Reid wants Arsenal repeat
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid will use West Ham United's victory at Arsenal as inspiration for their trip to Liverpool this weekend. The Hammers ended a long losing streak at the Gunners' hands by winning at Emirates Stadium on the opening day of the campaign, and now Reid wants to end the longer wait for victory at Anfield. West Ham have a notoriously bad record at the home of the Reds, but having triumphed at Arsenal, Reid wants to take another big scalp. "It doesn't get any easier, but we all know we have to sharpen up a lot to get better," he explained. "It is only three games into the season, but we need to wake ourselves up. "We need to find the form we had in the first game at Arsenal, it would be nice to get a result like that. "We have to go back to the training ground and try and lift the place, get some smiles back on our faces and get ready for that game. The win at Arsenal just two weeks ago gave the Hammers a real feel-good factor to start the season, although subsequent defeats to Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth have sent the Londoners crashing back down to earth.
Now Reid says they need to focus on cutting the individual errors out of their game which have cost them so dearly. "We just made some really, really bad mistakes," he continued. "It is not fair to single anyone out; every one of us had a loose pass at the back, whereas normally we are a lot tighter. If you look at it, it is by far our worst game. "I absolutely expected us to win at 2-2, 100 per cent, but that doesn't mean much when you go and concede another and then a fourth as well as a red card, it means nothing."
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Loan round up
WHUFC.com
See how the three West Ham United loanees fared in last weekend's action with our loan round up.
Diego Poyet made his debut for MK Dons in a 0-0 draw away at Reading on Saturday afternoon. The 20-year-old midfielder played the full game for Karl Robinson's side who have made a bright start to life in the Championship, currently fourth with seven points. The Dons' next game is a home tie against Cardiff City in the League Cup second round on Tuesday 25 August.
Central defender Reece Burke made his debut for League One outfit Bradford City as they secured a valuable point away from home at Barnsley. Burke played the full match as the Bantams enjoyed the lions' share of chances. Bradford have made a slow start to new campaign, taking just two points from four games.
Moses Makasi played the full game as Chelmsford City slipped to a 4-2 defeat at Whitehawk. The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead inside 22 minutes through a Scott Neilson brace and Sam Deering's goal. In the second half, the Clarets rallied with goals from Mark Hughes and Skepelhorn, however Danny Mills completed the victory.
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U18s suffer Norwich City setback
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's youngsters came up short as they went down to a 3-1 Barclays U18 Premier League Division Two defeat at Norwich City.
Declan Rice scored for the Hammers, but his fine finish was no more than a consolation as Norwich were three goals clear at the time of his 81st-minute strike. Todd Cantwell had put the Canaries into a tenth-minute lead when he took advantage of some loose defending to fire a rising shot into the top right-hand corner. Another defensive slip allowed Benny Ashley-Seal to race clear from just inside the West Ham half before converting confidently with his right foot four minutes before half-time. A sweeping passing move down the Norwich right ended with winger Jamal Lewis cutting inside and sending a shot high inside the near post, giving goalkeeper Tim Brown no chance to make it 3-0 with just over 20 minutes remaining.
West Ham kept plugging away and were rewarded when Oscar Borg curled a free-kick to the far post, where a sliding Rice smashed the ball high into the net. The U18s have a free weekend coming up, so the squad will travel to the Netherlands to take on AZ Alkmaar and Groningen in a pair of challenge matches.
U18s: T.Brown, Eggleton, Sylvestre, Akinola, Rice, Borg, M.Browne (Longelo 73, Lewis 85), Powell, Hector-Ingram (Kanu 40), Carter
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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com
With just over a week to go before the transfer window closes I know supporters are keen to know what is happening with player movement both in and out of the Club. Speculation continues to mount in the media over which new signings will be arriving at the Boleyn Ground before September 1. With Mauro Zarate joining Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll on the injured list, the Board are doing everything they can to bring another forward into the squad and that remains one of the major priorities. There have been a number of big names mentioned over the last few days and my understanding is that one way or another the Club will resolve the need to sign another striker within the next few days.
My sources have told me that meetings are taking place all the time with agents of several forwards and that a deal should be finalised in the near future. The Club are keeping all their options open and I believe they will continue to assess the overseas market as well as players already performing in the Premier League. In addition to signing another forward, I have been told that the Club also hope to sign a midfielder before the window closes next week.
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West Ham linked with Juve striker as deadline approaches
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th August 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are looking to conclude a move to bring Italian international Simone Zaza to the Boleyn Ground on loan. According to reports emanating overnight from Italy, the Hammers - who remain desperately short of quality in attack with Andy Carroll, Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia currently sidelined - are trying to take Zaza on loan for the season. Born in Policoro, the 24-year-old spent time with Atalanta, Sampdoria and Sassuolo before joining Juve last month in an €18m switch. However it is understood that i bianconeri are prepared to let their new signing leave Turin for a season, on that basis that any interested parties pay a €3million loan fee.
The summer transfer window closes next Tuesday (1 September) at 6pm.
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RUMOUR ROUND-UP: MAN UTD YOUNGSTER TO ARRIVE ON LOAN?
By Reece Bateman 24 Aug 2015 at 13:00
WTID
Another defeat this weekend to a team that, if we are serious about pushing on for Europe, we should have beaten comfortably. Perhaps the first three games are an indication of the struggle we face this season considering how many of the teams who finished above us or immediately below us have significantly strengthened their playing ranks whilst we have not. The rumours, and hopefully actual signings, are starting to gather pace and here are a few of the latest:
The Guardian? are reporting that West Ham and Everton are to go head-to-head in order to sign Adnan Januzaj on a season long loan deal. The attacking midfielder was linked to Sunderland earlier in the window but a goal on the second weekend of the season led to the belief he would be staying in Manchester. That Januzaj isn't a striker should not be an issue if only a loan deal. Whilst we do need a striker, another playmaker would be a welcome sight because if Payet get's injured (or more likely suspended given our recent record!) we lack any player with the ability to unlock defences.
There were reports over the weekend that West Ham had pulled out of a deal to sign former 'keeper Rob Green but this source says that, although hopeful Green will remain at QPR, West Ham's interest isn't yet over. Not sure Randolph can be helped responsible for the weekends performance, pretty much everyone was well below par, but maybe an experienced figure like Green is actually needed to help in the dressing room. We have lost Carlton Cole & Guy Demel in the close season and it is likely both Nolan & Collins could be moved on also so players with experience, like Green does, could well be needed.
The latest striker to be linked to a move to West Ham is Toulouse front man Wissam Ben Yedder according to the Daily Mirror? . The Mirror says he is a 'like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia' but having seen both of them play football I don't think this is the case. Valencia, although not prolific, is good at pulling the defenders out of position with his movement. Yedder is a bit more stand-offish in style so, whilst a striker would be welcomed, he will not be in quite the same mold as Valencia. The same site also suggests that the deal for Joey Barton may not be off with the player still holding out hope of signing. I wasn't too happy about the deal when it first seemed likely but with the subsequent two performances and what I have mentioned above about experience, perhaps Barton should be given a chance after all? The deal was allegedly very good financially for West Ham so would it actually be that bad for 1 year?
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West Ham's loan move for Emmanuel Adebayor is back on - and Tottenham could subsidise his wages
2 COMMENTS10:52, 24 AUGUST 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
Spurs may pay some of the player's £100,000-a-week wages - a shift from the north Londoners' refusal to subsidise the move eight months ago
The Mirror
West Ham's bid to sign Emmanuel Adebayor from Tottenham is back on. Talks aimed at a loan deal for the out-of-favour striker were reignited over the weekend. Should the two clubs reach agreement over the next few days, the Hammers will take Adebayor, 31, for the final year of his White Hart Lane contract. It is believed the deal could even see Spurs pay some of the player's £100,000-a-week wages - a shift from the north Londoners' refusal to subsidise Adebayor playing for their rivals eight months ago. West Ham are desperately seeking reinforcements up front with Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate and Andy Carroll - three of their four main strikers - all out injured. Carroll is expected back next week after a freak injury pulling on his shoes recently set his recovery back by seven to 10 days. But Zarate is out for 5-6 weeks with a calf injury and Valencia for another two months with knee and ankle injuries.
West Ham have an interest in Toulouse frontman Wissam Ben Yedder and have made two bids, the latest for £5million, for Galatasaray striker Buruk Yilmaz. But it is Adebayor who looks closest to becoming the next in at Upton Park. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who dramatically blocked the January loan within hours of the deadline, reopened talks earlier this month. They subsequently broke down but - as revealed by Mirror Sport - Adebayor rejected a move to Aston Villa to hold out for the Upton Park switch. Villa believed they had landed the Togo striker as they had agreed to pay his £100,000-a-week wages. But Adebayor stalled, forcing them to lose patience and look elsewhere.
The Hammers are also interested in a loan deal for 24-year-old Juventus striker Simone Zaza. Meanwhile QPR boss Chris Ramsey has confirmed West Ham have been trying to sign Robert Green. Mirror Sport revealed last week that the Irons has tried - and failed - to sign their former keeper ahead of Friday's midday deadline to play against Bournemouth with Adrian suspended. The deal is understood to have broken down because Rangers wanted out-of-favour defender James Collins as part of it but the 32-year-old was unwilling to drop down a division.
Ramsey said: "They [West Ham] do want Robert but no deal has been cut. Nothing firm has been agreed."
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Bilic to blame…blimey that's a stretch!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
It's not entirely surprising to hear murmurings that West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is tactically naive after a couple of home defeats and being criticised for picking the wrong formations. The thrust of these 'attacks' is that with no natural wingers in midfield, Aaron Cresswell and Karl Jenkinson are being tasked with providing the width going forward. The argument continues that whilst they are capable of getting up the flanks and providing quality crosses, to expect them to do it all single-handedly without having a winger to drop in and cover when possession changes hands is asking a little too much.
Eh?, Hold on a minute – when did these two attacking full backs have a winger filling in behind them last season. Answer: They didn't.
Regardless of that simple fact, one website which will remain nameless added this morning that it was easy to blame players for individual errors, which were made by both full backs in the Hammers' first two home games. But it goes on to say their performance levels may have been affected by the additional pressure the new system is placing on them.
The only 'new' system involved was that there were two midfield players in the team neither of whom did the filling in the critics are talking about: Nolan couldn't because of his understandable lack of mobility and Kouyate, despite having a decent game, simply didn't.
To blame Bilic for a system and formation which didn't exist last season really is naive and unfair particularly when he has already said himself he doesn't work to particular or set team routines.
Indeed he made it very clear that there is no name that can be put to his approach as everybody has to be versatile enough to do different tasks.
The truth of Saturday's defeat is simple: Two shocking pieces of defending from Cresswell and a hugely uncertain display by Jenkinson.
Presumably we will now see Tomkins in at right back on Saturday against Liverpool and that will be a result given the way he played at the Emirates.
In the meantime let's put the blame for Saturday where it belongs and that most certainly is not at Slaven Bilic's feet.
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West Ham's full backs will never play that badly again
Lon don 24
15:05 24 August 2015 Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
West Ham United's Carl Jenkinson is sent off for a professional foul during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, London. The Hammers were humbled by the Bourne supremacy on Saturday as Cresswell and Jenkinson have nightmares Aaron Cresswell, West Ham United. Last season, West Ham's full backs were an integral part of their success in the first half of the campaign. Carl Jenkinson and Aaron Cresswell played almost like wingers at times and gave the Hammers the width they needed as they terrorised opposition defenders. So to see both of them put in such appalling performances against Bournemouth on Saturday was a surprise more than anything, it was difficult to really see it coming. True, Jenkinson looked a little off the pace against Leicester City last week, but we put that down to his lack of match fitness after a shortened pre-season. Cresswell had been beaten a couple of times on the flank in the opening two games as well, but those displays were nothing compared to the horror show that we saw against the Cherries. West Ham United's Dimitri Payet and AFC Bournemouth's Eunan O'Kane (left) battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, London. The first two goals were down to Cresswell. The normally reliable Hammer of the Year had ample time to put the ball out of play, only to concede possession to Simon Francis and seconds later Callum Wilson had volleyed in. Then, some ridiculous passing on the edge of their own box saw the ball come to the former Ipswich man who just touched it back into Wilson's path for number two. Cresswell put his head in his hands, apologised on social media afterwards and hopefully he will have learned a lesson. For Jenkinson he had a hand in the other two goals and inexplicably played like a rabbit caught in the headlights for the whole game. His reckless, sliding tackle attempt allowed Marc Push to cut inside him and make it 3-2, while he then lost Max Gradel – for the umpteenth time in the match - before felling the winger for a penalty and a red card. West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic (centre) argues with AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, London. They are both excellent players and they will bounced back, but it wasn't only the full backs who were sadly lacking in this game. Angelo Ogbonna looked stuck in concrete for most of his 35 minutes, Pedro Obiang was hardly in the game, nor was Dimitri Payet, while the selection of Kevin Nolan ahead of Manuel Lanzini was a huge mistake. At least Bilic held his hands up afterwards. That amazing win at Arsenal on the opening day is already ancient history. "Maybe the game against Arsenal has got inside our heads and we're thinking 'we're going to do that nice and easy or in style'" he said. "But in the Premier League for most of the clubs, they have to dig in to be in with a chance of getting the points. "We were again second best and I don't like it and I don't buy the fact that is only the start – we have to change it." There are only three games gone, no need to panic yet, but there are worrying things about this West Ham team. The full backs will never play this badly again, but the lack of tactical ideas, the lack of sharpness and playing only one up front is something more akin to one of Sam Allardyce's old teams than the supposed brave new world under Bilic. "Of course I am under pressure, that comes with the territory," admitted the Croatian. "That's why I have to turn it around. We are all in the same pot. "I can't blame the fans, they are behind us to be fair, what do you expect if we are 2-0 down against a decent team, but they are just promoted?" I don't blame the fans either. They had to suffer two home defeats on the trot. That, of course, happened last season and the Hammers bounced back in style. What odds on them doing the same this time round?
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West Ham must feed off Bournemouth's winning appetite
PATRICK BARCLAY Monday 24 August 2015 14:48 BST0 comments
Evening Standard
The ball was certainly coming on to the bat for Sam Allardyce on Saturday night. As Match Of The Day broadcast the chaos that was West Ham's defence in the face of Bournemouth, the former manager could relax and enjoy the obvious implication that it wouldn't have happened in his time.
And then Gary Lineker, noting the travails of Carl Jenkinson and Aaron Cresswell, asked: "Who signed those full-backs?" Even that didn't faze Allardyce, who said they'd never performed as badly under him. So Slaven Bilic's performance in the job is already under scrutiny, with the opening Premier League victory at Arsenal a mere 15 days ago seeming a far cry.
Since then they have lost at home to Leicester and Bournemouth and, with Karren Brady musing about how demand for seats at the Olympic Stadium may allow West Ham to increase the capacity from 54,000 to 66,000, the fact is the club have a current audience of around half the more optimistic number — and many of them are becoming as disgruntled as during the low points of Allardyce's reign.
It's just as well Bilic oversaw an early exit from the Europa League — rightly, there was little criticism of that as his judiciously rested first choices, augmented by young Reece Oxford, secured their triumph at the Emirates — because he's going to have to concentrate on League survival for next season, when West Ham move into their new home.
They next go to Liverpool, where they will have to recover the professionalism shown on the opening weekend. Bilic feels his players may have let that achievement go to their heads, but now there is no excuse for avoiding the reality of a fight to stay up.
Bournemouth have the appetite for that and Upton Park fans will not be the last this season to walk away wishing they had a team with such spirit as Eddie Howe's
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Chris Ramsey confirms West Ham's interest in Rob Green, denies deal has been agreed
HITC
Billy Hawkins
West Ham are hoping to re-sign QPR goalkeeper Rob Green before the close of the transfer window. Green has been linked with a return to the Boleyn Ground, and Chris Ramsey has told West London Sport that the Hammers are officially attempting to sign him, but that no deal has yet been struck. "They do want him, but no deal has been cut. Nothing firm has been agreed," Ramsey said. "As long as the transfer window's open everything is ongoing. But I hope he doesn't go and as far as I know he's staying at QPR." QPR have completed a deal to bring in Alex Smithies from Huddersfield, further fuelling the speculation that Green could be on his way out of Loftus Road before the close of the window. The Mail reported last week that Green was being targeted by the Hammers, as Slaven Bilic targets cover for Adrian after being less-than-impressed by Darren Randolph as second-choice. Green is no strange to West Ham, having spent a successful spell with the Irons, playing 241 times for the club, and his performances for QPR last term proved that the 35-year-old still has Premier League quality. He would be a far better back-up option than Randolph, and Ramsey has confirmed that the East London club are in talks to sign Green, even if no deal has been agreed as of yet. With just over one week left to go of the transfer window, the Hammers will need to move quickly to seal a deal for Green, otherwise the veteran 'keeper will be remaining in the Championship with QPR for the foreseeable future.
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West Ham's Reid: 'We need to wake up'
London 24
12:50 24 August 2015 Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Hammers defender Winston Reid admitted that Saturday was the club's worst performance in a very long time West Ham United's Winston Reid during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, West Ham defender Winston Reid says that the team need to sharpen up and quickly after what he described as 'probably our worst performance collectively in a very, very long time'. The Hammers crashed to a 4-3 home defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Bournemouth and it could have been an even more crushing defeat had it not been for goalkeeper Darren Randolph. "We just made some really, really bad mistakes," admitted the New Zealand international captain, who also saw his defensive partner Angelo Ogbonna hauled off after just 35 minutes. "It is not fair to single anyone out; every one of us had a loose pass at the back, whereas normally we are a lot tighter. If you look at it, it is by far our worst game." West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna looks dejected as he is substituted in the first half during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, London. He was right. The whole defence played as if they had never met before. Ogbonna looked like a statue in a museum as the Bournemouth players swarmed round him, while the full backs were simply a liability. "I think we trained really well during the week," said the 27-year-old, looking for a reason to justify a second successive home defeat. "We have prepares as well as we could, but obviously it didn't work." Obviously, though one thing that may be a symptom is the move of Reid from the left side of defence to the right to cater for Ogbonna, when Tomkins came on and Reid reverted to the left, he looked a lot more comfortable. "I play where the manager wants me obviously," he said. It is true I have played on the left for the majority of my career here, but I started playing on the right because Angelo has a left foot. AFC Bournemouth's Callum Wilson celebrates with the match ball after the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park, London. "I don't really think it affects me, but it might just look that way." West Ham did manage to turn things round in the opening minutes of the second half, making it 2-2, but that left Reid frustrated too. "The manager didn't actually say a lot at half time, we were just talking amongst ourselves and we said that we needed to perform a lot, lot better. "We turned the game around in those first 10 minutes, but that doesn't mean much when you don't win the game. Winston Reid, West Ham United. "I absolutely expected us to win at 2-2, 100 per cent, but that doesn't mean much when you go and concede another and then a fourth as well as a red card, it means nothing," he said. "I don't know how many red cards we have had now, about five in eight games I think, and we can't cope with that as a squad. "We need more discipline from everybody, not singling anyone out, it is everybody." West Ham need to pick themselves up, but they face the daunting task of a trip to Liverpool on Saturday, somewhere they haven't win since September 1963. "It doesn't get any easier, but we all know we have to sharpen up a lot to get better," he said. "It is only three games into the season, but we need to wake ourselves up. "We need to find the form we had in the first game at Arsenal, it would be nice to get a result like that. "We have to go back to the training ground and try and lift the place, get some smiles back on our faces and get ready for that game."
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West Ham targeting Juventus striker Simone Zaza on a season-long loan
By LUKE AUGUSTUS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 11:40, 24 August 2015 | UPDATED: 13:28, 24 August 2015
Juventus striker Simone Zaza is wanted by West Ham as the Premier League outfit look to bolster their firepower before the transfer window closes. And according to Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset, West Ham are willing to pay €3million (£2.2m) to acquire his services on loan for the rest of the campaign as well as his €1.5m (£1.1m) wages in full. The media outlet also claims that the Hammers are keen to insert an option into the deal to buy the 24-year-old permanently for €15m (£11m) should he prove a success at Upton Park. The striker's arrival would be a welcome addition to Slaven Bilic's squad with the Croat's options limited in the forward department. Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate are all currently out injured, leaving Diafro Sakho and Modibo Maiga as Bilic's only two fit strikers at present. If the move for Zaza does happen it will be the second time this summer transfer that window that West Ham and Juventus have done business together with the former signing defender Angelo Ogbonna for £8.5m in July.
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Karren Brady defends West Ham's deal for the Olympic Stadium: 'Without us it would have been pulled down'
SAM LONG Monday 24 August 2015 15:15 BST0 comments
Evening Standard
West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady has defended the east London club's deal with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to move into the Olympic Stadium as of next season. The Hammers have faced fierce criticism from rival supporters groups, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, after financial details of the move came to light and a petition demanding that the agreement is placed under greater scrutiny has been launched. West Ham will rent the 54,000 capacity stadium and disharmony has grown since a BBC documentary that aired earlier this month claimed that much of the ground's running costs will not be met by the club but Brady does not believe that the Premier League side constantly needs to justify their actions. "You see, anyone could have bought this. Leyton Orient, the Qataris, anyone. But nobody saw it, nobody saw the potential here. So roll back that movie without West Ham. Taxpayers' money would have poured into a big hole, been concreted over and never seen again," she told the Daily Mail. "Now the stadium is nearly finished, everyone recognises what is here and says it's a steal. But it wasn't a steal when we were doing the negotiations, because where was the queue of rival buyers?" Brady believes that the stadium would have gone to ruin without West Ham's involvement and is confident that Slaven Bilic's side will help the site to become regarded as a 'national asset'. "Without West Ham this would have been pulled down. It was going to be 25,000 with no roof. And what would have happened then? Who would have come to that stadium? That's a legacy? Tottenham just wanted to flatten it and start again. So no Olympic Stadium at all. "This is going to be an asset, a national asset. We shouldn't have to keep justifying ourselves."
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Winston Reid laments West Ham's poor disciplinary record
HITC
Michael Stevenson Profile
The Hammers have had five players sent off in their last eight games. West Ham defender Winston Reid has cited the team's poor disciplinary record this season as one of their major shortcomings, in quotes published by London 24. The Hammers were on the receiving end of Bournemouth's first ever Premier League win on Saturday after a calamitous showing at the Boleyn, which culminated in yet another red card - with Carl Jenkinson the guilty party on this occasion. "I don't know how many red cards we have had now, about five in eight games I think, and we can't cope with that as a squad," said Reid. "We need more discipline from everybody, not singling anyone out, it is everybody."
Uncharacteristically poor performances from Aaron Cresswell and Carl Jenkinson gifted the visitors three of their goals, while summer signing Angelo Ogbonna was hauled off for tactical reasons after just 35 minutes. "We just made some really, really bad mistakes," added Reid. "It is not fair to single anyone out; every one of us had a loose pass at the back, whereas normally we are a lot tighter. If you look at it, it is by far our worst game."
It's been a speedy return to reality after the Hammers' opening day heroics at the Emirates, and the task on the hands of Slaven Bilic is turning out to be a tougher one than it first appeared. The Croat essentially sacrificed West Ham's long-awaited return to Europe in the hope that their league form would benefit, and so far things haven't gone to plan. The victory against Arsenal demonstrated that there is real quality when everyone is fit and firing, but the injury crisis up front has damaged the Hammers – as has the lack of an experienced central midfielder. With just eight days to go until the close of the window, time is running out for Bilic to bring in the men required to ensure this historical season doesn't become a nightmare one for the West Ham faithful.
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ROLL UP! ROLL UP! ANOTHER WEEK AT THE WEST HAM CIRCUS
By Benjamin Cronin 24 Aug 2015 at 17:00
WTID
After a disappointing defeat in a game we would have been looking to win, I sat at my desk last Monday morning and wondered if the vast array of emotions I'd gone through in just two weeks were caused by my commitment to the club I support, or whether it was the club itself that was to blame. Was it because I've become so attached to West Ham that the ecstasy following the Arsenal game had to quelled by the disappointment of the Leicester result? Was this the norm for any football fan or was it just the norm for a West Ham fan? After racking my brain, the need to focus on my work meant these great questions went unanswered, that was, until, the week seemed to carefully put things in place that would give an emphatic answer to my monday morning musings.
There was quite a divide in terms of responses to the Adrian sending off against Leicester. I, like many, believed that by the letter of the law, Adrian should have been sent off. We can argue that Vardy shouldn't have been on the pitch after what appeared to be an even worse challenge than that of Adrian's earlier in the game but he wasn't. Adrian stuck his foot in another player's midriff and deservedly saw red. As nice as it was to think that the obvious lack of intent and malice in the challenge meant the ban would be reduced from three games to one, it was never going to happen. The result of the appeal left us with Darren Randolph standing in as back-up against Bournemouth and a further two games to negotiate without our trusted no.1.
By Wednesday, the spark of optimism was lit once again as the club announced that a deal to sign Alex Song on a permanent basis had officially been put in place. It's one that may cause some slight confusion as it is subject to an injured player passing a medical but according to club officials, the floating bone in the 27-year-old midfielder's ankle is something that won't effect him in the long-run. I've been a big admirer of the Cameroon international since his early days at Arsenal and for the first half of last season, I thought we'd done one of the best bits of business in the league. Unfortunately, as expected, our performances as a team steadily declined from the turn of the year onwards and with it, Song seemed to fade into the background. I still have no doubts over Song's ability and he's a player that the majority of fans will be welcoming with open arms.
I was perhaps a bit more excited about Song joining the club than I should have been. Yes, partly because we had another top quality player on the books but also because it gave me the slightest bit of hope that fan favourite, Kevin Nolan, might finally be on his way out. How wrong I was. Instead, as the revolving door swung and Song made his way in, two of our most promising prospects, Reece Burke and Diego Poyet were on their way out. I'm not going to deny the loan system can be beneficial but, judging by previous performances and what I saw in the Europa League games, I was under the impression that given a chance in the cup competitions and some Premier League game time, both Burke and Poyet could have had their breakthrough season. Unfortunately, Poyet will be with the MK Dons for the remainder of the season and I'm sure will be an integral part of their Championship campaign. Burke is only with Bradford City for a month (it's more than likely this will be extended or he'll be off somewhere else) but it sends the message that Bilic doesn't think they're ready to play in the top-flight. I sincerely hope the two of them gain some experience and are given the chance to play competitive football, without falling into the trap of being resigned to loan deals for a few seasons and then being shipped out to a lower league club at the end of their contract.
Next up, one of our two ringmasters made his attempt to steal the show for the week. David Sullivan always has me slightly on edge with his interviews, he's constantly walking the proverbial tightrope and I feel like I'm just waiting for some form of controversy to be stoked up. This week was no different and Sullivan produced the goods, bringing quite an abrupt end to the long-running Charlie Austin saga. I listened to the interview that has now gained so much attention and I must admit, I didn't think much of it at the time. Sullivan was his usual self and his honesty, along with a few quotes taken out of context means we are now all but out of the running to sign what many believed to be an overpriced striker in the first place. There's a fine line between being open with fans and saying too much, something Sullivan appears to really struggle with. I haven't got a problem with what he said, Charlie Austin has had injury problems in the past, he didn't play that well against us last season and £15 million would be a gamble. What I have got a problem with is someone with the responsibility of running a Premier League football club giving the English media that kind of ammunition. As well as the image it portrays to other players we may go after, it means if we don't get Hernandez or Remy, we don't have the gamble of Austin to fall back on. We'll either end up taking a gamble on another player (one that didn't score 18 goals in the Premier League last year) or settling for someone of lesser quality than our well documented targets, thanks to Sullivan's comments.
The week went on and the entertainment kept coming, this time with the next instalment of the Crocko the clown series. Within what felt like minutes of reading articles about the impact a fit again Andy Carroll will have after his imminent return, I found myself reading about another two week delay in his comeback because he can't put his shoes on properly. I've seen a few people have had enough of Big Andy and his injury troubles but I still feel inclined to let him play some football (if he ever gets there) before writing him off completely. We have to admit, signing him was a mistake but it's a mistake we can't go back on and he still has the ability, with a run of 10-15 games, to be the difference between relegation, mid-table obscurity and breaking into the fabled 8th to 6th placed promised land (depending on how those around him play).
After everything that went on between Monday and Friday I felt more drained than usual before 3 o'clock on Saturday. If the previous five days hadn't done enough to sum up West Ham as a club, the game against Bournemouth managed to do it in 90 minutes. I should probably give my take on the game in some detail but in all honesty, I can't bring myself to do it. Darren Randolph conceding four goals and still managing to be one of our best players on the pitch says a lot about him and the performances put in by everyone else. Our defensive display was abysmal, we started with some promise but worryingly, we managed to lose another game in the first 45 minutes. We'd done so well (with a slice of good fortune) to claw it back to 2-2 but once again, defensive errors let us down and a lack of cutting edge meant we rarely provided a serious threat.
As I listened to the game on the radio at work and the disappointment and frustration bubbled away, it wasn't the prospect of another comeback that gave me a glimmer of joy in the 82nd minute, it was the fact that Modibo Maiga proved he can actually score. As with any Saturday evening and Sunday following a West Ham loss, I wasn't in the best of spirits but every now and then, I found myself chuckling at the thought of Maiga calmly slotting the ball into the corner of the net and the two Davids turning to each other, thinking 'at least we don't have to sign a striker now'. Like any football fan, I find a defeat such as this weekend's a hard pill to swallow but I can do so without getting too negative about the months ahead. There's a long way to go in a season I still feel excited about and providing we get the few missing bits of quality we need by the end of the transfer window, it's a season I'm sure we'll be happy with.
What I got from this week is something I'm sure a lot of you already knew. We're a club like no other. There'll be times when we curse inviting this self-inflicted misery on ourselves but we wouldn't have it any other way. There's moments when you hold your head in your hands with shame but no matter how bad things seem to get, you still remain positive about what lies ahead because ultimately, that's what it is to be a West Ham United fan.
COYI!
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ENNER VALENCIA UNLEASHES ANGER AT WEST HAM OVER HANDLING OF HIS INJURY SITUATION
By Michael Oliver
Readwestham.com
West Ham striker Enner Valencia has criticised the club for their handling of his injury situation. The Ecuadorian forward suffered severe injuries to his right knee and ankle in West Ham's 2-2 Europa League third qualifying round draw with FC Astra, and was stretchered off in the first half.
An early diagnosis of his injury stated that he would be out for 10-12 weeks, and would not require surgery. However, reports came out earlier this month that doctors advised that they perform surgery on the striker, which West Ham refused.
Now, Valencia has revealed his anger about his current situation in an interview with La Deportiva, claiming he's in "confusion" about what will happen. The 25-year-old stated how things had become "complicated" because he "spend a month of injury and did not really know what I have." "I do not know why it happens to me, West Ham give me no answer, and don't even let me go to another doctor." "I saw doctors and mentioned that I had to have surgery, but I want to see a doctor outside (the club). I've talked to doctors in Spain and the United States. Doctors here did not let me visit another doctor, doctors here (at West Ham) a little became careless."
West Ham are currently without Valencia, as well as Andy Carroll and Mauro Zarate, leaving Diafra Sakho as their only fit first-team striking option, and even he was taken off against Bournemouth on the weekend over fears of a thigh injury.
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Disillusioned
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th August 2015
By: Paul Turner
The first half in particular of the AFC Bournemouth game this past weekend will live long in the memory, along with other modern day successes like Chesterfield away in the league cup, Stockport County or Savio Nsereko.
Hopefully you as the reader will see that what I put forward to the best of my ability is not a knee jerk attempt to try and ride the coat-tails of a more general mood of discontent with the club and the ownership. We all broadly want the same thing and we all follow the same side, over land and sea in our own ways. I do not intend to try and separate or compartmentalize so hopefully the below will avoid such pitfalls.
My last opinion piece addressed my thoughts about our European exploits and I can safely say I thought it was a terrible thing for the club to do, throwing away a chance of progressing in the competition. The arguments made afterwards with hindsight was that we beat Arsenal so it was worth it to some.
That in the short term of one game in the league is correct, we won with players who did not travel across the continent. In the long term though it shows a narrow view of where this club should be going and the ambition we should be showing. Dropping out of the Europa league in the third qualifying round has not for example made Kouyaté hand in a transfer request but the ability and the will to challenge is surely worth more than sacrificing a place in a competition on the altar of the premier league?
To a player knowing you could be joining a side that wants to kick on and start a journey in a new stadium on the cusp of European qualification, along with playing in this country and the potential earnings could be a pull. That's all part of the USP that can be used as part of negotiations but you have to go out and try and obtain the player in the first place to get yourself into such a position.
There is no point in trying to buy one outstanding player like Payet if you do not supplement that kind of player with overall squad quality. Of course as a club we cannot stock pile players and loan them out at will like Chelsea but we can look to improve the options to try and offset the hindrance of injury or loss of form for example.
Morgan Amalfitano will never play for West Ham United again unless there is some sort of u-turn by the manager so taking Morgan out of the equation, the depth and options in the squad as it currently stands is now further diminished. A point in case of this lack in depth is the bench from last Saturday's game.Spiegel, Tomkins,Collins, Maiga, Jarvis, Lanzini, Cullen.
With the greatest of respect to all those who warmed the bench against Bournemouth but the quality there is not good enough to fulfil a league match. In a cup match where both sides weaken their line ups you could envision such a bench but for what is meant to be your priority and the bread and butter?
The dearth of options is worrying as the transfer window draws to a close. Of course there is still time to remedy the situation. Alex Song's transfer is still up in the air and the transfer window remains open for a week so moves can easily still take place.
However too often the club have been found wanting when it comes to the overall squad quality and has tried to resort to bargain bucket deals like Nene or Petrić after the end of a transfer window. It is better pulling out of a deal if the terms presented are outside your capabilities but there is something to be had by sensible speculation for longer term accumulation.
Pedro Obiang is an example of a sound investment. Has been playing football in a good league to a high standard for a few years now, has youth on his side and has scope to develop. This is the kind of investment the club should be making in improving the squad and not trying to eke out an existence on high ticket prices, heightened expectations but no basis for tangible long term delivery of ambitions. Pedro Obiang should not be the end but a start.
Financial Fair Play, explained here, has been used as a fig leaf by the owners of the club as an argument to try and explain why the club cannot spend the kind of money required to build an overall better and more balanced squad. This has not been a hindrance on clubs such as Newcastle United, Stoke City and Crystal Palace who have added quality and depth to their squads to supplement what they already had.
Using Newcastle as an example here with their current, extremely unpopular owner might seem strange with regards to the point I am trying to make but it cannot be denied that Steve McLaren is now being backed more significantly in this transfer window then more recent windows that have passed.
The Arsenal score was a great result but it was not the be-all and end-all to be milked for all it's worth like the club's media department ended up doing. It was a foundation to then build upon and show intent and progression. Poor results and West Ham United seemingly go hand in hand but it is the constant failure to build upon opportunities that harm the development of the club beyond its current status.
As I started off with, we all want the best for West Ham Utd FC and even if it's head-scratching how this club of ours is run at times, the owners also want the best. Their perception of that best at the moment is what's causing disillusion in some quarters.
* You can catch up with Paul on Twitter at @p_tizzle31.
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Hammers moving in on Chelsea flier
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Chelsea's Victor Moses has tonight publicly hit the Hammers wanted list with the club admitting: "We are interested." The deal is currently under discussion at around £7 million as the club moves heaven and earth to give their new manager what he requires to correct matters within the misfiring squad. It's clear that a wide man who can deliver a supply line to the main strikers is essential and Moses is thus very much in the frame. And with a striker on his way into the club – where three names are currently under active consideration – the club has admitted to ClaretandHugh tonight: "Yes there's an interest."
Moses has spent a couple of season away from Stamford Bridge on loan to Liverpool and then Stoke City where last season he scored four goals from 23 appearances. He scored two goals from 25 Liverpool appearances the previous seasons and the Irons are more than keen despite possible interest from Stoke and Spurs. We were told exclusively by a well placed insider: "There's a variance between ours and Chelsea's valuations but this could be a busy week on this and other fronts."
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Irons make Adebayor position clear
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have revealed to ClaretandHugh this evening that Emmanuel Adebayor is one of those on their list of striker targets. We understand that talks have been held with Spurs over the reported possible year long loan deal which would see the player arrive as the club's striker crisis worsens. However, this is not a done deal and the other front men mentioned today -Simone Zaza is due to hold talks with the club whilst it is understood a £5 million bid has finally been lodged with Galatasaray for Burak Yilmaz. Spurs would need to subsidise at least half of Adebayor's wages were the deal to go ahead and there's a lot of wrangling to do for that to happen. We were told: "Adebayor is a possible but a deal is nowhere near done. We have several other options and hope to sort it by the end of the week."
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CONFIRMED: AL NASSR COMPLETE THE SIGNING OF WEST HAM STRIKER MODIBO MAIGA
By Thomas Bore
Readwestham.com
Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr have confirmed the signing of Mali international Modibo Maiga from West Ham on Twitter. The 27-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal in a reported £6m deal. Maiga arrived at Upton Park in 2012 from Sochaux for a reported £4.2million, as per transfermarkt, and has made a total of 43 appearances in his three-year stint at West Ham – netting just 7 times in the process.
With an average of one goal every six games, it's fair to say Maiga's exit won't be a significant loss to West Ham – despite their current striker crisis. However, Maiga will always be remembered by West Ham fans for that late winner away at Tottenham in the Capital One Cup! His exit would surely signal a new arrival is on the horizon, with only Elliot Lee available for West Ham's trip to Liverpool on Saturday. Simone Zaza is reportedly set to sign on loan from Juventus.
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Report: West Ham U21 1-2 Villa U21
Avfc.co.uk
Jordan Lyden's late winner gave Villa a deserved victory over West Ham at Rush Green. Lyden's clincher came after the Irons had earlier equalised following Jerell Sellars' opener. The win means Gordon Cowans' side continue their fine start to the Barclays U21 Premier League Division Two season having taken seven points from a possible nine available. Sellars returned to the starting XI and looked like a man on a mission from the off - forcing the claret and blue shirts of West Ham back into their own half. The home side created the first opportunity of note - highly rated forward Elliot Lee unleashing a low drive with goalkeeper Jed Steer equal to the strike. Following their relegation from the top-flight, most expected the Hammers to provide a stern test and they themselves were clearly keen to bounce back from their opening day defeat to West Brom. In truth, they could have gone ahead twice in a matter of minutes. Josh Cullen was unfortunate to see his rasping drive crash off the post before George Dobson's follow-up from the resultant corner was inches over the bar.
Yet it was the away side that took the lead courtesy of a penalty from Sellars - coolly converting after Khalid Abdo was fouled in the area. In truth, both Villa and Sellars could have added to their total as they played slick attacking football, turning defence into attack. The tricky forward latched onto a delightful through ball from skipper Lyden yet saw his effort blocked. Following the two early goals, the game become stretched and an entertaining contest for those in the Rush Green stands. The Londoners also looked lively and were level just after the half hour mark as Maunel Lanzini slotted past Steer as the visitors failed to properly clear their lines after the goalkeeper had saved an initial effort. Central defensive partnership Kevin Toner and Easah Suliman looked solid as they blocked and cleared any shots or crosses that came their way. Toner, vastly experienced at this level, had to be alert in the early stages of the second period as the diminutive Cullen slipped in Stephen Hendrie and pulled the trigger. Much like in the opening 45 minutes, Villa grew into the half and were the dominant outfit. Niall Mason's perfectly-weighted cross looked for Sellars, who, on the stretch couldn't quite connect. The Irons were indebted to their goalkeeper Sam Howes who pulled off a number of important saves. Midfielder Rory Hale impressed on defensive and offensive duties and was unfortunate not to regain Villa's advantages - his two long-range efforts edging wide and saved.
West Ham could have stolen the points 13 minutes from time when a well-worked free-kick saw substitute Nathan Mavila found in space and he was thwarted by the outstretched arms of Steer. And then came the game's decisive moment. After a spell of sustained Villa pressure down the left flank, substitutes Corey Blackett-Taylor and Callum O'Hare combined, the ball fell to Lyden who fired past Howes to earn his side victory.
West Ham U21: Howes, Westley (Akinola 67), Hendrie, Dobson (Nasha 83), Knoyle, Onariase, Rowe (Mavila 59), Cullen, Lee, Lanzini, Samuelsen. Unused subs: Brown, Gordon.
Villa U21: Steer, Mason, Suliman, Toner, Kinsella, Lyden (C), Cowans (O'Hare 71), Hale, Abdo (Blackett-Taylor 71), Calder, Sellars. Unused subs: Bannister, Leggett, Lyons-Foster.
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ExWHUemployee Column: Offers made for 5+ forwards, Song, Moses & more
by ExWHUemployee on August 24th, 2015
So it appears that we didn't learn anything from the Leicester game and played the exact same formation and system as we had done against the Foxes for the game against Bournemouth.
I stated in my last column that we would need to be prepared for a similar style of attack and it didn't appear to be the case. Our fullback's both had mares and both would not be happy with their individual performances as Cresswell confirmed on his twitter account.
In their defence the system did mean that they were attacked with width and pace with no wide midfielder or wingers backing them up. I found the substitution of Ogbonna to be very suprising as well. Out of the four defenders I would have said he was the only one who was performing, albeit not at his best. To take him off on his second home game so early on is not the best way to make a foreign player feel welcomed at the club. I admire Bilic for trying to change it so early on but taking him off seemed very bizarre. The inclusion of Kevin Nolan was also a strange choice and I think I would have opted for Maiga starting or Lanzini ahead of him. I cannot think of a time where a keeper, who has let four goals in at home to the pre-season relegation favourites has been given man of the match and that just summed up the performance and game.
All week, despite most papers saying otherwise, I maintained that the Robert Green deal had fallen through. We were originally not interested in the player but it was only with Adrian's confirmed suspension and Green's desire to return to the club we decided to consider a deal. The deal fell through because James Collins didn't want to move to QPR in return. As his close buddy Matthew Etherington has confirmed (Collins was best man at Etherington's wedding) he has been told he can leave despite loving the club and not wanting to leave. He has been offered to a whole host of teams. He fell out of favour a little bit with the management over his European sending off. It is also felt his age, a year left of his contact and having less pace than the other centre-backs has counted against him. I personally would not sell him and believe against certain teams (the more physical, ball in the air opponents) he would be worth bringing into the side. We also need four top quality centre-backs. The problem Collins has is that he is one of the few non first team starters at the moment who has attracted any notable interest. We will now see whether he gets his wish to stay or the club get their wish to free up some cash and wages.
We are in a real striker crisis. Sakho injured his thigh during the match and will face a scan tomorrow (Monday) to see whether he has a serious injury. He could potentially be out for up to a month if the scan comes back negative. This would leave Maiga and Elliot Lee as the only fit forwards on the books. We have had some very serious interest from Saudi Arabia for Maiga from Al NassrFC. The deal was pretty much completed but Sakho's injury could mean this is delayed. We will not sell unless we have another forward to come in for certain. We do expect to have a couple completed by midweek.
The top target, as I have always maintained is Hernandez. Manchester United will not sell. We have then put in around five offers for other forwards from abroad. The stories emerging about Ben Yedder are true. He has been on the radar for many months. The Turkish forward Yilmaz is also on the list but it is believed that his club have raised the price and Sow who plays in Turkey is there too. We have also looked at an Italian International forward, who joined a big team in the summer but is forth choice there, for a possible loan move. This player is of proven goalscoring quality and would be a great signing. I have been told not to mention his name to not alert other clubs, however no doubt the other ITKs/papers will do their research and come out with the name in the next day or so and claim they knew all along. This is what has happened about the very young talent, who I keep mentioning in previous columns. He has scored in the champions league and has an almost 1 in 2 goals ratio and can play on the wing. He is another player who we rate very very highly and would love to bring in. There are a couple of South American forwards being looked at too. Victor Moses is a player who we are trying to get in on loan with a view to a permanent move. It is thought that Chelsea will let the player go but that we face a lot of competition.
This week we saw all the controversy around Austin and our chairman's comments. The chairman's comments were really blown out of proportion by the media looking for stories at this time of year and of course by Austin himself. The one thing I would say is that Sullivan probably regrets saying it and certainly the head of media (a man who isn't particularly fond on me either) wishes he had been able to censor the interview to stop it getting out. The media team didn't want the interview to happen, or at least for them to censor it, but David Sullivan snr wanted to do it for the fans and his children. This is one thing you have to respect about them all, they are very public and very accessable to fans which most chairmen are not. They speak with passion and they speak with genuine support for the club having already achieved a lot for us. David Sullivan has been working hour upon hour, so much so that he rarely sees his children, to bring in further players.
The chairman is very close to Steve Bruce at Hull, where Austin failed his medical, and I think he would be speaking on what he believed to be facts. At the end of the day if they are not facts then I would have expected more to have came out from the Austin camp about possible action. It is also interesting that the likes of Newcastle have not bid for him either or at least completed a deal for £15m. I personally would love Austin to come to us and believe he is a good goalscorer but I can understand the chairmen not wanting to punt another 15m on what they believe to be an injury prone forward, having learnt from when they did that before, if his price was to fall drastically they may wish to take a gamble, if the damage is repairable.
Another forward who we have considered but will not sign allegedly due to other medical concerns is Remy. He fits almost the same bracket as Austin (although with another injury) and that the chairmen are not prepared to pay £15m for a forward that they believe to be having some medical concerns.
Another "injured" potential signing is Alex Song. It is believed that he still has problems around the floating bone in his foot. The club are prepared to give him a final medical right at the end of the window. Unfortunately if the player is signed with a failed medical, you will not get the insurance cover, let alone all the lost wages and so on. The club want to leave it as long as possible again to see if they can get it over the line. Fears about when Song can play (mid November the expected date) have meant that we are considering moving for Joey Barton again. The original deal fell through due to a couple of reasons, one of which was the fans feelings towards it. Having seen his recent message to the West Ham supporters and our dire need for someone to protect the defence in midfield we may change our stance. I personally wasn't that keen on the deal originally but with the window coming to an end, I believe he could add some much needed passion to the team.
Liverpool away is probably the last fixture we would want now, given our record up there, but with a couple of new players in you never know what could happen with us. If you are not going to the game, please consider going to the West Ham ladies match on the Sunday. They play Crystal Palace and an excellent match day programme and goodies bag for the children has been prepared by the skilled Tommy Wathen. You can purchase tickets HERE in advance. Ticket prices are £5 cash on the door for adults and £1 for the children. The ground holds 4,500 people and the club would love to get that to break the record for that league. The lack of passion shown by some of the male players against Bournemouth you will not find with the female team. The matches always seem to have goals and it is a great family day out.
Here's wishing both our teams every success this weekend, we need some good results to get the positive vibes back. COYI.
Twitter - @ExWHUemployee
Note from WHUFCTV.com
ExWHUemployee's latest column was written and sent to us yesterday evening, but we decided that it was too late to publish. It's sad that we have to do this, but we thought it was necessary after seeing the amount of tweets and messages that @ExWHUemployee received from fans who are sceptical of this, as some of the news including in the column has appeared in the media today. The column will return to its usual Sunday evening slot from now on to avoid anything like this in the future.
Thanks, WHUFCTV.com
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West Ham in negotiations with Chelsea for Victor Moses
The east Londoners hope that Pedro's outstanding debut will accelerate a potential £7m transfer
Telegraph.co.uk
Jeremy Wilson By Jeremy Wilson7:56PM BST 24 Aug 2015
West Ham United are in negotiations with Chelsea for Victor Moses and hoping that Pedro's outstanding debut will accelerate a potential £7 million deal. Slaven Bilic is hoping to add at least two players before the transfer window shuts next week following consecutive home defeats against Leicester City and Bournemouth, with wide players a particular priority. There remains some gap in the respective valuations of the two clubs, with Chelsea wanting around £10 million for Moses even though he again appears peripheral to Jose Mourinho's first-team plans. Moses has spent the past two seasons on loan, at Liverpool and then Stoke City. Mark Hughes was also interested in bringing him to Stoke permanently and he is among Tottenham's targets although not regarded as a priority. Moses moved to Chelsea in 2012 after an impressive spell at Wigan Atheltic where he helped the club avoid relegation. Prior to that he spent three years at Crystal Palace. Chelsea are also in talks to allow Juan Cuadrado on loan to Juventus, leaving open the possibility that Mourinho could yet add another forward or wide player this summer.
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Tuesday, August 25
Monday, August 24
Daily WHUFC News - 24th August 2015
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic said his side must iron out their
defensive mistakes they have made in home defeats to Leicester City and AFC
Bournemouth, if they are to come away from Anfield with anything this coming
Saturday. Twice the Hammers have found themselves 2-0 down inside the first
half, leaving a mountain to climb. Speaking ahead of the Irons' last game
before the international break, Bilic said: "If you give the ball away in
dangerous positions, you will lose; it is as simple as that. We had a lack
of team play in the first half, as we did against Leicester City. "Last
Saturday, Bournemouth were doing the basics from the first minute better
than us. They were closing us down and on their toes better than us. "When
you make those mistakes, your confidence goes right down. After the penalty
our confidence went up and we had some momentum. At that moment we were in
the ascendancy, but they scored a good goal."
After only three League games, the Hammers have already experienced mixed
fortunes, from the home defeats to the emphatic 2-0 win over Arsenal on the
opening day. Bilic, like all other West Ham fans, is hoping to extend the
Hammers impressive away form when they play an in-form Liverpool side on
Saturday 29 August."For me, the win against Arsenal was just that. I said
after the game we need to refocus immediately. I said then that we need to
try and calm things down. "I don't like the position we're in. We're not
going to panic, it's not time to panic, it's still early days. We have to
change it; I have to change it now because it is up to us to turn things
around. "We have the quality; we have aspects of our game that are good. We
showed that against Arsenal, we need to rediscover that. The first halves
against Leicester and Bournemouth were just not good enough. "We need to
find that brotherhood if you like and have to react quickly. We have a tough
game next week away at Liverpool, it's an opportunity, the pressure will be
off us."
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Noble - 'We've got to buck our ideas up'
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble gave an honest and frank assessment of Saturday's closely-fought
home defeat to Bournemouth and backed the squad to put things right at
Liverpool on Saturday. Defensive lapses cost the Hammers dear as even three
home goals did not prove enough as the Cherries scored four to secure their
first-ever win in the top flight. Noble is backing the individuals who
slipped up to bounce back and emphasised the whole team must share the
burden when the going gets tough. "It was a great start against Arsenal and
maybe there was a bit of complacency," Noble said. "We have to buck our
ideas up as it's a long season. "But we've got a good enough team and good
enough players and the players that made mistakes on Saturday know that they
did but they are top quality players and I'm sure they will learn from that
and we all have to get better. "Normally with individual errors you can bail
each other out, but we didn't do that and Bournemouth took the three
points."
Noble revealed that manager Slaven Bilic had some stern words for his side
at half time before the Hammers pegged a two goal deficit back to 2-2,
through a Noble penalty and a Cheik Kouyate strike. However, more generous
defending helped contribute to the visitors restoring a two-goal lead before
Modibo Maiga ensured a tense finale by pulling a third back for the hosts.
"We gave them three goals, handed them to them, and got punished for it. You
simply cannot do that at this level, as I said after last week's game
against Leicester. "At half time the manager wasn't happy and I know he'll
speak to us all again on Monday about what happened. "We got ourselves back
in it at 2-2 and the crowd was with us and you think you're going to go on
but we make another mistake and they score again. Overall it was really
sloppy but in all fairness to Bournemouth they played well and deserved to
win. "We didn't underestimate them as we knew they were a good side. I
watched them a lot last year but you can't give goals away like that in this
league and we got punished for that. There is no excuse for football like
that."
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Dev Squad host Villa on Monday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad will go for their first Barclays U21
Premier League Division Two victory of the season when they host Aston Villa
on Monday night. The young Hammers were unfortunate to be beaten 2-1 by West
Bromwich Albion in their season opener last week, so will be confident of
bouncing back against their second Midlands opposition of the season.
Against the Baggies Elliot Lee looked to have rescued a point for Terry
Westley's men with his second half header, only for a late goal to dash West
Ham's hopes. Now Aston Villa head to Rush Green Stadium for the 7pm kick-off
having taken four points from their opening two fixtures. A 1-0 win at Derby
County was followed by a 0-0 home draw with Stoke City and they currently
sit fourth in the early league table.
Admission is free for Season Ticket Holders, with tickets otherwise priced
at £3 Adults and £1 Concessions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'I am under pressure', says West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Last Updated: 24/08/15 6:48am
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits he is already under pressure after just
three Premier League games. Bilic has endured an indifferent start to life
in charge at Upton Park, winning 2-0 at Arsenal on the opening weekend
before suffering disappointing defeats to Leicester and Bournemouth. "I am
under pressure," he said. "That comes with the territory and that is why I
have to turn it around. "We were again second-best (against Bournemouth)
and I don't like this situation. Playing like this we can't expect to win
many games."
West Ham, who also crashed out of the Europa League to Romanian side FC
Astra earlier this month, were 2-0 down at home to Eddie Howe's Premier
League new boys on Saturday, before eventually losing 4-3. And Bilic says he
appreciates the fans' frustrations: "I can't blame the fans (for booing).
They are behind us to be fair, in the first half and the second half. But
what do you expect if we are two down against a team? "Okay, they are a
good team who got promoted and to be fair it could have been worse at 2-0
down. The reactions from the fans were normal. The expectations are high
anywhere you go."
West Ham's stunning win at Arsenal remains one of few highlights for Bilic
since replacing Sam Allardyce at the helm of the club he played for between
1996 and 1997. And Bilic believes this result may have contributed to their
problems since: "Maybe the game against Arsenal has come into our heads," he
admitted. "Maybe we think we are going to do that (again) nice and easy. Or
in style. But in the Premier League, against most of the clubs, you have to
dig in to have a chance to get points from every game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
KEEP CALM AND STAY AWAY FROM THE PANIC BUTTON!
By HamburgHammer 24 Aug 2015 at 08:00
WTID
Well, that was a bit of a crap weekend in football terms. Hugely
entertaining, but ultimately crap nonetheless. Our game against Bournemouth
had everything you could ask for as a football fan: Goals galore in glorious
sunshine, twists and turns, penalties, a sending off, end to end stuff. But
unfortunately also individual errors that would make a schoolboy blush with
embarrassment, defensive prowess as you might expect to see on Hackney
Marshes pitches and a home team that seemed to crumble under a mixture of
too much expectation, a presumably easy opponent and a nervous disposition
that is hard to explain considering how many games these players have been
through in preseason.
Our team by now should be focussed, sharp and up to it, on Saturday they
were all over the place. Once again we lost a game in the fist half, going
into halftime with a two goal deficit. If you give yourself a mountain to
climb in your home games you cannot complain afterwards if you end up empty
handed. Our fullbacks' confidence looked shot which is surprising as both
Crewwell and Jenkinson were our most consistent performers last season.
Yet one must not forget that this will be a season of transition. New
manager, new gameplan, new tactics and some new players. Talking of which
our owners now need to take some responsibility and give the manager some
more tools to work with (this is not me insulting potential new signings by
the way!). We are terribly short on players.
As of now we have one fit striker in Maiga and apparently this is the man
that everybody including our club hierarchy would love to sell (or give
away) to any club which is willing to take the Malian and his reasonably
high wages on board. I wasn't happy with our result on Saturday and I
obviously wasn't thrilled with the defensive display.
Still I refuse to panic just yet, this season is a marathon, not a sprint.
And I have to repeat what I said before: Bilic needs time to work with this
team, build some chemistry, find his best eleven once injured players are
available again and also rebuild the confidence of his players after a shaky
start to the season.
We cannot afford to throw away our home games in the fashion we've done so
far.
But all is not lost. I still believe there is quality in the side we already
have and the owners will add to that quality because, well, they simply have
to if you look at our net spend and what other clubs have been spending in
this window already. I'm not sure if our lack of spending is due to having
to balance our books prior to the OS move, but I don't get it that we seem
to have a list of striker targets and so far none of those has come off.
Same with wingers. At the Premier League level you cannot afford the luxury
to hesitate and dither. I understand our board will not want to pay over the
odds.
Truth is: Sometimes you have to spend some serious money to fill a team need
with the kind of player you want.
I expect a new signing or two over the course of this week. And as this is
West Ham we are talking about I fully fancy us to have a good game now away
at Anfield. Probably not quite the elusive win we're all craving for, but a
reaction from the team nonetheless. Randolph in goal fills me with
confidence after his Bournemouth performance (weird to even write that
considering he conceded four on the day), he will be fine filling in for
Adrian.
What I don't want to see anymore is Noble and Nolan in the same team as both
are too slow for the Premier League level.
You can get by with one slow player in midfield, but not two.
Bilic will sort this out. He is a smart guy and had a great rapport at
Besiktas with the players and the fans which is a vital trait to have for a
manager, especially at West Ham.
If we are still seeing performances like the Bournemouth one in December I
will start to worry. As of now I still have faith in Bilic's ability to give
us both good football and points on the board. I already love his frankness
in interviews, him saying it like it is and taking the blame for mistakes on
the chin.
This alone buys him a lot of goodwill from my side.
My own local team TSV Wandsbek Concordia (you remember, the lads from
Hamburg's EastEnd) lost their game yesterday in heartbreaking fashion
conceding the 2:2 equaliser (after leading 2:0) in the second minute of
injury time.
You can't take anything for granted in football which keeps us coming back
for more. West Ham will be fine this season, but we need to stay away from
the panic button at this point. Which doesn't mean, Mr.Sullivan and Mr.Gold,
that you can take the foot off the gas in terms of making some more quality
signings.
If you keep talking the talk, you need to back it up with some action from
your wallets. Money alone doesn't score goals but it does no harm either
spending some.
Especially if you only have one fit striker.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic feels "under pressure" already after back to back
home defeats
0 COMMENTS22:30, 23 AUGUST 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
Leicester and now Bournemouth have taken the three points at Upton Park and
the Hammers' red card tally under new boss is now FIVE in nine games
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has admitted he is under pressure at West Ham already. Since
shocking Arsenal two weeks ago in the season's opening match, the Irons, who
have spent £24million in the transfer market so far, have conceded six goals
in losing twice at home - to Leicester and to newly-promoted Bournemouth -
and were booed off by their own fans at Upton Park on Saturday. Bilic
accepted: "I am under pressure. That comes with the territory and that is
why I have to turn it around. "We are in the same boat. We were second best
again and I don't like this situation. "I buy the idea that it's only the
start and all that. We have to change it and we have to start doing it."
Carl Jenkinson's late red card means that West Ham have had FIVE players
dismissed in just nine matches under Bilic, including their failed Europa
League qualifying bid. The Croatian, a late choice by a club he used to
represent as a player to succeed Sam Allardyce after David Moyes and Rafa
Benitez turned the job down, added: "I can't blame the fans. They were
behind us, to be fair, in the first half and the second half. "But what do
you expect if we are two down against a team [like Bournemouth]. OK, they
are a good team who got promoted and to be fair it could have been worse at
2-0 down. The reactions from the fans were normal. The expectations are high
anywhere you go."
Bilic, however, has also accused his players them of dining out on their
shock win at the Emirates. He said: "Maybe the game against Arsenal has come
into our heads. Maybe we think we are going to do that (again) nice and
easy. Or in style. But in the Premier League against most of the clubs you
have to dig in to have a chance to get points from every game. "The
throw-ins are just a matter of, 'Do I want to be there? Am I concentrated
enough to go five yards to close them down to leave the other side of the
pitch free - because they can't throw it there. Or am I relying too much on
my mate to do that job for me?'"
West Ham tried and failed to bring experienced QPR keeper Robert Green back
to Upton Park ahead of this match with Adrian suspended.
The previously unconvincing Darren Randolph, however, prevented the
scoreline from being even more embarrassing with fine saves in each half.
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West Ham transfers: Wissam Ben Yedder approach line up in attempt to solve
striker crisis
0 COMMENTS22:30, 22 AUGUST 2015
BY TOM HOPKINSON , NEIL MOXLEY
The Irons want another forward having already lost Enner Valencia and Andy
Carroll to injury PLUS: Joey Barton hasn't given up hope of a move to Upton
Park
The Mirror
West Ham have turned to France to solve their goalscoring problems and are
lining up a move for Toulouse forward Wissam Ben Yedder, writes Neil Moxley
in the Sunday People. The striker will cost the Hammers around £6m and is
seen as a like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia who has been
sidelined with ligament trouble. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been
scouring the European leagues for a replacement who can make a difference
for Slaven Bilic during Valencia's absence and is mulling over a move for
the speedy finisher.
Meanwhile, Joey Barton hasn't given up hope that a move to West Ham could
resurface, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People. The free agent is
wanted by several Championship clubs, including Nottingham Forest and
Charlton, but still has his heart set on joining a Premier League side
following his release from QPR. He trained at West Ham, his most likely
option, a couple of weeks ago and underwent a medical, but the club decided
not to sign him after serious opposition from fans. That prompted the
midfielder, 32, to release a video in which praised the Hammers'
'knowledgeable' fans and told those who didn't want him at their club there
were no hard feelings. He has since met with Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hawasi
and even though there are misgivings about signing him a move to the City
Ground could materialise.
However, Barton still thinks he can do a job in the Premier League and hopes
West Ham's mixed start to the season will see them re-approach him as Slaven
Bilic looks to strengthen his squad.
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Slaven Bilic questions West Ham's desire after Bournemouth run riot at Upton
Park
0 COMMENTS19:23, 22 AUGUST 2015
BY ARASH HEKMAT
Callum Wilson helped himself to a maiden top flight hat trick as the
Cherries secured their first win in the Premier League
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic was critical of his side's showing after West Ham suffered a
second consecutive Premier League defeat, this time against newly promoted
Bournemouth. Before today, the Cherries hadn't even scored a Premier League
goal, let alone won a game. But it took young sensation Callum Wilson less
than 12 minutes to change all that, scoring the first of his three goals as
Eddie Howe's side outscored the hosts 4-3. Despite fighting back level from
two goals down, West Ham quickly handed the initiative back to Bourenmouth,
going 4-2 down before Modibo Maiga's late strike helped add a touch of
respectability to the scoreline. Speaking after the game, Bilic was critical
of his team's performance, in particular with the lack of passion shown as
they slumped to defeat against the newly-promoted side. He said: "It went
wrong from the start. We played a very bad first half. It is very hard to
explain three of their four goals - you can't make errors like that at this
level. "They were more lively and more aggressive but you can't make those
mistakes. It's not an alarming situation but we can't continue to play
without more desire. We simply need a better mentality."
For Eddie Howe, this was a first taste of success in England's top league
and, despite a virtuoso display by 23-year-old Wilson, the manager had
praise for the way his whole team played, particularly after they had been
pegged back at 2-2. "It was a really strange game," he said after the match.
"We were in cruise control in the first half and pleased with our
discipline. In the second half we allowed West Ham back into the game but,
full credit to the players, they managed to win the game in the end. "How we
reacted at 2-2 was the key moment. We scored a key third goal through Marc
Pugh, a fantastic finish, and we thoroughly deserved to win."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former boss Sam Allardyce does not know what the 'West Ham way' is as
Hammers continue to struggle
0 COMMENTS14:24, 23 AUGUST 2015
BY AARON FLANAGAN
Allardyce spent four years at the helm at Upton Park but is now taking a
break from football - and distanced himself from the Sunderland job
The Mirror
Former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he still does not know what the
'West Ham way' is. Allardyce was axed from his job at the end of last season
after failing to earn a new deal at Upton Park and was subsequently replaced
by the enigmatic Slaven Bilic. But Allardyce, who was in charge of the
Hammers for four years, says that he does not know what the fabled style of
play West Ham fans accept actually is. The 60-year-old claimed that his
style of play was to pick up wins - something he did in the first half of
last season. Bilic is himself looking to find a winning, and accepted, style
of play, after falling to home defeats against Leicester and Bournemouth in
the past two weeks, shipping six goals in the process. I still don't know
quite what the West Ham way is," Allardyce said on Match of the Day.
"I always thought that playing attractive football and winning [was the
West Ham way]. "But the winning is the first priority, we all know that.
Then playing very well. "We did that last year - certainly the first half
[of the season], we didn't quite manage it in the second half. We played
some exciting football."
And on supporter protests at Upton Park, he said: "There are times you feel
the criticism is a little harsh - when you've taken them from where they
started to where they've got to. "There's always a big expectation based on
what you achieve and can you achieve more than that. And there's always been
a big expectation at West Ham." Allardyce has already been touted as the
favourite to replace Dick Adovcaat at Sunderland following their disastrous
start to the season. But Big Sam was soon to quash those reports while live
on air. He said: "It's not true. Look how relaxed I am looking, I'm not
stressed like those boys [other managers]. There's no truth in it. "I'm
taking a break. It was four years at West Ham. I'm chilling out."
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"I was not playing badly": Angelo Ogbonna hits back after being hauled off
in first half of Bournemouth defeat
18:44, 22 AUGUST 2015
BY ED MALYON
The Italian defender was not pleased to be taken off as Bournemouth raced
into an early lead at Upton Park
The Mirror
Angelo Ogbonna has hit back at boss Slaven Bilic after the West Ham manager
took him off in the first half of the east London club's defeat to
Bournemouth. The newly-promoted Cherries, who before today had never scored
a top-flight goal in their history, went 2-0 up early on through a Callum
Wilson brace - provoking the ire of the Upton Park crowd. Seeking to change
things, Bilic hauled off the Italian defender for James Tomkins as West Ham
managed to pull level at 2-2 before conceding twice more in a game they
ended 4-3 losers. And Ogbonna, an £8million signing this summer, took to
Twitter after the match to manifest his disappointment at the decision.
"Haunted and unhappy match! I have to accept the coach's decisions but I was
disappointed when i had to go back to the bench after 35' "I was not playing
badly," he wrote. "However I don't give up, we don't give up."
The Croatian coach has already fallen out with one player since arriving
back at the Hammers.New Hammers boss Bilic laid down the law after clashing
with Morgan Amalfitano. And the French midfielder has paid the price for
challenging Bilic's authority by being axed from the first team-fold and
ordered to train with the kids, leaving his Upton Park future in doubt.
Bilic and Amalfitano clashed after the Frenchman missed a team meeting.
Amalfitano is understood to have "given the manager attitude" when he took
exception to being confronted about his absence in front of his teammates.
The fuming Hammers boss reacted by banning Amalfitano, 30 , from the club's
first-team training ground at Chadwell Heath in Essex. Amalfitano has now
been ordered to train with the club's development squad at nearby Rush
Green, where the Under-21s and Under-18s are based. Having been involved in
the Hammers first four games of the season, the 30-year-old has been left
out of the squads for their last four matches.
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Blog: Karen Brady cuts to heart of OS matter
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Karren Brady has delivered the ultimate interview on the Olympic Stadium and
it flattens the ' waste of taxpayers money' argument as completely as
Tottenham would have flattened the OS itself. The world and his wife – along
with eight London Supporters Trusts – have attacked a deal which saw the
Irons accepted as anchor tenants. The Supporters Groups have launched a
petition in pursuit of a public inquiry which if successful would waste
millions more of taxpayers' money. But speaking to the Daily Mail, the
Hammers vice chairman has presented an irresistible reasoning as to why
they have all got it so wrong. Led by the Barry Hearn and the BBC's Dan Roan
the near obsessional chorus of disapproval from jealous fans, this has
become the bore of the century. But for ClaretanHugh Ms Brady has dismissed
their criticisms at a stroke declaring: "Anyone could have bought this.
Leyton Orient, the Qataris, anyone. "But nobody saw it, nobody saw the
potential here. So roll back that movie without West Ham. Taxpayers' money
would have poured into a big hole, been concreted over and never seen
again."
She points out quite accurately that now the stadium is nearly finished
"everyone recognises what is has become the longest running and says it's a
steal" Her point however is that this was most certainly not the case during
negotiations and that there was no queue of rival buyers? Without West Ham
this would have been pulled down. It was going to be 25,000 with no roof.
She adds: "What would have happened then? Who would have come to that
stadium? That's a legacy? Tottenham just wanted to flatten it and start
again. So no Olympic Stadium at all. This is going to be an asset, a
national asset. We shouldn't have to keep justifying ourselves.'
There's much more and its well worth a read but that for us cuts to the
heart of the matter and ClaretandHugh has held the same position throughout
this saga. West Ham has done absolutely nothing wrong – they made a bid…it
was accepted. All other questions should be addressed to the London Legacy
Development Corporation.
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Exclusive: Irons consider controversial U-turn
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
EXCLUSIVE
C AND H
Joey Barton is back on the Irons radar. ClaretandHugh understands the
manager may give the thumbs up for the club to perform a U turn on the
defensive midfielder after yesterday's shocking performance by the back four
in the 4-3 defeat by Bournemouth. Slaven Bilic left Upton Park shocked by
some of the defending which only pressed home the need for a defensive
midfielder to shield the back line. Alex Song is nowhere fit enough to move
in to the side and any medical he faces is on his general condition rather
than the current ankle problem from which he is recovering. That will come
later. In the meantime the team's need for such a player became glaringly
obvious and ClaretandHugh was told exclusively after the game that Barton
remains a possibility. We were told : " There's a discussion going on but at
the end of the day it is the manager's decision and my understanding is he
is currently thinking things over. It could happen."
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Song facing long lay-off
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Reports that Alex Song has failed his 'medical' is wide of the mark given
that he faces two! The Hammers are still awaiting the outcome of the first –
which is looking at his general well being. The second will be held when he
has recovered from the ankle injury which needed surgery in the summer. But
a top source revealed to ClaretandHugh that the ankle problem will ensure
that he "is unable to play until November the earliest." And that assessment
by the club's medical team assumes that the midfielder makes a normal
recovery from the operation which involved removing a piece of floating bone
from his ankle. David Sullivan has already commented: "He's injured at the
moment, which is something you've got to weigh up. But we've got until
September 1st to make a decision." It's for that reason the Hammers may
perform the U-turn on Joey Barton, as reported earlier on this site today,
whom they believe they can get on a pay as you play basis. ClaretandHugh was
told by a top Hammers source: "Even if we decide to sign Alex the facts are
that he won't be fit to play again until November the very earliest so
there's some hard thinking to be done."
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Irons end interest in former star
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 22, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham will make no further moves aimed at bringing Robert Green to Upton
Park! Club officials were absolutely delighted with the form shown by
much-maligned Darren Randolph against Bournemouth and believe they have a
decent number two on their hands. Although four goals went by the Republic
of Ireland international he could not be held responsible for any of them
and but for a couple of fine saves the scoreline could have been worse. We
were told: "Darren's form in the Europa Cup matches hadn't been encouraging
and there were some worries which led to the Green moves. "But he was
excellent against Bournemouth and there's a few relieved people around. On
the back of that performance the club will stick with Darren."
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic said his side must iron out their
defensive mistakes they have made in home defeats to Leicester City and AFC
Bournemouth, if they are to come away from Anfield with anything this coming
Saturday. Twice the Hammers have found themselves 2-0 down inside the first
half, leaving a mountain to climb. Speaking ahead of the Irons' last game
before the international break, Bilic said: "If you give the ball away in
dangerous positions, you will lose; it is as simple as that. We had a lack
of team play in the first half, as we did against Leicester City. "Last
Saturday, Bournemouth were doing the basics from the first minute better
than us. They were closing us down and on their toes better than us. "When
you make those mistakes, your confidence goes right down. After the penalty
our confidence went up and we had some momentum. At that moment we were in
the ascendancy, but they scored a good goal."
After only three League games, the Hammers have already experienced mixed
fortunes, from the home defeats to the emphatic 2-0 win over Arsenal on the
opening day. Bilic, like all other West Ham fans, is hoping to extend the
Hammers impressive away form when they play an in-form Liverpool side on
Saturday 29 August."For me, the win against Arsenal was just that. I said
after the game we need to refocus immediately. I said then that we need to
try and calm things down. "I don't like the position we're in. We're not
going to panic, it's not time to panic, it's still early days. We have to
change it; I have to change it now because it is up to us to turn things
around. "We have the quality; we have aspects of our game that are good. We
showed that against Arsenal, we need to rediscover that. The first halves
against Leicester and Bournemouth were just not good enough. "We need to
find that brotherhood if you like and have to react quickly. We have a tough
game next week away at Liverpool, it's an opportunity, the pressure will be
off us."
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Noble - 'We've got to buck our ideas up'
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble gave an honest and frank assessment of Saturday's closely-fought
home defeat to Bournemouth and backed the squad to put things right at
Liverpool on Saturday. Defensive lapses cost the Hammers dear as even three
home goals did not prove enough as the Cherries scored four to secure their
first-ever win in the top flight. Noble is backing the individuals who
slipped up to bounce back and emphasised the whole team must share the
burden when the going gets tough. "It was a great start against Arsenal and
maybe there was a bit of complacency," Noble said. "We have to buck our
ideas up as it's a long season. "But we've got a good enough team and good
enough players and the players that made mistakes on Saturday know that they
did but they are top quality players and I'm sure they will learn from that
and we all have to get better. "Normally with individual errors you can bail
each other out, but we didn't do that and Bournemouth took the three
points."
Noble revealed that manager Slaven Bilic had some stern words for his side
at half time before the Hammers pegged a two goal deficit back to 2-2,
through a Noble penalty and a Cheik Kouyate strike. However, more generous
defending helped contribute to the visitors restoring a two-goal lead before
Modibo Maiga ensured a tense finale by pulling a third back for the hosts.
"We gave them three goals, handed them to them, and got punished for it. You
simply cannot do that at this level, as I said after last week's game
against Leicester. "At half time the manager wasn't happy and I know he'll
speak to us all again on Monday about what happened. "We got ourselves back
in it at 2-2 and the crowd was with us and you think you're going to go on
but we make another mistake and they score again. Overall it was really
sloppy but in all fairness to Bournemouth they played well and deserved to
win. "We didn't underestimate them as we knew they were a good side. I
watched them a lot last year but you can't give goals away like that in this
league and we got punished for that. There is no excuse for football like
that."
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Dev Squad host Villa on Monday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad will go for their first Barclays U21
Premier League Division Two victory of the season when they host Aston Villa
on Monday night. The young Hammers were unfortunate to be beaten 2-1 by West
Bromwich Albion in their season opener last week, so will be confident of
bouncing back against their second Midlands opposition of the season.
Against the Baggies Elliot Lee looked to have rescued a point for Terry
Westley's men with his second half header, only for a late goal to dash West
Ham's hopes. Now Aston Villa head to Rush Green Stadium for the 7pm kick-off
having taken four points from their opening two fixtures. A 1-0 win at Derby
County was followed by a 0-0 home draw with Stoke City and they currently
sit fourth in the early league table.
Admission is free for Season Ticket Holders, with tickets otherwise priced
at £3 Adults and £1 Concessions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'I am under pressure', says West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Last Updated: 24/08/15 6:48am
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits he is already under pressure after just
three Premier League games. Bilic has endured an indifferent start to life
in charge at Upton Park, winning 2-0 at Arsenal on the opening weekend
before suffering disappointing defeats to Leicester and Bournemouth. "I am
under pressure," he said. "That comes with the territory and that is why I
have to turn it around. "We were again second-best (against Bournemouth)
and I don't like this situation. Playing like this we can't expect to win
many games."
West Ham, who also crashed out of the Europa League to Romanian side FC
Astra earlier this month, were 2-0 down at home to Eddie Howe's Premier
League new boys on Saturday, before eventually losing 4-3. And Bilic says he
appreciates the fans' frustrations: "I can't blame the fans (for booing).
They are behind us to be fair, in the first half and the second half. But
what do you expect if we are two down against a team? "Okay, they are a
good team who got promoted and to be fair it could have been worse at 2-0
down. The reactions from the fans were normal. The expectations are high
anywhere you go."
West Ham's stunning win at Arsenal remains one of few highlights for Bilic
since replacing Sam Allardyce at the helm of the club he played for between
1996 and 1997. And Bilic believes this result may have contributed to their
problems since: "Maybe the game against Arsenal has come into our heads," he
admitted. "Maybe we think we are going to do that (again) nice and easy. Or
in style. But in the Premier League, against most of the clubs, you have to
dig in to have a chance to get points from every game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
KEEP CALM AND STAY AWAY FROM THE PANIC BUTTON!
By HamburgHammer 24 Aug 2015 at 08:00
WTID
Well, that was a bit of a crap weekend in football terms. Hugely
entertaining, but ultimately crap nonetheless. Our game against Bournemouth
had everything you could ask for as a football fan: Goals galore in glorious
sunshine, twists and turns, penalties, a sending off, end to end stuff. But
unfortunately also individual errors that would make a schoolboy blush with
embarrassment, defensive prowess as you might expect to see on Hackney
Marshes pitches and a home team that seemed to crumble under a mixture of
too much expectation, a presumably easy opponent and a nervous disposition
that is hard to explain considering how many games these players have been
through in preseason.
Our team by now should be focussed, sharp and up to it, on Saturday they
were all over the place. Once again we lost a game in the fist half, going
into halftime with a two goal deficit. If you give yourself a mountain to
climb in your home games you cannot complain afterwards if you end up empty
handed. Our fullbacks' confidence looked shot which is surprising as both
Crewwell and Jenkinson were our most consistent performers last season.
Yet one must not forget that this will be a season of transition. New
manager, new gameplan, new tactics and some new players. Talking of which
our owners now need to take some responsibility and give the manager some
more tools to work with (this is not me insulting potential new signings by
the way!). We are terribly short on players.
As of now we have one fit striker in Maiga and apparently this is the man
that everybody including our club hierarchy would love to sell (or give
away) to any club which is willing to take the Malian and his reasonably
high wages on board. I wasn't happy with our result on Saturday and I
obviously wasn't thrilled with the defensive display.
Still I refuse to panic just yet, this season is a marathon, not a sprint.
And I have to repeat what I said before: Bilic needs time to work with this
team, build some chemistry, find his best eleven once injured players are
available again and also rebuild the confidence of his players after a shaky
start to the season.
We cannot afford to throw away our home games in the fashion we've done so
far.
But all is not lost. I still believe there is quality in the side we already
have and the owners will add to that quality because, well, they simply have
to if you look at our net spend and what other clubs have been spending in
this window already. I'm not sure if our lack of spending is due to having
to balance our books prior to the OS move, but I don't get it that we seem
to have a list of striker targets and so far none of those has come off.
Same with wingers. At the Premier League level you cannot afford the luxury
to hesitate and dither. I understand our board will not want to pay over the
odds.
Truth is: Sometimes you have to spend some serious money to fill a team need
with the kind of player you want.
I expect a new signing or two over the course of this week. And as this is
West Ham we are talking about I fully fancy us to have a good game now away
at Anfield. Probably not quite the elusive win we're all craving for, but a
reaction from the team nonetheless. Randolph in goal fills me with
confidence after his Bournemouth performance (weird to even write that
considering he conceded four on the day), he will be fine filling in for
Adrian.
What I don't want to see anymore is Noble and Nolan in the same team as both
are too slow for the Premier League level.
You can get by with one slow player in midfield, but not two.
Bilic will sort this out. He is a smart guy and had a great rapport at
Besiktas with the players and the fans which is a vital trait to have for a
manager, especially at West Ham.
If we are still seeing performances like the Bournemouth one in December I
will start to worry. As of now I still have faith in Bilic's ability to give
us both good football and points on the board. I already love his frankness
in interviews, him saying it like it is and taking the blame for mistakes on
the chin.
This alone buys him a lot of goodwill from my side.
My own local team TSV Wandsbek Concordia (you remember, the lads from
Hamburg's EastEnd) lost their game yesterday in heartbreaking fashion
conceding the 2:2 equaliser (after leading 2:0) in the second minute of
injury time.
You can't take anything for granted in football which keeps us coming back
for more. West Ham will be fine this season, but we need to stay away from
the panic button at this point. Which doesn't mean, Mr.Sullivan and Mr.Gold,
that you can take the foot off the gas in terms of making some more quality
signings.
If you keep talking the talk, you need to back it up with some action from
your wallets. Money alone doesn't score goals but it does no harm either
spending some.
Especially if you only have one fit striker.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic feels "under pressure" already after back to back
home defeats
0 COMMENTS22:30, 23 AUGUST 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
Leicester and now Bournemouth have taken the three points at Upton Park and
the Hammers' red card tally under new boss is now FIVE in nine games
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has admitted he is under pressure at West Ham already. Since
shocking Arsenal two weeks ago in the season's opening match, the Irons, who
have spent £24million in the transfer market so far, have conceded six goals
in losing twice at home - to Leicester and to newly-promoted Bournemouth -
and were booed off by their own fans at Upton Park on Saturday. Bilic
accepted: "I am under pressure. That comes with the territory and that is
why I have to turn it around. "We are in the same boat. We were second best
again and I don't like this situation. "I buy the idea that it's only the
start and all that. We have to change it and we have to start doing it."
Carl Jenkinson's late red card means that West Ham have had FIVE players
dismissed in just nine matches under Bilic, including their failed Europa
League qualifying bid. The Croatian, a late choice by a club he used to
represent as a player to succeed Sam Allardyce after David Moyes and Rafa
Benitez turned the job down, added: "I can't blame the fans. They were
behind us, to be fair, in the first half and the second half. "But what do
you expect if we are two down against a team [like Bournemouth]. OK, they
are a good team who got promoted and to be fair it could have been worse at
2-0 down. The reactions from the fans were normal. The expectations are high
anywhere you go."
Bilic, however, has also accused his players them of dining out on their
shock win at the Emirates. He said: "Maybe the game against Arsenal has come
into our heads. Maybe we think we are going to do that (again) nice and
easy. Or in style. But in the Premier League against most of the clubs you
have to dig in to have a chance to get points from every game. "The
throw-ins are just a matter of, 'Do I want to be there? Am I concentrated
enough to go five yards to close them down to leave the other side of the
pitch free - because they can't throw it there. Or am I relying too much on
my mate to do that job for me?'"
West Ham tried and failed to bring experienced QPR keeper Robert Green back
to Upton Park ahead of this match with Adrian suspended.
The previously unconvincing Darren Randolph, however, prevented the
scoreline from being even more embarrassing with fine saves in each half.
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West Ham transfers: Wissam Ben Yedder approach line up in attempt to solve
striker crisis
0 COMMENTS22:30, 22 AUGUST 2015
BY TOM HOPKINSON , NEIL MOXLEY
The Irons want another forward having already lost Enner Valencia and Andy
Carroll to injury PLUS: Joey Barton hasn't given up hope of a move to Upton
Park
The Mirror
West Ham have turned to France to solve their goalscoring problems and are
lining up a move for Toulouse forward Wissam Ben Yedder, writes Neil Moxley
in the Sunday People. The striker will cost the Hammers around £6m and is
seen as a like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia who has been
sidelined with ligament trouble. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been
scouring the European leagues for a replacement who can make a difference
for Slaven Bilic during Valencia's absence and is mulling over a move for
the speedy finisher.
Meanwhile, Joey Barton hasn't given up hope that a move to West Ham could
resurface, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People. The free agent is
wanted by several Championship clubs, including Nottingham Forest and
Charlton, but still has his heart set on joining a Premier League side
following his release from QPR. He trained at West Ham, his most likely
option, a couple of weeks ago and underwent a medical, but the club decided
not to sign him after serious opposition from fans. That prompted the
midfielder, 32, to release a video in which praised the Hammers'
'knowledgeable' fans and told those who didn't want him at their club there
were no hard feelings. He has since met with Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hawasi
and even though there are misgivings about signing him a move to the City
Ground could materialise.
However, Barton still thinks he can do a job in the Premier League and hopes
West Ham's mixed start to the season will see them re-approach him as Slaven
Bilic looks to strengthen his squad.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic questions West Ham's desire after Bournemouth run riot at Upton
Park
0 COMMENTS19:23, 22 AUGUST 2015
BY ARASH HEKMAT
Callum Wilson helped himself to a maiden top flight hat trick as the
Cherries secured their first win in the Premier League
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic was critical of his side's showing after West Ham suffered a
second consecutive Premier League defeat, this time against newly promoted
Bournemouth. Before today, the Cherries hadn't even scored a Premier League
goal, let alone won a game. But it took young sensation Callum Wilson less
than 12 minutes to change all that, scoring the first of his three goals as
Eddie Howe's side outscored the hosts 4-3. Despite fighting back level from
two goals down, West Ham quickly handed the initiative back to Bourenmouth,
going 4-2 down before Modibo Maiga's late strike helped add a touch of
respectability to the scoreline. Speaking after the game, Bilic was critical
of his team's performance, in particular with the lack of passion shown as
they slumped to defeat against the newly-promoted side. He said: "It went
wrong from the start. We played a very bad first half. It is very hard to
explain three of their four goals - you can't make errors like that at this
level. "They were more lively and more aggressive but you can't make those
mistakes. It's not an alarming situation but we can't continue to play
without more desire. We simply need a better mentality."
For Eddie Howe, this was a first taste of success in England's top league
and, despite a virtuoso display by 23-year-old Wilson, the manager had
praise for the way his whole team played, particularly after they had been
pegged back at 2-2. "It was a really strange game," he said after the match.
"We were in cruise control in the first half and pleased with our
discipline. In the second half we allowed West Ham back into the game but,
full credit to the players, they managed to win the game in the end. "How we
reacted at 2-2 was the key moment. We scored a key third goal through Marc
Pugh, a fantastic finish, and we thoroughly deserved to win."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former boss Sam Allardyce does not know what the 'West Ham way' is as
Hammers continue to struggle
0 COMMENTS14:24, 23 AUGUST 2015
BY AARON FLANAGAN
Allardyce spent four years at the helm at Upton Park but is now taking a
break from football - and distanced himself from the Sunderland job
The Mirror
Former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says he still does not know what the
'West Ham way' is. Allardyce was axed from his job at the end of last season
after failing to earn a new deal at Upton Park and was subsequently replaced
by the enigmatic Slaven Bilic. But Allardyce, who was in charge of the
Hammers for four years, says that he does not know what the fabled style of
play West Ham fans accept actually is. The 60-year-old claimed that his
style of play was to pick up wins - something he did in the first half of
last season. Bilic is himself looking to find a winning, and accepted, style
of play, after falling to home defeats against Leicester and Bournemouth in
the past two weeks, shipping six goals in the process. I still don't know
quite what the West Ham way is," Allardyce said on Match of the Day.
"I always thought that playing attractive football and winning [was the
West Ham way]. "But the winning is the first priority, we all know that.
Then playing very well. "We did that last year - certainly the first half
[of the season], we didn't quite manage it in the second half. We played
some exciting football."
And on supporter protests at Upton Park, he said: "There are times you feel
the criticism is a little harsh - when you've taken them from where they
started to where they've got to. "There's always a big expectation based on
what you achieve and can you achieve more than that. And there's always been
a big expectation at West Ham." Allardyce has already been touted as the
favourite to replace Dick Adovcaat at Sunderland following their disastrous
start to the season. But Big Sam was soon to quash those reports while live
on air. He said: "It's not true. Look how relaxed I am looking, I'm not
stressed like those boys [other managers]. There's no truth in it. "I'm
taking a break. It was four years at West Ham. I'm chilling out."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"I was not playing badly": Angelo Ogbonna hits back after being hauled off
in first half of Bournemouth defeat
18:44, 22 AUGUST 2015
BY ED MALYON
The Italian defender was not pleased to be taken off as Bournemouth raced
into an early lead at Upton Park
The Mirror
Angelo Ogbonna has hit back at boss Slaven Bilic after the West Ham manager
took him off in the first half of the east London club's defeat to
Bournemouth. The newly-promoted Cherries, who before today had never scored
a top-flight goal in their history, went 2-0 up early on through a Callum
Wilson brace - provoking the ire of the Upton Park crowd. Seeking to change
things, Bilic hauled off the Italian defender for James Tomkins as West Ham
managed to pull level at 2-2 before conceding twice more in a game they
ended 4-3 losers. And Ogbonna, an £8million signing this summer, took to
Twitter after the match to manifest his disappointment at the decision.
"Haunted and unhappy match! I have to accept the coach's decisions but I was
disappointed when i had to go back to the bench after 35' "I was not playing
badly," he wrote. "However I don't give up, we don't give up."
The Croatian coach has already fallen out with one player since arriving
back at the Hammers.New Hammers boss Bilic laid down the law after clashing
with Morgan Amalfitano. And the French midfielder has paid the price for
challenging Bilic's authority by being axed from the first team-fold and
ordered to train with the kids, leaving his Upton Park future in doubt.
Bilic and Amalfitano clashed after the Frenchman missed a team meeting.
Amalfitano is understood to have "given the manager attitude" when he took
exception to being confronted about his absence in front of his teammates.
The fuming Hammers boss reacted by banning Amalfitano, 30 , from the club's
first-team training ground at Chadwell Heath in Essex. Amalfitano has now
been ordered to train with the club's development squad at nearby Rush
Green, where the Under-21s and Under-18s are based. Having been involved in
the Hammers first four games of the season, the 30-year-old has been left
out of the squads for their last four matches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Blog: Karen Brady cuts to heart of OS matter
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Karren Brady has delivered the ultimate interview on the Olympic Stadium and
it flattens the ' waste of taxpayers money' argument as completely as
Tottenham would have flattened the OS itself. The world and his wife – along
with eight London Supporters Trusts – have attacked a deal which saw the
Irons accepted as anchor tenants. The Supporters Groups have launched a
petition in pursuit of a public inquiry which if successful would waste
millions more of taxpayers' money. But speaking to the Daily Mail, the
Hammers vice chairman has presented an irresistible reasoning as to why
they have all got it so wrong. Led by the Barry Hearn and the BBC's Dan Roan
the near obsessional chorus of disapproval from jealous fans, this has
become the bore of the century. But for ClaretanHugh Ms Brady has dismissed
their criticisms at a stroke declaring: "Anyone could have bought this.
Leyton Orient, the Qataris, anyone. "But nobody saw it, nobody saw the
potential here. So roll back that movie without West Ham. Taxpayers' money
would have poured into a big hole, been concreted over and never seen
again."
She points out quite accurately that now the stadium is nearly finished
"everyone recognises what is has become the longest running and says it's a
steal" Her point however is that this was most certainly not the case during
negotiations and that there was no queue of rival buyers? Without West Ham
this would have been pulled down. It was going to be 25,000 with no roof.
She adds: "What would have happened then? Who would have come to that
stadium? That's a legacy? Tottenham just wanted to flatten it and start
again. So no Olympic Stadium at all. This is going to be an asset, a
national asset. We shouldn't have to keep justifying ourselves.'
There's much more and its well worth a read but that for us cuts to the
heart of the matter and ClaretandHugh has held the same position throughout
this saga. West Ham has done absolutely nothing wrong – they made a bid…it
was accepted. All other questions should be addressed to the London Legacy
Development Corporation.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Exclusive: Irons consider controversial U-turn
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
EXCLUSIVE
C AND H
Joey Barton is back on the Irons radar. ClaretandHugh understands the
manager may give the thumbs up for the club to perform a U turn on the
defensive midfielder after yesterday's shocking performance by the back four
in the 4-3 defeat by Bournemouth. Slaven Bilic left Upton Park shocked by
some of the defending which only pressed home the need for a defensive
midfielder to shield the back line. Alex Song is nowhere fit enough to move
in to the side and any medical he faces is on his general condition rather
than the current ankle problem from which he is recovering. That will come
later. In the meantime the team's need for such a player became glaringly
obvious and ClaretandHugh was told exclusively after the game that Barton
remains a possibility. We were told : " There's a discussion going on but at
the end of the day it is the manager's decision and my understanding is he
is currently thinking things over. It could happen."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Song facing long lay-off
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Reports that Alex Song has failed his 'medical' is wide of the mark given
that he faces two! The Hammers are still awaiting the outcome of the first –
which is looking at his general well being. The second will be held when he
has recovered from the ankle injury which needed surgery in the summer. But
a top source revealed to ClaretandHugh that the ankle problem will ensure
that he "is unable to play until November the earliest." And that assessment
by the club's medical team assumes that the midfielder makes a normal
recovery from the operation which involved removing a piece of floating bone
from his ankle. David Sullivan has already commented: "He's injured at the
moment, which is something you've got to weigh up. But we've got until
September 1st to make a decision." It's for that reason the Hammers may
perform the U-turn on Joey Barton, as reported earlier on this site today,
whom they believe they can get on a pay as you play basis. ClaretandHugh was
told by a top Hammers source: "Even if we decide to sign Alex the facts are
that he won't be fit to play again until November the very earliest so
there's some hard thinking to be done."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons end interest in former star
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 22, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham will make no further moves aimed at bringing Robert Green to Upton
Park! Club officials were absolutely delighted with the form shown by
much-maligned Darren Randolph against Bournemouth and believe they have a
decent number two on their hands. Although four goals went by the Republic
of Ireland international he could not be held responsible for any of them
and but for a couple of fine saves the scoreline could have been worse. We
were told: "Darren's form in the Europa Cup matches hadn't been encouraging
and there were some worries which led to the Green moves. "But he was
excellent against Bournemouth and there's a few relieved people around. On
the back of that performance the club will stick with Darren."
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Sunday, August 23
Daily WHUFC News - 23 August 2015
Sunday 23 Aug Updated Sunday 23 Aug 01:00
ON THIS DAY
On this day - 23 August
Saturday 22 Aug Updated Saturday 22 Aug 18:39
WEST HAM TV
Bilic - I want to apologise to the fans
Saturday 22 Aug Updated Saturday 22 Aug 17:03
MATCH REPORT
West Ham United 3-4 Bournemouth
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A QUESTION OF MENTALITY OR FORMATION ?
Blind Hammer examines Slaven Bilic's post match analysis of the Bournemouth defeat
Losing a game of football is not necessarily a disaster or a definer of a team's ability. Arsene Wenger often declares that how Arsenal are playing is more important than any single Premiership result. Leicester City is a good example of a team which, building upon confidence from promotion, retained belief in their manager, even whilst rock bottom, and eventually came good. All the time Leicester were losing reports appeared which pointed out how close matches were and that they were often unlucky.
Having said that, the worrying thing about the last two West Ham home games is that we were not unlucky in either game. In both games we were beaten by two teams who were better set up and played superior football. Yesterday at West Ham it appeared that there were some Bournemouth players no West Ham player matched. For example, Wilson, Francis and Ritchie. A similar list could have been produced after the Leicester game.
Whilst this should not be a cause for panic it is clearly a cause for concern. In two home games we have now conceded six goals and had two of our key defenders sent off with straight red cards. This follows a similar trend in our European games where our defence leaked goals against moderate opposition. In these games two more of our defenders, Collins and Tomkins also received straight red cards. Sackho of course joined this particular club at an early stage. It is still August but we have had five players sent off already this season, four of them in defence.
Against Bournemouth Creswell and Jenkinson had their worst games in a West Ham shirt. In Jenkinson's case this is the second poor game in a row.
By any sober analysis this is a defence in disarray. It clearly needs to be sorted. The most difficult thing to do in the Premier League is score goals. A team playing with the handicap of a leaky defence is a sure-fire way to court relegation.
In his post-match interview Bilic focussed on the attitude of his players and their lack of aggression. In particular he described them as needing a better mentality.
This is a worrying analysis as he has some clear responsibilities here. Given the player skill sets available to a manager in any game there are three inter-related areas in which a manager can influence play. The first is by team selection before and, via substitutions, during the game. The second is strategy and tactics including team formation, and finally by providing motivational/inspirational abilities to enable players to play, despite adversity, to the best of their ability.
Bilic's post-match comments places some doubt on his leadership abilities. The team on the pitch should mirror his personality, including aspects of discipline and concentration.
What can we make of Bilic in the other key areas of management? He has only some limited influence over the composition of his squad. Nevertheless it is a concern that one of his signings, Obonna, who was to be our key defensive lynch-pin this season, was tactically substituted before half time.
Where Bilic has complete responsibility is in team formation, tactics and for want of a better word morale. Can we really explain Cresswell's and Jenkinson's errors as being simply caused by "mentality"? Cresswell in particular had no such problems with mentality last season. My suspicion is whilst we obviously need a stronger squad the problems are also deeply rooted in team setup. We are no longer playing a long ball game. Instead we are playing a passing game with a back four supported by a holding midfielder, with three in a diamond supporting an up top and deep lying striker.
However the switch from the long ball, whilst pleasing on the eye, has also placed more pressures on the defensive sector of the team. We are becoming vulnerable on the flanks. Jenkinson and Cresswell are not only becoming exposed in defensive situations but are also under game pressure to provide the attacking width as well. Whilst this was spectacularly successful against Arsenal who failed to provide hardly any pressure on the flanks by playing a narrow midfield, it has not impressed in either of our own two home games or the European adventure.
West Ham is far too feeble defensively at the moment and too much is being expected of Jenkinson and Cresswell. This pressure lays, to my mind behind the fragilities these once dependable players are now exhibiting.
I believe Bilic needs to sort this out. My amateur advice is that if he wants Jenkinson and Cresswell to act as wing backs to provide support up and down the pitch, he needs to have a more cautious defensive setup. Specifically we need three defenders nominated to support rather than the current two. Reid Tomkins and Obonna should provide the insurance which could release Cresswell and Jenkinson into more familiar marauding roles with greater safety. The casualty in this setup would be either the second striker which would make life much tougher for players like Maiga, or potentially abandon the diamond to revert to a 5-3 -2. Of course 4-4-2 is also an option with wide players helping to cover the flanks with Jenkinson and Cresswell.
For the moment I really hope that this is simply a question of Bilic getting to know the Premier League and adapting formations to suit the players he has rather than persisting with ideal formations for which he currently does not have the talent.
What is undeniably true is that if he does not sort this out then problems with mentality, attitude and confidence will not improve. He now needs to show the practical leadership which can re-inspire a team.
David Griffith
WEST HAM 3, BOURNEMOUTH 4. UN-DEFENSE-ABLE.
By David Hautzig 22 Aug 2015 at 17:52 492 comments
This past week has taken a lot of the excitement about the new season, new manager, a bright future, etc, and turned into anxiety and cynicism. Significant funds for strengthening the squad now looks to be in the neighborhood of 20 million net, Adrian's red card had many expecting Randolph to keep watching Bournemouth shots fly by him as if they were shot by a tennis ball machine, and Nolan started. The narrative was being set up on a tray. A team in desperate need of a goal let alone a result was coming to town, and the fear was they had come to the perfect place. Because I'm overtly emotional about West Ham and those feelings change every few minutes, this gloom and doom didn't surprise me. Nor do I expect it to leave me anytime soon.
Bournemouth started the game with the speed and aggression we expected from them, and wished from us. In the 4th minute, Francis and Gradel combined with some clever short passes to earn a corner, but the ensuing free kick was missed by Francis. West Ham answered minutes later with an attack of their own when Nolan, playing as a de-facto second striker, was on the receiving end of a Sakho back heel pass but Cook got their first to force a corner. The free kick came to Reid, who guided it into the back of the net right after he pushed Elphick to the ground, and the goal was disallowed.
In all of the years I've watched West Ham, I've seen plenty of shocking individual performances. Mostly by players whose uselessness was a foregone conclusion. But last year's Hammer Of The Year, Cresswell, decided to buck that trend and transform from a player I expect at least decency out of into a bad Sunday League sub. In the 11th minute, Cresswell gave the ball away to Francis on the touchline. Without hesitating, Francis sent a cross into Wilson who volleyed it past a helpless Randolph.
West Ham 0, Bournemouth 1.
West Ham tried to answer in the 14th minute when Payet sent a through ball that Kouyate couldn't run onto and Boruc got their first. Minutes later Noble sent a long pass to Sakho that he controlled and forced a corner. The initial set piece was cleared but Cresswell brought it back and crossed for Kouyate whose shot was high.
In your wildest nightmare, you couldn't have conjured up how badly our fullbacks played today. In the 22nd minute, Jenkinson lost the ball to Gradel deep in West Ham territory. He got back and eventually blocked the shot, but the tone for his awful display was set.
In the 28th minute, Cresswell did what I thought was impossible. Screw up even worse than he already had. With the ball pinging around the West Ham penalty area, Cresswell literally served the ball up for Wilson on a silver platter with the worst back pass imaginable. Italian defenders on the take a few years ago would be proud, and Wilson's mom will probably demand her son send Aaron a Thank You Card. Randolph had no chance whatsoever.
West Ham 0, Bournemouth 2.
The Cherries had more than a few chances to increase their lead before halftime but couldn't find the back of the net. In the 32nd minute Wilson and King worked a clever one-two before King tried to beat Randolph to the near post but hit the side netting instead. Bilic then made what looked like an odd substitution. Tomkins coming on wasn't that odd, but instead of Jenkinson taking a seat it was his seven million pound choice, Ogbanna.
Just before the whistle, Wilson ran at the West Ham defence, drawing three defenders to him. He passed to Gradel, who cut to his right before unleashing a rifle shot that Randolph was able to get his right hand to for a terrific save.
Halftime. West Ham 0, Bournemouth 2.
West Ham came out for the second half with another substitution, Matt Jarvis replacing Kevin Nolan. The other replacement was in the form of defensive foul ups, with Bournemouth replacing West Ham. In the 47th minute, Payet sent a free kick into the box that Boruc failed to handle with authority. His weak punch ended up at the feet of Noble, who cut to his right and invited a challenge in the box. King accepted the invitation and brought Noble down for a penalty. Noble slotted it home and West Ham were back in the game.
West Ham 1, Bournemouth 2.
Four minutes later, as the adrenaline rush from Noble's PK was just starting to subside, Cook let a West Ham throw get past him and onto the chest of Sakho. He turned and shot from a tight angle that Boruc couldn't handle and Kouyate stepped in to drill the rebound into the top of the net.
West Ham 2, Bournemouth 2.
Conventional wisdom would have said the more experienced Premier League team would continue their surge against the newcomers. Instead, Bournemouth asked most of the questions. In the 57th minute, Gradel collected the ball 35 yards from goal and let fly but his shot went wide. A minute later, not to get lost in the horror show that was our defending, an awful pass by Reid invited pressure that Noble eventually cleared. In the 63rd minute, Surman found Pugh at the top of the penalty area and drove a low shot on goal that forced a great save from Randolph. The pressure finally paid off in the 66th minute when Gradel won the ball in midfield before finding Pugh on the left with space abandoned by Jenkinson to work with. Pugh cut into the area, let Jenkinson slide by him as if he was in some kind of Ice Capades show sans a sequined dress, and curled a shot into the net at the far post.
West Ham 2, Bournemouth 3.
Five minutes later, Bilic used his final substitution and again it was a head scratcher. Maiga coming on was enough to groan about. Sakho coming off when we needed a goal just made it worse.
In the 78th minute, the worst day Carl Jenkinson has had to live through as a professional footballer came to an end in a way befitting such a description. Following a West Ham corner, Bournemouth broke on the counter. The ball came to Gradel on the left of the West Ham area. He ran past Jenkinson, who then pulled him down inside the box. Red card, penalty, hat trick for Wilson.
West Ham 2, Bournemouth 4.
Maiga…..odd to be typing that in anything other than a pseudo obituary about a footballer seemingly cut down in his prime… cut the lead in half when he collected the ball near the top of the area, ran past Francis and rolled it past Boruc. The final kick of the game came from a West Ham corner and the ball sat tantalizingly close to the goal before being kicked out.
Final Score. West Ham 3, Bournemouth 4.
Losing our first two home games of the season puts us in a position to have only three points from our first five matches. That would be the same start as we had under Grant. While I firmly believe today wasn't about a manager or money, that it was about a stunningly horrible display by our fullbacks, the end result is very worrying. These are the same defenders as last year. And I don't have enough faith in the board to bring in the kind of reinforcements needed to truly guarantee a safe season. Yes, I said safe season. My notion of a top half finish is, at least currently, out the window. Maybe that's an extreme over-reaction.
Maybe it isn't.
West Ham transfers: Wissam Ben Yedder approach line up in attempt to solve striker crisis
• 0 COMMENTS
• 22:30, 22 AUGUST 2015
• BY TOM HOPKINSON , NEIL MOXLEY
The Irons want another forward having already lost Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll to injury PLUS: Joey Barton hasn't given up hope of a move to Upton Park • 19 Shares
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Hammer time? Ben Yedder is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia
West Ham have turned to France to solve their goalscoring problems and are lining up a move for Toulouse forward Wissam Ben Yedder, writes Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.
The striker will cost the Hammers around £6m and is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Enner Valencia who has been sidelined with ligament trouble.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has been scouring the European leagues for a replacement who can make a difference for Slaven Bilic during Valencia's absence and is mulling over a move for the speedy finisher.
In pictures - West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth:
VIEW GALLERY
Meanwhile, Joey Barton hasn't given up hope that a move to West Ham could resurface, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.
The free agent is wanted by several Championship clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Charlton, but still has his heart set on joining a Premier League side following his release from QPR.
He trained at West Ham, his most likely option, a couple of weeks ago and underwent a medical, but the club decided not to sign him after serious opposition from fans.
Joe's a no-go: Barton may be heading to Nottingham Forest unless West Ham do a U-turn on him
That prompted the midfielder, 32, to release a video in which praised the Hammers' 'knowledgeable' fans and told those who didn't want him at their club there were no hard feelings.
He has since met with Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hawasi and even though there are misgivings about signing him a move to the City Ground could materialise.
However, Barton still thinks he can do a job in the Premier League and hopes West Ham's mixed start to the season will see them re-approach him as Slaven Bilic looks to strengthen his squad.
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Irons end interest in former star
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 22, 2015 in News, Whispers
West Ham will make no further moves aimed at bringing Robert Green to Upton Park!
Club officials were absolutely delighted with the form shown by much-maligned Darren Randolph against Bournemouth and believe they have a decent number two on their hands.
Although four goals went by the Republic of Ireland international he could not be held responsible for any of them and but for a couple of fine saves the scoreline could have been worse.We were told: "Darren's form in the Europa Cup matches hadn't been encouraging and there were some worries which led to the Green moves. "But he was excellent against Bournemouth and there's a few relieved people around. On the back of that performance the club will stick with Darren."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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Exclusive
West Ham are set to settle on a new striker by the middle of this week.
David Sullivan is working day and night on the issue and senior sources revealed to ClaretandHugh this afternoon that they were expecting a breakthrough by Tuesday or Wednesday.
That coincides with Jack Sullivan's tweet from last night (Fri) and this afternoon we were told: "We will know where we are by midweek on two or three fronts.
"We have simultaneous moves going on as is usually the case and we'll do a deal one way or the other regardless."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Big summer signing Angelo Ogbonna has made it clear he was unhappy at being subbed in the first half against Bournemouth this afternoon.
Slaven Bilic chose to take the Italian off fter 35 minutes, replacing him with James Tomkins at the heart of the defence.
Ogbonna tweeted this evening that he didn't believe he was having a poor game but is refusing to give up on things.
He said: "Haunted and unhappy match! I have to accept the coach's decisions but I was disappointed when i had to go back to the bench after 35′ #WHUFC
"I was not playing badly. However I don't give up, we don't give up!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Irons 3 Bournemouth 4
It was summed up pretty accurately by Tony Gale in commentary: "I can't remember when two full backs played so badly in the same game!"
That may not be the precise top and bottom of it because Bournemouth at times played a brand of football we have been only able to dream about in recent years.
It's clearly the only way they can play with the ball going to feet 99 per cent of the time.
And apart from a 20 minute spell after the break when we came back from two down and looked as if we could go on to win, we really couldn't cope with it.
However, but for two shocking howlers by Aaron Creswell and an awful display which included a red card for Carl Jenkinson, after giving away a penalty, we may have got a result.
The Arsenal loanee twice lost possession in dangerous positions before his red card during by far his worst performance since arriving from the Emirates last season.
Cressie will have nightmares over his part in this defeat and so he should do, losing out on the right before the ball was crossed for Wilson to power home and then presenting the striker with a second from an awful attempted back pass.
The Hammers turned on the power at the start of the secon half and immediately got one back from the spot via Mark Noble after he had been brought down before Kouyate scored after Sakho's shot had come back off the keeper from Payet's corner.
There looked only one result after that as the irons poured forward but the Cherries slowly got their grip back ad with Max Gradel particularly dangerous they broke and Pugh was found in space to curl a shot beyond Randolph.
They were further ahead three quarters of the way through the match when Jenkinson failed to clear his lines quickly and was left trailing in Gradel's wake before pulling him down and receiving his marching orders.
Wilson cracked home the fourth and to notch the first hat-trick of his career but the game had yet another twist when Mr Modibo Maiga arrived as a sub and turned well to fire home the third and his first for two years.
Sadly it was too little too late and the visitors got a hold of things playing some good possession football and hang on although it could have turned with the last kick of the match.
Dimitri Payet delivered a near perfect corner which dipped low at the near post and was somehow scrambled away.
Yes, there are indeed reasons to be nervous but make no mistake, Bournemouth, like Leicester City last week, are a very good team who look set to get better.
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