Daily WHUFC News - 3rd April 2017

Statement from West Ham United Board
WHUFC.com

The West Ham United Board of directors have today released the following
statement:

To end speculation once and for all, the West Ham United Board feel it
necessary to announce that we have 100 per cent faith in Slaven Bilic's
ability to lead West Ham United.

Despite press speculation to the contrary, the manager's position is not
under threat. The Board know that Slaven and his coaching staff have the
full backing of the playing squad and the overwhelming majority of
supporters to lead West Ham United out of this difficult spell.

The Board now urge all supporters to unite behind the manager, his staff and
the squad as we go into some important games. We all have complete
confidence in their ability to end a testing run of results and finish the
season on a high.

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AC - It means nothing without the result
WHUFC.com

Andy Carroll hit a major goalscoring milestone at Hull City on Saturday, but
any pleasure he took from scoring his 50th Premier League goal was wiped out
by the final result. The Tigers turned the game around after Carroll's 18th
minute opener to triumph 2-1 thanks to goals from Andrew Robertson and
Andrea Ranocchia, leaving skipper-for-the-day Carroll deflated. "It's
bitter-sweet," he confirmed. "Obviously it's nice to get to 50 Premier
League goals, but it's the three points that we're really after. At the end
of the day we didn't get them, so it's disappointing. "They came out and
changed the formation at half-time. We didn't really get a grip of it and
lost our shape. We could have finished the game off, but didn't. They took
advantage and scored two."
Carroll was honoured to lead the team out for the first time in his career
but is more interested in bouncing back at Arsenal on Wednesday. He added:
"It was great to have the armband. Obviously we want our captain playing,
but he picked up niggle in the week. "The Gaffer gave it to me and I'm happy
with that, but at the end of the day it means nothing if you don't get the
results. "For the lads we just want to bounce back. It couldn't be any
quicker than Wednesday against Arsenal. All the lads will be looking forward
to putting this right."

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Sakho - I feel I'm ready
WHUFC.com

Diafra Sakho has reached the light at the end of a long tunnel. West Ham
United's Senegal international striker returned to full first-team training,
nearly four months after undergoing surgery to right a longstanding back
problem. Sakho admitted the road to recovery was a bumpy one, physically and
mentally, but says he is ready to make an impact over the final weeks of a
frustrating season. "When I arrived in England, I had a back problem which
has been troubling me until now," he confirmed. "I needed a back operation,
but I kept saying no. I did finally have one in December and now it's much
better. "I feel I'm ready to play. I've already asked to play before, but I
think the medical team wanted to protect me, so that I could do a bit more
work in the gym and on the training pitch individually. "I have now resumed
training with the first team and want to play in early April."

For a player like Sakho, who thrives on being in the thick of the action,
whether that be in training or matches, working alone with the Club's
rehabilitation fitness coaching staff was 'not easy'. "It's always hard to
work on your own because you're less motivated," he revealed. "It's mental
strength that gives you extra desire and when you see your teammates out
training, you want to give even more. "I'm coming to the end of the tunnel,
so I think I'm making good progress."

A committed professional, Sakho put everything into his rehab, spending time
in the gym at Rush Green and taking regular yoga classes before returning to
the pitch, first on an individual basis, then in controlled sessions with
the Under-23s, and finally with the first-team squad. "My body is my work
tool now, so I'm trying to work on everything that is good for my body and
who's to say I won't carry on playing for another 10 or 12 years?" he said,
positively. "After training I used to head straight home, but now I devote
more time to understanding my body and stretching. "I think it's a good
thing. I used to hate it. I didn't want to do it. African players often head
straight home after training and we don't make time to see what our bodies
need. "I think now is a good starting point."

Sakho has been asking manager Slaven Bilic – a man he has a 'really good
relationship with' – to be given a chance in the Premier League sooner
rather than later.
Bilic and the medical staff are eager that he build up his strength and
fitness before he takes on the physical and mental challenge of first-team
football again, but the No15 is simply desperate to get back to doing what
he loves. "To be honest, I'm only thinking about playing," he confirmed. "I
want to show the people what I'm capable of. I know that everyone in Senegal
or Africa is waiting to see me play every weekend as it will make them
happy. "That's what I know how to do. I don't know how to do anything apart
from play football. That's my job. I try to entertain those who watch me
play."

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Slaven Bilic: West Ham have '100% faith' in manager
BBC.co.uk

West Ham have "100% faith" in manager Slaven Bilic, despite continued
speculation about his future. The Hammers were beaten 2-1 at Hull on
Saturday, their fourth successive Premier League defeat - and have won only
one of their past eight matches. The loss left them 14th in the table, six
points above the Tigers, who occupy the final relegation place. "Despite
speculation to the contrary, the manager's position is not under threat,"
said West Ham in a statement. The Hammers' last victory came at Southampton
on 4 February and they have won only three times this year. The club added
that Bilic had the "full backing the the playing squad" and the
"overwhelming majority of supporters". They also urged fans to "unite behind
the manager, his staff and the squad as we go into some important games".

The 48-year-old Croat, a former West Ham and Everton defender, replaced Sam
Allardyce at the London club in June 2015. The ex-Croatia international
guided them to seventh and a place in the Europa League in their final
season at Upton Park before the move to the former Olympic Stadium, but the
Hammers have lost 15 of their first 30 league games this term.

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Arsenal's Calum Chambers on the transfer radars of West Ham, Everton and
Newcastle
A string of clubs are willing to pay £10m-plus for the 22-year-old defender
impressing on a season's loan at Middlesbrough
The Mirror
BYNEIL MOXLEY
22:30, 1 APR 2017

West Ham and promotion-bound Newcastle will rival Everton for Calum
Chambers. Former Southampton defender Chambers, who can play full-back,
centre-half or as a holding midfielder, has impressed during a loan spell
with Middlesbrough this season. Arsenal already have a host of teams ready
to pay over £10m for the 22-year-old. Everton manager Ronald Koeman sold
Chambers when he was Saints boss - although he never actually had chance to
work with the player – but he is now interested in taking him to Goodison.
However, West Ham and Championship leaders Newcastle have also both informed
the Gunners of their interest.
All three clubs have intimated a willingness to take Chambers on-loan if a
permanent move is not an option.

* WEST HAM are ready to make a renewed bid to bring Anthony Modeste back
from Germany. The ex-Blackburn frontman is the second-top scorer in Europe
this season with 22 goals for Cologne

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West Ham insist Slaven Bilic's job is "not under threat" despite fourth
successive defeat at Hull
Bilic has come under pressure this season but the Hammers board retain "100
percent faith" in him
The Mirror
BYLIAM PRENDERVILLE
12:26, 2 APR 2017

West Ham have insisted Slaven Bilic's position is not under threat. The
Croat has come under pressure this term after a disappointing campaign at
the London Stadium. West Ham have lost their last four matches, including
the 2-1 setback at Hull on Saturday. They are now just six points clear of
the drop zone but Bilic retains the full backing of the board. A statement
read: "To end speculation once and for all, the West Ham United Board feel
it necessary to announce that we have 100 per cent faith in Slaven Bilic's
ability to lead West Ham United. Despite press speculation to the contrary,
the manager's position is not under threat.
"The Board know that Slaven and his coaching staff have the full backing of
the playing squad and the overwhelming majority of supporters to lead West
Ham United out of this difficult spell. "The Board now urge all supporters
to unite behind the manager, his staff and the squad as we go into some
important games. We all have complete confidence in their ability to end a
testing run of results and finish the season on a high."
After the defeat to Hull, Bilic admitted the poor run of form could cost him
his job. "I'm doing my job, I'm motivated," he said. "But if we are making
so many mistakes then you will pay the price." "It's very open and they are
closing the gap. With a point we are keeping them nine points behind us, but
now it's six."

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