'Chichester win is testament to Ladies' hard work'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies' 2-0 win over Chichester City Ladies is a testament
to the hard work of both the players and the coaches, according to general
manager Karen Ray. Two finishes from Amber Stobbs saw the Irons see off City
and maintain their unbeaten run in 2018, which has now stretched to eight
matches and seen the girls score 28 goals and concede just twice. Ray is
thrilled that her side were able to see out the victory against a Chichester
team that defeated the Irons twice earlier in the campaign, saying that the
result is the combination of the efforts from everyone involved. "To get
another win is fantastic," Ray told whufc.com. "I think the fact we've
continued this unbeaten run with a victory like this is a testament to both
the players and the staff. "To be honest I was a bit disappointed with how
the first half went. The players didn't nullify Chichester's threats to the
level that we were hoping. In the second half, we made a couple of changes,
having had a tactical refresher in the changing room, and the girls came out
and answered exactly what we wanted them to do."
For assistant coach Miles Smith, the win on Sunday was the latest in a
strong effort from the side, with the team benefitting from a couple of
changes. He said: "The results speak for themselves and we've had the
performance to go with it as well. We've made a few changes in the
background environment, and we're certainly seeing the benefits of that."
The win this weekend came thanks to two finishes from Stobbs, with the No10
adding to her impressive goal tally with a finish from distance in the first
half, before an effort rolled over the line after striking the base of the
post in the second. "The girl can score from distance, can't she?" Ray
laughed. "She's proven that if she gets half a yard she can put them away
and I think it's thoroughly deserved, giving the efforts she puts in during
training. "It was an iffy week because she potentially had an injury, but
she did exactly what a professional should do and took care of what she
needed to. She deserves full credit for the way she's handled that potential
knock-back and she came out fighting. "She's buried the ball twice and she
comes away with full credit from us. She gave her mum in the stands a great
Mother's Day present as well."
The interim head coach was also full of praise for debutants Molly Clark and
Cara Connatser, after the pair made their first appearance for the Irons in
the win.
Clark and Connatser both played the full 90 minutes in the victory over
Chichester and Ray is already seeing the positives to having the duo in the
team. Ray added: "I think Molly Clark showed exactly why she's played at the
level she has. She's very comfortable on the ball and isn't afraid to talk
to the players in front of her, and tell them what she needs in order to
block those passing lanes and be the defensive threat we need her to be.
"She especially showed her class in the last ten to 15 minutes when she
pushed on and joined in the forward play. A player like her will add to us
in the forward areas. "Cara has definitely got a voice and she holds her
own. She talks to her back four which is nice, and I think they enjoy having
someone talking behind them. I think she brings confidence to our defence,
as they know she's there and has their backs."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stobbs double earns Ladies win against Chichester City
WHUFC.com
A brace from captain Amber Stobbs saw West Ham United Ladies continue their
unbeaten start to 2018 with a 2-0 win over Chichester City. The No10 added
to her tally with an excellent strike from distance on 22 minutes, putting
the Irons into the lead at half-time. Striker Kelly Wealthall also hit the
cross-bar with a headed effort, before Chichester had a goal correctly ruled
out for offside. Some excellent defending in the second period kept the away
side at bay, and with the seconds ticking down Stobbs claimed her second as
the ball rolled in after striking the post.
The Hammers began the contest on the front foot and looked to take the lead
early on, with Ellie Zoepfl coming close twice in the opening ten minutes.
Debutant Molly Clark looked for a finish from distance, before Stobbs put
wide while under pressure after a fantastic flick from Wealthall. Wealthall
would then hit the cross-bar with a header, while the forward and Zoepfl
both saw efforts spectacularly saved. But captain Stobbs once again found
the net from distance, receiving the ball and striking an exquisite effort
into the top corner midway through the first period., A fine stop also
denied Andria Georgiou a second goal in two games as the Irons enjoyed an
impressive 45 minutes. Goalkeeper Cara Connatser, also making her Hammers
debut, was largely a bystander but claimed well when called into action
after an hour. Rosie Kmita curled an effort just wide of the near post
before Zoepfl linked up with Wealthall again. Having scored twice last
weekend, the young striker would have been disappointed not to put away the
chance. On 84 minutes, it appeared for a moment that West Ham's hard-work
has been undone, as Chichester found the net. However, the linesman
correctly ruled the goal out for offside. And, with just a few moments to
play, Stobbs claimed her second goal, with her shot rolling over the line
and into the back of the net.
West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Mabey (Auguste
74'); Georgiou (Burr 87'), Clark, Stobbs (c); Zoepfl, Wealthall, R Kmita
Substitutes: Auguste, Chong, Burr, Peters, M Kmita
Goals: Stobbs 22', 90+1'
Chichester City Ladies: Cheshire; Ingram, Alexandre (c), Taylor, Tash,
Fowlic, Bloomfield, Collighan, Tucker, Barron
Substitutes: Walford, Paul, Phelps, Shine
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Westley backs young Hammers to learn from experience of Chelsea reverse
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Terry Westley said fine margins were the difference between
victory and defeat in West Ham United's 1-0 Premier League 2 Division 1 loss
to Chelsea. The Hammers created enough chances to defeat their opponents at
Chigwell Construction Stadium, only for a combination of profligate
finishing, fine goalkeeping from Blues goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and an error
from home stopper Nathan Trott to see them end an exciting 90 minutes on the
losing side.
"You don't always get what you deserve and this was definitely one of those
occasions," he said. "We had a 60/40 advantage in possession and many more
penalty area entries and shots than Chelsea, but you've got to make one of
those opportunities count and we didn't quite do that. "I thought, in Marcus
Browne, we had the best player on the pitch, which is always important when
you're playing against a top team like Chelsea, because you want to compare
players. "We were a younger team than them, with Ben Johnson, Domingos Quina
and Conor Coventry all still Under-18 players, so we acquitted ourselves
well, but I'm a little bit disappointed we didn't get a point or all three,
because I thought we were the better side."
Westley backed his players to learn from the experience, while also finding
time to praise the performances of captain Marcus Browne and fellow
attacking midfielder Nathan Holland, who returned to action after four
months out with a hamstring injury. "Making Marcus captain has helped him,
trying to instil in him a responsibility to help the team, on and off the
pitch, and he's taken over that mantel from Moses Makasi [who is out on
loan] very well. "He can drive up the pitch, with or without the ball, and
there are not many players like that any longer. There are a lot of neat and
tidy footballers, but not many who can run and drive with the ball, and in
the first half, in particular, you had Browne, Holland and Grady Diangana on
the counter attack when it turned over, and our pace was too much for them.
We didn't make the best of those opportunities, but Marcus really led the
team properly and I'm really pleased with him. "Nathan has worked really
hard with the physios and rehab department, and Josh Pask the same, as both
had similar types of injuries and were out for a while. Nathan came back and
showed he can run past you and there are very few out and out wingers who
can go down the outside like he does. He, Marcus and Grady caught the eye in
the first half on the attacking front."
One player who also caught the eye was England U20 goalkeeper Trott, who
made a succession of fine saves, only for Chelsea's winner to come from his
miss-hit goal kick. Again, Westley backed the youngster to bounce back.
"Nathan made some unbelievable saves, but unfortunately it just shows you
what that job is like. If you make an error, which he did, it cost us a goal
and ultimately cost us the match. "Overall, he'd be thinking 'I made some
unbelievable saves' but that's the learning curve and if you go to the next
level, to first-team level, those are the sort of mistakes you need to be
cutting out."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Holland returns as young Hammers edged out by Chelsea
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were edged out 1-0 by Chelsea in a competitive Premier
League 2 Division 1 fixture at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday.
Terry Westley's side fashioned more than enough opportunities to beat the
Blues, only to be beaten by a solitary first-half strike from Scotland U19
international winger Harvey St Clair. While defeat is never welcome, Westley
will have been encouraged by the performance of his team, and in particular
with the return of Nathan Holland (pictured, above) after four months out
with a hamstring injury. With Holland lively down the left wing, the Hammers
created at least a dozen decent chances in the opening 45 minutes, but could
not find a way past the Blues' Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.
With captain Marcus Browne also in influential form in the No10 position,
West Ham repeatedly passed and dribbled their way through the Chelsea
rearguard, only to find Bulka and his defenders in the way when it mattered
most. It was centre-back Josh Pask who went close first, seeing his
deflected 25-yard shot pushed aside by Bulka, but by that time Chelsea had
taken the lead. Nathan Trott had already made two superb saves, diving
full-length to tip Joseph Colley's curler onto the crossbar before doing
likewise to divert St Clair's low shot around the post. However, it was from
the England U19 goalkeeper's short clearance that the visitors went ahead on
19 minutes, as Kyle Scott intercepted and played in St Clair, who cut inside
and slammed a right-foot shot low past Trott's right hand.
Having gone behind, West Ham took control, with Pask's shot being followed
by a succession of near-misses. The returning Nathan Holland saw a powerful
strike blocked, Grady Diangana and Oladapo Afolayan both fired wide, before
Browne's fine run set up Diangana, whose deflected shot was well held by the
busy Bulka.
The impressive Diangana was involved twice more before half-time, seeing a
shot blocked by Chelsea captain Ruben Sammut, before teeing up Afolayan,
whose powerful effort was clawed away from the top corner. While there were
far fewer chances to score at both ends in the second half, each team hit
the woodwork in what was a generally even 45 minutes. After the willing
Browne had twice fired high and wide from range, Chelsea substitute Reece
James got in behind the West Ham defence. His shot was parried by Trott and
diverted onto the underside of the crossbar by Tunji Akinola before the
goalkeeper recovered to punch clear. Then, Hammers replacement Jahmal
Hector-Ingram latched onto a Diangana pass at the end of a flowing move
involving Akinola and Ben Johnson, only to fire his shot across Bulka and
against the base of the far post. West Ham continued to press in the closing
stages, with Browne volleying into the side-netting. Akinola seeing a
close-range header deflected over and Diangana driving wide from 25 yards,
but it was Chelsea who took the spoils from a keenly-contested London derby.
West Ham United: Trott, Johnson, Neufville, Coventry, Pask, Akinola,
Diangana, Quina (Powell 86), Afolayan (Hector-Ingram 55), Browne ©, Holland
(Haksabanovic 59)
Subs not used: Matrevics (GK), Alese
Chelsea: Bulka, Sterling (James 62), Colley, Nartey, Dasilva, Sammut ©,
McCormick, Colkett, Taylor Crossdale, Scott (Maddox 86), St Clair (Grant 62)
Subs not used: Cumming (GK), Castillo
Referee: Christopher O'Connell
Attendance: 294
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
IT IS TIME TO GET BEHIND THE TEAM
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 11 MARCH 2018 AT 10:23PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Elliot Polland @ellpol1
Fresh from the London Stadium I have never seen such a toxic influence as I
witnessed today. West Hams game against Burnley was a must win following a
thrashing from Swansea 7 Days previous. 5 changes were made to that team
which welcomed back 2 influential defenders in Ogbonna and Collins.
West Ham had a solid first 45 minutes ntes and should have taken advantage
of there dominance with Manual Lanzini having the best chance of the half to
put the hammers ahead. Burnley barely troubled Joe Hart at all.
Feeling positive going into the second half Burnley gradually got on top and
started to create a few chances, including a goal which was correctly ruled
out for offside. Following this the atmosphere in the stadium dropped as us
home fans quite rightly became nervous. Burnley then took the lead with a
great strike from Ashley Barns which have Joe Hart no chance. The ball
nestling into the top corner caused immediate unrest and frustration within
the home crowd. The scenes that then followed this are embarrassing and
unforgiving in my point of view. Supporters ran on the pitch and had to be
man handled by club captain Mark Noble as the stewarding was yet again non
existent. It was no surprise that Burnley managed to double there lead
straight after the restart following the pitch invasions and disruption. To
the fans that invaded the pitch and the fans who gathered around the
directors box to hurl abuse I ask you, what are you hoping to achieve?
Having played well for 45 minutes and then falling behind to a good goal do
you really think the protests against the board are necessary? The scenes
that followed the opening goal were 100% responsible for the second. However
I do believe that Joe Hart was entirely responsible for the third. In no way
am I defending the board but the timing of these protests is causing nothing
but poison within our club. Do you really think that by standing outside the
directors box yelling abuse is going to make the owners sell the club and
keep us in the premier league? The answer is no. The only way the club are
going to survive in this league is if we get behind the players and support
them, not turning on them after conceding 1 goal. Us fans are going to be
the people who decide the fate of our club, and fighting amounts each other
does not resolve anything. As a loyal West Ham fan I am embarrassed by
today's events more than I'm disappointed by the defeat. The fans that
caused this atmosphere are just as responsible as the players for this
defeat. In fact I wouldn't even call these people fans.
The West Ham fans will determine if we stay in this league so it's time to
put the issues with the board behind us for now and back the TEAM!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A HEARTFELT MESSAGE TO ANYONE BLAMING WEST HAM FANS FOR THE CLUB'S CRISIS
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 11 MARCH 2018 AT 10:29PM
TheWesTHamWay.co.uk
Written by Matthew Jones Twitter: @MatthewJ_Joness
The year was 2010. David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady signed a deal
to move West Ham United into the Olympic Stadium. The transition would see
Upton Park, home of West Ham since 1904, demolished. The stadium which
England's greatest ever player, Bobby Moore, graced for 16 years. The
stadium which saw Paulo Di Canio score the greatest goal in Premier League
history, right in front of the West Ham crowds. It was a classic location
for international football, for example when thousands of West Ham
supporters came to watch the best footballer in history, Lionel Messi, play
at the Boleyn ground in 2014. It saw club legend Mark Noble have a memorable
testimonial (my last ever game at the ground), featuring some of West Ham's
best ever players. Upton Park's dying days involved a season consisting of
incredible wins against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and most notoriously –
Manchester United. Every single West Ham United fan, whether watching it
from home or sat in the ground, emotionally witnessed Bobby Moore turn the
lights off at Upton Park, for the final time. A lifetime of memories and
history was released from the desperate grip of West Ham fans, forever. But
why?
David Sullivan and David Gold, sat in front of a press conference eight
years ago, explained why West Ham United were transitioning to the Olympic
Stadium.
"We will have the cheapest Premier League prices in the country. We want
football to be affordable for the ordinary working class man, not just the
corporate people," said Sullivan.
As soon as we moved into the Olympic Stadium, 'Kids for a quid' and 'half
price adult tickets' were immediately scrapped, whilst U16s are charged £70
for a Band 1 ticket.
"The seats behind the goal are even closer to the pitch than they are at the
Emirates Stadium. The sight lines from EVERY part of the ground are better
than Wembley," bragged Sullivan.
Since moving, West Ham have been ridiculed as thousands of fans have snapped
photos of their view, where the ball is almost invisible from sight.
"It is mad [that owners are changing shirt colours]. It is like calling
ourselves West Ham London. We are West Ham United, not West Ham London."
Six years later, West Ham's notorious 'castle' crest, reading 'West Ham
United', is thrown in the bin for a plastic, corporate logo reading 'WEST
HAM LONDON'.
"It is very sad [that Premier League owners are just there to make money].
We don't see West Ham as a business. We want to break even and make it a
self-sufficient club."
The board made a £183.3million record turnover last year. The club also made
£28.4 million on player sales. In the summer transfer window, instead of
investing off the back of a disastrous first season at the new stadium, the
board pocketed an additional £5 million from selling key players of our
squad.
"If we're going into the Olympic Stadium, we MUST be in the Premier League."
In January 2018, with West Ham in extreme danger of relegation, the board
sold Ayew and Fonte for over £20 million. No replacement for Fonte came in.
An inexperienced striker from Preston North End replaced our £18 million
forward. The board intentionally weakened the team to fill their pockets. It
is now March, and West Ham sit in 16th, with the majority of fans adamant
that we will not win another game.
And then came the extensive documentary from Karren Brady about the Olympic
Stadium. "The seats will not be black and white, they will represent the
colours of West Ham United," she said.
"A state of the art digital wrap will go RIGHT AROUND the stadium," she
said.
"Our job is to exceed fan's expectations, and we will certainly do that" she
said.
Brady looked at every single one of you West Ham fans, straight in the eye,
and told you these lies. She knew what she was doing. She strapped you of
your hard-earned cash, to fill her pockets, and she did it by deceiving the
club you love.
The stadium is the biggest problem. West Ham United get relegated this
season, and we officially die. A soulless, corporate, white bowl with 40,000
empty seats will look down on Mark Noble playing with ten youth players
against Burton Albion. If the board are still in charge, does their track
record make you think they will invest to get us back up to the Premier
League? No – they did the same to other historical clubs, like Birmingham,
and they will do it to us as well. If they are in charge, we will never go
up. Get that idea in your head – West Ham United will NEVER play in the
Premier League ever again. You will never take your children to a West Ham
Premier League game. They will never know what West Ham really was like.
And now, if we are lucky, the board will sell up. They walk away with
hundreds of millions and go live in their extravagant mansions. What do they
leave behind? Us. As West Ham dies, our commitment will eventually die too.
We will slowly lose our will to sing, support and cheer. Nevertheless, us
West Ham fans bleed claret and blue so much that we will desperately try
anything to stop this scenario from happening. Of course, actual abuse isn't
acceptable and it is okay for the media to criticise those West Ham 'fans'
running on the pitch, and being disruptive and unhelpful. But talkSPORT
claiming that West Ham fans 'abused' our owners, by stopping them to ask
questions about the demise of our club, is unacceptable. Of course, the
media will pull the age card – 'David Gold is 81, you can't have a go at
him' – if you take the responsibility of owning a football club, and
intentionally destroy it in front of their fanbase, you cannot hide away
because you're 'too old' to face the uproar. They need to deal with the
consequences of their actions. I don't support legitimate abuse towards the
owners, but the fans chanting their dislike of the board around the
director's box? Perfectly fine- in fact, the way the owners were hurt is
just a FRACTION of the pain which West Ham fans have felt.
To any wealthy media figures blaming West Ham fans for the state of the
club, from their pedestal in a corporate office – don't chat rubbish about
what you don't know. You haven't been robbed, you haven't been deceived, you
haven't had something you have loved your entire life stripped from you –
let us passionate, die-hard fans freely battle the sad, emotionless,
corporate industry of modern football.
Matthew Jones
Twitter: @MatthewJ_Joness
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunday Supplement discuss West Ham
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th March 2018
By: Staff Writer
The ongoing problems at West Ham United were the main point of discussion on
this morning's Sunday Supplement show.
Sam Wallace (Telegraph), Jeremy Cross (Daily Star) and John Cross (Mirror)
joined host Neil Ashton this morning to discuss the unruly scenes witnessed
at the Olympic Stadium 24 hours earlier.
And whilst the disturbances were understandably condemned, the panel did at
least display some understanding of the myriad of issues that culminated in
the pitch invasions and angry scenes around the Directors' Box during
yesterday's 3-0 home defeat against Burnley.
West Ham are yet to comment officially on the disturbances since ordering an
immediate investigation after the game on Saturday afternoon.
However former Director, manager and player Sir Trevor Brooking revealed
that co-owner David Sullivan - who bore the brunt of the fans' ire - was
struck by an object during the second half.
"I think a coin hit David Sullivan, his glasses," Brooking told the BBC. "I
didn't see it myself but I did have that confirmed, which was part of the
reason why the people in the directors' box had to go inside to save any
more problems like that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham fans have the right to protest but must not endanger others, says
Sam Wallace
"We have to balance this with not putting people in danger," says Wallace,
as club continues investigation
By Ben Grounds
Last Updated: 11/03/18 6:53pm
SSN
West Ham supporters have a right to protest against their owners David Gold
and David Sullivan, the Daily Telegraph's Chief Football Writer Sam Wallace
told the Sunday Supplement. Numerous pitch invasions marred Burnley's 3-0
victory over David Moyes' side, with Mark Noble admitting he had to protect
himself against invasive supporters. Investigations are underway by the club
and Premier League, and an emergency meeting of all stakeholders has been
called following the ugly scenes on Saturday. Wallace condemned the disorder
and lack of police presence, and believes disgruntled fans must strike the
right balance between protesting without endangering those inside the
stadium. He said: "It's not nice to see children being sheltered in the away
dug-out and it's a head-in-hands moment when a middle-aged man gets on the
pitch and waves a flag around. "It's right that we condemn this behaviour
because it took us many years to get rid of hooliganism from the game. "But
we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that football fans in this country have
always had the right to protest. "There's a strong tradition of that and I
would always want fans to stand up for their club. But we have to balance
this with not putting people in danger. Running on the pitch sends a bleak
message.
"Fans have a right to protest, but going on the pitch is a red line and it's
wrong for children to feel in danger."
West Ham's day of shame was sparked after Ashley Barnes had given Burnley
the lead with a fine strike and the revolt which ensued has dominated
Sunday's papers. The Hammers are 16th in the Premier League following a
third straight defeat, with Southampton at home up next at the end of the
month. Wallace claims that West Ham supporters feel they have been lied to
over false promises that have led to legitimate grievances.
Neil Ashton is joined by the Mirror's John Cross, the Independent's Sam
Wallace and Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star. The trio will review the major
headlines in the national newspapers and discuss all the big football
talking points. He added: "The problem with West Ham's stadium is that it
was built for the Olympics. There was no legacy for football. It's been a
terrible compromise that hasn't worked for anyone, least of all the
taxpayer. "Right from the offset, there didn't seem to be a plan. West Ham
felt they couldn't turn it down because financially it was great but even
the walk to the ground, it doesn't feel like a community. "I think they're
facing a game behind closed doors. It pains me but I think that would be the
right decision. Fans on the pitch creates an atmosphere of the days of
anarchy. "If you can't control people coming on the pitch then you can't
control the stands. The club has got to be better run. Part of the
investigation has to include the owners looking at themselves."
There has been an undercurrent of discontent at West Ham throughout the
season with many having serious issues with co-owners Sullivan and Gold. The
club spent a club-record £80m on players during the 2016/17 season, but
investment has levelled off over the past 12 months. The Hammers have the
seventh-highest wage bill in Premier League, but Gold and Sullivan have
received £14.8m interest on loans to the club since 2011. Jeremy Cross,
Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Star, feels the disconnect between the
owners and supporters is at the heart of the matter. He said: "It comes back
to the ownership of the club and they are clearly two very unpopular guys.
"The fans feel they've lost their identity moving to the London Stadium.
It's been a fiasco. They've had a net spend of under £30m this season, and
that's a pittance by Premier League standards. "They have a mediocre team
with not a lot of talent, and they are where they are for a reason. The fans
feel they've been lied to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Sullivan hit by coin in West Ham fan protests
Sky sources understand around 30 coins were thrown at Sullivan, who left
early in attempt to defuse situation
Last Updated: 11/03/18 1:33pm
SSN
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan was hit by a coin during the fan protests
at the London Stadium on Saturday. Supporters invaded the pitch on several
occasions during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley, while hundreds of others
congregated beneath the directors' box to protest against the club's board.
Sky sources understand around 30 coins were thrown at the directors' box,
including larger £2 coins - leaving 81-year-old co-owner David Gold in tears
after the game. Sullivan and Gold were advised to leave the match early for
their own safety and former Hammers midfielder Sir Trevor Brooking has
confirmed Sullivan was hit by a projectile during the protests. "I think a
coin did hit David Sullivan, his glasses," Brooking told the BBC. "I didn't
see it myself but I did have that confirmed, which was part of the reason
why the people in the directors' box had to go inside to save any more
problems like that."
West Ham have confirmed they are working with the authorities to identify
the pitch invaders who interrupted the match, and have also launched an
internal investigation into the protests. Mark Noble clashed with one
supporter who invaded the pitch and the West Ham captain insisted he had a
right to defend himself after the match. "People have got to realise we are
footballers and we are targets, but we have got to protect ourselves," he
told Sky Sports. "Obviously there were a number of fans that got on the
pitch and a lot of them were running over to where the chairmen were sat.
"But if someone approaches me personally, I'm going to protect myself, for
sure."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GROWN MEN BEHAVING LIKE SPOILT CHILDREN
By Iain Dale 11 Mar 2018 at 09:58
WTID
Guest Post by Anonymous
Went yesterday, sat in my usual seat just behind the subs bench in front of
the directors/board seating. Witnessed things that frankly are embarrassing.
Today, I was reminded why I stopped going to the game in the 1980's when the
ICF were kicking rival supporters heads in. I was told last week by another
supporter I know that some ex members of the ICF were involved in organising
the protests. Trouble today was frankly planned.
I think it is important to get a message across that there are many
supporters whilst unhappy with performances on the pitch are sick to death
of the numbskulls that are there with the loudest voices hurling abuse at
the players and coaches. Which I found really abhorrent and stupid.
There is a silent majority. I am one of them, I had to walk out today or
risk my gob opening and telling the morons what I think of their behavior.
Others felt the same way. The guy next to me tried to justify the protests
telling me he had spent 30k on a 3 year season ticket. Err no he hadn't, it
was 2 years at 4k so 8k. He then tried to lecture me on being a supporter,
until I pointed out that I had followed the club for 52 years and my late
grandfather was at the 1923 cup final.
I sit right behind the players and for 2 seasons have witness the snarling
abuse that has killed the players confidence. I watched Andy Carroll and
other players pointing out all the fights between West Ham supporters in the
stadium at the Chelsea game. I watched two supporters fighting each other
literally 3 metres from me, their ages around 50 complete with kid in tow at
the Crystal Palace game. I have watched the poor stewards today who are
lucky if they earn £8.50 an hour be assaulted and abused and then me suffer
the irony of being lectured on the 'fucking rich Tory supporting owners'
from someone prepared to pay 4 k a year for a seat. I voted Labour last
election, I rather suspect this guy didn't.
The worst offenders are our age Iain. I feel like West Ham is a mirror image
of Brexit. Those happy with the move and those unhappy.
Had West Ham been in the top four in the Premier league there would be no
marches, there would be no pitch invasion, there would be no fighting
amongst themselves, there would be no protest and there would be no chanting
of 'Sack the Board! Sack the Board! Sack the Board!'.
This is grown men behaving like spoilt children who cannot accept change and
something different when it is not going their way.
On a more comical note, I took a friend of mine who is a film
maker/photographer and a Man City fan who reckons it was one of the most
entertaining days of his life… he filmed most of it and felt sure Russell
Brand was one of the pitch invaders!
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West Ham's loyal captain Mark Noble on the protests and pitch invasions: 'It
reached boiling point, then exploded'
Mark Noble has been at West Ham since he was ten - he feels the pain of the
fans
When confronted by a pitch invader, Noble grappled and wrestled him to floor
After the defeat, Noble did not duck his responsibilities and spoke to
reporters
By Sportsmail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 11 March 2018 | UPDATED: 22:30, 11 March 2018
Born in Custom House, Canning Town, Mark Noble has been at West Ham since he
was 10. As West Ham's captain and a lifelong supporter, he feels the pain of
the fans more than any other player at the club. When he was confronted by a
pitch invader, the 30-year-old midfielder took matters into his own hands as
he grappled with the fan and wrestled him to the floor. After the 3-0
defeat, Noble did not duck his responsibilities and spoke to reporters. Here
is the transcript...
Everyone who cares for West Ham will feel for you today…
Noble: It is hard for me personally because I'm a West Ham fan myself and
the results affect me more than anyone else. But in this league for the past
two seasons, it has been bubbling over with the fans not being happy and
today was boiling point and it just exploded.
What happened when the fan ran on?
Noble: I am a footballer. I play for West Ham. I always have done. But I am
a person and if someone approaches me – obviously my emotions were high
anyway as we had just conceded a goal – but yeah, I will protect myself.
What did the pitch invader say?
Noble: No no, nothing. I was not even listening. Do you know what? I am not
going to even blame the fella who did it. His emotions were high - same as
mine on the pitch. He ran on the pitch and I wouldn't say I felt threatened
but if someone approaches me I am going to look after myself.
Were you aware of what was going on in the stands?
Noble: Yes, of course, (there are almost) 60,000 people. It was not all the
West Ham fans. But it has been bubbling over for a long time, this, and the
only way that it has ever really gone quiet is if we won games, and West Ham
are a side who are not going to win every game. We are going to lose games,
but when we lose games it is pretty much the end of the world.
Were your family here?
Noble: I just spoke to my dad and you can imagine that he is not too happy.
If anything I am not really angry - I am just a little bit upset that club
is in the way that it is. My wife and kids were not here today which is a
plus.
West Ham's results affect my everyday life massively. I have said this
before. If we win you don't mind going out to a restaurant with the wife and
having a glass of wine. But when you lose you don't want to talk to anyone,
especially the last couple of seasons, it has been a lot tougher.
How do you feel when fans sing they want to go home to Upton Park?
Noble: This is our stadium now. There is nothing we can do about it. It
seems to me that there is so much anger out there that it is not going to go
away.
Will it be the same if the team go a goal down in the next home game?
Noble: If we go a goal down at home it has been tough. It has been really
tough. Before coming here the supporters are not happy in the first place. I
think it is not an excuse (if we go a goal down) but it is a chance to show
their emotions towards not so much the players but the board.
Did you speak to referee Lee Mason about the incident?
Noble: Lee Mason was really good. He said to me that 'I will have to do
something' but he used his common sense. I don't think he booked me did he?
He said to me: 'Look Mark you were sort of protecting yourself really.' He
used some common sense and just let it go.
Would it have been a red if you had done that to an opponent?
Noble: I probably would not do it on another player as I would put my team
in trouble!
Did you think the game would be stopped?
Noble: No. At one point I thought there would be a pitch invasion. It looked
that way. But thankfully it wasn't.
How do you prepare for the next home game?
Noble: I don't know. That is the brutal honestly. If we will go 1-0 down at
home again, what will happen? I can't imagine. I hope that when you have an
eruption and you get your emotions out…. I am hoping that was today.
They have showed their emotions and showed everyone how they feel and
hopefully now rally together and get behind us.
The main aim is to stay in this League. Full stop. Get some points and make
some decisions in the summer. But as I said I am not angry, just upset with
how things went today.
Trevor Brooking was left in the Director's Box alone and looking sad?
Noble: He probably felt the same way as me walking off the pitch. Listen, it
is not that I support the club, it is actually that I love the club. It has
been my home since aged 10 and I was brought up here.
That is why probably I acted the way I did today as I know there are a lot
of people at the club who really care how we get on, the results. If I never
play for the club again I am still going to feel the way that I feel about
it just because I am born and bred here.
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West Ham fear playing behind closed doors as they cannot guarantee supporter
safety at London Stadium
West Ham fear having to play home game vs Southampton behind closed doors
Hammers don't operate security at their stadium so can't guarantee fan
safety
Club will press to have security taken from LS185, who operate the stadium
By Adam Crafton and Martin Samuel for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 11 March 2018 | UPDATED: 22:30, 11 March 2018
West Ham fear having to play their next home game with Southampton behind
closed doors because they can't guarantee security arrangements at the
London Stadium. At an emergency meeting of stakeholders called by West Ham
following Saturday's mayhem during the 3-0 home defeat by Burnley, the club
will press to have security measures taken out of the hands of LS185, the
company who operate the stadium on a day-to-day basis. LS185 are responsible
for all stewarding and security and were appointed by E20, the body set up
to manage the transformation of the Olympic Stadium.
This gives West Ham no control over their own security arrangements, meaning
they cannot offer the necessary assurances that the match with Southampton
on March 31 will pass without major incident. The Premier League fear the
game could be abandoned in the event of public disorder, leading to talk of
it being played behind closed doors. West Ham feel that while LS185 are in
charge of security they can give no guarantees, given the volatile climate
and the poor response to Saturday's chaos. The Sports Ground Safety
Authority (SGSA), the body responsible for stadium licensing and proposing
safety measures, will also attend the emergency meeting.
Sportsmail understands the SGSA will propose a reduction in the ground's
capacity for the next home games and reducing the number of fans in areas of
the stadium where trouble broke out. This may include a section near the
directors' box where fans abused owners David Gold and David Sullivan. The
latter was struck by a coin as fans hurled missiles. West Ham directors were
appalled by the reaction to the trouble, with captain Mark Noble and
Burnley's Ashley Barnes forced to intervene against pitch invaders. West Ham
wish to dismiss LS185 and become responsible for security arrangements,
meaning they could offer the guarantees to allow the ground to stay open.
Noble will not face disciplinary action after referee Lee Mason confirmed in
his report that he saw the incident and chose a common-sense approach to
allow Noble to stay on the field. But the Football Association are
investigating the wider chaos.
MATCH FACTS - Cup-Winners' Cup first round, second leg
West Ham 5-1 Castilla (aet: West Ham won 6-4 on aggregate)
Wednesday October 1, 1980
Upton Park
Attendance: 262
WEST HAM: Phil Parkes, Ray Stewart, Frank Lampard, Billy Bonds, Alvin
Martin, Alan Devonshire, Pat Holland (Paul Brush), Paul Goddard (Nicky
Morgan), David Cross, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Pike.
Scorers: Pike 19, Cross 30, 102, 120, Goddard 39.
Manager: John Lyall
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Furious West Ham owners demand talks with Sadiq Khan and vow not to be
bullied out of London Stadium
EXCLUSIVE: David Sullivan and David Gold are demanding urgent talks with the
London Mayor Sadiq Khan
ByDarren Lewis
00:52, 12 MAR 2018
The Mirror
West Ham's owners are refusing to be bullied out of attending their final
five home games of the season. David Sullivan and David Gold are instead
demanding urgent talks with London Mayor Sadiq Khan over the public order
crisis on Saturday afternoon. The Irons claim Khan has ducked meetings with
them despite requests. They now believe he must - as a priority - address
the appalling scenes, the lack of planning and the lack of action from the
London Stadium operators he appointed. West Ham are also demanding a large
police presence for their remaining games. Their next game is at home to
Southampton on March 31.
Mirror Sport understands a coin which hit Sullivan in the face on Saturday
was one of thirty missiles pelted at the Hammers owner by furious fans.
Sullivan, saved from serious injury by his glasses, was eventually escorted
out of the Directors' box and away from baying fans from their own safety.
Hundreds of supporters are set to be banned by the club this week after the
ugly scenes which saw punch-ups in the stands, a female steward knocked over
and police officers assaulted. The club will scour CCTV to take action. West
Ham's owners are also furious at the astonishingly woeful London Stadium
stewarding which saw fans allowed onto the pitch unchallenged on four
separate occasions during the defeat to Burnley. There is anger at the club
that Saturday's game was seen as low risk when fan anger, recent form and
the Hammers' heavy defeat at Swansea last week suggested otherwise.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham owners want to take over London Stadium security after Saturday
stand-off marred Burnley match
Sam Dean Jason Burt, chief football correspondent
11 MARCH 2018 • 10:30PM
The Telegraph
West Ham United will demand to take over the stewarding of the London
Stadium after co-owner David Sullivan was struck in the face with a coin
during the violent and unprecedented protest that took place in Saturday's
3-0 defeat by Burnley.
It is understood that the club's owners have lost faith in the ability of
the stadium operators to safely police West Ham's remaining home games after
four supporters invaded the pitch and hundreds more hurled abuse towards the
directors' box.
The club is likely to face disciplinary action from the FA, which said after
the game that it "strongly condemns" the incidents. Potential punishments
could range from a hefty fine to the team being ordered to play games in
front of a reduced capacity, while there is even the prospect of West Ham
being forced to play games behind closed doors.
Under the terms of West Ham's deal to rent the stadium, the costs of
policing and stewarding are covered by the operators, London Stadium 185,
and paid for by the taxpayer.
But the club now wishes to take matters into its own hands after the owners
were targeted in scenes which David Moyes, the West Ham manager, said were
unlike anything he had ever seen in his football career.
During the protest, a coin struck Sullivan on his glasses while David Gold,
his fellow co-owner, broke down in tears after he had left his seat. Despite
the abuse they received, they will continue to attend home matches.
According to the rental agreement, which allows West Ham to use the stadium
for £2.5m per year, any strengthening of the police and stewarding presence
would be paid for by the public purse.
However, West Ham could offer to cover those costs themselves, and it is
understood that senior figures at the club believe the money that is
currently spent on stewarding and policing costs could be used more
effectively.
Sullivan said on Saturday night that he felt "very badly let down" by the
stadium operators, and there is particular concern over the ease with which
the pitch invaders were allowed to run onto the playing surface, where one
was thrown to the floor by Mark Noble, the West Ham captain.
Karren Brady, the club's vice-chairman, will accompany another board member
and the club's head of security at a meeting with stadium stakeholders on
Monday.
If West Ham were to take over the running of the safety operation for the
ground, it would raise questions over who manages other major events, such
as athletics, in the London Stadium. A change to the contract may also
result in the club having to pay compensation costs.
Meanwhile, Noble said he cannot see a way in which the anger from the fans
towards the club's owners, much of which centres around the move from Upton
Park to the London Stadium, will dissipate.
"This is our stadium now," Noble said. "There is nothing we can do about it.
It seems to me that there is so much anger out there that it is not going to
go away. I don't think it is.
"It has been bubbling over for a long time and the only way that it has ever
really gone quiet is if we won games. And West Ham is a side that is not
going to win every game. I can tell you that. We are going to lose games.
But when we lose games it is pretty much the end of the world.
"If we go a goal down at home it has been tough. It has been really tough as
straight away, because the supporters are not happy in the first place
coming here, I think it's a chance to show their emotions towards not so
much the players but the board."
Noble added that he feared at one point that there would be a mass pitch
invasion, and said he was thankful that his wife and children had not
attended the game.
Asked how the side can now prepare for the next home game, against
Southampton on March 31, Noble said: "I don't know. If we go 1-0 down at
home again, what will happen? I can't imagine.
"They have showed their emotions and showed everyone how they feel.
Hopefully they will now rally together and get behind us."
West Ham defender James Collins, who was also involved in scuffles with
invading fans, said the team was affected by the confrontation with Noble
and the events in the stands as they fell to their third consecutive defeat.
"Seeing my friend, captain and a boy who loves this club as much as me, and
who has been here since he was a kid, having to do that with a fan on the
pitch is going to affect anyone, to be honest," Collins said. "It's not an
excuse, it's something I have not seen in football before.
"It just seemed that it had that edge on it. We were probably a bit scared
playing, a bit nervous if you like, and then as soon as that first goal has
gone in against us, all hell has broke loose."
Sir Trevor Brooking, the former West Ham player who was watching from the
directors' box, said the "aggressive" atmosphere could result in the club's
relegation. "That atmosphere must never come back in the last five games
otherwise the club is in serious trouble and the players won't be able to
deliver," he said.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, March 12
Sunday, March 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th March 2018
West Ham United Statement
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today's match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action.
An emergency meeting has been called with all London Stadium stakeholders. There will be no further comment at this time.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers defeated by second half Burnley blast
WHUFC.com
West Ham United 0 - 3 Burnley
Premier League
West Ham United fell to a 3-0 defeat to Burnley at London Stadium on Saturday, conceding three times in the final 24 minutes as they were made to regret missed chances in the opening period. Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic were both denied by the away goalkeeper Nick Pope before Sean Dyche's men showed a more ruthless nature by taking the game away from their hosts after half time. Chris Wood stepped off the bench to score twice and set up Ashley Barnes' opener on a day to forget for the Hammers. David Moyes made five changes from the side which lost at Swansea last weekend, restoring Joe Hart in goal and welcoming James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna back into the heart of his defence. After a slow start to the game, the Hammers began to exert control and Marko Arnautovic almost threaded a shot through goalkeeper Nick Pope's legs from an angle, but the Burnley man got a block in after Mario had played through to the Austrian. Two minutes later, Manuel Lanzini exchanged passes with Arnautovic on the edge of the box but lifted his shot over the bar. The Hammers were having a good spell and Mario was next to go close, knocking over the top after Aaron Cresswell delivered a corner deep and Pope was blocked off by his own defender. The best chance for the Hammers fell six minutes before the break when Ogbonna's header caught the Burnley defence out and left Lanzini one-on-one, but Pope stood up tall to make the save.
West Ham would be made to rue those missed opportunities in the final quarter of the contest as Burnley scored three goals to take all three points. First, Barnes fired into the top right corner after Wood chased a ball into the corner and cut back, then, with their next attack, the Clarets made it two. Wood turned goalscorer this time, tucking home from Aaron Lennon's cross before the Kiwi completed the goalscoring, mopping up after Joe Hart could not hold onto Johann Berg Gudmundsson's shot.
West Ham United: Hart, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Antonio, Kouyate, Noble (c), Zabaleta, Mario (Chicharito 71), Lanzini, Arnautovic
Subs: Adrian, Evra, Rice, Cullen, Browne, Hugill
Booked: Cresswell, Lanzini
Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee (c), Ward, Lennon, Cork, Westwood, Gudmundsson, Hendrick (Wood 61), Barnes (Vokes 89)
Subs: Lindegaard, Nkoudou, Bardsley, Marney, Long
Goals: Barnes 66, Wood 70, 81
Booked: Westwood, Lennon
Referee: Lee Mason
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Moyes: I'll do everything I can to get us back to winning ways
WHUFC.com
David Moyes has vowed to do everything in his power to lead West Ham United to Premier League safety after seeing his side lose 3-0 to Burnley at London Stadium. The Hammers were the better side in the first half, but failed to take their chances and were punished when one goal from Ashley Barnes and two from substitute Chris Wood condemned them to a first home defeat of 2018. A third consecutive loss dropped West Ham nearer to the bottom three, but the experienced Moyes is adamant that he and his staff will leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the Club in the top flight. "What we need the Club to do now, the supporters and the players, is pull together," said Moyes. "When I took over we were in the bottom three and we're not in the bottom three. "Can we make improvements? Can we play better? Can we do things much better? Of course we can, because none of us are daft. To do it would really help everybody to pull in the right direction. We've got eight games to do so and I think we're more than capable of doing it, but now we're going to have to prove it. "I've told the players we are all going to stick together, we're going to stick our chests out and go again and we're going to get back to winning ways, and we need to do it quickly. We need to play better for longer periods in the game and we're certainly going to have to defend better. I think we've got attacking players who can score, but they didn't score today. "So, we'll get back at it and do the job. When I came in, I didn't think it was going to be easy, and in the main the players have been really good, but we weren't good enough to day. But I do believe we are good enough to stay up. "We massively have to stick together. If anything now, I'd say to the supporters, I'll do everything I can for the players, I'll get them the best I can get them, the best mental condition, the best nick, and if we're not good enough that's something else. I want the supporters to feel that as well."
Focusing on the game itself, Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini both saw goal-bound shots saved by the feet of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, while Lanzini and Joao Mario each fired over the crossbar when well-placed. When similar opportunities fell to Barnes and Wood in the final 25 minutes, the Clarets forwards ruthlessly took them. "I thought we played well in the first half, had two great chances and probably should have been in front at half-time. The first goal was always going to crucial today, whoever got it. "Burnley started the second half a bit better and, when we were put under pressure, that was when we had to cope with the one or two chances they came up with. "Overall, we should have been in front with the chances we had in the first half, and we had played well. We didn't take our chances when we got them, particularly in the first half."
Moyes will use a change of environment in an attempt to freshen up his squad physically and mentally. Without a Premier League fixture until Saturday 31 March, when Southampton are the visitors, the Hammers will head to a warm-weather training camp this week. "We've got a three-week break and it's what we've got. We can't do anything about it, so we'll get the players prepared and ready to go. "The players have had a really long time without going away, so I'm taking them away. On the back of this, would I like to? No, but am I going to? Yes, because I believe it's the right thing for the players. "We now have eight games to go and it doesn't change. We're not in the bottom three, we're out of it, and we're going to try and win as many games as we can."
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Applause for the last man standing
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th March 2018
By: Staff Writer
Sir Trevor Brooking was applauded by protesters at the Olympic Stadium this afternoon - after nearly everyone else in the Directors' Box had fled. Following Burnley's second goal in their 3-0 win at Stratford this afternoon, angry supporters turned their attention to the area in which David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady had been sitting with their respective partners. However after the three directors were forced to face loud chants of "sack the Board", they left the Directors' Box after being advised to depart by security - leading to further abuse from the fans. However one man who refused to leave the area was club legend Brooking - and his determination to remain in his seat lead to applause from protesters and chants of "Trevor Brooking, he's one of our own."
It was of course not the first time Brooking has had to face protests from supporters - he was temporarily in charge of the team during 2003 when the Brown Out! protests aimed at dislodging then chairman Terry Brown were taking place.
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West Ham launch investigation into crowd disturbances
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th March 2018
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have confirmed they are launching an investigation into the ugly scenes that marred this afternoon's 3-0 home defeat against Burnley. The second half of this afternoon's Premier League meeting was interrupted on several occasions by fans running on to the field of play after each Burnley goal - since when the club have announced their intentions to investigate the ugly scenes. "West Ham United have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today's match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action. "An emergency meeting has been called with all London Stadium stakeholders. There will be no further comment at this time."
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Omnishambles
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th March 2018
By: East Stand Martin
It was like Lord of the Rings down at the running track today. Unbelievable that no-one had the foresight to turn up with a ladder or at least a grappling hook on a rope to invade the Director's seating from the concourse.
What's the word that springs to mind about it all? Shambles. A fucking shambles.
Let's just go through it all.
First of all, the march that never was. This was verging on the surreal. The Grand Old Duke of Stratford put out the crowdfunding call. Chip in your cash we are gonna march to the top of the hill and down again. Start a revolution.
Everybody joins in and responds to the to the call to arms. Money changes hands. I saw the stickers on the away trips. We all did.
Suddenly, it's off. Actually, it was never really on. Apparently. It was a bargaining chip. G&T's down at Sullivan Towers and it's off. A letter from Karren and it's off.
Mistake No. 1: You raise expectations and you dash them with little or no explanation. Everybody from the outside sees it as a sordid deal with the people that rallied the would be marchers in the first place. Conspiracy theories do the rounds. This is never going to end well.
Mistake No.2 : Divide and rule by the club. A deal with the march organisers is all that's needed. Forget all the other fans groups and stakeholders. Instead of manoeuvring it would be better to take it on the chin and allow the pressure cooker to let off some steam. That intervention made things worse by a massive degree.
Then those that are not part of the deal are more than a tad fucked off that it's off. Whose march is it? Is it the property of those that dreamt it up or those that want to protest regardless?
Mistake No. 3: Trying to resuscitate something that was not your idea. Better to let it go, particularly when the date chosen happens to be maybe the biggest game at home in 2018 given recent results.
Recriminations. Threats. Virtual violence. All over the press. Politics being ascribed to a dispute that has got fuck all to do with politics. Nothing short of a disaster.
Then in the middle of it all, the accounts come out.
Club record turnover of £142.1million and a £48.5million profit before interest and tax. One expert saying it's the 10th largest yearly profit in Premier League history. £16.4million paid to David Sullivan and David Gold in repayments on loans and interest. Like pouring petrol on a fire when everybody is raging about lack of investment in playing personnel.
No-one has covered themselves in glory. An omnishambles. The realty is however that the buck must stop with the owners, not the fans. They make the decisions. They have the control. They have caused the current situation and recently made it even worse.
Match day. The atmosphere is toxic. No point in going through the detail of the match because football had actually become irrelevant. Suffice to say that West Ham played pretty well in the first half and should have been in front. Didn't happen though.
Goal goes in from the opposition and pure fucking pandemonium breaks out. The frustrations of the halted marchers get unleashed.
Pitch invasions four times. Mark Noble wrestling with a gremlin because there are no stewards in sight. Some dude running around with a corner flag like he's on church parade with the fucking boy scouts.
Embarrassing. A pure distraction and probably leads to the second Burnley goal.
As for the jokers that supposedly are in charge of that stadium. They haven't got a fucking clue. Never have done.
Day 1, I turned up and saw fighting in the stands. Pitch invasions never happened at the Boleyn (except when Millwall turned up, but that's a different story). What kind of humiliation is it when kids are apparently given seats in the opposition dug out because safety is so compromised?
That stadium is not our home, it is an alien spaceship. It's got that bad, I'm not even certain that a groundshare with Tottenham in their new place would be a worse option. You must know how hard it is for me to say that. At least we'd be in a fucking football stadium.
I've said it, because I am that angry about that stadium, which incidentally is costing the London Legacy Development Corporation £9million in losses just to open the doors to us each year.
This was a deeply wounding week for our club. We are neck deep in a shit pit. It is shameful that on a day when we were supposed to be celebrating the life of a legend of our club, that it ended like this. Will we be able to get over this car crash? Hard to say, but a couple of weeks off could not have come at a better time.
Everybody has got to get a grip. Some have to get a grip more than others.
The funny thing is that I still think we are going to stay up. Despite the fact that I've seen 11 goals go in over the last three weeks. We'll see. This crazy season aint over yet.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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David Moyes to take West Ham players on Florida training camp
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 10/03/18 10:47pm
SSN
David Moyes is taking his West Ham players on a warm-weather training camp in Florida following Saturday's ugly scenes at the London Stadium. The relegation-threatened Hammers, without a game for three weeks, had planned to spend five days in the USA and Moyes says that will not change despite fan protests erupting during a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Burnley. Captain Mark Noble told Sky Sports the players were feeling the weight of the difficult atmosphere and Moyes is hoping the trip can rejuvenate a team that has lost three consecutive Premier League games. "The players have had a really long time. I'm taking them away," he said. "We're going away to Florida for five days. This was three-week break, if there was ever a time, this was going to be it. "On the back of this (the Burnley loss), are we allowed to? No. Am I doing it? Yeah, because I believe it's the right thing for the players. "I believe we've now got eight games to go, and it doesn't change, we're not in the bottom three, we're out of it, and we're going to try and win as many games as we can."
West Ham have been knocked out of the FA Cup so have seen their Premier League game against Manchester United postponed before the following week's international break. Their next match takes place on March 31 at home to fellow strugglers Southampton.
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Mark Noble clashes with West Ham fan as anti-board protests erupt mid-match at London Stadium
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 10/03/18 9:17pm
SSN
Mark Noble clashed with one of his own supporters as pitch invasions and crowd protests marred West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Burnley. An FA investigation is underway while an emergency meeting of all London Stadium stakeholders has also been called after the West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold were forced to leave the game early for their own safety. A throng of West Ham fans had turned their attention away from the game and onto the directors box as their side conceded second-half goals to Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood (2). One supporter that encroached the pitch was thrown to the ground by club captain Noble, who was then restrained by goalkeeper Joe Hart. Two more fans encroached onto the pitch and were led away by defender James Collins. The match was interrupted for a second time following Burnley's second goal when another pitch invader grabbed a corner flag and attempted to plant it in the centre of the pitch.
Meanwhile, home fans gathered below the directors' box chanted 'sack the board' and 'you destroyed our club', and police had to be positioned along the touchline and around the West Ham bench, where further disturbances took place.
After a mistake from 'keeper Hart led to the third goal, he was approached by more angry supporters in a third pitch invasion with nine minutes of normal play remaining. A West Ham statement said: "We have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today's match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action." The FA said: "We strongly condemn the crowd disturbances seen today and will be seeking observations from West Ham as well as awaiting the match referee's report."
The Premier League said: "It is essential that everybody who plays or attends a Premier League football match can do so safely. There is no place at any level of the game for what happened at the London Stadium today. "While the official investigation of the incidents will be carried out by the Football Association, we will be asking our own questions of West Ham United about what happened this afternoon, especially to ensure similar events never reoccur. "We would like to commend referee Lee Mason and his team of officials for their actions which, combined with the cooperation of players and coaching staff from both clubs, enabled the match to be completed."
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Mark Noble says West Ham players are 'targets' and must protect themselves against invading fans
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 11/03/18 7:22am
SSN
Mark Noble admits the West Ham players are finding the London Stadium atmosphere difficult to bear, but they must protect themselves against invasive supporters. Captain Noble clashed with a fan that encroached the pitch as disorder occurred during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Burnley, in which owners David Sullivan and David Gold were forced to leave the stadium early for their own protection. Investigations are underway by the club and Premier League, and an emergency meeting of all London Stadium stakeholders has been called after Hammers supporters protested for the board to be sacked at full-time. Noble told Sky Sports: "People have got to realise we are footballers and we are targets, but we have got to protect ourselves. "Obviously there were a number of fans that got on the pitch and a lot of them were running over to where the chairmen were sat. But if someone approaches me personally, I'm going to protect myself, for sure. It's such a big stadium and big area, it's hard for security to stop everyone. "We had fans run on the pitch and it does make the atmosphere really tough to play in. To be honest, it's been like it for a while. The only way to stop it is win games. Obviously we're not going to win every game. "It's the way it's been going since the beginning of the season, that a result - a win - is the only thing that's going to stop them voicing their opinion. I am not saying it's all the West Ham fans. But a lot are not happy. I think that is obvious now. "If the players don't win games we are going to take the brunt of things, which is fine, we understand they are frustrated. But obviously we are going to lose games, and we are going to need them behind us."
Ashley Barnes put Burnley ahead in the 66th minute, which triggered the first fan pitch invasion, before two Chris Wood goals put the game to bed on 70 and then 81 minutes. Noble said: "For Burnley it was fantastic. It was great for them because the West Ham players were under a lot of pressure. We probably could not cope with it after they scored. "It is hard for us at the minute because the fans are unhappy with the board obviously, and as soon as we go a goal down we get targeted. "A lot of players have not played in that sort of atmosphere before. If we score a couple of goals things might change but we went 3-0 down and we got the things we did."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today's match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action.
An emergency meeting has been called with all London Stadium stakeholders. There will be no further comment at this time.
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Hammers defeated by second half Burnley blast
WHUFC.com
West Ham United 0 - 3 Burnley
Premier League
West Ham United fell to a 3-0 defeat to Burnley at London Stadium on Saturday, conceding three times in the final 24 minutes as they were made to regret missed chances in the opening period. Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic were both denied by the away goalkeeper Nick Pope before Sean Dyche's men showed a more ruthless nature by taking the game away from their hosts after half time. Chris Wood stepped off the bench to score twice and set up Ashley Barnes' opener on a day to forget for the Hammers. David Moyes made five changes from the side which lost at Swansea last weekend, restoring Joe Hart in goal and welcoming James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna back into the heart of his defence. After a slow start to the game, the Hammers began to exert control and Marko Arnautovic almost threaded a shot through goalkeeper Nick Pope's legs from an angle, but the Burnley man got a block in after Mario had played through to the Austrian. Two minutes later, Manuel Lanzini exchanged passes with Arnautovic on the edge of the box but lifted his shot over the bar. The Hammers were having a good spell and Mario was next to go close, knocking over the top after Aaron Cresswell delivered a corner deep and Pope was blocked off by his own defender. The best chance for the Hammers fell six minutes before the break when Ogbonna's header caught the Burnley defence out and left Lanzini one-on-one, but Pope stood up tall to make the save.
West Ham would be made to rue those missed opportunities in the final quarter of the contest as Burnley scored three goals to take all three points. First, Barnes fired into the top right corner after Wood chased a ball into the corner and cut back, then, with their next attack, the Clarets made it two. Wood turned goalscorer this time, tucking home from Aaron Lennon's cross before the Kiwi completed the goalscoring, mopping up after Joe Hart could not hold onto Johann Berg Gudmundsson's shot.
West Ham United: Hart, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Antonio, Kouyate, Noble (c), Zabaleta, Mario (Chicharito 71), Lanzini, Arnautovic
Subs: Adrian, Evra, Rice, Cullen, Browne, Hugill
Booked: Cresswell, Lanzini
Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee (c), Ward, Lennon, Cork, Westwood, Gudmundsson, Hendrick (Wood 61), Barnes (Vokes 89)
Subs: Lindegaard, Nkoudou, Bardsley, Marney, Long
Goals: Barnes 66, Wood 70, 81
Booked: Westwood, Lennon
Referee: Lee Mason
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Moyes: I'll do everything I can to get us back to winning ways
WHUFC.com
David Moyes has vowed to do everything in his power to lead West Ham United to Premier League safety after seeing his side lose 3-0 to Burnley at London Stadium. The Hammers were the better side in the first half, but failed to take their chances and were punished when one goal from Ashley Barnes and two from substitute Chris Wood condemned them to a first home defeat of 2018. A third consecutive loss dropped West Ham nearer to the bottom three, but the experienced Moyes is adamant that he and his staff will leave no stone unturned in their quest to keep the Club in the top flight. "What we need the Club to do now, the supporters and the players, is pull together," said Moyes. "When I took over we were in the bottom three and we're not in the bottom three. "Can we make improvements? Can we play better? Can we do things much better? Of course we can, because none of us are daft. To do it would really help everybody to pull in the right direction. We've got eight games to do so and I think we're more than capable of doing it, but now we're going to have to prove it. "I've told the players we are all going to stick together, we're going to stick our chests out and go again and we're going to get back to winning ways, and we need to do it quickly. We need to play better for longer periods in the game and we're certainly going to have to defend better. I think we've got attacking players who can score, but they didn't score today. "So, we'll get back at it and do the job. When I came in, I didn't think it was going to be easy, and in the main the players have been really good, but we weren't good enough to day. But I do believe we are good enough to stay up. "We massively have to stick together. If anything now, I'd say to the supporters, I'll do everything I can for the players, I'll get them the best I can get them, the best mental condition, the best nick, and if we're not good enough that's something else. I want the supporters to feel that as well."
Focusing on the game itself, Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini both saw goal-bound shots saved by the feet of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, while Lanzini and Joao Mario each fired over the crossbar when well-placed. When similar opportunities fell to Barnes and Wood in the final 25 minutes, the Clarets forwards ruthlessly took them. "I thought we played well in the first half, had two great chances and probably should have been in front at half-time. The first goal was always going to crucial today, whoever got it. "Burnley started the second half a bit better and, when we were put under pressure, that was when we had to cope with the one or two chances they came up with. "Overall, we should have been in front with the chances we had in the first half, and we had played well. We didn't take our chances when we got them, particularly in the first half."
Moyes will use a change of environment in an attempt to freshen up his squad physically and mentally. Without a Premier League fixture until Saturday 31 March, when Southampton are the visitors, the Hammers will head to a warm-weather training camp this week. "We've got a three-week break and it's what we've got. We can't do anything about it, so we'll get the players prepared and ready to go. "The players have had a really long time without going away, so I'm taking them away. On the back of this, would I like to? No, but am I going to? Yes, because I believe it's the right thing for the players. "We now have eight games to go and it doesn't change. We're not in the bottom three, we're out of it, and we're going to try and win as many games as we can."
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Applause for the last man standing
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th March 2018
By: Staff Writer
Sir Trevor Brooking was applauded by protesters at the Olympic Stadium this afternoon - after nearly everyone else in the Directors' Box had fled. Following Burnley's second goal in their 3-0 win at Stratford this afternoon, angry supporters turned their attention to the area in which David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady had been sitting with their respective partners. However after the three directors were forced to face loud chants of "sack the Board", they left the Directors' Box after being advised to depart by security - leading to further abuse from the fans. However one man who refused to leave the area was club legend Brooking - and his determination to remain in his seat lead to applause from protesters and chants of "Trevor Brooking, he's one of our own."
It was of course not the first time Brooking has had to face protests from supporters - he was temporarily in charge of the team during 2003 when the Brown Out! protests aimed at dislodging then chairman Terry Brown were taking place.
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West Ham launch investigation into crowd disturbances
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th March 2018
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have confirmed they are launching an investigation into the ugly scenes that marred this afternoon's 3-0 home defeat against Burnley. The second half of this afternoon's Premier League meeting was interrupted on several occasions by fans running on to the field of play after each Burnley goal - since when the club have announced their intentions to investigate the ugly scenes. "West Ham United have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today's match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action. "An emergency meeting has been called with all London Stadium stakeholders. There will be no further comment at this time."
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Omnishambles
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th March 2018
By: East Stand Martin
It was like Lord of the Rings down at the running track today. Unbelievable that no-one had the foresight to turn up with a ladder or at least a grappling hook on a rope to invade the Director's seating from the concourse.
What's the word that springs to mind about it all? Shambles. A fucking shambles.
Let's just go through it all.
First of all, the march that never was. This was verging on the surreal. The Grand Old Duke of Stratford put out the crowdfunding call. Chip in your cash we are gonna march to the top of the hill and down again. Start a revolution.
Everybody joins in and responds to the to the call to arms. Money changes hands. I saw the stickers on the away trips. We all did.
Suddenly, it's off. Actually, it was never really on. Apparently. It was a bargaining chip. G&T's down at Sullivan Towers and it's off. A letter from Karren and it's off.
Mistake No. 1: You raise expectations and you dash them with little or no explanation. Everybody from the outside sees it as a sordid deal with the people that rallied the would be marchers in the first place. Conspiracy theories do the rounds. This is never going to end well.
Mistake No.2 : Divide and rule by the club. A deal with the march organisers is all that's needed. Forget all the other fans groups and stakeholders. Instead of manoeuvring it would be better to take it on the chin and allow the pressure cooker to let off some steam. That intervention made things worse by a massive degree.
Then those that are not part of the deal are more than a tad fucked off that it's off. Whose march is it? Is it the property of those that dreamt it up or those that want to protest regardless?
Mistake No. 3: Trying to resuscitate something that was not your idea. Better to let it go, particularly when the date chosen happens to be maybe the biggest game at home in 2018 given recent results.
Recriminations. Threats. Virtual violence. All over the press. Politics being ascribed to a dispute that has got fuck all to do with politics. Nothing short of a disaster.
Then in the middle of it all, the accounts come out.
Club record turnover of £142.1million and a £48.5million profit before interest and tax. One expert saying it's the 10th largest yearly profit in Premier League history. £16.4million paid to David Sullivan and David Gold in repayments on loans and interest. Like pouring petrol on a fire when everybody is raging about lack of investment in playing personnel.
No-one has covered themselves in glory. An omnishambles. The realty is however that the buck must stop with the owners, not the fans. They make the decisions. They have the control. They have caused the current situation and recently made it even worse.
Match day. The atmosphere is toxic. No point in going through the detail of the match because football had actually become irrelevant. Suffice to say that West Ham played pretty well in the first half and should have been in front. Didn't happen though.
Goal goes in from the opposition and pure fucking pandemonium breaks out. The frustrations of the halted marchers get unleashed.
Pitch invasions four times. Mark Noble wrestling with a gremlin because there are no stewards in sight. Some dude running around with a corner flag like he's on church parade with the fucking boy scouts.
Embarrassing. A pure distraction and probably leads to the second Burnley goal.
As for the jokers that supposedly are in charge of that stadium. They haven't got a fucking clue. Never have done.
Day 1, I turned up and saw fighting in the stands. Pitch invasions never happened at the Boleyn (except when Millwall turned up, but that's a different story). What kind of humiliation is it when kids are apparently given seats in the opposition dug out because safety is so compromised?
That stadium is not our home, it is an alien spaceship. It's got that bad, I'm not even certain that a groundshare with Tottenham in their new place would be a worse option. You must know how hard it is for me to say that. At least we'd be in a fucking football stadium.
I've said it, because I am that angry about that stadium, which incidentally is costing the London Legacy Development Corporation £9million in losses just to open the doors to us each year.
This was a deeply wounding week for our club. We are neck deep in a shit pit. It is shameful that on a day when we were supposed to be celebrating the life of a legend of our club, that it ended like this. Will we be able to get over this car crash? Hard to say, but a couple of weeks off could not have come at a better time.
Everybody has got to get a grip. Some have to get a grip more than others.
The funny thing is that I still think we are going to stay up. Despite the fact that I've seen 11 goals go in over the last three weeks. We'll see. This crazy season aint over yet.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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David Moyes to take West Ham players on Florida training camp
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 10/03/18 10:47pm
SSN
David Moyes is taking his West Ham players on a warm-weather training camp in Florida following Saturday's ugly scenes at the London Stadium. The relegation-threatened Hammers, without a game for three weeks, had planned to spend five days in the USA and Moyes says that will not change despite fan protests erupting during a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Burnley. Captain Mark Noble told Sky Sports the players were feeling the weight of the difficult atmosphere and Moyes is hoping the trip can rejuvenate a team that has lost three consecutive Premier League games. "The players have had a really long time. I'm taking them away," he said. "We're going away to Florida for five days. This was three-week break, if there was ever a time, this was going to be it. "On the back of this (the Burnley loss), are we allowed to? No. Am I doing it? Yeah, because I believe it's the right thing for the players. "I believe we've now got eight games to go, and it doesn't change, we're not in the bottom three, we're out of it, and we're going to try and win as many games as we can."
West Ham have been knocked out of the FA Cup so have seen their Premier League game against Manchester United postponed before the following week's international break. Their next match takes place on March 31 at home to fellow strugglers Southampton.
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Mark Noble clashes with West Ham fan as anti-board protests erupt mid-match at London Stadium
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 10/03/18 9:17pm
SSN
Mark Noble clashed with one of his own supporters as pitch invasions and crowd protests marred West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Burnley. An FA investigation is underway while an emergency meeting of all London Stadium stakeholders has also been called after the West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold were forced to leave the game early for their own safety. A throng of West Ham fans had turned their attention away from the game and onto the directors box as their side conceded second-half goals to Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood (2). One supporter that encroached the pitch was thrown to the ground by club captain Noble, who was then restrained by goalkeeper Joe Hart. Two more fans encroached onto the pitch and were led away by defender James Collins. The match was interrupted for a second time following Burnley's second goal when another pitch invader grabbed a corner flag and attempted to plant it in the centre of the pitch.
Meanwhile, home fans gathered below the directors' box chanted 'sack the board' and 'you destroyed our club', and police had to be positioned along the touchline and around the West Ham bench, where further disturbances took place.
After a mistake from 'keeper Hart led to the third goal, he was approached by more angry supporters in a third pitch invasion with nine minutes of normal play remaining. A West Ham statement said: "We have immediately launched a full and thorough investigation into the incidents which marred the second half of today's match and are committed to taking decisive and appropriate action." The FA said: "We strongly condemn the crowd disturbances seen today and will be seeking observations from West Ham as well as awaiting the match referee's report."
The Premier League said: "It is essential that everybody who plays or attends a Premier League football match can do so safely. There is no place at any level of the game for what happened at the London Stadium today. "While the official investigation of the incidents will be carried out by the Football Association, we will be asking our own questions of West Ham United about what happened this afternoon, especially to ensure similar events never reoccur. "We would like to commend referee Lee Mason and his team of officials for their actions which, combined with the cooperation of players and coaching staff from both clubs, enabled the match to be completed."
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Mark Noble says West Ham players are 'targets' and must protect themselves against invading fans
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 11/03/18 7:22am
SSN
Mark Noble admits the West Ham players are finding the London Stadium atmosphere difficult to bear, but they must protect themselves against invasive supporters. Captain Noble clashed with a fan that encroached the pitch as disorder occurred during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Burnley, in which owners David Sullivan and David Gold were forced to leave the stadium early for their own protection. Investigations are underway by the club and Premier League, and an emergency meeting of all London Stadium stakeholders has been called after Hammers supporters protested for the board to be sacked at full-time. Noble told Sky Sports: "People have got to realise we are footballers and we are targets, but we have got to protect ourselves. "Obviously there were a number of fans that got on the pitch and a lot of them were running over to where the chairmen were sat. But if someone approaches me personally, I'm going to protect myself, for sure. It's such a big stadium and big area, it's hard for security to stop everyone. "We had fans run on the pitch and it does make the atmosphere really tough to play in. To be honest, it's been like it for a while. The only way to stop it is win games. Obviously we're not going to win every game. "It's the way it's been going since the beginning of the season, that a result - a win - is the only thing that's going to stop them voicing their opinion. I am not saying it's all the West Ham fans. But a lot are not happy. I think that is obvious now. "If the players don't win games we are going to take the brunt of things, which is fine, we understand they are frustrated. But obviously we are going to lose games, and we are going to need them behind us."
Ashley Barnes put Burnley ahead in the 66th minute, which triggered the first fan pitch invasion, before two Chris Wood goals put the game to bed on 70 and then 81 minutes. Noble said: "For Burnley it was fantastic. It was great for them because the West Ham players were under a lot of pressure. We probably could not cope with it after they scored. "It is hard for us at the minute because the fans are unhappy with the board obviously, and as soon as we go a goal down we get targeted. "A lot of players have not played in that sort of atmosphere before. If we score a couple of goals things might change but we went 3-0 down and we got the things we did."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, March 10
Daily WHUFC News - 10th March 2018
West Ham United v Burnley: All you need to know
WHUFC.com
West Ham United return to Premier League action against Burnley this
weekend.
Read on for all the information you need ahead of this Saturday's fixture.
Where and when?
West Ham United will welcome Burnley to London Stadium on Saturday 10 March,
2018.
The fixture is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off.
How to follow:
This match is not being broadcast live in the UK, however supporters
overseas may be able to watch on television. Click here for broadcast
details in your territory.
Live match updates will be provided through the official West Ham Twitter
account.
You can also follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com.
You can also follow the match on our official Instagram, Facebook and
Snapchat channels.
Bobby Moore tribute
West Ham United will mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of Bobby Moore
OBE at this weekend's Premier League fixture with Burnley. A series of
exhibitions and events will pay tribute to the Club's greatest-ever player
and captain, who died after a dignified battle with bowel cancer in February
1993, aged just 51. A free exhibition of memorabilia relating to Moore's
life and career on the lower ground floor of the Stadium Store, where
visitors can view shirts, medals and many more unique and historic items,
will be open from 9am. The exhibition is also open from 9.30am-5pm on
Friday. Four new Bobby Moore displays have been installed on the London
Stadium concourse – the latest initiative introduced to improve the matchday
experience for West Ham fans visiting our home on matchdays. A few minutes
before-kick off, members of the 1964 FA Cup and 1965 European Cup Winners'
Cup-winning teams captained by Moore – Ken Brown, Ronnie Boyce, Jack
Burkett, Brian Dear and Eddie Bovington – will be welcomed pitchside and a
video tribute will be played on the big screens.Moore's family, including
his daughter Roberta and grandchildren, will be invited pitchside for the
pre-match ceremony. After the two teams have taken to the pitch, they will
line up around the centre circle while a floral tribute will be laid on the
centre spot. A minute's applause will then be held, during which supporters
in the East Stand will be invited to create a mosaic in tribute to Moore. In
a further recognition of the Club's proud heritage, for the first time,
flagbearers will display the 16 crests used by Thames Ironworks FC and West
Ham United during the Club's 123-year history pitchside on Saturday. In
addition, these crests will be displayed in the stadium concourse.
Meet the opposition:
Team news:
Having been stretchered off in this past weekend's contest with Swansea
City, fans will be eager for an update from manager David Moyes on the
condition of defender Winston Reid. Pedro Obiang, Andy Carroll and
Edimilson Fernandes remain unavailable, while Arthur Masuaku is serving the
final match of his suspension. The boss will be speaking to the media on
Friday afternoon and could provide a further update on his team.
What they say: "It's definitely a must-win game on Saturday against
Burnley, who are a good side. We need to play well and we have good players
who can produce a good performance on Saturday." Pablo Zabaleta
Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant Referees: Harry Lennard and Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
How to get there:
There are four Underground stations that supporters should utilise to reach
London Stadium: Stratford Station, Stratford International, Hackney Wick and
Pudding Mill Lane.
By Train
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Zabaleta: Burnley match is the first of nine finals
WHUFC.com
Pablo Zabaleta says West Ham United will play the first of 'nine finals'
when they host Burnley at London Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers go into
the weekend sitting 14th in the Premier League table, with 30 points, and
know at least three more victories are likely required to secure their
top-flight safety. Argentina full-back Zabaleta recognises that West Ham's
fate remains in their own hands, but they cannot afford many more slipups if
they are to steer clear of the bottom three.
"We have got nine finals, that is the reality," said the 33-year-old, who
has started 28 of West Ham's 29 Premier League matches since making a switch
from Manchester City last summer. "If you look at the whole season and how
it's been so far, there have been so many ups and downs, we have done good
things and bad things, there have been many changes and injuries have been a
problem for us as well, in key moments and to key players. "But we find
ourselves in a situation where we are not the only team fighting against
relegation. We are one of about seven or eight teams, or perhaps even more,
with only three to six points between them, which shows how difficult the
Premier League is. It is so competitive. "We are all in a situation where we
have to pick up points if we want to be safe as soon as possible and be a
Premier League team next year, but the good thing is that it still depends
on us. It's not like we're in a situation where we need to rely on other
teams' results. "Of course, when the bottom three drop points it's good, but
at the end of the day we need to win our games to make sure we can be in a
better position. "We have two big home games coming up now with Burnley and
Southampton and we need to win against those teams. It's important not to
drop points."
Zabaleta also believes the Claret and Blue Army have a big part to play
between now and the season's end, with six of the Hammers' remaining nine
Premier League matches to be played at London Stadium. Home advantage, the
defender believes, can make a huge difference on the pitch. "Home games are
so important, they are crucial. We need to make our home a very difficult
place to go. Every time we play at home, we're in front of our own fans and
I know that the fans will be there to support the team. "Since I've been
here, my experience is that the supporters are always there for us in the
tough times, behind the team. We need them as an extra player, the 12th
player like we say, but us players also need to make sure we give them
something back by putting in a good shift and showing a good performance.
"We need to find that consistency from now until the end of the season to
win games."
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Etherington: My only Hammers hat-trick was a night I'll never forget
WHUFC.com
It is exactly 14 years since Matty Etherington scored the one and only
hat-trick of his senior career, netting three goals in West Ham United's 5-0
Division One victory over Wimbledon at the Boleyn Ground on 9 March 2004.
Etherington was in his first season in Claret and Blue, having joined the
Hammers in August 2003 in a deal which sent striker Frederic Kanoute and
£3.5m to Tottenham Hotspur, and had quickly established himself as a fans'
favourite. Despite his eye-catching performances down the left wing,
Etherington had scored just one goal in 33 appearances since his arrival –
in a 3-0 win at Crewe Alexandra – when the Dons arrived in east London. What
happened next were 90 minutes that the now 36-year-old Cornishman will never
forget. "My earliest standout memory was in my first season at West Ham, in
2003/04," he recalled. "We played Wimbledon at Upton Park in March 2004 and
won 5-0 and I got a hat-trick, the only one of my career. That was a night
I'll never forget and a really good performance from everyone."
Etherington's fine form continued as he netted in a home win over Gillingham
later the same month, before scoring arguably his most-famous goal in a West
Ham shirt in a Play-Off semi-final second leg victory over Ipswich Town at a
raucous Boleyn Ground in May. The Hammers may have been edged out by Crystal
Palace in the Play-Off final and missed out on promotion, but the popular
Etherington will remember his first season at the Club for the positives,
rather than the negatives.
And of course, a year later, in May 2005, it was his cross which Bobby
Zamora converted to secure victory over Preston North End at the Millennium
Stadium and a return to the Premier League. In all, Etherington totalled 195
appearances across six seasons, scoring 18 goals and setting up dozens more,
and he remains a well-liked figure among West Ham supporters in his current
role as a broadcaster. "That first season culminated in me getting the
Hammer of the Year, so I'll always have fond memories of it," he confirmed.
"That was one of the biggest achievements in my career, seeing the list of
players who won it before and have won it since. I'll always hold it in high
regard. "I arrived at West Ham feeling I had something to prove. I didn't
feel I got a fair crack of the whip at Spurs, so I was hungry to prove
people wrong and get the Club back in the Premier League, having been
relegated the season before. "We managed to do it, albeit a season later,
and I still felt I had something more to prove in the Premier League and
that's when you get the best out of players, when they feel they have
something to prove."
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West Ham United freeze Season Ticket prices for 2018/19
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to confirm that Season Ticket renewal prices
will be frozen for the 2018/19 season! As a reward for the outstanding
loyalty and support from our most loyal fans, Season Ticket Holders in Bands
1-4 and 1966 Seats will be able to renew their seat at London Stadium for
what promises to be another exciting campaign at the same price they paid in
2017/18. As part of the Board's commitment to affordable family football,
this announcement means Season Ticket renewal prices in Bands 1-4 –
including Accessibility Seats – and 1966 Seats have been frozen for the
second consecutive season.
Band 5 Season Ticket prices have also been frozen, subject to renewing on a
two-year term. Season Ticket Holders in Band 5 will have the option to renew
for one season, but this will be subject to a small price increase. Adult
prices will increase from £289 to £320 and Over-65s and Under-21s would
increase from £145 to £160.
A Season Ticket remains by far the cheapest way to enjoy watching the
Hammers in action, with Adults saving over £400 per season compared to
purchasing match-by-match, while Under-16s can save more than £600 over the
course of the campaign.
Season Ticket Holders also enjoy exclusive benefits, including having the
first opportunity to buy tickets for away matches, discounts instore and
online and on coach travel, and invitations to exclusive events.
Any Season Ticket Holders moving into or out of an age-related concession
(eg from Under-21 to Adult) will be subject to their new price band.
The process for Season Ticket Holders to renew, including payment plans,
will be announced shortly and be communicated directly to Season Ticket
Holders and well as on the official website whufc.com.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lanzini aims to reward Claret and Blue Army by beating Burnley
WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini is determined to give the Claret and Blue Army 'something to
cheer about' when West Ham United host Burnley. The Argentina attacking
midfielder will make his first London Stadium appearance since 20 January
when the Hammers tackle Sean Dyche's side in a vital Premier League fixture
on Saturday afternoon, having missed the draw with Crystal Palace and win
over Watford with a hamstring injury. And now he is back in action, the No10
is determined to help West Ham maintain their unbeaten home record in 2018
by scoring a win that will boost his side's chances of steering clear of
relegation. "It's great to be at home playing at our ground where we get
great support and we're working really, really hard to give our supporters
something to cheer about," said Lanzini, who has registered three goals and
six assists in 20 Premier League appearances this season. "It's great that
six of our remaining nine matches are at London Stadium, but we need to win
all of our games and we need to look forward and be positive. Every game is
important to us and we're not really looking any further than this game
[against Burnley]. We've worked really hard this week and whatever happens
after that we'll have to see then. "I have full confidence we are going to
be able to stay in the Premier League. We have a great group of players, a
great team and good people around us too and we believe we can do that."
West Ham have lost both matches since Lanzini returned to action, both by
4-1 scorelines, at Liverpool and Swansea City. Those results will
undoubtedly have dented belief and confidence to some extent, but the No10
insists he remains confident the Hammers will amass enough points to
preserve their top-flight status, starting with victory over seventh-place
Burnley. "I think we'll stay up. That's all I am really focusing on at the
moment, there is nothing else in my head and I believe we will stay up. I'm
really looking forward to changing the situation we're in. "It always takes
time to come back from an injury but I'm doing my best to get back to 100
per cent now. "The team didn't perform as well as they could in those two
games and it is never nice to lose in a match. We're sad when we lose a
match but we are really trying to turn things around and we believe we can."
West Ham's chances of success against Burnley will rest on the shoulders not
only of Lanzini, but also the man he has struck up a close relationship with
on the pitch, Marko Arnautovic. Just as they did at Stoke City and
Huddersfield Town and at home to Chelsea, the South American says he and his
Austrian teammate are ready to fire the Hammers to another important victory
on Saturday. "He's a great player and we play really well together. The team
put responsibility on us to score the goals and help win the matches and
that's exactly what we intend to do."
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Moyes: Improving from Swansea, targeting 40 points and honouring Bobby Moore
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager David Moyes is determined to make full use of his
team's six remaining home games as they look to secure Premier League safety
as quickly as possible. The Hammers will play two-thirds of their final nine
matches at London Stadium, having lost just once in E20 under Moyes'
management.
First up is the visit of Burnley and Moyes knows his team need to perform at
a much higher level than they did at Swansea City to ensure their good home
run continues.
We can't afford another Swansea performance…
"I wasn't going to kid anybody after the Swansea game. When we don't play
well I tell people that we haven't played well. What I will say is that we
have played well and got some really good results prior, but we need to
improve and if we play like that it won't be so good. "There were mitigating
circumstances, going into the game without three or four key players. We
don't want to make excuses, but they are facts. "I think the picture is
changing all the time because there is very little between the teams down
from tenth to the bottom. Any one team can beat the other and I've thought
that for a while – you need to pick up the points when you can "We've had
some really big wins against the teams around us, but we've had a couple of
defeats too. That's typical, I think, of the bottom end of the league at
this time. "The amount of points? I think 40 is always the safe bet that if
you get that you're pretty much there. We've got ten points to go then to
get 40, so we have to try and get that. "Sometimes you think your position
gives you a cushion, but it's not, you need the points to get the cushion.
It's competitive, the teams are all doing all they can to make sure they
stay up."
Is it a good time to face Burnley after they reached 40 points last week?
"I don't think there's a good time to play any Premier League team because
you don't know when they're in a good spell or a bad spell. Burnley had a
really good victory last week, which they'll be buoyed by, but as well as
that we've had good results at our stadium and we've got to try and make
that count. We've got six games remaining at home and we think that in those
six games we can accumulate enough points to stay in the Premier League.
"Saturday is the first of those games, the players know exactly what's
required of them and what they need to do. I'm more interested in the points
we get rather than what Burnley have got."
We face three weeks between games after this one…
"We don't have a game next weekend and then we've got two weeks with an
international break when we'll have quite a lot of players who will go off
with their national teams. "We'll be training, we've taken a friendly game
with Dagenham & Redbridge, who have asked for some help financially. We'll
play them in a game and I think that's good because we don't have a Premier
League game for three weeks. "We'll see how things go and also make some
plans to get away [for warm-weather training] in the next few days
hopefully. "The players have had a long period of playing matches, right
from July to now so they need some recovery time. Since I've been here
they've done great for me – yes, we've had a few downs but in the main
they've been very good. "So we'll try to make sure the players are well
recovered and ready for the next game, which isn't until we play Southampton
three weeks after."
Bobby Moore
It's important to honour Bobby Moore, 25 years on from his tragic passing…
"Everybody knew about Bobby Moore, even a Scotsman knows all about him! When
you join a club you get to learn more about the legends and who the
supporters look back at with fond memories. Obviously Bobby's was a tragic
death and it's right that we continue to celebrate his memory because he was
a great player here. "A lot of the young West Ham supporters might not have
had the chance to see Bobby Moore play and they need to be reminded by the
older ones and also just to remember the great players who have played for
this club."
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Team news: Reid out for the season, Ogbonna back training
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager David Moyes faces another defensive reshuffle ahead
of Saturday's Premier League visit of Burnley, with Winston Reid and Sam
Byram having both suffered injuries.
The duo both sustained their injuries during last weekend's defeat at
Swansea City, with Reid's knee problem ruling him out for the remainder of
the season, and Byram's ankle possibly resulting in the same fate.
However, there is positive news for the Hammers boss as their places in the
squad could be taken by Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins, who missed the
trip to South Wales.
Ogbonna has recovered from illness, while Moyes is hopeful his defensive
colleague Collins will recover sufficiently from the hamstring injury which
kept him out at the Liberty Stadium.
The manager said: "Unfortunately we lost Winston Reid and Sam Byram to
injury in the game last week. Winston, we think, will be out for the rest of
the season and with Sam Byram we're just waiting on a decision from the
surgeon at the moment, but it doesn't look great for him either.
"After that, Angelo has trained this week after an illness and we're still
monitoring Ginge. With everything going well, hopefully they will be fit.
"It's a really big blow about Winston because he is a really important
player for us. He's experienced and with the games coming up over the next
ten weeks or so he would have been important."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Burnley
SAT 10 MAR 2018PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: London Stadium
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have conceded at least three goals in 11 of their 13 league defeats
this season
TEAM NEWS
West Ham will be without Winston Reid and Sam Byram with both men expected
to miss the rest of the season with respective knee and ankle injuries.
Arthur Masuaku serves the last match of his six-game ban, with Andy Carroll
and Pedro Obiang amongst other absentees.
Burnley may hand striker Chris Wood his first start since December following
his return from injury. Tom Heaton and Scott Arfield are again missing but
both men are nearing returns following lengthy spells out.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Martin Fisher: "Successive 4-1 away defeats have reawakened relegation
concerns for West Ham who seemed to be well set for survival not so long
ago. "The loss of Winston Reid to injury for the rest of the season is a
hammer blow (sorry) to a defence that has become far too easy to score
against. "That in turn increases the pressure on the flair players to
perform. On their day Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini can be brilliant
but do those days come along regularly enough?
"Burnley haven't won away since November but remain tough to beat and their
aerial threat might just be enough to earn a rare victory for them in the
East End and deepen David Moyes' misery."
Twitter: @mfisherfootball
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "It's not an easy task for us. They're fighting
for points, we're now fighting for points for different reasons. We want to
go beyond last season, we've put ourselves in a great position to do that."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I am not sure what to expect from the Hammers at the moment, which is why I
am going to go for a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham have won five of their seven Premier League matches against Burnley
(D1, L1), including victories in all three home meetings.
Burnley have lost 12 and won just one of their last 16 away top-flight games
against the Hammers, with that victory a 1-0 triumph in October 1973.
However, the Clarets won 2-1 away at West Ham in the Championship in
December 2011.
The two sides drew 1-1 in October's reverse fixture with Chris Wood rescuing
a point for Burnley five minutes from time.
West Ham
West Ham have won only one of their last six league games, claiming just
five points from a possible 18 during this run.
The Hammers have lost only one of their eight home league matches under
David Moyes - a 3-2 defeat versus Newcastle in December.
They have not recorded back-to-back Premier League home wins since December
2016, with one of those victories coming against Burnley.
West Ham's last two matches have ended in 4-1 defeats - they've not lost
three games in a row by at least a three-goal margin since March 2008.
David Moyes is winless in four previous matches against Sean Dyche (D2, L2).
They all came last season whilst Moyes was at Sunderland, with two games in
the league and two in the FA Cup.
Michail Antonio has scored in back-to-back games for West Ham having scored
just once in his 20 previous appearances.
Burnley
Burnley are seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since December,
having claimed their first victory in 12 league matches against against
Everton last weekend.
They are winless in their last seven Premier League away games, failing to
score in five of those matches.
Their last away victory was a 2-1 win at Bournemouth in November.
Sean Dyche's men have scored 24 league goals - only bottom club West Brom,
with 22, have netted fewer.
Burnley are the only club yet to be awarded a Premier League penalty this
season, whilst West Ham have conceded a league-high six spot kicks.
The Clarets have seen an opposition player sent off six times in the Premier
League this season, twice as many as any other side.
Ashley Barnes has scored in his last two Premier League games. He's not
scored in three successive league matches since a run of four with Brighton
in May 2011.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 27%
Probability of home win: 47% Probability of away win: 26%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Liverpool that is used to predict the outcome of
football matches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manuel Lanzini is confident West Ham will avoid relegation
Last Updated: 09/03/18 6:15am
SSN
Manuel Lanzini says he is confident West Ham will turn things around and
avoid relegation from the Premier League The Hammers were beaten 4-1 by
Swansea on Saturday, a result that leaves them in danger just three points
above the Premier League relegation zone. Lanzini, who recently returned
from a hamstring injury, says the West Ham players are working hard to
rectify the situation but must win all their remaining games to stay up.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, the Argentina international said: "I'm
really looking forward to changing the situation we're in. "It always takes
time to come back from an injury but I'm doing my best to get back to 100
per cent now. "The team didn't perform as well as they could and it is never
nice to lose in a match, we're sad when we lose a match but we are really
trying to turn things around and we believe we can."
West Ham face Burnley on Saturday, and have a three-week break before
returning to face Southampton on March 31 at the London Stadium. He said:
"It's great to be at home playing at our ground where we get great support
and we'll work really, really hard to give our supporters something to cheer
about. "We need to win all of our games and we need to look forward and be
positive. "Every game is important to us and we're not really looking any
further than this game [against Burnley]. "We've worked really hard this
week and whatever happens after that we'll have to see then. "I have full
confidence we are going to be able to do that. We have a great group of
players, a great team and good people too and we believe we can do that. "I
think we'll stay up. That's all I am focusing on at the moment and I believe
we will stay up. What happens in my personal future is something else but
it's not something I'm thinking of."
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MATCH PREVIEW: WEST HAM V BURNLEY
By Dan Coker 9 Mar 2018 at 08:00
WTID
Blast from the past
In today's preview, we travel back to 28th November 2009: The X Factor
Finalists 2009 were number one with 'You Are Not Alone', The Twilight Saga:
New Moon topped the UK box office and West Ham United beat Burnley 5-3 at
Upton Park.
After Mexican striker Guillermo Franco had hit the crossbar with an
11th-minute header, Gianfranco Zola's Hammers took the lead in the 18th
minute when Scott Parker's quick free-kick sent Jack Collison clear and the
young midfielder tucked the ball away beyond Brian Jensen. The Hammers
doubled their advantage 15 minutes later when Junior Stanislas' shot was
saved by Jensen but the Academy graduate settled himself to score from a
tight angle. Jonathan Spector was felled in the penalty area two minutes
before half-time with Carlton Cole (pictured below) converting the resultant
spot-kick.
The Hammers started the second half as they'd finished the first, Franco
heading beyond Jensen from a Stanislas free-kick six minutes after the
interval. A second penalty was won and converted by Chilean forward Luis
Jimenez five minutes after he'd entered the fray as a 59th-minute substitute
to give the Irons a 5-0 lead with just over an hour gone. Owen Coyle's
Clarets ensured West Ham would not keep a first home clean sheet of the
season when Steven Fletcher tapped home Chris Eagles' cross on 68 minutes
and the duo combined again six minutes later for Fletcher to double his
tally. Visiting defender Steven Caldwell was sent off in the dying minutes
for a professional foul on Hammers substitute, and future Burnley player,
Zavon Hines before Eagles had the last word, tucking home former Hammer
Tyrone Mears' cut-back to make the final score 5-3. The action from this
match can be seen in my video below.
The victory was only the Hammers' third league win of the season but they
would not win again until Boxing Day. Zola's West Ham would go on to finish
17th in a 2009/10 campaign that saw Scott Parker win the second of his three
Hammer of the Year awards with Alessandro Diamanti runner-up. Burnley
finished five points and one place below the Irons and were relegated
alongside Hull and Portsmouth. Chelsea won a Premier League and FA Cup
Double.
West Ham United: Rob Green, Jonathan Spector, Danny Gabbidon, Manuel Da
Costa, Herita Ilunga, Jack Collison (Julien Faubert), Scott Parker, Radoslav
Kovac, Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco (Luis Jimenez), Carlton Cole
(Zavon Hines).
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell,
Stephen Jordan (Christian Kalvenes), Robbie Blake (David Nugent), Andre
Bikey, Graham Alexander (Kevin McDonald), Chris Eagles, Steven Fletcher,
Wade Elliott.
Club Connections
A small collection of players have turned out for the Hammers and the
Clarets. They include:
Goalkeepers: Tommy Hampson, Herman Conway and Frank Birchenough.
Defenders: Tyrone Mears, Joe Gallagher, Tommy Dunn, Jack Tresadern, Jon
Harley and Mitchell Thomas.
Midfielders: Junior Stanislas, Reg Attwell, Matt Taylor and Luke Chadwick.
Strikers: Alan Taylor, Bill Jenkinson, Sam Jennings, Walter Pollard, Ian
Wright, Ian Moore and Zavon Hines.
John Bond played for the Hammers and managed the Clarets.
Today's focus, though, falls on a player who spent a season at Upton Park
before appearing for Burnley a decade later. David Unsworth was born in
Chorley, Lancashire on 16th October 1973 and began his career at Everton. He
won the FA Cup with the Toffees in 1995 and also earned a full England cap.
The 23-year-old Unsworth joined West Ham United in August 1997 in a swap
deal with Academy product Danny Williamson. He made his debut, ironically,
against the club he'd just left in a 2-1 Hammers defeat at Goodison Park,
becoming the first ever Hammer to have a surname beginning with the letter
'U' (only Matthew Upson has since joined Unsworth in West Ham's 'U' club).
He played on the left side of three central defenders under Harry Redknapp,
often alongside Rio Ferdinand and fellow new signing Ian Pearce as the Irons
progressed from strugglers the previous season to an exciting,
upwardly-mobile outfit also boasting Eyal Berkovic and John Hartson.
Unsworth scored his first goal in claret and blue in a 4-1 home victory over
Crystal Palace on 3rd December 1997. His second and final goal for the club
was the winner in a 2-1 triumph over Chelsea on 14th March 1998. The 6'1
defender also converted spot-kicks in the Hammers' FA Cup penalty shoot-outs
at Blackburn in the fifth round replay and in the quarter-final replay home
defeat to Arsenal. Unsworth was sent off in his penultimate match for the
Hammers, a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on 5th May 1998. His final game in
claret and blue was the 4-3 home win over Leicester on the final day of the
season five days later. Unsworth had helped West Ham to an eighth-placed
finish in 1997/98, their highest end-of-season standing since 1985/86. He
made 41 appearances for the club, scoring two goals – both of these strikes
can be seen in my video below.
With his family failing to settle in London, Unsworth moved to Aston Villa
for £3m in the summer of 1998 – however, this transpired to not be close
enough to the North West and Unsworth returned to Everton without even
playing a competitive game for Villa. Unsworth spent six years back at
Goodison Park before being released by David Moyes in 2004 – the defender
teamed up with his former Hammers boss Redknapp at Portsmouth. Unsworth
spent the second half of the 2004/05 season on loan at Ipswich after
Redknapp's departure from Fratton Park. A permanent move to Championship
side Sheffield United followed in the summer of 2005 – he helped the Blades
to promotion the following season but was released halfway through their
2006/07 Premier League campaign. Unsworth signed for Wigan in January 2007,
returning to Bramall Lane on the final day of the season to convert the
penalty which kept the Latics up and relegated the Blades.
It would prove to be Unsworth's final game for Wigan and he returned to the
Championship in August 2007, signing for Steve Cotterill's Burnley at the
age of 33. He made 31 appearances for the club, scoring his only goal in a
1-1 home draw with Leicester on 4th December 2007 by which time Owen Coyle
had taken over as manager. Unsworth turned down the chance to stay with the
Clarets at the end of the season and moved to Huddersfield with whom he
ended his career in 2009.
After retiring, Unsworth joined Preston as Development Coach. He was
promoted to First Team Coach following the departure of current Hammers
assistant Alan Irvine, and appointed caretaker manager for a week in the
winter of the 2010/11 season. Unsworth was again appointed caretaker manager
in December 2011 but was dismissed on the appointment of new manager Graham
Westley. In December 2012 Unsworth returned to former club Sheffield United
as Head of Academy Coaching; he was named Assistant Manager to caretaker
boss Chris Morgan in April 2013. He was appointed Assistant Manager of the
Everton Under-21 team in September 2013, becoming manager of the team in
2014. He has had two spells in caretaker charge of the first team, most
recently in the autumn of 2017.
Referee
Saturday's referee will be Lee Mason from Greater Manchester. Mason refereed
the Hammers once in 2016/17 – the 1-0 home win over Hull when he awarded the
Hammers a match-winning penalty – but took charge of two West Ham matches
the previous season, those being the 0-0 draw at Swansea in December 2015
and the 3-0 win at West Brom in April 2016. He also sent off Mark Noble at
Birmingham in December 2009.
Mason's most recent games officiating the Hammers were both 3-2 defeats: at
Southampton in August when he failed to send off Dusan Tadic but did give
Marko Arnautovic a red card, before awarding the Saints a match-winning
penalty in added time; and against Newcastle at home in December when he
awarded the Hammers a penalty only for Andre Ayew's effort to be saved. He
refereed three Premier League matches involving the Hammers in 2014/15 – the
1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, the 1-0 home win over Sunderland and the 2-1
defeat at Old Trafford when he sent off Wayne Rooney, denied the Hammers a
penalty when Morgan Amalfitano's cross struck Radamel Falcao's arm and
disallowed Kevin Nolan's last-minute strike for a marginal offside. Mason
was also the man in the middle for our 1-0 FA Cup win at Bristol City in
January 2015. He also officiated in four of our games in 2013/14, sending
off two of our players (Mark Noble against Everton and James Tomkins at
Cardiff) and disallowing a perfectly good Stewart Downing equaliser at
Crystal Palace.
Possible line-ups
West Ham United's squad is again struggling with injuries – Sam Byram and
Winston Reid join Edimilson Fernandes, Pedro Obiang and Andy Carroll in the
treatment room, while Arthur Masuaku sits out the final match of his
six-game suspension. Angelo Ogbonna should return but James Collins is a
doubt.
Burnley are without Tom Heaton, Robbie Brady, Steven Defour, Scott Arfield
and Jonathan Walters. The Clarets are without a win in their last eight away
games in all competitions, a run stretching back to 29th November.
Possible West Ham United XI: Adrian; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell,
Antonio; Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini; Arnautovic, Chicharito.
Possible Burnley XI: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Lennon, Cork,
Hendrick, Gudmundsson; Barnes, Wood.
Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Moyes blasts Andre Ayew after West Ham departure
HITC
Will Butcher
Andre Ayew left West Ham in January to rejoin Swansea City. West Ham United
manager David Moyes has told fans in his London Evening Standard column that
he did not want to sell Andre Ayew to Swansea City in January, but the
attacker had made it clear he wanted to leave. The 28-year-old rejoined
Swansea just a year and a half after leaving the Welsh side to move to the
London Stadium in the summer of 2016. He came back to haunt the Hammers last
weekend. The Ghana international laid on two assists for Carlos Carvalhal's
side as the Hammers suffered a 4-1 defeat inspired by the former Marseille
attacker, leaving fans to question their club's decision to sell the
versatile forward. But Moyes has decided to criticise the attacker, stating
that he made it clear he no longer wanted to play for the east Londoners in
January despite the Hammers being desperate to keep their squad intact.
"Andre Ayew did well enough for Swansea but don't forget that he didn't want
to stay," Moyes said. "At the time we weren't that keen to lose anyone to
our competitors but he made it 100 per cent clear he did not want to be at
West Ham any longer."
Costing a princely sum of £20million, Ayew managed just 12 goals in 50
league and cup appearances for the Hammers, which equates to around
£1.7million per goal. The Hammers' focus turns to Saturday as they look to
get back to winning ways against Burnley, after suffering more injury
problems this week with Winston Reid and Sam Byram being ruled out until the
end of the season. Moyes' men remain just three points above the relegation
zone and a win against the Clarets on Saturday is crucial if the east
Londoners are to avoid the drop.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Predicted line-up: 'Zero tolerance' David Moyes makes four big changes for
must-win game against Burnley
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United entertain Burnley tomorrow knowing a win is crucial in the
battle to survive this season. David Moyes' side had turned a corner when a
2-0 win over Watford elevated them up to midtable and onto 30 points. But
back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Liverpool and relegation rivals Swansea City has
dragged the Hammers back into the thick of things in one of the most
congested survival battles in recent memory. Supporters are furious with the
side's performances of late and many fear they have hit poor form at the
wrong time with rivals steadily improving. West Ham face an obdurate Burnley
side who visit the London Stadium with one of the best away records in the
country. It won't be easy for the Hammers and they will need to show a
reaction to the pathetic display in Wales last week if they are to get
anything. One person who looks certain to react to that defeat is Moyes,
with as many as four changes in the offing to the side which started against
the Swans.
Joe Hart in for Adrian
The most controversial of the changes and the one in the balance perhaps is
bringing Joe Hart back into the side in place of Adrian. The Spaniard has
been in poor form ever since gifting Newcastle a goal in a 3-2 defeat and
was again at fault during the game against Swansea. Many feel he is still a
better bet than Hart but Moyes may feel he has to bring the England man into
the team to remain consistent with his team selection given the
circumstances in which Hart lost the number one shirt.
Angelo Ogbonna in for Declan Rice
Young Rice has just been called up to the senior Ireland squad but has been
at fault for goals in a number of his recent appearances. That is only to be
expected of one so young but West Ham must go with experience here and
Italian international Ogbonna will return to the side after recovering from
a bug.
James Collins in for Winston Reid
Straightforward one this as Reid has been ruled out of the season with a
knee injury picked up against Swansea. West Ham need Collins to step up now
more than ever and he has never let them down before.
Michail Antonio in for Javier Hernandez
West Ham desperately need more pace and power in the side and quite why
Moyes has only used Antonio as a sub in the last few games after a great
performance against Watford only he knows. Two goals as sub in those games
will surely see him come back into the side in place of Hernandez who
continues to flatter to deceive in his all round play and effort. Antonio
and Marko Arnautovic struck up a really strong partnership as the Hammers
turned the corner under Moyes over Christmas and with Manuel Lanzini in
behind it looks a very mobile and threatening attack.
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West Ham defender James Collins faces late fitness test ahead of Burnley
clash
KEN DYER
ES Sport
West Ham manager David Moyes will give a late fitness test to James Collins
before naming his team to play Burnley. The experienced centre-half missed
the 4-1 defeat at Swansea last weekend with a tight hamstring and has since
been having intense treatment. Collins was due to resume training on Friday,
after which a decision was being made on his fitness for Saturday's match at
the London Stadium. Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna, who was also missing at
Swansea due to illness, is back in the squad, but Winston Reid is out for
the last nine games of the season while he recovers from a knee operation.
Moyes is likely to start with Michail Antonio on Saturday, after the
versatile player came off the bench in the past two matches to score, which
could mean Javier Hernandez is left out. Moyes must decide whether to
persist with a back three, with Declan Rice keeping his place, or revert to
a back four. Rice has been picked for the Republic of Ireland squad for
their friendly against Turkey in Antalya. on March 22 . The 19-year-old, who
has made 23 appearances, will join up with the Republic's Under-21 squad for
the European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan, five days after the
Turkey game. Burnley will again be without Scott Arfield (calf injury),
while goalkeeper Tom Heaton is not yet fit enough to return due to a
shoulder problem
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David Moyes: I've seen a reaction after spelling out to West Ham squad we
were not good enough
DAVID MOYES
ES Sport
Nine matches to go, with six at home, emphasises for me just how big a part
our fans can play in ensuring West Ham remain a Premier League club. I am
aware some of our supporters have been less than happy with certain aspects
of the club over a period of time but for me, as West Ham's manager, my area
of responsibility is helping to give the team the best chance of winning
matches. The defeat at Swansea was really disappointing but it is behind us
now. In the six matches we face at home it's crucial we get that united
support behind the team. I've seen the proposed march is not taking place
and I hope any concerns some supporters might have should be put aside for
now so that we can all help this club stay in the Premier League. I've said
this a few times already but I do want to re-iterate that, since I have been
at the club, I've found the atmosphere in our home stadium to be great. In
some of the games the noise has been terrific and we'll certainly need more
of that tomorrow against Burnley and then in the remaining five games at
home. The defeat at Swansea was a poor performance by our standards but
there were some reasons for that which I didn't want to go into straight
after the match. When you lose not one but two of your central defenders,
that is a big loss. Then to have a third carried off during the game just
made things extremely difficult. I didn't make anything of it before the
game either because I wanted to demonstrate to the players who came into the
team that we trusted them. I did realise though that it would be difficult
without the injured players and if you look back six weeks or so, to when we
had Pedro Obiang and Arthur Masuaku available, the team looked very
different. The bigger thing for me against Swansea was that the players
dropped below the standards they have shown. We conceded a couple of goals
from set pieces, which in the main has not been like us. I do think a lot of
things went against us on the day — at least I hoped they did — but we have
made sure the players have known it wasn't good enough and we have been
right 'at it' this week. It was a difficult week's training leading up to
the game because of the weather but I don't want to make excuses — and we'll
be well prepared tomorrow despite our injuries.
We have meetings, usually on Monday, whether we win or lose. Sometimes we
pick out the positive aspects of our performance and other times we
highlight the things we didn't do so well. The players know we dropped well
below where we've been but, overall, they have been good. Andre Ayew did
well enough for Swansea but don't forget that he didn't want to stay. At the
time we weren't that keen to lose anyone to our competitors but he made it
100 per cent clear he did not want to be at West Ham any longer. Another
statistic worth mentioning is that, since we joined the club in November, we
have never had the luxury of having a senior player sitting up in the stands
because we've have too many to fill the substitutes' bench. That shows you
how tight it is and now Winston Reid is out for the rest of the season. He
was due to have an operation to repair a medial knee ligament injury
yesterday. It is really disappointing for him and us but overall we have not
had that big a squad from which to choose.
We have conceded more goals away from home than anyone else in the division
and that is a real concern for us. Defensive midfield has been a problem for
some time. Obiang's continued absence has left us a little more exposed than
we would like to be. After tomorrow's match, we're going to Miami for some
warm weather training. We do not play again for three weeks so there was an
opportunity to do something now. We've just come through a real hard winter
period and although I haven't been here since the start of the season, I
know the players have been at it from July 1. We're going for five days and
it will be good to get a little sun on our backs, work as a squad and then
come back for what will be a really condensed period of eight matches before
the end of the season.
The fee for this week's column is going to Sport Relief. For details go to
sportrelief.com
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Tony Cottee says myth about West Ham fans is not true
HITC
Antony Martin
West Ham United are still deeply entrenched in a relegation battle. West Ham
legend Tony Cottee spoke exclusively to talkSPORT, and insisted that the
notion that Hammers fans want to see an attractive brand of football first
and foremost is quite simply not true. The east London outfit currently sit
precariously in 14th spot in the Premier League table, just three points
clear of the drop zone, and now really is a time when the players need to
roll up their sleeves and put in a shift for the football club. Cottee, who
scored 115 goals for the Hammers during two separate spells with the club,
insisted that West Ham fans want to see the players put in 100 per cent
effort, when speaking exclusively to talkSPORT: "There's this myth that West
Ham fans firstly want to see good football, they don't. They want to see
players fully committed to the club, that's what all fans want don't they so
West Ham fans aren't any different. But it's important whoever goes out
there they just give it their all and they improve their performances. When
the fans do turn up they do get behind the boys and they'll do that against
Burnley."
David Moyes' men will welcome Sean Dyche's Burnley side to the London
Stadium in the Premier League tomorrow, and if they fail to win, things
really will look bleak for the Hammers. They still have to play the two
Manchester clubs at home, and face difficult trips to Chelsea and Arsenal
before the season ends, so Moyes will surely be targeting tomorrow's clash
with the Clarets as an absolute must win game.
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Shaka Hislop would rather Newcastle were relegated than West Ham
Hislop played for both clubs during his career and he insists he has good
intentions despite predicting the Magpies' downfall
Football London
BySean McCormick
12:05, 9 MAR 2018UPDATED12:24, 9 MAR 2018
Shaka Hislop has said he would rather Newcastle were relegated from the
Premier League than West Ham. The former Trinidad and Tobago international
goalkeeper played for both clubs during his career, keeping net for
Newcastle during the famous 'Entertainers' era. Hislop now spends his days
working as a pundit on American TV channel ESPN and admitted he would rather
Newcastle were relegated than the Hammers when asked last night. However,
Hislop was quick to address that he was saying it with good intentions as he
believes another relegation would force owner Mike Ashley to sell the club.
When asked which of his former sides he would prefer to be relegated, Hislop
said: "I have picked Newcastle and I'll tell you why. "Because I think that
would force Mike Ashley to sell and I think you will not see the best of
Newcastle again, until Mike Ashley sells. "In case you haven't gathered, I'm
not much of a Mike Ashley fan. I love Rafa Benitez, I really do."
Some fans will resonate with what Hislop is saying, but what he fails to
acknowledge is another relegation would have catastrophic consequences on
the pitch.
Rafa Benitez would almost certainly walk away from the club, Newcastle will
have to endure another bruising Championship promotion push, and they will
fall further back as a result of missing out on the payments from the
Premier League's lucrative TV deal. The Magpies can pull further away from
the drop this weekend when they welcome Southampton to St James' Park on
Saturday.
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REAL WEST HAM? LIKE A TREE STANDING BY THE WATERSIDE WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 9 MARCH 2018 AT 9:12PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
The views in this article are of the writer and not necessarily the website
On the face of things, the West Ham Fanbase seems to be at war, with threats
and mud-slinging from all quarters. Pathetic and laughable springs to mind,
West Ham from the dark ages not today. I, accept that West Ham's support is
a 'broad church' with people seeing things differently. But the heroic
efforts across the board, in raising funds for little Islas Caton's brave
fight against a rare cancer called Neuroblastoma – are the actions of 'real'
West Ham. Those efforts tell you that deep down, despite our superficial
differences we are one. What we now are leaders to step forward from amongst
us and unite all factions of our fanbase. We, are West Ham NOT Gold and
Sullivan, we are going to have to drive change. Because to reach the next
level we are going to have to change. We, are going to have to think and act
like a big Club!
Karren Brady singling out the 'Real' West Ham Fans Group saying that they
were delighted to have reached an agreement with the 'Real' West Ham Fans
Group, regards March the 10th march shows you out of touch Mrs Brady is.
Part of the agreement was, that The Board would match the amount of money
the 'Real' fans made for @islasplight. Providing the March was called off.
How despicable can you get? Playing Russian roulette with a young girl
fighting for her life. March and little Isla's plight gets nothing. Not West
Ham! West Ham always look after their own.
On Saturday night, after being routed by Swansea City 4-1. Co-Owner David
Gold was surrounded by fans, and all sorts of abuse was hurled at him. The
old "I'm only an old man" tearjerker does not wash with me. I do not believe
he was under threat on Saturday night, but to hurl vile abuse on any
82-year-old man is the action of cowards. Not West Ham. We've also had a
banner saying that Gold and Sullivan have done more damage to The East End
than Adolf Hitler. So many different cancers destroying our Club, people
pulling in different directions.
What happens off the field more often than not reflects on the pitch. So, it
is no wonder we have shambolic performances, like we have seen on the pitch
recently. However, don't be afraid, we must and will overcome! Sure,
difficult days lay ahead, but we can turn this around. I will tell you what
is 'REAL' West Ham: People of every creed, race, age and sexual orientation
being West ham and proud. All claret and blue to the core, all wanting the
best for our great club. It's in our blood! Where, some 40 or so years ago,
long before my time people were throwing bananas at black players. West Ham?
We were different, we had the Big Bermudian striker Clyde Best playing as
striker, as well as John Charles and Ade Coker. More recently we had a young
Nigel Reo Coker, as Club Captain, when we lost the 2006 FA Cup Final to
Liverpool on penalties after drawing 3-3. Absolutely heart breaking!
Despite the disappointment of losing the final, our supporters stayed to the
end. Applauding our players as well as the Liverpool team. Steven Gerrard
Liverpool's captain was moved to say West Ham is a real football Club. So
much to be proud of West Ham over the years, as of present we had insure
testing times as well, getting beaten 6-0 by both Luton Town and Oldham
Athletic, 7-1 by Blackburn, 4-0 by Bolton in the rain, and of course the FA
Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest when we had Tony Gale sent off. We
stay till the end singing Billy Bonds claret and blue army! West Ham and
proud! That is 'Real' West ham! Loyalty to the core. West Ham have always
stood for decency. Despite all our troubles we still do.
So, what of our troubles? I'm not going to spend hours dissecting my
feelings on the board. You know the script Lies, lies, and more lies.
Phantom 'bids' after phantom bids, linking us to this star or that, all
utter crap! Reality? Patrice Evra on a free. They may be masters at
manipulating the media to their advantage. But… even that doesn't work
anymore, nobody falls for their lies and spin. It shows you how out of touch
this Board has become, that Sullivan really thought he impressed people when
he said: "We bid 25m for Joe Allen!" The man is off his nut! It's like
hearing someone saying: "I was only ONE ball out on the lotto! I would have
won NINETY-TWO MILLION!" like Sullivan, nothing but a great pretender. One
'marquee signing, another costing a bit of money, an expensive loan,
freebies, cheapies and loan after loan has always been the way Gold and
Sullivan have operated, always on the cheap.
Selling the Boleyn Ground on the cheap, promising to take us to the 'next'
level has left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. Sheer greed was what the
move to The London Stadium was about. But we can still turn this around and
we will. One of the biggest shortcomings about West Ham is that there is no
leadership, as a result you have very little structure and no
accountability. Yes, I know that we have had a few pastings, I'm not
surprised really, a threadbare squad and unbalanced squad was always going
to make things tough for whoever the manager was. But come the end of the
season, I can see Moyes completely overhauling The Club from top to bottom.
Scouting and signing players, senior and at youth level. We, have signed too
many youth players, who have been discarded from the likes of Manchester
United, Chelsea, Arsenal and the rest. Sadly, more often than not they have
not made the grade at West Ham either. Improving our scouting is a must.
Behind the scenes on the football side of it, Moyes will get it right.
So, what are we going to do about the kings of spin? First off, we can all
send messages like: sell up! Just f*** off! And the rest. But the stark
reality is the golden age of Billionaires snapping up football Clubs and
spending millions on new players are long gone. We have no West Ham 'sugar'
Daddy, ready to be a super hero and take us to the next 'level'. The trust
between the fans and The Board has broken down beyond repair in most cases.
Almost like splitting from a partner and living in separate rooms, till one
or the other moves out. The atmosphere in the house being toxic, the big
difference being the fans are not moving out and neither are Gold and
Sullivan. We are going to have to talk at some point. We have had various
fan groups going up to meet with Mrs Brady. At the second meeting, the
delegation was supposed to meet The Board, unfortunately there was no sign
of Gold and Sullivan. Not good enough! The, delegation should have turned
around and walked out, as a far tougher approach needs to be taken when
dealing with The Board. Brady dictated what she would talk about, and what
she wouldn't talk about. Surprise! Surprise! Transfers and finance were two
no goes.
What we need is a fan group, which has the full backing of the broad
spectrum of West Ham's magnificent support, being ready to grill The Board
when needed and leaving no stone unturned. There has been much talk about
the 10th of March that was cancelled, I'm all for a March as a means of
protest. My God we have plenty to protest about! However, postponing the
march may be a blessing in disguise. We, need to be unified to make a march
effective. The, best way would be to work in tandem with the fan group
meeting The Board. No progress with The Board, then we ALL march! United we
stand, divided we fall! Like a tree standing by the waterside, we shall not
be moved! We are ALL real West Ham! One of the biggest problems we face at
The Club, is that there is a lack of leadership. We need someone to pull The
Club up by the scruff of the neck. Someone to help restore trust.
There is one person who towers above anyone else, one person who can restore
unity, a person who demands respect. All top Clubs in Europe have a Club
President. Time to do the right thing. Time to make Billy Bonds Club
President. Billy has both the stature and respect! Billy Bonds can lift the
whole Club, on and off the pitch. Billy Bonds never suffered fools. Some
have said he wouldn't work with the present Board. I think if asked he
would, if anyone is 'real' West Ham it is William Arthur Bonds. Bonds once
had a persistent toe injury. He was faced with a decision, he could end his
career or have his toe amputated, get some physio and get back into the
team. The toe got the chop! Billy Bonds would bring unity and restore
confidence to West Ham. Either way the times are a changing for Gold and
Sullivan, you and I are West Ham we will not stand by and let OUR Club be
destroyed, unity is our strength. Unified we most certainly will be for the
visit of Stoke City. For once it will not be a case of fortunes always
hiding, but fortunes siding. West Ham 2 Stoke City 0!
We are more than a football Club, we're a way of life!!
COYI!!
Farehamhammer!!!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United return to Premier League action against Burnley this
weekend.
Read on for all the information you need ahead of this Saturday's fixture.
Where and when?
West Ham United will welcome Burnley to London Stadium on Saturday 10 March,
2018.
The fixture is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off.
How to follow:
This match is not being broadcast live in the UK, however supporters
overseas may be able to watch on television. Click here for broadcast
details in your territory.
Live match updates will be provided through the official West Ham Twitter
account.
You can also follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com.
You can also follow the match on our official Instagram, Facebook and
Snapchat channels.
Bobby Moore tribute
West Ham United will mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of Bobby Moore
OBE at this weekend's Premier League fixture with Burnley. A series of
exhibitions and events will pay tribute to the Club's greatest-ever player
and captain, who died after a dignified battle with bowel cancer in February
1993, aged just 51. A free exhibition of memorabilia relating to Moore's
life and career on the lower ground floor of the Stadium Store, where
visitors can view shirts, medals and many more unique and historic items,
will be open from 9am. The exhibition is also open from 9.30am-5pm on
Friday. Four new Bobby Moore displays have been installed on the London
Stadium concourse – the latest initiative introduced to improve the matchday
experience for West Ham fans visiting our home on matchdays. A few minutes
before-kick off, members of the 1964 FA Cup and 1965 European Cup Winners'
Cup-winning teams captained by Moore – Ken Brown, Ronnie Boyce, Jack
Burkett, Brian Dear and Eddie Bovington – will be welcomed pitchside and a
video tribute will be played on the big screens.Moore's family, including
his daughter Roberta and grandchildren, will be invited pitchside for the
pre-match ceremony. After the two teams have taken to the pitch, they will
line up around the centre circle while a floral tribute will be laid on the
centre spot. A minute's applause will then be held, during which supporters
in the East Stand will be invited to create a mosaic in tribute to Moore. In
a further recognition of the Club's proud heritage, for the first time,
flagbearers will display the 16 crests used by Thames Ironworks FC and West
Ham United during the Club's 123-year history pitchside on Saturday. In
addition, these crests will be displayed in the stadium concourse.
Meet the opposition:
Team news:
Having been stretchered off in this past weekend's contest with Swansea
City, fans will be eager for an update from manager David Moyes on the
condition of defender Winston Reid. Pedro Obiang, Andy Carroll and
Edimilson Fernandes remain unavailable, while Arthur Masuaku is serving the
final match of his suspension. The boss will be speaking to the media on
Friday afternoon and could provide a further update on his team.
What they say: "It's definitely a must-win game on Saturday against
Burnley, who are a good side. We need to play well and we have good players
who can produce a good performance on Saturday." Pablo Zabaleta
Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant Referees: Harry Lennard and Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
How to get there:
There are four Underground stations that supporters should utilise to reach
London Stadium: Stratford Station, Stratford International, Hackney Wick and
Pudding Mill Lane.
By Train
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Zabaleta: Burnley match is the first of nine finals
WHUFC.com
Pablo Zabaleta says West Ham United will play the first of 'nine finals'
when they host Burnley at London Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers go into
the weekend sitting 14th in the Premier League table, with 30 points, and
know at least three more victories are likely required to secure their
top-flight safety. Argentina full-back Zabaleta recognises that West Ham's
fate remains in their own hands, but they cannot afford many more slipups if
they are to steer clear of the bottom three.
"We have got nine finals, that is the reality," said the 33-year-old, who
has started 28 of West Ham's 29 Premier League matches since making a switch
from Manchester City last summer. "If you look at the whole season and how
it's been so far, there have been so many ups and downs, we have done good
things and bad things, there have been many changes and injuries have been a
problem for us as well, in key moments and to key players. "But we find
ourselves in a situation where we are not the only team fighting against
relegation. We are one of about seven or eight teams, or perhaps even more,
with only three to six points between them, which shows how difficult the
Premier League is. It is so competitive. "We are all in a situation where we
have to pick up points if we want to be safe as soon as possible and be a
Premier League team next year, but the good thing is that it still depends
on us. It's not like we're in a situation where we need to rely on other
teams' results. "Of course, when the bottom three drop points it's good, but
at the end of the day we need to win our games to make sure we can be in a
better position. "We have two big home games coming up now with Burnley and
Southampton and we need to win against those teams. It's important not to
drop points."
Zabaleta also believes the Claret and Blue Army have a big part to play
between now and the season's end, with six of the Hammers' remaining nine
Premier League matches to be played at London Stadium. Home advantage, the
defender believes, can make a huge difference on the pitch. "Home games are
so important, they are crucial. We need to make our home a very difficult
place to go. Every time we play at home, we're in front of our own fans and
I know that the fans will be there to support the team. "Since I've been
here, my experience is that the supporters are always there for us in the
tough times, behind the team. We need them as an extra player, the 12th
player like we say, but us players also need to make sure we give them
something back by putting in a good shift and showing a good performance.
"We need to find that consistency from now until the end of the season to
win games."
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Etherington: My only Hammers hat-trick was a night I'll never forget
WHUFC.com
It is exactly 14 years since Matty Etherington scored the one and only
hat-trick of his senior career, netting three goals in West Ham United's 5-0
Division One victory over Wimbledon at the Boleyn Ground on 9 March 2004.
Etherington was in his first season in Claret and Blue, having joined the
Hammers in August 2003 in a deal which sent striker Frederic Kanoute and
£3.5m to Tottenham Hotspur, and had quickly established himself as a fans'
favourite. Despite his eye-catching performances down the left wing,
Etherington had scored just one goal in 33 appearances since his arrival –
in a 3-0 win at Crewe Alexandra – when the Dons arrived in east London. What
happened next were 90 minutes that the now 36-year-old Cornishman will never
forget. "My earliest standout memory was in my first season at West Ham, in
2003/04," he recalled. "We played Wimbledon at Upton Park in March 2004 and
won 5-0 and I got a hat-trick, the only one of my career. That was a night
I'll never forget and a really good performance from everyone."
Etherington's fine form continued as he netted in a home win over Gillingham
later the same month, before scoring arguably his most-famous goal in a West
Ham shirt in a Play-Off semi-final second leg victory over Ipswich Town at a
raucous Boleyn Ground in May. The Hammers may have been edged out by Crystal
Palace in the Play-Off final and missed out on promotion, but the popular
Etherington will remember his first season at the Club for the positives,
rather than the negatives.
And of course, a year later, in May 2005, it was his cross which Bobby
Zamora converted to secure victory over Preston North End at the Millennium
Stadium and a return to the Premier League. In all, Etherington totalled 195
appearances across six seasons, scoring 18 goals and setting up dozens more,
and he remains a well-liked figure among West Ham supporters in his current
role as a broadcaster. "That first season culminated in me getting the
Hammer of the Year, so I'll always have fond memories of it," he confirmed.
"That was one of the biggest achievements in my career, seeing the list of
players who won it before and have won it since. I'll always hold it in high
regard. "I arrived at West Ham feeling I had something to prove. I didn't
feel I got a fair crack of the whip at Spurs, so I was hungry to prove
people wrong and get the Club back in the Premier League, having been
relegated the season before. "We managed to do it, albeit a season later,
and I still felt I had something more to prove in the Premier League and
that's when you get the best out of players, when they feel they have
something to prove."
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West Ham United freeze Season Ticket prices for 2018/19
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to confirm that Season Ticket renewal prices
will be frozen for the 2018/19 season! As a reward for the outstanding
loyalty and support from our most loyal fans, Season Ticket Holders in Bands
1-4 and 1966 Seats will be able to renew their seat at London Stadium for
what promises to be another exciting campaign at the same price they paid in
2017/18. As part of the Board's commitment to affordable family football,
this announcement means Season Ticket renewal prices in Bands 1-4 –
including Accessibility Seats – and 1966 Seats have been frozen for the
second consecutive season.
Band 5 Season Ticket prices have also been frozen, subject to renewing on a
two-year term. Season Ticket Holders in Band 5 will have the option to renew
for one season, but this will be subject to a small price increase. Adult
prices will increase from £289 to £320 and Over-65s and Under-21s would
increase from £145 to £160.
A Season Ticket remains by far the cheapest way to enjoy watching the
Hammers in action, with Adults saving over £400 per season compared to
purchasing match-by-match, while Under-16s can save more than £600 over the
course of the campaign.
Season Ticket Holders also enjoy exclusive benefits, including having the
first opportunity to buy tickets for away matches, discounts instore and
online and on coach travel, and invitations to exclusive events.
Any Season Ticket Holders moving into or out of an age-related concession
(eg from Under-21 to Adult) will be subject to their new price band.
The process for Season Ticket Holders to renew, including payment plans,
will be announced shortly and be communicated directly to Season Ticket
Holders and well as on the official website whufc.com.
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Lanzini aims to reward Claret and Blue Army by beating Burnley
WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini is determined to give the Claret and Blue Army 'something to
cheer about' when West Ham United host Burnley. The Argentina attacking
midfielder will make his first London Stadium appearance since 20 January
when the Hammers tackle Sean Dyche's side in a vital Premier League fixture
on Saturday afternoon, having missed the draw with Crystal Palace and win
over Watford with a hamstring injury. And now he is back in action, the No10
is determined to help West Ham maintain their unbeaten home record in 2018
by scoring a win that will boost his side's chances of steering clear of
relegation. "It's great to be at home playing at our ground where we get
great support and we're working really, really hard to give our supporters
something to cheer about," said Lanzini, who has registered three goals and
six assists in 20 Premier League appearances this season. "It's great that
six of our remaining nine matches are at London Stadium, but we need to win
all of our games and we need to look forward and be positive. Every game is
important to us and we're not really looking any further than this game
[against Burnley]. We've worked really hard this week and whatever happens
after that we'll have to see then. "I have full confidence we are going to
be able to stay in the Premier League. We have a great group of players, a
great team and good people around us too and we believe we can do that."
West Ham have lost both matches since Lanzini returned to action, both by
4-1 scorelines, at Liverpool and Swansea City. Those results will
undoubtedly have dented belief and confidence to some extent, but the No10
insists he remains confident the Hammers will amass enough points to
preserve their top-flight status, starting with victory over seventh-place
Burnley. "I think we'll stay up. That's all I am really focusing on at the
moment, there is nothing else in my head and I believe we will stay up. I'm
really looking forward to changing the situation we're in. "It always takes
time to come back from an injury but I'm doing my best to get back to 100
per cent now. "The team didn't perform as well as they could in those two
games and it is never nice to lose in a match. We're sad when we lose a
match but we are really trying to turn things around and we believe we can."
West Ham's chances of success against Burnley will rest on the shoulders not
only of Lanzini, but also the man he has struck up a close relationship with
on the pitch, Marko Arnautovic. Just as they did at Stoke City and
Huddersfield Town and at home to Chelsea, the South American says he and his
Austrian teammate are ready to fire the Hammers to another important victory
on Saturday. "He's a great player and we play really well together. The team
put responsibility on us to score the goals and help win the matches and
that's exactly what we intend to do."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes: Improving from Swansea, targeting 40 points and honouring Bobby Moore
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager David Moyes is determined to make full use of his
team's six remaining home games as they look to secure Premier League safety
as quickly as possible. The Hammers will play two-thirds of their final nine
matches at London Stadium, having lost just once in E20 under Moyes'
management.
First up is the visit of Burnley and Moyes knows his team need to perform at
a much higher level than they did at Swansea City to ensure their good home
run continues.
We can't afford another Swansea performance…
"I wasn't going to kid anybody after the Swansea game. When we don't play
well I tell people that we haven't played well. What I will say is that we
have played well and got some really good results prior, but we need to
improve and if we play like that it won't be so good. "There were mitigating
circumstances, going into the game without three or four key players. We
don't want to make excuses, but they are facts. "I think the picture is
changing all the time because there is very little between the teams down
from tenth to the bottom. Any one team can beat the other and I've thought
that for a while – you need to pick up the points when you can "We've had
some really big wins against the teams around us, but we've had a couple of
defeats too. That's typical, I think, of the bottom end of the league at
this time. "The amount of points? I think 40 is always the safe bet that if
you get that you're pretty much there. We've got ten points to go then to
get 40, so we have to try and get that. "Sometimes you think your position
gives you a cushion, but it's not, you need the points to get the cushion.
It's competitive, the teams are all doing all they can to make sure they
stay up."
Is it a good time to face Burnley after they reached 40 points last week?
"I don't think there's a good time to play any Premier League team because
you don't know when they're in a good spell or a bad spell. Burnley had a
really good victory last week, which they'll be buoyed by, but as well as
that we've had good results at our stadium and we've got to try and make
that count. We've got six games remaining at home and we think that in those
six games we can accumulate enough points to stay in the Premier League.
"Saturday is the first of those games, the players know exactly what's
required of them and what they need to do. I'm more interested in the points
we get rather than what Burnley have got."
We face three weeks between games after this one…
"We don't have a game next weekend and then we've got two weeks with an
international break when we'll have quite a lot of players who will go off
with their national teams. "We'll be training, we've taken a friendly game
with Dagenham & Redbridge, who have asked for some help financially. We'll
play them in a game and I think that's good because we don't have a Premier
League game for three weeks. "We'll see how things go and also make some
plans to get away [for warm-weather training] in the next few days
hopefully. "The players have had a long period of playing matches, right
from July to now so they need some recovery time. Since I've been here
they've done great for me – yes, we've had a few downs but in the main
they've been very good. "So we'll try to make sure the players are well
recovered and ready for the next game, which isn't until we play Southampton
three weeks after."
Bobby Moore
It's important to honour Bobby Moore, 25 years on from his tragic passing…
"Everybody knew about Bobby Moore, even a Scotsman knows all about him! When
you join a club you get to learn more about the legends and who the
supporters look back at with fond memories. Obviously Bobby's was a tragic
death and it's right that we continue to celebrate his memory because he was
a great player here. "A lot of the young West Ham supporters might not have
had the chance to see Bobby Moore play and they need to be reminded by the
older ones and also just to remember the great players who have played for
this club."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Team news: Reid out for the season, Ogbonna back training
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager David Moyes faces another defensive reshuffle ahead
of Saturday's Premier League visit of Burnley, with Winston Reid and Sam
Byram having both suffered injuries.
The duo both sustained their injuries during last weekend's defeat at
Swansea City, with Reid's knee problem ruling him out for the remainder of
the season, and Byram's ankle possibly resulting in the same fate.
However, there is positive news for the Hammers boss as their places in the
squad could be taken by Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins, who missed the
trip to South Wales.
Ogbonna has recovered from illness, while Moyes is hopeful his defensive
colleague Collins will recover sufficiently from the hamstring injury which
kept him out at the Liberty Stadium.
The manager said: "Unfortunately we lost Winston Reid and Sam Byram to
injury in the game last week. Winston, we think, will be out for the rest of
the season and with Sam Byram we're just waiting on a decision from the
surgeon at the moment, but it doesn't look great for him either.
"After that, Angelo has trained this week after an illness and we're still
monitoring Ginge. With everything going well, hopefully they will be fit.
"It's a really big blow about Winston because he is a really important
player for us. He's experienced and with the games coming up over the next
ten weeks or so he would have been important."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Burnley
SAT 10 MAR 2018PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: London Stadium
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have conceded at least three goals in 11 of their 13 league defeats
this season
TEAM NEWS
West Ham will be without Winston Reid and Sam Byram with both men expected
to miss the rest of the season with respective knee and ankle injuries.
Arthur Masuaku serves the last match of his six-game ban, with Andy Carroll
and Pedro Obiang amongst other absentees.
Burnley may hand striker Chris Wood his first start since December following
his return from injury. Tom Heaton and Scott Arfield are again missing but
both men are nearing returns following lengthy spells out.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Martin Fisher: "Successive 4-1 away defeats have reawakened relegation
concerns for West Ham who seemed to be well set for survival not so long
ago. "The loss of Winston Reid to injury for the rest of the season is a
hammer blow (sorry) to a defence that has become far too easy to score
against. "That in turn increases the pressure on the flair players to
perform. On their day Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini can be brilliant
but do those days come along regularly enough?
"Burnley haven't won away since November but remain tough to beat and their
aerial threat might just be enough to earn a rare victory for them in the
East End and deepen David Moyes' misery."
Twitter: @mfisherfootball
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "It's not an easy task for us. They're fighting
for points, we're now fighting for points for different reasons. We want to
go beyond last season, we've put ourselves in a great position to do that."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I am not sure what to expect from the Hammers at the moment, which is why I
am going to go for a draw.
Prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham have won five of their seven Premier League matches against Burnley
(D1, L1), including victories in all three home meetings.
Burnley have lost 12 and won just one of their last 16 away top-flight games
against the Hammers, with that victory a 1-0 triumph in October 1973.
However, the Clarets won 2-1 away at West Ham in the Championship in
December 2011.
The two sides drew 1-1 in October's reverse fixture with Chris Wood rescuing
a point for Burnley five minutes from time.
West Ham
West Ham have won only one of their last six league games, claiming just
five points from a possible 18 during this run.
The Hammers have lost only one of their eight home league matches under
David Moyes - a 3-2 defeat versus Newcastle in December.
They have not recorded back-to-back Premier League home wins since December
2016, with one of those victories coming against Burnley.
West Ham's last two matches have ended in 4-1 defeats - they've not lost
three games in a row by at least a three-goal margin since March 2008.
David Moyes is winless in four previous matches against Sean Dyche (D2, L2).
They all came last season whilst Moyes was at Sunderland, with two games in
the league and two in the FA Cup.
Michail Antonio has scored in back-to-back games for West Ham having scored
just once in his 20 previous appearances.
Burnley
Burnley are seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since December,
having claimed their first victory in 12 league matches against against
Everton last weekend.
They are winless in their last seven Premier League away games, failing to
score in five of those matches.
Their last away victory was a 2-1 win at Bournemouth in November.
Sean Dyche's men have scored 24 league goals - only bottom club West Brom,
with 22, have netted fewer.
Burnley are the only club yet to be awarded a Premier League penalty this
season, whilst West Ham have conceded a league-high six spot kicks.
The Clarets have seen an opposition player sent off six times in the Premier
League this season, twice as many as any other side.
Ashley Barnes has scored in his last two Premier League games. He's not
scored in three successive league matches since a run of four with Brighton
in May 2011.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 27%
Probability of home win: 47% Probability of away win: 26%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Liverpool that is used to predict the outcome of
football matches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manuel Lanzini is confident West Ham will avoid relegation
Last Updated: 09/03/18 6:15am
SSN
Manuel Lanzini says he is confident West Ham will turn things around and
avoid relegation from the Premier League The Hammers were beaten 4-1 by
Swansea on Saturday, a result that leaves them in danger just three points
above the Premier League relegation zone. Lanzini, who recently returned
from a hamstring injury, says the West Ham players are working hard to
rectify the situation but must win all their remaining games to stay up.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, the Argentina international said: "I'm
really looking forward to changing the situation we're in. "It always takes
time to come back from an injury but I'm doing my best to get back to 100
per cent now. "The team didn't perform as well as they could and it is never
nice to lose in a match, we're sad when we lose a match but we are really
trying to turn things around and we believe we can."
West Ham face Burnley on Saturday, and have a three-week break before
returning to face Southampton on March 31 at the London Stadium. He said:
"It's great to be at home playing at our ground where we get great support
and we'll work really, really hard to give our supporters something to cheer
about. "We need to win all of our games and we need to look forward and be
positive. "Every game is important to us and we're not really looking any
further than this game [against Burnley]. "We've worked really hard this
week and whatever happens after that we'll have to see then. "I have full
confidence we are going to be able to do that. We have a great group of
players, a great team and good people too and we believe we can do that. "I
think we'll stay up. That's all I am focusing on at the moment and I believe
we will stay up. What happens in my personal future is something else but
it's not something I'm thinking of."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MATCH PREVIEW: WEST HAM V BURNLEY
By Dan Coker 9 Mar 2018 at 08:00
WTID
Blast from the past
In today's preview, we travel back to 28th November 2009: The X Factor
Finalists 2009 were number one with 'You Are Not Alone', The Twilight Saga:
New Moon topped the UK box office and West Ham United beat Burnley 5-3 at
Upton Park.
After Mexican striker Guillermo Franco had hit the crossbar with an
11th-minute header, Gianfranco Zola's Hammers took the lead in the 18th
minute when Scott Parker's quick free-kick sent Jack Collison clear and the
young midfielder tucked the ball away beyond Brian Jensen. The Hammers
doubled their advantage 15 minutes later when Junior Stanislas' shot was
saved by Jensen but the Academy graduate settled himself to score from a
tight angle. Jonathan Spector was felled in the penalty area two minutes
before half-time with Carlton Cole (pictured below) converting the resultant
spot-kick.
The Hammers started the second half as they'd finished the first, Franco
heading beyond Jensen from a Stanislas free-kick six minutes after the
interval. A second penalty was won and converted by Chilean forward Luis
Jimenez five minutes after he'd entered the fray as a 59th-minute substitute
to give the Irons a 5-0 lead with just over an hour gone. Owen Coyle's
Clarets ensured West Ham would not keep a first home clean sheet of the
season when Steven Fletcher tapped home Chris Eagles' cross on 68 minutes
and the duo combined again six minutes later for Fletcher to double his
tally. Visiting defender Steven Caldwell was sent off in the dying minutes
for a professional foul on Hammers substitute, and future Burnley player,
Zavon Hines before Eagles had the last word, tucking home former Hammer
Tyrone Mears' cut-back to make the final score 5-3. The action from this
match can be seen in my video below.
The victory was only the Hammers' third league win of the season but they
would not win again until Boxing Day. Zola's West Ham would go on to finish
17th in a 2009/10 campaign that saw Scott Parker win the second of his three
Hammer of the Year awards with Alessandro Diamanti runner-up. Burnley
finished five points and one place below the Irons and were relegated
alongside Hull and Portsmouth. Chelsea won a Premier League and FA Cup
Double.
West Ham United: Rob Green, Jonathan Spector, Danny Gabbidon, Manuel Da
Costa, Herita Ilunga, Jack Collison (Julien Faubert), Scott Parker, Radoslav
Kovac, Junior Stanislas, Guillermo Franco (Luis Jimenez), Carlton Cole
(Zavon Hines).
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell,
Stephen Jordan (Christian Kalvenes), Robbie Blake (David Nugent), Andre
Bikey, Graham Alexander (Kevin McDonald), Chris Eagles, Steven Fletcher,
Wade Elliott.
Club Connections
A small collection of players have turned out for the Hammers and the
Clarets. They include:
Goalkeepers: Tommy Hampson, Herman Conway and Frank Birchenough.
Defenders: Tyrone Mears, Joe Gallagher, Tommy Dunn, Jack Tresadern, Jon
Harley and Mitchell Thomas.
Midfielders: Junior Stanislas, Reg Attwell, Matt Taylor and Luke Chadwick.
Strikers: Alan Taylor, Bill Jenkinson, Sam Jennings, Walter Pollard, Ian
Wright, Ian Moore and Zavon Hines.
John Bond played for the Hammers and managed the Clarets.
Today's focus, though, falls on a player who spent a season at Upton Park
before appearing for Burnley a decade later. David Unsworth was born in
Chorley, Lancashire on 16th October 1973 and began his career at Everton. He
won the FA Cup with the Toffees in 1995 and also earned a full England cap.
The 23-year-old Unsworth joined West Ham United in August 1997 in a swap
deal with Academy product Danny Williamson. He made his debut, ironically,
against the club he'd just left in a 2-1 Hammers defeat at Goodison Park,
becoming the first ever Hammer to have a surname beginning with the letter
'U' (only Matthew Upson has since joined Unsworth in West Ham's 'U' club).
He played on the left side of three central defenders under Harry Redknapp,
often alongside Rio Ferdinand and fellow new signing Ian Pearce as the Irons
progressed from strugglers the previous season to an exciting,
upwardly-mobile outfit also boasting Eyal Berkovic and John Hartson.
Unsworth scored his first goal in claret and blue in a 4-1 home victory over
Crystal Palace on 3rd December 1997. His second and final goal for the club
was the winner in a 2-1 triumph over Chelsea on 14th March 1998. The 6'1
defender also converted spot-kicks in the Hammers' FA Cup penalty shoot-outs
at Blackburn in the fifth round replay and in the quarter-final replay home
defeat to Arsenal. Unsworth was sent off in his penultimate match for the
Hammers, a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on 5th May 1998. His final game in
claret and blue was the 4-3 home win over Leicester on the final day of the
season five days later. Unsworth had helped West Ham to an eighth-placed
finish in 1997/98, their highest end-of-season standing since 1985/86. He
made 41 appearances for the club, scoring two goals – both of these strikes
can be seen in my video below.
With his family failing to settle in London, Unsworth moved to Aston Villa
for £3m in the summer of 1998 – however, this transpired to not be close
enough to the North West and Unsworth returned to Everton without even
playing a competitive game for Villa. Unsworth spent six years back at
Goodison Park before being released by David Moyes in 2004 – the defender
teamed up with his former Hammers boss Redknapp at Portsmouth. Unsworth
spent the second half of the 2004/05 season on loan at Ipswich after
Redknapp's departure from Fratton Park. A permanent move to Championship
side Sheffield United followed in the summer of 2005 – he helped the Blades
to promotion the following season but was released halfway through their
2006/07 Premier League campaign. Unsworth signed for Wigan in January 2007,
returning to Bramall Lane on the final day of the season to convert the
penalty which kept the Latics up and relegated the Blades.
It would prove to be Unsworth's final game for Wigan and he returned to the
Championship in August 2007, signing for Steve Cotterill's Burnley at the
age of 33. He made 31 appearances for the club, scoring his only goal in a
1-1 home draw with Leicester on 4th December 2007 by which time Owen Coyle
had taken over as manager. Unsworth turned down the chance to stay with the
Clarets at the end of the season and moved to Huddersfield with whom he
ended his career in 2009.
After retiring, Unsworth joined Preston as Development Coach. He was
promoted to First Team Coach following the departure of current Hammers
assistant Alan Irvine, and appointed caretaker manager for a week in the
winter of the 2010/11 season. Unsworth was again appointed caretaker manager
in December 2011 but was dismissed on the appointment of new manager Graham
Westley. In December 2012 Unsworth returned to former club Sheffield United
as Head of Academy Coaching; he was named Assistant Manager to caretaker
boss Chris Morgan in April 2013. He was appointed Assistant Manager of the
Everton Under-21 team in September 2013, becoming manager of the team in
2014. He has had two spells in caretaker charge of the first team, most
recently in the autumn of 2017.
Referee
Saturday's referee will be Lee Mason from Greater Manchester. Mason refereed
the Hammers once in 2016/17 – the 1-0 home win over Hull when he awarded the
Hammers a match-winning penalty – but took charge of two West Ham matches
the previous season, those being the 0-0 draw at Swansea in December 2015
and the 3-0 win at West Brom in April 2016. He also sent off Mark Noble at
Birmingham in December 2009.
Mason's most recent games officiating the Hammers were both 3-2 defeats: at
Southampton in August when he failed to send off Dusan Tadic but did give
Marko Arnautovic a red card, before awarding the Saints a match-winning
penalty in added time; and against Newcastle at home in December when he
awarded the Hammers a penalty only for Andre Ayew's effort to be saved. He
refereed three Premier League matches involving the Hammers in 2014/15 – the
1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, the 1-0 home win over Sunderland and the 2-1
defeat at Old Trafford when he sent off Wayne Rooney, denied the Hammers a
penalty when Morgan Amalfitano's cross struck Radamel Falcao's arm and
disallowed Kevin Nolan's last-minute strike for a marginal offside. Mason
was also the man in the middle for our 1-0 FA Cup win at Bristol City in
January 2015. He also officiated in four of our games in 2013/14, sending
off two of our players (Mark Noble against Everton and James Tomkins at
Cardiff) and disallowing a perfectly good Stewart Downing equaliser at
Crystal Palace.
Possible line-ups
West Ham United's squad is again struggling with injuries – Sam Byram and
Winston Reid join Edimilson Fernandes, Pedro Obiang and Andy Carroll in the
treatment room, while Arthur Masuaku sits out the final match of his
six-game suspension. Angelo Ogbonna should return but James Collins is a
doubt.
Burnley are without Tom Heaton, Robbie Brady, Steven Defour, Scott Arfield
and Jonathan Walters. The Clarets are without a win in their last eight away
games in all competitions, a run stretching back to 29th November.
Possible West Ham United XI: Adrian; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell,
Antonio; Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini; Arnautovic, Chicharito.
Possible Burnley XI: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Lennon, Cork,
Hendrick, Gudmundsson; Barnes, Wood.
Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Moyes blasts Andre Ayew after West Ham departure
HITC
Will Butcher
Andre Ayew left West Ham in January to rejoin Swansea City. West Ham United
manager David Moyes has told fans in his London Evening Standard column that
he did not want to sell Andre Ayew to Swansea City in January, but the
attacker had made it clear he wanted to leave. The 28-year-old rejoined
Swansea just a year and a half after leaving the Welsh side to move to the
London Stadium in the summer of 2016. He came back to haunt the Hammers last
weekend. The Ghana international laid on two assists for Carlos Carvalhal's
side as the Hammers suffered a 4-1 defeat inspired by the former Marseille
attacker, leaving fans to question their club's decision to sell the
versatile forward. But Moyes has decided to criticise the attacker, stating
that he made it clear he no longer wanted to play for the east Londoners in
January despite the Hammers being desperate to keep their squad intact.
"Andre Ayew did well enough for Swansea but don't forget that he didn't want
to stay," Moyes said. "At the time we weren't that keen to lose anyone to
our competitors but he made it 100 per cent clear he did not want to be at
West Ham any longer."
Costing a princely sum of £20million, Ayew managed just 12 goals in 50
league and cup appearances for the Hammers, which equates to around
£1.7million per goal. The Hammers' focus turns to Saturday as they look to
get back to winning ways against Burnley, after suffering more injury
problems this week with Winston Reid and Sam Byram being ruled out until the
end of the season. Moyes' men remain just three points above the relegation
zone and a win against the Clarets on Saturday is crucial if the east
Londoners are to avoid the drop.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Predicted line-up: 'Zero tolerance' David Moyes makes four big changes for
must-win game against Burnley
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United entertain Burnley tomorrow knowing a win is crucial in the
battle to survive this season. David Moyes' side had turned a corner when a
2-0 win over Watford elevated them up to midtable and onto 30 points. But
back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Liverpool and relegation rivals Swansea City has
dragged the Hammers back into the thick of things in one of the most
congested survival battles in recent memory. Supporters are furious with the
side's performances of late and many fear they have hit poor form at the
wrong time with rivals steadily improving. West Ham face an obdurate Burnley
side who visit the London Stadium with one of the best away records in the
country. It won't be easy for the Hammers and they will need to show a
reaction to the pathetic display in Wales last week if they are to get
anything. One person who looks certain to react to that defeat is Moyes,
with as many as four changes in the offing to the side which started against
the Swans.
Joe Hart in for Adrian
The most controversial of the changes and the one in the balance perhaps is
bringing Joe Hart back into the side in place of Adrian. The Spaniard has
been in poor form ever since gifting Newcastle a goal in a 3-2 defeat and
was again at fault during the game against Swansea. Many feel he is still a
better bet than Hart but Moyes may feel he has to bring the England man into
the team to remain consistent with his team selection given the
circumstances in which Hart lost the number one shirt.
Angelo Ogbonna in for Declan Rice
Young Rice has just been called up to the senior Ireland squad but has been
at fault for goals in a number of his recent appearances. That is only to be
expected of one so young but West Ham must go with experience here and
Italian international Ogbonna will return to the side after recovering from
a bug.
James Collins in for Winston Reid
Straightforward one this as Reid has been ruled out of the season with a
knee injury picked up against Swansea. West Ham need Collins to step up now
more than ever and he has never let them down before.
Michail Antonio in for Javier Hernandez
West Ham desperately need more pace and power in the side and quite why
Moyes has only used Antonio as a sub in the last few games after a great
performance against Watford only he knows. Two goals as sub in those games
will surely see him come back into the side in place of Hernandez who
continues to flatter to deceive in his all round play and effort. Antonio
and Marko Arnautovic struck up a really strong partnership as the Hammers
turned the corner under Moyes over Christmas and with Manuel Lanzini in
behind it looks a very mobile and threatening attack.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham defender James Collins faces late fitness test ahead of Burnley
clash
KEN DYER
ES Sport
West Ham manager David Moyes will give a late fitness test to James Collins
before naming his team to play Burnley. The experienced centre-half missed
the 4-1 defeat at Swansea last weekend with a tight hamstring and has since
been having intense treatment. Collins was due to resume training on Friday,
after which a decision was being made on his fitness for Saturday's match at
the London Stadium. Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna, who was also missing at
Swansea due to illness, is back in the squad, but Winston Reid is out for
the last nine games of the season while he recovers from a knee operation.
Moyes is likely to start with Michail Antonio on Saturday, after the
versatile player came off the bench in the past two matches to score, which
could mean Javier Hernandez is left out. Moyes must decide whether to
persist with a back three, with Declan Rice keeping his place, or revert to
a back four. Rice has been picked for the Republic of Ireland squad for
their friendly against Turkey in Antalya. on March 22 . The 19-year-old, who
has made 23 appearances, will join up with the Republic's Under-21 squad for
the European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan, five days after the
Turkey game. Burnley will again be without Scott Arfield (calf injury),
while goalkeeper Tom Heaton is not yet fit enough to return due to a
shoulder problem
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Moyes: I've seen a reaction after spelling out to West Ham squad we
were not good enough
DAVID MOYES
ES Sport
Nine matches to go, with six at home, emphasises for me just how big a part
our fans can play in ensuring West Ham remain a Premier League club. I am
aware some of our supporters have been less than happy with certain aspects
of the club over a period of time but for me, as West Ham's manager, my area
of responsibility is helping to give the team the best chance of winning
matches. The defeat at Swansea was really disappointing but it is behind us
now. In the six matches we face at home it's crucial we get that united
support behind the team. I've seen the proposed march is not taking place
and I hope any concerns some supporters might have should be put aside for
now so that we can all help this club stay in the Premier League. I've said
this a few times already but I do want to re-iterate that, since I have been
at the club, I've found the atmosphere in our home stadium to be great. In
some of the games the noise has been terrific and we'll certainly need more
of that tomorrow against Burnley and then in the remaining five games at
home. The defeat at Swansea was a poor performance by our standards but
there were some reasons for that which I didn't want to go into straight
after the match. When you lose not one but two of your central defenders,
that is a big loss. Then to have a third carried off during the game just
made things extremely difficult. I didn't make anything of it before the
game either because I wanted to demonstrate to the players who came into the
team that we trusted them. I did realise though that it would be difficult
without the injured players and if you look back six weeks or so, to when we
had Pedro Obiang and Arthur Masuaku available, the team looked very
different. The bigger thing for me against Swansea was that the players
dropped below the standards they have shown. We conceded a couple of goals
from set pieces, which in the main has not been like us. I do think a lot of
things went against us on the day — at least I hoped they did — but we have
made sure the players have known it wasn't good enough and we have been
right 'at it' this week. It was a difficult week's training leading up to
the game because of the weather but I don't want to make excuses — and we'll
be well prepared tomorrow despite our injuries.
We have meetings, usually on Monday, whether we win or lose. Sometimes we
pick out the positive aspects of our performance and other times we
highlight the things we didn't do so well. The players know we dropped well
below where we've been but, overall, they have been good. Andre Ayew did
well enough for Swansea but don't forget that he didn't want to stay. At the
time we weren't that keen to lose anyone to our competitors but he made it
100 per cent clear he did not want to be at West Ham any longer. Another
statistic worth mentioning is that, since we joined the club in November, we
have never had the luxury of having a senior player sitting up in the stands
because we've have too many to fill the substitutes' bench. That shows you
how tight it is and now Winston Reid is out for the rest of the season. He
was due to have an operation to repair a medial knee ligament injury
yesterday. It is really disappointing for him and us but overall we have not
had that big a squad from which to choose.
We have conceded more goals away from home than anyone else in the division
and that is a real concern for us. Defensive midfield has been a problem for
some time. Obiang's continued absence has left us a little more exposed than
we would like to be. After tomorrow's match, we're going to Miami for some
warm weather training. We do not play again for three weeks so there was an
opportunity to do something now. We've just come through a real hard winter
period and although I haven't been here since the start of the season, I
know the players have been at it from July 1. We're going for five days and
it will be good to get a little sun on our backs, work as a squad and then
come back for what will be a really condensed period of eight matches before
the end of the season.
The fee for this week's column is going to Sport Relief. For details go to
sportrelief.com
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Tony Cottee says myth about West Ham fans is not true
HITC
Antony Martin
West Ham United are still deeply entrenched in a relegation battle. West Ham
legend Tony Cottee spoke exclusively to talkSPORT, and insisted that the
notion that Hammers fans want to see an attractive brand of football first
and foremost is quite simply not true. The east London outfit currently sit
precariously in 14th spot in the Premier League table, just three points
clear of the drop zone, and now really is a time when the players need to
roll up their sleeves and put in a shift for the football club. Cottee, who
scored 115 goals for the Hammers during two separate spells with the club,
insisted that West Ham fans want to see the players put in 100 per cent
effort, when speaking exclusively to talkSPORT: "There's this myth that West
Ham fans firstly want to see good football, they don't. They want to see
players fully committed to the club, that's what all fans want don't they so
West Ham fans aren't any different. But it's important whoever goes out
there they just give it their all and they improve their performances. When
the fans do turn up they do get behind the boys and they'll do that against
Burnley."
David Moyes' men will welcome Sean Dyche's Burnley side to the London
Stadium in the Premier League tomorrow, and if they fail to win, things
really will look bleak for the Hammers. They still have to play the two
Manchester clubs at home, and face difficult trips to Chelsea and Arsenal
before the season ends, so Moyes will surely be targeting tomorrow's clash
with the Clarets as an absolute must win game.
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Shaka Hislop would rather Newcastle were relegated than West Ham
Hislop played for both clubs during his career and he insists he has good
intentions despite predicting the Magpies' downfall
Football London
BySean McCormick
12:05, 9 MAR 2018UPDATED12:24, 9 MAR 2018
Shaka Hislop has said he would rather Newcastle were relegated from the
Premier League than West Ham. The former Trinidad and Tobago international
goalkeeper played for both clubs during his career, keeping net for
Newcastle during the famous 'Entertainers' era. Hislop now spends his days
working as a pundit on American TV channel ESPN and admitted he would rather
Newcastle were relegated than the Hammers when asked last night. However,
Hislop was quick to address that he was saying it with good intentions as he
believes another relegation would force owner Mike Ashley to sell the club.
When asked which of his former sides he would prefer to be relegated, Hislop
said: "I have picked Newcastle and I'll tell you why. "Because I think that
would force Mike Ashley to sell and I think you will not see the best of
Newcastle again, until Mike Ashley sells. "In case you haven't gathered, I'm
not much of a Mike Ashley fan. I love Rafa Benitez, I really do."
Some fans will resonate with what Hislop is saying, but what he fails to
acknowledge is another relegation would have catastrophic consequences on
the pitch.
Rafa Benitez would almost certainly walk away from the club, Newcastle will
have to endure another bruising Championship promotion push, and they will
fall further back as a result of missing out on the payments from the
Premier League's lucrative TV deal. The Magpies can pull further away from
the drop this weekend when they welcome Southampton to St James' Park on
Saturday.
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REAL WEST HAM? LIKE A TREE STANDING BY THE WATERSIDE WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 9 MARCH 2018 AT 9:12PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
The views in this article are of the writer and not necessarily the website
On the face of things, the West Ham Fanbase seems to be at war, with threats
and mud-slinging from all quarters. Pathetic and laughable springs to mind,
West Ham from the dark ages not today. I, accept that West Ham's support is
a 'broad church' with people seeing things differently. But the heroic
efforts across the board, in raising funds for little Islas Caton's brave
fight against a rare cancer called Neuroblastoma – are the actions of 'real'
West Ham. Those efforts tell you that deep down, despite our superficial
differences we are one. What we now are leaders to step forward from amongst
us and unite all factions of our fanbase. We, are West Ham NOT Gold and
Sullivan, we are going to have to drive change. Because to reach the next
level we are going to have to change. We, are going to have to think and act
like a big Club!
Karren Brady singling out the 'Real' West Ham Fans Group saying that they
were delighted to have reached an agreement with the 'Real' West Ham Fans
Group, regards March the 10th march shows you out of touch Mrs Brady is.
Part of the agreement was, that The Board would match the amount of money
the 'Real' fans made for @islasplight. Providing the March was called off.
How despicable can you get? Playing Russian roulette with a young girl
fighting for her life. March and little Isla's plight gets nothing. Not West
Ham! West Ham always look after their own.
On Saturday night, after being routed by Swansea City 4-1. Co-Owner David
Gold was surrounded by fans, and all sorts of abuse was hurled at him. The
old "I'm only an old man" tearjerker does not wash with me. I do not believe
he was under threat on Saturday night, but to hurl vile abuse on any
82-year-old man is the action of cowards. Not West Ham. We've also had a
banner saying that Gold and Sullivan have done more damage to The East End
than Adolf Hitler. So many different cancers destroying our Club, people
pulling in different directions.
What happens off the field more often than not reflects on the pitch. So, it
is no wonder we have shambolic performances, like we have seen on the pitch
recently. However, don't be afraid, we must and will overcome! Sure,
difficult days lay ahead, but we can turn this around. I will tell you what
is 'REAL' West Ham: People of every creed, race, age and sexual orientation
being West ham and proud. All claret and blue to the core, all wanting the
best for our great club. It's in our blood! Where, some 40 or so years ago,
long before my time people were throwing bananas at black players. West Ham?
We were different, we had the Big Bermudian striker Clyde Best playing as
striker, as well as John Charles and Ade Coker. More recently we had a young
Nigel Reo Coker, as Club Captain, when we lost the 2006 FA Cup Final to
Liverpool on penalties after drawing 3-3. Absolutely heart breaking!
Despite the disappointment of losing the final, our supporters stayed to the
end. Applauding our players as well as the Liverpool team. Steven Gerrard
Liverpool's captain was moved to say West Ham is a real football Club. So
much to be proud of West Ham over the years, as of present we had insure
testing times as well, getting beaten 6-0 by both Luton Town and Oldham
Athletic, 7-1 by Blackburn, 4-0 by Bolton in the rain, and of course the FA
Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest when we had Tony Gale sent off. We
stay till the end singing Billy Bonds claret and blue army! West Ham and
proud! That is 'Real' West ham! Loyalty to the core. West Ham have always
stood for decency. Despite all our troubles we still do.
So, what of our troubles? I'm not going to spend hours dissecting my
feelings on the board. You know the script Lies, lies, and more lies.
Phantom 'bids' after phantom bids, linking us to this star or that, all
utter crap! Reality? Patrice Evra on a free. They may be masters at
manipulating the media to their advantage. But… even that doesn't work
anymore, nobody falls for their lies and spin. It shows you how out of touch
this Board has become, that Sullivan really thought he impressed people when
he said: "We bid 25m for Joe Allen!" The man is off his nut! It's like
hearing someone saying: "I was only ONE ball out on the lotto! I would have
won NINETY-TWO MILLION!" like Sullivan, nothing but a great pretender. One
'marquee signing, another costing a bit of money, an expensive loan,
freebies, cheapies and loan after loan has always been the way Gold and
Sullivan have operated, always on the cheap.
Selling the Boleyn Ground on the cheap, promising to take us to the 'next'
level has left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. Sheer greed was what the
move to The London Stadium was about. But we can still turn this around and
we will. One of the biggest shortcomings about West Ham is that there is no
leadership, as a result you have very little structure and no
accountability. Yes, I know that we have had a few pastings, I'm not
surprised really, a threadbare squad and unbalanced squad was always going
to make things tough for whoever the manager was. But come the end of the
season, I can see Moyes completely overhauling The Club from top to bottom.
Scouting and signing players, senior and at youth level. We, have signed too
many youth players, who have been discarded from the likes of Manchester
United, Chelsea, Arsenal and the rest. Sadly, more often than not they have
not made the grade at West Ham either. Improving our scouting is a must.
Behind the scenes on the football side of it, Moyes will get it right.
So, what are we going to do about the kings of spin? First off, we can all
send messages like: sell up! Just f*** off! And the rest. But the stark
reality is the golden age of Billionaires snapping up football Clubs and
spending millions on new players are long gone. We have no West Ham 'sugar'
Daddy, ready to be a super hero and take us to the next 'level'. The trust
between the fans and The Board has broken down beyond repair in most cases.
Almost like splitting from a partner and living in separate rooms, till one
or the other moves out. The atmosphere in the house being toxic, the big
difference being the fans are not moving out and neither are Gold and
Sullivan. We are going to have to talk at some point. We have had various
fan groups going up to meet with Mrs Brady. At the second meeting, the
delegation was supposed to meet The Board, unfortunately there was no sign
of Gold and Sullivan. Not good enough! The, delegation should have turned
around and walked out, as a far tougher approach needs to be taken when
dealing with The Board. Brady dictated what she would talk about, and what
she wouldn't talk about. Surprise! Surprise! Transfers and finance were two
no goes.
What we need is a fan group, which has the full backing of the broad
spectrum of West Ham's magnificent support, being ready to grill The Board
when needed and leaving no stone unturned. There has been much talk about
the 10th of March that was cancelled, I'm all for a March as a means of
protest. My God we have plenty to protest about! However, postponing the
march may be a blessing in disguise. We, need to be unified to make a march
effective. The, best way would be to work in tandem with the fan group
meeting The Board. No progress with The Board, then we ALL march! United we
stand, divided we fall! Like a tree standing by the waterside, we shall not
be moved! We are ALL real West Ham! One of the biggest problems we face at
The Club, is that there is a lack of leadership. We need someone to pull The
Club up by the scruff of the neck. Someone to help restore trust.
There is one person who towers above anyone else, one person who can restore
unity, a person who demands respect. All top Clubs in Europe have a Club
President. Time to do the right thing. Time to make Billy Bonds Club
President. Billy has both the stature and respect! Billy Bonds can lift the
whole Club, on and off the pitch. Billy Bonds never suffered fools. Some
have said he wouldn't work with the present Board. I think if asked he
would, if anyone is 'real' West Ham it is William Arthur Bonds. Bonds once
had a persistent toe injury. He was faced with a decision, he could end his
career or have his toe amputated, get some physio and get back into the
team. The toe got the chop! Billy Bonds would bring unity and restore
confidence to West Ham. Either way the times are a changing for Gold and
Sullivan, you and I are West Ham we will not stand by and let OUR Club be
destroyed, unity is our strength. Unified we most certainly will be for the
visit of Stoke City. For once it will not be a case of fortunes always
hiding, but fortunes siding. West Ham 2 Stoke City 0!
We are more than a football Club, we're a way of life!!
COYI!!
Farehamhammer!!!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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