Daily WHUFC News - 5th May 2016

Payet scoops Hammer of the Year Award
WHUFC.com

Dimitri Payet has been named as the Betway 2015/16 Hammer of the Year
following an outstanding first season with West Ham United. The 29-year-old
Frenchman, who last month became the first West Ham player to be voted into
a top flight Team of the Year since 1978, beat off competition from several
star performers to land the top prize. He follows in the footsteps of Aaron
Cresswell, who also triumphed in his debut campaign as a Hammer. Speaking
exclusively to whufc.com, he said: "It is a huge honour and a defining
moment for me at the Club. It recognises the hard wotk I've put in and I am
very happy about it. This is the best award a player can win because it is
voted for by the fans, but I need to thank my teammates and the coaching
staff."
Payet was the clear winner in the fan vote, with fellow new signing Michail
Antonio coming second and two-time winner Mark Noble third. Payet arrived in
east London from Marseille last summer and immediately made an impact with
his new Club, scoring three goals in his first six games. That tremendous
form continued throughout the year, even after an ankle injury disrupted his
winter months. He returned to the team with a bang after Christmas, scoring
four stunning free-kicks and continuing to provide countless chances for his
teammates. A tally of 12 goals and 13 assists have made him the new darling
of the Hammers faithful, with his Hammer of the Year award capping not only
a wonderful season, but a successful awards evening too.

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Payet thankful for fan accolade
WHUFC.com

Dimitri Payet was full of thanks to everyone associated with West Ham United
after being voted the Club's 38th Hammer of the Year. The outstanding France
international midfielder bagged an incredible five awards at the 2015/16
Player Awards brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy. The highlight
of Payet's record-breaking night was his triumph in the prestigious Hammer
of the Year award, and he was quick to pay tribute to everyone who has
supported him since he arrived in east London from Marseille last summer.
"Of course it's a huge honour and a defining moment for me at the Club,"
Payet told West Ham TV. "It's an award that recognises the hard work I have
put in and I'm very happy about it. "I didn't think I would adapt this
quickly, to be honest. I thought it would be harder, but with the fabulous
teammates that I have, and the manager and coaching staff, the settling in
period was easier than expected.
"Slaven Bilic is very important for me and my confidence. He has done
everything possible to help me to blossom as a player and when I suffered an
injury and had a difficult time, he was the first person to come to my house
and check up on me. "My form has been down to all the squad, the coaches and
the medical staff, but I would like to personally thank the manager for all
the help and support he has given me."

Payet has enjoyed a stellar debut season in English football, scoring 12
goals and registering eleven assists to spearhead West Ham's challenge for a
top-four Barclays Premier League finish.
With three games to go, the Hammers sit five points off the UEFA Champions
League places, while the No27 also has the prospect of a home European
Championship finals to look forward to this summer. After that, Payet and
West Ham move into the new Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. "We are
all very excited to play there. We have the first game against Juventus to
look forward to. We will then be ready for the first official game. "Let's
see the final France squad first! If I do make it, of course I'll do my very
best in what will be a very important tournament which will be held in
France."

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Player of the Year Awards round-up
WHUFC.com

Dimitri Payet stole the headlines at the end of season Player Awards as he
came away with five major honours including being voted Hammer of the Year.
The first-team squad were present at a gala dinner in central London to
celebrate a memorable season for the east London Club. Payet has enjoyed an
unforgettable first year in the Premier League scoring 12 goals and
producing 13 assists. The 29-year-old has also become one of the best
set-piece specialists in the world and has become a cult hero at the Boleyn
Ground.
Over 1000 guests saw Payet pick up his first award of the evening, sponsored
by Shore Capital for being the top goalscorer this season. The Frenchman
has scored 12 goals which has included some unstoppable free-kicks against
Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

Payet quickly followed that up with the best goal of the season, sponsored
by Chigwell Construction Ltd with his curling set-piece against Palace at
the Boleyn Ground.

The third award was the Players' Player of the Year, sponsored by AsMatt Ltd
which the talented star took great pride in accepting after his team-mates
voted him the best player of the season.

Payet then secured the Signing of the Season sponsored by S14 VIP Ltd
followed by the biggest award of the evening when he followed in the
footsteps of Hammers legends such as Billy Bonds and Sir Trevor Brooking
when he won the distinguished Hammer of the Year.

It was not all about Payet as a number of his team-mates also came away with
some big awards at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane.

Few could forget Michail Antonio's winning strike against Tottenham at the
Boleyn Ground and the Carlton Dance which followed.

That was enough to help him win the Best Individual Performance, sponsored
by Peter Rayney Tax Consulting.

Darren Randolph picked up the save of the season, sponsored by Higgins Group
for his triple save against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.

The Best Team performance, sponsored by Shore Capital was the Hammers
dramatic comeback at Goodison Park against Everton when they came from two
goals down to record a 3-2 victory.

There was a special mention for the Academy as Mark Noble took to the stage
to talk about his progression through the youth ranks while Academy Director
Terry Westley was honoured to award the Dylan Tombides Award, sponsored by
Barry Stewart & Sons to talented youngster Declan Rice.

Rising star Reece Oxford was rewarded for his breakthrough into the
first-team this season as he won the Young Hammer of the Year, sponsored by
Ark Build.

West Ham United legend Paolo Di Canio received the Greatest Ever Goal at the
Boleyn Ground award for his memorable strike against Wimbledon back in March
2000.

The other big award of the evening was picked up by Sir Geoff Hurst who won
The Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by JM Sealants Limited.

It is especially relevant as we mark 50 years since Hurst and his team-mates
famously won the Jules Rimet trophy back in 1966.

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Sir Geoff honoured by Hammers award
WHUFC.com

Sir Geoff Hurst told West Ham TV he was 'honoured' to become the Club's
Lifetime Achievement Award - sponsored by JM Sealant Contracts Limited -
recipient in a special year for the Hammers and England. The three-time
Hammer of the Year, FA Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and FIFA World Cup
winner was presented with the accolade on the 50th anniversary of his
amazing hat-trick against West Germany at Wembley in the 1966 World Cup
final. Five decades on and the Grand Ballroom at the London Hilton on Park
Lane rose as one to recognise one of this country's true footballing
legends. Speaking moments after receiving the acclaim of 1,200 fans at the
2015/16 Player Awards brought to you by Betway in support of the Academy,
Sir Geoff told of his pride at following the likes of Billy Bonds, Martin
Peters and Sir Trevor Brooking in receiving the prestigious trophy. "I'm
absolutely thrilled to bits to be given this award," said the 75-year-old,
who scored 249 goals in 503 appearances in Claret and Blue. "The Club's very
close to my heart and I'm just so grateful that they've thought of me. I'm
thrilled and very honoured. "There was no way in the world we could have
dreamt of what we achieved at the Club and what the three of us did for the
England team. It's not something you dream about. I always felt I could have
a good career for West Ham, but certainly never dreamed I'd play for
England, so looking back it's fantastic."

With so many career highlights to reflect on, which still stick out in the
mind of the only man to score three goals in a FIFA World Cup final?
"Winning the trophies stands out. The Club had come up from the Second
Division in the late '50s, and within four or five years we win the FA Cup.
If you put that in context - if it happened today - and the following year
we win a European trophy, only the second time that's been done, they were
absolutely astonishing years when you look back. "On a personal level, a
personal highlight, I guess, is scoring six in a game, a double hat-trick as
I did at the Boleyn Ground against Sunderland in 1968. It's never been done
since, at league level, so that's a record along with the [World Cup final]
hat-trick that still stands. Records that are going to be pretty hard to
beat!"

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Westley - We're confident
WHUFC.com

Ahead of the Development Squad's second leg of the Barclays U21 Premier
League final with Hull City, Academy director Terry Westley described his
cautious optimism ahead of Wednesday's showdown. The young Hammers hold a
slender 1-0 lead thanks to Djair Parfitt-Williams' 90th minute winner, under
the lights at the Boleyn Ground. Looking ahead to the second leg, Westley
said: "It's only half-time in the tie. Yes, we hold a 1-0 advantage, but we
know we are going to be in for tough game. "That small cushion will give us
the confidence we need and away from home, the pressure will be off us,
which I think will help."
Westley continued to expand on the lessons learnt from the first leg, which
saw an impressively strong Hull City side prove different to conquer. He
explained: "They were very resolute, compact and we found it hard to break
them down. At some point, they will have to come out and attack us because
they need to score, that should give us some opportunities, which we will
need to exploit. "Training has been good. There was a sense that we didn't
quite rise to the occasion in the final, in front of a huge crowd, so that
has spurred us on to complete the job."
The Hammers take on Hull City at the KC Stadium on Wednesday 4 May, kick off
is 7pm.

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Dev Squad crowned Cup Champions
Hull City U21 (1) v (1) Dev Squad (West Ham win 5-3 on penalties)
WHUFC.com

It was tough for the Hammers who conceded a cruel 93rd minute goal to take
the tie to extra time, but they kept battling and eventually their quality
told in the shootout. Well done to Terry Westley and his squad!

PENS: Marcus Browne, Reece Oxford, Sam Byram, Stephen Hendrie and Martin
Samuelsen were all successful as Raphael Spiegel saved from Hull's Daniel
Batty. The Hammers are Champions!

FT: Extra time is over, and it's finished 1-0 on the night here. Penalties
it is!

118: Superb strike by Hendrie! The keeper does well to get something on it
and it goes for a corner, which Hull eventually clear.

116: Booking for Marcus Brown. Hull's free-kick comes to nothing.

110: Doneil Henry's knock down is good but there are no Claret and Blue
shirts who can get on the end of it.

109: Free-kick for West Ham 35 yards from goal. Marcus Browne is going to
swing this one in...

107: Hull City swing in a deep free-kick but Raphael Spiegel deals with it
comfortably. He's had a great match this evening, and surely would be
confident in a penalty shootout...

HT: The half time whistle sounds and the sides have a quick chat before
switching ends. 15 minutes remaining...are we going to see another late
twist or will it head to a penalty shootout?

103: A Hull City player receives treatment as the players re-gather their
thoughts. Not long 'til the half-time break here, which will be an immediate
turnaround. One minute of added time is signalled.

100: Jahmal Hector-Ingram - scorer of the Development Squad's last away goal
- replaces Declan Rice.

98: Slight confusion between Henry and Spiegel but the balls bounces just
wide for a corner kick to Hull City.

96: It comes to nothing as Samuelsen's cross is cleared.

95: The game has calmed slightly and West Ham are looking to once againt
exert their authority on this one. Free kick from the left-hand-side 25
yards from goal.

91: We're back underway in extra time of this final. Some feisty challenges
are flying in but it remains 1-1 on aggregate.

Extra-time: Terry Westley conducts a short team talk on the pitch before we
get underway for another 30 minutes in this final.

93: GOAL for Hull. West Ham can't believe it as Will Annan smashes one into
the top corner in the last minute. So, so cruel on the visitors. It looks
like we're heading for extra time.

91: One last Bubbles rendition sounds around the KC. In fact, if it stays
0-0, it certainly won't be the last of the evening...The Hammers are almost
there!

90: Alex Pike steams in at the back post but heads just wide. Three minutes
added time!

89: Spiegel is dealing with all the long balls thrown at him here. Terrific
command of his penalty area. He hasn't put a foot (or hand) wrong in this
one.

87: West Ham defend a corner well in the dying minutes. Hull are doing their
best to put the visitors under pressure here!

85: Five minutes to go! The Hammers are trying to slow the proceedings
down...

78: Excellent combo down the left flank between Page and Hendrie which
allows Page to swing in a dangerous ball infront of Alex Pike, usually a
right-back, seems to be playing up-front!

75: Fifteen minutes to go! Not long now, can the Hammers hold their nerve?
They've been away several times but called back for offside!

70: WHAT. A. SAVE! Rafa Spiegel take a bow. Hinchcliffe thinks he scored,
everyone inside the KC did however the big Swiss lunges to his right to
pluck the ball out of the air just as the striker's header seemed destined
for the top corner.

68: Terry Westley makes the first changes of the night as Grady Diangana and
Djair Parfitt-Williams is replaced by Stephen Hendrie and Alex Pike.

66: The Tigers thought they had made the breakthrough there! Ben Hinchcliffe
made a sneaky run into the box and was nailed on to equalise however the
linesman had already flagged for offside!

63: Hull are increasingly turning up the pressure. Browne and Lenihan have a
small coming together which has really got the crowd fired up.

59: Reece Oxford is the third Hammer to go into the book, it looked like he
knicked the ball first but the yellow card is out.

57: Chance for Hull as Olley climbs highest at the back post yet he heads
Lenihan's hanging cross over the bar.

55: Burst forward by Samuelsen opens the space for Browne he winds one up
from 25 yards, catches it well but Watson is equal to it.

53: Corner to the Hammers which Browne takes quickly to Page, he floats a
delicious ball toward Henry yet captain Max Clark does well to get his head
to it and clears.

51: Hull attack down the right wing through Will Annan, he gets his head up
and plays it into the area however Spiegel is alert and claims it well.

48: How close can you get?! Lewis Page does superbly to get round the back
of the defence and he pulls it back to Browne who fires over!

46: Here we go! Marcus Browne and Martin Samuelsen get us back underway. A
huge 45 minutes ahead...

HT: Half-time here at the KC Stadium, the Hammers are 45 minutes away from
being crowned champions! Still a long way to go however...

44: One minute of time to be added on, a good game so far but no goals!

42: Parfitt-Williams goes close to netting the almost important goal, this
time he hits the post! So unlucky, he's livid with himself. Sam Byram is
booked.

39: Centre-back Harvey Rodgers goes into the book for a late challenge on
Makasi, the temperature is rising!

36: Further pressure from the hosts. Henry does well to get two blocks in
before Oxford swings a boot and clears. Hull, knowing they need a goal are
really going for it!

33: Doneil Henry goes into the referee's book for a tug, Spiegel saves the
shot with minimum fuss.

31: End to end stuff here! Browne delievers a wonderful ball into the box,
Oxford chests before trying to bend it into the top corner, it's deflected
and falls to Diangana who fires over from just outside the six-yard box.

29: Chance for the hosts as Olley spins his marker before feeding
Hinchcliffe who fires narrowly wide. That was a bit too close for comfort!

26: Best moment of the game, and it comes from Martin Samuelsen. Diangana's
dummy sells the whole Hull team and Samuelsen is free down the right wing.
He cuts in, jinks past two players before shooting, drawing Watson into a
smart save.

22: Free-kick to West Ham, Marcus Browne to take...and it is straight into
the wall. Ben Clappison goes into the book.

20: Moses Makasi executes another great tackle, he started well so far
tonight, real energy!

17: Terry Westley has named a very attacking side tonight, with an almost
six defensive - four attack minded formation. Browne, Parfitt-Williams,
Diangana and Samuelsen are all tearing forward at every opportunity, while
Makasi and Rice are anchoring the midfield.

14: The Hammers are growing into the game, this time Parfitt-Williams looks
to latch onto a through-ball. Tigers 'keeper Rory Watson comes sprinting out
of his area and just gets there in the knick of time.

11: Marcus Browne sprays a lovely ball out wide in search of Lewis Page, the
left back beats his man and crosses it into the six yard box. Browne and
Samuelsen are ready to pounce but Hull clear their lines.

9: Oxford comes through with a well timed sliding challenge to clear the
danger with Bowen looking to burst through.

7: Doneil Henry mops up well, chasing down a loose ball and heading home to
Spiegel - he made it look easier then it was as he was under pressure.

5: Tonight also sees a personal battle for the golden boot. Both Djair
Parfitt-Williams - scorer in the first leg, and the Tiger's Olley are
currently joint top scorers with five throughout this year's competition.
Who shall prevail?

3: Bright start from Hull as they go on the offensive. Striker Greg Olley
comes close to closing Raphael Spiegel down before Reece Oxford bursts from
the back and carries the ball a good 40 yards up the pitch.

1: We're off! Hosts Hull get us under way, kicking right to left in the
opening half. The Hammers are in their traditional claret and blue. COYI!

6.59pm: A massive shout out to all the fans who have made the journey north!
A very healthy claret and blue following indeed tonight! Here's hoping they
go home with something to celebrate!

6:45pm: First team full-back Sam Byram starts for the Dev Squad this evening
alongisde influential captain Reece Oxford, while Parfitt-Williams returns
to the starting XI after recovering from an injury to score last week's only
goal as substitute.

We're just 15 minutes away from kick-off at a sunny KC Stadium in Hull. Come
on you Irons!

6:30pm: It's been a long journey in the U21 Premier League Cup for Terry
Westley's side. They've seen off Exeter City, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and
Liverpool to reach the two-legged final, and last week's result puts them in
a great position.

The Tigers were stern opposition at the Boleyn however, and West Ham know
they were taken right to the wire until top scorer Parfitt-Williams' winner.
Can they cap off a terrific campaign by coming out on top against tonight's
hosts?

6:15pm: The Hammers are of course 1-0 up from last week's first leg at the
Boleyn Ground. Djair Parfitt-Williams was the late hero for the Irons, and
here's a reminder of all the action.

Starting XI: Spiegel, Byram, Page, Rice (Hector-Ingram 100), Henry, Oxford
(c), Diangana (Hendrie 68), Makasia, Samuelsen, Browne, Parfitt-Williams
(Pike 68).
Subs: Howes, Dobson.

Hull City: Watson, Lenihan, Tymon, Clark (c), Rodgers, Clappison, Annan,
McKenzie, Hinchliffe, Olley, Bowen.
Subs: Saltmer, Ter Horst, Clackstone, Batty, Hamilton.

5.45pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's coverage of the second leg of the
Barclays U21 Premier League Cup final, live from the KC Stadium!

We'll have team news shortly as well as live updates and reaction so stay
tuned in! You can also follow tonight's game across our social media
platforms.

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Farewell Boleyn - From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com

The Times football reporter Paul Hirst has a number of fond memories
covering West Ham United games at the Boleyn Ground and says the journey
down Green Street will never be forgotten. I am sure it will be an emotional
night for everyone connected with the Hammers when they say goodbye to the
famous old stadium after the Manchester United game next week. I have been
fortunate enough to cover a number of games at the ground over the last few
years and there is a special atmosphere at the Boleyn – especially at the
midweek games under the lights. There is something special about a night
game and it certainly seems to get the players going. The opposing teams –
especially the ones outside of London seem to struggle with that kind of
pressure and the atmosphere generated by the crowd who are so close to the
pitch. I love coming out of the press box and seeing the big two pictures at
either end of the ground of Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking. You are
pointing back to history and the glory days when these legends of the club
were producing outstanding displays and helping the club win silverware. I
also love the fact that the Boleyn Ground has four different stands and is a
classic football ground. The whole matchday experience starts when you come
out of the tube station and start walking down Green Street. You can smell
the burgers and see all the stalls as you approach the ground.

It is bang in the middle of an urban area and you don't get that feeling
when you go to a number of other grounds in the top flight. Walking down
Green Street is part of the Boleyn experience and it is fairly unique. The
bubbles being blown all over the place with I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
being played also makes it very special. Manchester United will be a fitting
opposition for the final game. West Ham United are a family club and look
after everyone who walks through the door. One of my stand out memories was
seeing the Hammers beat Chelsea 3-1 back in December 2012. The atmosphere
was electric that day and the fact that it was a local derby made it even
more special. The Boleyn Ground will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

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Batshuayi taking the usual loyal stance?
May 4, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
BKHammer

Michy Batshuayi says his 'future is at Marseille' amid constant rumours that
Tottenham and West Ham will battle for his services this summer. The
22-year-old, who will go to Euro 2016 with Belgium having scored 16 league
goals so far this season, is said to be one of Slaven Bilic's main summer
targets and Tottenham are also said to be keen. The likes of Newcastle and
Crystal Palace have also previously been linked with the dynamic Ligue 1
frontman. But speaking to L'Equipe Batshuayi says he is going nowhere. "My
future is at Marseille." Batshuayi said "I want to stay, I love the stadium,
the fans, lots of players in this squad. "I am in love with this club. "I
would prefer to leave this club after leaving a trace on people's minds. "My
story with Marseille is far from over.

Any time Michy has been asked about his future since the links came about he
has always maintained the stance that he wants to stay at Marseille. For me
that is a player being loyal to his current team and a volatile fanbase that
has shown their anger towards the club and players after a very poor season
in Ligue One. The bottom line is this, Marseille are in a lot of trouble
from a financial, legal and playing viewpoint. They have been in disarray
since Marco Bielsa left the club and have lost numerous players over the
past 12 months including our very own Dimitri Payet, Gianelli Imbula and
Florian Thauvin for £40m combined and also replaced big earners like Andre
Ayew and Andre-Pierre Gignac with younger players on lower wages to attempt
to balance the books.

At the end of the day unless Marseille get some massive investment this
Summer, they will once again lose players like Batshuayi, N'Koudou and Mendy
once decent offers start coming in regardless of a player's public stance.
Whether any of those offers come from West Ham remains to be seen.

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Cole set for US stint
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 4th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Ex-Hammer Joe Cole is set to join North American Soccer League side Tampa
Bay Rowdies at the end of the current season. Cole, now 34, will leave
current club Coventry City in order to join the Rowdies, who despite not
being part of the more renowned MLS (Major L:eague Soccer) are still one of
America's most well-known clubs internationally. The news was confirmed by
Coventry City boss Tony Mowbray, for whom Cole has featured since signing on
a free transfer last October. "I would have liked to have kept Joe," he
said. "He has proved his fitness and worth to the team. He's a fantastic
character. No airs and graces, not looking for favours or extra days off and
has shown his football ability. "He can help us control matches but he's
made his decision for his family, and we wish him well. It might happen
pretty quickly if he can get international clearance."
Cole began his career at West Ham but was sold to Chelsea in 2003 for a
paltry £6million following the club's relegation from the Premiership. He
returned to the club in 2013 having been released by Liverpool.

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Cheik-ers plays pop
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 4th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Cheikhou Kouyate was the unlikely star of last night's Hammer of the Year
ceremony at Park Lane.

The Sengalese midfielder had guests in stitches when he launched into a
chorus of the 'Dimitri Payet' song, in tribute to his team mate's nomination
as the club's latest Hammer of the Year - much to the amusement of club
staff and players, including James Tomkins.

Looking slightly worse for wear, Kouyate burst into song before being urged
to calm down by team mate Diafra Sakho - whom he immediately ignored before
breaking out into a second chorus, just before the short video cuts out.

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Joe Cole to MLS: No need for regret about England's great hope
Last Updated: 04/05/16 11:35am
SSN

After a spell at Coventry, Joe Cole is now off to MLS amid an atmosphere of
regret. But why? Adam Bate assesses his career and those extraordinary
expectations...

Former England international Joe Cole is poised to join the Tampa Bay
Rowdies. Earlier this season, a documentary honouring Wayne Rooney's journey
to becoming England's greatest goalscorer was notable for rekindling images
of his early years. The impudence of his strike against Arsenal and the
precociousness with which he approached the challenge of his first major
tournament for his country. Rooney's achievements since then have been vast,
but such were the possibilities, even a brilliant career can appear less
than remarkable by comparison. So what to make of Joe Cole after the
announcement that his spell with Coventry is to be followed by a summer with
Tampa Bay Rowdies? If the Rooney story warrants a sigh, Cole's tale seems to
inspire something approaching sorrow.

Depending on who you asked, Cole was the 'Cockney Pele' or 'West Ham's
answer to Maradona'. Ian Wright was awestruck, while Harry Redknapp was fond
of recalling how Cole's progress was the first thing that Sir Alex Ferguson
would ask him about whenever they met. And this was all before he'd kicked a
ball for the first team. They were ludicrous expectations but a 9-0
aggregate thrashing of Coventry in the 1999 FA Youth Cup final didn't help
dampen them. By 2003, the 21-year-old Cole had represented England at the
first of three World Cups and signed for Chelsea in a £6.6m move that would
bring plenty of success but also transform him into a player very different
from the one some had hoped. Cole's link-up with Jose Mourinho the following
year was the catalyst for back-to-back Premier League winners' medals and
the two best goalscoring seasons of his career. But for those who cherished
Cole the artist rather than Cole the artisan, it had come at a cost. Life on
the wings meant restrictions.

Even a winner against Liverpool earned chastisement from his manager
afterwards, with the customary reminder of his defensive duties. As the tune
goes, Mourinho had taught him how to be sensible, logical, responsible,
practical by showing him a world where he could be so dependable. It was
effective but it did not make the heart sing. By the time he left Chelsea in
the summer of 2010, the story of unfulfilled promise had already been
sketched out. Only the details remained. There was a move to Liverpool and
Steven Gerrard's eyebrow-raising comparison with Lionel Messi - "anything he
can do Joe can do as well, if not better" - before a season on loan at Lille
playing a supporting role to Eden Hazard and Dimitri Payet. He needs to make
an impact on me not the crowd.

Throughout, the suspicion was that Cole was a No 10 just waiting for the man
to entrust him with the role. He's not alone. Being a playmaker at a Premier
League club is a much-coveted job. Speaking in 2013, Ged Roddy, the Premier
League's director of youth, said: "We have to make sure more and more of
those players are English. That type of player will emerge if the culture is
right."

Shunted out to the flanks for his peak years, Cole's tale does not inspire
confidence that this will be the case any time soon. But there is a danger
in making one man a symbol of something greater. Perhaps Cole's passing
range would never have developed. Perhaps his dribbling was better utilised
in one-on-one situations out wide rather than the centre where the quickest
of thinking is required. As a result, Cole's career has advanced like that
of a winger rather than a midfielder. The demands of that position seem to
have steepened his decline and set him on a path more familiar to the likes
of Kieron Dyer, Shaun Wright-Phillips and David Bentley rather than the one
signposted longevity and enjoyed by his former West Ham team-mates Frank
Lampard and Michael Carrick. But the key difference between Cole and Bentley
- who famously declared upon his early retirement that he "never felt like a
footballer" - is that he is still willing to embrace the challenge. Coventry
boss Tony Mowbray talked of how Cole has "no airs and graces" and is "not
looking for favours or extra days off". Whether it's League One or Ligue 1,
Cole still wants to play. He still wants to enjoy it.

So having deferred a move to the east coast of America with a stop off in
the West Midlands, he's finally doing the inevitable. At 33, the transfer to
Tampa seems a more natural step for a player of his repute, although it's
telling that it's Cole not Mowbray who appears to have instigated the talk
of a possible loan return in October. And why not. The man who has appeared
in more World Cups than Gary Lineker, won more Premier League titles than
Bryan Robson and more FA Cups than David Beckham, might always be styled as
an unfulfilled talent. But those achievements - and the manner in which he
accomplished them - would suggest it's a career he can be proud of
nevertheless. He's entitled to continue it without too many regrets.

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West Ham star Dimitri Payet caps fine season with five awards
By Peter Gilbert
Last Updated: 04/05/16 12:39am
SSN

Dimitri Payet has capped a fine first season with West Ham by cleaning up at
the club's end-of-season awards. The French forward, who has established
himself as a fans' favourite since joining from Marseille last June, scooped
five awards on Tuesday night. Payet landed the Hammer of the Year, Players'
Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Top Goalscorer and Signing of the
Season awards. "It is a huge honour and a defining moment for me at the
club," Payet told the club's website. "It recognises the hard work I've put
in and I am very happy about it. This is the best award a player can win
because it is voted by the fans, but I need to thank my team-mates and the
coaching staff."
England legend Sir Geoff Hurst was honoured by his former club with the
Lifetime Achievement award. "I am honoured to be given this award from this
fantastic football club," Hurst added on whufc.com. "The only regret I had
was not seeing my time out with the club. I would like to have done that.
But it was a great time for the club. "I was very lucky to play with some
great players like Bobby Moore. He was an inspirational player."
Michail Antonio picked up the Best Individual Performance award for his
display against Tottenham, while teenage defender Reece Oxford was named
Young Player of the Season. Paolo Di Canio landed an award for the Best Goal
at the Boleyn Ground for his volley against Wimbledon in 2000.

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Hands off Reece Oxford
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 4, 2016 in News
C and H

Reports claim Manchester City are considering a formal approach for young
West Ham defender Reece Oxford. The Champions League semi-finalists are on
the look-out for top English talent and the 17–year-old centre half is high
on their list of considerations for next season claim the Daily Mail. Oxford
is one of the best products of West Ham's Academy in recent years and burst
on to the scene earlier this season when he starred in the 2-0 first game of
the season at the Emirates in West Ham's win over Arsenal. Oxford was
crowned Young Hammer of the year last night at the Player awards. The West
Ham board have always been clear, they are no longer a selling club and will
everything and anything possible to keep hold of their best talent this
summer.
Earlier this season, West Ham joint-owner David Sullivan said of Oxford 'We
are optimistic he will be here for a long time. We will keep him. He is an
exceptional talent. He is the highest paid 17-year-old in the history of the
club. 'He signed for two years at the age of 17 and that's the maximum
length allowed for a player of that age. 'That can make a club that has
invested in and developed a player very vulnerable and it can make you
worry.'

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Hammers could face Millwall
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 4, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Hammers Reece Burke and Josh Cullen could face Millwall in the League 1
play-off semi-finals. The West Ham on loan youngsters helped Bradford City
secure their place in the League One play-offs on Saturday as they beat
Southend United 1-0 away from home. Both played 90 minutes each as the
Bantams held out to record the single-goal victory after Lee Evans struck in
the twelfth minute. It completed a superb week for defender Burke, who was
awarded with seven accolades at the club's presentation evening on Tuesday,
including the Player of the Year prize.
Cullen
Likely play-off opponents for Phil Parkinson's men in the semi-final could
be Millwall, who have also cemented their spot in the top six, while Walsall
and Barnsley are on course to be the other two sides. Bradford occupy fifth
position in League 1 on 77 points while Millwall are fourth on 78 points.
If both teams finish in the same positions after their final league game,
Bradford will play their semi-final games against Millwall on Sunday 15th
May – kick off 12:15pm – and Friday 20th May – kick off 7:45pm.

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DG puts timetable on last match celebrations
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 4, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

The very last farewell to the Boleyn really isn't going to take long at all.
Those who were hoping for an extended goodbye to the old stadium have been
disappointed. It will be relatively short, sharp and to the point.
ClaretandHugh brought the first detail of the last day celebrations under
the Boleyn lights at the end of the Manchester United match yesterday.
Now David Gold has put a timetable of the event after being asked to do so
by a follower on Twitter and any hopes that it could go on long into the
night were knocked firmly on the head.
DG declared: "The celebrations will go on for about 45 minutes."
The club have made it clear that there must be no pitch incursions and in a
statement the joint chairmen declared: "We want it to be an evening that is
ultimately about you, our loyal supporters, as it is you who have made the
Boleyn Ground famous the world over. "But to make it special we need your
support. Any incursions on to the pitch will certainly mean cancelling the
current squad's richly-deserved lap of appreciation and denying some of our
greatest ever players the chance to take the field for the final time. "That
would be a tragedy; for them and the Boleyn Ground. "If we can present the
post-match ceremonies as planned, we are sure you will walk away from Upton
Park on Tuesday prouder than ever of the Club you support. "We hope those
of you attending have a truly special evening – together we will create
memories that will live with us forever."

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This guy raised the Irons bar to new levels
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 4, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H

Maybe a new category called 'Image Maker of the Year' should have been added
to the Hammers awards last night. And had it been done so then it would
undoubtedly have meant that Dimi Payet would have collected six awards
rather than five. Obviously manager Slaven Bilic has been the most
influential figure at Upton Park during this amazing season but given this
was a players' night Payet would have surely collected my suggested trophy.
For this will have been a nine of ten month campaign which has impacted far
beyond the confines of the East London support base and has raised our image
100% across the nation. The simple truth is that West Ham is now has become
one of the most talked about clubs in the land and that by and large is down
to Payet His signing has taken this club to a different level – he has
raised the bar to such an extent that we have become unrecognisable from the
team that finished last season and those preceding it over the past 10 years
or so. Talk to anyone about the Irons outside of our own fans and the first
name mentioned is his. We are no longer anonymous and discussed
patronisingly as a club that may 'one day' get somewhere. Fortune has not
been hiding… our dreams are not fading and dying and for that we can thank
Dimi and of course the brilliant manager Slaven Bilic. The rest of the lads
have been sensational during a stupendous season – now let's just complete
the job and qualify for Europe. Thanks gaffer… thanks Dimi… thanks guys and
thanks Davids!

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Hammer blow for Michy reunion with Payet
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 4, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

The chances of a reunion of Michy Batshuayi and Dimitri Payet at the Olympic
Stadium next season seem more remote after the 22 year old striker pledged
his future to Marseille. "My future is at Olympique Marseille" Batshuayi
told French paper Lequipe. He added "I want to stay, I love this stage and
many players in this team. I love the club. I prefer to leave this club by
scoring and leaving a memory in people's minds, my story with Olympique
Marseille is far from over. " Batshuayi signed a new contract in January
this year in a move that was widely believed to be designed to raise the
striker's asking price up to £30million, with the young striker now tied to
Marseille until 2020. West Ham are said to be prepared to pay £20m for
Batshuayi in the summer. The 22 year old has scored 20 goals and made 9
assists from 37 starts in Ligue 1 and the Europa League this season.

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Mystery of the missing Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 4, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Guests at the gala West Ham Player Awards last night have told ClaretandHugh
that Alex Song and Joey O'Brien were noticeably missing from the London
Hilton event in Park Lane, despite being listed on the main table plan as
each hosting a table for some of the 1,200 guests who had paid up to £330
per head. Their absence is a mystery and possibly unplanned.

Their absence has nonetheless fuelled further speculation that both players,
along with Emmanuel Emenike who was also absent last night, have no future
at the club when this season ends.

Joey O'Brien joined West Ham on a free transfer under Sam Allardyce's reign
after being released from Bolton. He resigned in 2013 on a three-year
contract which expires at the end of this season. Both Alex Song and
Emmanuel Emenike are both on loan to the Hammers but are unlikely to be
offered permanent deals or extensions to their loans.

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Lyon president determined to keep hold of Tottenham and West Ham target
Alexandre Lacazette
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is determined to keep hold of Alexandre
Lacazette - despite growing interest from Tottenham and West Ham. The
striker has bagged 20 goals this season and he is expected to be on the move
this summer. Tottenham and West Ham are interested in the France
international, while Barcelona are said to be monitoring the situation too.
But Lyon president, Aulas, has revealed he still hopes to keep hold of
Lacazette as the summer transfer window draws closer. "I would like to keep
Alexandre Lacazette," Aulas told RMC. "I have met with the Barcelona
president recently, he did not speak to me about Alex."

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WILL THOSE 'TWISTS AND TURNS' HELP DELIVER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION?
By S J Chandos 4 May 2016 at 08:00
WTID

The emphatic nature of the recent victories over Watford and WBA indicates
the determination of Bilic and the squad to take their Champions League bid
right to the line. Some weeks ago, in the midst of the four consecutive
score draws, I predicted that there would be 'twists and turns' to come and
that the issue of CL qualification was far from over. And that is exactly
how it has transpired. Man City's 4-2 defeat to Southampton, Man Utd's 1-1
draw with Leicester City and Swansea's 3-1 victory over Liverpool, together
with our clinical 0-3 despatch of WBA, all positively conspired to
strengthen our position. Yes, Southampton could be a potential threat, two
points behind us on 57 points, but I am confident that we can hold off their
challenge in the 'home straight' of this memorable season.

We now stand five points behind Man City in 4th and eight points behind
Arsenal in 3rd, going in to the final three games. Man Utd remain ahead of
us, in 5th place, by a single point and overhauling them is firmly in our
own hands. Particularly in terms of avenging that FA Cup quarter-final
defeat when we meet them in the final ever Upton Park match on 10 May 2016
(the 36th anniversary of our 1980 FA Cup Final victory over Arsenal). Of our
final matches, besides Man Utd, we face tough challenges at home to Swansea
and away to Stoke City, but I am confident that it is realistic to take
maximum points in those final three matches. Indeed, I am sure that this
magnificent squad will win away to Stoke City (a partisan and hostile venue)
if they need the 3 points for CL qualification.

This coming weekend could be absolutely crucial, particularly with respect
to the outcome of Sunday's match between Man City Vs Arsenal. If we despatch
Swansea, that will put intense pressure on both of those teams, moving us to
within 2 points of Man City in 4th position and 5 points of Arsenal in 3rd
place. How do we want the result of that match to go? A draw would be
advantageous, but perhaps the best option is a Arsenal victory? If the
gooners win it will probably clinch them 3rd spot and absolutely pile the
pressure on Man City going in to their final fixture at Swansea. And it will
be pressure that could very well see them implode!

If we then win our all-important match (in hand) with Man Utd, that will put
us 1 point ahead of Man City going in to our final match at Stoke City. Then
it is a matter of getting the result to keep us ahead of them on points (Man
City currently hold an advantage of 30-17 in terms of goal difference, which
will hopefully not become an operative factor in the equation). If that
scenario arises then I would back us to do it. Of course, we also need
either Man City or Liverpool to fail in their respective CL and Europa
League bids. In that respect, I am sure that we Hammers will all become
honorary Real Madrid and Villarreal fans for their respective semi-finals.

At the end of the day, all we can do is win our remaining three matches and
hope that it is enough. We must maintain our existing strategy of fixing on
Man City in 4th place and try to run them down. After those four drawn
matches, is luck finally going to assume a claret and blue garb? they say
that these things even themselves out over the course of a season. Lets hope
that is proven to be the case!!

Leicester City have dealt the old PL order a potentially fatal blow by
winning the title against all the odds. West Ham qualifying for the
Champions League ahead of the two Manchester clubs would probably finish it
off. A 'world turned upside down.' Indeed!.

SJ. Chandos.

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