Daily WHUFC News - 25th December 2016

From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com

I want to start by wishing a Merry Christmas to all our supporters and hope everyone has a memorable weekend.

This is always a special time of the year and I hope our supporters are feeling more optimistic after we managed to secure seven points last week, which took us clear of the bottom three and has us heading in the right direction.

Slaven has been honest enough to admit the performances have not been to our normal standards in the last two home games, but the most important thing was getting two wins and we managed to do that.

We are in a much better place and we can now play with a bit more freedom. I am still very optimistic about the second half of the season and getting more points on the board.

I was delighted to see Andy Carroll back in action and it was great to see him start the last two home games against Burnley and Hull.

We all know Andy's character and the commitment he shows when he is back in the team.

He wants to play every game and the key factor is now keeping him fit and getting a regular run in the team.

Andy has a significant impact on the team and he can make a big difference.

I remember his memorable strike against Swansea back in January 2015 and we would love to see him repeat that strike and get back among the goals on Boxing Day.

Swansea are fighting for their lives in the bottom three and we know it is going to be another tough game.

But if we can play to our best and maintain the form we showed in our last away game at Liverpool, we stand every chance of getting another good result.

We want to go on a winning streak and if we can carry on winning games it will lift everyone at the football club.

The next two games against Swansea and Leicester are very important as we want to get into the top half of the table.

We are having a bit of luck at the moment and let's hope that continues.

Slaven will have to make a change for the game on Monday as Pedro Obiang is suspended.

Pedro has been fantastic since he came back into the side and has made that position his own.

He has been flawless in his performances and we will miss him on Monday. It will be interesting to see what Slaven does with the team and it will give another player the chance to show what he can do.

It is obviously a big blow for the Club that Diafra Sakho will now miss a considerable part of the season after he was forced to undergo back surgery.

It is a disappointment for the player and everyone connected with the Club. We wish him well and hope he can make a speedy recovery.

He is an important player for us and we want him back scoring goals.

The January transfer window is just around the corner and if the opportunity arises we will be doing everything we can to bring in new players.

We are not going to be shy in strengthening the squad if the right player becomes available.

Have a Merry Christmas and for those travelling to Swansea on Boxing Day, I wish everyone a safe journey.

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Joint-Chairman 'very confident' of Payet stay
WHUFC.com

David Sullivan believes West Ham United will enjoy a Happy New Year in 2017.

The Joint-Chairman says the Club will build on a historic 2016 on and off the pitch, strengthening the playing squad and continuing the process of settling into London Stadium.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Mr Sullivan expects the Club to do business in January, but insisted he is 'very confident' Hammer of the Year Dimitri Payet will not leave next month.

"We are a Club that has been growing and progressing in the right direction for some time now, and my hope is that we continue that growth and progress," he said. "Like every West Ham United supporter, I am an optimist and believe that the best times are always ahead!"

Concentrating on the transfer window, the Joint-Chairman said he expects a handful of players to move in and out of east London in January.

"There is no expectation about what we might do, only hope," he explained. "Maybe three players out and three players in, but that is only the hope. In reality, your hopes don't always come true, and we could end up doing no business at all.

"We are always looking for players who could improve any area of the squad but, like almost every club, we are looking for another striker. Diafra Sakho has this week had an operation which will keep him out for a considerable period of time.

"The right player can lift an entire squad and transform a season. I hope we can sign a player who has a similar impact this January."

While he admits three players could leave, the Joint-Chairman is adamant he does not want Ballon d'Or nominee Payet to be one of them.

When asked how confident he was that the France star will still be a West Ham player come February, his response was short and to the point.

"Very confident!" he said.

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Bilic - We won't hold Carroll back
WHUFc.com

Manager Slaven Bilic has backed Andy Carroll to continue showing the commitment he has been in recent games
The Croatian does not believe holding the striker back would serve any purpose
Carroll recently made a scoring return to the first team side against Arsenal

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic revealed he has no intentions to hold Andy Carroll back throughout the festive period, with the striker expected to play a crucial role over the busy winter schedule.

The big forward only recent returned to the first team fray, coming on as a late substitute and scoring in the side's recent Premier League fixture at home to Arsenal.

And since, Carroll has played half an hour against former club Liverpool and started both the Hammers' recent home wins over Burnley and Hull City.

Ahead of his side's Boxing Day trip to Swansea City, Bilic explained he has been left with no doubt in his mind, due to recent performances, about what the striker can contribute.

He said: "You always know during the game and during training what you are going to get. You are going to get everything – commitment, quality, impact. He is that kind of a guy and that kind of a player.

"What you don't know is the next day and if he is going to feel something. Nobody expected Andy to play two full games against Burnley and Hull. It was not the plan.

"I spoke to him at half-time and when there were breaks in the second half and he didn't want to come off. We didn't expect it.

Andy feels good in his body and I am delighted. We are monitoring Andy but why should I hold him back?"

I spoke to him today and he said he feels good. Not in terms of motivation and that has never been an issue. He feels good in his body and I am delighted. We are monitoring Andy but why should I hold him back?"

After picking up a knee injury during the Club's early season UEFA Europa League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu, Carroll played just once – on the opening day against Chelsea – before his lengthy lay-off.

But it is clear, according to Bilic, that training hard and playing games is now best for the 27-year-old to reach full tilt and the heights he set during a terrific campaign last season.

"We can hold him back in training sometimes and tell him to stay in and do extra work," the manager continued.

"Maybe before it was always holding him back and that could be one of the reasons why he was getting injured. Unless you are talking about extreme examples you are more likely to get injured if you are not training.

"Of course you have to be cautious with Andy because of his history, but if he is feeling good let's build on that. Why are we thinking negative?

"I was watching Andy playing for Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham on television. You can see that energy. I can only talk about this season and last season. His first game was against Newcastle and we were winning 2-0 at home but he came on and was like a little kid in the last 15 minutes. He wanted to do everything.

"He was doing in 15 minutes what is normal in 90 minutes. He was doing that either as an impact player or from the start in every game."

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Angelo's World
WHUFC.com

Ahead of West Ham United's run of matches over the Christmas period, Angelo Ogbonna returns with his blog.

Who knew the Italian was such a big fan of Christmas films?! Find out which one is his favourite…

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

I love this time of year, and I hope all West Ham supporters out there enjoy the festive period too! Let's hope we have one or two wins to celebrate.

It's strange to play over Christmas for sure, but sometimes you get quite anxious to be back on the pitch again so I think that it is good.

Afterwards, I want to do something different. I think it's good for everybody to have the football and football makes everyone happy at Christmas time. It's a bit strange that you play two days after another game here, but that is the rule.

Maybe a player can do with one more day to rest the muscles and the head, but for the game we cannot complain. It's our job.

I really like this time of year though, and I am always watching Christmas films. I have a lot. The one where they leave the baby; it Italy we call it Mama, Ho Perso L'Gereo [Home Alone].

The baby remains at home and they leave him to go to the airport. When they get there they can't find the baby and they get on the flight. Then they are so upset about the baby being at home, but the baby is really happy and enjoys his Christmas! It's a great film.

For a present at Christmas, I just want us to have more passion. More people come and see us at the Stadium because it makes me so happy to their passion and for them to see us there.

The recent results in the Premier League have been very important to us because now we can breathe a bit. But we have to keep concentrating on the next game. It's a crucial time for us and every single game in this league is tough. The spell we are about to have it just as tough as the one we have been through; you can lose any game in this league.

We're obviously taking on Swansea City on Boxing Day and I'll face my former Juventus teammate Fernando Llorente.

He is important for Swansea, I think. He is a good striker, very similar to Andy. It's very important for us to stop him and to stop Swansea because it's Christmas time and everybody wants to be happy and to get some points from the game. We have to be focused and determined about this game.

For all those travelling to Wales, have a good trip and hopefully we can deliver on the pitch.

Enjoy your Christmas, everyone!

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Three Key Battles - Swansea City
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's Boxing Day fixture at Swansea City will feature two teams who generally adopt different approaches to their football.

While Slaven Bilic's Hammers usually play an aggressive style and focusing their attacking play down the middle third of the pitch, Bob Bradley's Swans are more akin to a non-aggressive style and attacking down the wings.

According to the statistics, West Ham are generally good at attacking and defending set plays, scoring nine of their 19 Premier League goals (47%) from such positions, while Swansea are weak at keeping their opponents at bay from set-piece situations.

Possession-wise, Swansea have traditionally been a team which has controlled the game, but that has not been the case this season. Both teams enjoy 49% possession, while West Ham's pass-completion of 79% is a percentage-point higher than their Welsh hosts.

As is always the case, individual battles will dictate how the match pans out, so we have picked out three which could decide our Boxing Day fixture at Liberty Stadium.

Fabianski v Randolph


Lukasz Fabianski and Darren Randolph have both been busier than they would have liked this season, but the two goalkeepers have also used the opportunity to shine between their respective sticks.

Poland international Fabianski has started all 17 games for Swansea, keeping just three clean sheets, but making 52 saves in the process. Having lost centre-halves Ashley Williams to Everton and Federico Fernandez to injury, the 31-year-old is being called upon to keep his team in matches, but his high workload is making that difficult to achieve.

Randolph has also been in action regularly in his six starts, making 22 saves, keeping two clean sheets but also making two errors in conceding eleven goals in those matches. Like Fabianski, Randolph is a fine shot-stopper.

Britton v Noble
Two Academy of Football graduates will go toe-to-toe in the midfield at the Liberty Stadium on Boxing Day in Leon Britton and Mark Noble. As players schooled at Little Heath, both are technically proficient ball-players who like to get in possession and make their respective teams tick.

Britton is a deep-lying midfielder who will often collect the ball from his back four and look for openings further forward with his accurate passing. Noble is a more traditional central midfielder, who is not afraid to put his foot in to win the ball back for his side, before using it accurately and intelligently.

The Academy graduate who wins this midfield battle will play a big role in controlling the game for his team.

Sigurdsson v Payet
These two lads are vitally important to their respective team's attacking potency.

Iceland star Gylfi Sigurdsson is the man who makes Swansea a threat in the attacking third. Playing in a No10 or central midfield role, the 27-year-old is two-footed, an excellent passer and can shoot accurately from open play or set pieces.

Sigurdsson might not be as heavily involved in general play as his teammates, but when he is, he makes things happen. Of Swansea's 20 Premier League goals, he has been directly involved in half of them.

Payet is West Ham's attacking heartbeat. Like Sigurdsson, he is two-footed and can pass and shoot with deadly accuracy. He is generally much more involved in the game than his Swansea counterpart, and has played more key passes (63) than any player in Europe's top five leagues.

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The (ex) Rev's Christmas Message: West Ham family values
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 24th December 2016
By: Elwin Cockett

Whether or not you're a fan of Brexit, Donald Trump, or the move to the Olympic Park, it feels like 2016 has been a year of disagreement and discontent.

For West Ham fans trying, like our team, to find our bearings in the new ground, it has been doubly difficult.

Some us find ourselves sitting among strangers who don't watch football in the way we're used to doing. And the players are struggling to recreate the sparkling form they showed last season at the Boleyn.

We seem to be grinding out results against teams we should be beating easily, and losing to teams who we've beaten in recent years. All that, and the BBC lost GBBO, England the series in India, and most of us have a family member who supports a different team.

We could be forgiven for feeling pretty sorry for ourselves.

Or could we? Our team is playing in the richest league in the world in a ground that seats twice as many as we were getting at Upton Park until a few years ago. We've got some world-class players, and we support a great club with a proud place in the world of football.

And most of us are not being bombed out of our homes, or having to flee in terror from insurgents, or wondering where the next meal is coming from. The old adage to 'count your blessings' is a good one.

For many who don't have the advantages that we enjoy, the world is a pretty dark place at the moment.

As someone who has lived in east London for quite a lot of my life, I'm proud of it. It has always been a hospitable place where different communities have worked alongside each other happily for the most part, from the Huguenots, Irish and Jews of earlier times to those who have come more recently from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Players from overseas, like Clyde Best, Slaven Bilic and Diafra Sakho have contributed much to that tradition, just as have home-grown players like Ronnie Boyce, Joe Cole and Mark Noble.

And, through the power of the internet, that old-style East-End West Ham family has become more of a world-wide tribe than ever before. That, at a time when some are determined to set one community against another, is an important strength.

As Prince Charles said recently, "Normally, at Christmas, we think of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder, though, if this year we might remember how the story of the Nativity unfolds – with the fleeing of the Holy Family to escape violent persecution."

If Christmas is a time for families, let the West Ham family be one where we remember those who are not as well-off as we are, or who are different to us. Let's have a heart for the homeless, the displaced, and those who are far from their loved-ones.

And let's remember to cherish those who are close to us, both young and old, even if they support the wrong team. Happy Christmas, everybody!

* Elwin Cockett spent nearly 20 years as West Ham United FC's club chaplain and has been providing his annual 'Christmas message' to readers of KUMB.com fore more than a decade. He is currently Archdeacon of West Ham and Chair of Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Education.

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Swansea boss Bob Bradley knows his side face a hard task containing West Ham's Andy Carroll
By Dev Trehan
Last Updated: 24/12/16 1:23pm
SSN

Bob Bradley admits Swansea will have to pay close attention to Andy Carroll when West Ham visit the Liberty Stadium on Boxing Day.

Although the game marks the return to south Wales of Andre Ayew - who was Swansea's top scorer last season before joining West Ham for £20.5million in the summer - it is arguably Carroll they should be most wary about given the 27-year-old's record against them.
Carroll has scored as many goals against Swansea as he has versus other club in his career, with five in eight games. "He [Carroll] likes to drift to the back post, so we have to do a good job and make sure our central defenders are aware of that," Bradley said.
"We don't want to put that on the full-backs, we have to get it right because that is a big part of their game. "Carroll gives them a different threat, [Dimitri] Payet runs the game and is a threat from free-kicks."

Swansea are only above bottom Hull on goal difference and Bradley has been in the firing line of supporters underwhelmed by his October appointment in the first place. The former USA manager has only been in charge of 10 matches and has a record of six losses, two draws and two wins, with both victories coming in home games against Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively.
"Overall there is frustration among the fans - and that's fair enough," Bradley admitted. "But we are pleased with the home form in the last two matches, especially against teams in our part of the table. "Those were good results and we hope we can build on that over the Christmas period."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 24th December 2016

Bilic - Boxing Day clash is huge
WHUFC.com

Hammers manager Slaven Bilic believes his side's trip to Swansea City on
Boxing Day is a crucial one
The boss revealed how the squad are feeling ahead of the Christmas clash
He also revealed whose absence will be a huge blow to the team

Slaven Bilic highlighted the importance of West Ham's visit to south Wales
on Boxing Day and has urged his team to show their strength when they face
Swansea City. The Hammers will look to pick up their third successive
victory when they travel to the Liberty Stadium on Monday having recorded
home wins over Burnley and Hull City in recent weeks. Two Mark Noble strikes
– one from the penalty spot – helped defeat the Irons' last two opponents by
a single goal and boss Bilic admitted his team may have to step up to down
Bob Bradley's side. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Croatian
said: "It's still early in the season. The season is very long, and we can't
say how we will play in April and May. "We have seven points from three
games but now we have two games until the end of the first half of the
season and I'm expecting us to be stronger. "This is why this game on Boxing
Day is so big. Christmas is a special time of the year. You have to train on
Christmas Day because every game is so important."

Last time out on the road, West Ham picked up a crucial point at Anfield
against Jurgen Klopp's high-flying Liverpool, though at one point on
Merseyside it looked as if the Hammers would be heading back to east London
with all three in the bag. And with a run of good results to look back on,
Bilic explained his squad is in a confident mood heading into the Boxing Day
showdown. "The morale was always good," he continued. "That's why we got
seven points in the last three games.
"Of course the points affected our mood and I now expect confidence. I
expect us to do better than before. "It's was very important to get six
points out of [the games against Burnley and Hull]. We got seven points
including the Liverpool game and that was crucial. We will approach the next
couple of games with confidence."

One setback to come out the Hull match, however, was the first half booking
shown to influential Spaniard Pedro Obiang, meaning he will now miss the
Christmas cracker in Wales due to suspension. "It is a blow," Bilic
commented on the midfielder's absence. "He is playing well. He has been very
important for us. It has been important to get that balance. "Players like
him are like a metronome on a piano. They are keeping the balance and
keeping the shape of the team. So it is a blow for us. "But that position we
have good players that can cover. I have the same type of player only a bit
different. I expect us not to feel it that much."

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Academy Patrons welcomed at Chadwell Heath
WHUFC.com

Our founding Academy of Football Patrons headed to Chadwell Heath this week
to witness first hand how their investment is helping the next generation of
West Ham United players.

The Patrons, who became the first supporters of the new initiative last
summer, were hosted at the Academy of Football by graduate and current first
team captain Mark Noble and Academy Manager & Head of Coaching and Player
Development Terry Wesley, along with young players Declan Rice and Reece
Oxford.

The players thanked the Patrons for their support and explained how their
investment is shaping the future of the famous Academy.

The Patrons were also given a tour of the Chadwell Heath training
facilities, had a Q&A with the players and saw the plaque bearing their
company names at the training ground reception.

If you want to join them in significantly contributing to the development
and future of our young players, whilst receiving a variety of exciting
benefits, you can register your interest in becoming an Academy Patron by
clicking here.

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Andy hopes to deliver another Christmas Carroll
WHUFC.com

Andy Carroll is hoping history can repeat itself and he can score another
wonder goal at Liberty Stadium on Boxing Day as he looks to help the Hammers
maintain their unbeaten winning run.

Carroll enjoyed a memorable visit to south Wales back in January 2015 when
he scored one of the best goals of his career after superbly taking the ball
down and showed a great piece of skill to curl an unstoppable shot into the
roof of the net.

CarrollThe Hammers striker certainly enjoys playing against Swansea having
scored four goals in his last five games and will be hoping to get back
among the goals following a frustrating start to the first half of the
season.

Carroll has now made a full recovery from a knee injury and having started
the last two games against Burnley and Hull, he hopes to get a regular run
in the first-team and help his side move into the top half of the table.

Carroll said: "I am over the moon to be back in action and it has been a
long time. Hopefully I can keep fit and get back among the goals.

"I scored a nice goal against Swansea in my last game there and hopefully I
can repeat that on Monday.

"It has been tough for us with the run of games we have faced. We had a hard
run and then faced Burnley and Hull at home which were also tough games.

"We knew we should be winning those kind of games and are delighted to have
come away with six points and a draw at Liverpool.

"The lads are delighted with the results we have picked up in the last few
games and we will take that every week if we keep coming away with the three
points."

Having played two difficult fixtures against Burnley and Hull, Carrrol is
now expecting another tough encounter against a Swansea side who are
fighting to get out of the bottom three.

Carroll added: "We know it is going to be a hard game and every game in the
Premier League is tough. You could see that when we played Burnley and Hull
and they were probably as hard as any game we have faced. We know it will be
the same when we face Swansea.

"Hopefully we can go into the New Year with some more victories behind us
and we just need to keep doing our best.

"We know we need to do better than what we have done in the first half of
the season and we know we can do better. As a team we want to move higher up
the league and not give away sloppy points.

"For myself I want to get among the goals and keep myself fit."

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Swansea City v West Ham United
MON, 26 DEC 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: Liberty Stadium
BBC.co.uk

TEAM NEWS

Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng and defender Federico Fernandez could both
be involved on Monday after returning to training following injury.

Manager Bob Bradley has no fresh fitness concerns ahead of the game.

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho has been ruled out for up to eight weeks
because of a back injury which will see him miss the African Cup of Nations.

Midfielder Pedro Obiang is out through suspension after receiving his fifth
booking of the season.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

John Roder: "The last time I was at the Liberty for Match of the Day was the
5-4 win for Swansea over Crystal Palace, a match that can be described many
ways, but is probably best summed up as 'bonkers'.

"A repeat of a nine-goal thriller is probably not on the cards, but West Ham
have taken seven points from their last three matches; a significant
improvement after a poor run.

"Swansea's defence is porous and they've not coped with Salomon Rondon and
Alvaro Negredo in their last two matches. West Ham's Andy Carroll will
surely be eagerly awaiting the trip to South Wales."

Twitter: @johnrodercomm

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Swansea manager Bob Bradley: "[It's] not back to square one, but I feel
frustration that every time we are on the brink of taking steps forward, we
end up going backwards, making mistakes.

"We have started games well, but we still concede first. I have looked back
over the year and one of the things that sticks out is that in 17 games we
have only scored first four times.

"Twelve times we have conceded first. I am trying to make sure players
understand what critical moments in games are about."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on their back-to-back victories: "Of course
the points affected our mood, the mood is better now.

"We got seven points, we climbed the table, now I expect from us to play
with more confidence than before.

"We are approaching the next couple of games till the end of the year with
much more confidence and I expect us to play well and get something out of
those games."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

West Ham have taken seven points from their past three games and are
starting to pick up a bit of form.

The Hammers have only won one away league game so far this season, but I
think they will double that tally in Wales.

Prediction: 0-2

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

West Ham have taken a point on each of their last three visits to Liberty
Stadium in the Premier League, but haven't won away to Swansea since April
1983 (at the Vetch Field).
Swansea ended their six-match winless run against the Hammers with a 4-1
victory at Upton Park in May.
Swansea

Swansea have won just two of their last 16 top-flight games, drawing three
and losing 11.
However, those two victories have come in their last two home games, while
they scored eight goals in the process.
Since Bob Bradley took charge on 15 October, the Swans have conceded 25
goals - more than any other side.
Swansea's points tally of 12 after 17 Premier League games is just three
fewer than they had at this stage last season - they went on to finish in
12th place.
West Ham

West Ham could win three league games in a row for the first time since
March.
Slaven Bilic's side have lost twice as many Premier League games this season
(eight) as they had at this stage in both 2015-16 and 2014-15 (both four).
Dimitri Payet has created 63 goalscoring chances in the Premier League this
season; more than any other player. No other West Ham player has created
more than 19.
Striker Andre Ayew has failed to score in his nine league appearances for
the Hammers - he scored four goals in his final three matches for Swansea
before moving to West Ham.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-1 Probability of draw: 26%
Probability of home win: 40% Probability of away win: 34%
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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Slaven Bilic will not hold West Ham's Andy Carroll back any longer
By Allan Valente
Last Updated: 23/12/16 7:46pm
SSN

Slaven Bilic says he will not hold back Andy Carroll anymore and admits his
cautious approach may have contributed to the West Ham striker's recent
injury troubles. Carroll was out for three months with a knee injury
suffered in their Europa League clash with Romanian side Astra Giurgiu in
August but the 27-year-old returned to action with substitute appearances
against Arsenal and Liverpool before starts against Burnley and Hull.
Questions over the striker's involvement in a busy festive period surfaced
ahead of their Boxing Day clash at Swansea, but Bilic believes there is no
reason to limit Carroll at the Liberty Stadium. "We are monitoring him but
why should I hold him back?" Bilic said. "In training we can tell him to
stay in and do some extra work, massages, maybe because before it was always
holding him back, 'don't do that, don't do that,' maybe that was main reason
he was getting injured. "You are more likely to get injured if you don't
train. Of course you have to be cautious because of his history but if he is
feeling good, let's build on that. Why are we being negative? "He is ready.
You know with Andy, you know what you are getting. During the game, in
training, you always know what you are going to get. You're going to get
everything. Commitment, quality, impact, he's that kind of guy and player.
"What you don't know is the next day, is he going to feel something? Nobody
expected Andy to play two full games, against Burnley he played 80 minutes,
against Hull he played 90 minutes, it wasn't the plan. "I spoke to him at
half-time during those games and he didn't want to come off against Burnley
so we didn't expect it. I spoke to him today and he feels good. Not good in
terms of motivation because that is always there but he feels good in his
body and I'm delighted."
Bilic also believes that keeping hold of players such as Dimitri Payet and
Reece Oxford is important for the club and its stature going forward. "The
whole club have showed where we want to go, it doesn't matter if something
happens, players come and go," the 48-year-old added. "It doesn't mean we
are not acting big but it is a big statement with him [Payet]. It was also a
big statement with Reece Oxford. "A few years ago, it would be normal for a
player like him to go to a bigger club but he stayed. There were offers from
other clubs so that is really big statement for us."

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David Sullivan Q&A: West Ham chairman on Dimitri Payet, new signings and
London Stadium
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 24/12/16 7:42am
SSN

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan speaks to Sky Sports about the upcoming
January transfer window, the future of Dimitri Payet and a memorable 2016
for the Hammers...

Sullivan reveals in an exclusive Q&A how many players West Ham are hoping to
sign in the New Year and also answers the big question - will Dimitri Payet
still be at the club come the end of January?

Read on to find out what the Hammers chief had to say ahead of what could be
a busy month for him and the club…

What are your views on the January transfer window?

Every transfer window gets harder and harder each year but the January
window is far more challenging than the summer window, simply because it is
shorter and very few players of real quality are available.

What are the difficulties it poses for being able to conclude deals for new
players?

With the process often a lengthy one, it becomes virtually impossible to
complete a deal in such a short space of time when clubs, agents and players
are all involved in the negotiations. In addition, every club is also
restricted by the Premier League's wage cap.

When attempting to secure new signings, how much of your time does it
consume?

It consumes every single hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even when
not directly negotiating or speaking with agents and clubs, we are
constantly focusing on our recruitment process.

You've signed a number of players in January in the past - Christophe
Dugarry, Demba Ba and Ricardo Vaz Te to name a few - who have made major
impacts on the outcome of the season. How important can a January signing
be?

The right player can lift an entire squad and transform a season. I hope we
can sign a player who has a similar impact this January.

Can it be more challenging working with agents during the January transfer
window?

No, it varies from challenging to impossible during all transfer windows.

How much business are you expecting to do this January? Including potential
departures.

There is no expectation about what we might do, only hope. Maybe three
players out and three players in, but that is only the hope. In reality,
your hopes don't always come true, and we could end up doing no business at
all.

Where will you be focusing most of your attention?

We are always looking for players who could improve any area of the squad
but, like almost every club, we are looking for another striker. Diafra
Sakho has this week had an operation which will keep him out for a
considerable period of time.

Dimitri Payet has been linked with a move away from the club in the national
press, how confident are you he will be at the club at the end of January?

Very confident!

As 2016 comes to an end, what will your abiding memory of the year be?

Sadly, on the pitch, the form in the second half of the year hasn't been as
memorable as the first half, but I will look back on 2016 as a monumental
year in the history of West Ham United.

We said goodbye to the Boleyn Ground in unforgettable style and moved into a
magnificent new stadium that has given many more supporters the opportunity
to watch Premier League football at affordable prices and, in time, will
enable us to compete with the very top clubs.

Personally, our first European game at London Stadium was a very special
moment for me, and one that I will always remember with a huge amount of
pride.

What are your hopes and aspirations for West Ham in 2017?

We are a club that has been growing and progressing in the right direction
for some time now, and my hope is that we continue that growth and progress.
Like every West Ham United supporter, I am an optimist and believe that the
best times are always ahead!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic on Bacca
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd December 2016
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic has revealed that West Ham are still interested in luring Milan
striker Carlos Bacca to the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers had agreed a deal
worth in the region of £26million for the Colombian international last
summer but the move was rejected by the player, who preferred to remain in
Seie A. But despite being snubbed on that particular occasion, Bilic
admitted that he was still intrested in signing the 30-year-old goalscorer.
"We tried [to sign him]," said Bilic. "He was one of our targets in the
summer. It was in the papers and it was true. But the deal didn't go through
because of a few things and he decided to stay at Milan. "He is still
there, but he doesn't play a lot which is also an issue as we need a player
with match fitness. This is the Premier League. There is always a risk - and
I'm not just talking about Bacca but lots of that type of player."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Buying British? Defoe and Hogan linked
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd December 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are rumoured to be considering a move for former striker Jermain
Defoe. The 34-year-old left West Ham in 2003 after handing in a transfer
request the day after the clubv were condemned to relegation, but could be
on the verge of a shock return according to the Guardian. The Hammers are
said to be prepared to offer up to £6million to bring the Beckton-born
goalscorer back to London, having spent the past season-and-a-half in the
North East with relegation candidates Sunderland. In other transfer news,
West Ham are one of a number of clubs said to be keeping a close eye on
Brentford hitman Scott Hogan. The Salford-born 24-year-old, who emerged
from the Rochdale youth system has been linked with a number of clubs from
both the Premier League and Championship having scored 13 goals in 23
appearances so far this season. However his £15million price tag is likely
to be sufficiently high to put most, if not all of the chasing clubs off -
clubs that include West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Norwich City. The
Hammers have alos been linked with a move for Atlético Mineiro's 28=year-old
striker Lucas Pratto, who is said to be keen on a move to Europe.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zaza close to Spanish switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd December 2016
By: Staff Writer

Simone Zaza is on the verge of completing a move to Valencia on loan, say
reports. The 25-year-old is on his way out of West Ham just halfway through
a season-long loan spell having failed to impress in the Premier League. And
the Italian international is on the verge of completing a move to Spain
after representatives of the La Liga club, including Sporting Director
Garcia Pitarch flew to England earlier this week to push the deal through.
Although that meeting is understood to have ended without a deal being
concluded, Zaza - who remains in London and was represented by his father
Antonio - is though to be keen on moving to Spain, with little prospect of
featuring for parent club Juventus again this season. Although Juve are
thought to be open to a deal with Valencia, it is thought that the
Turin-based club are seeking a similar arrangement to that they had with
West Ham, whereby a compulsory purchase will be triggered should the striker
make a certain number of appearances. Zaza made a total of just 11
appearances for West Ham, from which he failed to score a single goal.
Elsewhere, fellow summer signing (and fellow failure) Jonathan Calleri -
remember him!? - is also being linked with a move to La Liga, with Sevilla
said to be taking a strong interest in the Argentinian youngster. Los
Rojiblancos were one of several clubs vying for Calleri's signature last
summer before bing pipped to the post by West Ham - for whom he played for a
total of just 479 minutes without scoring.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Swansea City v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd December 2016
By: Preview Percy

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a merry Christmas
and a happy new year. Because as sure as hell Preview Percy isn't going to
do so. Here's the grumpy one's look at at Boxing Day's trip to
Swansea.Additional info from www.kickoff.co.uk later...

Next up it's an international trip as we pop over the border to Swansea.
Kick-off at the Liberty Stadium is at 3pm. Thinking of travelling by train
down there? Think again. It's Boxing Day which means train drivers will be
at home, much in the same way as they seem to be during normal days of the
week. Still the view from the Severn Bridges is nice, whichever one you
choose to use.

So Swansea then. On the bright side for them they are currently the top
placed side in Wales. The down side of which is that they have achieved this
honour by virtue of being second from bottom of the league with 12 points
from their 17 games played so far, goal difference keeping them off the
bottom slot occupied by last week's opponents Hull. That leaves them a point
behind Sunderland and three points shy of Crystal Palace who occupy the
nearest safety spot.

It's not been a great season for victories for them. After an opening day
1-0 win up at Turf Moor it took them a further 12 matches for them to notch
up a second win, which came in the frankly bonkers 5-4 defeat of Palace at
the end of November. They reverted to type going down 5-0 at Spurs the
following week before turning over Sunderland 3-0 at home. That was their
last win, with defeats at West Brom and Boro' constituting their last two
results. A cursory glance at the results suggests that defence may be the
issue with them – they have let in at least three in nine of their last 12
matches.

They started the season with Francesco Guidolin at the helm but he lasted
only until the beginning of October being sacked shortly after they lost 2-1
at home to the Scousers. They then went a little left field with their next
appointment, bringing in Bob Bradley in as Head Coach. Bradley became the
first American to manage in the Premier league after his move from Le Havre
though he's more famous for having managed the US and Egyptian national
sides. He started his managerial career with an outfit called the Ohio
Bobcats, which is a name which I would have made up for comedy value were it
not actually a genuine team name. Having observed him on tv recently I have
noted that Bradley has a rather annoying habit. Were I in charge, Swansea
would be deducted points each time Bradley refers to "Nil" as "Zero". Harsh
but fair.

With Bradley's arrival not taking place until October he will have had no
say in their summer recruitment when they brought in no fewer than nine
players. The work experience girl wearing the Badfinger t-shirt without
knowing who they were tells me that the £15.5m paid for Borja Gonzalez (aka
"Baston") to Atletico Madrid was a club record. Although nominally an
Atletico player, Baston had spent most of his time on their books elsewhere
on loan, latterly with La Liga minnows Eibar for whom he managed a
creditable goal every other game. It's probably fair to say that he hasn't
pulled up any trees to date though he did pick up his first goal away at the
Emirates thus proving he knows his Arsenal from his Eibar.

The equivalent of £5m in Euros went to Sevilla to secure the services of
Fernando Llorente. He picked up a brace in the 5-4 win over Palace and
another brace in the 3-0 defeat of Sunderland. At 31 his greatest days may
well be behind him though. He netted 4 in 23 in the league for Sevilla last
season and it's been three years since his last cap for Spain. He also has
caps for the Basque National side. These appearances are slightly unofficial
since, unlike Scotland, the Basque Country is not a member of UEFA even
though, like Scotland, it's not a proper country. Llorente is credited with
having picked up a hat-trick of consecutive Seria A titles with Juve who he
left for Sevilla in 2015. On closer inspection it appears that the Italians
might be a bit more generous with their medals as he only made the one
appearance for Juve in the last of those three seasons. He also owns a Gold
Medal of the Royal Order Of Sporting Merit which, as far as I can work out,
is a sort of OBE for sportspeople. In Spain. Or something.

The transfer of Dutchman Leroy Fer in from QPR was for one of those fees
described as "undisclosed" but is believed to be £4.75m once add-ons are
taken into account. Fer did in fact arrive last season on loan, having found
it difficult to get a look-in at Loftus Road. The deal was made permanent in
the summer, something the player celebrated by notching the winner in the
1-0 win at Burnley on the opening day. Although Netherlands born Fer also
qualified for what used to be called Netherlands Antilles or Curacao. In the
end head ruled the heart and Fer opted for the Netherlands, enabling me to
tell you that he now has 11 Dutch Caps (hurrah!) though it's been two years
or so since his last one. Incidentally, Fer was born in Zoetermeer in South
Holland. This is home to a splendid music venue called the Boerderij
Cultuurpodium which is run by a really nice chap called Arie. Not strictly
relevant I grant you but I bet the BBC aren't giving you his sort of fine
information. (with good reason – ed)

One of their key men is Gylfi Sigurdsson. Sigurdson is in his second spell
with the club having spent a while on loan from Hoffenheim. A proposed deal
to make the loan permanent collapsed when Brendan "David Brent" Rodgers left
for Liverpool. He ended up at Tottenham instead where he was stuck for two
years before finally signing for the Swans. It all got a bit complicated on
the M4 that day as Ben Davies and Michel Vorm went in the other direction.
It seemed an odd transfer and Pochettino, in what was in no way an attempt
to tap up another club's player, let me make that quite clear (is that ok
lawyers?), recently admitted that Spurs could still use a player like
Sigurdsson. An Icelandic international he was part of the team that beat
Spurs 2-1 in the Euro 16 finals and is a bit useful with a dead ball.

Another player in attendance in Euro 16 was former Arsenal onion-bag
attendant Lukas Fabianski. Nicknamed "Floppyhandski" after a few errors in
an Arsenal shirt, you may recall him getting red carded for a foul on Sakho
at the Boleyn a few years ago. Still it's nice to see a player getting over
the trauma of having turned out in an Arsenal shirt I suppose.

So what's been happening in the world this week? Well FIFA have decided to
fine the Home Nations for the display of poppies in the November
internationals. Yup, the organisation which has become a byword for
corruption and greed has decided to use the home nations to pay for one of
its junior office staff for a year. The response requires a united front. I
don't suppose for a minute the relevant Football Associations will do so but
the response should be a letter or email containing just two words. Just for
added comedy value the Welsh & Irish emails could be in their respective
languages. And to make it even funnier the Scots could try theirs in
English. It seems odd that an organisation that claims it has the
development of football in the third world as an objective should want to
fine Scotland though. After all that £16,000 will do untold damage to the
Sweaty economy. Perhaps they are hoping that England will pick up the tab.
Like we do for everything else up there.

Elsewhere the arrival at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The
Bewildered of a couple of men in suits carrying identical briefcases could
only mean that the kumb legal team were in town. Which in turn could only
mean that Alan Pardew had been sacked and that they wanted to make sure I
didn't write anything that would see the management end up in prison trying
hard not to drop the soap. the next 1,000 words seem to have been deleted,
accidentally - Ed. Apparently Sam Allardyce is in the frame as a
replacement. So there you go Slav. Improve or you may end up in Croydon. And
that's not something I'd wish on Anyone. Except Premier League referees.

Talking of which, great as it was to be on the right side of a terrible
refereeing decision for once I'd feel a lot happier if referees would at
least try to get things right, you know, as if it sort of mattered one way
or the other. I know it doesn't matter to them – you stand more chance of
Piers Morgan saying something sensible than you have of seeing a referee
demoted for poor performance – but it would be just fine and dandy if they
could focus on the fact that it matters to the rest of us.

Otherwise the three points last weekend were almost totally down to the fact
that Hull were doing a passable impersonation of someone who had been given
a cow's backside and a banjo and hadn't worked out what to do with either.
Moral: If you don't score the best you deserve is a 0-0 draw. It's not a
match I will spend much time ruminating over though. 3 points, cheers, hard
luck Hull, move on.

Injuries next. When I started writing this it was largely a matter of the
usual suspects and dates. However, since then we have had an update on Sakho
which says that you can add another 8 weeks to his exile. Which would see
him missing out on the African Cuppa Soup. I wonder if he will recover
shortly after Senegal get knocked out? Byram may be fit for this one but on
past form it appears that he's not one of the manager's preferred options at
right back where we are being linked with moves to bring in Jenkinson back
on loan.

Oddly enough, Swansea are being linked with him as well. Perhaps we should
make his loan dependent on who wins the match? Everyone else (Collins, Tore
and Oxford) is showing up as "no return date". Zaza's agent seems to have
confirmed that he'll be off as soon as they start celebrating the new year
on that Jools Holland programme. Bit of a shame really. It would have saved
us a bit of time and grief if we'd been able to send him back at the stroke
of midnight whenever it was that they actually filmed the Jools Holland show
rather than when they are actually broadcasting it. Arbeola? A naughty step,
far , far away. I expect.

Prediction? Tough one this. On the one hand they haven't had much going for
them of late. On the other they do seem to be slightly better at home than
on the road – they have won their last two in the land of song (Wales not
Cameroon). On the other hand our three best recent performances have been
Liverpool, Spurs and Man Utd (league) all away from home so there may be
something in the "Olympic Stadium Leveller Factor" as scientists in the
research wing of the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered like
to call it. So I think on the whole this may well end up in a stalemate. So
the £2.50 that I was going to contribute to the FA's "Poppygate" fine fund
will be "invested" at Winstones The Turf Accountant in a 2-2 draw.

Enjoy the game and have a slightly less depressing Christmas time in
comparison to the rest of your miserable worthless lives. If you like.

When Last we met at the Liberty Stadium: Drew 0-0 (Premier League December
2015.) A bit of a rear guard performance as an injury-hit side provided one
of the season's gutsier performances.

Referee: Andre Marriner. One of the ones who is just inherently incompetent
rather than deliberately controversial for controversy's sake. Earlier this
season he managed to watch Aguero's elbow on Winston Reid without actually
seeing it. Somehow.

Danger Man: Fernando Llorente. Has chipped in with two in each of their last
two home matches. A bit like 1975 vintage Alan Taylor then. In the Cup.
Obviously.

Percy's Poser: Last time out we asked you what colour telephone boxes were
in Hull and why were they a different colour from those in the rest of the
country. The correct answer is that the boxes were a sort of cream colour.
The reason for this was that, unlike the rest of the country where the
pre-privatisation phone system was owned by the Post Office (hence the
pillar-box red colour), Hull's phone system was – and continues to be –
owned by the local council. The first correct answer out of the digital hat
was provided by Mrs Mavis Zippp who wins a herring, Well done Mavis – your
herring is in the post!

For this week's poser we ask: Why did an otherwise unremarkable house in
Fabian Way, Port Tenant, Swansea make the headlines a couple of years ago?
The first correct answer out of the digital hat this week will win a whole
live Swan! Makes an ideal family pet for families who don't mind the
occasional visit to the fracture clinic. Or a decent meal (vegetables not
provided). It's entirely up to you! 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.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic: West Ham won't make January signings if we can't find proven
players
SLAVEN BILIC
Evening Standard

With Christmas almost upon us, it seems that everyone in London is out
shopping. Premier League clubs are no exception and with the transfer window
opening in just over a week's time, we are all looking around for players
who will make a difference. I can't say I like this window but it can work
for you and one or two of the right players coming in can change the face of
the team. We will hopefully do some business in January - not too much but
maybe enough to strengthen two or three positions. We have three players
going to the Africa Cup of Nations, so that is a factor, but if we are
fortunate with injuries during that time we are okay in terms of quantity.
There could also be one or two going out but let's wait and see. What would
also be perfect is that the incoming players already have experience of the
Premier League - and are match fit. Is it easy to find them? No. Are we
trying? Yes. If we can't find the players who are going to help us, we will
stick together and keep working hard.
After our next two games, at Swansea and Leicester, we will be at the
halfway point in the season. So how would I sum up our form?
Right from the start of the season, we were playing catch-up. The injuries
took their toll and even when those players began to come back, they had
effectively only done a mini pre-season. The new players also didn't have
much time to settle in because, with the injury list so long, we needed them
to play. Now, though, we have caught up - not to where we want to be at
halfway, but considering where we were we are moving the right way. My
ambition for the second half of the season? It has to be that we should be
more stable as a team and to play with much more composure, especially at
home. I know it was always going to be tough moving grounds but we have been
at the London Stadium for a few months now, so we will be feeling more at
home.
Of course, I am hoping for good fortune with injuries but some of those
players who have been injured for much of the first half of the season are
back and should be hitting their top form. We are in a considerably better
position after our last three games. We are not yet where we want to be but
seven points from a possible nine represents good progress. Starting with
Swansea on Boxing Day, there shouldn't be an issue with confidence because
now, we are as close to seventh place as we are to the relegation places.
Was a lack of confidence a big part of the way we struggled in some games?
Well, if it was, then I am expecting us to play with a lot more of it now. I
have been asked if I expected both Swansea and Leicester to be down there,
near the bottom of the table. My answer is that, in the Premier League, you
never quite know what to expect. Leicester didn't expect to be where they
are after last season but look at the table - it is fact. You only have to
be a little bit down on last season and you can find yourself in the danger
zone. It can happen suddenly but you can climb away just as quickly, which
is why you shouldn't panic. We will train on Christmas Day and then fly to
Swansea. We hope, in the meantime, that we will be lucky with injuries.
Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio have had some minor problems but I am
hoping both will be fit.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It is time for Slaven Bilic to literally move upstairs to solve West Ham
woes
HITC
Damien Lucas

West Ham United have endured a torrid season and can't even enjoy a recent
upturn in results at home so poor have their performances been. The Hammers
made it back-to-back wins for the first time at their new London Stadium
home on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Hull City. It
followed a win over Burnley by the same slender scoreline on Wednesday night
to lift Slaven Bilic's side up to 13th in the Premier League table. It was a
game the Hammers edged 1-0 but only thanks to the intervention of the inside
of the post on no less than three separate occasions in what supporters
labelled one of their worst performances of a miserable season.

Many supporters and pundits have pointed the finger of blame for the huge
contrast in West Ham's form this season compared to their best ever Premier
Leagues points total last term squarely at their controversial new ground.
Some supporters believe blaming the stadium move is too easy an excuse,
citing that other teams are having no trouble performing there. But recent
comments from Bilic himself and Scotland boss Gordon Strachan - who visited
the stadium for the first time to watch the game against Hull - seem to
reiterate a major issue first highlighted by Stoke City boss Mark Hughes
earlier this season.
After the Potters' 1-1 draw at the London Stadium last month, Hughes said:
"Clearly it's not a football specific stadium and you can see that from the
distance from the benches to pitch side. "I had to make sure I had my
contact lenses in today or I wouldn't have been able to see the far side,
but it is what it is." Strachan told West Ham's official website players
would be finding it difficult to adjust to the new pitch and surroundings.
Meanwhile Bilic himself said in a recent interview with BBC Match of the Day
presenter Gary Lineker that it has been difficult to adapt to a dramatic
change in sight lines and perspectives from pitch level compared to Upton
Park. So could the answer be for Bilic to move up into the stand for an
elevated view of the pitch during home games. It would certainly help
tactically and is an approach favoured by many managers including former
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. Yes the passionate West Ham faithful want to see
their manager on the touchline during games. But they are a knowledgeable
bunch and if it meant Bilic had more of a handle on games from a tactical
perspective then they would be the first to embrace it.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham plot £6m January deal for Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe
WEST HAM want to bring Jermain Defoe back to London and are plotting a
£6million bid for the Sunderland striker, according to reports.
By JOE SHORT
PUBLISHED: 08:03, Fri, Dec 23, 2016 | UPDATED: 08:12, Fri, Dec 23, 2016
Express.co.uk

Defoe began his career at the Hammers in 1999 before quitting the club for
Tottenham. Now 34, the forward continues to impress in the Premier League
and has scored eight goals already this season. His scoring prowess helped
Sunderland survive relegation last season and this term his goals have
earned the club 10 points. And The Sun claim that form has caught the eye of
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic. According to the report, Bilic hopes Defoe
will be tempted back for one last stint at his former club. West Ham are set
to offload on-loan striker Simone Zaza in January, while Leeds United want
to sign Ashley Fletcher. And Sunderland manager David Moyes may be forced to
sell up, having already admitted he will struggle to sign players in the New
Year - even on loan. "At the moment we can't even bring a loan player in,
because of the situation we are in with wages - unless something else
changes," Moyes said.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic insists club has proven ambition with vow to keep
hold of Dimitri Payet
The Frenchman continues to be linked with a move away from the club but
Bilic is adamant he is going nowhere and says it is another statement of
intent from the London Stadium
The Mirror
BYDARREN LEWIS
22:30, 22 DEC 2016UPDATED17:17, 22 DEC 2016

Slaven Bilic believes West Ham will prove their ambition by keeping their
promise to hold on to Dimitri Payet. The unsettled France playmaker, 29, has
cast his future into doubt by claiming he misses the Champions League and
would be open to a move away. West Ham are adamant that, with four and a
half years remaining on his contract, Payet will not be sold. Bilic, who
will be backed in his bid for a high-class striker next month, pointed to
the retention of rising star Reece Oxford as proof that the Hammers are able
to hold on to their exciting talents. The 18-year-old defender signed an
improved five-year contract despite interest from Manchester United and
City.
West Ham also have midfielder Cheikou Kouyate on a new deal after rejecting
a £15million bid from Spurs last year. In addition the club have given
improved contracts goalscoring midfielder Michail Antonio, talented
left-back Aaron Cresswell, keeper Darren Randolph and Payet himself in the
last year. Bilic said: "The whole club has showed a statement with [their
position on Payet] and where we want to go. "It doesn't matter if something
happens. Players come and go but it is a big statement. "It was also a big
statement for us with Reece Oxford. Four, five or six years ago it would be
normal for players like that to go to bigger clubs. "But we wanted to keep
him, our expectations for him are big. We did not want to keep him to
improve his price. We don't want to sell Dimi. He's our top player. Great
players you don't want to sell. "Dimitri Payet is a great player and he's
got a contract with us. We don't want to sell him and will do everything to
ensure he stays with us. "West Ham have issued a strong statement that we
want to keep our best players. But you can't stop speculation. Great players
attract that. "We all knew it would happen - stories, rumours in the media.
That's why it was important the board said they wanted to keep him."

Payet signed an enhanced £125,000-a-week deal in February, seven months
after his arrival from Marseille, as a reward for his outstanding form last
season. Asked whether another new deal could placate the disillusioned
superstar, Bilic went on: "All that I know - I'm not going to tell you
everything of course - is that the club is doing everything and has done
everything for our best player, our best players. "That's also a statement.
Not only Reece and Dimi in terms of improving their contracts, Cheikhou
improved his contract. They all have contracts. "Nobody was in the last year
of his contract here last season when I came. "During the season, Cheikhou
signed, Cresswell signed, Antonio — Antonio came to the club last season —
did he sign a new contract? Yes, he signed a new contract, Dimi signed a new
contract, Lanzini signed a new contract. Randolph signed. That all shows you
what the club is doing."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to launch fresh January bid for Carlos Bacca as Slaven Bilic bids
to solve Hammers' striker woes
The Irons agreed a £26million deal for the prolific Colombia marksman, 30,
during the summer - only to see Bacca reject the move, but are confident
they can land him this time around
BYDARREN LEWIS
22:30, 22 DEC 2016UPDATED19:14, 22 DEC 2016

Slaven Bilic will make a fresh bid to land AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca to
solve West Ham's striker crisis. The Irons agreed a £26million deal for the
prolific Colombia marksman, 30, during the summer - only to see Bacca reject
the move. But he is understood to be unhappy at Milan this season and Bilic
believes he could yet seize a second chance to move to the Premier League.
Bilic said: "Maybe. We tried. He was one of our targets in the summer. It
was in the papers and it was true. "But then the deal didn't go through
because of a few things and he decided to stay at Milan. He is still there.
He doesn't play a lot which is also an issue. "We need a player with match
fitness. This is the Premier League. There is always a risk - even more
players that do have match fitness and are playing week-in, week-out. "I'm
not just talking about Bacca but lots of that type of player."
West Ham have made a high-class front-man a priority with Diafra Sakho now
out for up to ten weeks for back surgery. Injury-prone Andy Carroll is
currently fit but the Irons are worried they could be left in a mess if he
succumbs to any more setbacks. The club also have Liverpool's Daniel
Sturridge and Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi on their wishlist. Bilic could have
competition for Bacca, however, from the player's former club's Sevilla.
Jorge Sampaoli, coach the Spanish outfit, revealed last month that the
striker had confided in him that he was disillusioned at Milan and said: "It
would be good and important to have him with us, but right now he plays for
another club."

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