Daily WHUFC News - 7th January 2016

Moose's Memories - Scott Parker Part 1
WHUFC.com

Ian 'Moose' Abrahams starts the final calendar year at the Boleyn Ground by chatting to three-time Hammer of the Year Scott Parker...

Can you believe it is 2016? This will be one of the most momentous years in West Ham United's history. The farewell from Upton Park seemed a long way off last July when we began in the Europa League, but now 2016 is here and I don't know about you, but it seems more real. For my first Moose's Memories of the New Year I'm delighted to say I caught up with a player who will fit nicely into those who can be considered West Ham greats; a player who every single time he pulled on a West Ham shirt gave everything; a player who, when you read this, has as much appreciation for you, the West Ham fans, as you have for him; a player you voted three years in a row as Hammer of the Year.

Scott Parker.

Scott joined West Ham in 2007 from Newcastle and he revealed that moving to Upton Park wasn't a difficult decision.

"I had a relationship with Alan Curbishley from Charlton and so he knew what I was all about," Scott began. "Coming back to London was an obvious move for me and, at the time, West Ham had just been taken over by some wealthy owners, who made some good signings on papers and I was buzzing to be a part of it. "Having been at Charlton I had always known about the history of West Ham and fan-wise all about the club, so joining was a no-brainer. I had four amazing years of my career at West Ham and on a personal level it's the one club I feel I really had a bond with the fans. "So, looking back as I come towards the back-end of my career, they were four amazing years."

During his time at West Ham, Scott became regarded (not just by me) as one of the most consistent English midfielders in the country. As you'll no doubt remember, his performances brought a recall to the England team and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award, but more on that to come. The drive Scott had came from the belief he took onto the pitch.

"In my head I always wanted to contribute as much as I could and be valuable to the team," he told me. "If you'd have told me at the start of my West Ham career I would have been as an integral a part of the team and that the fans would take to me as they did, I would have said I could only have dreamt that. "I never foresaw it, but reflecting on it and the relationship I had with the fans, they brought out the best in me. Yes, we had some hard times, but early on it was fine on the pitch, although at the back end it got a bit messy, (the relegation under Avram Grant) but the one constant was the rapport not only me but all the players had with the fans."

I asked whether being the first player since Julian Dicks to win Hammer of the Year three times demonstrated that bond he felt with the fans?

"Yes, that rapport was the biggest thing. When I look back at my West Ham career, the highlight, no matter what the results, the rapport was superb, not just with me but my family. "Even the way I left the club, going to play for a rival, some were not happy, but most appreciated my efforts and without their support I couldn't have played the way I did."

Scott left after the Hammers relegation under Avram Grant, having amazingly never been named as the Club's official captain. Despite that, his half-time team talk when 3-0 down at West Brom that 2010/11 season was described by Carlton Cole when I spoke to him a couple of years ago as 'inspirational'. Of course I spoke to Scott about that and his move to Spurs, and for those who were unhappy about his departure, read what the man himself told me, he didn't want to leave.

"That last year was nothing but disappointment for the team, to be relegated, no-one wanted to get relegated," he recalled. "We had many problems, one after another, but after we were relegated, there came a point in my career, where with Euro 2012 around the corner, I had to move on."

I asked Scott, if West Ham had stayed up would he have left? Scott, who as long as I have known him has never dodged a question, answered.

"If we hadn't have gone down I would've stayed on, there would have been no reason for me to go, especially with the special bond me and my family enjoyed with the fans."

To back up Scott's sentiments when I asked him about winning a recall to the England team and his Football Writers' Player of the Year award.

"They were great on an individual level, but I'd have given all that back for West Ham to stay up and us be successful on the pitch – that's how comfortable I felt playing for West Ham."

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Hendrie - The boys were brilliant
WHUFC.com

Scottish left-back Stephen Hendrie praised his teammates' work ethic in their 2-0 victory over Brighton & HA. The visiting Seagulls started brightly however the Hammers possession based football saw them take the initiative and they were worthy 2-0 winner by the end. Reflecting on a job well done, Hendrie said: "Our performance couldn't really get much better, a clean sheet to boot, I thought the boys were brilliant. The game plan worked really well and we executed it like we usually do. "We got the ball down and played it around really well, I think we scored some good goals so overall, really happy. "Credit to the boys for the way we passed it because they couldn't get near us when we pass it like that, that's the standard we have to reach every game."

Headed goals from Djair Pariftt-Williams and Reece Oxford secured the comfortable victory which sees the Dev Squad maintain their superb run of form toward the end of 2015 into the New Year. Now seven games unbeaten, the Hammers have climbed to fourth in the Barclays U21 Premier League Division Two table: "That's seven games unbeaten now; it's all going well, we just need to keep on going and getting the victories. If we keep unbeaten we'll just have to see where that takes us in the league. "Fulham next week is a big game for us, we all really want to get the win and the boys deserve it so they do, fingers crossed we'll get the win and progress to the quarter finals."

Having joined the Hammers in the summer, Hendrie has established himself as a mainstay in the Dev Squad, not just at his familiar left-back position but also in central defence and further forward on the left-wing. More recently, Hendrie has been on the first team bench on three occasions across the festive period. While fellow left-back Aaron Cresswell is in superb form, Hendrie said he would keep on working hard to put pressure on his English counterpart: "I just need to be playing football and play as much possible, I need to get my fitness back up to 100% and see where that takes me."

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Bilic leads comp winners' Stadium tour
WHUFC.com

Eight-year-old competition winner Ross Miller enjoyed the surprise of his life on Tuesday, as boss Slaven Bilic led him on a guided tour of West Ham United's new Stadium.

The Brentwood-based youngster caught the manager's eye with his sharp shooting from the spot in his #MyFounders home video, nominating his father Steve Miller and Godfather Dan Steggles to join him at the Hammers' future home.

Ross and his family took a seat in the Hammers' new dressing room, discussed tactics in the manager's suite, before walking out of the players' tunnel into the Stadium bowl itself.

Visibly wowed by the occasion, the young West Ham fanatic was even presented with his own signed shirt by the gaffer, who particularly enjoyed Ross' spellbound reaction to the whole day.

"It is amazing for us, let alone Ross," he told West Ham TV. "He's probably even more excited.

"The kids don't try to hide their emotions, so his jaw dropped and from his reaction you can see he's anything but disappointed! He's really so excited, which also proves that we have a good Stadium.

"We're all excited. It's my third, or fourth time here and each time I'm excited, because it's simply a great Stadium.

"We're in the middle of the season and we're totally focused on it, but we are looking forward to moving to this fantastic Stadium and a fantastic home."

"We have to give everything we can to give a good farewell to our historic home ground and then try to come here on a high."

Budding footballer Ross says he can play anywhere on the football pitch and Bilic reckons he has the right idea.

"He looks very sporty and he's young, so hopefully he's going to play for West Ham one day," Bilic added.

Dad Steve, who had never before set foot in the former Olympic Stadium, insists it looks even better in the flesh than it does on television. And with he and Ross on the New Stadium Season Ticket Priority List, Steve is desperately hoping that they will be back for the first home game of the 2016/17 season.

"We've been loads of times to Upton Park over the last couple of seasons and we saw the Rugby World Cup on TV, it looked fantastic. But that's on TV, you can't really see it.

"Having walked around and seen, to be fair, how close the pitch is still going to be, we were trying to look for where the bad seats were, we couldn't find them to be honest. It looks absolutely brilliant.

"So all we've got to do now is to persuade mum to let us go to our Priority List appointment and get those Season Tickets.

"It's an amazing deal for the kids, so when obviously when you're buying two, it equals out quite nicely. We've got a few friends locally, who are doing the same thing, so we'll be able to come up here for the day together. We're really looking forward to it. It's a great opportunity for us to have Season Tickets."

Even in an empty Stadium, Steve said you could begin to imagine the sound of some 50,000 plus Hammers backing their team and has no doubts that the ground will be packed to the rafters.

He continued: "You can picture it. They were saying that the sound system's going to be great, really loud and the screens are massive. And when we walked out the tunnel, we were imagining the old bubbles tune going.

"You think of the Claret and Blue, the bubbles machines and a full Stadium. I do think it will be full, talking to people and how many people are going to get tickets and Season Tickets. I think it's going to be immense."

Appointments for those on the Priority List will begin after a five-day Founders Amnesty Window at the end of the month, which follows the final Band 4 appointments for existing Season Ticket Holders.

The Amnesty Window is a final opportunity for Season Ticket Holders to invite friends and family to join them as Founders.

Supporters who, until now, have only invited one fellow Hammers fan, or indeed none at all, to join them as a new Season Ticket Holder, can take advantage of the window, which begins on Wednesday 27 January and runs until Sunday 31 January > amnesty.whufc.com.

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Tonks - 'It shows how far we've come'
WHUFC.com

James Tomkins insists that West Ham United's Barclays Premier League double over Liverpool is a mark of just how far the Hammers have come this season.

Five goals without reply against the Reds speaks volumes for Slaven Bilic's men, who are sitting pretty in sixth heading into this weekend's Emirates FA Cup meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Saturday's clean sheet was the Hammers' fourth in their last six outings and the 26-year-old commended his side's collective effort to rack up the shutouts.

"To do the double over Liverpool is pretty impressive," he said. "They always used to be a hard team to beat, but we probably made it look a bit easier than it felt at the time. I think that just shows how far we've come this year.

"I think we defended well and put our bodies on the line and it wasn't just the back four or five. Everyone knows just how important that clean sheet is to us and we all try to cling on to it as much as we can.

"At times we rode our luck a little, but in this game you have to. They could have been three or four down, so it's swings and roundabouts, but everyone's happy with that result."

Tomkins, of course, is currently adjusting to life on the right side of the Hammers' back four and while he already looks perfectly at home there, he reckons he still has plenty to learn about the role.

"I am still learning the position and it is going to take a little time to get used to it. When you're learning a new position at my age, you have to rely on your understanding of the game.

"It is still all new to me, because this is the first time I have played there quite regularly. I can still improve and hopefully I will get better with every game."

As for the Hammers' prospects this season, Tomkins was in no mood to get carried away with their fine form of late and, with the table so close, still maintains that a top-ten finish of any kind would represent a good season.

"I still want to say top ten really," he continued. "You can see how tight it is and the teams are still picking up points down below. "Top ten is still an improvement from last year heading into the Olympic Stadium, but the longer it goes I might start thinking top eight, or top six."

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Redknapp reignites Bobby Moore row
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th January 2016
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp has spoken out - yet again - to criticise West Ham again over the club's poor treatment of Bobby Moore.

Redknapp, who managed the club from 1994 to 2001 has long been an outspoken critic of the club's treatment of Moore, who was virtually ignored by West Ham after leaving the club in 1974 in order to join Fulham.

And he spoke out again this week to criticise West Ham for the manner in which Moore was treated after his playing career had ended. "West Ham should have brought him in - he'd have been the greatest ambassador anyone could have had," Redknapp told Kicca.

"Of the great players in world football, Bobby Charlton is at Manchester United and Franz Beckenbauer is at Bayern Munich. West Ham had Bobby Moore - incredible for the club and the greatest icon there was in the game - and he should have been in the front row of the director's box.

"He could have gone out and helped the club get young players - or just to have him around the place for people to look up to. I had a picture of him in my office as big as the wall and remember saying to Rio Ferdinand, that's what you've got to look to become.

"He was so special, but he was wasted."

However Redknapp admitted that were Moore - whose image is used extensively by West Ham United to sell merchandise and promote other club-related activities - still alive today, he would almost certainly be be treated far better by the club's current owners.

"I'm sure David Sullivan and David Gold would have loved to have had him around to be part of the set-up," he added. "But they weren't around at the time so it's certainly no fault of theirs.

"People didn't make him as welcome as he should have been and I think it was criminal - but that's history."

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Hard-to-beat flair team - the new West Ham way
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th January 2016
By: Paul Walker

Damned with faint praise, but we eventually got there, even if it took a little time. Finally there has been some serious, considered views on our season in the wake of the momentous victory over an admittedly spineless Liverpool.

It is always the same when one of the major clubs in the Premier League get beaten by one of their supposed inferiors. Annoying though it is, I fully understand why.

Back in my previous life, I too would have gone in hard on the downfall of a giant. It is always the biggest name, the biggest club, the biggest crisis that makes the headlines and sells newspapers.

Problem is, we have now turned over one of the big five this season on five occasions. It is no fluke, there is a pattern here and after Jurgen Klopp and the worst Liverpool side I have ever seen---I do love his new Klipperty nickname--had been outplayed by us and then shredded by the media, finally the spotlight has turned on Slaven Bilic and our heroes.

There was something different about Saturday's victory, I am sure thousands of you felt it too. We didn't just beat a club who were once great and one of the best in the world (but are now struggling to be the top side on Merseyside), we won it with something to spare.

Our previous impressive wins this season against the supposed top five have gained faint praise. It was all about them. When we beat Arsenal on the opening day, it was all about Arsene Wenger and his poor summer transfer policy.

Then we won at Anfield and it was Brendan Rodgers in the firing line. Literally. Word on Merseyside was that the only thing Rodgers improved there was his tan, his teeth and his totty. When we won at Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini's future was the main topic of conversation in the inquest afterwards.

Next up we beat Chelsea, Jose Mourinho imploded and took all the headlines. His job was soon gone. The draw at Manchester United was all about a boring, boring Louis Van Gaal. Now it has been Klopp's new team and their considerable problems.

Now maybe it's our turn. It was a controlled, organised, victory. There was no doubt who was the best team. Usually when we are doing well against our betters, I spend the final minutes in a state of nervous, tense, nail-biting panic. And I am not the only one counting down the minutes on the clock.

Not this time. And it wasn't because the light bulb in the clock over Chav Corner at the Boleyn hasn't been replaced for weeks (come on Karren, pop down to Queens Road market and buy some on your lunch break). When that final whistle went I was surprised, I hadn't been clock-watching - just watching a thoroughly competent victory.

We had outplayed Liverpool, despite their greater possession. And there was even time to bring back Dimitri Payet to take the mickey with some breathtaking control and turns that befuddled at least four opponents at once.

I left the ground feeling as if I had witnessed something special, different. We are now beating top sides on a regular basis. The irritating bit was that this was a BT match and they only give Match of the Day and Sky's Goals on Sunday a minute of action and it is never on Match Choice. That hardly did our achievement justice.

Then the Sunday papers rattled on about us being bullies and direct, and how bad Liverpool were. The Monday papers were not much better, it was all about Klopp's rebuilding, oh and Andy Carroll for England. Yea, right!
　
So eventually there was thought about us. And the Guardian produce a decent piece by Martin Laurence on the impact Bilic has had. Prior to the match my old mate Joe Bernstein had written a very interesting piece in the Mail about Bilic's love of tactics and how he and his trusted coaches spend all day swapping ideas and theories as they prepare for the next match. It showed some genuine depth of thinking along with energy, enthusiasm and inspiration.

And the Guardian lad came up with the expression, "Hard to beat flair team" to describe us. I couldn't have put it better myself, and without probably meaning it, gave a very modern version of the West Ham way tag we are saddled with.

Having been around long enough to have seen the Ron Greenwood era, and the Malcolm Allison influence before that, I have always been a touch cynical about the constant debates about the WHW. It was never what people think it was, certainly not hard to beat, and although it achieved great success in the early '60s, was too idealistic for the decades that followed.

The vast majority of the people who nag on about the supposed West Ham way never saw its foundation, the whole idea has been overtaken by myth and legend. You cannot just throw men forward and expect to win 5-4 every week. Pass, move, entertain for sure. Win much? Now that's a different matter.

Alan Devonshire and Trevor Brooking's teams got closest. But they had Alvin Martin, Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard and Phil Parkes behind them.

Now Bilic has shown he has clever tactical nouse and has made us hard to beat in a period when a shocking injury list could have knocked us off course. But we were one of only two Premier League teams unbeaten in December, the busiest, most demanding month of the season.

And the flair is there, with Payet and Manuel Lanzini, if we can ever get the little Argentinian fit for more than a couple of matches. Enner Valencia has taken a long time to come good, but he is starting to look the part.

The hard to beat bit was James Collins, 23 clearances, while Adrian is better than Simon Mignolet, who dropped his usual couple of crosses.

Cheikhou Kouyate is an amazing work horse while Mark Noble is proving his endless critics wrong; his display against Liverpool was his best of the season, in attack and his usual destructive, industrious midfield role.

One point here. I am getting sick of seeing the stick he gets. He is constantly called a Championship player. Rubbish. Noble has played well over 300 games for us now, the vast majority in the Premier League. That makes him a Premier League player in my book. End of story. He deserves his testimonial and it is typical of the man that it's all going to charity.

What makes our form this season so different, and maybe the start of a new era for the club, is the fact that our points are coming against the best. We finished 12th last term and 25 of our points this time around have come against teams who finished above us last season.

I flicked through some Liverpool fans' comments this week, and got a touch annoyed by the "we should be beating teams like this" attitude. I assume they mean being beaten by us three times in our last four meetings. That not only shows our improvement, but Liverpool's demise.

They still think they are a big, big club. Not so any more, not with only one Champions League appearance in the last six years. They have kissed goodbye to around £150m of UEFA prize money in that time and have a lot of catching up to do. Being arrogant and patronising doesn't help them.

Our form against the best is impressive. Last season we managed seven points from ten games against the big five. This season it is 16 from six matches so far against the same five.

Last season, incidentally, we had 32 points from our first 20 games and were seventh. This term it is also 32 from 20 and we are sixth. But how we have got to this point is the key, and Bilic's ability to galvanise a team, produce spirit and desire and to win against our betters.

Now I have a view on this (you'd be disappointed if I didn't surely!) And it comes from thinking how Bilic and his coaches work together. They were all together running the Croatia national team who punched hugely above their weight under Bilic.

But they showed how to beat top teams. In their time with Croatia, they beat England and Italy, both twice, also Argentina, Germany, Poland and Belgium. They also drew twice with Russia and also France.

They seem able to spot weaknesses, construct a solid defensive block and hit on the break. They have the knack of bringing big names down a peg or two. The key is that players do their jobs, stick to a plan and are adaptable. And they take their chances.

There is so much money flooding into the Premier League's new TV deal from next season, we just have to be in it to make the OS work. Bilic, with 32 points already, has all but achieved the task he was given when he arrived. Beating the best seems to come easy to Bilic and top six/eight is within us.

Four defeats in the league all season, two defeats in our last 17 and unbeaten in seven is no fluke. We deserve to be taken seriously now.

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West Ham land first January signing
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th January 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have made their first signing of the January transfer window - taking young Birmingham City midfielder Reece Brown on a month-long loan. The 19-year-old featured for West Ham in the 2-0 Premier League Under 21 win against Brighton on Monday and impressed sufficiently to earn what is effectively a prolonged trial. Dudley-born Brown has been with the Blues since the age of just ten, when he was picked up having been spotted playing for local youth club Sedgley White Lions. Since being handed his first contract by City, Brown - who had made just one appearance for Birmingham's first team this season - has represented England at Under 16, Under 17, Under 18 and Under 20 level. City Manager Gary Rowett said: "Because Reece has not been involved in our first team, both parties just felt this was a good opportunity for him to go down there to train and play." Brown will stay with the Hammers until Wednesday, 27 January. During that period he is unable to feature for the first time, but eligible to feature in a maximum of two further games.

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West Ham take Birmingham youngster Reece Brown on trial
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 06/01/16 3:36pm
SSN

Birmingham City midfielder Reece Brown will spend the next month on trial with West Ham. Brown, 19, has only played twice for Birmingham this season, but will spend 28 days with West Ham on a trial basis. He played the entire 90 minutes for West Ham U21s in their 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday at their Rush Green training base. West Ham co-owner David Gold stated via his official Twitter account that the Hammers had taken the England U20 international on loan, but Birmingham have since insisted the arrangement was simply for him to undergo a trial. "To clarify, Reece Brown is on a 28-day trial @whufc-official during which time he can play in two non first team matches. That's it. #BCFC," Birmingham confirmed via their official Twitter account. Brown, who has scored two goals in six appearances for England U20s, could feature for West Ham U21s against Fulham on January 13 or against the same opposition on January 22.

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Slaven Bilic expects no new signings at West Ham during January
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 06/01/16 4:44pm
SSN

Slaven Bilic says he is "99 per cent" certain West Ham will not be making any signings during the January transfer window because he is happy with his squad. West Ham are unbeaten in their last seven matches and currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, just four points off Tottenham, who occupy the final Champions League spot. Influential midfielder Dimitri Payet returned from a two month injury lay-off in the 2-0 victory over Liverpool last Saturday, while Victor Moses and Winston Reid could make their comebacks from injury in the FA Cup third round clash with Wolves at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.

Only Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho remain on the sidelines for West Ham and Bilic insists he is anticipating a quiet January, but concedes he could dip into the transfer market if an "exceptional" player becomes available. "So far, so good. We are only halfway through, but we are very confident. The main thing is to stay away from injuries and, if we do that, we have a really good team that can compete with any team in the league," the West Ham manager told talkSPORT. "We have a good squad, a big squad, and [it's] 99 per cent [certain] we will leave it like this and make our signings in the summer. "If something exceptional comes along, whether that's a long-term deal for one great player, or a loan deal for a back-up player for six months, we will do it. But we won't buy just because it's the transfer window."

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JANUARY TRANSFER NEWS ROUNDUP
By Sean Whetstone 6 Jan 2016 at 13:00
WTID

So we are now a few days into the January transfer window but what should we be expecting this term?.

The two David's, Lady Brady and Slaven himself have been carefully managing our expectations for weeks before the window opened. 'The cupboard is bare', 'We did all our dough in the summer', 'We are at our maximum financial fair play wage cap' and 'January offers poor value' are just some of the sound bites on offer from the Hammers powers that be. To be fair they did dig very deep in their pockets during the summer and with the exception of Demba Ba no January signing has ever set the West Ham world on fire since the two David's took over the club in 2010.

Of course all that said it won't stop the transfer rumours so here a round up so far of what is doing the rounds this transfer window.

Mauro Zarate has been linked with a move away. According to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser de Malaga, Malaga want to bring him to La Liga. The 28-year-old's older brother Ariel had a four-year stint at Malaga between 1998 and 2002. However a Claret and Hugh club source said: "No, there has been no approach but who knows what may happen between now and the end of the window when most of the activity takes place – no smoke without fire and all that!"

Leeds right back and midfielder Sam Byram has been linked with the Hammers. West Ham confirmed that the Leeds right back defender Sam Byram is on their list of possible right back targets for the summer. ClaretandHugh was told by their top source: "Right back is obviously the key position we are looking at and Byram is interesting but we have NINE other targets as a possible permanent signing there.We will not be taking Carl Jenkinson for a third time and we will be spending the January window trying to sort out that and other deals."

Joey O'Brien is unlikely to leave West Ham this January transfer window because of continuing injury problems but he will be gone in June next year when his contract expires I am told.There was speculation he could have been released early this winter with his old club Bolton rumoured as a possible destination for him but his injury situation makes any move in the last six months of contract extremely unlikely. A club source told me "Sadly Joey is injured, who takes an injured player? He's on a quite high wage"

Dundee FC have been linked with a January move for 20 year old Hammer Stephen Hendrie our regular senior source told us: "Hendrie needs games and might be loaned out, he is on a VERY low wage."

Twenty three year old Burnley right back Tendayi Darikwa has been linked to West Ham and could be on a list of young right backs to replace Carl Jenkinson in the summer.The youngster moved from Chesterfield in the summer but has made twenty one appearances scoring one goal for the Clarets this season. He came through the Chesterfield youth system where he made 125 appearances for them over 5 years. Darikwa signed a three year contract at Turf Moor last July.

Diego Poyet returned early from a season long loan at MK Dons where the manager Karl Robinson revealed the midfielder is returning to West Ham as he is too similar in style to vice-captain Darren Potter. Karl told the press "As a combination they didn't do too well together and he knows what Darren Potter means to my football club, It's not fair on a young player to not give him many minutes and in time he will be a much better player than a lot in this league. He's a tremendous young man." He returned to his former club Charlton for the remainder of the season and I understand the Addicks have been offered an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Elliot Lee has returned from Blackpool with sour grapes from manager and former West Ham No.2 Neil McDonald who said "Elliot picked up an injury and told us he didn't want to come back. He's gone back to the comforts of the under-21s and being at home with his mum and dad. It disappoints me.We are trying to bring players here who want to play football. He's come and played all the games, yet he still isn't happy. He's gone back to West Ham and will probably be in their under-21s for the rest of the season." I understand West Ham will try to find another club for Lee worthy of his ability.

Various papers have reported that West Ham would be willing to sell Andy Carroll for £18m with North East pair ­ Newcastle and ­Sunderland ready to snap the 26-year-old up they claim. However, ClaretandHugh's most senior Hammers source made it clear that Sunderland would be of no interest to Carroll. But he said that possibility of him moving at all in the current window is very remote declaring: "There is no way he'd go to Sunderland, or that the club could afford him, but you never know with Newcastle although the possibility is very small."

Hammer Reece Burke's loan to Bradford City ran out over the weekend and the Bantams have been left guessing whether he will return. It was feared that the defender had broken his wrist when he crashed into an advertising hoarding during a 3-0 defeat at Gillingham on Saturday and was facing a lengthy spell out. But after being checked locally in Kent, parent club West Ham had Burke transferred to the private Princess Grace Hospital in central London where it was confirmed that he had suffered a deep cut. Before the injury, Bradford claim the Hammers had indicated they would be okay with extending his loan for another month until February.However, I have heard an as yet unconfirmed rumour that Reece Burke could joining Coventry City on loan instead. Time will tell where his journey continues.

AC Milan's Japanese international Keisuke Honda has been linked with the Irons after falling down the pecking order under boss Sinisa Mihajlovic. Honda, who arrived at the San Siro on a free transfer in 2013, has started just four of Milan's 17 Serie A matches this season.The 29-year-old's lack of game time has attracted interest from West Ham, Spurs and Everton claimed the Daily Express repeating claims made by Italian publication Tuttosport.

Turkish media have suggested West Ham have made a formal approach to sign Besiktas' Turkish international winger Gokhan Tore. Tore, who built a good relationship with Slaven Bilic when the pair were at Besiktas, has been the subject of a €10 million (roughly £7.4m) offer from the Hammers,However, Besiktas officials have responded to the approach, with the report claiming that they are unwilling to sell Tore this month. They have instead told Bilic to revive his interest in the winger in the summer, should he still want to bring the 23-year-old to the Premier League.Tore, who signed for Chelsea as a highly-rated youngster before leaving in 2011 without a first-team appearance to his name, has scored 17 goals and created 24 more in 96 games for Besiktas. Take this bid report with a large dose of salt!

Nineteen year old Reece Brown was an unnamed trialist at Rush Green for the Development match last Monday night.The Birmingham City youngster who plays in midfield joined Brum at the age of ten. After leaving school, he took up a scholarship with the club in July 2012. He signed his first professional contract with Birmingham for two-and-a-half-years to run until 2016. That contract finishes this summer.He has made 11 first team appearances in total for the Blues. Birmingham fans on social appear to be very upset at the though of another Academy product leaving them and rate him highly.

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has welcomed the news that West Ham have allowed Martin Samuelsen to stay with the Posh until the end of the season by declaring: "We'll make him a £20 million player." In an interview with MooreThanJustAPodcast on Monday Fry said: "He'll win us the League and if he stays another year we'll turn him into a man on and off the pitch and send a £20 million player back to Upton Park!"

The former Birmingham City manager under the Davids declared: "Every Posh player looks up to Martin. He's a training ground genius.He will be knocked about and learn to mature at our level. It's a better place to grow up and learn your trade than in under 21 football where nobody ever tackles."

You can hear the full Interview I carried out with Barry Fry about working for the two David's and Brady, the signing of Jaanai Gordon, what next for Jack Collison and Martin Samuelson at www.moorethanjustapodcast.co.uk

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Martin Samuelson Interview
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham's Martin Samuelson has given his first interview since extending his stay at Peterborough. martin-samuelsen-west-hamLast week the 18 year-old Hammers weaved his way past four defenders before powering a left-footed shot into the corner of the net. Speaking to the official Posh website, Samuelsen said: "I spend a lot of time practising my skills. I have always liked going past players and at the age of seven I went to a coaching soccer school, bought a skills dvd, wrote down all the skills and started to practice them on the training pitch." "I even added some of my own and I spend more time then most on the training pitch." "To score a goal like I did (at Sheffield) was a great feeling. It's certainly the best goal I have scored in a long time." "I was going to shoot earlier than I did, but I saw two defenders coming out to block so I checked and a gap opened up for me." "To hear the noise of our fans after I scored was a great experience and one I hope to repeat." "I'm learning a new style of play at Peterborough, Every manager teaches a player new things and I am enjoying playing for Graham (Westley)." "I hope to be involved in the FA Cup game this Saturday (January 9) as I used to watch the competition on the television in Norway. Maybe Peterborough can be one of the small teams who do well in the FA Cup this season."

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Hammers linked with the next 'Jamie Vardy'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Slaven Bilic is considering a move for Grays Athletic striker Dumebi Dumaka, who has been dubbed non-league football's next Jamie Vardy claims the Daily Express today.

Dumaka has been impressive for Grays this season with 15 goals so far in the Ryman Isthmian League. Affectionately known as "DD", he has already spent time training with Ipswich Town, Fleetwood and Cambridge United this season after a host of clubs were alerted to his scoring exploits for Grays. Dumaka joined Grays in August 2014, he was previously with Heybridge Swifts and Barking, for whom he performed well against us in an Essex Senior Cup tie in 2013.

Hammers scouts are said to have regularly watched him in action now Bilic has to decide whether he believes the 21-year-old has what it takes to step up to the Premier League. Dumaka works as a a private banking analyst.

The Express report appears to be a re-hash of a similar Daily Mail report last October

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Harry Redknapp: 'Mooro snub was criminal'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Former Hammer Harry Redknapp has reignited the row of how Bobby Moore was snubbed by West Ham after his playing career finish although he says he doesn't blame the current owners. Speaking on Kicca.com Harry said on video:

"West Ham should have brought him in not used him, he'd have been the greatest ambassador anyone could have had"

"Of the great players in world football, Bobby Charlton is at Man United and Franz Beckenbauer with Bayern Munich. West Ham had Bobby Moore incredible for the club you know and the greatest icon there was in the game at that time. He should have been in the front row of the director's box."

"He could have gone out and helped the club get young players or just to have him around the place for people to look up to. I had a picture of him in my office as big as the wall and remember saying to Rio Ferdinand, that's what you've got to look to become when you become a player"

"The way he lived, the way he played, the way he was, was so special, but he was wasted"

"Nothing to do with the people there now,I'm sure David Sullivan and David Gold would have loved to have had him around to be part of the set-up and Karren Brady. But they weren't around at the time so it's certainly no fault of theirs that he wasn't"

"People didn't make him welcome as they should have been, I think it is criminal really but that is history"

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Bilic '99% certain we won't sign anyone'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Slaven Bilic told talkSport today: "The main thing is to stay away from injuries and, if we do that, we have a really good team that can compete with any team in the league."

"We have a good squad, a big squad, and [it's] 99 per cent [certain] we will leave it like this and make our signings in the summer. If something exceptional comes along, whether that's a long-term deal for one great player, or a loan deal for a back-up player for six months, we will do it. But we won't buy just because it's the transfer window."

On Monday Chairman's son Jack Sullivan tweeted out : "All our wage Cap is spent, so unless somebody goes we have no wages to pay them under premier league rules" However Jack did add "Summer it's different! We are hoping to have a big summer window!!"

Expect a quiet January transfer window but it won't prevent us being linked with multiple players every day.

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Gold's prophecy doesn't look so stupid now
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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David Gold came in for much mockery a couple of months when he dared to suggest the top clubs would soon be looking over their shoulders at West Ham.

He was actually taken out of context and he explained: "I actually said I believed the time was coming when that would be the case."

The outcry of criticism on Twitter was as self indulgent and ridiculous as is usually the case. He was called a chancer and much worse but Gold had made a point which is rapidly beginning to look entirely sensible and exciting.

ClaretandHugh revisited the issue with him last night and the co chairman made his position clear declaring: "With the players we have brought in, the squad depth, leading to such competition for places we are already seeing a huge change in the way this club operates.

"Of course we have dreams, ambitions and they are coming about. I will never get carried away. Everybody who knows me well understands I'm not that type of person but things are looking quite good aren't they?

"I think the second part of the season can be incredibly exciting and who knows where we will be at the end of it but to talk of the top four looking over their shoulders may not be seen as being quite so silly as some had tried to tell me it was eh?

"These are times of huge excitement and I see things getting better and better – why shouldn't I and everybody else."

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Alan Taylor calls for FA Cup run
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham legend Alan Taylor has called on Slaven Bilic and his team to put a FA Cup run at the top of their priority list. In an exclusive interview in Blowing Bubbles Monthly, Taylor believes it's time for the club to give the fans a day out at Wembley after four years with Sam Allardyce showing very little respect for the famous trophy. The 62-year-old, who scored two goals in the 1975 FA Cup final against Fulham, also feels the competition would get some of its swagger back if the winner qualified for the Champions League. 'As a schoolboy, the FA Cup was big. The coverage would start at 8am on cup final day and go right through the day,' he explained. 'But today unfortunately, I think money talks and everybody knows that the European scene is far bigger and greater than the FA Cup. 'I'd like to see the situation where instead of having the top four play in the Champions League, the fourth place goes to the winners of the FA Cup [that will] I hope help the FA Cup cup go back to how it was originally.'

Elsewhere in this month's issue, George Parris writes in his column that Slaven Bilic proved his worth as the going got tough with injuries mounting up.'We all know Slaven wants us to be playing attacking football but last month showed he will not sacrifice results in a bid to entertain, and we ended 2015 in eighth place – surely we would have all taken that at the start of the season?,' George wrote.

Meanwhile, writing in her column, Sky Sports' Bianca Westwood believes Michail Antonio has shown there is lots of talent in the lower leagues.'As fantastic as the academies are I just don't think the players coming through have that hunger that the likes of Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin and Callum Wilson have after plying their trade in the lower leagues,' she wrote.
Blowing Bubbles' writers also outline nine New Year resolutions that will give West Ham fans a very happy New Year, ask where has it all gone wrong for Carl Jenkinson this year and if it's not time football closed the transfer window for good?

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Ginge tops Premier League clearance record
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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James Collins made more clearances versus Liverpool than any other player has in a Premier League game this season. The Ginger Pele managed a magnificent 23 clearances, won 4 aerial duels, made 3 blocks and won 2 tackles in the historic two nil win over Liverpool last weekend, which completed the league double this season. The impressive statistics come on the back of his Southampton game where Ginge won possession 7 times, blocked 2 shots and made 13 clearances. Collins is clearly in the form of his life after signing a two year extension worth around £3 million to him over the length of his new deal. Collins – who has now been at the club for nearly seven years in two spells has lifted himself from fourth choice to first choice centre back. His deal works out at around £29,000 a week and is likely to keep him at the club until the end, or close to the end, of his playing career.

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Boca striker unlikely to join Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham have again been linked this morning with interest in signing Argentinian striker Jonathon Calleri from Boca Juniors. Calleri is still a young striker who at the age of just 22 has made a real impact at Boca scoring 24 goals since his move their in July 2014. The Boca striker has been also linked with Chelsea and Arsenal but now appears to be on the verge of joining Inter Milan according to club president Daniel Angelici. "For Calleri we are asking for all of the documentation that UIF needs for the origin of money," Angelici said. "The negotiations are very advanced and this week we will close the deal."

Calleri helped Boca to a Primera Division title in 2015, scoring 10 times in 25 matches for the Argentine giants over the campaign.

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Lavezzzi rumour recycled
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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A recycled rumour doing the rounds this week is that West Ham have joined Arsenal, Spurs, Barcelona and Internazionale in the hunt for Paris Saint-Germain winger Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Argentine international's deal at the Parc des Princes expires in the summer and he would be available for as little as £4.4 million, though he would still command sizeable wages.
The story has all the hallmarks of a club or agent planted story desperate to drum up interest for the player in the transfer window. West Ham were linked with Lavezzi in the summer when he was said to have been offered around to a number Premier League clubs including the Hammers for a price tag around £10m. The 30-year-old, who can play up front or out wide, has hit 34 goals in 159 games for PSG since joining from Napoli in 2012, but has become more of a bit-part player under Laurent Blanc this season. Just a word of caution. I wouldn't get LAVEZZI printed on the back of your replica shirt just yet.

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Robbie Savage: 'West Ham can finish fourth'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Robbie Savage told a West Ham fan on BBC Radio 5 over the weekend that the Hammers can finish the season in fourth place this year. When asked by a West Ham fan who called into the BBC radio show the realistic target for the Irons this term, Savage answered "I think you are looking at fourth" "I think that fourth place is there for somebody, I think the top three are going to be Arsenal, City, Spurs. I think Leicester could finish fourth, West Ham could finish fourth, Manchester United could finish fourth, Crystal Palace could finish fourth. That fourth place is open for someday who could snatch it."
West Ham are currently sixth in the Premier League table at the moment with 32 points from 20 matches. Last week ClaretandHugh ran a poll as to where West Ham can realistically finish this season in the Premier League. Just 4% of the 1,246 respondents said West Ham could finish top four, 23% said top six and 52% said top eight is achievable. Just over 20% believe we will finish 10th or below.

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Zaza ruled out again
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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It's the story that refuses to go away, Juventus winger come striker, Simone Zaza has been continuously linked with West Ham for ever. Just before Christmas we revealed that Zaza would not be joining West Ham on loan in January as forward cover. The 24 year old is valued at around £10 million but is unable to hold down a regular place at the Serie A club. ClaretandHugh was told in late December by a club source that it won't happen with players returning to fitness and that Slaven Bilic is disinterested in adding to the quartet of hit men already available to him. We were told: "The club has gone down that route previously, bringing in expensive loan fee players and seeing them sit on the sidelines. We have players on the way back – there's no panic. Our injury problems are improving day on day and we won't be adding to the squad this winter unless it is absolutely necessary and it doesn't look that way at the moment."
Now Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has ruled out a move for the 24 year old also. "I don't understand why he should go away, there should not be this storm about him. I speak to him every day, he is a player with great quality who has improved a lot and is important for us, so it's fair that he stays here. We have four top-quality players in attack and they should fight for their places."

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Barry Fry tells all on the Jannai Gordon affair
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Exciting Irons teenage striker Jannai Gordon has been given no chance to develop at West Ham and the man who sold him to the Irons reckons much of that is down to Sam Allardyce. Outspoken Barry Fry has told the ClaretandHugh interview section of MooreThanJustAPodcast that the Hammers have a serious talent on their hands and tells the truth of what went on behind the scenes as the on/off transfer faltered before being resurrected. He explains how he and David Sullivan did a deal which was all but torn up by the previous manager against the advice of his management team.
Fry also tells Hammers fans that they should give thanks all day long that the Davids have taken control of the club declaring: "The are knowledgeable people who absolutely love the Hammers. It was the only club they really wanted – they love the place. "They are great great people to work for me. It as 20 years ago they sacked me but have become my closest friends who have done me many favours. "They treat me like a king when I go to Upton Park or their house parties. They are two really great guys who have taken the club from the brink of receivership to where it is now. "They had a dream transfer window last summer and that is a club which is really going places under the Davids and Karren (Brady).

MooreThanJustAPodcast is available at http://moorethanjustapodcast.podbean.com/ ]
It's unmissable stuff for every Hammers fan.

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Rafa will regret snubbing West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Rafa Benitez is out of work again after being fired by Real Madrid earlier this week. Sky Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says that he believes the manager would have had a far better time at West Ham had he accepted their offer. Benitez was approached by David Sullivan early last summer after Sam Allardyce was sacked, before they decided to appoint Slaven Bilic.
Sullivan told Sky Sports last week "We were two hours from getting Benítez and then Real came in. We had agreed a contract and everything, He is a top manager whatever anybody says and I think he'd have done a wonderful job for us. We tried [Jürgen] 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." Balague told Sky Sports: "Before he signed for Real Madrid he almost signed for West Ham, and I think he would have enjoyed West Ham much more. He wants to come to the Premier League, quite clearly. By almost accepting West Ham suggests that he will be willing to go anywhere in the top 10 of the Premier League."

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Leboeuf backs Payet for Euros
Posted by Sean Whetstone on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Dimi Payet has been praised by former France international Frank Leboeuf as being an "artist" who draws football fans to matches, but says the 28-year-old should improve his teamwork to have a chance of going to Euro 2016. Payet has scored five goals in 13 league games for the Hammers since joining from Marseille in the summer but has been snubbed by Didier Deschamps for inclusion the France national team. Deschamps has previously suggested the exclusion has been for non-footballing reasons, but Leboeuf has called on the France boss to give Payet a chance to show what he can do for the national side. "I hope he plays for France this summer – he is someone who can create things. He is an artist – people come to the stadium to watch people like him play. Now he has to improve his teamwork – there have been a few mishaps – and he has got to get back into Didier Deschamp's heart. But he is definitely worth his place." said Leboeuf.

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Gold sees the birth of a legend
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on January 6, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Slaven Bilic may be in the early days of becoming a West Ham legend. That's the view of David Gold who has been watching the reaction and inter-action between the manager and players very closely over the last few week. And in an exclusive interview with ClaretandHugh the co chairman said: "I've been in the game for 25 years but haven't seen the sort of spirit and atmosphere there is between this man and a squad of players. "Just watch as he makes his substitutions – nobody acts up. They accept it immediately because they love the man – have total respect for him. "To see where he has taken them – and how he's improved many of them in just half a season – is extraordinary. Everything at West Ham revolves around the man and his way of handling the dressing room is something to behold. "If he decides something is wrong – as was the case with one of the players no longer with us – he acts quickly to sort the matter out.
"He's a top manager and a top man. He can stay here a very long time and we may be seeing somebody who is destined to become a club legend."

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West Ham consider January move for non-league wonderkid dubbed the 'next Jamie Vardy'
WEST HAM manager Slaven Bilic is considering a move for Grays Athletic striker Dumebi Dumaka, who has been dubbed non-league football's next Jamie Vardy.
By SCOTT WILSON
PUBLISHED: 11:51, Wed, Jan 6, 2016 | UPDATED: 11:58, Wed, Jan 6, 2016
Express

Dumaka has been impressive for Grays this season with 15 goals so far in the Ryman Isthmian League - the seventh tier of the English game. Affectionately known as "DD", he has already spent time training with Ipswich Town, Fleetwood and Cambridge United this season after a host of clubs were alerted to his scoring exploits for Grays. Hammers scouts have regularly watched him in action – now Bilic has to decide whether he believes the 21-year-old has what it takes to step up to the Premier League. Dumaka is as good with his brains as his boots - he works as a a private banking analyst for Barclays.

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WEST HAM SET TO COMPLETE SIGNING OF CHAMPIONSHIP HOT-SHOT
news.ladbrokes.com
Reports suggest Leeds man is bound for east London
6 January 2016

West Ham are set to conclude a deal to bring Leeds United's highly rated full-back Sam Byram in the coming days according to reports. The Brentwood Gazette suggest that the Hammers have won the race to bag the £10m man from the Championship club. The right-back is out of contract in the summer, and while Leeds would be due a fee were he to leave for another club at the end of his deal, due to his age, that is unlikely to be what they could command in January. Manager Steve Evans has spoken of how while the Yorkshire outfit won't be forced to sell for a cut-price deal, the decision will be out of his hands if Byram's valuation is met. "If the deal was right for the club, that would lie at the president's door. As a head coach I don't want him going anywhere but if he does then I have to work with the club to make sure the money that comes in is invested," he told the Yorkshire Post. Cashing in on one of the team's star men wouldn't be a first for Massimo Cellino with United letting Ross McCormack move to Fulham for the over-inflated price of £11m back in 2014. He won't be able to demand such a price for the 22-year-old Byram with his contract running out, but after being voted the Championship's PFA Player of the Month for December, there is sure to be plenty of competition for his signature.
If the West Ham deal is as concrete as is being reported then he would become the next Championship full-back to move to the east London outfit in a big-money move in recent years. Aaron Cresswell has thrived since arriving at the Boleyn Ground from Ipswich and has grown into a mainstay in the Hammers starting XI. Slaven Bilic has used reverted to using James Tomkins at right-back recently, with loanee Carl Jenkinson failing to deliver much in the way of consistency. Byram's arrival would add another option to the mix, and at just 22-years-old would have plenty of time to make the position his own. Develop like Cresswell has, and the Hammers could have bagged a couple of home-grown bargains in the full-back position in recent years.

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West Ham owner reveals Championship loan signing 0
BY JAMES O'ROURKE ON JAN 6, 2016 BIRMINGHAM CITY, CHAMPIONSHIP, FEATURED, TRANSFERS
The 72

West Ham United have completed the signing of Birmingham City midfielder Reece Brown on a one-month loan. He joined the club on trial yesterday but has officially signed for a month before deciding to make it permanent. Although the news has yet to be officially confirmed by either club, West Ham co-owner David Gold revealed on Twitter this morning that Brown is now a Hammer. He isn't expected to contest for a place in the first team, but shall remain training and playing with the development squad, who are coached by Terry Westley.

Yesterday we covered the story regarding a potential trial move for Brown after a featured in a recent Under-21 match for the Premier League outfit. He lined up alongside former Barcelona and Arsenal man Alex Song in the centre of midfield, and impressed.

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Morgan Amalfitano to reject Aston Villa interest in favour of Lille move
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Lille are closing in on the signing of former West Brom and West Ham midfielder Morgan Amalfitano. The Frenchman is currently a free agent after leaving Upton Park in October via mutual consent. Since then the 30-year-old has been on the hunt for a new club, with several sides in France expressing an interest. But now, according to RMC, Lille have won the race and are on the cusp of agreeing a deal with Amalfitano. The Ligue 1 side have held talks with the former Marseille man and he is keen on a return to France. Aston Villa had expressed a late interest - but the deal with Lille is expected to be completed by the end of this week.

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PATIENCE IS NECESSARY WITH SOME NEW PLAYERS AND COULD HENDRIE BE AN ASSET AT RIGHT-BACK?
By S J Chandos 6 Jan 2016 at 08:00
WTID

There is a distinct tendency to impatience amongst fans these days. If a new signing (even a youngster or player making a the step up to the Pl) is not selected immediately for the first team, dark rumours start circulating about the reasons for it. We have seen this a few times this season. For instance, there was enormous speculation about Antonio's initial lack of first team exposure, as manifest in all that 'missing person' stuff on social media. Yet, the truth is that regardless of his £7m price tag it was clear that Antonio was a prospect that needed time to increase his fitness levels, and acclimatise to PL football, before making an impact at first team level. After all, the side got off to a very good start this season and it was always clear that Moses would start ahead of him in the initial phases of the campaign. Subsequent events have now shown that Antonio wisely waited his opportunity and took it 'with both hands' when it presented itself.

Similarly, there has been some concerns about Diego Poyet and the fact that he has been loaned out this season. Poyet was signed as a 19 year old prospect and it was always clear that he was not the finished product. This meant that he has struggled for first team exposure when up against more experienced players for the midfield anchor role. This includes Noble, Song, Kouyate and even Obiang, who is of a similar age. Regardless, Poyet did well in the Europa League qualifying rounds and underlined with future potential. However, the management obviously took the view that under the circumstances he needed the experience of a season playing regularly at Championship level. He played 20 first team games at MK Dons and will complete the remainder of the season with Championship strugglers Charlton. Personally, I feel that this is a very good move for Poyet, as he will be returning to familiar ground and a club where he came through the ranks. It, however, does not necessarily signal the youngster's impending exit from the club. All talk of a permanent move back to the Valley next summer is too premature for my liking. It is far more likely that Poyet will return to the club next summer and be given another opportunity to impress. In that sense, there is still every opportunity that Poyet has a future at the club.

Finally, there has been similar concerns expressed about Stephen Hendrie's lack of first team opportunities so far this season, even when Cresswell was injured recently. Hendrie, in my view, was always bought as 'one for the future.' As such his continuing exposure at U-21 level does not surprise me in the slightest. This young man is a very good prospect and will probably demonstrate that next season. Indeed, this period of development and acclimatisation will probably assist his long-term prospects, not harm them. And it is much preferable to rushing him in to the first team before he is ready. The added bonus with Hendrie is that he is a right footed left-back (a la Frank Lampard Snr) and there is also the possibility that young Hendrie could cover both full-back slots or even develop in to a right-back in the longer term. I welcome the speculation that the club might sign Sam Byram in the January window, for a knock down price, due to his contract situation. He is a fine prospect and could very well flourish at the club, but lets not forget Hendrie could also have a say on who fills the right-back position next season and beyond.

The truth is that the club does not always sign players who are the finished product and first team ready. Sometimes they sign players with the potential to step up to PL football and youngsters with the potential to develop in to major assets. Not all of them are going to walk in to the first team nor be instantly ready to do so. We as fans need to recognise this and 'cut them some slack' if the transition does not happen immediately. Nor should we over-hype richly talented prospects like Samuelson, who certainly have all the tools to succeed at PL level. The truth is he needs to 'cut his teeth' at a decent level first and the Peterborough loan is part of that process. Again, his time could very well come next season. In the mean time he is better off where he is at present, because blooding young players is all about timing and pre-mature exposure can be counter-productive to long term prospects.

Similarly, an outstanding prospect like Reece Oxford needs careful handling. At barely 17 years of age, he needs controlled exposure to first team football and continuing experience with the U-21s. Oxford seems well advised and they know that careful development at West Ham is far preferable to taking a gamble by joining the 'youth player factories' at Man United, Arsenal or Chelsea. Also, hopefully Oxford realises that (unlike a previous starlet like Rio Ferdinand) that there is every prospect that he can achieve his club ambitions at West Ham United! There is a way to go, but all the indicators are that West Ham have a cut jewel in Oxford, all they need to do is to keep polishing his talent all the way to football success.

Indeed, the club is in really good shape at youth level and the development/graduation of this emerging talent must be a priority issue for Slaven Bilic and the board. It will be interesting in the next season or two to see how he handles it?

SJ. Chandos.

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West Ham's Christmas 'slump' looks much better in hindsight
ESPNFC.com

Slaven Bilic says that goals will grab headlines in West Ham's 2-0 defeat of Liverpool, but praises the team as a whole. West Ham can look back on the vital festive schedule with some satisfaction, but it is interesting to contemplate how different it might have been.

From late November to Boxing Day, West Ham faced a succession of matches against West Bromwich Albion (H), Manchester United (A), Stoke (H), Swansea (A) and Aston Villa (A). Fans were almost certainly contemplating a minimum of six points but probably considering double figures wasn't out of the question. As it was five draws, caused a deal of confusion. The point gained in a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford was a good result perhaps, but the other stalemates were more difficult to assess.

In fact, the 1-1 draw at Upton Park against West Brom that started the sequence was preceded by a 2-0 reversal at Vicarage Road against Watford -- the Hammers first away defeat of the season -- a 1-1 draw against Everton at home and a heavy 4-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.

In eight matches from late October, Slaven Bilic's men only picked up six points. Inevitability, talk turned to the second-half slump that blighted Sam Allardyce's last season at Upton Park. If the Hammers were to fall away post-Christmas as they had in the last campaign then the goodwill around Upton Park could soon turn very sour indeed.

Noticeably, it was against Everton on Nov. 7 that Dimitri Payet got injured and almost every game since had seemed to indicate what most neutrals suspected: that without the talismanic Frenchman the Hammers would stutter. By the time Southampton arrived at the Boleyn on Dec. 28, fans were starting to get uncomfortable. A home defeat and the season could start to unravel.

Alarmingly, in a one-sided first-half that looked to be what might happen. A goal down after 13 minutes, West Ham struggled to hold onto the game. It would have been no surprise had Saints boss Ronald Koeman seen his side at least three goals to the good by the break. Fortunately, for the home fans, James Collins was a one-man defence and kept things together long enough for Bilic to turn things around after half-time.

The easing injury crisis allowed the manager to introduce Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini in the second period and suddenly West Ham were flying again. Two goals -- one hugely fortunate one from Michail Antonio that cannoned off his body to loop into the net -- and another from Carroll, enabled the Hammers to run out 2-1 winners. Suddenly things looked very different.

West Ham discovered their early season form again when they outplayed Liverpool to win 2-0 last Saturday. The three points added to those gained in the win over Southampton and the two draws with Swansea and Villa gave a different slant to proceedings.

Slaven Bilic and West Ham are back on a roll after a series of draws. The sequence of draws with an injury hit squad now looked like good results. The two goals conceded by a mean-spirited defence in the five match sequence suddenly gave hope when the likes of Liverpool came visiting. In fact, despite the territorial advantage Jurgen Klopp's men had on Saturday, Adrian in the Hammers goal had very little to deal with.

The confidence running through the team on Saturday was tangible and the Upton Park crowd reacted accordingly. The eight-match 'winless run' that begun with the Watford defeat suddenly become an 'unbeaten run' of seven matches after the win over Liverpool. And it's on these small issues that seasons are viewed and managers reputations are made.

Of course, the old adage that insists that West Ham come down with the Christmas decorations is still a possibility. The Europa League qualifiers meant that the Hammers started their season in early July and continuing injuries and a long campaign could still blight the club's hopes of leaving the Boleyn with a place in the top eight.

However, there is a general feeling around the East End that this season will not go the way of the last. The squad strength that enabled the Hammers to eke out results when wins were hard to come by seem to have given everyone confidence.

How interesting it would be if the poor run of November and December turned out to be an indication of the growing stature of the club.

Peter Thorne, aka Billy Blagg (@BillyBlaggEsq), is the author of a regular column at WestHamOnline.net and the East London Guardian.

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