Daily WHUFC News - 18th January 2016

Adrian - We need to forget this result
WHUFC.com

Adrian was disappointed to see the Hammers impressive unbeaten run finally come to an end, but hopes they can put things right against Manchester City next weekend. West Ham suffered their first Premier League defeat in nine games as Newcastle's impressive first half display helped them come away with a 2-1 victory. The Hammers were a different force in the second half and after Nikica Jelavic helped them back into the game, they had several opportunities to come away with a draw. But Adrian says they were made to pay for such a poor start and were always facing an uphill struggle to take anything from the game. Adrian said: "It is disappointing that our unbeaten run has come to an end. We were disappointed with our performance in the first half and they started the game very strong as they are fighting for their lives. "We woke up when it was 2-0 and in the second half we started to play much better and had chances to make it 2-2. But it was too much in the end. "We knew they would start strong as they are fighting for their position and they needed the three points. "But we are in a good position in the table and need to keep going and maintain the form we have shown in recent weeks and show our best performances."

Adrian could do nothing to stop Ayoze Perez and Georginio Wijnaldum firing the north east club into a two-goal lead, but showed once again why he is rated so highly with a number of outstanding saves in the second half. But he could not enjoy the journey back to London as the Hammers suffered their first loss in the league since the defeat against Tottenham at the end of November. He added: "It is normal when we are trying to attack and score the equaliser that they will have chances as well and we gave them space, but it was lucky for me to keep the score at 2-1. "However it counts for nothing as we could not take any points from the game."

Adrian is already looking ahead to the showdown clash against Manchester City at the Boleyn Ground next Saturday and hopes they can record another memorable double following the 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium back in September. "We need to forget this result and concentrate on the next game against Manchester City at home. "We are playing well and have showed great performances from the start. I think it will be a great game. "The Premier League is very tight at the moment and anything is possible. We just need to show 100 per cent from the start and not just the second half, like we did against Newcastle."

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Ford drives U18s to victory
WHUFC.com

Maiden West Ham United goals from new boy Danny Kemp and trialist Sam Ford helped the Hammers to a dramatic Barclays U18 Premier League win over Aston Villa. Former Chelsea midfielder Kemp, who moved across London in November last year, opened the scoring with just 19 minutes remaining at Little Heath, only for Villa's Harvey Knibbs to equalise. However, West Ham would not be denied and trialist Sam Ford smashed a low shot into the corner in the final minute to snatch a 2-1 victory and all three points. After last weekend's disappointing thrashing by Reading, the Hammers made three changes to their starting eleven for the visit of Villa to Little Heath.
Sam Howes returned between the sticks in place of Rihards Matrevics, while Idris Kanu impressed on his return from injury during the second half in Berkshire last week and earned a spot in the team to replace Josh Pask. Full-back Jake Eggleton suffered an injury last week, which opened up an opportunity for Ford to start during his trial period from Ipswich Town. In the opening 15 minutes of the game, the Hammers were dominant as they looked to redeem themselves for the Reading defeat. Kemp's volley was turned over the bar by Villa goalkeeper Emmanual Idem, while Declan Rice and Jahmal Hector-Ingram also went close. It was Villa who went closest to scoring the first goal of the game, however, as Moustafa Zeidan crashed a 20-yard free-kick against the post. Just before half-time, the visitors had another chance, but Jack Coates headed wide from Zeidan's whipped cross.

After the break, West Ham regained the ascendancy with Kanu and Hector-Ingram missing chances, with the former dragging his shot wide before seeing a shot saved and the latter being denied by Idem in two similar one-on-one situations. West Ham's pressure finally told on 71 minutes when, from a corner, Kemp took up a position just outside the box and buried a shot into the corner of the net after the visitors failed to clear their lines properly. With West Ham sitting on their lead, Villa's Alex Prosser had a goal disallowed for offside, but that let-off only lasted a few moments before Knibbs levelled from close range after the ball had bounced around in the home penalty area. The equaliser appeared to wake the Hammers up and they went back on the front foot as the game went into added-time. Left-back Vashon Neufville went on an attacking run into the penalty box before pulling the ball back to Ford, who fired home on his first appearance to give the Hammers the win. The West Ham Academy now have just three Barclays U18 Premier League South fixtures remaining before the North and South leagues split into three four-team groups. There, the Northern and Southern teams will compete in mini leagues against each other to determine their final end-of-season ranking.

West Ham will host Southampton at Little Heath on Saturday 23 January (11am), before Swansea City visit the following weekend. A trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on 6 February brings the regular season to an end.

U18s: Howes, Borg, Neufville, Akinola, Rice, Carter, Scully, Kemp, Kanu (Longelo), Hector-Ingram, Ford
Subs not used: Matrevics (GK), Henry, Johnson, Coventry

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Burke extends Bantams loan
WHUFC.com

Highly rated defender Reece Burke has extended his loan spell at League One side Bradford City until the end of the season. The 19-year-old U20 England international has excelled since joining the West Yorkshire side, making a total of 18 appearances so far, scoring once.
His impressive displays culminated in his nomination for the Sky Bet League One player of the month award for October 2015. After 23 games, the Bantams are 13th with 34 points, just six points off the Play Off places. Burke is one of the most promising players to come through the Hammers' Academy of Football in recent years. So far, the 2014/15 Young Hammer of the Year has made ten first team appearances in all competitions.

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Leroy joins Hammers in fight against racism
WHUFC.com

Former Hammers forward Leroy Rosenior hailed the Club's unique approach to tackling discrimination, after he paid a special visit to Barking-based Northbury Primary School in conjunction with the West Ham United Foundation. The Foundation has long been committed to supporting Show Racism the Red Card's anti-discrimination campaign and has now teamed up with ex-pro Rosenior, alongside Barking and Dagenham Council to launch the new Stop the Hate campaign. The initiative focuses on delivering engaging anti-racism education workshops in schools throughout Barking and Dagenham and using the gravitas of former professional footballers as role models in order to really drive home key messages. Rosenior, who scored some 23 goals for the Hammers in his three-year stint at the Boleyn Ground, was quick to praise West Ham's forward-thinking approach where combatting prejudice is concerned. "There has always been a strong link with communities and football clubs, but what West Ham is doing in this area is unique," he confirmed."It's about embracing cultures and West Ham has always done that. The Club has always been positive with supporting black players and on the coaching staff. I think clubs are realising that they have a big responsibility. "West Ham know they have a duty [to the community] and that's why I'm so delighted they have such a forward-thinking Board of Directors and a forward thinking organisation. It's not just to tick boxes. "I find that really inspiring and I think our job as a football club isn't just to get fans through the door and buy players, it's to inspire people to do great things in the local community and that's what this project is all about."

Steve Goodsell, Show Racism the Red Card Campaign Manager, was delighted to see the programme launched to new heights. "Show Racism the Red Card has always enjoyed fantastic support from West Ham United, but this new joint project takes us to another level. "We're combining the knowledge and expertise of our Educators, the Foundation coaches and of course ex-West Ham Legend, Leroy Rosenior, to help children in the area stay safe and lead healthy lifestyles. "We are grateful to Barking and Dagenham Council for lending their support to this much needed initiative."

Barking and Dagenham Councillor Darren Rodwell applauded the Hammers' contribution, insisting that they are setting the example for other football clubs. "I think it's massively important for football clubs to tackle racism and West Ham has led the way for many years," he confirmed. "It's always been a family club and what's great about families is they're always expanding. That's what you've seen in the borough today, with over 130 different cultures now living in Barking and Dagenham and it's great to have West Ham as a family member and ally and saying to our young people, 'We may be different, but actually we're all the same, we're one big family.'" "With West Ham being such a multi-cultural club, the players, the fans, it absolutely makes sense that we all link up and carry on the great success we've had over the years"

The launch event came as part of a wider string of programmes with SRtRC and Barking and Dagenham Council, which will see the Foundation engaging with a number of schools across the borough.

Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) works tirelessly to deliver anti-racism education in schools through creative and engaging exploration of the subject. Schools report that following SRtRC led workshops pupils show a much greater understanding of the issues around racism and discrimination. SRtRC have been a charity since 1996 working with 50,000 young people each year.

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Hammer vs. Hammer
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 17th January 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's on-loan full back Stephen Hendrie marked his debut for League One Southend United with a creditable draw. The Scottish full back played his first competitive 90 minutes of the season at London Road as the Shrimpers hung on to record a goalless draw against one of the division's form teams. And that was to the considerable detriment of fellow Hammer Martin Samuelsen, who is on a season-long loan at the Posh and also played the full 90 minutes.

Hendrie's new side went into the game having conceded 11 goals in their last three League One outings, so keeping a clean sheet was considered a success - even though it wasn't enough to take all three points. And it was also the first time that Samuelsen and his team mates have failed to score at home this season - although they had a golden opportunity to grab a win from the spot only to see Chris Forrester's last-gasp penalty saved by former West Ham target Daniel Bentley. Samuelsen has been in a rich vein of form for his current club in recent weeks, having scored two worldys in successive games against Sheffield United and Preston North End. Hendrie is on loan at Roots Hall for a month, although that may be extended should Southend wish to retain the 21-year-old's services beyond that.

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Actions speak louder than words
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 17th January 2016
By: Paul Turner

The beginning of this piece was written before my scheduled appointment at the Stratford reservation centre this past Thursday (14th).

To begin with I looked over an opinion piece I produced for KUMB a little over a year ago. Apart from the fact I am still waiting to be contacted by YouGov (if ever...); the process of season ticket holders taking up the option of season tickets or not at the new stadium is drawing to a close.

In the January 2015 piece I question if I will renew my season ticket for the 2016/17 season and take a seat at the Olympic Stadium. Having attended the France vs. Romania rugby World Cup match and before then buying tickets for the Sainsbury Anniversary games and the Barbarians vs. Samoa rugby game, I along with several other Hammers have had the opportunity to take a look at the stadium on the inside.

The club has always stated that the lower tier seating for these and other events were not the permanent lower tier retractable seating, but the sight-lines and general stadium facilities on offer - as well as movement of crowds outside the stadium - were all great indicators of what to expect when it becomes the home of West Ham United.

I sat in both the upper and lower sections of the stadium on both sides and moved about to the lower tier behind the goal at half times in different seats and locations so I could gain an idea of what I wanted in terms of view, if I am to take up the option of renewing my season ticket.

After those visits I told myself "lower tier or bust". It is my personal choice to stay in the lower tier and I am not planning on bringing any 'plus twos' with me, so there would not be any barriers preventing me making a choice on a lower tier seat I thought. The club have advertised at length that all season ticket holders would be offered a comparable seat to their current position at the Boleyn Ground and this has proven to be the case in some circumstances, whilst in others it has not proven to be the case.

Sir Trevor Brooking Lower season ticket holders have not been offered behind the goal season tickets, but instead band three seats on the corner next to the away support or the de-facto neutral section containing the free Newham Council tickets the club are obligated to provide per match. Earlier rounds of 'plus twos' being allowed in the band one and two seat selection process led to diminished options for those who awaited their chance to renew. The lower tier west side blocks either side of the tunnel are the preserve of hospitality members, rather than those band ones who currently occupy comparable seats at the Boleyn Ground.

Up to the point before my reservation centre appointment, I have only been able to ascertain the possibility of getting my required seat through the accounts of those who have already attended their appointments, rather than the club communicating this information. The only information forthcoming from the club at the moment has been press releases about band five sales or another opportunity for season ticket holders to bring up to two other people before the priority list members get a chance to pick a seat. This has fed into natural trepidation about what would still be available, come the scheduled appointment.

I attended my reservation centre meeting and the overall group of people were told as part of the introduction presentation that the club are aiming for finishing top six every season and that the number of people who buy season tickets determines how much money Slaven has to spend. At this point I was biting my tongue to stop myself from interrupting the presentation, especially when financial fair play was referenced as a reason as to why the club needs more season ticket holders to increase the FFP cap.

Questions were asked by my group; some could be answered by the sales representative while others could not. Overall the experience itself was not the teeth-pulling exercise I feared. The view offered was roughly comparable to the seat I currently have in the Bobby Moore Lower and our group was accommodated in terms of our seating arrangement. For those who have yet to go, around row 12 of the lower tier is looking full and anything above row 12 has nearly sold out. Those seats row 11 and lower are practically uninhabited.

Towards the end of my January 2015 opinion piece, I wondered if the owners would invest accordingly in the first team squad to justify asking for season ticket money upfront whilst the 2014/15 season was still going. We as fans would one day like for WHUFC to actually do well and possibly win something, rather than be the butt of our own cynical jokes.

With player investments like Payet,Lanzini and Ogbonna for example, the club are moving in the right direction. Obtaining quality players might not mean spending millions upon millions as diamonds in the rough can be found and a hefty price tag is no precursor for success but it cannot be denied that after the summer transfer window, the owners did invest significantly in the first team squad.

With the club currently fifth in the league and one point behind a side who people tip as an outside bet for a title tilt in Tottenham, things are looking a little bit rosy. The hope is that the rest of this season does not fizzle out into a whimper like last season did and the start of life in the Olympic Stadium results in buoyancy among the fans, rather than "what ifs" over a great opportunity spurned.

The introduction speech at the reservation centre is not something I will pay any attention to. It's the actions of David Sullivan and the decision he makes now in this transfer window that will speak volumes about our ambition going forwards.

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Arsenal fans nick Payet song
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 17th January 2016
By: Staff Writer

Arsenal fans have been pilloried on social media this afernoon after they were accused of plagiarising West Ham's 'Dimitri Payet' song.

The song, which is based upon Billy Ray Cyrus' worldwide 1992 hit 'Achy Breaky Heart' was created by imaginitive West Ham supporters earlier in the season in honour of their magical French international.

And many of those same Hammers fans did a double take this afternoon when the song was heard during the Stoke v Arsenal clash, which was broadcast live on TV - but with the lyrics changed to honour Arsenal midfielder Mesuit Ozil instead.

However it's not the first time that a Hammers terrace classic has been plagiarised by fellow football fans. Back in 1997, ingenious West Ham fans began celebrating former striker Samassi Abou's goals by booing him - a tradition that continues at many clubs to this day.

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Slaven slates 'sloppy' Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 16th January 2016
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic has admitted that his side were 'sloppy' against Newcastle in this afternoon's Premier League clash at St James' Park.
The Hammers fell to a first defeat in the league since November after a dreadful start saw the hosts take an early two-goal advantage.
And whilst Bilic admitted that Newcastle deserved the win, he felt that his side were the better team after the break and could even have snatched an equaliser at the death.

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Hammers 'no get-outs' Payet deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 17, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have been quick in reacting to Paul Merson's knee jerk 'Payet will be at another club next season" outburst. The former Arsenal player, in congratulating whoever was responsible for snapping up the Frenchman, told the Daily Star he couldn't believe Payet would still be at West Ham next season. However, this afternoon a top Hammers source told ClaretandHugh: "It's very nice to hear all these compliments and Merson even likened him to Mezut Ozil but it's a cast iron fact that Dimi is going absolutely nowhere. "We always knew when we were negotiating that this is a top top player and we made sure that we met his demands but insisted on a watertight contract "There are no clauses which can be triggered if a certain figure is offered. It's a no get outs contract." The player is also – at 29 – at a stage of his life where there would be little sell-on value to be had by any buying club and even were a £20 million offer to emerge it wouldn't be enough. Our source declared: "David Sullivan explained when he was signed that were he sic years younger he'd be a £40-£50 million player but not at this age and he's worth a lot more to this club than £20 million.

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West Ham sent scouts to Belgium
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 17, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham sent scouts to a Belgium league game between Gent v Anderlecht which ended in a 2-0 win for the home side this afternoon

The Hammers were not alone as scouts from fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton and Leicester City watched the same game. German clubs Borussia Mönchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Bayer 04 Leverkusen were also present as were Spanish club representatives from Athletico Madrid and Celta de Vigo.

West Ham completed the signing of Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate on a four-year deal from Anderlecht back in June 2014 for a fee believed to be £7 million. West Ham also reportedly abandoned plans to sign convicted rapist Ilombe Mboyo from Belgium side Gent in 2013. The striker spent three years in prison for the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl when he was 16, and hammers fans backlash prompted the club to end their interest in Mboyo.

The Belgian league is becoming a hotbed for talent spotting with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku marking their mark on the Premier League.

The scouts are thought to be watching players Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet.

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Slaven deal in pipeline
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 17, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic looks set to land a big new deal at the the end of the season. The Croatian's fine season has not been lost on other Premier League outfits and although the Hammers is Slav's dream job, the board will want to offer him an improved deal.

ClaretandHugh understands that the manager could be earning up to £600,000 less than Sam Allardyce and that his positional bonuses are not as advantageous. And it has been reported that the club even wrote a clause into the deal that the contract could be torn up if the club was relegated!

And although money has never been the manager's motivation the board are believers in reward for excellence and despite yesterday's defeat, this campaign has surpassed all expectations so far.

Sources close to the boss have told ClaretandHugh: "This was the only job in the Premier League that he wanted – this is his club and he accepted the deal believing totally that he would succeed."

It had been thought that new terms may be on offer around the Christmas period if the team continue on their present course.

But we were told by a top insider: "The club looks at the manager's contractual position at the end of every season. That's the way it works and Slaven can expect to be offered a new deal which reflects the progress made as we head into the Olympic Stadium era."

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Gold hits out at AC critic
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 17, 2016 in News, Whispers
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David Gold has slapped down an Andy Carroll critic as criticism of the club's record signing starts again. Southampton's move for Charlie Austin has upset one or two who believed he should have moved to Upton Park in the summer. That David Sullivan claimed not to be interested in a player who was generally valued at around £15 million but moved to the south coast for a reported £4 million may tell a tale to some. And Gold was quick to defend the Irons striker when a follower declared: " I know 😂😂 Andy Carroll or Charlie Austin I know who I'd rather have & he's 13 million-ish cheaper."

Gold, however, was unmoved and again stuck by Carroll as he has done consistently since his injury worries started way back.

He said: "Andy Carroll will be back in 3 or 4 weeks to prove many people wrong. dg"

DG though was disappointed with the defeat at Newcastle although paid fulsome tribute to the travelling Hammers fans saying: "We lost today and it's not easy to take but our 3k+fans who were in the worst seats in the stadium were magnificent.

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