Daily WHUFC News -

Fernandes coaching masterclass
WHUFC.com/index

After his recent call-up to the Switzerland national team, Hammers star
Edimilson Fernandes took time out of his busy schedule to help coach a group
of talented youngsters at a West Ham United Foundation event in Beckton. The
20-year-old has enjoyed a successful start to his West Ham United career,
scoring in the 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Chelsea in October and has become an
established member of the first-team squad. The midfielder took part in a
number of sessions laid on by the Club's Foundation and even joined in with
a match before posing for photographs and signing autographs. The youngsters
were thrilled to see Fernandes make an appearance and were not afraid to
show off their skills in front of the 20-year-old. WHU Foundation's
Christmas Cracker Soccer Schools are now available to book at locations
across east London and Essex. Open to children of all abilities aged 3-15,
the Christmas Cracker's will run on Thursday 22 and Friday, December 23.
This year, the Foundation is also introducing a brand new Girls Only course.
Those who book for two days will receive a FREE Christmas Gift and can save
20% if booked before December 15 using code WHUCRACKER.

Courses are available at the following locations:
Basildon - Woodlands School, SS16 5BA
Beckton - Kingswood School, E6 5JG
Brentwood - The Brentwood Centre, CM15 9NN
Chelmsford - Great Baddow High School, CM2 9RZ
Hornchurch - Campion School, RM11 3BX
Thurrock - Thurrock FC (Home of West Ham Ladies), RM19 1YN

For the first time they will also be offering brand new New Year Skills
Schools for 5-15 year olds at the following locations:

Beckton - Power League, IG11 0AD
Basildon - Woodlands School, SS16 5BA
For more details and to book, https://soccerschools.whufc.com/index.htm

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph relishing tough run
Last Updated: 24/11/16 11:10am
SSN

Darren Randolph backs under-pressure West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and
discusses their form ahead of a visit to Manchester United in the Premier
League. Darren Randolph is not feeling daunted by West Ham's forthcoming
fixtures and instead the goalkeeper is relishing the run. The Hammers - who
are one point above the Premier League relegation zone following their
last-gasp loss to Tottenham on Saturday - play back-to-back games at Old
Trafford in their next two outings, taking on Manchester United in the
league and then the EFL Cup. They then host Arsenal before a trip to Anfield
to play a Liverpool side currently second in the Premier League. West Ham
have only won two of their past 10 games, a run which has led to some
pressure beginning to gather on manager Slaven Bilic. But Randolph, who
warmed up for the weekend with a light work-out with the London Lions
basketball team, says the boss has his full backing and is looking forward
to a difficult-looking fixture list. "They're good games for us to go and
build up some confidence in by putting in some good performances," said
Randolph, who represented Ireland at basketball until under-16 level. "I'm
100 per cent behind the manager and I'll continue to work as hard as I can
on and off the pitch to help turns things around."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former boss claims Manchester United tapped up player: They even sent him
No.10 shirt
MANCHESTER UNITED tapped up Joe Cole when he was a kid at West Ham,
according to Harry Redknapp.
By Jack Wilson / Published 24th November 2016

Cole was considered one of the brightest young talents in the game and was
on the radar of all the top clubs. Redknapp claims Sir Alex Ferguson was
desperate to get him to Old Trafford and even sent him a Manchester United
shirt with No.10 on the back. Such was Fergie's interest, Cole was even
invited on to the United team bus before a cup final.
Redknapp wrote in his new book 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Manager': "I
remember Joe playing against Norwich in ankle-deep mud against kids two
years older and still dominating the game. "Everybody got to know about him.
Sir Alex Ferguson sent him a number 10 shirt and, inside, there was a
message: 'This is your number when you play for Manchester United.' "They
took him to the Cup final on the coach. Arsenal and Chelsea were also after
him. "Joe's dad, George, would come to me and say that he was going to
Manchester United or Liverpool to train for a week. "I could have reported
them as they were all breaking the rules but, if I had, he'd have probably
still gone and we might have lost him. "I would just say, 'Great, George,
but this is where he belongs. We want him here. He's happy here but, if he
wants to have a look round, not a problem.'"
Cole, 35, went on to play 56 times for England but never really fulfilled
his enormous potential. He is now plying his trade in America for the Tampa
Bay Rowdies. But Redknapp is a huge fan and said: "Joe Cole was something
else and, at the age of 11, the best I have ever seen. "He could dribble and
beat people. He was incredible. "I could stand and watch Joe play for hours.
"He would take on bigger people, drag it back, spin on the ball and go past
two defenders. "That had nothing to do with coaching. No one taught Joe
that. "I once said to him, How did you learn to dribble like that, Joe?' "He
just looked up to me and said, I used to dribble with a tennis ball to
school.'"

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aaron Cresswell: 'My girlfriend had just cooked the tea when England called'
23 Nov Premier League Jack Green
blog.betway.come

In our exclusive interview, the West Ham left-back discusses making his
international bow in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley...

Aaron Cresswell was settling down for dinner with his girlfriend when he
received the most important phone call of his career to date.
Danny Drinkwater had withdrawn from the England squad because of injury and,
despite only recently returning to first-team action himself, the West Ham
full-back was in. "She had just cooked the tea at around six o'clock," says
Creswell. "I looked at my phone and it was the physio calling. He said:
'Aaron, you've been called up to the squad.'"

After presumably eating that meal in record time, Cresswell was then rushed
into a car and whisked away to join the rest of the national team. "I got
the call from the FA, and I was in shock. I didn't expect it. "Then I was
being picked up an hour later and I was on my way to St George's Park. "It
was one phone call, then another, and then off we go. "I rang the family and
they were delighted for me to get called up, and for me of course it was a
proud moment."

While Cresswell's Three Lions' introduction happened quickly, his ascension
to international level has been more of a slow burner.
The 26-year-old has been one of West Ham's outstanding performers since he
signed for them in 2014, and won Hammer of the Year in his debut season. He
made more appearances than any other player last season, while he was sorely
missed when a knee ligament injury ruled him out for the first two months of
this campaign. Now an experienced Premier League player, Cresswell felt
comfortable alongside some of the nation's most famous footballers. "I
wasn't overawed going in," says Cresswell. "I knew what it was going to be
like. "It's not as if I'm 17-years-old and I've never played a game in my
life. "I was new to the squad, but playing against those players over the
past two or three years, you get to mingle with them and realise they're
just the same as you."

The prospect of playing against Spain in front of 80,000 people at Wembley
did not faze him, either. "I was fine. I have played over 90 games for West
Ham now and it was just another one like that. "That's what I told myself -
it's still a game of football, no different to what I have been playing.
"It's a bigger pitch at Wembley, a bigger arena and more fans, but not once
did I change the way I play."

Vying for places with Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand and Luke Shaw is even more
impressive considering Cresswell originally had ambitions of playing higher
up the pitch. "I never really wanted to be a left-back," he says, smiling.
"Growing up a Liverpool fan, I watched Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler when
they were on the scene. "But when you get older you realise you aren't going
to be a striker or a centre-midfielder."

A left-back he is now, then. And a good one at that. But despite now being a
senior international, Cresswell's focus remains on working hard for his
club. "I never thought I should definitely be in the England squad," he
says. "It was always just about doing my best for West Ham. "I'll continue
that, whether I'm in the next England squad or the one after that." He
certainly seems at ease at the international level. And if his form over the
past two years is anything to go by, a regular place could soon be his own.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
George Dobson willing to fight for his place at Walsall
Express and Star

The 19-year-old, who was snapped up on a season-long loan from West Ham in
the summer, has been forced to make do with a place amongst the substitutes
in the past few weeks. Dobson has made seven starts for Jon Whitney's side
since moving from London to the West Midlands. But he faces increased
competition in central midfield with Adam Chambers, Joe Edwards, Florent
Cuvelier, Isaiah Osbourne and Liam Kinsella all fighting to play in the
role. "So far my time at Walsall has been great," Dobson said. "Obviously I
would like to have played more games because I've been in and out of the
team, but that's part and parcel of League One football
"You've got to understand that sometimes it's hard sitting on the bench but
I've tried to not let my head go down. "I know the important thing is to
continue to do my best in training, keep working hard and keep trying to
impress the manager. "Hopefully I can force my way back into the starting XI
and show what I can do because the most important thing for me is to be
playing games."

Dobson joined Arsenal aged just eight and later played as a central defender
while captaining their under-18s side. But, in July 2015, he opted to move
across the capital to join West Ham. A boyhood Hammers fan, the youngster's
ultimate aim is to one day be a regular for Slaven Bilic's side. But he says
his primary target is making sure he makes at least 25 appearances for the
Saddlers this season. "I'd like to get 20 League One games - hopefully
around 25 altogether including cups," Dobson continued. "That's what I've
set out to get because obviously it's my first loan and I'm still young.
"I'd like to play every week but you can't just expect to. I'd be happy with
around 25 games. "I speak to the manager (Jon Whitney) all the time and he
tells me when I'm doing well and what I can improve on to get in the team.
"Walsall look after me really well and now I'm just looking forward to
continuing my time with the club and getting a place back in the team."

As well as coming to terms with the demands of League One football, Dobson
admits moving out of London for the first time has also proven a big
learning curve. "Walsall have looked after me off the pitch with
accommodation," added the teenager. "I'm learning about living life on your
own, which I have enjoyed. "It's a big change. Suddenly I'm having to do all
the washing, cooking and cleaning for the first time - things you don't have
to do when you are still living at home. "In that aspect I have had to
change quite a bit.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Richard Keys praises Tottenham chairman Levy's London Stadium vision,
criticises West Ham
HITC
Dan Coombs

Pundit says Tottenham would not have made the same mistake as West Ham. West
Ham United's move to the London Stadium has been beset by early problems,
with fans yet to really feel at 'home' at the new ground. The Hammers won
the right to lease it after it was left unused following London 2012,
beating competition from Tottenham Hotspur. Football pundit Richard Keys has
criticised West Ham for moving into the new stadium 'on the cheap' arguing
that Tottenham had a superior plan all along. Writing on his personal blog,
Keys commented: "How right was he [Levy] about the Olympic Stadium? He
wanted to knock it down and start again. "He knew it was the only sensible
solution to all the problems that West Ham have created for themselves by
trying to do things on the cheap."
The ground was not built for football, instead athletics, and as a result
the atmosphere is sub-par in comparison to a purpose built stadium.
Tottenham are now pushing ahead with their own stadium plans, which is
currently under construction and due to open for the 2018/19 season. Unlike
West Ham, they will also own it rather than simply being tenants. From a
football perspective the move has thrown West Ham off track, currently
sitting in 17th position in the Premier League.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
PEDRO OBIANG HAPPY TO SEE WEST HAM TEAMMATE ANDRE AYEW PLAYING
by Austin Ditlhobolo
Thursday Nov 24, 2016. 10:00

West Ham United midfielder Pedro Obiang is pleased to see Ghana star Andre
Ayew and Senegal striker Diafra Sakho playing again following their return
from their respective injuries. The duo both started for West Ham in their
recent English Premier League (EPL) game against Tottenham Hotspur which
they lost 3-2 in the London derby encounter last weekend. The Hammers will
now take on Manchester United away in a league game this Sunday, before
playing them again away in the English Football League Cup next week
Wednesday.
"We have another big game next week against Manchester United and we know it
will be another tough game," Obiang told his club's official website. "If we
had won against Tottenham, it would have made things easier for us going
into that game, but we have to keep going. "We have to take the positives
out of the game. It was good to see Sakho and Andre [Ayew] back in action
and Darren [Randolph] made some good saves, so we have to stay positive," he
added. "We were very upset in the dressing room after the final whistle. It
was a great game and we tried everything to win, but in the final few
minutes, we lost the points. "Normally in football, if you don't see the
game out, it is normal that the other team will try to come back and we need
to improve and not make little mistakes," the Spanish midfielder said. "We
need to be positive because we had played well but in recent games, we have
lost games in the second half and we need to change something."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com