Daily WHUFC News - 9th May 2016

Randolph - We'll bounce back
WHUFC.com

Darren Randolph says the Hammers will feed off the emotion of Tuesday's
Farewell Boleyn match against Manchester United to help them bounce back
from the weekend defeat to Swansea City. The Hammers' 15-match unbeaten home
run was brought to an end by the Swans, who took their chances and punished
the Hammers in their penultimate game in E13. But Randolph is sure Slaven
Bilic's men are more than capable of getting back on track and ending on a
high against the Red Devils. "It will be an emotional night for sure," he
said. "This is one of the special grounds. A lot of people have been coming
here for many years and have a lot of memories, so yes, it will be
emotional. "But it won't be a distraction to us, no way. We know what is at
stake and we will be doing everything we can to get a result against Man
United. "It's good that we've gone another game quickly, it is not all doom
and gloom, we have had a great season and we still have two games left and
things are still in our hands. "Everybody feels disappointed after this
game, but we have had a great season and played some great football."

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Mark Noble hope for special performance against Manchester United
By Rory O'Callaghan
Last Updated: 08/05/16 1:55pm
SSN

Mark Noble is hoping West Ham can produce a "special" performance against
Manchester United on Tuesday evening in what is to be the final game to be
played at Upton Park. The Hammers suffered a surprise 4-1 defeat to Swansea
on Saturday in the penultimate match at their historic ground in the East
End. Defeat against Francesco Guidolin's side all but ended West Ham's
chances of Champions League football next season, and club captain Noble
says the whole of Slaven Bilic's squad are aiming to "put things right" at
Upton Park before the club make the switch to the Olympic Stadium at the end
of the season. "I'm not going to dwell on it because we've been fantastic
this year," Noble said. "We've had two or three games this whole season like
that. "We're still fighting and we're still in a fantastic position, so
let's not forget where we've come from. We've improved massively this year.
"Let's not get too disappointed because we've got two big games to go and we
obviously need to do better. "All I'd say is that we know it's a bad result.
I've played in every game this year and we've done fantastic and we need to
get back to winning ways on Tuesday. "We're itching to get back out there
and put things right, of course we are. It's the last game ever at this
place and it's going to be special."

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Slaven Bilic: West Ham had 'too many passengers' in defeat to Swansea
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 07/05/16 9:16pm
SSN

West Ham carried "too many passengers" in their 4-1 home defeat to Swansea
on Saturday, according to manager Slaven Bilic. The Hammers were
comprehensively defeated in the penultimate match to be played at Upton Park
before the club's move to the Olympic Stadium. Wayne Routledge, Andre Ayew,
Ki Sung-yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis all netted for Swansea, with Stephen
Kingsley's own goal the only reply West Ham could muster.
The defeat also brought West Ham's 15-match unbeaten home record to an end -
a run that stretched back to August - and Bilic feels his side can have few
complaints about the result.

"They were better and they deserved to win. What went wrong? In the most
basic situations we were second best, we had too many passengers, we were
slow in the reaction and losing the ball in dangerous situations," he said.
"We had too many passengers, we were second best and relying on other people
to stop them. We were not compact without the ball, we were not good on
second balls. "When we had the ball, we were good, we put them under
pressure, we were creating and we were passing the ball. Okay, we didn't
have the final product, but we were good. The defensive transition is the
key and the biggest reason that we lost the game."

Bilic added: "When they scored, it was a little bit of shock for us and then
we tried to react, but they scored another one. "In the second-half, you can
turn it around, we've done it a couple of times this season and it is quite
common in the Premier League. But it depends if you are going to score the
first one or they are going to score the third one. They scored the third
one and it was not all over, but they basically put it to bed."

West Ham will play their final ever match at Upton Park on Tuesday night
when they take on Manchester United, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
When asked about that game, Bilic said: "It should be a very memorable
night, but we have to be better than today, definitely."

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Slaven Bilic admits West Ham owe fans rousing Upton Park finale after
Swansea thrashing
22:30, 8 MAY 2016
BY NEIL MCLEMAN
The Hammers take on Manchester United on Wednesday night and Bilic wants a
response from his players after they were ripped apart by Swansea
The Mirror

Slaven Bilic admitted West Ham owed their fans a rousing finale at Upton
Park on Tuesday night after bidding a sad farewell to their hopes of
qualifying for the Champions League. Rampant Swansea ripped the Irons apart
with a superb display of counter-attacking football in the final Saturday
match in E13. Now for the official goodbye against Manchester United, the
Hammers need a win to even stay in the race for a Europa League place. And
to leave the Boleyn Ground with better memories than this embarrassing
thrashing. "We definitely owe the fans a better performance," said the West
Ham boss . "Of course we have to play much better. It should be an
inspiration and I think it will be. "I think they are approaching Tuesday as
having a privilege to play the last game ever to be played here. "We didn't
do the basic things and we can't afford to do them in any game, especially
on Tuesday night against Manchester United. They have got the class and
quality to kill you."

Mark Noble added: "We're itching to get back out there and put things right,
of course we are. It's the last game ever at this place and it's going to be
special." West Ham had 25 shots against Swansea but needed the unlucky
Stephen Kingsley to net their only goal when they were already three goals
down. The ruthless Welsh side had six shots on target and scored four.

The first goal came when Ki Sung-yueng's pass was volleyed back across goal
by Kyle Naughton and for Wayne Routledge to tap home. Then Kingsley's
pinpoint cross was volleyed home by Andre Ayew before Modou Barrow threw in
another cross from the Swansea left and Ki provided the deadly finish. Sub
Bafetimbi Gomis scored the fourth on a stoppage-time counter-attack to see
the Swans score seven in their last two games.

The Hammers had gone 10 Premier League games unbeaten but this performance
showed they need strengthening up front and at the back before moving to the
Olympic Stadium – with Michael Antonio not the answer at right-back.

Angry Bilic claimed he had too many "passengers" in his side but added: "We
should not forget that we are not the biggest club in the world. These guys
have shown me great quality and character during the whole season. One, two
or three games does not change what I think about them."

Francesco Guidolin, who is soon out of contract, refused to speak about his
future at a club which is up to 46 points - the same total as 2012/13 when
Michael Laudrup's vibrant side won the Capital One Cup.

Jack Cork said: "Our last two away performances have been pretty bad and we
wanted to put it right. We wanted to prove we haven't have a bad season and
wanted to finish mid-table and as high as we can."

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Ander Herrera warns Manchester United are ready to gatecrash West Ham's
Upton Park farewell
22:30, 8 MAY 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The Red Devils can overtake rivals City by winning on Tuesday night and
Herrera insists they are ready to spoil the party
The Mirror

Ander Herrera has warned West Ham that Manchester United are ready to
gatecrash their Upton Park leaving party. Victory for Louis van Gaal's side
on Tuesday night will see them rival Manchester City on the final day for a
place in the Champions League. Herrera said: "Hopefully they won't enjoy the
last game because we are playing for the top four too." The Spain midfielder
revealed he has already been in the West Ham stars' shoes.
He was in former club Athletic Bilbao's side when they were beaten in their
final game at their club's historic San Mames Stadium in 2013. Levante were
1-0 winners on that occasion. Herrera added: "I played in Spain the last
time at San Mames in their history so I know it is going to be very special
for West Ham and their fans. "But we have to show we are playing for
something very, very important. They have had big games there which they
have enjoyed a lot. But we are still in the race for the Champions League."

United have won five of their last seven Premier League games, losing only
one, to put the squeeze on City's top four hopes. Herrera replaced injured
Anthony Martial for Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 win over Norwich. He went on:
"In the last few games, when you are playing against teams like that, teams
who are trying to survive, it is always that way. "You know they are going
to fight until the end. Now we have to see what happens with Manchester
City."

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Reece Oxford offered new West Ham deal as Arsenal, Manchester United and Man
City target teenager
18:42, 8 MAY 2016 UPDATED 19:42, 8 MAY 2016
BY JOHN CROSS
Slaven Bilic is desperate to keep 17-year-old Oxford amid serious interest
from Arsenal and both Manchester United and Manchester City
The Mirror

West Ham have offered teenager Reece Oxford a new deal to try to fend off
the Premier League big guns. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is desperate to keep
17-year-old Oxford amid serious interest from Arsenal and both Manchester
United and Manchester City . United have been scouting Oxford and watched
him again this week as he starred as West Ham beat Hull to win the under-21s
Cup. But West Ham are determined not to let him slip away even though he
already has two years left on his current deal. West Ham have offered him a
new long term deal which will represent a significant increase on his
current terms. Oxford caught the eye at the start of the season when he
played at Arsenal on the opening day. He can operate in midfield but long
term is regarded as one of England's most promising centre halves. As West
Ham move to the Olympic Stadium, they are determined to keep their best
young assets.

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Antonio? Slaven, we just don't understand!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 8, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

This is Facebook member Mark Poore's first stab at a blog and despite having
no answers to the Michail Antonio issue as he writes it's sometimes good to
give voice to your frustrations.

Like most Hammers fans I was glued to all media reports last summer waiting
to see who we might be buying or had bought.

I had no knowledge about any of the targets – Payet Nope! Lanzini Nope!. So
I looked them up on Youtube – again probably like everybody else.

On deadline day – it was a last day deal – I saw a young guy called Michail
Antonio in his car outside the Boleyn. He was saying he had just signed for
us.

Thank God for Youtube where I found this young, sturdy, fast and tenacious
winger scoring goals for Nottingham Forest. Okay it was the Championship but
this guy had something about him that looked special.

To be honest his signing excited me more than even Payet's who I also knew
nothing about so when the season began I could not wait to see this new
young lad play for us.

First game no sign of him, second nothing, third nothing. I began to wonder
had I dreamt about him before I heard other fans asking about him.

This went on for ages and if I remember correctly there we even jokes made
about it on social media where David Gold appeared to have probalems
recognising him! Then, I believe it was Moses who suffered an injury, we
finally got to see Michail Antonio play.

I wouldn't say he set the pitch on fire on his debut but he looked solid. He
continued to play for us while Moses was injured but it was only after a
very unusual goal scored by him (his first ever for the Hammers). If I
remember correctly the ball hit him on the head while he was on the floor
and went in the net.

From the fluke of a goal his confidence grew and grew every game. Instead
of just charging down the wing hoping for the best he started to take on
players and Beat them! He started to make very telling crosses and assists.
He also stated to put the ball in the net regularly with both feet and head.

In short he became a major part of West Ham's attack and Moses looked first
X1 history. Then Jenkinson suffered a big injury and Tonks stepped in before
getting injured himself so it fell to Michail to fill in.

To be fair to Antonio he has done a decent job there given its a totally
alien position to him. He has even tried so hard to maintain his attacking
threat from that position but often at a cost of leaving gaps at the back.

But why is he still there? Why is one of our best attacking options stuck
back at the other end of the field to where we need him? Tonks is back and
he played very well in that position until he was injured.

We have also bought a very promising RB in Sam Byram. So WHY WHY WHY is
Antonio still being stuck in that position costing us one of our best
attacking options?

Slaven in my mind is probably one of the best managers we have had sine the
days of Greenwood and Lyall. He is a breath of fresh air and honest. You can
see he loves our team and the team love him to. I've never seen a happier
looking squad (ok not against Swansea but that's only a blip)

So I do trust him but I just can't get my head around why this Antonio
situation is still ongoing. I do find myself wondering if Moses had never
got injured would Antonio have ever got to play or would he have been sent
to another team on loan as many were suggesting at the time.

So this is a rubbish article really as I have no answers and I am not a
tactician so I'm just repeating what most of you are thinking already
anyway, but sometimes its good to vent.

So Slav in the theme of a song you very know this is how we feel about
Antonio at RB "Were Slaven Bilich's fans, we trust you with our men. WE JUST
DON'T THINK WE UNDERSTAND.

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Hammers to face Millwall
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 8, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Hammers Reece Burke and Josh Cullen will face Millwall in the League 1
play-off semi-finals it has been confirmed today. The West Ham on-loan
youngsters helped Bradford City secured their fifth place in League on
Sunday as they beat Chesterfield 2-0 at home.

Both started the match as the Bantams finished League in the play-off places
on 80 points. Burke was substituted at half time while Cullen came off on 79
minutes.

Bradford City will now face West Ham's arch rivals Millwall, who finished
fourth on 81 points. The Bantams will play their first semi-final games
against Millwall on Sunday 15th May with a 12.15pm kick off 12:15pm with the
second leg on Friday 20th May with 7:45pm kick off.

Bradford City may suddenly gain an army of a few thousand extra fans willing
them on to the play-off final in a few weeks time.

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Bilic facing two major player issues
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 8, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic appears to have two problem areas as he heads into the final
Boleyn game of all time.

He has to decide whether Michail Antonio can again be risked at right back
after two extremely dodgy performances against Manchester United and whether
Diafra Sakho is close to restoring his position as the club's No 1 striker.

Antonio was given the runarond by Martial at Old Trafford before being in
part responsible for one of the goals they scored in the FA Cup replay in
the Boleyn replay.

And there have been questions asked inside the club and on the terraces
about the manager's continuing use of the right sided midfielder in the role
where yesterday against Swansea he seemed all at sea on too many occasions.

With both Tomkins and Byram fit – and whilst neither may not be the perfect
candidate at this stage – another Antonio excursion at the back could turn
puzzlement into real concern.

Sakho meanwhile continues to look out of favour as the boss continues to use
Andy Carroll as his No 1 option.

Whether the wounds between the two have fully healed following the training
ground problems ahead of the Arsenal game is a question exercising the minds
of some.

The cat was finally let out of the bag during a TV commentary yesterday when
former player and pundit Tony Gale appeared to confirm there had been a
disciplinary issue.

Hopefully there is no hangover from that but some insiders feel that the
Senegal striker may be the one sacrificed for the "£20 million front man"
the club is planning to buy this summer.

If he should he again be on the sidelines for the United clash it may
suggest that view has some substance although interestingly Gale added when
mentioning the problems that as far as he was concerned Sakho remained the
"best striker at the club."

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