Daily WHUFC News - 9th February 2017

Stewart backs fellow Scot Snodgrass
WHUFC.com

Ray Stewart backs fellow Scot Robert Snodgrass to be a success at West Ham United
Full-back played more than 400 times in Claret and Blue, winning the FA Cup in 1980
Penalty king Stewart was Livingston manager when Snodgrass was coming through the ranks there

Ray Stewart believes that Robert Snodgrass can follow in his footsteps and join the exclusive group of Scottish crowd favourites at West Ham United. After signing from Hull City for £10.2m last month, the 21-times capped Snodgrass added his name to a popular list that includes the likes of John Dick, Frank McAvennie and Christian Dailly, topped by legendary right-back and penalty king Stewart, a member of the Hammers' 1980 FA Cup-winning side. And Ray, who went on to make 432 appearances for the Hammers after signing from Dundee United in 1979, believes that Snodgrass has all the ingredients needed to form a special bond with the Club's supporters.

"I'm sure he will be a great success," said Ray, when we caught up with him this week. "He is a playmaker and a goalscorer, but he works hard for the good of the team, and that is a winning combination for West Ham fans. "I'm so pleased he has ended up at West Ham. He is signing for a wonderful club, with wonderful supporters, and he will hopefully enjoy the prime years of his career with us.
"I was only a young boy when I came down, and I also carried a fairly big price tag, but if you've got confidence in your ability then you don't think about that. You just think about working hard and showing what you can do. "Robert will want to do that, and I'd really love him to become a favourite among the fans. I know how special that feeling is, and I still have that bond now."

And the link between the pair goes beyond the claret and blue shirt. Ray was manager of Livingston back at the turn of the Millennium – the same time that a teenage Snodgrass was making his way through the schoolboy and youth ranks at the Scottish club. "I can't take any credit!" laughs Ray. "I was obviously responsible for the first team at the time and Robert broke through after I left, but his name was always mentioned as one to watch in the future. "A guy named Tony Taylor was the head of the youth set-up at that time, when Livingston had a great reputation for bringing players through. The likes of Graham Dorrans and Leigh Griffiths all came through their system, but Robert was always the one who stood out. "His career has gone from strength to strength since those days, and I'm so delighted he is at West Ham now."

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Powell hoping to seize opportunity
WHUFC.com

The Hammers' U23s take on Leicester City at Dagenham and Redbridge in the Premier League Cup on Thursday
Joe Powell is hoping the side can bounce back after last week's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers
The winger got the chance to play centre-forward in Lancashire and now wants to build on that opportunity

Academy star Joe Powell is hoping he did enough during West Ham United Premier League 2's last outing at Blackburn Rovers to keep his place in the side when the U23s take on Leicester City in the Premier League Cup on Thursday. The Hammers face the Foxes knowing a second victory against the side in the competition this season would see them as favourites to qualify for the knockout stages in group E alongside Brighton and Hove Albion. Terry Westley's side put on one of their most accomplished performances against Leicester back in October when they were 2-0 winners, scoring one of the goals of the season – Domingos Quina's incredible strike from the halfway line.
And Powell, who played in the No9 role against Rovers last week, hopes he can be a part of another Hammers victory. He said: "Now I've got that opportunity with the U23s, and considering I think I did pretty well in the last game, I just want to kick on and stay in this squad until the end of the season. That's the aim for me. "It was definitely a different challenge playing in that role from what I'm used to but I enjoyed the challenge of playing there and I think I did well in the game. "Obviously it was disappointing not to pair that with a good result, but hopefully we can perform better against Leicester."

With a number of the U23s' staple players from the first half of the season moving out on loan in the Football League – Marcus Browne, Toni Martinez and Alex Pike to name a few – spots in the starting XI are up from grabs. And Powell believes the next few weeks present a real chance for the younger players at the Club to shine in the older age groups. "There are so many opportunities now," he continued. "That goes the same for the U16s into the U18s as well as the U23s and there's just massive opportunities for everybody all throughout the Academy from now until the end of the season. "That's a big thing for all the younger players to gain experience in older age groups. "There have probably been a few more loans this year and that shows our massive progression in the last few years, with Terry Westley wanting every single player to move forward. "Obviously, you want everyone to get opportunities with the first team but when that's not possible, going on loan can be the best thing to get experience. "I wasn't involved in the cup run last season so this season that's a new experience for me. I'd like to be involved in some part of it and hopefully we can do as well as we did last season and get the win."

The Hammers take on Leicester City in the group stages of the Premier League Cup on Thursday 9 February at Dagenham and Redbridge's Chigwell Construction Stadium. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 concessions, while West Ham Season Ticket Holders can attend for free.

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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital...

Hello everyone,

Like you all, the Medical and Sports Science department has enjoyed our recent run of good form and results and we are all hoping to celebrate a seventh win in ten Premier League matches on Saturday. We picked up a few bumps and bruises in our fantastic victory at Southampton last weekend and the staff have been working hard all week to prepare the players and have them available for selection by the manager. At time of writing, we still have 72 hours, two training sessions and a few question marks before we kick-off against West Bromwich Albion.

Andy Carroll came off with an injury at St Mary's. He had a similar problem in the game at Middlesbrough, but we were able to prepare him for the Manchester City and the Southampton games, where he did brilliantly with limited training. We will now work with Andy to prepare him for Saturday. It is always a fine balance not to put him at risk of serious injury as he has not trained a lot in 2017.

We have some positive news regarding a number of other senior players. Havard Nordtveit and Sam Byram have been training all week. Sam missed the Southampton game as a precaution, having only recently returned from a long-term hamstring surgery and rehabilitation period. Alvaro Arbeloa is also in full training. Arthur Masuaku has turned the last corner in his own rehab and has been training with the PL2 squad this week under the direction of our rehabilitation fitness coach. He will return to first-team training on Friday.

Diafra Sakho is continuing his rehab following his back surgery in December and we are looking at him being brought back at the end of March or start of April.

Angelo Ogbonna underwent successful surgery on his knee in Paris and has now returned to London to continue his rehab, which is a 12 to 16-week programme.

The manager will take the first-team squad to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp next week, following the Family Fun Day at London Stadium. We will do five days of training in a welcome change of scenery, under what we hope will be warm and sunny skies. It will not be a holiday, but a chance for players to recharge physically and mentally at the end of a long, relentless period of football. Some our players have had very little time off since the summer of 2015, having played at UEFA Euro 2016 and not had a winter break like their European counterparts. With international matches being played until the middle of June, it is important to take this opportunity to change the training environment for a few days and freshen up body and mind.

Before then, we have work to do ahead of the West Brom game!
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science

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Snodgrass ready to face former team-mates
WHUFC.com

It will be a case of friends reunited when Robert Snodgrass lines up against West Brom at London Stadium on Saturday.

Snodgrass is in line to make his first start at London Stadium and has already made an impact following his move from Hull at the end of January.

The talented midfielder played a big role in helping the Hammers record a 3-1 win over Southampton as he helped set up Pedro Obiang for the crucial second goal.

Snodgrass is now looking forward to lining up against his former Hull team-mate Jake Livermore for the first time after he completed his move to West Brom last month and his Scotland team-mates Darren Fletcher and James Morrison.

The 29-year-old has special praise for Morrison who has got two goals in his last two games and knows will be a major threat to his side on Saturday.

Despite their friendship, Snodgrass hopes to earn the bragging rights over the trio at the final whistle and celebrate his first home win since joining West Ham.

Snodgrass said: "It will be very weird playing against Jake as it has not been that long since we last played together.

"It will be strange and they have also got a couple of the Scottish lads – Morrison and Fletcher and it will be good to come up against them but I want the three points for West Ham.

"They are both playing really well, especially James who is getting more of the headlines because he is scoring goals we so need to be fully aware of him because he is a good player, especially when he gets in the final third.

"But we have got players who can also cause problems and hopefully we can take our chances when they come.

"I want to get my first win at London Stadium because there has been a lot of talk about our home form and we need to get back to winning ways there."

The West Ham players are certainly full of confidence following their impressive victory at St Mary's Stadium which saw them move up to ninth in the table and are now just five points behind West Brom.

Snodgrass has nothing but praise for the way the whole squad has come together and showed the spirit needed to get their season back on track.

Snodgrass added: "It was good to obviously start the game against Southampton. I said when I signed that it was a great move and the Club has a great tradition. They are a great bunch of lads but the most important thing for me was to start playing and be part of a successful side.

"I was saying to the lads that when I played against West Ham a couple of months they were hovering just above relegation and I could not understand it, considering the success they had last year.

"I think you can now see the team spirit and all the lads have rallied together. That is how you are going to get results and move up the table. We believe we can go and win the game on Saturday with the confidence we are showing at the moment.

"It will be a tough game as it is never easy playing against a Tony Pulis team. I played against them when I was at Hull and we went 1-0 up and then lost the game 3-1. We know what to expect.

"They are a very good side with some very good players but so have we and we need to take our chances when they come like we did in the last game."

Snodgrass hopes to see another special atmosphere inside London Stadium on Saturday and has nothing but praise for how the Hammers fans have got behind the team.

"Our support at Southampton was fantastic and they are fanatical about their club. It is great to be a part of that and they are like the 12th man. They want to be entertained and they want the club to win."

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Charity match to honour Dylan
WHUFC.com

Dylan Tombides to be honoured at special charity match in his home city of Perth, Australia
Game will see Manchester United Legends take on rofessional Footballers Australia Legends
Former Hammer Teddy Sheringham among star names set to take part at nib Stadium

West Ham United hero Dylan Tombides will be honoured at a special charity match being played in his home city of Perth in March.

The game, between Professional Footballers Australia Legends team and Manchester United Legends, will raise funds for DT38 Foundation, the charity founded in memory of the late Hammers striker, and Manchester United Foundation.

Academy of Football graduate Dylan passed away in April 2014 at the age of 20, following a long and courageous battle with testicular cancer.

Dylan's father Jim said: "It's an honour for our family to have Dylan's foundation to be selected as one of the nominated charities that will benefit from such a momentous occasion."

The match, which will take place at the Western Australian city's nib Stadium, outside which a sculpture of Dylan was unveiled in august 2015. It will feature some of the biggest names in world football, including former Manchester United players Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and former Hammers striker Teddy Sheringham.

The Manchester United Legends will be managed by former Red Devils and England captain Bryan Robson, while the Professional Footballers Australia Legends team will be coached by former Socceroos coach Frank Farina.

The DT38 Foundation raises awareness and aims to change the stigma associated with men's health, with a focus on testicular cancer.

DT38 Foundation managing director Natasha Evans said the game represents an opportunity to raise awareness about the need for young men to be tested for testicular cancer.

It would also provide the foundation with the opportunity to educate young men about the necessary knowledge for them to conduct self-checks.

The charity was one of three chosen by West Ham captain Mark Noble to benefit from his Testimonial, which was held at the Boleyn Ground in February 2016.

For information on the DT38 Foundation, visit dt38.org

Tickets for the Legends match go on sale on Friday 10 February through Ticketmaster Australia, priced from $79 plus fees.

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Carroll linked with England return as Southgate checks in
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham striker Andy Carroll's recent fine run of form should result in an England call-up, according to a number of pundits. nd the message appears to have found favour with current England manager Gareth Southgate, who has confirmed he will be visiting the Olympic Stadium this weekend to watch Carroll and Co. against West Bromwich Albion. Carroll, who celebrated his 28th birthday last month last featured for the national side five years ago in the 2012 European Championships, a year or so after moving to Liverpool in a £35million switch from Newcastle. He has attracted Southgate's attention having scored six goals in 16 outings so far this season - four of which have come from his four most recent appearances against Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Manchester City and Southampton.
Also in contention for a spot in Southgate's national squad from the WHU stable are flying winger Michail Antonio and defender Aaron Cresswell, who made his international bow in a 2-2 draw with Spain at Wembley last November.

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In Slaven we trust
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2017
By: Paul Walker

If anyone had any doubts that Slaven Bilic has the backing of West Ham fans and our team, these past few days should have dispelled them.

So let's hope that's the end of the constant, annoying speculation about his future. All that seems a little out of place when you consider that Bilic has just reached 25 league victories, quicker than any manager in the club's history.

Trouble is these days, with the infuriating ignorance that floods through social media--and somehow makes those opinions more important than a few blokes arguing at the bar(which to my mind is the same thing), the spotlight rarely dims.

But when a manager has seen his side take 19 points from the past 30 and the side lose only three of their last ten league games, despite the trauma of the Dimi Payet treachery, you begin to wonder just what people expect from Bilic.

That last phrase came from a WhatsApp group I am in--basically the motley crew of mates I attend games with--and where the banter and abuse would not survive a Beckham-style hacking scandal. Thankfully, nobody is looking for a knighthood!

But it got me thinking. Our good friends at the C&H website produced one of their polls after the Roberto Mancini nonsense, which confirmed what everyone knew, that a vast majority fans back Bilic to the hilt.

And the team, now shorn of their selfish little French super star--who has had his own problems with WhatsApp groups--have just underlined that faith.

Bilic is not perfect. Some of his transfers don't work, his tactics sometimes worry people, but his style of management is big on team spirit and inclusive group trust, and he seemed back to his 'kiss and cuddle' best from last season after the victory at Southampton.

Recipient of the Croatian kiss this time was Mark Noble, our skipper who has had as much stick as Slav this term. Funny, every time our team hits on hard times, it is Noble who gets the abuse. But the Bilic/Noble-out brigade have gone a bit quiet of late.

Not suggesting Noble has been anywhere near his best this season. But you can never question the commitment and effort, the lunge busting runs and the kicks he has to contend with in the midfield battleground.

Yes, he's not quick. But he never has been. But that little cuddle and kiss we all saw on TV from Bilic underlines what Noble still has to offer. Maybe it's because he's supposed to be one of us, a tough little East Ender who can take it. But he's a leader who cares, and he will certainly do for Slav.

He's not having to do Payet's running for him now, and the whole side has stepped up to the plate since the French midfielder worked his ticket back to Marseille. Of course we will miss his skills, control, balance, eye for a chance or a pass as well as those free-kicks.

But we did not see much of that that this season, and we now all know that Bilic has been having to contend with 'le sulk' for months.

There have been some disasters this season, along with the terrible list of injuries and all the teething problems of the move and new stadium. (More like root canal surgery if you ask me.) But three times this season Bilic's abilities have been clear to see,and really put to the test.

He has managed to raise spirits, instil discipline and force a show of character and team spirit from the team. First time was after the back-to-back heavy defeats to Arsenal, and Manchester United in the League Cup. Bilic was instantly under pressure, but the team went up to Liverpool and drew with a gutsy display and then won three league games on the trot.

Then after the 5-0 Cup defeat to Manchester City, wins against Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough followed. Again the knives were out and again Bilic got the team sorted.

Then more recent crisis came the horrible TV defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup, what followed was Saturday's first-ever win at St.Mary's against Southampton.

The Payet shambles became public a few days before the Palace game, and the way Bilic handled the situation and the way he had put overall team morale first, was met with overwhelming appreciation from the OS fans.

Suddenly it was all out in the open and the team look like players who have had a huge weight lifted from their shoulders. The side is playing with more freedom, that old intensity Slav was talking about is back.

Confidence has flooded back. Robert Snodgrass, who has not been tainted by the Payet turmoil, worked his socks off, won the free-kick for the third at St.Mary's and showed that a journeyman wide player who works the length of the flank is a better bet than a disinterested, half-hearted superstar.

Pedro Obiang is playing out of his skin, Andy Carroll is nearly back to his unplayable best. Just pray he stays fit, while Jose Fonte--who not surprisingly struggled a fair bit in his first game for a month against Man City, looked the composed, organised defender he is. Even the erratic Sofiane Feghouli put in a shift.

Fonte must be the quickest player ever at the club to have his own song being sung already, although to be fair I have always felt that, Susanne Sulley, the cute little blonde in the Human League, is fitter!! Having just googled her (behave yourselves) she doesn't look too bad at 54.

I digress, I'm easily distracted! Back to the subject…the problem for Slav was the arrival of Mancini last week in the posh seats, complete with Instagram pic on his flight home and an 'I want a Premier League job again' quote. It seems to be AC Milan now!

Not helped by the Mirror's Darren Lewis running a "Slav under pressure again" story, which produced a load of questions for the manager about his future in the pre and post match press conferences. Then more headlines on the internet when the bookies start quoting prices for his sacking. (Please explain why that is news rather than just the betting industry keeping itself going.)

There is a feeling, I am told, that Lewis has the ear of our board, so people take his stuff seriously. I keep seeing his material used on West Ham websites as a 'friend of the club.' Not sure about that, I have always been told he's a big Spurs supporter.

Anyway, the material was given legs and Bilic was not surprisingly bemused to be asked about his future AFTER the win at Southampton. Now lets hope that's the end of it all, and he can concentrate on keeping us in the top half.

He will now need to establish a solid league finish to match last term's seventh spot. David Sullivan gave us a ' don't worry, we will have another crack at it in the summer' after the January window ended so disappointingly.

I'll let that go for now, my views on our owner and his transfer market work are pretty well recorded. But it is a fact that he does need to be able to sell our club (no pun intended), without Champions League football, to unconvinced European players.

He had all those problems last summer when he was desperately trying to buy big to impress Payet, but at least he did try to crack the next level.

The problems are clear, and Real Madrid star James Rodriguez underlined that when it was reveal we tried to buy him after Payet left. The Columbian passed on that one, claiming that leaving the CL arena would seriously damage his endorsements (boots, clothes, kit etc). That in a nutshell is the problem Sullivan has trying to pull players out of the Champions League bubble.

But as for Bilic and his future, it would be nice now if the briefings and 'steers' stopped. Three times now since last season, we have been told the board will delay any talks until the summer. From what I have seen, Bilic hasn't once brought up the subject in public, preferring to let his work do the talking. So silence should be the key now from everyone, it's all to easy to let a 'nod and a wink' on a subject provide a week of newspaper headlines.

And what about Bilic's record? Well that's more than decent. His league record to date is P 62 W25 D18 L19 F97 A92 Pts 93. Overall, league, cups and Europe it's : P81 W33 D 22 L 26 F 119 A 115.

Now under the circumstances, that's not at all bad, considering the stuff Slav has had to deal with this term. The problem is obvious, we are shipping far too many goals, but we are in the top half and a couple of wins away from safety. But as my young friend said: "What exactly do the board want from him?"

One final point. Our pitch at the OS is exactly the same size as the one at St.Mary's…115 yards long by 74 yards wide. So let's hear the last of this daft excuse from the ill-informed. Yes, I do mean you Gary Neville after the rubbish spouted after the Man City game.

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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Quality over quantity: nine names for summer
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2017
By: madhammer

It's about quality over quantity this summer, for me. The basis of Slaven Bilic's first XI and squad is strong enough to achieve an 8th-12th placed finish in my opinion, as we shall see this season despite a poor opening half to the campaign. Therefore serious investment should be focused on the two positions that should have been addressed during the last two seasons: a right back and a striker. Assuming a budget of £35-45m, I would be looking at the below targets. Most of these i mentioned in the KUMB Forum's January transfer thread but seeing as the positions weren't addressed, I thought it worth posting again...

Right Backs

Šime Vrsaljko (25) Atletico Madrid
Made a big money move to Madrid in the summer but has subsequently struggled for game time. This shouldn't be used as a stick to beat him with as Juanfran and Felipe Luis are continually excellent and Simeone likes a settled team. A fellow Croat he should be well know to Slav, and given his lack of playing time may even be available on an initial 6 month loan with option to buy that the owners seem to love so much. Bigger than the average fullback i don't think he'd struggle with the physicality of the league, like Byram has seemed to at times. While he gets forward well too and seems comfortable on the ball.

Mitchell Weiser (23) Hertha Berlin

A player who always stands out to me when i watch Hertha in the Bundesliga Highlights show. In what is a fairly ordinary, defensive team, with little width in midfield. He really gets forward well from RB and provides width to the team. I think he began his career as a RM at Bayern Munich but like so many modern full backs has been converted to RB, thus he's very confident on the ball and can take his man on and beat him. If the rumoured signing of Fonte is true and 3 at the back a genuine tactic for Slav moving forward i think he could play RWB with ease too.

Rafael (26) Lyon

Must admit to being a little bit shocked when LVG and Man Utd sold him for as little as £3m a couple of years ago. Much sought after Premier League and Champions League experience, and even a title winner i believe. Everyone will be aware of his playing style, gets forward well and even know to chip in with the odd goal. Despite his small size he likes a bit of scrap and a tussle with the opposition wide man. Although Lyon and Aulus are known to be difficult to deal with, come the summer he will only have 2 years left on contract so reckon he could be picked up for £10m or maybe even less

Mario Fernandes (26) CSKA Moscow

Admittedly this one might require a bit more scouting having only seen him play a couple of CL games for an otherwise terrible CSKA. But he was the one standout player, and their best attacking player in all games i saw, quite impressive considering he was playing RB.
Physically strong and quite imposing he reminded me a lot of Chelsea's Marcos Alonso in his playing style. Calm on the ball and keen to get forward, he showed good stamina levels to get up and down the flank.

Mario Gaspar (26) Villarreal

I first mentioned him in the summer and learnt in this very thread that he had recently signed a new contract extension. However, Villarreal are a selling club and we could certainly afford a wage increase that would turn his head he was only earning £20k a week pre-contract extension and Villarreal don't have the biggest of budgets. Destined for bigger things i'm not sure the usual Spanish suitors of Madrid (Carvajal, Danillo), Atletico (Juanfran, Vrsaljko) and Barcelona (Roberto, Vidal) will be in for him meaning we'd have an excellent run at him given the PL riches. Has all the attributes required of the modern FB and being Spanish as you would expect is technically sound on the ball. Owing to these qualities i would however accept he might be out of our league and wouldn't be to surprised to see him rock up at Man City next year, assuming Pep is still there.

Strikers

Danny Wellbeck (26) Arsenal

Would be my top striking target in the summer. Knows the league and assuming Sanchez stays at Arsenal this summer, which i think he will, will he be content continuing to play from the Left Wing and only getting the odd run up front given he left Man Utd for precisely this reason. At 26, I wouldn't be surprised to learn he wanted regular first team football in his favoured position.
A hard worker and willing runner he would allow us to press from the front much like Sakho does, while is touch and link up play is far superior to that of Sakho's. He's also strong and powerful enough that his arrival doesn't mean a complete abandonment of the direct style Slav seems to favour meaning evolution rather than revolution.

Anthony Modeste (28) F.C. Koln

Linked to him in the summer of 2016. While a little underwhelming at the time given the promise of £20m strikers, given the situation we now find ourselves in, having passed up the opportunity of a lifetime (7th place finish, stadium move and looking upwards), i think he represents an excellent upgrade on the injury prone Sakho. Like Wellbeck he his strong and powerful enough to lead the line in Carroll's absence, whether injury or tactically enforced, but is a far more willing runner able to run the channels and stretch defences, an option we sorely miss when Sakho isn't available. At 28 he's very much one for the here and now and having played in Germany for the last 3-4 seasons i think the adaption to the premier league should be much easier than if moving from a different country.

Jhon Cordoba (23) Mainz

Maybe not the proven quality of the other two but has a lot of very similar attributes. Namely, quick, a willing runner who works the channels, makes runs in behind defenders and able to press from the front. He's certainly a little rawer and less polished than the other two and in that regards is maybe not the immediate upgrade on Sakho the other two are, however i'm not 100% convinced Sakho has been properly re-incorporated in to the squad following the summer and think his re-appearance versus Spurs and Man Utd were more out of the necessity of not having any other strikers available. Definitely has the potential to improve and i think his style of play would be ideally suited to the open spaces, slightly frenetic and physical nature of the PL.

Giovanni Simeone (21) Genoa

Son of Diego and very much one who will be attracting a lot of interest across Europe given his age and goal scoring exploits this season. However, Europe's elite might consider it one season to early for him, so now is our time to strike potentially. Unlike the others on my list he's much more of a poacher who does his best work in the opposition box. Strikes meas as a natural goal scorer given his movement and finishing prowess. Would be capable of playing in a two with Carroll while also having a decent turn of pace, dribbling skills and the technique to play in a slightly withdrawn role. Also while he might not be 6ft like the others on my list, smaller Argentine strikers like Aguero, Tevez, Lavezzi seem quite adept at rising to the physical challenge when coming up against players bigger and stronger than them. Also being the son of Diego Simeone, it seems like some of his character traits have rubbed off on him and he don't seem like the sort to be bullied out of the game. 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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Charity match to honour Dylan
WHUFC.com

Dylan Tombides to be honoured at special charity match in his home city of Perth, Australia
Game will see Manchester United Legends take on rofessional Footballers Australia Legends
Former Hammer Teddy Sheringham among star names set to take part at nib Stadium

West Ham United hero Dylan Tombides will be honoured at a special charity match being played in his home city of Perth in March.
The game, between Professional Footballers Australia Legends team and Manchester United Legends, will raise funds for DT38 Foundation, the charity founded in memory of the late Hammers striker, and Manchester United Foundation. Academy of Football graduate Dylan passed away in April 2014 at the age of 20, following a long and courageous battle with testicular cancer. Dylan's father Jim said: "It's an honour for our family to have Dylan's foundation to be selected as one of the nominated charities that will benefit from such a momentous occasion."
The match, which will take place at the Western Australian city's nib Stadium, outside which a sculpture of Dylan was unveiled in august 2015. It will feature some of the biggest names in world football, including former Manchester United players Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and former Hammers striker Teddy Sheringham. The Manchester United Legends will be managed by former Red Devils and England captain Bryan Robson, while the Professional Footballers Australia Legends team will be coached by former Socceroos coach Frank Farina.
The DT38 Foundation raises awareness and aims to change the stigma associated with men's health, with a focus on testicular cancer.
DT38 Foundation managing director Natasha Evans said the game represents an opportunity to raise awareness about the need for young men to be tested for testicular cancer. It would also provide the foundation with the opportunity to educate young men about the necessary knowledge for them to conduct self-checks. The charity was one of three chosen by West Ham captain Mark Noble to benefit from his Testimonial, which was held at the Boleyn Ground in February 2016.

For information on the DT38 Foundation, visit dt38.org

Tickets for the Legends match go on sale on Friday 10 February through Ticketmaster Australia, priced from $79 plus fees.

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New deal for Bilic, claims source
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2017
By: Staff Writer

A matter of days after Roberto Mancini was spotted at the Olympic Stadium, Slaven Bilic is on the verge of landing a new contract - according to a tabloid newspaper. Rumours of Bilic's impending doom were rife across social media last weekend when former Manchester City boss Mancini, who has been out of work since leaving Inter last August was spotted at the match between West Ham and his former club. However the same tabloid which suggested Bilic was on the verge of being replaced by the 52-year-old Italian reports today that the club are willing to offer Bilic a new contract at the end of the current campaign. "There's nothing we want more than for Slaven to go onto his third year with us but we really do need to start seeing some decent performances," said an unnamed 'London Stadium source'. "There have been some scrappy wins and we need to see some good football and stuff to please the fans. That's important.
"Then we can go into next season free of any source of anxiety and think about another contract at the end of this one as has always been the case at this club. That was what we wanted to see and it was great to watch."

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Reserves prepare for OS test
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2017
By: Staff Writer

The Under 23s will be playing their first match at the Olympic Stadium later this month. And season ticket holders will be able to watch the game free of charge, after the club announced their pricing structure for the match. Non season ticket holders will pay a fiver to watch Terry Westley's youngsters take on Fulham on Monday, 20 February whilst concessions and under 21s will be charged £3.
Unusually for reserve fixtures there will be no pay on the door scheme in operation. The club intent to open the Betway Lower Stand only, with the match designated as an all-ticket affair due to limited space. The Hammers are currently fifth in (a 12-team) Division 2, seven points adrift of the Cottagers who are currently in second place in the table.

* In other club news today, former Hammer Dylan Tombides is to be honoured with a game in his own country later this Spring. Former pros such as Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and ex-Hammer Teddy Sheringham will take to the field as Manchester United legends face a team of Australian legends at Perth's nib Stadium - Dylan's home town - in a benefit gig for the DT38 Foundation.
"It's an honour for our family to have Dylan's foundation to be selected as one of the nominated charities that will benefit from such a momentous occasion," said Dylan's father Jim.

* It has been confirmed that the new 'Iron Men' documentary is to be released on 3 March. Available on DVD, the film features the likes of Mark 'Ribman' Gevaux and former OLAS editor Gary Firmager.

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Cheikhou Kouyate's agency believes player is now worth £21.3m
HITC
Mathew Nash

The West Ham United star cost a fraction of that price when West Ham signed him. The agent in charge of West Ham United midfielder Cheikou Kouyate's representative company has commented on the value of the player – in relation to Liverpool's apparent interest in Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet.
Jacques Lichtenstein was speaking to L'Avenir when he mentioned how Anderlecht were struggling to sell attacking midfielder Praet – despite winning the Golden Boot in Belgian football. He used West Ham midfielder Kouyate as the prime example of how values can be skewed in Belgium. Liechtenstein, who is the director of Kouyate's agency Eleven Management, had this to say about the rise of the Senegalese midfielder's transfer value: "As a scout from Liverpool makes a positive report about Dennis Praet, which is important. He has won the Golden Boot, is not important. "Cheikhou Kouyaté is the perfect example. He was never in the top five and he was 8 million euro (£6.8 million) sold to West Ham United. He is now worth 25 (£21.3 million)."
There is no doubt that West Ham have got value for money with the midfield enforcer. Not only has he proved a consistent and valuable member of the West Ham first-team but he has also managed to be a flexible squad member, playing at centre-back when needed under Slaven Bilic's management. Kouyate, who was often linked with a move to the Premier League prior to the West Ham switch, has certainly proven himself to be a bargain buy for the London club.

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EXCLUSIVE: West Ham will play their first three games away from home next season
The London Stadium will be otherwise engaged at the beginning of next season's Premier League campaign
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
16:04, 8 FEB 2017UPDATED16:06, 8 FEB 2017

West Ham will play the first three games of the 2017/18 Premier League season away from the London Stadium, football.london can confirm. The Hammers' home is hosting this year's World Athletics Championships, due to run between August 4 and 13. The Premier League announced yesterday (Tuesday) that the opening round of fixtures will start on August 12, so West Ham would not be able to play at home that day should the fixture computer have thrown that out. The main reason why the Hammers will have to play their first three league games away from E20 is all to do with the retractable seating. A club source confirmed to football.london: "We have special dispensation to play the first game away from home, and then will seek to switch the second game, therefore will play the first three games away from home. Liverpool did the same this season due to their new stand."
The seating will have been taken down for the athletics championships as, obviously, the athletes wouldn't be able to run around the track if it was there. The cost of moving rows of seats from where they are for games, to removing them for athletics and putting them back again, somehow soared from original estimates of £300,000 to a whopping £8m every time it needs to be done. This past summer, before the Hammers moved in, it took 15 days of working 24 hours around the clock to put the seats back in place. With projected costs of the stadium conversion to a multi-purpose venue itself absolutely skyrocketing to £323m from an original £51m less than that, plus the Hammers only paying £2.5m a year in the "deal of the century" struck by Karren Brady and a £15m contribution to help the conversion, the club will be in the spotlight once again. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has already ordered an independent inquiry into the vast sums of cash being swallowed up by the move. And if the stadium is not being used for the first few weeks of the season as there is no football going on – it won't be making any money. So, it's safe to assume that Hammers fans might not be taking their seats at the London Stadium to watch a match until at least September 2017.

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Why West Ham United need to hand Slaven Bilic a new deal right now
We look at whether Gold and Sullivan need to hand the boss a new deal
Footbal London
BYKEVIN BEIRNE
14:56, 8 FEB 2017UPDATED15:00, 8 FEB 2017

With the Hammers' upturn in form (six wins in their past nine games), is now the time for the hierarchy to sit down with the Slaven Bilic and discuss a new deal? After a, let's be honest, wretched start to the season, West Ham have recovered and currently sit in ninth in the Premier League, just two places below where they eventually finished last season. Bilic's position has been under constant scrutiny this season. After a fantastic campaign last year, some very heavy defeats this year have threatened to de-rail his Hammers adventure. Starting the season with four defeats in five Premier League games and being knocked out of the Europa League by Astra Girgiu didn't help. The demoralising 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal saw an under-pressure Bilic call his players out in public after the game, accusing them of lacking intensity on the pitch and on the training ground as well. But, he has steered the team back to where he believes it should be at the very least. He has about a year and a half to run on his contract and talks over extending that were planned for last month. However, they never took place after an alarming slump in results left the club in the relegation zone but the 48-year-old manager has had backing from the majority of West Ham fans. Recent results have improved however and football.london understands that Bilic could be offered a new deal at the end of the season should West Ham keep up their current form and finish in the Premier League's top ten for a second successive season.

Roberto Mancini being in the stands for the City game sent the nonsense rumour mill into overdrive but the aftermath showed that Bilic has the backing of the fans, social media especially backing the boss to the hilt. The manager handled the sorry Dimitri Payet saga expertly and perfectly. Bilic didn't want to sell Payet but knew he had to get him away from the club as the toxic atmosphere it created wasn't helping the team. Confidence is flowing through the team now – just look at Andy Carroll, Pedro Obiang, even the under-par Mark Noble last weekend, Robert Snodgrass looks like he's been with the team for years – this is down to Bilic. Yes, he has made mistakes, namely the summer transfer window which turned out to be a shambles, but don't we all? He rectified that with his January business. Jose Fonte was going to struggle having not played for a month and then facing Manchester City, while Robert Snodgrass is proven Premier League quality. Bilic bleeds West Ham, you can see it in pre-match and post-match press conferences, he really cares about the club. For me, there is no-one better placed to manage this football club. He should be here for years and years to come.

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Antonio makes compelling case for inclusion
The Scout 08/02/2017
www.premierleague.com

Thrust into a role in a West Ham United front two, Michail Antonio can carry a major threat to Gameweek 25 opponents West Bromwich Albion and re-establish himself as a key target for Fantasy Premier League managers. A recent trio of assists at home to Crystal Palace in Gameweek 21 was typical of his contribution at London Stadium this season. Antonio's total of three goals and five assists means he has been involved in 66% of his side's goals on home turf – more than any other FPL midfielder. Recently shifted up front alongside Andy Carroll (£6.3m), the versatile winger has been somewhat overshadowed by his strike partner, who has scored four goals over the last six Gameweeks. But despite failing to find the net during that spell, Antonio is joint-top with Carroll for the Hammers when it comes to total attempts (14) across that period, and is only narrowly beaten for efforts inside the opposition box by 11 to nine – a tally bettered by only five FPL midfielders.

Antonio's last six Gameweeks
Total West Ham rank
Goal attempts 14 Joint 1st
Penalty-area attempts 9 2nd
Goal attempts on target 4 Joint 1st
Chances created 9 2nd
ICT Index 43.3 2nd

In terms of accuracy, Antonio has also matched Carroll's four shots on target, highlighting his eye for goal at a time when the target man's fitness remains a concern following his precautionary early withdrawal in the win at Southampton. Antonio has earned four assists from Gameweek 19 onwards, providing nine goalscoring chances for the Hammers. That is level with Manuel Lanzini (£6.3m) and bettered only by new arrival Robert Snodgrass (£5.8m), who has supplied a total of 15 key passes over that period, with 14 of them for former club Hull City.

Having recorded victories against Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Southampton over the last four Gameweeks, West Ham will seek to maintain momentum against a Baggies side who have registered just a single clean sheet on their travels this season. Found in more than 533,000 squads (12%), FPL managers can also look to Antonio as a means of navigating a tricky schedule of fixtures: West Ham are currently one of only six sides certain to feature in both Gameweeks 26 and 28.

With five of the Hammers' next six opponents scoring two in the Fixture Difficulty Rankings (FDR), Antonio has the platform to flourish and revive his reputation as a go-to midfield option.

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West Ham remain confident 1966 World Cup heroes statue will be relocated to the London Stadium
KEN DYER
Evening Standard

West Ham remain confident the statue of the club's 1966 World Cup heroes will be relocated to the London Stadium by the start of next season. There has been opposition from local residents to the plan to move the statue, of West Ham trio Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters plus defender Ray Wilson. Opposition centres on the need to mark the 100-year history of the club in the area and Newham Council is expected to make a decision within two months. West Ham are prepared to cover the cost of moving the statue to Stratford but the process has been complicated by who will pay for a road improvement scheme at the same junction with ongoing consultation between Newham Council and Transport for London. Meanwhile, left back Aaron Cresswell believes any team in the Premier League would love to have Andy Carroll in their squad. "I have seen a change and his performances have been fantastic," Cresswell told West Ham's official website. "He has been unlucky with injuries but we all hope he can stay fully fit now. He is going into every game believing he can score.

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West Ham handed injury boost with Arthur Masuaku expected back in weeks
The full-back could make his return from injury sooner than expected
London Football
BYSAM INKERSOLE
12:38, 8 FEB 2017

West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku could hand boss Slaven Bilic a timely boost with his return from injury which could be by the end of the month, football.london has learned. The summer signing from Olympiacos has had an indifferent start to life in east London which has been ruined by two fairly hefty injuries. Masuaku was bought as cover for the then-injured Aaron Cresswell and performed well against Chelsea and Manchester City in the early rounds of the Premier League before suffering a horror show away at West Bromwich Albion. Masuaku injured medial knee ligaments in the 1-0 EFL Cup win over Accrington Stanley in September before going down again on December 7, meaning he has been out of action for a total of 138 days through injury. Aaron Cresswell is the undisputed number one choice at left back but some Hammers fans have been concerned over the Liverpudlians form. In fact, Cresswell has committed a few errors in recent weeks that have got the Hammers into trouble. While it is not a given that Masuaku would immediately take Cresswell's place, it certainly does provide competition and finally some cover again in the left-back slot, something West Ham have been short of. Masuaku is scheduled to return on February 25 – the day of the trip to Watford – but is unlikely to feature as to ease him back into action. Havard Nortdveit and Diafra Sakho are still in recovery from ankle and back injuries respectively, with striker Sakho aiming for a return at some time in March.

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West Ham boss could get new deal – report
By London Football News 08/02/2017

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic will be offered a new contract at the end of the season if his team finish in the top eight. The Hammers have endured a troubled campaign and were recently thrashed at home by Manchester City for the second time this season.
But they have won three of their last four matches and The Sun reckon that upturn might have put him on course for a new deal
A 'London Stadium source' is quoted as saying: "There's nothing we want more than for Slaven to go onto his third year with us but we really do need to start seeing some decent performances. "There have been some scrappy wins and we need to see some good football and stuff to please the fans. That's important. "Then we can go into next season free of any source of anxiety and think about another contract at the end of this one as has always been the case at this club. "That was what we wanted to see and it was great to watch.
"It's West Brom next and they are a good team but we have real confidence and if we continue like that a top eight finish is on."

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Slaven Bilic planning rigorous training programme at West Ham United
HITC
John Verrall

West Ham United are set to have two weeks off from competitive action after this weekend. According to a report in the Daily Mail, West Ham United players are set to be put through a rigorous training routine Dubai next week. West Ham have two weeks away from competitive action, following their match against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Hammers are out of the FA Cup, meaning that they get some time away from competitive games. And Bilic is keen to ensure that his side do not rest on their laurels during the break. As a result, West Ham are set to travel to Dubai on a training week, and the Mail report that they have been told by a club insider that the training will be very tough. Bilic is reportedly keen to put his side through their paces, to ensure that they don't lose fitness or match sharpness during their time off. West Ham may have little left to play for this season, but Bilic does not want his side switching off. The Hammers are currently in ninth place in the Premier League table, and head into their match against West Brom, after beating Southampton 3-1 in their most recent outing.

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Ex-West Ham midfielder makes Argentina move
23:53 - 7 Feb 2017

Former Charlton and West Ham midfielder Diego Poyet has joined Argentine side Godoy Cruz. Poyet, 21, has been a free agent since leaving the London Stadium last summer. The former England youth international, who was born in Spain, has also represented Uruguay at Under-20 level.

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West Ham star Aaron Cresswell enjoying life post-Dimitri Payet: Here's why
AARON CRESSWELL is certainly not missing Dimitri Payet - and it's all down to West Ham's 'fantastic' new boys.
Daily Star
By Marc Williams / Published 8th February 2017

West Ham spent over £18m on Robert Snodgrass and Jose Fonte last month while Payet's transfer saga was finally settled when he return to Marseille for £25m. While the Frenchman's exit could have been a disaster for the east London club, Cresswell insists the Hammers' new recruits have filled his void perfectly so far. The defender told the club's website: "Snods has been fantastic since he came into the club. "It is not easy when you move from one end of the country to the other and he has pretty much gone straight into the side. "He started on Saturday and played in front of me and has fitted in straight away with the other lads and is a great lad. His performance showed that."
On Fonte, Cresswell said: "He is another player who has settled in straight away and is a great leader and has a lot of experience.
"You could see straight away the leadership qualities he will bring into the squad and you get that feeling that he has the quality. He is a fantastic defender." West Ham, who are currently ninth in the Premier League table, have won three of their last four top-flight fixtures. Slaven Bilic's Hammers take on West Brom this weekend who are just one place above them. Cresswell added: "They are just five points ahead of us in the table and I am sure they will want to stay in the top half but there are still 14 games to go and we want to get past them. "We hope we can close the gap with a victory on Saturday. We have had a few good results this season when the crowd have really got behind us. "It certainly helps when the crowd are behind you and it helps in our performance."

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Sky Sports pundit explains why West Ham man will become so much better without Payet
HITC
Antony Martin

West Ham United allowed the Frenchman to join Marseille last month. Speaking live on Sky Sports' Premier League Daily at 11:16 am on February 7th, former Hammers centre-back Tony Gale explained how Andy Carroll will benefit from the fact that Dimitri Payet has now left the club, and the inclusion in the team of Robert Snodgrass and Sofiane Feghouli. The former Newcastle United and Liverpool hitman has been in devastating form of late, with four goals in his last four Premier League outings for Slaven Bilic's men. And Gale, who made 368 appearances for the Hammers, during a spell with the club that lasted more than a decade, told Sky Sports how West Ham fans should be excited about the prospect of how much better Carroll could become, now that Payet has left for pastures new:
"Andy Carroll is now firing on all cylinders. He was hanging about, waiting for things to come in from Payet. Now he's got Feghouli on one side, Snodgrass on the other, and he's even going to get little passes into him, like when he scored the goal [against Southampton]."
The East Londoners now sit in ninth position in the Premier League table, and if Carroll can continue to show the form that has earned him such high praise of late, there will no reason why they cannot make a sustained push to replicate last season's seventh placed finish, and in turn, qualify for the Europa League

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West Ham star offers explanation for their struggles against top sides this season
HITC
Antony Martin

Darren Randolph believes West Ham United need to assert themselves against the Premier League's best sides. Hammers goalkeeper Darren Randolph spoke to the club's official website, and highlighted how his side need to improve when they play against teams inside the top six. Slaven Bilic's men have really struggled against the big boys this season, especially at their new London Stadium, with heavy home defeats coming against Arsenal, and twice against Manchester City. They have bounced back extremely well from each embarrassing loss, however, and the spirit amongst the West Ham squad seems to be as good as it has been all season long. And Randolph spoke to WHUFC.com about the high levels of confidence running through the side at the moment, but stressed the need for the Hammers to start producing better performances against the league's top teams:
"Against the top six, you need to try and stop them playing, which takes away from the way you play. Against the other teams we know we can cause them all sorts of problems."

The East Londoners now sit in ninth position in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of seventh placed Everton. And if they can continue the impressive run of form that they have been on of late, whilst cutting out some of the awful displays that have led to heavy defats, they have every chance of equalling last season's fantastic achievement of finishing seventh in the table.

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est Ham set to jet off to the Middle East for five-day warm weather training camp after West Brom clash
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic wants to press ahead with a five-day training camp
The Hammers have a two-week break after this weekend's game with West Brom
The trips are designated as warm weather training and team-bonding escapes
West Ham have found confidence off the back of three Premier League wins
By Sam Cunningham for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 23:30, 7 February 2017 | UPDATED: 01:09, 8 February 2017

West Ham are pressing ahead with their warm weather training camp in Dubai. Three victories in their last four matches have lifted Slaven Bilic's side well away from the relegation places but the Croatian is taking no chances and plans on putting the players through their paces during a gruelling five-day trip to the UAE. After their Premier League fixture against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday they have a two-week break from action after being knocked out of the FA Cup and are intent on taking full advantage.
Next Wednesday, the players will take part in an open training session in front of 8,500 junior members and season ticket holders at the London Stadium as part of a family fun day and from there will travel straight to Heathrow Airport to jet off to the Middle East late in the afternoon. According to West Ham sources the camp will involve 'hard sessions' in the heat as Bilic prepares his players for the final run-in. On their return, they face in-form Watford and then host league leaders Chelsea.
The Hammers' decision to pursue warmer climate comes after Crystal Palace pulled the plug on plans to do the same themselves following Saturday's 4-0 loss at home to rock bottom Sunderland. Eagles boss Sam Allardyce was due to take advantage of Palace's upcoming fortnight break by taking his squad to the Middle East, but club chairman Steve Parish and the majority shareholders have vetoed the trip. Parish is concerned about how flying to the other side of the world would be viewed by their supporters, who were left deeply disgruntled by another humiliating home defeat.

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REFLECTING ON SOUTHAMPTON
By JackSparrow86 8 Feb 2017 at 08:00
WTID

A tactically astute and energetic team performance secured maximum points at St Mary's for the first time in the clubs history.
The players executed their manager's instructions with precision and discipline, moving with purpose and fluidity as they fought their way to victory. In Slaven's own words "The key was everything, we played a fantastic game. We had our plan and the players executed it brilliantly."

The players

The whole team performed admirably but I wanted to pick out a few for praise, starting with Snodgrass. His energy, closing down, organisation, discipline and technique are superb. Held the ball well, chased and closed the opposition from the front and tracked his man every time. He made the most high-intensity sprints of any player on the pitch with 81 and was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition. He also covered more ground in the match than every player except for Noble, who covered 12.09km with Snodgrass a close second with 11.79km. One of his best assets is his intelligence on and off the ball. His runs are calculated and his positional awareness is exemplary. He constantly communicates with his teammates, orchestrating defensive and attacking movements down his flank. He works incredibly hard and covers his full back well, this time partnering with Cresswell to great effect.

Obiang was back to his best and although his goal grabbed the headlines, it was his dominant performance in midfield that earned him man of the match. He completed 39/49 passes (79.6%), scored one goal, created one chance, one assist, one take-on, seven ball recoveries, 3/4 tackles, three interceptions and 2/2 aerial duels. He was imperious.

Randolph was again solid in the sticks. He displayed excellent shot stopping ability and held onto several shots that lesser keepers would have been forced to parry. He appeared to command his area well and his distribution was varied and accurate.

Carroll again led the line superbly. Strong, agile and his movement appears to be improving by the day. His movement for the goal was excellent and he showed great composure with the finish It's frightening to think of what he'll be capable of if he remains fit and injury free.

Kouyate was nothing short of heroic at right back. His athleticism, power and understated technique give him a versatility afforded to very few players. He was outstanding.

Noble deserves a mention too. He was brilliant throughout the match, providing the engine in midfield along with Obiang, as well as chipping in with some excellent passes and a well deserved (and correctly awarded) goal. He was deployed in a slightly deeper role and this allowed him to cover the defence more effectively and utilise his range of passing. He completed 44/51 passes (86.3%) and made 11 ball recoveries. Our captain has come in for a lot of criticism this season, with myself included, but he led by example and fought for every inch of ground he covered. Well played Nobes!

Bilic

This man has been tested on every level this season. His honesty, integrity and belief in playing attacking, expansive football are commendable and he does not always receive the praise he deserves. Southampton are a top side and Bilic set the team up perfectly to exploit their weaknesses. As I covered in my last piece, he's not the finished article, but he's got all the ingredients to become one of the best managers in the league. He can be a little naïve or stick to seemingly lost causes at times, but it's all part of his make-up and I admire his character. For any remaining doubters out there please find the following information courtesy of our official website:
"For Bilic, Saturday was his 25th league win as West Ham United boss – no manager has reached this feat quicker than the Croatian in the club's 122 year history."

He's earned our admiration and respect and if the club are serious about their vision to improve, then retaining Bilic is key.

Tactics

Bilic was bold and started with a 4-4-2. Antonio partnered Carroll up front and Snodgrass came in for Lanzini on the left wing. The work-rate and intelligence of Snodgrass aided the team in retaining their shape and prevented us becoming overloaded in midfield. Antonio and Carroll both put in tremendous shifts defending from the front, pressing Southampton's midfield relentlessly and forcing errors.

Kouyate was excellent filling in at right back and Cresswell showed great improvement, helped along by his new wing partner Snodgrass.

Reid and Fonte looked more comfortable playing together and put in a dominant defensive display. Fonte's passing range is superb and his composure on the ball is a huge asset to the team.

After the Manchester City defeat on Wednesday, Fonte revealed that the players felt responsible for the nature of the defeat as they failed to follow the manager's tactics. This was not the case against Southampton as previous mistakes were rectified.

From front to back the team attacked and defended as a unit. This was a display that encapsulated Bilic's style of play, high-energy tactical pressing, with fast fluid attacking movement. Although so far this season we've only enjoyed glimpses of this coming together for 90 minutes, this was as complete a performance as we've seen this season.

Looking ahead to West Brom

The players will take confidence into their game with West Brom and I'd be surprised if Bilic changed the formation. We may see a change in personnel if Byram is fit and chosen to play, but that would leave a tough call on Kouyate with his inclusion necessitating the withdrawal of Noble or Obiang, neither of whom deserve to be dropped.

At least this is a good problem for Bilic to have and it's good to see competition for places, even in such an unorthodox manner.

Tony Pulis is a better tactician than people think and he's created a strong and resolute squad of players that will be very tough to break down. They will match our physicality and not many teams in the league can boast that. They are a potent threat from set plays and will pose more of an aerial threat than any of the teams we've faced recently.

They will look to keep things tight and restrict the space between their lines. Snodgrass, Antonio, Carroll and Feghouli/Lanzini will need guile to create space in which to operate and transitioning quickly will be key.

The added energy, technique and composure of Snodgrass will again be a welcome addition in a match that could be defined by the finest of margins or moment of brilliance.

The team seems united, invigorated and hungry and I feel renewed confidence, rather than trepidation, going into our matches once again.

Super Slav has got his mojo back and the team looks like it's ready to forge ahead in its new chapter and keep the momentum going, starting with West Brom.

COYI

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Gareth Southgate will check out West Ham's Andy Carroll on Saturday as England boss prepares to name squad for Germany and Lithuania matches
Andy Carroll is set to start against West Brom at home on Saturday afternoon
The striker has nine caps and doesn't consider his England career to be over
Carroll's goals this season have helped West Ham rise to ninth in Premier League
Michail Antonio will also be seeking to impress Gareth Southgate on Saturday
By Kieran Gill for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:31, 7 February 2017 | UPDATED: 23:00, 7 February 2017

Gareth Southgate will be at the London Stadium on Saturday with West Ham striker Andy Carroll hoping to do enough to earn another England call-up. Carroll has nine caps for the Three Lions so far and does not consider his international career done. The 28-year-old picked up a slight groin injury during Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton but is training as normal with West Ham's first team this week. The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker is set to start against West Brom this weekend, having scored four goals over the last four games. Carroll's fine form has helped lift West Ham away from the Premier League's relegation zone, as they currently sit ninth. Southgate's next squad selection will be for March, when England play Germany in a friendly and Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier. West Ham workhorse Michail Antonio is another who will look to impress the Three Lions boss. Speaking to Sportsmail last week, Carroll said his fitness had prevented him from playing more for England. The goalscorer made his first appearance for four months in December following a knee injury that had kept him out since August. That return saw him score against Manchester City. Carroll's senior debut for his country came in 2010. He scored against Ghana in a friendly at Wembley in 2011, then against Sweden at the European Championship in 2012.

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