West Ham Ladies' Karen Ray nominated for Sport Education Award
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies General Manager Karen Ray has been nominated for an
award in Outstanding Services to Education at Premier Sport Network's 2018
Behind the Scenes awards. Ray, who has overseen the Ladies' 13-match
unbeaten run at the start of 2018 - a sequence that has yielded two trophies
- will discover whether she has won the award, which recognises the work she
has done in spearheading the Ladies' programme at the Hammers, at a ceremony
in Manchester next week. Speaking during the FA's Girls' Football Week,
which aims to raise participation among girls in the game, Ray paid tribute
to the work of her entire team of staff behind the scenes. She said: "I had
no expectations other to go and enjoy the event, so to find this out and be
recognised for the things that go on behind the scenes is nice. It's
exciting, but there are so many more people who should be awarded this, so
it's not only for me! "Without Jackie Ferdinand's [Head of Safeguarding]
trust in me to look after the girls, we wouldn't be where we are in terms of
the care we are able to offer the girls. As a whole there are so many
individuals who give back to what goes on, and so many departments support
me to give the support the girls need both on and off the pitch.
"It's about breaking down barriers and changing people's perceptions of
women's football. The club have really taken everything on board and
respected my pushes, and the fact I'm able to educate people about the sport
– it's nice to be recognised for it. "The biggest thing I can say is that we
have a managing director, Jack Sullivan, who has chosen this as his
department to dive in to. He's been brilliant at educating people in and
around the club about the women's sport. "The intrinsic learning which
happens in the football environment is really important, but ultimately the
education part for me is beyond the football pitch. "The natural thing for
me is coaching the team, but when we step away from that I like to think I'm
educating the girls so far beyond the sport, in terms of things like time
management and empowering the girls – it's really important to me, teaching
them how to be resilient both on the football pitch and off it."
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Adrian eager to take Manchester City opportunity
WHUFC.com
Adrian is eager to make the most of the opportunity to help West Ham United
secure Premier League safety when they welcome Manchester City to London
Stadium. With City loanee Joe Hart ineligible, the Spaniard will return to
the starting XI against the champions on Sunday and is likely to have plenty
of chances to show his goalkeeping ability. With four games left to play,
Adrian wants his performance against the Citizens to give manager David
Moyes no option but to select him between the sticks for the remainder of
the season. "Obviously I am ready to help the team and to help us get some
good points and to be safe as soon as possible," said the No13. "I want to
be in the team until the end of the season and to show everyone that I am
still here and performing at a good level. I will always do my best on the
pitch. "I feel I am more than ready to play. I was waiting for the
opportunity to play after my last game, so I have been working with
intensity and so hard over the last few weeks and now my moment has arrived.
"This is a different situation because Joe can't play, but nevertheless it
is an opportunity for me to play and I have to show how I am now."
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THE MANAGERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND!
AUTHOR: KEVIN SLADE. PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2018 AT 8:20PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Kevin Slade @KevinSladeSDCC
David Moyes; A man who was once hand-picked by undoubtably the most
successful manager the game has ever seen, to take over one of the most
successful football clubs in world football. Since then, his career has
plunged into a downward spiral leaving him with a severely damaged
reputation. I had to empathise with David during his miserable eight month
tenure with the 20x league champions, as any manager was destined to fail in
the first season after Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement. But his failure to
attract and sign playing staff of the highest quality for one of the world's
super clubs is a testament to his ability, or lack of, as a football
manager. After Manchester United's worst ever campaign in the Premier
League, he was sacked after just eight months into his six year contract.
It was no coincidence that he was also handed the P45 after just twelve
months in charge at Real Sociedad for a dismal start to the 2015/2016 season
with his defensive style of play which led to a string of unflattering
results. We all know what happened at Sunderland – signing over-the-hill
dross and packing the squad to the rafters with loanee's that wouldn't make
the cut on a Sunday morning on the Hackney Marshes. Relegation soon loomed,
and after pledging to stay with Sunderland the day they were mathematically
relegated, he jumped ship the day after the season ended. Classy!
Surely after four disastrous years with three different clubs, & still out
of a job, nobody would touch David Moyes with a barge pole, right? Enter
David Sullivan, David Gold, and Karren Brady of West Ham United. The Board's
choice ahead of Slaven Bilic to succeed Sam Allardyce (Yes, you read that
correctly), has now ironically replaced Slaven Bilic to rescue us from the
grasp of the relegation trap door. I still stand by my word that I believe
we would have gone down under Slav. He had to go. Purely because he had more
than enough time to turn it around, and couldn't. Whilst I'm beginning to
sound like a spoilt brat, just bare with me for second and think about this
– Slaven Bilic is a man with class that had a fairy tale relationship with
the supporters, but as a manager, he completely lost it and we were heading
for the championship without a shadow of a doubt. David Moyes instilled
fitness, structure, and discipline to a fragile squad of players that were
vast becoming the Premier League whipping boys. But that's all he's done.
Apart from beating Chelsea, nothing has convinced me that moyes deserves a
contract. The Huddersfield, Stoke away, and Southampton results aren't
convincing enough either – we should be dispatching of those teams with the
team we have anyway.
So, six months to save us from the clutches of the championship David was
given, which seemed like a good deal for all parties last November. A change
of manager & backroom staff for the lads, a chance for Moyes to restore his
reputation by saving West Ham United from relegation, and a bit of a lift
for the fans in the hope we will actually see a few decent results. If David
can achieve what he was brought in to do by finishing 17th or above, happy
days for all parties. However, having heard David Gold on our radio show
state that he in fact interviewed David Moyes originally and wants to see
him "Manage West Ham for many years to come" has left me completely &
utterly deflated for many years to come! His record with the Toffees isn't
impressive enough to warrant him A full time job at West Ham, as Mr Gold
continually reminded us of this particular passage of time that he plucked
from his managerial career. His biggest achievement was getting Everton into
the Champions League in 2005, which to his credit, was of course a fantastic
achievement. Well if that's a reason to employ him full time for an
achievement thirteen years ago, then we might as well offer David O'leary a
job for doing the same with Leeds!
He was brought in to do a job – keep us up by any means necessary, and we
can start again in the summer. That, I can live with. I can live with
watching defensive, negative, ugly, long hoof ball football for six months
if it ensures safety. What I can't live with is mediocrity and flirting with
relegation for another few years playing the same style of football, if not
worse, than the man the board had to relieve of his duties on the request of
the fan base back in 2015. We've moved to Stratford totally against our will
for what we believed in on the absolute basis we would progress as a
football club. Challenge for European football, challenge for the domestic
cups, challenge our rivals, just to give us something to be excited about
for once. Not to be given David Moyes and his negative/defensive style of
play and inability to attract top players. For as long as I can remember
we've been searching for an out & out goal scorer, and we finally have our
hands on one in Chicharito. He will be the first player demanding to leave
in the summer if Moyes is kept on, and if he does leave the board need to
pack their bags & go too for their lack of ambition and plethora of below
average managerial appointments. Avram Grant, Sam Allardyce, Slaven Bilic,
David Moyes (Potentially). Excuse me for the lack of enthusiasm but I didn't
give up my life & soul for this!
Lanzini is another player i can see following Chicharito if David Moyes is
appointed full time, which is my biggest fear. Manu will flourish under the
right manager and really fulfil his potential to become a top, top player.
With our strongest starting eleven we could compete for the top 7-8 with the
exception of a few additions in some areas, which will leave the task to
maintain equilibrium and consistency, to put a stamp on the club with a
brand of football that we can actually be identified with and lay the
foundations to build from the bottom upwards and really turn West Ham United
into competitors… The man to carry out such a job is Rafa Benitez. He's been
at the helm of the top clubs and has the medals to prove it. He dragged
Newcastle up from the second tier on a shoe-string budget and has stabilised
the club in the premier league with a championship squad. He is concrete
proof that a good manager doesn't have to spend £200m in a transfer window,
which will be music to the board's ears. He will get our players playing and
will attract the players to progress and compete. I didn't choose to give up
so much history at the Boleyn Ground to continually watch our board take
cheap gambles and walk the tight rope of relegation. I gave up everything
that meant so much to me, my family, and my friends to watch little old West
Ham finally become a club that we could only ever dream of becoming…
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COULD THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPEN…..
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 23 APRIL 2018 AT 9:47PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @gingesteel
Earlier this week a legend of the game retired his role of manager at
Arsenal Football Club. Aresene Wenger will retire as one of the best
managers to ever grace the game of football. In his time, he earned three
premier league titles and managed the only team to not lose a single Premier
League match – the Invincibles. He never finished outside of the top 6 and
only twice did he fail to finish in the top 4. Without a doubt, Arsene
Wenger will be missed from the world of football managers.
Earlier this week news also broke that Arsene Wenger might be interested in
a chief management position, such as Director of Football, but was not
interested in doing so at Arsenal. This has been reported in a number of
newspapers such as the Daily Star and the Telegraph.
(https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/697542/Arsene-Wenger-Arsenal-Eve
rton-news-gossip &
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/20/monaco-everton-may-offer-rap
id-arsene-wenger-routes-back/). Of course, with football journalism you can
never be too sure how much truth there is behind a story like this. But if
this story begins to materialize in summer, I believe, that in the wake of
recent transfer windows, it would be the board's obligation to place an
honest-to-goodness attempt to bring Wenger as a DoF of West Ham.
Is this realistic? The honest answer is that the chances are slim to none.
On our end, it seems that the board have decided they want David Moyes to
lead West Ham next year without a Director of Football. Furthermore, it is
not confirmed that Wenger will become a DoF in the first place. And if he
did, it is much more realistic that he may join his former club, Monaco as
their DoF, or perhaps even Everton as they look to more on from Big Sam. If
Wenger joins Monoco or Everton, it is not the end of the world. If anything,
it was always the expected outcome. But I would at least like to see the
board actually look into the possibility of bringing him to the club. While
it is a long shot, West Ham is a new project with loads of potential (great
fans, large stadium, London club) and Wenger may be interested in joining a
budding club with high aspirations.
In my opinion, this would be a massive step in the right direction towards
bridging the gap between the fans and the board, created by DS and DG. They
have been promoting this façade of "World class team in a world class
stadium" for years and hiding behind their empty promises. Earlier this
year, David Gold stated that he believes West Ham will be competing for
Euorpa League football in 5 years. For me, this is simply impossible without
an ambitious move like this. Furthermore, it would be long, long overdue.
Even the most patient and level-headed fan who supported the board until
only very recently (such as I) would admit that they are beginning to look
like con-artists in the football business for a quick buck. Their business
skills are hard to deny, but their football skills are very poor. So far
they have failed to show anything that even resembles ambition.
The reality remains that Moyes is likely not the man to take us to Europe
(much more on that later). So while it is highly unlikely we will see Wenger
as DoF for the Claret and Blue next season, West Ham have no hope of moving
on to this "next level" without a big name in charge. It is time to see the
board take some action and at least attempt to bring Arsene Wenger to East
London if he does indeed take a DoF position in the Premier League.
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TRANSFER TARGETS IDEAL FOR PENNY PINCHERS: A SELECTION
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 24 APRIL 2018 AT 9:06PM
TheWesThamWay.co.uk
Written by Steven McCarthy @StevenMcCarthy9
First up, the ultimate penny pinchers market – the Free Agent!
I know, there is never really such a thing as a "free" transfer anymore,
with those pesky agents demanding huge sums, but this is a season when there
really is a number of top players available with no Club or pesky Wine
Loving Chairman for our owners to be branded with dildo tags or fall out
with, so these could all be smart moves. Before I get into the article, I
have left out the obvious choices of Fellaini and Blind, with the chosen
representing what I think would be the most tempting to the board
financially. Remember how much the 2 Daves love a bargain or ability to be
sold for profit….or at least just consider me an eternal optimist and go
easy on me with some of the choices!
First up, is the most obvious of all on this list – Jack Wilshere:
The Great White Hope of the English National Side, we saw him compared to
the likes of Xavi, Scholes and Pirlo from day one and whilst we all know he
is a West Ham fan, that love of the club seems to have been symbiotic with
him having a fondness for injuries, as if he were already a Hammer in more
than just mind!
I don't want to be too harsh on the lad, because I love watching him as a
footballer and I think if we were able to get him on a reduced wage of
around 70,000 a week or a high, pay as you play, to match his Arsenal wages,
then it could be a fantastic move! However this move has all the signs of a
Gold & Sulli special, the "ambitious" signing to state our intent and add
quality only to just hide our clear lack of depth till he inevitably picks
up a knock. Therefore, unless we get Jack late on after a couple more
Central Midfielders are signed, I think we should him avoid at all costs! At
26 he still has the potential to be a long term addition and even turn a
profit should Lewin be able to keep him on the pitch regularly.
I've also chosen not to include more CM's yet, as I think this is an area we
need to spend in and if the likes of Southampton and Stoke go down, then
Badou NDiaye, Joe Allen, Ward-Prowse, Lemina and Romeu should be near the
top of our shopping lists!
Up next a player who I genuinely had to Yahoo search check because he's been
around so long, I didn't believe Google when it told me he doesn't turn 23
until July. That is the talented comfort eater that is, Luke Shaw! (I'm
sorry Luke, I saw too many memes of you as Üter from The Simpsons being
whipped by Mourinho's towel!) Now I know that at Left Back we have a couple
of options available in Cresswell and Masuaku, however both are susceptible
to either lapsing in concentration or not quite performing their defensive
duties fully. Which is why I would sign Shaw to give us the option of
pushing Masuaku forward with his quick feet and excellent eye for a pass,
with the fallback of 2 young English left footers to overlap with pace or
allow Cresswell to move into a Left sided Centre Back position. With the
incredibly good PR machine that is Evra hopefully retiring at the end of the
season, he would be an ideal replacement.
Moving over to the opposite side of the pitch, two choices are players who
both offer very different approaches in terms of club level. Ryan Fredericks
being the more realistic of the 2, with a solid frame, 6ft height and
blistering pace, he is more than built for the English game and with Zaba as
his mentor/rival for a spot in the starting lineup I think you could see his
weakest element of composure going forward improve. Fredericks is versatile
and can play a midfield and defensive role on both the left and right sides,
making him a handy addition to a side not exactly known for staying injury
free!
The ambitious choice, well….I'll get my hard hat on for this because this
one really is a long shot. Achraf Hakimi, a fast, athletic and talented on
the ball, 19 year old whose contract at Real Madrid runs out in July. Very
much a raw talent at the moment, he has huge potential, he shows a work rate
and reading of the game I've seen in a certain young Hammer this season. And
although rumours of Italian Clubs and a potential new contract are out
there, the last solid rumour I can remember, was a move to Newcastle! I
think we have a lot to offer with Premiership game time under the guise and
teaching of Zaba being a tempting proposition to any young player.
I personally like both the above players and if we signed Fredericks, I
think Byram's days could be numbered, so why not try and sign a youngster
who signals a chance to turn a huge profit for the club should he develop as
projected. The players chosen give us numerous options on both the left and
right side of the pitch in defence and attack, so we should be able to field
a strong bench even with West Hams famous Ancient Burial Ground style injury
curse on the squad. Moving into the forward areas of the pitch we have some
attacking options, my last somewhat realistic pick is Jonathan Bamba, a
player we have been linked with previously. I am a big fan of the young
French man who is out of contract at St.Etienne in the Summer, and he has a
big future ahead of him. Bamba's pace, skill on the ball, great passing and
wicked right foot should make him a hit with fans at any club, however the
area that impresses me the most for such a young player is his work rate!
Bamba isn't a juggernaut of a player physique wise like Antonio, but he uses
his frame and low centre of gravity incredibly well to stay on his feet and
often win back possession for his side, which was something an incredibly
talented French player we previously signed did not do half as much…
Whilst I am not going to build up expectations of a youngster too much,
there is a lot to like about this player and signs he could go one to be at
any top club in European football. For me, his ability to play across the
front 3 and performances lead me to believe this would be a costly free
transfer, but one I can see being the most fruitful on and off the pitch.
I'lll end my round up with a bit of a long shot! But with rumours of 2 of
our highest profile players in Lanzini and Hernandez potentially looking to
leave, we could well see a huge sum in transfers and wages available. So why
not go all out and aim big with my Pie In The Sky Pick! Shakhtar Donetsk's
small, pacey and creative attacker Bernard! The 25 year old Brazilian has
made no secret of his ambition to play in one of Europe's top leagues and
with some good performances in the Uefa Champions League and a great goals
and assist record in Europe I think he will be monitored by numerous clubs.
3 goals and 3 assists in said Champions League, 3 goals and 4 assists in the
Europa League and a great 14 goals and 24 assists in 95 Ukrainian League
games I think he won't come cheap, but why not look to make a statement. I
believe Leicester is a winnable games for us, with the clubs around us
facing tough fixtures, and relegation a mathematical long shot, I think we
can get safe and look to chase signings in the window! Let's finish the
season behind the team and voice our desire to see change and ambition in
the market from our owners, away from the 90 minutes on the pitch!
I'm @StevenMcCarthy9 on Twitter and if you let me know what you think of the
picks and article below, I'll pick more transfer targets and free agents to
sign.
COYI's!!!!
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ARE WE LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES?
By Tony Hanna 24 Apr 2018 at 08:00
WTID
Moyes in or Moyes out? Moysiah or Dinosaur? Well, if we go down he will be
gone for sure and in my opinion if we stay up he will be with us for at
least another season. Personally, I thought he pulled all the right strings
on Sunday with the possible exception of playing Mario instead of Lanzini.
But there again I am not privy to just how fit the latter is following his
injury lay off. Moyes made all the right substitutions at the right time –
again in my opinion. Hart deserved another game as Adrian's chance will come
next weekend anyway, against City. We were never going to take the game to
Arsenal. They have a 100% home record against teams outside the top six and
even with weakened team selections they put three past Stoke and Southampton
in recent weeks. At the 80 minute mark we looked like we were getting a
point which in our current predicament would have been gold. Until that
mistake from Rice. Hart last week – Rice this week, but players are human
and the only thing we can hold onto is that they learn from their mistakes.
But do they? Do they really go back on the training ground and work on their
own weaknesses, or is it just back to the same stuff they were doing last
week. I would really like to know. I am sure the best of the best do, but do
our players?
When I was eighteen I had joined a new football team. The manager soon had
me taking all the free kicks and corners. But a few games into the season we
were playing a Cup match and we were 3-0 down at half time against Leyton, a
team we were expected to beat. We pulled the deficit back to 3-2 and with
the last kick of the game we were awarded a penalty. The manager was
pointing at me to take the penalty. I had never taken a penalty in senior
football before and as I placed the ball on the spot I had no plan other
than to blast it as hard as I could. I managed to do that but the ball
sailed over the bar. Walking off after that game I felt distraught having
let my team mates down. "Don't worry Tone, it's Ok" was something I heard
several times from my team mates, but I knew deep down it was me that had
let the team down. The manager came up to me and said "you better put some
practice in lad because you will be taking the next penalty we get". Good
job my best mate was one of the best keepers in the district because I spent
hours with him on a routine that included my run up, body shape for
deception on delivery and hitting the exact same spot inside the post to the
keepers right. I only missed one more penalty in my playing days. So when I
see the National team getting beaten in penalty shoots outs and they turn up
for the next World Cup and the manager says "no, we don't practice
penalties" I just cringe. These players are far more talented and dedicated
than I ever was, but now they are at the top are they practising the right
things, ironing out their weaknesses and really working on improving rather
than just stagnating or staying comfortable. With some of the things I keep
seeing with West Ham I have my doubts.
My self- indulgent journey back in time to my own playing days was a prelude
to Declan Rice's error against Arsenal and even to Joe Hart's the week
before. When I see a young player making a game changing mistake it often
takes me back to how I felt after that penalty miss. Moyes defended Hart for
his error against Stoke but put blame on Rice a week later. He knows the
players better than us and hopefully his remarks are well judged
psychologically. I would like to think that there was a rational reasoning
for his different responses. But at training this week will we be practicing
crosses coming in at Joe Hart with Rice in front of him? Will their
communication be worked upon? Should the keeper be calling "away" or only
calling when the ball needs to be left. I could go on but you get the drift.
Because for some time our free kick and corner kick routines have been
pathetic. There has been almost no creativity in working on new set piece
variations to catch out opponents. Bang it into the box but fail to beat the
first defender is a common theme. Another area where we are really poor is
keeping possession from our own throw ins. I was listening to an ex player
the other day, forgive me as I can't remember who it was, but he was a
player who moved from the Championship to the Premier League. He said the
first thing that struck him in training was that his PL club didn't practice
throw in routines. "In the Championship we would spend several hours every
week just on those" he stated. I bet you we don't practice ours at West Ham!
Monreal scored the first goal for Arsenal from a corner – a set piece. He
was Cresswell's "man" but found three or more yards of space from the moment
the corner was taken to the time he shot home. Before the ball went in
Masuaku was protecting the near post but seemed to move away from his
station to allow Hart more room to make a save – for the first two goals it
was all about our defenders not taking responsibility. It really was a
comedy of errors but they seem to be occurring every week.
The other area that leaves a lot to be desired is keeping the ball in the
corner from corner kicks or playing the short one. The one in the last
minute at Chelsea that went pear shaped was followed by the very next corner
West Ham had at home to Stoke where the pass back to the corner taker put
him offside. Both were abysmal and totally inept. Surely, if we are going to
waste time then put Arnie and Kouyate in the corner, rather than Cullen and
Noble. Makes sense doesn't it – getting around those two big lumps would be
rather more difficult! So, back to my first paragraph about Dinosaur or
Moysiah? He told us he would get the players fitter, which he probably did
but we don't know for certain. But has he made the players better? Has he
got them working on their mistakes and deficiencies or are we just going
through the same motions at training every week. Because the manager we need
is the one that is doing the former.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 25
Tuesday, April 24
Daily WHUFC News - 24th April 2018
Ogbonna: Declan Rice will bounce back
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna has backed Declan Rice to bounce back strongly following Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. 19-year-old Rice featured for the 21st time in the Premier League this season as the Hammers went down to their Emirates Stadium defeat and Ogbonna was quick to highlight the progress he has made, despite the misunderstanding which led to the Gunners' second goal. West Ham gave a good account of themselves for the vast majority of the contest in north London and looked set to take a positive result home when Marko Arnautovic levelled in the second period, so Ogbonna says there is reason to take heart ahead of the final four games of the season. "4-1 in the end was a bit unfair," the defender said. "We played well, we went to Arsenal and for 80 minutes we showed ourselves well. "Dec has played for a long time this season and every time he's played well. He's a confident boy, and it's just a misunderstanding and I'm sorry for him. "But we are positive and focused on the next game."
The Hammers face another tough assignment this weekend when they welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to London Stadium, but Ogbonna is looking forward to the test as the Hammers search for the points which would secure their safety. He added: "We have improved a lot. We took five points from the three games before this one and we were confident with the ball on Sunday and we maintained the tempo. "What we have to learn about is not switching off when we concede a goal, because in football you can make a mistake – that's football – but we have to be tough enough to get back, like we did at 1-0, but not after 2-1. "We are always confident and we are focused on our goal. Our goal is to be safe, so we are still lucky that we are six points above [the relegation zone], but we cannot relax. We have to be focused."
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Makasi's loan spell ended as he undergoes knee surgery
WHUFC.com
Moses Makasi's successful loan spell at League One promotion-chasers Plymouth Argyle came to an end last week, when he returned to West Ham to undergo surgery to his right knee. The midfielder made seven appearances for the Pilgrims, helping Derek Adams' side climb into the Play-Off places. However, defeat at Northampton Town on Saturday means they now sit three points behind sixth-place Scunthorpe United, albeit with a game in hand on the Lincolnshire club.
Robert Snodgrass was an unused substitute for Aston Villa as Steve Bruce's side thumped Ipswich Town 4-0 at Portman Road to keep alive their slim hopes of winning automatic promotion to the Premier League. The Villans remain fourth in the table, four points adrift of second-place Fulham with two matches left to play, the first of which is at home to Derby County on Saturday.
Martin Samuelsen was also left on the bench as Burton Albion boosted their survival hopes with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Sunderland, who were relegated following their defeat at the Stadium of Light. Burton's win pulled them to within two points of Reece Burke's Bolton Wanderers, who were thrashed 4-0 at home by champions Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, like Snodgrass and Samuelsen, Burke was an unused substitute at the Macron Stadium.
Burton host Bolton in a potentially pivotal fixture at the Pirelli Stadium this coming Saturday afternoon.
Reece Oxford's absence from the Borussia Monchengladbach continued on Friday, when injury ruled him out of the German club's 3-0 Bundesliga victory over Wolfsburg.
And finally, Toni Martinez was suspended and missed Real Valladolid's 2-1 Spanish Second Division victory at Real Oviedo on Friday evening. However, the striker is expected to return to the starting XI with fellow forwards Jaime Mata and Chris Ramos ruled out for the home game with Cadiz this coming Saturday afternoon.
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Wear your colours for Bobby Moore
WHUFC.com
It is back – the day when you can wear your football shirt with pride whilst raising money for the Bobby Moore Fund, supporting vital life-saving bowel cancer research. Friday 27 April is Football Shirt Friday. A day for men, women and children everywhere to wear their football shirts, donate £5 and make Bobby proud.
Football Shirt Friday is inspired by one of the most iconic images of Bobby, taken at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, where he swapped football shirts with Brazilian legend Pelé. Shown as a sign of respect between the two opposing players, this is a gesture that has been recreated worldwide by footballers ever since. Since Football Shirt Friday began six years ago, thousands of fans have accepted their call up to the Bobby Moore Fund Squad and wore their shirts loudly and proudly. Join them this year and together we will beat bowel cancer sooner. Whether it's to work on Football Shirt Friday or down the pub on the Friday night, we want you to bring your friends and colleagues together to be part of a team of thousands that are going together to help save lives. Many well-known faces from the sport and entertainment industry, including West Ham-supporting comedian Tom Davis, are among those honouring Bobby's memory, 25 years after he passed away from bowel cancer.
Former England goalkeeper David Seaman said: "Football Shirt Friday is a campaign that's close to my heart and is so important in raising vital funds to beat bowel cancer sooner. Bobby was a true hero and a real inspiration to many, so whatever you're doing on Friday 27 April, make sure you're wearing your football shirt." Football pundit and ex-England striker Alan Shearer added: "Bobby was an incredible individual who was taken too soon. His memory serves as a reminder of why it's so important to get involved in fundraising initiatives like Football Shirt Friday. So get your shirt on and donate £5 to life-saving research."
Bobby's widow Stephanie Moore MBE, set up the Bobby Moore Fund in partnership with Cancer Research UK in 1993. This year the fund aims to mark the 25th anniversary of Bobby's passing by reaching a target of £25m raised towards ground-breaking bowel cancer research. She said: "We want to see the whole nation supporting Football Shirt Friday, by proudly wearing their team's colours and joining together in the fight against bowel cancer. It's 25 years since Bobby died and in that time mortality rates for bowel cancer have fallen by more than 30 per cent, but sadly it still kills 44 people in the UK every day. "By uniting with friends and colleagues to fundraise for the Bobby Moore Fund, we can make even more progress and bring forward the day when bowel cancer is cured."
Every step towards beating bowel cancer is a result of the supporters like you stepping up to the challenge. Our only opposition is bowel cancer, so no matter your football shirt colours, get your team together on Friday 27 April and make Bobby proud. Join the conversation and share photos of you and your friends in your shirt on Twitter using @BobbyMooreFund #FootballShirtFriday or on the Facebook page at OfficialBobbyMooreFund. Simply wear a football shirt, text BOBBY to 70200 to donate £5 and be part of something amazing.
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West Ham United Ladies back FA Girls' Football Week
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies are getting behind the Football Association's Girls' Football Week as the Hammers do their bit to get as many girls as possible playing the game.
The FA's Girls' Football Week runs from Monday 23 April to Sunday 29 April and is a national campaign designed to raise participation in female football – which offers girls a great opportunity to get active, meet new friends and have fun.
Alongside the Club's successful senior team – who have lifted two prestigious trophies recent weeks – the Hammers run an extensive Academy for girls, giving youngsters the chance to play in the famous Claret and Blue.
If you're a girl aged 5-11 and you want to get involved in football, make sure you head to the West Ham United Foundation in Beckton between 4.30pm-5.30pm on Wednesday for the launch of our SSE Wildcats club. Click here for more information on the SSE Wildcats scheme.
Alongside our Player Development Centres and Academy, the Club has a clear pathway for youngsters to flourish.
We will be celebrating Girls' Football Week across the next seven days on whufc.com and our social media channels, so keep an eye out for a host of exclusive content, including a behind the scenes look at the Hammers' WPL Plate final win over Luton, the winner of the Ladies' Players Player of the Year and more.
The Ladies will also be hosting Lewes in their penultimate FA Women's Premier League Southern Division fixture of the season at Rush Green on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
Admission is free for Hammers Season Ticket Holders, Claret Members and all under-16s. Otherwise, tickets are available on the gate, priced at £2 for adults.
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Leave the kid alone
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd April 2018
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes has been told to "shut it" by Hammers fans after he laid into Declan Rice following yesterday's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. The 19-year-old rookie, who has featured extensively in the first team since West Ham sold established central defender Jose Fonte to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang and lost Winston Reid to injury was hung out to dry by an angry Moyes following Sunday afternoon's capitulation. However the decision to criticise the young Irish international seems to have backfired on Moyes, who has since been slammed by supporters for his stance. "To take a shot at Rice like that was bad darts," wrote KUMB member Graza. "A proper manager would say we were in it for 80 minutes, the young lad has a lot to learn and he's made a simple but costly mistake."
And disappointment with Moyes' comments was echoed across social media. "Just seen David Moyes threw Declan Rice under the bus over his mistake yesterday saying 'he needs to learn quickly'," wrote Shane Flynn on twitter. "Using a 19-year-old defender as a scapegoat for West Ham's sperformance yesterday is a bit harsh considering he's one of the few good players at the club."
Thoughts echoed by Gabriel Cancello, who added: "Moyes digging out Rice is like shouting at the dog because he didn't do the washing up while you were out. It makes no sense, doesn't do either party any good and ultimately you're the one that ends up looking foolish."
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GUNNED BACK TO EARTH - AND RICE IS HUMAN AFTER ALL
By HamburgHammer 23 Apr 2018 at 08:00
WTID
If you wanna blame anyone for the defeat against Arsenal, just blame me. Usually I watch our games live whenever I can – this Sunday though I deliberately opted against that routine and decided to put the lovely weather in Hamburg to good use and take my brother and ten year old nephew out between the dikes on the southeastern outskirts of town to watch Concordia's U23s wallop the poor local side by a 10:0 scoreline.
The game was more noteworthy for my little nephew entertaining the travelling away support of about 20 people with his comments, questions and jocular remarks, some of them were hilarious without my nephew even realising, but that's always the joy when taking a kid to a football game.
For instance, the Concordia president was there too in order to watch his own son play, sitting three metres away from us, but that didn't stop my nephew exclaiming how the U23s were playing so much better this season compared to Cordi's first team. Well, he was right of course and the club president saw the funny side of it too and couldn't suppress a grin.
My nephew by the way still is at odds with the rules of the game in terms of the ref awarding a penalty.
Little Daniel still thinks a penalty kick should happen every time a particularly nasty foul or tackle happens, regardless of where on the pitch said foul has been committed.
FIFA better watch out, There's a new FIFA president in the making here…:-))
Anyway, it's nice to watch a team that plays football the right way (albeit against inferior opposition) and it's also nice to have a promotion celebration to look forward to – I reckon next weekend Cordi's U23s will be mathematically certain to go up. For every other club I hold an interest in it is still squeaky bum time.
Both Hamburg clubs are in relegation dogfights and even our beloved West Ham ain't quite out of the woods either.
When returning home I had managed not to hear or read anything about our game, so I could then settle down in my armchair, waving my screwdriver in tune to Bubbles being sung by the travelling Hammers and to be fair, I saw a highly entertaining match from both teams and up to the 80th minute I was fairly certain we could come away from Arsenal with a credible draw. Not so fast my not quite so young Hammer!
That second Arsenal goal broke our collective spirit and determination. Young Declan Rice who was quite superb again up to that point decided to duck out of what looked like the easiest of clearances in front of his own goal, leaving it to Joe Hart to watch the ball trundling into the net.
Lack of communication there and totally unnecessary. When the ball is that close to your own goal you need to deal with it somehow.
You either have set up a routine in training how to act in those situations. Or you make yourself heard loud and clear, so both goalkeeper and defender are on the same page.
It's frustrating to have lost the game in that fashion (I didn't even register the goals that still followed) because I think we saw a very decent overall performance from the lads.
Unfortunately a game doesn't last 79 minutes and when you shoot yourself in the foot like our team did you cannot expect to get away with it in the Premier League.
Embed from Getty Images
I ain't going to tear into Rice, he is young, still learning the game and boy, will he learn from that blunder! In my eyes he is a future West Ham captain, a player well worth building a team around (if we can keep him that long that is) and the kind of guy fans love rooting for. Rice is the player we must hang on to and keep happy at all costs.
I wonder how Rice's future is going to pan out.
Moyes though is another safety-first manager for me. Defensive minded, very cautious, averse to taking a bit of a risk. There isn't much that pains me more than to see our striker isolated upfront time and time again, be that Arnautovic or Carroll. You can see the frustration when they look up, from a promising attacking position, trying to locate their nearest teammate only to find him twenty or thirty metres behind. If it was up to me, I'd look for a more attack-minded, a more positive manager.
With the shortened transfer period this summer our club should be busy building our squad for next season already. Not knowing our league status for sure yet doesn't help obviously. Not knowing who our manager will be doesn't help either. I'm sure a decision will be made in due course one way or another and we know the board will have their own priorities which may differ from what the fans, the players or even the pundits may want. So all we can do is wait and hope.
Not long to go until I'm over again for the Everton fixture. I am confident we won't necessarily need the points at that stage. But I'd be very happy to see another of my now customary 1:0 home wins. COYI!!!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dunphy: Rice should stay off Twitter and keep quiet
Updated / Monday, 23 Apr 2018 21:19 2
Rte.ie
Eamon Dunphy has said Declan Rice should get off Twitter and keep quiet after the weekend mistake that drew the anger of West Ham manager David Moyes.
On Sunday the Hammers looked like they were going to earn a point away to Arsenal in the Premier League when Republic of Ireland international Rice made a costly defensive error. With less than ten minutes remaining he failed to attack a cross that led directly to an Aaron Ramsey goal and sent the Gunners on their way to a 4-1 win. After the game Moyes publicly criticised Rice, who could still declare for England, the country of his birth, as he has yet to play a competitive game for Ireland. Rice tweeted that he he's young, is bound to make mistakes and will learn from them, which left RTÉ soccer pundit Dunphy unimpressed. "It was very unlike David Moyes – he's not really like that and I can't remember him publicly criticising a player before," he said, speaking to RTÉ Sport. "Certainly, Declan Rice should get off Twitter because anything that goes on between himself and his coach should stay within the dressing room – you don't need to go public like he did.
"He's a very good, young player. Young players make mistakes and you have to put your hand up sometimes. David Moyes is a good guy, he's not some fool, and he was clearly angry. "He shouldn't have had a go at the kid, but the kid should keep quiet and get on with his work. It's one mistake, he'll learn. "If you're on Twitter answering your coach, then you're on the wrong side of where you should be. If Moyes has a problem with his attitude, then there's probably something wrong with his attitude."
Declan Rice
✔
@_DeclanRice
I'm young.. I'll make mistakes.. it's all a leaning process to get to the top. thank you too the fans again who were brilliant❤⚒ ready to bounce back next week.
6:38 PM - Apr 22, 2018
13.7K
After the game, which saw West Ham remain in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone, Moyes said: "Up until 81 minutes we looked worthy of a point. "Had moments in the first half, but a young player makes a poor mistake for the second goal. He's got big potential but it really flattened the team. "The last thing you do is let the ball go. To be fair we had done most things really well defensively. He has to show it won't happen again and he will have to step up."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna has backed Declan Rice to bounce back strongly following Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. 19-year-old Rice featured for the 21st time in the Premier League this season as the Hammers went down to their Emirates Stadium defeat and Ogbonna was quick to highlight the progress he has made, despite the misunderstanding which led to the Gunners' second goal. West Ham gave a good account of themselves for the vast majority of the contest in north London and looked set to take a positive result home when Marko Arnautovic levelled in the second period, so Ogbonna says there is reason to take heart ahead of the final four games of the season. "4-1 in the end was a bit unfair," the defender said. "We played well, we went to Arsenal and for 80 minutes we showed ourselves well. "Dec has played for a long time this season and every time he's played well. He's a confident boy, and it's just a misunderstanding and I'm sorry for him. "But we are positive and focused on the next game."
The Hammers face another tough assignment this weekend when they welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to London Stadium, but Ogbonna is looking forward to the test as the Hammers search for the points which would secure their safety. He added: "We have improved a lot. We took five points from the three games before this one and we were confident with the ball on Sunday and we maintained the tempo. "What we have to learn about is not switching off when we concede a goal, because in football you can make a mistake – that's football – but we have to be tough enough to get back, like we did at 1-0, but not after 2-1. "We are always confident and we are focused on our goal. Our goal is to be safe, so we are still lucky that we are six points above [the relegation zone], but we cannot relax. We have to be focused."
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Makasi's loan spell ended as he undergoes knee surgery
WHUFC.com
Moses Makasi's successful loan spell at League One promotion-chasers Plymouth Argyle came to an end last week, when he returned to West Ham to undergo surgery to his right knee. The midfielder made seven appearances for the Pilgrims, helping Derek Adams' side climb into the Play-Off places. However, defeat at Northampton Town on Saturday means they now sit three points behind sixth-place Scunthorpe United, albeit with a game in hand on the Lincolnshire club.
Robert Snodgrass was an unused substitute for Aston Villa as Steve Bruce's side thumped Ipswich Town 4-0 at Portman Road to keep alive their slim hopes of winning automatic promotion to the Premier League. The Villans remain fourth in the table, four points adrift of second-place Fulham with two matches left to play, the first of which is at home to Derby County on Saturday.
Martin Samuelsen was also left on the bench as Burton Albion boosted their survival hopes with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Sunderland, who were relegated following their defeat at the Stadium of Light. Burton's win pulled them to within two points of Reece Burke's Bolton Wanderers, who were thrashed 4-0 at home by champions Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, like Snodgrass and Samuelsen, Burke was an unused substitute at the Macron Stadium.
Burton host Bolton in a potentially pivotal fixture at the Pirelli Stadium this coming Saturday afternoon.
Reece Oxford's absence from the Borussia Monchengladbach continued on Friday, when injury ruled him out of the German club's 3-0 Bundesliga victory over Wolfsburg.
And finally, Toni Martinez was suspended and missed Real Valladolid's 2-1 Spanish Second Division victory at Real Oviedo on Friday evening. However, the striker is expected to return to the starting XI with fellow forwards Jaime Mata and Chris Ramos ruled out for the home game with Cadiz this coming Saturday afternoon.
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Wear your colours for Bobby Moore
WHUFC.com
It is back – the day when you can wear your football shirt with pride whilst raising money for the Bobby Moore Fund, supporting vital life-saving bowel cancer research. Friday 27 April is Football Shirt Friday. A day for men, women and children everywhere to wear their football shirts, donate £5 and make Bobby proud.
Football Shirt Friday is inspired by one of the most iconic images of Bobby, taken at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, where he swapped football shirts with Brazilian legend Pelé. Shown as a sign of respect between the two opposing players, this is a gesture that has been recreated worldwide by footballers ever since. Since Football Shirt Friday began six years ago, thousands of fans have accepted their call up to the Bobby Moore Fund Squad and wore their shirts loudly and proudly. Join them this year and together we will beat bowel cancer sooner. Whether it's to work on Football Shirt Friday or down the pub on the Friday night, we want you to bring your friends and colleagues together to be part of a team of thousands that are going together to help save lives. Many well-known faces from the sport and entertainment industry, including West Ham-supporting comedian Tom Davis, are among those honouring Bobby's memory, 25 years after he passed away from bowel cancer.
Former England goalkeeper David Seaman said: "Football Shirt Friday is a campaign that's close to my heart and is so important in raising vital funds to beat bowel cancer sooner. Bobby was a true hero and a real inspiration to many, so whatever you're doing on Friday 27 April, make sure you're wearing your football shirt." Football pundit and ex-England striker Alan Shearer added: "Bobby was an incredible individual who was taken too soon. His memory serves as a reminder of why it's so important to get involved in fundraising initiatives like Football Shirt Friday. So get your shirt on and donate £5 to life-saving research."
Bobby's widow Stephanie Moore MBE, set up the Bobby Moore Fund in partnership with Cancer Research UK in 1993. This year the fund aims to mark the 25th anniversary of Bobby's passing by reaching a target of £25m raised towards ground-breaking bowel cancer research. She said: "We want to see the whole nation supporting Football Shirt Friday, by proudly wearing their team's colours and joining together in the fight against bowel cancer. It's 25 years since Bobby died and in that time mortality rates for bowel cancer have fallen by more than 30 per cent, but sadly it still kills 44 people in the UK every day. "By uniting with friends and colleagues to fundraise for the Bobby Moore Fund, we can make even more progress and bring forward the day when bowel cancer is cured."
Every step towards beating bowel cancer is a result of the supporters like you stepping up to the challenge. Our only opposition is bowel cancer, so no matter your football shirt colours, get your team together on Friday 27 April and make Bobby proud. Join the conversation and share photos of you and your friends in your shirt on Twitter using @BobbyMooreFund #FootballShirtFriday or on the Facebook page at OfficialBobbyMooreFund. Simply wear a football shirt, text BOBBY to 70200 to donate £5 and be part of something amazing.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United Ladies back FA Girls' Football Week
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies are getting behind the Football Association's Girls' Football Week as the Hammers do their bit to get as many girls as possible playing the game.
The FA's Girls' Football Week runs from Monday 23 April to Sunday 29 April and is a national campaign designed to raise participation in female football – which offers girls a great opportunity to get active, meet new friends and have fun.
Alongside the Club's successful senior team – who have lifted two prestigious trophies recent weeks – the Hammers run an extensive Academy for girls, giving youngsters the chance to play in the famous Claret and Blue.
If you're a girl aged 5-11 and you want to get involved in football, make sure you head to the West Ham United Foundation in Beckton between 4.30pm-5.30pm on Wednesday for the launch of our SSE Wildcats club. Click here for more information on the SSE Wildcats scheme.
Alongside our Player Development Centres and Academy, the Club has a clear pathway for youngsters to flourish.
We will be celebrating Girls' Football Week across the next seven days on whufc.com and our social media channels, so keep an eye out for a host of exclusive content, including a behind the scenes look at the Hammers' WPL Plate final win over Luton, the winner of the Ladies' Players Player of the Year and more.
The Ladies will also be hosting Lewes in their penultimate FA Women's Premier League Southern Division fixture of the season at Rush Green on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
Admission is free for Hammers Season Ticket Holders, Claret Members and all under-16s. Otherwise, tickets are available on the gate, priced at £2 for adults.
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Leave the kid alone
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd April 2018
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes has been told to "shut it" by Hammers fans after he laid into Declan Rice following yesterday's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. The 19-year-old rookie, who has featured extensively in the first team since West Ham sold established central defender Jose Fonte to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang and lost Winston Reid to injury was hung out to dry by an angry Moyes following Sunday afternoon's capitulation. However the decision to criticise the young Irish international seems to have backfired on Moyes, who has since been slammed by supporters for his stance. "To take a shot at Rice like that was bad darts," wrote KUMB member Graza. "A proper manager would say we were in it for 80 minutes, the young lad has a lot to learn and he's made a simple but costly mistake."
And disappointment with Moyes' comments was echoed across social media. "Just seen David Moyes threw Declan Rice under the bus over his mistake yesterday saying 'he needs to learn quickly'," wrote Shane Flynn on twitter. "Using a 19-year-old defender as a scapegoat for West Ham's sperformance yesterday is a bit harsh considering he's one of the few good players at the club."
Thoughts echoed by Gabriel Cancello, who added: "Moyes digging out Rice is like shouting at the dog because he didn't do the washing up while you were out. It makes no sense, doesn't do either party any good and ultimately you're the one that ends up looking foolish."
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GUNNED BACK TO EARTH - AND RICE IS HUMAN AFTER ALL
By HamburgHammer 23 Apr 2018 at 08:00
WTID
If you wanna blame anyone for the defeat against Arsenal, just blame me. Usually I watch our games live whenever I can – this Sunday though I deliberately opted against that routine and decided to put the lovely weather in Hamburg to good use and take my brother and ten year old nephew out between the dikes on the southeastern outskirts of town to watch Concordia's U23s wallop the poor local side by a 10:0 scoreline.
The game was more noteworthy for my little nephew entertaining the travelling away support of about 20 people with his comments, questions and jocular remarks, some of them were hilarious without my nephew even realising, but that's always the joy when taking a kid to a football game.
For instance, the Concordia president was there too in order to watch his own son play, sitting three metres away from us, but that didn't stop my nephew exclaiming how the U23s were playing so much better this season compared to Cordi's first team. Well, he was right of course and the club president saw the funny side of it too and couldn't suppress a grin.
My nephew by the way still is at odds with the rules of the game in terms of the ref awarding a penalty.
Little Daniel still thinks a penalty kick should happen every time a particularly nasty foul or tackle happens, regardless of where on the pitch said foul has been committed.
FIFA better watch out, There's a new FIFA president in the making here…:-))
Anyway, it's nice to watch a team that plays football the right way (albeit against inferior opposition) and it's also nice to have a promotion celebration to look forward to – I reckon next weekend Cordi's U23s will be mathematically certain to go up. For every other club I hold an interest in it is still squeaky bum time.
Both Hamburg clubs are in relegation dogfights and even our beloved West Ham ain't quite out of the woods either.
When returning home I had managed not to hear or read anything about our game, so I could then settle down in my armchair, waving my screwdriver in tune to Bubbles being sung by the travelling Hammers and to be fair, I saw a highly entertaining match from both teams and up to the 80th minute I was fairly certain we could come away from Arsenal with a credible draw. Not so fast my not quite so young Hammer!
That second Arsenal goal broke our collective spirit and determination. Young Declan Rice who was quite superb again up to that point decided to duck out of what looked like the easiest of clearances in front of his own goal, leaving it to Joe Hart to watch the ball trundling into the net.
Lack of communication there and totally unnecessary. When the ball is that close to your own goal you need to deal with it somehow.
You either have set up a routine in training how to act in those situations. Or you make yourself heard loud and clear, so both goalkeeper and defender are on the same page.
It's frustrating to have lost the game in that fashion (I didn't even register the goals that still followed) because I think we saw a very decent overall performance from the lads.
Unfortunately a game doesn't last 79 minutes and when you shoot yourself in the foot like our team did you cannot expect to get away with it in the Premier League.
Embed from Getty Images
I ain't going to tear into Rice, he is young, still learning the game and boy, will he learn from that blunder! In my eyes he is a future West Ham captain, a player well worth building a team around (if we can keep him that long that is) and the kind of guy fans love rooting for. Rice is the player we must hang on to and keep happy at all costs.
I wonder how Rice's future is going to pan out.
Moyes though is another safety-first manager for me. Defensive minded, very cautious, averse to taking a bit of a risk. There isn't much that pains me more than to see our striker isolated upfront time and time again, be that Arnautovic or Carroll. You can see the frustration when they look up, from a promising attacking position, trying to locate their nearest teammate only to find him twenty or thirty metres behind. If it was up to me, I'd look for a more attack-minded, a more positive manager.
With the shortened transfer period this summer our club should be busy building our squad for next season already. Not knowing our league status for sure yet doesn't help obviously. Not knowing who our manager will be doesn't help either. I'm sure a decision will be made in due course one way or another and we know the board will have their own priorities which may differ from what the fans, the players or even the pundits may want. So all we can do is wait and hope.
Not long to go until I'm over again for the Everton fixture. I am confident we won't necessarily need the points at that stage. But I'd be very happy to see another of my now customary 1:0 home wins. COYI!!!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dunphy: Rice should stay off Twitter and keep quiet
Updated / Monday, 23 Apr 2018 21:19 2
Rte.ie
Eamon Dunphy has said Declan Rice should get off Twitter and keep quiet after the weekend mistake that drew the anger of West Ham manager David Moyes.
On Sunday the Hammers looked like they were going to earn a point away to Arsenal in the Premier League when Republic of Ireland international Rice made a costly defensive error. With less than ten minutes remaining he failed to attack a cross that led directly to an Aaron Ramsey goal and sent the Gunners on their way to a 4-1 win. After the game Moyes publicly criticised Rice, who could still declare for England, the country of his birth, as he has yet to play a competitive game for Ireland. Rice tweeted that he he's young, is bound to make mistakes and will learn from them, which left RTÉ soccer pundit Dunphy unimpressed. "It was very unlike David Moyes – he's not really like that and I can't remember him publicly criticising a player before," he said, speaking to RTÉ Sport. "Certainly, Declan Rice should get off Twitter because anything that goes on between himself and his coach should stay within the dressing room – you don't need to go public like he did.
"He's a very good, young player. Young players make mistakes and you have to put your hand up sometimes. David Moyes is a good guy, he's not some fool, and he was clearly angry. "He shouldn't have had a go at the kid, but the kid should keep quiet and get on with his work. It's one mistake, he'll learn. "If you're on Twitter answering your coach, then you're on the wrong side of where you should be. If Moyes has a problem with his attitude, then there's probably something wrong with his attitude."
Declan Rice
✔
@_DeclanRice
I'm young.. I'll make mistakes.. it's all a leaning process to get to the top. thank you too the fans again who were brilliant❤⚒ ready to bounce back next week.
6:38 PM - Apr 22, 2018
13.7K
After the game, which saw West Ham remain in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone, Moyes said: "Up until 81 minutes we looked worthy of a point. "Had moments in the first half, but a young player makes a poor mistake for the second goal. He's got big potential but it really flattened the team. "The last thing you do is let the ball go. To be fair we had done most things really well defensively. He has to show it won't happen again and he will have to step up."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, April 23
Daily WHUFC News - 23rd April 2018
Late Gunners goals leave Hammers empty handed
WHUFC.com
Three late Arsenal goals meant West Ham United left north London empty
handed on Sunday afternoon after a 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. An
Aaron Ramsey strike was followed by two Alexandre Lacazette goals in the
final ten minutes to seal all three points for the hosts, who had been
pegged back by Marko Arnautovic's equaliser with 26 minutes remaining.
Previously, Nacho Monreal had given the Gunners an early second half lead
but David Moyes' men had fought back to get on level terms. Early on in the
London derby, it was the Hammers who looked the more dangerous and likely to
take the lead. Just after the ten minute mark, Edimilson Fernandes was an
inch or two from latching onto Joao Mario's clever pass, but it just evaded
him. That was a sign of things to come for the next ten minutes as the
visitors piled on the pressure. Next, Arnautovic out-muscled Shkodran
Mustafi and broke free down the left, but the Austrian's effort was pushed
clear by goalkeeper David Ospina. Moments later, Cheikhou Kouyate rose
highest in the penalty area from a Joao Mario corner, but could not get a
clean connection on his head, which dropped onto the top of the crossbar and
out of harm's way. But, riding the spell of pressure, Arsene Wenger's men
began to assert their authority and went close when Danny Welbeck curled
wide from 20 yards. The forward had a second opportunity ten minutes later,
nodding a Hector Bellerin centre over the top before Aaron Ramsey smashed
wide on the stroke of half time.
The Gunners' spell of dominance continued after the break and they soon made
it count. Granit Xhaka, who had already caused David Moyes' men problems
with his set-pieces, swung in a corner from the left, and it was met by
Monreal who coolly volleyed into the bottom corner. But the lead lasted just
13 minutes. After a Hammers set-piece, substitute Chicharito kept the ball
alive inside the penalty area, heading back into the danger area as it was
cleared. Eventually, the ball fell for Manuel Lanzini - also brought on as a
sub - who beautifully picked out Arnautovic at the back stick, and the No7 -
putting his goal tally for the season into double figures - did the rest,
smashing low and hard beyond Ospina, who stood no chance from the
left-footed strike. Game on. With 18 minutes remaining, the hosts thought
they had regained the lead, but goalkeeper Joe Hart was there to deny Xhaka,
whose 25-yard strike was heading for the bottom corner. But with eight
minutes remaining, the Gunners' second did come, after a mix-up between Hart
and centre-back Declan Rice. A Ramsey cross, intended for the head of
Lacazette, was left alone by Rice who ducked under the ball, which tucked
into the corner of the net. 2-1. And as the Hammers went in search of a
second equaliser, Arsenal proved too strong on the break and scored twice
more. First, Lacazette fired in at the near post via a deflection off Aaron
Cresswell, before Ramsey laid-off for the Frenchman to smash in his second
in the centre of the box. Game over, and a frustrating finale for Moyes' men
who were ten minutes away from an important Premier League point.
Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny
(Maitland-Niles 45), Iwobi (Aubameyang 70), Ramsey, Welbeck (Chambers 88),
Lacazette
Subs not used: Macey, Mertesacker, Holding, Nelson
Goals: Monreal 51, Ramsey 82, Lacazette 85, 89
Bookings: Xhaka 41, Maitland-Niles 62, Mustafi 74
West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku (Carroll
86), Noble, Kouyate, Fernandes (Chicharito 60), Joao Mario (Lanzini 60),
Arnautovic
Subs not used: Adrian, Evra, Cullen, Hugill
Goal: Arnautovic 64
Bookings: Zabaleta 50, Arnautovic 87
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arnautovic: There were positives to take from Arsenal defeat
WHUFC.com
Marko Arnautovic says West Ham United have to take the positives from
Sunday's Premier League London derby at Arsenal despite losing 4-1 at the
Emirates Stadium. The Austrian striker equalised with a superb left-footed
strike arrowed into the bottom corner during the second half after Nacho
Monreal had given Arsenal the lead six minutes into the second period with a
volley. But a devastating final ten minute-spell left the Hammers empty
handed, as Alexandre Lacazette struck twice after Aaron Ramsey's cross which
floated into the far corner had given the hosts the lead for a second time.
Arnautovic - whose goal tally for the campaign reached double figures with
his latest strike - expressed his disappointment at the final whistle but
looked at what David Moyes' side can take from the performance. He said:
"There is big disappointment for us, of course - and we have to keep going
for the season - but we could have drawn this game, and in the end there
were mistakes. We know we should clear the second goal. "I think every
player makes a mistake though, and Declan [Rice] is still young and we have
to come back from this. "And we must talk about this game in training and
manage it together. We can take many positives from the game until 80
minutes but then it was disappointing."
The visitors began the north London clash in impressive fashion, creating a
number of chances and almost went in front twice when Arnautovic was set
clear. Shkodran Mustafi was there to deny him at the final hurdle once,
before David Ospina in goal palmed an effort away moments later. Cheikhou
Kouyate also hit the crossbar with a header, while Joao Mario tested the
Colombian between the sticks. After Monreal had fired the Gunners in front,
Arnautovic hit back with a deadly strike, arrowing the ball past the stopper
to level the scores and send the fans into raptures and the Austrian praised
the way his side played, at times, in the derby. "Until the 80 minutes
[mark], we played some very good stuff and had good chances. In the last ten
minutes, we just went over and sometimes this happens against the top teams.
"Against them, we know they go to the end but as I said the second goal was
an individual mistake and after that, we needed to stay organised. "We
couldn't do that and we conceded two more goals and it got away from us.
"Every point is important, so it would have been a good point today. We know
we are still in there, but I can't find any words after losing it at the end
[today]."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes: It was a good performance for 80 minutes
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager David Moyes praised his side's performance up until
the 80-minute mark at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday against Arsenal, before
the Gunners scored three times late on to take the points in a 4-1 Premier
League win. Marko Arnautovic had equalised for the visitors with 26 minutes
remaining on the clock after Nacho Monreal's opener from a corner. But Aaron
Ramsey's cross, which ended up the Hammers' net after a miss-communication
at the back, put the hosts back in the driving seat with eight minutes left
before Alexandre Lacazette put a gloss on the scoreline with a double inside
the final five. Moyes, though, was pleased with the way his team applied
themselves in the London derby up until the point of Ramsey's goal, and
claimed there were certainly positives to take away from the fixture. "To be
fair, great credit goes to our lads for how well they did and how they stuck
at it. Unfortunately, a young player makes a mistake and that's how you
learn; you have to come and get back at it and get better. "I thought we did
a really good job; we contained them for long periods, we played well enough
at times, we just didn't start the second half well enough and they came
back into it. "But look; we have had some good performances today, and today
was a good performance for 80 minutes."
After falling behind, Moyes introduced Chicharito and Manuel Lanzini in
search of a way back into the game, and both were involved in the goal as
the latter set-up Arnautovic to fire past Colombian stopper David Ospina.
And despite that initially benefitting the Hammers, the manager explained
his team may have ultimately paid the price for making the changes.
"Unfortunately, we probably just had too many attacking players on the pitch
and it ruined our balance of making sure we did a defensive job well," he
continued. "But we did have our opportunities too; Marko has been that guy
for us this season, and he's done really well, and he had that couple of
opportunities in the first half too, which I haven't seen back yet, and
Mustafi got back but I thought he would have been able to get a shot away.
"But he did really well. Joe Hart [also] was important; he made two very
good saves. We need them [goalkeepers] to make saves. "He made very good
ones at Chelsea, we had the same today. You expect your goalkeepers to have
lots of difficulties in these games. "Now, I do know that we need more
points to make sure we're safe. If other teams win, we have to make sure we
win ours."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wealthall scores hat-trick as Hammers put seven past Portsmouth
WHUFC.com
An excellent hat-trick for Kelly Wealthall helped West Ham United Ladies
claim an incredible 7-1 victory at Rush Green against Portsmouth. The Irons
took the lead thanks to a Hannah Wheeler header in the first period, before
Wealthall got her first of the game on 25 minutes. Rosie Kmita then made it
three before half-time with a great goal from the edge of the area.
Defender Jasmine Auguste got her first of the season from a corner after
half-time and Wealthall added her second with a cheeky finish on the hour
mark. Portsmouth found their way back into the game as a free-kick crept in
on 80 minutes, before Cara Connatser superbly denied the away side a second
from the penalty spot. Leanne Mabey then netted from another corner before
Wealthall completed her hat-trick late on. It was the away side that came
close to drawing first blood as Portsmouth hit the woodwork direct from a
corner in just the third minute of the contest, although West Ham were
comfortable in clearing the lines. On 14 minutes the Hammers took the lead.
A corner played into the area was well met by defender Wheeler, who headed
into the back of the net. Wealthall and Ellie Zoepfl both came close for
the Irons, with the latter striking the cross-bar with a header, before she
turned provider for the 17-year-old forward. Zoepfl's shot was well saved by
Levett but Wealthall was on hand to coolly tuck the rebound away. The Irons
continued to play beautiful football in the sunshine at Rush Green, and
added a third finish just three minutes before half-time.
Once again Zoepfl was heavily involved and this time her low cross was
missed by all of Portsmouth's defenders. Captain Kmita collected the ball on
the edge of the area, and curled home a sensational effort into the bottom
corner. Ten minutes into the second period Auguste scored her first goal of
the season, with the Hammers again finding success from a set-piece. The
left-back headed into the goal with a looping effort. Just five minutes
later and Karen Ray's side had five! It was a very smart finish from
Wealthall, with the youngster doubling her tally with a cheeky back-heeled
effort, after Zoepfl's shot was saved. Portsmouth found a foothold in the
game on 80 minutes, albeit in mildly controversial scenes, as the linesman
ruled that McLachlan's free-kick had crossed the line. Despite protests from
the West Ham players, the goal was given. It looked like the away side
would add a second just two minutes later after the referee ruled that a
foul had been committed in the box, giving Portsmouth a penalty. However,
Connatser made a sensational stop to deny Panting. Substitute Leanne Mabey
found the goal with a header with five minutes to go, before Wealthall
secured her deserved hat-trick from the same position in the dying embers of
the game.
West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin (Sampson 64'),
Auguste; Georgiou (Mabey 64'), Clark, Stobbs; Zoepfl (Chong 80'), Wealthall,
Kmita (c)
Substitutes: Chong, Burr, Mabey, Sampson
Goals: Wheeler 14', Wealthall 25' 60' 89', Kmita 42', Auguste 55', Mabey 85'
Portsmouth Ladies: Levett; Kirby, Southgate, Currie, Peck (Capel-Watson
64'), Sievwright, Albuery (Perkins 46'), Boswell, Panting, McLachlan, Quayle
Substitutes: Burns, Perkins, E-J May, Becca Bell, Sharna Capel-Watson
Goals: McLachlan 80'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wealthall: Hat-trick heroics are an "amazing feeling"
WHUFC.com
Kelly Wealthall has described her hat-trick heriocs as an 'amazing feeling'
after her three goals helped West Ham United Ladies overcome Portsmouth 7-1.
The 17-year-old's finishes, combined with goals for Hannah Wheeler, Rosie
Kmita, Jasmine Auguste and Leanne Mabey, extended West Ham's unbeaten run to
13 competitive matches in 2108, a run that has seen the Irons score an
incredible 58 goals in that time. Wealthall is delighted to have added
another three goals to her tally in what was difficult warm conditions at
Rush Green, as the Hammers and Portsmouth played under the baking sun. "I'm
so thrilled. Today's match was hard graft. It was a really hot game,"
Wealthall told whufc.com: "I always try to follow shots up in the penalty
box, and that's where my first goal came from. If the goalkeeper parries it
out it's an easy goal, so I try to follow them in and that's what happened.
"For the second one, I was ahead of the ball, but I knew there was no one
behind me, so I just back-heeled it in. It was a little cheeky! And the
third, the header from the corner, I just knew I had to header it downwards
and it had a chance of going in, and it did! It's an amazing feeling!"
The Hammers were beaten by Portsmouth 2-1 back in September and Wealthall
reckons Sunday's incredible win shows how far the team have come since that
contest, with the striker quick to praise the entire team and coaching staff
for their efforts in 2018. She added: "I was saying to Chantelle Mackie
after the match that it's amazing how far we've come. Portsmouth beat us 2-1
in September so to come and win 7-1 today just shows the progress we've
made. It's an unbelievable win and it shows the transformation in our form.
"Results like this show the hard work the girls have put in, the work that
Karen and the coaching team have done with us, and how much we want it.
We're still undefeated in 2018 and it's such a big turnarnound. "All the
effort we've all put in has been worth it and it's been a real show of our
confidence. We've beaten Portsmouth and we could potentially finish the
season above them now. It's massive and we're all so happy."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Three late Arsenal goals meant West Ham United left north London empty
handed on Sunday afternoon after a 4-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. An
Aaron Ramsey strike was followed by two Alexandre Lacazette goals in the
final ten minutes to seal all three points for the hosts, who had been
pegged back by Marko Arnautovic's equaliser with 26 minutes remaining.
Previously, Nacho Monreal had given the Gunners an early second half lead
but David Moyes' men had fought back to get on level terms. Early on in the
London derby, it was the Hammers who looked the more dangerous and likely to
take the lead. Just after the ten minute mark, Edimilson Fernandes was an
inch or two from latching onto Joao Mario's clever pass, but it just evaded
him. That was a sign of things to come for the next ten minutes as the
visitors piled on the pressure. Next, Arnautovic out-muscled Shkodran
Mustafi and broke free down the left, but the Austrian's effort was pushed
clear by goalkeeper David Ospina. Moments later, Cheikhou Kouyate rose
highest in the penalty area from a Joao Mario corner, but could not get a
clean connection on his head, which dropped onto the top of the crossbar and
out of harm's way. But, riding the spell of pressure, Arsene Wenger's men
began to assert their authority and went close when Danny Welbeck curled
wide from 20 yards. The forward had a second opportunity ten minutes later,
nodding a Hector Bellerin centre over the top before Aaron Ramsey smashed
wide on the stroke of half time.
The Gunners' spell of dominance continued after the break and they soon made
it count. Granit Xhaka, who had already caused David Moyes' men problems
with his set-pieces, swung in a corner from the left, and it was met by
Monreal who coolly volleyed into the bottom corner. But the lead lasted just
13 minutes. After a Hammers set-piece, substitute Chicharito kept the ball
alive inside the penalty area, heading back into the danger area as it was
cleared. Eventually, the ball fell for Manuel Lanzini - also brought on as a
sub - who beautifully picked out Arnautovic at the back stick, and the No7 -
putting his goal tally for the season into double figures - did the rest,
smashing low and hard beyond Ospina, who stood no chance from the
left-footed strike. Game on. With 18 minutes remaining, the hosts thought
they had regained the lead, but goalkeeper Joe Hart was there to deny Xhaka,
whose 25-yard strike was heading for the bottom corner. But with eight
minutes remaining, the Gunners' second did come, after a mix-up between Hart
and centre-back Declan Rice. A Ramsey cross, intended for the head of
Lacazette, was left alone by Rice who ducked under the ball, which tucked
into the corner of the net. 2-1. And as the Hammers went in search of a
second equaliser, Arsenal proved too strong on the break and scored twice
more. First, Lacazette fired in at the near post via a deflection off Aaron
Cresswell, before Ramsey laid-off for the Frenchman to smash in his second
in the centre of the box. Game over, and a frustrating finale for Moyes' men
who were ten minutes away from an important Premier League point.
Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny
(Maitland-Niles 45), Iwobi (Aubameyang 70), Ramsey, Welbeck (Chambers 88),
Lacazette
Subs not used: Macey, Mertesacker, Holding, Nelson
Goals: Monreal 51, Ramsey 82, Lacazette 85, 89
Bookings: Xhaka 41, Maitland-Niles 62, Mustafi 74
West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku (Carroll
86), Noble, Kouyate, Fernandes (Chicharito 60), Joao Mario (Lanzini 60),
Arnautovic
Subs not used: Adrian, Evra, Cullen, Hugill
Goal: Arnautovic 64
Bookings: Zabaleta 50, Arnautovic 87
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arnautovic: There were positives to take from Arsenal defeat
WHUFC.com
Marko Arnautovic says West Ham United have to take the positives from
Sunday's Premier League London derby at Arsenal despite losing 4-1 at the
Emirates Stadium. The Austrian striker equalised with a superb left-footed
strike arrowed into the bottom corner during the second half after Nacho
Monreal had given Arsenal the lead six minutes into the second period with a
volley. But a devastating final ten minute-spell left the Hammers empty
handed, as Alexandre Lacazette struck twice after Aaron Ramsey's cross which
floated into the far corner had given the hosts the lead for a second time.
Arnautovic - whose goal tally for the campaign reached double figures with
his latest strike - expressed his disappointment at the final whistle but
looked at what David Moyes' side can take from the performance. He said:
"There is big disappointment for us, of course - and we have to keep going
for the season - but we could have drawn this game, and in the end there
were mistakes. We know we should clear the second goal. "I think every
player makes a mistake though, and Declan [Rice] is still young and we have
to come back from this. "And we must talk about this game in training and
manage it together. We can take many positives from the game until 80
minutes but then it was disappointing."
The visitors began the north London clash in impressive fashion, creating a
number of chances and almost went in front twice when Arnautovic was set
clear. Shkodran Mustafi was there to deny him at the final hurdle once,
before David Ospina in goal palmed an effort away moments later. Cheikhou
Kouyate also hit the crossbar with a header, while Joao Mario tested the
Colombian between the sticks. After Monreal had fired the Gunners in front,
Arnautovic hit back with a deadly strike, arrowing the ball past the stopper
to level the scores and send the fans into raptures and the Austrian praised
the way his side played, at times, in the derby. "Until the 80 minutes
[mark], we played some very good stuff and had good chances. In the last ten
minutes, we just went over and sometimes this happens against the top teams.
"Against them, we know they go to the end but as I said the second goal was
an individual mistake and after that, we needed to stay organised. "We
couldn't do that and we conceded two more goals and it got away from us.
"Every point is important, so it would have been a good point today. We know
we are still in there, but I can't find any words after losing it at the end
[today]."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes: It was a good performance for 80 minutes
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager David Moyes praised his side's performance up until
the 80-minute mark at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday against Arsenal, before
the Gunners scored three times late on to take the points in a 4-1 Premier
League win. Marko Arnautovic had equalised for the visitors with 26 minutes
remaining on the clock after Nacho Monreal's opener from a corner. But Aaron
Ramsey's cross, which ended up the Hammers' net after a miss-communication
at the back, put the hosts back in the driving seat with eight minutes left
before Alexandre Lacazette put a gloss on the scoreline with a double inside
the final five. Moyes, though, was pleased with the way his team applied
themselves in the London derby up until the point of Ramsey's goal, and
claimed there were certainly positives to take away from the fixture. "To be
fair, great credit goes to our lads for how well they did and how they stuck
at it. Unfortunately, a young player makes a mistake and that's how you
learn; you have to come and get back at it and get better. "I thought we did
a really good job; we contained them for long periods, we played well enough
at times, we just didn't start the second half well enough and they came
back into it. "But look; we have had some good performances today, and today
was a good performance for 80 minutes."
After falling behind, Moyes introduced Chicharito and Manuel Lanzini in
search of a way back into the game, and both were involved in the goal as
the latter set-up Arnautovic to fire past Colombian stopper David Ospina.
And despite that initially benefitting the Hammers, the manager explained
his team may have ultimately paid the price for making the changes.
"Unfortunately, we probably just had too many attacking players on the pitch
and it ruined our balance of making sure we did a defensive job well," he
continued. "But we did have our opportunities too; Marko has been that guy
for us this season, and he's done really well, and he had that couple of
opportunities in the first half too, which I haven't seen back yet, and
Mustafi got back but I thought he would have been able to get a shot away.
"But he did really well. Joe Hart [also] was important; he made two very
good saves. We need them [goalkeepers] to make saves. "He made very good
ones at Chelsea, we had the same today. You expect your goalkeepers to have
lots of difficulties in these games. "Now, I do know that we need more
points to make sure we're safe. If other teams win, we have to make sure we
win ours."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wealthall scores hat-trick as Hammers put seven past Portsmouth
WHUFC.com
An excellent hat-trick for Kelly Wealthall helped West Ham United Ladies
claim an incredible 7-1 victory at Rush Green against Portsmouth. The Irons
took the lead thanks to a Hannah Wheeler header in the first period, before
Wealthall got her first of the game on 25 minutes. Rosie Kmita then made it
three before half-time with a great goal from the edge of the area.
Defender Jasmine Auguste got her first of the season from a corner after
half-time and Wealthall added her second with a cheeky finish on the hour
mark. Portsmouth found their way back into the game as a free-kick crept in
on 80 minutes, before Cara Connatser superbly denied the away side a second
from the penalty spot. Leanne Mabey then netted from another corner before
Wealthall completed her hat-trick late on. It was the away side that came
close to drawing first blood as Portsmouth hit the woodwork direct from a
corner in just the third minute of the contest, although West Ham were
comfortable in clearing the lines. On 14 minutes the Hammers took the lead.
A corner played into the area was well met by defender Wheeler, who headed
into the back of the net. Wealthall and Ellie Zoepfl both came close for
the Irons, with the latter striking the cross-bar with a header, before she
turned provider for the 17-year-old forward. Zoepfl's shot was well saved by
Levett but Wealthall was on hand to coolly tuck the rebound away. The Irons
continued to play beautiful football in the sunshine at Rush Green, and
added a third finish just three minutes before half-time.
Once again Zoepfl was heavily involved and this time her low cross was
missed by all of Portsmouth's defenders. Captain Kmita collected the ball on
the edge of the area, and curled home a sensational effort into the bottom
corner. Ten minutes into the second period Auguste scored her first goal of
the season, with the Hammers again finding success from a set-piece. The
left-back headed into the goal with a looping effort. Just five minutes
later and Karen Ray's side had five! It was a very smart finish from
Wealthall, with the youngster doubling her tally with a cheeky back-heeled
effort, after Zoepfl's shot was saved. Portsmouth found a foothold in the
game on 80 minutes, albeit in mildly controversial scenes, as the linesman
ruled that McLachlan's free-kick had crossed the line. Despite protests from
the West Ham players, the goal was given. It looked like the away side
would add a second just two minutes later after the referee ruled that a
foul had been committed in the box, giving Portsmouth a penalty. However,
Connatser made a sensational stop to deny Panting. Substitute Leanne Mabey
found the goal with a header with five minutes to go, before Wealthall
secured her deserved hat-trick from the same position in the dying embers of
the game.
West Ham United Ladies: Connatser; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin (Sampson 64'),
Auguste; Georgiou (Mabey 64'), Clark, Stobbs; Zoepfl (Chong 80'), Wealthall,
Kmita (c)
Substitutes: Chong, Burr, Mabey, Sampson
Goals: Wheeler 14', Wealthall 25' 60' 89', Kmita 42', Auguste 55', Mabey 85'
Portsmouth Ladies: Levett; Kirby, Southgate, Currie, Peck (Capel-Watson
64'), Sievwright, Albuery (Perkins 46'), Boswell, Panting, McLachlan, Quayle
Substitutes: Burns, Perkins, E-J May, Becca Bell, Sharna Capel-Watson
Goals: McLachlan 80'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wealthall: Hat-trick heroics are an "amazing feeling"
WHUFC.com
Kelly Wealthall has described her hat-trick heriocs as an 'amazing feeling'
after her three goals helped West Ham United Ladies overcome Portsmouth 7-1.
The 17-year-old's finishes, combined with goals for Hannah Wheeler, Rosie
Kmita, Jasmine Auguste and Leanne Mabey, extended West Ham's unbeaten run to
13 competitive matches in 2108, a run that has seen the Irons score an
incredible 58 goals in that time. Wealthall is delighted to have added
another three goals to her tally in what was difficult warm conditions at
Rush Green, as the Hammers and Portsmouth played under the baking sun. "I'm
so thrilled. Today's match was hard graft. It was a really hot game,"
Wealthall told whufc.com: "I always try to follow shots up in the penalty
box, and that's where my first goal came from. If the goalkeeper parries it
out it's an easy goal, so I try to follow them in and that's what happened.
"For the second one, I was ahead of the ball, but I knew there was no one
behind me, so I just back-heeled it in. It was a little cheeky! And the
third, the header from the corner, I just knew I had to header it downwards
and it had a chance of going in, and it did! It's an amazing feeling!"
The Hammers were beaten by Portsmouth 2-1 back in September and Wealthall
reckons Sunday's incredible win shows how far the team have come since that
contest, with the striker quick to praise the entire team and coaching staff
for their efforts in 2018. She added: "I was saying to Chantelle Mackie
after the match that it's amazing how far we've come. Portsmouth beat us 2-1
in September so to come and win 7-1 today just shows the progress we've
made. It's an unbelievable win and it shows the transformation in our form.
"Results like this show the hard work the girls have put in, the work that
Karen and the coaching team have done with us, and how much we want it.
We're still undefeated in 2018 and it's such a big turnarnound. "All the
effort we've all put in has been worth it and it's been a real show of our
confidence. We've beaten Portsmouth and we could potentially finish the
season above them now. It's massive and we're all so happy."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 22
Daily WHUFC News - 22nd April 2018
Arsenal v West Ham United: All you need to know
WHUFC.com
West Ham United visit Arsenal at the Emirates in a crucial match in the
Premier League.
Read on for all the information you need ahead of this weekend's contest.
Where and when?
The Hammers travel to Emirates Stadium to play the Gunners on Sunday 22
April 2018.
The contest is scheduled for a 1:30pm kick-off.
How to follow:
This match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Coverage begins
at 12:30pm.
Channels: Sky Sports Premier League
Live match updates will be provided through the official West Ham Twitter
account.
You can also follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com.
You can also follow the match on our official Instagram, Facebook and
Snapchat channels.
Team news:
Manager David Moyes has revealed that Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini have
continued their comeback in training this week, after the pair returned to
the field against Stoke City. James Collins is not far off from a return,
while Pedro Obiang could feature again before the end of the season.
What they say: "Arsenal is certainly a game we can get something out of. We
will work hard and give everything to get a result." Edimilson Fernandes
Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant Referees: Harry Lennard and Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
How to get there:
Arsenal (Piccadilly Line) Finsbury Park (Victoria, Piccadilly Lines)
Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line, North London Line) King's Cross is the
main connecting station
By Train
Holloway Road station will be exit-only before and after matches with pre
match eastbound trains non-stopping. Drayton Park is also closed on match
days
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rice: If we can put pressure on Arsenal we stand a good chance
WHUFC.com
Declan Rice says the Hammers should head to Arsenal with a fearless attitude
on Sunday as they look for the three points that would go a long way to
securing their Premier League status. Having taken five points from their
last three games, the Hammers have displayed a growing confidence in recent
weeks and Rice believes that should stand them in good stead in north
London. West Ham were unfortunate not to defeat the Gunners at London
Stadium in December when Chicharito struck the crossbar in the final minute,
so the young defender sees no reason why David Moyes' men can't repeat their
victory at Arsenal from the 2015/16 campaign. "We shouldn't go there with
anything to fear," he said. "We've got a game plan – they're on a run at the
moment that they're not too happy with and they'll have the Europa League to
think about too. It's going to be a good game and we desperately need the
three points. "If you go there and put the pressure on I think you stand a
very good chance. Arnie's in top form and it's good to have Manu and Andy
Carroll back – it's great strength for all of us."
From a personal point of view, the 19-eyar-old is still pinching himself at
the vast top flight experience he has gained this season. "It's been a crazy
year for me to be honest," he continued. "This time last year we were
talking about looking at loan options for this season, but I came back for
pre-season, got the call-up for the tour, did well there, and that's what
has led on to this year. "it's always been my dream to play football in the
Premier League and to be doing it at 19 is crazy. I've just got to keep my
head down, keep working and not let it get to you. That's the main thing.
"You have to know where you've come from, remember the people that have got
you here and there's no need to get big headed or big time because it could
all stop at any time."
Rice illustrated his meteoric rise perfectly this week by posting an image
on social media showing him meeting Pablo Zabaleta as a fan less than four
years ago, alongside another of them as teammates from the Stoke game this
week. He explained: "That picture with Pablo was taken at Rush Green!
Argentina came here to train before they played Croatia at the Boleyn Ground
and I think the whole of Dagenham turned up! "I was there in my school
uniform and school backpack and managed to get a pic with Zaba. I was going
through my phone the other day and found it so I thought it would be good to
do a little picture, because me and him get on well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll: I want more of that goalscoring feeling
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll is ready to take out the frustration of a stop-start season on
the Hammers' final four opponents as they target Premier League safety. The
No9 returned from a 13-game lay-off with an ankle injury in style on Monday,
coming off the bench to notch his side's last-gasp leveller against Stoke
City. Now, as the Hammers enter the finishing straight still needing a
handful of points to secure their top-flight spot, Carroll wants to
experience that goalscoring feeling again. "It was nice to get a goal on
Monday, because I've been out a long time," he explained. "When you're 1-0
down and you get an equaliser it's a great feeling. "It's been a frustrating
season. It's tough [when you're injured] and you're working alone – you just
want to be on the pitch. "When I've been out I just try to get around the
lads as much as possible for all the games and be there to support them as
much as I can. "We're feeling good. We've had a couple of good games with
good results and picked up points. "It was important to get the point
against Stoke to continue that and now we need to few more to get safe."
Carroll has a good record against the Gunners, having scored a hat-trick
against them in the final Boleyn Ground meeting, and he believes David Moyes
will have the team set up to get a positive result. He added: "It would be
nice for any of us to get a hat-trick on Sunday! Just a few points would be
nice. That hat-trick in 2016 is a good memory. We didn't win the game, but
we didn't lose it either, so it was good. "It's been very good working under
David Moyes. His coaching has been very good and he's brought a lot of
different strategies for us. "Every game is different and he's brought that
to the pitch. I've been enjoying it and so have the lads "If we can go to
Arsenal and get the three points to hopefully secure us in the Premier
League for next season, that would be a great result."
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Betway Insider's View of the Opposition: Arsenal
WHUFC.com
The goalless draw played out between the Hammers and Arsenal back in
December felt like an anomaly at the time, and that impression has only
strengthened in the months since. London derbies between West Ham and
Arsenal don't tend to disappoint, with ten of their previous eleven meetings
before the start of this season featuring a minimum of three, and average of
four, goals. And, based on the goalscoring form of both sides since the
reverse fixture, another stalemate on Sunday is unlikely. The Hammers have
failed to score in just one of their 16 league matches since, while
Arsenal's only two blanks during the same period came against Tottenham and
Manchester City. The Emirates has also seen plenty of entertainment
recently, with every match in all competitions there this calendar year
serving up at least three goals. While the Gunners' home form is impressive
– winning 13 of 17 league games on their own patch this season – creditable
draws away to Spurs and Chelsea suggest that West Ham are more than capable
of achieving at least a point against the Premier League's sixth-best side.
When it comes to working out who might find the net for the away side, it
makes sense to look beyond the usual candidates. Marko Arnautovic remains
influential, but has only scored in one of his last six matches, while four
of Javier Hernandez's last five appearances have come off the bench. That
was the case against Stoke on Monday, though it was another striker in Andy
Carroll who ultimately provided the impact required to rescue a point with a
fine finish on his return from injury.
The No9 has scored West Ham's last four goals against Arsenal – including a
memorable hat-trick in the last season at the Boleyn – so looks a good bet
to provide the firepower required to get the better of the Gunners' famously
fragile defence.
Recommended bets
West Ham double chance and BTTS – 12/5
Over 3.5 goals – 6/5
Andy Carroll to score – 12/5
BACK THIS #BETYOURWAY AT 9/1
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Ray: Ladies must apply themselves to end season on a high
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies head coach Karen Ray admits the thought of ending the
season unbeaten has been considered but insists her team are completely
focused on the next task - Portsmouth Ladies at home on Sunday. The Hammers
completed a cup double last weekend with a 5-0 victory over Luton Town
Ladies to lift the FA WPL Plate, having also won the Women's Cup ten days
prior against Charlton Athletic. The result means the Irons have now gone
12 games unbeaten, winning ten of them including the last seven. It's a run
that started with the first game of 2018, with Ray's side keeping ten
clean-sheets in that time and scoring 51 goals. And, with three games
remaining in the Premier League Southern Division, Ray confessed that the
thought of ending the season without another defeat had been considered.
The head coach insisted that her, and her team's, primary focus was on
achieving a good performance when Portsmouth Ladies visit Rush Green on
Sunday. "I would be lying if I said it hadn't crossed our minds, but it was
a momentary thought," Ray said, when asked about an unbeaten end to 2018.
"We all know we have to take one game at a time, our success is down to our
accountability during training and getting carried away with statistics
isn't something we will stumble over. "All three games are going to be
difficult, starting with Portsmouth. They are all strong teams who
undoubtedly want to be the club who ends our run. As a team, we must use
that as our fuel. We are more than capable of finishing these season on a
high but only if we apply ourselves and do the little things."
Goals from Ellie Zoepfl. Amber Stobbs, Kelly Wealthall and Rosie Kmita
secured the WPL Plate for the Hammers on Sunday and Ray took the opportunity
to praise her team's tenacity. The General Manager also offered praised to
Luton Town for their efforts in the final. Ray continued: "The biggest
positive is the recognition the players have rightly earned. Ultimately,
they are the ones who show up to every session with great intensity and work
harder than any group I have worked with. Now, they get to see all of that
effort come to fruition. "Luton proved to be a tough challenge, they really
showed why they deserved to be in the final. They were physically strong,
tenacious at times and their goalkeeper Kezia Hassall certainly had a
fantastic game. It wasn't our finest performance, but we showed how we can
still win games when we dig deep and stick together. "
With the possibility of making it 13 games without a loss this Sunday
against Portsmouth, Ray reckons she, her coaching team, and the players have
found the perfect formula in calendar year, since she took charge. "I knew
we had a winning group but we just had to apply ourselves," Ray added. "With
Jack Sullivan's support and hard work, I was in a position to really focus
on the team, and hopefully I have repaid his trust in me. "When you combine
a group of people who are willing to graft, battle and trust each other, the
shift in mentality changes, and we are rich in people like that.'
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Trott: The season isn't over
WHUFC.com
Nathan Trott insisted the season isn't over for the West Ham United Academy
players despite their Premier League 2 campaign coming to an end on Friday
night with a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. The Gunners were crowned Division 1
champions at London Stadium with their victory to round off the term, but
for players like goalkeeper Trott who are keen to impress on the first team
scene, the hard work continues. With stopper Joe Hart unavailable to face
Manchester City in the Premier League next week, young keeper Trott is set
to be on the substitutes' bench for a second time this campaign. And the
19-year-old is now focused – after an impressive performance between the
sticks against Arsenal – on doing enough to catch manager David Moyes' eye.
He said: "The season is not over for us yet; Hopefully now I get
opportunities to train with the first team and hopefully I can do that and
at least get on the bench for them. "It's always good that you're getting
noticed against the top teams like I did against Arsenal on Friday and it's
always good to keep the good form going and putting in good personal
performances. "It's been a really positive season; we've beaten big teams –
Man United, Everton, Liverpool, Man City… We've competed with Chelsea and we
have a lot of points and one of our objectives was to finish top six and
hopefully we have done enough to have done that. "It was a difficult game on
Friday and Arsenal are a really good team on really good form. First half
was a bit of a slow start and we gained focus in the second half and that's
when we got the goal. "And now our season is over after a really good year
but we have to stay focused because trying to impress the first team manager
has to be the aim for players like myself before the summer begins."
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Westley: It's been a season full of positives
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23 boss Terry Westley labelled the campaign as a whole for
the Academy of Football 'a season of positives' and said Friday's defeat to
Arsenal in Premier League 2 Division 1 will not cloud that. The Gunners were
3-1 winners at London Stadium, and as a result were crowned Division 1
champions, thanks to goals from Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah – who grabbed
a double. Domingos Quina's brilliant second half strike reduced the deficit
but the visitors grabbed all three points, on a night that was about
celebrating the successes of the Academy, according to Westley. He said:
"One game doesn't cloud our overall development and let's be clear; I
couldn't be more proud of the staff and the players for this season. "There
have been so many plusses for us; players have been on loan this second half
of the season, playing at high levels. Martin Samuelsen, who was 21 last
week, has played over 50 Football League games. "Moses Makasi has gone to
Plymouth, done well and they've all gained valuable experience at a very
good level. "We did brilliantly to reach the knockout-rounds of the
Checkatrade Trophy; we finished the game [against Stoke] with Mark Noble,
Josh Cullen and Declan Rice all on the pitch together, a proud moment for
the Academy. "Now, our season comes to a close but the first team still
have five fixtures and the players have to put their foot on the pedal once
again to see if they can get 20 minutes here and there before the end of the
season. "We have three tours as an Academy as well; the season is far from
finished. The players still have to work hard, and over the summer too."
Arsenal were impressive from the outset as they went in search of
silverware, and the Hammers had goalkeeper Nathan Trott after a string of
fine saves in the first half kept the score at 2-0 before the break. And
despite the hosts coming out and pressurising their opponents at the start
of the second period, Steve Gatting's Gunners were crowned champions at full
time. "I think a big congratulations goes to Arsenal," continued Westley.
"You are where you are at the end of the season, and it tells the story. In
an attacking sense, they are a handful and have been for every team. Many
congratulations for them. "From our point of view, that was the difference;
their attacking players, their pace and power really made the difference. In
general in the game, we had more of the ball and passed it nicely. "We made
opportunities, but every time the game turned over, they looked dangerous.
"But tonight was about celebrating our season; because it has been a great
season for us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arsenal v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st April 2018
By: Preview Percy
When we met up with Preview Percy the other day he was wearing shorts. A
most disconcerting sight to behold on a full stomach. Thankfully rain is
forecast. In the meantime here's his look at Sunday's visit to Arsenal.....
Next up we travel to the Library where we will be hosted by Arsenal .
Kick-off is 1.30pm on Sunday 22nd. At the moment. Apologies for being so
vague but this fixture has been shifted so many times in recent weeks it
wouldn't surprise me if it had already been played and nobody had told us. I
think the one thing I can guarantee is that it won't be played at 20:00 hrs
on Monday 23rd April. Which is the time and date printed on the ticket. Well
on my ticket anyway. Yours may be different. As the match will be taking
place on a Sunday, probably, It seems that there is little in the way of
engineering work in the manor, presumably because we are away. Some early
morning stuff and in the evening the ginger line to Highbury & Islington
faces a bit of disruption but we'll all have gone home by then. Probably.
So good old Arsenal then. Damn them. In an unusual state of preparedness I
had most of this written and ready to give to the short chubby one pending a
couple of updates. So what happens? Wenger goes and announces his
resignation from the end of the season. Apart from anything else that will
knacker the Wenger hokey-cokey song, not that I can do all the actions at my
age. I'm not sure how old Wenger is but if he is retiring he may well
qualify for free prescription spectacles, in which case he would be well
advised to get shot of those ones he has been wearing for the last 22 years.
He hasn't seen a thing through them in all that time. All sorts of names are
being linked with the soon to be vacant post with the front-runner being
former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, the state of whose eyesight is
unknown at present. There is of course one very, very large down side to
Wenger's departure. I refer, of course, to the fact that the resignation
will make Piers Morgan happy, something of which no sane human being could
approve.
So where will the myopic one leave the club after 22 years? Well they
currently sit in 6th place with 54 points from the 33 played to date. This
is before any results come in on Saturday mind. After the midweek fixtures
that's 9 points (less a game in hand) behind Chelsea who occupy the
automatic Thursday Night League spot, though that particular place is, as
ever, dependent on who wins the Cup, the direction of the wind and the
timing of the Spring equinox. They are, of course, still in this year's
Thursday Night League, hoping to win the thing and thereby qualify for the
so-called Champions League. That particular plan took a bit of a dent when
they got drawn against Atletico Madrid who are by far and away the strongest
club left in the competition. Especially as the Spanish side will get to
play the second leg at home, something that is usually perceived as an
advantage.
The first leg of that particular tie is on Thursday which may or may not
have a bearing on the sort of side that they field on Sunday/Monday/whenever
Sky tell us. The likelihood of qualifying for Europe via the league will
depend to a large degree on Southampton not winning the Cup in which case
qualification could go down to 7th. That's probably the most likely scenario
so there's no real need to worry too much about Burnley who prior to
Saturday's fixtures, are two points behind. On the other hand should
Southampton do the unthinkable they could face the very real prospect of not
being in Europe next term. With the Chelsea v Southampton semi-final not
taking place until after this match Wenger will have a decision to make come
Sunday morning. By the sound of things from interviews given this week it
looks like this match is down the pecking order so that even if we may not
be looking at a side of League Cup level it is likely that there will be a
few rested.
Their problem lies in the disparity between their home and away form. The
work experience kid of as yet to be determined gender wearing a hoodie who
seems only able to communicate with some strange grunting noises knocked up
something on his or her laptop that showed different league tables for home
and away. Form. If home games only were included they would be third in the
table behind the child poisoners and the human rights abusers of Salford and
Manchester respectively. On the road however they would be 12th. For
information we would be 12th and 15th respectively. Oh and on the road
Arsenal have picked up precisely one more point than us (though we have
played a game more away from home. They must be unused to noise, one
imagines. Of course, their away form is a bit academic given that this match
will take place in the peace and quiet of the library. However it does give
a pointer to why all is doom and gloom up there at the moment.
There had been rumblings of course in the run up to the transfer window.
Just about anyone who was any good, and plenty who weren't was being linked
with a move away from Islington. In the end the main departures were
Sanchez, who chose the child poisoners over the human rights abusers,
Giroud, who took his daft beard to the money laundry and Debuchy who they
had forgotten was there anyway. He took his mutually agreed cancelled
contract to Saint Etienne where his defensive partnership with Sarah
Cracknell is expected to take time to bed down.
Incoming on the radar was Mkhitarian who arrived as part of the Sanchez
deal, striker Aubameyang who arrived from Borussia Dortmund for a cool £56m
and a rookie defender in the form of Konstantinos Mavropanos, who cost £1.8m
from Greek outfit PAS Gianina (no me neither).
Being active in the January markets is unusual for Wenger – and I'm sure the
conspiracy theorists will spot the Dortmund link between possible new boss
Tuchel and Aubameyang who I vaguely recall was probably one of those French
strikers Sullivan was definitely going to sign until their club raised the
possibility that a transfer fee might be payable.
Aubameyang himself is likely to cause Wenger a bit of a selection headache.
On the one hand you'd definitely want to pick a striker with six in his
first 8 Premier League games on form alone. However, Wenger did leave out a
number of regulars against the Geordies last weekend, presumably with the
Thursday Night League in mind. Aubameyang himself is ineligible for Thursday
so the quandry is whether or not to give his place to someone who will be in
the squad for Athletico to give them a bit of match fitness.
Well Monday night saw yet another appalling and unacceptable performance
from the match officials. Not that you would have noticed had you been
following the instructions issued by the Baroness in her twitter account,
which, with 15 minutes to kick-off was more concerned with drumming up
support for her latest foray into the world of television. Sorry Baroness I
was busy. Just as I will be for every other episode of whatever it is you
want me to watch. Priorities you see.
Meanwhile for those of you who could drag yourselves away from the latest
bunch of people trying to succeed in business by taking advice from someone
who has spent a career working for people successful in business, for the
second time in a week ref Oliver had a dreadful game that he will get away
with because in amongst it all he managed to get a couple of high-profile
decisions right; something that again distracts from the basic inadequacies
of his game. As with the now infamous Real Madrid v Juventus match Oliver
was quite happy to ignore cynical foul after cynical foul without bothering
to look for his cards, the production of which might have nipped the
cynicism in the bud. In a match where Stoke gave away 21 fouls, most of
which were designed to break up play and prevent shots, it says everything
you want to know about the appalling state that English refereeing has
gotten itself into that the first caution of the evening went to one (only
one mind) of the four or five players that went towards the crowd to
celebrate their goal. The first two disallowed goals were fair enough-ish (I
look forward to seeing us presented with the 1981 League Cup now that it has
been clearly established once and for all that Clive Thomas is a cheat and a
liar). The third one however should have either been allowed or given as a
penalty.
The worst thing of all is that now FIFA have wised -up and have realised how
bloody terrible our referees are you stand a good chance of having to share
a beach with one of them this summer. One day, maybe not soon but it will
happen as sure as eggs is eggs, an English referee will be caught up in a
match-fixing scandal. Then someone will look back and try to analyse how we
got to a position where matches could be fixed and nobody would notice. And
they will put out one of those big reports much beloved of Government select
committees and everyone will be amazed that nobody did anything to prevent
it.
Back to the current situation and we can be grateful that Stoke – who
averaged a foul every three minutes or so – did not inflict further damage
to add to our injury list, which is comprised of the following:
1) James Collins (hamstring). Earlier on this week it looked like he
was getting closer by the hour and had a 75% chance of making the bench. I
then re-checked before submitting and lo and behold that chance had gone
down to 25%. I'll take that as a "no" then.
2) Pedro Obiang (knee) Next Term
3) Winston Reid (knee) Next Term
4) Michael Antonio – (hamstring) – due to have had an op by now. Next
term
5) Sam Byram – (ankle) Next term
All of which means that neither Carroll nor Lanzini picked up anything nasty
on Monday night. Well not at the ground anyway. Post-match the manager's
concerns for each were contrasting. For Carroll the main worry was match
fitness, everyone being more than happy that the broken foot had fully
healed. For Lanzini there was still an element of shepherding the knee
ligament back to full fitness. For that reason I suspect that both will be
on the bench at the start of this one. In fact it wouldn't be a great
surprise were we to start a third consecutive match with the same starting
XI, something which is almost unheard of given our injury record.
And onwards we move to the land of predictions. Of course the already iffy
atmosphere at the place will have had a whole can of aerosol uncertainty
sprayed over the place with Friday's announcement of the forthcoming
managerial change. It would be hilarious were we to get the win that would
confuse the hell out of Piers Morgan (is it Wenger's fault for going or
staying?) but for all their problems their home form is decent. If they put
out a League Cup side there's a chance of our first XI (or as near as we can
get to one) doing a number on them but I think that if the head rules the
heart here we would expect to get beaten. On the other hand the sun is
shining, the birds are singing, and even Matron has a smile on her face. So
with all the logic of someone seeking business advice as part of a tv show
(you do realise that the tv company wants you to fail spectacularly don't
you?) I will go for a draw as we inch slowly to safety with all the speed of
Preview Alastair getting a round in. Make that a 1-1 please Mr Winstone and
I'll settle up with you on my way back from the Swan and Superinjunction.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At The Library: Lost 1-0 (League Cup Quarter Final –
December 2017)
Having enjoyed the heroics of the previous round we meekly shouldered arms
in this one. Welbeck's effort just before the interval was enough, even
though Carroll and Sakho were given 25 minutes apiece to turn things around.
Referee: Lee Mason
Showed a degree of common sense in the debacle that was Burnley at home when
he would quite legitimately have dismissed Noble for his altercation with a
supporter. I suspect he has been told off accordingly by the powers that be
and don't be surprised if the usual village idiot turns up this time.
Danger Man: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
On form at the moment. Depends on what sort of side Wenger picks I suppose.
Percy's Poser
Last week we asked you what major problem did Josiah Wedgewood have to
overcome to set up his company in the Potteries. Congratulations to Mrs
Bridget Arnold of Dartford for knowing that Mr Wedgewood, having lost a leg
to smallpox, was completely unable to operate a potter's wheel, something of
a potential handicap for a budding ceramics entrepreneur. Thankfully back
then there were no tv programmes from which to seek business advice for the
entertainment of others so he just got on with it, rather successfully one
would say. Well done Bridget!
For this week's poser we ask you a two-part question: 1) What is Arsene
Wenger's current spectacles prescription? And 2) What should it be? First
prize is one of those dreadful "magic-eye" books that were so popular all
those years ago. You know, the ones that you stare at for an hour and still
fail to see the 3D picture you are supposed to see, ending up with an image
of a badly drawn dolphin riding what appears to be a unicycle imprinted on
your retinas. And a splitting headache.
Good luck everyone!
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Exclusive: Andy Carroll says England rumours are 'flattering' but he's heard
it all before
Last Updated: 22/04/18 7:53am
SSN
Andy Carroll says it is flattering to be tipped for an England call-up for
the World Cup, but insists he has heard the rumours all too often over the
years. Carroll returned from a three-month absence to score West Ham's
equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Stoke on Monday Night Football, just his
third goal of a season blighted by injury. He hasn't played for England
since October 2012, and though the 29-year-old has been tenuously tipped as
England's fourth striker at Russia in the summer, Carroll says he's heard it
all before. He told Sky Sports: "At the beginning it was flattering, but
it's happened now for a few years. "Every time I play, it's the same
rumours. Every time I score, it's the same rumours. So it's one of those
things you just deal with now. "It is nice, obviously, to be spoken about in
that way, but it's been said for a long time now. "I'm just concentrating on
playing, scoring goals and staying safe with West Ham. Then what comes will
come."
Carroll has missed large chunks of the last two seasons with West Ham having
suffered ankle, groin and knee injuries. He could make his first start since
January against Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates, live on Sky Sports
Premier League, and Carroll opened up on how frustrating it has been both
mentally and physically to watch on from the sidelines. "It's frustrating,
I've had a lot of injuries in my career, and it's tough, it's hard being
away from the team, not a part of it. "It's really difficult to work alone.
I just try to get involved with the lads as much as possible, because it's
difficult just being by yourself in the gym. "I try to get around the lads
as much as possible, I'm at all the games, there as much as I can to support
them, not just playing football. "I've been working hard, it has been tough,
mentally tough as well. Working with the physio in the gym, or one-on-one on
the pitch. "It's tough, especially when you look across the other side of
the pitch and the lads are having fun, doing what you want to do, playing
football, and I'm sat with a couple of weights on my back, so it's good to
be back."
Watch the full interview with Andy Carroll on Super Sunday as Arsenal face
West Ham, live on Sky Sports Premier League
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MATCH PREVIEW: ARSENAL V WEST HAM
By Dan Coker 21 Apr 2018 at 08:00
WTID
Blast from the past
2nd November 1991 – U2 were number one with 'The Fly', Homicide was in UK
cinemas and, three days later, Robert Maxwell was found dead at the age of
68. Meanwhile, Billy Bonds' West Ham United were sealing a 1-0 victory over
Arsenal in front of 33,539 at Highbury.
George Graham's First Division champions, including future Hammers Ian
Wright and Nigel Winterburn, put their newly-promoted visitors under
pressure in the first half but the Hammers started to have breakaway moments
in the second period, in a match which was Michael Thomas' last in the
Gunners' midfield before his switch to Liverpool. Anders Limpar saw a
dipping volley from the edge of the penalty area tipped over by 'Ludo'
Miklosko after the interval while Mike Small's stinging effort from Kevin
Keen's pass was touched over by David Seaman at the other end. 29-year-old
Small, a £400,000 summer signing from Brighton, went into this game having
scored 12 goals in his first 18 matches as a Hammer.
As the game started to open up, the Irons went in front through their
in-form striker Small (pictured). Fellow summer recruit, left-back Mitchell
Thomas, emerged with the ball from a scramble on the edge of the Hammers'
box and carried forward beyond halfway before finding marauding right-back
Tim Breacker. He played a one-two with captain Ian Bishop and passed inside
to Small on the edge of the Gunners' penalty area. Small turned away from
his markers before firing a blistering left-foot drive beyond the dive of
Seaman and into the Clock End net in front of the visiting Claret and Blue
Army.
Arsenal pressed for an equaliser in the final ten minutes but the Hammers
still had their moments on the counter attack with the pace of Stuart Slater
a constant threat. Slater broke down the right late on and found Keen with a
great chance to double the lead but his effort could only bobble wide. The
action from this game, including Small's winner and an interview with West
Ham centre-half Tony Gale, can be viewed in my video below.
The Gunners would finish fourth in 1991/92, while the Hammers would end the
campaign bottom and relegated. Leeds won the league and Liverpool won the FA
Cup. Small would end the campaign as the Hammers' top scorer with 18 goals
from 51 matches. Julian Dicks, who didn't return from a serious knee injury
until December, was voted Hammer of the Year, with Steve Potts runner-up.
Arsenal: David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Colin Pates, Andy Linighan, Nigel
Winterburn, Paul Merson, Michael Thomas (Perry Groves), David Rocastle,
Anders Limpar, Ian Wright, Alan Smith.
West Ham United: Ludek Miklosko, Tim Breacker, Steve Potts, Tony Gale,
Mitchell Thomas, Kevin Keen, George Parris, Ian Bishop, Stuart Slater, Mike
Small, Frank McAvennie.
Club Connections
A large group of players have turned out for West Ham United and Arsenal.
Carl Jenkinson is currently on loan at Birmingham from the Gunners having
spent two of the previous three seasons on loan at the Hammers. Other
players to have represented both clubs include:
Goalkeepers: Richard Wright, Manuel Almunia, Jim Standen.
Defenders: Matthew Upson, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Walford, Bob Stevenson.
Midfielders: Stewart Robson, Liam Brady, Yossi Benayoun, Archie Macauley,
David Bentley, Luis Boa Morte, James Bigden, Roddy McEachrane, Jimmy
Jackson, Alex Song, Henri Lansbury, Fred Kemp, Fredrik Ljungberg.
Strikers: Harry Lewis, Bobby Gould, Jeremie Aliadiere, Dick Burgess, John
Blackwood, Fergie Hunt, Dr Jimmy Marshall, Kaba Diawara, Jimmy Bloomfield,
Charlie Satterthwaite, Marouane Chamakh, Billy Linward, Lee Chapman, Tommy
Lee, Ian Wright, Peter Kyle, John Hartson, Stan Earle, John Radford, Davor
Suker.
Ron Greenwood was also assistant manager at Arsenal before becoming manager
of West Ham.
Today's focus though falls on a former goalkeeper for both the Gunners and
the Hammers. Charles James Ambler was born on the 13th August 1868 in
Alverstoke, Hampshire and began his career at Bostall Rovers before signing
for Royal Arsenal in 1891, shortly before they turned professional and were
renamed Woolwich Arsenal. As an amateur, he also turned out for Clapton,
Dartford and Luton.
After struggling to make it with the Gunners, Ambler became part of a select
club to swap Arsenal for Tottenham in the summer of 1894 but he returned to
Woolwich Arsenal in November 1895. He made his only league appearance for
Arsenal in a 5-1 Second Division defeat to Newton Heath (the club who went
on to be Manchester United) on 30th November 1895. He again left Arsenal for
Tottenham in the summer of 1896, remaining with Spurs for four years before
joining Gravesend United in 1900. He was shortly on the move again, this
time to New Brompton (the club now known as Gillingham) before signing for
West Ham United in 1901.
Ambler (pictured) was reserve team goalkeeper with the Hammers but won a
place in the limelight almost by default when an administrative mistake
meant the Irons were to host Tottenham in a Southern League match at the
Memorial Grounds on the same day as welcoming Leyton for an FA Cup third
qualifying match. With the prospect of larger gate receipts from the league
game, West Ham ceded home advantage in the Cup and sent the reserves to
Leyton – the league was taking priority over the cup even back at the start
of the 20th century! 33-year-old Ambler kept a clean sheet in the match at
Leyton on his competitive West Ham debut in a 1-0 win on 2nd November 1901
while the first team lost to Spurs by the same scoreline at the Memorial
Grounds in the league.
As a consequence, the West Ham management decided to rest regular custodian
Hughie Monteith for the next league match, with Ambler making his only
Southern League appearance for the Hammers the following week against QPR,
on 9th November 1901. The Irons lost 2-1 at Rangers' Latimer Road home in
North Kensington – incidentally, the West Ham side had to change in the
Latimer Arms pub and run down the road to the pitch! It was to prove to be
Ambler's second and last competitive appearance for West Ham United.
Monteith was back in goal the following week when the first team were dumped
out of the FA Cup at home by Essex village side Grays.
Ambler joined Millwall at the end of the 1901/02 season, his only campaign
with the Hammers. In later life he changed his name to Charles James Toby –
Charles Ambler passed away in 1952 at the age of either 83 or 84.
Referee
Sunday's referee will be Lee Mason from Greater Manchester. Mason's three
games officiating the Hammers this season have all ended in defeat. Most
recently, he took charge of our 3-0 home defeat to Burnley last month, while
the other two matches were both 3-2 defeats: at Southampton in August when
he failed to send off Dusan Tadic but did give Marko Arnautovic a red card,
before awarding the Saints a match-winning penalty in added time; and
against Newcastle at home in December when he awarded the Hammers a penalty
only for Andre Ayew's effort to be saved. Mason refereed the Hammers once in
2016/17 – the 1-0 home win over Hull when he awarded the Hammers a
match-winning penalty – but took charge of two West Ham matches the previous
season, those being the 0-0 draw at Swansea in December 2015 and the 3-0 win
at West Brom in April 2016.
He refereed three Premier League matches involving the Hammers in 2014/15 –
the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, the 1-0 home win over Sunderland and the 2-1
defeat at Old Trafford when he sent off Wayne Rooney, denied the Hammers a
penalty when Morgan Amalfitano's cross struck Radamel Falcao's arm and
disallowed Kevin Nolan's last-minute strike for a marginal offside. Mason
was also the man in the middle for our 1-0 FA Cup win at Bristol City in
January 2015. He also officiated in four of our games in 2013/14, sending
off two of our players (Mark Noble against Everton and James Tomkins at
Cardiff) and disallowing a perfectly good Stewart Downing equaliser at
Crystal Palace. He also sent off Mark Noble at Birmingham in December 2009.
Possible line-ups
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who announced yesterday that he will step
down in the summer after 22 years as Gunners boss, will be without the
injured Santi Cazorla and Henrikh Mkhitaryan while Jack Wilshere faces a
late fitness test. Aaron Ramsey is available after a shin injury. Wenger may
make changes with Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at home
against Atletico Madrid in mind – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied for
that match so is likely to face the Hammers instead, having scored six goals
in his opening eight Premier League games for Arsenal.
West Ham United are without Sam Byram, Winston Reid, James Collins, Pedro
Obiang and Michail Antonio. Italian centre-half Angelo Ogbonna faces a late
fitness test on a knee injury. The Hammers have scored in each of their last
nine away league games, their joint-longest run in a single Premier League
season since 1999/00. David Moyes has never won a match in league or cup
away to Arsenal, either at Highbury or The Emirates. West Ham's tally of
five Premier League victories at Arsenal is bettered only by Manchester
United (eight) and Liverpool (seven).
Possible Arsenal XI: Cech; Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal; Xhaka,
Elneny; Iwobi, Willock, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Possible West Ham United XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell,
Masuaku; Kouyate, Noble, Mario; Lanzini, Arnautovic.
Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United visit Arsenal at the Emirates in a crucial match in the
Premier League.
Read on for all the information you need ahead of this weekend's contest.
Where and when?
The Hammers travel to Emirates Stadium to play the Gunners on Sunday 22
April 2018.
The contest is scheduled for a 1:30pm kick-off.
How to follow:
This match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Coverage begins
at 12:30pm.
Channels: Sky Sports Premier League
Live match updates will be provided through the official West Ham Twitter
account.
You can also follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com.
You can also follow the match on our official Instagram, Facebook and
Snapchat channels.
Team news:
Manager David Moyes has revealed that Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini have
continued their comeback in training this week, after the pair returned to
the field against Stoke City. James Collins is not far off from a return,
while Pedro Obiang could feature again before the end of the season.
What they say: "Arsenal is certainly a game we can get something out of. We
will work hard and give everything to get a result." Edimilson Fernandes
Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant Referees: Harry Lennard and Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
How to get there:
Arsenal (Piccadilly Line) Finsbury Park (Victoria, Piccadilly Lines)
Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line, North London Line) King's Cross is the
main connecting station
By Train
Holloway Road station will be exit-only before and after matches with pre
match eastbound trains non-stopping. Drayton Park is also closed on match
days
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rice: If we can put pressure on Arsenal we stand a good chance
WHUFC.com
Declan Rice says the Hammers should head to Arsenal with a fearless attitude
on Sunday as they look for the three points that would go a long way to
securing their Premier League status. Having taken five points from their
last three games, the Hammers have displayed a growing confidence in recent
weeks and Rice believes that should stand them in good stead in north
London. West Ham were unfortunate not to defeat the Gunners at London
Stadium in December when Chicharito struck the crossbar in the final minute,
so the young defender sees no reason why David Moyes' men can't repeat their
victory at Arsenal from the 2015/16 campaign. "We shouldn't go there with
anything to fear," he said. "We've got a game plan – they're on a run at the
moment that they're not too happy with and they'll have the Europa League to
think about too. It's going to be a good game and we desperately need the
three points. "If you go there and put the pressure on I think you stand a
very good chance. Arnie's in top form and it's good to have Manu and Andy
Carroll back – it's great strength for all of us."
From a personal point of view, the 19-eyar-old is still pinching himself at
the vast top flight experience he has gained this season. "It's been a crazy
year for me to be honest," he continued. "This time last year we were
talking about looking at loan options for this season, but I came back for
pre-season, got the call-up for the tour, did well there, and that's what
has led on to this year. "it's always been my dream to play football in the
Premier League and to be doing it at 19 is crazy. I've just got to keep my
head down, keep working and not let it get to you. That's the main thing.
"You have to know where you've come from, remember the people that have got
you here and there's no need to get big headed or big time because it could
all stop at any time."
Rice illustrated his meteoric rise perfectly this week by posting an image
on social media showing him meeting Pablo Zabaleta as a fan less than four
years ago, alongside another of them as teammates from the Stoke game this
week. He explained: "That picture with Pablo was taken at Rush Green!
Argentina came here to train before they played Croatia at the Boleyn Ground
and I think the whole of Dagenham turned up! "I was there in my school
uniform and school backpack and managed to get a pic with Zaba. I was going
through my phone the other day and found it so I thought it would be good to
do a little picture, because me and him get on well."
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Carroll: I want more of that goalscoring feeling
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll is ready to take out the frustration of a stop-start season on
the Hammers' final four opponents as they target Premier League safety. The
No9 returned from a 13-game lay-off with an ankle injury in style on Monday,
coming off the bench to notch his side's last-gasp leveller against Stoke
City. Now, as the Hammers enter the finishing straight still needing a
handful of points to secure their top-flight spot, Carroll wants to
experience that goalscoring feeling again. "It was nice to get a goal on
Monday, because I've been out a long time," he explained. "When you're 1-0
down and you get an equaliser it's a great feeling. "It's been a frustrating
season. It's tough [when you're injured] and you're working alone – you just
want to be on the pitch. "When I've been out I just try to get around the
lads as much as possible for all the games and be there to support them as
much as I can. "We're feeling good. We've had a couple of good games with
good results and picked up points. "It was important to get the point
against Stoke to continue that and now we need to few more to get safe."
Carroll has a good record against the Gunners, having scored a hat-trick
against them in the final Boleyn Ground meeting, and he believes David Moyes
will have the team set up to get a positive result. He added: "It would be
nice for any of us to get a hat-trick on Sunday! Just a few points would be
nice. That hat-trick in 2016 is a good memory. We didn't win the game, but
we didn't lose it either, so it was good. "It's been very good working under
David Moyes. His coaching has been very good and he's brought a lot of
different strategies for us. "Every game is different and he's brought that
to the pitch. I've been enjoying it and so have the lads "If we can go to
Arsenal and get the three points to hopefully secure us in the Premier
League for next season, that would be a great result."
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Betway Insider's View of the Opposition: Arsenal
WHUFC.com
The goalless draw played out between the Hammers and Arsenal back in
December felt like an anomaly at the time, and that impression has only
strengthened in the months since. London derbies between West Ham and
Arsenal don't tend to disappoint, with ten of their previous eleven meetings
before the start of this season featuring a minimum of three, and average of
four, goals. And, based on the goalscoring form of both sides since the
reverse fixture, another stalemate on Sunday is unlikely. The Hammers have
failed to score in just one of their 16 league matches since, while
Arsenal's only two blanks during the same period came against Tottenham and
Manchester City. The Emirates has also seen plenty of entertainment
recently, with every match in all competitions there this calendar year
serving up at least three goals. While the Gunners' home form is impressive
– winning 13 of 17 league games on their own patch this season – creditable
draws away to Spurs and Chelsea suggest that West Ham are more than capable
of achieving at least a point against the Premier League's sixth-best side.
When it comes to working out who might find the net for the away side, it
makes sense to look beyond the usual candidates. Marko Arnautovic remains
influential, but has only scored in one of his last six matches, while four
of Javier Hernandez's last five appearances have come off the bench. That
was the case against Stoke on Monday, though it was another striker in Andy
Carroll who ultimately provided the impact required to rescue a point with a
fine finish on his return from injury.
The No9 has scored West Ham's last four goals against Arsenal – including a
memorable hat-trick in the last season at the Boleyn – so looks a good bet
to provide the firepower required to get the better of the Gunners' famously
fragile defence.
Recommended bets
West Ham double chance and BTTS – 12/5
Over 3.5 goals – 6/5
Andy Carroll to score – 12/5
BACK THIS #BETYOURWAY AT 9/1
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Ray: Ladies must apply themselves to end season on a high
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies head coach Karen Ray admits the thought of ending the
season unbeaten has been considered but insists her team are completely
focused on the next task - Portsmouth Ladies at home on Sunday. The Hammers
completed a cup double last weekend with a 5-0 victory over Luton Town
Ladies to lift the FA WPL Plate, having also won the Women's Cup ten days
prior against Charlton Athletic. The result means the Irons have now gone
12 games unbeaten, winning ten of them including the last seven. It's a run
that started with the first game of 2018, with Ray's side keeping ten
clean-sheets in that time and scoring 51 goals. And, with three games
remaining in the Premier League Southern Division, Ray confessed that the
thought of ending the season without another defeat had been considered.
The head coach insisted that her, and her team's, primary focus was on
achieving a good performance when Portsmouth Ladies visit Rush Green on
Sunday. "I would be lying if I said it hadn't crossed our minds, but it was
a momentary thought," Ray said, when asked about an unbeaten end to 2018.
"We all know we have to take one game at a time, our success is down to our
accountability during training and getting carried away with statistics
isn't something we will stumble over. "All three games are going to be
difficult, starting with Portsmouth. They are all strong teams who
undoubtedly want to be the club who ends our run. As a team, we must use
that as our fuel. We are more than capable of finishing these season on a
high but only if we apply ourselves and do the little things."
Goals from Ellie Zoepfl. Amber Stobbs, Kelly Wealthall and Rosie Kmita
secured the WPL Plate for the Hammers on Sunday and Ray took the opportunity
to praise her team's tenacity. The General Manager also offered praised to
Luton Town for their efforts in the final. Ray continued: "The biggest
positive is the recognition the players have rightly earned. Ultimately,
they are the ones who show up to every session with great intensity and work
harder than any group I have worked with. Now, they get to see all of that
effort come to fruition. "Luton proved to be a tough challenge, they really
showed why they deserved to be in the final. They were physically strong,
tenacious at times and their goalkeeper Kezia Hassall certainly had a
fantastic game. It wasn't our finest performance, but we showed how we can
still win games when we dig deep and stick together. "
With the possibility of making it 13 games without a loss this Sunday
against Portsmouth, Ray reckons she, her coaching team, and the players have
found the perfect formula in calendar year, since she took charge. "I knew
we had a winning group but we just had to apply ourselves," Ray added. "With
Jack Sullivan's support and hard work, I was in a position to really focus
on the team, and hopefully I have repaid his trust in me. "When you combine
a group of people who are willing to graft, battle and trust each other, the
shift in mentality changes, and we are rich in people like that.'
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Trott: The season isn't over
WHUFC.com
Nathan Trott insisted the season isn't over for the West Ham United Academy
players despite their Premier League 2 campaign coming to an end on Friday
night with a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. The Gunners were crowned Division 1
champions at London Stadium with their victory to round off the term, but
for players like goalkeeper Trott who are keen to impress on the first team
scene, the hard work continues. With stopper Joe Hart unavailable to face
Manchester City in the Premier League next week, young keeper Trott is set
to be on the substitutes' bench for a second time this campaign. And the
19-year-old is now focused – after an impressive performance between the
sticks against Arsenal – on doing enough to catch manager David Moyes' eye.
He said: "The season is not over for us yet; Hopefully now I get
opportunities to train with the first team and hopefully I can do that and
at least get on the bench for them. "It's always good that you're getting
noticed against the top teams like I did against Arsenal on Friday and it's
always good to keep the good form going and putting in good personal
performances. "It's been a really positive season; we've beaten big teams –
Man United, Everton, Liverpool, Man City… We've competed with Chelsea and we
have a lot of points and one of our objectives was to finish top six and
hopefully we have done enough to have done that. "It was a difficult game on
Friday and Arsenal are a really good team on really good form. First half
was a bit of a slow start and we gained focus in the second half and that's
when we got the goal. "And now our season is over after a really good year
but we have to stay focused because trying to impress the first team manager
has to be the aim for players like myself before the summer begins."
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Westley: It's been a season full of positives
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23 boss Terry Westley labelled the campaign as a whole for
the Academy of Football 'a season of positives' and said Friday's defeat to
Arsenal in Premier League 2 Division 1 will not cloud that. The Gunners were
3-1 winners at London Stadium, and as a result were crowned Division 1
champions, thanks to goals from Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah – who grabbed
a double. Domingos Quina's brilliant second half strike reduced the deficit
but the visitors grabbed all three points, on a night that was about
celebrating the successes of the Academy, according to Westley. He said:
"One game doesn't cloud our overall development and let's be clear; I
couldn't be more proud of the staff and the players for this season. "There
have been so many plusses for us; players have been on loan this second half
of the season, playing at high levels. Martin Samuelsen, who was 21 last
week, has played over 50 Football League games. "Moses Makasi has gone to
Plymouth, done well and they've all gained valuable experience at a very
good level. "We did brilliantly to reach the knockout-rounds of the
Checkatrade Trophy; we finished the game [against Stoke] with Mark Noble,
Josh Cullen and Declan Rice all on the pitch together, a proud moment for
the Academy. "Now, our season comes to a close but the first team still
have five fixtures and the players have to put their foot on the pedal once
again to see if they can get 20 minutes here and there before the end of the
season. "We have three tours as an Academy as well; the season is far from
finished. The players still have to work hard, and over the summer too."
Arsenal were impressive from the outset as they went in search of
silverware, and the Hammers had goalkeeper Nathan Trott after a string of
fine saves in the first half kept the score at 2-0 before the break. And
despite the hosts coming out and pressurising their opponents at the start
of the second period, Steve Gatting's Gunners were crowned champions at full
time. "I think a big congratulations goes to Arsenal," continued Westley.
"You are where you are at the end of the season, and it tells the story. In
an attacking sense, they are a handful and have been for every team. Many
congratulations for them. "From our point of view, that was the difference;
their attacking players, their pace and power really made the difference. In
general in the game, we had more of the ball and passed it nicely. "We made
opportunities, but every time the game turned over, they looked dangerous.
"But tonight was about celebrating our season; because it has been a great
season for us."
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Arsenal v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st April 2018
By: Preview Percy
When we met up with Preview Percy the other day he was wearing shorts. A
most disconcerting sight to behold on a full stomach. Thankfully rain is
forecast. In the meantime here's his look at Sunday's visit to Arsenal.....
Next up we travel to the Library where we will be hosted by Arsenal .
Kick-off is 1.30pm on Sunday 22nd. At the moment. Apologies for being so
vague but this fixture has been shifted so many times in recent weeks it
wouldn't surprise me if it had already been played and nobody had told us. I
think the one thing I can guarantee is that it won't be played at 20:00 hrs
on Monday 23rd April. Which is the time and date printed on the ticket. Well
on my ticket anyway. Yours may be different. As the match will be taking
place on a Sunday, probably, It seems that there is little in the way of
engineering work in the manor, presumably because we are away. Some early
morning stuff and in the evening the ginger line to Highbury & Islington
faces a bit of disruption but we'll all have gone home by then. Probably.
So good old Arsenal then. Damn them. In an unusual state of preparedness I
had most of this written and ready to give to the short chubby one pending a
couple of updates. So what happens? Wenger goes and announces his
resignation from the end of the season. Apart from anything else that will
knacker the Wenger hokey-cokey song, not that I can do all the actions at my
age. I'm not sure how old Wenger is but if he is retiring he may well
qualify for free prescription spectacles, in which case he would be well
advised to get shot of those ones he has been wearing for the last 22 years.
He hasn't seen a thing through them in all that time. All sorts of names are
being linked with the soon to be vacant post with the front-runner being
former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, the state of whose eyesight is
unknown at present. There is of course one very, very large down side to
Wenger's departure. I refer, of course, to the fact that the resignation
will make Piers Morgan happy, something of which no sane human being could
approve.
So where will the myopic one leave the club after 22 years? Well they
currently sit in 6th place with 54 points from the 33 played to date. This
is before any results come in on Saturday mind. After the midweek fixtures
that's 9 points (less a game in hand) behind Chelsea who occupy the
automatic Thursday Night League spot, though that particular place is, as
ever, dependent on who wins the Cup, the direction of the wind and the
timing of the Spring equinox. They are, of course, still in this year's
Thursday Night League, hoping to win the thing and thereby qualify for the
so-called Champions League. That particular plan took a bit of a dent when
they got drawn against Atletico Madrid who are by far and away the strongest
club left in the competition. Especially as the Spanish side will get to
play the second leg at home, something that is usually perceived as an
advantage.
The first leg of that particular tie is on Thursday which may or may not
have a bearing on the sort of side that they field on Sunday/Monday/whenever
Sky tell us. The likelihood of qualifying for Europe via the league will
depend to a large degree on Southampton not winning the Cup in which case
qualification could go down to 7th. That's probably the most likely scenario
so there's no real need to worry too much about Burnley who prior to
Saturday's fixtures, are two points behind. On the other hand should
Southampton do the unthinkable they could face the very real prospect of not
being in Europe next term. With the Chelsea v Southampton semi-final not
taking place until after this match Wenger will have a decision to make come
Sunday morning. By the sound of things from interviews given this week it
looks like this match is down the pecking order so that even if we may not
be looking at a side of League Cup level it is likely that there will be a
few rested.
Their problem lies in the disparity between their home and away form. The
work experience kid of as yet to be determined gender wearing a hoodie who
seems only able to communicate with some strange grunting noises knocked up
something on his or her laptop that showed different league tables for home
and away. Form. If home games only were included they would be third in the
table behind the child poisoners and the human rights abusers of Salford and
Manchester respectively. On the road however they would be 12th. For
information we would be 12th and 15th respectively. Oh and on the road
Arsenal have picked up precisely one more point than us (though we have
played a game more away from home. They must be unused to noise, one
imagines. Of course, their away form is a bit academic given that this match
will take place in the peace and quiet of the library. However it does give
a pointer to why all is doom and gloom up there at the moment.
There had been rumblings of course in the run up to the transfer window.
Just about anyone who was any good, and plenty who weren't was being linked
with a move away from Islington. In the end the main departures were
Sanchez, who chose the child poisoners over the human rights abusers,
Giroud, who took his daft beard to the money laundry and Debuchy who they
had forgotten was there anyway. He took his mutually agreed cancelled
contract to Saint Etienne where his defensive partnership with Sarah
Cracknell is expected to take time to bed down.
Incoming on the radar was Mkhitarian who arrived as part of the Sanchez
deal, striker Aubameyang who arrived from Borussia Dortmund for a cool £56m
and a rookie defender in the form of Konstantinos Mavropanos, who cost £1.8m
from Greek outfit PAS Gianina (no me neither).
Being active in the January markets is unusual for Wenger – and I'm sure the
conspiracy theorists will spot the Dortmund link between possible new boss
Tuchel and Aubameyang who I vaguely recall was probably one of those French
strikers Sullivan was definitely going to sign until their club raised the
possibility that a transfer fee might be payable.
Aubameyang himself is likely to cause Wenger a bit of a selection headache.
On the one hand you'd definitely want to pick a striker with six in his
first 8 Premier League games on form alone. However, Wenger did leave out a
number of regulars against the Geordies last weekend, presumably with the
Thursday Night League in mind. Aubameyang himself is ineligible for Thursday
so the quandry is whether or not to give his place to someone who will be in
the squad for Athletico to give them a bit of match fitness.
Well Monday night saw yet another appalling and unacceptable performance
from the match officials. Not that you would have noticed had you been
following the instructions issued by the Baroness in her twitter account,
which, with 15 minutes to kick-off was more concerned with drumming up
support for her latest foray into the world of television. Sorry Baroness I
was busy. Just as I will be for every other episode of whatever it is you
want me to watch. Priorities you see.
Meanwhile for those of you who could drag yourselves away from the latest
bunch of people trying to succeed in business by taking advice from someone
who has spent a career working for people successful in business, for the
second time in a week ref Oliver had a dreadful game that he will get away
with because in amongst it all he managed to get a couple of high-profile
decisions right; something that again distracts from the basic inadequacies
of his game. As with the now infamous Real Madrid v Juventus match Oliver
was quite happy to ignore cynical foul after cynical foul without bothering
to look for his cards, the production of which might have nipped the
cynicism in the bud. In a match where Stoke gave away 21 fouls, most of
which were designed to break up play and prevent shots, it says everything
you want to know about the appalling state that English refereeing has
gotten itself into that the first caution of the evening went to one (only
one mind) of the four or five players that went towards the crowd to
celebrate their goal. The first two disallowed goals were fair enough-ish (I
look forward to seeing us presented with the 1981 League Cup now that it has
been clearly established once and for all that Clive Thomas is a cheat and a
liar). The third one however should have either been allowed or given as a
penalty.
The worst thing of all is that now FIFA have wised -up and have realised how
bloody terrible our referees are you stand a good chance of having to share
a beach with one of them this summer. One day, maybe not soon but it will
happen as sure as eggs is eggs, an English referee will be caught up in a
match-fixing scandal. Then someone will look back and try to analyse how we
got to a position where matches could be fixed and nobody would notice. And
they will put out one of those big reports much beloved of Government select
committees and everyone will be amazed that nobody did anything to prevent
it.
Back to the current situation and we can be grateful that Stoke – who
averaged a foul every three minutes or so – did not inflict further damage
to add to our injury list, which is comprised of the following:
1) James Collins (hamstring). Earlier on this week it looked like he
was getting closer by the hour and had a 75% chance of making the bench. I
then re-checked before submitting and lo and behold that chance had gone
down to 25%. I'll take that as a "no" then.
2) Pedro Obiang (knee) Next Term
3) Winston Reid (knee) Next Term
4) Michael Antonio – (hamstring) – due to have had an op by now. Next
term
5) Sam Byram – (ankle) Next term
All of which means that neither Carroll nor Lanzini picked up anything nasty
on Monday night. Well not at the ground anyway. Post-match the manager's
concerns for each were contrasting. For Carroll the main worry was match
fitness, everyone being more than happy that the broken foot had fully
healed. For Lanzini there was still an element of shepherding the knee
ligament back to full fitness. For that reason I suspect that both will be
on the bench at the start of this one. In fact it wouldn't be a great
surprise were we to start a third consecutive match with the same starting
XI, something which is almost unheard of given our injury record.
And onwards we move to the land of predictions. Of course the already iffy
atmosphere at the place will have had a whole can of aerosol uncertainty
sprayed over the place with Friday's announcement of the forthcoming
managerial change. It would be hilarious were we to get the win that would
confuse the hell out of Piers Morgan (is it Wenger's fault for going or
staying?) but for all their problems their home form is decent. If they put
out a League Cup side there's a chance of our first XI (or as near as we can
get to one) doing a number on them but I think that if the head rules the
heart here we would expect to get beaten. On the other hand the sun is
shining, the birds are singing, and even Matron has a smile on her face. So
with all the logic of someone seeking business advice as part of a tv show
(you do realise that the tv company wants you to fail spectacularly don't
you?) I will go for a draw as we inch slowly to safety with all the speed of
Preview Alastair getting a round in. Make that a 1-1 please Mr Winstone and
I'll settle up with you on my way back from the Swan and Superinjunction.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At The Library: Lost 1-0 (League Cup Quarter Final –
December 2017)
Having enjoyed the heroics of the previous round we meekly shouldered arms
in this one. Welbeck's effort just before the interval was enough, even
though Carroll and Sakho were given 25 minutes apiece to turn things around.
Referee: Lee Mason
Showed a degree of common sense in the debacle that was Burnley at home when
he would quite legitimately have dismissed Noble for his altercation with a
supporter. I suspect he has been told off accordingly by the powers that be
and don't be surprised if the usual village idiot turns up this time.
Danger Man: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
On form at the moment. Depends on what sort of side Wenger picks I suppose.
Percy's Poser
Last week we asked you what major problem did Josiah Wedgewood have to
overcome to set up his company in the Potteries. Congratulations to Mrs
Bridget Arnold of Dartford for knowing that Mr Wedgewood, having lost a leg
to smallpox, was completely unable to operate a potter's wheel, something of
a potential handicap for a budding ceramics entrepreneur. Thankfully back
then there were no tv programmes from which to seek business advice for the
entertainment of others so he just got on with it, rather successfully one
would say. Well done Bridget!
For this week's poser we ask you a two-part question: 1) What is Arsene
Wenger's current spectacles prescription? And 2) What should it be? First
prize is one of those dreadful "magic-eye" books that were so popular all
those years ago. You know, the ones that you stare at for an hour and still
fail to see the 3D picture you are supposed to see, ending up with an image
of a badly drawn dolphin riding what appears to be a unicycle imprinted on
your retinas. And a splitting headache.
Good luck everyone!
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Exclusive: Andy Carroll says England rumours are 'flattering' but he's heard
it all before
Last Updated: 22/04/18 7:53am
SSN
Andy Carroll says it is flattering to be tipped for an England call-up for
the World Cup, but insists he has heard the rumours all too often over the
years. Carroll returned from a three-month absence to score West Ham's
equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Stoke on Monday Night Football, just his
third goal of a season blighted by injury. He hasn't played for England
since October 2012, and though the 29-year-old has been tenuously tipped as
England's fourth striker at Russia in the summer, Carroll says he's heard it
all before. He told Sky Sports: "At the beginning it was flattering, but
it's happened now for a few years. "Every time I play, it's the same
rumours. Every time I score, it's the same rumours. So it's one of those
things you just deal with now. "It is nice, obviously, to be spoken about in
that way, but it's been said for a long time now. "I'm just concentrating on
playing, scoring goals and staying safe with West Ham. Then what comes will
come."
Carroll has missed large chunks of the last two seasons with West Ham having
suffered ankle, groin and knee injuries. He could make his first start since
January against Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates, live on Sky Sports
Premier League, and Carroll opened up on how frustrating it has been both
mentally and physically to watch on from the sidelines. "It's frustrating,
I've had a lot of injuries in my career, and it's tough, it's hard being
away from the team, not a part of it. "It's really difficult to work alone.
I just try to get involved with the lads as much as possible, because it's
difficult just being by yourself in the gym. "I try to get around the lads
as much as possible, I'm at all the games, there as much as I can to support
them, not just playing football. "I've been working hard, it has been tough,
mentally tough as well. Working with the physio in the gym, or one-on-one on
the pitch. "It's tough, especially when you look across the other side of
the pitch and the lads are having fun, doing what you want to do, playing
football, and I'm sat with a couple of weights on my back, so it's good to
be back."
Watch the full interview with Andy Carroll on Super Sunday as Arsenal face
West Ham, live on Sky Sports Premier League
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MATCH PREVIEW: ARSENAL V WEST HAM
By Dan Coker 21 Apr 2018 at 08:00
WTID
Blast from the past
2nd November 1991 – U2 were number one with 'The Fly', Homicide was in UK
cinemas and, three days later, Robert Maxwell was found dead at the age of
68. Meanwhile, Billy Bonds' West Ham United were sealing a 1-0 victory over
Arsenal in front of 33,539 at Highbury.
George Graham's First Division champions, including future Hammers Ian
Wright and Nigel Winterburn, put their newly-promoted visitors under
pressure in the first half but the Hammers started to have breakaway moments
in the second period, in a match which was Michael Thomas' last in the
Gunners' midfield before his switch to Liverpool. Anders Limpar saw a
dipping volley from the edge of the penalty area tipped over by 'Ludo'
Miklosko after the interval while Mike Small's stinging effort from Kevin
Keen's pass was touched over by David Seaman at the other end. 29-year-old
Small, a £400,000 summer signing from Brighton, went into this game having
scored 12 goals in his first 18 matches as a Hammer.
As the game started to open up, the Irons went in front through their
in-form striker Small (pictured). Fellow summer recruit, left-back Mitchell
Thomas, emerged with the ball from a scramble on the edge of the Hammers'
box and carried forward beyond halfway before finding marauding right-back
Tim Breacker. He played a one-two with captain Ian Bishop and passed inside
to Small on the edge of the Gunners' penalty area. Small turned away from
his markers before firing a blistering left-foot drive beyond the dive of
Seaman and into the Clock End net in front of the visiting Claret and Blue
Army.
Arsenal pressed for an equaliser in the final ten minutes but the Hammers
still had their moments on the counter attack with the pace of Stuart Slater
a constant threat. Slater broke down the right late on and found Keen with a
great chance to double the lead but his effort could only bobble wide. The
action from this game, including Small's winner and an interview with West
Ham centre-half Tony Gale, can be viewed in my video below.
The Gunners would finish fourth in 1991/92, while the Hammers would end the
campaign bottom and relegated. Leeds won the league and Liverpool won the FA
Cup. Small would end the campaign as the Hammers' top scorer with 18 goals
from 51 matches. Julian Dicks, who didn't return from a serious knee injury
until December, was voted Hammer of the Year, with Steve Potts runner-up.
Arsenal: David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Colin Pates, Andy Linighan, Nigel
Winterburn, Paul Merson, Michael Thomas (Perry Groves), David Rocastle,
Anders Limpar, Ian Wright, Alan Smith.
West Ham United: Ludek Miklosko, Tim Breacker, Steve Potts, Tony Gale,
Mitchell Thomas, Kevin Keen, George Parris, Ian Bishop, Stuart Slater, Mike
Small, Frank McAvennie.
Club Connections
A large group of players have turned out for West Ham United and Arsenal.
Carl Jenkinson is currently on loan at Birmingham from the Gunners having
spent two of the previous three seasons on loan at the Hammers. Other
players to have represented both clubs include:
Goalkeepers: Richard Wright, Manuel Almunia, Jim Standen.
Defenders: Matthew Upson, Nigel Winterburn, Steve Walford, Bob Stevenson.
Midfielders: Stewart Robson, Liam Brady, Yossi Benayoun, Archie Macauley,
David Bentley, Luis Boa Morte, James Bigden, Roddy McEachrane, Jimmy
Jackson, Alex Song, Henri Lansbury, Fred Kemp, Fredrik Ljungberg.
Strikers: Harry Lewis, Bobby Gould, Jeremie Aliadiere, Dick Burgess, John
Blackwood, Fergie Hunt, Dr Jimmy Marshall, Kaba Diawara, Jimmy Bloomfield,
Charlie Satterthwaite, Marouane Chamakh, Billy Linward, Lee Chapman, Tommy
Lee, Ian Wright, Peter Kyle, John Hartson, Stan Earle, John Radford, Davor
Suker.
Ron Greenwood was also assistant manager at Arsenal before becoming manager
of West Ham.
Today's focus though falls on a former goalkeeper for both the Gunners and
the Hammers. Charles James Ambler was born on the 13th August 1868 in
Alverstoke, Hampshire and began his career at Bostall Rovers before signing
for Royal Arsenal in 1891, shortly before they turned professional and were
renamed Woolwich Arsenal. As an amateur, he also turned out for Clapton,
Dartford and Luton.
After struggling to make it with the Gunners, Ambler became part of a select
club to swap Arsenal for Tottenham in the summer of 1894 but he returned to
Woolwich Arsenal in November 1895. He made his only league appearance for
Arsenal in a 5-1 Second Division defeat to Newton Heath (the club who went
on to be Manchester United) on 30th November 1895. He again left Arsenal for
Tottenham in the summer of 1896, remaining with Spurs for four years before
joining Gravesend United in 1900. He was shortly on the move again, this
time to New Brompton (the club now known as Gillingham) before signing for
West Ham United in 1901.
Ambler (pictured) was reserve team goalkeeper with the Hammers but won a
place in the limelight almost by default when an administrative mistake
meant the Irons were to host Tottenham in a Southern League match at the
Memorial Grounds on the same day as welcoming Leyton for an FA Cup third
qualifying match. With the prospect of larger gate receipts from the league
game, West Ham ceded home advantage in the Cup and sent the reserves to
Leyton – the league was taking priority over the cup even back at the start
of the 20th century! 33-year-old Ambler kept a clean sheet in the match at
Leyton on his competitive West Ham debut in a 1-0 win on 2nd November 1901
while the first team lost to Spurs by the same scoreline at the Memorial
Grounds in the league.
As a consequence, the West Ham management decided to rest regular custodian
Hughie Monteith for the next league match, with Ambler making his only
Southern League appearance for the Hammers the following week against QPR,
on 9th November 1901. The Irons lost 2-1 at Rangers' Latimer Road home in
North Kensington – incidentally, the West Ham side had to change in the
Latimer Arms pub and run down the road to the pitch! It was to prove to be
Ambler's second and last competitive appearance for West Ham United.
Monteith was back in goal the following week when the first team were dumped
out of the FA Cup at home by Essex village side Grays.
Ambler joined Millwall at the end of the 1901/02 season, his only campaign
with the Hammers. In later life he changed his name to Charles James Toby –
Charles Ambler passed away in 1952 at the age of either 83 or 84.
Referee
Sunday's referee will be Lee Mason from Greater Manchester. Mason's three
games officiating the Hammers this season have all ended in defeat. Most
recently, he took charge of our 3-0 home defeat to Burnley last month, while
the other two matches were both 3-2 defeats: at Southampton in August when
he failed to send off Dusan Tadic but did give Marko Arnautovic a red card,
before awarding the Saints a match-winning penalty in added time; and
against Newcastle at home in December when he awarded the Hammers a penalty
only for Andre Ayew's effort to be saved. Mason refereed the Hammers once in
2016/17 – the 1-0 home win over Hull when he awarded the Hammers a
match-winning penalty – but took charge of two West Ham matches the previous
season, those being the 0-0 draw at Swansea in December 2015 and the 3-0 win
at West Brom in April 2016.
He refereed three Premier League matches involving the Hammers in 2014/15 –
the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, the 1-0 home win over Sunderland and the 2-1
defeat at Old Trafford when he sent off Wayne Rooney, denied the Hammers a
penalty when Morgan Amalfitano's cross struck Radamel Falcao's arm and
disallowed Kevin Nolan's last-minute strike for a marginal offside. Mason
was also the man in the middle for our 1-0 FA Cup win at Bristol City in
January 2015. He also officiated in four of our games in 2013/14, sending
off two of our players (Mark Noble against Everton and James Tomkins at
Cardiff) and disallowing a perfectly good Stewart Downing equaliser at
Crystal Palace. He also sent off Mark Noble at Birmingham in December 2009.
Possible line-ups
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who announced yesterday that he will step
down in the summer after 22 years as Gunners boss, will be without the
injured Santi Cazorla and Henrikh Mkhitaryan while Jack Wilshere faces a
late fitness test. Aaron Ramsey is available after a shin injury. Wenger may
make changes with Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at home
against Atletico Madrid in mind – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied for
that match so is likely to face the Hammers instead, having scored six goals
in his opening eight Premier League games for Arsenal.
West Ham United are without Sam Byram, Winston Reid, James Collins, Pedro
Obiang and Michail Antonio. Italian centre-half Angelo Ogbonna faces a late
fitness test on a knee injury. The Hammers have scored in each of their last
nine away league games, their joint-longest run in a single Premier League
season since 1999/00. David Moyes has never won a match in league or cup
away to Arsenal, either at Highbury or The Emirates. West Ham's tally of
five Premier League victories at Arsenal is bettered only by Manchester
United (eight) and Liverpool (seven).
Possible Arsenal XI: Cech; Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal; Xhaka,
Elneny; Iwobi, Willock, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Possible West Ham United XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell,
Masuaku; Kouyate, Noble, Mario; Lanzini, Arnautovic.
Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!
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