Daily WHUFC News - 22nd December 2015

From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

It was a familiar story for us on Sunday as we drew for the third game in
succession. Although goals have been harder to come by since we've been hit
so hard by injuries, we have tightened up significantly at the other end and
managed to claim results against Manchester United, Stoke City and now
Swansea City. It might not have been the three points we really wanted – but
the team do deserve credit for the way they have dug in after being faced
with adversity in recent weeks. Yes, we have struggled to score, but any
team would after being shorn of four top attacking players, and three of
their top four goalscorers. Without Dimitri Payet, Diafra Sakho, Manuel
Lanzini, Victor Moses and Andy Carroll it's no surprise that the goals have
not been as free-flowing as at the start of the season. With the lack of
goals, it is important that the defenders have stepped up to the plate and
once again I have to say that Adrian was magnificent at Swansea. He is
having a fine season, and has really established himself as one of the top
goalkeepers in the league in the three seasons he has been here. Equally
impressive on Sunday was James Collins, who gave a real lion-hearted display
to help us hold on to our clean sheet and ultimately make our point. James
has had to be patient this season as we now have four top quality centre
halves at the Club, but he has taken his chance with our recent clean sheets
and he was a big part of the result on Sunday. An away point is a positive,
and there are more positives to take as the manager has made clear that we
expect some of the injured players back sooner rather than later.

We could be looking at having Lanzini back for Aston Villa or Southampton
and Payet for Liverpool, so although we have lacked a cutting edge recently
the cavalry will be arriving soon! It has been a hugely encouraging first
half of this season, and as Christmas and the New Year approaches, we can
look forward to 2016 with great optimism as we welcome those key players
back.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to
seeing you at Aston Villa.

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Hammers fans enjoy festive treat
WHUFC.com

West Ham United fans were given a festive treat on Monday as Mauro Zarate,
Pedro Obiang and Enner Valenica headed to the intu Lakeside Thurrock centre
for a player signing session. The trio were on hand at the Hammers store to
pose for photographs and sign autographs for hundreds of fans who combined
their last-minute Christmas shopping with the chance to meet their heroes.
Less than 24 hours after securing a point at Swansea City, the first teamers
were appreciative of the support shown to them both at the Liberty Stadium
and at Lakeside.
Zarate said: "It was great to meet the fans on Monday. They've seen us for
pictures and for us to sign autographs for them so it's been a great day.
"Especially at Christmas it's a good moment for us and for all the fans
here. "Their support was great at Swansea on Sunday, like always, and now we
have to win at Aston Villa for them."

Supporter Steve from Colchester, who took his son Jake, 8, to the event was
thrilled to meet the trio. He said: "It was great today. Jake really wanted
to see Mauro Zarate as he is his favourite player. "We've been really
impressed with how we've performed this season. We've been going a lot and
hopefully will get a season ticket for next year. Jake added: "I love Mauro
because he can really lift the ball into the goal and he has scored some
really good goals this season."

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James Collins: Wales defender wants regular West Ham spot
BBC.co.uk

Defender James Collins hopes to earn a new deal with West Ham to help secure
his place in Wales' Euro 2016 squad. The 32-year-old has played in only
seven league games so far this season and his contract expires in the
summer. Collins started in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Swansea and says he needs to
be playing regularly if he is to be involved with Wales in France. "I need
to concentrate on my club form and playing well for West Ham," Collins said.

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Keen lands new management role
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Former West Ham midfielder Kevin Keen has been appointed as the new manager
of League One side Colchester United. Keen - who took temporary charge of
West Ham following the departure of Alan Pardew in December 2006, the first
of three stints in that particular role - was named the new manager of the
struggling Essex club earlier this afternoon. Now 48, Keen spent a decade as
a Hammer between 1983 and 1993 making 278 appearances for the club in all
competitions, before moving into coaching. At West Ham he worked alongside
the likes of Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Franco Zola and Avram Grant before
joining Liverpool as first team coach in 2011. He was most recently
assistant to Steve Clarke at Reading before the duo were fired following a
string of poor results. However he has returned to the game after just one
week without a job. In May 2011 he entered the race - unsuccessfully - to
replace Avram Grant, stating: "I would love the opportunity to speak to the
owners and Karren Brady and give my views about the future. Maybe in the
future I will be given a opportunity to turn it around."

That opportunity has now arisen, though not at the Boleyn Ground as hoped.
Keen's assistant at Colchester - who are currently bottom of League One - is
former Us midfielder David Wright, who makes the step up from Under 21 boss.

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Former Hammer suffers cardiac arrest
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Ex-Hammers goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek is in a critical condition after
suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday. The 47-year-old was jogging in his
home town of Ostrava in the Czech Republic when he was taken ill. Although
he was immediately rushed to hospital, he remains unconscious and in
intensive care. Agent Steve Wraith told BBC Sport: ""I spoke to his family
in the Czech Republic who said his heart had stopped. He is in a critical
condition in hospital and remains unconscious." The former goalkeeper made
three appearances on loan for West Ham in the 2003/04 season, having been
signed as a replacement for another loanee, Rami Shabaan. Speaking at the
time of his move, Srnicek said: "I feel good being here; I had a session and
a talk with the manager and I am enjoying it. I am here for a month and we
will see how it goes afterwards. This is a good chance and I have taken it."


Following the culmination of his short-term loan, the Czech stopper - who
made his debut in the 4-1 defeat at Millwall on 21 March 2004 - completed a
free transfer to West Ham having been released by Portsmouth but made just
two further first team appearances. He represented the club in a goalless
draw with Derby at the Boleyn Ground and a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at
Selhurst Park before losing his place to Stephen Bywater. Srnicek was also
an unused substitute in the 1-0 play-off final defeat to Crystal Palace at
the Millennium Stadium in May 2004. The thoughts and best wishes of everyone
at KUMB are with Pavel and his family.

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Italian striker back on West Ham's radar
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic is once again being linked with a move for Juventus forward
Simone Zaza.

West Ham came agonisingly close to landing the 24-year-old during the summer
transfer window after the two clubs agreed a deal, only for the player
himself to reject the move following the departure of two key figures -
Fernando Llorente and Kingsley Coman - which sent him up the pecking order
at Juve.

However West Ham - and specifically Bilic, who is a huge fan of the player -
are understood to have renewed their interest following the recent injury
crisis that saw Mauro Zarate and Nikica Jelavic start at Swansea yesterday.

Zaza - whose rejection led to the deadline day arrival of Jelavic from Hull
City - has made just three starts for Juventus in Serie A so far this
season, scoring twice, including the opening goal in a 4-0 win over Torino
last Wednesday.

In addition to four Serie A appearances from the bench he had made two cameo
appearances in the Champions League, featured once in the Coppa Italia and
made one substitute appearance for Italy an a 3-1 defeat in Belgium last
month.

However he is understood to be receptive to a move with a place in next
summer's European Championships potentially at stake.

"It's an honour that [Juve coach] Allegri has said he doesn't want me to
leave, it really is, but there's a European Championship in June," Zaza told
La Gazzetta dello Sport. I'm happy here, but [Italy coach Antonio] Conte has
been clear and there's a European Championship in June and I hope to be
playing regularly."

* In other transfer news, the Hammers are once again being linked with a
move for former Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor who has been out of
contract since agreeing to terminate his £100,000-per-week contract at White
Hart Lane in September.

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YES IT'S MORE OF THE SAME BUT FOR NOW, THE SAME IS GOOD ENOUGH
By Benjamin Cronin 21 Dec 2015 at 20:45
WTID

In my most recent post, I tried to explain how what could be perceived as a
disappointing winless run was in actual fact, an acceptable run of results.
Some may have agreed with that stance, some may have disagreed with it, but
I stand by my comments and that stance still remains almost one week on. It
was an incredibly dull affair at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday afternoon,
not the best game to watch by any stretch of the imagination. It was a great
opportunity to get a much needed win under our belt, a game most of us would
have been confident going into but unfortunately, one that didn't have the
desired outcome. However, it was another clean sheet and another a point on
the board.

The foundation of reasoning behind my belief that going without a win in six
(it was six, now seven) Premier League games was acceptable was that for the
most recent of those games, we were looking for the win and in fairness,
probably should have got it. Having caught myself almost nodding off during
the game against Swansea, I don't think many would say it was similar affair
to those against West Brom, Manchester United and Stoke. Considering Swansea
were without a manager and sitting in the bottom three of the table, if we'd
managed the same level of performance as those previous three fixtures,
maximum points would have been there for the taking. If only it were that
simple.

The statistics from the match made for quite interesting reading and with
the commentators and pundits intent on drawing everyone's attention to them,
they were quite hard to miss. Swansea have always been a possession side and
Sunday's game was no different, short and simple passes in areas that were
of no threat is essentially what we had to watch for 90 minutes. Yes, there
were over 30 attempts on goal between the two sides but only four of those
(two a piece) were actually on target. It's easy to sit back and say all we
had to do was attack a bit more and put them under pressure but that would
have undoubtedly worked in their favour. Those short, simple passes would
have quickened up and found gaps to create clear cut chances, rather than
speculative efforts from 25+ yards out. We've been left with incredibly
limited options due to recent injuries and having had time to think and
watch most of the game again (the Sky+ fast forward facility was fully
utilised), Slav probably got things right. Well, as right as he could have
anyway.

On a different day, we could have snatched the game and been pleased as
punch to come away with a win. If we take that view though, on that
different day, it could have been the Swans who took all three points.
Adrian was once again in fine form and made a few great saves, ones that
certainly looked more goal bound than the efforts Fabianski got in the way
of. While I was screaming at the TV when Ashley Williams appeared to handle
the ball just after half-time, I found myself wincing in acceptance at both
Antonio and Collins appearing to do the same (no matter how convincing the
theatrics that followed were).

While the negatives are perhaps more evident from our most recent
performance, as I stated before, I'm still happy with the progress we have
made. Things can quickly change and while these draws could turn into
defeats and see us drop down the league, they could also turn into wins and
see us put daylight between those below us and start overtaking those above.
I guess it depends on your outlook but given our current situation and the
circumstances we are playing under, I'm happy to see us get a few draws on
the bounce and show that we are difficult to beat. Yes, if one or two of
those draws had been wins it would have been great but I shouldn't have to
re-iterate, we are 8th in the Premier League at Christmas and still only
four points of 4th position.

While I've been pleased with our defensive performances and the potential
Michail Antonio has shown, I'm sure, like me, everyone is eagerly
anticipating the return of Payet, Lanzini, Moses and Reid because of the
difference we know they are capable of making. Unfortunately, we're going to
have to battle on and do our best until those returns come about. Our best
might not be good enough for a lot of people at the moment and I can
understand that, but perhaps we just need a bit of perspective and to look
forward to what the New Year brings. At the moment we have more promise and
hope than ever before, we're in a good position to build and there's
exciting times ahead. We've got the transfer window to look forward to but
I'm going to try and enjoy Christmas with my family and hope you all do the
same before all that fun begins.

COYI!

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West Ham hopeful of receiving triple fitness boost ahead of Boxing Day clash
with Aston Villa
13:38, 21 DEC 2015 UPDATED 13:38, 21 DEC 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Hammers are hoping to have Manuel Lanzini, Andy Carroll and Enner
Valencia all available for the trip to Villa Park
The Mirror

West Ham are hoping for a triple fitness boost for their Boxing Day trip to
Aston Villa. Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll are set to be fit again for
Saturday's Villa Park clash. Playmaker Lanzini was ruled out for six weeks
at the start of December with a thigh injury. But his recovery has
progressed much quicker than expected and he is now on course to return
against Villa. Striker Carroll is expected to be fit after missing
yesterday's draw at Swansea with a groin injury. Meanwhile, Enner Valencia
is ready to step up his workload against Villa.
The forward made a second substitutes appearance against Swansea after
recovering from his second ankle injury of his injury-hit season.
Co-chairman David Gold said: "He could only play 30 mins (against Swansea),
next week he should be able to play 90." Gold has revealed Dimitri Payet is
also ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ankle injury and is set to
make his comeback sooner than expected. Payet was ruled out for three months
in November but Gold said: "If all goes well Payet will be back mid
January."

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Payet may be back next month
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has told long suffering fans the Hammers could have every front
line player bar Diafra Sakho back by next month. And Dimi Payet could easily
be back in the first team by mid January according to the co chairman who
refuses to let the treatment table blues get him down. He told
ClaretandHugh: "Diafra will take a little while and Winston needs time but
these are not long term, out for a long time injuries. "Things are
improving all the time and Dimitri could be back by January for example.
He's doing very well indeed." "We weren't at our best against Swansea but we
got another point and that was important. Enner Valencia is back, Andy
Carroll should be back for Villa and Lanzini too. Things look very good and
we can feel very positive going forward and we keep our fingers crossed for
a quick Winston Reid recovery.

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Judge at end of season – this is the wrong time!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Final word on yesterday because the negativity pouring off some forums is
mind boggling.

People are unhappy that we didn't beat a team that we know can play but are
having a rough time and will I believe find themselves a long way from
relegation by season's end.

All the arguments have been aired and ClaretandHugh blogger Rich Sprent gave
the knockers a perfect answer in his superb blog earlier in the day.

But I'm still struggling big time to get my head around the position of
those who don't believe that six utterly key injuries weren't in some way
responsible for a lack lustre showing – yes those people actually exist.

Let me repeat my status on the ClaretandHugh Facebook @ forum from last
night: https://www.facebook.com/groups/363174467150521/

It's a bit like taking Ken Brown, Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Peter Brabrook
Geoff Hurst and Budgie Byrne out of the sixties team and then saying "What's
wrong with us."?

PF-hurst-20_1475435iHere's the truth of it for me. Just like way back then,
we are a good team when our best players are available and not very good
when they are not.

That will change in the summer when we add even more quality and improve
year on year.

In the meantime we must get used to the fact that we have a manager who
refuses to use injuries as his excuse but gets it in the ear from some
anyway as a result.

Were he to take that easy route he'd be criticised for doing so and thus
can't win so I'll say it for him and the squad: they are digging in,
treading water, not sliding and when the injured return we'll be beating
more than beat us.

Patience, tolerance, a bit of understanding and balance is required.

The moaning needs to stop until the season ends. That's the time to judge!

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Collison vote of confidence for Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Exclusive

Jack Collison watched yesterday's game against Swansea and reckons manager
Slaven Bilic and his team did a thoroughly professional job.
The former Hammer favourite really can't believe how anybody can criticise a
performance whch he described as "solid, workmanlike and gutsy given the
circumstances with injured players."
He said: "I don't think there's much doubt that we could easily have lost
that match last season as we may have done against Manchester United and
Stoke. "The fact is that Swansea are a very good side who really shouldn't
be in the position they occupy and I don't believe they will still be down
there at the end of the season. "We should all have known how tough it was
going to be and the manager set us up perfectly to absorb what they threw at
us and when Enner Valencia came on it was there for the winning. He changed
things. "The team dug in and showed how well they can defend as they have
done over the last three games. We know the flair they have when everybody
is fit and we should be delighted that they showed themselves so solid at
the back. "I'm sure the manager is and I certainly was. The keyword as far
as the fans is concerned is patience. When we get the big boys back we'll be
beating teams all over the place again."

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Keen to take over Colchester
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Former Hammer Kevin Keen has been appointed the new manager of Colchester
United. The 48-year-old was officially announced as the new gaffer of the
strugglers at the bottom of League One.

Keen began his career with Wycombe Wanderers before joining West Ham in
1983. He spent seven seasons with the "Hammers" making 219 appearances and
scoring 21 goals. He was twice promoted and twice relegated with the Irons.
He left for Wolves in 1993 after a poor contract offer by the then manager
Billy Bonds.

kk2Keen rejoined West Ham in July 2002 as under-17 academy coach. He was
later appointed reserve team coach and became first-team coach in October
2006. Following the sacking of manager Alan Pardew in December 2006, he was
very briefly placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs until Alan
Curbishley was appointed two days later when he reverted to his previous
role as reserve team coach. He was formally announced as caretaker manager
on 3rd September 2008 after the resignation of manager Alan Curbishley. Keen
took charge of West Ham for one game only; a 3–2 away defeat to West Brom on
13th September 2008 before handing over the manager's role to Gianfranco
Zola. Keen was appointed again as caretaker-manager of West Ham, for their
last game of the 2010/2011 season, following the sacking of their previous
manager, Avram Grant on 15 May 2011.

After three spells as caretaker manager at West Ham, Keen left the club in
July 2011 to take up the role of first team coach at Liverpool.

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Hammers talk on investment speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham insiders have categorically denied that there is a wave of
investment coming into the club this winter or next summer. Rumours have
been sweeping a particular Irons on line forum for a couple of months that
big time investors have been kept under wraps by the club and that our
imminent arrival at the Olympic Stadium will see them emerge from the
shadows. However, ClaretandHugh again put the speculation on top club
sources today and can confirm that no such situation exists inside the club
– much as some may be wishing it.
The co chairmen, David Gold and David Sullivan have been looking for
investment partners since their arrival at the club but nobody has come
forward to share the financial burden.

And the chief shareholder has made it clear that the club has already
overspent and will lose money this year. Today, we were told when putting
the investment story on our top sources: "The club is always open to
conversations with realistic investors but sadly no one has come forward and
the two Davids remain alone in their running of the club's finances."

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Hartson: "Irons should be happy with a point"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 21, 2015 in Videos, Whispers
C and H

West Ham Fan TV caught up with former Hammer Super Johnny Hartson after the
game

Hartson told WHFTV "Not the best game in the world, bit of a boring nil-nil
wasn't it, but as I said West Ham will be delighted to have gone away with a
point to be honest, to come here up to Swansea. A proper full strength squad
would put on a better show, do you know what I mean. No Lanzini, No Payet,
No Carroll, No Moses, No Reid. I thought the back two today especially
Collins were a rock. Jelavic made his first start of the season, he wasn't
really a major threat, Valencia came in and got a few shots off for you.
From a Swansea point of view dominated possession with 73% of the ball but
only two shots on target"

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Irons hang in and Payet-led cavalry on the way
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Leading ClaretandHugh blogger Rich Sprent has watched all the discussions
unfold on the forums and has come to some big conclusions on the present
state of play at Upton Park.

Normally we would add a 'rider' saying that the article reflects only the
views of the blogger and not necessarily ClaretandHugh but there's no need
this time – we agree with every word.

So where can this team finish? Top 10? Top 8? Top 6? Top 4? Fans'
expectations vary but certainly this team 'can beat anyone on our day'.

Some are finding that quite hard to swallow with the heart ripped from the
team over the past month or so. No wins in the last six games, no goals in
the last three. The creativity is missing. The team is cobbled together to
be 'hard to beat' and despite the really poor Villa being next up anything
other than a point looks to rely on some luck from somewhere.

So where are the positives? Three 0-0 draws on the bounce in a run that's
seen five draws and a humiliating loss at the hands of those preening cocks
of N17. Hard to see much to smile about?

I disagree. I am seeing the makings of a credible force. Yes, it's always
nice to see rip- roaring football, sublime skill and goals goals goals. They
say that you find more out about yourself during times of adversity than at
any other time. And this team are reminding me of the team that are
gatekeepers to being a consistent force in the Premier League top half –
Everton.

Whenever a West Ham side are beginning to purr it's usually the Toffess that
bring us down to earth. Despite being under-invested and having a relativity
small squad they show resilience in their spirit and continue to be a threat
on the European places year on year.

Slav has had to adapt his desire for having two flying fullbacks and a swarm
of attacking midfielders supporting a tirelessly running front man. Tomkins
has come in to good effect to shore things up, Collins throws himself in
front of everything. Antonio looks tireless in his work rate. They're doing
ok, even if not giving us what we all want.

The squad has been sorely tested and whilst the replacements lack all the
attributes of Sakho, Payet, Lanzini, Moses, Reid and big Andy they have
shown that they can stand up to teams and hang on in there.

Uninspiring as that may sound, that we have SIX players to come back in
contention for a starting spot and Valencia just back and getting minutes
under his belt, shows plenty.

It's not the exciting rip roaring free scoring Hammers that we know we are
when everyone's there. The cloth is being cut accordingly in a time of need.

We are six goals-for less than Everton and three less conceded. If we had
scored one more goal in each of the last six games we'd have converted five
draws to five wins. Another 10 points. We'd be 3 points behind the leaders
sitting in second spot.

IF, If, If… I know, I know, but… that we have hung in there and are still
sat in eighth spot is to be admired if not overly celebrated on the pitch in
front of the Bobby Moore Lower by manager and team.

The other unseen bonus is that the manager will have had ample opportunity
to see where the team's deficiencies lie.

The fullbacks have been a revelation, in how poor they've been. Tomkins is
doing a fantastic job standing in, but what we gain defensively from him, we
lose offensively. Alas, Jenkinson cannot be trusted without all the flair
players to link with when going forward.

And he doesn't seem to have the concentration in defending first that he had
last season. Cresswell is knuckling down and much more is expected from him
for the rest of the season. He has his moments both good and bad. He needs
to improve. Having to buy two fullbacks in the Summer could prove pricey.

Make no bones about it. We are in Plan B mode. Hunker down, try to nick a
win. It starts at the back. Having two fully operating fullbacks is
essential to fulfil the potential that the team can show. It provides width
when in possession and allows the creative swarm up front to do their thing.

Everton of the South? Not inspiring is it? It is a compliment however. That
we are top eight heading into the last two games of the calendar year is a
solid and good start for Slaven Bilic. We have seven draws. Only Sp*rs and
Everton have more.

Not getting beat when the chips are down is the way forward. The wagons are
circled and the Dimitri- Payet led cavalry are coming. Those reinforcements
will begin to make the difference as they each return over the last 21 games
of the season.

We sit above both Merseyside clubs. And I don't think it's a stretch to
estimate that three of the clubs above us, Watford, Palace and high flying
Leicester, wouldn't be above us if it was they who had six from their
preferred starting XI missing for over a month. I'd argue they'd be battling
the bottom 3.

Bring on the Villa and the Saints!

A huge ' Come on you Irons' and a 'Happy Holidays' to every Hammer
everywhere.

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