Daily WHUFC News - 18th September 2016

Hammers' second half fight-back in vain
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's second half fight-back proved too little, too late at the
Hawthorns as they were beaten 4-2 by West Bromwich Albion. The hosts raced
into a first half lead, scoring from the spot through Nacer Chadli before
Salomon Rondon and James McClean made it three. Chadli grabbed his second
after the break to pile on the misery for the Hammers, but Michail Antonio –
with his fifth of the campaign – and Manuel Lanzini were on hand to give the
visitors hope. However, the Baggies held on to condemn Slaven Bilic's side
to their fourth successive defeat. The first period began in disastrous
fashion for the visitors as Arthur Masuaku was twice penalised for handball
in the space of a minute, leading to West Brom's opener. First, the French
left-back was harshly adjudged to have handled deliberately while on the
floor, though from the resulting free-kick, the defender could have little
complaints as Matt Phillips' delivery clearly struck his forearm. Former
Spurs man Chadli was on hand to send Adrian the wrong way from twelve yards
to make it 1-0 after just eight minutes. The Hammers, who ended the half
with 72 per cent of possession, then began to find their rhythm, and had
their first chance of note after 16 minutes when Simone Zaza turned Dimitri
Payet's corner just wide.
Lanzini was next to scare the Baggies, as he drove forward and struck a
fierce effort inches wide of Ben Foster's post. And, now dominating the
game, Bilic's outfit had their best chance to equalise when Payet, in plenty
of space, picked out Antonio in the box. The winger could only fire straight
against Foster's torso. The miss was a cue for the hosts to double their
lead. Angelo Ogbonna, deep inside his own half, was charged down and his
clearance, following Chadli's pass, found its way to Rondon. The 6ft 1in
forward took full advantage, firing through the legs of James Collins,
leaving the unsighted Adrian with no chance in goal.
And things went from bad to worse for the Hammers a minute before the break.
Phillips' corner, not sufficiently cleared by those in Claret and Blue, gave
Chadli a chance to shoot. It was McClean, however, who was first to react,
turning the Belgian's effort into the back of the net.

West Ham began the second half like they'd spent much of the first; on the
front foot. Antonio had an effort saved after 51 minutes and substitute
Jonathan Calleri had a header flash across the box from fellow change
Sofiane Feghouli's centre. But the Baggies made it four eleven minutes into
the second period when Rondon, breaking from a West Ham corner, ran the
length of the attacking half only to give Chadli a tap-in and his second.

Though the hosts now had four, less than an inch denied Payet the game's
best goal on the hour mark. His free-kick struck the inside of the post and
rolled along the goal-line, but a minute later, the Frenchman would provide
something for the travelling Hammers to cheer. His cross found an unmarked
Antonio inside the box who nodded home a fifth goal – and header – of the
season. With the Baggies rocked, the Hammers gave themselves further hope,
as Payet was fouled inside the box by left-back Brendan Galloway. With
skipper and regular penalty taker Mark Noble no longer on the field,
Argentine Lanzini stepped up to convert the spot-kick and make it 4-2. The
visitors piled on the pressure, and nearly set up a grand stand finish when
Collins went close from Antonio's cross, though Foster was on hand to deny
the Welshman with eight minutes left. West Ham will hope to turn their
fortunes around in the EFL Cup on Wednesday as they host Accrington Stanley.

West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Dawson, Evans, McAuley, Galloway (Nyom 68),
Phillips, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean, Chadli (Morrison 75), Rondon
(Robson-Kanu 87).
Subs not used: Myhill, Olsson, Gardner, Berahino.
Goals: Chadli (pen) 8, 56, Rondon 37, McClean 44
Bookings: Dawson 43, Nyom 86

West Ham United: Adrian, Nordtveit, Collins, Ogbonna, Masuaku (Fletcher 77),
Kouyate, Antonio, Noble (Feghouli 46), Lanzini, Payet, Zaza (Calleri 46).
Subs not used: Randolph, Obiang, Tore, Oxford.
Goals: Antonio 60, Lanzini 65
Bookings: Feghouli 86

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Bilic - We have a problem that we have to solve
WHUFC.com

Manager unhappy following 4-2 Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion
Defensive mistakes punished severely at The Hawthorns
Boss admits he has a defensive 'problem' that he needs to solve quickly

Slaven Bilic admitted his West Ham United side had simply not defended well
enough after slipping to a 4-2 Premier League defeat at West Bromwich
Albion.
In a brutally honest post-match interview, the manager struggled to contain
his frustration at the way the Hammers conceded three first-half goals and a
fourth shortly after half-time – despite controlling possession and
territory for long periods at The Hawthorns. A Michail Antonio header – his
fifth Premier League goal in five games – and Manuel Lanzini's penalty gave
West Ham hope of completing a miraculous comeback against an increasingly
nervous and defensive Albion, but they were unable to find the two goals
needed to snatch a point. "I was angry, disappointed and felt all sorts of
emotions – their first goal was totally unnecessary, and the fourth one…"
said Bilic. "We can't plan for individual mistakes, but some of them were
collective and they created the chance after eight or ten seconds of the
game, and that's what I'm talking about. "I don't want to say 'We're
unlucky', but we were also unlucky and when it rains, it pours. It's up to
us and we're letting it happen too much. "We are playing a little bit
slowly, and this wasn't the first time. We are playing from one side to the
other side and letting the opponent get quickly behind the ball and rest for
the next situation and hit us on the break, like they did early in the
second half. "OK, though, we were the side that was dominating in the second
half and had one in the first half at 1-0 for Antonio, which their 'keeper
saved well. We did more than enough as a team going forward, but we are
conceding way too many goals. "We had 70 per cent of possession but that was
misleading, because we know they are a team that don't have the ball and
like to break quickly. There were some good moments and goals in the second
half, but we want action and not reaction. "It is not a good situation for
us at the moment and we have a problem that we have to solve. I have to do
everything as the manager to turn this around, that's my job."

After conceding four goals in a home defeat by Watford, Bilic and his
players spent the week working on their resilience, but that preparation was
not in evidence as West Brom took advantage of every defensive error made by
the men in Claret and Blue. Arthur Masuaku's handball allowed Nacer Chadli
to fire home a penalty, before Angelo Ogbonna's clearance was charged down
by Matty Phillips, allowing Salomon Rondon to lash past Adrian. James
McClean diverted in the third before a defensive communication breakdown
allowed Rondon to race 60 yards before squaring for Chadli to put the game
beyond the Hammers. "It happened for the second game in a row, and if we
continue to defend like that, it will be hard for us to win any games,"
Bilic observed. "The same happened against Watford and it is a problem. "It
is fundamentally defending as a team and if you add individual mistakes, it
becomes too much. I mean, we've conceded 13 goals from the start of the
season and that's simply too many. "Going forward, we created enough and
against Watford also, but you can't concede so many goals."

West Ham return to action with the League Cup visit of Accrington Stanley to
London Stadium on Wednesday evening – a tie that takes on greater importance
considering the Hammers' indifferent start to the Premier League season.
Bilic will undoubtedly make changes to his starting XI, but will still
expect his side to be more than strong enough to see off their League Two
opponents. "It's an ideal chance and it's good that we have a game in three
days in a different competition and we're going to approach that game with
big desire to win it, but we need to pick up points in the Premier League –
that's what we really need to do," he concluded. "The cup game is important,
but we need to start getting points as quickly as possible to climb the
table."

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WEST BROM 4-2 WEST HAM – MATCH REPORT
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2016 AT 6:48PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

Deja vu for the Hammers once again today as they let another side score 4
goals against them with a pitiful performance at the Hawthorns as they were
beaten 4-2 by West Bromwich Albion.

The hosts sped into a first half lead, scoring from the spot through Nacer
Chadli before Salomon Rondon and James McClean made it 3-0 before half-time.

Chadli grabbed his second after the break to pile on the misery for the
Hammers, but Michail Antonio – with his fifth of the campaign – and Manuel
Lanzini (from the spot) gave the visitors a glimpse of a potential comeback.

However, the Baggies held on to condemn Slaven Bilic's side to their fourth
successive defeat.

The game began in disastrous fashion for the Irons as Arthur Masuaku was
twice penalised for handball in the space of a minute, leading to West
Brom's opener from the penalty spot.

Former Spurs man Chadli sent Adrian the wrong way from the spot to make it
1-0 after just eight minutes.

The Hammers, who ended the half with 72 per cent of possession, then began
to find their rhythm, and had their first chance of note after 16 minutes
when Simone Zaza turned Dimitri Payet's corner just wide.

Lanzini then drove forward and struck a fierce effort inches wide of Ben
Foster's post.

Bilic's outfit had their best chance to level the game when Payet, in plenty
of space, picked out Antonio in the box but the winger could only fire
straight against Foster.

The miss was a costly one as the hosts went on to double their lead straight
away. Angelo Ogbonna's charged down clearance found its way to Rondon and
the Venezuelan forward took full advantage, firing through the legs of James
Collins, leaving the unsighted Adrian with no chance in goal.

And things went from bad to worse for the Hammers a minute before the break.
Phillips' corner, not sufficiently cleared by those in Claret and Blue, gave
Chadli a chance to shoot. It was McClean, however, who was first to react,
turning the Belgian's effort into the back of the net.

West Ham began the second half like they'd spent much of the first; on the
front foot. Antonio had an effort saved after 51 minutes and substitute
Jonathan Calleri had a header flash across the box from fellow substitute
Sofiane Feghouli's centre.

But the Baggies made it four eleven minutes into the second period when
Rondon, breaking from a West Ham corner, ran the length of the attacking
half only to give Chadli a tap-in and his second.

Though the hosts now had four, less than an inch denied Payet the game's
best goal on the hour mark. His free-kick struck the inside of the post and
rolled along the goal-line, but a minute later, the Frenchman would provide
something for the travelling Hammers to cheer.

His cross found an unmarked Antonio inside the box who nodded home a fifth
goal – and header – of the season.

With the Baggies rocked, the Hammers gave themselves further hope, as Payet
was fouled inside the box by left-back Brendan Galloway. Manuel Lanzini
stepped up to convert the spot-kick and make it 4-2.

Although the Hammers slightly sugar coated this collapse with a much
improved second half performance especially after Feghouli was introduced,
it certainly doesn't hide the fact that this side has struggled to defend
against two of the worst teams in this league in back to back games and also
struggled for long periods to create much going forward. Bilic needs to turn
this around and he needs to do it immediately. Aside from Masuaku, Nordtveit
and Zaza these are the same players that looked superb in games last season
but they currently look nothing like the team that so nearly qualified for
the Champions League just 4 months ago.

West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Dawson, Evans, McAuley, Galloway (Nyom 68),
Phillips, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean, Chadli (Morrison 75), Rondon
(Robson-Kanu 87).
Subs not used: Myhill, Olsson, Gardner, Berahino.
Goals: Chadli (pen) 8, 56, Rondon 37, McClean 44
Bookings: Dawson 43, Nyom 86

West Ham United: Adrian, Nordtveit, Collins, Ogbonna, Masuaku (Fletcher 77),
Kouyate, Antonio, Noble (Feghouli 46), Lanzini, Payet, Zaza (Calleri 46).
Subs not used: Randolph, Obiang, Tore, Oxford.
Goals: Antonio 60, Lanzini 65
Bookings: Feghouli 86

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REF WATCH – WEST BROM V WEST HAM – MARK CLATTENBURG
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2016 AT 7:59PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

Written by Sam Royden-Ryell

After a disappointing game at home to Watford, the team really needed to
start firing on all cylinders with a lot of first team players coming back
into the fold. The referee appointed for this difficult away game at West
Brom is Mark Clattenburg. Last season, Clattenburg was my choice for referee
of the season, as mentioned in The West Ham Way fanzine. Clattenburg has had
a decent start to the new season, and officiated the Manchester derby well
last weekend.

In a first half, where West Ham's defence were in no mans land and West Brom
took advantage of the horror show in front of them, Mark Clattenburg had a
good half and got the big calls right. Arthur Masuaku had a shocking couple
of minutes after handling the ball twice: conceding a free kick and a
penalty. The first hand ball was just outside the area when Masuaku looked
like he was pushed in the back by West Brom striker Rondon. The West Ham
left back fell and the ball hit his hand; Clattenburg didn't feel there was
enough pressure on Masuaku to be a foul. The second hand ball was inside the
area, which lead to West Brom's first goal. From a fans prospective I cannot
understand Masuaku's decision making. However, Clattenburg was in a great
position to see this and correctly awarded a penalty to West Brom.

The only caution of the first half went to West Brom defender Craig Dawson.
Dawson was late with his challenge on Masuaku inside the West Ham half and
left the West Ham man in a heap. West Ham were on the attack so Clattenburg
played advantage for West Ham. In the next stoppage of play, Clattenburg
issued Dawson a caution for his challenge, which is brilliant refereeing
considering the time between the foul and the stoppage in play.

Mark Clattenburg was more involved in the second half awarding the second
penalty of the game, but could there have been a third or forth? In my
opinion, I feel that goalkeepers get special treatment and too much
protection from referees, especially in a 50/50 scenario. This happened with
Ben Foster in the second half when Jonathan Calleri challenged for a ball
bouncing inside the penalty area. The assistant referee gave a foul, as
Foster jumped and fell over Calleri, which was a strange one. Calleri,
involved again in the penalty area, felt he was pushed by Claudio Yacob.
Yacob's starting position was on the wrong side of Calleri and both players
challenged an in-swinging ball and both fell to the ground. Clattenburg
wasn't interested and waved away the appeals.

Clattenburg awarded a penalty to West Ham in the second half which in my
opinion was correct. Dimitri Payet was clipped by Brendan Galloway 6 yards
from goal and Clattenburg was in a good position to point to the spot.
Clattenburg could have given another penalty after Payet's cross hit a West
Brom players arm but he again waved this away. From a first view, it was
difficult to see but Clattenburg clearly felt this wasn't a penalty.

With West Ham having a lot of the possession for majority of the game,
Clattenburg allowed the game flow throughout and played advantage well. West
Brom's Allan Nyom unfairly challenged Sofiane Feghouli inside West Ham's
half and Clattenburg played the advantage well and in the next stop in the
play cautioned Nyom. Sofiane Feghouli was also cautioned for dissent after
Clattenburg correctly waved away Dimitri Payet's numerous penalty appeals.

Overall, Clattenburg did have a good game and two of the penalties that he
awarded were correct. Clattenburg showed why he is regarded as one of the
best in the country. His awareness and anticipation was apparent as he
played advantage very well. The first 60 minutes of the match were
embarrassing by West Ham. We had 70% of the possession and yet every time
West Brom attacked, they looked like they were going to score. Bilić and the
team need to sit down and sort this mess out. Next week, we're at home to
Southampton.

Thanks
Sam

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SAT, 17 SEPT 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
West Bromwich Albion 4-2 West Ham United
By Matt Davis
BBC Sport

West Ham's poor start to the season continued as they suffered a fourth
league defeat, going down 4-2 to West Brom at the Hawthorns. In their first
game under new Chinese ownership, Albion raced into a 4-0 lead after an hour
with record-signing Nacer Chadli scoring twice. But West Ham then scored two
in four minutes to halve the deficit. Michail Antonio netted his fifth
league goal of the season but the Baggies held on for a first home win since
March. The Hammers' latest defeat came on the back of last week's 4-2 loss
to Watford, a game they had led 2-0 at one stage. But they were behind after
just eight minutes at the Hawthorns, with Chadli scoring a penalty after a
needless handball from Arthur Masuaku. Salomon Rondon fired in a crisp
second and James McClean put the home side 3-0 up just before half-time -
deflecting in a Chadli shot - as West Ham registered just one first-half
shot on target, despite a far superior percentage of possession. A fourth
from Chadli after a Rondon break gave the Baggies a first four-goal haul in
the league under Tony Pulis. Antonio's effort and a Manuel Lanzini penalty
gave the visiting fans hope of a revival, while Wales striker Hal
Robson-Kanu came off the bench late on, making his first appearance for West
Brom since joining on transfer deadline day.

Hammers' horror show

West Ham shipped four goals for a second successive week as their defence
toiled again. Left-back Arthur Masuaku was the most obvious culprit,
inexplicably conceding a penalty with a handball under no pressure. West
Brom winger Matt Phillips enjoyed plenty of success against the Frenchman
and was showboating before half-time. Rondon's goal came from a poor
clearance, as did McClean's, and Hammers boss - and former centre-half -
Slavan Bilic looked mortified in the dugout at his team's porous display.
Despite having almost three-quarters of the possession, Bilic's side
struggled to create any meaningful chances in the first half, with Simone
Zaza isolated up front. The manager's changes at half-time worked well,
though, with Jonathan Calleri and Sofiane Feghouli providing more attacking
impetus, but as West Ham pushed for a way back into the game, they were
susceptible to the counter-attack, as Rondon proved in sprinting clear to
set up Chadli unselfishly for his second.

A new era at West Brom?

The Baggies long-awaited takeover by a Chinese investment group was
completed on Thursday and Tony Pulis committed his future to the club,
saying the only way he would leave the club is if he were sacked. Pulis, 58,
was disappointed by the previous board's failure to land some of his
preferred transfer targets this summer - but he must be delighted with his
most expensive one. Belgium midfielder Chadli joined from Tottenham and he
has already begun to repay the hefty fee, reported to be £13m, with two
goals and two assists on his home debut. West Brom right-wing Matt Phillips
gave Hammers left-back Arthur Masuaku a torrid afternoon - hugging the flank
and delivering six crosses, the most for West Brom and the second highest in
the game after Dimitri Payet. With James McClean and the impressive Phillips
also playing behind lone striker Rondon, West Brom played with width and
pace and despite little possession they had more shots on target with six to
the visitors' five. It was a fully deserved victory that moves them up to
eighth in the table and was also the first time the Baggies had scored more
than one goal in the league since 1 March.

Man of the match - Nacer Chadli
The perfect home debut for West Brom's record signing and it was a shame his
game was ended early by injury in the 73rd minute

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "They deserved it. I felt embarrassed at
half-time. We were three down and we can say that some of the goals were
individual mistakes. "The penalty is hard to explain as the opponent is
nowhere near our player. But we can't make so many mistakes when we don't
have the ball. The problem is big - we can't say we were just unlucky. It
happens so many times at the start of the season - it is simply too many
times. "There were some positive things in the second half, but we want
action not reaction. We have a problem, starting with me. I know that we
have a problem and I am the manager and I have to do everything to turn this
around, solve that problem."

West Brom manager Tony Pulis: "It was a good performance. But we played well
at Bournemouth last week and probably created as many opportunities. The
difference is we've won the game and that changes people's perceptions.
"We're pleased the ball has gone in the back of the net but we've done
nothing different - other than the ball has gone in the back of the net."

The stats you need to know

Chadli's penalty was the first he has taken in the Premier League, despite
this being his 90th appearance in the competition.
Rondon has scored in four of his last seven Premier League appearances for
West Brom.
Chadli scored two and assisted two more in this match, the first time a West
Brom player has had a hand in four goals in a single Premier League game.
Antonio has scored more headed goals on his own (five) than any team in the
Premier League this season.
The Hammers have conceded at least two goals in 12 of their last 15 Premier
League matches (33 goals conceded overall).

What next?

West Ham are in midweek action in the EFL Cup, entertaining League two
Accrington Stanley, followed by the visit of Sunderland in the Premier
League on Sunday, 25 September.

West Brom face a trip to Stoke in the league on Saturday.

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West Ham: Slaven Bilic says side are 'weak' after fourth league defeat
BBc.co.uk

Slaven Bilic says West Ham are "weak" and "have a problem" after the 4-2
defeat by West Brom, their fourth Premier League loss of the season. The
Hammers were 4-0 down after an hour, the second successive game in which
they have conceded four goals. It is their worst start to a Premier league
season since they were relegated in 2010-11, despite spending over £50m in
the transfer window. "We have a problem we have to solve and that starts
with me," said Bilic. "I am the manager and have to do everything to turn
this around and solve that problem."

West Ham are now 17th in the table with four defeats in five games, having
conceded 13 goals. They have also lost to Chelsea and Manchester City in the
league, with a 1-0 win against Bournemouth their only victory so far.
Against Watford last week West Ham were 2-0 up before losing 4-2. The
Hammers enjoyed over 70% possession at West Brom but gifted the Baggies four
goals through poor defending, and Bilic said he was "embarrassed" at
half-time. The Croat, who led West Ham to seventh last season in his first
campaign in charge, added: "The problem is big. "We can't say it is unlucky
with some situations, or improve individual mistakes and we are going to be
all right. It happens so many times since the start of the season - too many
times. "If we continue to defend like this as a team we can't win a Premier
League game. "We are weak and we have a problem. I don't want us to react, I
want us to act. It is no time to panic but we have to act. "We need to be
aware of the situation and I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I am and I
have to live with this 24/7."

West Ham, who moved into their new London Stadium home at the beginning of
the season, were knocked out of the Europa League at the qualifying stages
for the second successive season. In 2010-11 the Hammers lost their first
four matches and drew their fifth, ending the season bottom of the Premier
League. 'Like watching an under-10s team defend' Former England and
Newcastle striker Alan Shearer said West Ham's defence was "a horror show".
Speaking on Match of the Day, he said: "I know they have injuries and two
new full-backs but this is not a problem that has happened this season. It
started at the end of last season. They have conceded at least two goals in
12 of their last 15 Premier League games. "It was a horror show, so bad it
was like watching an under-10s team. It was laughable and extraordinary. "I
have not seen defending like that for a long time. It was so bad it was
unbelievable."

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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says he is 'very embarrassed' by defeat to
West Brom
By Claire Corkery
Last Updated: 17/09/16 7:11pm
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has said he and his players let their club
down after losing 4-2 away at West Bromich Albion. The Croatian manager was
speaking after West Ham's third successive defeat in the Premier League this
season, having also lost 4-2 against Watford just the week before. At one
point in Saturday's game, hosts West Brom were 4-0 up, after adding a fourth
goal early on in the second half to the three they had already racked up in
the first. Bilic said he was "very embarrassed" by the Hammer's performance,
despite the fact they managed to claw back two goals later on in the second
half. "Crazy game. It was a crazy game. It was a great game for them. They
deserved to win the game," he said. "Going forward in the first half it
was just poor position without creating many chances. But in the second
half we showed good football and we dominated the second half. "The problem
is you can't expect anything from the game when you are 3-0 down and make so
many mistakes both as a team and individually. "I felt very embarrassed
myself and I'm sure the players too because we let the club down."
West Ham are currently languishing in 17th place in the Premier League
table, having only achieved one win this season at home to Bournemouth.
Bilic said work would need to be done if his side were going to achieve
anything close to their seventh place finish in the 2015/2016 season. "I
said we can live with the Man City defeat and we can live with the Astra
defeat because we had eight players injured but this is now a second week in
a row that we haven't played as good as you have to play, like we did last
year," he explained. "The problem is I wouldn't say huge. But the problem
is it happened again. We have to be aware of the situation and we have to
act."

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