Slaven Speaks - Middlesbrough
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic faced the media ahead of the big game against Middlesbrough on Saturday and says the players are working even harder in training and remain positive as they look to turn the season around. Bilic was asked about the team meeting which took place on Monday and also provides the latest team-news ahead of the game at London Stadium.....
Can you clear up what happened with the team at the start of the week and do you feel like it has improved team spirit?
SB: "It was completely my idea. After the Southampton game we had a big meeting and spoke and at the end of the meeting I told Mark the skipper to take the guys out to dinner, to spend time together which is always good. "I've been there before, it's definitely a good idea and good to do it. If you are asking, it was completely my idea and I told them to do that. "For me it's a good thing, not every week but in a great situation or a bad situation it's good to stick together and its a good thing to do. It's good for team building and that's it.
Are you hoping it will have a positive effect on the team when they play Middlesbrough on Saturday?
SB: "After that night we had a day off. Training yesterday was really good, but training last week was really good without bonding. I have been saying we now have to produce it in games."
How concerned you have been by the start to the season?
SB: "I am concerned. If we are talking about the last five Premier League games it's simply not the way we expected it to be, it's definitely not good and that's why the only thing we are thinking about is the game on Saturday against Middlesbrough. "With one win we can build everything back and we have a good chance at home. We are a team that is alive, the players are good together, they train, they listen, we talk about it a lot. "But we need to do it in a game and not for half an hour, or an hour, or when we are one down or four down. But we have to do it for 90 minutes."
Do you question how you can change the situation around and help the team get back on the winning trail?
SB: "Of course - you are questioning yourself when you are doing great so of course I am asking myself a lot of questions. I did last year when we were doing well and one short spell when we were doing not so well. We were seventh so that means we were losing games as well. "This year you have to change, you can't sit still and think it's gonna change by itself. But also you can't lose your head and change everything. I am questioning myself and I'm trying to be very open with that. But I'm a big believer in being calm, a strong philosophy which worked so well last year here. But of course you have got to change something."
What is the latest team-news ahead of the game and can you provide updates on Aaron Cresswell and Andre Ayew?
SB: "We are almost the same as last week. The left-backs are not back yet. Aaron Cresswell is going to start training with us Monday and should be okay after the international break.
"Ayew is another three to four weeks minimum. We also have a couple of players doubtful but we will see today. Nordtveit's got a bit of a problem. We will see tomorrow."
Who takes responsibility on the field for the current situation?
SB: "The captain and of course the best players. We can't expect it from the young ones. They can bring something, they don't feel the burden like the experienced players so they can be match winners and all that. "But I'm expecting the most experienced players to take responsibility."
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Shuttle Bus Service update
WHUFC.com
Following the successful introduction of the Shuttle Bus Service that carries disabled fans to and from London Stadium, West Ham United are delighted to announce that the number of buses have been increased from four to six to accommodate the popular demand. So far the innovative scheme, which is just one example of the Club's commitment to affordable and accessible football, assists more than 500 fans every matchday. The Service, available at every home game, is in operation two hours before kick-off where it picks fans up from platform 13 at Stratford Station, and arrives at Car Park Two, to allow access to the Podium via the lifts in the Stadium Store. To ensure that our disabled fans enjoy the best matchday experience possible, anyone who does not fit the below criteria will not be allowed to use the Shuttle Bus Service. To maintain the smooth running of this valuable service, the Club would like to reiterate that:
The Shuttle Bus Service is available for any disabled Season Ticket Holder, as well as one carer.
All those wishing to use the Shuttle Bus will need to board the bus together and show their Access Cards. One card will show the disabled supporter's name, and the second will have the carer's name.
Access to the Shuttle Bus is also extended to Claret Members, who will have an Access Card with their name on it, and a paper ticket with a carer printed on it.
All senior and infirm citizens will also be allowed to use the buses but will need to request a permit in order to use the shuttle bus.
Similarly, any supporter who is pregnant, or those that have a temporary disability (i.e a broken leg) can also arrange a permit.
Any other supporters with a mobility problem will have to produce a letter from their doctor or consultant confirming that they are not able to walk.
All those eligible to apply for a permit need to emailaccessibility@westhamunited.co.uk at least 48 hours before kick-off. When emailing, please include the relevant match in the subject heading of all correspondence.
Please note that these measures will be in place ahead of our home fixture with Sunderland on Saturday 22 October.
However members of the accessibility team will be on hand this Saturday, during our match with Middlesbrough, to monitor and assist those fans that require this service.
If you have questions or feedback about the Shuttle Bus Service, or any other accessibility issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailingaccesibility@westhamunited.co.uk
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Adrian - We are still optimistic
WHUFC.com
West Ham United keeper Adrian is adamant the players have been working extra hard work this week to turn their season around and is confident they can secure an important victory against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Spanish keeper has felt the pain of a frustrating start just as much as anyone and knows the hard work that is needed to fix the situation.
Adrian welcomed the chance for his team-mates to have an important meeting at the start of the week and can see the positive attitude that all the players have heading into the game at the weekend.
With the Hammers enjoying one of their best seasons in the top flight last year, Adrian sees no reason why they cannot re-produce that form and move clear of danger at the bottom of the table.
Adrian said: "For everyone this is a difficult period at the moment, but we are still optimistic and feel we have a great squad.
"We want this situation to change and have better results on the pitch. We have to work harder to fix the mistakes we have been making.
"We are mostly the same players who did so well last season and we need to show that kind of form again. Everyone is fully focused on the game on Saturday and we know that we need to win the game.
"We want to show the fans that we have a great team. They always support us every game and this is a tough moment for them, but we all need to stay together and remain as a team.
"It was good for us a team to come together and we need to enjoy being together, because it was not like that in the last game.
"We got a bad result so the mentality has to change a little and we have to stay together, both on and off the pitch and get a good result on Saturday.
"If we play well and show a good performance the fans will be very happy and proud of this team, We want to get a good result in front of our fans.
"We have big names in the team and many players in each position. We have a strong squad with the new signings and if we can get a good result, the mentality will change with everyone."
Adrian is looking forward to meeting up with Spanish compatriot Alvaro Negredo and knows the dangers the Middlesbrough striker can pose to his side on Saturday.
Adrian added: "I have known Negredo for a long time and have played against him many times. We have to be careful of him because he is a great striker.
"But we cannot think about Middlesbrough and have to focus on our team and give 100 per cent to get the three points.
"Last season we had a great home record and we want to do the same at London Stadium. When you are playing at home you want to show that you are strong and for team to be afraid of playing there."
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A season of struggle?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th September 2016
By: Ingwe
I have been a West Ham fan since 1965. I followed them in South Africa, getting airline editions of the Daily Mirror (SA not having TV in those days) for the football results and reports. I grew to love my team and will remain a supporter till I die.
I'm not sure that I have been more disappointed over the years by some West Ham performances than the abysmal showing against a poor Saints side last Sunday.
Sam Allardyce's type of football - as played by all the teams he managed - was horrible and I was not impressed by Bilic's arrival. Yes, the Hammers finished high up in the Premier League last season but I don't think any of it was due to Bilic's input. I wouldn't be sorry to see him go. What has he won elsewhere?
I see the new owners, not as true Hammers supporters, but essentially business people who have an eye on an asset rather than the best interests of the club and its supporters. The main real asset, the Boleyn Ground, was sold and we now play in an athletics stadium that has the atmosphere of a closed shopping mall.
The plethora of KUMB Forum posts by fans who complained of getting rained on show that the stadium wasn't designed as a football ground. I'm afraid I just don't buy into the argument that having a massive capacity will generate funds needed to buy big players etc.
I'd rather we filled our old ground with players playing attractive football - but more importantly, players who want to play for the club, not 'stars' from European leagues who can't get into their first teams and, where relevant, their national teams with any regularity.
They come for the money and the owners' key criteria is whether they will show a suitable return on their subsequent sale.
The summer transfer window was spent chasing a Colombian striker (Carlos Bacca) who clearly didn't want to play for West Ham. Players who did want to play, like Charlie Austin, were rejected by management. Ironic then that he should score first on Sunday!
We rely on Dimitri Payet to 'rescue' us with skilful free kicks, whilst the rest of the midfield look totally uncommitted. Players like Ashley Fletcher and Reece Oxford should be given a chance and other skilful players who would leap for first team experience, like Martin Samuelsen, are sent out on loan.
Why not have a team comprising players who are not only good, but who want to play for West Ham?
I hate to see fans booing the players off or leaving early; that is no way to support your team. But I do understand their total frustration in supporting a team, as only we Irons fans can, and then find that owners haven't done what they said they would.
They're in a stadium most didn't want, paying more for the privilege, having a manager who has brought in players who have performed poorly, played other players, like Antonio, completely out of position, for a number of games and doesn't seem to have a clue how to create a team capable of defending as well scoring goals.
After the pre-season and the Europa league debacle, I thought that we will be in a relegation struggle yet again. All talk of finishing in a Championship qualifying position, I think, is just wishful thinking. I would love to be proved wrong.
What I would want, more than merely surviving in the Premier League, is to get our old club back; free from the likes of Brady, Gold and Sullivan and with players who should recognise the immense good fortune and privilege that they enjoy, being born with a talent that allows them to become millionaires in their twenties, to play their hearts out.
Losing then, wouldn't feel so bad.
Contrasting Swansea's, Palace's and Southampton's performances last weekend, shows what teams with 'weaker' players on paper can do - and makes West Ham's performance even worse.
Call me fickle if you want but, if you really think that we aren't going to struggle this season, this is an example of hope over experience! I so want to be wrong.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Cresswell to return next week
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th September 2016
By: Staff Writer
Full back Aaron Cresswell will return to full training with the first team next week. Club Doc Stijn Vandenbroucke has revealed that the full back, who has been training with the development squad in recent days is set to return to regular training from Monday - several shy of his estimated return date. "Aaron trained very well with the Under-23s on Wednesday," revealed Vandenbroucke. "The Academy kindly put on a very hard session, which Aaron took part in under the supervision of Eamon Swift, our rehab-fitness coach. "He will take part in another training session with the Under-23s on Friday and join the first team next week."
Vandenbroucke also revealed that Andre Ayew, who returned to Marseille last week to continue his rehabilitation will be back at Rush Green this weekend. "He has been working very hard on the pitch and is ready for the next stage in the rehab," he said. "Andre will continue working on improving his fitness levels for the next few weeks before he will join controlled introduction sessions with the Under-23s."
Meanwhile Arthur Masuaku, who sustained a medial ligament injury in the EFL Cup clash with Accrington Stanley is also nursing a broken hand. "He is now wearing a brace," said Vandenbroucke, "which he will be in for the next two weeks before being reassessed and taking the next stage in his rehab. "We started exercises with him at Rush Green on Wednesday."
Finally there was little news on the situation regarding Diakfa Sakho, who is said to be continuing his delayed 'pre-season'. "He has to build up a lot of fitness after three months out," reported Vandenbroucke. "The encouraging thing is that he has had no adverse reaction in his back to the hard work he has been putting in. Diafra is working very hard and there is light at the end of the tunnel."
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Curbs tips Noble to shine despite difficult start to season
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th September 2016
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley believes Mark Noble's passion for West Ham will help him and the Hammers pull themselves away from danger. In an exclusive interview with Blowing Bubbles Monthly, Curbishley believes Noble was one shining positive from his time as boss who still plays a key role at the club to this day. During the great escape, I put him in the team for the game against Spurs, where we lost 4-3 to a last-gasp goal, and it was only when I saw the highlights after the game that I noticed he was down on his haunches, almost in tears – that's how much it meant to him,' said Curbishley. "When we won at Old Trafford on the last day to stay up, he was the first one sprinting across the pitch to jump on the coaching staff. There aren't many players left these days like that and fans love players like that."
Read more from Curbishley on Icelandic owners, Carlos Tevez and why he could have done something really special before it all went wrong for him in Blowing Bubbles' October issue.
Elsewhere in the popular publication, which supporters can get hard copies of at the entrance to the Olympic Park outside Westfield on Saturday, Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate have outlined their hopes for the season. As has the voice of Formula One, David Croft, who discusses all things West Ham. Meanwhile ex Hammer George Parris believes Aaron Cresswell's reputation has soared since he has been injured. In addition, Sky Sports' Bianca Westwood asks if it's time West Ham truly honoured Billy Bonds. Blowing Bubbles also looks forward to our League Cup game against Chelsea and asks if this is exactly what West Ham fans need at Stratford? Lucy Woolford asks if West Ham and Zaza can make their unlikely alliance work while two writers debate whether or not West Ham missed a trick not signing Christian Benteke? For those living in the UK who aren't going to the Middlesbrough game, you can secure your issue here. Those living in Europe and further afield can also pay for a hard copy on the same page as well as securing a subscription to receive future issues.
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Nordtveit to miss 'Boro clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th September 2016
By: Staff Writer
Utility man Havard Nordtveit has been ruled out of this weekend's Premier League clash with Middlesbrough. The summer arrival, who has featured in midfield, central defence and at full back since joining the club has been ruled out of the match with what the club are describing as "a small medical procedure". "Havard Nordtveit had a procedure at Spire Roding Hospital on Wednesday and will be unavailable for one week," confirmed club docv Stijn Vandenbroucke. "He will return to training in the middle of next week." The 26-year-old Norwegian international - who joined West Ham on a free transfer during the summer having agreed to move to London back in March - has featured in four of United's six Premier League matches thus far this season.
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West Ham fans need to let Upton Park go, it's boring to blame the new ground - Don Hutchison
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard
Former West Ham midfielder Don Hutchison has warned the Hammers and their supporters cannot blame their recent woes entirely on their new stadium.
Slaven Bilic's side have struggled to adapt to life in the London Stadium and look unlikely to improve on their seventh place finish in the final season at Upton Park even with the new campaign just over a month old. West Ham currently lie 18th in the table after just one win in six games and are out of the Europa League. The Hammers have already lost three games at their new home, conceding seven in two league games against Watford and Southampton, and Hutchison believes visitors may be raising their performance on the new pitch. "I've been to the new stadium and when you're in the bowels of it, I've never seen a stadium that looks as good," Hutchison added. "It's better than Wembley. It's better than the Emirates. It's plush, it's slick, it really is a sensational stadium. I don't buy into the theory that the new stadium has had a negative effect on the players – they need to roll up their sleeves and get on with it.
Their struggles come in spite of over £40million of investment in the transfer window where Bilic brought in 13 players including striker Simone Zaza, winger Sofiane Feghouli and club record signing Andre Ayew, who was injured in his first appearance. It is these players, rather than their new surroundings, that Hutchison believes are responsible for the early season woes at the London Stadium. Hutchison added: "The main thing for me is the new signings. Last year Slaven Bilic saw all of his signings hit the ground running and adapt straight away, which in itself is rare. This summer, West Ham thought they were going to be in the Europa League and so they've signed 13 new players to create a squad designed to compete on all fronts. "Unfortunately, they've gone out early to Astra Giurgiu and now they are left with players who are not up to Premier League standard. "Andre Ayew I think is up to the level, but the likes of Gokhan Tore and Arthur Masuaku are nowhere near Premier League and West Ham standards. Going out of Europe so early leaves West Ham with a big squad, but not one necessarily equipped to perform week-in, week-out in the Premier League."
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Slaven Bilic brushes off reports that West Ham are lining up Roberto Mancini as his replacement
HITC
Tom Nightingale
Former Manchester City boss Mancini has been linked with the Hammers hotseat this week. West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has responded to questions about Roberto Mancini by insisting that he is not worried about reports suggesting that the Italian manager is being lined up to replace him, as quoted by the Daily Express. Bilic is coming under pressure from some sections of the Hammers support and the media as the London club struggle with a difficult start to the season. After finishing seventh last season in arguably their most impressive campaign this century, the Irons were knocked out of the Europa League before reaching the group stage and have lost five of their first six Premier League fixtures. That has led to rumours that Bilic's job could be under threat, and a report earlier this week from calciomercato suggested that the club were lining up Premier League-winning boss Mancini as a potential replacement. Bilic was quizzed about these rumours in his press conference on Thursday, but gave a bullish response. The Croatian said, via the Express: "Last year, when you were asking me about new contracts, I didn't want to talk about this. I am not worried about that [Mancini link]. I am delighted to be here and have a job. "But I am concentrated on training and preparing the game, analysing the opponent and working with the players, putting the best possible team out and put my whole energy into my team. That is my contract, new or old."
It is, of course, still very early in the season, but the poor manner in which West Ham have begun both the campaign and life at their new London Stadium home is undoubtedly a cause for concern. Bilic's side have conceded 11 times in their last three games, and a drastic upturn in form is desperately needed if they are to avoid this terrible start becoming symptomatic of a poor season on the whole.
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West Ham duo Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph to discover their fates amid all-night drinking claims
12:32, 29 SEP 2016 UPDATED 12:32, 29 SEP 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Both players have vehemently denied either drinking or being drunk, but the Hammers are looking into reports to the contrary
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic says Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph will learn their fates next week after claims they were drunk and in a pub on Tuesday morning. Mirror Sport revealed yesterday that West Ham are investigating the conduct of both players after claims that they were spotted the morning after a team-bonding night out. The bonding session had been fully sanctioned by Bilic. But the club are unhappy at suggestions that Carroll and Randolph were out the following morning. Both players are understood to have denied to the club that they were drunk. But the club are making their own inquiries. Bilic, whose West Ham side face Middlesbrough this weekend, said: "It was suggested [that they were drunk] but it's not proven. [The team bonding night] was my idea. "We have a game and we ain't gonna discuss it. We are always discussing it to solve problems in our family, within the club. "There are rumours, I am aware of them, I spoke to the chairman about it and he agreed we should focus on the game. "We are gonna talk about it, find out what happened but now it's not proven, it's rumours. We will talk and if necessary act on it. That's all I'm going to say on it."
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West Ham say 'emotional' farewell to Boleyn Ground as final game raises £75,000 for charity
VAISHALI BHARDWAJ
Evening Standard
West Ham have labelled the beginning of demolition work at their former Boleyn Ground home as "emotional", but insist the Hammers' rich history in Upton Park will be felt "for years to come". Developer Barratt London will today begin the process of knocking down Upton Park, West Ham's home for 112 years until May, which is expected to take a number of months to complete. The London developer will then build 842 homes, including 211 affordable houses, shops, a library and new cycle routes on the site and also commemorate West Ham's time in the area with a new statue of Hammers legend Bobby Moore. The centre circle of the Boleyn Ground pitch will also be preserved in a landscaped courtyard while the half-way line will be illuminated through the use of in-laid lighting. Former West Ham midfielder Jack Collison praised Upton Park as being a "special place" as he acknowledged on Twitter the beginning of demolition work on Wednesday, a view that has also been echoed by the club. "Wednesday is the start of an emotional process for the hundreds of thousands of West Ham United supporters who have such fond and special memories of the Boleyn Ground over the last 112 years," a West Ham spokesperson told Standard Sport. "From Geoff Hurst's six goals against Sunderland to Paolo Di Canio's wonder volley, Trevor Brooking's Cup Winner's Cup masterclass to Winston Reid's epic finale winner, these memories will live with our supporters forever. "Now the legacy of our famous old home will be felt throughout the area for years to come, with Barratt London committed to delivering a project that honours the site's rich heritage. "Rather than sell the land to the highest bidder, the West Ham United Board elected to sell to the bidder who offered the best legacy for West Ham United, the Boleyn Ground and, most importantly, our community. "The developers have now promised to deliver a hat-trick of improvements to the area - jobs, homes and legacy."
Barratt London, who completed the purchase of the Boleyn Ground from Galliard Homes in August, hosted the final-ever football match at the stadium on Tuesday afternoon to raise money for charity. The tournament featured 24 five-a-side teams made up of employees from companies involved in the re-development of the site, and raised about £75,000 for Children of Heroes, MacMillan Cancer Support and The Silver Line charities. Speaking about the re-development of West Ham's former home into residential houses, finance director at Barratt London, Tom Olsen, said: "The entire team involved in redeveloping Upton Park recognises the heritage embedded here and we are keen to mark the start of its new era with an event that will benefit a variety of charitable causes."
Jack collison ✔ @jackcollison
Demolition work starts today... What a special place.... Thanks for the memories... #TheBoleyn
8:41 AM - 28 Sep 2016
116 116 Retweets 392 392 likes
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Sam Allardyce in the spotlight over Ravel Morrison's West Ham loan move
STANDARD SPORT
Evening Stadnard
Sam Allardyce could face questions over allegations of unexplained payments in relation to Ravel Morrison's loan move from West Ham to Cardiff. Allardyce was West Ham manager when the midfielder moved to Cardiff in September 2014 and the Welsh club launched an investigation after questions were raised over fees connected with the deal. The Daily Telegraph report an agent is understood to have told the club the payment had been agreed with Allardyce. Cardiff brought in an external company to investigate but did not find any evidence of the payment being made to Allardyce. However, Cardiff failed to report the issue to the FA, which is in breach of the governing body's rules. The FA could now launch an investigation into Cardiff, which could lead to Allardyce being quizzed. The Telegraph also reported that eight unnamed managers with Premier League experience are alleged to have taken bribes for the transfers of players
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Slaven Bilic defends West Ham players after team bonding night out in London
JAMES OLLEY
Evening STandard
Slaven Bilic today defended his West Ham players after they were pictured out at 7am, admitting he sanctioned a night out in a bid to improve the club's slump in form. The Hammers have lost five of their first six Premier League games and Bilic allowed his players to hit the town in a "team bonding" exercise on Monday evening. The squad reportedly racked up a £5,000 bill during dinner at a Kinghtsbridge restaurant before Andy Carroll, Darren Randolph and Aaron Cresswell were pictured in the same clothes in a McDonalds at 7am the next morning.
"The team bonding was completely my idea," Bilic said this morning. "I told Mark Noble to take the guys out and go for a meal, to spend some time together. "I am totally concentrated on the game on Saturday. It is good for us all to stick together and good for team building."
The club are believed to be investigating their players' behaviour and will decide on any punishment in due course. Carroll and Cresswell are currently sidelined through injury, although Bilic revealed today that the latter could return after next month's international break. Bilic enjoyed a superb debut season in England last term but he is under pressure as West Ham seemingly struggle to adapt to life at the London Stadium. They host Middlesbrough on Saturday and he said: "I am concerned and it has been a bad start. "But with one win we can build everything back with a win over Middlesbrough over Saturday. "I am asking myself a lot of questions even when it was good last season. You think about how you can change things. You can't sit still."
Bilic also gave his reaction to Sam Allardyce's departure as England manager following a newspaper sting in which he was caught offering advice on breaking FA rules regarding players transfers and agreeing in principle a £400,000 payment to represent a Far East firm. "I followed what has happened with England this week," he said. "It is very sad for English football. "I am sorry for Sam. We all love our jobs and I am so happy with my job. I don't remember seeing someone who was so happy to get it. "He has not lost his position from results on the pitch and I feel very sorry for him."
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Thursday, September 29
Daily WHUFC News - 29th September 2016
The Big Interview - Sofiane Feghouli
WHUFC.com
Sofiane Feghouli suffered a frustrating start to his career at West Ham United after he picked up a hamstring injury during the Betway Cup against Juventus. But the Algeria international has now made a full recovery and is ready to kickstart his career in east London and help the Hammers move away from the bottom three....
Sofiane, how disappointed you were with the result against Southampton on Sunday and how confident are you that the Club can turn things around?
SF: "We are discussing the reasons for our start to the season in the dressing room. We have suffered due to a series of injuries to some key players. That alone has caused us some issues at the start of the season. "We also had quite a few games in a short period due to the Europa League and so physically we struggled a bit. Slowly but surely, physically we are getting back to fitness. I know personally that I need time on the pitch to improve my own match fitness and to get back my rhythm. "I am sure that in the coming weeks as we get some of our players back to fitness, we will start to perform better as a team."
How important is this next period of games for the Club starting with the Middlesbrough game on Sunday?
SF: "Our objective is to win every match and by doing so, we can start to improve our league position. "We have quality in this squad, but it is down to us to improve and to take the responsibility on our shoulders. "We need to focus on the games one by one and that begins in our match against Middlesbrough. After that, we can start to look at the next game."
You will be coming up some familiar faces on Saturday having played with Alvaro Negredo and Antonio Barragan during your time in Valencia. How would you describe them as players?
SF: "Alvaro is a true striker. He has a cool head in front of goal and can cause teams real problems. "Antonio is a defender who loves to get forward and he is very effective on the wing creating danger each and every time he pushes on. "Both Alvaro and Antonio are great guys with brilliant characters and are an asset in the dressing room because they both create a positive atmosphere."
You have now played in front of the West Ham fans in the Premier League. How would you describe the atmosphere at London Stadium?
SF: "It is really exciting for us to play in front of so many fans at home. We hope that they can continue to support us and push us on throughout the ninety minutes so that we can start winning games at home. "We will be doing everything we can to make them happy and we need to get a win to improve the confidence of the squad and to help us to start climbing the table."
It's been a couple of months since you joined the Club, how are you settling into life here in the Premier League?
SF: "I am really happy to be in England and playing for West Ham. Playing in a new league, in a new country and with a new way of life is an incredibly rewarding experience and one that I am enjoying. "After six years in Spain with Valencia, I am pleased with how things are going at the Club. "It was obviously annoying to have picked up an injury so early on in my career with West Ham, preventing me from starting the season as I would have liked to. "I am getting back my form and hopefully, in the next couple of weeks and with some game time, I can get back to feeling 100 per cent."
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YouTuber to millions
WHUFC.com
YouTube personality and gamer Behzinga is a huge West Ham fan who features the club regularly in his online videos...
For a guy who has more than two million YouTube subscribers, you wouldn't think gaining one extra Twitter follower would be a big deal. That wasn't the case for 21-year-old YouTuber Behzinga, however, when he was followed by West Ham United's official account. "When they followed me on Twitter, I was absolutely buzzing for a few weeks!" claimed the Hammers supporter, who himself is followed by fans online from all over the world. "I was showing everyone, going around saying 'West Ham have followed me!' It's the stuff of dreams, your team following you and being able to ask you to get involved with their work in some way, the team you've grown up following."
Sidemen
Behzinga – or Ethan Payne to his family – has been YouTubing for just over four years, and is a member of the popular group on the video platform, Sidemen. He often produces videos from his time watching the Hammers and many of his fans online are also of Claret and Blue persuasion. But despite being one of the biggest YouTube names, Behzinga doesn't feel the heat or pressure of his two million subscribers. "Of course I'm stunned with how quickly things have happened for me, but I simply just share my experiences for other people to enjoy and experience with me. For perhaps that older generation not familiar with YouTube, that's simply what we do. "It's been about three years since I've properly been regularly producing videos and you go to events now with thousands of people there coming to see you and sure, you do have to pinch yourself every now and again. "But like a lot of YouTubers, I've come down a route and things have just snowballed since. In my final few years at school, I started up and kept it a secret at first, otherwise you got rinsed for it! "There were a few other people in school in the year below who got rinsed, so I kept things quiet, watched a lot of other guys on there and things just grew and grew. I started with gaming and things like Call of Duty and FIFA and now I'm here!"
Skills
Although Behzinga is extremely humble about his route into YouTubing and the skills required, he explained certain things are necessary to succeed online. He said: "You need creativity. That's a massive thing for sure, being able to think of different ideas and put your own twist on things. It's not about who does things first on YouTube, but who executes it right.
"It's about taking ideas, playing with them and making them yours and doing your own thing. You need motivation in general, too. I'm driven by success so ultimately, if I do something online that is really successful, I want to do it again. "You should never try to do things that you don't like just to jump on a trend. Jumping on trends is good, but do it in your own way and don't force anything."
While Behzinga's own channel has over 2,000,000 subscribers, his group Sidemen has just over half of the 21-year-old's personal total. Despite their popularity, the Bethnal Green-born YouTuber explained how simple the formation of the group was. "It is literally a group of mates that play games – that's what we are. There were four or five of us that all knew each other from school and watching each other's stuff and we thought 'Why not make a group out of this?' "It's just great fun and good to watch. We've picked up a few on the way and it just is a group of mates playing some games and having a laugh. "We've got different types of humour and different personalities in the group and I think that's why it works so well. We can all take a joke. You should never take yourself too seriously, and we certainly don't!"
Committed Hammer
Something Behzinga is serious about, committed to, however, is watching West Ham United. The online star has been a Hammers supporter since he was young and recalled some of his very best memories following the Irons. "I've literally known nothing else than to be a West Ham fan," he continued. "My Dad used to work in London and his manager knew Bobby Zamora who used to get us loads of tickets for the youth club. I used to go down with all the boys and was lucky enough to get to quite a few games. "I used to sit in the Bobby Moore Lower next to all the away fans and when I was younger, I would get tickets whenever I could at the Boleyn Ground. "There have been some ups and downs supporting the Club. My favourite memory – which people might slam me for! – is going to the FA Cup final against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium. "It was such a phenomenal game which was ultimately heartbreaking when you think back on it, but seeing us in an FA Cup final and almost winning was incredible. It was such a great day and if it wasn't for Steven Gerrard, we would have won."
Like many Hammers who experienced the incredible last season at the Club's old Boleyn Ground, Behzinga also looks back on the first campaign under current manager Slaven Bilic with fondness. "The Liverpool replay in the cup last season was amazing – I remember running up and down my aisle going mad. I was also there for the last game at the Boleyn Ground. I cried like a baby! "I've never been to a game and just sat and soaked up the atmosphere. I don't think I'll ever experience an atmosphere like that again. You really felt it. It gave me goosebumps. It was all over you. To beat United 3-2 to complete it – it was crazy. That tops all the memories I think. The memory of the atmosphere makes me tingle now, still."
FIFA Gamer
As a keen FIFA player online and in his videos, Behzinga got the opportunity to give the new EA Sports game a test drive recently ahead of its official release, and he revealed playing with the Hammers in the game is incredible. "Michail Antonio is an absolute beast on the new FIFA 17. He's a baller! His overall rating of 76 does not reflect his quality. He's better than that! "Michail is incredible and one of my favourite players to play with on the new game, and Dimitri Payet, predictably, is a different beast. I love to play with the whole West Ham team, to be honest. "Also, the Stadium looks incredible in the game. It's great to play there on it. I love doing gaming videos because everyone's intrigued to see what other people are getting up to on the games. I'll make sure West Ham are involved regularly!"
To check out Behzinga's latest videos online, head to his YouTube channel.
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell is in training with the Under-23 squad
Arthur Masuaku to undergo surgery to repair fracture in his hand
Andre Ayew ready for the next stage in his rehab for thigh injury
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital...
Hello everybody.
We have positive news of Aaron Cresswell, Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho and an update on Arthur Masuaku in this week's From the Treatment Room.
First, Aaron trained very well with the Under-23s on Wednesday. The Academy kindly put on a very hard session, which Aaron took part in under the supervision of Eamon Swift, our rehab-fitness coach. He will take part in another training session with the Under-23s on Friday and join the first team next week.
Arthur unfortunately was injured in the EFL Cup tie with Accrington Stanley, suffering a medial ligament injury in his left knee. He is now wearing a brace, which he will be in for the next two weeks before being reassessed and taking the next stage in his rehab. We started exercises with him at Rush Green on Wednesday.
Arthur also suffered a small fracture in his hand, which occurred in the West Bromwich Albion match. He played through the injury in that game, and the EFL Cup tie, but we will now undergo a small fixation operation on Thursday.
Andre returned to France as planned to continue his rehab. He will return to Rush Green at the weekend. He has been working very hard on the pitch and is ready for the next stage in the rehab, introducing the ball, passing, kicking and faster running. Andre will continue working on improving his fitness levels for the next few weeks before he will join controlled introduction sessions with the Under-23s.
Diafra is progressing well after a week on the training pitch running and working with the ball. He has to build up a lot of fitness after three months out, but the encouraging thing is that he has had no adverse reaction in his back to the hard work he has been putting in. Diafra is working very hard and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Havard Nordtveit had a small medical procedure at Spire Roding Hospital on Wednesday and will be unavailable for one week. He will return to training in the middle of next week.
Finally, Andy Carroll is continuing his rehab.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Simply Slaven
WHUFC.com
These have been testing times for Slaven Bilic and his players in recent weeks, but in an exclusive interview the West Ham manager insists they are doing everything to put things right and are remaining positive as they look to turn the season around.
With five defeats from the opening six Premier League games, the Hammers manager knows the importance of getting back on the winning trail when they face Middlesbrough at London Stadium on Saturday.
Bilic and his players have been working even harder on the training pitch to address the situation and the players have spent more time together as they look to re-produce the form which saw them enjoy a memorable final season at the Boleyn Ground.
The Hammers boss has no doubts there is enough quality in the team to move away from the bottom three and hopes to see a big improvement on Saturday.
Bilic said: "The start was not the one we were expecting considering the great season we had last year and the move into the new Stadium.
"Things are not going well for us on the pitch, but we are positive and are working hard in training to put things right.
"We have had four defeats which we are not used to, but we have done lots of analysing, hard training, hard work and the atmosphere is good.
"It is not flat and we are very positive in the training sessions but we have to produce that during games and start winning games and that will bring the situation back to what it was last season.
"No-body can change it apart from us, starting with me. I am the manager and it is my team. It is the team that made us all proud last season. We have to change the situation.
"We cannot wait for it to change and have to act. We need to dig in harder and believe in ourselves."
Bilic has nothing but praise for the support that West Ham fans show towards the team and has called for them more than ever to get behind the side.
Bilic added: "This is the moment when we need them. We feel the fans support and all that I ask from them is that they stay behind us.
"It is a big part for us to feel good at home. We want the fans to see their team winning and go home happy. It is the same with the players.
"This is a new ground and different to the one we played in but we have to make it our home."
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Nolan - It's time to stand up and be counted
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan made 157 appearances for the Club, scoring 31 goals, between 2011 and 2015...
Looking from the outside, it has been a difficult start to the season for the Hammers. The injuries have not helped and I have sympathy with Slaven and the lads in that regard, but it is now up to the players on the pitch to stand up and be counted.
It is very early in the season and that's a positive, but it's got to change sooner rather than later because if you don't get points on the board early, then you start to fall behind.
Even if you are only three points behind later in the season, say, you are thinking that one win gets you back level, but then you lose and they win and all of a sudden the gap is six points and a lot harder to close.
After the season the lads had last year, it was always going to be more difficult this year, for a few reasons.
First, they have left the Boleyn Ground for London Stadium, and it always takes time to adjust. I was at the new ground recently working with Football Focus and it is fantastic for the players – all the facilities are brand new and they don't want for anything, but it still takes time to get used to and get comfortable in your new surroundings.
For the players, they have got to forget about everything going on around them and just concentrate on what is happening on that bit of green grass they play on every week, because that variable doesn't change, and nobody else can effect what happens there.
In the dressing room, too, the players have got to take responsibility. This is a time when the big characters need to stand up and inspire themselves and their teammates. We have got plenty of big characters at the Club like Nobes, Ginge, Andy, Cheikhou and Adrian, from those I played with, and they need to let the whole squad know that the players are the only ones who can get themselves out of the current situation.
While that is the case, the atmosphere can really help. I know from my four years at the Club what a powerful force the fans can be and, at times like these, you really need everyone behind you, giving you confidence and belief in what you are doing.
I am fully expecting West Ham to turn things around by the end of the season, but for that to happen, the players cannot be allowed to go and sit in corners and feel sorry for themselves.
As a captain, when performances are not great, people look to you from inside and outside the dressing room for confidence and belief. I know Nobes and he has the drive and the ability to lead the team out of this.
He is a fan, as well as the captain, and he will be hurting as much as anyone, as he said in his interview after the Southampton game.
He now has to focus on how he led the team through their difficult period before Christmas last season, when the squad was without a lot of injured players, but managed to come through that period unbeaten. Nobes has got big and broad enough shoulders and he will lead by example.
The Middlesbrough game this weekend has a certain type of pressure attached to it.
At the start of the season, it would have been one that West Ham would have targeted three points from, and that is still the case, but they will come to London believing they can turn us over.
They've got some good players, like Stewie Downing who we all know well from his time here, and it will be a tough game, as they all are in the Premier League.
The London Stadium is inspiring visiting clubs, whose players will remember it from the London 2012 Olympic Games, but West Ham need to see this game as an opportunity to win and kick-start their season. I certainly hope the lads can do just that.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United.
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Ballot open for Sunderland
WHUFC.com
The Claret Members' ballot for our Premier League home game against Sunderland on Saturday 22 October is now open.
With all tickets for the opening games against Bournemouth, Watford, Southampton and Middlesbrough having been allocated in the Members' ballot, signing up gives you the best chance to watch the Hammers in action at London Stadium this season
Become a Claret Member here
To enter the ballot for Sunderland, simply head to eticketing.co.uk/whufc, log in to your Ticketmaster account, select the fixture and add to basket.
The ballot is open now and will close on Sunday 9 October. Successful applicants will be notified by email by Monday 10 October
The Club is keen to ensure that Claret Members can sit alongside friends and family for this unmissable fixture, and so fans wishing to apply with other members should include all client reference numbers in the one transaction, and, if successful, will be seated together.
By becoming a Member today, supporters not only ensure access to the ballot, but will be guaranteed exclusive ticket priority for every Premier League home game during the first season in our stunning new Stadium.
With 52,000 plus Season Ticket Holders, an even greater number on the waiting list and tens of thousands of Claret Members already registered, Claret Membership is your access to home match tickets in this unique season.
Membership is priced at just £40 for Adults and £25 for Under-16s, with supporters already on the Season Ticket Waiting List eligible for a £5 discount.
Similarly, Claret Members can also join the Season Ticket Waiting List for the reduced price of just £5.
Supporters entering the ballot have the option of selecting up to a maximum of two price points. If you are happy to accept any price band, and thereby increasing the likelihood of being successful, kindly select your preferred area of the Stadium and leave the second option blank.
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Chelsea on sale to Season Ticket Holders
WHUFC.com
West Ham United host Chelsea in EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday 26 October at 7.45pm
Season Ticket Holder priority period open now until 5pm on Monday 3 October
Tie will be first London derby at Hammers' new home
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that the London derby against Chelsea in the EFL Cup fourth round will take place on Wednesday 26 October with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Buy your Chelsea tickets now!
The reward for beating Accrington Stanley in the last round of the EFL Cup is a mouthwatering home game against the former Premier League champions and there looks set to be another capacity crowd at London Stadium.
As part of the Board's commitment to affordable football, ticket prices start from just £15 for Adults and £10 for Kids.
Tickets are available to Season Ticket Holders now, with the exclusive priority window ending at 5pm on Monday 3 October.
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Live reporting
By Matthew Henry and Michael Emons
Facebook: BBC Sport
Posted at 14:04
Earlier, we told you how West Ham are set to investigate Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph over claims they were drunk in London on Tuesday afternoon (see 11:10 BST). But BBC Sport have spoken to the West Ham fan who started the Twitter rumours, and it's fair to say he's feeling a little sheepish that what started as a "joke" could have landed the players in hot water.
"There were photos circulating on Twitter earlier on Tuesday, so I got it and put it up as a joke and what started as an innocent joke has just turned into them being party animals," said Aran Nicol. "I didn't expect this at all, it was a joke." The wonders of social media...
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West Ham to investigate Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph over drunk claims
BBC.co.uk
West Ham will investigate claims that Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon.
England striker Carroll, 27, and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Randolph, 29, had been on a club-sanctioned night out on Monday.
Pictures surfaced on social media on Tuesday of the pair, with users suggesting they appeared drunk.
A West Ham spokesman said: "The club is looking into these allegations and will deal with the players as we see fit."
Carroll interacted with fans throughout the day, at one point seeming to suggest that he and Randolph were out for coffee, and not drinking.
He tweeted: "I seriously need to sort my parties out!! Sorry lads.
"Back in the day my parties had the wish I was there effect!"
He also retweeted one fan who suggested that people were gullible to believe they were drinking alcohol.
The club have lost five of their six Premier League games this season.
They next face Middlesbrough at their new London Stadium on Saturday at 15:00 BST.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE'S COLUMN: PLAYERS STILL BACK BILIC AFTER MEETING
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2016 AT 10:41PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
It has been a while since I wrote one of these but I hope to continue to write more regularly from now onwards. As always I am still looking for writers who can commit to actually writing something 😉 and preferably during the day too, so if that is you please get in contact.
So today Big Sam has mutually resigned from his position at England and there are obvious questions around any misdemeanours which may have happened during his time with us. There was always a lot of talk especially from Ravel Morrison's camp around Sam putting pressure on players to switch agents to Mark Curtis. It was Ravel's refusal to do so that spelt the end of his career at West Ham apparently and just before he left Allardyce managed to persuade Reece Burke to join Mark Curtis as well.
There was always question marks around Sam's agent dealings, however I have been told by people in the club today (and by respected media figures) that the club should have nothing to worry about. Talk of the club suffering a 12 points deduction are not correct, and represent nothing more than sensationalism to sell papers. There was also a suggestion that as Enner Valencia was being third party-owned at one point, this could come back to haunt us now this story has broken. Fortunately, this is not true and the third party agreement ended before we signed him, therefore there is nothing in there that represents a legal issue. Nonetheless, the club are braced for a number of stories to break from other agents and outlets telling of stories of Sam's dealings, so it looks like West Ham's new head of Media relations, Max Fitzgerald, has his hands full in his new role.
Our current manager took the players out for a meal yesterday where all cards were put on the table. It is said that the players still stand by Bilic and that he hasn't lost the dressing room. Talk through certain media outlets has been that Bilic is too soft and allows pets and children into the training ground seems wide of the mark, as I have heard the opposite. There were concerns around the tough nature of Bilic's training at the start of the season and fears that it could have contributed to a lot of muscle injuries during his tenure, which the chairmen and manager are said to have discussed, and changed them as a result.
Interestingly, during this meeting, Bilic apparently informed the squad that nobody will be picked on reputation from this point onwards, and that those who are not performing will be immediately dropped in favour of squad players with a point to prove.
There is strong talk though that the manager will be given three more games , with the club fully expecting that he will have turned it around by then. In the unexpected event that it comes to Bilic departing, I have heard of some of the names being lined up and there is a real range of experience and managers with potential. I think we should all get behind Bilic and do what we can to try to turn it around for him. Running polls on whether Bilic should be dismissed seems premature and unhelpful to the current situation.
Bilic will have a game or so after the international break to prove himself. This is because the club see that when Sakho and Carroll return to the side, and Cresswell not that far off, Bilic will finally get a full complement of players, if not, very close to full. It is also thought that Bilic is prepared to give Sakho a second/third chance now to prove himself at the club. Having originally said he had no future at the club, this comes as something of a U-turn, but I think the current striker situation has made him act.
Reports have surfaced tonight of Randolph and Carroll being out on some all-night bender with Randolph said to be abusing people who were on their way to work. Again, this isn't really the press that the club needs and I do question why some people who support the club want to do their to draw attention to a story like this. Andy Carroll is said to be disappointed by the reaction and believes that they have not done anything wrong. I am sure the club will look into it, which will probably end with the conclusion that there isn't a problem.
We're all wondering the same thing at this point: What exactly has gone wrong this season? This will be discussed in detail on our radio show tomorrow. This is live on Phoenix FM at 7pm and available to download on iTunes after the show. In a nutshell though, I believe the exit from the Europa League created a negative feel before the Premier League had started, something which the squad found hard to shift. A lot of players had been bought/not sent out on loan in preparation in for a long European campaign which never materialised. Once we exited, Reece Burke promptly left on loan and it meant the likes of Randolph, Obiang, Tore and Calleri realising they would be getting a lot less games and probably feeling resentful.
The move to the stadium has not helped. Had it ran smoothly and there was a positive feeling among the fans then this would be reflected on the pitch but the anger around sitting and standing and inadequate stewarding meant that rather than supporting the team there was a lot of negativity.
I also question our use of the transfer market. I would say we have opted to sign quantity over quality this year. We have spent a lot of money on a lot of players when perhaps we would have been better to buy three £20m players that improved our first team rather than just our squad.
Injuries have really not helped the situation, but strangely, despite the fact that we have managed to play our best players in Payet, Lanzini and Antonio, we have failed to reach any sort of consistency. Despite this, we are still missing players like Cresswell, Ayew and Carroll, who will surely make a difference upon their return. One area where the crisis has hit us particularly badly, is the defence. The constant changing of players, I think, has meant that a solid understanding has not been able to form yet. Similarly, we have faced problems in our forward line. With Andy Carroll out injured all of our preseason planning and preparation went out of the window and we had to change system very quickly. All of this is worrying, but innately fixable.
Let us not forget, that all of these absences have also meant we are playing to play too many players out of position. Antonio at right back was a prime example of this. His 'adventure' in the position caused a problem which affected the team in more ways than one. It was clear he wasn't a right back and that he was at fault for early goals conceded. David Sullivan was then said to have spoken with Bilic had said he didn't think it a good idea playing him there which Slaven promptly listened to. This was good to show that Bilic can change his mind but some of the players obviously felt some concern at this tactical decision.
There is a need, in my view, for us to play only one of Noble or Kouyate now, so that we can bring in Obiang to protect the back four. I believe he is one of the most unlucky players to have played for us, as his talent is there for all to see. I would play Reece Oxford at centre back as the others are all out of form, this would make particular sense as Oxford seems to be getting frustrated as he hasn't played as much as he was hoping. Obviously, this is of concern to the club, as they want him to remain at the club for the foreseeable future.
In more positive news, we raised £1017 for Jonjo Heurmann's charity event, which gives us massive pleasure to donate to the causes of such a heroic young man. A big shout out is in order to to all of those helped, contributed and donated. I have put a tweet out asking for the winners of the prizes to get in touch so please, if you entered, do check my account.
Tomorrow marks the end of a place that held so many beautiful memories for all of us. The place I am referring to, as you know, is The Boleyn Ground as tomorrow marks the beginning of deconstruction work to the beautiful old lady down, something I am not sure I can stomach to see.
Finally, If you are interested in writing for The West Ham way, please get in touch with the site or me via my twitter account
COYI
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West Ham fan admits fabricating Twitter rumour about Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph
15:18, 28 SEP 2016 UPDATED 16:19, 28 SEP 2016
BY AARON FLANAGAN
The Hammers confirmed on Wednesday that they were investigating claims that Carroll and Randolph were drunk on Tuesday morning
The Mirror
A fan of West Ham has admitted to an "innocent joke" about Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph which could have landed the pair in hot water. West Ham confirmed that they were investigating claims that Carroll and Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon following a club sanctioned night out on Monday.
Pictures of striker Carroll - currently out injured - and keeper Randolph circulated on social media amid claims that they had visited two venues on Tuesday morning. But the Twitter user who initially claimed that they were drinking has retracted his comments after realising that the players could get in trouble.
Follow
Aran @AranNicolWHUFC
I've got you into this lads, I'm gonna get you out of it. Love you @AndyTCarroll @RandzOfficial
12:32 PM - 28 Sep 2016
1 1 Retweet 4 4 likes
"There were photos circulating on Twitter earlier on Tuesday, so I got it and put it up as a joke and what started as an innocent joke has just turned into them being party animals," Aran Nichol told BBC Sport. "I didn't expect this at all, it was a joke."
Follow
Tristan Carnegie @TristanCarnegie
Andy Carroll and Randolph smashed at midday shouting at birds in Shoreditch has made my Tuesday. 😂😂
2:37 PM - 27 Sep 2016
11 11 Retweets 19 19 likes
Both players vehemently denied either drinking or being drunk. But the Hammers confirmed they would be looking into reports to the contrary. As fans commented on the situation, Carroll retweeted one message which said: "Brilliant that so many fell for this about u and [Randolph] drinking." But the club are understood to be unamused. A Hammers spokesman said: "The club will be looking into these allegations and we will deal with the players as we see fit."
West Ham currently sit in the Premier League's bottom three after a run of four successive defeats, the latest a 3-0 home thumping at home to Southampton.
Bilic's position is not under threat but club chiefs were forced to reassure fans on Monday that the club are working hard to stop the slump.
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Former England boss Sam Allardyce deal for client John Carew made me "very uncomfortable" claims striker's agent
20:41, 27 SEP 2016 UPDATED 20:46, 27 SEP 2016
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
Per Flod reveals his unease at what went on when the Norwegian international joined Big Sam's West Ham as a free agent five years ago
The Mirror
The agent of a player Sam Allardyce once signed claims he is "not terribly surprised" to see the England boss has landed himself in trouble over transfers. Big Sam paid the price for revelations he tried to use his role to negotiate a £400,000 deal and also offered businessmen advice on how to get around FA rules on third-party ownership. The allegations reminded former agent Per Flod of how "uncomfortable" he felt dealing with boss Allardyce over his client, John Carew. Norwegian striker Carew joined Allardyce's West Ham on a free transfer in 2011. Flod told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: "It was obvious money was going to someone who should not have received any. "I came across people in the transfer that I had no control of. It was one of the hardest transfers I ever had. "It was not the way I wanted it to be. And it was obvious that the set of people outside the system had influence on the transfer and that money went in different ways than it should have. "There was contact to me from a person, which I do not want to say the name of, who was acting very differently. And my fee, which was agreed, was suddenly cut in half because there were others who were having money."
Flod claimed the deal was only done because he eventually agreed to halve his fee and added: "I will not argue that Allardyce even got money here. But it was a transfer with items that I was very uncomfortable (with)." Flod is no longer an agent, but insists he would have been finished at the time if he spoke up then.
He said: "It's like that in this business that when acting as an agent, and you want to continue to work in a market, the moment you go out and notify someone, you're done. So it was not a topic for me."
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West Ham and Rooney get Hammered
on Monday, 26 September 2016. Posted in Richard Keys Blog
http://www.richardajkeys.com/index.php/blog/item/west-ham-and-rooney-get-hammered#comments
After six games last season West Ham were in the top 3 - and my suggestion that their fans 'should be careful what they wish for' wasn't looking too accurate. Many a Hammer would regularly, and quite rightly, point out how well Slaven Bilic had taken to life as a coach in the P Lge and that my fears weere considerably wide of the mark.
After six games this season West Ham are in the bottom three and my warnings don't look quite so daft do they?
Look, I have no desire to open up old wounds with West Ham fans and I genuinely don't like to see the club struggle - it's a fine club that's contributed hugely to the English game down the years, especially for those of us of a certain vintage - Moore, Peters and Hurst were all heroes of mine.
What always disappointed me about the modern West Ham fan was how ungrateful he/she was to Big Sam. Hands up - Sam is a mate so of course I'll defend him wherever and whenever I feel I have to. I first got close to him back in 2008 when I worked in Qatar for the first time and he was hugely supportive of me and Andy when we were tucked up by Sky. Aren't you supposed to be loyal to good friends? I thought that was unwritten law in the East End - perhaps more so than anywhere else in London?
Sam didn't just save West Ham at the most needy point in their history, he first settled and then built the club back into a P Lge outfit. Bilic has never been shy of making that point. Sam made last season possible.
In warning that Hammers fans 'should be careful what they wish for' I was making the point that the old fashioned belief that their team should always play the 'West Ham' way was outdated and dangerous. You simply can't play 'nice' football in our league anymore.
Bilic, who I like enormously - he's a real football man, both knew last season and knows now that there is no such thing as the 'West Ham way' anymore. I pointed out last season, that before Christmas, the percentage of long balls West Ham played was up from 18% to 23%. Not my stats - Opta's.
In the last minute on Sunday I saw Antonio chucking a long throw into the box. Most Hammers fans would've missed this because they'd already left the stadium, but is they 'West Ham way'? The throw very nearly did its job though.
Last season the Hammers were brilliant and I said so on many occasions. Payet was sublime. Any football fan must've enjoyed his contribution to their season.
This time around they're a shadow of themselves. So is Payet. Perhaps he's struggling at the moment after all the excesses of the past 12 months, but right now he looks like a player that wants to be elsewhere. West Ham need him again - and fast.
I don't believe the Hammers will struggle all season. They're not as bad as their results have been so far but nor were they as good as results were last season. The truth is that they're somewhere in between - about where Sam left them.
The crisis at Old Trafford appears to be over! I said last week that I didn't believe Mourinho wouldn't sort things out. He hasn't yet, but Saturday was obviously much better. Or was it?
I thought they looked nervous for 20 mins. Goals change games and their opener did just that. Mata was terrific and helped put the game to bed before half time. A good job too, because Leicester had the better of the second half.
Were United better without Rooney? No. I'm not having that. I think they were miles better without Fellaini, something which seems to have gone totally un-noticed after all the nonsense surrounding Rooney.
I asked before - what is it with the Rooney-bashers? Why? Why are they so keen to run him out of both Old Trafford and England? I've never understood it. I repeat - the fella is a phenomenon. He's been awesome for club and country. His record speaks for itself. When has he ever complained about a job he's been asked to do for either?
Yes - he's out of sorts just now, but he'll be back. And when he is let's hope he's given just ONE job to do on the pitch. I can tell you, without fear of contradiction, that in the games he's played for United this season his manager has had him perform in a combined 12 different positions - shifting him forwards, back and sideways. Twelve! Rooney has adapted without complaint done what he's been asked, all for the good of the team. Back off him and enjoy him while we still can. We won't see his like again.
I thought it was interesting how Antonio Conte reacted to Chelsea's dismal performance at Arsenal. A warning Antonio - that dressing room won't react positively to criticism. It never has. Ask Villas Boas, Scolari and more recently Mourinho, to name just a few. You can go all the way back to Ranieri. Dennis Wise was in our BeIN Sports studios this weekend. When I made that point he reacted with a wry smile! I said in the summer, if those big ego's at The Bridge thought they were in for an easier time once they'd outed Mourinho then they should think again. Conte is more pedantic, tougher, demanding and he'll upset them. What happens next is going to be very interesting.
Oh. In amongst all the hysteria surrounding Rooney I saw this headline - 'Son proves Spurs don't need Kane'. Really? What a daft statement. They were good at the weekend - but is anyone seriously thinking they won't miss Kane? Believe me, they look able at the minute - but they'll miss Kane all right.
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West Ham to investigate behaviour of Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph after claims pair were drunk
Slaven Bilic ordered his West Ham players to enjoy a team bonding night
Hammers are currently languishing in 18th position in the Premier League
Andy Carroll joined group in attending an Italian restaurant in London
West Ham now investigating claims the striker and goalkeeper Darren Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon
The Hammers face Middlesbrough at the London Stadium on Saturday
By PA REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 10:17, 28 September 2016 | UPDATED: 10:22, 28 September 2016
West Ham are investigating claims striker Andy Carroll and goalkeeper Darren Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon following a club sanctioned night out on Monday. Carroll and Randolph led the group to an Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge. The pair, along with injured left back Aaron Cresswell, were then spotted in Mcdonald's at 7am. There were conflicting reports on social media the following day and manager Slaven Bilic will likely have questions for the pair. The Hammers have lost five of their six Premier League games this season, including four in a row, and play Middlesbrough on Saturday in their new London Stadium home. A West Ham United spokesman said: 'The club will be looking into these allegations and will deal with the players as we see fit.'
Carroll, who is currently out with a knee injury, posted a series of posts on Twitter, with fans replying asking if he was drunk. When it was suggested he was, in fact, in a coffee shop, Carroll replied: 'I seriously need to sort my parties out!! Sorry lads.' He added: 'Back in the day my parties had the wish I was there effect!' He then posted an image of his cracked phone screen and re-tweeted a post by a West Ham fan, who had the handle @Monkeyboy-WHU. '@AndyTCarroll brilliant that so many fall for this s**** about u & @RandzOfficial!'
One Twitter user and West Ham fan, with the handle @AranNicolWHUFC, had posted a photo of the pair. He wrote: '@AndyTCarroll and @RandzOfficial appear to be enjoying themselves... P***** out of their nut. Nice one lads. £WHUFC'
But in subsequent replies to other fans @AranNicolWHUFC admitted he had not taken the photo. 'They're at a pub and making a scene of themselves apparently,' he wrote. 'I never witnessed it, probably isn't even true, could be out having a coffee or all we know.' This is what I'm dealing with I can't afford a new one!! #NewContract pic.twitter.com/u0s8GDSUva
— Andy Carroll (@AndyTCarroll) September 27, 2016
With their season already under scrutiny, West Ham boss Bilic decided to try to release the pressure by giving his squad clearance to go out together on Monday evening.
Bilic's men have lost five of their opening six league matches this season but some of his players really seized the opportunity to let their hair down as they visited the fast food joint and enjoyed a team bonding night out after yet another shambolic performance and result. The Hammers were soundly beaten 3-0 by Southampton at home last weekend and are in dire need of making their new London Stadium a fortress - starting with the visit of Middlesbrough this Saturday. But before turning their attentions to that important game against Aitor Karanka's men, Bilic showed his man-management skills by allowing his first team squad to let their hair down at a plush restaurant in west London. Many of those who have let him and the supporters down this season were pictured sheepishly leaving the glitzy Signor Sassi restaurant, just over 24 hours after the heavy defeat to the Saints. Defender James Collins - who lost his place in the side after the return of New Zealand international Winston Reid - was among those keen to keep a low profile on the outing.
New recruits Simone Zaza, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jonathan Calleri were present for the meal, and Bilic will hope all three start to integrate themselves at the club after an inauspicious start. West Ham currently lie 18th in the Premier League with just three points from one victory in six games. The side look a different team to last season, when they pushed hard to finish in the top four, and there are fears the atmosphere at their Rush Green complex has become too complacent and relaxed. Bilic said: 'I said at the beginning of the season, when we moved into our newly refurbished training ground, that I wanted to create an environment where players felt comfortable spending time there before and after training, and would be happy to bring their kids sometimes. 'I am completely content with the balance of hard work and the welcoming environment of Rush Green Training Ground.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sofiane Feghouli suffered a frustrating start to his career at West Ham United after he picked up a hamstring injury during the Betway Cup against Juventus. But the Algeria international has now made a full recovery and is ready to kickstart his career in east London and help the Hammers move away from the bottom three....
Sofiane, how disappointed you were with the result against Southampton on Sunday and how confident are you that the Club can turn things around?
SF: "We are discussing the reasons for our start to the season in the dressing room. We have suffered due to a series of injuries to some key players. That alone has caused us some issues at the start of the season. "We also had quite a few games in a short period due to the Europa League and so physically we struggled a bit. Slowly but surely, physically we are getting back to fitness. I know personally that I need time on the pitch to improve my own match fitness and to get back my rhythm. "I am sure that in the coming weeks as we get some of our players back to fitness, we will start to perform better as a team."
How important is this next period of games for the Club starting with the Middlesbrough game on Sunday?
SF: "Our objective is to win every match and by doing so, we can start to improve our league position. "We have quality in this squad, but it is down to us to improve and to take the responsibility on our shoulders. "We need to focus on the games one by one and that begins in our match against Middlesbrough. After that, we can start to look at the next game."
You will be coming up some familiar faces on Saturday having played with Alvaro Negredo and Antonio Barragan during your time in Valencia. How would you describe them as players?
SF: "Alvaro is a true striker. He has a cool head in front of goal and can cause teams real problems. "Antonio is a defender who loves to get forward and he is very effective on the wing creating danger each and every time he pushes on. "Both Alvaro and Antonio are great guys with brilliant characters and are an asset in the dressing room because they both create a positive atmosphere."
You have now played in front of the West Ham fans in the Premier League. How would you describe the atmosphere at London Stadium?
SF: "It is really exciting for us to play in front of so many fans at home. We hope that they can continue to support us and push us on throughout the ninety minutes so that we can start winning games at home. "We will be doing everything we can to make them happy and we need to get a win to improve the confidence of the squad and to help us to start climbing the table."
It's been a couple of months since you joined the Club, how are you settling into life here in the Premier League?
SF: "I am really happy to be in England and playing for West Ham. Playing in a new league, in a new country and with a new way of life is an incredibly rewarding experience and one that I am enjoying. "After six years in Spain with Valencia, I am pleased with how things are going at the Club. "It was obviously annoying to have picked up an injury so early on in my career with West Ham, preventing me from starting the season as I would have liked to. "I am getting back my form and hopefully, in the next couple of weeks and with some game time, I can get back to feeling 100 per cent."
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YouTuber to millions
WHUFC.com
YouTube personality and gamer Behzinga is a huge West Ham fan who features the club regularly in his online videos...
For a guy who has more than two million YouTube subscribers, you wouldn't think gaining one extra Twitter follower would be a big deal. That wasn't the case for 21-year-old YouTuber Behzinga, however, when he was followed by West Ham United's official account. "When they followed me on Twitter, I was absolutely buzzing for a few weeks!" claimed the Hammers supporter, who himself is followed by fans online from all over the world. "I was showing everyone, going around saying 'West Ham have followed me!' It's the stuff of dreams, your team following you and being able to ask you to get involved with their work in some way, the team you've grown up following."
Sidemen
Behzinga – or Ethan Payne to his family – has been YouTubing for just over four years, and is a member of the popular group on the video platform, Sidemen. He often produces videos from his time watching the Hammers and many of his fans online are also of Claret and Blue persuasion. But despite being one of the biggest YouTube names, Behzinga doesn't feel the heat or pressure of his two million subscribers. "Of course I'm stunned with how quickly things have happened for me, but I simply just share my experiences for other people to enjoy and experience with me. For perhaps that older generation not familiar with YouTube, that's simply what we do. "It's been about three years since I've properly been regularly producing videos and you go to events now with thousands of people there coming to see you and sure, you do have to pinch yourself every now and again. "But like a lot of YouTubers, I've come down a route and things have just snowballed since. In my final few years at school, I started up and kept it a secret at first, otherwise you got rinsed for it! "There were a few other people in school in the year below who got rinsed, so I kept things quiet, watched a lot of other guys on there and things just grew and grew. I started with gaming and things like Call of Duty and FIFA and now I'm here!"
Skills
Although Behzinga is extremely humble about his route into YouTubing and the skills required, he explained certain things are necessary to succeed online. He said: "You need creativity. That's a massive thing for sure, being able to think of different ideas and put your own twist on things. It's not about who does things first on YouTube, but who executes it right.
"It's about taking ideas, playing with them and making them yours and doing your own thing. You need motivation in general, too. I'm driven by success so ultimately, if I do something online that is really successful, I want to do it again. "You should never try to do things that you don't like just to jump on a trend. Jumping on trends is good, but do it in your own way and don't force anything."
While Behzinga's own channel has over 2,000,000 subscribers, his group Sidemen has just over half of the 21-year-old's personal total. Despite their popularity, the Bethnal Green-born YouTuber explained how simple the formation of the group was. "It is literally a group of mates that play games – that's what we are. There were four or five of us that all knew each other from school and watching each other's stuff and we thought 'Why not make a group out of this?' "It's just great fun and good to watch. We've picked up a few on the way and it just is a group of mates playing some games and having a laugh. "We've got different types of humour and different personalities in the group and I think that's why it works so well. We can all take a joke. You should never take yourself too seriously, and we certainly don't!"
Committed Hammer
Something Behzinga is serious about, committed to, however, is watching West Ham United. The online star has been a Hammers supporter since he was young and recalled some of his very best memories following the Irons. "I've literally known nothing else than to be a West Ham fan," he continued. "My Dad used to work in London and his manager knew Bobby Zamora who used to get us loads of tickets for the youth club. I used to go down with all the boys and was lucky enough to get to quite a few games. "I used to sit in the Bobby Moore Lower next to all the away fans and when I was younger, I would get tickets whenever I could at the Boleyn Ground. "There have been some ups and downs supporting the Club. My favourite memory – which people might slam me for! – is going to the FA Cup final against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium. "It was such a phenomenal game which was ultimately heartbreaking when you think back on it, but seeing us in an FA Cup final and almost winning was incredible. It was such a great day and if it wasn't for Steven Gerrard, we would have won."
Like many Hammers who experienced the incredible last season at the Club's old Boleyn Ground, Behzinga also looks back on the first campaign under current manager Slaven Bilic with fondness. "The Liverpool replay in the cup last season was amazing – I remember running up and down my aisle going mad. I was also there for the last game at the Boleyn Ground. I cried like a baby! "I've never been to a game and just sat and soaked up the atmosphere. I don't think I'll ever experience an atmosphere like that again. You really felt it. It gave me goosebumps. It was all over you. To beat United 3-2 to complete it – it was crazy. That tops all the memories I think. The memory of the atmosphere makes me tingle now, still."
FIFA Gamer
As a keen FIFA player online and in his videos, Behzinga got the opportunity to give the new EA Sports game a test drive recently ahead of its official release, and he revealed playing with the Hammers in the game is incredible. "Michail Antonio is an absolute beast on the new FIFA 17. He's a baller! His overall rating of 76 does not reflect his quality. He's better than that! "Michail is incredible and one of my favourite players to play with on the new game, and Dimitri Payet, predictably, is a different beast. I love to play with the whole West Ham team, to be honest. "Also, the Stadium looks incredible in the game. It's great to play there on it. I love doing gaming videos because everyone's intrigued to see what other people are getting up to on the games. I'll make sure West Ham are involved regularly!"
To check out Behzinga's latest videos online, head to his YouTube channel.
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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell is in training with the Under-23 squad
Arthur Masuaku to undergo surgery to repair fracture in his hand
Andre Ayew ready for the next stage in his rehab for thigh injury
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital...
Hello everybody.
We have positive news of Aaron Cresswell, Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho and an update on Arthur Masuaku in this week's From the Treatment Room.
First, Aaron trained very well with the Under-23s on Wednesday. The Academy kindly put on a very hard session, which Aaron took part in under the supervision of Eamon Swift, our rehab-fitness coach. He will take part in another training session with the Under-23s on Friday and join the first team next week.
Arthur unfortunately was injured in the EFL Cup tie with Accrington Stanley, suffering a medial ligament injury in his left knee. He is now wearing a brace, which he will be in for the next two weeks before being reassessed and taking the next stage in his rehab. We started exercises with him at Rush Green on Wednesday.
Arthur also suffered a small fracture in his hand, which occurred in the West Bromwich Albion match. He played through the injury in that game, and the EFL Cup tie, but we will now undergo a small fixation operation on Thursday.
Andre returned to France as planned to continue his rehab. He will return to Rush Green at the weekend. He has been working very hard on the pitch and is ready for the next stage in the rehab, introducing the ball, passing, kicking and faster running. Andre will continue working on improving his fitness levels for the next few weeks before he will join controlled introduction sessions with the Under-23s.
Diafra is progressing well after a week on the training pitch running and working with the ball. He has to build up a lot of fitness after three months out, but the encouraging thing is that he has had no adverse reaction in his back to the hard work he has been putting in. Diafra is working very hard and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Havard Nordtveit had a small medical procedure at Spire Roding Hospital on Wednesday and will be unavailable for one week. He will return to training in the middle of next week.
Finally, Andy Carroll is continuing his rehab.
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Simply Slaven
WHUFC.com
These have been testing times for Slaven Bilic and his players in recent weeks, but in an exclusive interview the West Ham manager insists they are doing everything to put things right and are remaining positive as they look to turn the season around.
With five defeats from the opening six Premier League games, the Hammers manager knows the importance of getting back on the winning trail when they face Middlesbrough at London Stadium on Saturday.
Bilic and his players have been working even harder on the training pitch to address the situation and the players have spent more time together as they look to re-produce the form which saw them enjoy a memorable final season at the Boleyn Ground.
The Hammers boss has no doubts there is enough quality in the team to move away from the bottom three and hopes to see a big improvement on Saturday.
Bilic said: "The start was not the one we were expecting considering the great season we had last year and the move into the new Stadium.
"Things are not going well for us on the pitch, but we are positive and are working hard in training to put things right.
"We have had four defeats which we are not used to, but we have done lots of analysing, hard training, hard work and the atmosphere is good.
"It is not flat and we are very positive in the training sessions but we have to produce that during games and start winning games and that will bring the situation back to what it was last season.
"No-body can change it apart from us, starting with me. I am the manager and it is my team. It is the team that made us all proud last season. We have to change the situation.
"We cannot wait for it to change and have to act. We need to dig in harder and believe in ourselves."
Bilic has nothing but praise for the support that West Ham fans show towards the team and has called for them more than ever to get behind the side.
Bilic added: "This is the moment when we need them. We feel the fans support and all that I ask from them is that they stay behind us.
"It is a big part for us to feel good at home. We want the fans to see their team winning and go home happy. It is the same with the players.
"This is a new ground and different to the one we played in but we have to make it our home."
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Nolan - It's time to stand up and be counted
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan made 157 appearances for the Club, scoring 31 goals, between 2011 and 2015...
Looking from the outside, it has been a difficult start to the season for the Hammers. The injuries have not helped and I have sympathy with Slaven and the lads in that regard, but it is now up to the players on the pitch to stand up and be counted.
It is very early in the season and that's a positive, but it's got to change sooner rather than later because if you don't get points on the board early, then you start to fall behind.
Even if you are only three points behind later in the season, say, you are thinking that one win gets you back level, but then you lose and they win and all of a sudden the gap is six points and a lot harder to close.
After the season the lads had last year, it was always going to be more difficult this year, for a few reasons.
First, they have left the Boleyn Ground for London Stadium, and it always takes time to adjust. I was at the new ground recently working with Football Focus and it is fantastic for the players – all the facilities are brand new and they don't want for anything, but it still takes time to get used to and get comfortable in your new surroundings.
For the players, they have got to forget about everything going on around them and just concentrate on what is happening on that bit of green grass they play on every week, because that variable doesn't change, and nobody else can effect what happens there.
In the dressing room, too, the players have got to take responsibility. This is a time when the big characters need to stand up and inspire themselves and their teammates. We have got plenty of big characters at the Club like Nobes, Ginge, Andy, Cheikhou and Adrian, from those I played with, and they need to let the whole squad know that the players are the only ones who can get themselves out of the current situation.
While that is the case, the atmosphere can really help. I know from my four years at the Club what a powerful force the fans can be and, at times like these, you really need everyone behind you, giving you confidence and belief in what you are doing.
I am fully expecting West Ham to turn things around by the end of the season, but for that to happen, the players cannot be allowed to go and sit in corners and feel sorry for themselves.
As a captain, when performances are not great, people look to you from inside and outside the dressing room for confidence and belief. I know Nobes and he has the drive and the ability to lead the team out of this.
He is a fan, as well as the captain, and he will be hurting as much as anyone, as he said in his interview after the Southampton game.
He now has to focus on how he led the team through their difficult period before Christmas last season, when the squad was without a lot of injured players, but managed to come through that period unbeaten. Nobes has got big and broad enough shoulders and he will lead by example.
The Middlesbrough game this weekend has a certain type of pressure attached to it.
At the start of the season, it would have been one that West Ham would have targeted three points from, and that is still the case, but they will come to London believing they can turn us over.
They've got some good players, like Stewie Downing who we all know well from his time here, and it will be a tough game, as they all are in the Premier League.
The London Stadium is inspiring visiting clubs, whose players will remember it from the London 2012 Olympic Games, but West Ham need to see this game as an opportunity to win and kick-start their season. I certainly hope the lads can do just that.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United.
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Ballot open for Sunderland
WHUFC.com
The Claret Members' ballot for our Premier League home game against Sunderland on Saturday 22 October is now open.
With all tickets for the opening games against Bournemouth, Watford, Southampton and Middlesbrough having been allocated in the Members' ballot, signing up gives you the best chance to watch the Hammers in action at London Stadium this season
Become a Claret Member here
To enter the ballot for Sunderland, simply head to eticketing.co.uk/whufc, log in to your Ticketmaster account, select the fixture and add to basket.
The ballot is open now and will close on Sunday 9 October. Successful applicants will be notified by email by Monday 10 October
The Club is keen to ensure that Claret Members can sit alongside friends and family for this unmissable fixture, and so fans wishing to apply with other members should include all client reference numbers in the one transaction, and, if successful, will be seated together.
By becoming a Member today, supporters not only ensure access to the ballot, but will be guaranteed exclusive ticket priority for every Premier League home game during the first season in our stunning new Stadium.
With 52,000 plus Season Ticket Holders, an even greater number on the waiting list and tens of thousands of Claret Members already registered, Claret Membership is your access to home match tickets in this unique season.
Membership is priced at just £40 for Adults and £25 for Under-16s, with supporters already on the Season Ticket Waiting List eligible for a £5 discount.
Similarly, Claret Members can also join the Season Ticket Waiting List for the reduced price of just £5.
Supporters entering the ballot have the option of selecting up to a maximum of two price points. If you are happy to accept any price band, and thereby increasing the likelihood of being successful, kindly select your preferred area of the Stadium and leave the second option blank.
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Chelsea on sale to Season Ticket Holders
WHUFC.com
West Ham United host Chelsea in EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday 26 October at 7.45pm
Season Ticket Holder priority period open now until 5pm on Monday 3 October
Tie will be first London derby at Hammers' new home
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that the London derby against Chelsea in the EFL Cup fourth round will take place on Wednesday 26 October with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Buy your Chelsea tickets now!
The reward for beating Accrington Stanley in the last round of the EFL Cup is a mouthwatering home game against the former Premier League champions and there looks set to be another capacity crowd at London Stadium.
As part of the Board's commitment to affordable football, ticket prices start from just £15 for Adults and £10 for Kids.
Tickets are available to Season Ticket Holders now, with the exclusive priority window ending at 5pm on Monday 3 October.
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Live reporting
By Matthew Henry and Michael Emons
Facebook: BBC Sport
Posted at 14:04
Earlier, we told you how West Ham are set to investigate Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph over claims they were drunk in London on Tuesday afternoon (see 11:10 BST). But BBC Sport have spoken to the West Ham fan who started the Twitter rumours, and it's fair to say he's feeling a little sheepish that what started as a "joke" could have landed the players in hot water.
"There were photos circulating on Twitter earlier on Tuesday, so I got it and put it up as a joke and what started as an innocent joke has just turned into them being party animals," said Aran Nicol. "I didn't expect this at all, it was a joke." The wonders of social media...
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West Ham to investigate Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph over drunk claims
BBC.co.uk
West Ham will investigate claims that Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon.
England striker Carroll, 27, and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Randolph, 29, had been on a club-sanctioned night out on Monday.
Pictures surfaced on social media on Tuesday of the pair, with users suggesting they appeared drunk.
A West Ham spokesman said: "The club is looking into these allegations and will deal with the players as we see fit."
Carroll interacted with fans throughout the day, at one point seeming to suggest that he and Randolph were out for coffee, and not drinking.
He tweeted: "I seriously need to sort my parties out!! Sorry lads.
"Back in the day my parties had the wish I was there effect!"
He also retweeted one fan who suggested that people were gullible to believe they were drinking alcohol.
The club have lost five of their six Premier League games this season.
They next face Middlesbrough at their new London Stadium on Saturday at 15:00 BST.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE'S COLUMN: PLAYERS STILL BACK BILIC AFTER MEETING
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2016 AT 10:41PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
It has been a while since I wrote one of these but I hope to continue to write more regularly from now onwards. As always I am still looking for writers who can commit to actually writing something 😉 and preferably during the day too, so if that is you please get in contact.
So today Big Sam has mutually resigned from his position at England and there are obvious questions around any misdemeanours which may have happened during his time with us. There was always a lot of talk especially from Ravel Morrison's camp around Sam putting pressure on players to switch agents to Mark Curtis. It was Ravel's refusal to do so that spelt the end of his career at West Ham apparently and just before he left Allardyce managed to persuade Reece Burke to join Mark Curtis as well.
There was always question marks around Sam's agent dealings, however I have been told by people in the club today (and by respected media figures) that the club should have nothing to worry about. Talk of the club suffering a 12 points deduction are not correct, and represent nothing more than sensationalism to sell papers. There was also a suggestion that as Enner Valencia was being third party-owned at one point, this could come back to haunt us now this story has broken. Fortunately, this is not true and the third party agreement ended before we signed him, therefore there is nothing in there that represents a legal issue. Nonetheless, the club are braced for a number of stories to break from other agents and outlets telling of stories of Sam's dealings, so it looks like West Ham's new head of Media relations, Max Fitzgerald, has his hands full in his new role.
Our current manager took the players out for a meal yesterday where all cards were put on the table. It is said that the players still stand by Bilic and that he hasn't lost the dressing room. Talk through certain media outlets has been that Bilic is too soft and allows pets and children into the training ground seems wide of the mark, as I have heard the opposite. There were concerns around the tough nature of Bilic's training at the start of the season and fears that it could have contributed to a lot of muscle injuries during his tenure, which the chairmen and manager are said to have discussed, and changed them as a result.
Interestingly, during this meeting, Bilic apparently informed the squad that nobody will be picked on reputation from this point onwards, and that those who are not performing will be immediately dropped in favour of squad players with a point to prove.
There is strong talk though that the manager will be given three more games , with the club fully expecting that he will have turned it around by then. In the unexpected event that it comes to Bilic departing, I have heard of some of the names being lined up and there is a real range of experience and managers with potential. I think we should all get behind Bilic and do what we can to try to turn it around for him. Running polls on whether Bilic should be dismissed seems premature and unhelpful to the current situation.
Bilic will have a game or so after the international break to prove himself. This is because the club see that when Sakho and Carroll return to the side, and Cresswell not that far off, Bilic will finally get a full complement of players, if not, very close to full. It is also thought that Bilic is prepared to give Sakho a second/third chance now to prove himself at the club. Having originally said he had no future at the club, this comes as something of a U-turn, but I think the current striker situation has made him act.
Reports have surfaced tonight of Randolph and Carroll being out on some all-night bender with Randolph said to be abusing people who were on their way to work. Again, this isn't really the press that the club needs and I do question why some people who support the club want to do their to draw attention to a story like this. Andy Carroll is said to be disappointed by the reaction and believes that they have not done anything wrong. I am sure the club will look into it, which will probably end with the conclusion that there isn't a problem.
We're all wondering the same thing at this point: What exactly has gone wrong this season? This will be discussed in detail on our radio show tomorrow. This is live on Phoenix FM at 7pm and available to download on iTunes after the show. In a nutshell though, I believe the exit from the Europa League created a negative feel before the Premier League had started, something which the squad found hard to shift. A lot of players had been bought/not sent out on loan in preparation in for a long European campaign which never materialised. Once we exited, Reece Burke promptly left on loan and it meant the likes of Randolph, Obiang, Tore and Calleri realising they would be getting a lot less games and probably feeling resentful.
The move to the stadium has not helped. Had it ran smoothly and there was a positive feeling among the fans then this would be reflected on the pitch but the anger around sitting and standing and inadequate stewarding meant that rather than supporting the team there was a lot of negativity.
I also question our use of the transfer market. I would say we have opted to sign quantity over quality this year. We have spent a lot of money on a lot of players when perhaps we would have been better to buy three £20m players that improved our first team rather than just our squad.
Injuries have really not helped the situation, but strangely, despite the fact that we have managed to play our best players in Payet, Lanzini and Antonio, we have failed to reach any sort of consistency. Despite this, we are still missing players like Cresswell, Ayew and Carroll, who will surely make a difference upon their return. One area where the crisis has hit us particularly badly, is the defence. The constant changing of players, I think, has meant that a solid understanding has not been able to form yet. Similarly, we have faced problems in our forward line. With Andy Carroll out injured all of our preseason planning and preparation went out of the window and we had to change system very quickly. All of this is worrying, but innately fixable.
Let us not forget, that all of these absences have also meant we are playing to play too many players out of position. Antonio at right back was a prime example of this. His 'adventure' in the position caused a problem which affected the team in more ways than one. It was clear he wasn't a right back and that he was at fault for early goals conceded. David Sullivan was then said to have spoken with Bilic had said he didn't think it a good idea playing him there which Slaven promptly listened to. This was good to show that Bilic can change his mind but some of the players obviously felt some concern at this tactical decision.
There is a need, in my view, for us to play only one of Noble or Kouyate now, so that we can bring in Obiang to protect the back four. I believe he is one of the most unlucky players to have played for us, as his talent is there for all to see. I would play Reece Oxford at centre back as the others are all out of form, this would make particular sense as Oxford seems to be getting frustrated as he hasn't played as much as he was hoping. Obviously, this is of concern to the club, as they want him to remain at the club for the foreseeable future.
In more positive news, we raised £1017 for Jonjo Heurmann's charity event, which gives us massive pleasure to donate to the causes of such a heroic young man. A big shout out is in order to to all of those helped, contributed and donated. I have put a tweet out asking for the winners of the prizes to get in touch so please, if you entered, do check my account.
Tomorrow marks the end of a place that held so many beautiful memories for all of us. The place I am referring to, as you know, is The Boleyn Ground as tomorrow marks the beginning of deconstruction work to the beautiful old lady down, something I am not sure I can stomach to see.
Finally, If you are interested in writing for The West Ham way, please get in touch with the site or me via my twitter account
COYI
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West Ham fan admits fabricating Twitter rumour about Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph
15:18, 28 SEP 2016 UPDATED 16:19, 28 SEP 2016
BY AARON FLANAGAN
The Hammers confirmed on Wednesday that they were investigating claims that Carroll and Randolph were drunk on Tuesday morning
The Mirror
A fan of West Ham has admitted to an "innocent joke" about Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph which could have landed the pair in hot water. West Ham confirmed that they were investigating claims that Carroll and Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon following a club sanctioned night out on Monday.
Pictures of striker Carroll - currently out injured - and keeper Randolph circulated on social media amid claims that they had visited two venues on Tuesday morning. But the Twitter user who initially claimed that they were drinking has retracted his comments after realising that the players could get in trouble.
Follow
Aran @AranNicolWHUFC
I've got you into this lads, I'm gonna get you out of it. Love you @AndyTCarroll @RandzOfficial
12:32 PM - 28 Sep 2016
1 1 Retweet 4 4 likes
"There were photos circulating on Twitter earlier on Tuesday, so I got it and put it up as a joke and what started as an innocent joke has just turned into them being party animals," Aran Nichol told BBC Sport. "I didn't expect this at all, it was a joke."
Follow
Tristan Carnegie @TristanCarnegie
Andy Carroll and Randolph smashed at midday shouting at birds in Shoreditch has made my Tuesday. 😂😂
2:37 PM - 27 Sep 2016
11 11 Retweets 19 19 likes
Both players vehemently denied either drinking or being drunk. But the Hammers confirmed they would be looking into reports to the contrary. As fans commented on the situation, Carroll retweeted one message which said: "Brilliant that so many fell for this about u and [Randolph] drinking." But the club are understood to be unamused. A Hammers spokesman said: "The club will be looking into these allegations and we will deal with the players as we see fit."
West Ham currently sit in the Premier League's bottom three after a run of four successive defeats, the latest a 3-0 home thumping at home to Southampton.
Bilic's position is not under threat but club chiefs were forced to reassure fans on Monday that the club are working hard to stop the slump.
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Former England boss Sam Allardyce deal for client John Carew made me "very uncomfortable" claims striker's agent
20:41, 27 SEP 2016 UPDATED 20:46, 27 SEP 2016
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
Per Flod reveals his unease at what went on when the Norwegian international joined Big Sam's West Ham as a free agent five years ago
The Mirror
The agent of a player Sam Allardyce once signed claims he is "not terribly surprised" to see the England boss has landed himself in trouble over transfers. Big Sam paid the price for revelations he tried to use his role to negotiate a £400,000 deal and also offered businessmen advice on how to get around FA rules on third-party ownership. The allegations reminded former agent Per Flod of how "uncomfortable" he felt dealing with boss Allardyce over his client, John Carew. Norwegian striker Carew joined Allardyce's West Ham on a free transfer in 2011. Flod told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: "It was obvious money was going to someone who should not have received any. "I came across people in the transfer that I had no control of. It was one of the hardest transfers I ever had. "It was not the way I wanted it to be. And it was obvious that the set of people outside the system had influence on the transfer and that money went in different ways than it should have. "There was contact to me from a person, which I do not want to say the name of, who was acting very differently. And my fee, which was agreed, was suddenly cut in half because there were others who were having money."
Flod claimed the deal was only done because he eventually agreed to halve his fee and added: "I will not argue that Allardyce even got money here. But it was a transfer with items that I was very uncomfortable (with)." Flod is no longer an agent, but insists he would have been finished at the time if he spoke up then.
He said: "It's like that in this business that when acting as an agent, and you want to continue to work in a market, the moment you go out and notify someone, you're done. So it was not a topic for me."
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West Ham and Rooney get Hammered
on Monday, 26 September 2016. Posted in Richard Keys Blog
http://www.richardajkeys.com/index.php/blog/item/west-ham-and-rooney-get-hammered#comments
After six games last season West Ham were in the top 3 - and my suggestion that their fans 'should be careful what they wish for' wasn't looking too accurate. Many a Hammer would regularly, and quite rightly, point out how well Slaven Bilic had taken to life as a coach in the P Lge and that my fears weere considerably wide of the mark.
After six games this season West Ham are in the bottom three and my warnings don't look quite so daft do they?
Look, I have no desire to open up old wounds with West Ham fans and I genuinely don't like to see the club struggle - it's a fine club that's contributed hugely to the English game down the years, especially for those of us of a certain vintage - Moore, Peters and Hurst were all heroes of mine.
What always disappointed me about the modern West Ham fan was how ungrateful he/she was to Big Sam. Hands up - Sam is a mate so of course I'll defend him wherever and whenever I feel I have to. I first got close to him back in 2008 when I worked in Qatar for the first time and he was hugely supportive of me and Andy when we were tucked up by Sky. Aren't you supposed to be loyal to good friends? I thought that was unwritten law in the East End - perhaps more so than anywhere else in London?
Sam didn't just save West Ham at the most needy point in their history, he first settled and then built the club back into a P Lge outfit. Bilic has never been shy of making that point. Sam made last season possible.
In warning that Hammers fans 'should be careful what they wish for' I was making the point that the old fashioned belief that their team should always play the 'West Ham' way was outdated and dangerous. You simply can't play 'nice' football in our league anymore.
Bilic, who I like enormously - he's a real football man, both knew last season and knows now that there is no such thing as the 'West Ham way' anymore. I pointed out last season, that before Christmas, the percentage of long balls West Ham played was up from 18% to 23%. Not my stats - Opta's.
In the last minute on Sunday I saw Antonio chucking a long throw into the box. Most Hammers fans would've missed this because they'd already left the stadium, but is they 'West Ham way'? The throw very nearly did its job though.
Last season the Hammers were brilliant and I said so on many occasions. Payet was sublime. Any football fan must've enjoyed his contribution to their season.
This time around they're a shadow of themselves. So is Payet. Perhaps he's struggling at the moment after all the excesses of the past 12 months, but right now he looks like a player that wants to be elsewhere. West Ham need him again - and fast.
I don't believe the Hammers will struggle all season. They're not as bad as their results have been so far but nor were they as good as results were last season. The truth is that they're somewhere in between - about where Sam left them.
The crisis at Old Trafford appears to be over! I said last week that I didn't believe Mourinho wouldn't sort things out. He hasn't yet, but Saturday was obviously much better. Or was it?
I thought they looked nervous for 20 mins. Goals change games and their opener did just that. Mata was terrific and helped put the game to bed before half time. A good job too, because Leicester had the better of the second half.
Were United better without Rooney? No. I'm not having that. I think they were miles better without Fellaini, something which seems to have gone totally un-noticed after all the nonsense surrounding Rooney.
I asked before - what is it with the Rooney-bashers? Why? Why are they so keen to run him out of both Old Trafford and England? I've never understood it. I repeat - the fella is a phenomenon. He's been awesome for club and country. His record speaks for itself. When has he ever complained about a job he's been asked to do for either?
Yes - he's out of sorts just now, but he'll be back. And when he is let's hope he's given just ONE job to do on the pitch. I can tell you, without fear of contradiction, that in the games he's played for United this season his manager has had him perform in a combined 12 different positions - shifting him forwards, back and sideways. Twelve! Rooney has adapted without complaint done what he's been asked, all for the good of the team. Back off him and enjoy him while we still can. We won't see his like again.
I thought it was interesting how Antonio Conte reacted to Chelsea's dismal performance at Arsenal. A warning Antonio - that dressing room won't react positively to criticism. It never has. Ask Villas Boas, Scolari and more recently Mourinho, to name just a few. You can go all the way back to Ranieri. Dennis Wise was in our BeIN Sports studios this weekend. When I made that point he reacted with a wry smile! I said in the summer, if those big ego's at The Bridge thought they were in for an easier time once they'd outed Mourinho then they should think again. Conte is more pedantic, tougher, demanding and he'll upset them. What happens next is going to be very interesting.
Oh. In amongst all the hysteria surrounding Rooney I saw this headline - 'Son proves Spurs don't need Kane'. Really? What a daft statement. They were good at the weekend - but is anyone seriously thinking they won't miss Kane? Believe me, they look able at the minute - but they'll miss Kane all right.
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West Ham to investigate behaviour of Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph after claims pair were drunk
Slaven Bilic ordered his West Ham players to enjoy a team bonding night
Hammers are currently languishing in 18th position in the Premier League
Andy Carroll joined group in attending an Italian restaurant in London
West Ham now investigating claims the striker and goalkeeper Darren Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon
The Hammers face Middlesbrough at the London Stadium on Saturday
By PA REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 10:17, 28 September 2016 | UPDATED: 10:22, 28 September 2016
West Ham are investigating claims striker Andy Carroll and goalkeeper Darren Randolph were drunk on Tuesday afternoon following a club sanctioned night out on Monday. Carroll and Randolph led the group to an Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge. The pair, along with injured left back Aaron Cresswell, were then spotted in Mcdonald's at 7am. There were conflicting reports on social media the following day and manager Slaven Bilic will likely have questions for the pair. The Hammers have lost five of their six Premier League games this season, including four in a row, and play Middlesbrough on Saturday in their new London Stadium home. A West Ham United spokesman said: 'The club will be looking into these allegations and will deal with the players as we see fit.'
Carroll, who is currently out with a knee injury, posted a series of posts on Twitter, with fans replying asking if he was drunk. When it was suggested he was, in fact, in a coffee shop, Carroll replied: 'I seriously need to sort my parties out!! Sorry lads.' He added: 'Back in the day my parties had the wish I was there effect!' He then posted an image of his cracked phone screen and re-tweeted a post by a West Ham fan, who had the handle @Monkeyboy-WHU. '@AndyTCarroll brilliant that so many fall for this s**** about u & @RandzOfficial!'
One Twitter user and West Ham fan, with the handle @AranNicolWHUFC, had posted a photo of the pair. He wrote: '@AndyTCarroll and @RandzOfficial appear to be enjoying themselves... P***** out of their nut. Nice one lads. £WHUFC'
But in subsequent replies to other fans @AranNicolWHUFC admitted he had not taken the photo. 'They're at a pub and making a scene of themselves apparently,' he wrote. 'I never witnessed it, probably isn't even true, could be out having a coffee or all we know.' This is what I'm dealing with I can't afford a new one!! #NewContract pic.twitter.com/u0s8GDSUva
— Andy Carroll (@AndyTCarroll) September 27, 2016
With their season already under scrutiny, West Ham boss Bilic decided to try to release the pressure by giving his squad clearance to go out together on Monday evening.
Bilic's men have lost five of their opening six league matches this season but some of his players really seized the opportunity to let their hair down as they visited the fast food joint and enjoyed a team bonding night out after yet another shambolic performance and result. The Hammers were soundly beaten 3-0 by Southampton at home last weekend and are in dire need of making their new London Stadium a fortress - starting with the visit of Middlesbrough this Saturday. But before turning their attentions to that important game against Aitor Karanka's men, Bilic showed his man-management skills by allowing his first team squad to let their hair down at a plush restaurant in west London. Many of those who have let him and the supporters down this season were pictured sheepishly leaving the glitzy Signor Sassi restaurant, just over 24 hours after the heavy defeat to the Saints. Defender James Collins - who lost his place in the side after the return of New Zealand international Winston Reid - was among those keen to keep a low profile on the outing.
New recruits Simone Zaza, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jonathan Calleri were present for the meal, and Bilic will hope all three start to integrate themselves at the club after an inauspicious start. West Ham currently lie 18th in the Premier League with just three points from one victory in six games. The side look a different team to last season, when they pushed hard to finish in the top four, and there are fears the atmosphere at their Rush Green complex has become too complacent and relaxed. Bilic said: 'I said at the beginning of the season, when we moved into our newly refurbished training ground, that I wanted to create an environment where players felt comfortable spending time there before and after training, and would be happy to bring their kids sometimes. 'I am completely content with the balance of hard work and the welcoming environment of Rush Green Training Ground.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 28
Daily WHUFC News - 28th September 2016
Browne - Team are happy with the start
WHUFC.com
The Hammers drew 0-0 with Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday
The Hammers created a host of chances and had the lion's share of possession
Midfielder Marcus Browne felt his team could have done slightly better but still deserved to win.
Marcus Browne believes everyone involved with West Ham United PL2 is happy with the start they've made to the season, but admits the draw with Brighton and Hove Albion is a case of points dropped rather than a point gained.
The Hammers' No10 was among the scorers in their 2-0 away victory over Norwich City last week and felt his team could have been slightly better against the Seagulls.
A win for Terry Westley's men could have put them top of Premier League 2 Division 2 but Browne was still happy with the way his team performed on the night.
"It's definitely two points dropped tonight. The boys showed a different level of performance to the Norwich match and we dominated the majority of the game," said Browne.
"We played good football and we had a style to the way we played. We were just unfortunate not to get a goal. We were just lacking in the final third at times. If we continue to work at that, we'll get better.
"I think Brighton banked up, stayed firm and tried not to let us through. They didn't really go for the win and they were content with taking a point."
Although the Hammers found it difficult to break their opponents down, they did create a host of chances to take the three points.
Toni Martinez went close just after half-time after a delicate pull-back from Moses Makasi before Grady Diangana struck the foot of the post with a dipping free-kick.
Makasi forced a terrific save from Brighton keeper Robert Lynch-Sanchez ten minutes later and after continuous probing by the Hammers in the final 20 minutes, they left the Chigwell Construction Stadium with a point.
"When teams park the bus against you, I think we have to be a little more direct but not adapt our game too much," Browne continued. "We needed to get the ball from back to front quickly tonight and try and move them out of shape. But the things we work on in training and our style should not go out the window.
"The changing room is happy; we're content with the way we've started this year. We dropped a few points where we could have easily won them so these are all learning curves and we will get better. "
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Westley pleased despite goalless draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United PL2 were held to a goalless draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday evening
The Hammers created a number of opportunities and dominated possession
Manager Terry Westley was pleased that his side played with style
Terry Westley praised his players for playing with an identity, despite being held to a goalless draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Hammers were looking to keep up the pressure on league leaders Swansea City with a victory but found it difficult to break their opponents down.
However, boss Westley was keen to focus on the style of play his players have developed over recent months and said his team were unlucky not to take the win.
"I thought we were good tonight. We were just lacking a goal but we kept a clean sheet and played with style which pleases me," said Westley.
"I often say to the coaches, if you can play with a style, a panache, an identity, you're half way there. We had that tonight, we dominated the ball and moved it about ever so well.
"We didn't create enough first half, we played too much in front of Brighton but second half we went for the game a bit more. Both full-backs were getting crosses in and creating some good opportunities and on a different night we could have come out good winners."
Westley made two changes from the side which ousted Norwich City a week ago – Domingos Quina returned in the midfield and Djair Parfitt-Williams made his first league appearance of the season having missed the opening stages of the campaign through injury.
The opening 45 minutes was a cagey affair with the Hammers looking to force the initiative. For all of their neat possession and build-up play, they struggled to fashion any meaningful chances, other than a Declan Rice strike which was cleared off the line.
Westley's men emerged after the break looking a lot more threatening and could have taken the lead on a number of occasions.
Ten minutes after the interval, Moses Makasi found some room on the edge of the box and squared it to top scorer Toni Martinez, whose powerful strike was somehow pushed away by Brighton keeper Robert Lynch-Sanchez.
Shortly after, Domingos Quina fired a dipping free-kick onto the foot of the post before Martinez returned the favour to Makasi with a delightful flick; the midfielder forced another outstanding stop from Lynch-Sanchez.
Substitutes Dan Kemp and Jaanai Gordon combined with ten minutes to play but the former could not divert his effort on goal.
The Hammers continued to probe but they came up against a resilient Brighton backline in the second half and had to settle for a point.
"Norwich did similar to what Brighton did tonight. They came and matched us up man-to-man and that's another complement to our players," Westley added.
"It's credit to our boys that teams are now playing us and changing their own gameplan to stop us.
"Browne and Quina were excellent tonight and also Dan Kemp who came on and looked threatening out wide. There were lots of positives out there tonight."
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A period of extreme transition
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 27th September 2016
By: Sir Trevor the Brewking
Blaming the stadium is futile. We sometimes lost at Upton Park if I remember rightly. These are professional players and they should be able to put in a better performance than that even if they were on Wanstead Flats. The stadium is an outward symbol of how our club is changing beyond recognition before our eyes. Not only will it take time for the entire club to adapt to the new surroundings, it'll also take time to adapt to what it's becoming as a club. We have every chance of becoming this year's Newcastle. Or Leeds. Or Aston Villa. Or Blackburn. What did those clubs have in common and what did we all say about those clubs? That they were rotten from the top and what is on the pitch reflects what's going on in the boardroom etc. I don't think we're "rotten" in the same way that Newcastle or Leeds were, but I think the move has created a massive disconnect between the people that run the club, the people that support the club and the people who work for the club. And I think this is being reflected on the pitch. I think Slaven Bilic is a brilliant manager, but maybe the task of single-handedly trying to unite the club - inwardly and outwardly - is a lot tougher than anyone could have imagined. I watched the Southampton game thinking this: is the West Ham that Mark Noble led out yesterday the same one that he led out last year? Did he play for West Ham as a 12-year-old dreaming of leading out his club anywhere else but the Boleyn? Has a little bit of him died leaving there?
No matter how many times he's been told that the move is a good one, maybe, just maybe, a part of him isn't quite sure. Maybe, just maybe, he subconsciously (even consciously) finds it difficult to put in the extreme effort that he's put in over the past x seasons for a club that's moving so far away from the one he joined. As an aside, after the game he said that he'd been there before with this club. He couldn't be more wrong. This is now a different West Ham. The pressure is now a hundred fold. The pressure NOT to be taking that stadium into the Championship will become stifling. We could fill Upton Park in the championship, we were the Cup final for many teams in the Championship, with that stadium we will be an embarrassment. Tickets will have to be literally given away to create any kind of atmosphere. This is a whole new level of pressure; Noble, none of us, have been there before. And if that is the case, I can't blame him one jot because right now that's exactly how I feel. And if it's true for him, the club captain, maybe it's true for some of the other players.
Maybe Dimitri Payet felt at home at Upton Park, loved what it stood for, and maybe that played a part in him going from Marseille cast-off to player of the Euros in a single season. Maybe it's part of the reason why Tomkins wanted to go. I could be wrong, but I watched yesterday with the increasing sense that the problem is systemic - it's not about formations, or personnel, or poor signings, or confidence, it's just manifesting itself in all these things.
We are in a period of extreme transition, possibly unprecedented in top flight English football. Until a new West Ham has been constructed in the image of the new surroundings, new aspirations, new culture etc, we will struggle. As a team, as a club, as a set of supporters. What we've tried to do so far is shoe-horn the old West Ham into a new stadium and everything else that comes in it. It's not working and I hate it.
It'll take a complete overhaul of our club before we can truly enjoy the supposed benefits of the move and all that's come with it. I'm not for sacking Bilic but he will go and we'll end up with a manager more attuned to the nouveau aspirations of the owners. I'm not for wholesale clearouts but maybe until we have a whole squad of players who have no history or attachment to the Boleyn and no experience of what it was like to have that stadium behind them, we'll never truly move on. And maybe until we have a crowd dominated by new fans, we'll still have this air of discontent. And once we've done that - got a new manager, a group of players with no attachment to the West Ham tradition, in a stadium that's not only not Upton Park, but isn't even football stadium - I'm not sure what's left. The two Daves and Karren haven't saved our club. They've partially killed it. And unlike previous owners, what they've done is irreversible and I, for one, will never forgive them for that.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Allardyce faces fresh allegations
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 27th September 2016
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is fighting for his job as England manager after being caught in a Fleet St sting. The Daily Telegraph have today published an article revealing how Allardyce was filmed during a set-up meeting advising how to circumnavigate Football Association rules pertaining to third party ownership. And that could lead to Allardyce - who managed West Ham from 2011 to 2015 - losing his job as national coach less than TWO months after he accepted the offer from the FA to succeed Roy Hodgson. The 61-year-old was also filmed explaining that West Ham's Enner Valencia - currently on loan at Everton - was under a "third party ownership agreement" when moving from Mexico to England two years ago.
The Ecuador international cost West Ham United some £12million in the summer of 2014 but scored just 15 goals in more than 70 appearances for the Irons before bring shipped out on loan on transfer deadline day last month. Allardyce attended the meeting with his controversial agent Mark Curtis who took several West Ham players under his wing, including the recently-departed James Tomkins, during Big Sam's tenure at Upton Park. And Allardyce - who was investigated by Panorama along with his former agent son Mark several years ago with regards to illegal payments - revealed how managers could get around the rules and regulations. "What they would be better doing is making sure the've got the ownership and the agent - so they own the agent who works for them as week," he told the undercover reporters. "If they get sold on again the agent will get more money and you get a percentage of the payer's agent's fee. "If you've done a deal with the agent where you get five per cent of the agent's fee - which is massive for doing about two hours' work."
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Sam Allardyce will be "disappointed in himself" says England manager's ex-boss Karren Brady
14:39, 27 SEP 2016 UPDATED 17:06, 27 SEP 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Allardyce worked under Brady during his time in charge of West Ham and "spent his whole life trying to get Three Lions job"
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce's former boss Karren Brady says he will be "disappointed in himself" over his involvement in the allegations that could cost him the England job. Brady, West Ham 's vice-chairman, has previously revealed the extent to which Big Sam has coveted the post he has wanted all his life. She worked with Allardyce during his time at Upton Park which ran from 2011 to 2015. "This is a man who spent his whole life trying to get that job and got it in his 60s." Brady told R1 newsbeat. "What a great shame if he loses that job through non-footballing reasons. And I think he'll be disappointed in himself." The former Sunderland boss is set to be sacked following remarks about the FA's rules on third party ownership - just two months after landing the England job. Allardyce held showdown talks with FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Allardyce agreed a £400,000 bogus contract to do after dinner speaking but his remarks made to two undercover reporters posing as businessmen are far worse. He mocked former England boss Roy Hodgson's speech impediment and questioned Gary Neville's role.
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West Ham send Zaza back?
By Football Italia staff
There are reports Simone Zaza could be returned to Juventus, as West Ham United want to avoid paying the full €23m. The deal was done this summer after lengthy negotiations and the Hammers proudly declared they had agreed a loan for €5m with option to buy for €20m plus another €3m in bonuses. That option will become mandatory after a certain number of appearances, believed to be 15 in all competition, but the exact sum was never announced. According to Calciomercato.com, Zaza has been so disappointing to fans that West Ham are considering an early exit strategy. They still need to pay the €5m for the loan, but are eager to cut him off before reaching the limit of appearances so his full purchase will no longer be obligatory. Slaven Bilic remains determined that he can get the best out of Zaza and wants to keep pushing the Italy international.
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SIMONE ZAZA LINKED WITH JANUARY EXIT TO AC MILAN
STE HOARE
ReadWestHa.com
He's only made four appearances for the club, without scoring, but West Ham striker Simone Zaza is already being linked with a move back to Italy. According to Calciomercato, AC Milan are monitoring the striker's situation and are contemplating making a move to take him in January. The player is still technically on loan from Juventus, although West Ham do have an obligation to sign him next summer if he makes a certain number of appearances this term, but if the striker struggles in London, it's feasible that an agreement could be made to send him to Milan. West Ham have had a terrible start to the season, getting knocked out of the Europa League in the qualifying stage and losing five of their six Premier League games so far. Zaza is yet to get off the mark for the Hammers and there are already some rumblings from the fans about him, although it is very early days at this stage. Time will tell what will happen with the 25-year-old, but West Ham will hope his immediate future involves him scoring plenty of goals to get their season back on track.
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Everton FC forward Enner Valencia linked to Sam Allardyce scandal
16:18, 27 SEP 2016 UPDATED 16:18, 27 SEP 2016
BY GREG O'KEEFFE
Ecuador forward was "under third party ownership" when he joined West Ham in 2014
Daily Post
It's the story that so many people are talking about but the Telegraph's sting on Sam Allardyce reveals some interesting background on one of Everton 's summer signings. Enner Valencia was a late deadline day loan siging from Allardyce's former club West Ham . The England manager, whose position is now under review, signed the Ecuadorian while in charge at Upton Park in 2014 report the Liverpool Echo . Allardcye was secretly filmed at a meeting advising Telegraph journalists who were posing as Middle East business men interested in investing in the Premier League. During the sting the group discuss the complex issue of third-party ownership of players which, although common in South American and Portugal, is banned in the Premier League . Allardcye reportedly told the reporters it is 'not a problem' to become involved in third party ownership.
Using Valencia's transfer as an example, he explained that the striker was under a third party ownership agreement when he joined the Hammers from Mexican side Pachuca for £12million in 2014. Valencia's third party agreement ended when West Ham acquired him, signing him 'whole' according to Allardyce. In this instance, though, it seems West Ham went the correct way about the deal; meaning the third-party ownership element was ended once he signed for them.
He was not fully owned by Pachuca but that was not the case with West Ham. The thorny issue facing Allardyce and the FA are accusations that he seemed to advocate for a practice that is banned by the FA and Premier League.
What is third party ownership?
According to the BBC Sport website: 'Third-party ownership of players is whereby private investors, it can be an individual, company, or fund, own part of a player's economic rights. 'It first came to attention in the UK in 2006 with the transfer of two Argentines, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Brazil to West Ham United. 'The economic rights of the two players were part-owned by a London fund, in a set up that was widespread in some European countries and South America at the time. 'Then, such a set-up was not illegal in England, but there were important caveats that the investor could not attempt to influence club playing and selection decisions, or transfers, or indeed any other major club policy.' It also adds: 'Four clubs; Santos of Brazil, Seville of Spain, club K St Truidense VV of Belgium, and FC Twente from the Netherlands, were all fined by Fifa earlier this year for breaching third-party ownership rules.
'Agents still finding ways around ban'
'However, some player agents are believed to have found ways around the regulations. 'These include buying shares in a club, and then taking a cut of any transfer fee that is subsequently received by the club for their player. 'Another loophole is to ostensibly give a loan to a club and then not only be repaid that sum, but also to receive a type of interest payment, but again the sum is culled from any transfer fee achieved by the club selling on the player.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
The Hammers drew 0-0 with Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday
The Hammers created a host of chances and had the lion's share of possession
Midfielder Marcus Browne felt his team could have done slightly better but still deserved to win.
Marcus Browne believes everyone involved with West Ham United PL2 is happy with the start they've made to the season, but admits the draw with Brighton and Hove Albion is a case of points dropped rather than a point gained.
The Hammers' No10 was among the scorers in their 2-0 away victory over Norwich City last week and felt his team could have been slightly better against the Seagulls.
A win for Terry Westley's men could have put them top of Premier League 2 Division 2 but Browne was still happy with the way his team performed on the night.
"It's definitely two points dropped tonight. The boys showed a different level of performance to the Norwich match and we dominated the majority of the game," said Browne.
"We played good football and we had a style to the way we played. We were just unfortunate not to get a goal. We were just lacking in the final third at times. If we continue to work at that, we'll get better.
"I think Brighton banked up, stayed firm and tried not to let us through. They didn't really go for the win and they were content with taking a point."
Although the Hammers found it difficult to break their opponents down, they did create a host of chances to take the three points.
Toni Martinez went close just after half-time after a delicate pull-back from Moses Makasi before Grady Diangana struck the foot of the post with a dipping free-kick.
Makasi forced a terrific save from Brighton keeper Robert Lynch-Sanchez ten minutes later and after continuous probing by the Hammers in the final 20 minutes, they left the Chigwell Construction Stadium with a point.
"When teams park the bus against you, I think we have to be a little more direct but not adapt our game too much," Browne continued. "We needed to get the ball from back to front quickly tonight and try and move them out of shape. But the things we work on in training and our style should not go out the window.
"The changing room is happy; we're content with the way we've started this year. We dropped a few points where we could have easily won them so these are all learning curves and we will get better. "
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Westley pleased despite goalless draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United PL2 were held to a goalless draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday evening
The Hammers created a number of opportunities and dominated possession
Manager Terry Westley was pleased that his side played with style
Terry Westley praised his players for playing with an identity, despite being held to a goalless draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Hammers were looking to keep up the pressure on league leaders Swansea City with a victory but found it difficult to break their opponents down.
However, boss Westley was keen to focus on the style of play his players have developed over recent months and said his team were unlucky not to take the win.
"I thought we were good tonight. We were just lacking a goal but we kept a clean sheet and played with style which pleases me," said Westley.
"I often say to the coaches, if you can play with a style, a panache, an identity, you're half way there. We had that tonight, we dominated the ball and moved it about ever so well.
"We didn't create enough first half, we played too much in front of Brighton but second half we went for the game a bit more. Both full-backs were getting crosses in and creating some good opportunities and on a different night we could have come out good winners."
Westley made two changes from the side which ousted Norwich City a week ago – Domingos Quina returned in the midfield and Djair Parfitt-Williams made his first league appearance of the season having missed the opening stages of the campaign through injury.
The opening 45 minutes was a cagey affair with the Hammers looking to force the initiative. For all of their neat possession and build-up play, they struggled to fashion any meaningful chances, other than a Declan Rice strike which was cleared off the line.
Westley's men emerged after the break looking a lot more threatening and could have taken the lead on a number of occasions.
Ten minutes after the interval, Moses Makasi found some room on the edge of the box and squared it to top scorer Toni Martinez, whose powerful strike was somehow pushed away by Brighton keeper Robert Lynch-Sanchez.
Shortly after, Domingos Quina fired a dipping free-kick onto the foot of the post before Martinez returned the favour to Makasi with a delightful flick; the midfielder forced another outstanding stop from Lynch-Sanchez.
Substitutes Dan Kemp and Jaanai Gordon combined with ten minutes to play but the former could not divert his effort on goal.
The Hammers continued to probe but they came up against a resilient Brighton backline in the second half and had to settle for a point.
"Norwich did similar to what Brighton did tonight. They came and matched us up man-to-man and that's another complement to our players," Westley added.
"It's credit to our boys that teams are now playing us and changing their own gameplan to stop us.
"Browne and Quina were excellent tonight and also Dan Kemp who came on and looked threatening out wide. There were lots of positives out there tonight."
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A period of extreme transition
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 27th September 2016
By: Sir Trevor the Brewking
Blaming the stadium is futile. We sometimes lost at Upton Park if I remember rightly. These are professional players and they should be able to put in a better performance than that even if they were on Wanstead Flats. The stadium is an outward symbol of how our club is changing beyond recognition before our eyes. Not only will it take time for the entire club to adapt to the new surroundings, it'll also take time to adapt to what it's becoming as a club. We have every chance of becoming this year's Newcastle. Or Leeds. Or Aston Villa. Or Blackburn. What did those clubs have in common and what did we all say about those clubs? That they were rotten from the top and what is on the pitch reflects what's going on in the boardroom etc. I don't think we're "rotten" in the same way that Newcastle or Leeds were, but I think the move has created a massive disconnect between the people that run the club, the people that support the club and the people who work for the club. And I think this is being reflected on the pitch. I think Slaven Bilic is a brilliant manager, but maybe the task of single-handedly trying to unite the club - inwardly and outwardly - is a lot tougher than anyone could have imagined. I watched the Southampton game thinking this: is the West Ham that Mark Noble led out yesterday the same one that he led out last year? Did he play for West Ham as a 12-year-old dreaming of leading out his club anywhere else but the Boleyn? Has a little bit of him died leaving there?
No matter how many times he's been told that the move is a good one, maybe, just maybe, a part of him isn't quite sure. Maybe, just maybe, he subconsciously (even consciously) finds it difficult to put in the extreme effort that he's put in over the past x seasons for a club that's moving so far away from the one he joined. As an aside, after the game he said that he'd been there before with this club. He couldn't be more wrong. This is now a different West Ham. The pressure is now a hundred fold. The pressure NOT to be taking that stadium into the Championship will become stifling. We could fill Upton Park in the championship, we were the Cup final for many teams in the Championship, with that stadium we will be an embarrassment. Tickets will have to be literally given away to create any kind of atmosphere. This is a whole new level of pressure; Noble, none of us, have been there before. And if that is the case, I can't blame him one jot because right now that's exactly how I feel. And if it's true for him, the club captain, maybe it's true for some of the other players.
Maybe Dimitri Payet felt at home at Upton Park, loved what it stood for, and maybe that played a part in him going from Marseille cast-off to player of the Euros in a single season. Maybe it's part of the reason why Tomkins wanted to go. I could be wrong, but I watched yesterday with the increasing sense that the problem is systemic - it's not about formations, or personnel, or poor signings, or confidence, it's just manifesting itself in all these things.
We are in a period of extreme transition, possibly unprecedented in top flight English football. Until a new West Ham has been constructed in the image of the new surroundings, new aspirations, new culture etc, we will struggle. As a team, as a club, as a set of supporters. What we've tried to do so far is shoe-horn the old West Ham into a new stadium and everything else that comes in it. It's not working and I hate it.
It'll take a complete overhaul of our club before we can truly enjoy the supposed benefits of the move and all that's come with it. I'm not for sacking Bilic but he will go and we'll end up with a manager more attuned to the nouveau aspirations of the owners. I'm not for wholesale clearouts but maybe until we have a whole squad of players who have no history or attachment to the Boleyn and no experience of what it was like to have that stadium behind them, we'll never truly move on. And maybe until we have a crowd dominated by new fans, we'll still have this air of discontent. And once we've done that - got a new manager, a group of players with no attachment to the West Ham tradition, in a stadium that's not only not Upton Park, but isn't even football stadium - I'm not sure what's left. The two Daves and Karren haven't saved our club. They've partially killed it. And unlike previous owners, what they've done is irreversible and I, for one, will never forgive them for that.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Allardyce faces fresh allegations
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 27th September 2016
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is fighting for his job as England manager after being caught in a Fleet St sting. The Daily Telegraph have today published an article revealing how Allardyce was filmed during a set-up meeting advising how to circumnavigate Football Association rules pertaining to third party ownership. And that could lead to Allardyce - who managed West Ham from 2011 to 2015 - losing his job as national coach less than TWO months after he accepted the offer from the FA to succeed Roy Hodgson. The 61-year-old was also filmed explaining that West Ham's Enner Valencia - currently on loan at Everton - was under a "third party ownership agreement" when moving from Mexico to England two years ago.
The Ecuador international cost West Ham United some £12million in the summer of 2014 but scored just 15 goals in more than 70 appearances for the Irons before bring shipped out on loan on transfer deadline day last month. Allardyce attended the meeting with his controversial agent Mark Curtis who took several West Ham players under his wing, including the recently-departed James Tomkins, during Big Sam's tenure at Upton Park. And Allardyce - who was investigated by Panorama along with his former agent son Mark several years ago with regards to illegal payments - revealed how managers could get around the rules and regulations. "What they would be better doing is making sure the've got the ownership and the agent - so they own the agent who works for them as week," he told the undercover reporters. "If they get sold on again the agent will get more money and you get a percentage of the payer's agent's fee. "If you've done a deal with the agent where you get five per cent of the agent's fee - which is massive for doing about two hours' work."
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Sam Allardyce will be "disappointed in himself" says England manager's ex-boss Karren Brady
14:39, 27 SEP 2016 UPDATED 17:06, 27 SEP 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Allardyce worked under Brady during his time in charge of West Ham and "spent his whole life trying to get Three Lions job"
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce's former boss Karren Brady says he will be "disappointed in himself" over his involvement in the allegations that could cost him the England job. Brady, West Ham 's vice-chairman, has previously revealed the extent to which Big Sam has coveted the post he has wanted all his life. She worked with Allardyce during his time at Upton Park which ran from 2011 to 2015. "This is a man who spent his whole life trying to get that job and got it in his 60s." Brady told R1 newsbeat. "What a great shame if he loses that job through non-footballing reasons. And I think he'll be disappointed in himself." The former Sunderland boss is set to be sacked following remarks about the FA's rules on third party ownership - just two months after landing the England job. Allardyce held showdown talks with FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Allardyce agreed a £400,000 bogus contract to do after dinner speaking but his remarks made to two undercover reporters posing as businessmen are far worse. He mocked former England boss Roy Hodgson's speech impediment and questioned Gary Neville's role.
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West Ham send Zaza back?
By Football Italia staff
There are reports Simone Zaza could be returned to Juventus, as West Ham United want to avoid paying the full €23m. The deal was done this summer after lengthy negotiations and the Hammers proudly declared they had agreed a loan for €5m with option to buy for €20m plus another €3m in bonuses. That option will become mandatory after a certain number of appearances, believed to be 15 in all competition, but the exact sum was never announced. According to Calciomercato.com, Zaza has been so disappointing to fans that West Ham are considering an early exit strategy. They still need to pay the €5m for the loan, but are eager to cut him off before reaching the limit of appearances so his full purchase will no longer be obligatory. Slaven Bilic remains determined that he can get the best out of Zaza and wants to keep pushing the Italy international.
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SIMONE ZAZA LINKED WITH JANUARY EXIT TO AC MILAN
STE HOARE
ReadWestHa.com
He's only made four appearances for the club, without scoring, but West Ham striker Simone Zaza is already being linked with a move back to Italy. According to Calciomercato, AC Milan are monitoring the striker's situation and are contemplating making a move to take him in January. The player is still technically on loan from Juventus, although West Ham do have an obligation to sign him next summer if he makes a certain number of appearances this term, but if the striker struggles in London, it's feasible that an agreement could be made to send him to Milan. West Ham have had a terrible start to the season, getting knocked out of the Europa League in the qualifying stage and losing five of their six Premier League games so far. Zaza is yet to get off the mark for the Hammers and there are already some rumblings from the fans about him, although it is very early days at this stage. Time will tell what will happen with the 25-year-old, but West Ham will hope his immediate future involves him scoring plenty of goals to get their season back on track.
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Everton FC forward Enner Valencia linked to Sam Allardyce scandal
16:18, 27 SEP 2016 UPDATED 16:18, 27 SEP 2016
BY GREG O'KEEFFE
Ecuador forward was "under third party ownership" when he joined West Ham in 2014
Daily Post
It's the story that so many people are talking about but the Telegraph's sting on Sam Allardyce reveals some interesting background on one of Everton 's summer signings. Enner Valencia was a late deadline day loan siging from Allardyce's former club West Ham . The England manager, whose position is now under review, signed the Ecuadorian while in charge at Upton Park in 2014 report the Liverpool Echo . Allardcye was secretly filmed at a meeting advising Telegraph journalists who were posing as Middle East business men interested in investing in the Premier League. During the sting the group discuss the complex issue of third-party ownership of players which, although common in South American and Portugal, is banned in the Premier League . Allardcye reportedly told the reporters it is 'not a problem' to become involved in third party ownership.
Using Valencia's transfer as an example, he explained that the striker was under a third party ownership agreement when he joined the Hammers from Mexican side Pachuca for £12million in 2014. Valencia's third party agreement ended when West Ham acquired him, signing him 'whole' according to Allardyce. In this instance, though, it seems West Ham went the correct way about the deal; meaning the third-party ownership element was ended once he signed for them.
He was not fully owned by Pachuca but that was not the case with West Ham. The thorny issue facing Allardyce and the FA are accusations that he seemed to advocate for a practice that is banned by the FA and Premier League.
What is third party ownership?
According to the BBC Sport website: 'Third-party ownership of players is whereby private investors, it can be an individual, company, or fund, own part of a player's economic rights. 'It first came to attention in the UK in 2006 with the transfer of two Argentines, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Brazil to West Ham United. 'The economic rights of the two players were part-owned by a London fund, in a set up that was widespread in some European countries and South America at the time. 'Then, such a set-up was not illegal in England, but there were important caveats that the investor could not attempt to influence club playing and selection decisions, or transfers, or indeed any other major club policy.' It also adds: 'Four clubs; Santos of Brazil, Seville of Spain, club K St Truidense VV of Belgium, and FC Twente from the Netherlands, were all fined by Fifa earlier this year for breaching third-party ownership rules.
'Agents still finding ways around ban'
'However, some player agents are believed to have found ways around the regulations. 'These include buying shares in a club, and then taking a cut of any transfer fee that is subsequently received by the club for their player. 'Another loophole is to ostensibly give a loan to a club and then not only be repaid that sum, but also to receive a type of interest payment, but again the sum is culled from any transfer fee achieved by the club selling on the player.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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