Daily WHUFC News - 29th December 2015

West Ham United 2-1 Southampton
WHUFC.com

Barclays Premier League

West Ham United ended 2015 in style as two second-half goals in the space of
ten minutes fired the Hammers to victory over Southampton at the Boleyn
Ground. After Dusan Tadic had diverted Shane Long's cross beyond Adrian -
albeit via the unfortunate Carl Jenkinson - in the 13th minute, the Saints
threatened to inflict further damage in a difficult opening 45. But Slaven
Bilic's men came out fighting after the interval and eventually turned the
game on its head. Michail Antonio levelled matters when an attempted
clearance cannoned off his head and looped over Maarten Stekelenburg, before
the returning Andy Carroll nodded home from point blank range to earn the
Hammers a first win in nine in front of a jubilant Boleyn Ground. Bilic made
two changes to the side held at Villa Park on Boxing Day, with Jenkinson
replacing the injured Aaron Cresswell at left-back, while Pedro Obiang made
way for Alex Song - the latter again sporting protective eyewear.

The Hammers had looked the more likely in the early exchanges and thrice had
opportunities, albeit half chances at best. Mauro Zarate got across his
marker but steered James Tomkins' cross wide of the far post, before Enner
Valencia saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked. Then, Mark Noble
teed up Cheikhou Kouyate, who screwed well wide of Stekelenburg's left-hand
upright. The Saints, however, hit the front with their first attack of note
and it was well worked, too. Sadio Mane flicked into the path of Steven
Davis, who fed Long on the left edge of the box. The Republic of Ireland man
squared across the face, where Tadic played it onto the unfortunate
Jenkinson and beyond Adrian in a flash. It took the wind out of West Ham
sails and, but for James Collins, it might have been two on 25. Long broke
free down the right this time and pulled back perfectly for Davis. Collins
flung himself in the way and Davis' shot ricocheted over Adrian's crossbar.
Ten minutes later and Zarate was robbed on the touchline by Davis. The
Saints' No8 strode forward and flashed a drive just wide of the far post.
The chances continued to come. Adrian repelled a Jose Fonte header, before
Victor Wanyama spanked the rebound over the top. Seconds later and Mane was
bearing down on goal, but he couldn't quite bring the ball under his spell
and his finish was a tame one. Tadic had a dig too, though the busy Adrian
flung himself to his right and clung on.

No doubt troubled by what he had seen, Bilic made a double change at the
break. Zarate and Song were withdrawn and in their stead came the fit-again
duo Carroll and Manuel Lanzini. And the former passed up a glorious
opportunity within three minutes of joining the action. After Collins'
header had been cleared off the line by Cuco Martina, Tomkins controlled
Noble's cross and Carroll blasted over the top from little more than six
yards out.

But parity was restored in the 69th minute in bizarre fashion, courtesy of
Antonio's first goal in Claret and Blue. The winger burst into the box and
despite being tripped before pulling the trigger, Wanyama's clearance
cannoned into the No30 and looped over Stekelenburg. It was nothing more
than Antonio's enterprise deserved.

The Hammers sought to turn the screw and turned the game on its head ten
minutes later. Valencia's cross from the right sat up sweetly for Antonio
and after his header came crashing back off the underside of the bar, there
was Carroll to gleefully nod home.

Antonio might have sealed it late on, but he smashed wide of the near post
with only the 'keeper to beat. It mattered not, however, as West Ham held
firm to climb up to seventh spot.

West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Jenkinson, Kouyate, Song
(Lanzini 46), Noble (c), Antonio, Zarate (Carroll 46), Valencia (Obiang 87)

Subs: Randolph (GK), Oxford, Hendrie, Cullen

Booked: Tomkins

Goals: Antonio 69, Carroll 79

Southampton: Stekelenburg, Martina (Yoshida 70), Van Dijk, Fonte (c),
Bertrand, Romeu, Wanyama, Mane (Juanmi 75), Davis, Tadic (Ramirez 75), Long


Booked: Martina, Romeu, Bertrand

Goal: Jenkinson (og)

Subs: Gazzaniga (GK), Caulker, Clasie, Ward-Prowse

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Carroll - 2016 is looking positive
WHUFC.com

Andy Carroll is looking forward to a 'positive' 2016 after bagging his
second Boleyn Ground winner of the season to see off Southampton.
West Ham United ended a run of seven Barclays Premier League matches without
a win and scored their first come-from-behind victory in over a year thanks
to a stirring second half display. Southampton dominated the first half and
scored through Dusan Tadic, but a half-time change in tactics and personnel
- including the introduction of Carroll and Manuel Lanzini - altered the
course of the match. Man of the Match Michail Antonio equalised with 21
minutes remaining when his buccaneering run was ended by a foul tackle, only
for Victor Wanyama's clearance to ricochet off the winger's head and loop
into the net. Then, with eleven to go, the Boleyn Ground erupted as Carroll
signed-off 2015 with a signature header after Antonio had nodded Enner
Valencia's bouncing cross onto the underside of the crossbar. "It's been
eight or so games since we won so we are all delighted and I'm just glad we
got the win in the end," said a smiling Carroll. "It's great getting a goal
and for it to be the winner. I've had a little niggle so it was great to be
back out there."

There was much debate inside the stadium about Carroll's new braided
hairstyle, but the No9 laughed off jokes about his appearance, and instead
heaped praise on Antonio and his teammates for showing the resilience to
turn the game on its head. After a challenging first half that saw
frustration levels rise in some sections of the crowd, West Ham were a
transformed side after the break. Carroll gave the forward line a focal
point, Lanzini started pulling the strings in the No10 position, while the
switching of full-backs Carl Jenkinson and James Tomkins also added impetus
down the flanks. The result was a stirring and deserved victory which will
see the Hammers end the calendar year in no worse than eighth place in the
table. "The new hairstyle will stay all season if I keep scoring!" laughed
the centre forward, who then had words of support for Antonio and the squad
as a whole. "We've had some difficult moments over the last few weeks but
Michail has put his chance away and won Man of the Match. "We've got players
coming back from injury and a big and deep squad so 2016 is looking
positive."

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Bilic - It's a massive three points
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic hailed a huge victory for his team after the Hammers came from
behind to defeat Southampton 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Monday evening.
Victory looked in doubt when Carl Jenkinson's unfortunate own goal gave the
Saints an interval lead, but the Hammers were galvanised in the second half
and turned the game around. Michail Antonio levelled before Andy Carroll
nodded home the winner to leave Bilic a happy man. "It's three massive
points for us," he said. "We needed it and now we can talk about a positive
series, because we are six unbeaten and we ended up with a win. "Otherwise
it would be eight without a win and it's not spinning words, it's fact. It's
really good, considering everything that happened in the first half. "We
showed a change in character, a change in determination and a change in
attitude. To be fair they could have been two up at half time, but they
weren't, and nobody can say we didn't deserve it in the end. "We deserved it
with the hard work, the approach and, at the end of the day, the quality we
showed in the second half. "We turned the game around which is very
difficult to do in the Premier League and it's great for belief. "It's great
for the players who came back and it's good motivation because we are
expecting even more players to come back. "It's a really good night for
West Ham fans and I'm especially pleased for them as they were the ones who
lifted us in the second half. They were behind us and we felt that."

Bilic was especially pleased for the two goalscorers, who have had
frustrating seasons to date. He added: "Andy is like that, he's that kind of
a player. He needs to stay regular in training without any injuries and his
quality was never a question. "Michail deserves it. He is one of those
examples which is important for new players, for young players and for
players who are changing levels like he did. "He didn't play at the start of
the season because we had some players who played really well in those
positions."

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West Ham: Rafa Benitez 'signed a contract to become manager'
BBC.co.uk

West Ham were "two hours" away from appointing Rafael Benitez as manager in
the summer before hiring Slaven Bilic, Hammers co-owner David Sullivan says.
"We were two hours from getting Benitez and then Real Madrid came in. We had
agreed a contract," Sullivan said. "He is a top manager whatever anybody
says, and I think he'd have done a wonderful job for us."
Sullivan also said West Ham approached Jurgen Klopp, who joined Liverpool
instead to replace Brendan Rodgers. "We tried Klopp as well but he wouldn't
come because he said he wanted a break. But I'm glad with the manager we
have got," added Sullivan.
West Ham are 10th in the Premier League and have lost only four league
matches since former Croatia boss Bilic took over. Sullivan also heaped
praise on injured midfielder Dimitri Payet - calling him "the best player
I've signed in 25 years" - and said the Hammers will make Manuel Lanzini's
season-long loan from Al Jazira Club a permanent deal "by February or
March", two months earlier than planned.

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West Ham 2 Southampton 1
28 December 2015
Last updated at 19:48
By Patrick Jennings
BBC Sport

Andy Carroll came on to score the winner as West Ham recorded their first
Premier League victory in two months by fighting back to beat Southampton.
Saints dominated the first half and went ahead when Dusan Tadic's prodded
effort deflected in off Carl Jenkinson. Michail Antonio levelled in bizarre
fashion when a clearance hit him and looped in, before Carroll struck. The
West Ham striker made amends for a terrible miss by heading in from close
range after Antonio had hit the bar. Victory was the Hammers' first since a
2-1 win at home to Chelsea on 24 October, when then Blues boss Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands. Slaven Bilic's side move up to seventh in the table,
while Ronald Koeman's Saints, who beat Arsenal 4-0 at home on Boxing Day,
stay 12th.

Hammers finally have attacking threat

After drawing for a fifth time in a row on Saturday, Hammers boss Bilic
bemoaned the injuries to his key attacking players. Carroll and Manuel
Lanzini made their returns as second-half substitutes on Monday, but the
Croat is still without Victor Moses, Dimitri Payet, and Diafra Sakho up
front. Having scored just four times in their previous eight games, the
comeback looked far from likely, but West Ham transformed the match through
a second-half performance that was a world apart from their poor opening to
the game. There was a huge element of fortune about Antonio's equaliser, but
it was deserved for the number of chances they created after the break, with
Carroll having earlier blazed over from six yards out. Antonio, a threat
throughout the match with his powerful runs, was unlucky to see his header
come back off the underside of the bar for Carroll's winner, and fired
wildly wide when through on goal late on.

Average positions for West Ham and Southampton

For much of the game Southampton looked to have the better shape - and in
the first half they certainly played the more progressive football. But
after the break it was West Ham who fashioned the better chances as the away
side faded The way Southampton started the match made you think they had
finally turned the corner and rediscovered the kind of form that saw them
finish seventh last year. Koeman's side had picked up only one point from
five league games before Saturday's demolition of Arsenal at St Mary's and
that result had clearly given them confidence. In the first half Saints had
zip and zeal in midfield, were solid at the back, and created chances
aplenty through the running of Shane Long and Sadio Mane up front. But if
the away side were far superior in the opening 45 minutes, the opposite was
true in the second half as the introduction of Carroll and Lanzini turned
the match in the Hammers' favour.

Man of the match - Michail Antonio
The West Ham winger got his first Hammers goal to draw his side level, and
almost had a second when heading onto the underside of the bar.

What the managers said:

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "After the goal we were totally down and I
waited for half-time because I didn't want to humiliate the players by
changing them before. I was happy when the referee blew, because they could
have been 2-0 up. "At half-time we made some changes but it was a change of
character, of approach, of determination and will. They did try in the first
half, but this was a different West Ham.
"We equalised and continued to chase, and at the end of the day we were
rewarded for everything we did in the second half."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "The second half was totally different to
the first. We had to score more than one in the first half, because
otherwise you expect their reaction in the second. If you score only one
they still have belief. "The first half was the level of the Arsenal game.
It was one team on the pitch playing football. But out of a better second
half they scored two goals, and from a fantastic first we scored one. "If
you are the dominant side you have to score more than one goal, and that was
the problem."

What next?

West Ham play Liverpool at home in a 12:45 GMT kick-off on Saturday, when
Southampton travel to Norwich for a 15:00 start.

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West Ham 2-1 Southampton: Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio seal comeback win
By Peter Smith
Last Updated: 28/12/15 9:07pm
SSN

Andy Carroll stepped off the bench to head West Ham to a 2-1 comeback win
over Southampton - their first Premier League victory in nine games. Ronald
Koeman's side - who had stunned Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day - dominated the
first half and should have had more reward for their efforts than Carl
Jenkinson's own goal. But a double change by Slaven Bilic at the break paid
off for the hosts, with substitute Carroll nodding in the winner with 11
minutes to play after Michail Antonio scored a fortunate equaliser. The
victory moves West Ham up to seventh and ends a run of five straight draws,
while Saints stay 12th. West Ham had gone into the match unbeaten in their
last six Premier League home games and made a positive start, with Mauro
Zarate clipping a shot wide before Enner Valencia saw a long-range drive
blocked.

However, on 13 minutes Southampton took the lead through the first real
chance of the match. Shane Long surged into the area after good play from
the visitors and squared across the six-yard box, where Dusan Tadic
deflected the ball onto Jenkinson, who sent the ball into his own net. The
visitors seized the initiative from there on, dominating possession and
going close through Long before failing to convert a flurry of chances
before the interval. Jose Fonte drew a dramatic save from Adrian, Sadio Mane
shot wide and Tadic - after some neat footwork - fired at the 'keeper as
Southampton pushed for a second.

After seeing his side outplayed for much of the first period, Bilic rang the
changes at the break, throwing on Carroll and Manuel Lanzini for Zarate and
Alex Song - and almost immediately got the response he was after. Just two
minutes after the re-start, James Collins' header was cleared off the line
from an early corner before Carroll blew a golden opportunity, blasting over
off the bar from five yards out with the goal at his mercy. Carroll and
Oriol Romeu then sent tame efforts goalwards at either end before West Ham
pulled level in bizarre circumstances. Antonio burst into the Southampton
box but lost his footing and fell to the ground. However, Victor Wanyama,
trying to clear, fired the ball into the West Ham man and the ball looped up
and over Maarten Stekelenburg and into the net. With the momentum on their
side, West Ham surged forward looking for a winner, with Antonio teeing up
Lanzini to shoot wide before Carroll seemed unfortunate to see a free-kick
awarded against him rather than a penalty given in his favour when he
collided with Ryan Bertrand in the box. Southampton were far from pinned in
their own half, but the visitors were stung on 79 minutes when Carroll put
West Ham ahead. Antonio - involved in all of West Ham's best moves - headed
Valencia's cross against the underside of the bar and Carroll was quickest
to react, pouncing on the loose ball to score his second of the season. West
Ham had to hold off a determined onslaught from Southampton in the closing
stages but, aside from Virgil van Dijk's off-target shot, the hosts were
largely untroubled and saw out the final minutes to sign off 2015 with a
victory.

Player ratings

West Ham: Adrian (8), Jenkinson (5), Collins (7), Tomkins (6), Ogbonna (6),
Song (5), Kouyate (6), Antonio (9), Noble (7), Zarate (6), Valencia (6).
Subs used: Carroll (7), Obiang (6), Lanzini (7)

Southampton: Stekelenburg (6), Martina (6), Fonte (6), Van Dijk (6),
Bertrand (6), Wanyama (6), Romeu (6), Tadic (7), Mane (6), Steven Davis (7),
Long (7).
Subs used: Yoshida (6), Juanmi (5), Ramirez (5)

Man of the match: Michail Antonio (West Ham)

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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic praised supersub Andy Carroll
Last Updated: 28/12/15 9:35pm
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic praised supersub Andy Carroll after his winner
against Southampton and said there are few better teams in the Premier
League than the Hammers. Southampton arrived at the Boleyn Ground on the
back of thumping Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day and the Saints went into the
break one-nil up thanks to Carl Jenkinson's own goal. But an inspired
double-substitution by Bilic saw the Hammers come from behind to claim their
first victory since October after Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll came off
the bench to turn the game on its head.
Bilic said afterwards that he was pleased with his side's character. "It was
a massive win," he told Sky Sports. "This was like a special game for us.
The way we done it, we have done it and shown two faces. I am not talking
about the quality now. "I know that we are without some players but we had
a great character and showed in the second half great willingness, great
determination, great character, and we deserved to win this game at the
end."

Goalscorer Carroll had found the net just twice this season after being
reduced to 11 appearances this campaign and Bilic said he might deploy the
striker as an impact player after such a lengthy time on the sidelines. "He
is always crucial," the West Ham manager said. "So far he showed although he
had some really good games he started for us in the game against Man United
away in the game against Stoke at home I thought he was really good. "To be
fair I think he was best for us this season when he was coming on [as a
substitute] so as an impact player. So maybe that is what he has to do also
with the big long break that he had. "His impact against Norwich, against
Chelsea, or today it's not only because of the goal. He is making spaces, he
is winning the ball, he is working really hard and he can also pass the ball
so he was also one of the reasons we turned the game around in the second
half."

The victory meant West Ham sit in seventh place, one point behind Manchester
United, and Bilic said there were few teams in the Premier League better
than the Hammers. "This is the Premier League. Basically my son told me the
other day - and he is right, no matter about which team you are talking
[about in] this Premier League - more or less every win you have to
celebrate like an FA Cup final. And not just West Ham but Chelsea and all
them. So basically, there are no guarantees here. What I said at the
beginning of the season, and I stick by my words, is if we stay out of
injuries and all that - ok maybe we will get one, two or three maybe - then
I am very optimistic. If we work hard then we have a very good football
team. There a very few who are better than us."

Enner Valencia had to be replaced towards the end of the game and was seen
hobbling after the full-time whistle. However, Bilic said the injury was not
serious.

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Andy Carroll fires West Ham to first win in 2 months and vows to keep dodgy
haircut
21:53, 28 DEC 2015 UPDATED 22:08, 28 DEC 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
In front of watching England boss Roy Hodgson, the half-time sub's
79th-minute header ended the East Londoners' eight-game wait for a win
The Mirror

Andy Carroll's dodgy hair-do could be here to stay after he fired West Ham
to their first win in more than two months as they overcame Southampton 2-1
. Carroll made sure it was not just his braided barnet that stood out at
Upton Park as he came off the bench to net the winner. In front of watching
England boss Roy Hodgson, the half-time sub's 79th-minute header ended the
East Londoners' eight-game wait for a win. Carroll said: "I will keep the
haircut all season if I keep scoring. I've had a niggle recently but it's
great to get back out there." Nobody would have predicted the outcome at
half time. Southampton totally dominated and West Ham trailed when Carl
Jenkinson turned Shane Long's cross into his own net. But boss Slaven Bilic
sent on fit-again duo Carroll and Manuel Lanzini and the game turned on its
head. James Collins and Carroll went close before the ball looped in off
Michail Antonio as he fell to the floor. But they fully deserved their
winner which came when Carroll reacted quickest after Antonio hit the bar.
Saints manager Ronald Koeman admitted: "If you play good football, as we did
in the first 45 minutes, and you don't kill the game then you can expect
this."

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Sullivan told he pulled a pre-match masterstroke
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Sullivan was told this evening he had pulled a master stroke when
announcing that he would complete Manu Lanzini's permanent West Ham switch
by February or March before tonight's 2-1 win over Saints. ClaretandHugh's
chief analyst Leroy Rosenior said: "That was brilliant - quite brilliant and
I must give the chairman full credit because it would have given the boy a
fantastic lift for the game.
"He came out with the attitude: 'Right guys I'm one of you now so just watch
me go' and he was brilliant who made a fantastic difference."

ClaretandHugh reported that the chairman was ready to complete the deal soon
after he had revealed the news to the BBC earlier in the day.
And Leroy said: "The timing was quite brilliant and the player did an
amazing job. Mind you on this occasion I can't agree with my pal Hugh who
reckons both he and Andy Carroll should have played from the start and
looked fit enough. "You have to be very careful with returning players but
it didn't matter anyway. The manager and his team got it absolutely spot on
in the second half and we are now looking in terrific nick as we head for
the second part of the campaign."

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Lanzini returns and proves the knockers wrong
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

So back comes one creative player and the difference is immediate and
enormous. For several games - and I make no apologies for my own comments
about the performance at Villa Park - many have been claiming we can't keep
pleading injuries as an excuse for sub standard performances. Sorry and all
that but we can yer know as was shown when the ball carrying and genuinely
creative Manu Lanzini returned for the second half and made all the
difference in the world. My only complaint is that he wasn't on from the
start because he looked more than ready and up for it with the sort of 45
minutes we haven't had at the Boleyn for a long time. It was great to watch
and when Dimi Payet returns just watch us fly. So please no more nonsense
about injuries to hugely talented players not mattering. The other great
plus this afternoon was Michail Antonio. In injury crises players need to
grab their chance and he did that brilliantly with a goal and an assist.
It's no formality that Moses will march straight back in when fit. Carroll
looked fit enough too and grabbed his second match winning goal of the
season and again I must single out James Collins who did great against the
very good Shane Long. I said at the beginning of the season we'd finish in
the top six. I'm glad it remains very much on.

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Irons Match verdict: Give it up for the boys!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
Match verdict
C and H

Irons 2 Saints 1

First things first - heartiest congratulations Michail Antonio on your man
of the match - thoroughly deserved.

Welcome back Manu Lanzini - you made the difference.

.very well done Andy Carroll - we are delighted for you..

.and finally we are back up to seventh place with 29 points!

That was one hell of a game - we were utterly hopeless in the first half
which for very good reasons we will forget but with the arrival of Carroll
and Lanzini after half time absolutely everything changed.

The ball carrying Argentinian appeared for the entirely ineffective Alex
Song and coupled with the fearless and direct running of Antonio we suddenly
looked fearless, dangerous, gutsy and exciting.

With Lanzini's skill and invention coming to the fore the Saints team - who
had ruled it over us in a one sided first half - were pushed further and
further back and it was only going to be a matter of time before Jenkinson's
own goal from the 13th minute was going to be cancelled out.

Poor Jenks had been launched into the left back position as the patched up
Hammers went looking for their first win in two months and it was almost par
for the course that his would be the final boot on a ball in from Shane
Long's cross which first was touched on by Tanic - Adrian was left with no
chance.

But Antonio, as he had promised, came to the party and fulfilled his promise
that he could scare Premier League defences.

And he scored the luckiest goal ever when he charged into the box on 68
mins, lost control, appealed for a pen, saw had the ball crashed back
against him and watched in wonder as it looped over the keeper and into
the net.

The Hammers were rampant after that with Valencia - showing some real form
at last - seeing a low shot well saved before we should have had a spot kick
when Carroll was blocked off by Bertrand only for the ref to give a foul the
other way.

It was to make no difference because 11 minutes from time Valencia curled in
a wicked ball, that man Antonio headed against the bar and AC waltzed in to
head the rebound into the corner of the net.

There were a couple of scares towards the end but the amazing second half
heroics of every Iron on the pitch ensured that we hung on for our first win
in two months.

A victory on the final day of the old year is precisely what we required.We
have our best players coming back but I'll tell you this - Antonio is
becoming a better and better player and Slav will have a hard time dropping
the boy.

One run right at the death from his own penalty area, 70 yards down field
before his legs turned to jelly and he fired over was a sight to behold.

Make no mistake - there's nothing to worry about in this squad - it was just
the lads took too long to show the impetus we've been crying out for.

But it's back and we look great.

Give it up for the mighty Irons everybody! Remember this was the team that
had beaten the Gooners 4-0 a couple of days ago.

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