Ogbonna - Concentration was key
WHUFC.com
Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna was terrific in his side's 1-1 draw with
Manchester United on Sunday
The defender believes the point will improve the side's confidence ahead of
Wednesday's EFL Cup tie at Old Trafford
Italian defender Ogbonna also praised Hammers goalscorer Diafra Sakho and
substitute Ashley Fletcher
Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna believes his side's concentration in defence
helped the visitors earn a vital point against Manchester United on Sunday
in the Premier League. Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised for the Red Devils after
Diafra Sakho had opened the scoring within the first two minutes, but the
visitors battled hard to ensure they returned to east London with a draw in
the bag.
Ogbonna's marvellous defensive display, which included a number of important
blocks and last-ditch tackles, contributed to the result and the Italian was
left thrilled at the final whistle. He said: "I think it is a really crucial
point for us. We had a really good game and a good performance and it was so
important for us because we were so disappointed about the last match. "It
was great to put a good performance in. We were so concentrated at the back
and maybe this is why this game is a great moment. "In the table, we are not
great at the moment but we have to take it step-by-step and focus each time
for every game."
Ogbonna was involved in one of the match's key moments at the end of the
first period, as he bravely threw himself in front of a Ibrahimovic
goalbound effort. "Yeah, it was [great to stop Ibrahimovic]," the defender
said about the chance. "Maybe we had a lot of chances but they had a lot of
chances too. Ogbonna tackles Rooney"At the end of the game, it's a draw and
we keep this point and we have to look forward and get back here on
Wednesday. "It's important for the first match to draw and it's a really
good point for us.
"I want to keep our best up tonight and maybe on Wednesday, I don't know, we
can get a draw or better, the best result for us."
There was early delight for the travelling Irons as Sakho headed past David
De Gea in the second minute and Ogbonna had nothing but praise for the
forward who was making just his second appearance of the season. He also
moved to compliment former Manchester United forward Ashley Fletcher, who
made a huge impact as a second half substitute. "For us, [Sakho's] so
important," continued the ex-Juventus man. "He's a good player and a good
man and he's important for the team. But it wasn't just him, but a lot of
players.
"Fletcher came on and was brialliant as well. We need to get our confidence
back sometimes, but this is a good way to get it back.
"He got chances and maybe if he puts the ball in for us then today I'm
talking about three points! But it's OK - he's still young and he is a good
player. "He can keep the ball and run in behind and he's very good for us
that we have a good lot of young players who can improve and help the team
and we have to keep our feet on the ground and work hard and take it
step-by-step."
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West Ham PL2 aim for six unbeaten
WHUFC.com
West Ham United PL2 travel to west London to play Fulham this evening at
Craven Cottage (7pm kick-off)
The Hammers are aiming to go six matches unbeaten in all competitions
Manager Terry Westley is urging his players to improve
West Ham United PL2 will aim to go six games unbeaten in all competitions
this evening, when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage (7pm kick-off). The
Hammers are on a good run of form despite being frustrated last Monday when
they were held to a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers. It's the start of a
busy week for Terry Wesley's players. Tonight's match is swiftly followed on
Thursday with the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League
Cup. Westley will hope this evening though that his side can improve from
last week's draw against Rovers. "It wasn't a game for the purist, not a
game for maybe me as a coach or Liam. It's one we want to put in the back
drawer very quickly and forget about," said Westley. "In the end, we came
away with a 1-1 draw but we know that we'll have to improve this Monday
against Fulham."
The Hammers will be boosted by the news that Martin Samuelsen has returned
to the club after his loan spell at Blackburn was cancelled.
The young Norwegian has found game time hard to come by in Lancashire and
that is despite making his senior debut and scoring his first goal for
Norway this season. Samuelsen also bagged his first PL2 goal of the season
in the draw with Rovers and is looking forward to knuckling down over the
next few months and getting some much needed minutes. "I'm not allowed to
play for the first team until January so the main thing for me it just to
get back playing and get back to the joy of playing football," he said. "I'm
looking forward to playing every week. It's been a really tough time and
I've gone every week knowing I'm not going to play. "Hopefully now I can get
the smile back on my face and enjoy playing football again."
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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
This was always going to be a testing time for the Club with the run of hard
games we were facing, but there is no doubt that the team is playing a lot
better.
Nobody is enjoying looking at the table at the moment but I hope we have now
turned a corner. We got off to a perfect start against Manchester United on
Sunday and it was unfortunate that we could not hold onto the lead. But I
thought the players showed great determination and a fighting spirit to help
us come away with a point. It was a real team effort starting with Darren
Randolph who once again showed his quality and produced an outstanding
display. Darren has had to be patient but he has never moaned about the
situation and showed his quality during the summer playing for the Republic
of Ireland at the European Championship Finals. I was impressed by the
effort from the whole team on Sunday but I thought Darren was the star
performer. There were a number of positives to take from the performance and
it was very pleasing to see Diafra Sakho back in action. He showed his
quality once again when he opened the scoring after just two minutes and it
was really unfortunate that he picked up a hamstring injury during the
second half. Diafra will now undergo a scan and although the early signs
suggest it will not be a lengthy injury, we will know a lot more when we see
the results in the next few days. It has certainly been a frustrating time
with injuries to key players, but with our club record signing Andre Ayew
back in action and Andy Carroll not far away from making a first-team
return, the signs are looking a lot more encouraging. Ashley Fletcher also
showed his quality when he came on as a substitute and was unlucky not to
get on the scoresheet late in the game. We identified Ashley as a big player
for the future when we signed him during the summer, but he impressed in the
opening part of the season and remains a key part of the squad. We now
switch our attentions to another the EFL Cup on Wednesday night when we face
Manchester United once again in the quarter-final and I am very optimistic
going into the tie. We are just three games away from playing at Wembley and
I know our fans would love another day out at Wembley. This is another
important week for the Club and a victory on Wednesday would set us up
nicely for another big game against Arsenal on Saturday.
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#WHUAREYA - Conor Coventry
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s are in great form this season, and Conor Coventry has a
lot to do with that. The 16-year-old's solid performances in midfield have
seen the Hammers occupy second position in the Premier League U18 South
division for the most part of this season, though this weekend they slipped
down to fourth. The teenager has also represented his country the Republic
of Ireland at U17 level a number of times and, speaking to West Ham TV, he
lifts the lid on what it is like turning out for the Boys in Green.
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Payet - We can compete against the big teams
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet believes his side have shown they have the quality to compete
against the big teams and feels it is only a question of time before they
turn their season around. The Hammers secured an impressive point against
Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday and showed a spirited
performance as they looked to bounce straight back from the agonising defeat
against Tottenham last week. Payet helped set up the opening goal after just
two minutes when his free-kick fell perfectly for Diafra Sakho to head the
ball past David de Gea. Zlatan Ibrahimovic brought the home side level and
even though Darren Randolph had to make several top saves, Ashley Fletcher
could have won the game late on for the Hammers.
Slaven Bilic's side are looking to move clear of the bottom three and with
more big games to come against Arsenal and Liverpool, Payet hopes to see a
change in fortunes in the coming weeks. Payet said: "Obviously it's an
important point for us. It is never easy to come to Old Trafford and get a
result, but that is what we have succeeded in doing. "We came close to
taking all three points at the end. So we are very happy with that. "We
played a good match last weekend at Tottenham and unfortunately we didn't
take the points, but thankfully we have succeeded in getting something
against United. "Against these two tough teams, and we know what they are
capable of - we've showed that we can compete at this level. "We are trying
to put together a good little run to move ourselves a bit higher up the
table into a more comfortable position."
Payet has enjoyed the opportunity to play in a new system which Bilic has
brought into the team in recent weeks and feels the season will look a lot
different when the team get back on the winning trail. Payet added:
"Obviously when the results aren't going your way it's difficult to find too
much joy in the matches. "We've had a little less of the ball than we
enjoyed last season, but that's all part of the challenge at this stage and
we need to accept that and we need to keep working hard. "As I said, all
it's going to take is a little bit of a good run to move us up the table and
that will allow us to play with a bit more freedom. "When you come to a
place like Old Trafford you have to defend and the system is in place for
perfectly good reasons. "I'm happy right now because the decision has paid
off, but yes, of course, I am more happy with the ball."
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Stat's a Fact - Unbeatable Ogbonna
WHUFC.com
Faced with the absence of suspended Winston Reid, West Ham United defied
expectation to produce one of their most impressive defensive displays this
campaign at Manchester United on Sunday.
A back three that included Angelo Ogbonna, Cheikhou Kouyate and James
Collins were a constant frustration for Manchester United's star-studded
forwards as the visitors extended their unbeaten league run over the Red
Devils to four games.
Ogbonna's two blocks, including one goal-saving effort to deny Zlatan
Ibrahimovic from 10 yards made him second only to Pedro Obiang when it came
to getting in the way of the home sides efforts on goal.
The Italian's ability to read the game was further exemplified as he topped
the West Ham charts when it came to key interceptions (three), with only
Manchester United's Paul Pogba making more in the 90 minutes.
Ogbonna's eight clearances were equalled by Cheikhou Kouyate and bettered
only by James Collins as The Hammers' back-three made 25 out of their side's
36 clearances to keep Manchester United at bay.
For the opposition, Pogba made four blocks: three more than any of his
teammates (six with one each). The Frenchman again led the way in
interceptions (four) with Ander Herrera second on three and Lingard, Mata
and Rojo sharing two each.
Whilst he offered little in terms of shots or attacking headers for The
Hammers, Ogbonna's defensive responsibilities were carried out with
consummate professionalism as he, Kouyate, Collins and Randolph ensured West
Ham left Old Trafford with a valuable point.
The change to three at the back has seen a marked improvement in West Ham
United's defensive statistics with the side leaking more than one goal on
just two occasions since the formation was adopted at the beginning of
October.
Central to the successful change have been the performances of Ogbonna,
whose overall defensive display again yesterday meant he too might have been
deserving of man of the match, something which eventually went to Darren
Randolph.
West Ham United's overall performances have shown improvement week-on-week
recently and the displays of the defensive unit as a whole are an
encouraging sign that the Hammers can soon begin to put together a
consistent set of positive results.
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Loan round up
WHUFC.com
Two Hammers were in action on loan this weekend
Josh Cullen played 90 minutes in midfield for Bradford City
Lewis Page turned out for Coventry City as they were beaten by MK Dons
There were only two Hammers in loan action over the weekend as Josh Cullen
and Lewis Page both played 90 minutes for their respective sides.
Cullen, who has been a mainstay in Bradford City's side since rejoining the
Bantams in the summer after a period there last season, could not help his
team pick up a result as they were beaten 1-0 by Swindon Town.
Stuart McCall's men, who started the season in impressive fashion and were
unbeaten in League One until the middle of October, remain in the play-offs
but could not find the back of the net at the County Ground.
Anton Rodgers' 19th minute free-kick - which found the top corner from all
of 30 yards - was enough to secure all three points for the hosts.
James Hanson had his side's best two chances to equalise, as first he rifled
an effort over from close range before striking the woodwork with his head
with just eight minutes left on the clock.
Elsewhere, Lewis Page was in action for Coventry City but the Sky Blues
slipped back into the League One relegation spots with a 2-1 defeat to
managerless MK Dons.
Ed Upson gave the Dons the lead with ten minutes remaining in the first half
but Ben Stevenson spectacularly lifted the roof at the Ricoh Arena with a 30
yard stunner.
The afternoon turned sour for the midfielder with 16 minutes left however,
as he was shown a red card for a poor challenge on visiting captain Dean
Lewington.
And with time running out, MK made their one-man advantage count, scoring
again through Upson to record their first win since October 1.
Finally, George Dobson was an unused substitute for Walsall as they were
held to a goalless draw at home to Southend United.
In the Championship, Reece Burke is likely to be in action on Monday night
as his Wigan Athletic outfit make the trip to Huddersfield Town, live on Sky
Sports 1 from 7:45pm.
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West Ham's Diafra Sakho to undergo scan on hamstring injury
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 28/11/16 9:12am
SSN
Diafra Sakho will undergo a scan on the hamstring injury he sustained in
West Ham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
Sakho scored inside the opening two minutes at Old Trafford, but was
withdrawn in the 66th minute after pulling up with the problem. The Senegal
international only returned from a three-month lay-off with a back injury in
the 3-2 defeat away at Tottenham on November 19. Sakho, who has been dogged
by injuries since joining West Ham from Metz in 2014, led the line on his
own against United and became the first Hammers striker to score this
season. It was also his first strike since May 10, coincidentally against
United, in West Ham's 3-2 victory in the final ever match to be played at
the Boleyn Ground. West Ham return to Old Trafford on Wednesday to face
United in the EFL Cup quarter-final, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm,
with one of Ashley Fletcher, Simone Zaza or Andre Ayew likely to replace
Sakho.
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Slaven Bilic confident the tide is turning after West Ham's 1-1 draw away to
Manchester United
KEN DYER
Evening Standard
West Ham added to the mounting problems facing Jose Mourinho and provided
more belief Slaven Bilic will steer them away from relegation trouble. All
the focus at Old Trafford was on the Portuguese after he was sent to the
stands after losing his temper following Paul Pogba's yellow card for
simulation. He could now face a touchline ban after being sent off for the
second time in a month, but that should not distract from an invaluable
point for the Hammers. Bilic has faced questions about his future - his side
are a point above the bottom three - so a deserved draw will help ease the
pressure on him. West Ham frustrated United and, after their heartbreaking
last-gasp defeat at Tottenham, this performance shows they should start to
climb the table. It does not get any easier for Bilic, however, with
Arsenal and Liverpool next up in the Premier League after his side return to
Old Trafford in the EFL Cup on Wednesday but the manager hopes the result
can be a turning point. "It is a difficult season," he said. "I am not
trying to avoid saying that but even after Spurs, when we lost the game in
the way we did, I was positive because it hurts but you have something to
build on. I am not happy with the position but recently there have been good
performances from us. It is only a matter of time when we get the points."
West Ham are without a win in over a month but they battled hard to earn a
draw that leaves United 11 points behind leaders Chelsea.
The Hammers, helped by a brilliant display from goalkeeper Darren Randolph,
showed plenty of positive signs and Bilic will be pleased with the response
of his players after they conceded twice in the final minutes at White Hart
Lane last weekend. West Ham look comfortable playing three at the back and
Bilic appears to have found a system that works.
Diafra Sakho, who put West Ham ahead before Zlatan Ibrahmovic equalised,
showed he can make a difference to a team that has struggled for firepower
up front. Dimitri Payet, who has failed to hit the heights he reached last
season, worked hard and played his part in a good performance, while
Randolph and Angelo Ogbonna both impressed. Randolph said: "We need that
character we showed to get us up the table and out of the position we are
in. It is performances like that, and the first half of the Spurs game, that
give us the belief we can do it. We have got a tough run of games and
picking up points along the way definitely helps. "We can take confidence
from this into Wednesday's game and then there is no reason why we cannot
pick up points against Arsenal and Liverpool. We are a good team. I see it
every day in training with the boys."
Bilic (below) said before the game he understands speculation about his
future and Randolph added: "When things are not going well, managers and
players are linked with going out the door. You cannot pay any attention to
that. In two or three weeks after a few good results he [Bilic] could be
here for life! That is just football."
Sakho was today due to have a scan on the hamstring injury that forced him
off in the second half. The striker, who missed the first three months of
the season before returning at Spurs, was a threat before he was taken off
and gives Bilic a different option. He did not look in too much discomfort
as he left Old Trafford and Bilic hopes he will not be out for too long.
Bilic must decide whether to make changes to his team for the EFL Cup
fixture on Wednesday night, with Arsenal coming to the London Stadium on
Saturday. He knows a win could build more momentum.
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West Ham and Everton hit by Premier League clampdown
WEST HAM and Everton will be forced to plug a lending gap because of a
Premier League ban on shadowy offshore finance companies.
Daily Star
By Paul Brown / Published 28th November 2016
From 2018, top-flight clubs will only be allowed to use TV money to borrow
from firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
But there had been confusion about how strict the ban would be, with sources
at both the Hammers and Everton claiming their current lender is already FCA
regulated. The two clubs use a UK company called Rights and Media Funding
Ltd which is on the FCA's financial services register. But the Premier
League have confirmed that because this company lends money from offshore
sources, it will fall foul of the new rules. A source with knowledge of the
arrangement said: "West Ham and Everton know that from 2018/19 they can't
borrow money like this. They are well aware they will have to make other
arrangements." "West Ham and Everton will be forced to plug a lending gap
because of a Premier League ban on shadowy offshore finance companies"
Offshore firms whose ultimate owners are anonymous have been a popular
source of funds for Premier League clubs for years. Until recently Everton
and West Ham both borrowed from Vibrac Corp, a company based in the British
Virgin Islands. Who ultimately owns Vibrac has been the subject of fevered
speculation, but it is understood this could finally be revealed some time
next year. The Premier League has always claimed to know who is behind the
company, which has also financed clubs in Spain and Germany, and insisted
that it has broken no rules. There is also no suggestion of any wrongdoing
by the clubs. But it is understood the league is pushing for greater
transparency when it comes to how clubs fund their activities. And the ban
is being brought in now because more lenders are now willing to lend to
clubs and less clubs are using offshore finance as a result. Premier League
clubs turned to offshore lenders as a source of short-term funding following
the financial crisis. Such loans have proved especially popular because the
money can often be drawn down within 24 hours, something that is not
possible with a traditional bank. One lawyer who has acted for Vibrac told
Starsport: "The TV money is received on a delayed basis and payments are in
instalments. They come through in dribs and drabs. "But clubs have to pay
staff and costs, and they don't know what will happen in the transfer
window. Some clubs want to get their hands on this money straight away. The
biggest clubs don't need financing. But other clubs try to even out cashflow
by taking out loans against future receivables. "Historically they would
have gone to a bank. But with the credit crunch banks left the marketplace
so they have had to make other arrangements."
It is understood West Ham and Everton were charged between six to eight per
cent interest for their latest loans, and are still looking into the
potential ramifications of the ban.
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Andre Ayew struggling to reach desired heights at West Ham United
Published on: 28 November 2016
ghanasoccerneet.com
Ghana and West Ham United's record signing Andre Ayew is clearly struggling
to reach the level he was at Swansea City after a cameo performance against
Manchester United in the English Premier League. Ayew is yet to score for
West Ham United and got off to a disastrous start to life as a hammer after
injuring his quadriceps in his first game for the club. He has since
returned but is yet to fully convince in the games he has played for the
club and his performance is clearly not meeting the expectations of his
manager Slaven Bilic. He started upfront in the game against Stoke City but
failed to impress while he was far from his best in the defeat to Tottenham
Hotspurs last week. With West Ham United struggling for form, Bilic decided
to drop Ayew for the big game against Manchester United and only introduced
him late on in the second half to see out a game they impressively picked up
a point. The marriage between Ayew and West Ham United is still a very young
one but clearly there is a lot that has improve from the direction of the
player and the club to enjoy.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 29
Sunday, November 27
Daily WHUFC News - 28th November 2016
Sakho strike earns Hammers crucial Old Trafford point
WHUFC.com
Diafra Sakho's early opener was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the
Hammers were held by Manchester United in the first of two trips to Old
Trafford in four days on Sunday. In only his second appearance of the
season, the Senegalese headed brilliantly past David De Gea to give the
visitors a second minute lead, but United's Swedish talisman grabbed the
leveller less than 20 minutes later. A string of superb Darren Randolph
saves kept the hosts at bay throughout the second half, and Slaven Bilic's
men collected a crucial Premier League point ahead of Wednesday night's EFL
Cup quarter-final. The perfect start for West Ham was provided by Sakho as
he latched onto Dimitri Payet's perfect set-piece delivery from the right
and, stretching on the dive, planted a header past De Gea. Jose Mourinho's
side then began to take control at Old Trafford, though their first
meaningful effort was comfortably saved by Randolph who was right behind
Juan Mata's tame attempt. But the hosts equalised moments later, when
Zlatan Ibrahimovic sneaked in behind James Collins to flick home Paul
Pogba's inch-perfect cross from deep in the 21st minute. The first half's
moment on controversy involved Pogba shortly after, as manager Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands following an angry outburst. The Frenchman, falling
after going past Mark Noble, was correctly booked for diving, prompting the
explosive bottle-kicking moment from his boss. With ten minutes remaining in
the first period, Michail Antonio dragged a left-footed attempt just wide
but the 20-time English champions came closest to breaking the deadlock two
minutes later. The superb Darren Randolph was on hand to deny Jesse Lingard
one-on-one with his legs, before then saving low to his left to excellently
keep out the England international for a second time.
The Hammers began the second period better than they had ended the first,
with Sakho glancing Payet's corner just over and the Frenchman then having a
go himself from a free-kick, only to be denied by Spaniard De Gea. Randolph
in goal for Slaven Bilic's side was getting used to denying Lingard by the
74th minute, as he was again behind an effort from the winger, but the
visitors' nerves were really ratted two minutes later. Substitute Henrikh
Mkhitaryan somehow struck the post from close range, and though Lingard was
able to tap home from close range, the linesman's flag cancelled the
celebrations. Randolph next denied Pogba before foiling Ibrahimovic late on
after the forward's back post header seemed destined for the net, and
Cheikhou Kouyate's last-ditch clearance frustrated United further. There was
nearly a fairytale ending to the clash for the Hammers and former Manchester
United forward Ashley Fletcher who, collecting a superb Antonio centre,
fired straight at De Gea. The fixture ended level, however, and the Hammers
picked up a crucial point ahead of Wednesday's cup clash back in the north
west.
Manchester United: De Gea, Jones, Rojo, Pogba, Mata (Mkhitaryan 65),
Ibrahimovic, Lingard (Fellaini 85), Rashford (Rooney 65), Herrera, Valencia,
Darmian.
Subs not used: Romero, Blind, Young, Schweinsteiger.
Goals: Ibrahimovic 21
Bookings: Pogba 28
West Ham United: Randolph, Kouyate, Collins, Ogbonna, Antonio, Obiang,
Noble, Cresswell, Lanzini (Ayew 74), Payet (Feghouli 90+3), Sakho (Fletcher
65).
Subs not used: Adrian, Zaza, Nordtveit, Fernandes.
Goals: Sakho 2
Bookings: Cresswell 90
Attendance: 75,313
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Bilic - It's a great point
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic was pleased with his team's performance as West Ham United
earned a point at Manchester United on Sunday evening. The Hammers had to
battle hard to make their point after Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out
Diafra Sakho's early opener, with Darren Randolph making a string of saves
to deny Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba.
The second half saw the visitors make more headway in home territory and
Ashley Fletcher was desperately close to winning it late on, but Bilic was
content with the poins. He explained: "It might have been more, okay we had
a great chance, but it is a great point for us. "We have to praise their
players, who showed their quality, but we showed our quality too, especially
in the second half. "In the first half, from the time we scored until they
equalised we lost too many balls. "To be fair, they we better in the first
half, but in the second half we closed the game up on them and I was pleased
with how we played. "We were a bit more attacking [in our mentality] in the
second half, which is not easy to do at Old Trafford. "They try to press
when you have the ball, and if you get out of that press then you have the
space they leave behind. "We were using that better in the second half and
we could have scored, but they had a couple of chances too and it is a
really good point for us."
Randolph more than made his mark on his second start since dislodging Adrian
between the posts and Bilic was full of praise for the Irishman's
performance.
He said: "He deserved his chance. Make no mistake, it's not Adrian's fault
that we're in this position but we felt Randy deserved his chance and he did
really well.
"We limited them in the second half but when we needed to defend in our box
we were brave, we were good and sharp, "And when that was not enough, we had
Randolph, who was great today."
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Superb stopper Randolph delighted with draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph was delighted as the Hammers picked up a
vital point against Manchester United
The Republic of Ireland international was in terrific form, making a number
of key saves
The stopper also said the squad was pleased to see teammate Diafra Sakho
return to the scoresheet
Hammers stopper Darren Randolph says his performance against Manchester
United in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday was up there with his most
memorable. The Republic of Ireland number one was in scintillating form in
the north west, keeping the visitors in the game on a number of occasions to
help Slaven Bilic's side earn a crucial Premier League point. Randolph twice
denied Jesse Lingard superbly in the opening period before then foiling Red
Devils scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and big-money summer signing Paul Pogba in
the second. And after the Hammers stood strong to pick up the draw, Randolph
admitted the game was one of his best in claret and blue. He said: "It's
certainly up there [with my most memorable] although I'd have liked to be
less busy. When you're having a good day, you're having a good day. "We got
the luck today and the saves obviously counted towards something because we
got a point. "I haven't [got a favourite save] but I'm just happy to have
made the saves that count for something and that we've got a point out the
game. "We're very happy. It was tough and like the Alamo at times, but
that's what it takes when you come to these places."
The Hammers took the lead just two minutes into the fixture, with Diafra
Sakho latching brilliantly onto a Dimitri Payet free-kick to head in his
first goal of the season. And Randolph continued to express how delighted
the whole squad are to see the Senegalese back on the scoresheet. "It's
brilliant [for Sakho]," the goalkeeper said. "He's obviously worked really
hard to get back and you know when he plays he puts in a shift. "Everyone is
delighted for him to get a goal in his second game in six or seven months
and obviously it was a shame to see him go off."
The Hammers will travel back to Old Trafford on Wednesday for an EFL Cup
quarter-final, and Randolph believes the side can take a great deal from
Sunday's stalemate. "We can take a lot of confidence from this," he
continued. "Even with our performance last week. It wasn't good enough for
the whole game but today we were good enough for 95 minutes and we managed
to get a point. "We should take a lot of confidence going into Wednesday's
game. "I can only try and perform and show what I can do when I get the
chance. If I get the nod, I get the nod and if not I would fully back Adrian
and then we'd want to push on again and get ourselves further up the table
and progress in the cup."
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Dicks - United penalty was one of my greatest moments
WHUFC.com
It has been nearly twenty years since Julian Dicks scored one of his
greatest goals for West Ham United – a memorable penalty to earn a draw
against Manchester United at Upton Park. December 8 1996 will always be
remembered as one of the great matches under the lights in east London after
the Hammers came from two goals down to earn a draw against the Premier
League champions. After Florin Raducioiu had pulled a goal back with 12
minutes to go, Michael Hughes was then brought down inside the area and it
was left for Dicks to fire an unstoppable penalty past Peter Schmeichel to
cue wild celebrations around Upton Park.
It was a moment that Dicks will always remember and as the two teams prepare
to meet twice inside the space of four days, the Hammers coaching assistant
will hope to experience a similar feeling at the final whistle.....
I have to be honest and admit the game doesn't feel like 20-years ago as I
keep seeing the penalty and it is amazing how time flies, but I remember it
like it was yesterday. It was a big moment because we had come back from two
goals down and at that stage we thought it was going to be a big defeat.
They had players like Beckham, Cantona, Giggs, who were great players and it
is not easy to play them at the best of times, especially when you are 2-0
down. I remember Ludo was fantastic once again that afternoon and we thought
we were going to get a beating. But Harry brought on Florin and he brought
us back into the game with a great goal. You always have a chance when you
are playing at Upton Park, no matter who you are playing against and the
players sensed that. We then got the penalty after Hughes was taken out by
Schmeichel. Michael probably made more of it but we got the decision our
way. I remember the ball was on the spot and the players were arguing.
Cantona then came over to me and said 'Dicks, small goal.' I managed to
score and remember running past Cantona on the way back and he winked at me.
That was one penalty that I was not going to miss. I will always remember
the celebrations and you feel a lot of emotion when the ball goes in,
because if I had missed it people would have been talking about it for a
long time, so to get a point at that stage was a great achievement for the
boys.
Every goal I scored for West Ham was special, whether it was the penalty or
header I scored against Tottenham, but because it was Manchester United and
they were a fantastic side with fantastic players, it made it even more
special. People talk about the great nights at Upton Park, but for me that
was one of the special nights and one of my best memories. I am not on
Twitter, but my daughter keeps sending me links and I never get bored of
watching it back. I will hope to get another similar result on Sunday and we
all know the importance of the game. We won't go to a bigger stadium and
they still have fantastic players. It is a big time for us to cause an
upset. We didn't lose against Manchester United last season and we took the
game to them. If you go to Old Trafford and get something out of it, it will
be a big bonus for everyone. The training has been really good and with
75,000 people this could be a major turning point in our season.
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Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United
By Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport
Jose Mourinho was sent off for a second time in a month as his Manchester
United side drew against West Ham at Old Trafford. The Portuguese boss
kicked a water bottle in reaction to referee Jon Moss showing Paul Pogba a
yellow card for diving. Replays showed West Ham's Mark Noble did not make
contact with the France midfielder. Mourinho, sent off by Mark Clattenburg
during last month's 0-0 draw at home to Burnley, got his marching orders
from the official moments later. Moss also dismissed him in October 2015,
when Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea - again during a match against West
Ham. The drama came after two goals were scored in the opening quarter of
the match. West Ham took the lead in the second minute when Diafra Sakho
headed in from Dimitri Payet's free-kick. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was partly at
fault for the goal but made amends in the 21st minute when he nodded in from
Pogba's dinked delivery. The hosts were thwarted on several occasions by
Hammers goalkeeper Darren Randolph, while Jesse Lingard had the ball in the
net for the home side but it was correctly ruled out for offside.
Mourinho is becoming a familiar figure in the stands after red mist
descended for the second time in a matter of weeks. Earlier this month he
was banned and fined for an incident in the tunnel at half-time during the
match against Burnley, and in a separate case was fined £50,000 for comments
made about referee Anthony Taylor before United's match with Liverpool. Both
incidents came a year after Mourinho served a one-match stadium ban for an
abusive rant at Moss at half-time during a Chelsea Premier League match at
Upton Park. He was also fined £50,000 for saying that referees were afraid
to award Chelsea penalties during their 3-1 defeat by Southampton in October
2015. There were 22 passes leading up to Ibrahimovic's goal - only Eden
Hazard's v Everton has had more passes before it in the Premier League this
season (23). All of Manchester United's players were part of the move. Any
feelings of euphoria that Manchester United had following Thursday's 4-0
Europa League win over Feyenoord will have disappeared after this result.
Mourinho's men are 11 points shy of leaders Chelsea following their fifth
draw in seven league matches. In that period, they have only won one game.
On Sunday, they were thwarted by the brilliance of Randolph. The goalkeeper
- playing only his second league game of the season - twice blocked from
Ibrahimovic and made instinctive saves to deny Marcus Rashford and Lingard.
He also pushed a Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot on to the post - the follow-up was
tapped into the net by the offside Lingard. When Randolph was rounded by
Ibrahimovic after an awful James Collins backpass, Cheikhou Kouyate was on
hand to hook the ball clear of danger.
Man of the match - Darren Randolph (West Ham)
The Republic of Ireland keeper replaced the dropped Adrian last week and,
after this brilliant display at Old Trafford, he is highly likely to keep
his place
'It should be a foul for us'
Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria speaking to BBC Sport about
Mourinho's sending-off: "The referee explained it to Jose and there is
nothing more to say. I think there was frustration from Jose after the
yellow card for Pogba. It should be a foul for us but the referee understood
it in another way. "I don't take over. I follow the normal procedure. The
boss is Jose all the time and he passes on what is the best for the team and
we just try to make it happen without having him there." On the match: "We
did more than enough to win the game in a comfortable way. "We didn't and
the reality is that we are playing well. The team is doing what we ask. We
create the opportunities but we are not scoring the goals and we are
suffering because we want to win the matches.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "It might have been more but it is a great point
for us, especially as we played well. I have to praise the players, who
showed character, commitment and quality, especially in the second half. "In
the first half, when we scored, we were a little bit afraid because we were
winning at Old Trafford and then until they scored we lost too many balls.
"In the second half, we told the players to go up on them and I was very
pleased with how we played. You can't attack here all the time. "They tried
to press when they lost the ball and if you get out of that, there is a lot
of space. We were using that really well in the second half."
Diafra Sakho's goal is the second quickest Manchester United have conceded
at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
The West Ham forward has scored three times in four Premier League games
against United, and in both games contested at Old Trafford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in consecutive league games for the first time
since his first two appearances in the competition.
Paul Pogba provided his first assist in the Premier League, in his 15th
appearance.
What's next?
Manchester United face West Ham at Old Trafford again in the EFL Cup
quarter-finals on Wednesday and are back in league action at Everton next
Sunday. After their cup tie, the Hammers will be at home to Arsenal next
Saturday.
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REF ANALYSIS: JONATHAN MOSS
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 27 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 10:07PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
This article is written by Sam Royden @SamRoyden
After a sickening last minute defeat away at Spurs last weekend, West Ham
play Manchester United twice in four days in the Premier League and EFL
Quarter Finals respectively away at Old Trafford. It's difficult to
comprehend how West Ham lost the game last weekend after being 2-1 up going
into the final minutes of the game. Nordtveit gave Mike Dean a decision to
make in the 93rd minute when he caught Son inside the penalty box, which
Harry Kane subsequently scored and won the game for Spurs. The referee
appointed for this Gameweek 13 fixture against Man U was Jon Moss.
Well, I think it's difficult for me not to start with the Pogba/Mourinho
incident. Paul Pogba was cautioned for simulation by Jon Moss, there was no
contact made by Mark Noble. Following this decision by Moss, Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands for aggressively kicking a water bottle. This is a
difficult one for me as I've played football and understand the frustrations
when a decision doesn't go your way, but as a manager you've got to lead by
example. I believe Anthony Taylor, who was the fourth official for this
fixture, highlighted the incident to Moss because the water bottle seemed to
fly into the crowd. This couldn't be confirmed by the TV replays but it's
the act of aggressive behaviour that I feel made Moss's mind up.
West Ham started brilliantly scoring in the first 90 seconds. Moss was right
on the spot to award West Ham a free kick 25 yards outside the Manchester
United box when Lingard caught Dimitri Payet. The free-kick subsequently led
to Diafra Sahko's first goal of the season. Late in the first half there was
a convincing appeal for handball from West Ham after Dimitri Payet's cross
hit Rojo's hand inside the penalty area. In my opinion, there was a case for
a penalty as Rojo's arm was away from his body. The only reason why I think
Moss ignored the appeals was due to Rojo's position and Moss deemed Rojo was
too close to the ball/player to move his outward arm and was ball to hand.
Throughout the second half, Jon Moss was particularly quiet compared to the
first half right up until the 80th minute when three cautions were issued.
There has been a lot of talk this season surrounding dissent towards the
officials. I felt Michail Antonio could have been cautioned for his reaction
after he shoved Matteo Darmian in the back. Antonio was very animated and to
be consistent with this kind of punishment this season, I was surprised a
yellow card wasn't issued.
I have to praise the assistant referee as he brilliantly flagged Jesse
Lingard offside before scoring from close range. The Manchester United
midfielder was in an offside position after Mkhitaryan's initial shot
ricocheted off the post. This was a very good decision by the assistant
referee.
There was a flurry of yellow cards in the final 5 minutes of the game. The
first caution was issued to Manchester United substitute Marouane Fellaini
after very good footwork by Mark Noble meant he was caught just outside the
penalty area. Aaron Cresswell was the only West Ham player cautioned in the
game but this was more than deserved after the West Ham left back very
blatantly caught the back of Mkhitaryan's heels on a promising Manchester
United attack. Antonio Valencia was the final player cautioned within the
game after an obvious handball deep inside the West Ham third. In my
opinion, Jon Moss got all of these yellow cards correct.
Overall, I felt that Jon Moss officiated the game well in parts. In my
opinion, his decision making was accurate and was quick on the mark to make
decisions especially Paul Pogba's dive. I do feel that West Ham should have
had a penalty in the first half; Regardless of your position you cannot have
your arm away from your body. However, I do feel that Moss felt that Rojo
didn't move his arm towards to the ball and it was ball to hand. With our
current performances, I feel a point away at Old Trafford is a good result
and we can build on it. With Fellaini and Pogba suspended for the EFL
Quarter Final on Wednesday, I think Bilic will field a strong team to
hopefully get us into the Semi-Finals.
Thanks,
Sam
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Manchester United 1-1 West Ham: Jose Mourinho sent off in another draw
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 27/11/16 8:30pm
SSN
Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as Manchester United were again
frustrated at home with a 1-1 draw against West Ham. Diafra Sakho gave the
Hammers the lead after just two minutes when he headed in Dimitri Payet's
free-kick. But United responded midway through the first half when Zlatan
Ibrahimovic flicked past Darren Randolph from Paul Pogba's pass over the
top. Pogba was booked for diving shortly afterwards, an incident that
enraged Mourinho and saw him sent from the sidelines for kicking a water
bottle in frustration. It is the second time in the space of a month that
Mourinho has been sent to the stands after his dismissal during the goalless
draw against Burnley. And his mood was unlikely to have improved much as he
watched his side held at home for the fourth successive match in the Premier
League. As in recent games at Old Trafford, United created chances to take
the lead, but they could not find a way past Randolph, who made several key
stops. Ibrahimovic returned from suspension for the hosts while Bastian
Schweinsteiger was named in the squad for the first time this season. With
Winston Reid suspended for West Ham, James Collins started in defence, and
Mark Noble returned to the side. The Hammers made a dream start as, in the
second minute, Payet fizzed a free-kick across goal and Sakho nodded in
ahead of Ibrahimovic. The goal seemed to stun the home fans as well as the
United players, who took a while to respond. Eventually, they started to
take control and Ibrahimovic atoned for losing Sakho for the opening goal
when he headed Pogba's perfectly-weighted pass beyond Randolph. Pogba was
involved in the action again in the 27th minute, receiving a yellow card for
diving. The incident angered Mourinho, who kicked a water bottle into the
air in frustration and was subsequently sent to the stands. But United
finished the half strongly and started to create more chances. Jesse Lingard
volleyed over from close range before Marcus Rashford, whose last goal was
two months ago, failed to beat Randolph after being played through on goal.
Ibrahimovic then headed wide before seeing a shot stopped by a brilliant
block by Angelo Obgonna. Randolph saved well from Lingard late in the half,
but West Ham created chances of their own after the break, with David de Gea
tipping over an audacious long-range free-kick from Payet and Sakho heading
over from a corner. Wayne Rooney, who is one goal short of equalling Sir
Bobby Charlton's scoring record for United, went close after coming off the
bench but his low shot lacked the power to trouble Randolph.
In a frantic finish, both sides created opportunities to take the lead.
Randolph made a sharp stop to turn Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort on to the
post before the Hammers keeper palmed away a shot from Pogba that was
heading for the bottom corner. Collins then played Randolph into trouble
with a backwards header that was short, but Cheikhou Kouyate cleared before
Ibrahimovic could turn into the empty net after his touch took him around
the keeper. Ashley Fletcher, who left United for West Ham in the summer,
almost snatched a winner for the visitors on the counter in the final few
minutes, but was denied by De Gea from close range.
Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (7), Jones (6), Rojo (6), Darmian (6), Herrera
(6), Pogba (6), Lingard (6), Mata (5), Rashford (5), Ibrahimovic (7).
Subs: Rooney (5), Mkhitaryan (5), Fellaini (5).
West Ham: Randolph (8), Kouyate (7), Collins (6), Ogbonna (7), Antonio (6),
Obiang (6), Noble (6), Cresswell (7), Lanzini (5), Payet (7), Sakho (7).
Subs: Feghouli (5), Ayew (5), Fletcher (5).
Man of the match: Darren Randolph.
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Slaven Bilic pleased with point as West Ham draw at Manchester United
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 27/11/16 8:32pm
SSN
Slaven Bilic was content with a "great point" even though West Ham gave up
an early lead to draw 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday. Diafra Sakho
gave the Hammers the perfect start when he headed in from Dimitri Payet's
free-kick after two minutes at Old Trafford. But Zlatan Ibrahimovic replied
for United midway through the first half and both sides spurned chances to
win the match. "It was a really good game for us, a great point," Hammers
boss Bilic told Sky Sports. "I have to praise the guys for their
performance, they showed character, commitment, team spirit and the quality
you need to get anything when you play at Old Trafford. "They were better in
the first half and I am not happy with the way we reacted after we scored
the goal, as we should have gained confidence from it.
"But in the second half, we were much better, we pressed them high,
exploited the spaces they were leaving behind, and we played some really
good football.
"At the end, we could have won the game, I am really pleased with the
performance and to get a point here is always good."
Goalkeeper Darren Randolph was the man of the match for the Hammers after
making several key stops. And Bilic added: "You can't prevent them not
having a few chances, we limited them in the second half but when we needed
to defend in our box we were really good and sharp and when that was not
enough we had Randolph in goal who was great today." The Hammers also had
penalty appeals turned away late in the first half when Payet's cross hit an
arm at close range.
"For me it was a penalty," said Bilic. "I am not talking about a bad tackle
or yellow card…it was very close but it was a penalty."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini suspended for Manchester United's EFL Cup
clash with West Ham
BYFRANK SMITH
22:36, 27 NOV 2016UPDATED22:36, 27 NOV 2016
The Mirror
Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini for their
EFL Cup quarter-final against West Ham United on Wednesday due to
suspension.
Pogba received his fifth booking of the season during this afternoon's 1-1
draw with the Hammers after he was adjudged to have dived by referee Jon
Moss.
The incident resulted in Jose Mourinho being sent to the stands for dissent
and comes after the world's most expensive player was booked against
Watford, Chelsea, Manchester City and Burnley earlier this season.
Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United: Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancels out Diafra
Sakho's header - 5 things we learned Fellaini was only introduced from the
substitutes bench in the 88th minute at Old Trafford but there was still
enough time for the Belgian to be booked for a strong challenge on Mark
Noble. It was also the former Everton midfielder's fifth caution of the
season after he made the referee's notebook against Hull City, Manchester
City, Watford and Liverpool. The two sides will be back at Old Trafford in
three days' time as they look to book their place in January's EFL Cup
semi-final. Today's draw was Manchester United's fourth consecutive
stalemate in the league at Old Trafford - something the club had not done
since 1980 - and meant the Red Devils have endured their worst start to a
season since the 1990/91 campaign after 13 games.
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Gary Neville makes excuse for Jose Mourinho as Manchester United labour to
draw against West Ham
Neville believes the Europa League is to blame for the Red Devils' slump
after a fourth successive home game without a victory
The Mirror
Gary Neville has leaped to the defence of Jose Mourinho after another draw
at Old Trafford by insisting the Europa League is to blame. Manchester
United are 11 points off the pace in the title race and already and eight
points off Arsenal, who sit fourth. That makes it United's worst start to a
season after 13 rounds since 1989, but Neville believes the Red Devil's
Europa League commitment is to blame - despite Southampton winning against
Everton at the same time as United's 1-1 draw against West Ham. Neville
Tweeted: "That EL [Europa League] is a killer!! Always has been and always
will... Twitter please educate me on a team that's excelled in the league
and been in it. "I'm sure there has been a team but seems to hamper most."
Neville was then bombarded with fans accusing him of sour grapes, but the
Sky Sports pundit responded by insisting that there is too much evidence to
merely dismiss it as that. "I think their are too many examples for it to be
an excuse. Every team seems to struggle," Neville added. "I'd like to see a
study of teams in EL and try and measure it." Mourinho is likely to be in
hot water with the authorities once again after being dismissed to the
stands by referee Jon Moss. That is likely to be the least of his worries as
he continues to blunder after assembling the most expensive Premier League
squad in history.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Diafra Sakho's early opener was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the
Hammers were held by Manchester United in the first of two trips to Old
Trafford in four days on Sunday. In only his second appearance of the
season, the Senegalese headed brilliantly past David De Gea to give the
visitors a second minute lead, but United's Swedish talisman grabbed the
leveller less than 20 minutes later. A string of superb Darren Randolph
saves kept the hosts at bay throughout the second half, and Slaven Bilic's
men collected a crucial Premier League point ahead of Wednesday night's EFL
Cup quarter-final. The perfect start for West Ham was provided by Sakho as
he latched onto Dimitri Payet's perfect set-piece delivery from the right
and, stretching on the dive, planted a header past De Gea. Jose Mourinho's
side then began to take control at Old Trafford, though their first
meaningful effort was comfortably saved by Randolph who was right behind
Juan Mata's tame attempt. But the hosts equalised moments later, when
Zlatan Ibrahimovic sneaked in behind James Collins to flick home Paul
Pogba's inch-perfect cross from deep in the 21st minute. The first half's
moment on controversy involved Pogba shortly after, as manager Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands following an angry outburst. The Frenchman, falling
after going past Mark Noble, was correctly booked for diving, prompting the
explosive bottle-kicking moment from his boss. With ten minutes remaining in
the first period, Michail Antonio dragged a left-footed attempt just wide
but the 20-time English champions came closest to breaking the deadlock two
minutes later. The superb Darren Randolph was on hand to deny Jesse Lingard
one-on-one with his legs, before then saving low to his left to excellently
keep out the England international for a second time.
The Hammers began the second period better than they had ended the first,
with Sakho glancing Payet's corner just over and the Frenchman then having a
go himself from a free-kick, only to be denied by Spaniard De Gea. Randolph
in goal for Slaven Bilic's side was getting used to denying Lingard by the
74th minute, as he was again behind an effort from the winger, but the
visitors' nerves were really ratted two minutes later. Substitute Henrikh
Mkhitaryan somehow struck the post from close range, and though Lingard was
able to tap home from close range, the linesman's flag cancelled the
celebrations. Randolph next denied Pogba before foiling Ibrahimovic late on
after the forward's back post header seemed destined for the net, and
Cheikhou Kouyate's last-ditch clearance frustrated United further. There was
nearly a fairytale ending to the clash for the Hammers and former Manchester
United forward Ashley Fletcher who, collecting a superb Antonio centre,
fired straight at De Gea. The fixture ended level, however, and the Hammers
picked up a crucial point ahead of Wednesday's cup clash back in the north
west.
Manchester United: De Gea, Jones, Rojo, Pogba, Mata (Mkhitaryan 65),
Ibrahimovic, Lingard (Fellaini 85), Rashford (Rooney 65), Herrera, Valencia,
Darmian.
Subs not used: Romero, Blind, Young, Schweinsteiger.
Goals: Ibrahimovic 21
Bookings: Pogba 28
West Ham United: Randolph, Kouyate, Collins, Ogbonna, Antonio, Obiang,
Noble, Cresswell, Lanzini (Ayew 74), Payet (Feghouli 90+3), Sakho (Fletcher
65).
Subs not used: Adrian, Zaza, Nordtveit, Fernandes.
Goals: Sakho 2
Bookings: Cresswell 90
Attendance: 75,313
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Bilic - It's a great point
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic was pleased with his team's performance as West Ham United
earned a point at Manchester United on Sunday evening. The Hammers had to
battle hard to make their point after Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out
Diafra Sakho's early opener, with Darren Randolph making a string of saves
to deny Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba.
The second half saw the visitors make more headway in home territory and
Ashley Fletcher was desperately close to winning it late on, but Bilic was
content with the poins. He explained: "It might have been more, okay we had
a great chance, but it is a great point for us. "We have to praise their
players, who showed their quality, but we showed our quality too, especially
in the second half. "In the first half, from the time we scored until they
equalised we lost too many balls. "To be fair, they we better in the first
half, but in the second half we closed the game up on them and I was pleased
with how we played. "We were a bit more attacking [in our mentality] in the
second half, which is not easy to do at Old Trafford. "They try to press
when you have the ball, and if you get out of that press then you have the
space they leave behind. "We were using that better in the second half and
we could have scored, but they had a couple of chances too and it is a
really good point for us."
Randolph more than made his mark on his second start since dislodging Adrian
between the posts and Bilic was full of praise for the Irishman's
performance.
He said: "He deserved his chance. Make no mistake, it's not Adrian's fault
that we're in this position but we felt Randy deserved his chance and he did
really well.
"We limited them in the second half but when we needed to defend in our box
we were brave, we were good and sharp, "And when that was not enough, we had
Randolph, who was great today."
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Superb stopper Randolph delighted with draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph was delighted as the Hammers picked up a
vital point against Manchester United
The Republic of Ireland international was in terrific form, making a number
of key saves
The stopper also said the squad was pleased to see teammate Diafra Sakho
return to the scoresheet
Hammers stopper Darren Randolph says his performance against Manchester
United in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday was up there with his most
memorable. The Republic of Ireland number one was in scintillating form in
the north west, keeping the visitors in the game on a number of occasions to
help Slaven Bilic's side earn a crucial Premier League point. Randolph twice
denied Jesse Lingard superbly in the opening period before then foiling Red
Devils scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and big-money summer signing Paul Pogba in
the second. And after the Hammers stood strong to pick up the draw, Randolph
admitted the game was one of his best in claret and blue. He said: "It's
certainly up there [with my most memorable] although I'd have liked to be
less busy. When you're having a good day, you're having a good day. "We got
the luck today and the saves obviously counted towards something because we
got a point. "I haven't [got a favourite save] but I'm just happy to have
made the saves that count for something and that we've got a point out the
game. "We're very happy. It was tough and like the Alamo at times, but
that's what it takes when you come to these places."
The Hammers took the lead just two minutes into the fixture, with Diafra
Sakho latching brilliantly onto a Dimitri Payet free-kick to head in his
first goal of the season. And Randolph continued to express how delighted
the whole squad are to see the Senegalese back on the scoresheet. "It's
brilliant [for Sakho]," the goalkeeper said. "He's obviously worked really
hard to get back and you know when he plays he puts in a shift. "Everyone is
delighted for him to get a goal in his second game in six or seven months
and obviously it was a shame to see him go off."
The Hammers will travel back to Old Trafford on Wednesday for an EFL Cup
quarter-final, and Randolph believes the side can take a great deal from
Sunday's stalemate. "We can take a lot of confidence from this," he
continued. "Even with our performance last week. It wasn't good enough for
the whole game but today we were good enough for 95 minutes and we managed
to get a point. "We should take a lot of confidence going into Wednesday's
game. "I can only try and perform and show what I can do when I get the
chance. If I get the nod, I get the nod and if not I would fully back Adrian
and then we'd want to push on again and get ourselves further up the table
and progress in the cup."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dicks - United penalty was one of my greatest moments
WHUFC.com
It has been nearly twenty years since Julian Dicks scored one of his
greatest goals for West Ham United – a memorable penalty to earn a draw
against Manchester United at Upton Park. December 8 1996 will always be
remembered as one of the great matches under the lights in east London after
the Hammers came from two goals down to earn a draw against the Premier
League champions. After Florin Raducioiu had pulled a goal back with 12
minutes to go, Michael Hughes was then brought down inside the area and it
was left for Dicks to fire an unstoppable penalty past Peter Schmeichel to
cue wild celebrations around Upton Park.
It was a moment that Dicks will always remember and as the two teams prepare
to meet twice inside the space of four days, the Hammers coaching assistant
will hope to experience a similar feeling at the final whistle.....
I have to be honest and admit the game doesn't feel like 20-years ago as I
keep seeing the penalty and it is amazing how time flies, but I remember it
like it was yesterday. It was a big moment because we had come back from two
goals down and at that stage we thought it was going to be a big defeat.
They had players like Beckham, Cantona, Giggs, who were great players and it
is not easy to play them at the best of times, especially when you are 2-0
down. I remember Ludo was fantastic once again that afternoon and we thought
we were going to get a beating. But Harry brought on Florin and he brought
us back into the game with a great goal. You always have a chance when you
are playing at Upton Park, no matter who you are playing against and the
players sensed that. We then got the penalty after Hughes was taken out by
Schmeichel. Michael probably made more of it but we got the decision our
way. I remember the ball was on the spot and the players were arguing.
Cantona then came over to me and said 'Dicks, small goal.' I managed to
score and remember running past Cantona on the way back and he winked at me.
That was one penalty that I was not going to miss. I will always remember
the celebrations and you feel a lot of emotion when the ball goes in,
because if I had missed it people would have been talking about it for a
long time, so to get a point at that stage was a great achievement for the
boys.
Every goal I scored for West Ham was special, whether it was the penalty or
header I scored against Tottenham, but because it was Manchester United and
they were a fantastic side with fantastic players, it made it even more
special. People talk about the great nights at Upton Park, but for me that
was one of the special nights and one of my best memories. I am not on
Twitter, but my daughter keeps sending me links and I never get bored of
watching it back. I will hope to get another similar result on Sunday and we
all know the importance of the game. We won't go to a bigger stadium and
they still have fantastic players. It is a big time for us to cause an
upset. We didn't lose against Manchester United last season and we took the
game to them. If you go to Old Trafford and get something out of it, it will
be a big bonus for everyone. The training has been really good and with
75,000 people this could be a major turning point in our season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United
By Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport
Jose Mourinho was sent off for a second time in a month as his Manchester
United side drew against West Ham at Old Trafford. The Portuguese boss
kicked a water bottle in reaction to referee Jon Moss showing Paul Pogba a
yellow card for diving. Replays showed West Ham's Mark Noble did not make
contact with the France midfielder. Mourinho, sent off by Mark Clattenburg
during last month's 0-0 draw at home to Burnley, got his marching orders
from the official moments later. Moss also dismissed him in October 2015,
when Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea - again during a match against West
Ham. The drama came after two goals were scored in the opening quarter of
the match. West Ham took the lead in the second minute when Diafra Sakho
headed in from Dimitri Payet's free-kick. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was partly at
fault for the goal but made amends in the 21st minute when he nodded in from
Pogba's dinked delivery. The hosts were thwarted on several occasions by
Hammers goalkeeper Darren Randolph, while Jesse Lingard had the ball in the
net for the home side but it was correctly ruled out for offside.
Mourinho is becoming a familiar figure in the stands after red mist
descended for the second time in a matter of weeks. Earlier this month he
was banned and fined for an incident in the tunnel at half-time during the
match against Burnley, and in a separate case was fined £50,000 for comments
made about referee Anthony Taylor before United's match with Liverpool. Both
incidents came a year after Mourinho served a one-match stadium ban for an
abusive rant at Moss at half-time during a Chelsea Premier League match at
Upton Park. He was also fined £50,000 for saying that referees were afraid
to award Chelsea penalties during their 3-1 defeat by Southampton in October
2015. There were 22 passes leading up to Ibrahimovic's goal - only Eden
Hazard's v Everton has had more passes before it in the Premier League this
season (23). All of Manchester United's players were part of the move. Any
feelings of euphoria that Manchester United had following Thursday's 4-0
Europa League win over Feyenoord will have disappeared after this result.
Mourinho's men are 11 points shy of leaders Chelsea following their fifth
draw in seven league matches. In that period, they have only won one game.
On Sunday, they were thwarted by the brilliance of Randolph. The goalkeeper
- playing only his second league game of the season - twice blocked from
Ibrahimovic and made instinctive saves to deny Marcus Rashford and Lingard.
He also pushed a Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot on to the post - the follow-up was
tapped into the net by the offside Lingard. When Randolph was rounded by
Ibrahimovic after an awful James Collins backpass, Cheikhou Kouyate was on
hand to hook the ball clear of danger.
Man of the match - Darren Randolph (West Ham)
The Republic of Ireland keeper replaced the dropped Adrian last week and,
after this brilliant display at Old Trafford, he is highly likely to keep
his place
'It should be a foul for us'
Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria speaking to BBC Sport about
Mourinho's sending-off: "The referee explained it to Jose and there is
nothing more to say. I think there was frustration from Jose after the
yellow card for Pogba. It should be a foul for us but the referee understood
it in another way. "I don't take over. I follow the normal procedure. The
boss is Jose all the time and he passes on what is the best for the team and
we just try to make it happen without having him there." On the match: "We
did more than enough to win the game in a comfortable way. "We didn't and
the reality is that we are playing well. The team is doing what we ask. We
create the opportunities but we are not scoring the goals and we are
suffering because we want to win the matches.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "It might have been more but it is a great point
for us, especially as we played well. I have to praise the players, who
showed character, commitment and quality, especially in the second half. "In
the first half, when we scored, we were a little bit afraid because we were
winning at Old Trafford and then until they scored we lost too many balls.
"In the second half, we told the players to go up on them and I was very
pleased with how we played. You can't attack here all the time. "They tried
to press when they lost the ball and if you get out of that, there is a lot
of space. We were using that really well in the second half."
Diafra Sakho's goal is the second quickest Manchester United have conceded
at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
The West Ham forward has scored three times in four Premier League games
against United, and in both games contested at Old Trafford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in consecutive league games for the first time
since his first two appearances in the competition.
Paul Pogba provided his first assist in the Premier League, in his 15th
appearance.
What's next?
Manchester United face West Ham at Old Trafford again in the EFL Cup
quarter-finals on Wednesday and are back in league action at Everton next
Sunday. After their cup tie, the Hammers will be at home to Arsenal next
Saturday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
REF ANALYSIS: JONATHAN MOSS
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 27 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 10:07PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
This article is written by Sam Royden @SamRoyden
After a sickening last minute defeat away at Spurs last weekend, West Ham
play Manchester United twice in four days in the Premier League and EFL
Quarter Finals respectively away at Old Trafford. It's difficult to
comprehend how West Ham lost the game last weekend after being 2-1 up going
into the final minutes of the game. Nordtveit gave Mike Dean a decision to
make in the 93rd minute when he caught Son inside the penalty box, which
Harry Kane subsequently scored and won the game for Spurs. The referee
appointed for this Gameweek 13 fixture against Man U was Jon Moss.
Well, I think it's difficult for me not to start with the Pogba/Mourinho
incident. Paul Pogba was cautioned for simulation by Jon Moss, there was no
contact made by Mark Noble. Following this decision by Moss, Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands for aggressively kicking a water bottle. This is a
difficult one for me as I've played football and understand the frustrations
when a decision doesn't go your way, but as a manager you've got to lead by
example. I believe Anthony Taylor, who was the fourth official for this
fixture, highlighted the incident to Moss because the water bottle seemed to
fly into the crowd. This couldn't be confirmed by the TV replays but it's
the act of aggressive behaviour that I feel made Moss's mind up.
West Ham started brilliantly scoring in the first 90 seconds. Moss was right
on the spot to award West Ham a free kick 25 yards outside the Manchester
United box when Lingard caught Dimitri Payet. The free-kick subsequently led
to Diafra Sahko's first goal of the season. Late in the first half there was
a convincing appeal for handball from West Ham after Dimitri Payet's cross
hit Rojo's hand inside the penalty area. In my opinion, there was a case for
a penalty as Rojo's arm was away from his body. The only reason why I think
Moss ignored the appeals was due to Rojo's position and Moss deemed Rojo was
too close to the ball/player to move his outward arm and was ball to hand.
Throughout the second half, Jon Moss was particularly quiet compared to the
first half right up until the 80th minute when three cautions were issued.
There has been a lot of talk this season surrounding dissent towards the
officials. I felt Michail Antonio could have been cautioned for his reaction
after he shoved Matteo Darmian in the back. Antonio was very animated and to
be consistent with this kind of punishment this season, I was surprised a
yellow card wasn't issued.
I have to praise the assistant referee as he brilliantly flagged Jesse
Lingard offside before scoring from close range. The Manchester United
midfielder was in an offside position after Mkhitaryan's initial shot
ricocheted off the post. This was a very good decision by the assistant
referee.
There was a flurry of yellow cards in the final 5 minutes of the game. The
first caution was issued to Manchester United substitute Marouane Fellaini
after very good footwork by Mark Noble meant he was caught just outside the
penalty area. Aaron Cresswell was the only West Ham player cautioned in the
game but this was more than deserved after the West Ham left back very
blatantly caught the back of Mkhitaryan's heels on a promising Manchester
United attack. Antonio Valencia was the final player cautioned within the
game after an obvious handball deep inside the West Ham third. In my
opinion, Jon Moss got all of these yellow cards correct.
Overall, I felt that Jon Moss officiated the game well in parts. In my
opinion, his decision making was accurate and was quick on the mark to make
decisions especially Paul Pogba's dive. I do feel that West Ham should have
had a penalty in the first half; Regardless of your position you cannot have
your arm away from your body. However, I do feel that Moss felt that Rojo
didn't move his arm towards to the ball and it was ball to hand. With our
current performances, I feel a point away at Old Trafford is a good result
and we can build on it. With Fellaini and Pogba suspended for the EFL
Quarter Final on Wednesday, I think Bilic will field a strong team to
hopefully get us into the Semi-Finals.
Thanks,
Sam
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Manchester United 1-1 West Ham: Jose Mourinho sent off in another draw
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 27/11/16 8:30pm
SSN
Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands as Manchester United were again
frustrated at home with a 1-1 draw against West Ham. Diafra Sakho gave the
Hammers the lead after just two minutes when he headed in Dimitri Payet's
free-kick. But United responded midway through the first half when Zlatan
Ibrahimovic flicked past Darren Randolph from Paul Pogba's pass over the
top. Pogba was booked for diving shortly afterwards, an incident that
enraged Mourinho and saw him sent from the sidelines for kicking a water
bottle in frustration. It is the second time in the space of a month that
Mourinho has been sent to the stands after his dismissal during the goalless
draw against Burnley. And his mood was unlikely to have improved much as he
watched his side held at home for the fourth successive match in the Premier
League. As in recent games at Old Trafford, United created chances to take
the lead, but they could not find a way past Randolph, who made several key
stops. Ibrahimovic returned from suspension for the hosts while Bastian
Schweinsteiger was named in the squad for the first time this season. With
Winston Reid suspended for West Ham, James Collins started in defence, and
Mark Noble returned to the side. The Hammers made a dream start as, in the
second minute, Payet fizzed a free-kick across goal and Sakho nodded in
ahead of Ibrahimovic. The goal seemed to stun the home fans as well as the
United players, who took a while to respond. Eventually, they started to
take control and Ibrahimovic atoned for losing Sakho for the opening goal
when he headed Pogba's perfectly-weighted pass beyond Randolph. Pogba was
involved in the action again in the 27th minute, receiving a yellow card for
diving. The incident angered Mourinho, who kicked a water bottle into the
air in frustration and was subsequently sent to the stands. But United
finished the half strongly and started to create more chances. Jesse Lingard
volleyed over from close range before Marcus Rashford, whose last goal was
two months ago, failed to beat Randolph after being played through on goal.
Ibrahimovic then headed wide before seeing a shot stopped by a brilliant
block by Angelo Obgonna. Randolph saved well from Lingard late in the half,
but West Ham created chances of their own after the break, with David de Gea
tipping over an audacious long-range free-kick from Payet and Sakho heading
over from a corner. Wayne Rooney, who is one goal short of equalling Sir
Bobby Charlton's scoring record for United, went close after coming off the
bench but his low shot lacked the power to trouble Randolph.
In a frantic finish, both sides created opportunities to take the lead.
Randolph made a sharp stop to turn Henrikh Mkhitaryan's effort on to the
post before the Hammers keeper palmed away a shot from Pogba that was
heading for the bottom corner. Collins then played Randolph into trouble
with a backwards header that was short, but Cheikhou Kouyate cleared before
Ibrahimovic could turn into the empty net after his touch took him around
the keeper. Ashley Fletcher, who left United for West Ham in the summer,
almost snatched a winner for the visitors on the counter in the final few
minutes, but was denied by De Gea from close range.
Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (7), Jones (6), Rojo (6), Darmian (6), Herrera
(6), Pogba (6), Lingard (6), Mata (5), Rashford (5), Ibrahimovic (7).
Subs: Rooney (5), Mkhitaryan (5), Fellaini (5).
West Ham: Randolph (8), Kouyate (7), Collins (6), Ogbonna (7), Antonio (6),
Obiang (6), Noble (6), Cresswell (7), Lanzini (5), Payet (7), Sakho (7).
Subs: Feghouli (5), Ayew (5), Fletcher (5).
Man of the match: Darren Randolph.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic pleased with point as West Ham draw at Manchester United
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 27/11/16 8:32pm
SSN
Slaven Bilic was content with a "great point" even though West Ham gave up
an early lead to draw 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday. Diafra Sakho
gave the Hammers the perfect start when he headed in from Dimitri Payet's
free-kick after two minutes at Old Trafford. But Zlatan Ibrahimovic replied
for United midway through the first half and both sides spurned chances to
win the match. "It was a really good game for us, a great point," Hammers
boss Bilic told Sky Sports. "I have to praise the guys for their
performance, they showed character, commitment, team spirit and the quality
you need to get anything when you play at Old Trafford. "They were better in
the first half and I am not happy with the way we reacted after we scored
the goal, as we should have gained confidence from it.
"But in the second half, we were much better, we pressed them high,
exploited the spaces they were leaving behind, and we played some really
good football.
"At the end, we could have won the game, I am really pleased with the
performance and to get a point here is always good."
Goalkeeper Darren Randolph was the man of the match for the Hammers after
making several key stops. And Bilic added: "You can't prevent them not
having a few chances, we limited them in the second half but when we needed
to defend in our box we were really good and sharp and when that was not
enough we had Randolph in goal who was great today." The Hammers also had
penalty appeals turned away late in the first half when Payet's cross hit an
arm at close range.
"For me it was a penalty," said Bilic. "I am not talking about a bad tackle
or yellow card…it was very close but it was a penalty."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini suspended for Manchester United's EFL Cup
clash with West Ham
BYFRANK SMITH
22:36, 27 NOV 2016UPDATED22:36, 27 NOV 2016
The Mirror
Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini for their
EFL Cup quarter-final against West Ham United on Wednesday due to
suspension.
Pogba received his fifth booking of the season during this afternoon's 1-1
draw with the Hammers after he was adjudged to have dived by referee Jon
Moss.
The incident resulted in Jose Mourinho being sent to the stands for dissent
and comes after the world's most expensive player was booked against
Watford, Chelsea, Manchester City and Burnley earlier this season.
Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United: Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancels out Diafra
Sakho's header - 5 things we learned Fellaini was only introduced from the
substitutes bench in the 88th minute at Old Trafford but there was still
enough time for the Belgian to be booked for a strong challenge on Mark
Noble. It was also the former Everton midfielder's fifth caution of the
season after he made the referee's notebook against Hull City, Manchester
City, Watford and Liverpool. The two sides will be back at Old Trafford in
three days' time as they look to book their place in January's EFL Cup
semi-final. Today's draw was Manchester United's fourth consecutive
stalemate in the league at Old Trafford - something the club had not done
since 1980 - and meant the Red Devils have endured their worst start to a
season since the 1990/91 campaign after 13 games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gary Neville makes excuse for Jose Mourinho as Manchester United labour to
draw against West Ham
Neville believes the Europa League is to blame for the Red Devils' slump
after a fourth successive home game without a victory
The Mirror
Gary Neville has leaped to the defence of Jose Mourinho after another draw
at Old Trafford by insisting the Europa League is to blame. Manchester
United are 11 points off the pace in the title race and already and eight
points off Arsenal, who sit fourth. That makes it United's worst start to a
season after 13 rounds since 1989, but Neville believes the Red Devil's
Europa League commitment is to blame - despite Southampton winning against
Everton at the same time as United's 1-1 draw against West Ham. Neville
Tweeted: "That EL [Europa League] is a killer!! Always has been and always
will... Twitter please educate me on a team that's excelled in the league
and been in it. "I'm sure there has been a team but seems to hamper most."
Neville was then bombarded with fans accusing him of sour grapes, but the
Sky Sports pundit responded by insisting that there is too much evidence to
merely dismiss it as that. "I think their are too many examples for it to be
an excuse. Every team seems to struggle," Neville added. "I'd like to see a
study of teams in EL and try and measure it." Mourinho is likely to be in
hot water with the authorities once again after being dismissed to the
stands by referee Jon Moss. That is likely to be the least of his worries as
he continues to blunder after assembling the most expensive Premier League
squad in history.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Daily WHUFC News - 27th November 2016
Preview - Man Utd
WHUFC.com
When and where?
Manchester United v West Ham United
Premier League
Sunday 27 November 2016, 4.30pm GMT
Old Trafford
What's the story?
West Ham United begin an Old Trafford double header on Sunday when they
travel to Manchester United for a Premier League match-up.
With an EFL Cup quarter-final to follow just three days later, these teams
will certainly be well acquainted with each other by the end of the week.
Three league points are first on the agenda, though, with both teams in need
of them.
Manchester United have had an up-and-down start to the campaign under new
boss Jose Mourinho, but defeated Feyenoord 4-0 in the UEFA Europa League in
midweek.
Domestically, the Red Devils have taken five points from their last four
games, with draws against Burnley and Arsenal, being complemented by a win
over Swansea City and a loss to Chelsea.
The Hammers suffered the pain of a late defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last
time out, seeing a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit in the final moments of
the game.
That left Slaven Bilic's side with 11 points from their opening twelve games
and 17th in the league table, while Manchester United are sixth with 19
points.
Team news
The Hammers are without Winston Reid, who is serving a one-match ban having
been sent off at Tottenham last week.
However, Mark Noble is back after having to sit out at White Hart Lane due
to a ban of his own.
Andy Carroll could return after being out since August with a knee problem.
For Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return after his
domestic one-game suspension, while Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan
could play after impressing against Feyenoord.
Defenders Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are injured.
Any links between the two?
The Hammers' forward Ashley Fletcher will hope for a first senior appearance
at Old Trafford after joining the Club from the Red Devils in the summer.
Manchester United's Michael Carrick came through the Academy ranks at the
Hammers.
Last season, the Hammers and Manchester United faced off four times, with
two draws and a win apiece. Diafra Sakho, Michail Antonio and Winston Reid
were on target as Bilic's side triumphed 3-2 against the Red Devils in the
final Boleyn Ground match.
How do I get to the game?
Click here for the latest news on the trains and here for information on
road travel.
How can I watch the game?
Sunday's match is not being broadcast live in the UK. However, you can
follow all the action live on whufc.com – with audio commentary, social
media updates, in-running stats, pictures and more. Get involved in the
conversation on social using the hashtag #MNUWHU
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U18s beaten at home by Reading
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's U18s were beaten 3-0 at home to Reading
It was the Hammers second league defeat in succession
Assistant manager Mark Phillips believes his team will learn and bounce back
West Ham United U18s endured a frustrating afternoon, going down 3-0 at home
to Reading.
The Hammers were aiming to bounce back from their midweek FA Youth Cup exit
at the hands of Stoke City, but were beaten for the first time at home this
season.
Goals from Ben House, Joel Rollinson and Danny Loader helped the Royals on
their way, with the Hammers losing their second league match in succession.
"I think Reading deserved to win today. They had the better chances than us.
I wouldn't say they're a better footballing side than us but they definitely
deserved to win on the day," said assistant manager Mark Phillips.
"It was a similar game to Tuesday (vs Stoke). They (Reading) were a
physical, robust side and we struggled to deal with them.
"This is our worst period of the season without a doubt, but we'll work very
hard on the training ground to put it right."
Reading had the first real chance of an entertaining first half – Teddy Howe
sent a rasping drive crashing against Rihards Matrevics' right hand post.
We'll work very hard on the training ground to put it right
Mark Phillips
The Hammers responded though and a moment of magic from Alfie Lewis almost
paid dividends and he turned in his own half, surged forward and forced the
Reading goalkeeper into a smart save.
However, it was the away side who took the lead – House jinked his way
through the West Ham defence and slotted neatly past Matrevics.
The Royals then doubled their lead around ten minutes later when a deep
free-kick was tapped in at the back post by Rollinson.
The Hammers emerged from the interval with a change of shape, moving to
three at the back and two up top, and it almost paid off as Jahmal
Hector-Ingram fired wide from a tight angle.
However, the Royals added a third with 15 minutes to play and it was a
spectacular strike from Loader – he sent a powerful drive from 25 yards into
the top corner.
The Hammers responded valiantly in the final 10 minutes and could have got
back into the game but both Ben Johnson and Hector-Ingram sent efforts just
wide.
Hammers XI: Matrevics; Johnson, Eggleton, Akinola, Hannam (Longelo, 67);
Coventry, Lewis (Hamilton, 82); Henry, Powell, Scully (Neufville, 46);
Hector-Ingram.
Subs not used: Forde, Constantinou.
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Hammers support Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign
WHUFC.com
West Ham United supports Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign to make sport
everyone's game
The Hammers have joined a Britain-wide campaign to show that lesbian, gay,
bi and trans (LGBT) people are welcome at every level of sport.
Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign will see thousands of people, from fans
to players, put on Rainbow Laces on 26 and 27 November to show that sport is
everyone's game and to ensure LGBT people feel welcome and included - while
Mark Noble will wear the rainbow captain's armband at Sunday's game against
Manchester United.
We know most fans welcome and accept LGBT people in sport. However, recent
research shows that half of all fans have heard offensive remarks about
lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in the last five years.
We can't let the minority of fans spoil the game and make LGBT fans feel
unwelcome watching or playing football.
By supporting Rainbow Laces we are stepping up to show that offensive
chants, language and behaviour have no place in our game.
Join us and Stonewall to make sport everyone's game.
www.stonewall.org.uk/sport
Alastair Holmes, spokesman from Pride of Irons - the Hammers' official LGBT
supporters' club - said: "We want lesbian and gay football fans to know that
West Ham United are an inclusive club where anyone, regardless of gender,
age, race or sexual orientation can feel welcome and included and enjoy
being part of the West Ham family.
"We're really pleased that the club are demonstrating their commitment, with
the club's crest on the official Twitter feed also showing the rainbow
colours this weekend."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Randolph - We are not afraid of anyone
WHUFC.com
Darren Randolph encountered mixed emotions against Tottenham last weekend
but says he is thrilled to be back in the starting line-up and is excited to
be playing against the biggest teams in the top flight.
Randolph has waited patiently for his breakthrough into the first-team, but
finally got his just rewards when he made his first Premier League
appearance of the season during the big London derby against Tottenham last
weekend.
The Republic of Ireland keeper is now hoping to cement his place in the side
and help his team move away from the bottom three with a positive result
against Manchester United on Sunday.
Randolph said: "I was very happy to get back into the team after the
international break and play in a game like that. I was grateful to get my
chance.
"I knew I would have to be patient when I first arrived and was hoping for a
good cup run. It has been a long wait but I just want to enjoy it. I am
excited by the big games coming up.
"Obviously it was not the best result to come back into last weekend and the
players could not believe what happened in the final few minutes.
"It will happen to a number of other teams, but we have to move forward and
look ahead to the big games coming up and try to put things right.
"We are not afraid to play against anyone but we have to do it on a
consistent basis for 90 plus minutes to get the results that we want.
"We have a lot of games in December and it will be tough for a lot of teams,
but hopefully we can capitalise and move towards the top half of the table."
Randolph is no stranger to facing Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his Republic of
Ireland side came up against the prolific forward when they drew 1-1 with
Sweden in the group stages of the European Championship Finals during the
summer.
The 29-year-old is looking forward to facing the former Barcelona and AC
Milan striker once again at Old Trafford and hopes to keep him off the
scoresheet once again.
Randolph added: "I played against him at the Euros and know what he is
capable of.
"I watched videos of him in action leading up to the Ireland game and I will
do the same again in the build-up to the game at Old Trafford.
"We will see what he has in store for us on Sunday but the main thing from
our point of view is making sure we get some points back on the board.
"We need to put some results together and move back up the table."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester United v West Ham United
SUN, 27 NOV 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
16:30
Venue: Old Trafford
TEAM NEWS
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return for Manchester United after completing a
one-match domestic suspension.
Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could also start after impressing
against Feyenoord, but Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling remain injured.
West Ham captain Mark Noble is available after serving a ban but defender
Winston Reid misses out because of his red card at Tottenham.
Pedro Obiang is expected to be fit despite an ankle injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: "I can't be alone in having casually thought that West Ham tend
to do well at Old Trafford, only to be proved wrong when looking back at
results.
"Maybe it's because all three of their only wins there since 1986 were
famous ones, with winning goals scored by famous players - Jermain Defoe,
Carlos Tevez and Paolo Di Canio (with a little help from Fabien Barthez -
taxiiiii!).
"Making a case for them this time got tougher with Manchester United's
impressive win against Feyenoord on Thursday, following another 'one that
got away' performance versus Arsenal last week.
"Everything points to a home win. A famous one? Over to you Wayne Rooney…"
Twitter: @Guymowbray
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Henrikh Mkhitaryan's display
against Feyenoord: "He just needs now to try to replicate this kind of
performance in the Premier League.
"The Premier League is different. He needs one more step. Obviously now
confidence levels are higher.
"This performance gives him the right to believe that he can play the next
match again and he needs to replicate this kind of performance in the
Premier League, with more physicality, more aggression.
"We know that we were buying a player with a high level of technical
quality, very intelligent, very bright, the way he reads the game."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I speak to the owners, mostly Mr Sullivan,
regularly after every game and in between if something needs talking about.
"I feel supported...I'm not fearful. I feel pressure, of course, because we
are not producing, we're not delivering and we don't have enough points to
feel happy and to feel safe.
"But I see the improvement. Against Spurs I saw a team hungry and alive, the
points were there for us in a difficult away game, so that's what I'm
confident about."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
West Ham caved in late on at White Hart Lane last weekend, and they are just
not as good defensively as they were last season.
Manchester United have issues too, especially in attack, but although they
might make hard work of it, I think they will find a way through.
Prediction: 2-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham drew twice away to United last season (0-0 in the league, 1-1 in
the FA Cup), ending a run of eight consecutive defeats at Old Trafford in
all competitions.
The Hammers have won just two of their last 23 league games at Old Trafford
(D1, L20).
The Irons have scored 10 goals in 20 Premier League games at Old Trafford
and never more than once in a single game.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have claimed 19 points from their opening 12 league games.
The only Premier League season in which they made a worse start was 2004-05,
when they had 18 points at this stage.
They have drawn three consecutive home league games for the first time since
a similar sequence between February and April 1992. The last time they drew
four in a row at Old Trafford was between November and December 1980 (a
five-match streak).
United have attempted 203 Premier League shots - 80 more than at this point
last season.
Anthony Martial has scored with all three of his shots on target for
Manchester United against West Ham in all competitions.
Wayne Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13 league
and cup appearances against West Ham (11 goals, three assists).
He needs one goal to equal Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's
all-time top scorer with 249 goals in all competitions.
West Ham
The Hammers have lost five of their six top-flight away games this term
(W1). Burnley and Leicester are the only sides with poorer away records.
They used 26 different players in their opening 12 Premier League games, the
joint-highest total in the top flight with Sunderland.
West Ham have received seven Premier League red cards since the start of
last season, more than any other side.
Michail Antonio has equalled the Premier League record for headed goals in a
calendar year (11, shared with Tim Cahill in 2010). His last six top-flight
goals have come with his head.
Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this season
in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been converted by
the Hammers.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 58% Probability of away win: 18%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football
matches.
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Manchester United v West Ham preview: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return from ban
Last Updated: 26/11/16 11:56pm
SSN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return from his ban when Manchester United host
struggling West Ham on Sunday. The 35-year-old missed the 1-1 draw with
Arsenal having been booked five times but played in the Red Devils' 4-0
Europa League win against Feyenoord on Thursday, while the likes of Henrikh
Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney may have impressed Jose Mourinho enough to keep
their starting roles. West Ham's struggles have been well documented this
season and are currently 17th in the Premier League table after a 3-2 loss
to Tottenham. However, a win could send them as high as 11th. The Hammers'
last away win came against Crystal Palace on October 15.
Team news
Mourinho, who is expected to recall goalkeeper David de Gea but remains
without Eric Bailly (knee) and Chris Smalling (toe), must determine whether
Michael Carrick can make a third start in nine days.
West Ham captain Mark Noble returns from suspension but defender Winston
Reid serves a one-match ban. Midfielder Pedro Obiang is expected to be
available despite missing training earlier this week due to an ankle injury.
Long-term absentee Andy Carroll has resumed training after his ankle injury
but Reece Oxford, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore and Arthur Masuaku are still
sidelined.
Opta stats
West Ham's Ashley Fletcher speaks to Sky Sports about his new life in London
and leaving Man Utd
Manchester United have lost just two of their last 23 league games against
West Ham at Old Trafford, winning 20 (D1).
West Ham haven't won at Old Trafford since their 1-0 victory in May 2007, in
which Carlos Tevez found the net to help the Hammers avoid relegation.
They've lost eight of their 10 meetings in all competitions since there.
Mourinho has won seven of his previous nine Premier League matches against
West Ham (D1 L1), losing 1-2 at Upton Park to Slaven Bilic's Hammers.
In each of his five full Premier League seasons as a manager, Mourinho's
league placing after 12 games has been his final league placing that season.
Manchester United are currently sixth in 2016-17 after 12 games.
Anthony Martial has scored with all three of his shots on target for
Manchester United against West Ham in all competitions.
Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13 appearances
against West Ham in all competitions (11 goals, three assists), but hasn't
scored or assisted in his last three.
Michail Antonio equalled the Premier League record for headed goals in a
calendar year in his last appearance (11, joint with Tim Cahill in 2010).
Antonio's last six Premier League goals have all been headers, but he's
still some way off the Premier League record of consecutive headed goals set
by David Wetherall (12 in a row).
Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this season
in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been converted by
the Hammers.
Manchester United have attempted 203 shots in total this season in the
Premier League. After 12 league games last season, United had attempted 80
shots fewer (123).
Merson's prediction
Well, Manchester United have to win this and I thought they played well last
week against Arsenal - in fact, they should have won.
West Ham were 2-1 up with a minute to go against Tottenham, but still
managed to go and get beaten 3-2. Along with where they are in the league,
I'm going for United to win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Betting
Mourinho's Man United are 4/9 favourites at home to West Ham, with the
Hammers 11/2 to leave Old Trafford with all three points.
The draw is an 18/5 chance, with 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 priced at 9/2 in the
correct score group betting.
Ibrahimovic is the 100/30 market leader to score first, with Diafra Sakho
considered most likely for the visitors at 9/1.
Set-piece specialist Payet is 11/1 to score the opener and 3/1 to hit the
back of the net any time.
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West Ham players are behind Slaven Bilic, insists goalkeeper Darren Randolph
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 26/11/16 11:04pm
SSN
West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph insists he and his team-mates are
completely behind under-pressure manager Slaven Bilic. The Hammers, who
finished seventh last season, are struggling in 17th place in the Premier
League after 12 games, and above the drop-zone on goal-difference alone.
Bilic's side face a tough run of fixtures that begins at Manchester United
on Sunday before hosting Arsenal next week and then a trip to Anfield to
face Liverpool. But Randolph said: "We are 100 per cent behind him. There
were no problems last year when we were winning games and we're not going to
turn our backs on him now. "Last season the confidence was massive and that
definitely got us through. The manager has always said not to let that
little bit of doubt creep in and don't lose confidence. "We are no lesser
team than we were last year. We are still the same set of players in the
main. We are all together and there is no issue here with the manager."
Bilic has dropped regular keeper Adrian following some costly blunders and
finally handed Republic of Ireland international Randolph, who joined the
Hammers from Birmingham in May 2015, the chance to prove himself. "I knew
when I came how it was going to be," Randolph said. "I obviously backed
myself for the challenge. I could have stayed in the Championship, but I
wanted to challenge myself. "I knew I would have to be patient when I first
arrived. It's been a long wait but now I'm just going to enjoy it. I am
delighted to get the opportunity and to be playing in the games that we have
coming up."
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Andy Carroll could make shock return at Manchester United, West Ham boss
Slaven Bilic says
Last Updated: 25/11/16 10:35pm
SSN
Andy Carroll could feature against Manchester United this weekend after just
three days' training, says West Ham boss Slaven Bilic.
The England striker has spent the last three months recovering from a knee
injury and was only able to resume full training this week.
However, Bilic has not ruled out including Carroll in his squad for Old
Trafford on Sunday as he aims to improve a record of 13 goals in 12 league
games.
"He's been training with us for three days," said Bilic. "He came back after
a long injury and he's very close.
"He could be in the squad. We're going to see, because we are not talking
about two weeks of training. It has been this week, so we'll see."
A run of six goals in five league games in the spring was a reminder of the
menace Carroll possesses, but he has missed 83 games since making a £15m
move from Liverpool in 2013.
"Last year, before he got injured, when he was fit he makes an impact on a
game, no matter who you play against," Bilic added.
"It's very hard to play against him. The things he is giving us are great.
But we've been talking about this since I came to West Ham.
"It's a shame because you don't see it coming, only when you look at his
record on paper. You don't see in training and in games that he has got
problems, but unfortunately it has happened a few times."
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West Ham in the market for highly-rated Wolverhampton Wanderers defender
Dominic Iorfa
Wolves expect a fee in the region of £5 million for the versatile youngster
from Essex
BYNEIL MOXLEY
22:51, 26 NOV 2016UPDATED22:56, 26 NOV 2016
The Mirror
Wolves are set to unload their highly rated defender Dominic Iorfa to West
Ham during the January transfer window. The Midlands club want £5 million
for the versatile youngster with further add-ones based on appearances and
international recognition and Slaven Bilic is keen to complete the deal.
Essex-born Iorfa wants a move to the Premier League and, although there has
been other interest from Southampton and Crystal Palace, the Hammers would
be his preferred destination.
The England Under-21 regular has played at full back and in the centre of
defence for Wolves this season and has been one of the few success stories
at the struggling Molineux club. Dominic Iorfa of England U21 holds off
Jean-Kevin Augustin of France U21 during the U21 international friendly
match between France and England at Stade Robert Bobin on November 14, 2016
in Paris, France. New boss Paul Lambert plans to embark on a wholesale
overhaul of his large squad with many of the 13 players recruited during the
summer after the takeover by the Chinese Fosun Group. Lambert has recognised
that his squad is not just too big but also imbalanced and he would like to
bring in more players with Championship experience to replace the foreign
contingent brought in by super-agent Jorge Mendes. The sale of Iorfa would
generate the funds to help him reshape his squad.
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Manchester United aiming to prize Dimitri Payet away from West Ham with mega
bid for France international
Jose Mourinho is looking to add pace and width to his side and is also
targeting Atletico's Yannick Carrasco as he steps up his OId Trafford
revolution
3285
SHARES
5
COMMENTS
BYJOHN RICHARDSON
22:30, 26 NOV 2016UPDATED20:39, 26 NOV 2016
The Mirror
Manchester United are targeting a move for West Ham star Dimitri Payet. Old
Trafford boss Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the France winger and has made a
wide player a priority as he attempts to mould his side into Premier League
title contenders. Payet only signed a new £125,000-a-week five-year contract
in February with the Hammers who would want at least £35million for the
29-year-old. West Ham will resist any bids during the January transfer
window but could be vulnerable to renewed offers in the summer. Mourinho is
desperate to add pace and width to his team and has also upped his scouting
on Atletico Madrid's Belgium winger Yannick Carrasco. Payet was outstanding
for the east Londoners last season, winning the club's player of the season
award, then went on to star in France's European Championship finals side.
But West Ham have become increasingly worried that Payet's subdued form this
campaign is because he has been distracted by a potential move away. And his
struggles this time around have coincided with the Hammers hovering around
the relegation zone. After giving him a lucrative deal, the Hammers are now
looking for payback as they look to move up the table in their first season
at their new home, The London Stadium. One player who could be on his way
into the London Stadium is Sunderland defender Lamine Kone. Hammers chiefs
are lining up a move for the Ivory Coast star who will cost around £ 15m.
Slaven Bilic is desperate to bolster the defence of his team who have gone
from the top-six contenders last season to the bottom half of the table.
Kone has been on Bilic's wanted list for some time and the Croatian will
sanction a move even though the centre-half could be at the Africa Cup of
Nations early in the new year for up to a month.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham must rediscover their swagger ahead of a GRUELLING fixture run,
says Darren Randolph
The Hammers face off against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in
their next three Premier League games
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COMMENTS
BYSTEVE STAMMERS
22:30, 26 NOV 2016UPDATED21:04, 26 NOV 2016
SPORT
The Mirror
Darren Randolph has stressed the importance of West Ham re-discovering the
confidence of last season as the club face three testing Premier League
matches in the next fortnight.
A year ago, the Hammers harboured ambitions of reaching the top six. These
days they are battling to stay out of the bottom three.
They have just eleven points from their twelve matches – and this afternoon
they face Manchester United at Old Trafford, followed by clashes with
title-chasers Arsenal at home and then Liverpool at Anfield.
But Republic of Ireland international Randolph revealed that manager Slaven
Bilic has urged the players to re-kindle the swagger and assurance of last
season.
Randolph has edged ahead of Spaniard Adrian to become the West Ham first
choice goalkeeper and he said: "When results were going our way last year we
were laughing and joking, even in training. Then we were going into the
games at the weekend and winning.
"The confidence was massive and that definitely got us through – and there
were probably some performances that shocked everybody.
"The manager has always said not to let that little bit of doubt creep in.
Not to lose confidence. He said we are no lesser team than we were last
year. We are still the same set of players in the main. We have shown in
patches this season how good we can be."
And Randolph pointed to the experiences of Chelsea last season to illustrate
his case. They started as defending champions and finished in mid-table.
"There is frustration here," said Randolph. "You look round the dressing
room, see the squad we have and we shouldn't be where we are. But it happens
every season to a team. Look at Chelsea last season.
"It is not easy to recognise what it is or that it is easy to fix. It is
hard to put your finger on exactly what has gone wrong. Maybe we had new
players last year and nobody knew about them. But this season they are aware
of those players."
A disappointing sequence of results invariably generates speculation about
the future of the manager. Bilic has not escaped – but Randolph made it
clear the Croat has the backing of the players.
"We are 100 per cent behind him," insisted Randolph. "There were no problems
last year when we were winning games and we are not going to turn our backs
on him now. We are all together and there is no issue here with the
manager."
Randolph will be the last line of a defence that will attempt to frustrate
Wayne Rooney in his attempt to become the record goalscorer at United.
He is currently on 248 – one behind Sir Bobby Charlton. And if Rooney scores
today? "To be honest, I don't care," said Randolph. "He has been around for
I don't know how long and scored so many goals.
"I don't care who scores as long as we win. He can shoot as long as he
wants. It doesn't matter to me as long as we win.
"We know it is going to be a tough game with the players they have but they
need a good result in the league as much as we do. They are expected to be
up there at the top and there is a lot of pressure on them as well."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
When and where?
Manchester United v West Ham United
Premier League
Sunday 27 November 2016, 4.30pm GMT
Old Trafford
What's the story?
West Ham United begin an Old Trafford double header on Sunday when they
travel to Manchester United for a Premier League match-up.
With an EFL Cup quarter-final to follow just three days later, these teams
will certainly be well acquainted with each other by the end of the week.
Three league points are first on the agenda, though, with both teams in need
of them.
Manchester United have had an up-and-down start to the campaign under new
boss Jose Mourinho, but defeated Feyenoord 4-0 in the UEFA Europa League in
midweek.
Domestically, the Red Devils have taken five points from their last four
games, with draws against Burnley and Arsenal, being complemented by a win
over Swansea City and a loss to Chelsea.
The Hammers suffered the pain of a late defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last
time out, seeing a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 deficit in the final moments of
the game.
That left Slaven Bilic's side with 11 points from their opening twelve games
and 17th in the league table, while Manchester United are sixth with 19
points.
Team news
The Hammers are without Winston Reid, who is serving a one-match ban having
been sent off at Tottenham last week.
However, Mark Noble is back after having to sit out at White Hart Lane due
to a ban of his own.
Andy Carroll could return after being out since August with a knee problem.
For Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return after his
domestic one-game suspension, while Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan
could play after impressing against Feyenoord.
Defenders Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are injured.
Any links between the two?
The Hammers' forward Ashley Fletcher will hope for a first senior appearance
at Old Trafford after joining the Club from the Red Devils in the summer.
Manchester United's Michael Carrick came through the Academy ranks at the
Hammers.
Last season, the Hammers and Manchester United faced off four times, with
two draws and a win apiece. Diafra Sakho, Michail Antonio and Winston Reid
were on target as Bilic's side triumphed 3-2 against the Red Devils in the
final Boleyn Ground match.
How do I get to the game?
Click here for the latest news on the trains and here for information on
road travel.
How can I watch the game?
Sunday's match is not being broadcast live in the UK. However, you can
follow all the action live on whufc.com – with audio commentary, social
media updates, in-running stats, pictures and more. Get involved in the
conversation on social using the hashtag #MNUWHU
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U18s beaten at home by Reading
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's U18s were beaten 3-0 at home to Reading
It was the Hammers second league defeat in succession
Assistant manager Mark Phillips believes his team will learn and bounce back
West Ham United U18s endured a frustrating afternoon, going down 3-0 at home
to Reading.
The Hammers were aiming to bounce back from their midweek FA Youth Cup exit
at the hands of Stoke City, but were beaten for the first time at home this
season.
Goals from Ben House, Joel Rollinson and Danny Loader helped the Royals on
their way, with the Hammers losing their second league match in succession.
"I think Reading deserved to win today. They had the better chances than us.
I wouldn't say they're a better footballing side than us but they definitely
deserved to win on the day," said assistant manager Mark Phillips.
"It was a similar game to Tuesday (vs Stoke). They (Reading) were a
physical, robust side and we struggled to deal with them.
"This is our worst period of the season without a doubt, but we'll work very
hard on the training ground to put it right."
Reading had the first real chance of an entertaining first half – Teddy Howe
sent a rasping drive crashing against Rihards Matrevics' right hand post.
We'll work very hard on the training ground to put it right
Mark Phillips
The Hammers responded though and a moment of magic from Alfie Lewis almost
paid dividends and he turned in his own half, surged forward and forced the
Reading goalkeeper into a smart save.
However, it was the away side who took the lead – House jinked his way
through the West Ham defence and slotted neatly past Matrevics.
The Royals then doubled their lead around ten minutes later when a deep
free-kick was tapped in at the back post by Rollinson.
The Hammers emerged from the interval with a change of shape, moving to
three at the back and two up top, and it almost paid off as Jahmal
Hector-Ingram fired wide from a tight angle.
However, the Royals added a third with 15 minutes to play and it was a
spectacular strike from Loader – he sent a powerful drive from 25 yards into
the top corner.
The Hammers responded valiantly in the final 10 minutes and could have got
back into the game but both Ben Johnson and Hector-Ingram sent efforts just
wide.
Hammers XI: Matrevics; Johnson, Eggleton, Akinola, Hannam (Longelo, 67);
Coventry, Lewis (Hamilton, 82); Henry, Powell, Scully (Neufville, 46);
Hector-Ingram.
Subs not used: Forde, Constantinou.
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Hammers support Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign
WHUFC.com
West Ham United supports Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign to make sport
everyone's game
The Hammers have joined a Britain-wide campaign to show that lesbian, gay,
bi and trans (LGBT) people are welcome at every level of sport.
Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign will see thousands of people, from fans
to players, put on Rainbow Laces on 26 and 27 November to show that sport is
everyone's game and to ensure LGBT people feel welcome and included - while
Mark Noble will wear the rainbow captain's armband at Sunday's game against
Manchester United.
We know most fans welcome and accept LGBT people in sport. However, recent
research shows that half of all fans have heard offensive remarks about
lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in the last five years.
We can't let the minority of fans spoil the game and make LGBT fans feel
unwelcome watching or playing football.
By supporting Rainbow Laces we are stepping up to show that offensive
chants, language and behaviour have no place in our game.
Join us and Stonewall to make sport everyone's game.
www.stonewall.org.uk/sport
Alastair Holmes, spokesman from Pride of Irons - the Hammers' official LGBT
supporters' club - said: "We want lesbian and gay football fans to know that
West Ham United are an inclusive club where anyone, regardless of gender,
age, race or sexual orientation can feel welcome and included and enjoy
being part of the West Ham family.
"We're really pleased that the club are demonstrating their commitment, with
the club's crest on the official Twitter feed also showing the rainbow
colours this weekend."
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Randolph - We are not afraid of anyone
WHUFC.com
Darren Randolph encountered mixed emotions against Tottenham last weekend
but says he is thrilled to be back in the starting line-up and is excited to
be playing against the biggest teams in the top flight.
Randolph has waited patiently for his breakthrough into the first-team, but
finally got his just rewards when he made his first Premier League
appearance of the season during the big London derby against Tottenham last
weekend.
The Republic of Ireland keeper is now hoping to cement his place in the side
and help his team move away from the bottom three with a positive result
against Manchester United on Sunday.
Randolph said: "I was very happy to get back into the team after the
international break and play in a game like that. I was grateful to get my
chance.
"I knew I would have to be patient when I first arrived and was hoping for a
good cup run. It has been a long wait but I just want to enjoy it. I am
excited by the big games coming up.
"Obviously it was not the best result to come back into last weekend and the
players could not believe what happened in the final few minutes.
"It will happen to a number of other teams, but we have to move forward and
look ahead to the big games coming up and try to put things right.
"We are not afraid to play against anyone but we have to do it on a
consistent basis for 90 plus minutes to get the results that we want.
"We have a lot of games in December and it will be tough for a lot of teams,
but hopefully we can capitalise and move towards the top half of the table."
Randolph is no stranger to facing Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his Republic of
Ireland side came up against the prolific forward when they drew 1-1 with
Sweden in the group stages of the European Championship Finals during the
summer.
The 29-year-old is looking forward to facing the former Barcelona and AC
Milan striker once again at Old Trafford and hopes to keep him off the
scoresheet once again.
Randolph added: "I played against him at the Euros and know what he is
capable of.
"I watched videos of him in action leading up to the Ireland game and I will
do the same again in the build-up to the game at Old Trafford.
"We will see what he has in store for us on Sunday but the main thing from
our point of view is making sure we get some points back on the board.
"We need to put some results together and move back up the table."
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Manchester United v West Ham United
SUN, 27 NOV 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
16:30
Venue: Old Trafford
TEAM NEWS
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return for Manchester United after completing a
one-match domestic suspension.
Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could also start after impressing
against Feyenoord, but Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling remain injured.
West Ham captain Mark Noble is available after serving a ban but defender
Winston Reid misses out because of his red card at Tottenham.
Pedro Obiang is expected to be fit despite an ankle injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: "I can't be alone in having casually thought that West Ham tend
to do well at Old Trafford, only to be proved wrong when looking back at
results.
"Maybe it's because all three of their only wins there since 1986 were
famous ones, with winning goals scored by famous players - Jermain Defoe,
Carlos Tevez and Paolo Di Canio (with a little help from Fabien Barthez -
taxiiiii!).
"Making a case for them this time got tougher with Manchester United's
impressive win against Feyenoord on Thursday, following another 'one that
got away' performance versus Arsenal last week.
"Everything points to a home win. A famous one? Over to you Wayne Rooney…"
Twitter: @Guymowbray
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Henrikh Mkhitaryan's display
against Feyenoord: "He just needs now to try to replicate this kind of
performance in the Premier League.
"The Premier League is different. He needs one more step. Obviously now
confidence levels are higher.
"This performance gives him the right to believe that he can play the next
match again and he needs to replicate this kind of performance in the
Premier League, with more physicality, more aggression.
"We know that we were buying a player with a high level of technical
quality, very intelligent, very bright, the way he reads the game."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I speak to the owners, mostly Mr Sullivan,
regularly after every game and in between if something needs talking about.
"I feel supported...I'm not fearful. I feel pressure, of course, because we
are not producing, we're not delivering and we don't have enough points to
feel happy and to feel safe.
"But I see the improvement. Against Spurs I saw a team hungry and alive, the
points were there for us in a difficult away game, so that's what I'm
confident about."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
West Ham caved in late on at White Hart Lane last weekend, and they are just
not as good defensively as they were last season.
Manchester United have issues too, especially in attack, but although they
might make hard work of it, I think they will find a way through.
Prediction: 2-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham drew twice away to United last season (0-0 in the league, 1-1 in
the FA Cup), ending a run of eight consecutive defeats at Old Trafford in
all competitions.
The Hammers have won just two of their last 23 league games at Old Trafford
(D1, L20).
The Irons have scored 10 goals in 20 Premier League games at Old Trafford
and never more than once in a single game.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have claimed 19 points from their opening 12 league games.
The only Premier League season in which they made a worse start was 2004-05,
when they had 18 points at this stage.
They have drawn three consecutive home league games for the first time since
a similar sequence between February and April 1992. The last time they drew
four in a row at Old Trafford was between November and December 1980 (a
five-match streak).
United have attempted 203 Premier League shots - 80 more than at this point
last season.
Anthony Martial has scored with all three of his shots on target for
Manchester United against West Ham in all competitions.
Wayne Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13 league
and cup appearances against West Ham (11 goals, three assists).
He needs one goal to equal Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's
all-time top scorer with 249 goals in all competitions.
West Ham
The Hammers have lost five of their six top-flight away games this term
(W1). Burnley and Leicester are the only sides with poorer away records.
They used 26 different players in their opening 12 Premier League games, the
joint-highest total in the top flight with Sunderland.
West Ham have received seven Premier League red cards since the start of
last season, more than any other side.
Michail Antonio has equalled the Premier League record for headed goals in a
calendar year (11, shared with Tim Cahill in 2010). His last six top-flight
goals have come with his head.
Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this season
in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been converted by
the Hammers.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 58% Probability of away win: 18%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football
matches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester United v West Ham preview: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return from ban
Last Updated: 26/11/16 11:56pm
SSN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return from his ban when Manchester United host
struggling West Ham on Sunday. The 35-year-old missed the 1-1 draw with
Arsenal having been booked five times but played in the Red Devils' 4-0
Europa League win against Feyenoord on Thursday, while the likes of Henrikh
Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney may have impressed Jose Mourinho enough to keep
their starting roles. West Ham's struggles have been well documented this
season and are currently 17th in the Premier League table after a 3-2 loss
to Tottenham. However, a win could send them as high as 11th. The Hammers'
last away win came against Crystal Palace on October 15.
Team news
Mourinho, who is expected to recall goalkeeper David de Gea but remains
without Eric Bailly (knee) and Chris Smalling (toe), must determine whether
Michael Carrick can make a third start in nine days.
West Ham captain Mark Noble returns from suspension but defender Winston
Reid serves a one-match ban. Midfielder Pedro Obiang is expected to be
available despite missing training earlier this week due to an ankle injury.
Long-term absentee Andy Carroll has resumed training after his ankle injury
but Reece Oxford, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore and Arthur Masuaku are still
sidelined.
Opta stats
West Ham's Ashley Fletcher speaks to Sky Sports about his new life in London
and leaving Man Utd
Manchester United have lost just two of their last 23 league games against
West Ham at Old Trafford, winning 20 (D1).
West Ham haven't won at Old Trafford since their 1-0 victory in May 2007, in
which Carlos Tevez found the net to help the Hammers avoid relegation.
They've lost eight of their 10 meetings in all competitions since there.
Mourinho has won seven of his previous nine Premier League matches against
West Ham (D1 L1), losing 1-2 at Upton Park to Slaven Bilic's Hammers.
In each of his five full Premier League seasons as a manager, Mourinho's
league placing after 12 games has been his final league placing that season.
Manchester United are currently sixth in 2016-17 after 12 games.
Anthony Martial has scored with all three of his shots on target for
Manchester United against West Ham in all competitions.
Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13 appearances
against West Ham in all competitions (11 goals, three assists), but hasn't
scored or assisted in his last three.
Michail Antonio equalled the Premier League record for headed goals in a
calendar year in his last appearance (11, joint with Tim Cahill in 2010).
Antonio's last six Premier League goals have all been headers, but he's
still some way off the Premier League record of consecutive headed goals set
by David Wetherall (12 in a row).
Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this season
in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been converted by
the Hammers.
Manchester United have attempted 203 shots in total this season in the
Premier League. After 12 league games last season, United had attempted 80
shots fewer (123).
Merson's prediction
Well, Manchester United have to win this and I thought they played well last
week against Arsenal - in fact, they should have won.
West Ham were 2-1 up with a minute to go against Tottenham, but still
managed to go and get beaten 3-2. Along with where they are in the league,
I'm going for United to win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Betting
Mourinho's Man United are 4/9 favourites at home to West Ham, with the
Hammers 11/2 to leave Old Trafford with all three points.
The draw is an 18/5 chance, with 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 priced at 9/2 in the
correct score group betting.
Ibrahimovic is the 100/30 market leader to score first, with Diafra Sakho
considered most likely for the visitors at 9/1.
Set-piece specialist Payet is 11/1 to score the opener and 3/1 to hit the
back of the net any time.
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West Ham players are behind Slaven Bilic, insists goalkeeper Darren Randolph
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 26/11/16 11:04pm
SSN
West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph insists he and his team-mates are
completely behind under-pressure manager Slaven Bilic. The Hammers, who
finished seventh last season, are struggling in 17th place in the Premier
League after 12 games, and above the drop-zone on goal-difference alone.
Bilic's side face a tough run of fixtures that begins at Manchester United
on Sunday before hosting Arsenal next week and then a trip to Anfield to
face Liverpool. But Randolph said: "We are 100 per cent behind him. There
were no problems last year when we were winning games and we're not going to
turn our backs on him now. "Last season the confidence was massive and that
definitely got us through. The manager has always said not to let that
little bit of doubt creep in and don't lose confidence. "We are no lesser
team than we were last year. We are still the same set of players in the
main. We are all together and there is no issue here with the manager."
Bilic has dropped regular keeper Adrian following some costly blunders and
finally handed Republic of Ireland international Randolph, who joined the
Hammers from Birmingham in May 2015, the chance to prove himself. "I knew
when I came how it was going to be," Randolph said. "I obviously backed
myself for the challenge. I could have stayed in the Championship, but I
wanted to challenge myself. "I knew I would have to be patient when I first
arrived. It's been a long wait but now I'm just going to enjoy it. I am
delighted to get the opportunity and to be playing in the games that we have
coming up."
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Andy Carroll could make shock return at Manchester United, West Ham boss
Slaven Bilic says
Last Updated: 25/11/16 10:35pm
SSN
Andy Carroll could feature against Manchester United this weekend after just
three days' training, says West Ham boss Slaven Bilic.
The England striker has spent the last three months recovering from a knee
injury and was only able to resume full training this week.
However, Bilic has not ruled out including Carroll in his squad for Old
Trafford on Sunday as he aims to improve a record of 13 goals in 12 league
games.
"He's been training with us for three days," said Bilic. "He came back after
a long injury and he's very close.
"He could be in the squad. We're going to see, because we are not talking
about two weeks of training. It has been this week, so we'll see."
A run of six goals in five league games in the spring was a reminder of the
menace Carroll possesses, but he has missed 83 games since making a £15m
move from Liverpool in 2013.
"Last year, before he got injured, when he was fit he makes an impact on a
game, no matter who you play against," Bilic added.
"It's very hard to play against him. The things he is giving us are great.
But we've been talking about this since I came to West Ham.
"It's a shame because you don't see it coming, only when you look at his
record on paper. You don't see in training and in games that he has got
problems, but unfortunately it has happened a few times."
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West Ham in the market for highly-rated Wolverhampton Wanderers defender
Dominic Iorfa
Wolves expect a fee in the region of £5 million for the versatile youngster
from Essex
BYNEIL MOXLEY
22:51, 26 NOV 2016UPDATED22:56, 26 NOV 2016
The Mirror
Wolves are set to unload their highly rated defender Dominic Iorfa to West
Ham during the January transfer window. The Midlands club want £5 million
for the versatile youngster with further add-ones based on appearances and
international recognition and Slaven Bilic is keen to complete the deal.
Essex-born Iorfa wants a move to the Premier League and, although there has
been other interest from Southampton and Crystal Palace, the Hammers would
be his preferred destination.
The England Under-21 regular has played at full back and in the centre of
defence for Wolves this season and has been one of the few success stories
at the struggling Molineux club. Dominic Iorfa of England U21 holds off
Jean-Kevin Augustin of France U21 during the U21 international friendly
match between France and England at Stade Robert Bobin on November 14, 2016
in Paris, France. New boss Paul Lambert plans to embark on a wholesale
overhaul of his large squad with many of the 13 players recruited during the
summer after the takeover by the Chinese Fosun Group. Lambert has recognised
that his squad is not just too big but also imbalanced and he would like to
bring in more players with Championship experience to replace the foreign
contingent brought in by super-agent Jorge Mendes. The sale of Iorfa would
generate the funds to help him reshape his squad.
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Manchester United aiming to prize Dimitri Payet away from West Ham with mega
bid for France international
Jose Mourinho is looking to add pace and width to his side and is also
targeting Atletico's Yannick Carrasco as he steps up his OId Trafford
revolution
3285
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5
COMMENTS
BYJOHN RICHARDSON
22:30, 26 NOV 2016UPDATED20:39, 26 NOV 2016
The Mirror
Manchester United are targeting a move for West Ham star Dimitri Payet. Old
Trafford boss Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the France winger and has made a
wide player a priority as he attempts to mould his side into Premier League
title contenders. Payet only signed a new £125,000-a-week five-year contract
in February with the Hammers who would want at least £35million for the
29-year-old. West Ham will resist any bids during the January transfer
window but could be vulnerable to renewed offers in the summer. Mourinho is
desperate to add pace and width to his team and has also upped his scouting
on Atletico Madrid's Belgium winger Yannick Carrasco. Payet was outstanding
for the east Londoners last season, winning the club's player of the season
award, then went on to star in France's European Championship finals side.
But West Ham have become increasingly worried that Payet's subdued form this
campaign is because he has been distracted by a potential move away. And his
struggles this time around have coincided with the Hammers hovering around
the relegation zone. After giving him a lucrative deal, the Hammers are now
looking for payback as they look to move up the table in their first season
at their new home, The London Stadium. One player who could be on his way
into the London Stadium is Sunderland defender Lamine Kone. Hammers chiefs
are lining up a move for the Ivory Coast star who will cost around £ 15m.
Slaven Bilic is desperate to bolster the defence of his team who have gone
from the top-six contenders last season to the bottom half of the table.
Kone has been on Bilic's wanted list for some time and the Croatian will
sanction a move even though the centre-half could be at the Africa Cup of
Nations early in the new year for up to a month.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham must rediscover their swagger ahead of a GRUELLING fixture run,
says Darren Randolph
The Hammers face off against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in
their next three Premier League games
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COMMENTS
BYSTEVE STAMMERS
22:30, 26 NOV 2016UPDATED21:04, 26 NOV 2016
SPORT
The Mirror
Darren Randolph has stressed the importance of West Ham re-discovering the
confidence of last season as the club face three testing Premier League
matches in the next fortnight.
A year ago, the Hammers harboured ambitions of reaching the top six. These
days they are battling to stay out of the bottom three.
They have just eleven points from their twelve matches – and this afternoon
they face Manchester United at Old Trafford, followed by clashes with
title-chasers Arsenal at home and then Liverpool at Anfield.
But Republic of Ireland international Randolph revealed that manager Slaven
Bilic has urged the players to re-kindle the swagger and assurance of last
season.
Randolph has edged ahead of Spaniard Adrian to become the West Ham first
choice goalkeeper and he said: "When results were going our way last year we
were laughing and joking, even in training. Then we were going into the
games at the weekend and winning.
"The confidence was massive and that definitely got us through – and there
were probably some performances that shocked everybody.
"The manager has always said not to let that little bit of doubt creep in.
Not to lose confidence. He said we are no lesser team than we were last
year. We are still the same set of players in the main. We have shown in
patches this season how good we can be."
And Randolph pointed to the experiences of Chelsea last season to illustrate
his case. They started as defending champions and finished in mid-table.
"There is frustration here," said Randolph. "You look round the dressing
room, see the squad we have and we shouldn't be where we are. But it happens
every season to a team. Look at Chelsea last season.
"It is not easy to recognise what it is or that it is easy to fix. It is
hard to put your finger on exactly what has gone wrong. Maybe we had new
players last year and nobody knew about them. But this season they are aware
of those players."
A disappointing sequence of results invariably generates speculation about
the future of the manager. Bilic has not escaped – but Randolph made it
clear the Croat has the backing of the players.
"We are 100 per cent behind him," insisted Randolph. "There were no problems
last year when we were winning games and we are not going to turn our backs
on him now. We are all together and there is no issue here with the
manager."
Randolph will be the last line of a defence that will attempt to frustrate
Wayne Rooney in his attempt to become the record goalscorer at United.
He is currently on 248 – one behind Sir Bobby Charlton. And if Rooney scores
today? "To be honest, I don't care," said Randolph. "He has been around for
I don't know how long and scored so many goals.
"I don't care who scores as long as we win. He can shoot as long as he
wants. It doesn't matter to me as long as we win.
"We know it is going to be a tough game with the players they have but they
need a good result in the league as much as we do. They are expected to be
up there at the top and there is a lot of pressure on them as well."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, November 26
Daily WHUFC News -
Lanzini ready to showcase his talents at Old Trafford
WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini believes his team-mates should draw inspiration from playing
at Old Trafford on Sunday and hopes they can get their season back on track
with another famous win against Manchester United. Few could forget Winston
Reid's dramatic late winner in the final ever game at the Boleyn Ground back
in May and the Hammers would settle for a similar outcome as they look to
move clear of the bottom three. The West Ham players are determined to make
amends for the heartbreaking defeat against Tottenham last weekend and show
they have the quality to challenge in the top half of the table. Despite the
disappointing result at White Hart Lane, Lanzini certainly impressed while
filling in for the suspended Mark Noble, and the Argentinian capped off a
fine performance with a coolly taken penalty – his third strike of the
campaign. Now, with attention turning to tackling Jose Mourinho's United,
the Argentine midfielder is under no illusions about the task in hand, but
rather than be overawed by the occasion, Lanzini, dubbed 'The Jewel',
insists he and his teammates should be looking forward to Sunday's showdown.
Lanzini said: "It will be a very difficult game, Manchester United are a big
team, so we know it will be difficult but we are confident that the result
is going to be positive. "There are a lot of difficult grounds to go to –
Old Trafford is definitely one of the more mystical places to go to. It is
world famous, it can be challenging but also inspiring, it is up to us. "I
am really looking forward to the game, as a player you always want to play
against the biggest teams and test yourself – our game on Sunday is
definitely one of those games."
Another reason why the Hammers have every reason to feel confident is the
fact they took an impressive four points against Manchester United in last
season's league fixtures. However, Lanzini is well aware of the dangers that
a somewhat resurgent United pose. In particular, the Argentine continued to
highlight an area that the Hammers will have to focus on: "It is very
important that we cut the supply between Pogba, Mata and Rooney, we need to
do that well, then concentrate on our own objectives of playing well and
trying to win. "The most important thing is to get points. Once the wins
start coming in, we can concentrate on league positions and aiming specific
targets."
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Scully - Reading is a massive game
WHUFC.com
Anthony Scully has called the U18s' match with Reading a "massive game"
The young Hammers are looking to bounce back from their FA Youth Cup exit in
midweek
Their match with Reading kicks off at 11am from Little Heath Sports Ground
Anthony Scully has declared this weekend's league clash with Reading as a
massive game, as the U18s aim to move on from their Youth Cup
disappointment. It's been a tough week for the Hammers after a last-minute
defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday followed by being knocked out on
penalties at Stoke City in the FA Youth Cup 3rd round on Tuesday. But Scully
is backing the team to bounce back this weekend in what will be a crucial
match considering that both sides are in the thick of the top four battle.
"All the lads are disappointed with going out of the Youth Cup because we
were seen as a group that could have gone on and won it," said Scully. "To
be knocked out already is very disappointing but in football there's always
another game round the corner to put what went wrong, right. That's what
we're looking to do on Saturday against Reading. "We need a good performance
against Reading because it'll put us back on track. We need to put the Stoke
game behind us and move on."
Despite their difficult week, the Hammers are still well on course to finish
in the top four spots of the U18 Premier League South.
With Reading just a place behind them in the league in third, the game holds
extra significance, but Scully is full of confidence that the Hammers can
put on a positive display. "It's a massive game this weekend. We beat them
2-0 earlier on in the season but they're not an easy side to play against,"
he added. "They're on a good run of form but if we match our performance of
the first match against them, we should have no problem."
Scully missed the majority of October through illness but returned for the
home draw with Arsenal and has since had a positive impact on the side. His
performances were rewarded with yet another call up to the Republic of
Ireland U18s, where he played 90 minutes twice in a draw against the
Netherlands and defeat to Germany. "I love going away to play with Ireland.
There's always a buzz among the players and that showed on the pitch
recently when we had two good performances against Germany and Holland."
Our U18s match with Reading takes place on Saturday 25 November at 11am at
Little Heath Sports Ground. Parking and admission are both free.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Speaks - Manchester United
WHUFC.com
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic sat down with the media to preview the first
of his side's two matches against Manchester United in the space of four
days. The Hammers take on Jose Mourinho's outfit at Old Trafford in the
Premier League on Sunday afternoon and the boss was keen for his squad to
move on from last weekend's defeat to Spurs. The Croatian also gave an
update on Pedro Obiang, spoke about Winston Reid as well as discussing his
relationship with the Club's owners.
Morning Slaven. Could we start off with some team news for Sunday's game?
Good morning. From the Spurs game, we had Pedro [Obiang] who has been
playing with an ankle injury since Everton. He didn't train for a couple of
days but he's back and training with us today and hopefully he'll be OK.
Apart from that, it's all good.
Winston Reid, who is suspended, has been central to your system. What are
the plans for Sunday?
He has been instrumental. He has been really good since we changed the
system. He was suspended for the game against Stoke and we have players we
can put in without changing the system, or we can change it.
There has been speculation about your future, what have the owners said to
you?
There isn't much to say. I'm doing my job. I speak to the owners regularly
after every game and if inbetween, there is something to talk about, I have
that support. I'm concentrated on my job and our next game and that's
basically it.
Are you fearful?
No – I feel the pressure of course, because we are not delivering and
performing enough to get points to feel happy. But I see the improvement, I
see the team that is hungry and alive and the points were there for us in a
very difficult away game. That's what I'm concentrated on and not to make
mistakes like we did against Spurs.
How important is the support you feel from the owners?
That is important but it's not the crucial thing. I have told you many times
– you are concentrated on your next few games that can change things from
bad to good or good to bad. Let's say, when we were doing really good, I
didn't think about a chance for a new contract, because I have a contract.
If we are looking at our position in the table, I am just concentrated on
improving the team and winning and how to lift the team up.
Do you feel the league position is reflective of the performances?
It's still very tight. With a win against Tottenham we would have been 12th
or eleventh, but we are in the position we are. You can stay it's still
early days, but we have to start picking up the points. We can say we were
unlucky or we deserve more, but the table doesn't lie.
It hasn't worked out for Simone Zaza yet. Are you still comfortable he will
still be here when the window shuts?
I believe in him. He's our player and it's not only him but we need him to,
with the help of teammates, to start producing and doing what we got him
for. If he starts or doesn't start games, it has nothing to do with the
clause but only on his training performances and performances in games.
Man United seem to be picking up of late – do you think you are playing a
team that are contending for the title this season?
The gap is not small but it's also not big and of course they are showing
two faces. They played well last night and they're Man United. But they need
points in the Premier League and it's gonna be a big game for us and for
them in a great stadium. It will be difficult but you can't expect any less
in the Premier League, especially as you're playing Man United away.
Jose Mourinho's home record as a manager is unbelievable, but do you feel
like you've lost a little bit of that aura?
He is one of the greatest. Statistically, he's probably the best in the last
ten years in home percentages, titles, Champions League, whatever. But it's
impossible to stay at that standard and maybe that percentage has dropped
now. It's impossible to maintain that for such a long period. It is a
miracle he was doing that for ten years. If you didn't know about his record
from history, his current record would still be great.
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Claret Commentary - Adrian's winning penalty
WHUFC.com
In the second part of our exciting new feature on West Ham TV, we ask former
and current players to take hold of the mic and provide commentary on a
famous game in the Club's history. In part one, former skipper Kevin Nolan
and Carlton Cole took a trip down memory lane as they reminisced over the
famous Play-Off Final win over Blackpool at Wembley that saw the Hammers
gain promotion back into the Premier League. Cole enjoyed it so much that he
took to the mic once again and joined current club captain Mark Noble for an
amusing look back at the memorable FA Cup win over Everton at the Boleyn
Ground. It proved to be another unforgettable night of cup action under the
lights after Enner Valencia had fired the Hammers into the lead. Everton
drew level late in the game following a free-kick from Kevin Mirallas and
then scored early in extra-time through Romelu Lukaku. Cole brought the
Hammers back into the game with the crucial equaliser which then saw the
game result in a penalty shoot-out. Few could forget the moment Adrian took
off his gloves and scored the winning penalty which saw the Hammers win 9-8
on aggregate. Watch as Cole and Noble describe the events of the night in
the only way they know possible and make this a must-watch for every West
Ham United supporter.
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Bilic - Carroll could return
WHUFC.com
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic revealed Andy Carroll could return to Sunday's
matchday squad
The striker has been out with a knee injury since the opening day of the
Premier League season
Bilic revealed Carroll is close to selection and could make the trip to Old
Trafford
Slaven Bilic has revealed the Hammers could be on course for a huge boost on
Sunday with the potential return of Andy Carroll to the first team squad.
The east Londoners take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier
League and star striker Carroll – who has not played since the opening game
against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in August – could be in line for
selection. The 27-year-old damaged his knee in the side's away UEFA Europa
League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu and, having played at Stamford
Bridge, has been on the road to recovery since. And Bilic, speaking ahead of
the first of two matches in the space of four days against the Red Devils,
revealed the forward could play a part in the north west. He said: "Andy is
training with us, and he's come back from a long injury, so we are going to
see. He's very close. "He could be in the squad. We are going to see,
depending on how he progresses. He's done individual training, has trained
with the U23 squad, and now he is training with the first team. "He's back
doing that this week, and that's why two days is very important. But is he
very close? Yes, definitely."
Carroll made 36 appearances in claret and blue last season – including four
against Sunday's opponents – notching nine goals, second to only Dimitri
Payet in the Club's scoring charts. Boss Bilic says his return will be
extremely welcome given the qualities the striker can bring to the team.
"The things he gives us are great," the manager continued. "When he is fit,
he makes an impact on a game, no matter who you play against. It's very hard
to play against him. "I'm hoping for the rest of the season with Andy. We
have been talking about this since I came to West Ham and it's a shame
because you don't see these things coming. "You can only see it coming when
you look at his record on paper. You don't see it training or in games, but
unfortunately it has happened a few times."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic: West Ham manager 'not fearful' of losing job & has owners'
support
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says he is not worried he might lose his job as
he has the support of the club's owners. The Hammers, beaten at Tottenham
last Saturday, are currently one place above the Premier League relegation
zone having won only three games out of 12. Bilic's side visit Manchester
United on Sunday and again in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, followed by league
games against Arsenal and Liverpool. He said he is "not fearful" and will
carry on "in good times and bad times".
Bilic added: "I feel pressure, of course, as at the moment we are not
producing and do not have enough points to feel happy and safe.
"I speak to the owners regularly after every game and I feel support. I'm
concentrating on my job and our next game." The former Croatia international
is confident West Ham can get a result against Jose Mourinho's Manchester
United at Old Trafford. "Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest," he added.
"Statistically at home, there is probably no-one better. But it's hard to
stay at that standard and maybe that has dropped now. "I'm confident, if we
can cut out the mistakes, and with a bit of luck, we can pick up a result on
Sunday."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: I understand why there has been speculation
over my future
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard
The defeat at Tottenham was hard to take. In five years' time, the memory
will still be painful for me. We knew how much this game meant to the fans,
as it did for us at the club, and we came so close but in the end we lost.
Had we held out and won we would have pulled away from the bottom of the
Premier League but, as it is, we are just one place above the bottom three
with a tough schedule ahead. Following the 3-2 defeat at White Hart Lane,
there has been speculation about my future. I understand that will happen.
I am not a newcomer to this game and neither am I stupid. I know you are
judged on the table and the number of points you have.
There is nothing I can do about that except work hard and look for us to win
games. It is not as if we have dropped our performance level. We were a
confident team at Spurs. All I am thinking about is how to improve things,
to keep our concentration up until the last second and to eliminate those
silly mistakes. In the corresponding match last season we went to White Hart
Lane in a good run of form and lost 4-1. Some people have suggested that
last weekend's 3-2 defeat was even worse. I think that what they mean is
that this one hurts more and it is taking longer to get over it.
Would we rather get hammered? No. This defeat is very painful because we
should have won but we can - and we will - take many positives from it. When
you are beaten 4-1 there can't be too many plus points. This one really
hurts - and for longer - but when we analyse the display, then for almost
all of the game we did well, both individually and as a team. The mistakes
cost us dearly but I can take positives from 80 per cent of that game. For
the next couple of days, the players were low and you could see it hurt them
but now we are approaching a new game - admittedly another tough one at
Manchester United - and we know if we do the majority of things as well as
we did at Spurs, then we have a good chance.
We now face two matches at Old Trafford within the space of four days. I
certainly won't look at Sunday's League match, though, with one eye on the
EFL Cup quarter-final the following Wednesday. We will go there with our
strongest team this weekend and see what happens. As for United, they
haven't yet hit their best form but they were looking better against Arsenal
last weekend and certainly looked the part last night in their Europa League
clash with Feyenoord. They played well against Leicester, Fenerbahce and
even against Burnley, they were so unlucky not to win. Of course, I have
great respect for them and it is one of the toughest fixtures of the season
but now even more, we have to concentrate on ourselves.
Our captain, Mark Noble, is available again after suspension and we missed
his character against Spurs, especially towards the end when Tottenham were
taking risks and bombing forward. You always need leaders. It is worrying
that, as at Spurs, we've had real trouble killing games off after being in
front. We must do better. I also came in for criticism for the substitutions
at Spurs and, straight after the match and in view of what happened, I knew
it would have been better had I not changed certain things. For me, though,
it was an absolutely logical thing to do at the time. I was happy with the
first two substitutions, with Andre Ayew, who is still coming back to full
fitness, and Diafra Sakho, who was playing his first game of the season,
coming off after an hour.
For many, though, it was the last one - Havard Nordtveit for Dimitri Payet -
which ultimately changed the game. Before the game I was asked if the team I
had picked was too attacking but it wasn't like that. An important part of
defending is how good you are when you have the ball. After we scored our
second I didn't expect us to be holding on for half an hour. We wanted to
kill the game off and had three opportunities to do that. But they were
putting us under more and more pressure and with just over five minutes left
I wasn't thinking any more about scoring another goal but rather that we
just needed to hold on. So that is why I made the substitution, I felt we
needed an extra body in a midfield holding position with Pedro Obiang but it
didn't work out well. As I said, if someone reminds me about this game in
five years, the hurt will still be there - it's one of those. Having said
that, I'd recovered by the following day. As a manager, you have to do that.
You have to set an example, you dust yourself down, clap your hands and say:
"Okay, let's go again!"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester United v West Ham United
SUN, 27 NOV 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
16:30
Venue: Old Trafford
TEAM NEWS
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return for Manchester United after completing a
one-match domestic suspension. Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could
also start after impressing against Feyenoord, but Eric Bailly and Chris
Smalling remain injured.
West Ham captain Mark Noble is available after serving a ban but defender
Winston Reid misses out because of his red card at Tottenham. Pedro Obiang
is expected to be fit despite an ankle injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: "I can't be alone in having casually thought that West Ham tend
to do well at Old Trafford, only to be proved wrong when looking back at
results.
"Maybe it's because all three of their only wins there since 1986 were
famous ones, with winning goals scored by famous players - Jermain Defoe,
Carlos Tevez and Paolo Di Canio (with a little help from Fabien Barthez -
taxiiiii!). "Making a case for them this time got tougher with Manchester
United's impressive win against Feyenoord on Thursday, following another
'one that got away' performance versus Arsenal last week. "Everything points
to a home win. A famous one? Over to you Wayne Rooney…"
Twitter: @Guymowbray
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Henrikh Mkhitaryan's display
against Feyenoord: "He just needs now to try to replicate this kind of
performance in the Premier League. "The Premier League is different. He
needs one more step. Obviously now confidence levels are higher. "This
performance gives him the right to believe that he can play the next match
again and he needs to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier
League, with more physicality, more aggression.
"We know that we were buying a player with a high level of technical
quality, very intelligent, very bright, the way he reads the game."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I speak to the owners, mostly Mr Sullivan,
regularly after every game and in between if something needs talking about.
"I feel supported...I'm not fearful. I feel pressure, of course, because we
are not producing, we're not delivering and we don't have enough points to
feel happy and to feel safe. "But I see the improvement. Against Spurs I saw
a team hungry and alive, the points were there for us in a difficult away
game, so that's what I'm confident about."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
West Ham caved in late on at White Hart Lane last weekend, and they are just
not as good defensively as they were last season. Manchester United have
issues too, especially in attack, but although they might make hard work of
it, I think they will find a way through.
Prediction: 2-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham drew twice away to United last season (0-0 in the league, 1-1 in
the FA Cup), ending a run of eight consecutive defeats at Old Trafford in
all competitions.
The Hammers have won just two of their last 23 league games at Old Trafford
(D1, L20).
The Irons have scored 10 goals in 20 Premier League games at Old Trafford
and never more than once in a single game.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have claimed 19 points from their opening 12 league games.
The only Premier League season in which they made a worse start was 2004-05,
when they had 18 points at this stage.
They have drawn three consecutive home league games for the first time since
a similar sequence between February and April 1992. The last time they drew
four in a row at Old Trafford was between November and December 1980 (a
five-match streak).
United have attempted 203 Premier League shots - 80 more than at this point
last season.
Anthony Martial has scored with all three of his shots on target for
Manchester United against West Ham in all competitions.
Wayne Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13 league
and cup appearances against West Ham (11 goals, three assists).
He needs one goal to equal Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's
all-time top scorer with 249 goals in all competitions.
West Ham
The Hammers have lost five of their six top-flight away games this term
(W1). Burnley and Leicester are the only sides with poorer away records.
They used 26 different players in their opening 12 Premier League games, the
joint-highest total in the top flight with Sunderland.
West Ham have received seven Premier League red cards since the start of
last season, more than any other side.
Michail Antonio has equalled the Premier League record for headed goals in a
calendar year (11, shared with Tim Cahill in 2010). His last six top-flight
goals have come with his head.
Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this season
in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been converted by
the Hammers.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 58% Probability of away win: 18%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football
matches.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
EXWHUEMPLOYEE EXCLUSIVE COLUMN: CALLERI ON HIS WAY OUT? CARROLL RETURNS!
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 9:46PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
So the site is a year old today and it seemed fitting to write a column.
Firstly I want to take some time to thank many people who have contributed
to the success. There are way too many to go into detail about but it has
been a pleasure to work with so many people who are dedicated to the cause.
The likes of Katie S, BK Hammer, Ben Cooper, Angelic Upstars, The Scouts
(Chris and Rocky) have contributed regularly throughout the year and their
work is much appreciated. We have the likes of Evan, Baz and George who
bring a public face to the YouTube channel. The bloggers, including the
ex-players, who have all contributed great articles. Jack and Dave Sullivan
with their continued support to the site and Dave and Kev from SDCC who I
love producing the weekly radio show with. Dave and I have also moved into
producing events for matches as I am sure you have seen advertised and it
has been this collaboration with SDCC that has been one of the most
rewarding things this year. SDCC came with us to the football blogging
awards where we were delighted to be nominated for best new blog. They are
both great mates of mine now and we have continued to grow together and this
is something we hoped to do with others.
When The West Ham Way first started we wanted to work with a number of West
Ham channels to produce high quality content for West Ham fans. I had plans
to work with a number of sites, some of which we did do for a while. The
problem seemed to be the more we tried and the more we grew, the more
resentful other sites became and unfortunately became quite strange in their
treatment of us. Anyway the majority of the West Ham sites are brilliant and
all have their own strengths that we try to support and work with as they do
with us. I hope as the years go by you will see a lot more collaboration and
teamwork but whether this will happen I do not know.
It has taken me a while to recover from the Spurs game and I am not sure
that I fully have. It will be interesting to see whether Bilic changes the
keepers again. I personally do not think he should and I believe Randolph
deserves a run like Adrian has been given the chance to do. Should Mark
Noble get his place back in the team following his suspension? This is
another interesting question. With Reid suspended I think we have to bring
in Collins into the back line but it does mean without Reid there is neither
the Captain nor Vice-Captain on the pitch. I personally think Ginge would
make a great captain but I think Bilic will feel he needs to bring his
captain back.
There is interesting news on the forward front. Andy Carroll is back in
training this week and the club have targeted the Liverpool game for a
return to first team action. Whether he stays fit for the rest of the season
is so important to our season's success now. On the flip side I do not think
we will be seeing Calleri again. The club are already preparing for him to
leave the club in January and the speculation is that he hasn't been in
training this week and has been back in South America. Although this has not
been confirmed by my "top source" it would appear that his career at the
club is now over, which I suspect could be the same for our other loan
signings. If you want to hear more about our potential transfers, please
listen to this week's radio show here:
http://www.phoenixfm.com/2016/11/23/the-west-ham-way-show-18/
I personally would rather we won in the cup game than the league against
Manchester United now. Usually I would have said the league but I think our
league campaign is looking relatively uneventful now (assuming we are not in
a relegation battle) whereas reaching the semi-final of a cup competition is
exciting and would give us a great opportunity to get to Wembley.
I am pleased to announce that tickets to our first West Ham Way Pre Match
event are selling really well. We hope to see a lot of you there. We are
aware that there may be some teething problems as this is our first event
but we are determined to make this the number one pre match venue to go to!
You can get your tickets here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/73284/chk/1001
Here's to a good performance at Old Trafford!!
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BILIC, LANZINI AND COTTEE SPEAK ABOUT UPCOMING MANCHESTER UNITED GAMES.
BY 337HAMMER ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 8:25PM
TheWestHamWay,co.uk
Evening news round-up for Friday 25/11/16 by 337hammer.
Slaven Speaks – Manchester United.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic sat down with the media to preview the first
of his side's two matches against Manchester United in the space of four
days. The Hammers take on Jose Mourinho's outfit at Old Trafford in the
Premier League on Sunday afternoon and the boss was keen for his squad to
move on from last weekend's defeat to Spurs.
The Croatian also gave an update on Pedro Obiang, spoke about Winston Reid
as well as discussing his relationship with the Club's owners. whufc.com
Slaven Bilic hints at ditching back three in Winston Reid's absence.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has hinted that he may change his system to
cover for the absent Winston Reid in Sunday's trip to Manchester United. The
New Zealand centre-back received a second suspension of the season when he
was sent off in injury time during West Ham's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham.
Recent weeks have seen Bilic resort to the back three he employed to some
success last season, partnering midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate with Reid and
Angelo Ogbonna. Whilst James Collins would make a like-for-like switch the
West Ham boss suggested that the absence of his vice-captain may prompt a
change in system. standard.co.uk
How do you think Reid's absence will affect the team? How big a miss will he
be? Will Collins come in for Reid in a straight swap? Håvard Nordtveit? Or
will we change formation?
Mourinho's standards have dropped – Bilic.
Bilic takes his side to Old Trafford twice in the next five days, in the
Premier League on Sunday and the EFL Cup quarter-finals next Wednesday, and
is likely to be afforded a hot reception after his assertion that Mourinho
is not achieving the success he once was.
"Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest," Bilic told the BBC. "Statistically
at home, there is probably no-one better. But it's hard to stay at that
standard and maybe that has dropped now." fourfourtwo.com
Is Bilic correct in saying that Mourinho is not as good a manager now as he
was? Is he still good enough to put out a team to beat us though? What are
your thoughts on 'the special one'?
Bilic: I understand why there has been speculation over my future.
"The defeat at Tottenham was hard to take. In five years' time, the memory
will still be painful for me. We knew how much this game meant to the fans,
as it did for us at the club, and we came so close but in the end we lost.
Had we held out and won we would have pulled away from the bottom of the
Premier League but, as it is, we are just one place above the bottom three
with a tough schedule ahead.
Following the 3-2 defeat at White Hart Lane, there has been speculation
about my future. I understand that will happen. I am not a newcomer to this
game and neither am I stupid. I know you are judged on the table and the
number of points you have. All I am thinking about is how to improve things,
to keep our concentration up until the last second and to eliminate those
silly mistakes." standard.co.uk
A fair assessment by Bilic, but as much as we may like him, does he have
what it takes to turn things around when we are so under pressure? Do you
still have the faith? How much of what has happened this season is our
managers fault?
West Ham Tony Cottee: We have nothing to fear at Manchester United.
I know we are in 17th after the defeat, but there are no alarm bells ringing
for me and our performance at Tottenham should give us plenty of
encouragement ahead of visiting Manchester United twice this week and then
Liverpool next month. We'll go to those places with confidence and we showed
last year what we can do on the road. There is nothing for us to be worried
about at Old Trafford. We need to be positive like last season in the FA
Cup, a game we also should have won.
What will be interesting to see is what team Jose Mourinho puts out for both
matches. I'm sure Slaven Bilic will play his best side for the two games. I
don't think we have anything to fear at Old Trafford so I'm going for a 1-1
draw on Sunday and then a shock 2-0 win in the cup on Wednesday.
newhamrecorder.co.uk
Two massive games coming up at OT; should we be going there with no fear?
Can the players be positive? Are you positive? What do you think the results
of the next 2 games will be?
Lanzini ready to showcase his talents at Old Trafford.
Manuel Lanzini believes his team-mates should draw inspiration from playing
at Old Trafford on Sunday and hopes they can get their season back on track
with another famous win against Manchester United. Lanzini said: "It will be
a very difficult game, Manchester United are a big team, so we know it will
be difficult but we are confident that the result is going to be positive.
"There are a lot of difficult grounds to go to – Old Trafford is definitely
one of the more mystical places to go to. It is world famous, it can be
challenging but also inspiring, it is up to us. "I am really looking forward
to the game, as a player you always want to play against the biggest teams
and test yourself – our game on Sunday is definitely one of those games."
Another reason why the Hammers have every reason to feel confident is the
fact they took an impressive four points against Manchester United in last
season's league fixtures. However, Lanzini is well aware of the dangers that
a somewhat resurgent United pose. In particular, the Argentine continued to
highlight an area that the Hammers will have to focus on: "It is very
important that we cut the supply between Pogba, Mata and Rooney, we need to
do that well, then concentrate on our own objectives of playing well and
trying to win. "The most important thing is to get points. Once the wins
start coming in, we can concentrate on league positions and aiming specific
targets." whufc.com
Can the 'jewel' lead the way at Old Trafford and help us secure something
from this game? What would your team be? Same as against Tottenham but with
Ginge in defence replacing suspended Reid? Or would you find a starting
place for Captain Mark Noble?
West Ham's tough run may be a blessing.
"This is an incredibly tough run of fixtures for West Ham. Tottenham last
weekend, Manchester United this. United again in the EFL Cup, then Arsenal,
then Liverpool. But sometimes, this can allow you to play with a bit more
freedom. Nobody expects you to win the games, so it can make you lose your
inhibitions as a team. If West Ham can keep the score level at half-time,
you can be sure that sections of the Old Trafford crowd will turn against
their team." standard.co.uk
Is our tough run a blessing? How do you see our chances over the next 4
games? What would be the minimum realistic amount of points you think we
will get? What about the cup, will we progress any further?
Michail Antonio on gangs, goals and grabbing life by the balls.
Michail Antonio's non-league career came to an abrupt end. Eight years ago,
the powerful West Ham winger was a raw 18-year-old, playing for local side
Tooting & Mitcham in the Isthmian League, part of the seventh tier of
English football. His performances had caught the eye of Reading, however,
and the Royals had signed Antonio and loaned him back to south London as a
much-improved player. Training daily with the Championship team, not just
Tuesdays and Thursdays, worked wonders with his touch and decision-making.
But the presence of a professional in the amateur and semi-pro ranks
attracted some hostile attention.
"It was the last game I played," says Antonio, recalling a 2-2 draw with
Hendon, and a sequence that plays out a bit like Cameroon's famous assault
on Claudio Caniggia at the 1990 World Cup. He claps his hands together to
mark out the beat of each missed tackle, his voice incredulous. "I've picked
it up in the middle, someone has chopped me in half, and then I've got it
back again because, to be honest, I was used to those tackles anyway. Got it
again – I've beat one, I've knocked it down the line. The ball is 10 yards
ahead of me, the guy has come for me! He's tried to scissor me in half, so
I've hurdled over him, run down the line, I've cut inside another person.
The ball is two yards ahead of me, he's come for my body – I've hurdled him
and scored.
"At the end of the game, I've got a phone call from Reading: 'You're coming
back. One of our scouts was at the game, and we can't let you stay there.
You're going to get seriously hurt.'" sport-magazine.co.uk
Owen Coyle reveals reason for Martin Samuelsen's Blackburn Rovers exit.
The 19-year-old played just 70 minutes of Championship football for Rovers,
and an hour in the EFL Cup defeat to Leeds, before Coyle took the decision
to end the loan spell following a chat with the winger. Coyle said
Samuelsen, and his family, felt he should be playing more regularly for the
club, with the manager stating that no-one has a guaranteed place in his
starting line-up.
"I cut the loan short," Coyle revealed. "It's very simple, Martin is a
lovely young man, a talented man, but I think there was pressure from his
family through to Martin who felt he should he starting every week in our
team. "We had a really good chat about it, I told him very honestly that I
can't guarantee with any player that they are going to start every week.
"We both felt that it would be in his interests to go back to West Ham, play
some games for the under-23s, which he can do until January, and then kick
on from there. "I do believe that in time Martin will have a very good
career, he's a talented player. " lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
What happens with Samuelsen now? Is it realistic to expect a club to loan
him and guarantee him a starting spot every week? We wouldn't do the same
with our loan players!
West Ham rival Lazio for Polish international Grosicki.
Lazio have competition for Polish international Kamil Grosicki, if a report
from Poland is to be trusted. It appears that West Ham have joined the race
for the Stade Rennais star according to Polish paper PS, (via
Sportowefakty). The 28-year-old came very close to agreeing terms with
Burnley in summer, only for the move to crash and burn at the end of the
window. calciomercato.com
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BILIC'S ACHILLES HEEL
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 7:38PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
This article is written by Mark Scott @markscott2512
There is much to admire in both Bilic the man and Bilic the manager and yet
one thing seems to consistently stand out as a weakness, his choice and
timing of substitutions. The Premier League today is a 14 man game. Where
once a subs bench was more of an array of second choice players, awaiting on
an injury to a first eleven star for their chance, the modern game dictates
the need to change a game with tactical substitutions. A managers ability to
read a game, react to on field events and turn a game on its head is what
separates the great coaches from the good or average. Sadly, on the evidence
of this season, Bilic would seem to fall into the later category. Our
performances of last season, where we seemed adept at clawing a game back
having gone a goal behind have been sharply exposed this term. Whilst it is
true to say that we are suffering due to our mis-firing strike force, our
cause does not seem to be advanced by Bilic's lack of desire to react or his
choice of replacements. This was never more evident than in the recent
defeat to Spurs when, having taken Payet off, our opponents found their
freedom and went on steal all three points. Whilst Payet may not have been
enjoying his most eloquent of performances, he gave Spurs something to think
about and be wary off. Once that threat was removed, our opponents focused
more on their own game plan rather than nullifying ours and that cost us the
game and three invaluable points. The introduction of Nordveit rather than
Collins was also questionable at best. Whilst no fan of Big Sam, this would
not have been a change he would have made and he would surely have opted for
the experienced and proven defender.
We can cite our injury list of this season as one of the reasons for our
disjointed performances but we do seem to be trying to fit round pegs into
square holes. Players played out of position rarely perform to their best,
as we all saw to our cost with the ill fated Antonio experiment. It feels
very much as though Bilic has yet to find his preferred eleven and more
importantly their most effective positions. This is a huge concern a third
of the way into his second season at the Club. He has stumbled across the
'back five' which, whilst it has improved upon our early season
performances, still doesn't seem to be a natural fit for our tactics or our
players.
Given the season that Bilic delivered us in our final season at The Boleyn,
he deserves time to turn this one around but we cannot allow ourselves to go
much further into this campaign without picking up points, especially in
games that we should be winning. It is commendable for Bilic to praise our
spirit and performance against Spurs away, however it is against the Stoke
City's of this league that we need to be taking points. We need to recognise
where we are in the league and adjust our ambitions accordingly. Regardless
of what our owners and The Board promised us in the summer, this is now
reality and only with the right man at the helm will we secure survival,
which has to be our priority. My hope is that Bilic is the right man, my
suspicion is that he may not be."
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WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO WEST HAM?
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 4:43PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
This article is written by Lee – @lee_wilko_12
It all looked so good going into the 2016/2017 season for West Ham fans,
after what can only be described as a great season in 2015/2016 it all
looked great. A manager who was getting the best from the players, a team
that worked so well together and so hard for one another and a brand new
stadium to push us to that next level. A level we had always aspired to be
at, a big club, one well known and that can compete with the big boys and
attract those star players in world football. After finishing the previous
season 7th and on a record number of 62 points it all looked very promising,
we had some outstanding results that season and outplayed the big teams on
pretty much every occasion.
The send off we gave to Upton Park was memorable, that game gave me
goosebumps and even being bed ridden and very ill you can bet I was jumping
around and running around my house like a raging lunatic. The show
afterwards was very fitting for such a legendary ground, having been a fan
all of my life it felt like saying goodbye to a dearly loved family member,
I only wish I could have been there for that one final goodbye. Such great
memories and such a great atmosphere the fans created week in and week out,
didn't matter if we were winning or losing you knew those fans would not
stop shouting and singing right until the final whistle. Everything was
looking up for us Hammers fans, if you had asked any of us where we thought
the club was heading 99% of us would have said 16/17 would be a top 7 finish
a cup run and give Europa League a good shot. How wrong we were……..
Fast forward to the Summer transfer window, a window we were all waiting
for and expecting big things and some good transfers. We were promised a £30
million goal scoring striker which I think was stupid to announce as clubs
know we were willing to splash the cash, I don't and never will agree with
owners talking about what we want to do in a transfer window. This was our
big chance, European football, a great base of a team to build upon and a
new stadium, if there was ever a time to spend big and get an even better
squad this was it. The fans were promised so much for this window and we did
not get anything close to the promises made by our owners.
As we have all seen now this is not how any of it panned out, I am going to
run through the transfers and give my opinion on the players and what they
have brought to the team and what should happen with those players.
Andre Ayew – £20 million from Swansea – We all know he is a very good player
and proved that in the previous season, he knows where the goal is and we
even went for him on a free the season before but couldn't match the wages
Swansea were offering. He was unlucky to get injured in his first game for
us, I have seen fans write him off already and I don't agree at all. I
really think Ayew will turn out a good signing for us and he will soon start
paying back that transfer fee.
Arthur Masuaku – £6 million from Olympiacos – If I am being honest I had
not heard of him before he signed and didn't expect too much as he was cover
for Aaron Cresswell. Yet again I have seen a lot of fans saying he is not
good enough due to one bad game against West Brom. In previous games he
showed he is a solid player, great work rate and willingness to get forward,
he needs to work on his defending and positioning a bit more but as a back
up player I am more than happy for him to be with the club.
Edmilson Fernandes – £5 million from FC Sion – Yet again another player I
knew little about after we signed him, so far I have been very impressed
with the youngster. He is clearly talented and I hope he stays with us for a
long time, he has pace, vision and great footwork. He is still young and can
learn a lot from players such as Dimitri Payet. He has proved he is
versatile and fits great into the team. Lets hope we keep him and he starts
to feature more in the team.
Simone Zaza – Loan from Juventus – Where do I start here? We are promised
all Summer long a goal scoring £30 million forward and we are given Simone
Zaza. I had seen Zaza play a few times before for Juventus and he looked
like he knew where the goal was and on a loan I thought well lets see what
we are getting. It is now nearly December and I would be happy to never see
him in a West Ham shirt again. He shows passion which I love from
footballers but in terms of footballing ability and finishing he lacks an
awful lot of it. His decision making is sub par and every time he has the
ball at his feet he makes the wrong decision. Has never looked like scoring
despite a good display against Crystal Palace which really just consisted of
a lot of running and pressing the ball. I think he was a pure panic buy, we
went for a lot of forwards and he was a last resort. Send him back to Italy
in January and lets all forget this ever happened.
Jonathan Calleri – Loan from Maldonado – I had heard a lot of good things
about this guy, he was alleged to be a natural goalscorer and a real young
talent. If you were to tell me that now I would laugh at you. This guy
couldn't score if there wasn't a keeper there, he hasn't had a great deal of
game time and there is a reason for that. He seems to lack a decent first
touch and just does not have that cutting edge in front of goal, which
showed in the one on one against Bournemouth. Another forward to add to the
two David's list of West Ham's forwards that just are not good enough. Send
him back in January.
Gokhan Tore – Loan from Besiktas – This was a player I really wanted at West
Ham, Bilic's golden boy and had done so well in Turkey, young player who was
very quick and direct, he isn't afraid to run at defenders and take them on.
He was such a good player for Besiktas and when Bilic got his man that is
what we thought we were getting. We got the opposite to that, pre season he
looked out of shape and out of sorts, he looked clumsy and didn't look
anything we were promised. But it was only pre season so who cares. After
then seeing him in competitive games I along with every fan knew he was
nowhere near the Premier League level. Minus one assist against Bournemouth
he has done nothing for us. Waste of a few million quid loan fee and should
be sent back in January.
Ashley Fletcher – Free from Manchester United – A young player with great
potential and an eye for goal was what I had read and being honest had seen
him once or twice while on loan at Barnsley. I really like him, I think he
is one for the future and if I am being completely truthful should have a
shot in the first team, against Man City he played well and has great hold
up play and for someone so young is calm and is happy to close players down.
I would prefer him to start upfront instead of Zaza and he deserves a
chance, worst case scenario he doesn't score but at the moment none of our
forwards can. Keep him and start giving him some more game time.
Havard Nordtveit – Free from Borussia Monchengladbach – A past captain for
the German team, a Norway international and a leader of men, it seemed like
we were getting an absolute steal here. To get an ex captain on a free from
a good team in Germany seemed to good to be true and it clearly was. He just
has not adjusted to the Premier League, he looks clumsy and misplaces passes
every game, he has been played as a CDM, CB and a RB. None of those
positions have worked, RB is understandable as its not his position but the
other two he should be comfortable for him. He has struggled in every game
I've watched him in, the penalty he gave away against Tottenham was the
final straw for me. He is not good enough for the first team and should be
sold in January and replaced with a much better player.
Sofiane Feghouli – Free from Valencia CF – An Algerian winger who I had seen
play many times in La Liga and had seen he was good, quick and direct also a
regular starter for the Spanish side. On a free transfer it is still a good
deal. He has had limited game time due to injuries and the system we play, I
really think he will come good for us as I know he is a good player and
needs to get a run of games under his belt. I want to keep Feghouli and hope
Bilic starts playing him more often.
Alvaro Arbeloa – Free from Real Madrid – Who hasn't heard of Arbeloa? He
spent time at Liverpool and at one time was a regular at Madrid. Yes he is
33 but he was that right back and experience we were looking for at the
time, I thought he would be a good signing and would teach Sam Bryam a thing
or two. For some reason this transfer just has not worked at all. The games
he has played he didn't stand out at all, solid at best to be honest. I
think we should sell him or release him in January and replace him.
For so many reasons these transfers didn't work out and all in all the whole
window was a disaster from start to finish, if you look at our current
starting 11 there is one or two signings from the Summer that play and that
speaks volumes if you ask me. I really think we did not strengthen at all
and we most certainly did not get the right type of players in.
We should have gone domestic and signed proven players, we were crying out
for a new right back and we went cheap and got Arbeloa, a poor decision on
the owners/Bilic's shoulders. We sold Tomkins who I still think was a
ridiculous decision (Yes he wanted first team football) but he was a better
right back than Arbeloa is. We sold Tomkins and didn't replace him, Reece
Oxford should be given a chance now and let us see how he plays in the
Premier League if given a run of games.
The £30 million striker was nowhere to be found and look what has happened,
not a single or assist from a striker this season, last one I believe was
Diafra Sakho against Man United in the final game at Upton Park. After
failing to sign this £30 million man we panicked and brought in two unproven
strikers on loan and it has shown how bad this decision was, Zaza and
Calleri could play every minute of every game from now until January and
would not score.
In my opinion the reason summer 2016 was such a failure was because Summer
2015 we got good players for cheap and on loan such as Payet, Lanzini,
Ogbonna and Obiang. And the owners thought they would be able to replicate
this again the following summer, it massively backfired and apart from Andre
Ayew signing and signing Manuel Lanzini permanently for £10 million we
didn't really splash out. What made it worse was missing out on Carlos
Bacca, Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi (now playing in Chelsea Reserves),
Alexandre Lacazette and turning down Wissam Ben Yedder for being to small to
play in the Premier League, in my opinion the fact we turned him down was a
bloody joke, he is a brilliant player and would have been an amazing
signing. That was just a handful of forwards we were linked with.
Yes the two David's have been doing this for years but football now is
different, prices are over inflated and you have to spend over the odds 99%
of the time to get the quality you need. I have the utmost respect for the
owners and I know they saved us from going under but they have to take the
blame for a poor Summer window and they have to now make it up to us in
January and open their cheque books and get in the quality needed to ensure
we survive in the Premier League and push ourselves up the table. If I was
in charge my top priority would be ship off the dead weight and replace with
quality players, we need 2 strikers minimum, another winger, a first team
right back and maybe another midfielder for strength in depth. I really
think we should go for Michy Batshuayi on loan, he is not playing at Chelsea
and I think he would score goals without a doubt. I do think the owners have
their work cut out in January and only time will tell what they are going to
do to try and save our season.
The season didn't start in great fashion, yet again being knocked out early
in Europe by Astra Giurgiu (ASTRA GOO GOO) was awful, we underperformed
badly in both games and it was very hard to watch us be beaten by a team
formed of mainly part time footballers, it was the worst possible start to
the season we could have asked for. Injuries at the club were ridiculous at
the beginning of the season and it seems to be a recurring theme, I don't
understand why so many of our players get injured? I cannot figure it out at
all, call it a curse if you want but I would love a run of a couple of
months even where none of players end up picking up an injury.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll could make shock return at Manchester United, West Ham boss
Slaven Bilic says
Last Updated: 25/11/16 10:35pm
SSN
Andy Carroll could feature against Manchester United this weekend after just
three days' training, says West Ham boss Slaven Bilic. The England striker
has spent the last three months recovering from a knee injury and was only
able to resume full training this week. However, Bilic has not ruled out
including Carroll in his squad for Old Trafford on Sunday as he aims to
improve a record of 13 goals in 12 league games. "He's been training with us
for three days," said Bilic. "He came back after a long injury and he's very
close. "He could be in the squad. We're going to see, because we are not
talking about two weeks of training. It has been this week, so we'll see." A
run of six goals in five league games in the spring was a reminder of the
menace Carroll possesses, but he has missed 83 games since making a £15m
move from Liverpool in 2013. "Last year, before he got injured, when he was
fit he makes an impact on a game, no matter who you play against," Bilic
added. "It's very hard to play against him. The things he is giving us are
great. But we've been talking about this since I came to West Ham. "It's a
shame because you don't see it coming, only when you look at his record on
paper. You don't see in training and in games that he has got problems, but
unfortunately it has happened a few times."
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Manchester United v West Ham preview: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return from ban
Last Updated: 25/11/16 8:32pm
SSN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return from his ban when Manchester United host
struggling West Ham on Sunday. The 35-year-old missed the 1-1 draw with
Arsenal having been booked five times but played in the Red Devils' 4-0
Europa League win against Feyenoord on Thursday, while the likes of Henrikh
Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney may have impressed Jose Mourinho enough to keep
their starting roles. West Ham's struggles have been well documented this
season and are currently 17th in the Premier League table after a 3-2 loss
to Tottenham. However, a win could send them as high as 11th. The Hammers'
last away win came against Crystal Palace on October 15. Mourinho, who is
expected to recall goalkeeper David de Gea but remains without Eric Bailly
(knee) and Chris Smalling (toe), must determine whether Michael Carrick can
make a third start in nine days.
West Ham captain Mark Noble returns from suspension but defender Winston
Reid serves a one-match ban. Midfielder Pedro Obiang is expected to be
available despite missing training earlier this week due to an ankle injury.
Long-term absentee Andy Carroll has resumed training after his ankle injury
but Reece Oxford, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore and Arthur Masuaku are still
sidelined.
Manchester United have lost just two of their last 23 league games against
West Ham at Old Trafford, winning 20 (D1). West Ham haven't won at Old
Trafford since their 1-0 victory in May 2007, in which Carlos Tevez found
the net to help the Hammers avoid relegation. They've lost eight of their 10
meetings in all competitions since there. Mourinho has won seven of his
previous nine Premier League matches against West Ham (D1 L1), losing 1-2 at
Upton Park to Slaven Bilic's Hammers. In each of his five full Premier
League seasons as a manager, Mourinho's league placing after 12 games has
been his final league placing that season. Manchester United are currently
sixth in 2016-17 after 12 games. Anthony Martial has scored with all three
of his shots on target for Manchester United against West Ham in all
competitions. Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13
appearances against West Ham in all competitions (11 goals, three assists),
but hasn't scored or assisted in his last three. Michail Antonio equalled
the Premier League record for headed goals in a calendar year in his last
appearance (11, joint with Tim Cahill in 2010). Antonio's last six Premier
League goals have all been headers, but he's still some way off the Premier
League record of consecutive headed goals set by David Wetherall (12 in a
row). Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this
season in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been
converted by the Hammers. Manchester United have attempted 203 shots in
total this season in the Premier League. After 12 league games last season,
United had attempted 80 shots fewer (123).
Merson's prediction
Well, Manchester United have to win this and I thought they played well last
week against Arsenal - in fact, they should have won. West Ham were 2-1 up
with a minute to go against Tottenham, but still managed to go and get
beaten 3-2. Along with where they are in the league, I'm going for United to
win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Betting
Mourinho's Man United are 4/9 favourites at home to West Ham, with the
Hammers 11/2 to leave Old Trafford with all three points.
The draw is an 18/5 chance, with 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 priced at 9/2 in the
correct score group betting.
Ibrahimovic is the 100/30 market leader to score first, with Diafra Sakho
considered most likely for the visitors at 9/1.
Set-piece specialist Payet is 11/1 to score the opener and 3/1 to hit the
back of the net any time.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manager Slaven Bilic says West Ham are improving and can start to climb the
table
By Mark Crellin
Last Updated: 25/11/16 12:12pm
SSN
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says he is not 'fearful' for his job, despite the
club's slow start to the season. The East Londoners looked on course for a
win at Tottenham on Saturday but conceded two late goals to lose 3-2 instead
and lie just a point and a place above the Premier League drop zone.
However, Bilic remains confident he has the support of joint-chairmen David
Sullivan and David Gold, and feels the Hammers have been improving in recent
games. Speaking ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester United, Bilic said:
"There is not much to say, I am doing my job. "I speak to the owners, mostly
Mr Sullivan, regularly after every game, and in between if something needs
talking about. "I feel supported and, as I have said so many times, I
concentrate on my job and our next game, and that's basically it. "I'm not
fearful. I feel pressure, of course, because we are not producing, we're not
delivering, and we don't have enough points to feel happy and to feel safe.
"But I see the improvement. Against Spurs I saw a team hungry and alive. The
points were there for us in a difficult away game, so that's what I'm
confident about. "I take my job in good times and bad times. How I look at
my job, or any manager's job, is that the next few games can change
everything from good times to bad times, and bad times to good. "When we
were doing well, I wasn't thinking about getting a new contract. All I
concentrate on is how to improve the team, to lift them after a defeat or
improve after a good run. That's how I look at my job."
With all the sides having played just 12 games, the middle of the table is
congested and West Ham are only four points behind mid-table Bournemouth.
"If we had won at Spurs we'd have been about 12th," Bilic added. "We can say
it's still early days but we have to start picking up the points. We can say
we deserved more or were unlucky, but the table doesn't lie. "We know it
will be hard, starting on Sunday, and then Arsenal and Liverpool, but also
against Burnley after that. "If we play like we played Saturday and avoid
those mistakes, and with a little bit of luck, we can pick up results in any
game."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ashley Fletcher interview: West Ham man discusses Man Utd exit
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 24/11/16 9:39pm
SSN
West Ham forward Ashley Fletcher speaks to Sky Sports about his new life in
London, leaving Manchester United and the upcoming double-header at Old
Trafford… Ashley Fletcher is enjoying his new surroundings and getting used
to the hustle and bustle of London life. The forward left the security of
the Manchester United academy in the summer, turning down a two-year
contract to stay at Old Trafford, for a new challenge with West Ham. Born in
Keighley in West Yorkshire, Fletcher had spent all of his life in the north
of England and had previously only ventured south when football dictated a
brief trip to the capital. The flat he now shares with his girlfriend is
situated in the very heart of the Docklands, overlooking The O2 as well as
the new financial district and River Thames. The iconic setting has provided
him with the perfect backdrop to view the city in all its grandeur. It is a
way of life he is adjusting to, and the 21-year-old is quick to point out
that he still feels like a "wide-eyed northern boy" in the big city. "I've
gone to see Big Ben and the London Eye, the Parliament buildings as well,
it's great to look around," he said. "I've always been up for seeing new
sights, travelling and seeing the world. Now I'm living in the capital, it's
certainly a different way of life, but I love it down here. "I've used the
tube a couple of times, it was definitely different, a lot busier and a lot
more frantic than it is in Manchester with the Metrolink. It's a great way
to get around. But I don't think I'll be using it during rush hour!"
Though he may not be rushing to join the rat race anytime soon, Fletcher is
keen to hop on the Premier League gravy train. While on loan at Barnsley
last season, he watched from afar as academy pal Marcus Rashford made the
most of a striking injury crisis at Manchester United under Louis van Gaal.
It was a chance that may have been afforded to Fletcher had he not been at
Oakwell. Not being one to dwell on what could have been, Fletcher kept his
focus on Barnsley and helped spearhead their promotion push to the Sky Bet
Championship, scoring nine times in 27 appearances, including the first goal
in the 3-1 play-off final victory over Millwall in May.
The success achieved at Barnsley, as well as Rashford's rise to first-team
stardom, did however leave Fletcher with a burning desire to make a name for
himself higher up the footballing chain and ultimately led to his permanent
departure from Manchester United, the club he considers as the "biggest in
the world".
Even the arrival of Jose Mourinho in June did little to alter his thoughts
on staying at Manchester United. "The decision to leave was probably made
more or less before Jose had come in," he said. "I had obviously spoken with
Nicky Butt, who was the head of the academy at the time, Warren Joyce and
people who were above in the board, John Alexander and Ed Woodward. I just
thought the decision was right for me and for my family; it was time for me
to go and make a career for myself. "Manchester United offered me a new
contract, but in terms of what I wanted, it was not right. It wasn't about
anything financial, it was just about my career and my progress. What they
were offering and their ambitions for me did not match mine. "Because I was
out of contract, there were a few teams already aware of my situation and
they were coming with bigger contracts and bigger promises for me to
progress my career. I would say a two-year contract was not what I was
expecting. It was difficult to turn Manchester United down, but you've got
to think of your career."
It represented the end of a seven-year association between Fletcher and
Manchester United, but also signified a new beginning for the former England
U20 international. It was the persuasive powers of West Ham co-chairman
David Sullivan and a long-term plan outlined by manager Slaven Bilic that
convinced Fletcher his future lay with the Hammers, who were themselves
preparing to enter a new era in the club's history at the London Stadium.
He has since featured nine times for the first-team and, though he is yet to
break his goal scoring duck for the club, he has shown flashes of his
undoubted potential. Big, strong and quick, Fletcher has all the attributes
needed to succeed in the top-flight. But with record signing Andre Ayew and
Diafra Sakho back to full fitness, and Andy Carroll also nearing a return to
action, Fletcher is under no illusions that he faces a real fight to force
himself into starting contention as West Ham look to improve on their slow
start to the season, which has left them languishing in 17th place. He
remains undeterred though, and is convinced his decision to leave Manchester
United for West Ham has already been vindicated. "I've made nine appearances
and I don't personally think that would have happened to me this year if I
would have stayed at Manchester United," he said. "The experiences I am
getting at West Ham and the way I am progressing as a player, and as a
person, I feel I have really benefited. So, I think it was the right
decision to leave."
Fletcher is currently preparing to meet his old club at Old Trafford twice
in the space of a week, firstly in the Premier League on Sunday and then in
EFL Cup on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm. It will be the
first time the sides have played one another since West Ham's memorable
victory in the final ever match to be played at the Boleyn Ground in May.
Fletcher was then an interested television spectator in his flat in
Manchester, but hopes to make an impact over the coming week in front of a
host of familiar faces and family members. "It was such a big game at the
Boleyn and the atmosphere was unbelievable, it was a fitting end to an
unbelievable stadium," he said. "Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to
play there, I wish I could have done, but that game really sticks in my
mind. "I always knew the passion of West Ham fans. When they played away
from home at Old Trafford or when I had seen them on TV, the passion the
fans have is a different level in my eyes because they live and breathe
football. "It obviously hurts when we get beat, but when we win, you can see
the joy in people's faces. I would say that was a major factor in me joining
West Ham so, that being said, I am really excited to be going back to Old
Trafford as it should be a magnificent occasion. "People at United know
what I am about, so hopefully I'll get the opportunity to put on a good
performance for the West Ham fans. There's no bad blood or jealously with
United. I am really proud of my time at United and I know it made me the
player, and person, I am today. However, my full focus is on West Ham and
hopefully getting two good results."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham news: Michail Antonio on his rise from non-league, turning down
Tottenham and the Olympic Stadium
Antonio celebrates a goal at the Olympic Stadium
By Amit Katwala - @amitkatwala
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Michail Antonio's non-league career came to an abrupt end. Eight years ago,
the powerful West Ham winger was a raw 18-year-old, playing for local side
Tooting & Mitcham in the Isthmian League, part of the seventh tier of
English football. His performances had caught the eye of Reading, however,
and the Royals had signed Antonio and loaned him back to south London as a
much-improved player.
Training daily with the Championship team, not just Tuesdays and Thursdays,
worked wonders with his touch and decision-making. But the presence of a
professional in the amateur and semi-pro ranks attracted some hostile
attention. "It was the last game I played," says Antonio, recalling a 2-2
draw with Hendon, and a sequence that plays out a bit like Cameroon's famous
assault on Claudio Caniggia at the 1990 World Cup. He claps his hands
together to mark out the beat of each missed tackle, his voice incredulous.
"I've picked it up in the middle, someone has chopped me in half, and then
I've got it back again because, to be honest, I was used to those tackles
anyway. Got it again – I've beat one, I've knocked it down the line. The
ball is 10 yards ahead of me, the guy has come for me! He's tried to scissor
me in half, so I've hurdled over him, run down the line, I've cut inside
another person. The ball is two yards ahead of me, he's come for my body –
I've hurdled him and scored. "At the end of the game, I've got a phone call
from Reading: 'You're coming back. One of our scouts was at the game, and we
can't let you stay there. You're going to get seriously hurt.'"
They needn't have worried. Antonio had already demonstrated an instinct for
staying out of trouble, and an aptitude for hurdling challenges as he
sidestepped the teenage gangs of south London and picked out a winding path
to the Premier League. "It was the norm," says the 26-year-old, who
remembers schoolmates with stab wounds, and uneasy coalitions and turf wars
between rival groups. "People joining gangs, getting stabbed, going to
prison. It was all I knew growing up."
Life-changing choices
When he was 15, Antonio lost two friends in a mass brawl between two gangs
armed with knives and broken pieces of furniture. "Loads of my friends made
the other choice," he says. "I played football with one guy, and another
went to my school. They were all good friends and then they fell out, so
they met up, had a big fight. One of my friends got stabbed to death by
another. So one died, one went to prison for seven years."
There had been an allure to the gangs – the girls, the money – but a settled
family life helped Antonio steer clear. His mum was a carer for the elderly,
his dad a mini-cab driver. Antonio says he was sheltered from the worst of
it. The threebed terraced house in Earlsfield, where his parents still live,
is a 10-minute bike ride away from the estates of Battersea, Wandsworth and
Tooting. "I could always escape and go home," he says. "I was lucky."
Instead, Antonio filled his time with football – at community programmes and
youth clubs all over south London. "I didn't support a team," he says. "I
never watched football, I didn't go to the games – I always just wanted to
play it. Any opportunity to play, I would play."
He played at Providence House – a youth club near Clapham Junction – on
Thursdays and Saturday afternoons, for Tooting & Mitcham on Tuesdays,
Saturday mornings and Sundays, and at Chelsea Kicks on Mondays. The latter
landed him a trip to Moscow, paid for by Roman Abramovich, to play in a
youth tournament.
We ask Antonio, who has now seen both sides of London's stark divide,
whether people should be doing more to help steer kids in the right
direction.
"People are trying," he says. "You can't stop it, full stop. And, to be
honest, half the people in the gangs, they were coming to the youth centres.
It's just Providence House wasn't open every day – it hasn't got the
manpower. Sometimes people can't change, and sometimes they've grown up in
it, and they've adapted to it, and don't know anything different. For
someone to change, for the cycle to be broken, you have to change the
person's outlook on life and probably their environment."
Individual route
Tottenham offered Antonio a place in their academy when he was 14. His mum
refused, fearful of the impact the long, nightly commute across London would
have on her son's education.
"Devastating," he says. "As a young boy, all I wanted to do was become a
footballer, and my mum said: 'No, education comes first.' "It was probably
the right thing, and I got over it eventually."
He laughs, an infectious chuckle that comes out a few times – particularly
when we discuss his dislike for horror movies and his penchant for unusual
celebrations such as the Homer Simpson-inspired spin on the ground that went
viral.
"No one does crazy celebrations any more," Antonio laments. "I remember back
in the day when Ian Wright scored, he used to do crazy things. People barely
even do backflips any more." He has a couple of ideas, but is looking for
suggestions should his fine form continue. "I scored two against Watford,"
he grins. "The first, I did the worm; the second one, I did nothing!"
His mum's decision meant he explored careers outside football – Antonio
looked at becoming a PE teacher, and worked briefly as a lifeguard. It took
outside persuasion to get his career started.
"My mum made me go to church, and because Tooting & Mitcham played on a
Sunday, she's like: 'No – you're going to church.' So my manager had to come
down and speak to my mum and say: 'Look, your son has something.'"
It meant he developed in a different way to how he might had he joined an
academy: "Non-league made me physically stronger than a lot of others I've
played against in the pro game. I knew how to use my body. Especially with
some pro boys – when they go on loan and play against men, they're not used
to the physical challenge."
He had his own adjustments to make when he started training with Reading.
"It is very difficult," he explains. "The first day I've come in, and
they've put me straight with the first team – these boys are pushing for the
Premier League at the time, they're in the playoffs. Even though I was quick
over five or 10 yards, mentally I wasn't quick. We used to play circles,
boxes where we've just got to keep the ball. People were passing me the
ball, I was taking a touch and by the time I've looked up someone's nicked
the ball off me. I was one of those guys who no one really wanted on their
team!"
It took four years, and loan spells at Cheltenham, Southampton, Colchester
and Sheffield Wednesday in League One, before Antonio could hold his own in
the boxes. After one full season at Nottingham Forest he signed for West Ham
for £7m, five games into the 2015/16 campaign. He struggled for game time at
first, but the turning point is etched in his memory.
"I got my opportunity on December 5," says Antonio. "It was Manchester
United away – my first real minutes. I came on in the 37th minute and I've
not looked back."
No turning back
It's been a difficult start at their new home for West Ham, 17th in the
league, but Antonio says: "I'd just put it down to individual mistakes. If
you look at the stats, we've not been far off every game.
"It's just that each game, a different person is making a different mistake.
I can't put it down to the pitch, you can't put it down to the tools, you've
just got to put it down to people just not doing it right."
Antonio acknowledges that West Ham's switch to the Olympic Stadium means the
atmosphere "is very different".
"At Upton Park you had the fans on top of you, and you felt the buzz from
the fans constantly," he explains. "It seems like at the new stadium the
fans have not really taken to it that well; they are quite far away. [But]
we can't go back, and we've got to commit to it."
This season, Antonio has started every game aside from a League Cup win over
Accrington Stanley, and is his club's top scorer with six goals – five with
his head. He also scored the first Premier League goal at the new ground –
which, as he is keen to point out, also has it benefits: "It's amazing,
because you have double the fans, and the roar – the eruption – when the
ball hits the back of the net. It's just being able to get the fans buzzing
for the whole 90 minutes."
Antonio's form even earned him an England call-up, first under Sam Allardyce
and then for Gareth Southgate's first two fixtures. He was, however, left
out to face Scotland and Spain. "It just shows you've got to take life by
its balls," he says. "Because anything could happen."
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Fraudster jailed for Sam Allardyce and West Ham con
MARK CHANDLER
Evening Standard
A fraudster who conned West Ham players and Sam Allardyce out of more than
£60,000 through a Christmas hamper scam has been jailed for four years.
Stephen Ackerman targeted the east London club's staff, including then-boss
Mr Allardyce and England striker Andy Carroll, when he visited their
training ground to sell them luxury hampers. Ackerman used the pseudonym
Mark Kingston while selling the goods during a visit to the training ground
in December 2014. He took payment from a number of players and staff using a
hand-held chip-and-pin device. The luxury items were never delivered and in
the following weeks, some of the victims noticed unauthorised payments
running into the thousands charged to their bank accounts. They reported the
matter to police and Ackerman was arrested. He was caught after search
warrants were carried out at addresses linked to him in Essex and
Hertfordshire. The 48-year-old, of Hillcroft, Loughton, Essex, had
previously been found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of 18 counts of
fraud.
On Friday, Judge David Radford described Ackerman as an "utterly deceitful
and dishonest man who has consistently, premeditatedly and shamelessly
defrauded others". He said he was a man with "no scruples whatsoever ...
telling lie after lie to try to deceive others".
"Your endemic dishonestly is plainly unremitting," he said. "You earn no
credit for your remorse, nor any credit for any pleads of guilt."
The judge said "many" of his victims were Premier League footballers,
adding: "This was not simply a fraud involving undelivered Christmas hampers
and wine or even simply the fraudulent use of a card chip-and-pin device.
"You used the bank account details perhaps in conjunction with others that
you had obtained when you visited the West Ham training ground and ...
obtained sizeable amounts of money from bank accounts." He said Ackerman was
introduced to them as a "trustworthy salesman". The judge said "significant
planning" had gone into the fraud and described Ackerman as "someone who has
got to learn". Ackerman had "numerous previous convictions for fraud", with
the most recent in 2013, prosecutor Samuel Trefgarne told the court. Defence
counsel Charles Royle said Ackerman "regrets" having the trial and would
have pleaded guilty if he had been instructed differently, but the judge
said this was "not the most compelling mitigation".
Ackerman, wearing a blue cardigan and checked shirt, remained composed as he
was sentenced and blew a kiss to a woman in the public gallery as he left
the dock. Acting Detective Sergeant Jamie Snell, from Newham CID, said after
the sentencing: "Ackerman preyed on the trust of people he approached and
essentially told an elaborate pack of lies in order to get them to part with
their cash. "He defrauded a total of £61,047 from his victims and thought
that due to their fame they would never report the matter to the police.
"He is a confident and accomplished fraudster and we are delighted with the
maximum sentence that was passed today."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest - but his
home standards have dropped
SAM LONG
Evening Stadnard
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says Jose Mourinho is "one of the greatest" but
believes a drop in the Portuguese's home standards gives the Hammers hope
this weekend. West Ham travel to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon aiming to
claw themselves away from the relegation zone with a positive result.
Manchester United need to close a gap of their own, having slipped to sixth
place in the table and nine points off the title pace. Mourinho's home
record throughout his career has been superb but the Red Devils have won
just two of their opening six Premier League games on home turf this season.
Taking points off a Mourinho team on the road used to be a rarity but Bilic
believes that his side are capable of adding to their points tally at the
Theatre of Dreams. "Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest," he told the BBC.
"Statistically at home, there is probably no-one better. But it's hard to
stay at that standard and maybe that has dropped now. "I'm confident, if we
can cut out the mistakes, and with a bit of luck, we can pick up a result on
Sunday."
An underwhelming start to the season has seen pressure mount on Bilic's
shoulders in recent weeks. The east Londoners are significantly down on
expectations but Bilic is adamant he is not fearful of the sack due to his
good relationship with West Ham's owners. "I speak to the owners regularly
after every game and I feel support. I'm concentrating on my job and our
next game. "I'm not fearful. I feel pressure of course as at the moment we
are not producing and do not have enough points to feel happy and safe. "But
I do see the improvement. I take my job in good times and bad times."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho 'doesn't like' prospect of facing West
Ham two games in a row
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit out at the prospect of
facing West Ham twice in just four days. The Red Devils host Slaven Bilic's
side in a Premier League fixture on Sunday afternoon aiming to close the gap
to the top four. And the Hammers will then travel north to face United in an
EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night. Facing the same opponent in quick
succession does not sit well with Mourinho, who is keen for his players to
focus solely on this weekend's encounter. "Honestly I don't like it, I never
like it," the Portuguese told United's official website. "It has happened to
me many times in my career and it's something that I think is not good. "But
we have to just forget the second game and focus on the first one and go
step by step," he added. Mourinho may not be relishing two quickfire
meetings with the Hammers but Ashley Fletcher is keen to return to his
former club. The striker joined West Ham from United on a permanent deal in
the summer and is determined to prove his worth in front of the Old Trafford
faithful. "I am looking forward to going back for the first time and it will
be great to meet up with a number of old friends," the 21-year-old told West
Ham's official website. "I spent the majority of my youth career at
Manchester United and learned a great deal during my time there so it will
be good go back and show what I can do."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini believes his team-mates should draw inspiration from playing
at Old Trafford on Sunday and hopes they can get their season back on track
with another famous win against Manchester United. Few could forget Winston
Reid's dramatic late winner in the final ever game at the Boleyn Ground back
in May and the Hammers would settle for a similar outcome as they look to
move clear of the bottom three. The West Ham players are determined to make
amends for the heartbreaking defeat against Tottenham last weekend and show
they have the quality to challenge in the top half of the table. Despite the
disappointing result at White Hart Lane, Lanzini certainly impressed while
filling in for the suspended Mark Noble, and the Argentinian capped off a
fine performance with a coolly taken penalty – his third strike of the
campaign. Now, with attention turning to tackling Jose Mourinho's United,
the Argentine midfielder is under no illusions about the task in hand, but
rather than be overawed by the occasion, Lanzini, dubbed 'The Jewel',
insists he and his teammates should be looking forward to Sunday's showdown.
Lanzini said: "It will be a very difficult game, Manchester United are a big
team, so we know it will be difficult but we are confident that the result
is going to be positive. "There are a lot of difficult grounds to go to –
Old Trafford is definitely one of the more mystical places to go to. It is
world famous, it can be challenging but also inspiring, it is up to us. "I
am really looking forward to the game, as a player you always want to play
against the biggest teams and test yourself – our game on Sunday is
definitely one of those games."
Another reason why the Hammers have every reason to feel confident is the
fact they took an impressive four points against Manchester United in last
season's league fixtures. However, Lanzini is well aware of the dangers that
a somewhat resurgent United pose. In particular, the Argentine continued to
highlight an area that the Hammers will have to focus on: "It is very
important that we cut the supply between Pogba, Mata and Rooney, we need to
do that well, then concentrate on our own objectives of playing well and
trying to win. "The most important thing is to get points. Once the wins
start coming in, we can concentrate on league positions and aiming specific
targets."
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Scully - Reading is a massive game
WHUFC.com
Anthony Scully has called the U18s' match with Reading a "massive game"
The young Hammers are looking to bounce back from their FA Youth Cup exit in
midweek
Their match with Reading kicks off at 11am from Little Heath Sports Ground
Anthony Scully has declared this weekend's league clash with Reading as a
massive game, as the U18s aim to move on from their Youth Cup
disappointment. It's been a tough week for the Hammers after a last-minute
defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday followed by being knocked out on
penalties at Stoke City in the FA Youth Cup 3rd round on Tuesday. But Scully
is backing the team to bounce back this weekend in what will be a crucial
match considering that both sides are in the thick of the top four battle.
"All the lads are disappointed with going out of the Youth Cup because we
were seen as a group that could have gone on and won it," said Scully. "To
be knocked out already is very disappointing but in football there's always
another game round the corner to put what went wrong, right. That's what
we're looking to do on Saturday against Reading. "We need a good performance
against Reading because it'll put us back on track. We need to put the Stoke
game behind us and move on."
Despite their difficult week, the Hammers are still well on course to finish
in the top four spots of the U18 Premier League South.
With Reading just a place behind them in the league in third, the game holds
extra significance, but Scully is full of confidence that the Hammers can
put on a positive display. "It's a massive game this weekend. We beat them
2-0 earlier on in the season but they're not an easy side to play against,"
he added. "They're on a good run of form but if we match our performance of
the first match against them, we should have no problem."
Scully missed the majority of October through illness but returned for the
home draw with Arsenal and has since had a positive impact on the side. His
performances were rewarded with yet another call up to the Republic of
Ireland U18s, where he played 90 minutes twice in a draw against the
Netherlands and defeat to Germany. "I love going away to play with Ireland.
There's always a buzz among the players and that showed on the pitch
recently when we had two good performances against Germany and Holland."
Our U18s match with Reading takes place on Saturday 25 November at 11am at
Little Heath Sports Ground. Parking and admission are both free.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Speaks - Manchester United
WHUFC.com
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic sat down with the media to preview the first
of his side's two matches against Manchester United in the space of four
days. The Hammers take on Jose Mourinho's outfit at Old Trafford in the
Premier League on Sunday afternoon and the boss was keen for his squad to
move on from last weekend's defeat to Spurs. The Croatian also gave an
update on Pedro Obiang, spoke about Winston Reid as well as discussing his
relationship with the Club's owners.
Morning Slaven. Could we start off with some team news for Sunday's game?
Good morning. From the Spurs game, we had Pedro [Obiang] who has been
playing with an ankle injury since Everton. He didn't train for a couple of
days but he's back and training with us today and hopefully he'll be OK.
Apart from that, it's all good.
Winston Reid, who is suspended, has been central to your system. What are
the plans for Sunday?
He has been instrumental. He has been really good since we changed the
system. He was suspended for the game against Stoke and we have players we
can put in without changing the system, or we can change it.
There has been speculation about your future, what have the owners said to
you?
There isn't much to say. I'm doing my job. I speak to the owners regularly
after every game and if inbetween, there is something to talk about, I have
that support. I'm concentrated on my job and our next game and that's
basically it.
Are you fearful?
No – I feel the pressure of course, because we are not delivering and
performing enough to get points to feel happy. But I see the improvement, I
see the team that is hungry and alive and the points were there for us in a
very difficult away game. That's what I'm concentrated on and not to make
mistakes like we did against Spurs.
How important is the support you feel from the owners?
That is important but it's not the crucial thing. I have told you many times
– you are concentrated on your next few games that can change things from
bad to good or good to bad. Let's say, when we were doing really good, I
didn't think about a chance for a new contract, because I have a contract.
If we are looking at our position in the table, I am just concentrated on
improving the team and winning and how to lift the team up.
Do you feel the league position is reflective of the performances?
It's still very tight. With a win against Tottenham we would have been 12th
or eleventh, but we are in the position we are. You can stay it's still
early days, but we have to start picking up the points. We can say we were
unlucky or we deserve more, but the table doesn't lie.
It hasn't worked out for Simone Zaza yet. Are you still comfortable he will
still be here when the window shuts?
I believe in him. He's our player and it's not only him but we need him to,
with the help of teammates, to start producing and doing what we got him
for. If he starts or doesn't start games, it has nothing to do with the
clause but only on his training performances and performances in games.
Man United seem to be picking up of late – do you think you are playing a
team that are contending for the title this season?
The gap is not small but it's also not big and of course they are showing
two faces. They played well last night and they're Man United. But they need
points in the Premier League and it's gonna be a big game for us and for
them in a great stadium. It will be difficult but you can't expect any less
in the Premier League, especially as you're playing Man United away.
Jose Mourinho's home record as a manager is unbelievable, but do you feel
like you've lost a little bit of that aura?
He is one of the greatest. Statistically, he's probably the best in the last
ten years in home percentages, titles, Champions League, whatever. But it's
impossible to stay at that standard and maybe that percentage has dropped
now. It's impossible to maintain that for such a long period. It is a
miracle he was doing that for ten years. If you didn't know about his record
from history, his current record would still be great.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Claret Commentary - Adrian's winning penalty
WHUFC.com
In the second part of our exciting new feature on West Ham TV, we ask former
and current players to take hold of the mic and provide commentary on a
famous game in the Club's history. In part one, former skipper Kevin Nolan
and Carlton Cole took a trip down memory lane as they reminisced over the
famous Play-Off Final win over Blackpool at Wembley that saw the Hammers
gain promotion back into the Premier League. Cole enjoyed it so much that he
took to the mic once again and joined current club captain Mark Noble for an
amusing look back at the memorable FA Cup win over Everton at the Boleyn
Ground. It proved to be another unforgettable night of cup action under the
lights after Enner Valencia had fired the Hammers into the lead. Everton
drew level late in the game following a free-kick from Kevin Mirallas and
then scored early in extra-time through Romelu Lukaku. Cole brought the
Hammers back into the game with the crucial equaliser which then saw the
game result in a penalty shoot-out. Few could forget the moment Adrian took
off his gloves and scored the winning penalty which saw the Hammers win 9-8
on aggregate. Watch as Cole and Noble describe the events of the night in
the only way they know possible and make this a must-watch for every West
Ham United supporter.
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Bilic - Carroll could return
WHUFC.com
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic revealed Andy Carroll could return to Sunday's
matchday squad
The striker has been out with a knee injury since the opening day of the
Premier League season
Bilic revealed Carroll is close to selection and could make the trip to Old
Trafford
Slaven Bilic has revealed the Hammers could be on course for a huge boost on
Sunday with the potential return of Andy Carroll to the first team squad.
The east Londoners take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier
League and star striker Carroll – who has not played since the opening game
against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in August – could be in line for
selection. The 27-year-old damaged his knee in the side's away UEFA Europa
League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu and, having played at Stamford
Bridge, has been on the road to recovery since. And Bilic, speaking ahead of
the first of two matches in the space of four days against the Red Devils,
revealed the forward could play a part in the north west. He said: "Andy is
training with us, and he's come back from a long injury, so we are going to
see. He's very close. "He could be in the squad. We are going to see,
depending on how he progresses. He's done individual training, has trained
with the U23 squad, and now he is training with the first team. "He's back
doing that this week, and that's why two days is very important. But is he
very close? Yes, definitely."
Carroll made 36 appearances in claret and blue last season – including four
against Sunday's opponents – notching nine goals, second to only Dimitri
Payet in the Club's scoring charts. Boss Bilic says his return will be
extremely welcome given the qualities the striker can bring to the team.
"The things he gives us are great," the manager continued. "When he is fit,
he makes an impact on a game, no matter who you play against. It's very hard
to play against him. "I'm hoping for the rest of the season with Andy. We
have been talking about this since I came to West Ham and it's a shame
because you don't see these things coming. "You can only see it coming when
you look at his record on paper. You don't see it training or in games, but
unfortunately it has happened a few times."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic: West Ham manager 'not fearful' of losing job & has owners'
support
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says he is not worried he might lose his job as
he has the support of the club's owners. The Hammers, beaten at Tottenham
last Saturday, are currently one place above the Premier League relegation
zone having won only three games out of 12. Bilic's side visit Manchester
United on Sunday and again in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, followed by league
games against Arsenal and Liverpool. He said he is "not fearful" and will
carry on "in good times and bad times".
Bilic added: "I feel pressure, of course, as at the moment we are not
producing and do not have enough points to feel happy and safe.
"I speak to the owners regularly after every game and I feel support. I'm
concentrating on my job and our next game." The former Croatia international
is confident West Ham can get a result against Jose Mourinho's Manchester
United at Old Trafford. "Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest," he added.
"Statistically at home, there is probably no-one better. But it's hard to
stay at that standard and maybe that has dropped now. "I'm confident, if we
can cut out the mistakes, and with a bit of luck, we can pick up a result on
Sunday."
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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: I understand why there has been speculation
over my future
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard
The defeat at Tottenham was hard to take. In five years' time, the memory
will still be painful for me. We knew how much this game meant to the fans,
as it did for us at the club, and we came so close but in the end we lost.
Had we held out and won we would have pulled away from the bottom of the
Premier League but, as it is, we are just one place above the bottom three
with a tough schedule ahead. Following the 3-2 defeat at White Hart Lane,
there has been speculation about my future. I understand that will happen.
I am not a newcomer to this game and neither am I stupid. I know you are
judged on the table and the number of points you have.
There is nothing I can do about that except work hard and look for us to win
games. It is not as if we have dropped our performance level. We were a
confident team at Spurs. All I am thinking about is how to improve things,
to keep our concentration up until the last second and to eliminate those
silly mistakes. In the corresponding match last season we went to White Hart
Lane in a good run of form and lost 4-1. Some people have suggested that
last weekend's 3-2 defeat was even worse. I think that what they mean is
that this one hurts more and it is taking longer to get over it.
Would we rather get hammered? No. This defeat is very painful because we
should have won but we can - and we will - take many positives from it. When
you are beaten 4-1 there can't be too many plus points. This one really
hurts - and for longer - but when we analyse the display, then for almost
all of the game we did well, both individually and as a team. The mistakes
cost us dearly but I can take positives from 80 per cent of that game. For
the next couple of days, the players were low and you could see it hurt them
but now we are approaching a new game - admittedly another tough one at
Manchester United - and we know if we do the majority of things as well as
we did at Spurs, then we have a good chance.
We now face two matches at Old Trafford within the space of four days. I
certainly won't look at Sunday's League match, though, with one eye on the
EFL Cup quarter-final the following Wednesday. We will go there with our
strongest team this weekend and see what happens. As for United, they
haven't yet hit their best form but they were looking better against Arsenal
last weekend and certainly looked the part last night in their Europa League
clash with Feyenoord. They played well against Leicester, Fenerbahce and
even against Burnley, they were so unlucky not to win. Of course, I have
great respect for them and it is one of the toughest fixtures of the season
but now even more, we have to concentrate on ourselves.
Our captain, Mark Noble, is available again after suspension and we missed
his character against Spurs, especially towards the end when Tottenham were
taking risks and bombing forward. You always need leaders. It is worrying
that, as at Spurs, we've had real trouble killing games off after being in
front. We must do better. I also came in for criticism for the substitutions
at Spurs and, straight after the match and in view of what happened, I knew
it would have been better had I not changed certain things. For me, though,
it was an absolutely logical thing to do at the time. I was happy with the
first two substitutions, with Andre Ayew, who is still coming back to full
fitness, and Diafra Sakho, who was playing his first game of the season,
coming off after an hour.
For many, though, it was the last one - Havard Nordtveit for Dimitri Payet -
which ultimately changed the game. Before the game I was asked if the team I
had picked was too attacking but it wasn't like that. An important part of
defending is how good you are when you have the ball. After we scored our
second I didn't expect us to be holding on for half an hour. We wanted to
kill the game off and had three opportunities to do that. But they were
putting us under more and more pressure and with just over five minutes left
I wasn't thinking any more about scoring another goal but rather that we
just needed to hold on. So that is why I made the substitution, I felt we
needed an extra body in a midfield holding position with Pedro Obiang but it
didn't work out well. As I said, if someone reminds me about this game in
five years, the hurt will still be there - it's one of those. Having said
that, I'd recovered by the following day. As a manager, you have to do that.
You have to set an example, you dust yourself down, clap your hands and say:
"Okay, let's go again!"
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Manchester United v West Ham United
SUN, 27 NOV 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
16:30
Venue: Old Trafford
TEAM NEWS
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return for Manchester United after completing a
one-match domestic suspension. Wayne Rooney and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could
also start after impressing against Feyenoord, but Eric Bailly and Chris
Smalling remain injured.
West Ham captain Mark Noble is available after serving a ban but defender
Winston Reid misses out because of his red card at Tottenham. Pedro Obiang
is expected to be fit despite an ankle injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: "I can't be alone in having casually thought that West Ham tend
to do well at Old Trafford, only to be proved wrong when looking back at
results.
"Maybe it's because all three of their only wins there since 1986 were
famous ones, with winning goals scored by famous players - Jermain Defoe,
Carlos Tevez and Paolo Di Canio (with a little help from Fabien Barthez -
taxiiiii!). "Making a case for them this time got tougher with Manchester
United's impressive win against Feyenoord on Thursday, following another
'one that got away' performance versus Arsenal last week. "Everything points
to a home win. A famous one? Over to you Wayne Rooney…"
Twitter: @Guymowbray
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Henrikh Mkhitaryan's display
against Feyenoord: "He just needs now to try to replicate this kind of
performance in the Premier League. "The Premier League is different. He
needs one more step. Obviously now confidence levels are higher. "This
performance gives him the right to believe that he can play the next match
again and he needs to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier
League, with more physicality, more aggression.
"We know that we were buying a player with a high level of technical
quality, very intelligent, very bright, the way he reads the game."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I speak to the owners, mostly Mr Sullivan,
regularly after every game and in between if something needs talking about.
"I feel supported...I'm not fearful. I feel pressure, of course, because we
are not producing, we're not delivering and we don't have enough points to
feel happy and to feel safe. "But I see the improvement. Against Spurs I saw
a team hungry and alive, the points were there for us in a difficult away
game, so that's what I'm confident about."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
West Ham caved in late on at White Hart Lane last weekend, and they are just
not as good defensively as they were last season. Manchester United have
issues too, especially in attack, but although they might make hard work of
it, I think they will find a way through.
Prediction: 2-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham drew twice away to United last season (0-0 in the league, 1-1 in
the FA Cup), ending a run of eight consecutive defeats at Old Trafford in
all competitions.
The Hammers have won just two of their last 23 league games at Old Trafford
(D1, L20).
The Irons have scored 10 goals in 20 Premier League games at Old Trafford
and never more than once in a single game.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have claimed 19 points from their opening 12 league games.
The only Premier League season in which they made a worse start was 2004-05,
when they had 18 points at this stage.
They have drawn three consecutive home league games for the first time since
a similar sequence between February and April 1992. The last time they drew
four in a row at Old Trafford was between November and December 1980 (a
five-match streak).
United have attempted 203 Premier League shots - 80 more than at this point
last season.
Anthony Martial has scored with all three of his shots on target for
Manchester United against West Ham in all competitions.
Wayne Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13 league
and cup appearances against West Ham (11 goals, three assists).
He needs one goal to equal Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's
all-time top scorer with 249 goals in all competitions.
West Ham
The Hammers have lost five of their six top-flight away games this term
(W1). Burnley and Leicester are the only sides with poorer away records.
They used 26 different players in their opening 12 Premier League games, the
joint-highest total in the top flight with Sunderland.
West Ham have received seven Premier League red cards since the start of
last season, more than any other side.
Michail Antonio has equalled the Premier League record for headed goals in a
calendar year (11, shared with Tim Cahill in 2010). His last six top-flight
goals have come with his head.
Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this season
in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been converted by
the Hammers.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-0 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 58% Probability of away win: 18%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football
matches.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE EXCLUSIVE COLUMN: CALLERI ON HIS WAY OUT? CARROLL RETURNS!
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 9:46PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
So the site is a year old today and it seemed fitting to write a column.
Firstly I want to take some time to thank many people who have contributed
to the success. There are way too many to go into detail about but it has
been a pleasure to work with so many people who are dedicated to the cause.
The likes of Katie S, BK Hammer, Ben Cooper, Angelic Upstars, The Scouts
(Chris and Rocky) have contributed regularly throughout the year and their
work is much appreciated. We have the likes of Evan, Baz and George who
bring a public face to the YouTube channel. The bloggers, including the
ex-players, who have all contributed great articles. Jack and Dave Sullivan
with their continued support to the site and Dave and Kev from SDCC who I
love producing the weekly radio show with. Dave and I have also moved into
producing events for matches as I am sure you have seen advertised and it
has been this collaboration with SDCC that has been one of the most
rewarding things this year. SDCC came with us to the football blogging
awards where we were delighted to be nominated for best new blog. They are
both great mates of mine now and we have continued to grow together and this
is something we hoped to do with others.
When The West Ham Way first started we wanted to work with a number of West
Ham channels to produce high quality content for West Ham fans. I had plans
to work with a number of sites, some of which we did do for a while. The
problem seemed to be the more we tried and the more we grew, the more
resentful other sites became and unfortunately became quite strange in their
treatment of us. Anyway the majority of the West Ham sites are brilliant and
all have their own strengths that we try to support and work with as they do
with us. I hope as the years go by you will see a lot more collaboration and
teamwork but whether this will happen I do not know.
It has taken me a while to recover from the Spurs game and I am not sure
that I fully have. It will be interesting to see whether Bilic changes the
keepers again. I personally do not think he should and I believe Randolph
deserves a run like Adrian has been given the chance to do. Should Mark
Noble get his place back in the team following his suspension? This is
another interesting question. With Reid suspended I think we have to bring
in Collins into the back line but it does mean without Reid there is neither
the Captain nor Vice-Captain on the pitch. I personally think Ginge would
make a great captain but I think Bilic will feel he needs to bring his
captain back.
There is interesting news on the forward front. Andy Carroll is back in
training this week and the club have targeted the Liverpool game for a
return to first team action. Whether he stays fit for the rest of the season
is so important to our season's success now. On the flip side I do not think
we will be seeing Calleri again. The club are already preparing for him to
leave the club in January and the speculation is that he hasn't been in
training this week and has been back in South America. Although this has not
been confirmed by my "top source" it would appear that his career at the
club is now over, which I suspect could be the same for our other loan
signings. If you want to hear more about our potential transfers, please
listen to this week's radio show here:
http://www.phoenixfm.com/2016/11/23/the-west-ham-way-show-18/
I personally would rather we won in the cup game than the league against
Manchester United now. Usually I would have said the league but I think our
league campaign is looking relatively uneventful now (assuming we are not in
a relegation battle) whereas reaching the semi-final of a cup competition is
exciting and would give us a great opportunity to get to Wembley.
I am pleased to announce that tickets to our first West Ham Way Pre Match
event are selling really well. We hope to see a lot of you there. We are
aware that there may be some teething problems as this is our first event
but we are determined to make this the number one pre match venue to go to!
You can get your tickets here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/73284/chk/1001
Here's to a good performance at Old Trafford!!
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BILIC, LANZINI AND COTTEE SPEAK ABOUT UPCOMING MANCHESTER UNITED GAMES.
BY 337HAMMER ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 8:25PM
TheWestHamWay,co.uk
Evening news round-up for Friday 25/11/16 by 337hammer.
Slaven Speaks – Manchester United.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic sat down with the media to preview the first
of his side's two matches against Manchester United in the space of four
days. The Hammers take on Jose Mourinho's outfit at Old Trafford in the
Premier League on Sunday afternoon and the boss was keen for his squad to
move on from last weekend's defeat to Spurs.
The Croatian also gave an update on Pedro Obiang, spoke about Winston Reid
as well as discussing his relationship with the Club's owners. whufc.com
Slaven Bilic hints at ditching back three in Winston Reid's absence.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has hinted that he may change his system to
cover for the absent Winston Reid in Sunday's trip to Manchester United. The
New Zealand centre-back received a second suspension of the season when he
was sent off in injury time during West Ham's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham.
Recent weeks have seen Bilic resort to the back three he employed to some
success last season, partnering midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate with Reid and
Angelo Ogbonna. Whilst James Collins would make a like-for-like switch the
West Ham boss suggested that the absence of his vice-captain may prompt a
change in system. standard.co.uk
How do you think Reid's absence will affect the team? How big a miss will he
be? Will Collins come in for Reid in a straight swap? Håvard Nordtveit? Or
will we change formation?
Mourinho's standards have dropped – Bilic.
Bilic takes his side to Old Trafford twice in the next five days, in the
Premier League on Sunday and the EFL Cup quarter-finals next Wednesday, and
is likely to be afforded a hot reception after his assertion that Mourinho
is not achieving the success he once was.
"Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest," Bilic told the BBC. "Statistically
at home, there is probably no-one better. But it's hard to stay at that
standard and maybe that has dropped now." fourfourtwo.com
Is Bilic correct in saying that Mourinho is not as good a manager now as he
was? Is he still good enough to put out a team to beat us though? What are
your thoughts on 'the special one'?
Bilic: I understand why there has been speculation over my future.
"The defeat at Tottenham was hard to take. In five years' time, the memory
will still be painful for me. We knew how much this game meant to the fans,
as it did for us at the club, and we came so close but in the end we lost.
Had we held out and won we would have pulled away from the bottom of the
Premier League but, as it is, we are just one place above the bottom three
with a tough schedule ahead.
Following the 3-2 defeat at White Hart Lane, there has been speculation
about my future. I understand that will happen. I am not a newcomer to this
game and neither am I stupid. I know you are judged on the table and the
number of points you have. All I am thinking about is how to improve things,
to keep our concentration up until the last second and to eliminate those
silly mistakes." standard.co.uk
A fair assessment by Bilic, but as much as we may like him, does he have
what it takes to turn things around when we are so under pressure? Do you
still have the faith? How much of what has happened this season is our
managers fault?
West Ham Tony Cottee: We have nothing to fear at Manchester United.
I know we are in 17th after the defeat, but there are no alarm bells ringing
for me and our performance at Tottenham should give us plenty of
encouragement ahead of visiting Manchester United twice this week and then
Liverpool next month. We'll go to those places with confidence and we showed
last year what we can do on the road. There is nothing for us to be worried
about at Old Trafford. We need to be positive like last season in the FA
Cup, a game we also should have won.
What will be interesting to see is what team Jose Mourinho puts out for both
matches. I'm sure Slaven Bilic will play his best side for the two games. I
don't think we have anything to fear at Old Trafford so I'm going for a 1-1
draw on Sunday and then a shock 2-0 win in the cup on Wednesday.
newhamrecorder.co.uk
Two massive games coming up at OT; should we be going there with no fear?
Can the players be positive? Are you positive? What do you think the results
of the next 2 games will be?
Lanzini ready to showcase his talents at Old Trafford.
Manuel Lanzini believes his team-mates should draw inspiration from playing
at Old Trafford on Sunday and hopes they can get their season back on track
with another famous win against Manchester United. Lanzini said: "It will be
a very difficult game, Manchester United are a big team, so we know it will
be difficult but we are confident that the result is going to be positive.
"There are a lot of difficult grounds to go to – Old Trafford is definitely
one of the more mystical places to go to. It is world famous, it can be
challenging but also inspiring, it is up to us. "I am really looking forward
to the game, as a player you always want to play against the biggest teams
and test yourself – our game on Sunday is definitely one of those games."
Another reason why the Hammers have every reason to feel confident is the
fact they took an impressive four points against Manchester United in last
season's league fixtures. However, Lanzini is well aware of the dangers that
a somewhat resurgent United pose. In particular, the Argentine continued to
highlight an area that the Hammers will have to focus on: "It is very
important that we cut the supply between Pogba, Mata and Rooney, we need to
do that well, then concentrate on our own objectives of playing well and
trying to win. "The most important thing is to get points. Once the wins
start coming in, we can concentrate on league positions and aiming specific
targets." whufc.com
Can the 'jewel' lead the way at Old Trafford and help us secure something
from this game? What would your team be? Same as against Tottenham but with
Ginge in defence replacing suspended Reid? Or would you find a starting
place for Captain Mark Noble?
West Ham's tough run may be a blessing.
"This is an incredibly tough run of fixtures for West Ham. Tottenham last
weekend, Manchester United this. United again in the EFL Cup, then Arsenal,
then Liverpool. But sometimes, this can allow you to play with a bit more
freedom. Nobody expects you to win the games, so it can make you lose your
inhibitions as a team. If West Ham can keep the score level at half-time,
you can be sure that sections of the Old Trafford crowd will turn against
their team." standard.co.uk
Is our tough run a blessing? How do you see our chances over the next 4
games? What would be the minimum realistic amount of points you think we
will get? What about the cup, will we progress any further?
Michail Antonio on gangs, goals and grabbing life by the balls.
Michail Antonio's non-league career came to an abrupt end. Eight years ago,
the powerful West Ham winger was a raw 18-year-old, playing for local side
Tooting & Mitcham in the Isthmian League, part of the seventh tier of
English football. His performances had caught the eye of Reading, however,
and the Royals had signed Antonio and loaned him back to south London as a
much-improved player. Training daily with the Championship team, not just
Tuesdays and Thursdays, worked wonders with his touch and decision-making.
But the presence of a professional in the amateur and semi-pro ranks
attracted some hostile attention.
"It was the last game I played," says Antonio, recalling a 2-2 draw with
Hendon, and a sequence that plays out a bit like Cameroon's famous assault
on Claudio Caniggia at the 1990 World Cup. He claps his hands together to
mark out the beat of each missed tackle, his voice incredulous. "I've picked
it up in the middle, someone has chopped me in half, and then I've got it
back again because, to be honest, I was used to those tackles anyway. Got it
again – I've beat one, I've knocked it down the line. The ball is 10 yards
ahead of me, the guy has come for me! He's tried to scissor me in half, so
I've hurdled over him, run down the line, I've cut inside another person.
The ball is two yards ahead of me, he's come for my body – I've hurdled him
and scored.
"At the end of the game, I've got a phone call from Reading: 'You're coming
back. One of our scouts was at the game, and we can't let you stay there.
You're going to get seriously hurt.'" sport-magazine.co.uk
Owen Coyle reveals reason for Martin Samuelsen's Blackburn Rovers exit.
The 19-year-old played just 70 minutes of Championship football for Rovers,
and an hour in the EFL Cup defeat to Leeds, before Coyle took the decision
to end the loan spell following a chat with the winger. Coyle said
Samuelsen, and his family, felt he should be playing more regularly for the
club, with the manager stating that no-one has a guaranteed place in his
starting line-up.
"I cut the loan short," Coyle revealed. "It's very simple, Martin is a
lovely young man, a talented man, but I think there was pressure from his
family through to Martin who felt he should he starting every week in our
team. "We had a really good chat about it, I told him very honestly that I
can't guarantee with any player that they are going to start every week.
"We both felt that it would be in his interests to go back to West Ham, play
some games for the under-23s, which he can do until January, and then kick
on from there. "I do believe that in time Martin will have a very good
career, he's a talented player. " lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
What happens with Samuelsen now? Is it realistic to expect a club to loan
him and guarantee him a starting spot every week? We wouldn't do the same
with our loan players!
West Ham rival Lazio for Polish international Grosicki.
Lazio have competition for Polish international Kamil Grosicki, if a report
from Poland is to be trusted. It appears that West Ham have joined the race
for the Stade Rennais star according to Polish paper PS, (via
Sportowefakty). The 28-year-old came very close to agreeing terms with
Burnley in summer, only for the move to crash and burn at the end of the
window. calciomercato.com
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BILIC'S ACHILLES HEEL
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 7:38PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
This article is written by Mark Scott @markscott2512
There is much to admire in both Bilic the man and Bilic the manager and yet
one thing seems to consistently stand out as a weakness, his choice and
timing of substitutions. The Premier League today is a 14 man game. Where
once a subs bench was more of an array of second choice players, awaiting on
an injury to a first eleven star for their chance, the modern game dictates
the need to change a game with tactical substitutions. A managers ability to
read a game, react to on field events and turn a game on its head is what
separates the great coaches from the good or average. Sadly, on the evidence
of this season, Bilic would seem to fall into the later category. Our
performances of last season, where we seemed adept at clawing a game back
having gone a goal behind have been sharply exposed this term. Whilst it is
true to say that we are suffering due to our mis-firing strike force, our
cause does not seem to be advanced by Bilic's lack of desire to react or his
choice of replacements. This was never more evident than in the recent
defeat to Spurs when, having taken Payet off, our opponents found their
freedom and went on steal all three points. Whilst Payet may not have been
enjoying his most eloquent of performances, he gave Spurs something to think
about and be wary off. Once that threat was removed, our opponents focused
more on their own game plan rather than nullifying ours and that cost us the
game and three invaluable points. The introduction of Nordveit rather than
Collins was also questionable at best. Whilst no fan of Big Sam, this would
not have been a change he would have made and he would surely have opted for
the experienced and proven defender.
We can cite our injury list of this season as one of the reasons for our
disjointed performances but we do seem to be trying to fit round pegs into
square holes. Players played out of position rarely perform to their best,
as we all saw to our cost with the ill fated Antonio experiment. It feels
very much as though Bilic has yet to find his preferred eleven and more
importantly their most effective positions. This is a huge concern a third
of the way into his second season at the Club. He has stumbled across the
'back five' which, whilst it has improved upon our early season
performances, still doesn't seem to be a natural fit for our tactics or our
players.
Given the season that Bilic delivered us in our final season at The Boleyn,
he deserves time to turn this one around but we cannot allow ourselves to go
much further into this campaign without picking up points, especially in
games that we should be winning. It is commendable for Bilic to praise our
spirit and performance against Spurs away, however it is against the Stoke
City's of this league that we need to be taking points. We need to recognise
where we are in the league and adjust our ambitions accordingly. Regardless
of what our owners and The Board promised us in the summer, this is now
reality and only with the right man at the helm will we secure survival,
which has to be our priority. My hope is that Bilic is the right man, my
suspicion is that he may not be."
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WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO WEST HAM?
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016 AT 4:43PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
This article is written by Lee – @lee_wilko_12
It all looked so good going into the 2016/2017 season for West Ham fans,
after what can only be described as a great season in 2015/2016 it all
looked great. A manager who was getting the best from the players, a team
that worked so well together and so hard for one another and a brand new
stadium to push us to that next level. A level we had always aspired to be
at, a big club, one well known and that can compete with the big boys and
attract those star players in world football. After finishing the previous
season 7th and on a record number of 62 points it all looked very promising,
we had some outstanding results that season and outplayed the big teams on
pretty much every occasion.
The send off we gave to Upton Park was memorable, that game gave me
goosebumps and even being bed ridden and very ill you can bet I was jumping
around and running around my house like a raging lunatic. The show
afterwards was very fitting for such a legendary ground, having been a fan
all of my life it felt like saying goodbye to a dearly loved family member,
I only wish I could have been there for that one final goodbye. Such great
memories and such a great atmosphere the fans created week in and week out,
didn't matter if we were winning or losing you knew those fans would not
stop shouting and singing right until the final whistle. Everything was
looking up for us Hammers fans, if you had asked any of us where we thought
the club was heading 99% of us would have said 16/17 would be a top 7 finish
a cup run and give Europa League a good shot. How wrong we were……..
Fast forward to the Summer transfer window, a window we were all waiting
for and expecting big things and some good transfers. We were promised a £30
million goal scoring striker which I think was stupid to announce as clubs
know we were willing to splash the cash, I don't and never will agree with
owners talking about what we want to do in a transfer window. This was our
big chance, European football, a great base of a team to build upon and a
new stadium, if there was ever a time to spend big and get an even better
squad this was it. The fans were promised so much for this window and we did
not get anything close to the promises made by our owners.
As we have all seen now this is not how any of it panned out, I am going to
run through the transfers and give my opinion on the players and what they
have brought to the team and what should happen with those players.
Andre Ayew – £20 million from Swansea – We all know he is a very good player
and proved that in the previous season, he knows where the goal is and we
even went for him on a free the season before but couldn't match the wages
Swansea were offering. He was unlucky to get injured in his first game for
us, I have seen fans write him off already and I don't agree at all. I
really think Ayew will turn out a good signing for us and he will soon start
paying back that transfer fee.
Arthur Masuaku – £6 million from Olympiacos – If I am being honest I had
not heard of him before he signed and didn't expect too much as he was cover
for Aaron Cresswell. Yet again I have seen a lot of fans saying he is not
good enough due to one bad game against West Brom. In previous games he
showed he is a solid player, great work rate and willingness to get forward,
he needs to work on his defending and positioning a bit more but as a back
up player I am more than happy for him to be with the club.
Edmilson Fernandes – £5 million from FC Sion – Yet again another player I
knew little about after we signed him, so far I have been very impressed
with the youngster. He is clearly talented and I hope he stays with us for a
long time, he has pace, vision and great footwork. He is still young and can
learn a lot from players such as Dimitri Payet. He has proved he is
versatile and fits great into the team. Lets hope we keep him and he starts
to feature more in the team.
Simone Zaza – Loan from Juventus – Where do I start here? We are promised
all Summer long a goal scoring £30 million forward and we are given Simone
Zaza. I had seen Zaza play a few times before for Juventus and he looked
like he knew where the goal was and on a loan I thought well lets see what
we are getting. It is now nearly December and I would be happy to never see
him in a West Ham shirt again. He shows passion which I love from
footballers but in terms of footballing ability and finishing he lacks an
awful lot of it. His decision making is sub par and every time he has the
ball at his feet he makes the wrong decision. Has never looked like scoring
despite a good display against Crystal Palace which really just consisted of
a lot of running and pressing the ball. I think he was a pure panic buy, we
went for a lot of forwards and he was a last resort. Send him back to Italy
in January and lets all forget this ever happened.
Jonathan Calleri – Loan from Maldonado – I had heard a lot of good things
about this guy, he was alleged to be a natural goalscorer and a real young
talent. If you were to tell me that now I would laugh at you. This guy
couldn't score if there wasn't a keeper there, he hasn't had a great deal of
game time and there is a reason for that. He seems to lack a decent first
touch and just does not have that cutting edge in front of goal, which
showed in the one on one against Bournemouth. Another forward to add to the
two David's list of West Ham's forwards that just are not good enough. Send
him back in January.
Gokhan Tore – Loan from Besiktas – This was a player I really wanted at West
Ham, Bilic's golden boy and had done so well in Turkey, young player who was
very quick and direct, he isn't afraid to run at defenders and take them on.
He was such a good player for Besiktas and when Bilic got his man that is
what we thought we were getting. We got the opposite to that, pre season he
looked out of shape and out of sorts, he looked clumsy and didn't look
anything we were promised. But it was only pre season so who cares. After
then seeing him in competitive games I along with every fan knew he was
nowhere near the Premier League level. Minus one assist against Bournemouth
he has done nothing for us. Waste of a few million quid loan fee and should
be sent back in January.
Ashley Fletcher – Free from Manchester United – A young player with great
potential and an eye for goal was what I had read and being honest had seen
him once or twice while on loan at Barnsley. I really like him, I think he
is one for the future and if I am being completely truthful should have a
shot in the first team, against Man City he played well and has great hold
up play and for someone so young is calm and is happy to close players down.
I would prefer him to start upfront instead of Zaza and he deserves a
chance, worst case scenario he doesn't score but at the moment none of our
forwards can. Keep him and start giving him some more game time.
Havard Nordtveit – Free from Borussia Monchengladbach – A past captain for
the German team, a Norway international and a leader of men, it seemed like
we were getting an absolute steal here. To get an ex captain on a free from
a good team in Germany seemed to good to be true and it clearly was. He just
has not adjusted to the Premier League, he looks clumsy and misplaces passes
every game, he has been played as a CDM, CB and a RB. None of those
positions have worked, RB is understandable as its not his position but the
other two he should be comfortable for him. He has struggled in every game
I've watched him in, the penalty he gave away against Tottenham was the
final straw for me. He is not good enough for the first team and should be
sold in January and replaced with a much better player.
Sofiane Feghouli – Free from Valencia CF – An Algerian winger who I had seen
play many times in La Liga and had seen he was good, quick and direct also a
regular starter for the Spanish side. On a free transfer it is still a good
deal. He has had limited game time due to injuries and the system we play, I
really think he will come good for us as I know he is a good player and
needs to get a run of games under his belt. I want to keep Feghouli and hope
Bilic starts playing him more often.
Alvaro Arbeloa – Free from Real Madrid – Who hasn't heard of Arbeloa? He
spent time at Liverpool and at one time was a regular at Madrid. Yes he is
33 but he was that right back and experience we were looking for at the
time, I thought he would be a good signing and would teach Sam Bryam a thing
or two. For some reason this transfer just has not worked at all. The games
he has played he didn't stand out at all, solid at best to be honest. I
think we should sell him or release him in January and replace him.
For so many reasons these transfers didn't work out and all in all the whole
window was a disaster from start to finish, if you look at our current
starting 11 there is one or two signings from the Summer that play and that
speaks volumes if you ask me. I really think we did not strengthen at all
and we most certainly did not get the right type of players in.
We should have gone domestic and signed proven players, we were crying out
for a new right back and we went cheap and got Arbeloa, a poor decision on
the owners/Bilic's shoulders. We sold Tomkins who I still think was a
ridiculous decision (Yes he wanted first team football) but he was a better
right back than Arbeloa is. We sold Tomkins and didn't replace him, Reece
Oxford should be given a chance now and let us see how he plays in the
Premier League if given a run of games.
The £30 million striker was nowhere to be found and look what has happened,
not a single or assist from a striker this season, last one I believe was
Diafra Sakho against Man United in the final game at Upton Park. After
failing to sign this £30 million man we panicked and brought in two unproven
strikers on loan and it has shown how bad this decision was, Zaza and
Calleri could play every minute of every game from now until January and
would not score.
In my opinion the reason summer 2016 was such a failure was because Summer
2015 we got good players for cheap and on loan such as Payet, Lanzini,
Ogbonna and Obiang. And the owners thought they would be able to replicate
this again the following summer, it massively backfired and apart from Andre
Ayew signing and signing Manuel Lanzini permanently for £10 million we
didn't really splash out. What made it worse was missing out on Carlos
Bacca, Christian Benteke, Michy Batshuayi (now playing in Chelsea Reserves),
Alexandre Lacazette and turning down Wissam Ben Yedder for being to small to
play in the Premier League, in my opinion the fact we turned him down was a
bloody joke, he is a brilliant player and would have been an amazing
signing. That was just a handful of forwards we were linked with.
Yes the two David's have been doing this for years but football now is
different, prices are over inflated and you have to spend over the odds 99%
of the time to get the quality you need. I have the utmost respect for the
owners and I know they saved us from going under but they have to take the
blame for a poor Summer window and they have to now make it up to us in
January and open their cheque books and get in the quality needed to ensure
we survive in the Premier League and push ourselves up the table. If I was
in charge my top priority would be ship off the dead weight and replace with
quality players, we need 2 strikers minimum, another winger, a first team
right back and maybe another midfielder for strength in depth. I really
think we should go for Michy Batshuayi on loan, he is not playing at Chelsea
and I think he would score goals without a doubt. I do think the owners have
their work cut out in January and only time will tell what they are going to
do to try and save our season.
The season didn't start in great fashion, yet again being knocked out early
in Europe by Astra Giurgiu (ASTRA GOO GOO) was awful, we underperformed
badly in both games and it was very hard to watch us be beaten by a team
formed of mainly part time footballers, it was the worst possible start to
the season we could have asked for. Injuries at the club were ridiculous at
the beginning of the season and it seems to be a recurring theme, I don't
understand why so many of our players get injured? I cannot figure it out at
all, call it a curse if you want but I would love a run of a couple of
months even where none of players end up picking up an injury.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll could make shock return at Manchester United, West Ham boss
Slaven Bilic says
Last Updated: 25/11/16 10:35pm
SSN
Andy Carroll could feature against Manchester United this weekend after just
three days' training, says West Ham boss Slaven Bilic. The England striker
has spent the last three months recovering from a knee injury and was only
able to resume full training this week. However, Bilic has not ruled out
including Carroll in his squad for Old Trafford on Sunday as he aims to
improve a record of 13 goals in 12 league games. "He's been training with us
for three days," said Bilic. "He came back after a long injury and he's very
close. "He could be in the squad. We're going to see, because we are not
talking about two weeks of training. It has been this week, so we'll see." A
run of six goals in five league games in the spring was a reminder of the
menace Carroll possesses, but he has missed 83 games since making a £15m
move from Liverpool in 2013. "Last year, before he got injured, when he was
fit he makes an impact on a game, no matter who you play against," Bilic
added. "It's very hard to play against him. The things he is giving us are
great. But we've been talking about this since I came to West Ham. "It's a
shame because you don't see it coming, only when you look at his record on
paper. You don't see in training and in games that he has got problems, but
unfortunately it has happened a few times."
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Manchester United v West Ham preview: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return from ban
Last Updated: 25/11/16 8:32pm
SSN
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to return from his ban when Manchester United host
struggling West Ham on Sunday. The 35-year-old missed the 1-1 draw with
Arsenal having been booked five times but played in the Red Devils' 4-0
Europa League win against Feyenoord on Thursday, while the likes of Henrikh
Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney may have impressed Jose Mourinho enough to keep
their starting roles. West Ham's struggles have been well documented this
season and are currently 17th in the Premier League table after a 3-2 loss
to Tottenham. However, a win could send them as high as 11th. The Hammers'
last away win came against Crystal Palace on October 15. Mourinho, who is
expected to recall goalkeeper David de Gea but remains without Eric Bailly
(knee) and Chris Smalling (toe), must determine whether Michael Carrick can
make a third start in nine days.
West Ham captain Mark Noble returns from suspension but defender Winston
Reid serves a one-match ban. Midfielder Pedro Obiang is expected to be
available despite missing training earlier this week due to an ankle injury.
Long-term absentee Andy Carroll has resumed training after his ankle injury
but Reece Oxford, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore and Arthur Masuaku are still
sidelined.
Manchester United have lost just two of their last 23 league games against
West Ham at Old Trafford, winning 20 (D1). West Ham haven't won at Old
Trafford since their 1-0 victory in May 2007, in which Carlos Tevez found
the net to help the Hammers avoid relegation. They've lost eight of their 10
meetings in all competitions since there. Mourinho has won seven of his
previous nine Premier League matches against West Ham (D1 L1), losing 1-2 at
Upton Park to Slaven Bilic's Hammers. In each of his five full Premier
League seasons as a manager, Mourinho's league placing after 12 games has
been his final league placing that season. Manchester United are currently
sixth in 2016-17 after 12 games. Anthony Martial has scored with all three
of his shots on target for Manchester United against West Ham in all
competitions. Rooney has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 13
appearances against West Ham in all competitions (11 goals, three assists),
but hasn't scored or assisted in his last three. Michail Antonio equalled
the Premier League record for headed goals in a calendar year in his last
appearance (11, joint with Tim Cahill in 2010). Antonio's last six Premier
League goals have all been headers, but he's still some way off the Premier
League record of consecutive headed goals set by David Wetherall (12 in a
row). Dimitri Payet has created a league-high 43 goalscoring chances this
season in the Premier League, but only four of these chances have been
converted by the Hammers. Manchester United have attempted 203 shots in
total this season in the Premier League. After 12 league games last season,
United had attempted 80 shots fewer (123).
Merson's prediction
Well, Manchester United have to win this and I thought they played well last
week against Arsenal - in fact, they should have won. West Ham were 2-1 up
with a minute to go against Tottenham, but still managed to go and get
beaten 3-2. Along with where they are in the league, I'm going for United to
win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Betting
Mourinho's Man United are 4/9 favourites at home to West Ham, with the
Hammers 11/2 to leave Old Trafford with all three points.
The draw is an 18/5 chance, with 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 priced at 9/2 in the
correct score group betting.
Ibrahimovic is the 100/30 market leader to score first, with Diafra Sakho
considered most likely for the visitors at 9/1.
Set-piece specialist Payet is 11/1 to score the opener and 3/1 to hit the
back of the net any time.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manager Slaven Bilic says West Ham are improving and can start to climb the
table
By Mark Crellin
Last Updated: 25/11/16 12:12pm
SSN
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says he is not 'fearful' for his job, despite the
club's slow start to the season. The East Londoners looked on course for a
win at Tottenham on Saturday but conceded two late goals to lose 3-2 instead
and lie just a point and a place above the Premier League drop zone.
However, Bilic remains confident he has the support of joint-chairmen David
Sullivan and David Gold, and feels the Hammers have been improving in recent
games. Speaking ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester United, Bilic said:
"There is not much to say, I am doing my job. "I speak to the owners, mostly
Mr Sullivan, regularly after every game, and in between if something needs
talking about. "I feel supported and, as I have said so many times, I
concentrate on my job and our next game, and that's basically it. "I'm not
fearful. I feel pressure, of course, because we are not producing, we're not
delivering, and we don't have enough points to feel happy and to feel safe.
"But I see the improvement. Against Spurs I saw a team hungry and alive. The
points were there for us in a difficult away game, so that's what I'm
confident about. "I take my job in good times and bad times. How I look at
my job, or any manager's job, is that the next few games can change
everything from good times to bad times, and bad times to good. "When we
were doing well, I wasn't thinking about getting a new contract. All I
concentrate on is how to improve the team, to lift them after a defeat or
improve after a good run. That's how I look at my job."
With all the sides having played just 12 games, the middle of the table is
congested and West Ham are only four points behind mid-table Bournemouth.
"If we had won at Spurs we'd have been about 12th," Bilic added. "We can say
it's still early days but we have to start picking up the points. We can say
we deserved more or were unlucky, but the table doesn't lie. "We know it
will be hard, starting on Sunday, and then Arsenal and Liverpool, but also
against Burnley after that. "If we play like we played Saturday and avoid
those mistakes, and with a little bit of luck, we can pick up results in any
game."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ashley Fletcher interview: West Ham man discusses Man Utd exit
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 24/11/16 9:39pm
SSN
West Ham forward Ashley Fletcher speaks to Sky Sports about his new life in
London, leaving Manchester United and the upcoming double-header at Old
Trafford… Ashley Fletcher is enjoying his new surroundings and getting used
to the hustle and bustle of London life. The forward left the security of
the Manchester United academy in the summer, turning down a two-year
contract to stay at Old Trafford, for a new challenge with West Ham. Born in
Keighley in West Yorkshire, Fletcher had spent all of his life in the north
of England and had previously only ventured south when football dictated a
brief trip to the capital. The flat he now shares with his girlfriend is
situated in the very heart of the Docklands, overlooking The O2 as well as
the new financial district and River Thames. The iconic setting has provided
him with the perfect backdrop to view the city in all its grandeur. It is a
way of life he is adjusting to, and the 21-year-old is quick to point out
that he still feels like a "wide-eyed northern boy" in the big city. "I've
gone to see Big Ben and the London Eye, the Parliament buildings as well,
it's great to look around," he said. "I've always been up for seeing new
sights, travelling and seeing the world. Now I'm living in the capital, it's
certainly a different way of life, but I love it down here. "I've used the
tube a couple of times, it was definitely different, a lot busier and a lot
more frantic than it is in Manchester with the Metrolink. It's a great way
to get around. But I don't think I'll be using it during rush hour!"
Though he may not be rushing to join the rat race anytime soon, Fletcher is
keen to hop on the Premier League gravy train. While on loan at Barnsley
last season, he watched from afar as academy pal Marcus Rashford made the
most of a striking injury crisis at Manchester United under Louis van Gaal.
It was a chance that may have been afforded to Fletcher had he not been at
Oakwell. Not being one to dwell on what could have been, Fletcher kept his
focus on Barnsley and helped spearhead their promotion push to the Sky Bet
Championship, scoring nine times in 27 appearances, including the first goal
in the 3-1 play-off final victory over Millwall in May.
The success achieved at Barnsley, as well as Rashford's rise to first-team
stardom, did however leave Fletcher with a burning desire to make a name for
himself higher up the footballing chain and ultimately led to his permanent
departure from Manchester United, the club he considers as the "biggest in
the world".
Even the arrival of Jose Mourinho in June did little to alter his thoughts
on staying at Manchester United. "The decision to leave was probably made
more or less before Jose had come in," he said. "I had obviously spoken with
Nicky Butt, who was the head of the academy at the time, Warren Joyce and
people who were above in the board, John Alexander and Ed Woodward. I just
thought the decision was right for me and for my family; it was time for me
to go and make a career for myself. "Manchester United offered me a new
contract, but in terms of what I wanted, it was not right. It wasn't about
anything financial, it was just about my career and my progress. What they
were offering and their ambitions for me did not match mine. "Because I was
out of contract, there were a few teams already aware of my situation and
they were coming with bigger contracts and bigger promises for me to
progress my career. I would say a two-year contract was not what I was
expecting. It was difficult to turn Manchester United down, but you've got
to think of your career."
It represented the end of a seven-year association between Fletcher and
Manchester United, but also signified a new beginning for the former England
U20 international. It was the persuasive powers of West Ham co-chairman
David Sullivan and a long-term plan outlined by manager Slaven Bilic that
convinced Fletcher his future lay with the Hammers, who were themselves
preparing to enter a new era in the club's history at the London Stadium.
He has since featured nine times for the first-team and, though he is yet to
break his goal scoring duck for the club, he has shown flashes of his
undoubted potential. Big, strong and quick, Fletcher has all the attributes
needed to succeed in the top-flight. But with record signing Andre Ayew and
Diafra Sakho back to full fitness, and Andy Carroll also nearing a return to
action, Fletcher is under no illusions that he faces a real fight to force
himself into starting contention as West Ham look to improve on their slow
start to the season, which has left them languishing in 17th place. He
remains undeterred though, and is convinced his decision to leave Manchester
United for West Ham has already been vindicated. "I've made nine appearances
and I don't personally think that would have happened to me this year if I
would have stayed at Manchester United," he said. "The experiences I am
getting at West Ham and the way I am progressing as a player, and as a
person, I feel I have really benefited. So, I think it was the right
decision to leave."
Fletcher is currently preparing to meet his old club at Old Trafford twice
in the space of a week, firstly in the Premier League on Sunday and then in
EFL Cup on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm. It will be the
first time the sides have played one another since West Ham's memorable
victory in the final ever match to be played at the Boleyn Ground in May.
Fletcher was then an interested television spectator in his flat in
Manchester, but hopes to make an impact over the coming week in front of a
host of familiar faces and family members. "It was such a big game at the
Boleyn and the atmosphere was unbelievable, it was a fitting end to an
unbelievable stadium," he said. "Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to
play there, I wish I could have done, but that game really sticks in my
mind. "I always knew the passion of West Ham fans. When they played away
from home at Old Trafford or when I had seen them on TV, the passion the
fans have is a different level in my eyes because they live and breathe
football. "It obviously hurts when we get beat, but when we win, you can see
the joy in people's faces. I would say that was a major factor in me joining
West Ham so, that being said, I am really excited to be going back to Old
Trafford as it should be a magnificent occasion. "People at United know
what I am about, so hopefully I'll get the opportunity to put on a good
performance for the West Ham fans. There's no bad blood or jealously with
United. I am really proud of my time at United and I know it made me the
player, and person, I am today. However, my full focus is on West Ham and
hopefully getting two good results."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham news: Michail Antonio on his rise from non-league, turning down
Tottenham and the Olympic Stadium
Antonio celebrates a goal at the Olympic Stadium
By Amit Katwala - @amitkatwala
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Michail Antonio's non-league career came to an abrupt end. Eight years ago,
the powerful West Ham winger was a raw 18-year-old, playing for local side
Tooting & Mitcham in the Isthmian League, part of the seventh tier of
English football. His performances had caught the eye of Reading, however,
and the Royals had signed Antonio and loaned him back to south London as a
much-improved player.
Training daily with the Championship team, not just Tuesdays and Thursdays,
worked wonders with his touch and decision-making. But the presence of a
professional in the amateur and semi-pro ranks attracted some hostile
attention. "It was the last game I played," says Antonio, recalling a 2-2
draw with Hendon, and a sequence that plays out a bit like Cameroon's famous
assault on Claudio Caniggia at the 1990 World Cup. He claps his hands
together to mark out the beat of each missed tackle, his voice incredulous.
"I've picked it up in the middle, someone has chopped me in half, and then
I've got it back again because, to be honest, I was used to those tackles
anyway. Got it again – I've beat one, I've knocked it down the line. The
ball is 10 yards ahead of me, the guy has come for me! He's tried to scissor
me in half, so I've hurdled over him, run down the line, I've cut inside
another person. The ball is two yards ahead of me, he's come for my body –
I've hurdled him and scored. "At the end of the game, I've got a phone call
from Reading: 'You're coming back. One of our scouts was at the game, and we
can't let you stay there. You're going to get seriously hurt.'"
They needn't have worried. Antonio had already demonstrated an instinct for
staying out of trouble, and an aptitude for hurdling challenges as he
sidestepped the teenage gangs of south London and picked out a winding path
to the Premier League. "It was the norm," says the 26-year-old, who
remembers schoolmates with stab wounds, and uneasy coalitions and turf wars
between rival groups. "People joining gangs, getting stabbed, going to
prison. It was all I knew growing up."
Life-changing choices
When he was 15, Antonio lost two friends in a mass brawl between two gangs
armed with knives and broken pieces of furniture. "Loads of my friends made
the other choice," he says. "I played football with one guy, and another
went to my school. They were all good friends and then they fell out, so
they met up, had a big fight. One of my friends got stabbed to death by
another. So one died, one went to prison for seven years."
There had been an allure to the gangs – the girls, the money – but a settled
family life helped Antonio steer clear. His mum was a carer for the elderly,
his dad a mini-cab driver. Antonio says he was sheltered from the worst of
it. The threebed terraced house in Earlsfield, where his parents still live,
is a 10-minute bike ride away from the estates of Battersea, Wandsworth and
Tooting. "I could always escape and go home," he says. "I was lucky."
Instead, Antonio filled his time with football – at community programmes and
youth clubs all over south London. "I didn't support a team," he says. "I
never watched football, I didn't go to the games – I always just wanted to
play it. Any opportunity to play, I would play."
He played at Providence House – a youth club near Clapham Junction – on
Thursdays and Saturday afternoons, for Tooting & Mitcham on Tuesdays,
Saturday mornings and Sundays, and at Chelsea Kicks on Mondays. The latter
landed him a trip to Moscow, paid for by Roman Abramovich, to play in a
youth tournament.
We ask Antonio, who has now seen both sides of London's stark divide,
whether people should be doing more to help steer kids in the right
direction.
"People are trying," he says. "You can't stop it, full stop. And, to be
honest, half the people in the gangs, they were coming to the youth centres.
It's just Providence House wasn't open every day – it hasn't got the
manpower. Sometimes people can't change, and sometimes they've grown up in
it, and they've adapted to it, and don't know anything different. For
someone to change, for the cycle to be broken, you have to change the
person's outlook on life and probably their environment."
Individual route
Tottenham offered Antonio a place in their academy when he was 14. His mum
refused, fearful of the impact the long, nightly commute across London would
have on her son's education.
"Devastating," he says. "As a young boy, all I wanted to do was become a
footballer, and my mum said: 'No, education comes first.' "It was probably
the right thing, and I got over it eventually."
He laughs, an infectious chuckle that comes out a few times – particularly
when we discuss his dislike for horror movies and his penchant for unusual
celebrations such as the Homer Simpson-inspired spin on the ground that went
viral.
"No one does crazy celebrations any more," Antonio laments. "I remember back
in the day when Ian Wright scored, he used to do crazy things. People barely
even do backflips any more." He has a couple of ideas, but is looking for
suggestions should his fine form continue. "I scored two against Watford,"
he grins. "The first, I did the worm; the second one, I did nothing!"
His mum's decision meant he explored careers outside football – Antonio
looked at becoming a PE teacher, and worked briefly as a lifeguard. It took
outside persuasion to get his career started.
"My mum made me go to church, and because Tooting & Mitcham played on a
Sunday, she's like: 'No – you're going to church.' So my manager had to come
down and speak to my mum and say: 'Look, your son has something.'"
It meant he developed in a different way to how he might had he joined an
academy: "Non-league made me physically stronger than a lot of others I've
played against in the pro game. I knew how to use my body. Especially with
some pro boys – when they go on loan and play against men, they're not used
to the physical challenge."
He had his own adjustments to make when he started training with Reading.
"It is very difficult," he explains. "The first day I've come in, and
they've put me straight with the first team – these boys are pushing for the
Premier League at the time, they're in the playoffs. Even though I was quick
over five or 10 yards, mentally I wasn't quick. We used to play circles,
boxes where we've just got to keep the ball. People were passing me the
ball, I was taking a touch and by the time I've looked up someone's nicked
the ball off me. I was one of those guys who no one really wanted on their
team!"
It took four years, and loan spells at Cheltenham, Southampton, Colchester
and Sheffield Wednesday in League One, before Antonio could hold his own in
the boxes. After one full season at Nottingham Forest he signed for West Ham
for £7m, five games into the 2015/16 campaign. He struggled for game time at
first, but the turning point is etched in his memory.
"I got my opportunity on December 5," says Antonio. "It was Manchester
United away – my first real minutes. I came on in the 37th minute and I've
not looked back."
No turning back
It's been a difficult start at their new home for West Ham, 17th in the
league, but Antonio says: "I'd just put it down to individual mistakes. If
you look at the stats, we've not been far off every game.
"It's just that each game, a different person is making a different mistake.
I can't put it down to the pitch, you can't put it down to the tools, you've
just got to put it down to people just not doing it right."
Antonio acknowledges that West Ham's switch to the Olympic Stadium means the
atmosphere "is very different".
"At Upton Park you had the fans on top of you, and you felt the buzz from
the fans constantly," he explains. "It seems like at the new stadium the
fans have not really taken to it that well; they are quite far away. [But]
we can't go back, and we've got to commit to it."
This season, Antonio has started every game aside from a League Cup win over
Accrington Stanley, and is his club's top scorer with six goals – five with
his head. He also scored the first Premier League goal at the new ground –
which, as he is keen to point out, also has it benefits: "It's amazing,
because you have double the fans, and the roar – the eruption – when the
ball hits the back of the net. It's just being able to get the fans buzzing
for the whole 90 minutes."
Antonio's form even earned him an England call-up, first under Sam Allardyce
and then for Gareth Southgate's first two fixtures. He was, however, left
out to face Scotland and Spain. "It just shows you've got to take life by
its balls," he says. "Because anything could happen."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fraudster jailed for Sam Allardyce and West Ham con
MARK CHANDLER
Evening Standard
A fraudster who conned West Ham players and Sam Allardyce out of more than
£60,000 through a Christmas hamper scam has been jailed for four years.
Stephen Ackerman targeted the east London club's staff, including then-boss
Mr Allardyce and England striker Andy Carroll, when he visited their
training ground to sell them luxury hampers. Ackerman used the pseudonym
Mark Kingston while selling the goods during a visit to the training ground
in December 2014. He took payment from a number of players and staff using a
hand-held chip-and-pin device. The luxury items were never delivered and in
the following weeks, some of the victims noticed unauthorised payments
running into the thousands charged to their bank accounts. They reported the
matter to police and Ackerman was arrested. He was caught after search
warrants were carried out at addresses linked to him in Essex and
Hertfordshire. The 48-year-old, of Hillcroft, Loughton, Essex, had
previously been found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of 18 counts of
fraud.
On Friday, Judge David Radford described Ackerman as an "utterly deceitful
and dishonest man who has consistently, premeditatedly and shamelessly
defrauded others". He said he was a man with "no scruples whatsoever ...
telling lie after lie to try to deceive others".
"Your endemic dishonestly is plainly unremitting," he said. "You earn no
credit for your remorse, nor any credit for any pleads of guilt."
The judge said "many" of his victims were Premier League footballers,
adding: "This was not simply a fraud involving undelivered Christmas hampers
and wine or even simply the fraudulent use of a card chip-and-pin device.
"You used the bank account details perhaps in conjunction with others that
you had obtained when you visited the West Ham training ground and ...
obtained sizeable amounts of money from bank accounts." He said Ackerman was
introduced to them as a "trustworthy salesman". The judge said "significant
planning" had gone into the fraud and described Ackerman as "someone who has
got to learn". Ackerman had "numerous previous convictions for fraud", with
the most recent in 2013, prosecutor Samuel Trefgarne told the court. Defence
counsel Charles Royle said Ackerman "regrets" having the trial and would
have pleaded guilty if he had been instructed differently, but the judge
said this was "not the most compelling mitigation".
Ackerman, wearing a blue cardigan and checked shirt, remained composed as he
was sentenced and blew a kiss to a woman in the public gallery as he left
the dock. Acting Detective Sergeant Jamie Snell, from Newham CID, said after
the sentencing: "Ackerman preyed on the trust of people he approached and
essentially told an elaborate pack of lies in order to get them to part with
their cash. "He defrauded a total of £61,047 from his victims and thought
that due to their fame they would never report the matter to the police.
"He is a confident and accomplished fraudster and we are delighted with the
maximum sentence that was passed today."
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest - but his
home standards have dropped
SAM LONG
Evening Stadnard
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says Jose Mourinho is "one of the greatest" but
believes a drop in the Portuguese's home standards gives the Hammers hope
this weekend. West Ham travel to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon aiming to
claw themselves away from the relegation zone with a positive result.
Manchester United need to close a gap of their own, having slipped to sixth
place in the table and nine points off the title pace. Mourinho's home
record throughout his career has been superb but the Red Devils have won
just two of their opening six Premier League games on home turf this season.
Taking points off a Mourinho team on the road used to be a rarity but Bilic
believes that his side are capable of adding to their points tally at the
Theatre of Dreams. "Jose Mourinho is one of the greatest," he told the BBC.
"Statistically at home, there is probably no-one better. But it's hard to
stay at that standard and maybe that has dropped now. "I'm confident, if we
can cut out the mistakes, and with a bit of luck, we can pick up a result on
Sunday."
An underwhelming start to the season has seen pressure mount on Bilic's
shoulders in recent weeks. The east Londoners are significantly down on
expectations but Bilic is adamant he is not fearful of the sack due to his
good relationship with West Ham's owners. "I speak to the owners regularly
after every game and I feel support. I'm concentrating on my job and our
next game. "I'm not fearful. I feel pressure of course as at the moment we
are not producing and do not have enough points to feel happy and safe. "But
I do see the improvement. I take my job in good times and bad times."
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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho 'doesn't like' prospect of facing West
Ham two games in a row
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit out at the prospect of
facing West Ham twice in just four days. The Red Devils host Slaven Bilic's
side in a Premier League fixture on Sunday afternoon aiming to close the gap
to the top four. And the Hammers will then travel north to face United in an
EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night. Facing the same opponent in quick
succession does not sit well with Mourinho, who is keen for his players to
focus solely on this weekend's encounter. "Honestly I don't like it, I never
like it," the Portuguese told United's official website. "It has happened to
me many times in my career and it's something that I think is not good. "But
we have to just forget the second game and focus on the first one and go
step by step," he added. Mourinho may not be relishing two quickfire
meetings with the Hammers but Ashley Fletcher is keen to return to his
former club. The striker joined West Ham from United on a permanent deal in
the summer and is determined to prove his worth in front of the Old Trafford
faithful. "I am looking forward to going back for the first time and it will
be great to meet up with a number of old friends," the 21-year-old told West
Ham's official website. "I spent the majority of my youth career at
Manchester United and learned a great deal during my time there so it will
be good go back and show what I can do."
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