Daily WHUFC News - 23rd February 2017

Feghouli - I am happy with my form
WHUFC.com

Sofiane Feghouli says personal and collective confidence are high after
recent positive results
Algeria winger is delighted to have taken his chance since breaking into the
starting XI in January
West Ham United have won six and drawn three of their last 12 Premier League
matches

Sofiane Feghouli wants to maintain his recent run of form when West Ham
United head to Watford on Saturday. The Algeria winger has grabbed his
opportunity to shine in Claret and Blue in recent weeks, scoring twice and
assisting two more goals in the eight Premier League appearances he has made
since Boxing Day. The No7 was a surprise omission from the Desert Foxes'
Africa Cup of Nations squad, but shrugged off any disappointment by
establishing himself in Slaven Bilic's starting XI during West Ham's
Christmas and New Year renaissance – which he hopes will continue at
Vicarage Road. "I am happy, because it was important for me to take my
chance," he told whufc.com. "Before this moment, I had less opportunities to
show my worth, so when I had the chance to play it was important to take it.
"I am happy with my form and I am also happy with my stats, as I have scored
two goals and I've also contributed some decisive passes. "So, I am pleased
with my personal performance, but more important is the collective
performance and I hope we can remain in the top ten."

Sofiane FeghouliWest Ham have won six and drawn three of their last 12
Premier League matches to rise to tenth ahead of Saturday's trip to Watford,
who sit two points and three places below them. Having not lost on the road
in 2017, the Hammers have seven away matches left to play this season, with
five against teams currently below them in the table – figures which will
breathe further confidence into Feghouli and company. "We are in a good
period," the winger confirmed. "It's true that results and the mood are good
at the moment and we're playing with a good spirit. "It's always easier when
the team wins. We all have confidence and that makes things easier on the
pitch. We are now seeing our players performing at a higher level and that
permeates through the entire group in training and matches. "Our collective
spirit is really coming together and I know we will fight right down to the
final day."

West Ham's Premier League fixture at Watford will be screened live by BT
Sport 1 at 5.30pm on Saturday 25 February.

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U11s crowned National Futsal Champions
WHUFC.com

West Ham's U11s won the Premier League's National Futsal Finals in
Birmingham at the weekend
The young Hammers beat Reading 3-2 in an intense final, coming from 2-1
behind
It's the second time the age group has won the title in the last three years

West Ham United's U11s reigned victorious for the second time in three years
at the Premier League's National Futsal Finals at the weekend.

The young Hammers were 2-1 down to Reading in the final, but two goals from
substitute Harrison McMahon won the trophy in Birmingham.

The youngsters were drawn against Chelsea, Swansea, Manchester City,
Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Watford and the Royals in the group stage and
managed to top the group with five wins, a draw and a defeat.

After making it through a tough first stage, the Hammers came up against
their London rivals Chelsea in the semi finals, triumphing on penalties
thanks to two saves by Finley Herrick. The winning spot-kick was scored by
Louie Copley.

Then came the eagerly anticipated final where McMahon's goals were enough to
clinch the title for the young Irons.

Coach Dave Johnson said: "We knew it was going to be very tough because we
were up against strong opponents.

"To qualify from the regionals and win the competition for the second time
in three years is a great achievement for the boys."

Our congratulations go to the U11 players and staff for their brilliant
achievements!

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LUNCHTIME ROUND UP: ARTHUR WANTS REVENGE, HAMMERS MISSED OUT ON 'WORLD'S
BEST COACH', CHELSEA PREPARE SWAP OFFER
BY DAN CHAPMAN ON 22 FEBRUARY 2017 AT 12:44PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

Good afternoon Hammers, here is Wednesday's lunchtime round up.

Arthur Masuaku says West Ham want revenge on Watford this Saturday.
(Evening Standard)

We all want revenge. What happened last time out should have been avoided,
and the players need to respond and get the revenge that they want.

West Ham and Chelsea target Moussa Dembele will stay at Celtic for the
remainder of his contract, according to the players agent. (Evening
Standard)

I am not a fan of him. Yes he scores a lot of goals, but its in a pathetic
league. He is not proven in the Premier League, and I would not be willing
to pay around £40m for his services.

West Ham captain Mark Noble has said that Wayne Rooney is a massive
inspiration to him. (Express)

Wayne Rooney is a fantastic player and leader. He is an inspiration to many
players and I fully understand why Mark likes him.

Former West Ham target Scott Hogan is set to miss the rest of the season
after suffering an injury on Monday. (Football London)

As I said yesterday, Slav was right not to sign him. I cannot imagine the
uproar from our fans if this had happened if he signed for us.

Pep Guardiola says West Ham missed out on having the 'World's best coach' at
the club, when they decided against appointing Marcelo Bielsa. (HITC)

I have heard a lot of people talk about Bielsa and how good of a coach he
is. However, there is no doubt that we made the right choice appointing
Slaven Bilic instead of him in my opinion.

Chelsea are preparing to offer Michy Batshuayi to West Ham, in a swap deal
for Michail Antonio. (Playing for 90)

I like Batshuayi, and I think he has real potential to be a quality forward
in the Premier League. But, Chelsea must be absolutely crazy if they think
that we would swap our top goal scorer and probably most important player
this season for him. I don't think so somehow.

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Zaza scores a beaut - against Real [video]
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 22nd February 2017
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammer Simone Zaza couldn't hit a barn door during his six month
spell at West Ham - but scored an absolute belter within the first five
minutes against Real Madrid at the Mestalla tonight.

The Italian international opened his account for his new club against
Athletico Bilbao at the weekend with the second goal in a 2-0 win. And just
72 hours later the on-loan striker - who failed to score a single goal for
West Ham during his brief spell in London - was on target again.

As you can see from the video below, Zaza picked up the ball inside the
Madrid penalty area before twisting and firing a rocket of a shot into the
top corner. At time of writing Zaza's new club lead Real 2-0.

https://youtu.be/EgxgaHC3S1Q

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IOC executive hails Olympic Stadium legacy 'plan'
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 22nd February 2017
By: Staff Writer

The IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games has branded West Ham
United's involvement in London's post-2012 Games legacy as a success.

Christophe Dubi, speaking in the wake of heavy criticism regarding the
condition of several venues used for last summer's Rio Games insisted that
the Brazilian city's legacy plan would take time to reach fruition - as was
the case with London's.

And praising the process that eventually resulted in West Ham becoming
long-term tenants at the London Stadium - even though football was never
considered as a potential use prior to the venu's construction - Dubi
insisted that Rio's neglected sites will not remain in a state of disrepair
for long.

"There can not be a transformation the day after the Games," he told DPA.
"You have a number of things to dismantle, to change, to adapt for
post-Games use - and that can take time."

"London - which has a beautiful park now, works very well and is very
successful - did not happen overnight. They gradually opened the park but it
took up to four years to fully realise the whole plan, including the use of
the stadium for football by West Ham.

"What they have in mind now for Rio is that by July, all the facilities in
the park that were to be dismantled will be dismantled."

Although West Ham United expressed an interest in being involved with the
development of the proposed Stratford-based stadium during the club's
previous (Icelandic) administration, their offer was rejected by the Olympic
planning committee.

Seb Coe (now Lord Coe), Tessa Jowell and Ken Livingstone claimed at the time
that the club's offer - which included significant capital investment
(£100million) on the basis that fully-retractable seating would be included
in the design - was not credible.

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Oxford still awaiting Royals debut
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 22nd February 2017
By: Staff Writer

Reece Oxford is still waiting to make his debut for Reading - more than
three weeks after moving to the Madejski Stadium on a half-season loan. The
highly-rated teenage defender joined the Royals on the final day of the
recent transfer window but failed to leave the subs bench in any of his
first three matches. And his wait to make his Reading debut will contrinue
until the weekend, at least, after he ruled himself out of tonight's trip to
Huddersfield with what the player himself described as "a minor niggle". The
19-year-old centre half has featured in just TWO competitive first team
fixtures so far this season - the 3-0 win against Domzale at the Olympic
Stadium and the 1-1 draw at Astra, both in the Europa League qualifiers last
AUgust.

* In other news, Craig Pawson has been confirmed as the referee for this
weekend's trip to Watford. Pawson has overseen 16 Premier League fixtures so
far this sseason, in which he has issued 63 yellow cards and two reds. The
38-year-old Yorkshire-born official has refereed two West Ham games so far
this season, both at the Olympic Stadium. Pawson was in charge as West Ham
beat Bournemouth 1-0 last August, then again as the Hammers succumbed to a
5-1 thrashing against Arsenal.

* Former Hammer Valon Behrami is set to return to action in this weekend's
Premier League test against West Ham at Vicarage Road. Watford have been
without the injured Swiss midfielder, who spent two-and-a-half seasons at
West Ham. since the beginning of the month.

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West Ham below Wigan in latest UEFA rankings
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 22nd February 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have risen in the latest UEFA rankings - but still find themselves
outside the top 100 clubs in Europe. A brief sojourn in the Europa League's
qualifying rounds - which saw West Ham eliminated by Romanian minnows Astra
Giurgiu for the second successive season - was enough to send the Irons up
the club coefficient rankings table, but only to 109th spot. And that's
below the likes of Ukraine's Chornomorets Odesa (108th), 2013 FA Cup winners
and current Championship side Wigan Athletic (102nd) plus Cypriot side APOEL
FC - and well below teams such as the Czech Republic's Viktoria Plzen (47th)
and BATE of Bulgaria (68th). Club coefficient rankings are based on the
results of clubs competing in the five previous seasons of the UEFA
Champions League and UEFA Europa League, plus 20 per cent of the association
coefficient over the same period. Points are awarded as follows:

UEFA Champions League

First qualifying round elimination – 0.5 points
Second qualifying round elimination – 1 point
Group stage bonus participation – 4 points
Group stage win – 2 points
Group stage draw – 1 point
Round of 16 bonus participation – 4 points

Clubs are also awarded an additional point if they reach the round of 16,
quarter-finals, semi-finals or final.

UEFA Europa League points system

First qualifying round elimination – 0.25 points
Second qualifying round elimination – 0.5 points
Third qualifying round elimination – 1 point
Play-off elimination – 1.5 points
Group stage win – 2 points
Group stage draw – 1 point

Clubs are also guaranteed a minimum of two points if they reach the group
stage and are awarded an additional point if they get to the quarter-finals,
semi-finals or final.

Current standings

1. Real Madrid (Spain) 162.828
2. Bayern Munich 151.413
3. Barcelona (Spain) 146.828
4. Atletico Madrid (Spain) 133.828
5. Juventus (Italy) 126.133
6. Paris St Germain (France) 125.733
7. Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 121.413
8. Benfica (Portgual) 111.866
9. Seville (Spain) 109.828
10. Chelsea (England) 105.592
.
.
100. Guingamp (France) 19.733
101. Udinese (Italy) 18.633
102. Wiagn Athletic (England) 18.592
103. FC Zurich (Switzerland) 18.415
104. Spartak Moscow (Russia) 18.406
105. Sassuolo (Italy) 18.133
106. Qarabag (Azerbaijan) 18.05
107. Astra Giurgiu (Romania) 17.870
108. Chornomorets Odesa (Ukraine) 17.526
109. WEST HAM UNITED (England) 17.092
110. Austria Wien (Austria) 17.070

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The status of the strikers
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 22nd February 2017
By: Adam Smith

With the league break coming to a close, it seems fitting to evaluate the
Hammers squad as it stands and look towards the future as well.

Assessing the current state, the development of system youth, and looking at
potential signings will help in understanding West Ham currently stand, and
will show where the team can grow to soon.

Let's begin with the strikers.

Internal focus immediately shifts to Andy Carroll and the unbelievable
January he had to start 2017. Most impressive was the overhead bicycle kick,
on a perfect cross from Michail Antonio, which secured Carroll the goal of
the month award. The added bonus was that Carroll beat out Arsenal's Olivier
Giroud and his scorpion kick for the award. Rightfully so.

The only knock on AC has been the usual one – his health. Despite his recent
successes, Carrol missed the last match against West Bromwich Albion due to
a nagging groin injury. The matchup saw West Ham dominate possession and use
the creativity of their attacking midfielders to swing the ball into the box
at will. Carroll's prolific skills in the aerial attack surely would have
secured three crucial points against West Brom, and it is clear that injury
troubles will remain part of the package moving forward. In his 12
appearances this season Carroll has delivered six goals, three in January of
2017.

The next-in-line striker is Jonathan Calleri. The Argentinian who was a
summer signing for West Ham before the 2016/17 season has failed to find a
position in the club's attack. Totalling just nine appearance, Calleri
scored the insurance goal on the January 22nd victory over Southampton. This
marked his only tally on the season, capitalizing on an overextended and
desperate team looking for an equalizer late in the match. Calleri's goal
came after a missed opportunity by him that was fortunately cleaned up and
re-set up by Manuel Lanzini. Calleri's goal touched a defender on its way in
appropriately summing up his goal scoring abilities as he has shown them.

Calleri's future with the club appears to be all but sealed. His goal swayed
manager Slaven Billic to keep him through the January transfer window after
his selling seemed imminent. Calleri remains on West Ham purely as a depth
player and once Diafra Sakho returns, Calleri's position will be lost. This
was confirmed in Calleri's halftime substitution on against West Brom. He
failed to create offensively as he was not a threat on runs, and appeared
reluctant to shoot, taking too many touches on solid balls, spoiling the
offensive output of the team.

The return of fan favourite and historically dangerous striker Diafra Sakho
adds a new dimension to the squad attacking. Where Carroll brings strength
and size, Sakho brings versatility. A great balance between speed and skill,
Sakho can launch shots inside and outside the box with determination and
intent, but has a flair for the finesse on his ability to chip and outclass
the opposition. Sakho is also a threat to score with his head but relies on
athleticism to beat opponents, rather than size.

When healthy after rehabbing from his back-surgery, Sakho fits in the lineup
as a complimentary player to Carroll, who cannot be sat (notwithstanding
injury) playing at his current level. A striker like Sakho, who takes the
guess work out of performance, can allow Billic to relax when alleviating
Carroll of his position when needed. In his two appearances for the club
this season Sakho netted one goal. His proposed return in March is welcomed
and exciting.

Options at striker can be crucial tools for Billic to survive any injury
scares with Carroll in the foreseeable future. As a team eliminated from any
extra-curricular tournaments and play, West Ham is taking advantage of their
time off to bond, train, and mend, having returned from a training trip to
Dubai.

Previous to the break Carroll was forced to miss the West Bromwich Albion
match and with Billic lack of faith in Calleri to start, Michail Antonio
made a 'gadget' start in the middle up front for the Hammers. The move was
not overly successful, and Antonio was eventually moved to the left wing
later in the match. Despite the most recent application of Antonio in an
unnatural position, Antonio's nose for the goal and ability to use his
physicality in the box make him an option upfront for the Hammers in a
pinch. Billic continues to invest and believe in his young star as an option
to fill in and play with impact where the club needs him.

Another hole-filler for striker is record signing Andre Ayew. Fresh off of a
fourth-place finish in the African Cup of Nations, Ayew is poised to return
to West Ham and make an impact, something he has not been able to do after
suffering an injury early in the season. Ayew does slot in as a midfielder,
but with the play of Lanzini, Feghouli, Obiang, Snodgrass, Antonio, Noble
and Kouyate, there is a sizeable log-jam in the middle of the pitch. His
opening may come at striker, as position he has experience in during the
time in-between Sakho's return and Carroll's nagging groin injury.

The youth of the club also should be addressed here. First in line is
youngster Ashley Fletcher. Many see Fletcher as getting more of an
opportunity as this season plays out, and believe he has played better in
his 13 starts than Calleri has. While Fletcher hasn't notched any goals for
West Ham this season, he has subbed on eleven times primarily coming on in
situations that were not conducive to scoring. Fletcher's ceiling is unknown
as a striker for West Ham, but there is certain opportunity for his arrival.

One of West Ham's biggest up-and-coming stars is Toni Martinez. Signing with
West Ham in the summer, Martinez was lauded as a promising striker and after
being loaned to Oxford during the January window he is exhibiting his
potential as a striker. Having scored twice for his loan team, Martinez is
gaining confidence and solidifying himself as a scoring threat. Described as
opportunistic and lucky, he needs to develop his play with the ball showing
he can create chances without relying on others. Martinez has shown off his
ability to cap when the ball is on his boot, and is an exciting option
Billic will have to incorporate in the team's future.

Speculation is always fun and often gives life to opinion pieces such as
this, so let's have at it.

Firstly, let us give praise to the sage wisdom and, perhaps, dumb luck of
Billic who opted to pass on Championship striker Scott Hogan. Many
criticized Billic for his unwillingness to pay for a needed striker, but not
convinced of his skill and weary of his injury history (two ACL injuries),
Billic passed. Hogan was stretched off the pitch with an ankle injury in his
most recent game for Aston Villa. Having yet to score for his new side West
Ham may have dodged a bullet with Hogan, and Super Slav deserves credit to
show his unwillingness to overreact with a signing.

Secondly and lastly, the future for West Ham signings at striker. While many
names can be tied to the team, I believe these three players could factor
into the squad and help West Ham establish themselves as a top tier team in
the Premier league next season.

First is Lucas Perez from Arsenal. Perez has only scored twice all in all
play this season but in his defence, he plays behind Alexis Sanchez and
Olivier Giroud. Perez has stated he wants a release from his team, and his
presence on West Ham would inspire their attack with creativity and pace up
the middle, with international and top-table experience.

Second, and most far-fetched is Alexandre Lacazette. His name is often tied
to West Ham, and his skill is undeniable. In his most recent play for Lyon,
Lacazette netted two goals in a dominant 4-1 win over AZ Alkmaar in the
Europa League. His pace was unmatched as he cut through the defenders with
ease and showed great patience on both goals. However, with recent estimates
upwards of £59 million, Lacazette may only be a pipedream for the Hammers.

The third and final option is probably the most likely striker option for
West Ham to sign in the upcoming summer window. Linked with manager Slaven
Billic, Sunderland's ageless goal scorer Jermain Defoe could be set to
re-sign with the Hammers in the summer. Playing for them in the passed,
Defoe has a knack for netting goals and while advanced in age (34) he has
shown for an abysmal Sunderland side that he can create on his own. His
position on the team would most likely be as a late substitution to score a
goal either for result or security. Defoe currently has a relegation release
in his contract making him an option in the near future. His platoon role
could elongate his career if he was successful in this role, making his
landing at West Ham a mutually beneficial scenario.

Currently a position with plenty of ebb and flow, the West Ham Strikers are
at a crossroads. Current powerful and dominant play by Andy Carroll, and
upcoming youth talent like Toni Martinez seem to bookend endless injury for
the Hammers at striker. Depth in the summer can bridge these two pieces and
round out what has the potential to be a top-class striking group.

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

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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits loss of Andy Carroll is 'a big blow'
with striker set to miss trip to face Watford
West Ham striker Andy Carroll will be absent from the trip to face Watford
Carroll scored four goals in as many games before injury problems resurfaced

28-year-old has been unable to train for 10 days owing to a fresh groin
injury
Former Liverpool striker has now targeted a return against Chelsea on March
6
By OLIVER TODD FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 21:17, 22 February 2017 | UPDATED: 21:17, 22 February 2017

Andy Carroll is set to miss West Ham's trip to Watford on Saturday with the
striker's renewed injury woe leaving him unable to train for the last 10
days. Carroll is currently sidelined with a groin problem and although he
flew to Dubai with the rest of the Hammers squad for a mid-season camp he
has been absent from training. It was expected he would be fit to return at
Vicarage Road this weekend but manager Slaven Bilic says a comeback is now
not likely until the visit of Chelsea on March 6.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Bilic said: 'He is in good form. The only thing about
him is that now he is a little bit injured and he didn't train for 10 days.
'That is a big blow for us but, saying that, he is going to be back very
soon.' Carroll's groin injury caused him to miss West Ham's last game, the
2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion 12 days ago.

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Why West Ham's Liverpool target Obiang is a better midfielder than Can and
Wijnaldum
Here's how the Hammers midfielder matches up to two of Liverpool's stars
Football London
BYALASDAIR GOLD
20:00, 22 FEB 2017

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is apparently keen on West Ham midfield lynchpin
Pedro Obiang and is eyeing up an £18m swoop this summer. So, what is it that
the German manager sees in the Hammers' Spain U21 international? Well,
according to the stats, Obiang is better than two current Liverpool
midfielders - Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum. Can arrived from Bayer
Leverkusen in 2014 for £10m and Wijnaldum was a whopping £25m purchase from
Newcastle United this past summer. Obiang, meanwhile, was an undisclosed –
thought to be around £3m - bargain buy from Sampdoria in June 2015 on a
four-year deal. So, the Spaniard is already ahead of the others because he
is better value for money. We've picked out seven stats in key areas where
Obiang is better or at least as good as the other two, but for the majority,
Obiang has much better statistics.

Pass completion

This is the only stat where Obiang fares worse than either Can or Wijnaldum.
In 18 games played this season, Obiang has a pass completion percentage of
81 which is the same as Can, who has played a game more. Wijnaldum, who has
played five more games than Obiang, wins this round with 88%.

Tackles won

Obiang blast the two Liverpool midfielders into the past in this area,
easily being the best of the three. The West Ham man has won 45 tackles this
season, 15 more than Can and more than double what Wijnaldum has managed
(21).


Total duels (%)

Off the on-pitch tussles Obiang has got in to this season, he has won more
than half of them, 55.85% in fact. That is better than Can (42.08) and
Wijnaldum (50.67%).

Interceptions

Once again, Obiang is the clear winner of this round. The Spaniard has made
29 interceptions this campaign, which is ten more than Can (19) and 12 more
than Wijnaldum (17).

Blocks

Obiang has blocked more shots and passes than the Liverpool duo put
together. He has seven of his own, while Can and Wijnaldum have just three
between them.

Clearances

This round is a tad closer, but it's the West Ham man who is victorious once
again. Can has made 20 clearances this season, with Wijnaldum going a bit
better with 23 but they are also beaten by Obiang – admittedly not by much –
who has managed 28, so he wins by five.

Total defence score

Finally, we come to total defensive score, which rounds up everything we
just covered plus a few other stats and, no surprise, Obiang is the winner
and it's by a massive margin as well.

His overall total is a colossal 132.61 and that absolutely batters Wijnaldum
(53.64) and Can (27.98).

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West Ham are more united without 'prima donna' Dimitri Payet, says Hammers
legend Sir Geoff Hurst
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard

West Ham should have no regrets in dispensing with their "prima donna" star
Dimitri Payet for the good of team unity, according to Hammers legend Sir
Geoff Hurst. France international Payet went on strike to force a move back
to Marseille during January, eventually joining the Ligue 1 giants for
£25million in the final days of the transfer window. Payet's ostracising and
subsequent departure from the squad has led to a notable upswing in form;
since his final appearance Slaven Bilic's side have lost just one of six
Premier League games and moving into the top half of the Premier League
table. Whilst Payet electrified Upton Park in his first season at the club
his demeanour darkened throughout a difficult start to life at the London
Stadium and 1966 World Cup winner Hurst, who scored 242 goals in 500 games
for West Ham between 1959 and 1972, has no doubt his former club took the
right course in dispensing with their player of the year.
"West Ham handled it well by not trying to keep it under lock and key,"
Hurst told Standard Sport. "It needs to be sorted, talked about and dealt
with. As far as I can see it has been dealt with very well by the club. "It
always looked like they'd get £25m for him, that's not too bad a deal at all
considering we paid £10m for him. More importantly the unity of the team has
proven the most important thing. "In one sense it's sad to lose him but no
matter how good you are if you behave like a prima donna and don't want to
play [it's no great loss]. "If I go back to our England team we had a player
far better than Payet, Bobby Charlton. He was a very humble man, a great
player on the pitch but never a diva off it. Imagine scoring two goals in
the World Cup semi-final then the manager comes in the final and asks you to
mark somebody. Bobby took that task on in the final and marked [Franz]
Beckenbauer. Two of the best players in history marked each other out of the
game!"
Though West Ham understood Payet's desire to return to his former club with
his family unsettled in London they took a dim view of his attempt to force
his way back to France, which went as far as threatening to fake an injury
if he was selected for the squad.
West Ham captain Mark Noble revealed that the squad became a "happy place"
after Payet's departure and their improved morale has been reflected in
impressive victories over the likes of Southampton and Middlesbrough. Hurst
added: "You can't defend Payet's actions but you could at least say his
family seemed to want to go back to Marseille. That was going to be
difficult to overcome. But the way he appeared to have acted – not talking
to anybody – generated an awful lot of unease and hostility in the dressing
room. I think that was reflected in the results. "The team is always better
than any one individual, no matter how good they are."

Sir Geoff Hurst was speaking at the launch of the 2017 FA & McDonald's
Community Awards, recognising achievement regardless of age, gender or
disability. Nominate your grassroots football hero at
www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards

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Former West Ham target Scott Hogan suffers awful injury during Aston Villa's
defeat at Newcastle
By Essex Chronicle | Posted: February 22, 2017
By Tommy Wathen

Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan is set for an extended spell on the
sidelines after suffering a nasty ankle injury on Monday [February 20]
evening at Newcastle United. The 24 year-old forward left the St James' Park
pitch on a stretcher in the closing minutes of the EFL Championship fixture
to a round of applause from both sets of fans – who were concerned for the
former Brentford star.
Hogan joined the Villans for around £12 million during the January Transfer
Window after impressing with 14 goals from 25 games for The Bees during the
first half of the season, but has failed to score in his four appearances so
far for Steve Bruce's side. Although the news is devastating for the former
Rochdale goal machine, West Ham fans will breathe a sigh of relief as Hogan
was being tracked by the Premier League side throughout the January window
right up until the January 31 deadline, when manager Slaven Bilic pulled out
of the deal.

Aston Villa confirmed via social media on Tuesday [February 21] that they
are waiting for the results of a scan on Hogan's ankle before they can
update Villa fans about how long their new signing will be out for.

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The five reasons why Pedro Obiang should stay at West Ham and ignore
interest from Liverpool
West Ham's star midfielder has been linked with an £18m move to Liverpool,
but he should keep the faith at the London Stadium
Football London
BYTOM MARSHALL-BAILEY
09:55, 22 FEB 2017

Pedro Obiang was yesterday linked with a move to Liverpool as West Ham fans'
fears grew that one of their star performers so far this season was about to
be plucked away. The Reds are reportedly eyeing an £18m move for Obiang this
summer as they look to bolster their midfield options. Jurgen Klopp is
rumoured to be a big fan of the Hammers midfielder, who has made huge
strides during a mixed season at the London Stadium. But would a move to
Anfield make sense for Obiang? The consensus is yes given it presents a step
up to a side challenging for the top four, but we think otherwise. Here are
five reasons why Obiang should ignore the Reds' interest and stay at the
London Stadium.

He won't be the main man at Anfield

When you've got the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio
Mane in your starting XI, you are unlikely to establish yourself as the
leading light in that team. Obiang would have to settle for a reduced role
at Liverpool rather than the fans' favourite status he currently enjoys at
West Ham. The fans here love him and he is becoming a key part of this
Hammers side.
Whether he would be able to fit into Jurgen Klopp's system is also up for
debate, as he is not renowned for a high press; he's a much more
conservative midfielder but complements the Hammers' style perfectly.

And he's not even guaranteed a first-team place!

With the likes of Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum already
competing for two midfield slots, it's safe to assume Obiang would be up
against it to work his way into the XI. He's the fulcrum of West Ham's
midfield at the moment; so much so that the debate is whether it should be
Mark Noble or Cheikhou Kouyate playing alongside him at the moment, rather
than vice versa. Henderson has established himself as a mainstay in that
Liverpool side and Wijnaldum has become increasingly important to Klopp, so
he would be trading life as a key player at West Ham for life on the bench
on Merseyside. A move to a side challenging for the Champions League looks
good on paper, but surely the guarantee of first-team football has to come
into Obiang's thought process.

Slaven Bilic can build something special at West Ham

The first half of this season was an absolute nightmare, let's not pretend
otherwise. But the Hammers' resurgence since that chastening 5-1 defeat at
home to Arsenal has been admirable and they now sit in the top half of the
table. Pushing for the top seven appears an unrealistic ambition but there's
no reason why West Brom in eighth cannot be caught despite the recent late
setback against the Baggies. The January signings of Jose Fonte and Robert
Snodgrass have given West Ham some real strength in depth and Slaven Bilic
is expected to reinforce his squad again this summer as he looks to push for
a top-six finish next year.

And he can go on to become the leader in midfield

Obiang is one of a number of young players at West Ham who can be a key part
of Bilic's project at West Ham. And with Mark Noble approaching the twilight
of his Hammers career, this is Obiang's chance to flourish in central
midfield and become one of the leaders in this West Ham side. Noble's
tigerish qualities in midfield but so too will his leadership and ability to
rally the players and Obiang represents one option for the captaincy when
his central midfield partner does depart. At Liverpool he will be just
another option to Klopp. At West Ham he will be one of the first names on
the teamsheet under Bilic.

He already has his own amazing chant

Need we say any more?

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est Ham want 'revenge' for Watford collapse, insists Arthur Masuaku
SAM LONG
Evening Standard

West Ham will be out for "revenge" when they face Watford in the Premier
League this weekend, according to Arthur Masuaku. The Hammers are currently
three places above Walter Mazzarri's side in the table but suffered a
damaging 4-2 defeat to the Hornets in September 2016. Michail Antonio's
brace fired West Ham into an early lead at the London Stadium only for the
hosts to succumb to a stunning Watford fightback in the second half. Masuaku
is still unsure why West Ham collapsed in such spectacular fashion but is
determined to ensure the scenario is not repeated at Vicarage Road. "We want
to get revenge on Saturday," he told West Ham's official website. "I
remember the game and we played so well in the first 40 minutes and should
have killed the game off. "I don't know how we lost but we want to make
amends for that defeat and hopefully we can win on Saturday."

West Ham dropped crucial points against West Brom in their last outing in
England's top tier, with Gareth McAuley's late equaliser resulting in Slaven
Bilic's dismissal for a furious reaction on the sidelines. West Ham would
have cemented their place in the top half with all three points and Masuaku
is hopeful the east Londoners can get the rub of the green on Saturday
evening. "We were unlucky not to get the three points in the last game
against West Brom and we could have got the victory if certain decisions had
not gone against us.

"Hopefully we will have more luck in the next game," he added.
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The names that West Ham United should be looking at in the summer transfer
window
Football London
BYADAM JONES
06:00, 22 FEB 2017

West Ham United need the upcoming summer transfer window to be a big one.
After a quiet January, the Hammers will need to almost fully rebuild their
squad - with quality needed in many positions around the pitch. We've picked
a few out - and come up with a long-list of names that West Ham should
really be keeping their eye on when the upcoming transfer window comes
around. West Ham need a striker in the summer. there's no two ways about it.
The Hammers probably needed another forward player in the January transfer
window - but any rumoured moves never really materialised. Slaven Bilic
could do a lot worse than going back in for Scott Hogan in the summer. His
ankle injury at Newcastle last night appears set to rule him out for the
foreseeable future as he broke down in just his fourth appearance for his
new side since a January move from Brentford. But Hogan admitted during his
time at Brentford that he doesn't want to be in the Championship for long
and given Villa's struggles this season, they won't be back in the Premier
League any time soon. If you're looking for Premier League quality, then why
not go back to Liverpool and take Daniel Sturridge? He's not been getting
enough game time for the Reds, but his goalscoring pedigree cannot be
questioned. A bit more of a left-field Premier League option would be Michy
Batshuayi, who the Hammers were also linked with in January. The Chelsea
striker has hardly been given a chance at Stamford Bridge but, when he has
been on the pitch, he's often scored.

Alexandre Lacazette
How about Andre Gray and Troy Deeney too? More players that have been linked
in the past and would definitely do a job for the Hammers.
Further afield, you get even more options. Alexandre Lacazette is a name
that's forever mentioned, but what about Ciro Immobile at Lazio? he's found
his feet again with the Serie A club - and the Hammers could give him a
chance to prove himself in the Premier league.

Goalkeeper

With Adrian's contract reportedly running down, West Ham might want a new
stopper between the sticks that's going to be able to help a push for
European football. Where better to start than Joe Hart? Obviously
out-of-favour at Manchester City, but still one hell of a goalkeeper on his
day. Don't let recent performances fool you, he'll come good again. A
somewhat forgotten man in the Premier League is Asmir Begovic - who isn't
getting enough game-time at Chelsea and could be well open to a move.
Sticking with the Premier League, Tom Heaton has been one of the most
impressive stoppers in the country this season, and would be a brilliant
summer signing for anyone. Further afield, at Juventus you find Neto.
Playing back-up to Gianluigi Buffon must be a frustrating task, and the
Brazilian stopper's quality has already attracted glances from the likes of
Everton. West Ham could nip in there. Salvatore Sirigu hasn't had the best
time over the last couple of seasons, but would still be a quality option at
30-years-old.

Full back

Cover in both full back positions is needed, if we're being completely
honest. Looking towards Manchester City, either Pablo Zabaleta or Bacary
Sagna would be decent options - and both look like they could be on their
way out of the Etihad. Maybe not strictly a full-back - but Nathan Ake would
be a very competent signing after a fantastic showing at Bournemouth. A
couple of Leicester City defenders wouldn't be bad shouts either - with
Danny Simpson and Ben Chilwell both looking very reasonable options in those
positions.
Looking towards the continent, then a stand-out name is Nelson Semedo - who
has been very impressive for Benfica this campaign. Another option for
right-back could well be Mitchell Weiser - with the ex-Bayern Munich
youngster in impressive form for Hertha Berlin.

Centre midfielder

With rumours of Pedro Obiang looking towards the exit and Mark Noble waning
somewhat - a centre midfielder or two definitely wouldn't go amiss.
Nathaniel Chalobah hasn't been getting a lot of game time at Chelsea and
could be an option - or Cesc Fabregas could too, if you wanted to think a
little bigger. Everton also seem to have a surplus of energetic centre
midfielders - so the hammers couldn't really say no to the likes of James
McCarthy or Muhamed Besic if they became availble. Hear me out, but Marouane
Fellaini really might be a good option too. Stop him fouling people, and he
could be a real presence in that West Ham midfield. In Germany, Naby Keita
has been in fantastic form in a brilliant season for RB Leipzig this season
- perhaps it could be time to give him a chance in the Premier League. If
you're looking for bite in the midfielder, then Gonzalo Castro at Borussia
Dortmund could definitely be an option - although granted that one is a bit
more ambitious.

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West Ham United's Nathan Holland shares reason behind January Everton
departure
HITC
Aiden Cusick

Holland quit Everton for West Ham United. West Ham United winger Nathan
Holland has shared with Football.London the reason behind his departure from
Everton. Holland quit the Toffees in January to link up with West Ham's
Under-23s and became the first Premier League 2 player to score at the
Hammers' London Stadium on Monday. But had West Ham's approach arrived prior
to this season, there chances are they would never have gotten their man.
"The loan system has changed and I wasn't able to go out on loan with the
new manager at Everton and I wasn't getting in the team," Holland said. "I
wanted to play more football so I came down here. Terry was very welcoming,
all the team were and I knew this was the place for me. "London is really
busy, I'm still getting used to living down here, I am in a club house at
the moment but I'm getting there."

Everton are beneficiaries of the now defunct emergency loan system, with
first team regulars Ross Barkley (Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United) and
Seamus Coleman (Blackpool) having been borrowed Championship clubs before
making their breakthroughs. However, Fifa's decision to abolish it ahead of
the 2016-17 campaign has forced many clubs nationwide to hoard young players
they would usually send elsewhere. Loans can still take place from window to
window, though, meaning the likes of Holland, who has already scored three
goals for the Hammers' Under-23s, could gain first team experience away from
West Ham next term.

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Michail Antonio should not get delusions of grandeur at West Ham
HITC
Damien Lucas

Michail Antonio is one of West Ham United's prize assets but has been linked
with a move away. Antonio has been one of the club's key players over the
last year, with Andy Carroll recently stating the former Nottingham Forest
man is their best player even when Dimitri Payet was still with the Hammers.
His form, goals and assists resulted in England call-ups and reported
interest for West Ham's bitter London rivals Chelsea. The Sun claim
Chelsea's Antonio, Conte, wants West Ham's Antonio and will be back in for
him in the summer. West Ham are hoping they can tie him to a new deal but
the player himself cast doubt on his situation recently when he told Sky
Sports he was unsure over signing a new deal. "Right now, nothing is really
happening on the contract talks," Antonio told Sky Sports News HQ. "We'll
just see how things go. At the moment my head is not being swayed in any
way. I just want to play my football and whatever happens happens. When
asked whether he will sign a new deal, Antonio said: "We'll see."

While there is nothing to suggest Antonio is playing a game of cat and mouse
with the club to get the best possible deal or indeed to get a move, he
should be mindful of how he handles the negotiations. West Ham have endured
a difficult season culminating in Dimitri Payet's controversial exit last
month. That has coincided with a rejuvenated team spirit and the Hammers
climbing the league with an outside chance of Europe. But Antonio must not
get delusions of grandeur. Yes he has been a breath of fresh air since
bounding into the West Ham first team last winter. The ultimate grafter, his
pace, energy, effort, workrate, enthusiasm, versatility, assists and goals
have been crucial. But he must know his place. He is West Ham's main man,
idolised by supporters and playing week in week out in full view of the
England boss Gareth Southgate. He must not start getting too big for his
boots, though. West Ham are a massive club who have rewarded him well and
given him the stage to shine. They took a gamble on the raw former
non-league winger to bring him to the big time and there is no place better
for him.

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