Daily WHUFC News - 22nd October 2016

Preview - Sunderland
WHUFC.com

When and where?
West Ham United v Sunderland
Premier League
Saturday 22 October 2016, 3pm BST
London Stadium

What's the story?
West Ham United head into Saturday's game against Sunderland with a confidence-boosting victory at Crystal Palace behind them. Manuel Lanzini's first half goal at Selhurst Park ended a run of five league games without a win and lifted Slaven Bilic's side up to 15th in the Premier League table. Next they take on a Black Cats side rooted to the bottom, with just two points from their opening seven games. So the Hammers will be looking to make it back-to-back victories and make a move towards the top half of the table. West Ham implemented a three at the back system when they took on the Eagles, and the boss must make a decision over whether to stick with that as Aaron Cresswell misses out through suspension.
For Sunderland, a winless start to the season leaves them in the familiar position of fighting near the bottom – with just draws against Southampton and West Bromwich Albion to their credit. They do possess a striker in Jermain Defoe, however, that the Hammers know all about and who contributed 15 goals to their survival effort last term.

Team news
The Hammers will be without Aaron Cresswell just a week after he returned from a three-month injury lay-off with an assist at Crystal Palace. His absence this time is down to a suspension incurred for two harsh yellow cards at Selhurst Park and he will miss one game. Andre Ayew is back in training, but this game comes around too quickly for him, while Andy Carroll, Arthur Masuaku (both knee), Gokhan Tore (quadriceps) and Sam Byram (hamstring) are sidelined.

Sunderland's Lamine Kone returns from a hamstring injury, and Patrick van Aanholt is also available again after a muscle strain.
Player head-to-head

Any links between the two?
Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe scored 41 goals in 105 games for the Hammers between 2000 and 2004 and played an integral role in keeping the Black Cats up last term, with an impressive 15 goals in 33 league appearances.

Last season, the Hammers defeated Sunderland 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground, with Michail Antonio scoring the only goal of the game.

At the Stadium of Light, Carl Jenkinson and Dimitri Payet scored to help the Hammers come back from 2-0 down to claim a point.

How do I get to the game?
Click here for information on how to access London Stadium.

Supporters who use Abellio Greater Anglia and TfL rail services should be aware of Crossrail works which are disrupting services. Click here for full information.

Click here for information on the roads and Underground services.

A limited number of wheelchair parking bays remain available for this fixture. Call 0845 174 0174 to book.

How can I watch the game?
The game is not being broadcast live in the UK. See below for international broadcast information.

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Dyer - The players have set the standard
WHUFC.com

Evening Standard football reporter Ken Dyer is confident the Hammers can build on their victory over Crystal Palace and get back on the winning trail at London Stadium this weekend.

Dyer feels the players had a major point to prove at Selhurst Park last weekend and will want to keep that winning feeling going ahead of another big week for the east London Club....


I thought Slaven was fairly upbeat in his pre-match press conference and had good news surrounding the return of Andre Ayew.

But he was less optimistic about Andy Carroll so we gain on one player but miss out on another.

I get the impression that he is still contemplating what system to use on Saturday as he will be missing Aaron Cresswell through suspension.

He will certainly miss Aaron's pace up and down the left hand side and with Arthur Masuaku also ruled out through injury, there are not many alternatives who can play there.

He said on paper he has a few options, but actually doing it out on the pitch are two different things.

I think that he wants to stick with that system but he could also revert to a normal back four.

He could play Ogbonna at left back and Nordtveit at right back, but he has been very unlucky with injuries to the full-backs.

When I come down to write Slaven's column he has been saying consistently that the results have been affecting the players but they are staying all together.

For some reason it has not been happening during games but it seemed as if the players collectively thought they have had enough and said it is going to stop now.

That was apparent during the game against Crystal Palace and everyone put a real shift in from the defence who were superb right through to Zaza upfront who worked really hard and that brought the result.

There have been a lot of discussions about London Stadium but that will all go away if the Club start winning games.

The result last weekend was great but they need to build on that now and with the table being so tight you can move into the top half with a few good results.

One of the key factors on Saturday will be stopping Jermain Defoe. He has great movement.

It looked as if his career was winding down when he made the move to Toronto but he has come back and looks just as sharp as he always has done.

Slaven said to me in the week that his movement is so good and even when the ball is on the halfway line he is looking to make space and you cannot switch off against him.

We know the schedule gets a lot more difficult for West Ham in November so they will be looking for a good result against Sunderland and then they have another big game against Chelsea in the EFL Cup.

All the West Ham fans love a good cup tie and the cup competitions are very important to the Hammers.

On the basis of what I saw last Saturday against Crystal Palace I am confident West Ham will get another victory on Saturday and the players will want to give that kind of performance again.

They set the standard last weekend and will want to achieve that again, if not go one better.

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Zaza ready to zoom
WHUFC.com

Simone Zaza is determined to reward the Claret and Blue Army with his first West Ham United goal against Sunderland this weekend. The Italy striker freely admits his opening performances in a Hammers shirt did not give supporters much to cheer about. However, the No11's non-stop running and commitment in Saturday's victory at Crystal Palace saw him receiving a rousing ovation which he reciprocated by throwing his shirt into the Away section at Selhurst Park. For Zaza, his improved display was down to two main factors – being match-fit and becoming accustomed to the relentless nature of English Premier League football. "We had a good feeling after the win, of course," he said. "I feel like I'm performing well now I'm physically fit. I am happy for myself and also for the team because we really needed the win. I feel like we're turning things around." "The manager told me after that he had seen the 'Real Zaza' and yes, yes, I agree with that. I knew that when I arrived it would be hard, because it's a completely different league, but I didn't think it would be this different. "I'm gradually getting used to it, feeling more confident and I'm very positive at the moment. "My relationship with the supporters is much better now! The fans expect me to give my best, and so they should, but sometimes the difficulties a player is experiencing are not so clear. "What is important to the fans is the team scoring goals and winning games and they're right about that. I know this is the right club for me, with the fans, the culture, the team and the whole concept of not giving up. "I really appreciate the fact that the fans appreciated my performance at Crystal Palace and I hope my first goal comes soon so we can celebrate together."

Next on the agenda for Zaza is a first goal for his new Club, and the shaven-headed striker is determined to break his duck against Sunderland at London Stadium. If he does hit the net, the chances of West Ham registering welcome back-to-back Premier League wins will be greatly increased. "Of course I want my first goal to come and Saturday would be a great time for that to happen, particularly as we're playing at home," he said. "While I want to score, of course, the most important thing is for the team to win and if we do that it will be a big step forward in terms of improving our league position. "If we win on Saturday against Sunderland, I think we can say that our league season has begun."

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Westley - Players need to up intensity
​WHUFC.com

West Ham United PL2 face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Friday evening (7pm kick-off)
The Hammers are currently fourth in Premier League 2
Manager Terry Westley is calling on his players to play with more intensity

Terry Westley is urging his players to play with more intensity ahead of Friday night's Premier League 2 clash with Middlesbrough. The Hammers came up against stern opponents in Aston Villa on Monday night, eventually losing 2-0 in the West Midlands. Westley made it clear he was disappointed with the display, but called on his players to up the tempo and match the performances they have put in over the majority of the season so far. "We demand that the players play with that intensity, sharpness and tempo right from the start," he said. "We should make it hard for the opposition but play with tempo when we have the ball and that's not going to be easy. "Any trip of this that distance (from East London to Middlesbrough) is tough for young players."
West Ham United PL2 will aim to overturn a run of two successive defeats away at Middlesbrough on Friday evening (7pm kick-off). The Hammers have gone without a victory since the thumping 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League Cup. Despite the below-par performance against Aston Villa in Premier League 2 on Monday, Terry Westley's men performed well against League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers in the Checkatrade Trophy. "I think we have to keep reminding ourselves we're preparing people for First Team football and last Saturday was a great example of our First Team keeping a clean sheet first, making sure they didn't concede a goal. "We should have made sure (against Aston Villa) that we went in at 0-0. We weren't great but we should have made sure we defended properly. "Then second half we may have had enough to beat them. When you go 2-0 down it's too much to do."

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Five Talking Points - Sunderland
WHUFC.com

Much was made of Slaven Bilic's 3-5-1-1 formation that stifled Crystal Palace for long periods of last Saturday's 1-0 Premier League win at Selhurst Park. However, with no recognised left wing-back available in the absence of Aaron Cresswell (suspended) and Arthur Masuaku (injured) the West Ham United manager will have a big decision to make. Does he stick with the 'system' that served his team so well in south London by shoehorning a player into the starting XI? Or does he switch to a back four and hope his team use their new-found confidence to get the better of Sunderland instead?

No Cress
As mentioned above, Aaron Cresswell is suspended for Saturday's game after being controversially sent-off for two bookable offences at Selhurst Park. Cresswell's first yellow was shown for simulation in the Palace penalty area, where replays showed he was clearly tripped by Yohan Cabaye. The second, just 51 seconds later, was shown following an innocuous-looking challenge on Wilfried Zaha. The red card angered fans and pundits alike, but manager Bilic was pragmatic, admitting there was nothing he could do to appeal the decision, no matter how strongly he disagreed with it.
And so two talking points are raised in one. First, why can't clubs appeal a sending-off for two bookings when they can a straight red? Second, when will football finally bow to calls to introduce video replay for controversial incidents?

A familiar De-foe
To say Jermain Defoe splits opinion among the West Ham faithful is an understatement and a half. While some will always be grateful for the goals and talent he brought from the Academy of Football, others will never forgive the circumstances surrounding his departure in January 2004. Many who both cheer or jeer Defoe are too young to even recall his time in Claret and Blue. One thing is for sure and that is a the fact that, at 34, he still knows exactly where the goal is. Down the years, he has netted six goals against the Club he previously scored 41 goals for. If the Hammers want to stop Sunderland, the best place to start is by stopping Jermain Defoe.

Home comfort
Slaven Bilic talked in his pre-match press conference of the need to turn London Stadium into a 'fortress', as his side did at The Boleyn Ground last season. It is a different arena, with a different dynamic and both a squad and fanbase still getting used to their surroundings. While that may all be true, it is also the case that West Ham MUST win the majority of their home games from now on to enjoy another successful season. For that to happen, it is the job of Bilic, his staff, players and those same supporters to make their new home into the 'fortress' the manager demands.

Half-time guests
The Claret and Blue Army will no doubt warmly welcome two sets of half-time guests to London Stadium. The first is the promotion-winning Essex Cricket squad, who celebrated a return to County Championship Division One after a six-season absence in September. All-rounder Graham Napier, wicketkeeper James Foster, bowler David Masters and opening batsman Nick Browne are among those whose attendance has been confirmed. Following them pitchside will be the West Ham Ladies squad, who recently became a formal part of the West Ham family. The squad, led by new coaching trio Greg de Carnys, Josh Ewens and Karen Ray, look set for a bright future.

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U18s wary of complacency against Swansea
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's U18s take on Swansea City on Saturday
The Hammers are second in U18 Premier League South going into the match at Little Heath (11am kick-off)
Coach Mark Phillips has warned his players not to be complacent

Mark Phillips has urged his players to be wary of complacency when they come up against the U18 Premier League South bottom club on Saturday. The Hammers U18s host Swansea City at Little Heath (11am kick-off) and go into the match full of confidence after their 5-2 win over Norwich City last weekend. The result meant the Hammers moved up to second in the league, just a point behind leader Arsenal, but Phillips is calling on his players to focus on their own game and forget the position their opponents are in. "One of the things me and Steve (Potts) have focused on is complacency. The lads need to go into the match with the right attitude," said the U18s coach. "We need to go in with the right mentality because no team in this league will roll over for us. We have to work hard to get the three points. "At the end of the day, the best team will win. Important for the lads to focus on our own performance."

The Hammers were without Anthony Scully, who was ill, and Conor Coventry, who's spent the past week with the Ireland U17s, in the win over the Canaries. It was a great week for Coventry, who was instrumental to Ireland making it through to the elite phase of qualifying for the U17 UEFA European Championships. Coventry is expected to return to the side this Saturday but the performances of Korrey Henry and Mason Barrett last weekend has given the U18 coaching staff food for thought. "Conor's attitude is brilliant – straight after his last Ireland game, he wanted to be in the team for Saturday," added Phillips. "Mason did brilliantly last weekend – he grew into the match having been injured for a while and did really well.
"To score a hat-trick is a great achievement and I felt Korrey led the line really well. "It's certainly given us a selection dilemma for Saturday but no matter which of lads plays, we know they'll give 100%"

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Ogbonna - Zaza will get among the goals
WHUFC.com

Angelo Ogbonna is convinced his close friend Simone Zaza will get off the mark in the near future and says it takes time for new players to find their best form in the Premier League. Ogbonna knows the qualities Zaza can bring to the Hammers having played alongside him for Italy and feels he was starting to show his qualities in the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. The Hammers defender can still remember the time he took to adapt to his new surroundings in England following his move last summer and feels it is the same for Zaza. But having earned such high praise from his manager Slaven Bilic and several of his team-mates, Ogbonna sees no reason why Zaza cannot grown even stronger and says it would be great for him to score his first goal when the Hammers face Sunderland at London Stadium on Saturday. Ogbonna said: "I think the goal is coming for Simone. We have to give him some time because he has changed leagues and has arrived from Italy into England. "When I first came here it was not easy and maybe he needs time to adapt. He had a really good performance last weekend and showed what he can do. "He just needs a goal now and maybe he can get that in front of our fans at London Stadium."
The victory over Palace last weekend helped move West Ham out of the bottom three, but Ogbonna says this is just the start and hopes the team can now force their way into the top half of the table. The experienced defender would love to record another victory at the Hammers new home and make up for the recent disappointments against Watford and Southampton at London Stadium. Ogbonna added: "This game is very important for us. The Premier League is like no other league and there are no easy games. We have to be focused and perform like we did in the last game. "The London Stadium feels like our home and it is normal that it will take time. We have been unlucky in some of the games and now we need to look forward. Hopefully we can get a victory on Saturday. "We feel that the pressure has come off us a little bit and we had a really good performance against Crystal Palace last weekend. "We have now got many players back from injury and important players like Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet. "It helps the team so much because they can keep the ball and can get the ball through to Zaza. It was a really good performance from us last week."
With Aaron Cresswell ruled out through suspension, one of the options for Slaven Bilic could be using Ogbonna as a makeshift left-back – something which is not new to the Italian defender. "I have played the full-back position at Juventus so it is not difficult for me and I can adapt. I have to do my best for the team."

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: London Stadium negativity has to stop
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard

A lot has been said and written about the London Stadium but now, I think, all that has to stop. I said in last week's column that we were going to train in the stadium more often and today we are due to complete our preparation there ahead of Saturday's match. That will help. It is a great stadium and all we need is a couple of victories and good performances to banish any negativity.
Aaron Cresswell's dismissal at Crystal Palace has once again provoked the debate about video referees. What is my opinion? If I am honest, I'm not sure if I would be in favour of that but I am open-minded. On the one hand you want the game to flow because it is football but on the other, the stakes are so high. I look back to the debate over goal-line technology. Many people were against it but now, no one is. In our game against Middlesbrough, had the technology not been there, we would have been going mad at the referee giving the goal because he could not have been sure. With the technology, there was no argument. It was a goal and everyone got on with the game. In Tottenham's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, they didn't have the technology and watching on TV, it looked for all the world as though Leverkusen had scored. The referee, perhaps aided by the third official, took a punt and said the ball hadn't crossed the line — and luckily for him, he was right. Before I make up my mind, though, I would like to see some examples of how long it could take for a video referee to reach a decision. For me, that is the crucial point.

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Slaven Bilic: West Ham's Simone Zaza is different class – and the goals will soon come
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard

The victory over Crystal Palace meant a lot — to the team, the staff and everyone at the club. The longer time goes on without a win, it is inevitable that the confidence is affected but when you win as we did against Palace, then the levels come right back up. Everyone played their part, from Adrian, who made that crucial save near the end, to Simone Zaza up front.
Simone won many aerial duels against Palace defenders noted for their strength in that department. Of course, if collectively or individually it is going to be a one-off performance, then it's no good. The goals will come for Simone but his link play with Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini was different class. Simone has come from football in Italy, which is different to here, and it takes time to acclimatise but maybe the bigger issue is that he was not a regular for Juventus last season. They have many options up front and probably the pressure was more on the other strikers — Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and now this season, Gonzalo Higuain. In Simone's case perhaps the expectation level was less at Juventus because of that but now the pressure has increased because everyone is expecting him to decide games. At Sassuolo, Simone was usually the lone striker, while at Juventus it was often a two-man attack.
Talking of strikers, we are up against one of the best finishers in the business when we meet Sunderland tomorrow in Jermain Defoe. I watched a couple of videos this week of Sunderland's recent matches and you can see he is still a real livewire. His movement and timing are exceptional and an example to any young striker in how to lose a defender. When the ball is 50 yards from him, Jermain is already thinking, "what if we get the ball forward, what is the best position for me?" He is fabulous in that regard and as a defender, you can't afford to lose him, even for a second. I remember talking to Niko Kranjcar about him when I was Croatia coach. Niko had been with Jermain at Tottenham and said he was the best finisher he had played with. It is about us tomorrow, though. We have to re-create the intensity we showed against Palace, back at our home against Sunderland.

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West Ham v Chelsea match could see Metropolitan Police presence inside ground
BBC.co.uk

A solution has been found that could see officers deployed inside West Ham's London Stadium for Wednesday's EFL Cup tie against Chelsea. Matches at the Hammers' new stadium have been affected by crowd trouble this season and next week's tie is deemed a high-risk fixture. Police have not been present so far because of lack of radio facilities. But for this tie they will be able to communicate with a control vehicle on the stadium perimeter. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) says it hopes the necessary Airwave radio communication system is in place inside the stadium by February 2017. "The MPS has a tactical solution for matches being held at the London Stadium which will allow the safe deployment of officers into the stadium, if required, to deal with any crime or disorder," it said in a statement. The new venue has witnessed disturbances during the fixtures against Watford and Middlesbrough, and recent matches have seen an increased line of segregation and also more stewards. Chelsea have been allocated 5,182 tickets for the cup tie.

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West Ham United v Sunderland
SAT, 22 OCT 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00 Venue: London Stadium
BBC.co.uk

TEAM NEWS

West Ham's record signing Andre Ayew has an outside chance of returning from the thigh injury he suffered on the opening day of the season. Aaron Cresswell is suspended, while Arthur Masuaku, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho all remain sidelined.
Sunderland's Lamine Kone returns from a hamstring injury, while Patrick van Aanholt has overcome a muscle strain. However, seven first-team players remain unavailable because of injury.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Mark Scott: "Slaven Bilic's switch to a back three at Palace paid off, with West Ham looking better at both ends of the pitch. Aaron Cresswell was particularly impressive on his first appearance of the season, which will only add to the Hammers' frustration over his suspension. "Sunderland have lost their identity according to chief executive Martin Bain. He has backed David Moyes as the right man to help rebuild the club, while Moyes says the fans are 'understanding' of their current situation after meeting supporters' groups this week.
"He also believes he's under no more pressure than any other Premier League manager; might that change with defeat on Saturday?"

Twitter: @Mark_Scott_

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "We have one win from four home games in the league. Opponents are hoping to capitalise on that in a new stadium. It is our home and we need to change that.
"You can talk and analyse, but the best thing to get the confidence back is to win a game - and we kept a clean sheet as well. You can move away from the bottom with a few wins."

Manager David Moyes on Jermain Defoe's comment that Sunderland have "gone backwards": "I actually thought that Jermain's piece was a wee bit taken out of context, but in saying that, where the team finished at the end of last season to where we have started this season, yes, you'd have to say that. "The same players were in the same position this time last season, but I do think compared to where they finished I'd say yes, because they were winning a few games and picking up some points. At the moment, we're not doing that."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I fancy Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe to score against his old side, but I am backing the Hammers to come out on top.
Prediction: 2-1

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

West Ham are unbeaten in the last six Premier League meetings (W3, D3).
Sunderland have only won one of their last 11 Premier League trips to West Ham (D2, L8).
The Hammers have not conceded a goal in the last three Premier League encounters. They have kept more clean sheets against Sunderland (nine) than any other Premier League side.

West Ham

West Ham ended a run of five league games without a win last weekend. They have not won back-to-back games since April.
Their tally of 23 yellow cards this season is second only to Watford's total of 24.
Slaven Bilic scored for West Ham against Sunderland in December 1996.

Sunderland

Sunderland are only the second team in top-flight history - after Bury in 1905 and 1906 - to fail to win any of their opening eight league games in consecutive seasons.
David Moyes is unbeaten in his last 12 Premier League meetings with West Ham (W8, D4).
The Black Cats and Crystal Palace are the only two top-flight teams yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Sunderland have used a Premier League-high 26 players this season.
They average 41% possession in the league this season - only West Brom (39%) have had the ball less.
Jermain Defoe has scored six Premier League goals against his former club West Ham.

SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 2-1 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 55% Probability of away win: 21%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.

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West Ham United v Sunderland
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 20th October 2016
By: Preview Percy

For some reason, when we heard that a gorilla had escaped from London Zoo and consumed 5 litres of undiluted blackcurrant juice last week, we immediately thought of Preview Percy. Here's his look at this weeknd's visit of Sunderland.....

Next up we play host to Sunderland at what we ae not supposed to call the Olympic Stadium. Kick-off is 3pm on Saturday. Good. There are the usual engineering works east of Liverpool Street to contend with. Not so good. Check before you leave I say.

Well it comes as a relief to be able to talk about someone having a more torrid time than ourselves for once. They currently sit bottom of the league with just two points from their 8 played so far. The draws, both 1-1, came at home to West Brom and away at Southampton. Other than that the form guide consists pretty much of consecutive "L"s to the extent that it resembles a Welsh telephone directory. The latest defeat came away at fellow bottom feeders Stoke, who, up to that point had also been without a win. All of which is a source of much amusement to Preview Alastair, The Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home's resident Geordie. Preview Alastair claims that, but for the points earned by Sunderland against Newcastle they would have gone down, adding wryly "so hopefully they are knackered this season".

A poor start to the season is becoming par for the course in recent years up there. Last season the glory – if that's the word – for keeping them up was claimed by our erstwhile boss Sam Allardyce who promptly upped sticks to take over the England role for all of five minutes. Given that the FA would no doubt have had to pay Sunderland compensation to get their man, and factoring in Allardyce's own payoff it's been an expensive few months for the suits at Wembley. In came David Moyes as replacement and he has spent the last couple of months looking more morose than ever – and let's face it he hasn't exactly been noted for being a barrel of laughs over the years in the first place, has he? Winstone's The Turf Accountants has Moyes down at evens to be the next Premier League boss to go. No prizes for guessing who is odds on favourite to replace Moyes should that happen.

All of the new signings this summer came in after Moyes had taken over, though some of the signings took place early enough in August to suggest that the previous incumbent may have had some input into the deals (that's "input into" and not – as our lawyers have asked us to point out – "output from"). The work experience girl wearing a Comsat Angels t-shirt without knowing who they are came across an unusual deal which saw them bring in Paddy McNair and Donald Love from Salford for one single combined transfer fee. Presumably the fee included some sort of discount for buying in bulk. If one had to apportion the fee between the two players it is probable that the bulk of £5.5m would be attributed to McNair who made 24 league appearances for the Salford mob and has a dozen or so full caps for Northern Ireland. As opposed to Love, who made a handful of appearances – just the one in the league – for the tourist attraction and has no full international caps. Even if he had been honoured at full international level it would only have been for Scotland so that doesn't really count, does it.

The biggest fee paid was the £13m paid to French outfit Lorient (home ground "La Rue de Brisbane") for midfielder Didier N'Dong. The Gabonese international arrived on deadline day after fewer than 50 league appearances for "Les O's" (that's got to be their nickname. Right?) and a similar number for his first professional team Sfaxiene of Tunisia. So £13m would seem to be a bit of a gamble – especially since it represents a club record for the Mackems. He said all the right things on arrival of course: "Today is the most beautiful day of my life" is a sentence seldom, if ever, uttered by anyone arriving in Sunderland for the first time (unless of course they have just left Croydon – and even then you'd be pushing it). The player even caught the eye of the good Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge who commented that his hairstyle resembled "blonde worms sprouting from his head". One can only presume that the good Baroness was struggling to fill her newspaper column that week.

They spent a further £8m on Papy Djiloboudji who came in from Chelsea. Well he came in from Chelsea's loan stock anyway. Papy arrived at Stamford Bridge in September 2015 from Nantes presumably with high hopes of first team glory. One can only presume that nobody had told him of their business plan of acting as the world's lending library for footballers, although to be fair, in the year he was with Chelsea he did actually make a first team appearance unlike many of their loan stock. However, when he makes up a DVD of career highlights for the grandkids, the one minute of stoppage time sub appearance he made in the League Cup against Walsall should leave plenty of space on the disc for "extras". By January the 27 year-old defender had been shipped out on loan to Werder Bremen where he was forced to sit out a couple of games for making a throat slitting gesture at an opponent (presumably that particular incident will be saved for the special-edition blu-ray). He moved north in August, the £8m fee at least doubling Chelsea's investment in the player – possibly more given that the fee paid to Nantes was somewhere between £2.7m-£4m depending on add-ons and source.

They picked up a couple of freebies, both of whom have Everton connections. Steven Piennar came in at the expiry of his contract with the Toffeemen. In truth he had barely featured at Goodison over the previous couple of seasons so his departure from Merseyside was not entirely unexpected. Back home in South Africa he was once the subject of an attempted lawsuit from an ex for not marrying him. If only the former Mrs Percy had done that – I'd have been broke but much less miserable. I understand that that particular lawsuit failed but he was less fortunate when picking up a 12 month driving ban in Liverpool having been spotted failing to observe a traffic sign in the city centre. That must have been a remarkably good spot by the scouse traffic police – road signs up there are generally ignored by the local population as a matter of course, with the obvious exception of those involved in graffiti. Pienaar's career has been blighted by injury on occasion and he has already had a couple of spells on the sidelines this term through, his return as a 55th minute sub last weekend at Stoke marking his recovery from a hamstring strain.

The other freebie was Victor Anichebe who came in from West Brom having spent aeons at Everton for whom he scored 18 times in 131 league appearances. Usually against us. He had a run-in with our former skipper a few years back when Nolan, then of Newcastle, cleaned him out with a shocker of a tackle that put Anichebe out for 11 months. Anichebe sued Nolan for loss of earnings (rather than for not marrying him), an action that was settled out of court. Anichebe is an Olympic silver medallist having been part of the Argentinian team that went down 1-0 to Argentina in the 2008 Olympics – that's the Beijing ones 4 years before we did them properly of course. He had three seasons with the Baggies netting 9 times in 61 games in all tournaments but he only made 10 appearances for them last season resulting in the non-renewal of his contract.

The highest profile of the three loan arrivals, none of which, oddly, is from Chelsea, is probably that of Adnan Janujaz. Janujaz is on a season-long holiday from Old Trafford where he had worked with David Moyes during the latter's brief sojourn in Salford. Janujaz was the "next big thing" for a while up there as the start of his career went off like a rocket. However, like so many of his teammates he succumbed to the temptation to throw himself to the ground at every possible opportunity – to the extent that at one stage he had picked up more yellow cards for "simulation" than he had scored goals in professional football. He was memorably cautioned once for throwing himself to the floor after a non-existent challenge from Ginge, who had sussed what was happening and simply kept clear. We won't be treated to such antics this time around as an ankle injury will keep him out of the squad for this weekend.

And so to us. Well last week was pleasing for so many reasons. Above all it is always fun coming away from the dump that is Croydon with a full complement of points. To do so with a fine team performance and playing against 12 men made it doubly satisfying. There were good performances all over the pitch – even the hitherto unimpressive Zaza made a fine contribution - and, for possibly the first time this season we actually looked like a team. That was even before Atkinson finally abandoned all pretence of impartiality with the sending off of Cresswell. The insult to injury is, of course, the "no appeal" system which deprives us of Cresswell for a match just when he was showing us what we had been missing.

It would have been nice to have read that Atkinson had rung up the FA first thing on Monday morning to say "you know guys on reflection I messed that up and would like to withdraw (at least) the first yellow". Hell he could even have lied and claimed that he hadn't noticed Cresswell's legs being taken away from him. Of course that hasn't happened and whilst Cresswell – who is good at his job – will have to sit out this match, Atkinson – who isn't good at his job – has been rewarded with Chelsea v Man City, rather the lengthy ban his handling of the whole match deserves. If it were me I'd be sticking in an invoice to PGMOL for the sum of one week of Cresswell's wages spent where he was not available thanks to their failure to supply anyone capable of refereeing to an acceptable standard. Hell if we did that every week we could bankrupt the buggers and then the powers that be would have to replace PGMOL with something that would have the interests of football as its main priority (as opposed to the protection of people who shouldn't be in the job in the first place).

Team news is that it's pretty much the usual suspects who are not available, Carroll and Sakho may be looking at Everton away for a return whilst everyone else will be a few weeks at least. Of course we also have the traditionall new injury each week so strp forward (carefully) Darren Randolph who has a knee problem. It is listed only as a "slight doubt" though and he should be available for Saturday if required. The best news is that Andre Ayew has returned to full training. He won't be available just yet but it won't be long now.

Prediction? Well one swallow doth not a summer make or something. However, there was enough in last week's performance to suggest that things are at least beginning to be on the up. For a change the passing was a lot crisper and more incisive last week than it had previously been for example. Cresswell will be a miss of course but even with all the injuries I'm thinking we will have too much for a team that must have been hoping for something out of last week's trip to Stoke.

So this week I shall be stepping through the portals of Winstones The Turf Accountants and placing the £2.50 I was going to give Atkinson for every decision he got right last week on a home win. 3-1 to us I think.

Enjoy the game!

When last we met at The Boleyn: Won 1-0 (Premier League February 2016) A more comfortable win than it sounds. Antonio's nicely angled drive across the box did the trick.

Danger Man: Jermain Defoe Still capable of scoring on a regular basis to the extent that I'd have taken him to the Euros in summer.

Referee: Bobby Madley Or "Chelsea's Bobby Madley" to give him his full title after his astonishing performance at Stamford Bridge last season to deny us the three points we deserved.

Percy's Poser: Last week we asked how the London Borough Of Croydon made the rest of the country collapse with laughter in 1954, 2000, 2002, 2012. The answer was that they actually applied for the borough to be given city status. Seriously! Congratulations to Mrs Muriel Vaporub whose answer was the first correct one out of the digital hat. Offered the choice of prizes between the London Borough Of Croydon or a soiled J-Cloth, Mrs Vaporub chose the J-Cloth on the grounds that it was the "less unpleasant option". Well done Muriel!

For this week's poser we will be looking at the world of cinema and asking: what is the connection between Sunderland and the 1996 film The English Patient. The first correct answer out of the digital hat will win Martin Atkinson's brain cell – assuming he has one he won't be using it. Good luck!

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.

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Moyes on West Ham: 'A good team, but inconsistent'
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 21st October 2016
By: Staff Writer

David Moyes believes his Sunderland side can upset the applecart when they make their first trip to the Olympic Stadium this weekend - despite them currently propping up the Premier League.

Bottom of the table going into this weekend's fixture, the Black Cats have managed just two draws from their opening eight matches, leaving them two points adrift of closest rival Swansea in 19th.

But Moyes still believes his team have the ability to secure their first win of the campaign at the OS tomorrow.

"I think they have a good team and they showed it last year, but you have to remember that prior to that they were a little inconsistent and they were never a team who were always near the top of the league," Moyes told the press during his pre-match presser.

"Prior to that they got relegated and came back up, so they're trying to find their consistency as well.

"We want to get better, we want to play better and we want to show we are a better team. We have to get that first win under our belt as quickly as we can to start moving up the league.

"We have been close in some games – leading 2-0 against Palace, winning 1-0 against Southampton – so we've had games where we could have picked up points, and if you win one of those it would look a lot different and we would be looking at it in a different way.

"We haven't and that's our fault so we need to cure that and make it better," continued Moyes. "One win would make a massive difference; it would lift confidence and it would get us much closer to the teams above us, while giving us the opportunity to build."

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West Ham v Sunderland preview: Aaron Cresswell suspended
Last Updated: 21/10/16 2:30pm
SSN

West Ham will be hoping to improve on their poor home form when bottom-of-the-league Sunderland visit the London Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers have yet to settle in to their new surroundings since leaving the Bolyen Ground, taking just four points from a possible 12 and conceding eight goals. However, they did secure their first win in six Premier League games at Crystal Palace last week, which eased some of the pressure on Slaven Bilic. His opposite number, David Moyes, could do with a similar boost this weekend as Sunderland are the only Premier League without win this season.

Team news

Aaron Cresswell is suspended for West Ham after picking up two bookable offences on his return from injury against Palace. Andy Carroll was back in light training but has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury. Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore, Diafra Sakho and Arthur Masuaku are all out.

Defenders Lamine Kone and Patrick van Aanholt are fit for Sunderland. Kone missed last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Stoke with a hamstring problem, while Van Aanholt lasted just 40 minutes before having to leave the field with an adductor strain. Goalkeeper Vito Mannone (fractured elbow) and midfielder Sebastian Larsson (knee) are back in light training, while winger Adnan Januzaj is expected to join them next week and Jason Denayer, Jan Kirchhoff and Lee Cattermole are not far behind, leaving striker Fabio Borini (groin) as the only long-term absentee.

Match stats

West Ham are unbeaten in six Premier League fixtures against Sunderland (W3 D3).
Sunderland have won just one of their last 11 away Premier League games against the Hammers, losing eight times (D2). This is their first game at the London Stadium.
Jermain Defoe made 74 Premier League appearances for West Ham between 2001 and 2003. He's scored six times in the Premier League against his former club since leaving. West Ham boss Bilic scored one of his two Premier League goals against Sunderland for the Hammers in December 1996.
The Hammers have kept more home clean sheets (nine) against Sunderland than against any other Premier League opposition and haven't conceded in any of their last three.
Moyes is unbeaten in his last 12 Premier League meetings against West Ham (W8 D4), not losing since April 2007 when manager of Everton (0-1 at Upton Park).
Sunderland are only the second team in top-flight history to fail to win any of their opening eight league games in consecutive seasons (after Bury in 1905-06).
These two sides have used the most players this season in the Premier League, with Sunderland fielding 26 different players to West Ham's 24.
West Ham are looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since the end of April.
No team has conceded more times in the opening 15 minutes of the first half than Sunderland this season (three), while West Ham have conceded the most in the opening 15 minutes of the second half (four).

Merson's prediction

Sunderland are struggling, and West Ham had a really good result at Palace and played superbly in the first half. I can't see anything different here. It's the perfect game for them to get back-to-back wins for the first time this season, with Sunderland bottom of the league without winning a game. But West Ham have to get through the first 20 minutes positively.
Sunderland have had a lot of injuries to be fair, you've got to feel sorry for them, they haven't had a lot of luck so far.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (12/1 with Sky Bet)

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West Ham vs Chelsea: Slaven Bilic must go for EFL Cup glory, says Danny Murphy
DANNY MURPHY
Evening Standard

If West Ham have any sense, they will play their strongest team against Chelsea in the EFL Cup next week — and not concentrate only on the Premier League. I realise they've had a poor start to the season but what a chance that Chelsea game is. Winning a London derby in the cup is exactly the kind of thing that will make their new stadium feel like home. I never understand why clubs at West Ham's level leave out their best players in the domestic cups. Domestic cup football is fun, and it isn't tiring – that's a myth. What a chance this is for Slaven Bilic's West Ham. They have to take it.

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'Thank God I stayed here' - Carlos Bacca happy he snubbed West Ham and stayed at AC Milan
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Friday, October 21, 2016

Carlos Bacca believes he was right to snub West Ham United in the summer. The striker was subject of strong interest from the Hammers and AC Milan reportedly accepted a bid of over £20m from them. However, after holding talks with West Ham, the Colombian opted to stay in the San Siro for another season. And, reflecting on his decision, Bacca believes he made the right call in deciding to remain with AC Milan. "I was quiet in the summer even though I could have gone away to raise money for the club", Bacca told Corriere della Sera. "West Ham insisted, but I chose to stay here and thank God, it was the best decision."

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TEAM NEWS: REECE BURKE AND KYLE KNOYLE BACK AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
10:40 21st October 2016
by Wigan Athletic
West Ham United duo could return for Latics.

They both played well and came through it fine so they'll be available for selection on Saturday."
Gary Caldwell

Reece Burke and Kyle Knoyle back available for Latics ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion.
West Ham United duo involved in midweek action for the Hammers' U23s.
Gary Caldwell has no new injury concerns following midweek draw at Leeds United.

Wigan Athletic manager Gary Caldwell revealed a boost to his squad numbers whilst speaking to Latics PlayerHD on Friday morning, declaring both Reece Burke and Kyle Knoyle fit for selection ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the DW Stadium. Both defenders, on season-long loans from West Ham United, featured for the Hammers' Under 23 side against Aston Villa on Monday as they stepped up their recoveries from injury. Knoyle suffered an elbow injury during pre-season, with Burke sidelined due to a hernia. "Reece Burke played 45 minutes, Kyle Knoyle played 90," said Caldwell. "I felt it was important they got a game and the quality of that game too was good to have available to us, thanks to West Ham. "It was important they got that, I went down and watched it, they both played well and came through it fine so they'll be available for selection on Saturday."

Happy with Latics' efforts on Tuesday night away at Leeds United, Caldwell added: "Everyone's fine from Leeds; we've recovered well, other players have trained yesterday to prepare for the game so it's been a good week injury wise and we have a full squad to pick from. "If anything, we've improved and been boosted by the players that have come back from injury."

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Policing 'solution' agreed for West Ham-Chelsea cup tie
ESPN

The Metropolitan Police Service says a "tactical solution" is now set for matches at West Ham's London Stadium, which would see officers deployed inside the ground if needed for the EFL Cup tie against Chelsea. West Ham moved from Upton Park into the converted Olympic Stadium for the start of the new season. The club and London Stadium owner E20, along with stadium operators LS185, had requested a police presence at future matches following crowd disturbances during some Premier League fixtures at their new home, including those against both Watford and Middlesbrough. Recent matches have seen an increased line of segregation and also more stewards, as well as improved levels of training. However, additional policing measures have not been able to be implemented inside the stadium throughout the games because of the lack of the Airwave radio system, which is used by the emergency services, a problem highlighted two years ago. Chelsea have been allocated some 5,182 tickets for the cup tie, which has been designated as a high-risk fixture given the history of animosity between the two sets of rivals supporters. Following talks with the relevant authorities and parties involved, the MPS has now been able to establish a workable set-up, which is understood will allow officers to communicate with a control vehicle on the stadium perimeter. A statement read: "The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has a comprehensive policing plan for the match on Wednesday October 26 between West Ham United and Chelsea. The MPS is working with partners to prevent crime and disorder. "The MPS has a tactical solution for matches being held at the London Stadium which will allow the safe deployment of officers into the stadium, if required, to deal with any crime or disorder. "The MPS, working with London Stadium and Airwave, are confident that a full in-building radio solution will be operational at the London Stadium in February 2017."

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West Ham handed stadium safety boost ahead of League Cup tie with Chelsea
Jeremy Wilson, deputy football correspondent
21 OCTOBER 2016 • 12:14AM
Telegraph.co.uk

The Metropolitan Police are ready to deploy officers inside the London Stadium during West Ham United's League Cup clash with Chelsea on Wednesday for the first time since the club moved to their new home. The absence of a suitable radio communications system had previously prevented officers from policing the interior of the stadium and, while this will not be permanently operational before next February, what is called a "tactical" solution is in place. It is believed that a temporary system has now been installed and the Met stressed on Thursday night that they have "comprehensive" plan for the fixture. "The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) working with London Stadium and Airwave are confident that a full in-building radio solution will be operational at the London Stadium in February 2017," said a Met spokesman. "In the interim, the MPS has a tactical solution for matches being held at the London Stadium which will allow the safe deployment of officers into the stadium, if required, to deal with any crime or disorder."
More than 50,000 fans are expected for West Ham's first big home evening derby since moving from Upton Park. The fixture is expected to be assessed as a high risk but, following several violent incidents since West Ham began playing at Stratford, there had been deep concern at the prospect of there being no police support of stewards. Chelsea have also already expressed their dissatisfaction at receiving only 5,182 tickets after requesting their full allocation of 5,700. Away teams are entitled to 10 per cent of a stadium's capacity in the League Cup but West Ham have restricted that allocation. Any fan trying to buy tickets for the match must have a buying history with their respective club. The temporary solution for the radio communications followed talks between West Ham, the Met Police and the Football Association.

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Andy Carroll set for longer spell on the sidelines as West Ham striker suffers setback in knee injury rehabilitation
Andy Carroll has failed to hit targets during rehabilitation work
West Ham striker has been sidelined for over two months with knee injury
Carroll has only completed 90 minutes in Premier League six times in 2016
By OLIVER TODD FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:32, 20 October 2016 | UPDATED: 22:32, 20 October 2016

Andy Carroll is suffering renewed injury anguish with 'a killer blow' derailing his recovery from a knee problem and indefinitely wrecking any hope of a West Ham return. Manager Slaven Bilic has revealed Carroll, 27, has failed to hit targets during rehabilitation work on the knee issue which has already sidelined him for over two months. And with his time out having already exceeded the initial medical timescale, Bilic is wary of putting a new return date on his star forward after initially expecting he would only miss one week. 'We are all, especially him, very frustrated,' the Hammers boss said. 'It's a killer blow knowing how good an influence he was last year for us, whenever he was starting or coming on from the bench.
'I thought he would miss one game, against Bournemouth, and I thought "no". To still be without him… It's a massive blow for us. 'All I know is that it's about weeks — but then it was about weeks at the beginning when it happened. Originally it was four-six weeks and we were fuming about it, it was a shocking prognosis. But now it's way longer than that. He's progressing but it's slower than we expected.' Carroll has only completed the full 90 minutes in the Premier League six times in 2016 and will face a fight to add to that figure before the year ends. The former Liverpool forward has been working hard at the Hammers' Rush Green base, starting early-morning sessions before his team-mates arrive in his recovery bid.
West Ham's medical staff reported that Carroll had completed his best-ever pre-season ahead of the new campaign but now his incredible record of missing 78 games in a little over three years is rising again. For a player so keen to get back into the first-team groove, it is proving tough. 'It's difficult because he loves football,' Bilic said. 'He loves to train. He's not one of those for who it's just a job; you can see it in his eyes. 'I spoke to him so many times in pre-season and he was so up for it, talking like that period (of injury issues) is over now. 'That game (when he got injured against Astra Giurgiu), it didn't look like an injury, he didn't come off on a stretcher, he played to the end, it's crazy.' West Ham are close to being able to welcome back £20.5million summer signing Andre Ayew after his spell out with a thigh injury suffered on the Premier League's opening weekend, although he is unlikely to be involved against Sunderland tomorrow.

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Winning is a habit that on-loan midfielder Josh Cullen doesn't want to lose for Bantams
The Telegraph & Argus

JOSH Cullen left Oxford's Kassam Stadium last week with an unusual feeling. The midfielder is simply not used to losing. City's first setback of the season came as a shock generally – but for Cullen it was only the fifth time he had suffered the bitter taste of defeat in 28 outings for the club. The 20-year-old has proved the ultimate talisman since first arriving from West Ham in February. But there was no chance of the on-loan midfielder getting giddy about a points ratio with him in the team that would earn automatic promotion if stretched over a full campaign. "It's a long hard season and we'd be pretty stupid to think we're not going to have any low points," said Cullen. "It would be silly to think you could go through undefeated. "You always have lows in a season and it's about dealing with those and not letting anything affect us. We don't need to change what we're doing on the training field. "Nothing has changed. It's key for us not to get too high or too low."
An injury-time defeat followed by a home draw with Southend scarcely qualifies as a crisis. But given how City had been smoothly moving through the gears up to that point, this week has represented a bit of a pot hole. They still head into the tasty Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United on Saturday in second spot – although the Blades could overhaul them with victory.
City's early progress has attracted plaudits from within the football community and Cullen has sensed positive feedback from the Hammers. Not that he will let that take his eye off the ball. Cullen added: "It's nice to hear that people are saying good things about us but we've got to keep our feet on the ground. "It's natural when a team is doing well that people start talking about you. "But it's important that we try to block that out as much as we can. "As a group of players, we can't afford to look beyond the next game."
City gained a point on leaders Scunthorpe who surprisingly slipped up at Oldham in midweek. But Southend's second-half fightback to claim a draw allowed Bolton and rampant Sheffield United to close right up behind Stuart McCall's side. A four-point cushion in second spot before the Oxford game has now been trimmed to goal difference in front of former boss Phil Parkinson. Cullen insists that will not cause any waves within the dressing room. He said: "We're fully aware that a couple of wins pushes you right up the table. But a couple of poor ones and you soon notice your position suffers. "We're not taking too much notice of the league standings. The only time that matters is come the end of the season. "We're only a quarter of the way through so it's still very early. "There's no let-up in this league. We've got a good squad and everyone is going to be needed to step in and do a job for the team.
"There's not too much time to sit back and think 'we're doing well' because the next game is always just around the corner. "The confidence is high and we'll approach it thinking we can get three points. That doesn't change."

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West Ham must use fresh injection of self-belief to finally break free from their London Stadium shackles
JOHN DILLON
Evening Standard

West Ham's chance to capitalise on the fixture list also starts this week, as they attempt to settle things down at their rebellious and discontented new stadium. The 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last weekend has delivered a powerful injection of self-belief, according to skipper Mark Noble. If they beat struggling Sunderland on Saturday and get a result against Chelsea in the first London derby at the new ground in the EFL Cup next Wednesday, the mood among the crowd may lighten up. True enough, the grievances of the fans about their new home are going to take a long while to resolve – and some may never be because it may never really feel like a football ground. But, here, at least, over the next week is an opportunity to reduce the pressure and the unsettlement in the stands. It can happen in the old fashioned way, too. By delivering on the pitch, which the Hammers have failed spectacularly to do so far in their new HQ.

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