Daily WHUFC News - 20th February 2016

Slaven Speaks - Blackburn Rovers
WHUFC.com

Ahead of the Hammers' journey to Lancashire, Slaven Bilic faced the media as
part of his pre-Blackburn press conference. Here is what the Gaffer had to
say...

Good morning Slaven, what is the team news for Sunday's game?

"Well, Andy Carroll is out and Enner Valencia also. Manuel Lanzini is back
and Reidy should be OK for the Sunderland game. Diafra Sakho is hopefully
going to start training with us on Monday or Tuesday. Joey O'Brien and James
Tomkins are still out, with Sam Byram cup-tied, we are a little bit
struggling with that position, but we are going to compensate that
position."

How long do you expect Andy to be out?

"It's not a big one thankfully so he shouldn't be out for too long, we're
not sure which game he'll be back for yet."

With the number of injuries, I guess you don't have the option of resting
too many players?

"We have a few positions to consider like right-back and striker, but other
than that, we are OK. We didn't have a game mid-week so we are OK
physically, we don't need to rest players. This is a huge game, we want to
win so we will play our strongest teams possible."

Is Darren Randolph your FA Cup goalkeeper, will he continue for as long as
you progress?

"He will. Adrian is fine with that; he is our first choice goalkeeper. Every
time Darren has played he has been fantastic for us. It is a great situation
to be in that we have two fantastic goalkeepers to choose from. He was
superb at Anfield, and again in the replay so I am confident in his
ability."

Looking at Blackburn, are you expecting a slightly more physical game than
usual?

"Blackburn are a huge club. When I was playing, they were massive, and that
wasn't ages ago. It's a very difficult game for us. They are direct which is
very dangerous so it'll be a big test for us. They're not having a great
season in the league, but they haven't conceded a lot so they are very
solid. And 61% of their goals come from set pieces so that is a big threat."

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Emenike determined to take opportunity
WHUFC.com

Looking ahead to what could well be his first start for West Ham United
since joining on loan in January, striker Emmanuel Emenike says he cannot
wait for his chance to impress Hammers fans.

So far, the Nigerian international has made two Premier League appearances
of the bench against Southampton and Norwich City.

With injuries to fellow strikers Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll, the former
Spartak Moscow man is ready to take his chance: "I am really looking to the
Blackburn game this weekend; it is a very important match for the team but
also personally because I have the opportunity to show what I can do.

"If I score, I don't know what I'd do to celebrate because I would be so
excited, I would be so happy."

Speaking after the Club's store signing event in the Liberty Romford
shopping centre, alongside teammate and friend Victor Moses, the forward
continued to describe how much he is enjoying his time in east London so
far.

He continued: "I enjoy living in London a lot. It's very good so far, I am
happy with the club, and all my teammates are very welcoming.

"Training is going very well, so everything is good.

"I enjoyed it (the store signing) a lot. I am very happy to get the
opportunity to meet some of our local fans. They were really good today, I
really enjoyed myself. I have only been here a short time but they have
really welcomed me and made me feel at home."

Following this weekend's FA Cup clash with the Rovers, the Hammers next face
Sunderland in what could be Emenike's home debut, a milestone he is already
looking forward to.

"Of course I am really looking forward to that; hopefully I will make my
home debut in what is a very important match. It is something that I really
excited for."

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From the Terraces - Toby Fry
WHUFC.com

Fan blogger Toby Fry cannot wait to see 7,200 Hammers fans make the journey
to Blackburn on Sunday...

West Ham travel to Blackburn on Sunday and it might even feel like a home
game! Sunday's hosts have had an average attendance of 13,752 at Ewood Park
in the Championship this season. Yet there will be 7,200 West Ham fans
making the 500-mile round trip with tickets into the away end.
This is just one of many examples why West Ham supporters are amongst the
best in the country.

Every time I'm with a group of West Ham fans, whether it be at the Boleyn
Ground, at a pub or on the road, I always feel at home. From the travel up
to a match, through to the final whistle and beyond, West Ham fans show
support and passion that is always a privilege to be around. There's
something special about feeling part of the family, regardless of gender,
race or sexuality you're a Hammer first and foremost.

On the pitch Slaven Bilic has made no secret of the importance that the FA
Cup is going to play in West Ham's season, the supporters have echoed his
thoughts and are now showing it with their physical presence.

From the outside you may look at a February fixture against Championship
opposition as far from glamorous, especially when there's still four
victories between all the sides and cup glory. However, West Ham fans are
excited about their team again - me included. I think many of us would watch
Dimitri Payet play for West Ham anytime anywhere.

There are of course no guarantees in football and this is never more true
than in the FA Cup which is famously one for the underdogs to flourish.
Regardless of this fact you can be sure that the Hammers fans will support
the team with fresh witty chants and friendly banter, win lose or draw.

There's a new found passion and belief developing around the club and this
fixture, as well as the fact that all games at Upton Park are selling out
almost immediately week-in week-out proves just that.

Thank you for your support. Do our club proud!

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those
of West Ham United

Were you part of the Hammers' massive travelling supports at Manchester
United in 2001, Wigan in 2004, Coventry in 2011 or are you heading to
Blackburn on Sunday? Share your stories and pictures on social media using
the #ClaretAndBlueArmy hashtag!

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View on the Opposition - Blackburn Rovers
WHUFC.com

Blackburn manager Paul Lambert
Lancashire Telegraph's Blackburn Rovers reporter Paul Wheelock lifts the lid
on Sunday's opponents.

A good result for Rovers in midweek, how important is that for confidence?

"In terms of the league, there is hope it will be massively important.
Rovers had failed to win any of their previous nine Championship matches and
were slipping too close to the relegation places for comfort.

"That said they have lost only one of their last six games in all
competitions and they produced impressive, professional performances against
Newport County and Oxford United to set-up Sunday's tie."

How important is this FA Cup game compared to the league?

"Given Rovers are 17 points behind the play-offs with 16 games to play,
there is little chance of them finishing in the top six. So the immediate
aim for the rest of the season has to be pulling clear of danger before
finishing as strongly as possible in preparation for what has to be a big
summer for the club.
"The FA Cup therefore represents an excellent opportunity to keep the
campaign alive and, you never know, glory too."

How do you expect Blackburn to approach Sunday's game?

"With confidence. The win over Fulham in midweek has really lifted the
spirits and last season Rovers proved they can live with Premier League
outfits. They knocked Swansea City and Stoke City out at Ewood Park and went
close to doing the same to Liverpool at Anfield before losing a closely
fought replay. They know they will be underdogs but there will be no fear."

Which players have been in good form recently?

"Ben Marshall has been catching the eye at right-back, scoring three goals
in the FA Cup wins over Newport and Oxford, while Corry Evans has also been
in excellent form over these last three matches.

"Fellow midfielder Jordi Gomez has made an immediate impact and the same can
be said of striker Danny Graham, who has also joined on loan from
Sunderland. Graham, though, unlike Gomez, is ineligible on Sunday. He was a
big miss in the recent league loss to Hull City, as was captain and
centre-back Grant Hanley, who has been Rovers' player of the year so far."

What is your prediction for Sunday's score?

"I'm going for a 2-1 Rovers win. Sorry Hammers fans!"

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Bilic expects quarter final spot
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th February 2016
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic has admitted that he would be extremely disappointed if his
West Ham team fails to overcome Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the
fifth round of the FA Cup. Bilic, speaking to the press this morning ahead
of Sunday's last 16 clash at Ewood Park revealed that expects his side to
triumph in the tie - although he insisted that they will be taking nothing
for granted. "Blackburn are a good team, they are physical and it's a big
club," said Bilic. "When I played - and I'm not that old! - they were a
force in the Premiership and we all remember the SAS thing when they were
champions. It'll be a very difficult game for us. "They are a team who are
not having a great season in the table, but they are very solid and have
only conceded 28 goals. They haven't scored a lot but they've scored 61 per
cent of their goals from set pieces - and that's more than enough for us to
know that it's going to be a big challenge. "Make no mistake it's going to
be a very difficult game for us - but we are a Premier League side, we're
having a very good season so far and I would be very disappointed if we
didn't go through. "No matter who you play, you are playing for a place in
the quarter finals - and that's where we want to be. Our win against
Liverpool [in the last round] will only prove valuable if we progress in the
Cup and that's what we want to do."

Bilic also revealed that given his injury concerns in certain areas, such as
at full back and in attack, some players have been given additional rest
periods ahead of Sunday's clash.
"Because of our tight schedule we rested a few players this week," he added.
" We'll be training today (Friday) and have a small session tomorrow
(Saturday) then we're off to Blackpool.
"It's going to be a big test for us. But I think we're really well prepared
for the game and we'll take nothing for granted."

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Randolph is our Cup 'keeper, says Bilic
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th February 2016
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic says he intends to stick with Darren Randolph in goal for West
Ham - for as long as the club remain in the FA Cup. Irish international
Randolph has deputised for regular number one Adrian in all Cup competitions
- including the Capital One Cup, the Europa League and the FA Cup - this
season. And Bilic insists that 'Randy' will remain in goal throughout the
current FA Cup run, which continues against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park
this Sunday afternoon. When asked during his pre-match press conference
whether Randolph will remain in the team throughout the course of the Cup
run, Bilic replied: "He will, definitely. "Adrian is out first-choice
goalkeeper but Randy deserves his chance - not only because it's the FA Cup
but because every time we've put him in goal - like when Adrian got a red
card against Leicester - he has done brilliantly for us. "He's also doing
the same thing playing for Ireland and it's a privilege for me to have two
great goalkeepers. "I decided before the Wolverhampton game that Randy was
going to be in goal, not only for that game but for all the FA Cup games.
Against Wolves he didn't have much to do, it was that kind of game. "But he
was very good at Anfield in the first game against Liverpool and then also
at home when we beat them. He he made some great saves and he deserves to be
in goal."
Randolph has made nine appearances for the Hammers thus far this season,
during which he has conceded seven goals - four of which came in one match,
the 4-3 home defeat against Bournemouth last August. He has represented West
Ham three times in the Europa League, three times in the Premier League and
three times in the FA Cup. Additionally the 28-year-old has represented his
country on four occasions - against Poland, Bosnia (twice) and, most
notably, in a memorable 1-0 win over Germany last October.

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Danny Dyer: the night I fell out with Blades fan Sean Bean KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th February 2016
By: Staff Writer

Celebrity Hammers fan Danny Dyer has revealed that he almost came to blows
to fellow actor Sean Bean over a disagreement about Carlos Tevez.
Canning-Town born Dyer, star guest on this week's KUMB Podcast guest has
exclusively revealed how he and Bean, a dyed-in-the-wool Blades follower
traded verbal blows following Sheffield United's relegation from the
Premiership in 2007.

Speaking in the latest episode of the KUMB Podcast, Dyer told hosts Chris
Scull and Bianca Westwood how the Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings star
lost his temper after the Hammers pulled off the Great Escape - whilst the
Blades were relegated at West Ham's expense. "We had a massive fall out over
all that," revealed Dyer, who currently stars as pub landlord Mick Carter in
Eastenders. "I was doing a film with him. He's on the board at Sheffield
United and we had a drink one night. He'd been bottling it up, this thing,
and it was after Tevez had got the winner at Manchester United and we stayed
up. "He just switched on me - he called me a 'Cockney bastard' and accused
us of cheating. 'What have I done?' I asked him . He admitted it was because
of a [purported] Premier League conspiracy. "I said to him: 'What do you
think I am, the Chairman?' But he kept on slinging digs at me and getting
the right hump. He'd really been bottling it up, I think he's got shares in
the club or something. "But I had to wear it and I couldn't believe his
behaviour, really. He's a passionate football fan but it wasn't my fault! It
was down to that poxy agent [Kia Joorabchian], wasn't it."

Dyer - who starred alongside Bean in the 2007 Nick Love movie Outlaw -
believes that Bean, like many of his fellow Sheffield United supporters,
simply refused to accept their own club's culpability in their relegation
from the top flight. "What he has to understand is that they had 38 games,"
added Dyer. "What's that got to do with Tevez and Mascherano? They just
needed to vent and they wanted to blame us. But he didn't half have the hump
with me! "He's got a real problem. Massive. He's got some severe issues! I
won't forget that moment, I didn't quite know how to react. So if any West
Ham fans see Sean Bean, go up and sing 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' as loud
as you possibly can - and see what sort of reaction you get!"

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Blackburn Rovers v West Ham United
From the section Football
BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio

TEAM NEWS

New Blackburn loan signing Matt Grimes was an unused substitute in midweek
but could make his club debut this weekend. Fellow midfielder Hope Akpan
could return after illness.

West Ham will be without forwards Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia, who have
adductor and ankle problems respectively. Defender Sam Byram is cup-tied but
midfielder Manuel Lanzini could feature after six weeks on the sidelines
with a thigh injury.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Alistair Mann: "The euphoric scenes which greeted West Ham's last-gasp
winner in the last round against Liverpool reflected how much this club and
its supporters are thirsting for success.

"With arguably their best team in recent memory, coupled with the emotion
surrounding their final season at Upton Park, there's a feeling that this
could just be their time for a trophy after a long 36-year wait.

"There seems no logical reason why Blackburn should scupper those
aspirations; their midweek Championship win against Fulham was their first
in 10 matches, as they've slipped perilously close to the drop zone.

"Add to that West Ham's 11-match unbeaten run against Rovers and it's hard
to make a case for an upset - that said, it is the FA Cup…."

Twitter: @alistairmann01

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Blackburn manager Paul Lambert: "The pressure's all on West Ham. I've been
involved in games where the underdog wins and I've been involved in games
where you're the favourite and you get knocked out and it's not a great
feeling, because you know criticism will come your way.

"But we're at home and we'll try to get through.

"We're up against a really good side, with a really good manager, they're
doing great in the Premier League and we'll need definitely to punch above
our weight."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "We don't need to rest players, we will play
our strongest team because it is an important game and we want to win.

"The FA Cup should remain as the greatest cup competition, it is fantastic.
We should do whatever necessary to keep it special."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I will be at Ewood Park to watch this one - Blackburn ended a nine-game wait
for a Championship win when they beat Fulham on Tuesday, but I don't see
them getting another win this weekend.

Prediction: 1-2

Lawro's full predictions v BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull

Blackburn Rovers win FA Cup
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

West Ham are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Blackburn in all
competitions - six wins followed by five consecutive draws.
Blackburn have won just on just one of the four occasions they have hosted
West Ham in the FA Cup.
The last FA Cup meeting at Blackburn was a fifth-round replay in 1998, when
the Hammers won on penalties.
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn have won just one of their last 10 league games (D4, L5) but have
won two FA Cup ties in that period.
Rovers have eliminated Premier League opposition at this stage in two of the
last three seasons, though they fell at the quarter-final both times.
Blackburn have won the FA Cup six times - only six clubs have won it more.
West Ham

West Ham have won just one of their last 10 away games in all competitions
(D5, L4).
The Hammers have won 12 of their last 14 FA Cup games against lower league
opposition, losing the other two.
Michail Antonio scored twice in his last appearance against Blackburn, a 3-3
draw with Nottingham Forest in the Championship last season.

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Blackburn v West Ham preview
Last Updated: 19/02/16 7:06pm
SSN

West Ham have injury problems in attack and defence for the FA Cup
fifth-round trip to Blackburn. Andy Carroll (adductor) and Enner Valencia
(ankle) have joined Diafra Sakho (thigh) on the sidelines, leaving January
signing Emmanuel Emenike as the only fit striker. With James Tomkins (calf)
and Joey O'Brien (hamstring) injured and Sam Byram cup-tied, winger Michail
Antonio may have to fill in at right-back. However, midfielder Manuel
Lanzini is fit after a hamstring injury.

Blackburn will go into the game on the back of a 3-0 home victory over
Fulham - their first win in nine Championship matches. On-loan midfielder
Jordi Gomez can play on Sunday as he did not feature in Sunderland's
third-round defeat to Arsenal, but fellow on-loan Sunderland man Danny
Graham is ineligible having played in the third round.

West Ham squad: Adrian, Randolph, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Oxford, Pike,
Noble, Kouyate, Song, Obiang, Browne, Moses, Lanzini, Payet, Antonio,
Emenike, Parfitt-Williams.

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West Ham serial crock Andy Carroll too brave for his own good claims Slaven
Bilic after ANOTHER injury
22:30, 19 FEB 2016
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
Fearless striker "is his worst enemy. He is a very honest player. When he
comes on, he rolls up his sleeves — if you are a boxer, you're going to get
punched"
The Mirror

Slaven Bilic reckons Andy Carroll is his own worst enemy. Injury-plagued
West Ham striker Carroll is facing yet another spell on the sidelines - "a
couple of weeks" according to Bilic - after picking up a groin injury
against Norwich. Former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce claimed the England
international's wholehearted and fearless style of play contributed to his
injury woes. And Big Sam's successor Bilic has now discovered that too,
after the 27-year-old's desperation to play led to him picking up this
latest injury. Carroll suffered his latest setback after coming on last
weekend as the east Londoners fought back from 2-0 down to draw with
Norwich, despite feeling a niggle in the warm-up. Bilic, whose side face an
FA Cup fifth round trip to Championship Blackburn on Sunday, said: "He is
his worst enemy. "He is a very honest, very brave player. When he comes on,
he rolls up his sleeves and he goes in, straight on, into somebody's knee.
He goes into tackles and into duels and if you are a boxer you are going to
get punches. We are gutted and he is gutted at the situation. "It should be
difficult for him psychologically. The first time it happens you think, 'I'm
unlucky, it's a coincidence' but it gets in your head and you think, 'I'm
going to get injured.' Maybe that is a problem."

Bilic admitted Carroll's tendency to pick up knocks make it difficult for
him to plan, but vowed to keep faith with the big Geordie. He said: "Of
course. He is our player. He is Andy Carroll and we know what he is capable
of. "When he played against Liverpool on January 2, he played 90 minutes and
it was not just the goal. He played good and I said to him, my staff and
myself during the game 'this is it now, he is fit' and he was unstoppable.
"Three days after, he started great against Bournemouth. In the first 15
minutes he was our best player, slaughtering them. But then again, injured.
A big blow. "I can tell you a number of games when he has made a huge
impact. "When he is fit he can do a job in 15 minutes, but the fact is we
want him to be fit for more than 15 minutes."

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Slav names a Hammers prime target
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic has revealed that FC Midtjylland's scorer against Manchester
United Pione Sisto was a serious West Ham target last summer. Sisto gabbed a
44th minute equaliser against ManchesterUnited last night before the Danes
went on the beat the Premier League hotshots. And it emerge in an interview
with ITV that Bilic had been very much on the youngster's case before
learning that he would prefer to spend the next 12 months with FC
Midtjylland. The Hammers boss revealed: "We wanted him as one for the
future. He has pace, power, can change direction and can play left and right
. He is very brave and has a great engine.Yes we wanted him. "But to give
credit to him and those around him he decided to stay for another year and
continue his development."

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Carroll - The Irons career stats in detail!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 19, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H

With Andy Carroll out of the weekend FA Cup clash at Blackburn,
ClaretandHugh blogger Peter Ellis has taken a look at his injury ravaged
West Ham career. Here are his findings.
Since permanently signing for the club AC l has played in a total of 44
league games out of a possible 102 (including sub appearances) - a return of
44% In those 44 league games, he has scored 10 goals.
His wages are reported to be around the £80k mark.
Since joining West Ham (initially on loan) he has earned £14484802 at time
of writing. On top of a fee of £17.5m (after West Ham paid Liverpool FC
various bonuses) that amounts to £31.9 in wages and fee.
His loan spell was actually his best with the club, resulting in 24 out of a
possible 36 appearances (he played twice for Liverpool) with 7 goals.
Adding both the loan and permanent spells equates to 138 possible games,
with him playing in 68 of them, scoring in 17 games.
In short he hits the net 25% of the time he has played.
Remove the loan period and its just a tad over 22%.
So since he first put on a West Ham shirt, each goal has cost £1876470 Those
are the numbers.

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Lawro 'gushes' over the Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 19, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H

Mark Lawrenson has made one of his ultra rare prophecies. The BBC pundit
reckons the Irons will score a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers and thus
advance to the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
Maybe the pressure from the Irons fans is is finally getting to the old boy
who says we are a 'decent side' even without their 'outstanding individual'
Dimitri Payet. He said: "I think everyone has realised that West Ham are a
very good team - now they just have to keep going. "The Hammers also have an
outstanding individual player in Dimitri Payet but, even when he is out,
they are still a decent side. They have also come back late in a few games
which shows they have resolve to go with that quality."

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Nobes names his inspiration
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 19, 2016 in News C and H

Mark Noble has hailed former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tugay as his
inspiration. Tugay scorer numerous long range goals and a cute pass -
something which is becoming more and more a part of the Irons captain's
game. And talking to Sky Sports noble declared: "When I was a young kid I
played against Blackburn, and he taught me an absolute lesson in how to play
midfield.
"I was young and arrogant and I thought: 'Oh he's got grey hair, I'm going
to get in and around him,' and he had me on a bit of string for 90 minutes.
I'll always tell people about that.
"Obviously I love Steven Gerrard and I think Frank Lampard is one of the
best goal-scoring midfielders the country has ever seen, but I'll have to go
with Tugay." Noble was talking to SkySports about his all-time XI which he
has played against which also featured for Spurs man Luka Modric, Chelsea
legend Didier Drogba and fellow Hammers academy boy Rio Ferdinand.
His SkySports One-to-Eleven: Petr Cech Gary Neville Rio Ferdinand Laurent
Koscielny Leighton Baines Tugay Paul Scholes Luka Modric Didier Drogba
Fernando Torres Wayne Rooney

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Obiang aims to make up for missed opportunity Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on
February 19, 2016 in News C and H

Pedro Obiang is focuses on the FA Cup and determined for a Wembley
return.but this time he aims to play at the stadium. Speaking about Sunday's
match on the official site the Spanish international revealed: "I came to
England with the Spain Under-18 team but didn't get the chance to play
there. We all travelled to London but unfortunately I didn't play. It would
be nice to make up for that and go back there." And he added: "I know a lot
about the FA Cup . It is maybe more important for me because it is a
competition where I have been playing more regularly and I see it as my
chance to shine. I want us to do as well as I can. "I am very determined to
do well at West Ham United. It can be difficult when you are not playing,
but my team-mates have been having a fantastic season and there have only
been some small gaps for me to fill. I will keep trying until I get my
chance more regularly. "I am confident West Ham can achieve big things as a
club. We have been playing a lot of games recently with a fairly small squad
and most of the players have had the chance to feature and show what they
can do.
"It motivates me and can improve me as a player to have strong competition
for places because our job is to give the manager strong decisions to make."

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Slav nails emotions to FA Cup mast
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on February 19, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H

Slaven Bilic is remembered with huge good humour for hoisting an imaginary
FA Cup above his head at a media press conference earlier this season. He
was being questioned on the relative importance of the Champions League or
the FA Cup and made it clear he wanted that Wembley victory. However, this
week has seen much speculation that the tournament could become a midweek
event with no replays involved. That has raised much discussion among fans
and Slav appears to have made his position extremely clear during the
presser ahead of the Blackburn game declaring: "The FA Cup should remain as
the greatest cup competition, it is fantastic. We should do whatever
necessary to keep it special." ""It'll be a massive test for us, despite
their position in the league we know their qualities and it'll be very
tough. " Rovers are a huge club. When I played, they were massive in England
and that wasn't so long ago."

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Slav: 'Randolph will start on Sunday'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 19, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H

Slaven Bilic has confirmed Carroll and Valencia are out for Sunday, but
Lanazini is back and Reid should be OK to return. He also confirms Darren
Randolph will start saying it is a great situation to have two fantastic
goalkeepers. Speaking in his pre-match conference ahead of the Fa Cup fifth
round against Blackburn Rover Slav said: "Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia
are both out but Lanzini is back. Reidy should be alright for Sunderland."
"Sakho is back training with us which is good. Joey O'Brien and James
Tomkins are out, Sam Byram is cup-tied so we have a decision to make about
the right-back position. We will see today and tomorrow and then decide."
"We don't need to rest players, we will play our strongest team because it
is an important game and we want to win" "Randolph will start, he has done
brilliantly every time he's played. It is a great situation to have two
fantastic goalkeepers." "The FA cup should remain as the greatest cup
competition, it is fantastic. We should do whatever necessary to keep it
special" "Blackburn Rovers are a huge club. When I played, they were massive
in England and that wasn't so long ago." "It'll be a massive test for us,
despite their position in the league we know their qualities and it'll be
very tough"

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West Ham fan avoids banning order
Posted by Sean Whetstone on February 19, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H

A drunk West Ham fan who threatened to punch a cleaner at Darlington train
station has avoided being banned from future football matches. Jonathan Owen
Lamb from Kings Lynn in Norfolk, pleaded guilty to two public order offences
when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday. The West
Ham fan was travelling home after a match in Newcastle when he became
aggressive while waiting at Darlington train station on January 17th. Lamb
started shouting and swearing after being refused service to buy four cans
of Stella Artois. The court heard he had already bought four cans 15 minutes
earlier and when he was refused service threatened "to nut" another man.He
then went into the women's toilets and when asked to leave by a female
cleaner, threatened to punch her. Chris Atkinson, prosecuting, asked for
Lamb to be banned from football matches. Magistrates decided against the
order, instead giving him a 12 month community order. He was also told to
pay the cleaner £100 in compensation and £145 in costs.

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'Dimitri Payet could have been a Tottenham player!' - David Ginola's shock
revelation about West Ham star
By Joe Moore (@JoeyMoore) | Friday, February 19, 2016
TalkSport

West Ham star playmaker Dimitri Payet could have been a Tottenham player,
Spurs legend David Ginola has revealed to talkSPORT. France international
Payet has been a revelation at Upton Park since his arrival from Marseille
in the summer, with his £10.7million price tag now looking an absolute
bargain. He has been one of the Premier League's standout stars this season
with seven goals and five assists for the Hammers. But Ginola claims the
28-year-old could have been lighting up White Hart Lane instead, having
given Spurs chairman Daniel Levy a recomendation to sign him before he moved
to West Ham.
Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the Ginola said: "I had a
discussion one night with Spurs players, former players and chairman Daniel
Levy about French players coming through and who would be good [for
Tottenham]. "And I said, 'well there's one out there right now, Dimitri
Payet.' This was a few years ago when he was still playing at Lille, and I
told him Payet would suit English football. "I'm not surprised to see him
being successful at West Ham. He had a good spell at Marseille when he left
Lille, but it wasn't the best of Dimitri we saw. He's improved since he
signed for West Ham but his very best is yet to come. "But he could have
been a Spurs player. "I saw in him the flair you associate with Tottenham
players, the flair game of Spurs' history. Dimitri Payet was fitting pretty
well in that image of what a Spurs player should be. "It's amazing to see
him playing so well and I'm just pleased to see I wasn't wrong. I was
absolutely right to see him as a great asset for English football."

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Slaven Bilic 'gutted' after latest Andy Carroll injury setback . West Ham
striker will miss two weeks with groin problem . Emmanuel Emenike likely to
make first start at Blackburn The Guardian Jacob Steinberg Friday 19
February 2016 11.38 GMT Last modified on Friday 19 February 2016 11.40 GMT

Slaven Bilic said that he was "gutted" after confirming that Andy Carroll's
latest injury setback is likely to keep him out for two weeks. Carroll felt
a problem in his groin while he was warming up against Norwich City last
Saturday and although he came off the bench to help West Ham United fight
back from 2-0 down and rescue a point at Carrow Road, he is set to miss
Sunday's visit to Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round of the FA Cup and
league matches against Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton. "It is not
a big one, it is just a couple of weeks," Bilic said. "We are gutted and he
is gutted. He felt that during the warm-up when he was preparing to come on
against Norwich, but he played and made a huge impact. But after it turned
out to be a minor, but still an injury."

West Ham are short of strikers for the trip to Blackburn, with Enner
Valencia out with an ankle problem and Diafra Sakho not expected to return
to training until next week after recovering from the thigh injury that has
kept him out since November, meaning that Bilic is likely to hand Emmanuel
Emenike his first start since the Nigerian international joined on loan from
Fenerbahce last month.
While Valencia could be fit for the visit of Sunderland next Saturday, Bilic
also has problems in defence. Winston Reid is missing with a hamstring
injury and Michail Antonio is likely to fill in at right-back because James
Tomkins and Joey O'Brien are injured and Sam Byram is cup-tied. The sole
piece of positive news coming out of the treatment room for Bilic is that
Manuel Lanzini should be involved against Blackburn after recovering from
the thigh injury he suffered in the win over Liverpool on 2 January.

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