Daily WHUFC News - 10th August

Sorry for the delay.....

Hammers launch Premier League season -WHUFC Official Site

* Slaven Bilic, Mark Noble and Foundation representatives helped launch the new 16/17 Premier League season
* West Ham United were one of only four teams to be invited to the launch
* The Hammers start their league campaign away at Chelsea on Monday 15 August before hosting AFC Bournemouth the following Sunday

Slaven Bilic, Mark Noble and representatives from the West Ham United Foundation were on hand early on Wednesday to mark the official launch of the new 2016/17 Premier League season.

Following the successful opening of the Club's fantastic new home last week, both Bilic and Noble were in good spirits as they prepare for the new campaign.

Starting with a mouth-watering London derby away at rivals Chelsea on Monday, the Hammers will then host AFC Bournemouth the following Sunday, in the very first Premier League fixture at London Stadium.

Looking ahead to the start of the new Premier League campaign, Bilic said: "We know it's a long season, so we want to start good. We've had a good pre-season, now we have five big games between now and the first international break.

"We are confident, we have some very good new players and we are definitely ready for the start of the new season."

Club captain Mark Noble was equally as excited, looking ahead to the season opener at Stamford Bridge, he said: "We've got three games coming up in a week, but at the moment the Chelsea game is the only one I'm thinking about.

"It's a great game for our fans, against our rivals, under the lights. It'll be tough, they've got some great players and a new manager. But saying that, we're confident, we've got a good squad and we've bonded well. It should be a great game, I can't wait really."

The launch event at Market Road, Islington was also a fantastic occasion for West Ham United Foundation youngsters to showcase their skills, with the added incentive of playing in front of the first team manager and club captain.

Having been invited to the launch as one of only four Premier League clubs, the Hammers were in good company alongside Leicester City's Claudio Ranieri and Wes Morgan, Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Jack Wilshere as well as Premier League new-boys Sean Dyche and Tom Heaton.

The tournament, a fitting curtain-raiser for what is expected to be one of the most thrilling seasons to date, was made up of participants from the four club's Foundations.

Each team was represented by a Premier League Kicks and School Sport side, which had the chance to showcase the incredible work that takes place in the community via football clubs and Premier League funding.

Skipper Noble watched on as West Ham's Premier League Kicks team beat both Arsenal and Leicester 3-0, before winning 4-1 against Premier League new boys Burnley.

Noble was not just a spectator though; the Canning Town born captain rallied the young Irons with an inspiring pre-match talk before taking part in a Q&A with the School Sport team.

The day, however, was less about winning football matches and more about celebrating the great work carried out by community schemes. Foundation participants flittered between football and multi-sports, testing themselves in handball and athletics, demonstrating the diverse programmes on offer from the Premier League.

Speaking after a successful morning's work, Foundation Development Officer George Chukwuma, who coincidentally went to the same primary school as Noble, beamed: "It's great to be able to showcase what our Foundation is all about, and to celebrate the good work Foundations do across the country.

"The support and funding the Premier League give us is massive. To be part of the official launch of the new Premier League season is very special. We're delighted to be part of today's launch, and delighted with how well we did because a lot of hard work has gone into it!"

To find out more about how to get involved in our Premier League funded projects, contact WHU Foundation Community Manager Shamajul Motin at smotin@westhamunited.co.uk
Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/August/10-August/Hammers-help-launch-new-Premier-League-season-(1)#2yyT65EBDzrw0ZhM.99

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West Ham United: Left-back Lewis Page joins Coventry City on five-month loan - BBC

Coventry City have signed defender Lewis Page on loan from Premier League side West Ham United.
The 20-year-old left-back, who had two months on loan at Cambridge United last season, has signed to remain with the Sky Blues until 12 January, 2017.
Page is eligible to make his debut in Tuesday's EFL Cup first-round tie at home to Portsmouth.

The West Ham Academy player made his first-team debut for the Hammers in July 2015 in the Europa League.

"We have bought him in to create competition in the left-back area," Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, "with Chris Stokes likely to be out with injury for longer than expected."
Stokes missed the final two months of last season after being stretchered off with a knee injury in City's 1-0 win at Blackpool.
City began their fifth consecutive season in League One on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat at Swindon.

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Hey dude, where's my seat? - KUMB

Filed: Tuesday, 9th August 2016
By: Staff Writer

A perplexed season ticket holder was looking forward to taking in his first game at the Olympic Stadium - when he discovered the seat he had been sold doesn't exist.

KUMB member anglianhammer revealed how he turned up for last Thursday's Europa League clash with NK Domzale, only to find that there was no trace whatsoever of the seat which he thought he'd purchased!

"I chose my seat at the Reservation Centre back in March," he said. "However I discovered on Thursday that I'd been sold a seat that doesn't exist as row 62 ends at seat 334 - and I'd been sold seat 335!

"A very helpful steward was as perplexed as I was, searching adjacent rows and blocks but to no avail. In the end I sat in glorious isolation on a row of four seats within the area of the Press Block.

"Needless to say I emailed the club's Ticket Office and sent some 'Founders' Feedback' on Friday morning and am awaiting their response. It'll be interesting to see what seat my access card shows!"

Despite having paid for a seat that doesn't actually exist, anglianhammer admitted that he has an enjoyable night otherwise.

"I had an excellent view and, despite the confusion, a very enjoyable evening<" he added. "I'm anticipating a great season at the Olympic Stadium - especially when I get the seat that I've paid for!"

* Want to share your experiences of the OS so far? Visit the KUMB Forum's OS Questions & Answers thread.

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New Hammers enjoy first session - WHUFC Official Site

The Hammers' latest signings Andre Ayew and Arthur Masuaku took part in their first training session with the Club on Tuesday at Rush Green.

The pair, who had joined from Swansea City and Olympiacos respectively the previous day, met up with their new teammates, including French star Dimitri Payet who was himself returning to the Hammers' base after an extended holiday.

Payet, along with Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins, has just returned to east London after a UEFA Euro 2016 campaign and teamed up with former Marseille colleague Ayew.

The duo will be looking forward to meeting the rest of the squad when they return on Wednesday.
Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/August/9-August/New-Hammers-enjoy-first-session

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We All Follow The West Ham! - WHUFC Official Site

Season Ticket Holder and Team GB hockey star Susannah Townsend has begun her quest for Olympic Gold in Rio...

As a West Ham supporter, although I loved watching the team as a youngster, I grew up myself playing a lot of individual sports.

I played a lot of tennis while I was growing up. When I went to secondary school I started playing team sports and a lot of hockey, and the idea of playing team sports with my mates was the biggest drive and what inspired me to play hockey.

For me, like many athletes, I've enjoyed many ups and many downs. I've played Under-16s to 21s for England but during each of those years, there were points when I didn't get selected. For example, in the Junior Olympics, I didn't get selected, and the same with the London Olympics.

My aim originally was to play in London 2012, but looking back it wasn't really the right time for me. I always place a lot of pride in my attacking side as a hockey player, but I didn't put the ground work in to become good defensively as well, so that ultimately probably cost me going to London. All of my time was spent thinking how I can be this attacking player, when I should have thought about defending too!
Tactics

In the last four or five years, I have realised I can be one of the best attackers in the world, but I also have had to nail my defending and have understood that I can't just go out there and play.

I need to know the tactics and know all aspects of my game. That's how my career has gone; there have been lots of ups and downs, although since London, there haven't really been any downs, which is nice. It's been a steady incline into actually being selected for Team GB.

As a role model, I can definitely take being a bit of a Mark Noble!

In interviews, when people ask me who my role model is, most female athletes – especially who are going to perform at the Olympics – say someone like Kelly Holmes, but I always say Paolo Di Canio. I always have to explain it; that he's a bit of a naughty boy!

Some people didn't have a lot of faith in him before he joined and thought he was a bit of a risk, and then Harry Redknapp took the risk and Paolo proved everybody wrong to become a West Ham hero. It's the ultimate story so I always looked up to Paolo.

Of course, though, Mark Noble is someone else I consider a role model, although he probably makes a few more tackles than me!

For hockey players, the pinnacle of our sport is actually playing at the Olympics.

In London, we won the Bronze medal. We're a National Lottery funded sport, but we are also a podium-funded sport, which means we are expected to go and win medals.

We want to always be better at this Olympics in Rio, and our aim is to actually go and win the Gold medal.

Of course every team will say that, but for us, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride more than than other sides.

We messed up the World Cup, which is a major, major event, but since, we've done a lot of almost soul-searching during that stage in which we didn't do very well. That's given us the motivation and inspiration to perform well at this Olympics

It's obviously now set us up quite nicely to actually go into these next weeks and I do certainly believe we can actually win a Gold medal.

Obviously it would be nice to have every West Ham fan cheering me on this summer, as lots of other Hammers have previously won medals at the Olympics; Mark Hunter has two medals, Chris Akabusi has a couple himself, Christine Ohuruogo is also a local girl, and Sally Gunnell as well.

For me, the Olympics is obviously very different to any other event because it's on such a big scale. It's given us every single inspiration possible to make sure we're ready when we get there.

A lot of other teams in the tournament are almost rushing to make sure they're prepared, but for us it is more a case of fine-tuning and changing a few details to prepare which is quite nice.

On one of my rest days, the new Stadium Store at the Club's new home had just opened, and my Dad – Mark – came over to buy me lunch.

We had a walk over to the Store and it brought back memories of my childhood, going to West Ham. We always forgot about all those arguments in my teenage years when we were sitting together in the Bobby Moore Stand. It was obviously a sad day leaving Upton Park, but we have moved into the new Stadium where some amazing things have happened.

For me personally, despite not going to the Olympics, it's an incredible place and it will be incredible to watch football there. For fans, they will definitely enjoy that walk towards the Stadium, looking up at the West Ham United sign and the ground. It's pretty spectacular. When you think of all the history that has happened during the Olympics, all the medals which have been won, it's incredible to play football here.

For me, you have to love what you do, and ultimately I get to turn up to training every day and be with my mates. Obviously sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's tough, but we get through it. I think that kind of thing showed with West Ham last season; everyone was having a good time. It's such a cliché to say people play well when they're having fun, but that was true last season and the team believed in their tactics.

I think you can tell by the way that Slaven Bilic's team plays. Everyone is enjoying themselves out there at the moment. I think with the squad that we have, going into the new Stadium can definitely propel West Ham a lot further. I think if we continue to play our attacking football, it's so exciting to watch.

I can't believe Dimitri Payet, when he signed last season, was so undiscovered. You can tell that he loves football, he loves playing and he loves being there, and it's enough for the fans to love him instantly. He plays with his heart and he's a bit like Carlos Tevez – the fans have just adopted him.

He plays with passion, though every West Ham player does, because it's that type of club. Other clubs don't have that I don't think, and it's so special that West Ham has that kind of feel about it.

I was looking around at the Boleyn Ground at the last game and you have fathers, daughters, older people by themselves, families; you see the whole family feel about it. I think that's why it's so important that we have players that genuinely love playing for the Club and love being out there on the pitch in front of those fans. It's that extra bit of passion that everyone loves, and players like Payet have that.

For example for me, when I was younger, I left my hockey club for a season for another club in England, and when there was a game that we lost or didn't play well in, of course I was gutted and disappointed but it wasn't that same feeling. I re-joined my old club at Christmas because sometimes you just get that feeling when you love a club. That's definitely the feeling with every single West Ham United player in my opinion. I hope that I can carry that same feeling into the Olympics with me for Great Britain.

I am gutted to be missing the start of the season due to being in Brazil, but my Dad and I have two Season Tickets so we will enjoy a lot of the games here this season. He persuaded me when I was younger to support West Ham and it's still our thing and something we do together. It keeps our relationship quite strong.

Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/August/9-August/We-All-Follow-The-West-Ham!

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Joint-Chairman - Ayew is a great player - WHUFC Official Site

West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan is thrilled to have secured the Club record signing of Andre Ayew from Swansea and feels he will be a great addition to the squad.

Ayew completed his £20.5million move from Swansea City on Monday and cannot wait to play his first game at the new Stadium.
The Ghana international joined the Club on a three-year contract, with an additional two-year option, and can operate anywhere along the frontline.
Mr Sullivan believes his versatility will be crucial for Slaven Bilic as the team prepare for a number of games in both domestic and European competition.
Mr Sullivan said: "Andre is a great player. He was Swansea's leading goalscorer last season.
"He can play all four positions across the frontline and last season when he played as a striker he scored six goals in eight games.
"We have been negotiating with Swansea for over three weeks and are delighted to have secured his signature."
On a busy day of transfer activity for the Hammers, Mr Sullivan was also pleased to see the arrival of talented full-back Arthur Masuaku from Olympiacos for £6.2million.
Mr Sullivan added: "We are delighted to announce the signing of Masuaku and our scouts say he's a top player with Champions League experience."

Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/August/9-August/Joint-Chairman-Ayew-is-a-great-player
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Ayew - I can't wait to play here!- WHUFC Official Site
Andre Ayew told West Ham TV there were plenty of reasons behind his decision to become a Hammer.

The Ghana star became the Club's record signing when he completed a £20.5m move from Swansea City on Monday evening.

And in his first interview at London Stadium, the new No20 told of his respect for the Club, its big ambitions, manager Slaven Bilic, his former Marseille and now West Ham teammate Dimitri Payet and the strong squad being build to challenge on all fronts.

Andre Ayew, welcome to West Ham United! What's your initial reaction to becoming a Hammer?

"First of all, thanks a lot because I'm very proud and happy to be in this magnificent Club. It was long, but now it's done and I'm happy to be here and happy to play in this popular club with a lot of fans and I hope I can make everyone happy here.

"When I got to England, I could have come to West Ham last season too, but what is meant to happen happens every time because I am here now!

"I think it's the ambition of the Club, the great manager that the Club has and the thought of becoming a better Club every year. I can see West Ham has been growing for the past few years – the Stadium, the training ground, we can feel the Club is getting to another dimension and I want to be part of this project."

You have signed for a Club-record fee, so how does that feel?

"What is important is the field. I need to do my job, train hard and be ready to prove that I deserve to play for West Ham – that's what's important.

"The fee is talks between the clubs, not me. My issue is to make sure I give back the coach and the fans the confidence they have given to me and make the West Ham fans proud."

Here we are at our stunning new London Stadium. Did this magnificent arena play a part in your decision to join us?

"Honestly, I can't wait to play here and I hope it's soon! It's a great Stadium with great fans who we heard at the last two games in the Europa League and versus Juventus – it sounded fantastic.

"Hopefully we can keep playing well and getting results so there will be more and more people and joy in the stands."

Do you sense West Ham is a Club moving to the next level on and off the pitch?

"It's not by talking, but by proving it on the pitch and that's what is important and why we're going to work and concentrate very hard.

"With the season we had last season, everyone knows West Ham is a Club which is going to compete and we need to be ready for that.

"It's going to be a difficult season but we need to be ready physically and mentally to get the right performances and results to let the Stadium and everyone all go with it."

How big a role did manager Slaven Bilic play in bringing you to east London?

"He was a very big part of me joining the Club. He is a manager who has wanted me for the past few years and today I'm lucky to play under him.

"Hopefully I'll be able to satisfy him, because his words when I spoke to him were very important to me and made me think we have a lot of work to do to get where we want to get to. I'm very happy he has confidence in me and I want to give it back to him."

And of course your arrival also means a reunion with your old Marseille teammate Dimitri Payet!

"He's a friend of mine as we played two or three years together at Marseille. I know him and he knows me and I'm happy to be back playing with a great player like him, because I know what he is capable of doing.

"I know what he did last season and he can do even more, so now I'm back with him we're going to work together with the whole team and do everything possible to make things right.

"You have Dimitri, Sofiane, Antonio, Andy Carroll – the Club is getting to another level and these are the players you need to get here. Hopefully we can keep the unity to make things work.

"We can do all the signings and say what we want, but what's important is to prove it on the field and do everything we can do get the results on the pitch."

Read more at http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2016/August/9-August/Ayew-I-can

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Slaven Bilic says West Ham captain Mark Noble has real chance to stake England claim
By Sky Sports News HQ

Last Updated: 10/08/16 11:21am

Slaven Bilic believes Mark Noble has a chance to break into the England set-up this season as West Ham prepare for life in their new stadium.

The 29-year-old was overlooked by Roy Hodgson for England's ill-fated Euro 2016 campaign but with Sam Allardyce now in charge of the national set-up, Bilic says the West Ham captain can take the final step onto the international stage.
Noble won 20 caps at U21 level and captained the side at the 2009 European Championship finals but has yet to be recognised by the senior side.
Bilic said: "He's got everything, he's at the best age and he's captain of the club. He had a terrific season with many people - not only me - thinking he deserved to be in the squad; I didn't see many midfield players have a season like he did last year.
"He has a manger now in Sam Allardyce who knows how good and useful he can be, not only on the pitch but in the dressing room as well.
"But I have told all the players - like Aaron Cresswell and Andy Carroll - that they have all have a chance but they will not get in the England team because they had a good season last year; there is no yesterday in football. They have to play consistently well for West Ham or they are not going to play for England."
Bilic says his squad have developed a winning mentality - and believes that having retained Dimitri Payet, they can improve on last season's seventh-place finish in their new stadium.
He said: "It is a very dangerous one, it is the first season with a new stadium. We have to adjust. The atmosphere, we can't compare it with Upton Park but it is good.
"I was a little concerned about it because I know I played and I coached in this type of stadium, you have many of them in Europe like that and sometimes the atmosphere is not ideal but we have played two games there and you can feel the crowd.
"They are not as close as at Upton Park but you can feel them and the stadium will be packed. We are going to try to keep the spectators there with our performances. We are expecting big things.
"It won't come overnight. The new stadium, the new training ground and new goals - we have to continue to work hard to earn it.
"In keeping Dimitri Payet we have shown the club is serious and trying to get to another level, as much or even more than with the new stadium.
"West Ham was always labelled as a club that has to sell its best players, be it Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand or whoever. But we have kept Dimi, and we have shown to everyone that the club is thinking seriously."

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Club president confirms bid for Rachid Ghezzal from West Ham United
Fri 5 Aug

Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed West Ham United's bid for Rachid Ghezzal.
Speaking to L'Equipe (via ESPN), Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has explained that West Ham United have placed a bid to sign Richard Ghezzal.
Ghezzal was one of the most exciting attackers in Europe last season and his eight goals as well as eight assists went a long way in helping Lyon qualify for the Champions League.
Given Ghezzal's fine form, it has been no surprise to see a host of top clubs courting the services of the 24-year-old this summer and recently Premier League side West Ham have allegedly placed a bid of around £6.8 million for the winger (London Evening Standard).
Ghezzal has entered the final year of his contract at Lyon and despite West Ham's relatively low offer, it seemed like the London side would be able to sign the Algerian international.
Now Lyon president Aulas has confirmed that West Ham have indeed placed a bid for Ghezzal but has insisted that the player does not want to leave the Parc Olympique Lyonnais and that the club are looking to tie him down to a new contract.
"He wants me to talk with his advisors and so I'm going to call them this week to try to break the deadlock," Aulas told L'Equipe.
"I like Rachid a lot. It would be really good if we might be able to reach an agreement. We have received offers for him, including the one from West Ham.
"I know that Rachid doesn't want to leave Lyon so we have to find an agreement so as not to remain in a situation that's not good for either of the two parties involved."
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West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic tips Andre Ayew to become an instant hit at the club
Published on: 10 August 2016

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic expects new boy Andre Ayew to be an instant hit at the club.

Ayew, 26, completed a club record transfer switch to the Hammers on Monday from West Ham United.

The big-money move has placed massive responsibilities on his shoulders ahead of the start of the new season this weekend.

And West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has tipped the Ghanaian super star to hit the ground running.

"Yes [I expect Ayew to make an instant impact], I mean a lot of players make it straight away, and some need a little bit of time to adjust," Bilic said at the official Premier League launch event in north London on Wednesday.

"His first big advantage is that he played in a big, big club like Olympique Marseille, he's an international and is captain of Ghana and is at his best stage.

"He's already spent one year in the Premier League so it's nothing new for him.

"Sometimes wingers, strikers or offensive midfielders need a bit of time, while centre-backs are centre backs and are just doing their job and don't depend on the team that much.

"The players are good in that they really make new players feel at home after a few days, so I'm sure we can expect some good football from the newcomers straightaway."

The second son of Ghana netted 12 times for the Swans in 34 appearances last term.
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West Ham make €50m bid for Alexandre Lacazette-readwestham.com

According to reports in France, West Ham have failed in their latest attempt to sign Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.

Lyon recently rejected a bid of around £29million from Arsenal and they've been true to their word about wanting to keep him once again by turning down West Ham's latest offer.

Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph, thinks that Lyon would sell Lacazette for around £60million, but the player is only interested in moving to a side which is playing in the Champions League.

Whilst it will be great for West Ham fans to see that their club are actively trying to sign one of Europe's hottest strikers, they might feel that they'd rather see them targeting players who are likely to make a move to the Olympic Stadium, rather than making hopeful bids for players who have made it clear that they want to be playing in Europe's biggest club competition.

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West Ham Trying To Sign Real Madrid Starlet
10th August 2016 by Jamie Smith

Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard could be coming to the Premier League, with West Ham United trying to tie up a loan deal for the wonderkid.
According to a report by Spanish newspaper AS, Odegaard's future could be wrapped up in the coming days as Madrid want a move to be completed ahead of their transfer ban beginning.

The 17-year-old, who is also a target for Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg, have appealed against the ban with a ruling expected to be confirmed by the end of the week.

If the ban is upheld Real Madrid will be unable to register outgoing or incoming players, meaning Odegaard would be stuck at the club for 12 months even though he does not feature in Zinedine Zidane's plans.

Zidane left the talented teenager out of his squad for the Super Cup win against fellow La Liga side Sevilla this week, with West Ham keen to take Odegaard on a season-long loan deal.
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