Preview - Hull City
WHUFC.com
When and where?
West Ham United v Hull City
Premier League
Saturday 17 December 2016, 3pm GMT
London Stadium
What's the story?
West Ham United will look to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they host Hull City at London Stadium on Saturday.
Slaven Bilic's men beat Burnley on Wednesday thanks to Mark Noble's goal right at the end of the opening period, and the 1-0 victory – West Ham's first in seven games – took them up to 15th in the table.
Having drawn at Liverpool at the weekend, West Ham will want to extend their unbeaten run and move into the mid-table pack.
When the Hammers have kept a clean sheet this season, they have gone on to win on all four occasions by a single goal, so another solid defensive defensive display would be welcomed by Bilic.
Hull are back in London for the second time in three days after being defeated 3-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
They come into the game 19th in the table, four points behind the Hammers with 12 from their opening 16 games.
A 2-1 win against Southampton in early November has been followed by two draws and three defeats, as Mike Phelan's team have found life tough on their return to the Premier League.
Team news
West Ham welcomed Andy Carroll back into their starting XI for the first time since the opening day of the season in midweek, and the No9 could start again against Hull.
Simone Zaza and Gokhan Tore are out with knee injuries, while James Collins is sidelined with a calf problem.
For Hull, the Tigers have no new injury concerns to report, although Will Keane, Abel Hernandez and Moses Odubajo remain out.
Dieumerci Mbokani is available again after serving a three-match suspension.
Any links between the two?
Hull assistant boss Neil McDonald served in the same role during Sam Allardyce's four-year reign in the Hammers' hot seat.
Another former West Ham coach is also on the Tigers' backroom staff, as goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms linked up with the KCOM Stadium side this season.
Hammers skipper Mark Noble spent time on loan with Hull City as a youngster, playing five league games in the 2005/06 season.
How do I get to the game?
Click here for directions to London Stadium.
Please be aware that there are some alterations to walking routes from Stratford station for this game. Click here for full details.
The latest travel news on the Tubes, London Overground, TfL Rail and roads can be found here. If you're travelling by National Rail, click here for the latest news.
How can I watch the game?
Saturday's match is not being broadcast live in the UK. However, you can follow all the action as it happens on whufc.com, with live audio commentary, social media updates, in-running stats, photos and more. Don't forget you can get involved in the conversation on social using the hashtag #WHUHUL
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Oxford signs new contract
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that highly-rated defender Reece Oxford has signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the east London Club. Despite strong interest from some of the biggest teams in the country including Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal, Oxford was thrilled to pledge his long-term future to the Hammers. Oxford is rated one of the best young talents in the English game and has already shown his potential when he became the second youngest-ever player in the Premier League last season.
The tall, ball-playing defender or midfielder made his competitive debut against Arsenal, aged just 16, and produced an outstanding display in a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.
Manager Slaven Bilic has already shown that he is willing to give his youngsters a run in the team if they are good enough and Oxford says that played a major role in his decision to stay with the east London Club. West Ham have been renowned for bringing through some of the best young talent in the country and Oxford says he would love to follow in the footsteps of former players such as Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole and become a major star over the next few years. Oxford said: "I am happy to have signed my new contract. There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now. "I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season. "I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps.
"Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved."
Bilic was thrilled to see Oxford put pen to paper and feels he has the potential to become a world-class player. The manager, who had similar qualities to Oxford as a player, has no doubts that the teenager has everything in his game to go right to the very top and feels this is a major coup for the Club. Bilic said: "I am delighted and it is major news for both the Club and the player that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United. "I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities to become a world-class player and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfil it. "We wanted him to stay and the Board did everything to keep him. The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is. "It is the right decision for him because we are a great Club where he can become a top player. "He has been out injured but he is now coming back and I believe in him a lot. He is a great prospect and is the leader of the pack when it comes to the younger players."
Oxford said the prospect of playing at London Stadium in front of nearly 57,000 Hammers fans also played a big part in his decision to stay and feels the Club can achieve big things over the next few years. The 18-year-old has been forced to miss the last six weeks with an ankle injury, but is expected to resume training next week. He admitted his biggest dream is to follow in the footsteps of Mark Noble and becoming a future captain of West Ham United.
Oxford added: "This is a great Stadium. We want to pack it out every week and get the fans behind us, like they always are. "I was fortunate enough to play at London Stadium in the opening game [against NK Domzale in the UEFA Europa League] and it was sold out and that was one of the best days I have had at this Club. "The fans really get behind you and hopefully we can continue that, as I have always said the West Ham fans are the best in the country because home and away they are always there for you. "I want to be a part of the squad and help the Club challenge for silverware by winning the FA Cup or Europa League – winning a trophy would be great. My long-term ambitions are to be captain of West Ham United one day. "I look up to someone like Mark Noble and he has been fantastic towards me. Every day in training he will be getting into me and telling me the right information. "He wants to make sure that my head is in the game and I am training well. He also wants to ensure I am doing everything right off the pitch and he is a big influence."
Oxford joined West Ham when he was just 13 and quickly showed his talents as he became one of the best young players in the Hammers Academy. He was named among the substitutes for the League Cup second-round defeat by Sheffield United on 27 August 2014, aged just 15.
The all-round defender, who strong in the tackle and in the air, as well as being comfortable bringing the ball out from the back, made his U18 debut for the Hammers in a Premier Academy League game at Norwich – even though he was still an U15 schoolboy.
Oxford continued to impress as he made his way up to the Development Squad and was thenhanded a call-up to the first-team in July 2015, when he became West Ham's youngest-ever player when he featured at the Boleyn Ground against Andorrans FC Lusitans in the Europa League. Bilic was certainly impressed and shocked a number of people in the game when he named Oxford in the starting line-up for the opening game of the season at Arsenal, but the move paid off as the youngster kept Mesut Ozil at bay and showed he could be a major star in the top flight.
Oxford also started against Leicester and went on to make more appearances as a substitute, helping the Club record Premier League wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Everton. He also managed to end last season with silverware by leading the Development Squad to a memorable win over Hull City in the U21 Premier League Cup. To complete an amazing 2015/16, the teenager also won the Young Hammer of the Year award in recognition of a terrific breakthrough season. And after playing for England at every level from U16s to U19s, Oxford now has set his sights on making his breakthrough into the senior squad. "I have been representing England since the U16s and have been captain of the side. I have progressed through to the U19s and was then pushed up to the U20s last year when we got to the Euros last summer and reached the semi-finals. "I want to push on again, and with the U20s and U21s being involved in major tournaments next summer I would love to be a part of either team. I just want to get playing again. "Gareth Southgate has shown he is prepared to put the youngsters into the team and hopefully I can catch his attention."
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Bilic welcomes Oxford deal
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic welcomes Reece Oxford's decision to sign a new contract until summer 2021
Talented teenager tipped to go all the way by West Ham United manager
Bilic handed Oxford his debut in 2015, making him the Hammers' youngest-ever player
Slaven Bilic has welcomed Reece Oxford's decision to pledge his future to West Ham United. The manager, who made the teenager the youngest player in Hammers history when he handed him a debut against FC Lusitans in July 2015, is excited about Oxford's prospects after he penned a new four-and-a-half year contract. While he was careful not to put too much pressure on the England U19 captain, Bilic believes Oxford, who celebrates his 18th birthday on Friday, has the potential to go to the very top of the game. "I am delighted and it is major news for both the Club and the player that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United," said Bilic. "I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities to become a world-class player and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfill it."
Following his UEFA Europa League bow, Bilic also gave Oxford a Premier League debut at Arsenal on the opening day of the 2015/16 season, where the teenager starred in a 2-0 victory. Oxford's talents as a strong, composed, ball-playing centre-half or central midfielder saw him linked with moves to some of the biggest clubs in English football in recent months. For all those reasons, Bilic said the Club were pleased he has decided his future lies in east London. "We wanted him to stay and the Board did everything to keep him," said the manager. "The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is. "It is the right decision for him because we are a great Club where he can become a top player. "He has been out injured but he is now coming back and I believe in him a lot. He is a great prospect and is the leader of the pack when it comes to the younger players."
Oxford is approaching a return from an ankle injury that has ruled him out since October, and Bilic could hand the hugely-promising youngster further first-team opportunities in the New Year.
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Five Talking Points - Hull City
WHUFC.com
The big issues up for discussion ahead of Saturday's Premier League visit of Hull City to London Stadium...
Back-to-back wins
It seems hard to believe, but West Ham United have not won back-to-back Premier League matches for nearly eight months. The last time the Hammers celebrated successive top-flight victories was in April, when they followed a 3-1 home win over Watford by thrashing West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at The Hawthorns. Since then, Slaven Bilic's side have gone 19 matches – half a season – without stringing two wins in a row together. So, completing back-to-back wins by defeating Hull City at London Stadium on Saturday would not only end that run, but also potentially lift the Hammers to 13th in the table.
To start Andy, or not to start Andy?
In his Evening Standard column this week, Slaven Bilic admitted he thought about keeping Andy Carroll on the substitutes' bench for Wednesday's win over Burnley. However, Carroll's own attitude and determination to start convinced the manager to insert him in his team for the first time since August. The No9 responded with an all-action performance against the Clarets, winning eleven aerial battles, including the header which indirectly led to Mark Noble's match-winning goal. Bilic will again be tempted to protect his attacking talisman on Saturday, with few alternatives available, but with a nine-day gap until West Ham play again at Swansea City, Carroll may well convince his manager to keep him in the starting XI.
History is on our side
Hull have won just twice in 22 visits to West Ham, with the most-recent Tigers victory coming as long ago as January 1990. Since then, the Hammers have won six straight home matches against Hull, scoring 19 goals and conceding just three. In the Premier League, West Ham have a perfect 4-0 record, conceding just once. So, if history is anything to go by – and realistically, it isn't! – then West Ham will win on Saturday, and win comfortably.
Tame Tigers?
Since winning their opening two Premier League matches, the Tigers have not exactly roared on a regular basis. In fact, they have rarely raised even a growl, winning just once in the ensuing 14 games – a 2-1 home win over Southampton on 6 November – to drop from top to 19th in the table. A run of six straight defeats in September and October gave reason for alarm at the KCOM Stadium, while recent away losses at Middlesbrough and Tottenham Hotspur only raised it still further. If Hull are to remain a Premier League club, and extend their stay into a second season as they did in 2009 and 2014 they need to find the right code to silence it, and fast.
What a year!
West Ham United's home slate of fixtures for 2016 comes to an end at around 4.50pm on Saturday – and what a year it has been in east London. The Hammers kicked-off the calendar year with a 2-0 home win over Liverpool on 2 January, following it up with an unforgettable FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over the same opposition the following month. Throw in wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, a memorable closing ceremony and the opening of London Stadium and it has been quite a 12 months on home turf.
In all, West Ham have played 25 competitive home matches in 2016, winning 14, drawing five and losing six, with the visit of Hull City to come. Just in case you were interested, Tottenham Hotspur have played 24 competitive home matches in 2016, winning 14, drawing four and losing six.
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Pair visit Queen's Hospital youngsters
WHUFC.com
West Ham defenders James Collins and Reece Oxford visited Queen's Hospital in Romford
The pair handed out gifts to a number of youngsters ahead of Christmas
Both Hammers explained how great it was to put a smile on the children's faces
James Collins and Reece Oxford helped spread a little Christmas cheer last week when they paid a visit to the children's ward at Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex. The Hammers pair went straight from training at Rush Green to hand out presents and spend some time with the youngsters, who face spending the festive period undergoing treatment and recovery care. Many of the children on the ward were West Ham fans and their delight at getting the opportunity to meet a couple of their heroes was clear to see.
Collins, a father of three young children himself, said: "It's not a nice time for the kids or their families to be in hospital, so it's nice for us to spend a bit of time with them and hopefully put a few smiles on faces. "Just to be able to come and say hello, give them a little gift and show that we are supporting them and thinking of them means a lot, especially at this time of year.
"It's obviously tough to see, but nice at the same time to come down. They have supported us through some tough times recently so it's good to come and give the kids a little present and let them know we are supporting them. "With kids myself, I know it must be an awful situation to be in at this time of year so it's great to come down and say hello."
Oxford, who this week put pen to paper on a new four-and-a-half-year contract, was also pleased to show his support at Christmas.
"It's been good to see the kids smiling," said Reece. "I really hope we can do it again next year. "The fact that supporters like this are still supporting us even though they are ill really means a lot to us. "I'm still young myself and I know what a big thing and how much it can mean to youngsters when players take the time out to do this. "When a big player would have come to my school when I was a kid, I loved it and it made me smile and made me feel happy so it's great to come down and do the same for these kids here today."
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Young star eyes London Stadium return
WHUFC.com
Reece Oxford is looking forward to returning to action at London Stadium
Teenager featured in first-ever fixture at West Ham United's new home in July 2016
Promising youngster signed a new long-term contract with the Club on his 18th birthday
Reece Oxford cannot wait to walk out at London Stadium again after signing a new long-term contract with West Ham United. The teenager put pen to paper on a new four-and-a-half-year deal on his 18th birthday on Friday, pledging his future to the Club he joined five years ago. The highly-rated defender or midfielder featured in the opening game at the Hammers' new home in July, when 57,000 fans roared the team to victory over NK Domzale in the UEFA Europa League. Oxford also started the Betway Cup thriller with Italian champions Juventus at the start of August, before his season suffered a setback by way of an ankle injury. Now, though, the youngster is approaching fitness and is eyeing his next appearance at West Ham's home, stating that the Club's move to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park played a part in his decision to remain in Claret and Blue until 2021. "This is a great Stadium," said Oxford, who signed his new contract after showing his mother Youmna around the iconic arena. "We want to pack it out every week and get the fans behind us, like they always are. "I was fortunate enough to play at London Stadium in the opening game and it was sold out and that was one of the best days I have had at this Club. "The fans really get behind you and hopefully we can continue that, as I have always said the West Ham fans are the best in the country because home and away they are always there for you."
West Ham return to London Stadium duty on Saturday, when Hull City are the visitors in the Premier League. Victory in that fixture could see the Hammers rise as high as 13th in the table, ahead of Burnley and Leicester City. Mark Noble will captain the team in their clash with the Tigers – a role Oxford would like to take on himself in future. "I want to be a part of the squad and help the Club challenge for silverware by winning the FA Cup or Europa League – winning a trophy would be great. My long-term ambitions are to be captain of West Ham United one day," he confirmed. "I look up to someone like Mark Noble and he has been fantastic towards me. Every day in training he will be getting into me and telling me the right information. "He wants to make sure that my head is in the game and I am training well. He also wants to ensure I am doing everything right off the pitch and he is a big influence."
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Manager on Matchday
WHUFC.com
Good morning everyone,
We are preparing for another big home game against Hull and it would be brilliant if we can record back-to-back victories.
We said we had to go through an extremely difficult schedule but were then facing a period of games which we could get points on the board.
That period has now arrived and we started with three points against Burnley on Wednesday night.
We now have a really good chance to get another victory and we are at home. But Hull are playing really good football and I like the way they play.
We need to continue like this and lift a few more places in the table. If that happens, we can expect better performances because, as I said after the game against Burnley, nothing can give you
confidence better than victories.
I was thrilled to see Reece Oxford pledge his long-term future to the Club and was asked in the pre-match press conference if the biggest challenge will be keeping his feet on the ground.
There is always a danger but unfortunately you can't keep the players without giving them a good contract. As I said it's up to us, more than us it's up to his family and his representatives because they are around him more than we are.
We do our things on the pitch and off the pitch but I think he's got a very stable family, the people around him are really good and he is down to earth, and I don't expect him to go wild and all that and to lose concentration. But nowadays of course it's very difficult.
The players are getting great contracts, fame, interviews and everything without putting there foot on a pitch. It was the other way round before, now it's changed.
We are a very friendly club, not only my door is open but the skipper, the experienced players, they are always there to help him.
It is a good statement and it is showing everyone else that we want to keep our great prospects. We have a few more who are staying with us and a few of them are on loan.
Reece wanted to stay and that is why I call it the perfect match and it is a win win situation. No-body had to compromise and it is good for both parties.
He could possibly go on loan. We spoke about it at the start of the season – me and Reece.
We will see in January and if not the end of the season. There is no point him staying if it is obvious he will not get minutes on the pitch.
He is young and talented and the only way he will fulfil his potential is to play, whether it is at West Ham or a short loan.
We have good young players. There are players already on loan like Reece Burke and Josh Cullen, others like Marcus Brown. They are full of promise.
The crowd love to identify with home grown talent. When I came here I said that the priority was the boys from East London, if not London, then if not London England.
We want exceptional talent, exceptional players. It is hard today to get the players coming through from your academy and if you want to buy British they are extremely expensive.
I was asked once again about Andy Carroll and his return to first-team action.
There comes a time, when he is fit and looking good in training, when you just have to put him in.
In Andy's case, you know you will always get impact and determination. I like intensive training from every player and that's a must because without that you can't be switched on for games.
But I'm talking about the first week when he comes back from injury. He goes in straight away, like he was training yesterday. And that's like how he plays.
He goes straight in and he goes like crazy, 100 per cent, because this is a very important part of his game.
You don't want him to lose that because that's key for the way he plays but he has to manage the crucial time when he starts training to have something in between.
I was also asked about Simone Zaza but unfortunately he is injured. It's his knee and that is why he is not available for us for selection.
There is a situation with him but we will see in January what is going to happen.
Enjoy the game on Saturday.
Slaven
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Nordtveit wary of fellow Norwegians
WHUFC.com
Havard Nordtveit told the Official Programme he is looking forward to facing not one, but two familiar faces when West Ham United host Hull City on Saturday.
The Hammers welcome the Tigers to London Stadium in the Premier League, with Slaven Bilic's side looking to record back-to-back top-flight victories for the first time this since April.
To do so, they will need to quiet Hull's two Norway internationals, Markus Henriksen and Adama Diomande – two players their compatriot Nordtveit knows very well.
Striker Diomande joined Hull from Norwegian club Stabaek in 2015, while midfielder Henriksen is currently on a season-long loan from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
The trio all started Norway's recent FIFA World Cup qualifier with Germany, and the No4 says West Ham will need to keep a close eye on them this weekend.
"Henriksen had a very good time in AZ and came this season to Hull, while Dio is just pure power and you don't find many Norwegian players with such strength," Nordtveit observed.
"They both have the offensive power we need to be aware of, so I'm looking forward to the game.
"You need to be very good to get out of Norway and show what they can do, so they are both very good players."
For Nordtveit himself, the game represents another opportunity to build on his encouraging display at Liverpool last weekend.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach man has endured a challenging start to life in English football, but he told the Official Programme he feels better about his chances of establishing himself in Claret and Blue after that performance.
"I'm always positive. I was born positive, so I'm working hard every day," he said. "The games I've played, I know I can play much better, so I'll take it game-by-game and day-by-day and hopefully I can be a good player for this Club.
"Hopefully with the Christmas time coming and so many games, we can take as many points as possible and get out of the lower part of the table, because the quality in this team is much better than that it says in the table."
Saturday's 100-page Official Programme is crammed full of exclusive news, views and more, including columns penned by Joint-Chairman David Gold, manager Slaven Bilic and captain Mark Noble.
Also inside, fans can hear from Reece Oxford on the signing of his new long-term contract, Hammer of the Year Steve Potts on the day he scored a historic goal against Hull, Jack Collison and the great Sir Trevor Brooking.
Ian 'Moose' Abrahams talks to London 2012 long jump champion and football fan Greg Rutherford, while youngster Alex Pike is looking to build on his recent first-team experiences.
Saturday's issue is available to order online here now, and will be on sale in and around London Stadium on matchday, priced £3.50.
Alternatively, you can download a digital edition to your tablet, smartphone or laptop for just £1.99 from 9am on matchday.
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Bilic – We have a great chance
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic thinks his side have what it takes to pick up three points against Hull City on Saturday
The manager believes that now the Hammers are through their difficult period of tough fixtures, they can begin to build their confidence
Bilic also admitted it may be a tough time for the side when they lose some key players to the African Cup of Nations
West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic believes his side have a great chance to build their confidence further this weekend as they look to add to Wednesday night's 1-0 victory over Burnley against Hull City on Saturday.
The Hammers took only two points from four incredibly tough Premier League fixtures before the midweek win, but Bilic labelled the team's current run of games a fresh start and is now keen to see the Club climb the league table.
And with Saturday's London Stadium opponents Hull having only picked up four points from a possible 24 on their travels this season in the league, the Croatian is confident of another positive result at the weekend.
He said: "We spoke about this couple of games, three to four games in this busy period when we played against Spurs, Manchester United twice, Arsenal and Liverpool. It was an extremely difficult schedule.
"That period came and we started with three points and we have a really good chance again tomorrow.
"They are playing really good football and I like the way we play. They are in good form, they create, but we have a good chance.
This period has come and we have started with three points. They are in good form, they create, but we have a good chance.
Slaven Bilic
"Not because we want to but we need to continue like this and get a few more places on the table. If that happens, we can expect better performances. Nothing can give you confidence better than victories."
Though the manager remains focused his side's clash against the Tigers on Saturday, he admitted the beginning of the African Cup of Nations in January – when a small number of Hammers will travel to Gabon for the tournament – is in the back of his mind.
Bilic also hinted at possible moves in the upcoming transfer window to ensure his squad is fully prepared for the period when they will be without the likes of Cheikhou Kouyate and Andre Ayew.
"In September, October and November, we knew that this time was going to come," he continued. "We need to concentrate on these three games and then after Manchester United at home [on 2 January], they will go and represent their countries.
"It is not ideal, of course, but it is the case for us. Three or four of them will go.
"When that time comes though, it is the transfer window. We will lose players but so will other clubs in the Premier League."
Finally, Bilic looked ahead to playing in front of the thousands of Hammers supporters in the Club's London Stadium, where the side have now won three of their last five home matches.
"It is a great stadium. You can feel the crowd, feel 60,000 people," the former defender said. "It is different to Upton Park but as we said at the beginning there are ups and downs.
"We lost a couple of games it was stupid, then we beat Chelsea and Sunderland and it's the best ever stadium.
"It is a new stadium and like everything new, you have to have some good memories and to have memories you need time. The stadium isn't good, it is unbelievable."
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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
I am thrilled that we have been able to secure the signature of highly-rated defender Reece Oxford for another four-and-a-half years.
It sends out a real message of intent that we mean business and have managed to secure the future of one of the best young talents in the English game.
We have shown with the players we have brought in and the ones we are securing for the future that the Club is heading in the right direction.
Ten-years ago these players might have left West Ham United but that is not the case anymore and they want to play at London Stadium. Reece compares with some of the best we have produced.
I hear from experts that he is the best young central defender since Rio Ferdinand so that speaks volumes for what he has achieved.
We know there have been a number of big clubs who have been interested in signing him, so getting him to stay is a big coup for the football club.
We now want to see him fulfil his potential. He has a good family and a good manager behind him.
We have players going off to the African Cup of Nations and it will leave some opportunities. We all saw what he did against Arsenal last season and it showed he has the quality to compete at the highest level.
We have enjoyed a memorable week so far with a crucial draw against Liverpool at Anfield and then an important victory over Burnley.
We now want to finish the job with another big three points against Hull on Saturday.
Slaven said he was looking for a reaction from the players following the last home defeat against Arsenal and he certainly got that last Sunday as the players responded with a superb display at Anfield.
The performance set us up nicely for another big game on Wednesday night and everyone was calling it a must-win fixture.
It certainly put a lot of pressure on the team but they responded in the best possible manner. It wasn't a classic, but the most important thing is that we came away with the three points at this stage of the season.
We are now preparing for another big game against a Hull team who are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and will not make it easy for us.
This is not going to be a walkover and I am sure that Slaven will be telling his players that we will have to show the same mentality that we produced against Burnley and remain patient if we are to get another important victory.
We have a very special guest coming back for the game on Saturday with former hero Clyde Best being introduced to the fans at half-time.
I have no doubts that our supporters will give him a special reception. He was always a big favourite and I will be pleased to meet up with him for the first time, having watched him showcase his talents on so many occasions at the Boleyn Ground.
Enjoy the game on Saturday.
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Slaven hails AC's A1 attitude
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic says Andy Carroll could start his second game of the week against Hull City
No9 returned to team for midweek win over Burnley and exceeded expectations by playing 80 minutes
West Ham United came through the game injury-free and are seeking back-to-back wins
Slaven Bilic says a 'very positive' Andy Carroll could start his second game in four days when Hull City visit London Stadium on Saturday.
The No9 returned to the starting XI for the first time in four months on Wednesday night, helping the Hammers to a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Burnley.
Having had such a long lay-off with a knee injury, Bilic was initially only expecting Carroll to start one game this week, but the No9's attitude may have convinced the manager to let his centre forward loose on the Tigers from the kick-off.
"To be fair I said after the [Burnley] game he was supposed to play 30 minutes and not to start but to come from the bench, but I spoke to him and he had done enough training and came on a couple of times against Arsenal and Liverpool," the manager explained.
"Then the plan was for him to play for 60 minutes on Wednesday, but then I asked him at half-time and he was really good and went on until 80 minutes.
"He is very positive and that makes my very positive."
While Carroll could start up front again, Bilic has been handed a further boost by news that the other ten starters and substitutes came through unscathed and are available to face Hull.
Cheikhou Kouyate returned after a two-game absence, while Aaron Cresswell and Andre Ayew were both impressive as they continue their own comebacks after lengthy injury lay-offs.
"Thank God, from the game against Burnley, the players who played were in on Thursday, but didn't have a full training session," he revealed. "They are clear of injuries, all good and should be really good for tomorrow."
Bilic is hoping his players will continue their recent renaissance against their 19th-placed opponents, who have won just one league game since August.
The Hammers have picked up four points since the manager publicly questioned them following a 5-1 home defeat by Arsenal a fortnight ago.
Reflecting on those post-match comments, Bilic has been heartened by the performances he has seen against Liverpool and Burnley so far this week.
"Maybe I was too harsh but I was disappointed, especially as we looked good for 70 minutes and were there in the game, then we crumbled," he said, alluding to the Gunners game.
"Before that game, suddenly everything looked good and bright, with the performances against Spurs and Manchester United, then against Arsenal we were without four major players – Sakho, Kouyate, Antonio and Cresswell – and it didn't look good. To have three of them back is a big thing for us.
"Their reaction didn't surprise me, I expected it because I knew there wasn't a reason why we played like that. Also some players come back and if you have most of your best players available you can expect good performances and good results."
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Oxford signs new long-term deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th December 2016
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford has ended speculation regarding his immediate future by signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract. The 18-year-old defender had been at the centre of a tug of war for his services involving several clubs such as Manchester United and Arsenal.
However Oxford finally put to bed questions over his future by putting pen to paper on a new deal that ties him to the club until the age of 22. "I am happy to have signed my new contract," he told whufc.com. "There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now. "I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season. "I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps. "Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved."
Manager Slaven Bilic was equally delighted with the news, stating that Oxford could become "a world class player". "I am delighted that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United," he said. "I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfil it. "We wanted him to stay and the Board did everything to keep him. The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is."
Oxford has been at West Ham for five years now and made his first team debut against Lusitanos in the Eurpa Cup last season. He hit the headlines on the opening day of the 2015/16 Premier League when he featured in West Ham's 2-0 win at Arsenal, a game in which he was praised for keeping Mesuit Ozil under lock and key.
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Tata, Zaza
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th December 2016
By: Staff Writer
Simone Zaza's agent has indicated that his client will be returning to Italy when the January transfer window opens in less than three weeks' time. According to Italian website Juve News, Vincenzo Morabito has confirmed that Zaza's season-long loan deal will be cut short. That's largely due to the fact that should the Italian international feature in a set number of matches, the Hammers will be compelled to pay the £20million transfer fee agreed as a condition of the loan arrangement. "Zaza will return to Turin as West Ham will not be taking up the option to buy," Morabito told the website. However it may be that Zaza will not remain at Juventus for too long, as La Liga side Valencia have also expressed interest in signing the powerful striker. Jesús García Pitarch, Managing Director of Valencia has revealed that his club are very interested in taking Zaza. "He is a player we liked in the summer and we love him still," he told a press conference. "He can come to Valencia if the conditions of the transaction are right for both parties."
Zaza has made just 11 appearances for West Ham since moving from Juve on loan during the summer transfer window and has failed to score a single goal.
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The Peter Brabrook story
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th December 2016
By: Lenny Madhavan
He was without doubt one of the most exciting players ever to sign for West Ham United FC when he joined for a record £35,000 from Chelsea. His quick and mazy runs on the right flank thrilled the Upton Park crowds of the sixties.
He scored some thrilling goals but he was an unselfish architect of many others, his deadly and accurate crosses were appreciatively accepted by strikers who were grateful to get on the end of them and turn them into goals - the most famous and most crucial of his crosses being made in the dying minutes of the 1964 FA Cup final, which was met by the head of teammate Ronnie Boyce and proved to be the goal that won West Ham its first major trophy.
Though he was an unsung hero at times, he is still fondly remembered by many West Ham fans who were privileged to see him play, some of whom who have stated that he was their favourite player at the time - and with a side overloaded with legends like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Johnny Byrne, that is saying something!
In later years, long after he had retired from playing he still continued to be a great servant to the club in his role as a coach and as a scout and was loved and respected by all that had the privilege of meeting him. Today we pay tribute to the legend that is Peter Brabrook, who sadly passed away last Saturday…
From Genesis to Stamford Bridge
Peter Brabrook was born in Greenwich, South East London on 8 November 1937. He spent his early years in the East End of London playing for several local youth clubs before joining non-leaguers Ford United (now known as Redbridge FC).
Brabrook was an outstanding football prospect whose talent was noted by scouts from several league clubs. Despite learning his footballing trade in the East End of London, it was Chelsea that recruited him from under the noses of the Hammers, when their legendary scout Jimmy Thompson persuaded the then 15-year-old to join the Stamford Bridge club.
Brabrook signed on as an apprentice in 1953. Within a few years, he would be capped at England Youth level and would sign professional forms with the Blues.
It was an exciting time for the Stamford Bridge club. After years of mediocrity the club had appointed a new forward thinking manager - former Arsenal legend Ted Drake. With five England caps, two league titles and a FA Cup winner's medal to his name, Drake was keen to emulate his success from his playing days in his new role as manager.
Unlike previous managers who wore suits, gave instructions during half time talks and were generally mild mannered, Ted Drake had a more 'hands on' approach and was often in the thick of the action - a hard taskmaster and motivator on the training ground and a barker on the touchline during matches.
More importantly he begun to revamp the scouting system and the youth team set up - the former of which unearthed some bargain players from the lower leagues and the latter of which helped produced and develop a crop of talented youngsters.
In the space of three years Ted Drake had led Chelsea to their first ever league title in 1955, his shrewd signings from the lower leagues paying dividends. At the time many believe this was the start of an exciting era for the club. Indeed the future of Chelsea FC looked very rosy as the youth team that Drake had helped setup had churned out a clutch of promising young players who are knocking on the first team door.
These talented blue lions were dubbed 'Drake's Ducklings' (in response to Manchester United's successful youth players who were dubbed the 'Busby Babes'). The first of the 'ducklings' who had made the great leap into the first team was Peter Brabrook,
Drake blooding his young forward, still only 17 years of age, by selecting him on three occasions during that memorable title run to fill in for the injured No. 10 Seamus O'Connell. By the following year, Brabrook became a regular in the Chelsea senior side, when Drake converted him from a forward to a winger to replace the injured (former Hammer) Eric 'Rabbit' Parsons.
He scored his first ever league goal in his first appearance of his second season against Blackpool away - and never looked back.
Over the following seasons the pacey and dynamic Brabrook terrified opposing defenders with his deadly wing play, as other 'ducklings' also begun to creep into the first team - including Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Tambling, Terry Venables, and Barry Bridges who were all, like Brabrook, future England internationals discovered by Jimmy Thompson and were a few years younger than him.
Of the new ducklings that emerged to play for the first team, Jimmy Greaves was the most impressive of them all. The East End born goal machine was another one that escaped West Ham's radar, to sign for the Blues. In Greaves's first season for the club he finished as Chelsea's top scorer with 22 goals in 37 appearances.
Another Blues youngster feared by opposing defenders, the deadly Greaves was firing in goals from all angles but it was Brabrook who had been supplying his bullets as he formed a good understanding with his fellow young team mate – the winger's crosses and passes, being gratefully accepted as assists to goals scored by Greaves and his fellow strikers.
Chelsea Lions to the Three Lions
Not surprisingly, Brabrook's talent soon begun to attract the attention of the national team selectors who included him in England's 1958 World Cup squad in Sweden. He was one of five uncapped players and the youngest squad member.
England drew all three of their group matches with Brabrook not playing in any of those games. Eventual tournament winners Brazil won the group to progress into the quarter-finals. The second placed team would also be joining them.
However both England and the Soviet Union were level on points and on goal average and thus both sides finished joint second - triggering a play off game to decide who would book their place in the next round.
Having already fought an entertaining 2-2 draw with the USSR in the earlier round (a game in which the Three Lions were given a scare but fought back gallantly after being two-nil down), the England select committee decided to make some changes to inject creativity into the side to combat the talented Soviets.
Three new players were brought into the starting eleven including two debutants - one of whom was Peter Brabrook. It was a risky gameplan that almost paid off. Both England and the Soviet Union fought another thrilling match though this time there were a lack of goals for most of the game.
Brabrook impressed in his international debut in such a crucial game. His appearance for his country also marked the first time a Chelsea player from the youth team being capped at full international level for England. The match eventually ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for the Three Lions and England were sent packing from Sweden. Brabrook went on to make two further England appearances.
The twilight years at Chelsea
Meanwhile, back on the home front at club level, in spite of the presence of a clutch of new talented youngsters in the side and the club's brand of attacking football led by Brabrook and Greaves which excited football fans up and down the country, the next seven years saw Chelsea FC surprisingly underachieving with a series of disappointing mid-table finishes and even the odd relegation battle as the title winning side of 1955 begun to break up.
The west London side might have been scoring a lot of goals, but they also appeared to be leaking in a lot too!
The final nail in the coffin of Chelsea FC in general and Ted Drake in particular occurred in June 1961, when the club made the controversial decision to sell Jimmy Greaves to AC Milan for £80,000 - a huge sum in those days.
Greaves had finished the previous season with an incredible 41 goals in 40 league games and was undoubtedly one of Chelsea's key players, but the board of directors needed money and found the money offered by the Italian giants very tempting.
After the sale of Greaves, Chelsea then went into freefall and spent most of the season being rooted at the foot of the table. Though Brabrook was playing well, there was no one of quality to tuck away the countless chances he had created. Greaves meanwhile, who had never been comfortable with the idea of leaving London, let alone the country, had become unsettled in Italy and put in a transfer request.
Realising their grave error in judgement, the Blues attempted to resign their former striker in a bid to stop themselves falling into the second division, but Greaves who had always been frustrated with his former club's lack of ambition in securing trophies opted to join London rivals Tottenham Hotspur who had also bid for his services.
With their attempt to re-sign their former striker now dashed, the rot continued for Chelsea FC as they tried frantically to escape the relegation zone. As the last throw of the dice, the Chelsea board of directors eventually sacked Ted Drake and replaced him with a younger man, their player coach Tommy Docherty but his appointment came a little too late as he was unable to keep the Stamford Bridge club in the top flight.
Peter Brabrook would now be starting his next season in the second division - or so he thought…
During the summer period, Tommy Docherty set plans into motion to get Chelsea promoted back into the First Division at the first attempt. He made radical changes to the squad by selling some of the senior players. Several of the younger players such as Terry Venables, Barry Bridges and Bobby Tambling (all 21 years of age or under) were retained to form the backbone of a new and exciting Chelsea side.
To the shock of the Blues faithful, Peter Brabrook, a fans'-favourite aged 25 and seemingly at the peak of his career, was deemed surplus to Docherty's plans and was put up for sale. This alerted the attention of top flight clubs and there was no shortage of suitors for Brabrook, who were all keen to add an England international to their ranks.
Merseyside giants Everton FC were the first to make a bid for the winger but Brabrook wasn't keen on leaving the capital. This gave West Ham the advantage and Brabrook signed for the Hammers for a princely sum of £35,000 - then a record for a winger.
Life at Upton Park
Arriving at Upton Park, Brabrook discovered, that like his previous club, his new employers were also going through a transitional period. They had replaced their manager Ted Fenton the previous season after a very poor campaign that almost saw the East End club relegated to the Second Division.
The new manager, Ron Greenwood, was previously assistant manager with Arsenal and a respected coach who was an admirer of the great Hungarian national side that dominated world football in the 1950s. Greenwood wanted to instil some continental flair into his West Ham side.
To usher the Hammers into a golden era that he had envisaged for the club, Greenwood made changes to the side and training methods. He had been very busy in the transfer market and Upton Park fan favourites such as Phil Woosnan and Andy Malcolm (the club's first ever Hammer of the Year) were sold to raise funds for new players.
Greenwood made several shrewd signings and the revamped and re-energised Hammers line up made an immediate impact and finished a respectable eighth place, before Brabrook joined their ranks.
The signing of Brabrook was thus far West Ham's most notable and expensive acquisition but Greenwood considered it money well spent as he seemed an ideal player to slot into the new working model that he had implemented to the club's starting XI.
And the new boy didn't disappoint either, making 27 league appearances in his debut season for the Hammers and notching up seven league goals while making countless others for his teammates.
In spite of the radical changes made by Greenwood, the Hammers' league form was indifferent. Unlike the Fenton era in the top flight, the Hammers didn't struggle against relegation but they didn't make an impact in the league either. Much to Brabrook's frustration life at Upton Park was a series of mid-table finishes.
However what they lacked in league success, the Hammers more than made up for it in cup matches. No club, no matter how big wanted to face West Ham in a cup competition as it is these 'singular games' they excelled at - as no one could beat them 'on the day'.
It was Brabrook's second season with the Hammers that was to be his personal best. He made 38 league appearances while scoring a career best total of eight leagues goals.
Despite another mid-table finish, the season was notable for a successful FA Cup run that saw the Hammers reach the final for the second time in their history. Brabrook had played in every match of their cup run and scored two goals in the process. The opponents in the Final were second division Preston North End.
Despite being rated as underdogs, the Lilywhites gave their First Division opponents a run for their money as they dominated large parts of the match. They took the lead on two occasions only for the Hammers to equalise with goals from John Sissons and Geoff Hurst.
As the game approached the 90th minute and with the match deadlocked at 2-2, it looked as though the game was heading for extra time until Brabrook pumped in a last minute cross that young Hammers midfielder Ronnie Boyce gratefully got on the end of, to head home the winner to secure the Hammers their first ever trophy.
Victory in the FA Cup final granted the Hammers entry into the following year's European Cup Winners competition - which also ended in success for the Hammers, when they defeated TSV 1860 Munich of West Germany in the final.
Sadly though Brabrook was one of four Hammers from the 1964 FA Cup final line-up who was omitted from the 1965 ECW Cup starting XI. In an injury -lagued season that saw him restricted to just 22 league appearances, Brabrook was only able to make one appearance in that glorious European cup run.
His place on the right wing was taken in the Final by young winger Alan Sealey, who enetered West Ham folklore by scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over the strong German side.
The following season, 1965/66, saw a fit-again Brabrook make 32 league appearances scoring eight league goals, matching his previous best ever goal tally. As holders of the ECW Cup, the Hammers were allowed entry into that season's European competition to defend their trophy.
This resulted in another relativity successful European Cup run that ended at the semi-final stage, where the Hammers were beaten by the eventual winners Borussia Dortmund of West Germany. Unlike the previous season, Brabrook contributed greatly to this cup run, making six appearances and scoring one goal.
The same season also saw another great cup run in the Football League Cup, where the Hammers reached a two-legged final against West Bromwich Albion. After leading 2-1 in the first leg at Upton Park, the Hammers were crushed at The Hawthorns in the return leg when they were resoundingly beaten 4-1 by the Baggies (making the final score 5-3 on aggregate).
Once again Brabrook had contributed greatly to this cup run by making eight appearances (including appearances in both legs of the final) and scoring two goals.
Brabrook was again a first team regular in the 1966/67 season, making another 32 league appearances and scoring five league goals. This season saw yet another impressive cup run which ended in the semi-final stage of the Football League Cup.
Just like the previous season's final, the Hammers faced West Bromwich Albion over two legs. The first leg was at The Hawthorns and just like the previous season's final leg at the same venue, the Baggies delivered another thrashing that effectively decided the tie in a 4-0 victory.
The Hammers could only force a 2-2 draw at Upton Park which saw them exit the cup. Brabrook again played in both of these matches.
During these seasons, such was Brabrook's form, there had been frequent calls for him to be recalled to the national side, but this never happened and he remained uncapped during his tenure at Upton Park.
Season 1967/68 proved to be Brabrook's last season for West Ham. Unlike the previous two seasons his first team appearances had become sporadic. At 30, and with the club adding younger signings such as Billy Bonds to the first team and players such as Trevor Brooking emerging from the youth team, Brabrook's position in the side was under threat.
He made only 14 league appearances (scoring two goals) that season. Realising that his footballing career has reached its twilight years and that his own Hammers career was coming to an end, Brabrook decided to leave West Ham for their east London neighbours Leyton Orient, who were then playing in the Third Division.
Later Years
Peter Brabrook spent three seasons with Leyton Orient making 72 leagues appearance for the Os and scoring six goals. After helping the Brisbane Road club clinch the Third Division title and thus winning promotion to the Second Division in 1970, he left the club and wound down his career with non-leaguers Romford FC where he spent one season before hanging up his boots.
Brabrook then started a coaching career with non-league clubs Ford United (his former club) and then Billericay Town. It was at the latter that he discovered a young, prolific striker by the name of Steve Jones and contacted his old club West Ham to alert them of his availability.
West Ham manager Billy Bonds and his assistant Harry Redknapp snapped up the youngster and he went on to have a successful lengthy league career which included two spells with the Hammers.
Shortly after his stint with Billericay Town, Brabrook rejoined the Hammers in a coaching capacity, where he coached the club's schoolboys team on a part time basis. Years later West Ham's academy director Tony Carr recruited Brabrook on a full time basis and put him in charge of the club's Under 17 side.
In this new role Brabrook was responsible for developing the careers of Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe. Brabrook retired as Under 17 coach in 2002, but didn't completely sever his links with the club. In recent years he took on a scouting role for the Hammers.
Even after retirement, Peter Brabrook's love for Chelsea and West Ham, the clubs where he spent the majority of his career, never deserted him and he was a regular attendee at functions organised by both. One such function he attended was the final game at the Boleyn Ground last May, one of his last public appearances.
Peter Brabrook died in St Luke's Hospice in Basildon on 10 December after losing his fight against a liver tumour.
Epilogue
To many Hammers fans the Cup-winning teams of 1964 and 1965 is the era of where West Ham's story begins - the dawn of the glory years. What made the FA Cup and European Cup Winners Cup wins all the more sweeter is the fact that most of the players that played in those cup finals came directly from the youth team.
To the fans, it is a matter of pride that a large amount of their heroes were, like them, born in and around the East End of London and thus they were their 'very own boys'.
Peter Brabrook was born south of the river and was not recruited from the fabled Academy of Football but in spite of this, West Ham United and its supporters had not forgotten the key role he played in securing the club's first trophy, his immense contributions to the club as a scout and as a coach after his playing days had ended, or the fact that his youth years were spent on the playing fields of the East End and so he is a player they are proud to call: 'One of us!'
Thank you Uncle Peter for your immense contributions to our club. We are forever in your debt. Rest in Peace, sir…
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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West Ham v Hull City
SAT, 17 DEC 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: London Stadium, England
Referee:
Lee Mason
TEAM NEWS
West Ham's Andy Carroll is expected to start only his third Premier League match since May after playing 82 minutes in the win over Burnley.
Reece Oxford, who signed a new four-and-a-half deal on his 18th birthday on Friday, should resume training next week following an ankle injury.
Hull City head coach Mike Phelan said his side have no new injury concerns.
Dieumerci Mbokani is available after a three-match ban but Will Keane, Abel Hernandez and Moses Odubajo remain out.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Simon Brotherton: "Wednesday night's 3-0 defeat at Tottenham was Hull's sixth in a row away from home and they're back in London just three days later.
"West Ham have fallen well below expectation so far but have had a decent week, leaving them four points clear of the bottom three and in 15th place.
"Last Sunday's draw at Liverpool was followed up on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Burnley, their first success in seven league games.
"Hull have failed to score in any of their last four matches on the road, but if they find the net first here it'll be interesting to see the reaction of a team who at times have been suffering from what their manager Slaven Bilic describes as 'mental cramp'."
Twitter: @SimonBrotherton
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on the future of Dimitri Payet: "Do I expect Payet to stay? Of course. Great players are always the centre of interest.
"Payet is one of the best in the world and they are always the ones who are linked with the big clubs.
"But I hope, and I expect, he will stay with us."
Hull City head coach Mike Phelan on what he wants for Christmas: "A few victories would be great. We find ourselves in a position that's tight.
"One win can give you that extra bit of confidence. We've languished in that area for a while but we've shown recently that we have been progressive and hopefully we can get one win that can get us out of that.
"Hopefully the players get the presents they want and I get what I want."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I keep tipping Hull to lose - the problem for them is that most of the time I am right.
Prediction: 2-0
Lawro's full predictions v tennis legend Boris Becker
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham have won six successive home league games against Hull City, not losing to the Tigers at home since 1990.
Their last six league goals against Hull have all come in the second half of games.
Hull have only scored one goal in their last four away trips to West Ham in the Premier League, conceding 10.
West Ham United
They are vying to earn consecutive home wins for the first time this season.
All three of West Ham's league wins at London Stadium have been by a 1-0 scoreline.
Slaven Bilic's side have scored 12 of their 18 goals from set-pieces this season, the highest proportion in the Premier League (67%).
The Hammers have conceded an unrivalled 25 goals from open play in the Premier League this season.
Hull City
Hull have equalled the club top-flight record of six consecutive away defeats, first set between January and April 2010.
Their tally of six points from their last 14 matches is the same as they earned in their opening two fixtures of the campaign.
The Tigers have conceded the opening goal in 13 matches this season, more than any other Premier League team.
Curtis Davies has made the most interceptions (61) and blocks (25) in the league this season.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 2-0 Probability of draw: 19%
Probability of home win: 69% Probability of away win: 12%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.
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West Ham vs Hull City: Michail Antonio is a star and Hammers can benefit from his hard work, says Danny Murphy
DANNY MURPHY
Evening Standard
Michail Antonio has been one of the stars of the season. He plays in a number of different roles and never shirks responsibility for West Ham. He reminds me of Clint Dempsey, my team-mate at Fulham from 2007-12. Technically, Clint was a bit better than Antonio but they shared a desire to get into the box, shake people up and work hard. Those are the qualities that got them into the Premier League. Antonio is always pushing himself to improve and deserves great credit for working his way up from non-league football.
When a team plays with a bit of flair, they deserve the odd break here and there. They still have problems. The squad hasn't really improved and they have started life poorly in their new stadium but after beating Burnley, they should really push on here. In the past, you knew what would happen when you went to Sunderland. They would come flying at you early in the game, crunching tackles, energy and commitment. If you got through that spell, you had a good chance of taking something. They don't seem to have those qualities any more. They are happy to let the opposition have the ball, keep their shape and counter-attack. They are also bottom of the table. Watford played well at Manchester City in midweek and can take advantage here.
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West Ham flop Simone Zaza to return to Juventus in January, says agent
Vincenzo Morabito says the striker will go back to his parent club when the transfer window reopens to prevent a £20million permanent move
BYJAMES WHALING
14:22, 16 DEC 2016UPDATED14:22, 16 DEC 2016
The Mirror
West Ham flop Simone Zaza will end his disastrous loan spell with the Irons next month, his agent has confirmed. The striker has failed to find the net in 11 league and cup games for Slaven Bilic's side since his switch to the East End during the summer.
A clause in the deal stated that, should Zaza accumulate 14 appearances for the Hammers, a £20million permanent move to the club would be triggered. However, it appears that will not be the case, with Vincenzo Morabito saying he will return to Juventus with other clubs interested in his services. "Zaza will definitely go back to Juve, because West Ham do not want to keep him," he told Juvenews. "He could well stay in Turin, given that Juventus might need another striker. If not, there are plenty of other options.
"I repeat, he will certainly return to Juve." West Ham would have been obliged to pay the Serie A giants £16.7million for a permanent transfer if Zaza had made 14 appearances, adding to the £4.25million loan fee they paid in the summer.
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Embarrassing West Ham fans wrong to boo much maligned summer signing Havard Nordtveit
Damien Lucas
West Ham United's first win in seven games was soured by some unsavoury treatment for one of their own players from a large section of the crowd. The Hammers ended a miserable run without a 1-0 victory against Burnley on Wednesday night thanks to Mark Noble's goal on the stroke of half-time. The East Londoners went into the game just one place and one point off the bottom three so a win was all that mattered. And West Ham managed to cling on against Sean Dyche's side to jump up two places to 15th in the Premier League table with another home game against Hull City on the horizon on Saturday. The win was tainted somewhat, though, by the treatment of summer signing Havard Nordtveit. There is no getting away from the fact that the Norwegian is regarded by Hammers fans as one of the worst players to play for the club in many years. Lacking in any discernable quality, Nordtveit has been woeful in the games he has played this season. While there is a case to say he may need a run of games to get used to the Premier League, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has looked like a fish out of water in centre midfield, at right-back and centre back. Arsene Wenger is no fool and West Ham are seeing why he was happy to release the player without a single appearance for Arsenal before he went to Germany.
His late cameo against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane cost West Ham the game as he was out of position for the equaliser two minutes from time with Bilic's side leading 2-1. He made things even worse still when he inexplicably went to ground to give away the match-winning penalty in stoppage time much to the disdain of Hammers fans. It will take some comeback to turn his Hammers career around but despite his ineptitude so far, supporters were patently wrong to welcome his late introduction against Burnley with a chorus of boos. It was harsh in the extreme and while Nordtveit's future will more than likely lie elsewhere, it is something that will not have gone down well with his teammates. To boo your own player is a big statement and there were thousands doing it at London Stadium as he replaced skipper Noble in the closing stages. It is moronic and unhelpful in the extreme at a time when everyone at West Ham needs to be pulling in the same direction. Booing your own player can only drive a wedge between the team and the supporters in what has already been a tempestuous season on and off the pitch with the big Olympic Stadium move beset by problems and dividing opinion. If West Ham fans don't believe Nordtveit is good enough, their issue lies with Bilic not the player himself.
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Reece Oxford signs new West Ham contract amid 'strong interest' from Arsenal, Manchester United and Man City
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard
Reece Oxford has signed a new four-and-a-half year West Ham contract despite the club acknowledging a "strong interest" from Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. Since making his debut in a 2-0 victory away to Arsenal at the start of last season Oxford's card has been marked as one of the brightest young prospects in English football, though his exposure to the West Ham first team has been limited since. That has not stopped a host of top clubs adding Oxford to their shortlists, and West Ham took the unusual step of stating that the defender had been a target for Arsene Wenger's Gunners as well as Manchester rivals City and United following the deal. It does however constitute a perfect birthday present for Oxford, who turned 18 today. "I am happy to have signed my new contract," Oxford said. "There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now. "I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season. "I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps. "Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved."
It was West Ham boss Slaven Bilic who gave Oxford, often compared with fellow West Ham academy graduate, his bow, initially in the Europa League but the youngster also went on to feature in seven Premier League games last season. Oxford's manager has endeavoured to keep the youngster out of the firing line during a tough season for West Ham; his only minutes so far this season have come in the Europa League. However Bilic does not expect it to be before the youngster becomes a "top player".
Bilic said: "I am delighted and it is major news for both the club and the player that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United. "I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities to become a world-class player and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfil it. "We wanted him to stay and the Board did everything to keep him. The interest from the other big clubs was real and that shows what a big talent he is. "It is the right decision for him because we are a great club where he can become a top player. "He has been out injured but he is now coming back and I believe in him a lot. He is a great prospect and is the leader of the pack when it comes to the younger players."
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West Ham starlet Reece Oxford pens new four-and-a-half year contract to end speculation over his future
Reece Oxford has signed a new deal which keeps him at West Ham until 2021
Manchester United and Manchester City were reportedly both interested
He has been out with injury and is yet to make top-flight appearance this term
He said: 'I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud'
By Matt Maltby For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 09:39, 16 December 2016 | UPDATED: 09:39, 16 December 2016
West Ham wonderkid Reece Oxford has marked his 18th birthday by penning a new four-and-a-half-year contract with the club to end uncertainty over his future. Manchester United and Manchester City had both been keen on the starlet, who turned 18 on Friday, but he has now committed his future to the east London club. Oxford made his breakthrough last season and although he is yet to make a top-flight appearance this term — which has been hindered by injuries so far — he is held in high regard at the London Stadium. The defender said: 'I am happy to have signed my new contract. There was a lot of speculation about my future but I am happy that it has been done and I can get back to football. I just want to kick on now. 'I have made my family proud and hopefully I have made the fans proud that I have signed a new contract. Hopefully I can get into the team and help them throughout the whole season. 'I have a good relationship with the gaffer and hopefully I can get a lot of game time here. I have seen some of the old players like Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand and I want to follow in their footsteps. 'Hopefully, I can become just as big as them or even bigger. Hopefully, I can step out and follow what they have achieved.' His manager, Slaven Bilic, added: 'I am delighted and it is major news for both the club and the player that he has committed his long-term future to West Ham United. 'I really believe he has got everything. On paper he has all the abilities to become a world-class player and it is now up to him to train hard and for us to manage him well for him to fulfil it.' His existing deal was due to expire in 2018 which left the Hammers open to Oxford leaving on a free transfer at the end of next season, though they would have been due compensation. Oxford broke onto the scene at the start of last season, starting in the historic win at Arsenal and nullifying Mesut Ozil's threat. Bilic has used Oxford sparingly ever since, preferring to ease him into senior football and he even came close to a loan move to local rivals Charlton. Nevertheless, West Ham have high hopes for Oxford - who has been likened to Rio Ferdinand - and news of his new contract will come as a huge boost for the club.
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"He's my boy" – West Ham midfielder wants Belgium starlet to sign for same club
By Tom Coast - 15th December 2016
Sporting Witness
Signing for West Ham back in 2014 from Anderlecht in Belgium, Cheikhou Kouyaté has become Slaven Bilic's utility man, at least since the start of the season. Evolving as a centre-back alongside Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid this season, the midfielder has gone along with it, but he's hoping he gets to play a bit more up the pitch from January onwards. With a centre-back needed at the London stadium if Slaven Bilic is to persist with three at the back, Cheikhou Kouyaté might have found just the man for his current club, one who currently plays for Anderlecht. The Senegal international, who gave a lengthy interview to DH in Belgium, spoke about Kara, centre-back for the Belgian side, and had nothing but good things to say about his compatriot. He said: "He's made for the Premier League. Plus, it's the league that makes him dream, like a lot of Senegalese players. I hope he can come here quickly. I'm certain he'll do well too because he's built like Vincent Kompany."
While a defender might be needed, a new midfielder probably isn't on Slaven Bilic's Christmas list, yet Kouyaté is secretly wishing he does, mostly for selfish purposes, by signing 18-year-old prodigy Youri Tielemans He explained: "He's my boy. Youri, I loved him from the moment he started training with the first-team. I was very proud when I saw him with the Belgium shirt on his back. He'll be in the Premier League soon, too. "I just hope for one thing: that it's in the same team as me because I don't want to tackle him. On a serious note, he's developed some more this season, and he's really, really good." Who needs scouts when you have Cheikhou Kouyaté?
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Valencia: 'Zaza is an objective'
By Football Italia staff
Valencia director Suso Garcia Pitarch confirmed Simone Zaza "is one of our objectives," as West Ham send him back to Juventus.
The striker was loaned to West Ham United for €5m with an option to buy for another €20m that would become obligatory after 14 appearances. However, the Hammers seem prepared to leave Zaza in the stands until January so they won't have to activate the clause and can send him back to Juve in January. He won't stay in Turin for long, as there are several clubs interested, including Cesare Prandelli's Valencia. "It's true that he was on the agenda in the summer already," Pitarch told Marca.com. "We like Simone, the Coach likes him and he is one of our objectives. As for the chances of signing him, it will depend on the conditions."
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West Ham duo insist the beautiful game can wait until they are sitting pretty in the table
The Hammers got their first win in eight matches on Wednesday with second-bottom Hull next up, and results are all that matter for Darren Randolph and Mark Noble
BYMIKE WALTERS
23:18, 15 DEC 2016UPDATED23:21, 15 DEC 2016
The Mirror
Darren Randolph has warned West Ham fans that points on the board must take priority over sexy football. The Hammers' scrambled their first win in eight games with a jittery 1-0 win against Burnley that moved them four points clear of the relegation zone, and on Saturday they can take another big stride towards safety when second-bottom Hull visit the Taxpayers Stadium. Two years ago, when the Tigers' 10 men lost 2-1 at Upton Park to a penalty and an own goal, then-Irons boss Sam Allardyce sarcastically cupped his hand to his ear as East Enders booed off their team. Now, after a torrid autumn, Randolph and his skipper Mark Noble both admitted they would settle for another banal scuffle if another three points lifted West Ham further towards mid-table obscurity. Goalkeeper Randolph atoned for his howler in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool with a brilliant save from Scott Arfield's late free-kick to deny the Clarets on Wednesday. He said: "We would all really love to play attractive football week in, week out, but for me personally – and I'm not sure if the manager and the fans want to see sexy football – I want to put points on the board. "When you start moving up the table, maybe your confidence starts to come back and you start playing again, but for now it's all about the points. "We cannot relax because we need to get as many points on the board as we can after the last few months, and I hope the fans understand that. "It's a cliche but we all have to stick together. They feed off us and we feed off them. It is different out there compared to the Boleyn, but the more results we get, the faster we will get to where we want to be."
Noble, whose first league goal of the season proved the difference against Burnley, laughed at Randolph's 'sexy' football target and joked: "Well, he has clearly got different things on his mind! "The performance against Burnley wasn't great - but I don't care, to be honest. It is always hard when you are in the position we are in, but four points from the last two games is massive for us. "If you offered me another 2-1 win against 10 men thanks to a penalty and an own goal, I would snap your hand off for another three points.
"It is hard to move stadiums – we have seen it with other teams in the past. We've had a tough time with injuries and we haven't got £40million players to put on the bench. "We had two kids on the bench against Burnley and we need our best players fit – when that has happened in the last two games, we have got four points. "I am doing my best to make sure people around the club know how hard it is: West Ham is a Premier League club and that's all that matters, especially this season. "This time last year, we were well on the way to being safe at Christmas and it seemed like the most important season in the history of the club to make sure we moved into a new stadium as a Premier League club. "Now it feels just as important that we stay there."
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