Daily WHUFC News - 16th December 2015

From the Terraces - Joe Difford
WHUFC.com

Fan blogger Joe Difford reflects on Saturday's draw with Stoke City...

With Dimitri Payet, Diafra Sakho, Winston Reid, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses all out injured, you'd be forgiven for wondering where the chances would come from before Saturday's game.
But after registering 24 shots, with 10 being on target, it is clear that creating chances wasn't the issue, but a combination of luck, misjudgement and Jack Butland being in the form of his life, forced Slaven Bilic and Co. to settle for a point. Within just three minutes, Michail Antonio was shining on his full debut for the club, forcing the future England No1 into two saves. We were forcing the Potters back into their own half, but their new brand of fast-paced, attacking football was proving an issue, and almost lead to a goal early on. Ibrahim Afellay did excellently out wide, before playing it to Marco van Ginkel, who was drafted in to replace the injured Xherdan Shaqiri, but the Chelsea loanee completely scuffed his shot, and it bobbled wide from inside the six-yard box.

Bojan and Marko Arnautovic, who were both phenomenal against Manchester City last week, struggled to find that form again, and instead were kept relatively quiet by the excellent Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins. Andy Carroll was tasked with leading the line, but came up against a resilient Ryan Shawcross, who palmed him off in the face early in the first half, giving him a sign of things to come. Carroll was limited to only four touches in the penalty area over 90 minutes, the same number as Mame Diouf, who only came on with half an hour to go. This might seem like a poor statistic for the former England striker, but credit has to go to the Stoke back four who kept him quiet for most of the game. Mauro Zarate has really upped his game since the injury crisis began, and he was full of energy on Saturday, constantly twisting and turning and running at the Stoke defence, causing all sorts of problems for the back line.

The best chances, bar van Ginkel's miss-kick in the first half, fell to Diouf and Cheikhou Kouyate late on. Diouf should have netted twice, having broken through one-on-one with Adrian on both occasions, but the Spanish keeper was alert and made two excellent stops, leaving the Stoke striker visibly frustrated. We could have won the game with literally the last kick, or should I say head of the game. The ball was put into the box and kept alive by Andy Carroll, but Kouyate's powerful header was cleared off the line by about three Stoke men. A draw against a side who have just beaten Manchester City, with five first team players out injured, is not a bad result at all. Yes, we are now winless in six, but we are also unbeaten in our last six home games, so even with draws, the Boleyn Ground is once against becoming a place where it is difficult to take all three points. Stoke have now kept an amazing seven clean sheets in their last nine Premier League games, and haven't conceded a single goal whilst Shawcross has been on the pitch, so not scoring was to be expected.

Next up for the Hammers is a trip to managerless Swansea, where three points could and should be picked up. We go again.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spiegel - We're always improving
WHUFc.com

Development Squad goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel was happy to do his bit as the Hammers secured a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Monday night. The Swiss stopper made a string of fine saves as the Hammers looked set to cling onto the lead given to them by Alex Pike's first half goal.
It took Arsenal until the 81st minute to equalise, but having suffered a heavy defeat at Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, Spiegel is happy with the progress made since. He said: "I think we could have won the game. We had the chances to score at least one more, but in the end it was a tough game for us and we have to respect the point. "It's nice to make some saves - I work hard in training to make those kind of saves in games, so on Monday I was pleased to help the team to get the point. "We didn't start the season that well, but we are always improving. We're playing very well at the moment and we can still improve. The team spirit is good and it's nice to be playing in this team. "We did well in the past few weeks and haven't lost in a long time. That gives us confidence and now we can start again in the New Year."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vive la difference
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th December 2015
By: Paul Walker

So exactly what is the difference now as West Ham struggle through their worst injury crisis since…well, last season…but do it with a smile on our faces?

So before any smart Alec comes on with the fact that we are worse off points and position wise now than we were at the same stage last term, let's get it out of our system.

That smart Alec will probably be failed TV man Richard Keys, sneering on twitter and implying that his big mate Sam was hard done by.

Ok, last season at the 16 game stage we were four places higher than we are now with four more points. Four draws in a six match winless run like now would have had us all moaning. Not now, it seems.

Saturday's 0-0 draw with Stoke makes the point, though. My match going pals--son and his mates--walked out of the Boleyn applauding the team, saying how good a game it was and genuinely exciting.

Considering we were missing six key men from the starting line-up a draw against an increasingly impressive Stoke team was very acceptable. But it was the manner of that draw and the way the game was played that impressed, not just the point won.

And this is where Keys and his Sam-loving mates will never get it. We really should ignore him, the abuse he gets when he makes snide remarks about West Ham is the oxygen he needs. This odious, sexist who has been an apologists for the murderous slave labour of his Qatar paymasters. I am just waiting for the next little outburst from his Doha bunker.

The difference was clear. Slav did not once take a backward step against Stoke. Every substitution was positive, Enner Valencia on for a flagging Alex Song, Nikica Jelavic for an equally tired Michail Antonio..not once a thought of 'respecting the point.'

And yes, it gave Stoke the chance to break out and almost win it. That we should have won the game ourselves in that last half hour suggests a draw was about right. What it did do was to produce an entertaining match.

In the previous two home games, draws with Everton and WBA, again all the substitutions were positive. Also the three substitutes used in the awful defeat at Watford. I will forgive Slav sending on Carl Jenkinson and Pedro Obiang at Manchester United, let's not be silly now.

But you cannot see Slav picking a team like Sam did at Chelsea last Boxing Day, a team set-up not to lose and one that intentional left out players with home matches against WBA and Arsenal to follow. We never really recovered from that piece of defensive thinking.

So we are now getting something worth watching. That must also please the Davids, who we are now told are the second best club owners in the country. After Manchester City's money-no-object owners, that is.

I always sense that there is a lot going on behind the scenes of this season. I do not think for one second the second best owners are telling Slav what team to pick. But I fancy he is in no doubt about what is wanted.

David Sullivan desperately wants Mauro Zarate to have a run in the side and to be a success, so he can prove a point to Sam, who it is clear would not play him because he was not his signing. Zarate , for me, has been the surprise of this term even if he still does not do much to protect defenders when not in possession,

But he is grasping his chance with Dimitri Payet injured long-term. Our second best owners also want to see us play the ball out from the back, even if it did cost us that calamity third goal at Spurs. Adrian's roll out was poor and put James Tomkins under needless pressure. The end product of that was predictable.

I would have thought that when you are facing a high pressing team like Spurs, then the 'keeper should clear from his hands to get the ball well away, take opposing players out of the game and give the target man--sorry, I know that's a banned word--the chance to win some sort of possession in our opponents' half not ours. But then what do I know?

And , of course, the second best owners want some return from their vast investment in Andy Carroll. So don't expect him to be sold any time soon. He is slowly getting match fit now, and did well at Old Trafford and against Stoke.

And despite all the rumours, why should be want to leave because he is highly unlikely to get a contract elsewhere like he has here? He has a new Essex-girl partner, a big pink house, a new baby and the love of his life has a nice little nails shop somewhere in the posh Essex suburbs. She is not going to want to move anywhere than means having to learn another language..like the north east!

That all said, it would be nice if the second best owners stopped prattling on about the Champions League and Europe. It is putting undue pressure on Bilic and the team. Our current expenditure and the FFP restrictions does not allow us anywhere near the Champions League party and the top four. It is just not going to happen.

Yep, Chelsea are having a bad time and Liverpool and Everton are below us. But that won't last. And then there is Spurs, who I hate to admit, look a pretty decent side these days. We don't have the fire-power to compete just yet. After the move to the Olympic Stadium maybe.

And that brings me round to the migration to Straford, and I'm sure you will all be delighted to know that me and my mates in the Bobby Moore lower have finally got our season tickets for next season. I have certainly grizzled on about it enough here.

Our interviews were last week, and I had to sit by the phone at home in Cheshire to wait for the call from our elected group leaders. An 11am interview in Stratford was never going to see me there in person, so the group idea was a bonus.

Hard to finger the club for that, they can hardly be expected to look at every address and than have a debate with the person as to when he can be make it.

And it went pretty well, I am told. But the fears I had were about right. No chance of upgrading to a view down the sides rather than at the ends, the 'plus twos' have seen to that. And we all had to upgrade to band three to get a comparable seat. I have since noticed a new phrase now appearing, 'comparable seat at comparable prices.' Thanks for that Karren.

It is fair to say that it is just a change of number, and where we are now sitting in band three is still cheaper than our current band four at the Boleyn. But it was not what we were told initially.

And it seems than the first few rows behind the goals are now branded as band four, I suppose because the view is just rubbish that low down. And it means that a third of the way up the seating in the lower tier, a more expensive band three ticket holder will sit right behind a cheaper band four fan, with the view obviously no different.

We are three rows from the back of the lower tier, just behind the left hand goal post and with the two aisle seats we have now. If you want band four prices, you are going to have to move to the far reaches of the upper tier, where you are probably nearer to the Gherkin than you are to the pitch.

But we are all pretty happy with what we were offered, and grateful for the research from one of our leaders, who attended rugby and athletics event at the OS and took lots of pictures of our potential seating positions. And he was proved right, so we have all seen for ourselves because you still cannot take pictures of the views offered at the meetings. Absolute nonsense, that.

And a lot of our close neighbours from the Boleyn are very near (you don't get rid of us that easily). So the banter can continue. One guy did note that his seat is now a few rows in front of us, so he does not have to sit behind one of our number who spends a fair amount of time loudly abusing the visitor's goalkeeper!

He seems to have a problem with 'fat' goalkeepers and the size of their backsides.(Boaz Myhill is the worst , it seems)!I can only apologise.

So onwards and upwards. A few big names back soon and we may well have decent league position in our sights.

And Slav is proving to be a cute manager. On the weekend that the injury toll was at it's worst, Slav got stuck into the old argument about our Chadwell Heath training ground. He blamed the pitches there for the injury toll and demanded we move early to Rush Green.

He is a lucky manager. Previously other managers and players have moaned about the outdated Chadwell Heath, but a least Slav had an alternative and he grabbed it. And of course we hear Sam praising him for that decision and moaning himself about the place.

In fact, only Winston Reid and Lanzini had suffered injuries in training from the six big names out. Valencia and Payet were kicked out of the game by Everton, Victor Moses did his hamstring at Old Trafford, Diafra Sakho hurt his thigh at Upton Park against West Brom. So it is not all down to the training pitches.

But Slav got action. Chadwell Heath is way below the standards in the Premier League. Chelsea have a state of the art premises in deepest Surrey rather than the old windswept field alongside the M4 at Harlington, where players had to book airport hotel rooms nearby for a shower!

Spurs have new facilities, Arsenal's are excellent while Manchester City have built an amazing campus in east Manchester. Neighbours United have top notch stuff at Carrington rather than the old Cliff while Everton have also built a very impressive new set-up near Liverpool airport. Stoke City also have a new place.

We have been lagging behind. It's hard to blame the second best owners, at least they have been doing something, although it is now several years since the old Fords sports ground was bought, it really should have been finished by now.

The task for Slav is now not to worry about being a little behind our position from last term, but to ensure there is no criminal collapse in form like last term. Sam, I see, is re-writing history and blaming it all on injuries. What rubbish.

We now know, because Ian Hendon has told us, that everyone knew Sam wasn't going to be re-employed last January and the man himself was never going to sign a new deal.

All that nonsense from the Davids about a new contract depending on the final dozen games! It was never going to happen and Sam just allowed things to drift…just like it seems is happening at Sunderland!

Oh, and one more thing about the second best owners and one of the brothers Grimm! Please stop giving our opponents chapter and verse about our injuries and when players may be about to return.

I am amazed Slav permits this. Can you imagine the uproar if ,say, Roman starting tweeting about Chelsea injuries, or Sir Alex's reaction if a Manchester United owner did the same thing. Or even if Yanks started talking about Jurgen Klopp's players in that way. It is very unprofessional.

Slav may well want to keep opponents guessing about his team selection. Ferguson used to tell bare faced lies to the media every Friday on the subject. Now days every scrap of information that can be gathered about a team's opponents is very useful, so why give stuff to rivals on a plate.

The interesting point about Lanzini's injury ahead of the excellent point at Old Trafford--it should have been three and they should have been down to nine men, anyway--was the surprise.

Nobody knew about the injury until the teams were announced, and it must have caused Louis van Gaal to change his tactics…it does not take much to confuse him, does it! So lets keep our team and injury information to ourselves and out of the twittering of David Gold or Sullivan's lad.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potential January window signings
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th December 2015
By: Staff Writer #3

West Ham may have extended their barren run without a Premier League victory to six games following the goalless draw against Stoke City, whilst coming away disappointed with just a point against Old Trafford the week before is a real indication of how far the team have come this season under Slaven Bilic.

The Hammers currently sit eighth in the table following an impressive start to the campaign that may have taken those outside of the Boleyn Ground by surprise, with memorable victories against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool raising hopes that Europa League qualification could be on the cards (again).

Bookies.com have reduced the odds on West Ham to qualify for Europe this season, but although there is evident quality at Bilic's disposal, a spate of key injuries has dented the strength in depth that made fans confident of challenging the big guns.

With Diafra Sakho ruled out until March 2016, and the likes of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses also on the sidelines, it may be the right time for Bilic to consider his options ahead of the January transfer market.

He has already proven himself to be a shrewd negotiator with targeting players that have significantly improved the quality at West Ham, but although it remains to be seen if the board are willing to back him with sufficient funds next month, strengthening the squad further could make the difference between a top ten finish and European qualification.

Gokhan Tore

Managers often develop an attachment to certain players who make a real impact under their guidance and deliver the goods when their club needs them the most. It often results in the same two individuals being often reunited at different clubs when a manager leaves for pastures new, with Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore rumoured to be high on Bilic's January transfer market wishlist.

The 23-year-old has reignited his career after failing to make the cut at Chelsea, with the Turkish international developing into a powerful midfielder who offers creativity and pace on either flank. Joining up with his former manager would certainly make sense and worth backing with Betway Free Bets, particularly as Moses' hamstring injury may leave Bilic short of options in an area of pitch where West Ham have enjoyed a lot of success this season.

Seydou Doumbia

With Diafra Sakho ruled out through injury, it would come as no surprise if Bilic scours the market for more options upfront. The rumour mill has already thrown out a number of strikers that West Ham are lining up in January, and although fans are left to decipher fact from fiction, there would be few complaints if Seydou Doumbia walked through the doors at the Boleyn Ground.

His arrival would undoubtedly improve West Ham's odds of 9/1 to finish in the top six or compete for the FA Cup where they will be good value for taking up any offer from Betway, as seen on West Ham shirts, to back them as dark horses. An injection of firepower and quality in attack is always welcome at West Ham, and with a number of forward options currently sidelined, any opportunity to sign someone of Doumbia's calibre should certainly be considered.

The striker is enjoying something of a renaissance since returning to CSKA Moscow on loan after he struggled to make an impact at Serie A side Roma, with reports that the Italian side are willing to offload the Ivorian international sparking interest in a striker who has proven his worth in Europe over the years. He currently has three goals, including a penalty against Manchester United, to his name in the Champions League, but although he has endured a barren spell of ten games without a goal in all competitions, Doumbia's pace and power could be a valuable asset if Bilic was able to lure him to East London.

Kevin Mirallas

Convincing a Premier League rival to sell one of their players may come at a considerable cost, but with Kevin Mirallas seemingly out of favour at Everton, there could an opportunity for West Ham to swoop in January. The 28-year-old has cut a forlorn figure on the bench as Gerard Deulofeu has continued to shine in his place, and with Euro 2016 on the horizon, Mirallas may look for a move in order to remain in Marc Wilmots' thoughts for the Belgium squad.

West Ham have been long-term admirers of the winger-cum-striker, and although a move failed to materialise in the summer, Bilic may see the January transfer window as the perfect opportunity to add a player who can certainly make an impact into the squad.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A TRANSITION CAN BE A DRAWN-OUT PROCESS
By Benjamin Cronin 15 Dec 2015 at 17:00
WTID

In recent weeks, you could be forgiven for thinking our impressive start to the season was beginning to crumble away, just like many rival fans had hoped for (they'll say 'predicted'). However, I believe recent results have shown we are more than capable of mixing it with the 'big teams' in the Premier League. It was over a month ago that we lost Dimitri Payet, for what was initially reported as a 3 month absence, and after the embarrassing loss to Spurs that followed, many fans went into a state of meltdown. Although we haven't managed to get a win on the board since that demoralising defeat, under the circumstances, I'm quite proud of what the squad has achieved.

I'm not suggesting that going without a win in six Premier League matches is acceptable form, but the way I look at it, things could have gone a lot worse. In the wake of Payet's injury, we saw another four influential players get signed up for a stint in the treatment room. In my analysis of the implications Payet's ankle injury could have on the club's fortunes, I suggested that players like Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses were more than capable of filling the void left by the Frenchman. Within weeks of that observation, both had been ruled out, along with another two key players, Diafra Sakho and Winston Reid. If people thought we were going to struggle without the creative prowess of Payet, I dread to think what was going through their minds when they discovered we'd be without the pace and flair of Lanzini and Moses, the movement and goal threat of Sakho and the stability in defence provided by Reid.

It isn't bad luck to have five players out injured (in fact, it puts us slap bang in the middle of the premier league injury table) but where we can feel hard done by, is when you consider not the number of injuries, but the importance of the individuals who have been sidelined. If I were asked to pick our four most dangerous players, the ones who have the biggest impact in our successful counter-attacking set-up, the names of; Payet, Lanzini, Sakho and Moses would pass my lips without a moment's hesitation. It isn't just these injuries and the strength of the team left at our disposal that has made me see the last three results as acceptable though, it's the way we have played to get them.

Under Sam Allardyce's reign , we probably could have scraped out similar results in the last three fixtures but I can assure you, it wouldn't have looked the same. There was one striking similarity present in the games against West Brom, Manchester United and Stoke. We wanted to win the game. Not just that, we actually tried to win the game. Rather than sit back and contain the game, we took it to our opponents and if truth be told, we could have (maybe should have) won all three games. We were by far the better side in the first 45 minutes against West Brom and should have gone into the break three goals to the good. Once they clawed themselves back into the game (with a stroke of good fortune), they did everything they possibly could to spoil whatever time for playing football was left. Next up was Manchester United and granted, it was a more even contest, but it was still one I certainly felt like we could have won. This weekend's fixture against Stoke saw us face the same problem, we created several decent chances and had someone been on the pitch who was capable of putting the ball in the back of net, we would have come away with three points.

Some may be reading this and thinking failing to win games when we've had plenty of chances to do so is a major problem. It may well be, but it's a problem I'm happy to have at the moment. We're limiting our defensive mistakes (something that has been a recurring problem this season) and still managing to pose an attacking threat, all without four of our strongest attacking players. I also believe this period, along with upcoming fixtures, has allowed the likes of Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll to start producing what we know they are capable of. Yes, we haven't got a win in the last three games when we should have but we haven't been beaten, when many thought we would have.

I often think I'm far too optimistic for my own good but it's hard not to be this season. We got off to a flyer and now, when everything seems to be going wrong, there still seems to be so much going right. We sit in 8th position in the Premier League, still only 5 points off 4th, going into a run of Christmas and New Year fixtures that on paper, many would be happy with. Enner Valencia is now back in the fold and will be gaining match fitness, with reports surfacing that Lanzini and Payet are ahead of schedule in their recovery. Bilic has been quoted as saying he's unsure as to whether Lanzini will feature against Swansea this Sunday but either way, it's certainly promising news.

I think these last few weeks were always going to be a test of character. After all the talk of our strength in depth, it was almost inevitable and I think, so far, plenty of character has been shown. I understand that people will say things could have gone a bit better (if we won the last three games, people would still be saying that) but it definitely could have been a lot worse. Not only have we managed to show we are hard to beat, we've done so whilst playing good football and not just settling for a point. Players who weren't performing to a standard we are used to have stepped up to the mark and the ones we are desperate to see again, will soon be playing their part. I must admit, I'm getting quite excited about Christmas. Not because of the socks and toiletries I'll be inundated with and not because I've got to cook for 12 different tastes on Christmas Day, but because of all the football coming our way and the opportunity West Ham has to do something with it.

COYI!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rock legends AC/DC will be first band to perform at revamped Olympic Stadium
19:34, 15 DEC 2015 UPDATED 19:35, 15 DEC 2015
BY KERRI-ANN ROPER
Aussie band, whose hits include Thunderstruck and Whole Lotta Rosie, set for UK gig as part of their 2016 European "Rock or Bust" tour
The Mirror

Rock band AC/DC will be the first band to perform at the former Olympic Stadium following its re-vamp. The Australian band , whose hits include Thunderstruck and Highway to Hell, will perform in a concert there as part of their 2016 European "Rock or Bust" tour. The concert will be the first major event to be held at the former Olympic Stadium at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following extensive work to transform the venue. Work on the stadium, to turn it into a year round multi-use venue, includes installing the largest roof of its kind in the world, retractable seating and more. Other notable events on the 2016 calendar include Usain Bolt at the Anniversary Games, and the first match for West Ham United in their newly renovated home.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Loss of Lanzini is as big as Payet
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Hammers hero George Parris believes Manuel Lanzini's injury has been as big a blow as losing Dimitri Payet. Writing in December's issue of Blowing Bubbles Monthly http://www.blowing-bubbles.co.uk/read-our-latest-issue.html, Parris said that whilst Payet's injury was a 'huge blow', he hadn't feared for the Hammers season with Lanzini playing well. He said: "He'd done all right this season, and I'd been impressed with what I'd seen. He's scored some crucial goals already, and took his goal against Spurs very well, and you just thought he was starting to step out of Payet's shadow.

With no Payet until , we needed him to keep scoring, creating chances, and playing well but his injury is very cruel on Slaven Bilic."
Meanwhile, Sky Sports' Bianca Westwood believes now is a brilliant time to be born into West Ham's brave new world following the arrival of her nephew but admitted there was a time she didn't want any child of hers, niece or nephew to support West Ham. Blowing Bubbles' writers also give their views on whether or not it's time for the Premier League to consider a winter break, and if it's time we stopped taking Karren Brady for granted. The latest issue of Blowing Bubbles Monthly is now available to read for FREE on your computer, tablet or mobile phone.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons chase 10 million rated German
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham this afternoon admitted that Beskitas winger Gokhan Tore is still very much on the club's radar next summer. The German-born Turkish international is a particular favourite of Slaven Bilic's, who's on public record as saying: ""I have always said that Gökhan Töre could play at any European team. He has both the quality and the potential. "After agreeing terms with West Ham I told the board that I want him and I strongly believe he would add a lot to the team and be a success in England." Töre joined Beşiktaş permanently on a five-year deal in 2014 for a fee believed to be in the region of €4.5 million and is currently quoted on his www.transfermarkt.co.uk profile as having valuation of €10.5 million. A Hammers source told ClaretandHugh: "Yes he is one we are looking at because quite apart from anything else he is German born and qualifies for a work permit. "The big question is how much Besiktas want for him and he is not to be ruled out. Having said that we rule nobody out at this stage."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Crazy season gives us a real chance
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

It's a season like no other with Leicester City top having made the best start in their 131 year history to go top just 10 days before Christmas. It's another of those little ironies that Claudio Ranieri was mentioned in dispatches as a future Boleyn boss at one stage but, as well as he's doing, I'd sooner have Slav at the Hammers helm. Chelsea are in 16th, Liverpool celebrated a home draw against West Brom on Sunday by linking hands in front of the Kop to celebrate and Spurs are nailed by Newcastle who turned up at White Hart Lane in the relegation places.
West Ham, meanwhile with five massive players injured, sit in eighth place after a thoroughly competitive performance at Old Trafford and a highly entertaining display against Stoke City.
Yet I continue to read comments from fans on social network claiming we are worse off as far as points are concerned than we were were last year. The fact that we are also fewer off the top is conveniently forgotten. These comparisons and complaints are best ignored in a season when the likes of Palace and Watford are directly above us – emphasising again this abnormal season when everybody is beating everyone else. We were victorious against one fo those teams and beaten by the other.
Given this topsy turvy season and with the news that Lanzini and Payet are on their ways back ahead of schedule I'll make the same forecast as I made a few games in. I believe we will finish in the top six and that our last season at the Boleyn will have started with European football and end with us having qualified to take our place in the Uefa Cup Tournament next season. And that will be the perfect end to our final system as we wave farewell to the 'old lady' has had our hearts for so long and will remain there forever.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lanzini deal safe despite Al Jaziera change
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Gianluca Nani's arrival at Manu Lanzini's parent club Al Jaziera will make no difference to the player's availability to West Ham. ClaretandHugh reported yesterday that Nani had joined the club as technical director raising fears that the man fired by David Sullivan and David Gold in 2010 could look at the deal again. Nani of course was brought in to assist Alan Curbishley in the summer of 2008, but his £300,000 a year deal was considered surplus to requirements by the new joint owners. But with Lanzini having performed at Upton Park, it was feared Nani may try to re-negotiate or even scupper the deal but a Hammers source declared emphatically this morning: "That's not possible. We have a solid option to buy out the player's contract.
"We have said several times in the past, it's watertight and a change of personnel at the club can't change that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LET'S END THE WINLESS RUN AT SWANSEA
By Bobby Shovels 15 Dec 2015 at 08:00
WTID

The Stoke game felt a lot like the previous home match against West Brom: while we deserved to have won three points, it was to the opposing team that the best chances fell. We have been lucky that both these sides failed to utilise clear-cut opportunities – although Adrian has proved his immense worth as a goalkeeper too.

Having written about how exciting our attacking options were at the start of the season, the injuries have clearly deadened our goal-scoring prowess. That is to be accepted given the absence of Diafra Sakho, Dimitri Payet, Victor Moses and Manuel Lanzini. Yet I can't help but feel there is now a lack of confidence among other players who are not using the opportunity to make their mark on the first team when it comes to having a punt at goal. Too often against Stoke was there a desire to pass the ball into the net – an admirable tactic but one that is not that effective when you most deft passers of the ball are not on the pitch.

There is also a clear issue with poor decision-making, and on that point Mauro Zarate is most at fault. I certainly feel his dribbling and control on the ball has become so much better since last season, a rare possible case of QPR actually increasing a player's worth. However, far too often he becomes selfish on the ball and fails to make a decisive, effective pass. Yes, he hit the post, but too often he either doesn't shoot at the right time or shoots at completely the wrong time or doesn't pass ever. It is something Slaven Bilic must improve in him – but also the rest of the team: he has spoken before at our lack of shots on goal.

Indeed, the first five minute were so promising after Cheikhou Kouyaté stung the fingers of Jack Butland. Yet after that, it felt like we failed to test the keeper, albeit it is very tough to test someone of Butland's prowess and confidence.

On a final note regarding the Stoke game, I have to vocalise something I have long felt but never spoken of: the brilliance of Kouyaté. He has the defensive, holding play of Noble but with more drive and energy, seemingly mustering bundles of energy at certain points in any game to make surging runs forward. Moreover, I have never seen him fail to give a solid performance. He is an underrated star among out first eleven, and what a signing he has been.

I have been blessed in recent years by West Ham always winning on the match falling closest to my birthday, 23 October. That was Chelsea this year (24 October 2015) and Manchester City last year (25 October). Of course, since that joyous afternoon against Mourinho's lacklustre men, we have not won a game, enduring a rather dismal November. How much I hope we end this run – that admittedly has not been full of losses – against Swansea.

However, it is just our luck that Swansea will be raring to go after such misfortune against City last weekend and will most probably have the excitement of the "new manager bounce" that means next Sunday's fixture will be no easy feat. However, it is games like these that we should really test the depth of our squad and see whether we can weather our long injury list with a vital three points before Christmas.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Sullivan discloses what Slaven Bilic has told him about Dimitri Payet
HITC
Billy Hawkins

Slaven Bilic has given a positive update on Dimitri Payet's injury. Speaking to the official West Ham website, David Sullivan has admitted that Slaven Bilic has told him about Dimitri Payet's recovery from injury - revealing that he is ahead of schedule. Sullivan said: "Slaven has said that Dimitri is ahead of schedule so that is a major boost for everyone at the Club."
Payet was one of the best players in the Premier League prior to his injury, acting as the main playmaker in an extremely enjoyable Hammers team. The Frenchman had scored five goals and registered three assists in 12 league appearances, but he has missed the last four games due to an injury picked up in the 1-1 draw with Everton. He is meant to be out of action recovering until the New Year, but Sullivan has heard from Bilic that Payet is ahead of schedule, and could be back before his expected date. This is fantastic news for Bilic, the West Ham fans, and everyone involved with the Hammers, having seen the East London side struggle in his absence. A number of other players are also out of action through injury, but Payet is the biggest loss, with Bilic's men scoring just two goals in the four games since the start of his absence. It was feared that Payet's injury could end West Ham's season, but Sullivan has been given hope by Bilic that the playmaker will be back before too long.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham coach Terry Westley raves about Pedro Obiang's Under-21 display
HITC
Olly Dawes

Pedro Obiang has earned praise from West Ham coach Terry Westley. West Ham United academy boss Terry Westley has told the club's official website that he was impressed with Pedro Obiang's performance against Arsenal Under-21. The Hammers first-team drew 0-0 with Stoke City on Saturday, and it was the same story for the club's Under-21 side on Monday evening. West Ham took on Arsenal at Upton Park, and whilst the Hammers took the lead through an Alex Pike goal, Chris Willock rescued a 1-1 draw for the Gunners. By far the biggest name on show during the match was midfielder Pedro Obiang, with the Spaniard still looking to find his feet in English football. The 23-year-old joined West Ham from Italian club Sampdoria over the summer, and whilst he has played nine games in the Premier League so far, only four of those appearances have been starts due to issues with his fitness. On Monday though, Obiang played a key role for West Ham's Under-21 side, and his performance has earned rave reviews from academy boss Terry Westley. Speaking to the West Ham official website, Westley stated that Obiang impressed him in three key areas; a benchmark of how players should play, how experienced players should help young talent, and for having the extra bit of quality on the pitch. "On that, I think Pedro Obiang deserves a big mention, because if a senior player plays for the U21s, he's set a real benchmark of how you should play and how you should help the younger players, as well as having that little bit of quality. He did all three things on Monday," said Westley. With players such as Alex Song, Cheikhou Kouyate and Mark Noble competing for places in midfield, Obiang has a tough task on his hands to break in to Slaven Bilic's starting line-up - but his display against Arsenal on Monday was a step in the right direction.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Burke puts Hammer down to make fast progress with Bradford City
Bradford Telegraph and Argus
Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter / 3 hours ago / Bantams

REECE Burke could be on borrowed time at Valley Parade but he is determined to make every minute count. The gifted West Ham youngster's youth loan runs until the Gillingham away game which kicks off the New Year. At this moment, nobody is sure what will happen after that and whether Burke will still be around to take his place in the heart of the City back four for the FA Cup third-round trip to Bury the following week. In a strange way, Burke might have almost done too well during his stint with the Bantams. The regular reports that the Hammers have received will have been glowing.
A nomination for League One player of the month in October proved that plenty have been taking notice. Phil Parkinson is realistic enough to know that he faces a fight to retain the teenager's services past January 2. An unnamed Championship club tried to muscle in and snatch the defender away before the latest extension. Not that Burke had any desire to make a short-term switch to anywhere else. He said: "There were other clubs interested but I spoke to Phil and, as a young boy, I think it was best to stay here until January and get a few more games in. "I didn't want to go through the upheaval again and if I wasn't playing somewhere else, it would have been a bit of a waste of time. "Phil said to me that if I did stay here I'd most likely get games and that's what I want. "I want to play every game. That's obviously not down to me but I'll keep doing my thing on the training pitch and hopefully get picked.
"I feel like I'm fitting in quite well and it's good for my experience to be playing against big boys out there. I've played against a few physical strikers in the opposition, so it's been good for me. "I know West Ham will be keeping an eye on me, so we'll see where it goes from there."

The weekend postponement denied Burke his 16th start – and his first in the league since November 3 after missing the last four through England under-20 international commitments and injury.
He tweaked the MCL (medial collateral ligament) in his knee, which meant a brief return to east London for treatment with his parent club. Burke said: "It was a bit sore so the best thing was to rest up a while and I felt fine when I came back. It was nice to play again in the FA Cup because it had been a while. "Obviously I'd been keeping an eye on the team when I was at West Ham and they were still doing well. That makes it easier when you come back. "I think we've improved as a team and the boys are playing with confidence now. "You can see we are one of the better teams in the league and other sides will tell you we are hard to play against. "Once all the new signings and loan people came in, everyone got together as a group and that has shown on the pitch."

The statistics speak for themselves. City have conceded 11 goals in Burke's 13 league games – and only three in the last six. Throw in two FA Cup outings and he has been involved in seven clean sheets – nearly half the games he has played in. The centre-back said: "I like to get clean sheets. As a defender, that's what you set out to play for every game. I know it is obvious but if they can't score, you can't lose. "Clean sheets are always a bonus and hopefully we can keep doing that. It's good for individuals at the back. If I make a mistake I know that Rozza (Rory McArdle) will be round the back to cover me. "It's good having Ben (Williams) there as well. He's been outstanding and made a few very good saves, especially towards the end of games."

Williams, like Burke before him, found himself on the divisional shortlist for the November player of the month accolade after going over 11 hours without letting a goal past him. Burke said: "Ben deserved the nomination. He's pulled off some unbelievable saves at times to keep us in games. "I was pleased to get nominated myself and a bit surprised after just going on loan. I would love to have won it but I was happy just to get named. "With Ben as well, it's good to have a keeper thrown in. It's not just about the strikers. At the end of the day, all players on the pitch play a big part."

Burke's contribution in City's improving campaign has been substantial. Whatever the approaching transfer window holds, he is convinced the club have developed his game. He said: "I was never going to come here just for one month, play five games and then go somewhere else. It was never going to be like that. By staying here until January, I've had the chance to play plenty of games. "I feel like I've matured a bit by fitting in with the boys at Bradford. They are good lads and it's nice to be properly involved in the first team and playing week in, week out. "I haven't got a Yorkshire accent but I can understand them now just about!"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com