: "I never saw Ernie Gregory, I bet that
bloody woman signed those autographs" – I wondered just how long that had
been eating away at him and set about getting Ernie's signature. Sadly, by
the time I obtained one, it was too late.

But dad had plenty of other Upton Park recollections, and he wasn't slow to
let me know about them. Great players he'd seen play for and against the
Hammers. Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, George Best and Bert Trautmann to name a
few. He'd also tell tales about players with curious actualities. Syd
Puddefoot and Jim Standen were particular favourites, and he'd often recite
both football and cricketing facts about the pair. Puddefoot had represented
Essex, while Standen was a leg-spinner for Worcestershire, taking 313
first-class wickets between 1959 and 1970 at an average of 25.34.

My personal favourite memories are of watching the 1980/81 team that lifted
the Second Division championship. Dad and I would visit Upton Park when
Southend were away or had played on a Friday night. They had some super
players. Parkes, Bonds, Brooking and Devonshire. Looking back, it's criminal
to think that they were plying their trade in English football's second
tier.

But soon teenage tantrums had kicked in. By the time Cottee and McAvennie
were tearing up the First Division, those jovial childhood disputes between
dad and I had become quite bitter, much to do with my misguided adolescence
no doubt. These family feuds were not helped by Southend's fruitless toil in
Division Four, ironically under the management of Bobby Moore. I'd actually
started to despise West Ham.

In dad's later years, footballing days out circled around Southend. He
didn't like wandering too far from home on a match day. Although we'd both
mellowed enough to hold a conversation about the Shrimpers and Hammers
without cursing at each other.

After dads passing I began to write down his old football tales, just so my
own children had something to remember him by. One thing led to another and
here I am 12 years later, a three-times published author and a football
correspondent with the Yellow Advertiser newspaper, covering both Southend
and West Ham, something I enjoy immensely.

Indeed, despite me and the Hammers not getting off to the best of starts, I
must admit I was a nervous wreck the day I covered my first game at Upton
Park against Manchester City in the semi-final of the League Cup.

In truth the game was the deadest of dead-rubbers. West Ham were trailing
6-0 from the first leg and stood even less than no chance of progressing to
the final. Nevertheless, this was my first taste of the big-time, and for
dad's sake I had to get it right. A Hammers-supporting mate accompanied me
that night for moral support. He was understandably less than enthusiastic
about the match and asked me to 'go easy on us', as the home side faced the
possibility of another tough evening.

City won 3-0 to complete a 9-0 aggregate win, but I tried to be as courteous
as I possibly could to the Hammers. I submitted my report to the editor, but
come Friday afternoon I had a stern phone call from my mate. My editor had
headlined the piece 'Hammers humiliated!' As you can imagine, with a bit of
'previous' where West Ham were concerned, I had a bit of explaining to do.

But back to today, and for the record a goal in each half from Andy Carroll
and Stewart Downing is enough to see off the hapless Foxes, sending the
Boleyn faithful home full of Christmas cheer.

The game was far from a classic, nevertheless today is a special day. It is
the first anniversary of me becoming an accredited football reporter, and
eleven years to the day since I last watched a match with the old man.
Southend lost 1-0 to Bristol Rovers that afternoon. Five days later on
Christmas Day 2003 his heart gave up and our lives changed forever. It seems
somewhat poignant that I was spending this anniversary at Upton Park
covering his beloved Hammers. I brought him a retro Hammers shirt that
Christmas, sadly it never came out of the wrapping paper, until today that
is.

The press box quickly empties. I sit here alone, frantically typing up my
final word on proceedings. I say alone, but he's here, I know he is. I can
feel his presence everywhere.

And to the present. We continue to embark on the Boleyn Ground's final
journey, a chance for fans, and in this case a journalist, to be a part of
history. Of course just over the horizon, that Swansea City game will be a
tearful occasion. I think back to all those arguments we had over the
Shrimpers and Hammers, but it doesn't seem to matter anymore. I want that
final by-line above all others. It's not just an opportunity to scribe a
piece of unique footballing history, but to be here for the old man sporting
that shirt for him of course.

He's probably looking down on me chuckling now. After all, I'm a regular at
the Boleyn Ground now, he got his way in the end. But one thing will never
change. How I'd love to watch just one more match with him, whether it be
Shrimpers or Hammers.

Goodnight Upton Park and sleep tight Dad x – Thanks for the memories.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 1-0 Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com

West Ham United beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a late Jaanai Gordon goal
in a behind closed doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday
afternoon.

Alex Song played just over an hour on his return from injury, while Slaven
Bilic took the opportunity to field highly rated prospects Marcus Browne and
Jahmal Hector-Ingram.

Just as it looked like the game was heading for a draw, young striker Jaanai
Gordon expertly headed Carl Jenkinson's pin-point cross past Eagles'
goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

In an open game, Michail Antonio looked lively down the right-hand flank,
firing a number of dangerous crosses into the box with Joey O'Brien
providing a valuable option on the overlap.

The first real chance of the game fell to the visitors as Patrick Bamford
got to the byline and cut back for Connor Wickham who forced Rapahel Spiegel
to make a sharp save down to his right.

The Hammers responded with a chance of their own as Mauro Zarate worked a
yard of space and tested the Palace keeper with a stinging shot.

It was the Argentine who again went closest to breaking the deadlock,
bending an effort just wide from 25-yards and it was the forward who looked
most likely to score throughout the proceedings.

Into the second half, Jaanai Gordon, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry came on
as the Hammers started the second period brightly. Clear cut chances were
hard to come by, Stephen Hendrie tried an audacious volley from range while
Gordon tested Speroni's reflexes.

With an hour gone, Song demonstrated his obvious talent with an exquisite
defence splitting pass; Antonio the glad recipient, bore down on goal and
forced Speroni into a fantastic save.

It would prove to Song's last meaningful touch as he was replaced, as
planned, by fellow m
idfielder Amos Nasha. First team full backs Carl Jenkinson and Aaron
Cresswell were also given run outs.

Despite the superiority, the Eagles had chances of their own as striker
Frazier Campbell's arrowed shot took a deflection before skimming the post
with Spiegel beaten.

Just as the sides looked to have settled for a draw, Jenkinson bombed
forward and delivered a superb cross which Gordon, unmarked, steered past
Speroni with just minutes remaining of the match.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Terzic - It is great to see Alex back on the pitch
WHUFC.com

West Ham United first-team coach Edin Terzic was thrilled to see Alex Song
back in action and hopes he can play a major role for the Club this season.
Song has been forced to miss the start of the season with an ankle injury,
but has been working hard behind the scenes to regain full fitness and made
his first appearance of the season as he played an hour in a
behind-closed-doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground. Teenage forward Jaanai
Gordon scored the winning goal as the Hammers recorded a 1-0 win over
Crystal Palace but it was the return of Song that stole all the headlines.
Terzic is hoping the former Barcelona and Arsenal star can regain the form
which saw him become such a fans favourite in the first half of last season
and says his experience is crucial for the rest of the dressing room. Terzic
said: "It was great to see Alex back in action, not only for the coaches but
also the fans as well. "It is a good moment to see him back on the pitch. He
had a great season last year and it is great for us to have him back. "He
was one of the best players in the league last year so he is raising our
quality and our level and taking us to the next step. "He is very
experienced and very funny. He is always in a good mood and his dressing
style is a little bit crazy but he is very important for the team."

Manager Slaven Bilic also used the opportunity to give a run-out to summer
signings Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio, while club skipper Mark Noble,
James Tomkins, Aaron Cresswell and Mauro Zarate also got more minutes under
their belt. Terzic says it is important for the players to keep up their
fitness levels over the international break and ensure they are in the best
possible shape as they prepare to face a big London derby against Tottenham
on November 22. Terzic added: "It is very important to give all the players
the opportunity to wear the West Ham shirt, not only in training but in
games as well. "This game was organised for players who have not had a lot
of minutes at high competition rate on the pitch. "As a coach we know we
need all of the boys through the whole season, especially now when we have a
couple of injuries. Everyone will get their opportunity to show their power
on the pitch."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues his latest
injury update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital

Hello everyone,

We will start this week with an update on Dimitri Payet's left ankle injury.


The way Dimitri has come into the Barclays Premier League is exceptional and
it is unfortunate that he was injured in a tackle in Saturday's fixture with
Everton and suffered a high ankle sprain. Dimitri had a scan on Sunday and
we saw the specialist at a central London hospital on Monday. He is
scheduled to see the specialist again next Monday and I will be able to give
more detail regarding Dimitri's medical condition following this second
meeting, which will decide whether or not he needs to undergo an operation.
It is a fact that he will be out until February, whether he has an operation
or not.

Enner Valencia was also injured in Saturday's game. He has re-injured his
right ankle and will be assessed by a specialist on Monday. We have some
positive news, too. It is an international break and we are keeping the
balance between training very hard and giving the players time to rest to
prepare us for a busy winter. We played Crystal Palace on Wednesday in a
behind-closed-doors game which was very competitive because both clubs put
out strong squads which could have played in the Premier League.

Alex Song played 70 minutes in this game without any problems, which was a
good step in the right direction as it was his first game in six months.

Also positive is that Winston Reid came through 90 minutes against Everton
on Saturday after four weeks out. He is now going to have a few days rest
and we can build him up again for the Tottenham Hotspur game.

Diafra Sakho has been out running on the pitch this week and we are very
confident we can recover him from his quadriceps injury for the trip to
Tottenham, should he not suffer any setbacks.

Pedro Obiang is continuing with his own rehabilitation following the
quadriceps injury he suffered in training before the Watford game.

Reece Oxford has had some significant development over the last few weeks.
We have been working with him to prepare him for the demands of the Premier
League.

He is obviously a big talent and it is my responsibility to protect him,
along with the responsibility of the manager, who is fully on board with how
we are managing Reece. He is away with England Under-19s now and will be
involved in their matches with Holland and Japan.

Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com

Recorder Series West Ham United correspondent Dave Evans says Manuel Lanzini
should fill the void left by Dimitri Payet's injury...
Losing Dimitri Payet is a huge blow for West Ham United. He has been West
Ham's best player this season, and many would say he has been the best
player in the Premier League since his arrival from Marseille in the summer.
To lose someone who has already got five goals and three assists is a big
blow and it's going to be very difficult for West Ham to replace him. That
said, someone has to fill the void left by Payet's absence and the squad is
very strong and I would imagine that Manuel Lanzini will step up to the
plate and play more in that central playmaker role. Lanzini has done that
before in Argentina so he knows how to play that No10 role. He is a very
confident boy and certainly scored a great goal against Everton on Saturday,
so I think him coming into that position will help things. When he was
playing in Argentina for River Plate, he was their No10 and in that
playmaker role at the age of 20, which is pretty impressive. He played more
than 80 games for River Plate, so he has real pedigree and is back in
top-level football now after a spell in the UAE. He has looked confident and
strong and has settled into the Premier League so well. He plays with such
belief, as was seen by his goal on Saturday, when he had the composure and
ability to control the ball when it dropped to him before picking his spot.
It was a superb goal. Manuel will also have a chance to take more set pieces
too, I would imagine, so hopefully we'll see if he can do the business with
those as well. Mauro Zarate might have a role to play in that position as
well, so we shall see. There are attacking options for Slaven Bilic in this
squad.

Hopefully Diafra Sakho will be back soon, as I believe he is a vital player
for this West Ham team and the way they want to play. Michail Antonio hasn't
really been given his chance, so hopefully he can get one now, while Andy
Carroll is around and can be lethal on his day. With Alex Song also
hopefully coming back soon, it will add more experience to the midfield and
he can organise things even better than they already are, and they can work
out a way of playing without Dimitri. There is strength in depth that West
Ham have not had for a few years and this is a chance for others to step up
to the plate and show what they can do, but it is a blow to lose possibly
the best player in the Premier League. There would be no greater pick-me-up
for the fans than for West Ham to go to Tottenham Hotspur and win in their
next game. I remember the games there in the last two seasons, when West Ham
played superbly and got positive results, and of course there are the away
wins the team has already achieved this season, too. The Hammers have won at
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Crystal Palace, so why not make it
five away wins for the season? Lanzini has played important parts in many of
those victories, so they are certainly of going to Tottenham and winning.
Hopefully, they can get the result.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sakho cautioned over 'criminal damage'
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th November 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho has been cautioned by Police following
his double arrest back in August. The 25-year-old striker, who is currently
sidelined with what has been referred to as a thigh injury accepted the
caution last week after being arrested twice within the space of three
weeks.
A spokesman told the Daily Mirror: "A 25-year-old man arrested on Thursday,
6th August in Emerson Park, Hornchurch, on suspicion of criminal damage and
malicious communications accepted a police caution on 2nd November in
relation to criminal damage. "He was advised that no further action will be
taken in relation to the allegation of malicious communications."

Sakho was nicked just 48 hours after West Ham's 2-0 win at Arsenal on the
opening day of the season, on suspicion of assault involving a female.
Despite having been bailed on that occasion, he was arrested again on 23rd
August on suspicion of threats to kill and intimidating a witness.
However last week it was revealed that he would not be facing any further
charges. "Following allegations of assault and malicious communications made
against Diafra Sakho in August, the police have confirmed there will be no
action taken," read a statement issued by the Sports PR Company.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Don't blame the docs for Payet injury, says Brown
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th November 2015
By: Staff Writer

Kenny Brown believes that West Ham United's medical team should be absolved
of criticism following the injury to Dimitri Payet. West Ham's medical staff
have been accused in some quarters of allowing Payet to return for the
second half despite clearly carrying an injury, having hobbled through the
last quarter-of-an-hour of the first. However Brown, speaking on this
week's edition of the KUMB Podcast insisted that it would be unfair to blame
Stijn Vandenbroucke and his team - as the decision to play on would almost
certainly have been down to Payet himself.
"He's come off and they'll have had a look at it, but you're going to gauge
it from the player," said Brown. "He's obviously desperate to carry on
playing. They've probably worked on him, maybe it's loosened up. But you
don't know. "Whether he did any more damage to it in that period of time,
which is why he's out for three months when it could have been less time,
you don't know. You'd like to think not, you'd like to think the medical
team have said 'he can't do any more damage, let's see what it's like'.
Obviously it wasn't right. "But normally, if you get an injury that keeps
you out for that length of time when you go down and go off, you tend to
stay off."

Brown, who spent five years at West Ham during the 1990s also believes that
referees need to be more consistent in the wake of the reckless challenge by
Everton's James McCarthy that will keep Payet out of action for up to three
months. "It's disappointing, especially when you see yellow cards dished out
for silly little things like encroachment," he mused. "You get the same
punishment for a tackle like McCarthy's. There's no consistency." And the
former defender also believes that the French midfielder was deliberately
targeted by Roberto Martinez's side. "Any opposition will do their homework
on West Ham and a big part of that will be how do you stop someone like
Payet," he added. "They will have said, 'if you get a chance, go through
him' - and that was obviously the case."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham chief David Gold makes FAT joke about Benni McCarthy after
striker's sexist comments
21:38, 11 NOV 2015 UPDATED 21:38, 11 NOV 2015
BY LIAM CORLESS
Gold wasn't pleased to hear former player McCarthy appear to criticise Karen
Brady, saying "woman and football, it's not such a good combination"
The Mirror

David Gold, the joint chairman of West Ham, made a jibe about Benni
McCarthy's physical condition after the former Hammers striker appeared to
make a sexist comment about Karen Brady. McCarthy moved to Upton Park from
Blackburn in February 2010 but didn't score a single goal in the 14 months
he was there. He had his contract terminated by mutual consent in April 2011
and received a hefty £1.5m pay-off for his troubles. McCarthy acknowledged
he was out of shape during his time at West Ham and, shortly after his
departure from the Boleyn Ground four-and-a-half years ago, Brady, the
club's vice-chairman branded him "a big fat mistake."

"Rather than the super scorer we hoped for, we acquired a super-size, a
player devoted to filling his belly more than filling the net," the
46-year-old businesswoman wrote in a Sun column. In a recent interview with
French publication So Foot, McCarthy voiced his sexist beliefs. He said: "I
saw so many things in my life and in football for me, it was nothing. Woman
and football, it's not such a good combination." Gold hit back at McCarthy's
comments, writing on Twitter: "More importantly Benni. Footballers and beef
burgers don't mix." McCarthy, 37, retired in 2013 after two years with
Orland Pirates in his home country of South Africa.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho accepts police caution for criminal damage
15:15, 11 NOV 2015 UPDATED 15:20, 11 NOV 2015
BY STEPHEN BEECH
The Senegal international, who has netted 13 Premier League goals for the
Hammers since joining last summer, was arrested in August following a The
Mirror

West Ham footballer Diafra Sakho has accepted a police caution for criminal
damage, it was revealed today. The Premier League star, 25, was arrested in
August following a bust-up at his home in east London. The Senegal
international was held on suspicion of common assault, criminal damage and
malicious communication. He was arrested again later the same month on
suspicion of making threats to kill and intimidating a witness. The assault,
threats and intimation allegations were subsequently dropped. Police
confirmed Sakho accepted a caution for criminal damage after answering his
bail at an East London police station. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "A
25-year-old man arrested on Thursday August 6th at an address in Emerson
Park, Hornchurch, on suspicion of criminal damage and malicious
communications accepted a police caution on November 2nd in relation to
criminal damage. "He was advised that no further action will be taken in
relation to the allegation of malicious communications." Sakho has scored 13
goals in 31 Premier League appearances since signing for the Hammers from
French club Metz in August last year.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Health-hit 'snapper' "is welcome"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Former club snapper Steve Bacon has been told he is welcome at any Hammers
match when he has recovered from his recent leg amputation. The famous Irons
figure had spoken of his diabetes-induced health difficulties on social
media. And a club insider said this morning that Steve would be welcome at
any future home game and will be accommodated in the disabled section. He
added that the club had tweeted him a "speedy recovery" message when they
first heard of his problems. Steve simply has to ring the club and they will
ensure that he's looked after. The club had tweeted its best wishes to the
former employee when they learned of his difficulties and again sent him a
"get well soon " message via ClaretandHugh. Those sentiments will be
endorsed by the fans for who Steve became such a popular figure down the
years and we too wish him a rapid recovery.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Payet's leg is NOT broken!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Dimitri Payet's leg is NOT broken in FOUR PLACES! In fact it's not even
broken in one and an attempt at bitter humour backfired this morning after
David Gold hit out at a ludicrous "great tackle" comment on Twitter. One
follower declared: "@JSMfoto @dimpayet17 @davidgold @jsullivanwhu
@whufc_official Never a red card he got the ball. Great tackle ??

Never mind red cards that immediately acted like a red rag to a bull with DG
making no bones about his feelings as he snarled back: "

David Gold ?@davidgold 9 hrs9 hours ago: 'He' got the ball, broke the
players leg in four places. Great tackle. "Love is blind" dg

However, as reported earlier here the player has suffered ligament damage
and ClaretandHugh was told this morning by a top insider: "Payet's leg is
NOT broken, its David Gold's humour/logic. Payet has a badly damaged ankle
that will will receive surgery."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons respond to player moves speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

The James Collins for Sunderland rumour has re-emerged in one national
newspaper this morning and it has more credibility than the other – and
perhaps oldest chestnut in football. Over the weekend one Tyneside paper was
suggesting that Andy Carroll was a nailed-on bet to return to Newcastle –
which given that he has made just a couple of starting appearances for us
is a bit premature to put it mildly. It seems very unlikely – even given
that that there's any interest – a buying team would move in until the
player had proved himself over a run of games and our sources continue to
insist there isn't. Once again we checked it out and were told: "Andy
remains an important member of the squad and there has never been any sort
of inquiry." Collins, however, with Sam Allardyce desperate for defensive
reinforcements and know the player is on a free is likely to make a move for
the 32 year at a knock down fee along, possibly, with Joey O'Brien. Once
again there has been no inquiry according to out inside sources but we were
told: "We are open to negotiations ."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Song all set for midday test
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C adn H

Alex Song will take his first steps towards landing a place in the squad for
the match against Spurs in around half an hour. The on-loan midfielder will
get his first action in a team setting in over six months when he steps out
at the Boleyn in a behind closed doors friendly against Charlton at the
Boleyn (k/o 12 noon, Wednesday). Song has been back in full training with
the frst team for over a week and now manager Slaven Bilic will assess the
former Arsenal man in a match setting. Song is on a year's loan and keen to
agree a permanent deal with the Irons who will be tempted to offer him a two
year deal should he impact on his first team return over the campaign. A
source told us: "We are very keen to see him in action again. He's an
absolutely top player and we wouldn't have done a loan deal while he was
still recovering had we not believed he had a lot to offer."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Date set for Payet surgery
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Dimi Payet will be in the operating theatre next Monday for surgery on his
badly damaged ankle. And meanwhile major club insiders remain utterly
furious at the actions of Everton's James McCarthy whose shocking tackle has
sidelined our brilliant midfielder for three months. Payet has suffered
ligament damage and would have been in hospital earlier had the bruising and
inflammation not been so intense. Now, however, the date has been set for
Monday of next week for the hospital visit. A top club source – struggling
unsuccessfully to control his anger four days on – made no secret of his
fury over the tackle which was perhaps the worst seen anywhere this season.
He said: "McCarthy never touched the ball. It was a wicked challenge and
let's not forget this is the same guy who savagely tackled Amalfitano the
previous year. It was an inexcusable tackle and there's still a lot of anger
about over it."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leroy slams Hodgson's regular Irons snubs
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Furious Leroy Rosenior has slammed Roy Hodgson declaring: "How dare he keep
ignoring West Ham's players?." ClaretandHugh's top pundit and analyst
declared: "It seems you only have to play for Spurs a couple of times and
Hodgson hands you a cap. It's utterly ridiculous. "Look at Dele Alli. He
plays a few Premier League games and wallop, he's in the side yet Aaron
Cresswell who played superbly all last season doesn't get a sniff. Nah, I'm
not having it. Just wrong!"
England play Spain in an international friendly on Friday the 13th which has
proved entirely unlucky for any Hammers hoping Hodgson might look in their
direction . Leroy said: "It's shameful really. Nobody is going to convince
me that Mark Noble isn't worth playing in a friendly international. Does
Hodgson know where Upton Park is? Doe he have something against us?. There
certainly seems to be a Spurs bias from him with Eric Dier also in the
squad." But Leroy added there was an upside to the England manager's refusal
to give our players a chance adding: "At least nobody is getting injured and
can concentrate on the club which is terrific but it remains wrong."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Charlton chief on Diego Poyet 'regret', unhappy academy players and transfer
budget changes
London24
12:30 11 November 2015
Brad Pinard

Charlton chief executive Katrien Meire gave fans an update on all things
behind the scenes last night. 4 We were at The Valley for the fans meeting
and Meire made it clear the academy was at the top of her priority list.
Seeing Diego Poyet leave for pennies in July 2014 to West Ham due to
contract issues and then Joe Gomez to Liverpool this summer shows how the
Addicks academy is being seen around the country and Meire is keen to work
on it. ADVERTISING "Something we regret in June, Diego Poyet left for small
compensation, far less than he is worth, to West Ham and that has made us
sign up our young players quickly and academy stars," she said. "Since
January 2014 we increased the player wages budget by 40 per cent. Also we
have spent £9million on players coming in. Players who were coming to the
end of their contract was a huge issue too, but now we have addressed that
with only a handful this summer and some of those will renew. "We have had
five academy players who have made their debuts this season. We want to keep
using these tools and help Steve (Avory) to work on this. "We want to
attract the best players in London at a young age and show they can play for
the first team. The training ground will also help that greatly. That is the
direction we are heading. "We want to show them a career path. With Joe
(Gomez) we said sign the contract but if the right deal and club come along
he can go. As much as I want to keep the young players, I don't want them to
be frustrated. "We had the same with Dale Stephens and Aston Villa. His
agent came to me and said he wanted to leave to join a bigger club, so he
was not happy at the time." Richard Murray was also on hand to give his
thoughts on the academy players coming through the ranks in south east
London. "Let's say you're Joe, you have seen Diego leave for nothing and so
get big wages at West Ham," Murray said. "His agent then tells him you can
do that and goes to him and says 'ideally we should have an agreement of
what price we can go for, you are on low wages when you can earn a fortune
elsewhere', then he will go the parents and say the same. It is not the
fairytale some people think, I think the deal was done well with Joe and we
wish him all the best." Meire went on to explain how a transfer deal at
Charlton works, with scouts, coaches and the chief executive herself taking
the bull by the horns. "How it goes is after the season ends we look at the
players under contract then players who we want to improve certain areas,"
she said. "The scouts will draw up a list, which is checked by the head
coach, when they both say yes; I try and negotiate the deal in the best way
possible. At least three people have to agree for us to sign a player."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stuart Pearce says Allardyce is behind West Ham's success under Bilic
HITC
Billy Hawkins

West Ham are doing exceptionally well under Slaven Bilic. Speaking to
talkSPORT (aired Wednesday, 07:40), Stuart Pearce has suggested that Sam
Allardyce deserves praise for the work he did at West Ham, as he has been
the basis of Slaven Bilic's team who are flying so high in the Premier
League. Pearce said: "He's put together this West Ham team who are doing
particularly well at the moment. Slaven's come in and added one or two, but
Sam created that."
Allardyce led West Ham back into the Premier League when they were a
Championship side, and managed to establish them in the top flight. He had
them playing well in the first half of last season, before they collapsed
and only managed a mid-table finish, and it is hard to disagree with his
departure as it appeared he could take the club no further forward. Bilic
was appointed, and has created a West Ham side who can match any team in the
league on their day, but Pearce believes that much of this success is down
to the solid base Allardyce built at the Boleyn Ground. The defence and
goalkeeping positions are a large majority of Allardyce's players, although
the arrival of Angelo Ogbonna this summer has been a key factor in their
recent success. Where Allardyce cannot take much of the credit is the
attacking flair that the Hammers have shown, with Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri
Payet and Victor Moses all coming to the club after Bilic's appointment, and
excelling in the Premier League. Allardyce built a solid base out of his
team, and made a side who were physical and tough to beat, but Bilic has
taken the Hammers to another level since his appointment, and he deserves
much of the praise for their success this term.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
REAL MADRID MIDFIELDER SUGGESTED AS SURPRISE DIMITRI PAYET REPLACEMENT
By Michael Oliver
readwestham.com

Having seen their key man in Dimitri Payet sidelined for up to three months
this week with an ankle injury, West Ham face the tough task of replacing
his superb creativity in the side during the busy winter months.

One suggestion has been to move the impressive Manuel Lanzini from the left
into the middle to play a more creative role. We've already seen the on-loan
Argentine impress in the attacking third this season, proving to be one of
the signings of the season so far.

Another idea thrown out there has been to scrap the 4-2-3-1 formation and
move to a 4-3-3 by bringing in another central midfielder into the team.
With Alex Song's imminent return from injury, reinstating him in the heart
of out midfield anchoring the side could provide some much-needed cover for
the back four.

Although, it's this third notion that has me the most intrigued. Purely
speculative, but the Metro have suggested that bringing in Real Madrid
prodigy Martin Odegaard on loan until the end of the season could be an
astute piece of business by Slaven Bilic.

The 16-year-old 'wonderkid' has been tipped to reach the highest heights in
the world of football, but is struggling for first-team football at the
Bernabeu for obvious reasons – dislodging the likes of James Rodriguez, Isco
and Luka Modric from the starting line-up is a near impossible task for an
unproven teen.

The Norwegian international midfielder is supposedly growing tired of
playing for the Castilla side and wants a loan move away to a top division
side for more game time at a more competitive level.

West Ham could provide that platform for the teenager to re-establish
himself on the footballing stage and remind those who have forgotten about
his immense talent.

Slaven Bilic is not one to shy away from throwing youngsters in at the deep
end. So far this season Bilic has handed out an incredible 10 debuts to
players 21 or younger – albeit most of those came in the early rounds of our
Europa League campaign against weak opposition, but he put his trust in
those players to succeed.

The former Stromgodset playmaker could be yet another talented young player
that Bilic can impart his wisdom upon and play a key role in the squad over
the second half of the season.

Playing in the Premier League would give Odegaard some vital experience at
the top level, that would only benefit his long-term development with Real
Madrid, which is where he maintains his long-term future remains.

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BILIC'S ANALYSIS OF THE SEASON (TO DATE) AND RALLYING CALL FOR MORE HUNGER!
By S J Chandos 11 Nov 2015 at 08:00
WTID

Slaven Bilic has revealed on the club website exactly what he told the
players on Saturday evening, ahead of the international break. Bilic stated:

"The international break has definitely come at a good time. Now, we have
played a third of the season, we have to be happy with the way we are
playing. We may have a few more points, maybe a few less, but we are in a
good position.'"

"I told them to be proud so far and I expect them to come back hungry,"

It is not my intention in this blog post to discuss at any length the
injuries to Payet and Valencia, nor the dubious tactics employed by Everton.
All I will say is that the match almost transported me back to the days of
Ron Greenwood, when overly physical (mostly northern, it has to be said)
teams turned up at Upton Park and kicked us out of matches. It was not
something that I expected in this day and age. In fact it was almost as if
the FA's policy on these matters did not exist and the referee was some sort
of 'throw back' to those dark and distant days of the early 1970s. Everton
did employ cynical tactics and, yes, the assault on Payet by McCarthy was
clearly a straight red. I also agree that both McCarthy and the referee
should be held to account for their actions (or, in the latter case,
inactions!). The loss of Payet is a big blow and it is also a clear
challenge to the quality/strength-in-depth of the squad and its capacity to
adapt and keep moving forward.

Bilic is correct, the international break has come at a good time and we are
in a good position. To be sixth in the PL, on 21 points (only 3 points
behind the 4th placed team and 5 points behind the current leaders), at this
stage is very positive. We may lament the disappointing loss of points in
defeats to Bournemouth, Leicester City and Watford; yet, conversely, we tend
to forget that we twice come back (Vs Norwich City and Sunderland) to
salvage a point. So, as I think Bilic infers, it is, to a certain extent, a
case of 'swings and round-abouts.'

The international break allows Bilic to take stock, work with the squad and
prepare for forthcoming key fixtures with Spurs, WBA and Man Utd. He will
need to see if the likes of Sakho and Song are ready to return and carefully
consider how we can best compensate for the loss of a creative player of
Payet's quality. I should imagine that the management will be looking for
Lanzini to step up and take on Payet's central play-making role. But, it is
also a great opportunity for Zarate and Antonio to prove their quality. They
need to grasp the opportunity with both hands when/if it is offered. The
situation should also alert some of the youngsters to the potential
possibilities. Although probably a bit early for them to be brought straight
into the first team, the likes of Cullen and Samuelson should be looking to
impress and force their way on to bench. This is the essential logic of
having a strong squad and fierce competition for places, players must
respond in the right way when an opportunity presents itself.

Hence, Bilic's expectation to see hunger, both individually and
collectively, within the squad. And yes, we fans, should also expect to
witness a keen hunger in the players to keep challenging for a top six
finish. Personally, I reject all talk of down grading ambitions and settling
for a lower, top 10 finish. If it happens than ok, but in this current
situation the correct focus is crystal clear, to fix our sights on that 4th
place and give it the best shot that we possibly can. Once you start talking
about a 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th place finish being acceptable then the
expectations (and motivation) invariably adjust downwards. Why on earth
would we do that to ourselves? Successful/highly aspirational clubs do not
do it. If the aforementioned description genuinely applies to West Ham
United these days, then neither should we. Surely we are better served
settling for a lower finish (if it transpires that way) when the season
ends, not now when we are so well positioned and it is all still to play
for! Fortunately, I think that Bilic, his coaching team and the club's board
understand this perfectly well.

This squad is capable of a top six finish. I have said this since the
pre-season and I still believe it to be true. However, I do concede that we
are at a pivotal point and it depends on the squad maintaining/increasing
its momentum. That probably means, in practical terms, Sakho and Song
successfully returning, Lanzini taking up the mantle (and staying fit!) and,
perhaps, a factor X coming in to the equation; namely a fringe player, like
Antonio or a youngster making a major impact and/or Valencia returning
quickly. Also, it has to be said that Mark Noble has a key contribution to
make. As captain he needs to work with Bilic to rally the squad, maintain
morale and lead by example on the pitch. As one might say (to paraphrase),
'cometh the hour, cometh the club captain'! Plus, in the medium term, there
is also the question of possible recruitment in the January window. Will
Payet's injury absence result in the addition of another creative
play-maker, perhaps on loan? We shall see?

To conclude, I fully expect the squad to be highly motivated and well
prepared going in to the Spurs match. It is a testimony to the club's
progress that I am now fairly confident that West Ham can to go to White
Hart Lane and win. Spurs are a good team, but they are far from unbeatable.
I expect us to play our counter-attacking game and catch them out with our
pace and skill. The key, single factor is likely to be the return of Sakho,
with him leading the line I feel that we will be a far more potent attacking
force. Payet will obviously be missed, but we have the playing resources and
tactical nous to compensate and emerge victorious. I am going for a 1-2 away
win for the Hammers. Now that would be just the type of result to dispel any
doubts, fire the hunger for success and promote higher ambitions. COYI!

SJ. Chandos.

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