Joint-Chairman pledges to unite support
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan makes New Year's resolution to unite
supporters in 2017
Board pledge to work hard to further strengthen relationship with fans
Regular meetings and fan-led initiatives are planned to resolve outstanding
issues
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan says his New Year's resolution
is to further unite West Ham's Board of Directors and the Club's supporters.
As 2016, a year which has seen unprecedented change for Hammers fans, draws
to a close, Mr Sullivan has pledged that he and the Board will help
strengthen the relationship between the two in 2017. "I am aware that since
the beginning of the season a small number of supporters have struggled to
adapt to some of the changes we have faced this year as West Ham
supporters," Sullivan told whufc.com. "At the Club, we have been working
hard to help supporters with this process and we have definitely made good
progress over recent months, but it is my New Year's resolution to unite us
completely moving forward. "With that in mind we plan to continue meetings
with supporter groups, bloggers, fan sites and supporters who engage with
the Club on social media, to find out what the problems are and to do our
utmost to try and resolve as many of them as possible. "This will act as a
means of discussing the future of the Club and an opportunity to illustrate
to supporters the challenges that we face as a Board to make certain
changes. "We are determined to work with supporters on areas they want to
see improved."
The Club has been reaching out to various supporter groups over the last few
months and have a number of supporter-led initiatives planned for the New
Year.
And with results beginning to improve on the pitch, the Joint-Chairman and
the Board are looking to build on the growing positive feeling at the Club.
"I believe we are on the cusp of seeing a lot of hard work come to fruition
on and off the pitch," he continued. "Whilst we know we are certainly not
back to our best yet, we are picking up points and seeing the signs of the
rapid improvement we need to climb the table properly. "Contrary to what
some might think, our supporters have more access to their Board than at any
other Premier League club, and I am determined to use these channels to
unite all of us "I know we have a long way to go still, but I can assure
you I am completely committed to the task and will personally ensure that
this is the focus of our Board in 2017."
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Carroll thrilled with winning return
WHUFC.com
Carroll took personal tally to five goals in six West Ham games against
Swansea with Boxing Day volley
Striker has helped team take ten points from five games since comeback from
injury
No9 hailed team performance after 4-1 thumping of the Swans
Andy Carroll has made a nice habit of scoring against Swansea City - so it
came as little surprise when he got on the end of Sofiane Feghouli's cross
to volley past Lukasz Fabianski and complete West Ham United's 4-1 victory
on Boxing Day. In six games for the Hammers against the South Wales squad,
the big No9 now has five goals, and no other club has felt the force of
Carroll as keenly as the Swans. More importantly, his goal helped Slaven
Bilic's men register a third straight victory and climb up to eleventh in
the Premier League table. Now Carroll has his eyes on further scalps. He
said: "I don't know what it is about Swansea but I seem to have a good
record against them. Five goals in six games against them is a nice little
tally, so hopefully I can continue with that. "It was a great all-round team
performance on Boxing Day. From Daz [Randolph] all the way up, everyone
played their part and put a shift in. We deserved it. "It was a great
result. We played well and it was a nice Christmas present for the fans who
travelled down to Swansea."
Carroll's return to the team has been a successful one, with two goals and
ten points from five games and with a trip to Leicester around the corner he
is keen to keep the good form going. He added: "I wanted to play the minutes
I have in the last three games. I've been training hard, and the manager has
thrown me in when he thought I was ready. "I've played the last three now
and I'm feeling good, [especially] coming in and scoring straight away. The
main thing is though we're getting the points. "The two home games
previously weren't as good, but we got the points on the board and the
performance at Swansea was great. We're progressing."
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#WHUAREYA - Domingos Quina
WHUFC.com
When the Hammers snapped up Portuguese midfielder Domingos Quina during the
summer, there was a feeling that someone special had arrived in east London.
Two first team appearances in the UEFA Europa League and places on the
substitutes' bench for four Premier League games later, there's absolutely
no reason to doubt that five months on.
A wonder-goal from the halfway line for the U23s and putting pen to paper on
his first professional contract are two more stand-out moments from the
17-year-old's first campaign at West Ham United. Does he think there are
more to come?
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The Big Interview - Aaron Cresswell
WHUFc.com
On Boxing Day, Aaron Cresswell became the 174th West Ham United player to
reach 100 first-team appearances for the Club.
The No3 has been a revelation since joining the Hammers in summer 2014,
making the left-back berth his own and impressing with his commitment,
consistency and magical left foot.
The 27-year-old, who made his England debut in November, is now setting his
sights on more milestones in Claret and Blue.
Aaron, congratulations on reaching 100 appearances! Let's start with your
most-memorable moment in a West Ham shirt?
"I've got to say the last-ever game at the Boleyn Ground is my
most-memorable moment in a West Ham shirt.
"We were getting beat 2-1 by Man United and everyone had seen the atmosphere
before the game, with tens of thousands of people outside the ground. I
think it took Man United about three hours to get in from the top of Barking
Road.
"If I had to pick a game, it would be that Final Game at the Boleyn Ground
against Man United. I still speak to Nobes and the other lads about it and
it was a game the like of which you won't play many of in your career.
"If you ask any fan, I'm sure they'll say it was one of the best-ever times
they've had at a football match and I don't think I'll top that game."
OK, how about your favourite goal of the four you've scored in Claret and
Blue? All of them were decent strikes!
"Feeling-wise, it was my goal against Newcastle because that was my
first-ever goal in the Premier League, but my best goal of the four was the
one at Leicester. If I can get another one like that this season, I'll be
happy!"
To reach 100 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons is good going. You must
be proud of that achievement?
Aaron Cresswell"I've been here two-and-a-half years now and it's gone very
quickly," said the 27-year-old. "To reach 100 games is a great achievement
at a Club like West Ham and I'm really proud of it.
"Since I joined everyone has been fantastic with me and I couldn't really
have hoped for it to have gone any better, especially in the first year when
I won Hammer of the Year.
"Then last year we finished seventh and won the most points any West Ham
team has ever won in the Premier League, and we also got to the
quarter-finals of the FA Cup and were unlucky not to get through to the
semi-final."
And of course you're now an England international!
"Since I was a little boy I've wanted to represent my country and it's the
pinnacle of my career. All of that is down to West Ham giving me an
opportunity and my own hard work, so I can't thank West Ham enough."
So, what's next for you and for West Ham United?
"Obviously this season hasn't gone quite as well for me now, but that's in
the past and I just hope we can push up that table in the New Year and
finish as high as we can."
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Reaching out; Sullivan seeking unity
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th December 2016
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan says that he hopes to unite the club in the New Year.
Sullivan, speaking in the wake of three successive victories against
Burnley, Hull and Swansea insisted that he was determined to build bridges
between the Boardroom and the fanbase following the numerous issues that
have dogged the club's move to Stratford.
"I am aware that since the beginning of the season a number of supporters
have struggled to adapt to some of the changes we have faced this year as
West Ham supporters," he wrote.
"We have been working hard to help supporters with this process and we have
definitely made good progress over recent months, but it is my New Year's
resolution to unite us completely moving forward.
"With that in mind we plan to continue meetings with supporter groups,
bloggers, fan sites and supporters who engage with the club on social media,
to find out what the problems are and to do our utmost to try and resolve as
many of them as possible.
"This will act as a means of discussing the future of the club and an
opportunity to illustrate to supporters the challenges that we face as a
Board to make certain changes. We are determined to work with supporters on
areas they want to see improved."
Coincidentally, Sullivan's statement was published a matter of days after
KUMB Forum members created their own 'ten point plan' for the club's owners
- with one of the most popular suggestions being for the Board to "treat the
fans with respect and agree to engage with us - and not just those who share
your vision - on a regular basis".
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A ten point pledge of our own
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th December 2016
By: Staff Writer
In the wake of the numerous issues that have beset West Ham United's move to
Stratford, KUMB readers have created their own 'ten point pledge' for the
Board of West Ham United FC.
The ten points, which we are asking the Board to adhere to, cover a range of
subjects designed to ease what has already proved to be a difficult
migration process and enhance the supporter's experience of the club's new
ground.
None of the points raised are beyund the realms of possibility (although
point 3 would require considerable, financial investment) and all are made
with the aim of uniting the club's fractured fanbase and strengthening the
relationship between supporters and the Board.
Our ten point plan is as follows:
1. Surround the ground with local vendors - selling
food/programmes/memorabilia as per Green Street - to give the surrounding
area 'a West Ham feel' and make it feel more homely. Consider adding signage
around the stadium.
2. Make a concerted effort to re-employ as many former Boleyn Ground
stewards as possible on the same terms they enjoyed previously (iincluding
the same rates of overtime and receiving the London living wage).
3. Replace the temporary stands with genuine, retractable seating, as
promised by the club in their pre-move communications, with stands that are
closer to the pitch.
4. Offer the Supporters' Club, which is intrinsically linked to the club via
both historical financial contributions and the Hammer of the Year award, a
new home close to the new stadium.
5. Re-house the occasional visitors and day-trippers (those taking advantage
of the Thomas Cook offers, or Newham Council employees and their guests) in
the upper tier and allocate the TBL seats next to the away fans to season
ticket holders, as per the Boleyn Ground. This will also help to generate a
better atmosphere.
6. Put the home fans first! Open access to all nearly overground/tube
stations and ensure away fans leave last, if it necessary to avoid both
factions leaving simultaneously.
7. Provide both recognisable singing and family enclosures at the new
stadium, an accurate, up to date, seating plan and ensure stewards are
instructed to be 'fan friendly'.
8. Provide a notable increase in the number of shuttle buses running from
Stratford to the stadium for the benefit of those supporters experiencing
difficulty with the lengthy walk and make the drop-off points for travelling
fans safer/more accessible.
9. Employ additional Supporter Liaison Officers in line with other Premier
League clubs to talk to act as fan representatives. (West Ham currently
employ one, most PL clubs have at least five whilst Arsenal employ a team of
20+.)
10. Treat the fans with respect and agree to engage with us - and not just
those who share your vision of a 'brand' new club - on a regular basis. If
you are intent of banning supporters, for whatever reason, publish a Code of
Conduct that we may adhere to.
These were the main points discussed, although supporters discussed a whole
raft of potential improvements -
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Arsenal ready to listen to offers for defender Carl Jenkinson with Crystal
Palace and West Ham ready to swoop
Arsenal will listen to loan and permanent offers for defender Carl Jenkinson
Jenkinson has made just five starts for Arsenal this season
Crystal Palace and West Ham - where he spent two season's on loan - could
make a move for Jenkinson in the January transfer window
By SAMI MOKBEL FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 23:05, 28 December 2016 | UPDATED: 23:05, 28 December 2016
Arsenal will consider offers for out-of-favour full-back Carl Jenkinson next
month. The defender has recovered from a long-term knee injury and has made
five starts for the club this season. But he is set for a move away from the
Emirates Stadium next month, with the Gunners ready to listen to permanent
or loan offers for the right-back. Jenkinson is likely to interest a host
of clubs when the transfer window reopens in January. New Crystal Palace
manager Sam Allardyce is an admirer and could launch a bid to take the
24-year-old as he looks to bolster his defensive ranks. Jenkinson may also
interest West Ham, where he spent two consecutive season-long loan moves.
Hector Bellerin is fully established as the Arsenal's first choice
right-back meaning Jenkinson's chances of first team football under Arsene
Wenger are limited. Back-up right-back Mathieu Debuchy is injured but is due
back earlier next month while Gabriel can play in the position in an
emergency.:
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Andy Carroll has inspired West Ham's festive revival, says Aaron Cresswell
West Ham have won their last three games to move away from the drop zone
Striker Carroll has started all three games after recovering from knee
injury
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 01:05, 28 December 2016 | UPDATED: 01:05, 28 December 2016
Aaron Cresswell is convinced Andy Carroll's return to fitness is behind West
Ham's festive revival. West Ham have surged away from the relegation zone on
the back of three straight wins, including the 4-1 demolition of Swansea on
Boxing Day. That run has tied in precisely with Carroll's recovery from the
knee injury which kept him out for almost four months, with the striker
coming off the bench in the first two games of his comeback and then
starting in each of the victories. His aerial domination made West Ham's
opener at Swansea and he later volleyed his second goal in five games, which
has launched Slaven Bilic's side within four points of the top seven. Asked
if it was a coincidence that West Ham have won each of the games Carroll has
started, Cresswell said: 'No, it isn't. Andy makes a huge difference, not
just going forward but the defending he does at set pieces. 'He has been out
quite some time and the shift he puts in is great to see. I just hope he can
really kick on now. 'He's massive for us. It was great to see him back when
he scored against Arsenal, but he was excellent for us at Swansea and he has
been since he came back. Touch wood he can stay injury free and a big boost
for him and for us.' The win at Swansea was a case of West Ham delivering a
performance as well as a result, which has not often been the case this
season. Cresswell said: 'Wins always give you confidence despite the
performances. We knew the performances weren't great at home (in the 1-0
wins against Burnley and Hull), but I am sure fans will look back on it now
and think the six points are more important. 'Against Swansea we got both
the points and the performance. That will give us more confidence looking
into the Leicester game on Saturday.'
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