Tuesday, November 3

Daily WHUFC News - 3rd November 2015

Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic believes his side will have learned a valuable lesson from last
Saturday's defeat to Watford as they seek to put things right when Everton
visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
The West Ham United manager felt his side were not in the 'red zone' at
Vicarage Road and as such the hosts ran out deserved winners after scoring
two goals without reply. Bilic believes his players will now appreciate more
than ever that they cannot take their foot off the pedal for any Premier
League game. "We showed that we can play against so called lesser opposition
like Palace, Newcastle and parts of the games against Sunderland,
Bournemouth and Leicester," Bilic said. "Those teams do the 'dirty work'
better than the big teams so you have to work more against them than you do
against someone like Manchester City. "Manchester City will beat you with
class but someone like Watford are better at the 'dirty work' than them so
you need to match them and that is something we did not do on Saturday. We
were nowhere what is required to win those kind of games. "You are going to
lose game as it is the Premier League. Apart from the first ten minutes,
when Watford approached us with a lot of respect, and we had a lot of the
ball. "But when they smelt that we were not penetrating them enough and a
lot of our movement and passing was backwards then they smelt the
opportunity to come up and go with us. "But we have learnt that lesson now
and I see no reason why we should not come back the way we played before.
Number one thing we have to do is run together as a team, do the dirty work
and win second balls. If we are like that then we have a chance against any
team."

Demonstrating typical honesty, Bilic explained that he had made clear to his
team that he will not accept a drop in effort, particularly with his former
side Everton visiting the Boleyn on Saturday. "It was a collective bad day
against Watford. We beat Chelsea and all last week I spent more time talking
about how we should stay grounded but we definitely we didn't have that five
per cent in the red zone and if you are like that and unlucky then you have
no chance. "So I told the guys this is unacceptable. It happened and let's
at least make sure it does not happen again."

Finally, Bilic offered his support for Andy Carroll, whose mistake allowed
Nathan Ake to set up Odion Ighalo for the Hornets' opener. His fellow
striker Diafra Sakho missed the game with a thigh strain and his manager is
hoping he will be fit to return to the matchday squad for the visit of
Everton. "Andy came back because it was a free kick for it and he took the
wrong decision by taking a risk in that area. It cost us big time but we
didn't lose because of that. "We missed Sakho up front and he was one of
those players who has that kind of energy and he is the man who is pressing
up front, although Andy was very brave. So he was missed and I hope he is
going to be back for Everton."

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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

We are all frustrated with the result against Watford on Saturday but I know
that Slaven and his backroom staff will be working hard with the players
this week to put things right.
It seems that all our defensive errors this season are punished by goals.
I've never know anything like it. That said and done, to have 20 points on
the board after 11 games is still a great start to the season. I have a
theory that if you win big you lose the next game. We won against Arsenal
and were then poor against Leicester. After our 'big win' over Chelsea, the
defeat therefore wasn't such a surprise to me. The other week Newcastle had
a big result beating Norwich 6-2 at home and then lost to Sunderland.
Sunderland then have a big win over Newcastle and then lose to Everton. I am
now hoping that Everton's big win over Sunderland might see them lose
against us next weekend. Having said all that Watford were the better team
and deserved their win, but had Enner's shot gone in, instead of hitting the
post, it might have been a different game. However, we probably didn't
deserve anything from the game and we will all be looking for a better
performance when we return to the Boleyn Ground this weekend.

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Loan round up
WHUFC.com

Reece Burke played the full game as Bradford City secured a valuable point
away at Millwall with a 0-0 draw. The point keeps the Bantams 14th with 21
points from 15 games.

Matt Jarvis played the first 45 minutes of Norwich City's narrow 2-1 defeat
away at Manchester City. The winger was replaced by livewire Nathan Redmond
with the score at 0-0. Yaya Toure's 89th minute penalty sealed the victory
for the Citizens after Cameron Jerome's goal cancelled out Nicolas
Otamendi's powerful header.

Diego Poyet's MK Dons slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to high flying Hull City.
Ahmed Elmohamady broke the deadlock after 19 minutes before former Hammer Mo
Diame doubled their tally just before the full time whistle.

Josh Pask's fledgling career continued as Luton Town beat Dagenham &
Redbridge 2-0. A goal either side of the break sealed the win Luton, the
defeat sees the Daggers slip to bottom of League Two.

Jordan Brown played 63 minutes of Chelmsford City's 2-0 defeat away at Bath
City. The young striker was replaced by Hugo Skepelhorn.

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MPs hail West Ham United Foundation
WHUFC.com

The West Ham United Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in style on
Monday with a special reception in the Houses of Parliament. As the
Foundation gets ready for a major expansion of its work when West Ham moves
to the Club's magnificent new Stadium in Stratford next year, the reception
was attended by MPs, local councillors, and leading figures from the worlds
of football and business, all keen to lend their support. Among the
attendees was the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt.
Hon John Whittingdale. He wished West Ham well in continuing and expanding
the life changing work of the Foundation following the Stadium move. Stephen
Timms, the MP whose East Ham seat includes the Boleyn Ground, acted as host
of the reception, and gave the assembled gathering the benefit of his
first-hand experience of the Foundation's work: "West Ham has long been a
very powerful presence at the heart of our community", he said, "right in
the centre of the Borough of Newham. The Foundation plays a very full role
in partnership with lots of other local organisations in the interests of
the local community. "It is a very wide-ranging programme that the
Foundation has at West Ham, it's an ambitious programme and one which does a
lot of very valuable work in our local area."

Many other prominent Hammers fans in the House of Commons were also in
attendance, including David Amess, Jim Fitzpatrick and Mike Gapes. Also
present were Essex MP, Rebecca Harris, and the Treasurer of the all-party
Parliamentary Football Group, Chris Heaton-Harris. They were joined by West
Ham's Joint-Chairman, David Gold, the Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of
Newham, Lester Hudson, and the Premier League's Chief Executive, Richard
Scudamore, as well as representatives of dozens of charities, schools and
community groups who have received support from the Foundation over recent
years.

The Chief Executive of the Foundation, Joseph Lyons, introduced the
attendees to four young people from the East London and Essex area whose
lives have been transformed as a result of the Foundation's work. "Over the
next decade", he said, "we will work tirelessly to create more of these
stories. "Today, we are outlining our new 10 year strategy which redefines
our vision. We want to be a truly inclusive organisation offering a range of
programmes that provide positive experiences to all."

Mr Lyons set out the Foundation's priorities and goals for the next decade,
including expanding its work across all of Essex, establishing international
programmes, creating pathways to education and work for young people in the
region, and using sport as a motivator for social change. He said that, in
the space of 25 years, the Foundation had provided support and opportunities
to 1.5 million young people and adults, but it planned to reach a further 1
million people in the next 10 years alone. West Ham Vice-Chairman Karren
Brady, who has masterminded the expansion of the Foundation's work since
arriving at the Club in 2010, explained to the reception why the West Ham
board believe it is so important to support the Club's local communities.
"When my two Chairmen, David Sullivan and David Gold, and I began our work
at West Ham", she said, "one of our first priorities was to expand the work
the Club had been doing to create better futures for local people. "My
Chairmen both originated from the area and...with their passion for giving
something back to their local community and my determination to use sport to
better the lives of its people, it quickly became something that was
incredibly important to all three of us. "We made sure the Foundation became
the hub to deliver the Club's vision for outreach, benefitting the charities
we feel most passionate about and most importantly giving brighter futures
for the most deprived people in our community. "We now have some remarkable
stories to tell of the lives we've changed and an exciting, ambitious vision
for the future, as we prepare to take up residence in our new home."

The event ended with MPs presenting the Foundation with a special birthday
card signed by all those in attendance. The message inside read:
"Congratulations on 25 years of life-changing community work and long may it
continue in your new home."

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FT- Brighton & HA 1-2 Dev Squad
WHUFC.com

FT: That's the final whistle and the Hammers have secured their away win of
the season. On the balance of play, a deserved three points yet Brighton
rallied in the second half. Reaction to follow.

95: Heart in mouths moment as Brighton have a goal scramble. Howes saves and
even their keeper is up now. Pure carnage at the end.

93: Tom Dallison goes into the book for a rash challenge, it looks like he's
come off the worse. Two minutes to go!

91: Howes boots it upfield and Gordon holds off his marker terrifically.
Moses Makasi is coming on for Djair Parfitt-Williams.

89: Five minutes of time to be added on here!

87: Cullen floats a free-kick in but Gordon is flagged for offside. A
precious few seconds wasted at least.

85: Backs to the wall defending now! They've given everything, only five
minutes to go! Marcus Browne is replaced by Amos Nasha.

81: Goal for Brighton! Jeff Monakana finishes well from a tight angle after
Howes got hands to the initial shot. Nervy ten minutes now!

78: Lovely move inspired by Samuelsen as he dances past half of Brighton and
into the box, Pike to tries to shoot on the volley but can't get enough on
it.

75: Pike, again, wins a header he has no right to, which is indicative of
the Dev Squad's determination this evening. Josh Cullen is booked for a
trip.

71: Tilley tries to beat Pike for pace but he's having none of it as the
right-back pulls off a fantastic sliding challenge. The Seagulls respond by
bringing on Vahid Hambo for Daniel Akindayini.

69: Howes is called into action again, this time rises highest to claim a
high ball. He made it look a lot easier then it was.

66: Superb save from Sam Howes! He does ever so well to get down, quickly to
his left to palm away a near post-flick. Supber work, he clearly wants this
clean sheet!

62: What a goal that would have been! Walton punches a ball clear which
Samuelsen controls first time in his sleep, he lays it to Hendrie who tries
to curl it into the top corner. Walton recovers to pluck it out of the air
in the knick of time.

59: Backs to the wall defending for the Hammers but they deal with the
danger well. The Seagulls are getting frustrated and a few heavy challenges
are flying about. Stephen Hendrie is booked for an over zealous challenge.

57: Idris Kanu is replaced by Jaanai Gordon in a like for like swap. The
younger looked lively on his U21 debut. .

56: Crunching tackle on the youngster Kanu, he's on his haunches, Barclay
will be booked for his troubles.

54: Superb tracking back by Marcus Browne. His development over the past 12
months has really been something to watch. He originally loses the ball but
tracks back 40 odd yards and wins it back with a wonderfully timed
challenge.

52: How did he miss? Akindayini is clean through on goal yet he blazes it
wide of the far post. It had the power but not the accuracy. A let off.

51: Bit of pressure from the hosts as they win a string of corners, yet
Browne clears it away.

49: Jack Harper is replaced by James Tilley.

46: We're back under way here at the Amex. No changes at half time. More of
the same please!

45: GOAL for the Hammers! Josh Cullen rolls the ball home nicely after
Samuelsen's effort was parried into his path. Calm finish, deserved too.
2-0!

44: Of course, just as I say that Jack Harper goes close to equalising. He
tests Sam Howes but the England youth goalkeeper sees it early and makes no
mistakes picking it up.

43: Just a few remaining in this first half. As good a first half
performance as I can remember from Terry Westley's charges.

40: Phenomenal clearing header by Declan Rice, he lept like a salmon to
prevent what looked like a near certain goal. He's not done either as he
bombs forward, setting Kanu down the wing.

38: That's Samuelsen's fourth goal of the season in eight appearances!

34: GOAL for the Hammers! Martin Samuelsen despatches the spot kick home
coolly but is ordered to retake it, this time Walton gets his gloves to it
but it doesn't matter as he slides in the rebound. 1-0 to the Hammers. COYI

34: Penalty to the Hammers, after Marcus Browne is felled by goalkeeper
Christian Walton...

32: The Hammers are called into defending for a change. Page gets his head
to it before Dobson hurls himself at a rebounded shot from the edge of the
box.

29: Lovely close control from Samuelsen gets him out of a tight spot and he
sends Page on his way. He gets to the byline but is scythed down just as
he's about to cross. Booking for the Brighton man.

25: Close! Yet again, Page delievers, Pike aheads across goal and Browne
hooks a shot. It looks destined for the far corner yet falls inches wide.
Even the home crowd are applauding that move!

24: Interesting to see Stephen Hendrie play in central defence tonight, he's
looking assured and marshalling the defence.

22: Rice does well to block Akindayini's shot on the edge of the box. He's a
strong lad for only 16!

19: Samuelsen ghosts into the box, has to check and leaves it to Page to
swing in another dangerous cross. It's good and Parfitt-Williams is about to
pounce but Molumby clears again.

16: Declan Rice picks a ball out of the fog with a superb touch and turn.
It's his positive thinking that sets Alex Pike tearing down the right flank.
He beats Jesse Starkey and drills a cross along the deck, Jayson Molumby
slides to clear the danger.

14: Best opening to a game for the Hammers all season, they're controlling
posession and territory extremely well. It's like watching Barcelona!

12: Page expertly heads a dangerous ball into Howes' path and he collects
with minimum fuss. Down the other end, Cullen, as ever, is chasing and
harrying everything in sight.

10: Another good delivery into the box, this time from the right-hand side
from Pike. Good to see the right-back in action after suffering an injury.
The cross is good but Ben Barclay gets a strong foot to it.

8: George Dobson does well to intercept a pass and he heads it straight to
Idris Kanu, the debutant spins expertly and draws a foul. Superb forward
play there.

6: The hosts are battling their way into the game. Daniel Akindayini looks
like a handful up front already, Charlie Harris looks good in possession.

3: Moments later the visitors are on the attack again, this time Marcus
Browne shoots from the edge of the box. It falls just wide. Positive start!

2: Excellent start for the Hammers as Josh Cullen, Martin Samuelsen and
Lewis Page venture forward and work a dangerous cross into the box. Alex
Pike attacks it at the back post which is scrambled, almost sliced into his
own net by a Brighton defender. The corner is cleared.

1: Here we go! Brighton, in their traditional Blue and White stripes,
kicking left to right, the Hammers are in Claret and Blue and will get us
under way.

6.50pm: We're just 10 minutes away from kick off here at the Amex. The fans
are streaming in and we could be set for a classic. COYI!

6.35pm: Not every day in the world of U21 football do you come across an
ex-Real Madrid player, however that is exactly what we have on our hands
tonight. Scottish striker Jack Harper joined the Seagulls in the summer from
the Galacticos, and after speaking to some of the locals it sounds like big
things are expected of him. One to watch, no doubt.

6.20pm: Tonight's hosts currently prop up the Barclays U21 Premier League
division two table, having said that, however, they secured an impressive
1-1 draw away at West Bromwich Albion last time out who are currently
second.

6pm: Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Amex Stadium in Brighton.
It's a chilly night on the South Coast, let me tell you!

As you can see from the teams below, some interesting talking points. Idris
Kanu makes his debut for the U21s, still only 15 years old!

Further good news is the return of Alex Pike, making his first start of the
season having recovered from injury.

Brighton & Hove Albion U21: Walton, Hunt (c), Starkey, Molumby, Barclay,
Dallison, Ward, Harris, Akindayini, Harper (Tilley 49), Monakana

Subs: Hambo, Doherty, Tighe, Davies

West Ham United U21: Howes, Pike, Page, Dobson, Rice, Hendrie,
Parfitt-Williams (Makasi 90), Cullen (c), Kanu (Gordon 57), Browne (Nasha
85), Samuelsen

Subs: Brown (GK), Akinola

Referee: Richard Hulme

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No red cards? Paul the other one!
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd November 2015
By: Staff Writer

This weekend's home meeting with Everton will be refereed by a relative
newcomer to the Premier League.

Paul Tierney has overseen just two top flight matches so far this season but
has been given the role of officiating this coming Saturday, when Roberto
Martinez's side provide the next opposition at the Boleyn Ground.

Tierney, who at just 35 is one of the league's youngest officials is one of
only four referees NOT to have issued a red card in the Premier League this
season - and his average of 2.5 yellow cards per match is well below the
mean number dished out by card happy officials so far this season.

Meanwhile Martin Atkinson, who has issues the most yellow cards in the
Premier League this term - no less than 46 in his first ten matches - is
scheduled to be fourth official, alongside linesmen D Bryan and A Nunn.

So far this season, only four of West Ham United's 11 Premier League
fixtures have ended with 22 players on the field.

Four Hammers - Adrian (vs Leicester), Carl Jenkinson (vs Bournemouth), Mark
Noble (vs Liverpool) and James Collins (vs Watford) have seen red whilst
three opponents - Jeremain Lens (Sunderland), Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace)
and Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) - have also enjoyed an early bath.

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Monday musings: A Hammers horror show
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd November 2015
By: Graeme Howlett

West Ham marked Halloween with a horror show of their own at Vicarage Road
on Saturday afternoon, going down 2-0 to newly-promoted Watford. And it was
a defeat that raised further questions regarding United's ability to raise
their game against the so-called weaker teams in the Premier League. During
his pre-match press conference last Thursday, Slaven Bilic denied that his
squad had an issue with motivation when it came to facing teams such as the
Hornets. However the evidence tends to suggest otherwise, with the Hammers
having collected just one point this season against the teams promoted from
the Championship last season - that's Bournemouth, 4-3 winners at the Boleyn
Ground back in August, Norwich with whom West Ham drew 2-2 and now Watford.
That of course is in stark contrast to West Ham's unparalleled form against
the league's more successful sides with Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool
and current leaders Arsenal having already been put to the sword this term.

Particularly disappointing from a claret and blue perspective on Saturday
was that Quique Sánchez Flores' side, who went into the game having managed
just one win at home this season didn't even have to work exceptionally hard
to take all three points. Both of Watford's goals were handed to them on a
plate thanks to a schoolboy error in the first half from Andy Carroll and an
uncharacteristic mistake shortly after the interval by the
previously-reliable James Tomkins. My Under Nines players know better than
to try and pull off a Cruyff turn in their own penalty box, yet that's
exactly what West Ham's number nine attempted to do in the first half - thus
gifting Watford the opening goal. And just three minutes after the restart,
Tomkins inexplicably allowed a low cross to slip between his legs from where
Odion Ighalo found the net - with some aplomb, to his credit.
Even though Enner Valencia hit the woodwork having intercepted Craig
Cathcart's poor back pass after Watford had doubled their advantage, West
Ham rarely looked like getting back into the game. And their misery was
compounded when James Collins was issued with a straight red card six
minutes from time for a late - yet not particularly dangerous - challenge on
Watford's match winner Ighalo. It was the fourth successive West Ham match
in which the game had ended with less than the full quota of 22 players on
the field - with Collins becoming the fourth Hammer to see red already this
season. That's quite ironic given that the Hammers qualified for this
season's Europa League having topped the Premier League's 'Fair Play table'
in 2014/15!

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Slav wants Sakho back for Everton
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic has again acknowledged the difference Diafra Sakho makes to his
West Ham side and wants him back for the match against Everton. However, he
has refused to blame Andy Carroll's mistake which led to the first goal as
the reason why we lost the game declaring: "It cost us big time but we
didn't lose because of that." Sakho's energy and relentless running has been
regularly mentioned as a key factor in the teams successes this season and
even Palace defender Damien Delaney paid special attention to his
contribution following the in at Selhurst Park.
Bilic said: "We missed Sakho up front. He is one of those players who has
that kind of energy and he is the man who is pressing up front, although
Andy was very brave. So he (Sakho) was missed and I hope he is going to be
back for Everton. In the unlikely event of Sakho missing the game it could
well be that Enner Valencia may get the shout as his game appears 'closer'
to that of the the main man. Although the team lacked it's normal urgency
and creative flair against Watford it has to be remembered that we were
missing our best defender and striker. With the two of them back at the
Bolyen at the weekend I am convinced we can get a result against our bogey
team.

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Irons set for Everton double boost
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham are hoping that Winston Reid will be back for the game against
Everton with Alex Song set to take his place on the bench for the time this
season. Reid's absence was seriously noticeable on Saturday as the Hammers
were caught flailing at times against a twin strike force which caused them
constant problems. James Tomkins commented that it was unusual to face a
double threat up front as not many clubs play that way these days. It could
have been a whole lot different had we had number one defender Reid at the
back – preferably with the gifted Song in front of him! A club source
revealed this morning that the Kiwi is on the mend and likely to make it for
the match against Everton although Song is an unlikely starter. He said:
"Winston looks as though he will probably make it and with Alex on the bench
possibly coming on as sub we could send out a very strong team."

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Bilic's 'dirty work' call
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in News
C and H

Slaven Bilic is still reflecting on the Watford experiene but has sent an
upbeat message to the fans. With Everton at the weekend he declared: "We
have learnt that lesson now and I see no reason why we should not come back
the way we played before. " And he explained to www.whufc.com: "Manchester
City will beat you with class but someone like Watford are better at the
'dirty work' than them so you need to match them and that is something we
did not do on Saturday. We were nowhere what is required to win those kind
of games. "You are going to lose game as it is the Premier League. Apart
from the first ten minutes, when Watford approached us with a lot of
respect, and we had a lot of the ball. "But when they smelt that we were not
penetrating them enough and a lot of our movement and passing was backwards
then they smelt the opportunity to come up and go with us. "But Number one
thing we have to do is run together as a team, do the dirty work and win
second balls. If we are like that then we have a chance against any team."

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No "hidden agendas" at West Ham anymore
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has admitted that Slaven Bilic is binding everything together at
West Ham declaring: "That's his job and despite the weekend result he's
doing it brilliantly." Gold has spoken at length to this site about the new
spirit across the Irons squad and says: "I have run a lot of businesses and
the atmosphere in the work place is created by the top managers. "At a
football club the coach is the pivotal figure, everything hangs around him
and Slaven is sorting out West Ham in his own image. "The first thing we
looked for when he was interviewed was passion and he has it in spades but
he's a down to earth guy who brings real dignity to the club in his general
attitude. It's a totally different situation to ones I have known
previously. There's are no hidden agendas with the manager – he is ready to
share his thoughts with myself and David Sullivan. There have been times
when managers have acted as though they are part of the secret service and
kept stuff to themselves but that's all gone. "West Ham is a great club to
be a part of these days."

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Leroy;s verdict: Here's why it all went wrong
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in Leroy's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

I'm afraid whichever way I look at it Andy Carroll has to go back to the
bench for the game against Everton even should Diafra Sakho remain
unavailable. It's been said very often already this weekend but it was shown
very clearly that there needs to be a major overhaul in the system for AC to
become No 1 again and I don't see it happening. We have been incredibly
successful before Saturday because Sakho's running pushes the opposition
further and further back and there's no need to pump balls forward . That's
because he creates the space for Payet and Lanzini to run at defenders and
create the sort of chances that have brought so many goals this season. Andy
plays with his back to defenders and they know he won't get in behind them
and thus they can – as Watford did – get hold of midfield and stifle our
creative players.
It was all shown so clearly at Vicarage Road – neither Payet or Lanzini were
at the races and that is the reason why. People have been saying it's
worrying if we have to rely on one player such as Sakho but every team has
one that's essential to the system – Sanchez at Arsenal, Aguero at
Manchester City and so on. It's nothing to worry about – it's just the way
it is. We need him back quickly.
However, should he still be out at the weekend then Slav mus surely go with
Valencia ho has the pace to worry defenders. OK he's not as good technically
as Diafra but he would do more of a job than Andy managed I reckon. Where
all this leaves AC I don't really know and I'm not particularly worried
about that because all that matters to me is the team and the way it
performs.
Slaven has to manage that situation and if using AC as an impact sub is what
he decides then that's that. If it doesn't suit the player and he starts
getting agitated well there we are. Andy will have decisions to make.
There's another possibility and it concerns Antonio. Can he do the type of
job needed when Sak's not around. This weekend isn't the time to find out
but it's a possibility. Slav will have thought of that one before me I'm
sure and it's going to be interesting finding out t some stage

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Jekyll and Hyde …or Victor Moses
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

I was watching the new serialisation of Jekyll and Hyde last night (Sun)
when Victor Moses came into my mind. He got off lightly this weekend only
because poor old Andy Carroll and to a lesser extent James Tomkins was
taking all the stick but so far he has done a pretty good impersonation of
Robert Louis Stevenson's fictional character in a West Ham shirt.
jekyllMoses never got a mention in all the criticism following the game yet
that first 45 minutes was a thoroughly awful outing. To be honest I'd been
warned when he signed on loan that the Chelsea midfielder comes with a
health warning having been told he's either brilliant and doing remarkable
things with a football or playing in a manner which has you wondering
whether he'd be better off in another occupation. His control, touch and
shooting abilities had completely deserted him against Watford. How on earth
that appearance could justify the £185k he apparently picking up as part of
the loan deal beggars belief. Rumours inside football for several years have
been that the player is actually five years old than his quoted age and a
look at his photo certainly gives the impression that he is a very mature 24
year old!
Be that as it may, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt along with the
others that Saturday was a bad day at the office for him and everybody else.
But there's one player in the squad who will be watching his form very
closely – a certain Michail Antonio who may just be wondering whether his
chance is just around the corner.

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Collins "indiscipline" dubbed a disgrace
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

James Collins' foul which led to his sending off has been dubbed a
disgrace. And ClaretandHugh's Leroy Rosenior – making it clear the lack of
discipline shown by the defender was extremely worrying – added: "West Ham
must never lose their discipline like that – I found it the most worrying
aspect of the afternoon." "Collins has to be annoyed and disappointed with
himself. He has been around a long time and the lunge which saw him sent off
was truly shameful. It was almost a case of assault. Terrible indiscipline
"Some people were saying he was showing passion but I'd say he was showing
his stupidity. You can't behave like that because you are getting a beating
and that is all it was about. "There had been no provocation. He just didn't
seem to be able to handle the fact that we were out of the game. Now he's
unavailable for the next one and if Winston Reid isn't available that could
create a big problem." Leroy added: "I hope it is made very clear to him
that'e let everybody down but chiefly himself. We want none of that at West
Ham. "I was all the more shocked because he has been waiting patiently for a
chance, played well when he got it and then acted like that. Really not
good."

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Jose Mourinho given one-match stadium ban and £40,000 fine for behaviour
during West Ham defeat
18:12, 2 NOV 2015 UPDATED 19:32, 2 NOV 2015
BY JOHN CROSS , LIAM PRENDERVILLE
The Portuguese was sent to the stands during the match last month — and is
now barred from Britannia trip that could be his final game in charge
The Mirror

Jose Mourinho has been hit with a stadium ban as the Football Association
declared war on the Chelsea boss. Boss Mourinho was also fined £40,000 and
will not be allowed to attend the struggling champions' game at Stoke on
Saturday, even though it could decide his fate as manager. It is not the
first time the Portuguese has been given a stadium ban and it was claimed he
sneaked in hidden in a laundry basket after UEFA banned him following a
bust-up during a Champions League game with Barcelona. The punishment this
time was handed out after Mourinho swore at referee Jon Moss during half
time of Chelsea's defeat to West Ham last month. He was then sent to the
stands. Mourinho will be able to give a team talk at the hotel, but won't be
allowed near the stadium or to make contact with his coaching staff during
the game. Chelsea can appeal the ban but said on Monday evening that they
would await the FA's written reasons, which are likely to be given before
the weekend. This punishment is in addition to the suspended stadium ban and
£50,000 fine, which he is currently appealing following his post-match
verbal onslaught on referee Bobby Madley following the defeat by
Southampton. The verdict of that appeal is due on Tuesday.

It is clear the FA, fed up with his string of misdemeanors, are determined
to send a strong message to Mourinho and it will not help his position at
Chelsea with his job hanging by a thread following the club's awful start to
the season. An FA statement read: "Following an Independent Regulatory
Commission hearing today, Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium
suspension with immediate effect and fined £40,000. "The Chelsea manager
admitted an FA charge of misconduct regarding his language and/or behaviour
towards the match officials in or around the dressing room area during
half-time of the game against West Ham United on 24 October 2015. "With
regard to Chelsea coach Silvino Louro, who denied an FA misconduct charge in
relation to the same game, The FA, having considered further representation,
withdrew the formal charge of improper conduct but reminded him of his
responsibilities."

Alan Pardew, Billy Davies and long-time Mourinho lieutenant Rui Faria have
served stadium bans in the past. It was Faria who famously wore a hat that
appeared to be concealing an ear-piece during the Champions League game when
Mourinho was not meant to be in the stadium or in touch with any of his
staff. The news is the latest blow to the Portuguese, who is under-pressure
after Chelsea's nightmare start to the season. The Blues have lost six times
already in the Premier League this season and find themselves languishing in
15th in the table. Saturday's home defeat to Liverpool left Mourinho
fighting for his job, with the Portuguese thought to have two games to save
his future. He will be on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League clash
with Dynamo Kiev but a loss at the Britannia stadium, where he now won't
even be present, could be decisive. Off the pitch, Mourinho is set to be
the subject of an individual legal claim from former club doctor Eva
Carneiro. The claim against him will be on the basis that he was
instrumental in the actions against Carneiro in having her dropped from
first-team duties and effectively demoted. Mourinho was cleared of using
discriminatory language towards her following an investigation by the
Football Association, which caused further controversy after Carneiro
revealed she had not been spoken to personally during the investigation, nor
asked to provide any statement.

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Eight league titles in four different countries – Carlos Tevez is a born
winner
Date: 2nd November 2015 at 1:25 pm
Written by: David Smith | Comments (0)
By Harry Harris

CARLOS Tevez left his mark on English football with Manchester United, City
and West Ham and has now become a winner again back in his home land. The
little non-stop striker has inspired Boca Juniors to the Argentine Primera
Division championship, his eighth league title in four countries, which is
some feat. Tevez re-signed for Boca in June after winning titles in Brazil,
England and Italy with Corinthians, Manchester United, Manchester City and
Juventus, and his never-give-up style has proven to be infectious wherever
he has gone. With United he won two Premier League titles and the Champions
League, there was a third league crown with City, before he helped Juve lift
the 2013 and 2014 Scudetto in Italy. Tevez and Javier Macherano also left
their mark on English football for the wrong reason having been caught up in
the infamous third party ownership fiasco at West Ham. Tevez also helped
Juve to the Champions League final last season and since he returned to his
'home' Boca won 11 of 14 matches after the 31-year-old returned to his
boyhood club. "I've won championships in many places but nothing compares
with this," said Tevez, with his comments on the BBC sports web site this
morning Boca were crowned champions with a match to spare as they beat Tigre
1-0 on Sunday. After Tevez, who has 74 caps for his country, helped Boca
claim the 2003 title, he had a league-winning spell with Corinthians. A
high-profile transfer to England with West Ham followed in the summer of
2006, with all the headlines that followed him with the third party
ownership issue, before he moved on to Manchester United, Manchester City,
and then Serie A side Juventus.

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Heurelho Gomes outlines a Slaven Bilic tactic which helped Watford
HITC
Subhankar Mondal

Watford won 2-0 against West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.
Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes explained on the Goals on Sunday show on
Sky Sports 1 on Sunday morning how a certain tactic from West Ham United
manager Slaven Bilic helped them win this weekend. The Hornets got the
better of West Ham 2-0 at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday.
Odion Ighalo's goals in the 39th and the 48th minutes proved to be enough
for Watford to pick up all three points. Gomes, who played for the entire 90
minutes, explained on the Goals on Sunday show on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday
morning how the Hammers playing striker Andy Carroll up front helped
Watford. "We spoke before the game that if Andy Carroll plays, then we need
to set a bit more high because they can play long ball," said the
34-year-old. "I think that helped us as well… I believe that it helped us
when Carroll came to play."

Carroll was at fault for Watford's opening goal of the match. The former
Newcastle United and Liverpool striker sliced a clearance under no pressure
at all, and despite having time to clear with Nathan Ake bearing down, he
tried to turn the Watford man, who stole the ball and crossed to Igahlo.
Over the course of the 90 minutes at Vicarage Road, the England
international took one shot, had a pass accuracy of 58%, created one chance,
and made four clearances and two blocks.

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