Daily WHUFC News - 23rd January 2017

Dowie - Fonte is a fantastic signing
WHUFC.com

Iain Dowie is a lifelong West Ham United fan and former Hammers striker. The
52-year-old was a teammate of Slaven Bilic at the Boleyn Ground and coached
Hammers striker Andy Carroll at Newcastle United in spring 2009. Now a
broadcast pundit, Dowie spoke exclusively to whufc.com about Bilic, Carroll,
Dimitri Payet and new signing Jose Fonte…

I am a West Ham fan, used to stand on the old North Bank as a kid and I
always take a close interest in how my old club are getting on. First and
foremost, Slaven is a very, very good manager and wherever he has been he
has done a great job. He did a fine job last year and in terms of continuing
that this season, he has now started turning things around. Players are
coming back and Andy Carroll is fit. I think he is the perfect man for the
job and I believe some of the players have picked up their performances in
recent weeks, because they were performing below the level they were at last
year. That's a combination of Slaven working hard on the training ground and
players realising that, if they weren't careful, they would get dragged into
a relegation battle. I am pleased for Slaven, because he is a good friend of
mine. It's been difficult for Slaven at times this season. He has hardly had
Andre Ayew, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, as is Cheikhou
Kouyate, who I believe is a special player. The scenario with Dimitri Payet
is a really difficult one to deal with as a manager. Firstly, Slaven will
feel let down personally. In my view, I think Slaven has handled it well. He
has been very firm and until the player changes his opinion, he won't train
with the team and I think he is right. You have to show a degree of strength
and he has been backed by the Board. Slaven will want a player of his talent
in his team, but for the morale of the other players, West Ham is bigger
than Dimitri Payet and he has been firm with it and that's fair enough.

One player who is playing really well at the moment is Andy Carroll. I
fortunately had a brief little spell with Andy at Newcastle and he has two
or three fantastic attributes. Firstly, his left foot is like a rocket and
second, he is almost unplayable when the ball is delivered with quality into
the box. Third, he is generally a really good lad. He is just a handful and
the quality of the goal he scored against Crystal Palace was just special.
He has had a run of games and got fitter and stronger and that's important
because when he is fit, the other team's defenders know they are in for a
game. He gives a different element to the way West Ham can play, and he's
also a good footballer on the floor and it showed how good he is technically
with that goal last week because that wasn't an easy technique.

Finally, I think Jose Fonte is a very good signing. He has won the Euros and
a lot of people thought he might go to Everton, so I think it's a coup for
Slaven that he has got the deal over the line, and credit to the Board,
David Sullivan and David Gold for doing a really good piece of business.
Jose is a leader, a calm influence and a good footballer. He brings size and
stature to the team and brings another threat from set pieces for other
teams to worry about with Carroll, Winston Reid, Michail Antonio and others.
I think it's a fantastic signing.

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Trott hopeful of repeat performance
WHUFC.com

Nathan Trott hopes that the U23s can repeat their last performance against
Leicester in their return fixture with the Foxes on Monday
The PL2 Hammers' match with Leicester kicks off at 7pm on Monday at the
Chigwell Construction Stadium
Trott is also relishing the prospect of two games in five days

Nathan Trott hopes that West Ham United PL2 can match their last performance
against Leicester City when they host the Foxes in the Premier League Cup on
Monday night. The young goalkeeper was merely a spectator between the sticks
as the Hammers put in a masterful display in the previous fixture against
Leicester. Terry Westley's men ran out 2-0 winners in October and dominated
their opening Cup fixture of the campaign. Trott has urged his teammates to
try and replicate that sensational display, as they attempt to defend the
title they dramatically won in May. "Hopefully we can do another performance
like our last one against Leicester. If I'm honest, that's probably one of
our best performances this season," said Trott. "We all hope we can dominate
the game like last time. We have good memories in this tournament and we'll
try our best to win it again."

The Hammers will take confidence from their previous success in this
tournament after winning the competition last season with a penalty shootout
victory over Hull City. Westley's men will also hope to bounce back from
their 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in Premier League 2 last week.
"It was quite a tough game because we had a lot of players who don't usually
play for us from the first team," added Trott. "We had Ashley Fletcher and
Reece (Oxford), so we had to change formation and get used to that.
"However, we still dominated the game and we shouldn't be too angry with
ourselves after losing 3-0 because there were plenty of positives to take
from the game. We kept the ball quite well and our movement off the ball was
good. "One thing is having possession and another thing is using the
possession to your advantage. We've got great players in our team that can
help us win games."

The Hammers face the prospect of two matches in five days, with Friday also
providing a test in the league against Aston Villa. "It will be a big test
especially because now we have a bunch of younger guys coming into our team
at the moment. It's time for everyone to give it another push and step up."

West Ham PL2's Premier League Cup (Group E) match with Leicester City takes
place at 7pm on Monday from the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Admission is
free for season ticket holders – otherwise, it's £5 for adults and £3 for
concessions.

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West Ham close to Scott Hogan signing from Brentford
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 22/01/17 6:29pm
SSN

Scott Hogan is expected to move from Brentford to West Ham this week,
according to Sky sources. Sources close to the striker believe the deal is
being affected by Hammers playmaker Dimitri Payet's future, but are still
confident Hogan will move within 48 hours. Hogan has scored 14 goals in the
Championship for the Bees this season but the 24-year-old was not part of
the team who were beaten 2-1 at Wigan on Saturday. Brentford manager Dean
Smith told the club website after Saturday's match: "Scott Hogan has trained
all week with us but had a tight hamstring yesterday. "It is not the kid's
fault, he wants to play football, but he doesn't want to risk getting
injured. "I fully understand that but I think, if he has a tight hamstring
in February, he plays." Meanwhile, Payet continues to be linked with a move
from West Ham to his former club Marseille, although the French side said
last week they were resigned to not completing a deal during this transfer
window.

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PSG READY SHOCK MOVE FOR DIMITRI PAYET
MICHAEL OLIVER @themikeoliver_
ReadWestHam

Dimitri Payet is keen for a return to France this month but thus far,
Marseille have been unable to agree a deal to bring him back to the Stade
Velodrome.

Their lack of movement on the transfer front has opened the door for them to
be usurped by fellow Ligue 1 clubs, with PSG now reportedly interested in
signing the 29-year-old attacking midfielder according to the Express.

West Ham have put a £35m price-tag on Payet's head this month but Marseille
have yet to come anywhere near that valuation having made three bids for
him, the latest worth a reported £25m.

Payet spent two years with Marseille before completing a £10.7m move to West
Ham in July 2015. The former Saint-Etienne man made 66 appearances for the
Hammers, scoring 18 goals and recording 25 assists before handing in a
transfer request earlier this month.

Slaven Bilic has sent Payet to train with the U23s until his attitude
changes as the club hope they can convince the midfielder to commit himself
to playing for West Ham at least until the end of the season.

Marseille insist they are unable to meet his £35m valuation which has opened
the door for PSG to make their move.

The reigning Ligue 1 champions made an enquiry to sign Payet in the summer
which was flat out rejected by David Sullivan who was firm on his stance
that the attacking midfielder was not for sale at any price.

Earlier this month, PSG signed Julian Draxler from Wolfsburg. The German is
a similar player to Payet but manager Unai Emery has questioned Javier
Pastore's long-term future at the club and eyes Payet as a replacement.

Bankrolled by Qatari investment, PSG would have no issue meeting West Ham's
demands and matching, if not improving on Payet's £125,000-a-week wage
packet either.

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