Stat's a Fact - Unstoppable AC
WHUFC.com
West Ham United completed back-to-back victories in the Premier League after an impressive 3-1 victory against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Andy Carroll's two goals either side of a Cristhian Stuani strike gave the visitors the advantage at half-time, before a late Jonathan Calleri goal – his first for the Hammers – stretched the unbeaten record over Boro to nine games. Carroll gave the Hammers an early lead through a trademark bullet header, whilst his second was nudged home when he reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box. The third came from second-half substitute, Calleri, who rounded-off an excellent counter-attack to slot home from 18 yards.
West Ham's third away victory of the season has lifted in them to tenth in the Premier League, their first visit to the top half since August, whilst Middlesbrough drop to 17th. Despite coming off as a 67th minute substitute, Andy Carroll continued his recent fine form to put together another excellent display in West Ham shirt. Carroll missed much of the first half of the season, but since his return, has now scored five goals in ten games and his performance yesterday was a perfect example of why he is so valuable to this Hammers side.
In the first half alone, he won five aerial battles – three more than anyone else on the field. After 67 minutes, he had made seven, which remained the most by any player by full time. Aerial duels were just a part of his impressive hold-up play though, as he also completed 27 passes and 43 touches during his time on the field. In fact, no West Ham player had made more touches of the ball at the 67-minute mark. The three goals came from five shots on target, with Carroll's two finishes his only attempts of the game – clinical!
Not just offensively was Andy influential, as he also made a total of six clearances. Only Winston Reid had made more when the big man went off. Eventually, a backs-to-the-wall closing 20 minutes meant the Hammers made an incredible 49 defensive clearances and 16 blocks yesterday.
Whilst the hosts controlled large portions of possession (61 percent), they failed to turn it into clear-cut chances with Darren Randolph tested only once after Stuani's goal. Middlesbrough's Adam Clayton completed the most passes (77) but his front-men, Negredo and Stuani, were rarely an option as West Ham gave no space in the middle of the park.
The Hammers are now not in action until 1 February when they welcome Manchester City to London Stadium. Bilic's side will head into the game with confidence following these recent wins and can hopefully call on Andy Carroll to lead the line exactly as he did yesterday.
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Sam stakes his claim
WHUFC.com
Sam Byram says West Ham United are feeling confident after back-to-back victories
Right-back keen to nail down starting place after making impressive return to action
Young defender was in good form in 3-1 win at Middlesbrough on Saturday
Sam Byram wants to make the right-back position his own after producing another assured display in make West Ham United's 3-1 Premier League win at Middlesbrough. Having returned from injury, the No22 was handed a start after impressing as a substitute in the home win over Crystal Palace, and took his opportunity with both feet at the Riverside Stadium. While social media and fan forums are awash with supporters demanding the Club sign a new right-back, Byram is hoping to save the Board a few million pounds. "I was glad to get the start after the last match," confirmed the Essex-born defender. "I'm still trying to find my feet with regards match-fitness, because I've not played a right lot of football since my injury, so I think I'm growing as a player in the team.
"I'm just enjoying my football at the minute and look forward to every game. I want to play as much as I can, but the squad needs strength in depth and whoever we bring in will challenge whoever is in that position. "I'm confident in my ability that I can play in this division and in this team and bring something to the squad. I'm just focusing on my game and hopefully I'll get to keep playing."
With 16 Premier League games still to play, Byram knows he could have a lengthy audition to cement his long-term future in the starting XI. "When I was out I looked at the fixtures and thought I would be back in mid-January and there are still a lot of fixtures to come," he continued. "I'm an optimistic person and try to keep smiling and will just stay positive and keep working hard."
On Saturday, the former Leeds United star stuck to his task on his return to the North East, particularly when faced with the lightning-quick Adama Traore in the second half, and wants to build on his performance over the closing months of the season. "I saw Cress laughing at half-time when he saw he (Traore) had come over to my side!" Byram said with a trademark grin. "He is said to be the fastest player in the Premier League, so it was a test I'd not faced before. "He's obviously a different type of player, so you've just got to do what you can to try and stop him. I think we dealt with the test well and everyone is feeling really positive at the moment. "I think you've just got to get as many people near him as possible! As you saw a few times, he can just run past players as if they're not there, so as a team we did our best against him, but I'm sure that won't be the last time it does it."
It will not get any easier next time out, as the Hammers host Manchester City – the team Byram faced on his debut a year ago – but he is relishing the challenge. "The atmosphere around the training ground and the changing room is probably the best it's been in a while," he confirmed. "I think the last two performances have really shown what we're about and that we can play and create chances and score goals. "If we can keep putting points on the board, we can keep looking up. "We've got ten days to prepare, which is a lot of time to get on the training pitch and work on things ahead of the next game."
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Premier League Cup game postponed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Premier League Cup game against Leicester City on Monday night has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. Following the freezing conditions which have affected the majority of the country over the last few days, the pitch was deemed unplayable at the Chigwell Construction Stadium following a pitch inspection on Monday morning. A new date will be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, don't miss the chance to see Terry Westley's side in action again on Friday night when they host Aston Villa in the Premier League at Dagenham & Redbridge. New signing Nathan Holland could make his debut for the Club following his move from Everton over the weekend.
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Loan round up
WHUFC.com
Four Hammers were in loan action this weekend
Josh Cullen was crucial once again for Bradford as they drew 1-1 with Millwall
Martin Samuelsen, George Dobson and Alex Pike all also featured for their respective sides
Josh Cullen played 90 minutes for Bradford City as the Bantams looked to keep in touch with the automatic promotion spots in League One when they faced Millwall. It was never going to be an easy task hosting the in-form Lions however, and Stuart McCall's men were forced to battle hard to equalise after Lee Gregory had opened the scoring five minutes into the second half. It took only ten minutes, as the left-back poked in Mark Marshall's drive across the face of goal. Hammers midfielder Cullen, who has been in scintillating form for the Yorkshire side this season, did come close to giving Bradford the lead in the first half at Valley Parade, only to be denied by goalkeeper Jordan Archer.
Elsewhere in the same division, George Dobson and Martin Samuelsen both played their parts as substitutes in wins for their respective loan sides. Dobson's Walsall hosted Bristol Rovers and were comfortable 3-1 winners at the Bescot Stadium. Eoghan O'Connell, Simeon Jackson and Joe Edwards all found the back of the net for the west Midlans outfit before Rovers' top scorer Matt Taylor grabbed a late consolation. Dobson was brought on for the remaining ten minutes of the match as Walsall looked to hold onto their lead and record the three points which eventually boosted them up to 13th in League One. Meanwhile, Samuelsen played the final four minutes as Peterborough United stole maximum points at Swindon Town in a 1-0 victory. Chris Forrester caught the hosts napping as the second half began, bagging the winner thanks to Marcus Maddison's assist.
Finally, Alex Pike made his second appearance since joining Cheltenham Town on loan, playing 70 minutes in the side's 2-1 defeat to high-flyers Plymouth Argyle. The struggling Robins thought they had rescued a point when, five minutes before the end, Dan Holman cancelled out a Sonny Bradley opener. There was a late twist however, as Bradley popped up one minute into injury time to find the back of the net for the second time and keep Plymouth just four points behind Doncaster Rovers at the top of League Two.
Enner Valencia was an unused substitute for Everton in their 1-0 away win at Crystal Palace, while Marcus Browne also sat on the bench for the first time at Wigan Athletic since joining the Latics on loan last week.
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Reid hails Hammers hard work
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid proud of West Ham United's efforts over the past six weeks
Five wins and a draw in the last eight matches have lifted the Hammers up to tenth
Centre-back is looking forward to welcoming new boy Jose Fonte to the Club
Winston Reid said team spirit and a willingness to work for each other were key factors in Saturday's 3-1 Premier League victory at Middlesbrough.
The No2, who has been in eye-catching form during the Hammers' recent run of five wins in seven top-flight matches, again shone brightly on a dull day weather-wise at the Riverside Stadium.
The New Zealander put his body in the right place at the right time repeatedly as Slaven Bilic's side deservedly climbed into the top half of the table after collecting three points on Teesside.
"You know when you go away from home in the Premier League, you are going to come under pressure at some stage of the game and we did, but I thought we defended well," he told journalists.
"We got a little bit lucky in the second half with the one which ricocheted off the bar [via Aaron Cresswell and Cristhian Stuani] but we had so many chances throughout the game that I thought we deserved to win.
"It was important for us to beat teams around us like Palace and now Boro and it's a boost to be in the top ten. We started the season poorly and weren't playing the best, so we had to work harder for each other and the results have come – it's not rocket science."
Pre-match predictions and statistics suggested a tight game between a stingy Boro defence at home and a shot-shy West Ham attack on the road, but instead the match was an end-to-end affair with chances aplenty.
Was Reid surprised it was such an open game?
"No I wasn't surprised," he said. "I thought we could get a win from the game, so we tried to attack from the beginning and tried to get at them and they were at home, so they wanted to win as well.
"They probably thought they could get a win as well so that's why it was end-to-end. It was a good game to be part of. The most important thing was that we got the victory."
We started the season poorly and weren't playing the best, so we had to work harder for each other and the results have come – it's not rocket science
Winston Reid
The main reasons for that victory were the two goals scored by Reid's teammate and close friend Andy Carroll, who took his tally to the five since his return from injury last month.
"I'm happy for him," the No2 revealed. "Obviously he was out for a while with an injury but when he's fit and healthy, he scores goals and causes problems for the opponent, but he's also important for us in relieving pressure, especially from set pieces.
"You know that when's in the area, if the ball comes in to his area, he's going to attack it all-in and it helps it get the ball out."
Reid could have a new central defensive partner when West Ham host Manchester City at London Stadium on Wednesday 1 February – Portugal star Jose Fonte.
The former Southampton captain linked up with the Hammers on Friday and could make his debut in Claret and Blue alongside the Kiwi after Angelo Ogbonna was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
"We've had a bit of injuries so to get a good new signing in with Fonte will add to the group," Reid observed. "I'm sure the Club will still want to do more business, but in these last two games we've played better than we'd played previously.
"Bar when we played Manchester City at home, the last month and a half our performances have gone up a lot, which is what I expect from these players and so does the manager as well."
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Martinez joins Oxford on loan
WHUFC.com
West Ham United forward Toni Martinez has joined Oxford United on loan until the end of the season. Martinez has been one of the star performers for the PL2 side this season scoring 12 goals in 13 competitive games. The Hammers management have recognised his impressive performances and feel he will benefit from valuable first-team experience as he looks to help the League One side push towards the play-offs. Martinez will join up with Michael Appleton's squad this week and could go straight into contention for the big Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Newcastle on Saturday. The Spanish forward joined the Club from Valencia back in July 2016 and hit the ground running straight away in a claret and blue shirt when he scored on his U23 debut in the 3-0 win over Stoke City in August. Martinez has continued his rich vein of form in front of goal and everyone at the Club wishes Toni the best of luck for his loan spell at Oxford United.
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#WHUAREYA - Alfie Lewis
WHUFC.com
The Checkatrade Trophy - an opportunity for young Premier League talents to shine amongst senior professionals in the Football League. That's part of the idea, anyway, and it certainly this season worked for young Alfie Lewis.
The cultured midfielder started all three of West Ham's matches in the tournament this term, impressing with his range of passing and energetic displays, leading to starts and appearances from the bench for the Premier League 2 side.
He's enjoyed this season as a real breakthrough year at the Academy and, as he explained to West Ham TV in #WHUAREYA, he hopes to kick on even further in the second half of the campaign.
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New stewarding measures introduced
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have introduced a range of new measures with the aim of improving stewarding at London Stadium on matchdays. The Club have listened to supporters' feedback and is working very closely with London Stadium partners including Stadium operators London Stadium 185 to continue to raise the standard of stewarding.
New Measures Include:
- Writing to all ex-West Ham United stewards inviting them to work at London Stadium
- Former Boleyn Ground stewards deployed in areas where empathy with supporters is key
- Deploying the same stewards to the same areas wherever possible
- Increasing the number of Supporter Liaison Officers to 30 for the Manchester City fixture
- Club officials briefing senior stewards and supervisors about the Club, its traditions and fanbase
As Vice-Chairman Karren Brady told key fan website and forum owners at London Stadium earlier this week, the Club are determined to respond to fans's feedback and concerns from the Hammers' first six months at their new home. "As a Club, we are determined that fans enjoy the best-possible experience when they come to matches at London Stadium, and this includes having a productive and pleasant relationship with the matchday stewards," said the Vice-Chairman. "We want to hear from all former Boleyn Ground stewards and will do all we can to give them the opportunity to make the transition to London Stadium and form part of that vital link between stewards and fans. "While the vast majority of stewards, who are employed by LS185, are professional, approachable and do their jobs superbly, we know there is no substitute for those years of experience. This is just one of a range of initiatives to help build that crucial relationship between fans and stewards."
The Vice-Chairman confirmed that West Ham United will be writing immediately to all former Boleyn Ground stewards who have not taken up a role at the Club's new home for a second time, encouraging them to return to stewarding at London Stadium. The Club is also working encouraging former Boleyn Ground stewards to work towards the NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Spectator Safety qualification, which is required by LS185 for all stewards employed at London Stadium. "We always knew it would take time for everyone – the team, the Board, supporters and stewards – to settle into life at our new home, but we are confident that we are moving in the right direction," the Vice-Chairman continued. "We are working with the other stakeholders to ensure that we can take real action to deal with the issues our fans have raised. "We have introduced our team of SLOs, West Ham supporters who are there to assist their fellow fans on matchdays, and they have been very well received. I would like to have 50 SLOs on duty every matchday by the end of the current season. "In addition, we have launched a new bespoke Supporter Services Twitter feed @WestHamHelp, which is providing valuable information to fans throughout the week and on matchdays. "It is now our collective aim to continue to improve the level of stewarding to the satisfaction of every supporter who visits our iconic home, and I believe the steps we are putting in place will help us work towards that target."
*Are you a former Boleyn Ground steward interesting in taking on a similar role at London Stadium? Or are you a West Ham United fan keen to help your fellow supporters by becoming a steward for the first time?
If so, please email supporterservices@westhamunited.co.uk for information about how to apply to join the London Stadium matchday stewarding team!
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LUNCHTIME ROUND UP: NEW PAYET OFFER, DOUBLE SIGNING ON THE CARDS, CHAIRMAN WORKING HARD, CARROLL FOR ENGLAND?
BY DAN CHAPMAN ON 23 JANUARY 2017 AT 1:21PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Happy Monday Hammers! Here is the news going around this lunchtime:
Marseille are set to increase their offer for Dimitri Payet this week. (Standard)
Increase the bid to what we want so we can just get rid of him now. We all want him gone as quickly as possible.
Roma are desperate to sign Sofiane Feghouli, but it is dependant on the situation with Dimitri Payet. (Daily Star)
I hope we do not sell Feghouli. He has proven to be valuable to the team in recent performances. He could become a key, key player.
West Ham are hoping to complete the double signing of Robert Snodgrass and Scott Hogan before the end of the transfer window. (Standard)
Let's hope we get these done now. Would be two brilliant additions to the team in my opinion. A winger who has a brilliant shot and also has a great delivery too, along with a man who has scored goals for fun in the Championship. Brilliant business if we get them both.
Andy Carroll says the Dimitri Payet situation will not derail West Ham. (Sky Sports)
The boys have shown real character ever since this whole Payet thing started, and I am so proud of them. Hopefully we can keep building as a team and push further up the league table.
Carroll also says that he hopes his recent form can get him back into the England frame. (Telegraph)
He deserves it more than some other obvious names, but we all know what England are like. Its always the same players and there is never a chance for any new blood.
David Sullivan says he will be working around the clock in order to bring new signings to the club. (Standard)
Keep working David, bring the signings in and the fans will be happy.
West Ham are set to finally sign Scott Hogan from Brentford this week. (Daily Star)
This story has been going on for ages, and I am so happy that is finally set to be completed. He is a brilliant striker and I am so excited to see him play upfront with Andy Carroll. It has the potential to be a brilliant strike force in my view.
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IT'S THE WEST HAM WAY BY DAISY LOWE
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 22 JANUARY 2017 AT 9:43PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Daisy Lowe @DaisyLoweX
After our second crucial win in a row I think it's safe to say that us Hammer's fans have certainly got something to smile about. The points are obviously crucial, but more importantly, we are gaining back our West Ham Way. The players have been smiling during games, running the length of the pitch, trying to get on the end of every ball and celebrating in style with the fans and (in some cases) ball boys! It has taken me a bit of time, but I'm starting to feel excited again.
I was lucky enough to spend the last ever season at The Boleyn Ground as a Hostess in the corporate area – some of you may even have had the pleasure of seeing me there! Coming from a West Ham family you can only imagine my Dad's pride when he could tell his mates that I was working at our club. Unfortunately with the move to the Olympic Stadium, us Hostess girls could not go over, which left a massive hole in my Saturday's. I missed seeing everybody and getting my Nathan's Pie n Mash. Although I have a season ticket (Bobby Moore Upper!) at the London Stadium, I just hated watching as a fan and not being involved behind the scenes any more.
Luckily for me, I was asked by an anonymous twitter account that some of you may know, to come and help out at the West Ham Way pre match events.
The events are held at arguably one of my favourite places – The East Ham Working Mans Club! Us Hostess girls used to always go down there after a game, and were sometimes even joined by a few of the legends! Everyone congregates upstairs where the guys set up a stage with a sound system that blasts out all our favourite songs – don't worry, I don't decide what we play. Once you're upstairs, it's time to get yourself comfortable on one of the many tables, and take full advantage of the unlimited beer and cider from the lovely ladies behind the bar. There is also pie n mash available to buy if you are feeling peckish.
About an hour in, Mark Ward will officially announce that tickets are available to buy for the raffle and that is when me and Bekka walk around chatting to everybody and handing out the tickets! The prizes have been great every week, and with 5 winners each event it is always something to look forward to, even if it's just the banter between Wardy and the lads when he is calling out winners.
Hammerettes
Possibly everybody's favourite part of the event is when Mark Ward holds a question and answer session with a former player, where nothing is off limits- and that's just Wardy! Fans are also welcome to ask questions before getting photos and autographs (myself and Bekka are more than happy to help with the photo taking!)
After the Q&A, we officially announce raffle winners, and normally have about 30 minutes left to get the last rounds in before the coaches set off to take everybody to the stadium. The coach journey is actually one of my favourite parts of the day, but be warned I always claim the back! Last week we even had Steve Lomas jump on with us which i am sure was a little bonus for those sitting with him!
If you aren't going to the game, that doesn't matter. The Working Mans Club broadcast the game on a big screen, and after watching it there last week I can say it is a lovely atmosphere that attracts nice proper West Ham fans.
Still not convinced? I get it, I mean, who would want to meet former players, win West Ham prizes, have unlimited drinks, mingle with other fans AND get your transport covered to the stadium…
The next West Ham Way pre match event is on Sat 11 Feb with special guest John Moncur! I can already tell it's going to be a lively one. Get your tickets here: http://bit.ly/TWHWTICKET5
Daisy x
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Hammers fans involved in unsavoury scenes
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd January 2017
By: Staff Writer
Seven people have been arrested in relation to incidents that occurred before, during and after West Ham United's 3-1 win at Middlesbrough. Four 'Boro supporters and three West Ham fans had their collars felt in the wake of a number of disturbing scenes and flashes of violence that occurred both in and around the Riverside Stadium. Two of the travelling supporters were arrested before kick-off for drug-related offences whilst the third, a 57-year-old man was detained on Friday night in relation to a breached banning order. As for the Middlesbrough supporters, two - aged 23 and 24 - were arrested inside the stadium on suspicion of assault and a third for disorderly conduct. A fourth man was arrested outside the stadium after the game for affray.
Meanwhile several supporters have spoken about the hostile atmosphere which greeted West Ham's 3,000 travelling fans on Saturday - with one prominent KUMB member comparing the scenes to the dark days of football hooliganism. "I saw two West Ham fans going down and 20+ kicking them on the floor," he said. "Two separate incidents within 20 yards of each other, right outside the ground. "I tried to help and it was just chaos - then was also a group [of 'Boro fans] with knives further down before you went under the main bridge towards the subway. "I must have seen half-a-dozen regular [West Ham] fans take clumps from behind. One big lump had a go at me and gave it all the 'you stabbed our fans' caper. "When i told him he was just as bad, attacking normal fans, he replied 'you aren't wearing colours, so you're fair game'."
Another travelling KUMB member also witnessed similar scenes after the game. "Me and my mate walked back to the station going behind their stand," they said. "There was a lot of shouting, punches thrown and general bravado from them. "I saw someone get slapped and was told it was one of our fans, not a bloke looking for trouble. Even some older 'Boro fans said it was out of order. All the while there were no Police in sight. "The 'Boro lot lined up across the road waiting for our lot, who by now had grouped up - but still no Plod, They only got involved when our fans got together and gave it back. "They ['Boro fans] were mostly younger lads picking on ones, twos or small numbers. They didn't have a lot of bottle when ours got together. Definitely one of the more lively aways I've been to for a while."
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West Ham turn down Dimitri Payet bid of £22.5m from Marseille - Sky sources
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 23/01/17 8:02pm
SSN
West Ham have rejected a third offer from Marseille for Dimitri Payet worth around £22.5m, according to Sky sources. A source close to the French club's president claims the bid, which Marseille believe is significant, was made in pounds sterling. West Ham, who value the player at £30m and have turned down two previous offers, consider the latest approach unacceptable. Payet has made it clear he wants to return to Marseille for family reasons and continues to train with the Hammers' U23 squad. The 29-year-old cost £10.75m when he arrived in the summer of 2015 and signed a new long-term contract in February last year. West Ham have won back-to-back Premier League games without their France international, who was the club's player of the season last year. He has scored 15 goals in 60 appearances for West Ham and was rewarded with a new five-and-a-half year deal last February.
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West Ham forward Andy Carroll to undergo scan on suspected groin problem
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 23/01/17 3:42pm
SSN
Andy Carroll will undergo a full scan this week, despite being taken off only as a precaution during West Ham's 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough. The Hammers forward scored twice at the Riverside on Saturday, but was substituted in the 67th minute with a suspected groin problem. Sky Sports News HQ understand the injury was not serious and Carroll is expected to be fit to face Manchester City at the London Stadium in the Premier League on February 1. Carroll also played down fears over the possible injury following his successful afternoon in the north-east. "I'm all good and looking forward to the next game. I haven't trained all week. I had a couple of days off in the gym," he said. "My groin is a little bit tight. I didn't want to risk anything. It was a little bit stiff so maybe that's one of the reasons it's tight."
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Andy Carroll says Dimitri Payet situation will not derail West Ham
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 23/01/17 8:36am
SSN
Andy Carroll insists the ongoing situation with wantaway midfielder Dimitri Payet will not destroy the spirit within the West Ham first-team squad. The Hammers have recorded back-to-back Premier League victories since the influential France international informed manager Slaven Bilic of his desire to leave the club. Payet has not featured in the wins over Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough and is currently training with the club's U23s, with former side Marseille yet to agree a deal to re-sign him. "Our response just proves what the lads have got deep down in themselves - our passion for football, for the manager and for our club," Carroll said. "No one player is going to destroy anything. I think the fight the lads have got, the fans standing behind us, it's all been great. "It is a very tight-knit group, the tightest it has been since I joined."
Carroll followed up his sensational bicycle kick against Palace with another two strikes in West Ham's 3-1 success at Middlesbrough on Saturday, taking his tally to four goals in his last six matches. The victory at the Riverside also lifted Bilic's men into the top half of the Premier League for the first time this season and Carroll believes the turnaround in West Ham's fortunes has been down to the spirit in the dressing room. "The atmosphere in and around the place is fantastic and that shows on the pitch," the 28-year-old added. "You go into the dressing room and the lads are laughing and joking. "It helps to bring out the best in players, as you can see because we're on a great run."
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Dimitri Payet and Ross McCormack have taken liberties - the FA should change rules to stop sulkers being paid
Players used to have to submit transfer requests if they wanted a move but now they can start throwing sickies or making ridiculous excuses - and the FA must prevent a similar situation repeating
The Mirror
BYSTAN COLLYMORE
20:00, 23 JAN 2017
The time has come for the FA to step up and make their rules relevant to 2017 to stop a Dimitri Payet or Ross McCormack situation happening again. Fifteen or 20 years ago if you wanted to leave a club you had to submit a transfer request and go on the transfer list. But that has now given way to a new phenomenon of players throwing in sickies or coming up with excuses like McCormack's that he couldn't open the gates outside his house to get out. There is no suggestion McCormack wants to leave Aston Villa but his training no-shows angered boss Steve Bruce. Agents and players have realised that by not turning up to training, staying at home, making threats or claiming the player is sick they can still avoid getting hit in the pocket. Because you lose money if you make it clear you want to leave and go on the transfer list. But this newer way you can have your cake and eat it. Clubs are fairly hamstrung when these situations crop up and a player wants to leave. All they have to do is be mardy, throw a strop and they can get a move without losing any bonus that they would lose if they handed in a transfer request. When I was playing, if you wanted to move to another club, the first step was go on the transfer list and everybody knew where they stood. I remember Pierre Van Hooijdonk doing it when he was at my old club Nottingham Forest and I was at Aston Villa at the time. I know Pierre and he felt at the time promises that had been made weren't being kept. Eventually he said 'enough is enough' and extricated himself from that situation. It is rare these days to hear about a player being transfer listed. But Pierre did that because in the Dutch football culture he came from that happened all the time. If the player was unhappy he would go on strike. Now, because of how players and agents are trying to get out of being punished, downing tools needs to be addressed and the FA needs to modify its rules to give clubs emergency permission to stop a player's wages until a resolution is found. They could set up a panel to assess a case where a situation similar to Payet or McCormack has happened. They would need to decide if - having gathered all the evidence about a player's behaviour and the circumstances ie if he was being linked with a £500,000-per-week move to China and then a week later he is sick or can't get out of his house - a standard two week fine is not enough. If it isn't they should be able to use emergency legislation to stop a player being paid. The PFA molly coddle players and back them up far too much when players are obviously taking liberties and the FA rules don't give clubs the teeth to deal with these situations. But if the rules are changed it will stop this spreading through other clubs.
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Oxford Sign West Ham Striker Martinez
oufc.co.uk
13:47 23rd January 2017
Spanish striker signs for the U's
Oxford United have completed the signing of West Ham United striker Toni Martinez on loan until the end of the season. The 19-year-old forward started his career at Valencia before a £2.4m move to West Ham last summer. He has been in great form for the West Ham Development side with a hat-trick against Wolves taking him to 12 goals from 11 appearances for the Hammers.
Head Coach Michael Appleton said: "It's an exciting signing. He has a terrific scoring record and is very highly thought of at West Ham so it is great that clubs think of Oxford United as a club where we help nurture talented young footballers and help their development. "He will certainly add some serious competition for us at the top of the pitch."
Toni told us : "This is a great opportunity at a very good club. It is an important step for me and one I am really looking forward to."
The striker is ineligible in the Checkatrade Trophy, having scored twice for West Ham against Coventry City earlier in the competition, but will be part of United's squad for the sold out FA Cup tie at home to Newcastle United on Saturday
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Seven arrests at Middlesbrough vs West Ham game including alleged stadium assault
By the end of Saturday, four Middlesbrough fans and three West Ham fans had been arrested for various reasons
BYJAMES CAIN
13:23, 23 JAN 2017
A total of seven men were arrested before, during and after Boro's Premier League clash with West Ham United at the Riverside Stadium.
Four Middlesbrough fans and three West Ham fans were arrested in and around the ground and town centre. Two West Ham supporters were arrested well before kick-off. Before they even got past the turnstiles at the Riverside, the two Hammers fans - aged 22 and 33 - were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug. Both issued with an adult caution.
Inside the stadium – a man was assaulted leading to the arrest of two men, Middlesbrough fans aged 23 and 34, on suspicion of assault.
Both were released on bail pending further inquiries. Another Boro fan, aged 25, was arrested around the same time on suspicion of disorderly conduct. He was charged and will appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court in February. After the game and outside the stadium, a 28-year-old man - a Boro fan - was arrested on suspicion of affray. He was released with no further police action. And finally, a 57-year-old West Ham fan was arrested in a town centre pub later in the evening on suspicion of breaching a banning order.
He was charged and will appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court early in February.
In October, The Gazette reported how scenes of violence broke out following the final whistle of Middlesbrough's 1-1 draw at West Ham's Olympic Stadium. Travelling supporters described their "absolutely terrifying" experience following the game, with one Boro fan saying "all hell broke loose" when West Ham supporters broke through a cordon. Other fans also told of how bottles and coins were thrown into the away end during the game. And dozens of fans have also complained about the policing and stewarding at the ground.
Frightened Boro fans branded West Ham supporters a "disgrace to football" following unsavoury scenes after Saturday's game, which finished 1-1. Questions have been asked about the security in the London stadium since fighting broke out in the stands during West Ham's games against Bournemouth and Watford earlier this season. West Ham have been pushing for a police presence in the ground but the stadium operators, rather than the club, who are the anchor tenants, would be required to meet the financial cost.
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West Ham veteran James Collins joins in the fun at kids birthday part as he performs impressive backflip
West Ham defender James Collins posted a video of him doing a backflip
The central defender was at a children's birthday part at a trampoline centre
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic will have had his heart in his mouth watching the clip
The club are currently short at the back after losing Angelo Ogbonna to injury
By Harry Slavin For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 13:44, 23 January 2017 | UPDATED: 13:46, 23 January 2017
West Ham had plenty to celebrate at the weekend after they secured back-to-back Premier League wins with a 3-1 win against Middlesbrough. But centre back James Collins was still bouncing – quite literally – on Monday off the back of victory at the Riverside.
The Wales international, who has three children, was in high spirits at a birthday party attended by his own kids, so much so that he decided to join in the fun at the trampoline centre. Not that his manager may have approved all that much. Slaven Bilic lost Angelo Ogbonna for the rest of the season following victory over Middlesbrough after confirming that the Italy defender needed surgery to correct a knee problem. So his heart-rate might have gone up a notch had he seen his 33-year-old stalwart performing a backflip at a kids birthday party. To the manager's relief though, the defender lands his acrobatic stunt perfectly, pulling off the move with all the grace of a young Lomana LuaLua. Like his perfect landing, West Ham are also beginning to find their feet in what has proved a tricky season. The Hammers have taken time to bed into their new home at the London Stadium since their move from Upton Park in the summer, and the transfer fiasco surrounding wantaway winger Dimitri Payet has added further unrest to a difficult season. However, the players and staff have rallied in recent weeks and their win over Aitor Karanka's side have seen them move up into the top half of the table. With their new-found confidence, Collins and West Ham will be hoping to have Manchester City in a spin when they return to the London Stadium for the second time this season on February 1.
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Dimitri Payet continuing to train with West Ham U23s
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 23/01/17 1:02pm
SSN
Dimitri Payet is continuing to train with West Ham's U23 squad, with no agreement yet reached on a sale to Marseille. Reports in the national press claimed the wantaway France international had been turning up late for training and also walked out on a practice session on Sunday. Sky Sports News HQ understands those reports are inaccurate and that the 29-year-old has been following orders from the club since telling manager Slaven Bilic that he wanted to leave. West Ham have won back-to-back Premier League matches without Payet, which has lifted them into the top half of the table. Sky sources understand the Hammers have rejected two offers for Payet from his former club Marseille, including a £20m bid, and value him at £30m. Payet, who joined West Ham from Marseille for £10.75m in the summer of 2015, wants to return to the south of France because of family reasons. He has scored 15 goals in 60 appearances for West Ham and was rewarded with a new five-and-a-half year deal last February.
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West Ham still hope to complete signings of Robert Snodgrass and Scott Hogan after duo were omitted from weekend's games
KEN DYER, GIUSEPPE MURO
Evening Standard
West Ham remain interested in signing Hull midfielder Robert Snodgrass, who was left out of the squad at Chelsea yesterday with an injury. Hull want at least £10m for Snodgrass, £4m more than West Ham have offered, while struggling Crystal Palace are also reported to be keen on the former Leeds and Norwich player. The Hammers are yet to reach an agreement with Brentford for Scott Hogan, with the transfer saga set to rumble on into the final week of the window. Hogan was left out of the squad at Wigan on Saturday after manager Dean Smith said the striker has had his "head turned".
Brentford are holding out for £15m for the 24-year-old and have rejected bids from other Premier League clubs. Meanwhile, Marseille are expected to make an increased offer for Dimitri Payet. The Hammers remain reluctant to sell the France international unless the club match their valuation of £35million. Marseille's most recent offer for Payet, who wants to return to the south of France because his family are unsettled, was £26.5m which was rejected by West Ham.
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Robert Snodgrass Hull talks to be held today as Middlesbrough & West Ham interest grows
Aitor Karanka is keen to sign a winger before next Tuesday's deadline, with the Tigers winger on the club's wishlist
COMMENTS
BYJONATHON TAYLOR
11:32, 23 JAN 2017UPDATED11:37, 23 JAN 2017
Hull City manager Marco Silva will sit down with Robert Snodgrass today to discuss his future at the club. Boro and West Ham have been linked with a January move for the winger, who has rejected a new contract at the KCOM Stadium. The Hammers have seen three bids for the Scot turned down this month, while reports over the weekend claimed Boro had seen a £6m offer - rising to £8m - knocked back.
The 29-year-old did not feature for the Tigers against Chelsea on Sunday, with Silva insisting the player was ruled out through injury, and the Portuguese boss played down reports that Snodgrass had refused to play at Stamford Bridge. "He wasn't available for the game, that's all I can say," Silva said on Snodgrass' future. "It is a small injury in the knee. Nothing special but in the past the player has had problems in the knee. "I hope he will be available for the next game (against Manchester United on Thursday). I hope he will start training this week. "I hope he will not leave because he is a good player in our squad. We need to keep our good players. I don't want any important players to leave the club."
Despite his stance, Hull parted with midfielder Jake Livermore for £10m last week as the 27-year-old joined West Brom - and it remains to be seen whether the Humberside hierarchy are prepared to cash in on Snodgrass too. The player has 18 months left to run on his existing deal after Hull triggered an automatic one-year extension, but the club will loath to lose a key asset for free next summer. Asked if there had been fresh offers for Snodgrass, Silva added: "The player was not available for the game. About proposals, I don't know anything new about this. In the last days my focus was on the game and to prepare the match. (On Monday) I will talk about the player and see what has happened.
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Why Payet isn't a complete dead loss for West Ham
The French has added financial value to a club making the Irons among the sharpest dealmakers in the Premier League
The Wharf
BYGILES BROADBENT
11:44, 23 JAN 2017
Dimitri Payet may no longer be the darling of the London Stadium but he's add value to West Ham. The French was bought for £10.7million from Marseille and his likely exit – and it is likely – will probably net the Irons three times that amount. Some astute buying and talent development has added about €102million (£88million) to the value of the team's players. West Ham rank seventh in the domestic part of this value-added league compiled from research by the CIES Football Observatory with North London rivals Spurs leading the way. Tottenham have spent €274million (£236million at today's exchange rate) in transfer fees to assemble their current squad. That squad has now been valued at €799million (£689million), an increase of €525million (£452million).
That's the biggest increase in the Premier League and the second biggest across Europe's five major leagues. Only Barcelona's players have increased in value more, €586million (£505million).
Leicester's squad has increased the next most (€354million/£305million) which is the fourth biggest increase in the big five leagues.
Arsenal have the next biggest rise with €279million (£240million and sixth overall) followed by Liverpool with €237million (£204million and seventh overall) and then Southampton with €221million (£190million and ninth overall).
Manchester United and Hull are the only two Premier League sides whose players' values have actually DROPPED since they were purchased.
Hull's overall squad value is down €14million (£12million) while United's is down €18million (£15million).
Club: Increase (€m)
Tottenham: 525
Leicester: 354
Arsenal: 279
Liverpool: 237
Southampton: 221
Chelsea: 201
West Ham: 102
Watford: 84
Sunderland: 66
Bournemouth: 65
Swansea: 59
Everton: 50
Man City: 44
Middlesbrough: 38
West Brom: 37
Stoke: 36
Burnley: 24
Crystal Palace: 9
Hull: -14
Man United: 18
Meanwhile, Marseille have indicated they are no longer interested in signing Payet, who had his heart set on a return to France. The French club indicated they would pay no more than £25million for the unsettled international – but the London club believe it's just a negotiating ploy.
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Hogan's amazing Brentford bonusFeatured Image
ate: 23rd January 2017 at 11:50am
Written by: Joe McHugh
Scott Hogan will pick up a £750,000 bonus for LEAVING Brentford when he completes his £15m transfer to West Ham. That deal is expected to be completed this week with Hogan being left out of the Brentford side that lost at Wigan on Saturday. According to a report in The Sun the former Rochdale striker had a clause inserted in his Brentford contract giving him a 5% cut on any transfer fee. Hogan will also get a signing on fee from West Ham while his weekly wage will probably exceed his monthly cheque from Brentford.
With Rochdale also due 20% it means that Brentford will pick up just over £11m from the deal for the striker who has scored 14 goals in 25 Championship appearances. West Ham started bidding at £10m but after two weeks of negotiations it seems that Slaven Bilic is about to add some extra firepower to his side. With Andy Carroll already outscoring Dimitri Payet and Hogan on the way Bilic will be confident that the troubles he endured towards the end of 2016 are over with as the Hammers look to return to the top half of the Premier League table.
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Dimitri Payet latest: Marseille table THIRD bid for West Ham's wantaway rebel
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Monday, January 23, 2017
Marseille have made a third bid worth £25.8million for wantaway West Ham star Dimitri Payet, according to reports in France. The 29-year-old is desperate to leave the Hammers before the January transfer window shuts and he is refusing to play for them.
Marseille are ready to offer the attacking midfielder a route back to France, but so far they have had their opening offers of £19m and £20m rejected. That had led to speculation the French club may end their interest in Payet to pursue cheaper and alternative targets. However, according to L'Equipe, that is not the case and Marseille have in fact submitted a third bid worth £25.8m. That figure, though, is still short of West Ham's reported valuation of £29m. The Ligue 1 side remain desperate to sign Payet, who spent two years at the club before joining West Ham in the summer of 2015.
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West Ham's London Stadium 'could end up costing £1bn'
JONATHAN PRYNN
West Ham's new "white elephant" London Stadium could end costing £1 billion, a senior politician claimed today. The spiralling price of the former Olympic stadium in Stratford — almost entirely paid for by the taxpayer — is to be the subject of an inquiry ordered by Mayor Sadiq Khan. The cost of building it in time for the 2012 Games then converting it so it can be used for football and concerts has already reached more than £753 million and is still rising. Conservative London Assembly member Andrew Boff said: "As far as I can see there is no end to taxpayers' money being used to prop up this white elephant — they've been effectively given this stadium and the taxpayer is paying for it. "The money is mounting up. I wouldn't be surprised if we get rid of a billion on this thing." Mr Boff was speaking to BBC London's Inside Out current affairs show, which investigates the issue tonight. As part of its deal with the London Legacy Development Corporation, West Ham has contributed £15 million to the £321 million cost of conversion, and will pay £2.5 million a year as part of its 99-year lease to cover policing, security and other costs. West Ham have not commented directly on the criticism of the deal. However in December the club's vice-chairman, Baroness Brady, told members of the London Assembly that football clubs such as West Ham "contribute billions of pounds to the UK economy through their taxes and the way they run their businesses and the National Insurance they pay and so on. "This is not an industry that just sucks out of the system. It puts an awful lot back in." Inside Out is on BBC1 at 7.30pm
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Ghana play down malaria concerns for Andre Ayew
Published on: 23 January 2017
ghanasoccernet.com
Ghana officials have clarified Andre Ayew's health status saying the talisman has not contracted malaria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
They argue that malaria would have sidelined him for one week and could not have played in Saturday's match. But the West Ham United star was passed fit and lasted the entire duration in the 1-0 win over Mali.
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Andre Ayew defies claims of malaria to help Ghana at 2017 AFCON
Published on: 23 January 2017
http://ghanasoccernet.com/
Andre Ayew has revealed he played through the pain barrier to help Ghana beat Mali 1-0 on Saturday at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
The West Ham United star was reported ill with some quarters claiming he had contracted malaria but Ayew managed to last the entire duration. ''I wasn't feeling well. I had some temperature and therefore had little training yesterday and the day before but the medical team treated me well. I felt I could help and I gave it my all and I'm very happy we got the qualification,'' he said in a post-match interview. ''The sacrifices we are all making are paying off and make you know that hard work really pays off.'' The Black Stars who have six points in the basket have qualified for the quarter-final with one match to spare. Ayew should be available for their final Group match against Egypt.
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BEG, STEAL AND BORO - WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ?
By HamburgHammer 23 Jan 2017 at 08:00 0 comments
WTID
Being a West Ham fan is never dull, innit ? Another win, this time a very credible away success at Middlesbrough, plenty of rumours as could be expected of course during this time of the season and yes, the yellow-bellied toad from Reunion, is still officially a West Ham player. We have signed two new players (Fonte and Holland), will lose at least one in the coming days (Calleri), there will be more transfer rumours during the week and later today the BBC will broadcast another little nugget about the Olympic Stadium on the telly, about taxpayers' money being wasted and no doubt the BBC (funded by the taxpayer too of course) will be pointing fingers at West Ham as the main culprit yet again.
But let's try and keep things somewhat organised: Quick Concordia update, my lads won another winter break friendly on Saturday afternoon (Our Kevin scored again) which I obviously couldn't attend because I wanted to watch our game as it happened, screwdriver in hand, cup of tea and a biscuit sitting ready on the living-room table. And what a thrilling game to watch it was, end to end stuff and finally a game where we created numerous chances while playing some nice free-flowing, counter-attacking football.
Just like in the Palace game it was a proper team performance and nice to see. Carroll looks fitter and hungrier than ever – and when he does he seems like he can't and won't stop scoring, but forever hovering above is his tendency to suffer yet another knock or even lengthy injury layoff. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed that he can find a way, in tandem with the West Ham physios and medical team, to keep himself sharp and healthy. His playing style however is so refreshingly passionate and all guns blazing that injuries will always be part of the Carroll package I reckon.
It'd be unfair to just single out Carroll here, the entire team did their bit to get the three points, but one has to say our bench looked incredibly thin/young again.
Yes, Calleri came on, had a decent cameo appearance and even scored his first goal for the Hammers (I'm sure he will claim it despite the deflection taking the ball into the opposite corner), but it looks like the first may also be his last as rumour has it he will fly to Las Palmas and join them on yet another loan deal after all.
Which, coupled with Carroll's tendency to get injured, Sakho's current injury absence and Browne being out on loan, means we do need a signing or two upfront.
After lengthy contract negotiations with Brentford it seemed like we had a deal agreed for Scott Hogan, but apparently West Ham or rather Bilic weren't sure about him, being concerned about his previous knee injuries, and it now looks like Watford might have stepped in, offering a better deal and more money upfront.
Then again it could all be smokes and mirrors, bluff and counterbluff, it is that time of year again after all.
Defoe may or may not come, I'm sure we are still waiting and hoping he will submit a transfer request, but I wouldn't want to bet my house on a deal happening, Defoe remains Sunderland's only hope to preserve their top-flight status this season. So we do need a striker and maybe our club are following up different options as we speak, probably even working on a quick, behind the scenes deal like we did with Jose Fonte.
That came a bit out of the claret and blue and it was done, apparently, in a fashion I find exemplary. Due to Ogbonna needing season ending surgery to repair his knee (hats off to Angelo, he played through the pain barrier all season, obviously suffering in his performances as a byproduct of carrying that injury, but still played on regardless because we needed him, now, THAT is professionalism and sacrifice, talk about taking one for the team! Take notice, Monsieur Payet!) we identified Fonte and signed him for a few million less surely, due to keeping the Ogbonna injury secret enough not to impact contract negotiations.
We now have another very solid, experienced CB who may be just the ideal partner for Reid. I'm confident Fonte has still another two or three good seasons at the top level in him and don't underestimate the fact he used to be Southampton's skipper too. It can't hurt to have a seasoned veteran like him in the side, not just for his footballing skills and reading of the game on the pitch, but also his ability to teach and lead the youngsters off it. A great signing at a reasonable price.
Talking of which I know it is unwise to get sucked into all those transfer rumours in the January window, with social media spreading rumours about bids submitted, rejected, re-submitted and so forth. It seems to be the modus operandi of our owners though to do what we all seem to criticise Marseille for in their pursuit of Dimitri Payet, insulting a selling club with lowball offers that in no way reflect the quality and skill level of the player in question.
I know I tend to be naive in many ways, however, I still think there is long-term merit in submitting realistic bids in the transfer market, showing respect and appreciation for the player and the selling club alike. I am not talking about throwing money away left, right and center or hopelessly overpaying on average players. But don't insult the other party in a potential deal by making offers that are so far off the mark that you are essentially just wasting everyone's time. As a side effect you may also cheese the player off if you merely offer a pittance to sign him as that would suggest you don't really rate the player that much anyway.
Which brings me to Payet. Apparently various sources are claiming other clubs in France have woken up to Payet's availability, Nice may be interested in an initial loan while PSG have apparently also put their nose in now. Which can only be good in terms of finally establishing a proper market for the player, if only to drive the price up to a more realistic level for Marseille who seem to remain Payet's favourite option. It would be nice to see Payet accept a bit of a compromise solution here and go to any other club in France apart from Marseille as that would make sure that West Ham get a fair transfer fee for him – I think it is what our club very much deserve for helping massively to make him the player he is today.
We'll see how things develop further in this matter. Where then do West Ham go from here, after two wins on the trot for the rest of the season ? Well, I shall make some not very bold predictions here.
a) We will not get relegated.
b) We will not qualify for European competition.
c) Andy Carroll will miss more games through injury this season.
d) We will finish the season with a positive goal difference.
Looking at those predictions one might argue we don't need to make any more signings in January at all
(I think we have just signed one for the future in England U19 midfielder Nathan Holland, an attacking midfielder from the Everton Academy). But I would warn against that approach. Surely we need to try to finish the season in a positive fashion, on a high, and climb the table as much as possible. For our summer transfer negotiations we need to ride the crest of a wave of confidence. And we need to spend.
We have seen this season that just being a Premier League team in London, playing in a massive stadium alone doesn't attract top players. It also doesn't make top players want to stay. The simple truth is, you need money, and a lot of it, to attract top players, especially if you cannot offer Europa League or CL football.
So that means that eventually our board will need to spend some serious money if they are indeed serious about taking West Ham to the next level.
I wasn't unhappy with the previous level to be honest, happy with the occasional decent cup run at the Boleyn, surviving most seasons in midtable obscurity while sometimes having an extraordinary one. But our owners, for better or worse, decided to go ahead with the stadium move. That now means that the previous level will no longer do, we need to aim higher and show ambition. And like it or not, we will only be taken seriously if we are prepared to invest in the club and the team.
Are our owners prepared to do that ? Or are we just happy enough to bumble along and avoid relegation while waiting for the filthy rich investor in shining armour, riding into Stratford on his Arabian (or Qatari) steed and make an offer to the Davids they simply cannot refuse ? I suppose our upcoming transfer dealings will give us a bit of an indication in that respect.
What do West Ham fans want, after the stadium move? I cannot and will not speak for everybody, I can only tell you what I want. For me the team is everything, playing positive attacking football, running, fighting, tackling for each other. I am not sure if we will ever be a club, stockpiling £40 million players like Chelsea, Man United or Arsenal.
Maybe that just isn't in our DNA. I like the way Bilic acts, works and conducts himself. I want him to be a permanent fixture at West Ham.
And I want him to sign the right kind of player in future, one who will give his all for the greater good of the team, who will be happy to improve the play of their teammates and make them look good on the pitch too instead of just aiming to improve his own stats. Proper team players, ideally ones who will gladly settle at our club and be happy enough to play the best football of their careers at West Ham, rather than just seeing us as a convenient stepping stone for a move to another club where the grass may be even greener than the one covering the pitch at London Stadium.
Oh, and let's see what that upcoming investigation by Mayor Khan will bring to light. Things at the stadium surely haven't gone according to plan so far, neither for West Ham nor for the taxpayer. Will an ultimate sale to West Ham be the best option financially ? Will that even be feasible ? And at what stage will West Ham fans be able to call the new place home ? There are easier questions to muse about on a Monday I presume, but at least things have picked up at our club again. Which makes everything else a bit easier as well. At least for this German Mockney…:-)
COYI!
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WEST HAM LINKED WITH LUKA MILIVOJEVIC
MICHAEL OLIVER @themikeoliver_
readWestHam
With Cheikhou Kouyate at the African Cup of Nations, West Ham are short of cover in the midfield area. According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers are in a three-way tussle to sign impressive Olympiakos holding midfielder Luka Milivojevic during the January transfer window. West Ham signed Havard Nordtveit on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer to provide competition in central midfield but the Norwegian has been primarily used in defence so far this season. Pedro Obiang has stepped into a more increased role this season and has been very impressive but some extra depth wouldn't go amiss. Milivojevic joined Olympiakos from Anderlecht in a £2m deal in July 2015 and has enjoyed a great spell in Greece attracting the interest of several Premier League sides.
Sunderland are also interested in the 25-year-old, as is Hull manager Marco Silva who worked with the Serbian midfielder during his time as Olympiakos manager. Contracted until 2019, Milivojevic is valued at £13m and he's scored five goals in 16 Super League appearances for the Greek champions this season.
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David Sullivan vows to 'work around the clock' to bring signings to West Ham in January transfer window
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard
David Sullivan has vowed to "work around the clock" to secure new players for West Ham as the January transfer window enters its final days. West Ham have already made two additions in the market this month, agreeing an £8million deal for Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte and on Sunday bringing in England youth international Nathan Holland. The Hammers are expected to be among the busiest clubs in the coming days – they hope to recruit another striker and attacking midfielder with Scott Hogan of Brentford and Hull's Robert Snodgrass among their leading targets with Dimitri Payet expected to leave the club for Marseille. On the field Slaven Bilic's side have won their last two fixtures but are now out of action until February 1, when they face the Manchester City side who eliminated them from the FA Cup. Joint-chairman Sullivan hopes West Ham will have new players to choose from when Pep Guardiola returns to the London Stadium. "We will all go in to that match buoyed by our last two performances and, I hope, with further new signings, which we hope to make between now and the end of the transfer window," Sullivan wrote on the club website. "The market is challenging, but we are positive and will work around the clock to secure the right players to take us forward."
England U19 international Holland put pen to paper on a deal this week. Formerly of Everton the midfielder will join up with the Hammers Under-23 squad. "It's amazing, I'm quite gobsmacked to be honest," he told the club website. "When I first came down, [academy director] Terry [Westley] introduced me to all the staff and they were all very welcoming. They've shown a lot of faith in me and I just want to repay that and kick on. "It's all a bit of a family thing down here. Everyone is close together. It's a brilliant set up they've got and I think it will only help me improve. I think I can do that."
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MERSON: WEST HAM SHOULD CUT THEIR LOSSES WITH PAYET
ALEX NAYLER @alexnayler
ReadWestHam
The ongoing Dimitri Payet saga won't end until the transfer window does, and even then there will be inevitable rumours and speculation running well into the summer.
Payet will be absent once again as his employers travel to the North-East to face Middlesbrough this weekend, and manager Slaven Bilic has hit out at how the Frenchman has conducted himself.
It's about how you move, how you go about everything. Especially the big players, they should respect themselves in the way they go.
Payet is after a move back to France to former club Marseille, but West Ham have turned down two bids so far and are reportedly holding out for £30m.
However, reports say that the club is alarmed with Marseille's reluctance to offer more than £25m. The French side appears to be resigned to the fact that they will not be able to sign the player this window.
The antics that have ensued have angered fans and club officials alike, and haven't done any favours for Payet's already estranged reputation.
Payet is contracted until 2021, and so the club are well within their rights to keep him in the reserves after his behaviour. However Sky Sports pundit, Paul Merson believes the club should cut their losses and sell.
None of the big clubs will touch him with a bargepole after this. He's pushing 30 as well so he's got no resale value
It is not up to the player to say if the move will happen or not but whilst he is a West Ham player, it's his decision as to whether his fate lies in the first team or not.
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Andy Carroll hopes West Ham form and fitness will give him another England chance
Jason Mellor, at the riverside
22 JANUARY 2017 • 10:30PM
The Telegraph
Constant sniping about his less-than-impressive fitness record has often added insult to injury for Andy Carroll, but with a career of peaks and troughs seemingly back on an upward trajectory, his focus is on a return to the England squad rather than the treatment table.
The West Ham United manager, Slaven Bilic, described his player's talent in terms of the perfect storm, and certainly Middlesbrough were unable to weather the battering they received, as a side based on defensive stability looked anything but on one of the forward's more unplayable afternoons.
Since breaking through at Newcastle a decade ago, it quickly became clear that Carroll always possessed the talent to thrive at the highest level, but the question was always whether his body was up to the physical demands.
Carroll, 28, scored twice to propel West Ham into to the top half of the Premier League with a fifth win in seven games. He said: "Everyone talks about my injuries, and I can't really say that's unfair because over the years I haven't been as fit as I've wanted to be. I've got to put up with it and I want and need those injuries to be in the past so I can play for the last few years of my career injury free.
"It used to annoy me when people described me as injury prone, but how many years has it been that I've been getting that? I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me any more. I can't deny that I've been injured more than I've wanted but that's over with and forgotten about."
Only a sustained run of games and goals will help erase that unwanted status, but such is the unique threat he poses when on song that talk of an England return swiftly resurfaces after only a handful of decent performances.
More than four years after the most recent of his nine caps, he added: "Obviously, I'd love to be back in the England squad, and if the call comes, fantastic. That's what I want, but instead of looking too far in front, I'm just concentrating on West Ham."
Andy Carroll
Carroll says he would love to work his way back into the England fold CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Ironically for a man intent on casting off his injury-prone reputation, Carroll was substituted as a precaution against adding a groin niggle to the litany of ailments that have made him unavailable for a fortnight short of 1,000 days in the past eight-and-a-half seasons, roughly one in every three.
He had connected with the ball just twice in the Middlesbrough area in a little over an hour, but what two touches they were. The first was to head home Manuel Lanzini's corner with such authority that the imprint of his forehead probably remains on the ball. The second, shortly before half-time, saw him follow up to score after Michail Antonio's shot had been saved by Victor Valdés.
Asked if Carroll's best is yet to come, Bilic was emphatic. "There is no reason to think otherwise," he said. "He's a great age, he's smiling and is settled, he has got three kids and he is happy in his private life. I think he has found his peace. There is no reason why he shouldn't now enter five years of his best football.
"For the position he plays, he's got everything, you know like the movie Perfect Storm. He's tall, he attacks the ball with great timing, he's got the leap and he's fearless. The only other player I came across like him is my former Everton team-mate Duncan Ferguson. Someone asked me if Andy is still worth £35?million, but I wouldn't sell him for any amount. It's impossible to replace him, because Duncan is retired."
The hosts threatened to make a game of it when Cristhian Stuani equalised at the culmination of an eight-man move. The Uruguayan struck the bar in the second half but hopes of salvaging a point were undone by Jonathan Calleri's deflected stoppage-time effort.
In the wake of one victory in the last eight league games and the continuing fight for top-flight survival, Aitor Karanka hit out at the "small memories" of Middlesbrough supporters, many of whom had irked the Spaniard, he claimed, by demanding long-ball tactics, making for an "awful" atmosphere and then leaving early when "only three years ago this club was heading for League One". It was a harsh, needless criticism which did the head coach few favours. "We pride ourselves on being an organised side," midfielder Adam Forshaw said. "So it's gutting to concede three goals at home."
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Striking Dimitri Payet will not 'destroy' West Ham's season, says Andy Carroll
Louise Taylor
Sunday 22 January 2017 22.30 GMT Last modified on Monday 23 January 2017 00.50 GMT
The Guardian
Andy Carroll has revealed that West Ham United's players have resolved not to allow the striking Dimitri Payet to "destroy" their season and believes the squad's anger with the France midfielder is bonding them to match-winning effect. With Payet once again absent after downing tools in an attempt to provoke a transfer to Marseille, Slaven Bilic's side recorded their fifth victory in seven Premier League games at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with the near unplayable Carroll scoring twice. "Our response [to Payet's strike] just proves what the lads have got deep down in themselves," said the centre-forward, whose link and hold-up play proved of the highest quality on a day when Bilic's erstwhile star creator was not missed. "It proves our passion for football, for the manager and for our club. It's everything. No one player is going to destroy anything. The fight the lads have and the fans standing behind us has all been great. It's a very tight-knit group, certainly the tightest it's been since I joined West Ham. It's great just walking into the dressing room every morning. "The lads have always got a smile on their faces, even when the manager has dragged us in on a Sunday morning when we don't really want to be there because we're supposed to be off. Instead of being upset, we're walking in smiling. It's just a tight, tight group. We're all in one big messaging group. Everyone has an input. Everyone's chatting every day. Everyone's together and we'll have banter about absolutely anything and everything."
Payet has already been excluded from that social media messaging network and, having seemingly burnt his bridges in east London, can only hope Marseille match West Ham's valuation by the middle of next week. "We're not asking for anything crazy," shrugged Bilic, who said he had "nothing new" to report on the errant player's movements but conceded he would be "ridiculous" to say his team were better off without his talent. Although West Ham's manager also reflected that the Payet furore had galvanised his team – "Sometimes you lose something and you gain something," he said – Bilic knows that Carroll's latest return to form and fitness has arrived at an opportune moment. Middlesbrough certainly had no answer to either the ferocious header with which he gave Bilic's team the lead or the left-foot shot that restored West Ham's lead before Jonathan Calleri – on after Carroll was withdrawn with a tight groin – made it 3-1 in stoppage time.
Maintaining his substitution had been merely "precautionary", West Ham's No9 felt sufficiently emboldened to talk of both an England recall and an injury-free future. "I'd love to be back in the England squad," said Carroll. "Right now, it's important to just concentrate on West Ham but, if the call comes, fantastic. That's what I want. "Everyone talks about my injuries and I can't really say that's unfair because over the years I haven't been as fit as I've wanted to be but hopefully that's all in the past. I'm looking forward to many years of injury-free football. I'm 28 now and I want and need those injuries to be firmly in the past so I can play the last few years of my career injury-free."
Bilic trusts that Carroll's new-found off-field contentment will help achieve this aim. "Andy's very happy in his private life," he said. "I think he's found his peace, he's 100% fit and there's no reason why he shouldn't now enter his best five years of football."
Aitor Karanka's mood was somewhat less sunny. Middlesbrough's manager was not only unhappy that Hull City had rejected his £8m offer for Robert Snodgrass, the Scotland winger, but, much more contentiously, with the Riverside crowd for urging his team to attack in the closing stages.
"The atmosphere was awful," said Karanka. "They have small memories. They demanded too much. I don't know how many thousands of people were asking for long balls but it's a style we don't know how to play and the team was broken on the pitch. I was really upset. It's something we have to fix – and while I'm here we won't be playing long balls."
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Andy Carroll insists Dimitri Payet's absence won't dampen the mood at West Ham after Middlesbrough win
West Ham defeated Middlesbrough 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday
Andy Carroll scored twice as Slaven Bilic's side claimed a deserved victory
Hammers star Dimitri Payet is yet to return since refusing to play for the club
Carroll insists the situation with Payet will not 'destroy' the spirit in the squad
By Craig Hope for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:33, 22 January 2017 | UPDATED: 00:39, 23 January 2017
He had just destroyed Middlesbrough with a devastating double strike, but Andy Carroll had a message for wantaway star player Dimitri Payet - 'You won't destroy us'. It is less than two weeks since Payet downed tools and demanded to leave West Ham. In that time Slaven Bilic's side have won two matches, climbed into the top half of the table and found a new leader. This felt like Carroll's inauguration as the team's commander-in-chief and he spoke as well off the pitch as he had played on it. 'No one player is going to destroy anything,' he declared. 'Our response (to the Payet situation) just proves what the lads have got deep down in themselves. Our passion for football, for the manager and for our club - it's everything. 'I think the fight that the lads have got, the fans standing behind us, it's all been great. It is a very tight-knit group, certainly the tightest since I joined West Ham. 'It's great just walking into the dressing room every morning. The lads have always got a smile on their face, even when the manager has dragged us in on a Sunday morning and we don't really want to be there because we're supposed to be off.'
Carroll and Co certainly enjoyed a well-earned day off on Sunday. They were brilliant against Middlesbrough, but it was their No 9 who made them tick. Carroll has been injury-free for two months now and his goals at the Riverside - a bullet header and predatory close-range poach - took his tally to five since his return, including his spectacular bicycle kick against Crystal Palace earlier this month. 'Everyone else has gone on about that goal, but not me,' added Carroll. 'I'm a centre forward and if I put the ball in the net off my back, my shoulder, my backside, an overhead kick, whatever, it comes up on the scoresheet as 'Andy Carroll' - and for me that's all that matters.' It was six years ago next week that Carroll joined Liverpool from Newcastle in a British record £35million transfer. Twenty-three of Andy Carroll's 48 league goals have been headers. Would Bilic sell him for that amount now?
'I wouldn't sell him for no money. No, no, no, no, no money,' he replied, emphatically. 'It's impossible to replace a player like that - because Duncan Ferguson has already retired!'
Bilic became even more animated as he continued: 'You know the movie 'The Perfect Storm', Andy is the only one who has that, he's got everything - it is God. Tall, attacks the ball, great timing, fearless, the leap, everything. 'There is no reason to think his best years aren't still ahead of him because he is a great age (28). 'He is totally happy, he is smiling, he is settled down, he has got three kids and he is very happy in his private life. I think he has found his peace. There is no reason why he shouldn't now enter five years of his best football.' There is no doubt that Saturday was an example of Carroll at his very best. For West Ham and Bilic, long may it continue.
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Andy Carroll targeting England return after good spell of form for West Ham
The powerful frontman has scored five from seven Premier League starts this season
Martin Hardy @mhardysport
The Independent Football
"I'd love to be back in the England squad," said Andy Carroll, back in his native North East, getting on for near enough six years since he became the nation's most expensive footballer. He was stood in a corridor near to a side exit at the Riverside Stadium, but there was no need to hide from the limelight. Carroll, now 28, spoke of his frustration with the injury prone tag that has blighted large spells since the end of January 2011, when he flew off from Newcastle's training ground in a helicopter for £35 million, to Liverpool. It has been stop start ever since, but he is fit now, however; football's renaissance man ready to fulfil the potential that, on his day, renders the six foot five inch powerful forward largely unplayable.
A victory that took West Ham up to tenth place in the league table, two more goals, one a true throwback to a time when centre forwards looked differently in England, took his tally from seven Premier League starts this season to five. People had spent a week digesting the flying volley against Crystal Palace before he terrorised Middlesbrough's defenders. There seemed a collective sigh from those in red shirts when he was withdrawn with 23 minutes remaining for a groin niggle he and Slaven Bilic insisted was nothing to worry about. In the immediate afterglow, his manager was making reference to God, and the film, the Perfect Storm and about the next five years of Carroll's career being the best, about a player he believes is unstoppable.
Bilic insisted that the player finding a happy place in his life, settled in London with his partner and three children was also important, but the North East air, misty, sullen and almost claustrophobic as it hung over Teesside, seemed to help. Carroll almost looked 21, but for an overgrown beard.
"Everyone talks about my injuries and I can't really say that's unfair because over the years I haven't been as fit as I've wanted to be," he said. "That's just what it is. I've got to put up with it and hopefully that's all in the past. I'm looking forward to many years of injury free football. "I'm 28 now, so I want and need those injuries to be firmly in the past and I can play for the last few years of my career injury free. It used to annoy me when people described me as injury prone, but how many years has it been that I've been getting that? I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me any more. I can't deny that I've been injured more than I've wanted to be but that's over with and forgotten about.
"For the first goal I managed to lose my man and had a free run on it. I knew straight away with that connection that it was going in the back of the net. I haven't got a target on goals. It's just a case of keeping myself fit and working hard but obviously I'd love to be back in the England squad.
"Right now, it's important to just concentrate on West Ham. If the call comes, then fantastic. That's what I want, but instead of looking too far in front, I'm just concentrating on West Ham."
Carroll, whose second was from close range, on a rebound, spoke of a flourishing team spirit that has helped revive his and his football club's season. He spoke of Dimitri Payet and his possible departure being something the team could handle.
"Our response just proves what the lads have got deep down in themselves, our passion for football, for the manager and for our club," he added. "It's everything. No one player is going to destroy anything. I think the fight that the lads have got, the fans standing behind us, it's all been great.
"It is a very tight knit group, certainly the tightest it has been since I joined West Ham. It's great just walking into the dressing room every morning. The lads have always got a smile on their faces, even when the manager has dragged us in on a Sunday morning when we don't really want to be there because we're supposed to be off. Everyone is together and we'll have banter about absolutely anything and everything."
Bilic could not have enthused more about the centre forward and his impact.
"He is the only one that's got that, you know, the movie Perfect Storm, he's got everything," said Bilic. "It is God. Tall, they attack the ball, great timing, fearless, the leap, everything, they have got everything.
"I wouldn't sell him for no money. No, no, no, no, no money. It's impossible to replace a player like that.
"There is no reason to think other than the best is yet to come. He is a great age, he is totally happy, he is smiling, he is settled down, he has got three kids and he is very happy in his private life. He is happy with us and I think he has found his peace. There is no reason why he shouldn't now enter five years of his best football."
Carroll was asked if he had enjoyed the crashing header that set his side on the road to their 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough as much as the scissor kick. "A goal is a goal, isn't?" he replied. "Everyone else has gone on about that goal, but not me. I'm a centre forward and if I put the ball in the net off my back, my shoulder, my backside, an overhead kick, whatever, it comes up on the scoresheet as 'Andy Carroll'.
"For me that's all that matters."
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No one player is going to destroy anything' - Carroll shrugs off Payet saga
Jan 23, 2017 01:01:17
Andy Carroll insists the uncertainty surrounding Dimitri Payet's future at West Ham will not be allowed to "destroy anything". The France international has expressed a desire to move on during the January transfer window and is currently refusing to play for the club as he holds out for a switch. The Hammers have fared admirably without him, though, claiming back-to-back victories over Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough. They have plenty of cover in the creativity department and have rebuilt confidence at London Stadium following a shaky start to the season in a new home. That bond will not be broken by one disgruntled individual, with Carroll adamant that Payet's actions are not a distraction to those still fully committed to the club. He said after netting twice in a 3-1 victory over Boro: "No one player is going to destroy anything. "Our response [to the Payet situation] just proves what the lads have got deep down in themselves. Our passion for football, for the manager and for our club - it's everything. "I think the fight that the lads have got, the fans standing behind us, it's all been great. It is a very tight-knit group, certainly the tightest since I joined West Ham. "It's great just walking into the dressing room every morning. The lads have always got a smile on their face, even when the manager has dragged us in on a Sunday morning and we don't really want to be there because we're supposed to be off."
While Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is bracing himself to lose one prized asset, he has been quick to point out that in-form Carroll is going nowhere, with it his opinion that a man who once cost a British record £35 million has become a priceless commodity. He said: "I wouldn't sell him for no money. No, no, no, no, no money.
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Tony Cascarino: West Ham should sign this striker
WEST HAM should sign out of work striker Robbie Keane says Tony Cascarino.
By Joel Watson / Published 23rd January 2017
The Republic of Ireland legend is a free-agent after leaving MLS side LA Galaxy when their season finished. And he's been linked with a host of Championship sides as he looks to resume his playing career in Britain. But former Ireland star Cascarino says Keane still has something to offer a top flight club. THE transfer window is open - which means West Ham will once again be linked with any striker who has ever pulled on a pair of footy boots. "Having been away from home from so long, living closer to Dublin will also appeal to him and his family," he told the Irish Sun. "The Ireland legend also looks after himself so he is a 'young' 36-year-old and he was never a frontman who relied on his pace. "If I was at West Ham, who are desperate for a striker, or a relegation-threatened Prem side, I would be wondering, 'Why not?' "Signing Robbie until the end of the season is virtually no risk. "He could get you the four or five goals that keep you up. "If I am wrong and Robbie is not up to top-flight standard anymore, he will still train well and will be good around the dressing room."
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