Daily WHUFC News - 20th December 2015

Tactically speaking - Swansea City
WHUFC.com

Under Garry Monk's guidance, you could set your clock to the way Swansea
City would set up - a 4-2-3-1 formation and a playing style based on
possession, pace in wide areas and a strong lone centre forward. However,
under Monk's caretaker replacement Alan Curtis, Swansea adopted a gung-ho
4-4-2 diamond formation at Manchester City last weekend - and the tactic
nearly paid off as the South Wales side were undeservedly beaten 2-1 in the
very last minute of added time. Curtis, a former Wales international
forward, left powerhouse centre forward Batefimbi Gomis on the substitutes'
bench, handing speedy Ghanaian Andre Ayew and winger Wayne Routledge the
opportunity to play up front together. Behind the front two, Iceland
midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson played at the tip of the diamond, with South
Korean Ki and Jack Cork in the centre and former Hammers youngster Leon
Britton recalled in the defensive midfield role. The system, supported by a
flat back four and two attacking full-backs in Angel Rangel and Neil Taylor,
saw Swansea create a host of chances with their incisive movement, accurate
passing and nimble, elusive players in attacking positions.

The irony is that, despite the success of the new system, it took Swansea to
revert back to their tried and tested 4-2-3-1 - with Gomis up front and
speedy fellow replacements Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow in the wide
attacking midfield positions - for Curtis's side to score the goal their
earlier play had warranted.

Should Curtis go with a diamond again, West Ham's two deep-lying midfielders
and centre-backs will have to watch the front two closely, with Ayew and
Routledge each possessing the pace and inclination to either swap positions
or run in behind, or both. Routledge was superb at the Etihad, making
diagonal runs in behind from the left flank onto through balls and passes
over the top, and shooting with his stronger right foot. Blessed with a
range of passing typical of Academy of Football graduates, Britton was an
influential figure at the Etihad Stadium, collecting the ball deep and
creating openings with balls in behind the Manchester City back four, or
into wide areas for Rangel or Taylor to run onto.

West Ham's forwards will likely be instructed to close Britton down whenever
possible, particularly when the diminutive central midfielder drops deep
between his centre-backs to collect from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. In the
centre of midfield, Ki is an all-rounder. Tall, strong and fairly quick
across the ground, his passing accuracy is outstanding. His work-rate is
also under-rated, but he is an important player for Swansea, no matter how
they line up on Sunday.

In defence, Swansea have been suffering from a perceptible lack of
confidence, which has resulted in a number of goals being conceded through
either a lack of concentration, individual or collective errors. Captain and
influential centre-back Ashley Williams still has the pace and power to stop
the best strikers, but his confidence has been sapped by losing too many
goals and games, including former teammate Wilfried Bony at Manchester City
last weekend. Alongside him to Williams' left, experienced Argentinian
Federico Fernandez has forged a decent partnership with the Wales captain is
also comfortable on the ball and in the challenge. However, his height means
he can be found vulnerable in 1v1 situations.

Possible team: (4-4-2 diamond) Fabianski, Rangel, Williams, Fernandez,
Taylor, Britton, Ki, Cork, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Ayew

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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com

Sadly, it looks as though we've lost Andy Carroll for the Swansea game with
a slight groin strain, but, as we've seen with our injuries over the past
few weeks, it will give someone else a chance. I think we are most likely to
see Nikica Jelavic come in up front and he will try to stake his claim.

Michail Antonio is a prime example of someone who has benefitted from our
injury setbacks. He had been desperate to start and after being given his
chance against Stoke City, he took it with both hands. He was voted Man of
the Match and let's now hope Jelavic can do the same this weekend.

I know I have said it before but I'll say it again - our squad this season
is much better equipped to deal with the inevitable injuries when they come
along. Despite us missing two key strikers, we are still able to call on an
international forward who has scored goals wherever he has been. And that is
the same throughout the squad now.

There has been some better news on the injury front with our other absent
players and I was delighted to hear that Dimitri Payet is recovering faster
than expected and could be available in a couple of weeks. Manuel Lanzini
should also play his part during the festive fixtures and Winston Reid and
Victor Moses are expected to be back playing in four weeks.

They will come back fresh and hungry and I expect them all to make a massive
impact in the second half of the season.

I thought a draw against Stoke was probably the right result as they are a
good team. They are tough defensively and haven't conceded many goals so in
a way a point is a respectable result, especially given our missing players.

I think Swansea will be another tough game but we go there in confident
mood. Our reshuffled back four has been fantastic in delivering two clean
sheets in a row and I'm optimistic they can deliver a third on Sunday.

If we can do that then we have a very good chance of winning the game.
Swansea have their issues at the moment and, although I wish them well in
the future, on Sunday I am hoping we can take full advantage of their
situation.

Finally, I am delighted to see we have less than 2,000 tickets left for our
FA Cup tie against Wolves on Saturday 9 January. Once again you have shown
your support for the Club and let's hope it can be the start of a great cup
run all the way to the final. It would be a special way to mark our final
year at the Boleyn Ground.

I wish everyone travelling to Swansea a safe and rewarding trip and, if you
don't hear from me before, a very Merry Christmas.

David Gold

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Phillips - We need to be more clinical
WHUFC.com

U18s coach Mark Phillips was left gutted after West Ham United were knocked
out of the FA Youth Cup at Derby County. After leaving the competition at
the first hurdle in the past two seasons at Accrington Stanley and
Southampton, Phillips was disappointed to see the Hammers denied again,
losing 3-1 after extra-time at the iPro Stadium. Two own-goals did not help
West Ham's cause, as Phillips claimed the visitors were hard done by in
seeing their hopes of lifting the trophy dashed so early for a third
straight year. "I'm very disappointed as obviously as that's the third year
in a row that we've been knocked out in the third round," he admitted. "I
thought that we were the better team in the first half by a mile and
although we were 1-0 down, we were creating numerous chances. "I thought in
the second half, they took over if I'm honest. They came out and played
their style which was a more direct style, so we couldn't impart our style
onto them and we started playing the game in their style and they were
better at it than us. "We weathered that storm and got to the end of the
game, when we had numerous good chances at 1-1 to win but it was an own goal
unfortunately from Declan Rice, who I thought was outstanding. He was
absolutely distraught, the poor lad. "Then they scored a worldy of a
free-kick at the end which was given for a handball. It's one of those
things - that's football."

One area that Phillips was concerned about after Friday night's FA Youth Cup
defeat was the lack of chances converted by his team.
It wasn't the right result," he claimed. "If you look at our performances
this year though, we haven't scored enough goals. "In games that we've won,
we have won 2-1, 1-0 and things like that. We created six or seven really
good goal scoring opportunities which is good from a team point of view, but
in a cup competition, you've got to put the ball in the back of the net
because that's what counts."

Looking closer at the way his team approached the game, Phillips believes
that West Ham's youngsters will learn that they have to take their chances
if they are to progress in knockout competitions. "In the first half, we
were excellent," he added. "Our shape, the way we were playing and creating
chances, but we just didn't put the ball away. "We were never in front in
the game and I think that if we'd have gone in front, they would've had to
change their style and we'd have played through the gaps and holes that they
left. "It's a big competition where they get to play in the stadium which
is all practice for what all the boys are here for and that's to get into
the first team. "Unfortunately at the moment, we are falling short at the
first hurdle and I don't know why that is. "We are a decent side and the
only team that has beaten Chelsea so far this season. Chelsea have beaten
every other team apart from us so we are a decent side but we have to bring
it to fruition when we are playing in the Youth Cup."

Phillips revealed that the dressing room atmosphere was extremely low after
the game as a number of players tasted defeat again on their final
appearance in the Youth Cup. The scholars will now break for the festive
season, and Phillips says they will be raring to go when the Barclays U18
Premier League campaign recommences at Reading on 9 January. "There are boys
in there that are in tears and they will be upset but it's quite right
because some of them are second years so they've not no more chances to play
in the Youth Cup. "In saying that though, no one has died and there hasn't
been a disaster, we've just lost a football match and although it is
disappointing, we will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and go again in
January."

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Unlucky U18s exit Youth Cup
WHUFC.com

West Ham United were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup after an unfortunate
3-1 third-round defeat at Derby County.

Two own-goals saw the Rams through to the fourth round after extra-time on a
dramatic Friday evening at the iPro Stadium.

The hosts went ahead after 12 minutes when James Carvell's free-kick on the
edge of the box deflected in off the back of Hammers goalkeeper Sam Howes,
before midfielder Marcus Browne fired home from the penalty spot on his 18th
birthday to level after Josh Pask was fouled in the box.

Nothing could separate the two sides in normal time, meaning the game went
to extra-time. There Declan Rice's block on Timi Elsnik's shot could only
divert the ball into the corner of the Hammers net.

And the Rams made sure their name was in the hat in the final seconds when
Carvell bent an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of the net.

West Ham had made six changes to the squad that were defeated 4-0 away at
Barclays U18 Premier League South leaders Chelsea in their previous match.
Pask, Rice, Browne, George Dobson, Grady Diangana and captain Matty Carter
all returned to the starting XI in place of Noha Sylvestre, Alfie Lewis and
Ajibola Alese, with Joe Powell, Anthony Scully and Danny Kemp all dropping
to the bench.

After falling at the same hurdle in the past two seasons away to Accrington
Stanley and Southampton, the Hammers looked sharp in the early stages and
had the first effort on goal, but England U17 international Jahmal
Hector-Ingram could only find the side netting after bursting into the
penalty area.

It was the hosts that would score first, though, when Pask bought down Alex
Babos. That allowed Carvell a chance at goal which he took, although his
effort only found the the net via the underside of the crossbar and unlucky
goalkeeper Howes.

West Ham immediately set about looking for an equaliser, but efforts on goal
from Rice, Browne and Oscar Borg failed to find a way past Rams stopper
Joshua Barnes.

On the half-hour mark though, West Ham were presented with an opportunity to
level the scores when Pask was fouled in the penalty box when lining up a
shot. It was the responsibility of Browne to cap his birthday with a
confidently converted penalty kick.

The game was level at the break and then, just after half time, Derby almost
retook the lead. From a whipped cross into the box, Howes was forced into a
brilliant reaction save, before the woodwork denied Derby defender Ethan
Wassall from the rebound.

It did not take long for West Ham to regain control of proceedings, with
Barnes saving from Hector-Ingram and Diangana denied by a fantastic block by
a home defender.

Just after the hour, Diangana had a golden opportunity to put the visitors
ahead when a deflected shot found the 17-year-old in a one-on-one situation,
but the young winger bent his shot just past the far post.

As the game closed in on the end of normal time, Browne looked intent on
extending his birthday celebrations by scoring the winner, but his low shot
from distance narrowly missed the target.

It took until the second half of extra time and the 110th minute for a
decisive goal to be scored and it was another unfortunate own goal by the
Hammers. After the ball fell to Elsnik on the edge of his box, his low shot
was deflected into the bottom left corner of the net off Republic of Ireland
U17 international Rice.

That goal was hard to take for the visitors after such a hardworking
performance, but it would get even worse in the final few minutes.

After Howes was penalised for handling the ball outside of his own box,
Carvell stepped up and curled an outstanding free-kick off the underside of
the crossbar and into the back of the net.

The Academy have now ended their pre-Christmas fixtures and will return to
action in the New Year with a trip to Reading on Saturday 9 January at 11am.

U18s: Howes, Akinola (Scully), Rice, Pask, Neufville, Carter (Kemp), Dobson,
Browne, Diangana, Borg (Powell), Hector-Ingram
Subs not used: Bogard, Diallo

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Where Super Sunday can leave the Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 19, 2015 in Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

Win, lose or draw, tomorrow's game against Swansea will have only a marginal
effect on the Irons' current eighth league position. Watford, currently one
place above us in seventh place, can push themselves onto 28 points if they
beat Liverpool at Vicarage Road, one point behind Palace following their win
at Stoke today. A draw would give them 26 points, two ahead of us before we
kick off at 4pm at the Liberty Stadium. Should the Reds - currently level on
points with the Hammers -win or draw then we shall need to match their
result in order to hold onto eighth place although goal difference could
intervene. A win down in Wales will do us the power of good and take our
points tally to 27 and seventh place should Watford fail to win. Spurs
stretched out to five points in front of us with a win at Saints today
although neither Stoke or Everton made any ground having both been beaten at
home by Palace and leaders Leicester City.

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Hammers speak on Adebayor
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 19, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham will not be making a move for out-of-contract Emmanuel Adebayor in
January. Rumours have been flying - often presented as fact- that the club
will finally get the striker as a result of what is perceived as a striker
crisis at West Ham. However, with Andy Carroll only sidelined for one match,
Enner Valencia back and with Nikica Jelavic available a move for the former
Spurs man always seemed unlikely. And this afternoon were were told by a top
source at Upton Park there was no move planned for the player at all. The
Hammers had attempted to him last January when the deal was blocked by Spurs
chairman Daniel Levy and have seemingly been linked with him every time
there has been an injury problem since. But our source made it clear this
afternoon there would be no move for the player saying: "That was then and
this is now. We are confident we are okay. There will be no move for
Adebayor."

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'Forgotten' defender urged to bounce back
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 19, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Carl Jenkinson could be struggling with a confidence crisis should his
Hammers exile continue for much longer. There have been suggestions that the
Arsenal right back has been struggling with himself ' after an opening to
the campaign which started poorly and went downhill.
That last weekend the manager opted for James Collins to replace Winston
Reid alongside Angelo Ogbonna with .James Tomkins holding the right berth
will have done nothing for for Jenks' hopes of an early return. Some of his
harshest Twitter critics have called for him to be sent back to Arsenal
which is impossible as the loan terms state such deals are permanent. A
source revealed: "That's a fact. There's no early return clause but we want
to see Carl battle his way through any confidence crisis he may be suffering
and put the pressure back on for his position. "He's a quiet lad and it is
probably fair to accept that his confidence has been hit but he's a
professional and if that's the case he needs - and we are sure he will - to
bounce back quickly because he's a very good payer indeed at his best."
It will be hard because in the five matches JT has started at right-back,
the Hammers have not conceded a single Barclays Premier League goal! "I am
just trying to do the best I can defensively. I know I can do a job there.
Going forward is always more difficult, but hopefully I am getting
there."And Tomkins seems to see himself booked in for a lengthy spell in the
team saying: " "I always seem to say that it is very new to me and I am
still trying to learn the position, but I am really enjoying it as it helps
with my game.

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Gold on OS opening plan
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 19, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has revealed that the Olympic Stadium will be opened via a high
profile pre-season game next year. The Hammers are working on ideas and are
in discussions with clubs as the big day approaches although no details have
yet been disclosed. Many fans have claimed they would also love to see
X-Factor winner and major Hammers fan Louisa Johnson appear at the opening
ceremony but that lies in the hands of Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment
organisation who has the 17 year old under contract. A well placed source
inside the club claimed that whilst the teenager would "probably have done
Upton Park for nothing before winning" she is now likely to cost bundles.
However, Karren Brady is a director of the Cowell company and may be able to
pull a few strings in that direction! Gold, meanwhile , answering a fan on
Twitter said: "The plan is to play a big pre-season game at the new stadium
dg" And despite the massive season ticket sales he added: "I'm still hopeful
that every one that wants a season ticket for next season will get one. dg.

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