Manager on Matchday
WHUFC.com
BilicGood morning everyone,
We are preparing for another big game at Vicarage Road and the players are
full of confidence following our successful trip to Dubai. We are a
different team from the one who faced Watford back in September.
I was asked in the pre-match press conference about Troy Deeney's comments
after the game that my players were showboating and it helped motivate the
Watford players to stage a remarkable comeback.
I was annoyed that we lost a game when we were at home and two up. Troy
Deeney said that, but it was a good moment for him to say that, to show the
spirit of that team - but we didn't annoy them and we didn't try to
humiliate them.
Back then we had players like Payet and Lanzini who had just come back from
injuries or the European Championships and didn't do a proper pre-season, or
players like Zaza, who had just come to the club.
Sakho, Carroll and Ayew were injured and we didn't have any option other
than to put those players in the starting line-up.
That's why we crumbled, basically, after they scored the fourth goal,
psychologically and also physically we couldn't cope with it.
Now the situation is totally different. We are a team that is in good form
and we didn't want a gap because we already had good momentum but I am
expecting us to continue how we finished.
I was asked if I will use his comments as part of my pre-match talk to the
players. To be fair extra motivation can never harm you if it doesn't
produce a chip on your shoulder or a negative kind of pressure.
I have a feeling that we don't need extra motivation now, we have a big
motivation in training and I'm expecting it to be even bigger in games.
I'm probably going to say something, not just about that but something to
give them a kind of injection before the game.
There is still a long way to go in the Premier League. We want to climb the
table and what we definitely don't want is to come back again into the dodgy
zone because we know how it feels when you are there. So, the motivation
will not be a problem on Saturday.
Watford are doing a good job in terms of recruiting the players. Maybe in
England they are not big names but they are very experienced and all have a
lot of games in the big leagues.
I rate them as a very experienced group of players with big quality.
We are in pretty good shape going into the game. Aaron Cresswell is good and
looks sharp. Robert Snodgrass missed training during the week with diarrhoea
but he was back in training on Thursday. Diafra Sakho is very happy now.
He's running and doesn't feel any problems. Hopefully the back problems that
were causing all those problems with his hamstrings, which the doctor says
is quite common (have gone away). In a few weeks time he will start to train
with us. He will be a like a great new signing.
Arthur Masuaku is back and sharp, looks really good. So we have options now
in basically every position. Even Angelo Ogbonna is recovering really good
from his knee operation. So it's good.
We want to climb the table. Our plan is very simple. We will try to win as
many games as we can. First of all we want to be safe. We're still not safe.
If we are talking about the teams above us, West Brom is there and
reachable.
There is a big gap now with Everton, but we just need to keep playing well
in every game and then everything is possible. There are still an awful lot
of points to be played for and everything is open. It's not over yet.
Enjoy the game this afternoon.
Slaven
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Antonio – Our squad has great unity
WHUFC.com
West Ham United face Watford on Saturday and Michail Antonio believes his
side can claim the victory
The winger thinks the feeling of togetherness in the squad could have a huge
impact on the Hammers' performance at Vicarage Road
Slaven Bilic's team will be looking to avenge their 4-2 defeat to the
Hornets in September
Michail Antonio believes the current feeling of unity in the West Ham United
squad can play a huge part in leaving Vicarage Road on Saturday with three
points in the bag. The Hammers take on Watford in the late kick off this
weekend and will be looking to avenge their 4-2 defeat to the Hornets at
London Stadium earlier this season. And having just returned from a five-day
team trip to Dubai for warm weather training, Antonio thinks the
togetherness amongst the players can help them claim a victory in
Hertfordshire. He said: "The trip was definitely good for the team unity,
and it's one of those things where you're away from home for five days solid
with each other. At training, we're together for four hours then you go
home, but out there, it was 24/7. It's good for the team. "The feeling's
very good [in the squad]. We've had a couple of good results over the past
few weeks, so the boys are ready to keep kicking on and keep going forward.
"There's definitely that unity in the squad right now. Everyone that's here
wants to be here and play their football here. We're enjoying our football
right now. "[The new boys] Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass have settled
well, as well. They've gelled and they're a good set of boys. I knew Jose
from Southampton and Snodgrass has come in and he has got a bit of banter
about him."
Antonio was on the scoresheet twice back in September against the Hornets,
putting Slaven Bilic's side two goals up before their opponents scored four
without reply to stun the Claret and Blue Army. There's definitely unity in
the squad right now. Everyone that's here wants to be here and play their
football here. We believe we have got the players to go to Watford and get
the three points. But the 26-year-old believes the team has grown in
confidence since their early-season struggles, and they can come away from
Vicarage Road having got revenge over Walter Mazzarri's team. "Watford are
doing very well at the moment, so it's a tricky place to go," he continued.
"But we really do believe we have got the players to go there and get the
three points. So, that's the mission we're looking to set for ourselves.
"[The defeat against Watford] is definitely one of those things in football
where what happens in the past has happened and you just have to keep
looking forward. "[Against West Brom last time out], we also had some
frustration in not getting the win, but we need to make sure we get those
points back on Saturday. "After that, we have Chelsea at home and they're
having an unbelievable season and have probably already won the Premier
League. It's one of those things where we have just got to go out in every
game and set our own targets and keep fighting."
Antonio is West Ham's top scorer this season with eight league goals and is
enjoying his time as a key player for the side in east London. "I definitely
see my future here and I am loving my time here. They give me the
opportunity to play in the Premier League and there'd be no reason to leave,
really. "[Being linked away] is not distracting at all, because I take it as
a compliment, as to how I'm playing on the field. But if I stop that, those
reports will stop because I'm not playing so well so I need to just continue
that. "My Mum is from south London and when I lived up north, it was
difficult for me to get down as much to see her, so now I can see her
weekly. It's more relaxed here for me and it's more of a chilled vibe.
"That's why, probably, I'll be playing the rest of my career here in
London."
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Feghouli - We hope to put on a good show
WHUFC.com
Sofiane Feghouli thanks West Ham United fans for their support this season
Algerian believes Hammers played near to their best against West Brom a
fortnight ago
No7 says squad 'owe it' to travelling fans to go for a win at Watford on
Saturday
Sofiane Feghouli has thanked the Claret and Blue Army for their support
during his maiden season at West Ham United.
The No7 endured a difficult start to his time in English football, suffering
a hamstring injury just weeks after completing his summer move from Spanish
giants Valencia. A fit-again Feghouli then struggled to force his way back
into Slaven Bilic's team before establishing himself as a regular starter
this calendar year.
Throughout 2016/17, Hammers fans have stuck with the Algeria star, and their
faith has been rewarded with a series of impressive performances in West
Ham's recent improved run of form and results.
Already hugely popular among supporters in his homeland, Feghouli's
popularity continues to grow among those in this country, and the winger is
pleased he has been given the chance to repay the faith they have placed in
him.
"It's very important for me to have a relationship with the fans," he told
whufc.com. "After the match at Southampton [which West Ham came from behind
to win 3-1], I received messages from supporters on social media and the
support from the 3,000 fans who travelled to the game was excellent.
"The atmosphere at all of our recent games has been superb and that drives
us on to go and get the wins, which is especially important in England
because every game is so difficult here.
"Algerian fans are particularly fanatical about Algerian players who are
playing abroad, so naturally they are interested in West Ham and how we are
getting on."
West Ham are getting on pretty well of late, winning six and drawing three
of their last 12 Premier League matches.
However, the most recent of them ended in disappointment as West Bromwich
Albion snatched a late equaliser to deny the Hammers a deserved victory at
London Stadium a fortnight ago.
"It was great frustration for us to concede in the final minute and
immediately after the match we were all extremely disappointed with both the
result and some of the decisions made, but that is the nature of football
and we need to stay positive," Feghouli confirmed.
"In terms of the quality of our football, though, I thought we played one of
our best matches of the season so far.
"We need to continue to play in that way and go into every game with the
attitude that we need to 'Win, win, win!'. We owe that to our supporters."
West Ham's next Premier League fixture at Watford will be screened live by
BT Sport 1 at 5.30pm on Saturday evening.
Around 2,000 Hammers will also make the relatively short trip to Vicarage
Road and Feghouli is determined to reward them with a third straight away
league win.
"Watford is a very important game for us," he observed. "Of course we will
prepare ourselves as best as possible with the staff and we will be going
there with the aim of getting three points.
"We hope to put on a good show for our fans and move higher up the table."
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Three Key Battles - Watford
WHUFC.com
As West Ham United look to avenge September's 4-2 defeat to Watford on
Saturday at Vicarage Road, whufc.com takes a look at three key battles
battles on the pitch in Hertfordshire which could prove crucial.
The Hammers stormed into a two-goal lead earlier this season against Walter
Mazzarri's team, but were pegged back as the Hornets equalised prior to the
half time whistle before completing the comeback in the second period.
Slaven Bilic's outfit are a different beast these days, however, and have
won their last three Premier League matches on the road.
Having never lost back-to-back games against Watford in the league before,
they'll be keen to ensure that record is still in tact at 7:15pm on
Saturday.
Behrami v Kouyate
In and out of the Hornets' starting XI in recent games, ex-Hammer Valon
Behrami will hope he is selected to face his former club. His team have only
won three matches from their last 13 in the top flight, and the Swiss
midfielder started in all three.
Meanwhile, Cheikhou Kouyate returned to the Hammers' squad for the
Southampton victory, after he was missing due to the African Cup of Nations.
He played full-back against the Saints as well as in the recent 2-2 draw
with West Brom, however with Sam Byram now fit, he could move into midfield.
In terms of comparing the two, the Senegalese seems to get around the pitch
and have an impact more than his 31-year-old counterpart.
Kouyate makes more interceptions and clearances per game and his energy in
the middle of the park could prove to be important on Saturday.
Cleverley v Snodgrass
Next up are two relatively new boys for Watford and West Ham; Tom Cleverley
and Robert Snodgrass. The former re-joined the Hornets on loan from Everton
in January, while Snodgrass left Hull City for London Stadium last month.
Since returning to Vicarage Road, Cleverley has had a big impact on
Watford's form, helping the side take eight points from 15 while they had
gained just one in the previous five games.
He's set up two goals, too – against Bournemouth and Arsenal – and looks to
be rediscovering the form which impressed Sir Alex Ferguson so much at
Manchester United.
And though Scotsman Snodgrass is yet to register a goal or an assist for
West Ham, his influence is already clear – he drives the team forward,
completing over two key passes per match and always looks to line himself up
for an attempt on goal where he can.
Amrabat v Feghouli
As well as physically looking relatively similar, Sofiane Feghouli and
Nordin Amrabat's style of play on the pitch is also comparable.
Both flying wingers who look to set goals up for their teammates, the
African pair are dangers for any defence.
Feghouli has really hit some form of late, and goals against Crystal Palace
and West Brom added to the two assists he also has this season in the
Premier League.
Amrabat is certainly one to look out for on Saturday, too. He has made three
goals for teammates this term and loves to get to the byline and pull back a
cross.
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Club accounts released
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 25th February 2017
By: Staff Writer
The 2015/16 accounts for WH Holding Ltd - West Ham United's parent company -
have been released. Co-owner David Sullivan says he was "extremely
satisfied" with the achievements made by West Ham during the 2015/16 season
- a year in which the club spent £53m on players prior to the start of the
campaign and a further £45m thereafter, in preparation for the current term.
However the chairman's subsequent claim that "we took Simone Zaza, Jonathan
Calleri and Gokhan Tore on loan, thereby strengthening and improving our
squad," has been questioned by a number of supporters already.
The key points of this year's statement are as follows:
* WHUFC achieved operating profit of £31.5m - an increase of £4.5m from
2014/15 accounts
* But club makes loss of £4.9m overall
* TV revenue up from £79m to £87m
* And turnover up from £121m to £142m
* The club took out a £30m loan - repayable in July 2017 - against future TV
rights revenue
* £45m was invested in the squad prior to the 2016/17 campaign
* Overall debt under £100m for the first time during Sullivan & Gold's
tenure
* Vice Chair Karren Brady enjoyed a 40 per cent wage increase
* Co-owners draw £6.1m dividends - incvluding 7 per cent interest
* £8m profit on sale of the Boleyn Ground
* Necessary improvements at the OS cost WHUFC £4m
KUMB will provide a detailed analysis of the new WH Holding accounts next
week.
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