Downing keen to distance Stoke
WHUFC.com
Stewart Downing sees Saturday's visit of Stoke City as a key game in the Hammers' bid to secure a top-eight Barclays Premier League finish. West Ham and the Potters go into the Boleyn Ground clash locked together on 42 points, so a victory could prove key in pulling away from the opponents. After playing a central role in helping the Hammers come from 2-0 down at Stoke in October to claim a point - Downing scored one and set the other up - he is keen to go one better and win on Saturday. "We're on the same number of points, so it's a massive game," Downing explained. "It was a difficult one when we played there and we got a draw out of it, but we're at home now and I think Enner's back for the weekend. Diafra is there too so we can have a right good go at them and get the goalscorers back in the team.
"It was a good game for me when we played earlier in the season, scoring one and setting Ener up too. It was a game of two halves – in the first half we were poor and didn't get going, but in the second half we were really good. "We need to get back to winning ways on Saturday because we don't want the season to tail off – we want to finish as strongly as we can."
Downing laid on a superb diving header for Enner Valencia at the Britannia Stadium and the No11 says having the Ecuador man back will be a major boost. He added: "He's a goal threat. He's got pace, he's powerful and he's a threat to the other team. I thought he played ever so well, especially in the second half, at Stoke. Their defenders will know they're in for a game. "Him and Sakho have been a good partnership when Andy's been out so it'll be interesting what team the manager picks but I'm sure he'll be in his thoughts and it's nice to have him back. "I'm sure the manager is happy to have those options. He has Carlton as well who will be itching to play. He did well when he came on against Sunderland at home."
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Moyes moves closer - but Real hold the key
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes is likely to become West Ham's manager next season - but only if current club Real Sociedad grant him permission to leave.
As widely predicted, current boss Sam Allardyce is almost certainly coming to the end of an eventful four-year tenure at the club, in which he has taken West Ham from the Championship to the top ten of the Premier League. Although he was saved from the sack last summer when the Board were split over a change, that barrier is understood to have been removed now with all three key parties - David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady - in agreement that a new appointment is necessary. Much has been written in recent weeks regarding Allardyce's potential replacement, with Moyes, Rafa Benitiez, Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa highly touted as likely candidates. However David Sullivan is thought to favour signing a manager with Premier League experience. That would essentially rule out both Croatian Bilic and Argentine Bielsa - neither of whom have managed in England before. And although he may be making waves in Ligue 1 at Marseille this season 59-year-old Bielsa's inability to speak English would also rule him out of contention, with the owners considering that a priority.
Benitez, as reported on KUMB in May 2014 was, like Moyes, sounded out by West Ham last summer. Yet the Spaniard is reluctant to join a club outside of England's established top four - especially with the Manchester City position likely to become available at the end of the season.
Whilst that essentially leaves Moyes as the default 'top drawer' choice, the former Everton man is highly-regarded by the Hammers board and, just as importantly, Tony Henry who is leading the hunt for Allardyce's successor. Henry, who was placed in charge of player and staff recruitment by the Board last autumn previously worked with Scot Moyes at Goodison Park and the two developed a close working relationship which could yet be renewed at the Boleyn Ground. However that rests upon West Ham being able to reach agreement with Moyes' current club Real Sociedad, to whom the 51-year-old is contracted until the end of the 2015/16 seasons after signing an 18-month contract last November.
Moyes has guided the Basque club to ninth place in this season's La Liga following a disappointing start to the campaign under Jagoba Arrasate. He is understood to be keen on a return to England to resurrect a domestic career that faltered at Manchester United, from where he was fired after just 10 months in the post (a blow softened by a £5million golden handshake). West Ham's Board are also keen on making at least two marquee signings this summer to supplement the new manager's planned arrival and mark the club's final season at the Boleyn Ground before moving to Stratford. One player on the club's wish list is Carlos Tevez, who has just one more year of a three-year contract left to run at Juventus. The 31-year-old has previously signalled his intention to return to childhood club Boca, but West Ham hope they can persuade the 31-year-old crowd favourite to return to east London for a swansong.
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Chelsea preparing double swoop?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th April 2015
By: Staff Writer
Chelsea are being linked with a multi-million pound move for Aaron Cresswell - just a matter of weeks since it was claimed they were hoping to lure Enner Valencia across the city. The Express were one of several sources to report this morning that Jose Mourinho may turn to the former Ipswich full-back, who only moved to the Boleyn Ground last summer, as a potential replacement for Filipe Luis who is tipped to return to Portugal this summer. And that comes just two months after the Blues were reported to be prepared to pay up to £25million to take Enner Valencia from the Boleyn to Stamford Bridge. Cresswell cost West Ham £4million when signing from the Championship club last summer. Arsenal have also previously expressed an interest in the defender, who is currently valued around the £10-15m mark. Luis, who only joined Chelsea from Athletico Madrid a year ago is being linked with a return to Spain with current La Liga champions Real Madrid.
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Moyes Hammers destiny in his own hands
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Reports that David Moyes' arrival as West Ham's new manager depend on Real Sociedad giving him permission are wide of the mark.
Various media outlets and websites are now catching on to the fact that Sam Allardyce is as they report it "coming to the end of his West Ham reign." Regular readers of ClaretandHugh will have known that several weeks back when we made it clear the writing was firmly on the wall. Indeed, David Sullivan in a brief question and answer session with WHUFCTV.com a couple of days back declared: "The last 12 games have been exceedingly disappointing." Moyes has been the No 1 choice since work started on the finding an Allardyce replacement but that Real Sociedad hold the key to him joining us is not the case. Moyes only signed an 18 month deal with the Spanish club last November and had a clause inserted that he could speak to a Premier League club if an approach was made for his services.
The Hammers believe that Tony Henry, their recruitment officer to the board and Moyes' former Everton chief scout is a key player, in trying to attract the Scot to the Boleyn. It is however, true, as reported elsewhere, that all three board members -co owners David Gold, Sullivan and Karren Brady – are now agreed that a change is necessary. Moyes has his future in his own hands and has said that he is extremely happy where he is but Sullivan is a persuasive negotiator and will hope to talk him round. Marcelo Bielsa has been recommended to the board by numerous 'faces' inside the game and could yet move in as the next boss if Moyes rejects the club as he is reported to have done last summer.
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Hammers WILL accept FPL Europa spot!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
David Gold has given the strongest indication yet that the Hammers WILL take part in the early Europa Cup stages if they gain a spot via the Fair Play League. There is no obligation to do so and and a club may refuse to take part. And given it means a return to training a month early plus extensive travelling and little financial return it had been thought the Irons board may decide to give it a miss.
But DG told ClaretandHugh exclusively: "It has to be given great consideration for the sake of the fans. They want a taste of Europe and if we can provide it via the Fair Play League I think we will do so. "Yes, it does mean an early return, much travelling and there's no real financial return involved early on but if we have a chance of reaching the later stages of the Europa League I think we will probably vote to take it. I think the fans would expect that. "Obviously we will need to protect players like Andy Carroll who have been injured but I think we can put out teams capable of winning those early games."
Co chairman David Sullivan is also in favour of taking part. Three spots are given to federations that finish above a certain level in Uefa's Fair Play table. The top three federations automatically receive a Fair Play entry if their rating is at least 8.0. The berth goes to the highest-placed team in the Fair Play table of that country's top league that has not already qualified for Europe. The Hammers are currently on top of the Premier league Fair Play Table with an average of 8.3.
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Chelsea told to get eyes of 'Cressie'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & hugh
West Ham have warned that Aaron Cresswell is off limits for a summer move after reports arose that Chelsea were eyeing him as a possible target were Felipe Luis to move on from Stamford Bridge this summer. The Brazilian international has found it hard to hold down a regular spot and speculation has mounted over his future with Cresswell named as a potential replacement. Manchester City have also been linked with our left back but a Hammers source told ClaretandHugh: "He's had a brilliant first season and is locked into a long term contract. He's not available. "Manchester City have also been linked with him apparently but they are watching 50 players at any one time. Cressie is very much part of our future – we're not interested in offers."
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Bonzo on season and what comes next!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7Hugh
Hammers hero Bill Bonds doesn't believe "the state of the season" dictates how players approach games and added: "I always took my A game out – there was no B or C." Stewart Downing and Aaron Cresswell have both declared that they will be as fired up for the rest of the season as they have been throughout the campaign. And Bonzo – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh said: "That's precisely how it must be because whatever the state of the season the fans expect you to go out, give the lot and win." Reviewing the season so far Billy said: "I think it all went wrong in the FA Cup against West Brom. Hopes were so high and it was a bad defeat. "To lose 4-0 after that night against Everton in the Upton Park replay was so disappointing but in reality it hasn't been a bad season "We remain in the top ten but obviously after such a great start when hopes were so high it feels as if it's all gone wrong. In fact it's been quite a successful campaign."
Bonzo is entirely ambivalent about the apparent uncertainty surrounding the manager saying: "Oh the whole managerial thing is just a merry-go-round! What will be will be. "People are saying the board should have made it's mind up by now but it's their club, their money and they will do what they want. I don't have a problem with that. "And to be perfectly honest I really can't believe there hasn't been a dialogue between them by now. They aren't gonna tell the fans absolutely everything are they? There's no reason why they should. "Whatever happens Sam won't be short of offers if he doesn't get one from West Ham and we have to leave it with owners. End of.
"We need to end the season giving everything and gaining as many points as possible. After that the big decisions will be on the table. A little patience is now required."
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Brave Downing pledges Stoke attack
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & hugh
Stoke City have been warned the Hammers are going to have "a right good go at them" this weekend. In an encouraging declaration of intent, Stewart Downing has spoken the words we have all been waiting to hear and hoping to see fulfilled. Aaron Cresswell has said similar things declaring earlier the team will scrap for every point and although we appear to have only league position to play for, it's good to hear such positivity. All we need now is for it to actually happen! Downing has bravely put his head on the block by claiming that with the two main strikers now fit the team can carry the attack to a Stoke City team. Ultimately, of course, that will be the manager's decision but the winger none the less declared: We're on the same number of points, so it's a massive game,
"It was a difficult one when we played there and we got a draw out of it, but we're at home now and I think Enner's back for the weekend. Diafra is there too so we can have a right good go at them and get the goalscorers back in the team. "It was a good game for me when we played earlier in the season, scoring one and setting Enner up too. It was a game of two halves – in the first half we were poor and didn't get going, but in the second half we were really good.
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"We haven't gone on holiday"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Aaron Cresswell has denied the widespread suggestion that the Irons have "gone on holiday." The Hammers have been at the centre of accusations that with nothing left to play for they are more concerned with vacation destinations and sun loungers. It's a cheap shot and not really worth considering, nor whould players be put in a position where they need to defend themselves from such a criticism of the professionalism. The inspirational left back and leading contender for Hammer of the Year has made it crystal clear the side will be fighting for every single point over the last games. He said: "We are all winners and we all want to finish as high as we can in the league. We have seven games to not let our season fizzle out and that is what we intend to do." He was obviously unhappy at the Leicester city defeat and told London24.com: "Their early goal helped the crowd too and if they had gone 2-0 up with the penalty, you sort of felt that the game might be over. But Adrian saved it which kept us in it and I think we took control of the match after that." "We had plenty of chances," added Cresswell. "Cheikhou hit the post and we had a couple of other really good chances and on another day they go into the back of the net. "But we didn't take them and in the end they got the sucker punch goal."
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Valencia Stoke start poser
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 9, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Enner Valencia is ready for the Stoke City match! And that means only Andy Carroll, James Tomkins and Doneil Henry remian on the injury list as the Irons head into the final crucial games of the season. Valencia has played a full part in training this week but whether he starts remains to be seen. The manager appears to prefer to re-introduce those who have been on the injury list from the bench so that will be an interesting decision. Stijn Vandenbroucke, Head of Medical and Sports Science reports on the official website: "Enner will be available to be selected to play against Stoke City on Saturday. "Andy Carroll (knee), James Tomkins (shoulder) and Doneil Henry (hamstring) are continuing their rehabilitation following their respective surgeries."
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