Daily WHUFC News - 18th April 2016

Leicester City 2-2 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Leonardo Ulloa netted a dramatic 95th-minute penalty to help ten-man
title-chasing Leicester City snatch a 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with
West Ham United. The Hammers thought they had secured all three points after
a spot-kick from Andy Carroll and a wonder strike from Aaron Cresswell
helped them stage an impressive comeback from a goal down after Jamie Vardy
had fired Leicester into the lead. The England forward then picked up his
second yellow card of the game for simulation inside the area following a
challenge with Angelo Ogbonna which looked to have changed the course of the
game. But Leicester salvaged a draw with just second left on the clock after
Jeffrey Schlupp went down under a challenge by Carroll and Ulloa kept his
nerve to fire the spot-kick past Adrian. The Hammers had to settle for a
fourth league draw in a row and will be hoping to get back to winning ways
when they play Watford on Wednesday night at the Boleyn Ground. It could
have been a different story had the Hammers gone in front after just two
minutes, when they were cruelly denied by the woodwork. Dimitri Payet's
free-kick picked out Cheikhou Kouyate who saw his header saved by Kasper
Schmeichel in the Leicester goal, the ball then hit both posts before being
grabbed by the Denmark stopper. They say luck plays a part in any title
success but Leicester must have sensed it was going to be their day
following that amazing incident.

The home fans were certainly in good voice and could sense something big was
just around the corner following their side's amazing surge to the top of
the Premier League. Leicester created their first major chance on ten
minutes when Marc Albrighton's free-kick picked out Robert Huth, who rose
highest inside the box and headed inches past the post. The deadlock was
broken on 18 minutes as Leicester broke clear on the counter-attack
following another Payet free-kick. N'Golo Kante burst free into the West Ham
half and laid the ball into the path of Vardy who made no mistake firing a
left foot shot past Adrian into the corner of the net. Bilic knew he needed
to change something and brought on Andy Carroll to replace Pedro Obiang at
the interval, reverting to a 4-4-2 formation and matching up the home side.
The move almost paid off straight away as Payet's corner on 49 minutes fell
perfectly for Carroll, only for his close-range header to flash just wide of
the post. The big talking point of the game then came on 58 minutes when
Vardy was shown his second yellow card of the game after referee Jonathan
Moss adjudged the England forward had dived in the box following a challenge
from Ogbonna. The home fans were left fuming as Vardy made his way off the
pitch.

The Hammers were determined to make the extra man count and could have drawn
level on 62 minutes after Payet's cross fell to Winston Reid but he saw his
flicked volley clip the post on its way wide. The visitors finally managed
to get level on 84 minutes after Reid was brought down inside the area by
Wes Morgan. With normal penalty-taker Mark Noble being taken off earlier in
the second half, the responsibility fell to Carroll to take the spot kick
and he kept his composure to strike the ball into the bottom right-hand
corner of the net. The Hammers then took the lead on 86 minutes when
Antonio's cross eventually fell to Cresswell and he made no mistake by
controlling and striking an unstoppable left-foot shot past Schmeichel into
the far top corner. But there was another big call from the referee as
Leicester made one last desperate attempt to level. Carroll's challenge on
Schlupp saw Mr Moss again point for a penalty and substitute Ulloa sent
Adrian the wrong way from 12 yards.

Leicester City: (4-4-2) Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez
(Amartey 77), Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Schlupp 53); Vardy, Okazaki
(Ulloa 59)
Subs not used: Schwarzer, King, Gray, Wasilewski
Booked: Vardy, Morgan
Sent-off: Vardy

West Ham United: (4-3-3) Adrian; Antonio, Ogbonna, Reid, Cresswell; Obiang
(Carroll 46), Kouyate, Noble (Lanzini 63); Moses (Valencia 72), Emenike,
Payet
Subs not used: Randolph, Byram, Tomkins, Collins
Booked: Reid, Noble, Payet

Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 32,104 (3,339 Away)

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Jurcevic disappointed with late penalty
WHUFC.com

West Ham assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic was left disappointed with a
point and feels victory was taken away from his side as they had to settle
for a 2-2 draw with Leicester. Jurcevic was angry that Leicester were
awarded a penalty in injury time after Andy Carroll was alleged to have
brought down Jeffrey Schlupp inside the box. The Hammers coach has watched
several incidents of the replay and believes a penalty should not have been
awarded. But on a positive front he was thrilled to see the players show
their fighting qualities once again to come from a goal down and almost take
all three points against the Premier League leaders.

Jurcevic said: "We made some changes after we went 1-0 down and then we
managed to get ahead 2-1. But in the last seconds we are very disappointed
with the late goal. "On one side we are happy to get a 2-2 draw with the
Premier League leaders, but on the other side we could have had all three
points as it was not a penalty for Leicester. "I have seen the replays again
about five times after the game and because of this I am very disappointed.
We have lost two points. "But on a positive front we have shown big
character to come from one goal down and we managed to come back and score
two goals. It was a fantastic shot from Cresswell. "It was a great game for
people to watch up and down the country as it keeps everything open in the
fight for first place."

The points leaves the Hammers three points behind Manchester United in fifth
place and Jurcevic says there is still everything to play for in the final
five games of the season. Jurcevic added: "We stay in the fight for fifth
place and our dreams of European football are still alive. We have another
game on Wednesday and we have a good chance to win this game at home. "It is
realistic for us to play in a European position but we have to focus on the
Watford game. Our advantage is that we have a good spirit in the team and we
will try to do everything to stay in the top five."

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Cresswell - It feels like a defeat
WHUFc.com

Aaron Cresswell admitted Sunday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at
Leicester City felt 'like a defeat' after the Hammers let slip a 94th-minute
lead.

West Ham United looked on course for a notable victory over the ten-man
Foxes after goalscorer Jamie Vardy's red card allowed Andy Carroll – with a
penalty – and Cresswell himself – with a wonder-goal – to put the visitors
ahead late on.

However, Carroll went from hero to villain when his challenge on Jeff
Schlupp was adjudged a foul and referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot,
allowing substitute Leonardo Ulloa to send Adrian the wrong way from 12
yards.

"It's very disappointing, especially being 2-1 up with a couple of minutes
to go and they get a penalty," said the No3. "I haven't seen it back, to be
fair, so I don't know if it was a penalty, but it feels like a defeat and
it's very frustrating that we haven't walked away with the three points.

"I thought we started the game excellently, then Leicester grew into the
game and obviously Vardy got the goal and they went in 1-0 up at half-time.

"His sending-off changed the game in our favour, you could say, and we
thought we'd go on and get the three points, but we've ended up with a point
today."

Cresswell's disappointment came despite a fantastic second goal of the
season from the left-back, who controlled Michail Antonio's deflected cross
before smashing an unstoppable shot past Kasper Schmeichel with just four
minutes of the 90 remaining.

"I haven't scored one for a while, so it was fantastic for me," said the
defender, who added to his fine goal at Aston Villa on Boxing Day. "I think
someone has flicked it on and it's landed on my chest and then thankfully
for me it's gone in the back of the net."

Earlier, there was plenty of controversy as Vardy was shown a second yellow
card for simulation and, even earlier, Cheikhou Kouyate's second-minute
header had hit both posts following a Dimitri Payet free-kick.

"To be fair, I didn't see much of the second yellow card and I didn't have
an angle where I could see if he dived or not, but the first one was
obviously a yellow," Cresswell observed. "That swung the game in our favour
and we should have gone on and got the three points.

"I think the officials need help. Some decisions go your way and some don't
but if you've got the TV you can look at, you can make the right decision.

"They brought the goalline technology in and maybe Cheik's header might have
been given as a goal in that day. It's one of them, a minute into the game,
and if it had gone in it would have swung it massively in our favour and we
might have gone on to win the game.

"We didn't hold on for the three points, which was very disappointing."

Sunday's draw was a fourth in succession in the Barclays Premier League, but
Cresswell insists West Ham will not give up their challenge for European
qualification, with Emirates FA Cup semi-finalists Watford next up at the
Boleyn Ground on Wednesday evening.

"I think, because we had the defeat against Man United in the FA Cup, it
shows our heads haven't gone down and our season's not finished," he
concluded. "We're going to keep pushing on and try to finish as high up that
table as we can."

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Scully secures point for U18s
WHUFc.com

West Ham United grabbed a third Barclays U18 Premier League Group One
Play-Off draw in four games after Anthony Scully rescued point at home to
Reading on Saturday.

The Royals went ahead in the first half through striker Sam Smith, but
Republic of Ireland U17 international Scully earned a 1-1 draw for the
Hammers by scoring at the back post after outstanding play by winger Joe
Powell.

The hosts made four changes to their starting XI from their 3-0 defeat away
to high-flying Manchester City. Sam Howes was replaced by Bermuda-born
debutant Trott in goal, while Vashon Neufville, Danny Kemp and Connor
Coventry stepped in for Declan Rice, Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Reece Hannam.

In a fairly uneventful opening quarter of an hour, the closest either side
got to an opening goal was when Idris Kanu met a Neufville cross, but his
floated header was caught by Royals keeper Luke Southwood.

However, the opening goal arrived 20 minutes, when Trott losing control of
the ball in a crowd of players after catching a high cross. The ball
eventually found striker Smith, who tapped home into the vacant net.

Within five minutes of going ahead, Smith could have added two more to his
tally, but the first effort went narrowly over the crossbar and the second
was well saved by Trott.

West Ham did come back at Reading before the break, however, and had a
chance of their own when Powell's corner was headed out to captain Noha
Sylvestre, but the young Swiss star failed to keep his volley down.

Shortly before half-time, Scully spotted the run of Kanu in behind the
Reading defence, but Royals goalkeeper Southwood rushed off his line quickly
to clear the danger.

After the break, both sides worked hard to try and gain early control of the
second half. The first real action came on 50 minutes when Smith appealed
for a penalty after going down in the box under pressure from Matt Carter,
but the referee waved away their claims.

The Hammers' equaliser came on the hour mark, when Powell's skills and pace
beat two defenders to the touchline, before he crossed low for Scully to
fire into the empty net.

West Ham's goal gave them confidence and in similar fashion to Reading after
they went ahead, the Hammers went chasing an immediate second – although
Scully's volley traveled high and wide of the target.

With around 15 minutes left, the hosts made their first change after Scully
picked up a niggling injury, with Rosaire Longelo coming on the replace the
goalscorer.

Steve Potts' youngsters pushed for a winner right at the end, but it was not
to be as a Powell free-kick evaded everyone in the box and bounced narrowly
wide.

West Ham now have three more Group One fixtures remaining, starting with
Liverpool at home next weekend, followed by trips to Blackburn Rovers and
Everton.

U18s: Trott, Carter, Akinola, Eggleton, Neufville, Sylvestre (c), Coventry,
Scully (Longelo), Kemp, Kanu, Powell
Subs not used: T.Brown (GK), Johnson, Hannam

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Leicester City 2-2 West Ham United
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at the King Power Stadium

Leonardo Ulloa's injury-time penalty rescued a point for Leicester in a
controversial encounter with West Ham as the Foxes went eight points clear
at the top of the Premier League. Jamie Vardy's crisp finish from a
lightning break gave Leicester the lead on 18 minutes - but he was then sent
off after getting a second yellow card for diving when he tangled with
Angelo Ogbonna early in the second half. Referee Jon Moss made himself even
more unpopular when he awarded West Ham a penalty with six minutes left.
There had been pushing and pulling in both penalty areas but he decided to
punish Wes Morgan for pulling back Winston Reid at a corner. Substitute Andy
Carroll slotted home the penalty and Aaron Cresswell looked to have opened
the door to Leicester's title rivals Spurs with a stunning left-footed
finish two minutes later. As the game went into injury time, Moss produced
another controversial decision when he pointed to the spot once more after
Carroll made the merest contact with Jeff Schlupp. West Ham clearly felt
Moss had evened things up after earlier decisions in their favour, but Ulloa
was not concerned as he took the chance to secure what might yet be a vital
point - although Leicester will be without Vardy for next weekend's home
game with Swansea.

How precious is Leicester's point?

Leicester's fans celebrated at the end before turning their anger on referee
Moss - although it was his very questionable decision that allowed them to
earn that point at the end. Psychologically, this point could be vital
because a loss might just have produced a few doubts and given Spurs just a
little more wiggle room going into their game at Stoke on Monday. It means
Leicester's last Premier League defeat is still that last-minute loss at
Arsenal on Valentine's Day and their spirits will be lifted by the manner in
which they earned a point when it seemed certain they would end up
empty-handed.

Referee Moss highlights inconsistencies

Referee Moss was surrounded by players of both sides and escorted from the
field by stewards to jeering from the home fans at the final whistle.
Moss's eventful second half began after 56 minutes when he penalised Vardy
for simulation as he tumbled theatrically under a challenge from Ogbonna.
Having already given Vardy a yellow card, he felt obliged to give a second.
Vardy made the most of the contact and ran the risk of punishment. And he
has been accused of doing this before this season. Opinion was split but
plenty felt Moss was right. For West Ham's penalty, there was undoubtedly
pulling and pushing between Morgan and Winston Reid - so again Moss had
justification. The difficulty, the inconsistency, is that similar behaviour
had been going on in both penalty areas all afternoon without punishment -
so why did Moss decide this was the time to penalise it?
Too often, these decisions seem arbitrary, as was demonstrated when Ogbonna
dragged Huth to the floor even more unceremoniously a few minutes later and
no foul was given. Finally, in injury time and with an atmosphere of chaos
engulfing the game, Moss pointed to the spot for the slightest touch from
Carroll on Schlupp. It was incredibly harsh and the Hammers clearly felt
Moss had punished them to make up for earlier decisions given against
Leicester.

It is a tough job - as the abuse directed the referee's way at the end
proved.

Chance for Spurs?

Not as much as there might have been had Ulloa not scored at the end, but
they can apply pressure and move to within five points of Leicester if they
win at Stoke. Leicester at least have the point in the bag but Mauricio
Pochettino and his players will just feel the door is ajar, even if they
know time and games are running out.

Manager reaction

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri: "It was a very tough match. We were lucky at
the beginning when they touched both posts. After that we scored a great
goal and we had an opportunity to finish the match at the beginning of the
second half. "After then sending off it changed our match.
"I never spoke about the decision of the referee. Two yellow cards, that's
it. "Our performance 11 v 11 and 10 v 11 was fantastic."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "It was a good game of football. We showed
determination, character and quality. We turned the game around. We were
dangerous, and after sending off we totally dominated the game. "After our
second goal I thought we had done enough to win the game, maybe we could
have coped with added time better in terms of keeping the ball but they took
the risk. "It was extremely hard for referee, but I mean that was no penalty
at all."

Man of the match - N'Golo Kante (Leicester City)

N'Golo Kante
Kept Leicester City going in good moments and bad. Helped create Vardy's
goal and worked tirelessly all over the pitch.

The facts you need to know

Leicester have won (11) and scored (9) more penalties than any other Premier
League team this season.
Leicester scored with both of their shots on target.
West Ham were awarded their first Premier League penalty on the road since
October 2010.
Vardy is only the second Leicester player to score and be sent off in the
same league game (David Lowe v Wimbledon in 1994 is the other).
Vardy has scored the opening goal in 11 Premier League games this season -
more than any other player.
Vardy has had a hand in more Premier League goals this season than any other
player (22 goals, 6 assists).
What's next?

Leicester - minus the suspended Vardy - are at home to Swansea next Sunday.
The Hammers host Watford on Wednesday.

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Late Leicester penalty cast shadow on West Ham game - Slaven Bilic
BBC.co.uk
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at the King Power Stadium

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said the injury-time penalty that secured
Premier League leaders Leicester a point "put a shadow" over a controversial
encounter at the King Power Stadium. Referee Jon Moss had already sent off
Leicester goalscorer Jamie Vardy for diving and awarded the Hammers a
contentious penalty when he pointed to the spot after minimal contact
between Andy Carroll and Jeff Schlupp in the closing seconds.

After a 2-2 draw that leaves the Foxes eight points clear before
second-placed Tottenham's game at Stoke on Monday, Bilic said: "We feel
frustrated and very disappointed because the game didn't deserve what
happened at the end. It puts a shadow over one hell of a football game.
"I'm not eagle-eyed, an ex-referee or Howard Webb. It was hard for the
referee. You have 32,000 people here screaming for a penalty for every
contact in the box and for every long ball into the box. For a home side
it's a penalty or handball and in the other it's a cheat or a dive."
He added: "The game went a bit crazy and they were were losing so it was
very hard for him. It is easy to say refs shouldn't be influenced but this
is real life - of course it's not a penalty. If you see their penalty you
see a dive. "It was a good game. Goals, penalties, red card, tackles,
crosses. We are gutted - we did enough to win the game until the last five
seconds."

Of Leicester captain Wes Morgan being penalised for pushing Winston Reid in
the area, Bilic said: "That's the way Leicester's centre halves [Morgan and
Robert Huth] play and they get away with this all the time. "Leicester are
dangerous from our set pieces. We told our guys before the game but every
manager will have said the same thing and they still broke and scored their
first goal, so great credit to them."

Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri refused to discuss the referee's performance but
praised his players for the manner in which they recovered from conceding
goals to Carroll and Aaron Cresswell in the last 10 minutes to get a point.
He said: "It was a tough match. The sending-off changed the match but I am
so proud. I always ask my players to give me their soul and their heart
until the end and our supporters were also fantastic.
"I never speak about the referee. The referee is part of the game and that's
OK for me. I want to speak about my players and we when we conceded the
second goal we wanted to draw. It was unbelievable, fantastic, amazing."

Ranieri was relaxed mod about losing two points, despite the fact that
leading scorer Vardy will be missing for next weekend's home game against
Swansea. "We are not worried," said Ranieri. "We were worried at the start
of the season about reaching 40 points. If a side is better than us then
well done because we are doing the maximum. "Psychologically the last goal
is fantastic. It is more important than the point psychologically. It shows
we are there." And on Vardy's absence he said: "Ulloa will come in and he is
not just a fantastic man, he is a good striker, a good player."

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Andy Carroll: England boss Roy Hodgson plays down striker's Euro 2016
chances
BBc.co.uk

England manager Roy Hodgson has played down West Ham striker Andy Carroll's
chance of being selected for Euro 2016. There have been calls for Carroll,
27, to make an international return after his recent hat-trick against
Arsenal. But Hodgson said: "Every time someone scores a goal and he's
English it is 'why is he not playing for England?' "I'm certainly not going
to pick him on the basis that he scored a hat-trick so therefore has to be
in the England team."
Ex-Newcastle and Liverpool forward Carroll has scored two goals in nine
England appearances, but has not featured for the national side since
October 2012. Tottenham's Harry Kane, the Premier League's top-scorer with
22 goals this season, and Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who has netted 21
times, have established themselves in the England set-up and both played in
last month's friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands. Arsenal
forwards Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott and Liverpool striker Daniel
Sturridge were also in those squads, while captain Wayne Rooney has now
returned to the Manchester United side following injury.

Carroll has scored seven league goals this season and Hodgson will name his
23-man squad for this summer's tournament in France on 12 May.
"We know Andy, we know his qualities," added the 68-year-old. "In an ideal
world, if you had a lot of places at your disposal, you'd always include a
guy like him because he is exceptional in the air - but whether or not I'd
be able to include him with all these others, I don't know."
The England boss hinted that even skipper Rooney might not be assured of a
place after his two-month lay-off with a knee problem. "There's no
disguising the fact that people like (Arsenal midfielder) Jack Wilshere,
(Manchester City forward) Raheem Sterling, (Liverpool midfielder) Jordan
Henderson, (Arsenal midfielder) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wayne Rooney - a
year ago they were five players who were getting into every squad," said
Hodgson. "Things have happened to them and we have to reassess. "If we can
be sure they are at the level of fitness and capability to produce the
performances they produced a year ago they will be serious contenders. If we
are not convinced, we have to give it some thought."

England's European Championship group fixtures
11 June: Russia, Marseille
16 June: Wales, Lens
20 June: Slovakia, Saint-Etienne

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West Ham's Andy Carroll believes Leicester should not have had last minute
penalty
Last Updated: 17/04/16 5:17pm
SSN

West Ham striker Andy Carroll feels the last minute penalty given against
him during Sunday's match with Leicester was the wrong decision. Leonardo
Ulloa scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of injury-time to
earn 10-man Leicester a dramatic 2-2 draw with the Hammers.
Carroll was adjudged to have fouled Jeffrey Schlupp in the box, convincing
referee Jon Moss to point to the spot. Eleven minutes earlier, Carroll
converted a penalty after Wes Morgan was penalised for bringing Winston Reid
to the ground. The England international felt that the decision to give a
penalty for Morgan's foul on Reid was correct, but his challenge on Schlupp
did not merit the same outcome. "It was always going to happen [a penalty],"
he told Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves after the game. "It's hard for the ref,
but all game it's been happening, and for me it was a penalty. But then you
see the one that was given against me, he's gone down before I've even got
him. "He's [Schlupp] took a touch, the ref's looking to even it [the game]
out."
The draw is a blow for West Ham and their Champions League hopes as they sit
sixth in the Premier League table. The Hammers have now drawn their last
four Premier League matches, and Carroll says his team-mates will look to
quickly improve their form with just five league games left of the season to
play. He added: "If we keep getting draws then we won't finish very high but
we're working on it. "It was disappointing [today]. We've got to take each
game as it comes and hopefully get a few more points before the end of the
season."

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Slaven Bilic sympathises with referee after West Ham draw at Leicester
By Pete Hall
Last Updated: 17/04/16 6:36pm
SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic sympathised with referee Jon Moss after Leicester
earned a dramatic point in a in a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium..
Trailing 1-0 following Jamie Vardy's first-half opener, the Hammers turned
the match on its head with Andy Carroll's penalty and Aaron Cresswell's
stunning strike giving the visitors a 2-1 lead heading into stoppage time
against the 10-man league leaders. However, Jeffrey Schlupp was
controversially adjudged to have been fouled by Carroll right at the death,
allowing Leonardo Ulloa the opportunity to snatch a dramatic equaliser from
the penalty spot, and the Argentine made no mistake. While evidently
frustrated to have seen the penalty given, Bilic actually offered some
sympathy to the predicament Moss was put in. "We are gutted," Bilic told Sky
Sports. "We feel that in the end we did enough to win the game. "It was hard
for the referee. Every ground, not only here, are asking for handball and a
foul. I feel for him a little, but it was not a penalty. "The player
[Schlupp] is touched and he goes down, it is not a penalty, but with the
pressure and situation with them being top of the table and 30,000 people
screaming for a penalty, it is hard for him. "Leicester do have reason to
question whether we should have been given a penalty, as they have been
doing that all season, they play that kind of football. Most of the time
they get away with that."

Despite the late setback, the result does see the Hammers keep pace in the
race for the top four, and the nature of the performance in coming back from
a goal down did please Bilic.

"We showed character and quality, even in the first half," Bilic added.
"They scored a goal on the counter attack, but we didn't lose shape and
composure, and we were rewarded with the penalty. "We coped well in the
second half with their counter attacks and we came back. After the equaliser
we didn't stop. We were searching for a winner with full-backs up.
"Cresswell scored the goal from the position of a left winger. It is a big
frustration for us. We deserved to win the game."

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Leicester rollercoaster shows no sign of slowing amid refereeing controversy
and Ulloa's late leveller
18:45, 17 APR 2016
OPINION BY JOHNCROSS
West Ham looked set to hand the Foxes defeat but Leonardo Ulloa's 95th
minute penalty gave Claudio Ranieri's men a share of the spoils and an
eight-point lead
The Mirror

The last time Leonardo Ulloa scored a last gasp goal at the King Power
Stadium it measured on the Richter scale. Ulloa's 95th minute penalty sent
shockwaves through the title race again as Leicester got lucky with the last
kick of the game on a day of high drama. Two controversial penalties, a red
card for Jamie Vardy and finally Leicester's five game winning run came to
an end. But even after such a breathless rollercoaster ride, Claudio
Ranieri's men extended their lead to eight points with just four games left.
Vardy, who had been sent off for a second yellow card for diving, raced onto
the pitch to hug Ulloa who salvaged a point from the brink of defeat after
the most controversial of a string of big refereeing decisions. It took some
doing but referee Jon Moss ended up being public enemy number one with both
teams and Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel even had to stop Robert Huth
confronting the officials after the final whistle. Schmeichel then took it
upon himself to go to every corner of the ground to try and whip up the fans
and change the mood from anger to positivity. The boos quickly turned to
cheers again. Moss, meanwhile, might have been forgiven for trying to grab a
lift in Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter - which takes
off from the centre circle after every home game - as his only safe route
out of the city.

A big test of Leicester's bottle was always going to come and this was it.
But it also exposed the flip side of Leicester's fairytale because, amid all
the unlikely heroic stories, they do use the dark arts of pushing, pulling
and every trick in the book. They also must have known it was going to be
their day when Cheikhou Kouyate's second minute header was pushed onto a
post by Schmeichel, rolled along the line, hit the other post and bounced up
into the grateful Leicester keeper's arms. Schmeichel started the move for
Leicester's 16th minute opener. He threw it out to Riyad Mahrez, he turned
and fed N'Golo Kante and his perfect pass set up Vardy to drive a fierce
shot through West Ham keeper Adrian for his 22nd goal of the season.

With Kante running midfield, it looked like Leicester were on easy street
and heading for another win. But West Ham boss Slaven Bilic changed it half
time, almost admitting his mistake by putting on Andy Carroll and going for
a 4-4-2. Lump it up to the big man. And it worked. Moss had apparently
warned the players for cut out grappling and holding in the penalty box. The
issue became even bigger after Carroll's introduction. Robert Huth even
appeared to have Winston Reid in a headlock at one corner. But things got
count of control after 56 minutes. Vardy, having already been booked for a
first half foul on Kouyate, then got sent off for a second yellow. Vardy
went down after tangling with Angelo Ogbonna.

Vardy was incensed. The Leicester striker was going at great pace, the
accusation was that Vardy stuck out a leg, looked for the decision and yet
it did seem incredibly harsh. The decision split TV pundits down the middle.
But every Leicester player felt cheated - and got onto Moss's case.
Vardy angrily finger pointed and shouted at Moss as he took a long time to
leave the pitch. It may now be that the FA give him an extra sanction, as if
being banned for next Sunday's game with Swansea was not bad enough. It gave
West Ham renewed hope. Moss finally clamped down as Wes Morgan grappled with
Reid, the referee pointed to the spot and Carroll stepped up to equalise in
the 84th minute. Two minutes later, Leicester did not clear their lines and
the ball came out to Aaron Cresswell and the West Ham left back smashed a
stunning 20 yard shot into the top corner.

Leicester were heading for defeat.

But then, with the Leicester fans giving Moss endless abuse and stick, the
referee gave the most bizarre decision of the lot. Into the fourth minute of
injury time, Jeffrey Schlupp took a tumble under Carroll's rather lame
challenge. Incredibly, Moss pointed to the spot. A minute later, up stepped
Ulloa and scored to the relief of the stadium. Ulloa got the last gasp
winner against Norwich in March and it caused an earthquake. The earth moved
again. And this time it changed the mood and leaves Leicester cursing the
referee but realising they got away with it.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leicester 2-2 West Ham: Leonardo Ulloa saves Foxes after Jamie Vardy red
card – 5 things we learned
15:27, 17 APR 2016 UPDATED 17:28, 17 APR 2016
BY JOHN CROSS
Vardy netted the opener but received a second yellow card for simulation,
allowing West Ham to take control after the break
The Mirror

Leonardo Ulloa came to the rescue just when it seemed West Ham were putting
a spanner in the works of Leicester 's title bid on Sunday. The
league-leading Foxes looked on their way to another win when Jamie Vardy
stroked them into the lead in the first half, but things unravelled after
the break. First, Vardy was sent off, receiving a second yellow card for
simulation. Then West Ham mounted a stirring comeback, Andy Carroll and
Aaron Cresswell scoring to make it 2-1. But Ulloa converted an injury-time
penalty to salvage a point for the Foxes.

Here are five things we learned:

1. Jamie Vardy is unlucky - but chickens have come home to roost
Don't be fooled by the fairytale. Leicester employ the dark arts, grappling
at corners, niggly, every trick in the box. But Jamie Vardy was incredibly
unlucky to be sent off for a second yellow, referee Jon Moss deeming that
the Leicester striker played for the penalty and tried to trick him by going
down under Angelo Ogbonna's challenge. Referees are under strict
instructions to clamp down on players looking for decisions. But should
every time a player goes over be a penalty or a dive? Of course not. Vardy
has played a clever game for much of the season. But this time he was hard
done by. Maybe chickens have come home to roost because refs are on the look
out. It really changed the game and Leicester had to batten down the
hatches. Then the dark arts came into play again. Wes Morgan grappled
Winston Reid to concede a penalty. A less obvious decision than some of the
earlier. But a big call by ref Jon Moss.

2. Don't mention the C word
Leicester were in cruise control, leading 1-0 up. Then suddenly a big
penalty call and Aaron Cresswell's stunning left foot drive made it 2-1 to
West Ham. It was shaping up to be a real test of Claudio Ranieri's title
credentials, but they showed their grit with that late leveller. This is the
hardest Leicester have been pushed in this run-in and suddenly Tottenham
have hope. We never thought we'd see Tottenham fans cheering on West Ham.

3. Andy Carroll is an acquired taste
Roy Hodgson made the Sunday morning headlines for saying he wouldn't pick
Andy Carroll for the Euros. Quite right, too. He's played what seems like 20
minutes in three years. And Hodgson was backed up by Slaven Bilic who left
Carroll on the bench and put Emmanuel Emenike in the starting line-up,
against Leicester captain Wes Morgan. But while Carroll may not yet have
done enough to win an England recall amid fierce competition, there is a
time and a place for him. That was proved by Emenike being bullied by Morgan
who kicked the life out of him and barely gave him a look-in. Carroll is a
threat but you've got to pick your moment. And Bilic probably got it wrong
this time by not starting him and made amends by bringing him on at half
time. His aerial threat immediately changed the game. And he scored the
penalty.

4. The King Power Stadium has become a tourist attraction

There were hordes of tourists sat just in front of the press box. No wonder
tickets for Leicester's final home game have allegedly been on sale for
£15,000. This time, they had selfie sticks, camera phones and cameras taking
pictures and soaking up the occasion. In fact, some spent most of the game
on their phones, posting pictures, taking snaps and making calls to say they
were there to witness history. It's hard to believe some of them had come
for the football. Just the history. That's what Leicester has become.
History in the making. Amazing stuff.

5. Dimitri Payet had a bad day
Player of the Year? Well, you wouldn't know it at Leicester. I'm surprised
by his nomination but maybe it's down to his recent impressive form, he's
hit the heights at the right time just as the voting papers go in. But Payet
got smashed in ten seconds by Danny Simpson, then largely went missing -
until he caught the eye just before half time for a terrible foul on Jamie
Vardy. Payet was lucky to only get a yellow rather than a red. Payet has had
a wonderful season, he's been West Ham's main man. But vote for a player
involved in a trophy. Or you'll regret it. As those who voted for David
Ginola in 1999 and Scott Parker in 2011.

Player ratings
Leicester

Schmeichel 7 - Amazing early let off after pushing Kouyate header onto the
post.
Simpson 7 - Smashed Payet within ten seconds, sent out fierce warning.
Morgan 7 - Bullied Emenike into submission. Tough display.
Huth 7 - Should have scored, headed great early chance wide of the post.
Fuchs 7 - Stayed at home, defended, did a super job.
Mahrez 6 - Quiet again, subbed before the end, needs second win.
Drinkwater 7 - Brilliant, hard working display, led every counter.
Kante 9 (MotM) - Sensational performance, full of energy, incredible.
Albrighton 6 - Quiet game, couldn't get involved and got subbed early.
Vardy 7 - What a game. Scored and sent off, 2nd yellow for diving.
Okazaki 7 - Worked so incredibly hard, sacrificed for Ulloa.
Subs: Schlupp 7, Ulloa 6, Amartey
West Ham

Adrian 6 - Ended up being the quieter of the keepers. Did OK.
Antonio 6 - Much better energy having looked tired in midweek.
Ogbonna 6 - Great physical tussles with Vardy and Okazaki.
Reid 7 - Hit the post with close range effort. Solid.
Cresswell 6 - Good crossing, provides a threat from left back.
Noble 5 - Poor by his standards, some careless passing.
Kouyate 7 - Hard working as ever, industrious and did well.
Obiang 5 - Hooked at half time to bring on Carroll. Unhappy game.
Moses 5 - Quiet and disappointing that he didn't seize rare chance.
Payet 6 - Even his free kicks were off. Disappointing display.
Emenike 5 - Got the nod over Carroll, probably a mistake.
Subs: Carroll 7, Lanzini 6, Valencia 6

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers VIPs moved for "their own safety"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 17, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H

David Sullivan jnr has revealed that he and the Hammers VIP party were moved
from their seats at full time because of the abuse being aimed at them. The
co chairman's eldest son complained that abuse was being aimed at the party
and alleges that security was doing nothing about it. He tweeted: "I really
don't think throwing things, screaming abuse with security allowing it to
happen is acceptable. And after being baited by a Leicester fan he revealed:
"To sum up abuse we were moved by security at full time.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DG sends "we're all safe" message through CandH
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 17, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has asked ClaretandHugh to let fans know that he, his family and
the Sullivans are all "absolutely fine" despite being forced to run the
gauntlet of hostile Leicester City fans this afternoon. The Hammers co
owners with their families were turned on after Andy Carroll home hammered
home a penalty to put the Irons on level terms before Aaron Cresswell's
thunderbolt put them in front. DG – speaking exclusively to CandH said: "It
became very unpleasant and hostile. They were throwing abuse at us and
chucking their cardboard clapper boards at us but you never know in a mob of
people whether there is one very dangerous individual do you? "The trouble
went on until the referee decided to give them a penalty which was the
softest I have possibly ever seen. Nobody on the planet will convince me
what was a spot kick, "After that the fans calmed down and we were all ok
again but it was quite unpleasant whilst it was going on and I'm not sure
what the fans thought we could do about it. "We were simply waiting a game
of football the same as them."
DG was relatively pleased with the team's response after the disappointment
of last Wednesday evening's FA Cup replay against Manchester United.
He said: "A point against the team I think will be the champions is a good
one but we should have won it and I'm bitterly disappointed because that was
never a penalty."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ref Moss makes himself man of the match
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 17, 2016 in Fans Forum, Hugh's Blogs,
News, Whispers
C and H

Leicester City 2 Irons 2

I'm not sure when refs decided they should become rock stars but it was too
soon.

For this afternoon Mr Jonathon Moss made himself the man of this crazy match
a with some bizarre decisions which looked at one time as if it would result
in finally giving West Ham what they have been missing all season – some in
their favour deserved or otherwise.

Then he wrecked everything by handing out the softest penalty in the world
to possible champions-elect City with just seconds of injury time left.

What we saw was no more than a coming together of Andy Carroll and Jeffrey
Schlupp but Moss immediately pointed to the spot and Leonardo Ulloa thrashed
home the spot kick with the final whistle sounding immediately afterwards.

It honestly looked to have been given as a result of Moss handing the Irons
a spot kick on 84 mins when Reid was brought down in a goalmouth tugging
affair with Wes Morgan off the ball.

AC made no mistake and the other AC, Aaron Creswell thumped home a glorious
effort two minutes later after great work down the right from Michail
Antonio.

The Foxes took the lead through Jamie Vardy who fired home a left foot shot,
later picked up a yellow card and was finally red carded for a second when
clearly diving in the box early in the second half.

Slaven Bilic was gutted by the result as was every Iron. We were never at
our best but City huffed and puffed, often to little effect and the
Cresswell goal alone was worthy of winning the game.

It left us in sixth place and still with a big shout of a European finishing
position but in truth the ref should never have handed the Foxes that final
penalty and was accompanied from the pitch by plenty of security.

If this season has shown one thing very seriously indeed it's that refs
alone can no longer be trusted with decision making alone.

The ref gathered a lot of moss this afternoon but I'll tell you what – he's
no Rolling Stone.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 16th April 2016

Carroll - We are all focused on Leicester
WHUFC.com

Andy Carroll is hoping the Hammers can bounce straight back against
Leicester on Sunday and says the players are excited at the prospect of
facing the Premier League leaders.

Carroll has nothing but praise for the way the Midlands Club have surprised
everybody in the game by storming their way to the top of the table and now
stand on the verge of securing their their first ever Premier League title.

The Hammers striker is keen to spoil the party at the King Power Stadium on
Sunday as his team-mates look to get straight back on the winning trail
following their disappointing defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup
quarter final on Wednesday night.

And with the chance to secure a European spot at the end of the season,
Carroll insists his side have still got everything to play for.

Carroll said: "The result against United was disappointing, it was one of
those days when things didn't happen for us. Now, we are all focussed on the
game against Leicester who have done fantastically this season.

"They were probably favourites to go down and they have turned that round.
They are where they are for a reason and we are all really excited to go up
to Leicester and play to our best.

"People kept putting them down and saying that they won't be able to keep it
up, but week after week, they prove they can and they stay strong.

"I think that if you look at a lot of the games in the last few weeks, there
are quite a few games in which we feel like we have dropped two points.

"Under Slaven we concentrate more on the other team than we did in the past.
Before, we focussed more on our own tactics, but now, we vary our tactics
from game to game."

After scoring a stunning hat-trick against Arsenal last weekend, Carroll is
desperate to stay among the goals as he looks to keep alive his hopes of
playing for England at the European Championship Finals during the summer.

Carroll said: "It's nice to be talked about like that (with England).
Getting back on the international stage is something I think about a lot.
But at the moment I am just concentrating on the way I am playing and trying
to play as best I can.

"Slaven has been great with me. He understands what I have been going
through with the injuries and he wants me to be on the pitch just as much as
I do. He knows how frustrating it is to be out with injury."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Speaks - Leicester City
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic says his team will need no added motivation when they head to
Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City on Sunday. The Hammers were
left deflated following Wednesday's Emirates FA Cup sixth-round replay
defeat by Manchester United in midweek, but have to pick themselves up
immediately for what is the toughest assignment in English football at
present.
However, Bilic is confident his players will have shaken off their
disappointment and will be revved up to continue their own challenge for a
top-six finish and European qualification.
"It was a huge disappointment because we wanted to go to Wembley and then go
on and win the Cup," said the manager. "But we want to finish high and we
are motivated to do that in our final six games, starting at Leicester on
Sunday. "We need points to finish high in the table. Do we need to win on
Sunday to qualify for the Champions League? Well, we know we need points if
we are to finish high."

Bilic confirmed that Winston Reid will be fit to face the Foxes after
missing the midweek defeat with tight muscles, while Sam Byram will be
available after being cup-tied.

Whoever he picks, the manager knows his players must be on their game to
prevent Leicester playing to their many strengths – namely
counter-attacking, releasing Jamie Vardy into space in behind the defence,
allowing Riyad Mahrez to isolate and run at his man and set pieces.

"It's hard to play them because obviously they are winning games 1-0 or
whatever. They are very patient and their transition is unbelievable,
offensively or defensively.

"They are not a one-dimensional team. OK, people are saying they catch you
on the break and all that, but they have Vardy who didn't stop sprinting
from the first game and that's amazing.

"They also have good crossing, people in midfield who can take the ball from
you like Kante or Drinkwater, but they can also travel with the ball, pass
the ball and shoot. Not to mention Mahrez on the right who can beat three or
four players and do something special, so they are very versatile.

"They are playing simple football, but they have players who are capable of
counter-attacking, beating three or four players in a tight space, and they
are great on set pieces. They are very hard to beat.

"Every manager says they have to stop them counter-attacking or Vardy going
into spaces, but they are doing that week-in, week-out."
As one of only two clubs to have beaten West Ham on home turf in the Boleyn
Ground, 2-1 back in August, did Bilic expect Leicester to go on and
challenge for the title?

"I wouldn't say I thought they would be in this position – nobody would have
said that at that time – but what was obvious after their first two games, I
said to myself, my staff and Claudio Ranieri that they had a team which was
going to be extremely hard to beat, no matter who they played against.

"I didn't know they were going to be big-time favourites to win the league
in this moment."
Bilic had warm words for Dimitri Payet following his nomination for the PFA
Player of the Year award, pointing to the fact that he will be among a
number of candidates on the pitch on Sunday.

"It's a great thing for him and it's great for the Club, because it proves
that we're playing well and having a good season. He made, as I have said so
many times and everybody agrees, a great impact not only for West Ham but
for the league. He deserves it.

"I think he's there for a reason and nobody was surprised that he was
nominated for the Player of the Year award. Hopefully he's going to win it,
but if not him, it has to be connected with something your club has achieved
and done, so if Leicester win the league it should probably be Vardy.

"If, for some reason, they don't win it and Spurs win the league, it should
be Harry Kane because he will probably score more goals. It has to be a
little bit connected with your club's achievements."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Young Hammers ready for Royal battle
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U18s will look for their first play-off stage win tomorrow
as they take on Reading at Little Heath. The young Hammers have so far
picked up two draws and a defeat in the first three matches of their
top-group play-offs, while the Royals have won once and lost three. Academy
Head of Player Development Peter Trevivian praised the U18s for their
qualification to the upper stages of the play-off system. He said: "It's
fantastic that the U18s are playing the likes of Liverpool and Everton and
Manchester City in this top group. "Those are the types of clubs these lads
should be competing against. Clubs gain reputations over a period of time
and West Ham are a team that others look forward to visiting. "That's why we
should be entertaining the top teams, and the U18s have done extremely well
to make sure they're doing that at the minute."

Former FA coach Trevivian joined the Club earlier this season, and he has
been impressed with what he's seen so far, particularly from the U18s.
"There's a real buzz to the [Academy] at the moment. Obviously when I came
in, I knew things were going well, but add to the U21s reaching the Cup
final the fact that the youths have made the top group, it's been great.
"It's been on top of the good work that's happening with the first team.
With the work we're doing at the Academy, we're getting a lot of good
feedback so hopefully we can carry that on."

The U18s' match kicks off at 11am on Saturday.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leicester City v West Ham United
SUN, 17 APR 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
13:30
Venue: King Power Stadium
BBC.co.uk

TEAM NEWS

Premier League leaders Leicester have a fully-fit squad to face West Ham at
the King Power Stadium. The Foxes have named the same starting line-up in 11
of their last 13 games and could do so again on Sunday.
West Ham will be without forward Diafra Sakho for a third match because of a
knee injury. Defender Winston Reid is expected to be fit after muscle
tightness caused him to miss Wednesday's FA Cup defeat against Manchester
United.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Wilson: "The sight of Claudio Ranieri holding back tears after his
side's win at Sunderland last Sunday was one of the images of the season -
delightful and touching. "Ranieri may still be talking about fantasies, but
the rock solid adherence of his players to the principles of teamwork look
set to turn those sweet dreams into solid silver. "West Ham will be smarting
from their FA Cup exit. Leicester would be right to be wary of Slaven
Bilic's excellent side - but just three more wins seal the title."

Twitter: @SteveWilson1967

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Again, Leicester play before Tottenham, so can open up a 10-point lead again
if they win, which is what I think will happen. Prediction: 2-1

Leicester City
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Leicester have won the last three meetings in all competitions by a 2-1
scoreline.
Andy King has scored the winner with four minutes remaining in two of those
three games.
Leicester City

Leicester could win six consecutive top-flight matches for only the second
time. They previously did so in March 1963 on their way to a club record
seven wins in a row.
Victory against West Ham would give Leicester an outright top-flight club
record of 22 victories in a season.
Eleven of Leicester's 14 clean sheets have come in their last 15 league
matches.
They have kept a top flight club record of five consecutive clean sheets, as
well as seven in their last eight home league matches.
Jamie Vardy has 21 league goals this season. He is the first Leicester
player to pass 20 in the top flight since Gary Lineker in 1984-85.
West Ham

West Ham have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games (W6,
D6, L4).
However, they have only won one of their last five (D2, L2).
Their last league clean sheet away from home came on 20 December against
Swansea.
Dimitri Payet has been involved in seven goals (four assists, three goals)
in his last seven league games.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 62% Probability of away win: 15%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by Professor Ian
McHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of
football matches.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic buys into 'the West Ham way' - John Hartson
By John Hartson
MOTD pundit
BBC.co.uk

West Ham are out of the FA Cup and look like they might fall short of a
top-four place too, but they should still be proud of their achievements
this season. They have so many reasons to be excited about this summer's
move to the Olympic Stadium and what it means for the Hammers' future. But
on top of that, there is a real togetherness at the club at the moment. The
fans and the board are totally behind the manager Slaven Bilic, and they
have a group of players who give everything every week. A top-six finish is
still on and, with the quality and experience in their team as well as their
will to win, I do not see their season just fizzling out.

It shows how far the Hammers have come that they expected to beat Manchester
United in this week's FA Cup quarter-final replay, and I think they will be
disappointed that they did not win the tie in the first game at Old
Trafford. The reason they were so confident ahead of Wednesday's 2-1 defeat
was that until then they had not been beaten at home for almost eight months
- 16 games in all competitions since 22 August. All the emotion of their
final season at the Boleyn Ground after 112 years definitely played its part
in that incredible run, but it would not have happened without Bilic's
arrival last summer. He was seen by some as a gamble because he had not
managed in the Premier League before but I think he is the perfect fit as
Hammers boss.

Bilic, 47, previously managed Hadjuk Split, Croatia, Lokomotiv Moscow and
Besiktas and was a popular player at West Ham in the 1990s West Ham are a
club whose fans do not want to lose their traditional playing style - 'the
West Ham way' - which is all about attacking football that is easy on the
eye. Bilic buys into all of that. He spent money very wisely in the summer
and some of the stuff I have seen them play under him this season has been
incredible. He has brought in these brilliant individuals like Dimitri Payet
and Manuel Lanzini, but has got the team ethic right too.

How the Hammers have improved in attack

I loved my two years as a West Ham player but I soon realised that some of
their supporters would not even mind being relegated as long as their team
is playing the right kind of football.
To say they are not bothered at all about winning is wrong, but they want to
be entertained by players who will get them out of their seats and on to
their feet. Even if it gets results, they do not want dull or boring
football, which is what they were seeing under Bilic's predecessor Sam
Allardyce. That is why a lot of fans turned on him. Allardyce can hold his
head high because he did the job he was brought in to do, which was to get
West Ham promoted and stabilise them in the Premier League, but Bilic has
taken them to the next level now.

West Ham's attack in the Premier League (and rank)
Season 2014-15 2015-16
Passes per game 357 (18) 394 (16)
Passing accuracy 74.6% (16) 77.4% (13)
Possession 45.4% (13) 47.6% (12)
Shots per game 12.8 (10) 14 (5)
Shots on target per game 4 (9) 4.7 (5)
Shot conversion rate 12.7% (12) 15.4% (6)
Goals per game 1.16 (13) 1.63 (=5)

Statistics don't always do justice to a team's style of play, but here they
help to show how the Hammers have improved in every attacking area this
season compared to last. The Hammers are more effective going forward under
Bilic but they are also well-drilled at the back and look solid whoever is
playing at centre-half. They have not become any more open.

West Ham's defence in the Premier League (and rank from fewest to most)
Season 2014-15 2015-16
Shots faced per game 15.5 (17) 14.7 (16)
Shots on target faced per game 4.7 (15) 4.5 (14)
Goals conceded per game 1.24 (7) 1.25 (9)

Their goals - and wins - dried up a bit when Dimitri Payet was injured in
November but they remained hard to beat during that period.

West Ham with/without Dimitri Payet
'If something is not working, Bilic will change it'

At the start of the season, West Ham earned some impressive wins at Arsenal,
Manchester City and Liverpool by playing on the break and not worrying about
possession. But that is not the only way they can play. There have been 12
league games home and away in 2015-16 where they have had more possession
than the opposition, and they have only lost two of them. If something is
not working, Bilic will change it - whether it is players or formations -
and he is versatile with his tactics too. Jump media playerMedia player
helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Having
Andy Carroll back at full fitness has given him another option and I do not
just mean pumping balls into the box. Yes, Carroll is very effective at
getting on the end of crosses and either heading for goal, knocking the ball
down for runners into the box or making sure defenders cannot clear their
lines properly. But he can play on the floor too, and is great at holding
the ball up, like I tried to do as a player. Carroll has been great as an
impact substitute in recent weeks but the way West Ham finish games has
They could not quite force an equaliser on Wednesday because of the
brilliance of United keeper David de Gea but they scored late goals against
Wolves and Liverpool on their way to the quarter-finals. In the league, only
Tottenham have earned more points from losing positions this season.

'You have to move with the times'

Olympic Stadium

I can only see West Ham being stronger next season although it might take a
while to adjust to the Olympic Stadium - especially for some of the fans.
The players will have to get used to it too, because the atmosphere will be
different to the Boleyn Ground. There is no way around that, sadly. I loved
playing there for West Ham, especially in night matches. We always fancied
ourselves against anyone under the lights, with a little bit of dew on the
pitch and with the fans getting right behind the team. It was electric. It
is an amazing ground that I always enjoyed going back to, but I cannot wait
to go to watch them at their new stadium because it is going to be very
special, too. To compete with the best, you have to move forward and move
with the times. The bigger attendances at the Olympic Stadium will allow the
club to grow and right now they are in very good hands.

John Hartson was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic column: West Ham face a true test of character against
Leicester after FA Cup exit
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard

The FA Cup defeat by Manchester United was bitterly disappointing - there is
no escaping that. This was our big chance to win a trophy this season and it
didn't happen. The players, the board, the staff, the fans, myself — we were
all down afterwards. Now, though, what will be the reaction? We have six
matches to go and 18 points available. What will we do? Are we going to feel
a little sorry for ourselves and let our season fizzle out, after all the
hard work we have put in? Or shall we find the resolve to come back stronger
and truly show what we are made of? These last six matches will be a true
test of character and I am confident this team — these players — will not be
found wanting. Of course we were all gutted after Wednesday night but it is
not my style to be down too long. It is part of my job now and that of my
staff, to focus on what is in front of us for what remains of this season.
We haven't experienced too many disappointments over the last few months so
when they come, it can be more difficult to accept. It can happen in
football, though. Look at how Barcelona's season has almost imploded in the
space of one week. If it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone.

On Sunday we play at Leicester and that challenge should be more than enough
to occupy us over the next couple of days. The facts speak for themselves
with only three Premier League defeats for Leicester all season and without
a goal conceded in the past five matches. They play a little like underdogs
no matter if it is home or away — they don't give you space to attack and
when they go forward, it is so quick, it is hard to stop them. When you have
possession they have a lot of players behind the ball and it is difficult to
counter-attack them but then, when they have the ball, it happens so quickly
— whether it is a long ball to Jamie Vardy or great skill from Riyad Mahrez
— in no time they are on to you with four or five players.
They also have a presence at set-pieces so they are not playing football
that is high risk to them. I haven't seen that the opposition have been
unlucky when they have played Leicester or that their goalkeeper Kasper
Schmeichel has had to make five saves per game. I am sure every manager over
the past few months has said to their team: "Don't let them counter-attack
you, don't let Vardy run in behind."

Sam Allardyce would definitely have said that last weekend but it still
happened. You have to give Leicester massive credit for that. Now, they are
big time in the driving seat for the title. They have a cushion of points
and maybe would only start to feel negative pressure if it comes down to a
three-point gap. Now, though, it must only feel like positive pressure. They
can afford to drop a few points and, on Sunday, they will know it will not
be a disaster if they don't win. Claudio Ranieri is a very experienced
manager, he has worked at big clubs and he is having the time of his life.
He inherited a team who were in good form for the final couple of months
last season and has brought in players who have not only made them more
solid but also given them a different dimension offensively. They must be
revelling in what they are doing but we are also enjoying our season. Maybe
we would have had a little bit more of the spotlight on us for what we have
achieved, had not Leicester been the story of the season but there are no
complaints from us — they have deserved every accolade.

In many seasons there is a team who come through unexpectedly but not like
this — not from bottom to top — it is truly amazing. They have some good
candidates for the PFA Player of the Year. I am biased, of course, in favour
of Dimitri Payet, who has been magnificent for us and has made a massive
impact on the whole league but if he is not winning it, I would go for
Vardy.
Okay, Mahrez has been terrific and N'Golo Kante a revelation in midfield but
Vardy epitomises Leicester's incredible rise. It is not only his goals, it
is his general work-rate. For defenders, he is a real pest!

For us, there is still much at stake. Even if we were in the middle of the
table there is no valid reason why we should lose the motivation but
sometimes then, it is natural you are not in the red zone and you just lose
that five per cent. Our situation is totally different, though. We were
always trying to do as well as we could in both League and cups — that is
why we put out strong teams in every game. Now, unfortunately, one route has
closed for us but we still have the League. We have to come together, raise
our level, stop conceding and try to win these six games. I am not happy
with the way we have defended in the last couple of games — we should have
done better in that department — but also we were playing against Arsenal
and Manchester United, don't forget that. We have to remember what we did
earlier in the season, we have to recall that work-rate which gave us so
many wins. We can't lose that. I don't believe we are tired. In the last
couple of games, although we have made mistakes, we have ended stronger than
our opponents. I didn't think we looked tired at the end of Wednesday
night's match. We hope Winston Reid will be fit for Sunday. He had tight
hamstrings after the Arsenal game and it was too much of a risk the other
night but he should be okay for Leicester.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic ensuring West Ham do not dwell on FA Cup defeat
By Ben Reynolds
Last Updated: 15/04/16 12:49pm
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic wants his side to forget their FA Cup defeat
and focus on Leicester City in the Premier League. West Ham boss Slaven
Bilic insists his players will not be feeling sorry for themselves when they
return to Premier League action to take on leaders Leicester on Super
Sunday. The Hammers were knocked out of the FA Cup on Wednesday night
following a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Upton Park and must pick
themselves up quickly to resume their bid for European football next season.
Bilic's side currently sit sixth in the Premier League, five points behind
Manchester City in fourth, and the Croatian is confident his side will be
ready to play a team that is seven points clear at the top of the table.
"We are disappointed but we are in a great position in the league and
everything to play for," Bilic said. "We are totally motivated for the next
six games and it starts against Leicester. We have to do everything we can.
"We need points to finish high so yes we have to win, whether it's fourth,
fifth or sixth. United and Man City, five points to City is big with six
games to go, but there are also teams below us playing well and hoping to
get a European place next year."
Bilic admits he has been as surprised as anyone by Leicester's incredible
title challenge this season and did not see it coming despite losing 2-1 at
home to Claidio Ranieri's side earlier in the campaign. "I didn't think
Leicester that they would be in this position. Nobody would have said that
then," he added. "When I watched their first game and then after our game
and I said to myself, and to Claudio Ranieri, they had a team that will be
extremely hard to beat by anyone. But I didn't know they would be big
favourites to win the league."

Much of West Ham's fine season has gone through Dimitri Payet, who was named
on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year earlier
this week, and Bilic was full of praise for his midfielder. He said: "Of
course it's a great thing for Dmitri and a great thing for the club. It's
proof the whole club is playing well all season. Everybody agrees that he
has made a great impact not just for west ham but for the league. He
deserves it. He's there for a reason. "Nobody was surprised he has been
nominated. And I hope he is going to win it. If not him then, in many ways
it has to be connected to what the club does. If Leicester win the league it
should be one of them - probably Jamie Vardy is my choice. If for some
reason, they don't and Spurs win it, it should be Harry Kane."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leicester v West Ham preview: Foxes look to extend lead at top
Last Updated: 15/04/16 5:09pm
SSN

Leicester can move a step closer to winning the Premier League with victory
at home to West Ham on Super Sunday.

The Foxes start the weekend with a seven-point lead at the top of the table
after five successive victories without conceding a goal.

They have beaten the Hammers in the league and Capital One Cup this season
and another win would move them 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham,
who travel to Stoke on Monday Night Football.

West Ham have seen their top-four hopes fade in recent weeks following three
successive draws in the league.

They also lost their FA Cup quarter-final replay to Manchester United on
Wednesday, but manager Slaven Bilic says there will not be any hangover.

"We are disappointed but we are in a great position in the league and
everything to play for," he said. "We are totally motivated for the next six
games and it starts against Leicester. We have to do everything we can.

"We need points to finish high so yes we have to win, whether it's fourth,
fifth or sixth. United and Man City, five points to City is big with six
games to go, but there are also teams below us playing well and hoping to
get a European place next year."

Team news

Leicester have no new injury concerns, so Claudio Ranieri is likely to name
the starting line-up for the 12th time in 14 league games.

West Ham can welcome back defenders Winston Reid and Sam Byram after Reid
missed the FA Cup defeat to United with a tight hamstring and Byram, fit
again after a recent spell out injured, was cup-tied.

Striker Diafra Sakho is still sidelined with the knee knock which forced him
to withdraw from the squad to face Arsenal last weekend, but he is expected
back in training on Monday.

Opta stats

West Ham have won twice as many of the meetings (10) between these two sides
in the Premier League than Leicester (five), with two draws.

The Hammers have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games
(W6 D6 L4).

Leicester have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight Premier League
matches at the King Power Stadium.

Just two of Andy Carroll's 12 Premier League goals since the start of
2014-15 have come away from home.

The Foxes have only trailed for 47 minutes in their 22 Premier League games
played since the start of November 2015.

Dimitri Payet has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League
appearances (three goals, four assists).

Paul Merson's prediction

I was really disappointed in West Ham the other night. I had only really
seen highlights of Slaven Bilic's side this season and thought they looked
excellent, but having watched the whole game against Man United, they were
really poor.

United put in a very good display at Upton Park but for me, West Ham didn't
do enough. They didn't get enough crosses into the box and there is no point
playing Andy Carroll if you are not going to get the ball into the penalty
area. If you'd have asked me for a prediction on Monday I'd have said I'm
not sure, but now I can't see anything but a Leicester win.

However, I still see a twist to come in the title race.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)

Betting

Leicester are odds-on at 17/20 with Sky Bet to secure another three points
in their chase for the title with victory over West Ham (16/5), with the
draw priced at 13/5. The Foxes are 1/5 to complete the fairy-tale, while the
Hammers will be looking to bounce back after their midweek FA Cup exit to
Manchester United.

Leicester have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home games and
are 6/4 to extend that run. West Ham recorded wins at Everton and drew with
Norwich and Chelsea in their last three away games scoring two or more goals
in each of those and are 9/4 to score two or more again on Sunday. Get the
latest odds and tips from our Sky Sports pundits here.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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Sport Football West Ham United FC
New TV deal will prevent Premier League clubs signing bargain players,
claims West Ham boss Slaven Bilic
22:30, 15 APR 2016
BY JON WEST
Bilic warned that no club will now sell cheaply to an English top-flight
side once the £5.14billion TV deal kicks in
The Mirror

Slaven Bilic believes Premier League clubs can forget about landing
Leicester-style bargains next season.

Bilic takes his West Ham side to the King Power Stadium on Sunday hoping to
arrest the Foxes' amazing charge towards a first league title.

Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante have been the stars of the season
and cost just £7million between them.

But Bilic warned that no club will now sell cheaply to an English top-flight
side once the £5.14billion TV deal kicks in.

"It's going to affect the price of the players, make no mistake," he said.

"It was always like that, because last year it was like that and now it's
going to be even more.

"Definitely the directors or the chairman of the board of the clubs in
Europe, they have one phone for England and the other phone for the rest of
the world and they are all going for the English one!"

Bilic revealed he had wanted to bring Kante to West Ham.

The midfielder instead joined the Foxes for £5.6m from Caen last August and
has been an inspiration.

He said: "We were quite close. He's one of those players that you think
after 20 minutes that there are twins, that there are two of them because
the energy and the cleverness.

"But then we got some players before in the same positions and it would
simply be too many players for the same position."

The Hammers banned Bilic from speaking about the controversial financial
arrangements surrounding their move to the Olympic Stadium in the summer.

But co-chairman David Sullivan insisted a deal that sees the Hammers pay
just £15m plus £2.5m a year was good for the nation, even though the
taxpayer is picking up the rest of the bill.

He said: "We've done a great job for West Ham but believe you me, we've done
a great job for the nation, too.

"We've done a great job for the country, we've done great for jobs in
Newham, for tourism, for business for Westfield - this is a win, win for
everybody.

"We, along with the operators and Newham council, have saved that wonderful
stadium. Instead of being like the eyesores and white elephants in Beijing
and Greece, it will be there for 100 years."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan talking of Bilic deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Irons chairman David Sullivan last night insisted that Slaven Bilic was
virtually assured of a new deal and killed off talk of a return to Turkey
with Fenerbahce. The Turkish giants aren't alone in their admiration of the
Irons boss who has had a fabulous start to his career in East London as the
club boss following his departure from Besiktas And it was ironic that
reports emerging this morning (Fri) of interest in him after Sullivan had
spoken of his future in his talkSPORT interview last night. Sullivan said:
"He has a three year contract here and at some point before the three years
we will sit down and try to persuade him to stay if things go on as they
have been going. "He's happy here and he's the least money motivated manager
I've ever spoken to. He is half a Socialist so he is very keen to look after
his staff. He's not really into money himself."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DS doesn't want our players in England shirts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Sullivan doesn't want Andy Carroll to go to the Euros or any of our
players "to go and play for England." The co chairman – made his position
clear towards the end of a talkSPORT interview in which he defended the
Olympic Stadium deal struck by the Irons. Asked whether he believed Carroll
should go to France he said: "I know it's a horrible thing to say but I
don't want any of our players to go and play for England. "I saw what
happened to Dean Ashton. We lost a vital player and we never got a penny
compensation from the FA." And he explained: "For me as a club owner when
they go away, they play extra games and they risk injury. It does nothing
for me. "If you want to sell it probably increase their value but we have no
desire to sell any of our players. Wearing my West Ham United hat I wish we
had no internationals and a nice long break. "That's because often players
involved in these big competitions struggle the next season because they
don't get a long enough break in the summer."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons striker could be on the move
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham's striker problems may have been dominated by Diafra Sakho over
recent days but it's Enner Valencia's future which is now focusing minds
inside the club. The Ecuador striker produced a less than mediocre
performance against Manchester United and not for the first time his
performance took a battering from the fans on social media. Bought for £12
million, Valencia has managed just nine goals in 56 League and Cup matches
and looked to be right out of touch when recalled for the FA Cup replay
against Manchester United. Apart from his lack of form there have also been
injury absences which haven't helped and the the Hammers may now be ready to
let him move on if they can get a reasonable price in the summer. A senior
source this afternoon (Fri) refused to rule out talk of a possible move for
the player hen ClaretandHugh asked the question. He said: "There's been a
lot of focus on all three strikers because Emineke will definitely be
allowed to return to Turkey. "Enner Valencia has often been reported as a
target for a couple of clubs and every player has a price. He has had some
problems. Speculation always becomes intense at this time of the year but it
would be wrong to rule anything out or in at this point."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic dispels Fenerbahce rumours
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 15, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic gave his pre match press conference in advance of our away game
against Premier League leaders Leicester City.

Bilic said : "It looks like Reidy should be ok. He had tight muscles but was
not injured. Nothing major happened on Wednesday. Burns is available. It was
a huge disappointment because we wanted to go to Wembley and then go on and
win the Cup. But we want to finish high and we are motivated to do that in
our final six games, starting at Leicester on Sunday. We need points to
finish high in the table. Do we need to win on Sunday? Well we know we need
points if we are to finish high.It's a great thing for Dimitri Payet being
nominated for the PFA award. It's a great thing for the Club as it shows
we're going well. Hopefully he's going to win it but if not him, then it
should be connected with something your club has achieved."

"If Leicester win the league then Vardy is my choice. If they don't and
Spurs do, it has to be Harry Kane.I wouldn't have said in August when they
beat us that they'd be in this position but then nobody would have said that
after their first two games I said to my staff and Claudio Ranieri that they
had a team that was going to be very hard to beat. [On Fenerbahce] I have
many friends in Turkey but I am happy here. In Turkey there is only one club
for me and that's Besiktas."

"We have to bounce back and we're playing away to a team that's firm
favourites to win the league. It's a big test They play very simple football
but it's very effective. It's hard to create clear-cut chances against them.
They protect their box really well and have a great goalkeeper but we're
capable of creating chances and do in every game we play. We drew too many
matches on one hand, but on the other hand we lost very few matches – only
six. Of course it would be better if we had won more but overall we are
doing really good and sitting high in the table. So far we're having a
really good season but we've got six games left and we want to finish it
well and as high as we can. Every manager says we have to stop Leicester
counter attacking and Vardy running into spaces, but they're still doing it
every week. We cannot afford to lose the ball and them to break on us."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic admits Leicester City's fairytale season
has put his team's achievements and every other Premier League side in the
shade
Slaven Bilic has led his Hammers side to a remarkable season this term
West Ham sit in sixth place and could still reach the Champions League
But Bilic admits they haven't matched the achievements of the Foxes
Leicester are on the verge of winning the title and sit seven points clear
The Foxes host West Ham on Sunday as they continue their title bid
By OLIVER TODD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:00, 15 April 2016 | UPDATED: 14:00, 15 April 2016

Slaven Bilic accepts Leicester City's 'unbelievable fairytale' has left
everyone else's achievements in the shade this season. West Ham manager
Bilic takes his side to the league leaders on Sunday with an outside shot at
Champions League qualification still on the cards. But that narrative will
be lost somewhat at the King Power Stadium, with all the focus on Leicester
as they hone in on the nine points they need to take the title. Bilic says
that even though West Ham have been handed plenty of praise, the Foxes'
achievements are putting his good work 'in the shadows'. 'People recognise
we are having a good season, playing good football and praising us,' Bilic
said. 'But what Leicester have done puts our successful season a little bit
in the shadows. It's like a fairytale and they deserve all the credit they
are getting. It is unbelievable.' Leicester's shock rise to the top, where
they now sit seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham, came as a
surprise to the Barclays Premier League - but Bilic had something of an
inkling months ago. The Foxes won 2-1 at Upton Park back in August and the
West Ham manager had words with opposite number Claudio Ranieri about the
strengths of his side post-match. 'I wouldn't say then I thought they would
be in this position, no-one would have said that,' Bilic conceded. 'But what
was obvious, even then I said to Claudio: "You have a team who will be
extremely hard to beat". But I didn't know they would be big-time favourites
now to win the league. Nobody did.'
West Ham's star man Dimitri Payet is up against three Leicester players in
the running for this season's PFA Player of the Year award: Jamie Vardy,
Riyad Mahrez and Ngolo Kante. Unsurprisingly, Bilic's vote would go to Payet
but looking at the shortlist without bias, he would back Vardy for the
honour. 'I can't be very objective talking about him (Payet),' the Croatian
coach said. 'He is there for a reason and no-one was surprised he was
nominated. I hope he is going to win it. 'If not him, it's an individual
award but it has to be connected to the club. So if Leicester win the league
then it probably should be one of them, and Vardy would be my choice.'

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leicester v West Ham: Team news, kick-off time, probable line-ups, odds and
stats for the Premier League clash
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 13:17, 15 April 2016 | UPDATED: 13:17, 15 April 2016

TEAM NEWS

West Ham
West Ham can welcome back defenders Winston Reid and Sam Byram for the trip
to leaders Leicester on Sunday. Reid missed Wednesday night's 2-1 FA Cup
defeat by Manchester United with a tight hamstring while Byram, fit again
after a recent spell out injured, was cup-tied. Striker Diafra Sakho is
still sidelined with the knee knock which forced him to withdraw from the
squad to face Arsenal last weekend, but he is expected back in training on
Monday.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, Cresswell, Collins, Reid, Ogbonna,
Tomkins, Byram, Hendrie, O'Brien, Oxford, Kouyate, Noble, Obiang, Song,
Lanzini, Payet, Moses, Antonio, Valencia, Emenike, Carroll.

Key match stats (Supplied by Opta)

West Ham United have won twice as many of the meetings (10) between these
two sides in the Barclays Premier League than Leicester (five), with two
draws.
The Hammers have lost just four of their last 16 Premier League away games
(W6 D6 L4).
Leicester City have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight Premier
League matches at the King Power Stadium.
N'Golo Kanté has made the most tackles (146) and interceptions (134) in the
Premier League this season.
Jamie Vardy (21 goals) is the first Leicester City player to surpass the
20-goal mark in a top-flight season since Gary Lineker in 1984-85 (24).
Just two of Andy Carroll's 12 Premier League goals since the start of
2014-15 have come away from home.
Leicester City have kept five consecutive clean sheets in the top-flight for
the first time in their history.
The Foxes have only trailed for 47 minutes in their 22 Premier League games
played since the start of November 2015.
Dimitri Payet has had a hand in seven goals in his last seven Premier League
appearances (three goals, four assists).
Payet has created 94 goalscoring chances for the Hammers in the Premier
League this season; 49 more than any other player (Mark Noble – 45, the next
best).

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 15th April 2016

Randolph - It wasn't to be
WHUFC.com

Darren Randolph said the Hammers gave it their all in their Emirates FA Cup
sixth round replay against Manchester United, but were denied a Wembley
semi-final by an inspired David de Gea in the other goal. West Ham came to
life in the final ten minutes after James Tomkins' goal gave them hope at
2-0 down, but de Gea made outstanding saves from Cheikhou Kouyate and Andy
Carroll to prevent yet another Hammers comeback. Randolph was understandably
disappointed at his team's Cup exit, but still proud of their efforts to get
this close to the final four.
He said: "We tried, but it wasn't enough [in the end]. We could have grabbed
another late equaliser, and a winner, but the keeper has made some great
saves. It wasn't to be. "We had chances at Old Trafford, and played well up
there. We didn't think they'd play at the same standard as they did then,
because they are a good team no matter where they are in the league.
"They performed tonight when they needed to."

The Hammers still have plenty to play for this season with European
qualification up for grabs and Randolph insists the Hammers won't allow this
result to affect the rest of the campaign.
"We're still in a great position and there's still so much to play for," he
added. "The good thing is we've got another game on Sunday - a massive game.
"We'll dust ourselves off quickly and then concentrate on Sunday, pushing up
the league and finishing as high as we can."

For Randolph personally, the Cup run has given him a chance to shine in his
first season in east London and he will take much from it. He explained: "I
enjoyed the run. It's the furthest I've got in the FA Cup, we've played
against some good teams and there are lots of positives to be taken from the
run. "I believe some of performances in the FA Cup have helped us maintain
unbeaten runs in the league and pick up points."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Payet shortlisted for PFA Player of the Year WHUFC.com

Dimitri Payet has been shortlisted for the Men's PFA Players' Player of the
Year award after an outstanding first season at West Ham United. The
29-year-old Frenchman has been in outstanding form ever since making the
move to the Boleyn Ground from Marseille, scoring 12 goals and assisting
eleven in just 32 games for the Club. His influence has been clear as the
Hammers have launched an assault on European qualification in both league
and Cup, and now his contribution his been recognised by his fellow pros.
Players from over 100 clubs - Premier League, Football League and WSL - have
voted for the awards, with the winners being announced in the annual
ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday 24 April. The France
international is up against Tottenham's Harry Kane, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and
Leicester trio Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez for the top prize.
Payet has already won the Willow Foundation's London Footballer of the Year
award this season and will be hoping to add to his trophy haul later this
month.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic - It's a huge disappointment
WHUFc.com

Slaven Bilic admitted West Ham United had simply been beaten by the better
team on the night as Manchester United burst the Hammers' Emirates FA Cup
bubble. The last-ever tie at the Boleyn Ground promised a Wembley
semi-final, but ended in a deflating 2-1 defeat by Louis van Gaal's Red
Devils. After a bright start, Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini fired
the visitors two goals up. James Tomkins gave West Ham hope before David de
Gea made a string of saves to send the visitors through. "It's a huge
disappointment for us and for me, of course," the manager told West Ham TV.
"The players are gutted in the dressing room, but we have to admit they were
the better side for the majority of the game. "They had the composure. We
had the energy, but we didn't have the quality in the phase of the game when
we had the ball. It wasn't on the top level and that's why we were really
good in the first 15 and last 20 minutes, but apart from that they passed
and kept the ball better. They stretched us and they deserved to go through.
"OK we created more than enough chances to equalise and to get the game into
extra-time but it wasn't to be. Their goalkeeper made a few good saves, but
overall they were the better side tonight."
Where West Ham have been literally unbeatable on home turf since last
August, on Wednesday they fell two goals behind and finally found a mountain
that was too steep to climb. For the middle 60 minutes of the game,
Manchester United snapped into every challenge more strongly and passed the
ball more accurately than their hosts, scoring two vital goals in the
process.
When asked why that might have been, Bilic was making no excuses. "OK, first
of all I spoke to their staff and they said it was by far the best
performance from them in the last few months. They are Manchester United and
they are capable of doing that and have done so on a few occasions this
season. "Second of all, I don't think it has anything to do with the
importance of the game and all that. Some players were not on a level and
sometimes it's hard to find a reason. There's no big reason there, but it is
enough at this level to lose that split-second or couple of yards. "For some
players, perhaps the game on Saturday took a lot out of them, but then they
had a game on Sunday, so it may happen to them as well. "It was the small
things we were lacking - composure on the ball and without that you can't
play fluently and that's what happened in our game. We had our phases but we
didn't have our rhythm and their step was much quicker and stronger than
ours."
The season is not over, however, and Bilic has backed his players to lick
their wounds and come out strongly as West Ham continue their challenger for
a UEFA Europa League place at Leicester City on Sunday. "No, no, no, the
season is not over. We are still in this season big time. Of course it's a
huge disappointment but we have six big games and we're going to try to
finish as high as possible. "They are disappointed tonight and tomorrow but
we have a few days until we face Leicester and we will bounce back."

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Hammers clinch third Kicks title in a row
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Foundation made it three tournament wins in as many years as
its mixed U16s side continued their impressive Premier League Kicks Cup form
with a victory in the 2016 event.

Under intermittent spring showers, the young Hammers gathered at Forest
Recreation Ground in Nottingham to put their skills to the test in a
competitive tournament against 52 other Premier and Football League clubs.

After five hours of competition, the Irons beat Leicester City 2-0 in a well
contested final to seal the Foundation's third Kicks Cup in a row.

A vintage defensive showing saw the team go the entire competition without
conceding a goal, while racking up an impressive 24 goals en route to the
coveted trophy.

Francis John-Baptiste, who scored both goals in the final, was delighted to
come away with the Kicks Cup: "I was really nervous in the final and all I
wanted to do was help the team. It's an amazing feeling to have won the
competition, especially as this makes it three years in a row for West Ham!"

The mixed U16s side that also included Claudio Boakye, Andrejus
Bagdanavicius, Sam Mvemba, Yonis Farah, Evandro Goncalves Semedo, Laquan
Liddell and Edon Hodaj are all current participants on West Ham United
Foundation Kicks programme.

George Chukwuma, Foundation Community Sports Officer and coach of the team
expressed his delight at lifting the trophy for a third year in a row, but
was clear that that there was more to it than winning for the youngsters:

"Obviously we are over the moon to have won the mixed competition for a
third year in a row, but just to be invited and have the opportunity to
bring our Kicks participants up here for a full day of football is
incredible.

"To have the chance to wear the West Ham United badge and represent the Club
gives the kids so much confidence and a real sense of belonging. They should
be tremendously proud of themselves."

The Foundation also saw a girl's U16 side compete in the tournament, where
they fought hard within a tough group which included Liverpool and
Tottenham, before exiting the competition.

Nick Perchard, Acting Head of Community Development at the Premier League
stated: "The Premier League Kicks Cup is the culmination of the programme
over the year. It's really our opportunity to thank the clubs and thank the
young people that come regularly to the programme every week and give them
the opportunity to meet other people from different parts of the country."

All the players at the Forest Recreation Ground participate in the Premier
League Kicks project, which uses the appeal of clubs to engage young people
in disadvantaged areas of the country, giving them the chance to do
something positive with their time.

The Premier League Kicks programme began in 2006 as a pilot project in
London between the Premier League, Sport England and the Metropolitan Police
with the aim of using football to bring communities together and to engage
with young people. This year's event saw 53 Premier League and Football
League clubs descend on Nottingham for the competition with 77 U16 teams –
52 mixed and 25 girls play for the chance to be crowned champions.

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Former Player Blog - Tony Cottee
WHUFC.com

Ex-West Ham forward Tony Cottee was disappointed with the Hammers' exit from
the Emirates FA Cup this week, but he hopes Slaven Bilic's side can bounce
back against another of his former clubs, Leicester City…

Hello everyone,

I was absolutely gutted after the defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday
night. It was a great opportunity for us to get to Wembley and for whatever
reason, I don't think we played our best stuff. We did OK for the first 15
minutes, but then United took control of the game.

I think it was more of a case of us being off our game as opposed to them
being that good, to be honest. It was disappointing but we will hopefully
bounce back.

It's been an excellent season overall though, and when you look back, you
can say getting to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup is still an achievement
in itself. That doesn't happen all the time. The league form has been really
good, we've generally been consistent and we've had some fantastic away
performances too.

We haven't lost at home since August in the league, so hopefully it's a
blip. We've got six really important games left now, starting with Leicester
on Sunday which I'll be going to, and hopefully we can still pick up the
points to keep us in the hunt for Europe.

Personally, I want to see us playing in Europe next season, as that's the
part of the next stage in our progression as a Club.

Obviously as a former Leicester player, it's great to see how well they're
performing this season. Unless you're a Spurs fan, I think everyone else
wants Leicester to go on and win the Premier League. It will be really good
for football if they do. They've been the best team this year, even though
they don't necessarily have the best squad as whole. They play as a team,
though, and that's what's been so important.

Whatever way you look at it, it will be tough on Sunday but we have to pick
ourselves up and go to Leicester to put in a performance. I'd like to think
we can get at least a draw. I think we'll make it awkward for Leicester and
I certainly don't expect us to go there and roll over.

We'll give a good account of ourselves and we're certainly capable of
winning, there's no doubt about that. But, we'll need to perform better than
we did on Wednesday evening. If we turn up with our A-game, I think we'll
give Leicester a real battle.

The views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of West
Ham United.

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Chadwell Chatter - Angelo Ogbonna
WHUFC.com

Ciao,

We are all very disappointed with the result against Manchester United in
the FA Cup.

It was an emotional night being the last ever cup tie at the Boleyn Ground
but I don't think that was the reason we suffered a defeat.

We still had good chances to find an equaliser late in the game but this is
football.

Maybe we were a bit unlucky but hopefully next season we can do even better.

This has still been a very good season for us and we went ten games unbeaten
so this is the first defeat in a long time.

But we have to look forward quickly to the next game because we still have a
lot to play for in the league and we want to stay in Champions League
contention – we have to fight for that.

We have to forget this result quickly and move on.

We have to do our best in the final few games of the season and we have
showed a great spirit throughout the season.

We have a really good chance to move up the table and we still have another
home game against Manchester United.

The Premier League is unbelievable and we can still achieve big things this
season.

Enjoy the game on Sunday.

Angelo

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West Ham at the Olympic Stadium: My dog could've done a better deal - Barry
Hearn
By Frank Keogh & Jamie Broughton
BBC Sport

Former Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn says his dog could have negotiated
better than venue bosses after details of West Ham's Olympic Stadium
contract were published. The Hammers will pay £2.5m rent annually but will
not have to fund police, stewarding, heating, pitch maintenance, or even
corner flags. "My dog could have negotiated a better deal for the taxpayer,"
said Hearn. West Ham said it was "a great deal" for the club and the public.
The Premier League club move to the 60,000-seater stadium from the Boleyn
Ground, which has a 35,000 capacity, at the end of this season. Olympic
Stadium bosses, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), fought a
ruling that the deal should be published, but the appeal was rejected this
week.

On Thursday, full details of the 207-page contract were published for the
first time, including that:

The first £4m of any naming rights deal will go to the LLDC and Newham
borough, with anything above that between the two bodies and West Ham
although the amount is capped.

The rent will be halved to £1.25m if West Ham are relegated.

Extra payments West Ham could make

£1m if they win the Champions League £100,000 if they win the FA Cup or
Europa League, or qualify for it

£250,000 if they qualify for Champions League group stages (All payments,
including rent, are linked to inflation) £375,000 if they finish in
the
top five in the Premier League, with smaller payments for other lower
positions in the top 10

West Ham have paid £15m towards the £272m costs of transforming the stadium
into a football venue.

Hearn, who unsuccessfully tried to get the Hammers to groundshare with
Orient at the Olympic Stadium, told BBC Sport: "It's a hugely beneficial
deal to West Ham and good luck to them. "They've negotiated a good deal. I
can't say the same for the LLDC who should go back to negotiation school.
"Frankly it was a hot potato that [London mayor] Boris Johnson and the LLDC
wanted to get rid of. They wanted to close a deal at any price and they will
say 'quite rightly because we didn't have anyone else'."

The LLDC fought publication on the grounds of commercial sensitivity and
fear the decision to publish will cost it million of pounds in lost revenue.
West Ham move to the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium at the end of the
season, where they will pay rent of £2.5m a year
"The stadium needs to be a profitable and successful commercial operation,
otherwise it will rely on public subsidy," said a spokesperson.
West Ham insist the club have nothing to hide and believe their position as
anchor tenant helps ensure the stadium does not become a "white elephant".
"We were unanimously chosen as the anchor tenant, above others, including
football clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient, as we offered
the best deal and the only option for a true and lasting legacy," said a
Hammers statement. The deal was published after a lengthy legal battle
following an initial freedom of information request from an alliance of 14
supporters' groups. "This is a victory for the power of football supporters
- organised, focused and willing to work together to achieve a collective
goal," said a coalition statement. Aside from West Ham, who will rent the
venue for 25 days a year, the venue will host concerts and other sporting
events, including the IAAF and IPC Athletics World Championships next year.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mark Noble: No action over Ander Herrera carry for West Ham skipper
BBC.co.uk

West Ham captain Mark Noble will face no action for carrying Manchester
United's Ander Herrera off the pitch during Wednesday's FA Cup tie.
With West Ham trailing, Herrera was being attended by the physio for a foot
injury that led to him being replaced. The Football Association believes
Noble's action was non-aggressive and referee Roger East was aware of it.
Manchester United went on to win 2-1 to set up a semi-final against Everton
at Wembley on 23 April.

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West Ham to pay £2.5m Olympic Stadium rent per year
BBC.co,uk

West Ham will pay £2.5m a year to rent the 60,000-seater Olympic Stadium, it
has been revealed after the deal was made public following a legal
battle.The ground's owners, the London Legacy Development Corporation
(LLDC), fought a ruling that the contract should be published, but the
appeal was rejected this week. West Ham will pay the sum per year over the
99-year lease, the 207-page document has revealed. The Hammers move in this
summer. The first £4m of any naming rights deal will go to the LLDC and
Newham borough, with anything above that between the two bodies and West
Ham, although the amount is capped.

The rent will be halved to £1.25m if West Ham are relegated.

The LLDC, which had spent thousands of pounds fighting the ruling, said the
decision could cost the organisation "millions of pounds".

But it has decided not to appeal against the tribunal's ruling.

Extra payments West Ham could have to make annually
£1m if they win the Champions League £100,000 if they win the FA Cup or
Europa League, or qualify for it
£250,000 if they qualify for the Champions League group stages (All payments
linked to inflation) £375,000 if they finish in the top five in the
Premier League, with smaller payments for other lower positions in the top
10
The club were awarded tenancy of the London 2012 stadium in 2013, and at
least £272m has been spent to convert the site for use as a Premier League
ground.

West Ham have contributed £15m towards those costs. Last year a BBC
documentary revealed the club was having many of the running costs of the
stadium paid for it by the taxpayer under the terms of the tenancy
agreement.

The Hammers will not have to pay for a range of things including policing,
stewarding, goalposts, corner flags, cleaners and turnstile operators.
Heating and lighting costs will also be covered by the stadium managers.

However, stadium bosses point out that this is normal for a rental
agreement, using the analogy that you would not expect to hire a badminton
court and not have nets supplied.

A coalition of 14 supporters' trusts from around the country submitted a
Freedom of Information request to obtain that tenancy agreement and believe
the deal gives West Ham, who have played at Upton Park since 1904, a
competitive advantage.

West Ham say they have nothing to hide, believe it is a "great deal" for the
club and the taxpayer, and say the stadium offers a true legacy.

The club added: "Someone renting the stadium for 25 days a year cannot be
responsible for 365 days' running costs."

A coalition of 14 supporters' groups and trusts of several different clubs
campaigned for the information to be released. In a statement it said: "This
is the right decision for the taxpayer, and the right decision for
football."

Pressure group the Taxpayers' Alliance called the deal "ludicrously
generous" and said questions remain for "those responsible for offering a
deal for which most clubs would have sold their star striker".

Analysis

BBC Sport's Frank Keogh:

"After a long-running legal row, campaigners have finally succeeded in
getting all the details of the Olympic Stadium deal made public.

"That is unlikely to completely end the story, with critics saying West Ham
have got a new stadium on the cheap.

"The Hammers are keeping their distance, although insist by becoming a
high-profile anchor tenant, the club is helping to ensure the venue does not
become a 'white elephant'. As a tenant, it also misses out on benefits of
added income which a venue owner enjoys.

"Focus may now turn to the stadium rights arrangement, and quite how much
the Hammers might benefit from that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1-2 Manchester United: Slaven Bilic admits best team won By Pete
Hall at Upton Park Last Updated: 14/04/16 7:16am SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic conceded the better team won as Manchester United
earned a 2-1 victory in their FA Cup quarter-final replay at Upton Park. The
Hammers did not build on their impressive showing against Arsenal at the
weekend, and starved Andy Carroll of any real service as United ran out
deserved winners in the last-ever cup tie at the Boleyn Ground. Goals from
Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini put United two goals to the good,
before James Tomkins made things interesting for the final 11 minutes.
United held on, and Bilic agreed with the sentiment that the Hammers were
second best, and looked dejected as he admitted that United were good value
for the victory. "They were better in two thirds of the game," Bilic said.
"We were really good in the first 15 minutes and the last 20, but other than
that their passing was better than ours. "Some of their players looked
fresher, stronger and quicker. We tried, we created chances to equalise, but
they were better than us for big parts of the game. "But we still have big
games, we are still in the competition for Europe, big time, and we want to
finish as high as possible."
West Ham currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League and are five
points outside of the Champions League places going into a crucial weekend
clash with Leicester. And with plenty still to play for, Bilic is adamant
that the Hammers will recover and will be ready for the Foxes. "This is a
big disappointment," Bilic said. "It takes out a bit of energy and
motivation but we still have a big thing to play for. "We are going to
bounce back."

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Parkes names his Hammer of Year and reveals how he would try to stop a Dimi
Payet free kick
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H

Phil Parkes has unhesitatingly named his Hammer of the Year – and it's not
Dimitri Payet.

The goalkeeping legend is a huge fan of Michail Antonio and reckons the
youngster should land the top award.

And he made it clear that he thinks using him as a full back should now be a
thing of the past as we head into the ast crucial half a dozen games of the
season.

Speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh Phil said: "He's a breath of fresh
air. He's so exciting, raw but he has given everything he has and probably a
bit more since he broke into the side.

"He's still got things to learn but what I love about him is that he's the
type of lad who shows every desire to do so. I have loved what he's brought
to the team this season.

"I don't think there's much question that Payet will get the award but for
me he has dipped off a little over the last few games with those exciting
one on one runs. For me, although he couldn't be more different, Michail
just edges it."

Mind you Parkesy would love to have taken on Payet's free kicks were he a
few years younger and explained: "Despite what people are saying they are
stoppable – everything is stoppable.

"I've watched him very closely and to have a chance of saving one you have
to see his feet. You must not move. Once he has struck it you then commit
yourself. Ok, it has wicked dip and all the rest, but you can't move before
he strikes it as I've seen happen.

"He is an incredible free kick taker – we all know that – but if you wait
until it's in flight and back yourself, then you have a chance."

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Parkes gives "Randolph or Adrian" verdict
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H

Phil Parkes has called on manager Slaven Bilic to give Darren Randolph two
or three first team League outings before the end of the season. Parkesy
scouted the former Birmingham stopper for David Sullivan when the club were
looking for a replacement to Jussi Jaaskalaien and it was on his
recommendation that the big man was signed. And after the No 2 produced
another tip top FA Cup performance against Manchester United Parkes told
ClaretandHugh in an exclusive interview: "Darren's been outstanding whenever
he's appeared for us and was excellent in the replay. "Being quite honest I
can't see anything between him and Adrian and believe he deserves his chance
at some League action. "Quite apart from anything else he needs to believe
that he's in there with a shout of getting the No 1 job. It would build his
confidence and keep a keen edge on him. "Against United he showed great
command of his area, terrific shot stopping and distribution. I really can't
split them at the moment. "Yes, of course you need keepers to keep the
pressure on each other but Darren needs to know the boss has confidence in
him and give him a run of games. "He did great when Adrian was suspended
earlier in the season so he has shown he has the temperament at that level.
"I would love Slav to hand him two or three games before the end of the
season to see how he settled down in leage action again."

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Olympic Stadium Deal - The facts
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 14, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H

The previously confidential agreement between the LLDC/Newham council and
West Ham United has finally been published this morning. To save you reading
through the legal 207 page document which can be found here we have
summarised the main facts below for you:

West Ham contribution to conversion costs: £15m

West Ham Stadium rental: West Ham will pay a rent of £2.5m per year in the
Premier League for the first 25 games and £100,000 per game for any
additional games beyond that per year. The rent includes exclusive
occupation of the club store, ticket office, board room, player's lounge,
office space and storage areas.

Relegation clause: West Ham's rent will halve to £1.25m if they are
relegated from the Premier League and remain like that until they are
promoted again.

Champions League clause: West Ham will have to pay up an extra £1m in rent
for the Olympic Stadium any year they win the Champions League. West Ham
will have to pay up an extra £250,000 in rent for the stadium any year they
qualify for the Champions League group stage

Cup Clause: West Ham will have to pay up an extra £100,000 in rent for the
Olympic Stadium any year they win the FA Cup or Europa League

Europa league clause: West Ham will have to pay up an extra £100,000 in
rent for the Olympic Stadium any year they qualify for the Europa league

Stadium Naming rights: The first £4m of any naming rights deal will go to
the LLDC & Newham, with anything above that shared between the two bodies
and West Ham.

Pitch side advertising rights: West Ham will retain 90% of the pitch side
advertising rights on match days.

Catering rights: West Ham share 30% of catering revenue at the Olympic
stadium on anything over £500,000 each year.

League position clauses: West Ham will pay extra £25,000 in rent if they
finish 10th in the Premier League, £40,000 for 9th, £55,000 for 8th,
£70,000 for 7th, £85,000 for 6th and £100,000 for a top five finish in the
Premier League.

West Ham sell on clause: E20 Stadium LLP would receive a payment of £9.2m &
£11.2m West Ham is ever sold between £125m and £149m. They would receive a
payment equalling 10% (£15m & £20m) if West Ham is ever sold between £150m
and £200m. The payment woudl increase to 20% (£40m & £60m) if West Ham is
sold between £200m and £300m in the first 5 years and 30% (at least £90m) if
the club is sold for over £300m in the first five years. If West Ham is
sold for over £300m between the 6th and 10th year of occupation of the
Olympic Stadium then 20% of the selling price is due to the stadium owners.
If the club was sold for £500m in 9 years time then £100m would be due to
E20 Stadium LLP.

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Winston Reid update
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 14, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers C
and H

Winston Reid is all set to return to the heart of the Hammers defence for
Sunday's trip to red hit Championship favourites Leicester City. That was
the good news from inside the Irons camp this morning on after a night
against Manchester United when the team left the back door open at times and
paid the price. ClaretandHugh learned this morning that Reid was ruled out
of the FA Cup replay after he reported a muscle tightness in the hamstring
area. We were told: "It wasn't the hamstring itself but nobody was prepared
to take any chances. However, he is looking okay for Sunday which everybody
is seeing as a very winnable game." Diafra Sakho won't make the game with
the club continuing to maintain publicly that he has suffered a recurrence
of an old muscle injury. We were told: "Sak should be back and okay for the
game against Watford on the 20th of the month."

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Football transfer rumours: Barcelona to pay £50m for Dimitri Payet?
Rob Smyth
Thursday 14 April 2016 08.20 BST Last modified on Thursday 14 April 2016
08.26 BST The Guardian

When it comes to assuaging the impact of life's vicissitudes, the Mill has
always believed in the power of retail therapy. It's true that we own 47 Top
Man T-shirts that still have the labels on them, and that £500 treadmill
still hasn't seen any action, but it was worth spunking the monkey for that
instant hit of feelgood goodness that allowed us for a split-second to
forget the essential futility of life. Barcelona, it seems, would concur
with that philosophy. According to the Spanish grapevine, they plan to
respond to their failure to be as good as social-media foghorns prematurely
presumed them to be by paying £50m for West Ham's free-kick freak Dimitri
Payet. There's no easy way to segue to the next rumour, so we're just going
to head straight to the news that Chelsea are considering a £63.5m bid for
Real Madrid good guy Sergio Ramos. Hang on, £63.5m for a 30-year-old? It's
almost as if this stuff isn't actually going to happen!
Juventus want to do Christian Benteke a solid by preparing an escape tunnel
from Anfield to Turin. It'll cost £20m to build. Manchester United haven't a
hope in hell of resigning Cristiano Ronaldo, so they're going for the next
best thing: Naldo, Wolfsburg's 33-year-old defender who put them out of the
Champions League. Mauricio Pochettino and Claudio Ranieri have stripped to
the waist and slapped baby oil all over their tingling flesh in preparation
for a sumo wrestle. The winner gets to sign Pescara goal machine Gianluca
Lapadula. Leicester are also keen on Milan teenager Manuel Locatelli, but so
are Arsenal. Ranieri has wearily ordered some more baby oil. Arsenal will
soon be involved in other tugs of love for Charlton's Regan Charles-Cook
(also wanted by Liverpool) and PSG defender Marquinhos (Chelsea, Manchester
United). Finally, if United sack José Mourinho before they've even appointed
him, PSG will be waiting for him with a loving embrace, oodles of cash and a
smiling David Luiz.

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underland ready to raid West Ham for fringe figure
Date: 14th April 2016 at 5:00 am
Written by: Gareth McKnight
ForeverWestHam

Former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is ready to raid his old employers and
bring Joey O'Brien to Sunderland this summer, according to The Daily Mail.
The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland defender has not featured for Slaven
Bilic's side this season due to competition for places at the back and a
number of injury concerns. O'Brien's contract with the London club expires
this summer and it is looking extremely likely that the veteran will leave
the Boleyn Ground as a free agent and look for a new club. Allardyce knows
the Irish enforcer well from their mutual time at West Ham and Bolton, and
is eyeing a bargain deal this summer for the Dublin-born star. West Ham have
progressed since Allardyce has left the club and are now looking to
streamline their squad this summer before moving into the Olympic Stadium in
2016-17. Sunderland are embroiled in a battle to stay in the Premier League,
with the outcome to have a major impact on the Wearside outfit's budget.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham receive unseen competition for Sakho's replacement
Date: 14th April 2016 at 5:40 am
Written by: Gareth McKnight
ForeverWestHam

West Ham United's plans of signing Jordan Ayew from Aston Villa could well
be upset by Derby County, according to The Daily Mail. The Rams are pushing
for promotion to the Premier League and have lofty ambitions of establishing
themselves in the top tier. The latest report suggests that should Derby get
out of The Championship this season, Ghana international Ayew would be one
of their major targets this summer. The former Lorient attacker has been a
rare bright spark for Villa this term, scoring six Premier League goals for
the Midlands club in a dire collective campaign. West Ham are being heavily
linked with a move for Ayew at the end of the season, especially given that
there are question marks over whether Diafra Sakho will still be a Hammer in
2016-17. Ayew is expected to be available for around £6 million and would be
a canny acquisition for Slaven Bilic's men should Sakho seek an exit.

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