Daily WHUFC News -

Academy youngster Browne pens pro deal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that Academy youngster Marcus Browne has signed his first professional contract with the Club. The midfielder, who turns 18 next month, now takes the next step in his career with the Club he has been with since the age of eight. Appearing regularly for the Under-21s this season, and scoring his first goal at that level in the recent 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Browne is thrilled to have put pen-to-paper. He said; "It's a massive opportunity to be at a Club like West Ham at my age. I've been here for a very long time, since I was eight years old, so this is a proud moment for me. "This is just the start, so I want to kick on and get more contracts in the future and continue to improve.
"I'm very pleased with how I've progressed. I was out for five months last year with a hamstring injury, but I've come back well so I'm happy with that and if I just carry on doing when I'm doing and enjoying football I'll kick on to bigger things."
Browne hailed the influence of Academy Manager Terry Westley in his development, while pointing to the progress made by the likes of Josh Cullen and Reece Oxford as inspiration for his own future. He added: "Terry has been a massive influence for me since he's come in and has helped me a lot, especially this season. They've helped me get better and better, so it has been good.
"I've played with both Reece Oxford and Josh Cullen so it's good to see where they're at. I'm pleased for both of them and it gives us encouragement that young players can do it, so I'll keep plugging away and hopefully I'll be at the top soon."

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Chadwell Chatter - Alex Song
WHUFC.com

Hello everyone,

I was very happy to be back on the pitch against Crystal Palace on Wednesday because it has been six months since I last played. Wednesday was my first game back and I got 60 minutes, which was good. We've worked very hard, so it's very good to come back to the pitch. I have to say thank you to the medical staff because they have done a great job. I was at Barcelona and Arsenal and the staff here are one of the best in the way they work. I am very happy with the way they've done everything with me and now I'm looking forward to coming back. I don't want to rush, which is why we've taken the time to come back step-by-step. On Wednesday I played 60 minutes, that's one step, and now I have a couple of weeks to try and build my fitness. I know it won't be easy because I've been out for a long time, but I need to come back to the game so I'm looking forward to it.

On Wednesday we saw some players who needed some minutes, and some players like me who need to come back from injuries. That's what you need to build your fitness. I was happy with the way I played and the way I moved. I need some time to come back, but the way it went on Wednesday made me happy. I've been seeing the guys and they've been doing very well. I just wanted to come back to give my contribution, especially with some important games coming up. We play Tottenham and Man Utd in the next few weeks and I have to be ready. I'll work very hard in the next few weeks to be ready for those games.

See you on the pitch soon!
Alex

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This is our time
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th November 2015
By: Stuart Patten

This is our time. Or so I am being told by the co-Chairman of my wonderful football club. And I have to go along with such a bold statement, and agree, it really does feel as though something special is about to explode across the east of London.

However I am tempted to stay on the cautious side of letting myself get carried away with where we are going as a club. I remember being unbelievably excited the day I heard West Ham were being bought out by a team led by football agent Kia Joorabchian and that two Argentine superstars in the shape of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were on their way to join us.

That was almost ten years ago now and I vividly recall emailing my friend in New Zealand explaining how we were on the verge of becoming one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Nine months later we had just beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford in the final match to stay in the League – things did not go according to plan that season.

So here we are in 2015 with a Board that I personally think have been incredible for this club and a manager who epitomises everything we as West Ham fans want from the main man. Passion, desire, tactical awareness, ambition, excitement and more than all of tha,t he just simply looks like a bloke you'd love to go down the pub and share a pint or two with.

Super Slav enjoys his rock music and the occasional ciggy (or at least he did in his playing days) and well, he just gets it doesn't he? He gets what West Ham means. He gets what this part of London is about. He gets that we've never been in this to see our team churn out trophy after trophy but above all else we just want to see hard work, a bit of flair and some excitement injected into our lives on a Saturday afternoon.

Bilic wasn't with us long in the mid-nineties but his relationship with the club and the fans took off straight away and let's be honest, it feels like he's never been away. Seeing him prowl along the touchline with those steely eyes and exercising the vocal chords, you can tell he's almost gearing himself up for another leap above a centre-forward to head clear a cross into our box. He lives and breathes football and so do we.

It is early days of course but it does feel like a match made in heaven. As always though, managers are judged on results and a glance at the fixture list in the summer threw up some tough away games to start with which were compromised by some promising looking home matches. Let's not forget though - this is West Ham.

Seriously, how many other clubs can you think of that would beat Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea but would fail to overcome Leicester, Bournemouth, Norwich, Sunderland and more recently, Watford? However, I'm sure he will get the formula right sooner rather than later and he really seems to be enjoying it. We certainly are as fans.

I have had my season ticket for 25 years now – a quarter of a century dedicating most of my Saturday's to visiting The Boleyn Ground - and I love it. I mean, I truly love it. I am an away fan too and try to get to around ten matches per season, which is a totally different experience to a home match. The days out are brilliant fun and it's almost a sense of "we're all in this together". The atmosphere is awesome and when you do see a win, be it famous or not, it makes for a fun journey home that's for sure!

However, the bread and butter - and the reason I became a fan - is the Boleyn Ground.

My Dad is from West Ham and attended Pretoria School but his parents moved out to Dagenham which is where he met my Mum. Dad has been going since the early 1960s and has far more memories of The Boleyn than I do and I am extremely jealous of some of the things he has experienced first-hand.

The atmosphere against Eintracht Frankfurt was quite something; witnessing what many say was the best performance by an opposition team when Dinamo Tblisi turned us over in 1981 (I appreciate good football, too), but more than anything just being in the North or South Bank and watching the many, many great players wear the claret and blue must have been something to behold.

I would love to have been around to see Bobby Moore lead our team out, watch 'Budgie' Byrne torment many defences and Geoff Hurst smash in six against Sunderland. We are known for being a family club and I think most West Ham fans can relate to that. The majority of us would have been taken to our first match by a family member and that sticks with you.

It's something that is handed down through generations – almost as though our elders are saying "we've had to endure this down the years, over to you kiddo!" And all of those early memories involve trips to the Boleyn. No matter how good or bad the football has been down the years, we've always looked forward to getting down there on match day to sample that unique atmosphere. It's a special place and I guess if you're not one of us, you just won't get it.

I grew up in Dagenham and watched the Daggers a few times before Dad took me to The Boleyn for my first match in 1988 – a 1-3 defeat to Charlton. I can't confess to say I was hooked that night because I simply don't remember it that well. In fact the first game I do remember is a 5-0 victory over Sunderland the following season and thinking I wanted to be Eamon Dolan when I grew up.

I started going regularly with Dad and we had our first season tickets together in that 1989-1990 season which ended in relegation. We won at times and lost more, but I just loved going down to Upton Park.

I recall the old Portacabin shop outside the old West Stand, the school playground which adjoined the forecourt area (and thinking that those school kids are the luckiest in the world getting to play a game of footy in the shadows of the stadium) and the endless queues to the ticket office as we started buying tickets for the occasional away game.

All happy memories as a kid growing up but then in the early to mid-nineties this stadium that I had started to love was beginning to change. First, the old South Bank was knocked down and replaced with the Bobby Moore Stand, which is where I've had my season ticket for the past 22 years.

I remember being at school and the PE class were tasked with doing a project on anything we wanted to do which related to sports, which would contribute towards our GSCE grading. I chose the redevelopment of the South Bank at the Boleyn and recall my Dad and me driving to the deserted ground on many occasions to take photographs and making pages of notes for my school project.

I absolutely loved working on that project and achieved 61 marks out of a possible 63 and was told it was rolled out by the teachers as an example for future students. I wish I had made a point of asking for it when I left school, but hopefully it helped the kids of Dagenham gain a decent grade in their exams in the years that followed! The fact I threw everything into my work demonstrated how much passion I had for my club from an early age and I got a lot of satisfaction out of expressing a little bit of my creative side whilst trying to reflect what was happening in E13.

The erection of the Sir Trevor Brooking stand followed, which stands on the famous old North Bank site. And then the West Stand had an upgrade in 2001 which I believe is the biggest single stand in London and one of the best in the country. It's imposing but due to the way it was built (the shell was built around the old stand meaning our crowds didn't slip too much during construction) the famous tight ground was no more. The distance between the front row of seats and the edge of the pitch had now become vast to the extent ball boys were needed!

This wasn't what the Boleyn was famed for but it did suddenly become one the best stadiums in London. And to be honest, this is the Boleyn that I and many fans of a similar age have considered the "famous old Boleyn". Granted the atmosphere isn't always what we had heard from years gone by – that Frankfurt match in 1976 takes some beating by all accounts according to my Dad - but there have still been many, many memorable occasions. The modern-day "Frankfurt" being the Ipswich play-off match in 2004.

What a night, oh my goodness! I've never heard or experienced a night quite like that. The atmosphere around the ground prior to kick off was at fever pitch and when Matty Etherington smashed in the first goal of the night to draw us level on aggregate, well I reckon the vibrations from the stadium that night must have been felt right across London.

Christian Dailly nudged in the winner with his curly hairs and we had won. The moment that struck me that night was at full time when every single person inside the stadium rose to their feet, put their arms in the air and belted out the most ferocious version of 'Bubbles' I have ever heard. It was truly remarkable and memorable and those fans that were lucky enough to be there that night will never forget it. I certainly won't. Truly hairs on the back of the neck stuff. We lost the Final, of course!

There is something special about attending a West Ham home match under the floodlights. I don't know what it is but the atmosphere is like no other and if you're lucky enough to witness a famous win then the evening will stay with you forever. Who will ever forget beating Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in the snow? The noise levels increase as the cold air filters its way through the east London skyline and I wish we could bottle that up and take it along with the Champions Statue when we move to Stratford next summer.

The history inside those four stands is unique and you can feel it whenever you enter through the turnstiles. The face of the stadium has changed down the years but the tradition never did and is woven into the fabric of the name, the Boleyn Ground. I challenge you to say those words and then imagine West Ham not being associated to them any more. Horrible isn't it? It leaves emptiness inside and a gaping hole the size of an Olympic Stadium. But alas we move forwards and hope and pray for many new memories.

A big highlight for me was when I got to play on the hallowed turf back in 2013. Most kids in my school wanted to play for West Ham and whilst it wasn't actually for the Hammers, I did manage to play in a match which was organised by a friend of mine. We used the home dressing room and even came out to Bubbles over the PA system.

Our team drew 4-4 and I managed to "live the dream" and get on the scoresheet that day, which will live with me forever. It was the most deadly strike you'll ever see from six yards! To cap it off it was right in front of the Bobby Moore Stand and I'll be a liar if I said I didn't look down on that area of the pitch and relive that memory every other week when I take my seat for a home match.

There have been plenty more memories down the years, some highs and plenty of lows, but it's a place of worship no matter what. Even if things aren't going great personally, it's okay "cos I'm at West Ham on Saturday". The place just fixes things for you. Even if you come away cursing the team's performance you know you'll be back next week because it's just what we do.

We're a passionate, loyal and honest bunch and I can never imagine growing up to support another club as a kid. It's who I am and I'm sure if you cut me there would be a little bit of sky blue that is mixed in with the claret.

I will never tire of going to watch West Ham but we are about to embark on a new journey from next season and as we prepare to leave the Boleyn Ground, I also understand things will never be the same. The journey to a game will be better I am sure due to impressive transport links, but come on, we all love joining the queue at Upton Park tube stretching round the back of Queens Market don't we? Especially if it's raining!

After all these years it still fascinates me that no one has ever thought about cutting down the tree that sticks out on the bend where it's branches continue to flick the endless queue of people around the side of the head. Walking towards the entrance, past all the hundreds making their way to the back of the queue, is interesting depending on the result; it just feels like a proper football tube station doesn't it? The dimly-lit road, the cobbled pathway, the crowds all jostling along together – it's great and I will miss it.

The final game against Swansea on 7th May is going to be awful. There won't be a dry eye in the house and I'm dreading it. I still can't comprehend that soon I will make my last ever trip to Upton Park tube station, I probably won't walk along Green Street again and I won't ever walk through the turnstiles at The Boleyn Ground following the match against the Swans.

It's one thing walking away for the final time but I think it will really hit home when the bulldozers come in and knock the entire place down. That will kill us fans and everything we have all grown up and immersed ourselves in will be gone.

But things must change. We want to become bigger and better and compete at the highest level. I firmly believe this club can become the best and sit at the top of the tree with what has been presented to us now. I have attended almost 1,000 matches following the Hammers (600 at home) and I have never before even contemplated saying the above. But with this new stadium it scares the life out of me how big we can now become.

I think we're going to surprise a few people along the way in terms of the support we're going to be bringing to matches. This club is bigger than most people think and I probably include some of our own fans in that statement. We have a huge fan base, massive. Everywhere you go you'll meet a Hammer. This really will propel us into the light and out of the shadows of our more so-called illustrious neighbours and with that, people WILL stand up and take notice of this sleeping giant.

We have a wider support than Chelsea – I mean support - not people that claim to like the Blues and are willing to part with a tenner to a stall on Oxford Street to buy a shirt that barely resembles the word "official". One question I've been asked plenty of times is "do you think you will you fill it?" Of course we will. I have never had any doubt whatsoever that we will fill it.

Before the new West Stand was built we sold out every game and got 26,000 through the turnstiles. All of a sudden we had 9,000 more seats to fill and people were worried then! Don't forget, this club averaged above 30,000 in the Championship not so long ago too. Even David Dein, the former Arsenal Vice-Chairman, apparently once told former Chairman Terry Brown it "frightens him to death" how big West Ham could become if we moved into a bigger stadium. Well David, that time is coming.

Of course, people will doubt the move and feel a little apprehensive but I am looking forward to it immensely. I strongly believe that there are plenty of other clubs' fans and Chairmen that are looking over their shoulders and towards the claret and blue corner of east London now and I love that.

I've watched some dross down the years but kept going back for more. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of success now to be honest. I wouldn't mind seeing us competing with the best in Europe. But I don't want that to be totally compromised by the injection of huge amounts of cash meaning the ethic of this wonderful club is sacrificed. We should never lose that and I don't think this set of fans would stand for it.

Money will obviously play a part somewhere along the line, but if players aren't pulling their weight in a 54,000 capacity stadium, wow they're going to know about it. But if they're willing to put the hard yards in and win us a few games, I honestly believe the appreciation they'll feel won't be rivalled anywhere else.

It's going to be an extremely emotional day on 7th May, but come the following August I feel a new kid may have just arrived on the block. And I cannot wait.

Is this our time…?

Too damn right it is.

COYI!

My top 10 Boleyn memories: what would be on your list?

1) Yossi scoring an 85th minute winner to deny Spurs a place in the Champions League – lasagne has always been my favourite dish!

2) 4-3 victory over Spurs when our new signings Kitson and Hartson showed what they're capable of on a windy and rainy February evening. A proper football match.

3) This season's 2-1 win over Chelsea. What a great atmosphere and Roy of Rovers stuff seeing big Andy nod in the late winner – scenes.

4) Ipswich in the 2004 Play-off semi-final 2nd leg. I've never experienced an atmosphere like that or seen it replicated anywhere else. Incredible night.

5) Seeing Paolo come off the bench in our ill-fated 2002-03 season to score the winner against Chelsea in what would be his last ever match at The Boleyn. Tears were aplenty from the Italian magician.

6) A true "I was there moment" as I witnessed the best goal ever scored by a professional footballer. Di Canio's volley against Wimbledon. I don't need to say anymore.

7) During the influx of the foreign legion down West Ham way in the Redknapp era, we had this little gem of a player who produced what I still say is the best individual performance I've ever seen live. Hugo Porfirio destroyed Nottingham Forest in the League Cup as we ran out 4-1 winners. Even more remarkable was Dowie notched two that night but Hugo was a class apart from anything I've seen over a 90 minute period. Class.

8) Paolo twisting Martin Keown inside and out with a delicious little flick before curling the ball into the top corner in front of the Bobby Moore – chaos in the stands, absolute chaos.

9) Not a win, but the most satisfying draw a West Ham fan has probably ever experienced as Ludo had the game of his life and we held Manchester United 1-1 to deny them the title – again. Obscene…

10) A Youth Cup match. The 2nd leg in the Final followed a 3-0 victory at Coventry and a capacity crowd of 26,000 crammed in to witness one hell of a show. We won 6-0 (9-0 on aggregate) and the talent was amazing, including a certain Joe Cole that looked like he was having the time of his life. However it was another player that grabbed my attention that went under the radar big time that night – Michael Carrick was absolutely astonishing.

To finish up, I asked family and friends for their chosen words which encapsulates their feelings towards what it means to be a West Ham fan and how The Boleyn Ground has had an impact on their lives. I believe the following reflects our collective thoughts and feelings….

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Palace stars impressed by Zarate show
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th November 2015
By: Staff Writer

He many not have scored during the game, but West Ham striker Mauro Zarate certainly left a lasting impression on Crystal Palace's players following yesterday behind-closed-doors friendly at the Boleyn Ground. KUMB member Row X was travelling from Essex to West Ham on the tube yesterday afternoon when three Eagles stars - including first team players Brede Hangeland and Connor Wickham - joined him at Upton Park.

And according to our man, the trio were eulogising over the performance of Zarate during United's 1-0 friendly win - secured thank to Jaanai Gordon's second half strike. "I was travelling in from Elm Park with my headphones in," said Row X. "When the Palace lads got on I instantly recognised Brede, as he was massive! All three looked shattered. "I didn't know we were playing Palace, but put two and two together and thought it might have been a behind-closed-doors friendly. So I switched my music off straight away to listen in on what might be said."

According to Row X, Wickham and Hangeland agreed that Zarate had been "quality" during the game, whilst the Norwegian defender praised his attitude, adding "he ran that game today". Meanwhile the third, unidentified player decreed that the West Ham number 10 had been "the stand out player", whilst all three agreed that summer signing Yohan Cabaye was the only Palace player capable of performing in a similar manner for the Selhurst Park outfit. "As we pulled into West Ham, Wickham said his goodbyes," added Row X. "It was a shame I only got to listen to their conversation for a few minutes, but you could tell they were impressed with Zarate!"

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Come on folks, do keep up!
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th November 2015
By: Paul Walker

James McCarthy should have been sent off. There you go, I've said it again.

Referee Paul Tierney got it wrong and those of a blue persuasion have been on my case ever since.

So now I am about to break my rule that says I should not get involved in slanging matches over something I have written for KUMB. People write on fans' sites and expect to get stick, everyone is entitled to their views and football is a passionate business, it's why we are all so involved.

The whole point is writing for you own fans means you don't have to be impartial, you are able to be biased and a piece that provokes debate--and sadly--some abuse, is what you expect. I can handle that, I am old enough and ugly enough.

And in the midst of all this I want to apologise to Everton and their fans for the shocking, way out of order, comments about the late, great Howard Kendall from some so-called West Ham fans.

How his name got dragged into this, I cannot fathom. But because I was annoyed with some Everton fans being spiteful and just nasty about Dimitri Payet, wishing him the worst possible damage, is absolutely no excuse for any sick remarks about Kendall.

Must admit, I was horrified. Kendall was a long-time professional acquaintance of mine, not a friend as such, but someone I talked to regularly in my former life for close on 20 years!

He was one of the nicest, most helpful managers I have ever met. He was very kind to me when I first moved to Liverpool to work--we both escaped Manchester at about the same time--and he went out of his way to cooperate with me.

I recall a long chat over a glass or two of wine about the 1964 FA Cup Final, when Howard played for Preston against us. He became the then-youngest ever player in a cup final that day, just beating our own John Sissons.

Sissons went on to become the youngest, at the time, scorer in a final and the pair left the pitch with their arms around each other, being friends and room mates for England Youth. That they never played for the full England side was a disgrace, and a chat about that day with Kendall was a memory of him I will never forget.

When he died recently I was away in Majorca on holiday, and still there when he had his funeral, a wonderfully fitting farewell at Liverpool cathedral. I was upset then, still am. So I am disgusted with any sick remarks from West Ham fans' forums. Some things are way out of line, and this is one of them.

Sadly, all clubs have their brain dead, pond life who hide behind invented names to abuse people. Sites should do more to filter out such filth, as well as death threats. Come on, do they think they are Reggie Kray?

Now back to my original point. Everton fans keep saying in countless postings that McCarthy got the ball, so that's OK. Where have they been these last couple of years?

Whether you touch the ball first with a scissor tackle is nothing to do with it. The new interpretation is all about how strong or reckless the referee feels the tackle is. The damage is done, as with Payet, with the trailing leg.

One post from 'Martin' insisted that it wasn't intentional and McCarthy got the ball. I have no idea whether McCarthy was trying to hurt Payet, only he knows that, or whether he's a nice boy and wouldn't hurt a fly, as 'Helen' from Wigan thinks.

Someone going under the name of 'Avishek' even used as mitigation the theory "that he could not control his trailing leg". That mate is just the point, and why the directive to referees has been made.

Payet posted a picture on twitter which showed McCarthy had two feet off the ground. Another picture shows his tackling foot about six inches off the ground with studs showing. Referees have been told to penalise this. Tierney, in my view, got it wrong and only booked the Everton player.

Countless refereeing pundits have made it very clear on this issue that players can be sent off even if they do get the ball first. Is that clear? I hope so.

And there have been Everton fans moaning about the scissor tackle from Spurs' Eric Dier on Tom Cleverley that put their midfielder out for months. And Luke Shaw's injury was also mentioned in mitigation.

The assault on Cleverley was not even penalised with a free kick, and Shaw's assailant was even named man of the match by the Dutch press. Both tackles were red card offences and should have been punished. That they were not is surely not an argument in McCarthy's defence.

Oh, and then Kevin Nolan's name gets thrown into the mix, something about a challenge he made while at Newcastle. He wasn't a West Ham player then and is not now. And whatever he has done still does not excuse McCarthy, or what I feel was a referee's mistake.

And finally, I did not mention anything about McCarthy's previous. Also not important. But I believe he and Morgan Amalfitano do not exchange Christmas cards.

The bottom line is that McCarthy should have walked. Simple as that, but none of this will get Payet back playing any quicker.

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West Ham say they are 'protecting' Reece Oxford in Premier League
Last Updated: 12/11/15 10:27am
SSN

West Ham teenager Reece Oxford has been kept out of the first team to help nurture his development, the head of the club's medical team has revealed. The midfielder played in three of the team's opening four Premier League games this season, having made his league debut in August, aged 16 and 236 days in the surprise 2-0 win at Arsenal. But the player has not featured for the Hammers since August 29 and the club have explained their reasons for keeping the youngster out of the first team. West Ham's head of medical Stijn Vandenbroucke told the club's website: "Reece Oxford has had some significant development over the last few weeks. "We have been working with him to prepare him for the demands of the Premier League. "He is obviously a big talent and it is my responsibility to protect him, along with the responsibility of the manager, who is fully on board with how we are managing Reece."

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THANK YOU MR BILIC
By Tony Hanna 12 Nov 2015 at 16:05
WTID

The West Ham Way? Not sure when this term or colloquialism came about? Like a few others on this site I was lucky enough to watch the Moore, Hurst and Peter's team of the Greenwood era and the Brooking, Bonds and Devonshire team under John Lyall. During those two era's I never heard the "West Ham Way" term used. But that is not to say it is not part of our ethos. Just as the "Academy of Football" phrase was booted around in past years there has to be a starting point for any catchphrase. The philosophy around the term is spot on. Whatever anyone's view on the subject, the transformation of our football club within a few short months has been enormous. Not only do we have some fantastic ball players at the club now, but they are being played! The injury to Dimitri Payet has robbed us of one of the seasons delights so far, if only for three months. We can only wish that he can return as soon as possible. It would be great to see Payet, Lanzini and Song all on "song" in the same team. We could really take someone apart!


For those with short memories we were actually 4th at Christmas last year. I really doubt we will be able to equal or better that by this festive season. However, even disregarding the nosedive that transpired in the second half of last season, this season has already been more of a success for me. The depth of the squad, in my opinion, is the best I have ever seen at the club. We have had better players in certain positions in the past, but never the riches of back up we currently have except perhaps in the fullback positions. Sakho gets injured and Andy Carroll returns. Reid and Ogbonna both out and in come Tomkins and Collins. Payat gets injured and Song returns. Even Randolph is a great understudy to Adrian. There are many more examples and you don't need me to explain any further. This squad may not be able to break into the top four or six, we shall see, but they have not only provided a feast of entertaining football but some absolutely cracking goals to savour as well. Twenty three goals in just twelve matches shows a little more forward thinking than respect the point. It is also refreshing that we as fans can stop looking at future fixtures wondering how and where we can amass enough points to avoid relegation.

Now I am 60 next birthday and some will say I am old and some will say I am still young, depending on their own age and outlook on life. But I must admit, I was really starting to think I would never see the Hammers win at Anfield again in my lifetime. Thank you Slaven Bilic! That is one hell of a chip off the old shoulder. However, Everton still remain our bogey team on home and away form. I still remember them making me cry at a football match for the first time when I was about 13 because we were so unlucky against them in a 1-0 home defeat. A 1-1 draw last weekend is not the end of the World, but the injuries to Payet and Valencia were at a higher cost than the loss of two points.

For me, all the feel good factors that have made this season so far are wide and variable. The silky skills of Payet and Lanzini; the pace of which we break from defence, the outstanding wins at Arsenal, City or Liverpool, or just the fact we are trying to play football again. But one man is largely responsible for making all this possible and it is he who has also brought respect back to our club with his honesty and humility in pre and post match interviews. Once again, thank you Mr Bilic.

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West Ham receive major fitness boost with Alex Song set to return to first team
22:30, 11 NOV 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
The former Arsenal midfielder played 45 minutes in a friendly and could be back in the Hammers squad after losing Dimitri Payet for three months
The Mirror

West Ham have received a huge boost with the return to fitness of Alex Song . The ex-Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder played 45 minutes of a friendly win over Crystal Palace. Song could now feature against Tottenham in the Hammers' first game after the international break. Impressive during the first half of last season, he has yet to play for the Irons this time around after ongoing ankle surgery during the summer. But he has now been training with the first team for over two weeks and the club are happy with his progress. It is a welcome relief for the club after they were left reeling by the news earlier this week that star man Dimitri Payet will be out for three months following a crunching tackle from Everton's James McCarthy. West Ham are also hoping to have news later this week on Enner Valencia who was also injured in the same game. The club are concerned that he too could be set for another lay-off.

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Irons striker told to do what experts say
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
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West Ham's top brass are hoping Enner Valencia will take expert advice when he meets a top specialist in London on Monday. The club have still not given details of the striker's injury and he is back in Ecuador tonight but there are fears he may have suffered a reaction to the injury that sidelined him for 12 weeks.

At the time of the last injury Valencia appeared caught between two stalls and hit out at the club claiming : "West Ham seem to have forgotten that I'm injured. But they don't let me speak to another doctor. I don't understand why West Ham doctors are doing this to me. The truth is that West Ham have not been supporting me."

Valencia later moved to smooth the waters with a statement on West Ham's official website saying: "I have had a number of consultation meetings with specialists in London, accompanied by members of the club's medical staff, and they have always kept me updated me on my injury.

"It has been a frustrating time, but I would like to make clear that I have the utmost respect and confidence in the club's medical team and the specialists I was referred to and I would like to apologise to them and the club for any issues arising from the recent press coverage.

However, ClaretandHugh insiders told us at time that the striker was unhappy at the prospect of surgery and it was that which may have been at the root of the problem."

And tonight we were told: "He returns tomorrow (Fri) and the expert will say what needs to be done on Monday. Last time there was no operation as he didn't want it and that's POSSIBLY why its gone wrong again.

We really hope he has the operation this time IF the expert says he needs it."

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OS: Band 4 issue riles fan
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
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Information has reached Claret and Hugh HQ that season ticket holders from Bobby Moore Lower have been forced to upgrade to band 3 to get a comparable seat in the Lower Tier of the Olympic Stadium.

One season ticket holder in the back row of the Bobby Moore Lower contacted Claret and Hugh this week to say he wasn't offered any seats in the lower tier as a band 4 ticket at £499.

When he visited the Stratford reservation centre earlier this week he was offered band 4 seats in the upper tier.

The sales person did offer him a comparable seat which is back row of the lower stand behind the goal at the Olympic Stadium but the catch is he would need to upgrade to band 3 which is £100 more expensive.

The irritated season ticket holder of 45 years told us "Gobsmacked mate is the only thing to say, as predicted we were offered back row lower tier seats, which fits the bill nicely with an almost identical sight line to the BML today, so why am I upset as I appear to have got what I wanted?

"Well BML Band 4 has suddenly become OS Band 3 £599. I if I want Band 4, I am upstairs row 2 backwards, so after venting my annoyance I was swiftly met with the retort, 'Band 3 is cheaper than what I pay for band 4 today, so that makes it all OK then?'

Ultimately, it's not the money, as what is a ton in the great scheme of things over the course of a season, but it's the principle. BML and STB lower tiers are band 4, there's a reason for that which is distance from the pitch and only a forward view aspect, just the same as the OS will be.

"As for newbies, two friends came with us, and were offered only upper tier, they ended up with some nice looking seats in line with the left corner flag for Band 4, but friendship only goes so far, so they are up there whilst we elevated to Band 3″

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Irons wait on Valencia Ecuador medics
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
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West Ham have taken a cautious approach to releasing full details of Enner Valencia's injury until his international team medics have had the opportunity of examining the striker.

The national team are involved in a match against Uruagay tonight (k/0 9pm GMT) and the Irons – having fallen foul of Senegal in a similar situation, when Diafra Sakho sustained a back injury, are playing this one by the book.

ClaretandHugh @blogger @ExWHUemployee – who is in the process of setting up his own exciting website project in conjunction with us – tweeted earlier: "The hold up with Valencia's scan is because when a player is meant to be on international duty they have to assess first before the club.

"The reason the national team assess first is if there is a call-up and they pull out! Man U had a habit of saying players were "injured."

It's for reasons like this that the rule was introduced and we obviously had issues with Sakho last year too."

A West Ham source said: "Once bitten twice shy. There is no question about Enner's injury"

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Hammers talk on defender 'interest'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
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West Ham are unlikely to be making a move for reported target FC Lorient defender Lamine Kone. The Ivory Coast international is apparently bang on the Irons radar according to morning reports although club sources have played down the supposed interest. Sunderland and Aston Villa are also reported to be interested and with the Irons well stocked with central defenders it would be a surprise if they weren't left to fight it out among themselves. Kone has had a great season but the Hammers are more than happy with the central defenders available to them at the moment. ClaretandHugh was told: "We have Winston Reid, James Tomkins and Angelo Ogbonna available along with James Collins. "And we have made it clear in the past that we may be ready to recall Reece Burke from his loan spell at Bradford City if needed. "Quite apart from anything else, there is no money avaialble and players will have to leave for us to bring in new ones. However, that won't be at central defence."

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Gold: 'Footballers and beef burgers don't mix'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on November 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
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West Ham Chairman David Gold has hit back at former Hammer Benni McCarthy by saying 'Footballers and beef burgers don't mix!" In response to sexist comments made by McCarthy about Karren Brady, Gold tweeted "More importantly Benni. Footballers and beef burgers don't mix. dg" McCarthy recently said about his time at West Ham "I saw so many things in my life and in football for me, it was nothing. Woman and football, it's not such a good combination.I was just hurt and when I returned, I was not the same. You have to get into shape. People forget that if you did not feed for twelve weeks and you do not come back for a game, it's very hard to find your best level. You have to link several games before, maybe, to get fit."
When McCarthy was released in 2011 after 13 disappointing appearances for the Hammers McCarthy hit out at Karren Brady saying "It makes me want to throw up. There's the devil with a set of tits." Brady later rebuked "At least I'm supposed to have tits"

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Irons player gets special protection
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News
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Slaven Bilic is taking big precautions with Reece Oxford, putting the 16-year-old and it is working. Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke has explained the player's absence this season after is great start explaining the club are not ready to overwork their teen prodigy. He explained: "Reece Oxford has had some significant development over the last few weeks. We have been working with him to prepare him for the demands of the Premier League. "He is obviously a big talent and it is my responsibility to protect him, along with the responsibility of the manager, who is fully on board with how we are managing Reece. "He is away with England Under-19s now and will be involved in their matches with Holland and Japan."

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Irons progress on several fronts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
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Whilst Dimitri Payet's injury is the most significant blow to the club, there's been great progress on various other fronts. Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke was delighted with yesterday's match against Palace reporting:"We played Crystal Palace on Wednesday in a behind-closed-doors game which was very competitive because both clubs put out strong squads which could have played in the Premier League. "Alex Song played 70 minutes in this game without any problems, which was a good step in the right direction as it was his first game in six months. "Also positive is that Winston Reid came through 90 minutes against Everton on Saturday after four weeks out. He is now going to have a few days rest and we can build him up again for the Tottenham Hotspur game. "Diafra Sakho has been out running on the pitch this week and we are very confident we can recover him from his quadriceps injury for the trip to Tottenham, should he not suffer any setbacks. "Pedro Obiang is continuing with his own rehabilitation following the quadriceps injury he suffered in training before the Watford game."

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West Ham made summer bid for Raul Jimenez
11:58, 12 NOV 2015 UPDATED 11:58, 12 NOV 2015
BY RICHARD BEECHAM
Mexico hero claims he turned down an offer from Slaven Bilic to join the Irons, opting instead for a loan move to Benfica.
London 24

Benfica's Raul Jimenez in action against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez said he turned down a summer move to West Ham. The 6ft 3in forward was one of a number of strikers linked with the Hammers over the summer of 2015, but Jimenez opted for a loan move to Portugese giants Benfica . "There was also an offer from West Ham and for several days I had to think about the two options and in the end chose Benfica because I felt it was the club that could give me what I needed," he told Portuguese newspaper A Bola .
"It's the best club in Portugal and they can help me a lot to continue to improve and grow as a footballer." After impressing in the Mexican league with Club America , the 24-year-old was snapped up by Atleti as a replacement for Diego Costa. However, the Mexico international struggled for form in his first season in Spain, scoring just one goal.

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HANGING UP YOUR BOOTS
By Terence Bates 12 Nov 2015 at 09:00
WTID

Ex Hammer Teddy Sheringham currently manages Stevenage. He recently announced his intention to play again in an FA Cup match at the age of ninety-eight… (ok forty-nine then!)… It does feel like an eternity that he's been around, but maybe that's me not wanting to acknowledge or accept I am further along the conveyor belt of life than him!

His playing comeback as it happens… well it didn't happen, but it begs the question of when is it time for players to hang up their boots from playing, especially at the higher level in the Premier League? And have the standards improved so much in football that a playing career is now shortened age wise? Is burn-out something we are all facing in an ever stressful and speedier life?

Benni McCarthy is also in the news after making sexist comments about Karen Brady. His spell at West Ham was a disaster due to his inability to knuckle down and get fit. As we get older it is harder to stay fit and for most of us to keep the pounds off. McCarthy was around thirty-three years old when he was contracted to play for West Ham and he was a big fat flop. It was already game over because he could not work at fitness levels and stay in shape, as David Gold has tweeted in defence of Karen Brady "More importantly Benni "Footballers and beef burgers don't mix." Quite.

I realise football-wise age is subjective, in so much that some players are genetically blessed, have better fitness, a better attitude towards diet, have less injuries or can adapt to a different positional role. Sheringham to his credit played top flight football until he was forty plus, playing for the Hammers in the heartbreak FA Cup Final against Liverpool in 2006 and thus becoming the third oldest player to appear in an FA Cup Final. His legacy also includes being in the top ten of all time goal scorers in the Premier League at 147 goals, he stands in the top twenty of all-time appearances in the Premier League and is still the oldest player to have ever set foot in a Premier League match at the age of 40 years, 272 days or thereabouts! Add to this he holds the record for being the oldest goal scorer in the Premier League…. Well I'll have some of what he's drinking please!

Before Teddy, West Ham had the legendary Billy Bonds who looked like he would go on ad-infinitum and he too played in the top flight albeit pre-premier league, past the age of forty before injury convinced him to call it quits. The difference of course is that Billy Bonds spent twenty years at Upton Park whereas Teddy Sheringham shared his career with several clubs, the majority playing time between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Both players it could be argued possessed a certain elixir of youth or indeed an elixir of the right attitude, an element perhaps lacking in the DNA of Mr McCarthy.

History is littered with great veteran players, the most famous of whom is the great Stanley Matthews who finally hung up his boots from playing at an incredible seventy years of age, five years after he started claiming his pension! Matthews still holds the record for being the oldest man to play at the top level in the UK at fifty and the oldest to play for his country. Matthews was credited as a non-smoking vegetarian teetotaller, which is an interesting point making him way ahead of his time from a health thinking perspective, however it still didn't stop him endorsing cigarettes as a healthy lifestyle choice in a newspaper advertisement!

Stanley Matthews the oldest footballer was yes... a health freak!
The holy chalice called Bobby Moore saw his career all but fall apart in the disastrous England World Cup game game against Poland that subsequently became the catalyst for not only his career at the top being over, but that also of the England Manager Sir Alf Ramsey. Moore's final game for England was in 1974 against Italy, he was 33. Shortly after also saw the end of his career with West Ham. Thirty-three years of age even by the standards back then was relatively young. Bobby Moore's final match for West Ham was in their reserves. We can only surmise what the underlying health issues of Bobby played in a relatively short career at the top.

The question to be asked is whether any of these past players or indeed our current premier league players would ever be able to compete in the same way now at such ripe ages? Football at the highest level is becoming a young mans game where performance, speed, health & fitness and athleticism is paramount and the thought of Bonzo having a bottle of beer before the game, McCarthy munching a dozen Big Macs or Slaven Bilic as a footballer sucking on several fags at half time would send the media into a frenzy and pull in the men in white coats.

And with all this in mind I bring up thirty-two year old James Collins or 'Ginger Pele' as he is affectionately known by the West Ham faithful, who is way younger than Sheringham, Bonzo or even Bobby Moore at the tail end of their careers. James Collins was in my view a disaster pre-season and in the Europa Cup where he was being outrun and ultimately found himself being sent off after two clumsy challenges against pacier opponents, which in turn greatly contributed to our exit from the competition. Collins then repeated this in the Hammers annoying defeat against Watford.

At the beginning of the season I could see Collins being shown the exit door, which I am sure others would agree would have been really sad. Collins has spent ten years over two spells at the club and clearly loves both club and supporters. To his credit he has redeemed himself since by putting in some good performances without a lot going wrong, but…. will it last? I have my doubts as the game against Watford has shown.

This flagging of fitness, slowing down through ageing and nagging injuries scenario also led to Kevin Nolan leaving the club and disappointedly (from his perspective), even his favourite manager Sam Allardyce has not yet rescued him and rekindled the working relationship they held for years by heading towards Allardyces's new club Sunderland, although of course who knows that could change. I think it is unlikely that a premiership club will hire Nolan, but again I could be wrong, perhaps Bournemouth who look like they are facing a serious relegation battle, might turn to him to help.

Of course any sympathy one has to current footballers whose careers are in a slide is tempered by the knowledge that these guys are earning ridiculous amounts of money and we ultimately pay their wages. Do the maths, ten years at an average of 30 -50k a week equates to an overall income of around £15 to £25 million…. Nice work.

Elsewhere in the premier league, I believe it is no coincidence (despite the Mourinho shenanigans) that Chelsea are struggling and so is John Terry who at thirty-five is showing signs of maybe having to hang his Premier League boots up. Maybe there's one last hurrah in the American MLS or one last pay day in the Far East. No player can now be carried at the top level in the Premier League, especially if you want to win trophies even John Terry. I am sure of course most Hammers fans will be sad to see John Terry's exit from the PL!

In the past it was generally found that age combined with fitness filtered from youngest at the front, to the oldest playing career being the mantle of the Goalkeeper. Players could adapt their game and position as age, fitness and injury prevailed, central defenders could easily go onto their late thirties, West Ham had such players like Alvin Martin and of course Billy Bonds. But I doubt this is the case anymore, it is highly unlikely we will see players in their late thirties or post forty (even as a goalkeeper) playing in the Premier League, unless it is some kind of symbolic run out in an unimportant match.

I am filled with wishful thinking for the popular James Collins and really hope that I am wrong in singling him out for the exit door, as it is easy for those of us sitting with our beer belly's munching a Kit Kat, whilst sitting at a computer or tapping away on a tablet screen to make such ironic judgement on another man's age, fitness and career. Dig in Ginger Pele… prove us wrong, work at it and keep lacing those West Ham boots up… the Olympic Stadium beckons!

Terence Bates

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WEST HAM BATTLE NEWCASTLE AND ASTON VILLA FOR HIGHLY-RATED DEFENDER
By Dylan Bregman
IronsInTheCircle

According to The Daily Star West Ham United are tracking 26-year-old Ivorian centre-half, Lamine Kone. Kone has really started to become one of Ligue 1's best centre half's this season and he could be at the centre of a tug of war in the January transfer window. The Lorient defender has played 9 games this season and has caught the eye of scouts from England. Lorient's next game is at home to Paris Saint-Germain and this will be Kone's chance to prove that he is good enough for the top tier of English football. The centre-half is valued around €3m, however, it may not be a case of simply buying him. Sunderland, Aston Villa and Newcastle are also keen to get in on the act. With the high demand for the Ivorian, Lorient could easily bump up his price and get up to double his value if the English clubs are as interested as they seem. With rumours that club hero James Collins might be heading towards the exit at the Hammers, West Ham may need a new centre back to do a job for them when they need.

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