Daily WHUFC News - 22nd February 2016

Blackburn 1-5 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Emmanuel Emenike netted an impressive brace on his full debut for West Ham
United while Dimitri Payet also scored two goals as they helped the Hammers
book their place in the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Finals with an emphatic 5-1
victory over Blackburn. Emenike wasted no time settling into his new
surroundings with a superb performance and showed why he is rated so highly
with two goals in his first full start for the club. Payet also stole the
show with a superb curling free-kick from the edge of the box before
producing a clinical finish right at the end to send the Hammers into the
hat for the last eight of the competition. It was not all one-way traffic as
Blackburn opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a goal from Ben Marshall.
But Slaven Bilic's side showed their fighting qualities once again as they
hit back straight away with an equaliser from Victor Moses. Payet then
showed his quality with another sublime free-kick before new signing Emenike
secured the victory with two goals in the second half. Payet completed the
rout with a superb finish in injury time. Both teams were reduced to ten-men
after Chris Taylor was sent-off for Blackburn, while Cheikhou Kouyate was
also shown his marching orders. But the Hammers were left to celebrate
another impressive victory and are now just ninety minutes away from playing
at Wembley Stadium in the semi-finals. West Ham had to come from behind
after Marshall fired Blackburn into the lead on 20 minutes.

Michail Antonio cleared a corner straight into the path of Marshall on the
edge of the box and he cut the ball onto his left before firing a low shot
Darren Randolph into the bottom corner of the net. The lead was short-lived
as the Hammers drew level on 26 minutes. Moses ran unchallenged into the
Blackburn half before striking the ball across Blackburn keeper Jason Steele
and into the back of the net. The Hammers quickly doubled their lead in
spectacular fashion on 36 minutes after Taylor brought down Payet on the
edge of the box and was booked for his late challenge.
The French star showed his quality once again by curling a superb right-foot
free-kick over the Blackburn wall and past the outstretched hand of Steele.

Payet celebrated in style by running along the touchline and hugging his
manager Slaven Bilic before celebrating his first FA Cup goal with the 7200
Hammers fans behind the goal. Blackburn were reduced to ten-men on 55
minutes after Taylor was shown his second yellow card of the game following
a late challenge on Moses. The Hammers thought they had made it three on 63
minutes after Antonio saw his shot kept out by Steele. The rebound fell to
Kouyate who slid the ball into the back of the net but his effort was ruled
out for offside. The Hammers made no mistake sixty seconds when they added a
third.

Antonio's shot was kept out by Steele. The rebound was picked out by Moses
who released Kouyate into the box and his cross was tapped home by Emineke
who produced a simple finish from close-range. Kouyate was then shown a
straight red card on 76 minutes as he clipped Adam Henley who raced clear
towards the penalty box. But the Hammers refused to sit on their lead and
could have made it four on 77 minutes following a great piece of one-touch
play from the Hammers involving Payet, Creswell, Song and substitute Lanzini
who just fired over from close-range.

The Hammers were still searching for a fourth goal and Moses saw his shot
cleared off the line by Shane Duffy on 82 minutes. But it was all over when
Emenike added his second of the game on 85 minutes. Payet played the perfect
through ball for the Nigerian forward who showed a great piece of skill to
take the ball around Steele and he slotted the ball into the back of the
net. It was a superb full debut from Emenike and he was denied a memorable
hat-trick when he was clean through on goal two minutes later but saw his
shot strike the post. Payet completed the rout when he made it five in
injury time with a superb finish from the edge of the box. It was a day to
remember for the seven thousand West Ham United fans who made the long trip
up from London and showed magnificent support once again. They will now be
dreaming of going all the way in the FA Cup this season.

Blackburn Rovers: Steele; Marshall, Duffy, Ward (c), Henley; Bennett,
Lenihan, Akpan, Taylor, Conway (Jackson 58mins); Brown (Watt 77mins)
Subs not used: Raya, Kilgallon, Hanley,, J Gómez, Evans
Bookings: Taylor, Lenihan
Red Card: Taylor

West Ham United: Randolph; Antonio, Collins, Ogbonna (Oxford 78mins),
Cresswell; Noble (c) (Song 72mins), Kouyate, Obiang (Lanzini 66mins); Moses,
Emenike, Payet
Subs not used: Adrian, Henry, Parfitt-Williams, Browne
Red Card: Kouyate
Referee: Jonathan Moss

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Emenike - I could have had more goals
WHUFC.com

West Ham United striker Emmanuel Emenike was thrilled to score two goals on
his first full start for the Club and felt he could have scored more after
they thrashed Blackburn 5-1 in the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final. Emenike
showed his quality with an impressive brace and played his part in a superb
display at Ewood Park. Emenike said: "I could have had more but I want to
thank god for today and for the victory. I also want to thank the
management. "The game was open when it was ten against ten and we could have
scored more. I am happy with my goals and for the team."

West Ham United captain Mark Noble has nothing but praise for the way
Emenike has settled into his new surroundings and took his chance straight
away. Noble said: "Obviously we lost out on Andy (Carroll) during the week
but Emenike has come in and has been great for us today. "I have said what I
think about him. He is a top player and a top pro. To be fair Dimitri has
been there and scored goals but Emenike has come in for his first start and
to get a couple of goals in the FA Cup is fantastic for him. "He has waited
a long time to get this move into the Premier League and I am over the moon
for him. You can see how happy he is. "You can see the options we had from
the bench today with Songy and Manuel coming on which is great. We are
looking strong. It was a tough opening 20 minutes and it was what we
expected from a proud club but we got hold of the game and got back into it
with a couple of bits of magic."

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Bilic - It was a real team performance
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic had nothing but praise for his players
and felt it was a real team effort after they came away with an emphatic 5-1
win over Blackburn in the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final. Dimitri Payet and
Emmenuel Emenike stole the headlines for the Hammers after they both netted
a brace in a superb display at Ewood Park. It was an extra special day for
Emenike who marked his first full start for the club with two impressive
goals and he could have easily scored a hat-trick. Bilic was thrilled to see
his new signing among the goals so quickly but also had praise for the way
his team came together and produced a fantastic performance. Bilic said: "I
know Dimitri Payet and Emenike will get all the headlines but it is
basically the team (that should get praise) like it always is. "They are
fantastic players. We have pace with Emenike, Moses, Antonio and we have
Payet and Lanzini. You just need to run into space and you know they are
going to give you the ball. We have stability. "We put in a great
performance. It is the team that is putting our front players in those
positions. "After the first 20 minutes we played fantastic. We really played
great football and it looked easy but we know Blackburn are a big club. "We
saw the results on Saturday but we made it look easier than it was because
our performance was spot on."

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FA Cup Quarter Final draw details
WHUFC.com

West Ham United have been drawn to face Shrewsbury or Manchester United away
from home in the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final. After producing an emphatic
5-1 victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park the Hammers will be full of
confidence as they prepare for another away tie in the last eight
The Quarter Final ties will be played over the weekend 11-14 March 2016.
Shrewsbury and Manchester United play their Fifth Round tie on Monday night
and the Hammers will be eagerly awaiting the winner. Ticket details for the
Quarter Final tie will be confirmed shortly.

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Dicks hails 'calm' Bilic
WHUFC.com

Julian Dicks has revealed the secret behind Slaven Bilic's outstanding first
season as West Ham United manager, and you might be surprised what it is.
Calmness.

Bilic is loved by the Claret and Blue Army in part due to the demonstrative
passion he shows in the technical area during each and every game.
But coaching assistant Dicks – who roomed with the gaffer during the pair's
time as West Ham players – says it is Bilic's composed demeanour in the
dressing room that is spreading confidence through his players. "What's
impressed me most about Slaven is how calm he is," Dicks revealed. "We have
had bad games and started off slowly in games, and three or four times we've
gone two-nil down, but at half-time the gaffer is so calm.
"Sometimes players need a kick up the backside, we know that, but at
half-time he is so calm and in the second half they have gone out and been a
different team. The managers I've played under would give you a bit of a
hammering, but Slaven is the total opposite. "There's a good atmosphere
around the club at the moment. They are a good bunch of lads and work hard
in training. We all make mistakes and have bad games, which is part of
football, but they work hard and there's a very good atmosphere, as there
always is when you're playing well and winning games. The Terminator is
looking forward to seeing more than 7,200 Hammers at Ewood Park on Sunday,
where West Ham will attempt to beat Championship side Blackburn and reach
the Emirates FA Cup quarter finals. "We're taking over 7,000 fans to
Blackburn on Sunday and they are fantastic and just want to see their
players give 100 per cent," Dicks continued. "If you win or lose, there is a
way to lose. As long as the players give everything they have, that's all
you can ask for. "We know we have to be on top of our game to beat
Blackburn, who are a good side and a big club. It's the FA Cup and I've
played in many games where we've been beaten by so-called lesser teams, so I
know that if you're not on your job it becomes difficult."

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Blackburn Rovers 1-5 West Ham United
SUN, 21 FEB 2016FA CUP - FIFTH ROUND
By Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport

Dimitri Payet produced a virtuoso performance as West Ham fought back to
ease into the FA Cup quarter-finals at Championship side Blackburn.
The home team took the lead when right-back Ben Marshall tucked in a low
shot. Victor Moses's equaliser squirmed in and Payet's free-kick put West
Ham ahead before Blackburn were reduced to 10 men by Chris Taylor's red
card. Emmanuel Emenike converted twice either side of Cheikhou Kouyate's
dismissal, then Payet added a superb solo goal. The Hammers, who last won
the FA Cup in 1980, will travel to either Shrewsbury or Manchester United in
the last eight. It is only the second time in the past 10 seasons that they
have reached the quarter-finals.

Can the Hammers end their trophy drought?

West Ham have not won a major trophy for 36 years but, in their final season
at the Boleyn Ground, are hoping that they can take the FA Cup with them to
the Olympic Stadium. Hammers manager Slaven Bilic has previously said he
would rather win the trophy than finish in the Premier League top four, and
he showed his intent by picking a near full-strength side against the
Championship strugglers. And, despite that brief early scare after
Marshall's opener, the visitors never looked like becoming the victim of a
cup upset. Backed by over 7,000 travelling supporters, they quickly grew
into the game as their superior quality shone through. The Hammers, who had
won just one of their previous 10 away matches, completely controlled the
tie after Taylor's dismissal, with Blackburn constantly stretched by their
pace and sharp movement. "The sending-off was completely needless and
changed the course of the game," said BBC Radio 5 live summariser Mark
Lawrenson. "I'm not saying West Ham wouldn't have won but they wouldn't have
won so easily."

Blackburn 1-5 West Ham

France attacking midfielder Payet has been the star of West Ham's season,
impressing plenty of observers since his summer move from Marseille with his
vision, poise and technical ability. The 28-year-old showed again why he is
pivotal to the Hammers' hopes of winning the FA Cup with a masterful
performance at Ewood Park. He put the visitors ahead with a trademark
free-kick, arcing the ball over the Rovers wall from almost 30 yards and
into the corner. Not for the first time this season, Payet was not always
constantly involved in the game - but it is his ability to burst into life
with devastating effect which is so impressive. In the final stages, his
precise throughball teed up Emenike's second goal before sealing the match
with a wonderful solo run and finish.

Payet has now been involved in 17 goals in all competitions for the Hammers
since his arrival, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists.
No wonder Hammers boss Bilic, who was warmly embraced by Payet on the
touchline after his first goal, was so pleased to tie him down to an
improved contract. "Dimitri is one of the very best, in terms of the players
that I've played with and coached. He is up there with Luka Modric," said
Bilic afterwards.

Back to Championship survival for Blackburn

Blackburn, who are sixth bottom in the Championship, are understandably
prioritising safety over a run into the latter stages of the FA Cup, with
Lambert insisting he did not want a replay because of the knock-on effect on
his side's schedule. And he was granted his wish by some dismal defending.
Despite their lowly league position, Rovers have only conceded 27 goals in
30 matches but were the architects of their downfall against the Hammers.
The home defence retreated as Moses ran forward to score the equaliser, with
not one Blackburn player attempting to stop the on-loan Chelsea winger.
Steele did not cover himself in glory either, looking understandably upset
with himself for not making a seemingly simple save. Rovers started both
halves impressively, playing at a high tempo and trying to push back their
Premier League opponents. But once Taylor received his second yellow card -
the first for tripping Payet, who then scored from the free-kick, and
another for needlessly clipping Moses - they were totally outclassed as the
Hammers ran riot.

Man of the match - Dimitri Payet

Who else? Two goals, an assist and the creation of six other chances makes
West Ham attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet the obvious choice
Post-match reaction

Blackburn manager Paul Lambert:

"I thought for 55 minutes we were very good and well in the game. "Their
first goal I thought Jason Steele should save, then the sending-off kills
us. It opens the game up. It's hard enough against 11 let alone 10."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic:

"We played some fantastic football. It was down to team work and we were
solid. "We passed the ball and the only way to kill them was penetrate them
when we could. In those situations we have pace in Emenike, Moses, Antonio
and Cresswell, with Payet and Lanzini who can get the ball in.
"It looked easier than we thought but it was us who made it easier."

What's next?

Back to league action for both teams. West Ham, who are seventh in the
Premier League and chasing European qualification, host
relegation-threatened Sunderland on Saturday. But Blackburn only have three
days to recover, going to high-flying Derby on Wednesday as they aim to
extend their eight-point gap on the relegation zone.

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Blackburn 1-5 West Ham: Hammers cruise into FA Cup quarter-finals
By Sam Drury
Last Updated: 21/02/16 6:21pm
SSN

West Ham came from a goal down to thrash Blackburn 5-1 at Ewood Park and
reach their first FA Cup quarter-final for five years. The Championship side
took the lead in Sunday's fifth-round tie through Ben Marshall in the first
half but were 2-1 down by the break as Victor Moses equalised before Dimitri
Payet scored the first of two goals when he curled in a fine free-kick.
Rovers' task became that bit harder as Chris Taylor was sent off for a
second bookable offence early in the second period and the Hammers made
their man advantage count soon after, as Emmanuel Emenike tapped in to score
on his full debut for the club. Even the sending off of Cheikhou Kouyate for
a professional foul did nothing to halt West Ham's momentum as Emenike
scored again, and Payet added his second with a fine solo strike in
stoppage-time. After a slow start, West Ham started to find their rhythm but
they were given a shock in the 20th minute as Marshall fired Blackburn in
front. There looked to be little danger as a Blackburn corner was headed out
to the right-back 25 yards out. However, in a flash, he brought the ball
under control, cut inside Payet and fired the ball left-footed into the near
corner past Darren Randolph.

The home fans' joy was short-lived, though, as Moses was allowed to pick up
the ball in the centre circle and run unchallenged to the edge of the area
before shooting past Jason Steele six minutes later. Steele might have done
better with a ball that sneaked under his hands but he could do little about
West Ham's second. Taylor was shown a yellow card for pulling back Payet and
the Frenchman added to his woes, curling his free-kick over the wall and
into the top corner from 25 yards (36). Slaven Bilic's side were in complete
control for the remainder of the half but it was Blackburn who began the
second period the stronger. However, moments after Craig Conway saw his
goal-bound effort blocked inside the six-yard box, Rovers were down to 10
men.

Taylor clipped Moses as the winger looked to break and referee Jonathan Moss
had little choice but to produce a second yellow and then the red card. That
allowed West Ham to regain the upper hand and within nine minutes of
Taylor's sending off, they had added their third. After Steele denied
Michail Antonio one-on-one, the ball eventually came to Kouyate with just
the goalkeeper to beat. However, the midfielder unselfishly squared it for
Emenike (64) to convert from six yards. At that stage, it seemed only a
matter of how many for West Ham, but the hosts were given a glimmer of hope
with 15 minutes remaining as Kouyate tripped Elliott Bennett as he burst
into the box. The referee deemed that a goalscoring opportunity had been
denied and showed Kouyate a straight red card. Ultimately though, it had
little impact on the game as West Ham ran in a further two goals in the last
five minutes.

First, Payet clipped a ball over the top for Emenike to run onto, the
striker keeping his composure, throwing in a step-over before rounding
Steele to score his second (85). Payet then added gloss (90+2), receiving
the ball on the halfway line, before beating his man with his first touch,
cutting inside and beating another, then burying his shot inside the near
post. It was a fitting finale as West Ham marched into the last eight.

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic compares Dimitri Payet to Luka Modric after FA
Cup win
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 21/02/16 5:27pm
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic likened playmaker Dimitri Payet to Real
Madrid's Luka Modric after the Frenchman inspired their 5-1 FA Cup win at
Blackburn. Rovers, who played the last 35 minutes with 10 men after Chris
Taylor's sending off, took the lead through Ben Marshall, but Victor Moses'
first goal for five months - courtesy of an error by goalkeeper Jason Steele
- and a Payet free-kick turned things around before the break. Emmanuel
Emenike added two in the second half and, after Cheikhou Kouyate had seen
red, Payet fittingly finished things off with a brilliant individual effort.
"I haven't seen better players than that. He is also doing the dirty work
and on the ball he is up there with Luka Modric from the players I have
trained so far," said Bilic, who coached Modric at international level with
Croatia. "Dimitri is one of the best I have trained and every week I want
those questions [about him] to continue, but it is hard to be surprised. "I
have to get some poetry lessons to describe his importance to us."

Bilic did not agree with the red card shown to Kouyate, who sent Blackburn
left-back Adam Henley flying just as he was about to burst into the penalty
area. "I haven't seen the replay, but from my position I am not happy with
that," he added. "I know the ball went to Randy [Darren Randolph] our keeper
so it is definitely not a goalscoring opportunity. "A foul okay, but not a
red card so we are going to appeal and I think we have a really strong
case."

Blackburn boss Paul Lambert admitted his side were up against it once they
went down to 10 men. "Up until the second goal I thought we were doing
really well. We got the goal and made a fist of it," he said. "The first
goal was the centre of the goal and Jason nine times out of 10 would have
saved it. "He has been excellent for us this season, but he will know he
should have done better. The second goal is a terrific free-kick.
"In the second half we started well and then Taylor gets the sending-off and
that changes the game."

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic compares Dimitri Payet to Luka Modric after FA
Cup win
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 21/02/16 5:27pm
The Mirror

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic likened playmaker Dimitri Payet to Real
Madrid's Luka Modric after the Frenchman inspired their 5-1 FA Cup win at
Blackburn. Rovers, who played the last 35 minutes with 10 men after Chris
Taylor's sending off, took the lead through Ben Marshall, but Victor Moses'
first goal for five months - courtesy of an error by goalkeeper Jason Steele
- and a Payet free-kick turned things around before the break. Emmanuel
Emenike added two in the second half and, after Cheikhou Kouyate had seen
red, Payet fittingly finished things off with a brilliant individual effort.
"I haven't seen better players than that. He is also doing the dirty work
and on the ball he is up there with Luka Modric from the players I have
trained so far," said Bilic, who coached Modric at international level with
Croatia. "Dimitri is one of the best I have trained and every week I want
those questions [about him] to continue, but it is hard to be surprised. "I
have to get some poetry lessons to describe his importance to us."

Bilic did not agree with the red card shown to Kouyate, who sent Blackburn
left-back Adam Henley flying just as he was about to burst into the penalty
area. "I haven't seen the replay, but from my position I am not happy with
that," he added. "I know the ball went to Randy [Darren Randolph] our keeper
so it is definitely not a goalscoring opportunity. "A foul okay, but not a
red card so we are going to appeal and I think we have a really strong
case."

Blackburn boss Paul Lambert admitted his side were up against it once they
went down to 10 men. "Up until the second goal I thought we were doing
really well. We got the goal and made a fist of it," he said. "The first
goal was the centre of the goal and Jason nine times out of 10 would have
saved it. "He has been excellent for us this season, but he will know he
should have done better. The second goal is a terrific free-kick.
"In the second half we started well and then Taylor gets the sending-off and
that changes the game."

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West Ham FA Cup hero Angelo Ogbonna reveals he is lucky to be alive after
horror car crash
10:53, 21 FEB 2016 UPDATED 10:53, 21 FEB 2016
BY JAMES WHALING
The Italian flew off a bridge into a stream seven years ago, and now counts
his lucky stars he is able to play football
The Mirror

West Ham's FA Cup hero Angelo Ogbonna has revealed he is lucky to alive
after a horror car crash suffered seven years ago. The Italian was just 20
when he lost control of his car in the suburbs of Turin, flying off a bridge
into a stream in an incident similar to the one that killed British band
Viola Beach in Sweden last week. Ogbonna was the toast of Upton Park when he
headed a last-minute extra-time winner against Liverpool in the fourth round
of the FA Cup 12 days ago. He is now preparing for a fifth-round tussle with
Championship outfit Blackburn, but is just grateful to be able to play
football after the accident. "I'm just lucky to be here alive and playing
football," he told The Sun. "It was sad to hear what happened to Viola
Beach. Unlike them, I was very lucky." Ogbonna was pulled from the wreckage
by emergency services and rushed to hospital, where medics claimed it was a
miracle he survived after suffering injuries to his chest. "I don't like to
be reminded about that period because it was a very close situation," he
added. "It was a dark part of my history and I want to hide it away from my
memory. "I'm just happy and lucky to now be here as a Premier League
footballer because I may not have been here at all."

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Tottenham and West Ham set for £25m transfer fight over Marseille striker
Michy Batshuayi
22:30, 16 FEB 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Title-chasing Spurs are confident — but the Hammers think his former
team-mate Dimitri Payet's success with them will win the Belgian over
The Mirror

Tottenham are locked in a tug of war with London neighbours and rivals West
Ham over £25million-rated striker Michy Batshuayi. The title-chasing north
Londoners are confident of luring the Belgian, who they have been tracking
for over a year, to White Hart Lane. Spurs believe their chances will
increase even further if they win the league or secure Champions League
football. But West Ham reckon the success of Dimitri Payet - a former
team-mate of Batshuayi's at Marseille - will tempt the marksman to join them
instead. The Irons have received enough encouragement to believe that the
player could make their attack even stronger when they take up residence at
the Olympic Stadium next season. Payet has been sensational at Upton Park
since signing for the Irons last summer for just £10.75million. His
performances have earned him rave reviews and a new £125,000-a-week deal.
Batshuayi, 22, has scored 15 goals this season. Mirror Sport first revealed
Tottenham's interest in him last July. But Marseille blocked his sale and
the player resolved to focus on trying to force his way into the Belgium
squad for this summer's European Championship. Batshuayi has also signed a
new deal at Marseille running until 2020. That did not stop Stoke joining
the chase for his services, however, with a £21m offer on the final weekend
of the January transfer window. Newcastle are also interested but the player
is understood to be keen on a move to London, leaving Spurs and West Ham as
favourites.

* WEST HAM striker Diafra Sakho is desperate to return from his thigh injury
in time to deliveron his promise to score 20 goals this season.
The Senegal frontman has been out since November, and has netted just five
times so far. He is expected back later this month and said: "I'm going to
try right until the end to keep to my word. My recovery's going very well.
"Even though it's been a lot quicker than what I'd thought, I'm in a hurry
to come back because I promised to score 20 goals. "At the moment I'm only
on five in all competitions. So that leaves 15."

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FA Cup draw means last game could move
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham drew Shrewsbury Town or Manchester United away in the FA
quarter-final draw this evening. While we all might become Shrewsbury fans
for 24 hours tomorrow, the likelihood is that Manchester United will
overcome and that would mean one of us is guaranteed to make the FA Cup semi
finals.

That would mean our Premier league match on 23rd April would need to be
re-scheduled.

If Manchester United also progress to the Europa league Semi finals to be
played on 28th April and 5th May it would make re-scheduling very difficult
the proceeding week. Manchester United face FC Midtylland this coming
Thursday in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League. Manchester Utd are 2-1
down from the first leg last week.

Manchester United could be scheduled the week after when we play Swansea for
our last game at the Boleyn ground. A midweek evening game before Sunday
15th May when we face Stoke City away being the most obvious period to
re-schedule that match

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Three deeply emotional moments at Ewood Park
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

There were three fabulous moments away from the actual play itself at Ewood
Park this afternoon and for this old fool they were emotional and thoroughly
moving. It was a truly great sight to watch Dimi's free kick sail over the
Rovers wall and into the top corner – a sublime moment of magic – but what
followed was quite fabulous. The midfield maestro clearly only had one
thought on his mind following the goal: "Where's the boss?" And with that he
made off to the touchline and the dug-out where he shared an emotional
embrace from our managerial mastermind. As the top man in the dressing room
it was a great insight into the esteem this manager is held in by the
players after just seven months in the job.

The second moment came midway through the second half when – although we
have heard muted versions at the Boleyn – for the first time in many years
the manager was saluted with his own chant louder than at any time in a long
time. It was great to hear from the 8,000 travelling faithful 'Super Slav,
super Slav Supe Slaven Bilic ringing around the ground- THANKS ALL OF YOU.

But it was Dimi who produced the most heart tugging moment of all when he
went over the Claret and Blue Army after the game and selected one little
lad to be the lucky recipient of his short, brushed his hair and said
something along the lines of "There you are son, that's for you."
Such great days to see the fans, players and manager as one and what a
difference to the way things were just a year ago.

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Classy Irons complete Rovers rout
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Blackburn Rovers 1 Irons 5

And still Diafra Sakho to come …..!

That was my first reaction following a victory as classy and complete a
victory as we are likely to see from our team and yes I can hear the
reminders now from the cynical that it was only Blackburn Rovers. But to
score five goals – of the highest quality – against any team does, as anyone
who has played the game knows, takes some doing. And to see Manu and his
mate Dimi together again causing havoc was a joy as the Irons passed and
created their way past the ever diminishing reserves of energy and ability
of the Championship side. Michael Owen summed it all up on BT Sportwhen he
said: "Make no mistake, West Ham are a good side – they really are. They
have a real chance in this competition. These are exciting times to be a
Hammer. It must be absolutely great to go to Upton Park every week to watch
players of this ability."

Despite the shock of an early goal – a speculative effort from around 22
yards – the Hammers hit back within six minutes when Victor Moses ran from
just past the halfway line to fire home from just outside the box. The Dimi
"passed " home a glorious free kick over the wall after being brought down
before Kouyate unselfishly set up Emenike for the third. Soon after the
Senegal midfielder was sent off for a trip on Elliot Bennett as he arrived
in the box. Earlier Blackburn's Taylor had seen red for a trip on Moses.

However, the Hammers continued on their merry way with Payet and Emenike
completing the rout of the Rovers. Manu Lanzini was introduced half way
through the second half – a perfect time to return with the team on cruise
control and looked very good. Moses was special but a three match ban for
Kouyate was the one downside of a very special afternoon indeed. Surely even
the most sceptical will surely now be believing that this really could be
our FA Cup year. With Sakho back we are set up for an amazing end to the
season – I've given up wondering how far this team can go – we really are a
match for any out there.

COYI

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OS capacity could increase to 70,000
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham Chairman, David Gold confirmed yesterday that the club has applied
for permission to increase the Olympic Stadium capacity to 60,000 to meet
demand. Last night he further confirmed a 60,000 capacity is not the end and
there are further possibilities to increase further to meet demand. The
rebuilt stadium currently has 66,510 seats in football mode and if the
sightlines are good enough they could be sold in the band 5 £289 season
ticket category. There are further possibilities which include infilling the
gaps between the lower and upper tiers if a way can be engineered to create
good sightlines which could add another 3,500 to take it to 70,000. An
increase beyond 60,000 would put the Hammers ahead of Manchester City, and
the recently expanded Etihad stadium which now holds 55,000 fans, we would
also surpass Arsenal's Emirates stadium which has just over 60,000 seats.
Even Spurs' new stadium is only designed to hold 61,000 while Chelsea's
redeveloped Stamford Bridge will boast 60,000.

Should capacity increase to 66,000 or 70,000 in the future, the only club in
England left with a greater capacity will be Manchester United, whose Old
Trafford stadium can hold 76,000 spectators.

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