Daily WHUFC News - 6th February 2016

Preview - Southampton
WHUFC.com

The background

West Ham United travel to St Mary's Stadium on Saturday 6 February to face
Ronald Koeman's Southampton, with the Hammers looking to extend their
unbeaten run to four games. Slaven Bilic's men have been in good form of
late drawing with Manchester City and Liverpool before cruising to victory
at home to Aston Villa. Saturday's hosts Southampton themselves are in
terrific form too. After wins over Watford and West Brom, a late Charlie
Austen winner secured a 1-0 win away at Old Trafford before securing a
valuable point away at Arsenal.
In the reverse fixture in late December, the Hammers came from behind to
secure a 2-1 win after second half goals from Michail Antonio, his first for
the club, and substitute Andy Carroll. Going into the match, the Hammers
are sixth with 39 points, while Southampton are just a place below in
seventh, five points behind.

The history

Saturday's game represents the 101st competitive meeting between the two
sides, and as omens go, the Hammers have just shaded this fixture with 39
wins in all to competitions to the Saints' 31.

Slightly more ominous, is the fact that the Hammers have not won away at
Southampton since November 2000. That day, Trevor Sinclair struck the
all-important winner in a 3-2 victory after Frederic Kanoute and Stuart
Pearce both scored inside a three minute period.

Last season, the two sides played out a 0-0 draw which saw Adrian sent off,
although his dismissal was later rescinded.

Match info

Team news

West Ham United

The Hammers may well welcome Andy Carroll back into the matchday squad as
Slaven Bilic hinted in his pre-match press conference.New signing Emmanuel
Emenike may also make the cut after signing on loan. However, the Hammers
are waiting to see if Angelo Ogbonna has recovered from illness. Sam Byram,
Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho are all unavailable.

Southampton

New signing Charlie Austin faces a race against time to recover from a
knock, however he could feature in some capacity. As might Steve Davis.
Jay Rodriguez is still out as is Florian Gardos.

Match details

Saturday's match referee is Mark Clattenberg. The experienced official has
dished out a total of 845 yellow cards and 43 reds in 259 games.
Clattenberg has taken charge of two West Ham games this season, the 3-1 win
away at Crystal Palace and the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. In games involving
Southampton, Clattenberg has been at the helm of defeats to Manchester
United and Norwich City.
The assistant referees will be Stuart Burt and Richard West. The fourth
official is Neil Swarbrick.
Originally, scheduled for Monday 8 February, the match has been brought
forward to Saturday, 5.30pm. The game is live on Sky Sports.
Tickets, travel, coverage and other info
Click here for latest travel news by train, and here for news on the roads.
A wet and windy day is expected on the south coast, with temperature at
kick-off of 11C.
If you are not heading to the game remember you can stay in touch with
proceedings on our digital channels. The whufc.com live match centre will
carry live audio commentary, text updates, in-running stats, photos and
more. You can also get involved in the conversation on social using #SOUWHU

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Diangana targeting success over Seagulls
WHUFc.com

Explosive winger Grady Diangana is targeting more goals as the West Ham
United U18s play their last game of the regular season away at Brighton &
Hove Albion on Saturday 06 February. The 17-year-old has been one of the
standout performers for the Hammers this term, scoring seven goals as well
as providing a raft of assists. Looking ahead to Saturday's trip to face the
Seagulls, Diangana said: "Overall this season we have done well. We had a
slight dip in the middle, but now we've won our last three games. "Hopefully
we can finish off with a win and try and get into the top four play-off
positions."
Earlier in the season, Diangana scored the all-important goal in the reverse
fixture back in October with a clinical close range finish. Having impressed
for the U18s, Diangana earned his place in the Development Squad side which
drew 1-1 away at league leaders Derby County. In a tight affair, it was the
winger's incisive through ball that set Luka Belic free to break the
deadlock. Diangana continued: "I was pleased with my performance, and I hope
to make more appearances for the Dev Squad toward the end of the season."
The U18s play Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 6 February, kick off at
American Express Elite Performance Centre is 11am. Find out how the young
Hammers fare by following @whufc_official and whufc.com.

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Noble - We are looking forward to every game
WHUFC.com

West Ham United captain Mark Noble admits the players are relishing the
number of games they are facing and hopes to celebrate another memorable
week by beating Southampton on Saturday and making it through to the
Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round.

The Hammers maintained their position in the top six with another impressive
home victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night.

Despite the number of injuries which affected the squad in the build-up to
Christmas, the players showed their quality to keep the good run of results
going.

With Andy Carroll back in the squad and Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini not
far away from a first-team return, the signs are looking even more promising
for the final few months of the campaign.

And Noble hopes they will be able to maintain their good run of form and
make it a memorable end to the final ever season at the Boleyn Ground.

Noble said: "We're fit, we're ready to play. We've got Southampton at 5:30pm
on Saturday, then the Cup next Tuesday's going to be another exciting game
for the fans.

"The games come thick and fast, but there's only three months of the season
left, and with the way we're playing, with the enthusiasm and confidence
we've got, we're looking forward to every game.

"We went over the Christmas period having to rely on some players who
weren't fully fit, and other players who hadn't played any football for us
before, and we came out unbeaten.

"Since then, we beat Liverpool at home, we beat Southampton at home, we drew
with Manchester City, and we've only lost one in 13 in the League and Cup.

"Going unbeaten over Christmas, whether they're draws or not, you're still
picking up points. When you lose games, you get a bad feeling around the
training ground, but we were drawing, and now we've come out the other side
with players back and we're winning games again.

"We're sixth in the table, our highest position ever in the Premier League
at this point in the season. Why would we want to get in this position and
waste it?

"The expectations are there because of the teams we've beaten and the
results we've had. That's what's going to happen if you keep winning games.

"We've got a lot of players coming back fresh, we've just signed another
centre forward, so things are looking up. We just need to keep playing and
working the way we do, and see where we are at the end of the season."

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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com

Hello everyone,

I was really pleased with the 2-0 win against Aston Villa.

The game was a bit of a struggle; as those types of fixtures often are. You
couldn't help but think after they went down to ten men that it would be
easier but that wasn't the case.

They defended well and parked the bus and you could almost see their ten
defenders behind the ball every time we attacked. You ended up thinking it
was going to be 0-0 and that would have been an injustice.

In the end a piece of brilliance from Mark Noble was the difference as
Michail Antonio nodded his sublime pass into the bottom corner.

The second was a classic breakaway goal. They pushed up chasing the
equaliser and Enner Valencia and Cheik Kouyate did brilliantly to capitalise
on the chance and put the game beyond them.

We now take our excellent form to Southampton on Saturday. It's going to be
another tough game but we're on a winning streak and now haven't lost at
home in eleven games, with one defeat in 13 games in all competitions.

It's quite remarkable from the point of view of being in the Premier League.
You're playing Manchester City, you're playing Chelsea and Liverpool –
great, great football clubs. But we have deserved it. We always thought when
players came back from injury we would get over our little slump from before
Christmas and that has been the case.

In the past six years I've been at West Ham, you go to away games thinking
'can we get a point'? Now there isn't one club I go to where I don't think
we're going to get something.

We were a bit disappointed that we didn't get a point at Newcastle but you
can't say that it wasn't deserved. We will go to Southampton believing that
we can get something. We must keep telling ourselves that we are a good
side. We're not sixth in the table because we're lucky, we're sixth in the
table because we've earned it.

Since I arrived in the Premier League, I have always said it is the greatest
league in the world, despite the fact that it was dominated by a handful of
clubs. Now when you see Leicester City breaking in, Southampton there last
year and now we're there in sixth, not just on goal difference but on merit,
it is quite remarkable. All football fans should celebrate the progress
clubs like ours are making.

Andy Carroll should be back from injury on Saturday and the physios tell me
that Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho are not far behind him. They are not
squad players, they are key players for this Club and their return will give
us another huge boost.

Tuesday's game also saw us celebrate our famous Academy with some familiar
faces returning to the Boleyn Ground. We should also remember that our
current Academy is doing a great job. Every time I visit whufc.com and I see
that the U18s have won again or the U21s are unbeaten.

Terry Westley is doing a fantastic job in revamping our Academy and pushing
the latest talent into the first-team picture. We're seeing Reece Oxford and
Josh Cullen on the bench for all of the first-team games and I know there
are more behind them.

I would like to conclude by thanking the hundreds of Season Ticket Holders,
Founders and Priority List members who attended our fans' forum at the
Boleyn Ground on Tuesday. It was great night and I enjoyed listening to and
discussing the issues that mattered most to them.

I think we all have a great deal to look forward to and it is fantastic to
see that we are all working together to take our special club forward.

David Gold

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Southampton v West Ham United
Venue: St. Mary's Stadium
Southampton v West Ham United
Barclays Premier League
Venue: St Mary's Stadium Date: Saturday, 6 February

TEAM NEWS

Southampton forward Charlie Austin has shaken off a knock and is set to make
his home debut for the club. Steven Davis is doubtful with a hamstring
injury while Matt Targett is out with an ankle injury.

West Ham's Andy Carroll is fit after a hamstring problem and January signing
Emmanuel Emineke is also available. Angelo Ogbonna and Sam Byram could
return from illness and injury respectively, but Diafra Sakho and Manuel
Lanzini remain out.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

John Roder: "The return of Fraser Forster to full fitness has given
Southampton a huge boost. The giant goalkeeper has yet to concede a goal as
Southampton have returned to form, and he was outstanding in the draw at
Arsenal on Tuesday. "West Ham arrive at St Mary's one place and five points
ahead of the Saints, with just one defeat in their last 11 in the league.
"The Hammers' FA Cup replay against Liverpool means this match was switched
back to Saturday with just seven days of notice. I really hope this late
change hasn't inconvenienced too many."

Twitter: @johnrodercomm

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "We hope to get more consistency, because
that's one of our ambitions that we had at the start of the season, to have
a more regular season. "It's the Premier League and it's so difficult to get
a good run, and to change it if you are in a bad run. "We know what we have
to do. The confidence is totally back in the team after the last few
results."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Southampton forward Charlie Austin: "He's a
great player. He has proved himself - he's not one of those who has only
done it in the Championship. "He did it last year in the Premier League,
scoring many goals for a team who were relegated, so for that money he
should be a great buy. "He would definitely be a player with quality enough
to play for West Ham. But we had different targets, we have really good
strikers and we were looking for different type of players."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

West Ham's good form has taken them into sixth but Saints are also on an
impressive run, including their excellent point at Arsenal on Tuesday.
So I am going to go for Ronald Koeman's side to edge this one, although it
will be close. Prediction: 2-1

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

The last three meetings at Southampton have ended all square - including
goalless draws in the last two.
West Ham have never won a game at St Mary's Stadium (D4, L2), scoring just
two goals.
Their last win away to Southampton was a 3-2 victory at The Dell in November
2000, when Trevor Sinclair scored the winner. That was also the last season
they did the league double over Saints.
Southampton

Saints have won their last three Premier League home games, scoring nine
unanswered goals.
Southampton have registered four consecutive Premier League clean sheets -
they last kept five in a row back in 2001 during an eventual run of seven
games without conceding.
Fraser Forster has kept four clean sheets in his four top-flight appearances
for Southampton since his return from injury, saving all 12 shots he has
faced.
West Ham United

The Hammers have lost just one of their last 13 games in league and cup (W5,
D7).
After winning four of their first five Premier League away games this
season, West Ham have won just one of the last seven on the road (D3, L3).
West Ham have only conceded 36% of their goals in the second half of games -
the lowest proportion in the Premier League.
Enner Valencia has been directly involved in five of West Ham's last seven
goals in the Premier League, scoring four and assisting another.

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West Ham hoping to nullify Saints new boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th February 2016
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic is hoping his team can do their talking on the pitch when they
face Southampton - and new signing Charlie Austin - at St Mary's tomorrow
afternoon.

Former Queens Park Rangers striker Austin is set to play aginst West Ham for
the first time since comments made on the KUMB Podcast by co-owner David
Sullivan regarding his fitness made the back pages of the nationals.

And although he has largely kept his counsel this week, the 26-year-old will
no doubt be keen to prove Sullivan - who questioned his long-term fitness as
a result of a previous failed medical - wrong.

Speaking on the KUMB Podcast last August, Sullivan - who was responding to a
question from a fan asking why West Ham hadn't made an approach for the
player - upset Austin when he said: "They say he has no ligaments in his
knee, who knows?

"To sign a player for £15million is a big risk. He could go on for years,
but knowing our luck his knee will go in his first game and that's the end
of it!

"If we had £100million to spend we may say 'we'll spend £15million and
gamble one-sixth of our budget'. But it's not one-sixth of our budget, it'd
smash our budget to bits.

"If he'd kept QPR up single-handedly you might say it was different. 16
goals [last season] is still very good, but when we played Queens Park
Rangers last year they had to win to stand any chance of staying up - and he
wasn't very good [that day]."

Austin eventually left QPR last month for a bargain £4million - a fee than
Bilic, whose task it is to keep Austin in check tomorrow, believes was
excellent value for money.

"He has proved himself - he's not one of those who has only done it in the
Championship," said Bilic during his pre-match press conference yesterday.
"It was a bit of a surprise that he went for that kind of money. In England
that is a small transfer.

"He would definitely be a player with quality enough to play for West Ham,
and for most teams in the Premier League. But we had different targets and
we were looking for different type of players. That is the reason [we didn't
try to buy him], not his quality."

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Gale fears for Olympic Stadium atmosphere
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 5th February 2016
By: Staff Writer

Tony Gale admits that he'll be 'absolutely gutted' when West Ham leave the
Boleyn Ground at the end of the season.

The former defender, 56, told the KUMB Podcast that whilst he understands
the club's reasons for leaving Upton Park, he is concerned that the Olympic
Stadium will not be able to produce the same kind of atmosphere for which
the Boleyn Ground has become renowned over the years.

"We'll have a nice bar, we'll have a nice lounge and we'll be able to get
there easily on the train and bus," he told Podcast presenters Chris Scull
and Bianca Westwood. "We'll be able to go through Westfield and do a bit of
shopping. Everything's going to be nice and it's all going to be right.

"But we've seen what's happened with Arsenal at the Emirates. They've got
more people in there, but it's dead. You have people coming from all over
Europe for the novelty value.

"Everything's going to be nicer and more luxurious, but when I was brought
up going to football wasn't about having a three-course meal.

"We'd walk down the embankment to Chelsea, we'd stop in a few pubs, I'd have
to sit outside and wait for my Dad and we'd go and watch the football. Maybe
we'd have a beefburger and then come home.

"Yes it's progress and there's a lot of money to be earned which goes back
into the club by buying better players and things like that, but without a
shadow of a doubt we are going to miss being at Upton Park.

"For the first year it'll be lovely - and then I think we'll all miss Upton
Park. We'll miss having to cram our way out of the tube station and all that
stuff! As ex-players we all meet up in the lounge at West Ham, are we all
going to be in different places at the Olympic Stadium? I don't know."

Gale - who was a member of the 'Boys of '86' squad who finished third in the
old First Division, West Ham's best-ever top flight season - also believes
that the club will find it difficult to replicate the special atmosphere
that night games at the Boleyn bring.

"Those game under the lights are the ones I'll miss," he said. "It was a
much better atmosphere as under the lights, we were a force.

"I wasn't at the Manchester City game but I could feel the atmosphere - and
then also on the radio in the car on the way home. Are we going to get that
at the Olympic Stadium?"

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I want Bilic To Do A Fergie
February 5, 2016
West Ham Way.co.uk
Bubbles Fanzine

How long does a manger get in a top Premier League job these days before
they get the sack or move on to pastures new? Three years is the most these
days it seems.

I feel quite disgusted with the situation over at Manchester City, their
manager knows he is getting the boot in the summer and who will replace him
a whole three months before the end of the season!
Van Gaal said when he took the United job that he will not stay in that job
longer than the three years on his contract either.

More and more these days football seems to be about the business side of
things rather than the football side of things, us fans have even been
referred to as customers by some club chairmen. The beautiful game as we
know it is changing the whole time.
Academies and the longevity of re-building a squad every four or five years
is no longer a thing, its all about the buying of top foreign imports for
crazy money and sacking the manager if it does not bring instant success in
the shape of trophies.

Despite everyone's passionate love of hating Manchester United, as a kid, I
always admired them in the Fergie era. He took over the year I was born, so
all I ever really knew growing up as a kid was them as a dominant force in
the English game. Every few years, Fergie would recycle his team, get rid of
the dead wood and bring on the next bunch of youth players, even if it meant
no instant success for a season or two, it didn't matter, his re-building
plan would ensure a really good squad of players would all gel together and
with a couple of very decent marquee signings here and there, his squad was
ready to challenge for honours again. This was a cycle he repeated over and
over again during his reign as the manager.

West Ham are about to enter what could be the most crucial phase of the
club's history with the move to the new stadium only a few months away, more
television money than you can shake a stick at and an already very decent
squad of players to use as a foundation; if things are done properly, the
Hammers will eventually be challenging for titles and cups.

The club has a pair of owners who love, breath sleep, eat , cry and bleed
West Ham and their business plan has turned the Hammers from being on the
brink of financial ruin to being in the top 20 list of the world's richest
football clubs. That in itself is mind-blowing and it deserves a doff of the
cap to Mr Sullivan and Mr Gold. They have also turned us from a selling
club to one that keeps its best players, something that only a few years ago
I thought I would never see as a Hammer.

So what's the cherry on the already very tasty cake that is West Ham United
Football Club? Slaven Bilic that's what. He is young, hungry, passionate,
gets what the club is all about, gets what us fans are all about and so far,
has shown that tactically he seems to know what he is doing and is not
afraid to make changes or even admit when he has made a mistake.

This season has been the definition of what the West Ham way is all about.
We lost 4-3 at home to Bournmouth but it was a thrilling game to watch, at
the same time, we have yet to lose to any of the "big teams" in the whole
season and it is already February.

Not only that, but we are seeing some great English and young players being
given a chance, Creswell and Byram look to be the future left and right
backs for England, we have a certain Reece Oxford who one day looks like he
will follow in Rio's footsteps as well. Add that to the established talents
of the likes of Lanzini, Sakho, Kouyate, Payet, Adrian, Randalph, Collins,
Reid, Tomkins (to name a handful!) and Bilic looks to be assembling quite
the squad!

This is where West Ham need to break the current Premier League trend. Bilic
will need to r-build this squad when some of the older players are too old
to play, he has a great academy to work with after all. The club has some
very promising youth talent and should Bilic be given a decade or so at the
helm, I can see him using a similar template as Sir Alex did at United.

I am not interested in seeing a Klopp or a Mourinho at West Ham, a three
year wonder who will win a cup here and there. I want Bilic to carry on
doing the job he is doing, backed by an immensely good board, backed by a
great stadium and the Premier League's money. Mark my words, if Bilic is in
charge for as long as Fergie was at United, there is no reason for him not
to achieve similar things.

We can see the foundations of success are already here, but the quick
success and sack formula isn't one I want to ever see at our beloved club,
longevity and re-building around our youth is the way forward.

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Charlie Austin a 'bargain' for Southampton, says Slaven Bilic
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 05/02/16 10:51am
SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits Southampton's £4m signing of striker
Charlie Austin in January is a bargain. West Ham were reportedly among a
host of clubs interested in signing the striker in the summer but were put
off by Queen Park Rangers' £15m asking price. Bilic opted to sign Dimitri
Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio, while Southampton snapped up
Austin for a cut-price £4m last month. The 26-year-old made an immediate
impact on his debut, scoring the winner against Manchester United at Old
Trafford, and could make his first start at St Mary's when Saints entertain
the Hammers on Saturday. "He's a great player," said Bilic. "He has proved
himself - he's not one of those who has only done it in the Championship.
He did it last year in the Premier League, scoring many goals for a team who
were relegated, so for that money he should be a great buy. "To add to that
he scored the winner at Old Trafford in his first game, so it's a flying
start for him. It was a bit of a surprise that he went for that kind of
money. In England that is a small transfer. "He would definitely be a player
with quality enough to play for West Ham, and for most teams in the Premier
League. "But we had different targets, we have really good strikers and we
were looking for different type of players. That is the reason (we didn't
try to buy him), not his quality."
While West Ham need to keep an eye on Austin at one end, they also have to
find a way past Fraser Forster at the other. The goalkeeper has yet to
concede since returning from a long-term injury last month, keeping four
clean sheets as Saints racked up three wins and a goalless draw at Arsenal
on Tuesday night. "He [Forster] is flying," added Bilic. "Since he came back
after injury they didn't concede a goal, so you can only imagine how
confident he is, and how confident the defence and the whole team is. "It's
a difficult time to play them, and a challenge for us, but we have answered
all our challenges really well so far. "We have respect for them and the way
they are playing, but also we are very confident."

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Southampton v West Ham preview: Charlie Austin hopes to start
Last Updated: 05/02/16 7:04pm
SSN

Charlie Austin returns to the Southampton team on Saturday to face a side
that passed up the chance to sign him.

West Ham were among a host of clubs interested in signing the striker last
summer but were put off by QPR's £15million asking price, while owner David
Sullivan had questioned his injury record.

Southampton snapped him up for £4m in January and after scoring the winner
at Manchester United on his debut, he will be hoping to make his first start
in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday evening.

Team news

Austin has shaken off the knock which kept him out of the midweek draw at
Arsenal, but full-back Matt Targett will miss out after picking up an ankle
injury in training.

Midfielder Steven Davis is also a doubt with a hamstring problem.

Slaven Bilic has been boosted in the striking department with both Andy
Carroll and Emmanuel Emenike in the squad for the game.

Carroll is fit after missing four matches with a hamstring injury and new
signing Emenike's work permit has come through following his loan switch
from Fenerbahce.

Sam Byram hopes to shake off a knock and fellow defender Angelo Ogbonna
should be fit after a bout of flu, but Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho (both
thigh) are still out.

Opta stats

Southampton have kept three consecutive clean sheets on home soil in the
Premier League; they last kept four in a row there in October 2013.

After winning four of their first five Premier League away games this season
(W4 D1 L0), West Ham have won just one of the last seven on the road (W1 D3
L3).

Saints have won just one of the last eight Premier League games with West
Ham (W1 D4 L3).

The last four Premier League meetings between Southampton and West Ham at St
Mary's have ended as draws.

West Ham haven't won both home and away against Southampton in the same
league season since 2000/01.

Fraser Forster has saved all 12 shots that he's faced in his four Premier
League appearances since his comeback from injury and is yet to concede a
goal in these matches. He has kept 17 clean sheets in 34 Premier League
games for Southampton, averaging one every other game for the club.

Merson's prediction

Southampton are doing well again. I was at the Emirates on Tuesday, they
rode their luck at times but they dug in to go a fourth game without
conceding. This has the makings of a good game, with West Ham in good form,
six points adrift of the top four. They'll have the FA Cup replay with
Liverpool on their mind but this West Ham team are a good team.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2

Betting

Southampton are Sky Bet's 4/6 favourites as West Ham (9/2) visit St Mary's,
with the draw priced at 13/5. The Saints are even-money to record a fifth
successive clean sheet and 6/4 to win to nil. Austin and Graziano Pelle
share favouritism in the first goalscorer market at 4/1 apiece, while Enner
Valencia is considered the visitors' biggest threat at 8/1 to net first.

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Bilic misses out
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 5, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic has failed to make the top two in the January Manager of the
Month competition. The Irons boss was nominated with winner Ronald Koeman,
runner-up Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester City's Manuel Pelligrini.
Koeman has been credited for having won three out four league games in the
first month of 2016 – finishing off with a 1-0 win at Manchester United
after beating West Brom and Watford. The Tottenham head coach to the award,
whose side also won three out of four in January but were beaten at home by
Leicester. Pellegrini's Manchester City team went unbeaten last month with
two draws and two wins, while the Irons beat Liverpool and Bournemouth and
drew with Man City.

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Amazing success story surpasses expectations
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 5, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

It's often worthwhile taking a long look back at possibly unpromising
situations and working out how they led us to a place of unexpected high
achievement. Two issues have prompted this thought – a column from the
Mirror's excellent Darren Lewis which I happened upon this morning and the
fact that Slaven Bilic's predecessor returns with his new club later this
month.
It's time to pause for thought! By wide agreement at the time Slav was in
for a very difficult time at West Ham United when he finally got the gig
last summer.

And Darren summed up his position perfectly when saying:

O West Ham courted the likes of Rafa Benitez, Jurgen Klopp, Unai Emery and
Marcelo Bielsa ahead of him for a reason: their records in club management
are all superior to his.
O he'd been sacked in Russia
O parted company with Besiktas
O and fan polls had him way behind some of his rival candidates for the
job, whose CVs stood up far better to scrutiny.

But showing his insider knowledge of things West Ham he added:

O West Ham plan to push the boat out this summer with five or six new
players arriving but said despite all that Bilic "has it all to prove at a
club where failure, in their final season at Upton Park ahead of their move
into London's Olympic Stadium, is not an option. "

It was a much fairer assessment of the situation than those pundits who
claimed that parting with Sam Allardyce was a huge gamble and that we'd all
live to regret it. It was a point of view that suggested West Ham would
remain a survival club forever under a boss who knew how to avoid relegation
which, whatever we may or may not think of him, is hardly the highest
ambition in the world. Truth is of course that many -even those who wanted
change which included the board – could not forecast with any certainty
exactly where Bilic would lead us.
What happened first and foremost – is that he made Dimi Payet his number one
target (he understood), gave the nod to Manu Lanzini and a late thumbs up to
Michail Antonio on deadline day.
He then set about fostering a of relationship with his players similar to
that he had at Croatia – which saw them lose just eight games in six years
under him. He has created a bond with the fans which seems unbelievable in
the short time he's been around and the board – who for all their assurances
to the contrary – have clearly been surprised by a man who certainly didn't
have the total backing of them all. The Slaven Bilic story of the last six
months has been one of the most extraordinary I've witnessed in football and
I hope and trust that come June the Irons bard sits down and gives him the
best contract ever offered to an Upton Park boss. Oh, and let's hear no talk
of one season wonders eh?

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Hammers try to help fans but big clubs win
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 5, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Premier League chairmen yesterday failed to give any help to away fans by
pegging the price of tickets at £30. The 20 clubs, despite being awash with
money over the next three seasons (£5.1bn domestic and £3bn overseas), were
divided by an 11/9 vote in favour at the end of the travelling away fans
debate which took up more time than any other issue in a five and a half
hour meeting. To succeed a minimum of 14 clubs will need to vote in favour
The big clubs – led it's believed by Arsenal were – as usual, against the
sensible and fair proposal to cap away tickets at £30. Claretand Hugh
understands that West Ham and Everton were vociferous in their support of
helping the fans by pegging the ticket costs. The issue will now be raised
again at the March meeting of Premier League chairman nd David Gold – an
advocate of pegging for years – will no doubt be battling with others to
push through the measure for next season

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No problems between Valencia and Slav
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 5, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Blic has turned a blind eye to Enner Valencia's "demonstration of
passion" when being subbed five minutes from the end of the 2-0 win over
Aston Villa. We had suggested in a blog last night that the striker may pay
a heavy price for what looked like a fit of pique but we were assured by
David Gold a few minutes ago there's no problems between the pair and are
more than happy to put the record straight and be proved wrong.

DG told us exclusively: "Very often Enner is restrained but he was clearly
enjoying his moment after laying on a brilliant inch perfect pass for
Kouyate's goal "I think Slav's view was to ensure that he took his reception
from the crowd but Ennre was so into things he just wanted to play on and
on. "I don't think there was anything unpleasant in it at all because had
their been the manager would have dealt with it there and then.
"Enner's on fire at the moment and perhaps didn't quite get the point of
what Slav was trying to achieve by letting him take the applause. There's no
problem at all between them."

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Michael Antonio knew he would have to work hard at West Ham but he has
eclipsed everything expected of him so far
Michail Antonio signed for West Ham United on deadline day in September
When he signed he admitted he didn't think he'd be involved so quickly
Antonio on joining: 'I'm going to have to work hard to get in the team'
The 25-year-old has scored three Premier League goals in six games
By LAURIE WHITWELL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:33, 5 February 2016 | UPDATED: 14:33, 5 February 2016

After Michail Antonio signed for West Ham United on transfer deadline day in
September his phone buzzed with a good luck text from a knowledgeable
well-wisher. His reply was prophetic: 'I'm going to have to work hard to get
in the team.' Antonio was not wrong. He came on for 30 minutes of West Ham's
2-1 win at Manchester City on September 19, then was not seen on the pitch
again until November 29 as Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, and Victor Moses
provided Slaven Bilic with his side's attacking flair. During that period
West Ham co-owner David Gold rather awkwardly re-tweeted a fan's mock post
appealing for help finding a missing person, with Antonio clearly pictured.
Gold claimed error rather than endorsement, but all the same the episode
suggested the 79-year-old was not overly familiar with a player who cost
£7million. Not now. Not after a series of impressive displays culminating in
three Premier League goals in six games. Antonio looks to have found his
feet in the top tier and at the right time too, just when West Ham's season
appeared to be flat-lining a little amid injury crisis. In recent weeks the
25-year-old has benefitted from the setbacks cutting through Bilic's squad,
but has taken his chance and is not likely to let it slip. He was fortunate
to score his debut top-flight goal against Southampton, but proved fluke
need not feature with a powerful header in the victory over Liverpool. He
did likewise in the victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday. 'He will score
between six and 10 goals in Premier League this year,' said one source who
knows Antonio well. Some statement considering he was playing non-league
football seven years ago. But Antonio, like other players from lower leagues
doing well in the Premier League, is showing talent exists at all levels. He
faces Southampton again on Saturday, a club where he spent 2009-10 on loan,
scoring at Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final. 'I've never met a
more determined individual,' said another close associate. 'He has
tremendous heart, and doesn't take anything for granted. 'He has never had
it easy, not been to a plush academy with the best facilities. That is why
he took the David Gold thing so well, just brushing it off.'
His ability to find the net is the reason his fee was significant, even to a
team under transfer embargo. Nottingham Forest valued Antonio in double
digits, and would not have sold for less than £10m given a level playing
field. But after recording losses deemed unpalatable by the Football League,
Forest were prohibited from buying players or offering new contracts worth
over £10,000 per week.
Manager Dougie Freedman could not use typical tactics to persuade his player
to stay – fresh terms on more money, for example – and in truth Antonio
wanted to test himself in the Premier League. His sale, reluctantly agreed,
wiped out with one stroke Forest's annual deficit and edged the club towards
a freer reign in the transfer market. It was not the first occasion Antonio
had bailed out the club. In his one season at the City Ground he scored 15
goals in 49 games in all competitions, a fine figure from the wing. He
provided 12 assists too and was frequently the performer to galvanise the
side with a run or shot. He possesses a strong physique but delicate touch.
Many of his goals caught the eye, particularly one against Rotherham in
March when he beat four players and arrowed in a finish from 20 yards. 'He
is a good guy and never missed a single day's training,' said one dressing
room source. 'He is a quiet type during the week but on matchday he will
voice his opinion if he sees something that needs to be done.' Antonio had
arrived at Forest from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2014 for £1.5million,
following two good seasons at Hillsborough. Before that he had spent four
years at Reading, but failed to excel because, as one observer put it, 'he
didn't know his game'. They added: 'His game is power and pace into back
post and score a goal. Back then he would try to drift into middle of park,
wouldn't beat his man, and make the wrong decisions. He has matured and is
getting better every week.' Part of that is down to the hunger that resides
inside Antonio, forged during his time in non-league football. He was
prolific aged 17 for Tooting & Mitcham United and went back to the club on
loan in 2009, playing in front of crowds as low as 25 people.

MICHAIL ANTONIO CAREER HISTORY
2007-08 (Tooting and Mitcham United): 33 goals in 45 apps
2008-12 (Reading): One goal in 28 apps
2009 (Tooting and Mitcham loan): Seven goals in nine apps
2009 (Cheltenham Town loan) 0 goals in nine apps
2009-10 (Southampton loan): Three goals in 28 apps
2011 (Colchester United loan): Four goals in 15 apps
2012 (Sheffield Wednesday loan): Five goals in 14 apps
2012-14 (Sheffield Wednesday): 12 goals in 64 apps
2014-15 (Nottingham Forest): 16 goals in 50 apps
2015- (West Ham United): Three goals in 12 apps

'That's why maybe academy players at West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal, don't quite
make it because they lose that hunger and desire, they get too much too
soon,' said a source. 'Michail is different. He is very humble and nothing
will get to him on the pitch. He is very strong willed.' At 14 he could have
joined Tottenham's academy, but his mother Cislyn said no because the travel
time was too great from their south-west London home. He has admitted to
tears at that time, particularly when classmates Craig Eastmond and Matthew
Briggs went to Arsenal and Fulham respectively. Both featured for their
senior sides but are now down the divisions, Eastmond at Conference side
Sutton United, Briggs with Colchester in League One. Antonio, in contrast,
is on his way up and in the best phase of his life. It is credit to his
resolve when out of the West Ham side earlier this season. Bilic fielded
numerous loan requests from the Championship but Antonio declined. 'I have
earned my way here over a long time, I'll be patient,' he is said to have
replied. Yannick Bolasie, who began at Rushden & Diamonds, has provided
inspiration, while personal training sessions last summer back on pitches at
Tooting & Mitcham prepared Antonio physically. He spends his time away from
the game raising his two young children and relaxing with a large,
tight-knit family. He also seems to have a knack of predicting what lies
ahead. After playing against Aston Villa, but before his goals, he said: 'I
try to excite the fans and run at players. I always give 100 per cent. I
need to do more back in the team as an attacker; get more assists and more
goals. 'I had quite a bit of a break but as the games are coming on I feel
myself getting better and sharper. Once I get to that point I believe I can
terrorise the Premier League.' From the player who foretold his tough path
to get into West Ham's team, his confidence now should not be mistaken for
bravado.

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Dimitri Payet can be West Ham's Andrea Pirlo, says Slaven Bilic
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard

Dimitri Payet may have been relatively unknown when he came to West Ham in
the summer — but not now. His talent has since attracted much attention and
the fans love to watch him, so much so that they have a song about him which
I know he greatly appreciates. Inevitably, though, the opposition will try
and nullify him as much as they can, just as we do when we are faced with an
exceptional player. In some games the other team will double up on him and
against Aston Villa, in the first half, he was marked very tightly. It was
easier for them before the break because he was, for most of the time,
standing out on the left. We told him at half-time that left wing is only
his starting position — we wanted him to go inside and roam — and then it
became much more difficult for them to mark him. Yes, the opposing team will
make plans to hopefully keep him quiet but there are many moments in open
play when it will be impossible to double up on him. We tried to mark Sergio
Aguero, for example, the other week when we played Manchester City and our
two central defenders did a very good job but still he scored two goals and
hit a post. Top players will always find a way. They tried to mark Andrea
Pirlo for three years. He plays in a central position so he is always in
front of you and you think it is easy to mark him with two or even three
players. I am sure every manager when they played against Juventus was
saying: "Mark Pirlo." Yet still Pirlo was always unmarked and after the game
the coaches would ask: "Why didn't you mark him?" The answer is that it is
about Pirlo — and now for us, it is about Payet. Also the rest of the team
help him. In the second half against Villa, Mark Noble was excellent, as was
Alex Song and Cheikhou Kouyate and they can also benefit from the opposition
trying to mark Payet.

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West Ham hero Paolo Di Canio to rock the Boleyn Ground again for Mark
Noble's testimonial
RICHARD PARRY
Evening Standard

West Ham cult hero Paolo Di Canio will grace the Boleyn Ground once again
after confirming his participation at Mark Noble's forthcoming testimonial.
The Italian, who scored 52 goals in 141 appearances for West Ham between
1999 and 2003, is the latest name to be confirmed for the match, as the
Hammers celebrate Noble's service to the club. "When I was coming up through
the Academy", Noble told the club's official website. "Paolo was the man we
all looked up to - he was a genius with the ball, and such a character on
and off the pitch. "If you'd told me then that he'd be coming back one day
to play in my Testimonial match, I'd never have believed it. "I'm so proud
and grateful that Paolo will be there, with all the other Hammers lads. It
is such an honour to share my big day with them on Easter Monday, and
especially so to be doing it at the Boleyn Ground, in our final season
here."

Also set to feature in Noble's testimonial are: Rio Ferdinand, Anton
Ferdinand, Matthew Etherington, Carlton Cole, Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker,
Stewart Downing, Danny Gabbidon, Bobby Zamora, Dean Ashton, Yossi Benayoun,
Trevor Sinclair, Ian Bishop, Julian Dicks and Ludek Miklosko.

Procedes from the match, scheduled for Easter Monday, will go to charities
Richard House Children's Hospice, Help for Heroes and the DT38 Foundation.
Kick off at the Boleyn is 2pm on Monday March 28 (Easter Monday). Click here
for ticket details.

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Andy Carroll and Emmanuel Emenike in West Ham squad for Southampton trip
JAMES BENGE Evening Standard

Andy Carroll is set to return to the West Ham squad for Saturday's match
away to Southampton, where he will be joined by January signing Emmanuel
Emenike. The Nigerian international has obtained the work permit that will
allow him to join up with Slaven Bilic's squad, having missed the 2-0 home
victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday. Emenike will do battle with both Enner
Valencia and Carroll for the opportunity to lead the line as the attacking
options swell for Bilic, who still has Nikica Jelavic at the club ahead of a
possible move to China. Injuries have meant that Carroll has missed ten of
West Ham's 23 Premier League matches this season, but the striker has
impressed in crucial games including victories over Southampton and
Liverpool.
Having been out since coming off early in the 3-1 victory over Bournemouth
Hammers head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenrboucke confirmed he
is fit to play a part. The striking duo will soon be joined by Diafra Sakho
and Manuel Lanzini, both of whom are "in the final stages of rehab".
However, January signing Sam Byram will likely miss the trip to St Mary's
after picking up a training injury that will rule him out for a week and is
cup tied for the FA Cup replay against Liverpool. His place may be taken by
Joey O'Brien, who returned to the squad for Saturday's FA Cup tie with
Liverpool after five months out with ankle problems.

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Slaven Bilic fires warning shot at West Ham owners about moving to the
Olympic Stadium
SLAVEN BILIC has fired warning a shot across the bows of his bosses'
ambition by pointing out that simply moving to a huge new stadium is not
going to make West Ham a big club.
By MATTHEW DUNN
PUBLISHED: 00:02, Fri, Feb 5, 2016 | UPDATED: 00:07, Fri, Feb 5, 2016
Express.co.uk

Slaven Bilic believes a move to the Olympic Stadium does not guarantee
success. The Hammers are looking secure in sixth place and can put even more
gap between themselves and the chasing pack by beating Southampton tomorrow.
That will inevitably bring with it talk of Europe - not least because
regular Champions League football is a cornerstone of managing director
Karren Brady's business model going forward for the club. However, Bilic
insists that it is far too early for any of that. And even the move to the
Olympic Stadium in the summer is just one more step along a very long load.
"Billericay could rent Wembley and play their home games there next season
but it would it suddenly make them a big club?" he said. "No it wouldn't.
This is just a step any club wanting to improve has to take, either to build
a bigger stadium or rent one for a year or two. Unfortunately it does not
make you a big club straight away. "For this to happen you need time, good
players, a good team and to be successful consistently for a number of
years. It was the same with Manchester City when they got all the money. It
didn't happen for them straight after. They took a few years to start
winning things."
At least Bilic is confident that the fans understand and are realistic about
the task in front of the club. I don't think people will be thinking that
just because we are moving there we will be fighting for the Premier League
or Champions League," he said. "The people know." And the Croat was keen to
explain that he meant nothing personal by singling out Isthmian League
Premier club Billericay. "I don't even know which division Billericay are
in," he said. "But I remember when I was playing here Harry Redknapp always
used to use them as an example of a small club or something that was not
good!"

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