Hammer pays tribute to fellow fan who saved his Dad's life
WHUFC.com
A West Ham United fan has paid tribute to the fellow supporter who saved his
73-year-old father's life at Wembley Stadium. Ian Perry and son Wayne were
queuing outside turnstile entrance C minutes before kick-off in the Carabao
Cup tie between their beloved West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, when Ian
collapsed.
Thankfully, among the other members of the Claret and Blue Army waiting to
enter the stadium was fellow Season Ticket Holder Ian Pearse, who
immediately recognised that his fellow fan had suffered a cardiac arrest and
began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). West Ham supporters
created space for Pearse to work, while the emergency services were called
and arrived within minutes. Police medics then delivered a dose of electric
current to Perry's heart and, having re-established his regular heartbeat,
he was taken to Wembley's in-stadium medical centre. With the experts
looking after Ian, Pearse and his son Luke went into the stadium to watch
the match. When his father had stabilised, Wayne took to social media in a
bid to find the man who had saved his Dad's life.
"We were waiting to get into the ground when Dad collapsed," Wayne
confirmed. "There were a lot of people around and it all got a bit chaotic,
but then a gentleman approached my friend Eddie and said he knew what to do.
He ripped open Dad's shirt and started doing CPR on his chest. "Without
Ian's intervention, the doctor said my Dad would not have lived. This is
about something more important than football, and that's saving lives. After
watching Ian and the medics bring my Dad back, I would urge everyone to get
training to do CPR, because it can be a matter of life or death. "The
support we have received on social media, from the fan sites and the Club
themselves have been awesome. This just shows what a special group of
supporters West Ham fans are."
After spending a few days in the Harefield Hospital in nearby Uxbridge, the
grateful grandfather was allowed to return to his home in the Essex village
of Rayne.
"Dad was taken to hospital and underwent surgery and had two stents put in
his heart, so he's probably in better shape now than he was before he fell
ill," Wayne added. "Everyone was brilliant - the fans, the medical staff at
Wembley and Ian, of course. "He came home on Saturday afternoon and we had a
birthday party for my daughter, so the whole family were here. We kept tabs
on the Crystal Palace game and he was spitting feathers when they equalised.
When he's moaning about the football, we know he's definitely on the way
back to being in good health!"
For Pearse, he was happy to put the CPR training he was given nearly three
decades away into practice. "My son spotted Ian collapse and my training
just kicked in. I made my way through the crowd and told them I knew what to
do and they allowed me to start doing cardiac massage, with the aim of
maintaining circulation of oxygen around his body. "I shouted and asked a
policeman to get a defibrillator and this arrived within a few minutes with
the police medics, who then took over working on Ian. "I was delighted to be
contacted by Wayne and to learn that he is now home and on the mend. We are
going to meet up at a West Ham match in the future, too. "I always used to
joke that I'd done a CPR course over 25 years ago and never needed to use
it, but I won't be able to say that any longer!"
Fans interested in taking a CPR/Basic Life Support course should contact the
London Ambulance Service.
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Ogbonna - 'I can't believe we got just one point'
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna has admitted his disbelief that West Ham United left Selhurst
Park with just one point after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Goals from
Chicharito and Andre Ayew had put Slaven Bilic's side in control at
half-time against Palace on Saturday but a 97th minute finish by WIlfried
Zaha meant the game ended in a tie, after Luka Milivojevic scored from the
penalty spot early in the second half. The result leaves West Ham waiting
for their first league away win of season but Ogbonna is still shocked the
Irons did not claim it on Saturday. And the defender believes vital lessons
must be learned from the result. The Italian said: "I cannot believe that we
got just one point. It should be three but you know the game. We are focused
for the next game. "It's a lesson. It's a big lesson for us. We have to have
to keep the ball."
Ogbonna also revealed that the nature of Saturday's result and the context
of the draw meant the squad felt like they had suffered a loss against
Palace. "It's a defeat for us," Ogbonna added: "It's a defeat because we
played well and we stayed in the game until the last minute. Everybody saw
then what happened."
The 29-year-old nonetheless insists that the side are still completely
committed to playing at their very best and must do so for themselves, for
manager Bilic, and for the everybody else associated with the team. "In the
game anything can happen so we have to play not just for the manager but for
ourselves. For our Club and for everybody."
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Reece Oxford makes Borussia Monchengladbach debut
WHUFC.com
Reece Oxford made his Borussia Monchengladbach debut on Saturday as the
German outfit beat Hoffenheim 3-1 in the Bundesliga. The West Ham United
centre-back, who joined Die Fohlen on loan during the summer, replaced Lars
Stindl in the final few minutes to help his team hold onto the victory which
saw them move above their opponents in the league table.
Hoffenheim took the lead after 25 minutes when midfielder Kerem Demirbay
volleyed in from range. In the second period, however, Dieter Hecking's team
came out fighting and equalised just after the hour mark when Thorgan Hazard
- brother of Chelsea's Eden - squeezed in from a tight angle after Vincenzo
Grifo had centred. Monchengladbach were not satisfied with the point,
though, and went in search of the winner. It came with eleven minutes left
to play, Grifo again the man with the assist as Matthias Ginter finished.
Three minutes later, the visitors put the result beyond any doubt, as Jannik
Vestergaard scored from close range to make it 3-1. Oxford was introduced
with a minute of normal time left to play, helping his side hold onto the
points at Rhein Neckar Arena. Though the appearance was Oxford's first in a
competitive fixture, the defender did play a number of times for the side
during pre-season, scoring in a 2-1 win against Spanish side Malaga. The
18-year-old has previously been an unused substitute in every other
Bundesliga fixture this campaign.
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Noble - I thought we had done enough to beat Palace
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble thought West Ham's resilience in the face of Crystal Palace
pressure was going to carry them over the line to three precious points at
Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Hammers led 2-0 at the break, only for the
Eagles to come roaring back in the second period, scoring an early penalty
and then remaining on the front foot for the rest of the game. Joe Hart
saved brilliantly from Wilfried Zaha and Yohan Cabaye, and when ex-Hammer
James Tomkins hit the bar in stoppage time, it looked as if Palace's chance
had passed. West Ham skipper Noble was convinced his team was going to hold
on, only for Zaha to snatch a couple of points away from them with the last
kick of the game, meaning the No16 travelled back over the Thames with a
feeling of frustration. "I didn't think the game was over at half-time," he
explained. "Obviously we played Spurs on Wednesday and we were 2-0 down at
half-time in that game. The game is never over, but we gave them two goals
really. "We scored two great goals, two goals away from home and we dug in.
I thought the defenders played tremendously well, but as I have said many,
many times, you get punished if you make mistakes in this league and that's
what we did. "We've got to learn how to see games out, it's as simple as
that. As you can tell I'm really disappointed because I thought we did
enough to win the game. They had a lot of pressure in the second half, but
you're going to get that."
Noble returned to the starting XI for the trips to Spurs and Palace this
week and he was pleased to play his part in those performances. He added:
"We've got a really big squad - we had Andy Carroll, Marko Arnautovic,
Michail Antonio and Arthur Masuaku sitting on our bench at Palace. You're
not going to play every week, we know that, and normally if you win every
week it's an easier job for the manager, but if you're not he has to make
some changes and that's what he's done.
"I did say that it's a team game, not an individual game, and the fightback
against Spurs was fantastic. "The games don't get any easier, we have
Liverpool at home and after not playing well enough in our last home game we
have to be better on Saturday."
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Hammers hoping to book place in Checkatrade Trophy knockout rounds
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will be hoping to book their place in the second round of
the Checkatrade Trophy when they take on Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.
The Hammers, an U21 side in the competition though five overage players are
permitted, go into the game with three points from three on the Southern
Group C table following their win over Swindon Town in the competition in
August. And should Terry Westley's youngsters secure another win at the
Memorial Ground, they could already have their spot in the second round with
one match to spare should the Robins draw with Wycombe Wanderers. If there
is a winner in the other tie on the same evening, the east Londoners would
still look a good bet to progress providing they gain three points against
the Pirates. Goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who was part of the Hammers team which
beat Swindon 3-2 earlier this campaign, is confident his team can qualify
for the next round. He said: "We have a really strong squad this season, and
when everyone is fit, it's a really great team. All eleven players on the
pitch are really talented and so are the guys on the bench who come on and
help us out. "I think we can win anything this season. Our objectives at
the start of the season were a top six finish but how well we are doing in
the league, we can look even better than that. "Our form shows how much we
are working at the moment and how high the concentration levels have been
all season. If we continue like that we will keep getting good results like
this."
Last season, Westley's team exited the competition after the group stages
after tough defeats against Coventry City and Wycombe before a penalty
shootout victory over Northampton. Earlier this campaign, the Academy opted
to field a strong, experienced side against Swindon and it paid off, as the
exciting side beat their League Two opponents. Tuesday's challenge comes in
the form of a League One side, however after Saturday's Premier League 2
victory over Manchester City, Trott believes the whole squad is extremely
high on confidence. "The whole team were great and it was a good performance
against City," the keeper continued. "We did well and I was also happy with
my own performance. "I just want to continue with this form and help out the
whole team and get more positive results like this."
West Ham supporters wishing to support the side at the Memorial Ground will
be able to purchase tickets on the day of the game from Bristol Rovers'
matchday ticket office.
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Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham (And Other Ramblings)
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th October 2017
By: HeadHammerShark
"Now I've swung back down again, it's worse than it was before If I hadn't
seen such riches, I could live with being poor" - James, "Sit Down"
So in a week where we learned exactly how long it takes to rig a league cup
quarter final draw (it's two hours) we learned how long we are allowed to be
happy. It's two days. Two bloody days of savouring that win at Wembley and
then we're back on the rollercoaster once again. Even Pontius Pilate got
three days of thinking he'd sorted out his Jesus problem before reality
started to bite.
The worst thing is that viewed in isolation, it isn't that terrible or
surprising that we can't beat the bottom team in the league. Over the last
two years we were the only team around who struggled to beat Sunderland and
if it wasn't for nine dropped points against relegated teams, we would have
finished level on points with runners up Arsenal in 2015/16.
If, if, if - the clarion call of the desperate and the dreamers, but still.
Shit.
This. The whole article basically boils down to this.
One thing that did hit me as I watched this game, is how difficult it really
is to get a handle on West Ham. We so rarely play in the same formation, or
with the same tactical approach or even with the same level of efficiency,
that opinion tends to swing wildly from game to game. And so far, every game
has come with a caveat: injuries, sendings off, the desperate need to just
get a win so we just take what points we can get and then worry about the
performance later.
Someone - and I apologise to whomever it was because I can't remember who
posted it and can't find it again now - appeared in my Twitter feed after
this game making the point that we haven't played well yet this season. My
immediate thought was that this was ludicrously harsh, but if you take that
to mean a complete ninety minute performance then that's probably true. Even
the Miracle of Wembley required a disaster in the first half, in order for
the whole thing to be miraculous.
So I thought I'd list out our league performances so far and see if it's
really true that each game has had a sizeable caveat attached to it, and
whether any of them can really be said to be good, front to back, 90 minute
displays:
Opposition/Result/Caveat
Man Utd (0-4): They'll beat everyone, loads of injuries
Southampton (2-3): Ten men, played well second half, ref
Newcastle (0-3): Loads of injuries, everything will be better at home
Huddersfield 2-0: All that matters is the result, it's hard at home
West Brom (0-0): Nobody plays well against West Brom
Spurs (2-3): Good start, we played Andy Carroll
Swansea (1-0): All that matters is the result
Burnley (1-1): Ten men, did you see that one move in the 2nd half?
Brighton (0-3): Erm, we didn't play Andy Carroll
Palace (2-2): Our players have no brains. None of them.
OK, so my immediate thought is that the Burnley game was probably our best
performance of the season and it involved seventy minutes with ten men, an
assist from our goalkeeper and featured another late equaliser. Overall I
think we played well, but draws against Burnley do not contented supporters
make, especially when they get followed up with 3-0 defeats at home to
Brighton.
Our two victories were both fairly dire, albeit we were the better team on
both occasion. We're just so inconsistent from game to game, from half to
half and even from one passage of play to another, that any kind of
objective assessment feels impossible. But what fans really want is a
complete display from start to finish, with all areas of the team
functioning and a resounding victory, because that allows us to stop
thinking of sustained competence as being a hypothetical concept.
***
Take this game for instance. How can you moan about a team being two nil up
at half time, with two superbly engineered and wonderfully taken goals?
Well, I suppose the reality is that at the interval everything did seem to
going swimmingly, even if we did have to rely upon an absolutely amazing
double save from Joe Hart to keep us in front at 1-0. So what though, that's
what he's there for, after all.
But then the came the worst second half defensive performance since John
Parker left Ford's Theatre, Washington DC, 1865 during the intermission of
"Our American Cousin" to go and have a drink at a saloon next door. While he
was getting smashed, John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln and
Parker struggled to get much more work in the bodyguard field, although he
did later turn out a couple of times at right back for West Ham.
That's it Michail, into the corner
At one point in the first half of this game I was beginning to wonder if it
was possible to write an article about a match where nothing happened. Even
Sartre would have found this all a bit challenging to describe, as two very
poor teams engaged in a battle to see who could do least with most.
And then the game sprang into life. Wilfried Zaha broke into the box and
went down in a tangle with Jose Fonte. I thought it looked a bit innocuous,
but would have probably wanted it given at the other end. As it was, Bobby
Madley waved it away and we then swept upfield with a glorious move that
culminated in Chicharito slotting home his fourth of the season. The goal
was fairly reminiscent of Lanzini's winner in the corresponding fixture last
year, as Cresswell served it up on a plate and the Mexican cleverly flicked
it in with the outside of his boot.
Prominent in the build up to that goal was Andre Ayew, playing just off the
striker and getting on the ball very nicely, and he was at it again a few
minutes later. This time he latched on to a loose ball courtesy of some good
pressing by Fernandes, and drove forward, turned Scott Dann so many times he
could have opened a bottle of Merlot with him, and then smashed it in to the
top corner from outside the box. He probably should have slipped in
Fernandes outside him, but when you're having the kind of week he is, you
can't blame him for taking it on.
As it is, all West Ham players should probably be shooting from everywhere
at Selhurst Park as we only ever seem to score screamers against them.
So a two-nil lead at half time seemed fairly sustainable against a team who
had scored twice all season, but as this shot map from Caley Graphics shows,
you can make an argument that we were fortunate to get anything at all such
was the dominance of the home team. But football games aren't played on
spreadsheets and when you get to the 97th minute of a game with the lead
then you expect to leave with three points. This one was a gut wrencher.
***
When whoever it is that assembles the playing staff at West Ham decided to
put together the oldest, slowest backline in the league I'm fairly sure that
they weren't envisioning games like today. We are now ten games into the
season and have the third worst goal difference in the league, Zabaleta has
been booked five times, we have been beaten 3-0 by two promoted teams and
have conceded four penalties.
Today it was Angelo Ogbonna who decided to forget everything he had learned
playing for Juventus and Italy, and brainlessly nudged over Andros Townsend
right at the start of the second half. It was soft as ice cream in a sauna
and wouldn't have been a penalty in 1985, but as far as arguments go that's
not actually a very good one. The penalty went in and suddenly we lost any
momentum rolling over from Spurs and instead found ourselves penned back as
the home team bombed forward.
Moments after that goal, Yohan Cabaye hit the post and we were wobbling
mightily. It was good timing then, for Joe Hart to start illustrating quite
why we'd gone out and paid so much money to get him when Adrian is a
perfectly capable Premier League keeper. Wave after wave of home attacks
were repelled with a combination of last ditch blocks and brilliant Hart
saves.
Among a number of fine stops, he kept out a Cabaye free kick that looked
destined for the top corner and somehow tipped a James Tomkins header on to
the bar. In truth, much of the Palace threat came from set pieces as they
looked for all the world like West Ham 2014/15 under Sam Allardyce,
featuring long deep crosses to Tomkins that were then kept alive in the box
for onrushing attackers. It took a decent amount of World War One style
Tommies in the trenches defending to keep them out, which was fitting as we
were wearing our new third kit which is apparently a homage to our first
ever strip in 1900.
Joe Hart, ladies and gentleman
So Hart probably deserved better than to be beaten by Zaha's 97th minute
equaliser, but in reality we couldn't complain. Had we not wasted so much
time throughout the second half we wouldn't have been on the pitch to have
given up the goal. As it was, Lanzini and Antonio took a free kick in the
87th minute and decided to keep it in the corner. This was particularly
ironic as Palace would score their second a whole ten minutes later, but
perhaps more crucially still - neither one of them took it in the fucking
corner.
***
Ah yes, taking the ball into the corner to protect a one goal lead. It's
boring and negative when it's done against you, and the height of
professional game management when your team does it. And now this morning,
Antonio has been roundly criticised for failing to do exactly that in the
minute before the goal.
The problem I have with this is that had Antonio ignored the three on one
situation in the Palace box, where Ayew, Lanzini and Chicharito were waiting
for any kind of decent cross, and gone over to the corner flag it's still
possible that the same thing could have happened. He could still easily have
lost the ball, and Palace could have broken away and scored and everybody
would have lost their shit that he was being so negative and spurned a gold
plated opportunity to seal the win.
Therefore, my issue with Antonio doing what he did isn't that he did it, but
more that he did it so badly. The worst part of it all is that any half
decent ball would surely have resulted in a goal, which is of course the
absolute best way to kill off a game. As it was, Dann chested the laziest
pass of all time back to Speroni, and Palace worked it out to Zaha who did a
bizarre loop with the ball before driving the winner through a crowd of legs
and thousands of West Ham fans muttered "Of course he fucking did" to
whomever they were with at the time, before crying like we were watching a
walrus trying to find a bit of ice left at the North Pole to park her kid
on.
That said, we had so many opportunities to launch late breakaway counters
and we seemed clueless as to how to do it. I haven't seen a group of people
so unsure of how to attack since the villagers in The Magnificent Seven.
As such, I have no issue with Antonio doing what he did - he should have
just done it better. And maybe the players in the box could have actually
chased back, but then I guess when we all moan that the team doesn't look
remotely fit enough, we can't really complain when they can't physically
match other teams in the late stages of games.
And so the rollercoaster surges on.
***
What is interesting after games like this is how we all fall very easily
into the trap of telling each other how obvious and predictable it was that
this would happen. Truthfully that's not really very fair as we are no worse
than any other team when it comes to defending two goal leads. However, as a
club we are pretty bad for letting in late goals, and we also have
exceptional timing, meaning that we would of course throw away a two goal
lead just two days after skewering Spurs in the same way. It's more West Ham
than Bubbles, Bobby Moore and getting drawn away in the cups to Big Clubs
(T).
Under Bilic our record in this situation is actually pretty good:
2-0 Up: W11 D1 L1
2-0 Down: W1 D3 L21
So, with a two nil lead this is only the second time that we've failed to
win under Bilic. The other was when we were ahead against Watford at the
London Stadium and then Troy Deeney got upset about rabonas and everybody
forgot how to defend and instead just rode around on unicycles squirting
water in each others faces.
It would perhaps be better if you tried to ignore how often we have gone 2-0
down under Bilic unless you want to completely lose your mind.
***
And what of Bilic? What does this game tell us about him? We routinely lead
the league in defensive errors that lead to goals and that shows no sign of
abating. You can argue that he isn't responsible for experienced defenders
giving away needless penalties or you can say that when people keep
continually making mistakes in his teams that perhaps the structure in which
they are playing isn't conducive to error free football.
As it is, we don't really know anything today that we didn't already know
yesterday. He still seems cursed with bad luck, he still can't organise a
defence, and juggling all his attacking options around seems to befuddle
him. Here he pushed Kouyate back into a trio of centre backs and he did
pretty well, perhaps unsurprisingly given that the 3-4-3 came back into
fashion when Barcelona started dropping their central midfielders between
their centre backs and sending their full backs off like auxiliary wingers.
The problem is that without him in midfield we lacked the ability to carry
the ball or break up play, and even Manuel Lanzini looked peripheral as we
struggled to get him in possession.
We also scored with our only two shots on target which either shows a
pleasing level of efficiency or a desperate lack of creativity, depending on
your world view. While all of that was happening Obiang, Antonio, Carroll
and Arnautovic were on the bench and you couldn't help but return to that
question one more time - what the hell were we trying to achieve with our
summer transfer activity?
So Bilic will wander onwards, because when he was given two games to save
his job it didn't make any particular sense, but once you say that then you
probably can't fire him after a win and a draw even when the circumstances
of those results were so crazy.
It will surprise none of you to know that I don't think a great deal of our
Board and their management structure, but I have some sympathy over this
decision. How can you assess this? It's impossible to sift through all the
madness of those two matches and draw anything concrete from it. And
realistically, this constantly undulating graph of our performance that
reflects a Himalayan skyline is probably reflective of where we are as a
club. Everything is chaotic, there's loads of wild stuff happening behind
the scenes and in the end that was always going to bleed out on to the
pitch.
Changing the manager might help, purely because they might be able to
organise our defence to at least recognise each other occasionally, but I
don't think it would make too much difference. This is the problem when you
choose not to back a manager by giving him a new contract, but also choose
not to fire him. So Bilic exists in this strange footballing purgatory
because we all accept that you can't get anyone better in November,
especially when you're down with the dead men, but we all know he won't be
staying beyond July. In some respects it's probably a testimony to his man
management skills that the players pay any attention to him at all given the
circumstances, but even though that may be true, I really do wish he'd sort
out our back four.
So on we roll, back on the rollercoaster.
***
In a week where the growth of English youth football is on everyone's mind,
it's worth noting that England have won both the Under 17 and Under 20 World
Cups without any West Ham players. This has been a common theme this summer,
as most of the best kids seem to come from the same academies - Manchester
City, Chelsea and Arsenal are prominent - and it does lead me to wonder
quite what is happening with our scouting.
It's not to say we don't have kids at these tournaments as Dan Kemp and
Nathan Trott were squad players at their respective Toulon and European
Finals, while Domingos Quina also represented Portugal in the latter. But
what is striking is how so many of the kids that represent England at these
tournaments come from London and how we really seem to be struggling to
identify and attract those kids.
Quina was picked up from Chelsea and the likes of Toni Martinez and Martin
Samuelson were also transferred for decent sums. Not that this isn't a
reasonable way to acquire players but what I'm referring to is the older
method of picking up a boy at the age of 9 or 10 and bringing him through
your system, moulded as the kind of player you want. We've been struggling
with this for a while, and maybe Declan Rice and Reece Oxford will prove us
wrong but it's starting to concern me that London kids might now be
presented with three other better options for their footballing development
at Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal.
A friend of mine took his very talented nine-year-old to West Ham recently
at the club's request, and when they arrived he was bunched in with a huge
number of other children and nobody took any notice of them. His main
observation after watching his son learn precisely nothing in an
hour's-worth of coaching, was that "they fail primarily as human beings".
One persons experience isn't indicative of anything, but at some point we
may want to ask why our youth policy isn't delivering players in the same
way as other teams. Declan Rice might very well be one such player but our
London rivals are currently producing Premier Leaguers at a rate of far
higher than once every five years, as we tend to do.
I don't know enough to comment fully on this, but I highlight it just to
make the point. More help from the Academy is needed.
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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Tottenham issue lifetime bans to urine-throwing fans
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 30/10/17 4:48pm
SSN
Tottenham have issued lifetime bans to two supporters involved in throwing
urine at West Ham fans during their Carabao Cup tie last Wednesday. A video
which circulated on social media after the match at Wembley showed one fan
urinating into a pint glass before the other fan threw its contents at the
travelling fans.
Tottenham told Sky Sports News they were investigating the footage and urged
fans who had information about "anything untoward" at the game to contact
either the club or the police. Spurs have since concluded their
investigation, having identified the two men and subsequently banned them
from attending their matches in the future. A club spokesman said: "This
kind of behaviour is not acceptable and we shall be issuing lifetime bans to
both individuals in the video." In the second clash of the season between
these two clubs, Mauricio Pochettino's side led 2-0, but Slaven Bilic's West
Ham managed to score three second-half goals - ensuring their place in the
quarter-final of the competition.
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SHAKY HAMMERS PUNISHED FOR OWN NEGATIVITY - SHAME THE SEASON CAN'T BE OVER
ALREADY
By HamburgHammer 30 Oct 2017 at 08:00
WTID
I am still fuming. And shocked. I feel angry and embarrassed. Sick and
tired. As a football fan sometimes you can see your team throwing a game
away, frightening early signs indicating where things are heading to with
alarming predetermination, you can clearly make out the jaws of victory,
beckoning in the distance, but you're also painfully aware of defeat
creeping ever closer to those jaws, ready to get snatched at the final
moment in place of the aforementioned victory, yet there is nothing you can
do, especially if you can only watch the events unfolding on a dodgy
internet stream from an armchair 500 miles away from London.
The Saturday for me personally was pretty much a footballing disaster, with
two disappointing draws in totally winnable games. First Cordi only drew 1:1
at FC Turkiye (wrong side of the river, shocking atmosphere plus a terrible
referee), conceding the softest of penalties (sound familiar ?) in a wet and
windy contest on a cabbage field disguised as a football pitch before
luckily scoring the equaliser five minutes from time. Turkiye are a shocking
football team matching the quality of their home pitch, still Concordia
failed to have a proper gameplan and also gave away the ball far too often -
the only good thing from that encounter was that I got home fairly quickly
after that shocker of a game, just in time to catch Ayew's screamer late in
the first half to give us a comfortable 2:0 lead. Or so I thought.
Surely this is it I said to myself, settling into my comfy armchair,
screwdriver in hand. This won't be yet another false dawn. We will score
another goal or two and that'll be it. Then my internet stream started to
play up. It crashed every two minutes or so, replayed the same passage of
play three times over and came alive again suddenly with a few minutes of
play lost in the abyss. Still I was able to witness Ogbonna conceding the
penalty early in the second half Just what the doctor ordered.NOT.
As a professional defender you simply can't challenge your opponent in your
penalty box like this - yes, it was a soft penalty, but there was definite
contact and if you give the other guy the opportunity to go down nine times
out of ten he will gladly oblige and the referee will blow the whistle,
given a chance, and I blame neither the Palace player nor the referee in
this instance.
That goal was the big game changer. It threw Palace a lifeline, it breathed
new life into a shellshocked home crowd and it made our team nervous for the
remainder of the second half. Still, this is what I just don't get: Why do
you allow the opposition to put yourself under the kosh like this ? It's
Palace after all, not Manchester City or Barcelona for crying out loud!
Let's then jump to roundabout the 80th minute - from then on we were
negative and unprofessional beyond belief. How can you begin passing
freekicks to the corner flag, trying to waste time rather than creating
another goalscoring opportunity to kill off the game for good ?
There were several instances where one of our guys was in a good position to
run at the defenders in the Palace box, take them on, make something happen.
Yet we tried to win the game by killing time. Again and again.
(Except once right at the end when Antonio didn't actually keep the ball in
the corner which gave Palace the chance to equalise.)
We actually killed our chances of winning by choosing that negative approach
coupled with bad decision making by the players. I felt embarrassed watching
us in the second half. Even if we were a better team at keeping the ball and
wasting some time (which we are not) I don't like to see that kind of
approach from my team.ever. It just feels wrong.
Same as diving, playacting or recklessly tackling an opposition player,
embracing the possibility of causing a fellow professional a bad injury in
the process.
It's plain wrong.
Best way to win in my book has always been playing positive football, trying
to score, thereby making it harder for the opposition to get back into the
game.
I really don't blame Palace here, they got a much deserved and hard fought
point. But who in Bobby Moore's name was responsible for that negativity
shown by us in the second half ? Virtually the ENTIRE second half.
Was it our manager who told the players to timewaste our way to victory ?
Was it the players who simply didn't trust their own ability to score
another goal or two against basement boys Palace who, let's be frank, aren't
exactly world beaters ?
Shooting ourselves in the foot like this again and again won't help our team
to gain some much needed confidence, it's always one step forward and two
steps back for us.
We never play a complete game, giving a professional performance from start
to finish, two halves of full effort, desire or swagger. Why is that ?
Just like at Burnley we threw away what would have been a very valuable away
win right at the end of the game. It's doing my nut in.
If we can't beat a team like Palace after carving out a 2:0 halftime lead
against them, what does that say about the character of our team ? It's nice
of course to beat Spurs in the fashion we did last Wednesday in the League
Cup. But it's not much good if you then follow it up with an utterly
unprofessional display in the second half like we delivered at Palace.Maybe
we should change our name from West Ham United to What If United.
There always is a catch or caveat when it comes to our club. Of course we
have seen all of this before and with all our practise we should be used by
now to the sheer stupidity and sloppiness of it all, but as a fan you never
get used to it, do you ? It still hurts like hell. It stings. And yes, it
also stinks.
Once again my screwdriver ended up getting chucked to the floor violently in
a fit of anger and disappointment. The season already feels lost to me.
Not in a sense that we will get relegated. We won't get relegated. But we
will keep hovering between 10th and 15th place in the table all season.
Throw in the football we're playing and it's not a combination you want to
fill a 60k stadium next season.
Unfortunately we still have plenty of games to play, but it's hard to see us
even winning two in a row this season. World class players in a world class
stadium, you're havin' a bubble mate! As mentioned in my column last week,
both club and team look rotten right now, things just don't appear to sit
right from top to bottom.
There were merely two things that gave me a genuine reason to smile at the
weekend, West Ham wise. One was our development squad beating their
Manchester City counterparts with a 2:1 scoreline (and Martinez scoring
again). The other was seeing Declan Rice come on as a substitute. I am very
impressed with the lad and hope he will get many more opportunities in this
nightmare of a season to gain more PL experience and subsequently grow in
stature. With Bilic unlikely to be a permanent feature for West Ham now,
players like Rice (or Martinez, Quina, Kemp, Burke, Cullen and Holland)
continue to give me a valid reason to cheer on the Hammers and hope for
better times for the boys in claret and blue.
Take note Messrs. Gold and Sullivan - just because you're decking out our
players in a Man City coloured shirt it doesn't mean that the players will
suddenly have the same skills and quality. It takes more than that. A lot
more.maybe more than you are capable or prepared to deliver. COYI!!!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic still on thin ice at West Ham - and now must deal with
defensive crisis ahead of visit by Liverpool
The Hammers boss's job is on tenterhooks with his side 16th in the Premier
League
The Mirror
Darren Lewis
22:30, 30 OCT 2017
Slaven Bilic remains on thin ice at West Ham after his players threw away
the chance to lift the pressure on him. Bilic is also facing a defensive
crisis for the visit of Liverpool on Saturday with a number of his defenders
unavailable. Pablo Zabaleta is suspended, James Collins still has an ankle
injury, Winston Reid missed the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace because of a
calf strain and Jose Fonte picked up a foot injury in that match, leaving
the field in the second half. Bilic's side have still lost only two of their
last nine in all competitions. But with the club 16th in the table on just
nine points, the Croat desperately needs victories to ease the pressure.
His London Stadium bosses are known to have been dismayed at the way that
his team threw away a two-goal lead against struggling Palace. While the
focus has been on Michail Antonio's decision to give away the ball in the
final minutes, Angelo Ogbonna is also in the spotlight for his rash
challenge on Andros Townsend to concede a penalty at 2-0 up. Bilic held his
weekly debrief with West Ham's owners on Monday with his side's impressive
League Cup comeback at Tottenham last week extremely timely. It served as
evidence that the players - who themselves came from 2-0 down at half time -
remain committed to his cause. But the priority for club chiefs is to move
up the Premier League table quickly. After Saturday's Liverpool game, West
Ham go to Watford before a home game against Leicester.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 31
Monday, October 30
Daily WHUFC News - 30th October 2017
Ladies secure QPR victory at Family Fun Day
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies booked their spot in the next round of the WPL Plate
after a fantastic 3-1 home win against QPR. A Chloe Burr header and an Amber
Stobbs wonder-goal put the Hammers in control at half-time, but QPR were
back in the game just after the break thanks to a low shot. Chenise Austin
secured the win in the second period with a confident penalty. The Hammers
played some excellent football in front of a lively and engaged home support
at Rush Green as just over a thousand fans turned out for a Family Fun Day.
The opening chance of the game came early on as Molly Peters tested the QPR
goalkeeper from distance, before again seeing an effort go over from close
range after a goalmouth scramble. Amber Stobbs looked eager to find the net,
twice hitting the bar from distance, and it was the first of these that led
to the opening goal. After the N010 struck the bar Burr was on hand to head
home the rebound, giving the Irons a deserved lead. Stobbs again came close
when she saw a shot saved at the near post, while Jasmine Auguste stopped
QPR from threatening a leveller not long after Burr's opener when she made a
tremendous tackle in the box. And Stobbs found the net in stunning fashion
on the stroke of half-time, netting a looping effort from distance to put
the Irons in control going into the break. QPR halved the deficit just
moments into the second period as a low shot squeezed under Rowlands, but
seven minutes later West Ham again had a two-goal advantage. There was a
clear foul in the box and Austin confidently stepped up to dink a delightful
penalty kick into the top left corner. Rosie Kmita pulled an effoert just
wide of the far post while Chong attempted a spectacular volleyed effort, as
the Hammers sought to entertain the lively Rush Green home crowd.
Goal-scorer Burr went in goal for the final ten minutes of the match and
substitute Andreya Ezekiel-Meade twice went close, as the Irons held out for
a deserved 3-1 win.
West Ham United Ladies: Rowlands (M Kmita 79;); Mackie, Wheeler, Austin,
Auguste; Chong, Cooper (c), R Kmita (Ezekiel-Meade 75'), Burr, Stobbs
(Georgioiu 84'); Peters
Subs not used: Walker
Goals: Burr 15', Stobbs 45', Austin (p) 56'
QPR Ladies: Kasirye; Peacock, Young, Deluca, Chimbima, Lynch, Petit, Ismael,
Adeyemo, Knell, Netschova
Subs not used: Haridas, Gardiner, Young
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chenise Austin: I love penalties!
WHUFC.com
Chenise Austin has proclaimed her love for penalties after the defender
netted from the spot in the 3-1 victory against QPR Ladies. Austin netted
West Ham Ladies' third goal of the match on Sunday from 12 yards to book the
Club's place in the next round of the WPL Plate. Chloe Burr and Amber Stobbs
had put the Irons into the lead at half-time but QPR got a goal back just
after half-time at the near post. But Austin's penalty - a delightful dink
into the top left corner - earned the deserved win for the Hammers in front
of over a thousand fans at Rush Green. And the summer signing has revealed
how much she adores getting the chance to score goals from the spot. "It's
one of those I quite enjoy doing," Austin told whufc.com: "It's a funny one.
I don't tend to get up quite often and get the opportunity to score, apart
from corners. I love a good penalty. "Don't tell anybody but I might go the
same place when I take the next one."
The centre-back says that the Ladies are delighted with Sunday's result,
admitting that the team let themselves down last weekend in the loss to
Crystal Palace.
Austin continued: "We're buzzing. We came into this off the back of last
weekend when we didn't have a good first half performance. Based on the
score-sheet we should have won today and we did so I'm happy. "We had a lot
of chances and we could have put away a few more. It was a sloppy goal we
conceded too but that's just the way it goes. It's another win under the
belt. Confidence is growing and the team is getting better. We're showing
what we're about."
Last weekend's defeat to Palace eliminated West Ham from the County Cups
which, according to Austin, makes this win against QPR all the more
important as the team pursues a run in the WPL Plate this campaign. "The
league is our bread and butter but you've got nothing to lose in a Cup game.
We are out of one already so we want to take this one as far as we can, just
like we try to in the league."
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Manning: It's been an outstanding October
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23s assistant manager Liam Manning was full of praise for
the Hammers' young professionals after they completed an outstanding October
in Premier League 2 Division 1 with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester
City. Goals from Nathan Holland and Toni Martinez and a determined defensive
effort saw West Ham follow up victory over Manchester United and a draw at
Chelsea with a deserved win. After seeing his team rise to third in the
table, Manning discussed Saturday's success, the exciting football being
played by the U23s and Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy tie at Bristol Rovers.
Our pressing paid off
I thought it was very exciting from the start, both teams attacked really
well and there were loads of chances and if the score had been 4-4 at
half-time, that would have been a fair reflection on the game. It was a
really exciting game and obviously we're really delighted to come out with
the 2-1 win and the three points. We spoke before the game and said there
was a big emphasis on getting after the ball and pressing them as we knew
they'd play out from the back in a way similar to their first team, and the
way Pep Guardiola plays. We wanted to put pressure on them high up the pitch
and we adjusted a couple of things at half-time, pushing Josh Pask further
up the pitch and had our full-backs Rosaire Longelo and Ben Johnson
(pictured, below) watching the wide lads slightly more closely and I think
it worked in the second half. We regained the ball in the middle third quite
a bit and set up a lot of attacks from there.
Our attackers carry a real threat
To give the players credit, we look a real threat going forward. It was
similar at Chelsea last week, where we drew 0-0 and obviously didn't score,
but the number of chances we created was probably enough to win two games.
Domingos Quina was a lot sharper in what was his second game back from
injury and our front lads carried a constant threat, as they have done all
season. Toni Martinez has got an absolute hammer of a right foot and it
doesn't surprise me that he scored another goal like that. Nathan Trott
(pictured, below) made numerous saves to keep us in the game and with his
feet as well, his distribution was excellent and helped us play out from the
back. He's doing well at the minute.
An outstanding October
We looked at the Premier League 2 Division 1 fixtures for October and knew
we had a really hard month, starting with Manchester United, then going to
Chelsea and hosting Manchester City, so picking up seven points from those
games was a real achievement from the boys and staff involved. We're really
pleased with that because it's a tough league and we're moving up.
We're ready for a different type of test
We were obviously delighted with Saturday's win, but now our focus turns to
Tuesday night and a Checkatrade Trophy tie against a senior League Two team
in Bristol Rovers. That's what is brilliant about the games programme this
season - we play against one of the best young teams in the country and now
we'll be playing against seasoned professionals who know all the little
tricks needed to win them games. It's a completely different challenge and
playing these games outside the international windows is a big difference
from last season, which helps us massively. Hopefully we'll go to Bristol
Rovers and get the win, because that'll put us through to the next round.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'Bitterly disappointed' Joe Hart impresses again in Palace draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Joe Hart was "bitterly disappointed" his side could not
hold out for a win against Crystal Palace despite a sensational showing by
the goalkeeper. Finishes from Chicharito and Andre Ayew put the Hammers in
control at half-time but a penalty from Luka Milivojevic and a late Wilfried
Zaha effort earned the Eagles a 2-2 draw. Zaha's 97th minute leveller was
particularly harsh on Hart, who had put on a brilliant showing to deny
Palace a number of opportunities. The 30-year-old made an amazing double
save in the first period to deny James Tomkins and then Zaha in very quick
succession, and also fantastically tipped away a Yohan Cabaye free-kick in
the second-half. Unfortunately, despite Hart's best efforts, it wasn't
enough to earn the Irons a first away league win of the campaign. "I can't
believe we've done that," Hart said after the game: "I can't believe we've
fought all the way to the end and then been so unprofessional at the end.
"It's a little bit speechless in the dressing room. No one does things on
purpose in this team but it's two points dropped - as simple as that. I
hadn't switched off but it was a good finish by Zaha, through legs, and I'm
bitterly disappointed."
Hart made seven saves for West Ham in the draw at Palace, easily a league
high, with Jonas Lossl of Huddersfield Town closest to the England
international with four. Four of those saves by Hart were diving, with the
shot-stopper making some great efforts to keep out Palace in the contest.
Furthermore, Hart claimed the ball a massive seven times, each without fail,
in the contest, showing just how dominant in his area the goalkeeper can be.
The West Ham goalkeeper has given credit to Palace for their effort in
fighting back but has called on the team to learn from their errors in time
for the next match, against Liverpool. He said: "Football's a funny game. I
thought Zaha and Sako played well and, in giving credit to them, I thought
we played well. You've got to keep the ball in the corner, it's that simple,
and you can't let people keep running through you and getting chances.
"Today counts for a point but that's about it. We learn simple things. We
obviously shouldn't have given away a penalty so early in the second half.
Mark Noble said at half-time that on Wednesday we were 2-0 down, and the
game was by no means over. "Palace fought well and we're disappointed. But
we've got to learn from it. The beautiful thing about football is it gives
us another chance next week to play at home, against Liverpool, and we have
to iron out the negatives and take the positives, and move on."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ayew - We'll learn from our mistakes
WHUFC.com
Andre Ayew says West Ham United will learn from their mistakes after letting
a two-goal lead slip through their grasp at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Ayew's superb 20-yard strike doubled the visitors' advantage at Selhurst
Park after Chicharito had opened the scoring, with West Ham seemingly on
their way to a second win in four days. But Luka Milivojevic's penalty five
minutes afrer the restart gave the Eagles hope, eventually leading to
Wilfried Zaha's heartbreaking leveller seven minutes into stoppage time.
Ayew admitted that conclusion to the contest left the 2-2 draw feeling like
a defeat, although he said it is important that they don't dwell on the
disappointment with another crucial game aganst Liverpool to come next
weekend. "It felt like a defeat," he said. "We're disappointed. It was a
tough game, and it's always difficult to hold to the end when you come out
after half-time and concede a goal inside the first five minutes. "They had
opportunities, but we're disappointed that it ended 2-2. We need to forget
about the disappointment and correct what we did badly in the second half
when we play Liverpool next week. "We didn't hold the ball as well as we did
in the first half and that put our defenders under pressure the whole time.
We'll learn from that. "The response to Brighton has been not bad, because
of the victory we had at Wembley, but to be honest we should have left
Crystal Palace with three points and had two wins in a row."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LONDON STADIUM ARTICLE-APOLOGY!
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 29 OCTOBER 2017 AT 7:27PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
We would like to issue an apology for an article that was written by one of
our writers about the London Stadium. It included incorrect facts about the
financial situation of the stadium operators. We would like to apologise
for any misunderstanding that has occurred and the facts should have been
checked before we reported them.
Our articled stated that the operator of London Stadium is close to
bankruptcy. VINCI, are the operators of London Stadium. E20 are the owners
of London Stadium. We re-reported other reports of financial distress at
E20, the stadium owners, without verifying the facts of the matter. For
clarity, E20 is owned by LLDC and the London Borough of Newham. They in turn
awarded a 25-year contract to VINCI to operate the stadium. E20 are not the
operators and have no shareholding in VINCI. Similarly, VINCI has no
shareholding in E20.
There is no financial distress at VINCI and this should have been made clear
in the article.
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JAMES COLLINS- ONE MORE YEAR?
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 29 OCTOBER 2017 AT 5:56PM
TheWesTHamWay.co.uk
Written by Andy Phipps @andyjphipps
I'm writing this in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw with Palace and whilst the
subject may seem a little premature, I can't help but look to the future
right now. In the words of the band D:Ream, things can only get better.
Considering we'd most probably take Fulham's Tim Ream over the excuses of
centre halves that we've got at the moment, I make no apologies in creating
a discussion about tying down one of our better club assets. For another
year at least.
Okay, I accept that if there was a fountain of youth then we'd throw the
Ginger Pele straight into the deep end for a good few hours, regardless of
whether he had hair to wash or not. Time is against him now. Having turned
thirty four when we played Cheltenham, it would mean that he would be as
good as thirty five when we kicked off next year. As you'd expect, some of
his pace and movement has gone even if his positional sense and ability to
read a game is still top notch. Those who remember the James Collins of
2005-2009 will fondly recall his marauding ability to make a perfectly timed
slide tackle that most full backs would be proud of, let alone a six foot
four centre back with tank like tendencies. Again, this is part of his game
that has disappeared with the wear and tear of injuries and the passing
years.
Now, if you've ever seen an episode of Top Gear, you'll know the formula
that's followed whenever Jeremy Clarkson reviews a car. If he hates it, he
starts off praising it to the ground and then wrinkles his nose and says
that he doesn't 'want one' and how you can get something else for a much
cheaper price. Predictably, the opposite is true when he does like the car.
The inside panel is made of plastic, it's 0-60 is way over ten seconds but
it makes him feel like he's twenty again and all he wants to do is put the
pedal down and drive somewhere. Anywhere, it doesn't matter. That's exactly
how I feel about James Collins.
The thing about James Collins is that, like Mark Noble, he embodies the old
school West Ham spirit of putting in a shift and having respect for the
fans. Not only does he put his head through anything that dares to be
floated in front of him on the pitch, he will regularly go and talk to fans
afterwards and give his shirt away to a youngster. I remember a game, a few
years ago, when he received an injury that looked like it might lead him to
being stretchered off. After a good while, Collins was brought to his feet
and he seemed to 'run off' whatever had been inflicted upon him. Whilst we
don't want players to exacerbate an injury by displaying unnecessary
bravado, it was certainly a sight to behold. In the dressing room, it has
been commented that he has a huge amount of influence on the team. A man of
few words, one can imagine that he doesn't suffer fools gladly but drives
everyone to do their best, much like Zabaleta does. This was evident at the
end of last season when Sam Byram had a cracker of game against Swansea and
Nobes and Collins were slapping him on the back and rubbing his hair.
Judging by Sam's reaction, this meant a lot.
We all know West Ham fans love a bit of passion and nostalgia, let's be
honest it's our cat nip, but it's still clear that he has something to
offer. When Collin's gets fit again, there will be few that wouldn't put him
straight in our team. Yes, he will make the odd mistake but it won't be for
the want of trying- unlike many others we could name. Even next year when
one prays that we make some signings (we've got enough dead wood to have a
bonfire on the fifth, he makes for a handy back up player. In spite of some
niggling injuries, he also looks after himself well and stated himself that
he follows Teddy Sheringham's advice of not reducing your training intensity
just because you're older. With Fonte lacking the kind of cool head and
composure that he had playing for Southampton and Ogbonna showing that
scoring a last minute goal against Liverpool doesn't make you a world class
defender (Yes, I'm looking at you fans who seemed to think so), he's still a
great option.
So yeah, for me, give him an extra year. I don't think it's too early to do
this. The reward of a new contract will galvanise him and show that he's
wanted at the club, allowing him to focus on his game and hopefully salvage
something from an all too familiar shockingly bad season. Whether we are in
the Prem or (dare I say it) taking a cold trip to Barnsley on a Tuesday
night, he'll perform admirably for us. I remember when we went down in 2003.
Even at the tender age of thirteen, I thought that a thirty six year old
John 'the Maggot' Moncur would be a real asset for us for our promotion push
with his grit and determination. Sadly, Glenn Roeder released him and
brought in the injury prone Rob Lee whose spirit was willing but flesh was
weak at the eye watering age of thirty seven. A good player? Reasonably, but
just not on his game anymore. Collins would provide what we need wherever we
end up. With a change of manager looking more and more likely, whatever
happens, I think he'd be a real asset to anybody coming in. So to me it
makes sense. Sign him up.
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Why Burnley's Sean Dyche would be an excellent appointment at West Ham
HITC
Antony Martin
The Burnley manager has been linked with West Ham United over this past
week. Slaven Bilic is an extremely popular figure amongst Hammers fans,
mostly because of his strong affiliation with the club as a player way back
in the mid 90's. Irrespective of how popular he is in east London though, he
must start to string together a strong run of results, if he is to remain in
charge at West Ham. Clarets boss Sean Dyche is a man who has been heavily
linked with the job at the London Stadium, and it is little wonder,
following the excellent job that he has done during his time at Turf Moor.
The Daily Mail go as far as claiming that the Hammers are already preparing
a financial package to lure him away from Lancashire. So would the
46-year-old be a good appointment at West Ham, if Bilic does of course lose
his job? The clear and obvious answer is absolutely yes. Most notably
because first and foremost, Dyche knows how to organise a team defensively
and tactically, something that Bilic seems rather unable to do. The
46-year-old has a fantastic understanding of how to get his players working
together as a unit, and defend as a team, with nobody having a so-called
'free role' in his side. And whilst Hammers fans love to see open, expansive
football played, their shambolic defending of late must be infuriating to
watch to say the very least. Dyche is also a superb motivator and
man-manager - two attributes that the Hammers desperately need in their
manager, with the amount of overpaid prima donnas currently at the club.
Most importantly, however, Dyche has a clear philosophy of how to play the
game, and with his growing reputation in football, he will undoubtedly be an
absolute coup for whichever club manages to secure his services.
And one thing is for sure, West Ham could do a lot worse than the
46-year-old Burnley boss.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic press conference: Every word from the West Ham boss on Palace
draw & Antonio error
The Hammers boss wasn't in the best of moods in his press conference after
the Eagles' late goal
Football London
Sam Inkersole
18:35, 29 OCT 2017
What happened there?
You saw. Nobody can say they [Palace] didn't deserve a point. It was a good
performance in the second half and got that first goal very early. We were
under pressure, we knew we would be but hoped that we would exploit the
space we had towards the end of the game. We had, I don't know how many
situations to keep the ball or punish them. They had scored before from set
pieces or Zaha and Townsend before but to concede the goal in that manner is
very frustrating. All we had to do was keep the ball five seconds in that
position. But, the last couple of minutes we made a couple of, lets say
wrong decisions, once. We didn't keep the ball in the last seconds, we
wanted to make a cross to score instead. They made a good move after that
but we gave them opportunity but we shouldn't have done that. We should have
killed the game off, we didn't and we should have kept it, we didn't, it was
very fustrating. Two mistakes for the goals, does that make it even more
frustrating Yes.
We had some players who played on Wednesday night and they were tired as the
game went on. Unfortunately we had to make a couple of subs we didn't want
because of the injuries. We maybe wanted to put one extra man in midfield in
the second half because those three played 90 minutes a few days ago but we
couldn't do it because of those substitutions. But anyway, it's more
frustrating because we gave them the opportunities to create and put us
under pressure. We had Joe Hart who was excellent in goal so what I am
saying is everything was there for us to take three points and it is
frustrating to give it away like that.
Have you spoken to Michail Antonio?
Of course, he knows that now. He knows that he is the one that can keep the
ball one v one on the line forever, you know? But unfortunately he opted for
a cross.
Do you expect more from experienced players?
Of course but it is a team game, you know.
It is unusual for Mark Noble to get involved in a skirmish like that at the
end?
I didn't see it so I can't comment
But it is out of character for him?
I didn't see it.
At the end, you were so close, you looked very emotional.
I was, of course I was. We knew how important this game was after Brighton
and after Spurs game, we knew it was going to be hard when 2-0 up thanks to
great goals. We took the ball out of them in great spaces, the first goal
was a brilliant move and then we went 2-0 up and we thought three points,
but we gave that penalty too early for them to get back in the game. We
resisted but to concede like that is a killer. It feels like a defeat but it
isn't and wasn't a defeat at this point.
The players gave everything again. They ran, defended, some of them played
90 minuets three days ago, I saw them struggling with energy but wanted to
close them down and we were doing that. That goal [Zaha's] has nothing to do
with attitude or being sloppy or anything, not in my position. It was just a
bad decision that shouldn't happen at this level of football. Nothing to do
with the atittude.
Could you sense it coming?
No because we went there, Mikey he went there with no ideas of going towards
the goal, for a few seconds he was keeping the ball there. Then we had a
player in the box, I think it was Lanzini and they didn't run back, it
looked like although it was very far from the bench that he was going to
keep it a few more seconds.
But we can talk about it now, he should have kept it. Very frustrating, it
[the three points] was there.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Javier Hernandez admits all of his West Ham goals have disappointed him so
far
West Ham fans have immediately welcomed Javier Hernandez to east London
Football London
Kevin Beirne
17:00, 29 OCT 2017
Javier Hernandez has admitted that although he loves scoring goals, he is
left disappointed each time he scores for West Ham because they have not won
his team any games. The Mexican striker arrived in east London to high
expectations and much fanfare as his signing was heralded as a sign of the
club's ambition to push on and challenge to so-called big clubs. But so far
in his brief Hammers career, things have not been quite so simple for
Chicharito. The 29-year-old has scored four goals so far this season and was
on target again yesterday as West Ham were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal
Palace. Hernandez's goal had given his side the lead before Andre Ayew
doubled the Hammers' advantage over their London rivals but the home side
would fight back and earn a point in stoppage time with the last kick of the
game. Speaking after the game, Chicharito says he would swap his goals for
points if he could as the Hammers have picked up just one point from the
three games in which he has scored. "It's nice and it gives you lot of
confidence," he told the club website. "I'm a striker and goals give you
that but the goals I have so far for the team haven't got us points or a
victory so far, so I'm a little disappointed also. "I always say I'd prefer
to win matches and change those goals to points. But yeah it was good
feeling for Andre Ayew and me. We are both strikers and we scored one goal
each."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'I can't believe we've done that' - Joe Hart brands West Ham's Crystal
Palace capitulation as 'unprofessional'
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Joe Hart branded West Ham's late capitulation at Crystal Palace
"unprofessional" and said it left his team-mates lost for words. Hart was
unable to stop Wilfried Zaha scoring a 97th-minute equaliser at Selhurst
Park to complete a dramatic comeback and deny West Ham a morale-boosting
victory. Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew had put the Hammers two up at
half-time, but Luka Milivojevic converted a penalty early in the second
period before Zaha's stoppage-time strike earned Palace a 2-2 draw. Hart was
unfortunate not to finish a victor. The England goalkeeper pulled off a
string of excellent saves, including one with his finger-tips to keep out a
James Tomkins header late on. "I can't believe we've done that," Hart told
the official club website. "I can't believe we've fought all the way to the
end and then been so unprofessional at the end. "It's a little bit
speechless in the dressing room. No one does things on purpose in this team,
but it's two points dropped - as simple as that. "I hadn't switched off, but
it was a good finish by Zaha, through legs, and I'm bitterly disappointed."
West Ham came under sustained pressure in the last 10 minutes, but they were
naive too at the end. "You've got to keep the ball in the corner, it's that
simple, and you can't let people keep running through you and getting
chances," Hart said. "Today counts for a point, but that's about it. We
learn simple things."
Zaha admitted Hart looked unbeatable, but his shot into the far corner
ensured Palace avoided defeat for only the second time this season. They
remain bottom of the table, however, with West Ham just five points better
off. "It was beginning to look impossible to beat him," Zaha told the
official club website. "We did in the end though and managed to get a very
important point for us."
Zaha's goal was his second in three games as he continues to enjoy the new
role further forward given to him by manager Roy Hodgson. The 24-year-old
says he also feels the extra weight of responsibility playing up front. "I
do at times feel that pressure from the stands and get nervous at times as
maybe people expect too much from me," Zaha said. "But I don't mind that and
I take it on and do what I have to do for the team. In my current position
in the team I know I don't make the normal striker runs, but it's been a bit
easier because it gives you a bit more of a free role. "It allows me to pick
the ball up deeper from the midfielders and take on the centre-back and if I
go past them it is just the goalkeeper and I have enjoyed it so far."
Palace visit Tottenham next weekend, while West Ham host to Liverpool.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies booked their spot in the next round of the WPL Plate
after a fantastic 3-1 home win against QPR. A Chloe Burr header and an Amber
Stobbs wonder-goal put the Hammers in control at half-time, but QPR were
back in the game just after the break thanks to a low shot. Chenise Austin
secured the win in the second period with a confident penalty. The Hammers
played some excellent football in front of a lively and engaged home support
at Rush Green as just over a thousand fans turned out for a Family Fun Day.
The opening chance of the game came early on as Molly Peters tested the QPR
goalkeeper from distance, before again seeing an effort go over from close
range after a goalmouth scramble. Amber Stobbs looked eager to find the net,
twice hitting the bar from distance, and it was the first of these that led
to the opening goal. After the N010 struck the bar Burr was on hand to head
home the rebound, giving the Irons a deserved lead. Stobbs again came close
when she saw a shot saved at the near post, while Jasmine Auguste stopped
QPR from threatening a leveller not long after Burr's opener when she made a
tremendous tackle in the box. And Stobbs found the net in stunning fashion
on the stroke of half-time, netting a looping effort from distance to put
the Irons in control going into the break. QPR halved the deficit just
moments into the second period as a low shot squeezed under Rowlands, but
seven minutes later West Ham again had a two-goal advantage. There was a
clear foul in the box and Austin confidently stepped up to dink a delightful
penalty kick into the top left corner. Rosie Kmita pulled an effoert just
wide of the far post while Chong attempted a spectacular volleyed effort, as
the Hammers sought to entertain the lively Rush Green home crowd.
Goal-scorer Burr went in goal for the final ten minutes of the match and
substitute Andreya Ezekiel-Meade twice went close, as the Irons held out for
a deserved 3-1 win.
West Ham United Ladies: Rowlands (M Kmita 79;); Mackie, Wheeler, Austin,
Auguste; Chong, Cooper (c), R Kmita (Ezekiel-Meade 75'), Burr, Stobbs
(Georgioiu 84'); Peters
Subs not used: Walker
Goals: Burr 15', Stobbs 45', Austin (p) 56'
QPR Ladies: Kasirye; Peacock, Young, Deluca, Chimbima, Lynch, Petit, Ismael,
Adeyemo, Knell, Netschova
Subs not used: Haridas, Gardiner, Young
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chenise Austin: I love penalties!
WHUFC.com
Chenise Austin has proclaimed her love for penalties after the defender
netted from the spot in the 3-1 victory against QPR Ladies. Austin netted
West Ham Ladies' third goal of the match on Sunday from 12 yards to book the
Club's place in the next round of the WPL Plate. Chloe Burr and Amber Stobbs
had put the Irons into the lead at half-time but QPR got a goal back just
after half-time at the near post. But Austin's penalty - a delightful dink
into the top left corner - earned the deserved win for the Hammers in front
of over a thousand fans at Rush Green. And the summer signing has revealed
how much she adores getting the chance to score goals from the spot. "It's
one of those I quite enjoy doing," Austin told whufc.com: "It's a funny one.
I don't tend to get up quite often and get the opportunity to score, apart
from corners. I love a good penalty. "Don't tell anybody but I might go the
same place when I take the next one."
The centre-back says that the Ladies are delighted with Sunday's result,
admitting that the team let themselves down last weekend in the loss to
Crystal Palace.
Austin continued: "We're buzzing. We came into this off the back of last
weekend when we didn't have a good first half performance. Based on the
score-sheet we should have won today and we did so I'm happy. "We had a lot
of chances and we could have put away a few more. It was a sloppy goal we
conceded too but that's just the way it goes. It's another win under the
belt. Confidence is growing and the team is getting better. We're showing
what we're about."
Last weekend's defeat to Palace eliminated West Ham from the County Cups
which, according to Austin, makes this win against QPR all the more
important as the team pursues a run in the WPL Plate this campaign. "The
league is our bread and butter but you've got nothing to lose in a Cup game.
We are out of one already so we want to take this one as far as we can, just
like we try to in the league."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manning: It's been an outstanding October
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23s assistant manager Liam Manning was full of praise for
the Hammers' young professionals after they completed an outstanding October
in Premier League 2 Division 1 with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester
City. Goals from Nathan Holland and Toni Martinez and a determined defensive
effort saw West Ham follow up victory over Manchester United and a draw at
Chelsea with a deserved win. After seeing his team rise to third in the
table, Manning discussed Saturday's success, the exciting football being
played by the U23s and Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy tie at Bristol Rovers.
Our pressing paid off
I thought it was very exciting from the start, both teams attacked really
well and there were loads of chances and if the score had been 4-4 at
half-time, that would have been a fair reflection on the game. It was a
really exciting game and obviously we're really delighted to come out with
the 2-1 win and the three points. We spoke before the game and said there
was a big emphasis on getting after the ball and pressing them as we knew
they'd play out from the back in a way similar to their first team, and the
way Pep Guardiola plays. We wanted to put pressure on them high up the pitch
and we adjusted a couple of things at half-time, pushing Josh Pask further
up the pitch and had our full-backs Rosaire Longelo and Ben Johnson
(pictured, below) watching the wide lads slightly more closely and I think
it worked in the second half. We regained the ball in the middle third quite
a bit and set up a lot of attacks from there.
Our attackers carry a real threat
To give the players credit, we look a real threat going forward. It was
similar at Chelsea last week, where we drew 0-0 and obviously didn't score,
but the number of chances we created was probably enough to win two games.
Domingos Quina was a lot sharper in what was his second game back from
injury and our front lads carried a constant threat, as they have done all
season. Toni Martinez has got an absolute hammer of a right foot and it
doesn't surprise me that he scored another goal like that. Nathan Trott
(pictured, below) made numerous saves to keep us in the game and with his
feet as well, his distribution was excellent and helped us play out from the
back. He's doing well at the minute.
An outstanding October
We looked at the Premier League 2 Division 1 fixtures for October and knew
we had a really hard month, starting with Manchester United, then going to
Chelsea and hosting Manchester City, so picking up seven points from those
games was a real achievement from the boys and staff involved. We're really
pleased with that because it's a tough league and we're moving up.
We're ready for a different type of test
We were obviously delighted with Saturday's win, but now our focus turns to
Tuesday night and a Checkatrade Trophy tie against a senior League Two team
in Bristol Rovers. That's what is brilliant about the games programme this
season - we play against one of the best young teams in the country and now
we'll be playing against seasoned professionals who know all the little
tricks needed to win them games. It's a completely different challenge and
playing these games outside the international windows is a big difference
from last season, which helps us massively. Hopefully we'll go to Bristol
Rovers and get the win, because that'll put us through to the next round.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'Bitterly disappointed' Joe Hart impresses again in Palace draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Joe Hart was "bitterly disappointed" his side could not
hold out for a win against Crystal Palace despite a sensational showing by
the goalkeeper. Finishes from Chicharito and Andre Ayew put the Hammers in
control at half-time but a penalty from Luka Milivojevic and a late Wilfried
Zaha effort earned the Eagles a 2-2 draw. Zaha's 97th minute leveller was
particularly harsh on Hart, who had put on a brilliant showing to deny
Palace a number of opportunities. The 30-year-old made an amazing double
save in the first period to deny James Tomkins and then Zaha in very quick
succession, and also fantastically tipped away a Yohan Cabaye free-kick in
the second-half. Unfortunately, despite Hart's best efforts, it wasn't
enough to earn the Irons a first away league win of the campaign. "I can't
believe we've done that," Hart said after the game: "I can't believe we've
fought all the way to the end and then been so unprofessional at the end.
"It's a little bit speechless in the dressing room. No one does things on
purpose in this team but it's two points dropped - as simple as that. I
hadn't switched off but it was a good finish by Zaha, through legs, and I'm
bitterly disappointed."
Hart made seven saves for West Ham in the draw at Palace, easily a league
high, with Jonas Lossl of Huddersfield Town closest to the England
international with four. Four of those saves by Hart were diving, with the
shot-stopper making some great efforts to keep out Palace in the contest.
Furthermore, Hart claimed the ball a massive seven times, each without fail,
in the contest, showing just how dominant in his area the goalkeeper can be.
The West Ham goalkeeper has given credit to Palace for their effort in
fighting back but has called on the team to learn from their errors in time
for the next match, against Liverpool. He said: "Football's a funny game. I
thought Zaha and Sako played well and, in giving credit to them, I thought
we played well. You've got to keep the ball in the corner, it's that simple,
and you can't let people keep running through you and getting chances.
"Today counts for a point but that's about it. We learn simple things. We
obviously shouldn't have given away a penalty so early in the second half.
Mark Noble said at half-time that on Wednesday we were 2-0 down, and the
game was by no means over. "Palace fought well and we're disappointed. But
we've got to learn from it. The beautiful thing about football is it gives
us another chance next week to play at home, against Liverpool, and we have
to iron out the negatives and take the positives, and move on."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ayew - We'll learn from our mistakes
WHUFC.com
Andre Ayew says West Ham United will learn from their mistakes after letting
a two-goal lead slip through their grasp at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Ayew's superb 20-yard strike doubled the visitors' advantage at Selhurst
Park after Chicharito had opened the scoring, with West Ham seemingly on
their way to a second win in four days. But Luka Milivojevic's penalty five
minutes afrer the restart gave the Eagles hope, eventually leading to
Wilfried Zaha's heartbreaking leveller seven minutes into stoppage time.
Ayew admitted that conclusion to the contest left the 2-2 draw feeling like
a defeat, although he said it is important that they don't dwell on the
disappointment with another crucial game aganst Liverpool to come next
weekend. "It felt like a defeat," he said. "We're disappointed. It was a
tough game, and it's always difficult to hold to the end when you come out
after half-time and concede a goal inside the first five minutes. "They had
opportunities, but we're disappointed that it ended 2-2. We need to forget
about the disappointment and correct what we did badly in the second half
when we play Liverpool next week. "We didn't hold the ball as well as we did
in the first half and that put our defenders under pressure the whole time.
We'll learn from that. "The response to Brighton has been not bad, because
of the victory we had at Wembley, but to be honest we should have left
Crystal Palace with three points and had two wins in a row."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LONDON STADIUM ARTICLE-APOLOGY!
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 29 OCTOBER 2017 AT 7:27PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
We would like to issue an apology for an article that was written by one of
our writers about the London Stadium. It included incorrect facts about the
financial situation of the stadium operators. We would like to apologise
for any misunderstanding that has occurred and the facts should have been
checked before we reported them.
Our articled stated that the operator of London Stadium is close to
bankruptcy. VINCI, are the operators of London Stadium. E20 are the owners
of London Stadium. We re-reported other reports of financial distress at
E20, the stadium owners, without verifying the facts of the matter. For
clarity, E20 is owned by LLDC and the London Borough of Newham. They in turn
awarded a 25-year contract to VINCI to operate the stadium. E20 are not the
operators and have no shareholding in VINCI. Similarly, VINCI has no
shareholding in E20.
There is no financial distress at VINCI and this should have been made clear
in the article.
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JAMES COLLINS- ONE MORE YEAR?
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 29 OCTOBER 2017 AT 5:56PM
TheWesTHamWay.co.uk
Written by Andy Phipps @andyjphipps
I'm writing this in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw with Palace and whilst the
subject may seem a little premature, I can't help but look to the future
right now. In the words of the band D:Ream, things can only get better.
Considering we'd most probably take Fulham's Tim Ream over the excuses of
centre halves that we've got at the moment, I make no apologies in creating
a discussion about tying down one of our better club assets. For another
year at least.
Okay, I accept that if there was a fountain of youth then we'd throw the
Ginger Pele straight into the deep end for a good few hours, regardless of
whether he had hair to wash or not. Time is against him now. Having turned
thirty four when we played Cheltenham, it would mean that he would be as
good as thirty five when we kicked off next year. As you'd expect, some of
his pace and movement has gone even if his positional sense and ability to
read a game is still top notch. Those who remember the James Collins of
2005-2009 will fondly recall his marauding ability to make a perfectly timed
slide tackle that most full backs would be proud of, let alone a six foot
four centre back with tank like tendencies. Again, this is part of his game
that has disappeared with the wear and tear of injuries and the passing
years.
Now, if you've ever seen an episode of Top Gear, you'll know the formula
that's followed whenever Jeremy Clarkson reviews a car. If he hates it, he
starts off praising it to the ground and then wrinkles his nose and says
that he doesn't 'want one' and how you can get something else for a much
cheaper price. Predictably, the opposite is true when he does like the car.
The inside panel is made of plastic, it's 0-60 is way over ten seconds but
it makes him feel like he's twenty again and all he wants to do is put the
pedal down and drive somewhere. Anywhere, it doesn't matter. That's exactly
how I feel about James Collins.
The thing about James Collins is that, like Mark Noble, he embodies the old
school West Ham spirit of putting in a shift and having respect for the
fans. Not only does he put his head through anything that dares to be
floated in front of him on the pitch, he will regularly go and talk to fans
afterwards and give his shirt away to a youngster. I remember a game, a few
years ago, when he received an injury that looked like it might lead him to
being stretchered off. After a good while, Collins was brought to his feet
and he seemed to 'run off' whatever had been inflicted upon him. Whilst we
don't want players to exacerbate an injury by displaying unnecessary
bravado, it was certainly a sight to behold. In the dressing room, it has
been commented that he has a huge amount of influence on the team. A man of
few words, one can imagine that he doesn't suffer fools gladly but drives
everyone to do their best, much like Zabaleta does. This was evident at the
end of last season when Sam Byram had a cracker of game against Swansea and
Nobes and Collins were slapping him on the back and rubbing his hair.
Judging by Sam's reaction, this meant a lot.
We all know West Ham fans love a bit of passion and nostalgia, let's be
honest it's our cat nip, but it's still clear that he has something to
offer. When Collin's gets fit again, there will be few that wouldn't put him
straight in our team. Yes, he will make the odd mistake but it won't be for
the want of trying- unlike many others we could name. Even next year when
one prays that we make some signings (we've got enough dead wood to have a
bonfire on the fifth, he makes for a handy back up player. In spite of some
niggling injuries, he also looks after himself well and stated himself that
he follows Teddy Sheringham's advice of not reducing your training intensity
just because you're older. With Fonte lacking the kind of cool head and
composure that he had playing for Southampton and Ogbonna showing that
scoring a last minute goal against Liverpool doesn't make you a world class
defender (Yes, I'm looking at you fans who seemed to think so), he's still a
great option.
So yeah, for me, give him an extra year. I don't think it's too early to do
this. The reward of a new contract will galvanise him and show that he's
wanted at the club, allowing him to focus on his game and hopefully salvage
something from an all too familiar shockingly bad season. Whether we are in
the Prem or (dare I say it) taking a cold trip to Barnsley on a Tuesday
night, he'll perform admirably for us. I remember when we went down in 2003.
Even at the tender age of thirteen, I thought that a thirty six year old
John 'the Maggot' Moncur would be a real asset for us for our promotion push
with his grit and determination. Sadly, Glenn Roeder released him and
brought in the injury prone Rob Lee whose spirit was willing but flesh was
weak at the eye watering age of thirty seven. A good player? Reasonably, but
just not on his game anymore. Collins would provide what we need wherever we
end up. With a change of manager looking more and more likely, whatever
happens, I think he'd be a real asset to anybody coming in. So to me it
makes sense. Sign him up.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Why Burnley's Sean Dyche would be an excellent appointment at West Ham
HITC
Antony Martin
The Burnley manager has been linked with West Ham United over this past
week. Slaven Bilic is an extremely popular figure amongst Hammers fans,
mostly because of his strong affiliation with the club as a player way back
in the mid 90's. Irrespective of how popular he is in east London though, he
must start to string together a strong run of results, if he is to remain in
charge at West Ham. Clarets boss Sean Dyche is a man who has been heavily
linked with the job at the London Stadium, and it is little wonder,
following the excellent job that he has done during his time at Turf Moor.
The Daily Mail go as far as claiming that the Hammers are already preparing
a financial package to lure him away from Lancashire. So would the
46-year-old be a good appointment at West Ham, if Bilic does of course lose
his job? The clear and obvious answer is absolutely yes. Most notably
because first and foremost, Dyche knows how to organise a team defensively
and tactically, something that Bilic seems rather unable to do. The
46-year-old has a fantastic understanding of how to get his players working
together as a unit, and defend as a team, with nobody having a so-called
'free role' in his side. And whilst Hammers fans love to see open, expansive
football played, their shambolic defending of late must be infuriating to
watch to say the very least. Dyche is also a superb motivator and
man-manager - two attributes that the Hammers desperately need in their
manager, with the amount of overpaid prima donnas currently at the club.
Most importantly, however, Dyche has a clear philosophy of how to play the
game, and with his growing reputation in football, he will undoubtedly be an
absolute coup for whichever club manages to secure his services.
And one thing is for sure, West Ham could do a lot worse than the
46-year-old Burnley boss.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic press conference: Every word from the West Ham boss on Palace
draw & Antonio error
The Hammers boss wasn't in the best of moods in his press conference after
the Eagles' late goal
Football London
Sam Inkersole
18:35, 29 OCT 2017
What happened there?
You saw. Nobody can say they [Palace] didn't deserve a point. It was a good
performance in the second half and got that first goal very early. We were
under pressure, we knew we would be but hoped that we would exploit the
space we had towards the end of the game. We had, I don't know how many
situations to keep the ball or punish them. They had scored before from set
pieces or Zaha and Townsend before but to concede the goal in that manner is
very frustrating. All we had to do was keep the ball five seconds in that
position. But, the last couple of minutes we made a couple of, lets say
wrong decisions, once. We didn't keep the ball in the last seconds, we
wanted to make a cross to score instead. They made a good move after that
but we gave them opportunity but we shouldn't have done that. We should have
killed the game off, we didn't and we should have kept it, we didn't, it was
very fustrating. Two mistakes for the goals, does that make it even more
frustrating Yes.
We had some players who played on Wednesday night and they were tired as the
game went on. Unfortunately we had to make a couple of subs we didn't want
because of the injuries. We maybe wanted to put one extra man in midfield in
the second half because those three played 90 minutes a few days ago but we
couldn't do it because of those substitutions. But anyway, it's more
frustrating because we gave them the opportunities to create and put us
under pressure. We had Joe Hart who was excellent in goal so what I am
saying is everything was there for us to take three points and it is
frustrating to give it away like that.
Have you spoken to Michail Antonio?
Of course, he knows that now. He knows that he is the one that can keep the
ball one v one on the line forever, you know? But unfortunately he opted for
a cross.
Do you expect more from experienced players?
Of course but it is a team game, you know.
It is unusual for Mark Noble to get involved in a skirmish like that at the
end?
I didn't see it so I can't comment
But it is out of character for him?
I didn't see it.
At the end, you were so close, you looked very emotional.
I was, of course I was. We knew how important this game was after Brighton
and after Spurs game, we knew it was going to be hard when 2-0 up thanks to
great goals. We took the ball out of them in great spaces, the first goal
was a brilliant move and then we went 2-0 up and we thought three points,
but we gave that penalty too early for them to get back in the game. We
resisted but to concede like that is a killer. It feels like a defeat but it
isn't and wasn't a defeat at this point.
The players gave everything again. They ran, defended, some of them played
90 minuets three days ago, I saw them struggling with energy but wanted to
close them down and we were doing that. That goal [Zaha's] has nothing to do
with attitude or being sloppy or anything, not in my position. It was just a
bad decision that shouldn't happen at this level of football. Nothing to do
with the atittude.
Could you sense it coming?
No because we went there, Mikey he went there with no ideas of going towards
the goal, for a few seconds he was keeping the ball there. Then we had a
player in the box, I think it was Lanzini and they didn't run back, it
looked like although it was very far from the bench that he was going to
keep it a few more seconds.
But we can talk about it now, he should have kept it. Very frustrating, it
[the three points] was there.
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Javier Hernandez admits all of his West Ham goals have disappointed him so
far
West Ham fans have immediately welcomed Javier Hernandez to east London
Football London
Kevin Beirne
17:00, 29 OCT 2017
Javier Hernandez has admitted that although he loves scoring goals, he is
left disappointed each time he scores for West Ham because they have not won
his team any games. The Mexican striker arrived in east London to high
expectations and much fanfare as his signing was heralded as a sign of the
club's ambition to push on and challenge to so-called big clubs. But so far
in his brief Hammers career, things have not been quite so simple for
Chicharito. The 29-year-old has scored four goals so far this season and was
on target again yesterday as West Ham were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal
Palace. Hernandez's goal had given his side the lead before Andre Ayew
doubled the Hammers' advantage over their London rivals but the home side
would fight back and earn a point in stoppage time with the last kick of the
game. Speaking after the game, Chicharito says he would swap his goals for
points if he could as the Hammers have picked up just one point from the
three games in which he has scored. "It's nice and it gives you lot of
confidence," he told the club website. "I'm a striker and goals give you
that but the goals I have so far for the team haven't got us points or a
victory so far, so I'm a little disappointed also. "I always say I'd prefer
to win matches and change those goals to points. But yeah it was good
feeling for Andre Ayew and me. We are both strikers and we scored one goal
each."
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'I can't believe we've done that' - Joe Hart brands West Ham's Crystal
Palace capitulation as 'unprofessional'
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Joe Hart branded West Ham's late capitulation at Crystal Palace
"unprofessional" and said it left his team-mates lost for words. Hart was
unable to stop Wilfried Zaha scoring a 97th-minute equaliser at Selhurst
Park to complete a dramatic comeback and deny West Ham a morale-boosting
victory. Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew had put the Hammers two up at
half-time, but Luka Milivojevic converted a penalty early in the second
period before Zaha's stoppage-time strike earned Palace a 2-2 draw. Hart was
unfortunate not to finish a victor. The England goalkeeper pulled off a
string of excellent saves, including one with his finger-tips to keep out a
James Tomkins header late on. "I can't believe we've done that," Hart told
the official club website. "I can't believe we've fought all the way to the
end and then been so unprofessional at the end. "It's a little bit
speechless in the dressing room. No one does things on purpose in this team,
but it's two points dropped - as simple as that. "I hadn't switched off, but
it was a good finish by Zaha, through legs, and I'm bitterly disappointed."
West Ham came under sustained pressure in the last 10 minutes, but they were
naive too at the end. "You've got to keep the ball in the corner, it's that
simple, and you can't let people keep running through you and getting
chances," Hart said. "Today counts for a point, but that's about it. We
learn simple things."
Zaha admitted Hart looked unbeatable, but his shot into the far corner
ensured Palace avoided defeat for only the second time this season. They
remain bottom of the table, however, with West Ham just five points better
off. "It was beginning to look impossible to beat him," Zaha told the
official club website. "We did in the end though and managed to get a very
important point for us."
Zaha's goal was his second in three games as he continues to enjoy the new
role further forward given to him by manager Roy Hodgson. The 24-year-old
says he also feels the extra weight of responsibility playing up front. "I
do at times feel that pressure from the stands and get nervous at times as
maybe people expect too much from me," Zaha said. "But I don't mind that and
I take it on and do what I have to do for the team. In my current position
in the team I know I don't make the normal striker runs, but it's been a bit
easier because it gives you a bit more of a free role. "It allows me to pick
the ball up deeper from the midfielders and take on the centre-back and if I
go past them it is just the goalkeeper and I have enjoyed it so far."
Palace visit Tottenham next weekend, while West Ham host to Liverpool.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 29
Daily WHUFC News - 29th October 2017
Late goal breaks West Ham United hearts at Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
Goals from Chicharito and Andre Ayew were not enough to secure West Ham United a first away league win of the season after a very late equaliser by Wilfried Zaha in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace. A clever flicked finish from Chicharito on 31 minutes was followed up by a fantastic strike by Ayew moments before half-time, giving the forward three goals in his last two matches. Palace got a goal back after the interval via the penalty spot through Luka Milivojevic while Joe Hart produced some moments of brilliance in goal, most notably a double stop just before the half-time whistle. But, despite a gallant effort, West Ham's resolve was broken seven minutes into injury time as Zaha squeezed home with virtually the last kick of the game. After a tepid start to the game at Selhurst Park the match exploded into life after half an hour. Ayew found Aaron Cresswell in space on the flank, and the defender's first-time cross eluded the legs of every Palace player.
The ball found Chicharito, who brilliantly finished with the outside of his right foot to put the Irons into the lead. The finish sprung the home side into action and the Eagles came close to equalising, and would have done, if not for a fantastic double save from Joe Hart. The England international brilliantly checked his momentum to stop James Tomkins' headed effort finding the net, before blocking away Zaha's follow-up effort. With Hart's terrific save keeping West Ham in front, Ayew put the Hammers in control just before half-time with a fantastic finish from outside the box. The forward crafted the chance himself, having taken possession on the half-way line, and fired into the top corner from the edge of the area. Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a chance to half the deficit for Palace in added time but his header went just wide of the post.
It took just five minutes of the second period for Palace to get a goal back however. Angelo Ogbonna brought down Andros Townsend in the box, and Milivojevic tucked away the resulting penalty to cut West Ham's lead to one. The Eagles then hit the post through a Yohan Cabaye strike while Jose Fonte, who came off for Declan Rice, saw a header go wide. Palace continued to threaten and if not for some excellent work by Hart, the home team may have levelled. The shot-stopper palmed away a Zaha effort before also brilliantly saving a Cabaye free-kick. Captain Noble also put his body on the line with some tremendous blocks in and around the area, stopping Palace from levelling the game. Former Hammer Tomkins then hit the crossbar while Bakary Sako hooked over from two yards. But, as the game played out to a close, Zaha received the ball inside the box and was able to turn home low effort, breaking West Ham heart's with what was almost the last kick of the match.
West Ham United: Hart; Kouyate, Fonte (76'), Ogbonna; Zabaleta (Antonio 61'), Noble, Fernandes, Cresswell (Masuaku 46'); Ayew, Chicharito, Lanzini
Subs not used: Adrian, Obiang, Arnautovic, Carroll
Goals: Chicharito 31', Ayew 43'
Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward (Sako 60'), Tomkins, Dann, Van Aanholt (Fosu-Mensah 11'); Milivojevic, Cabaye, Townsend, Loftus-Cheek, Schlupp; Zaha
Subs not used: Hennessey, Delaney, Kelly, Puncheon, Riedewald
Goals: Milivojevic (p) 50', Zaha 90+7
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Bilic - Palace draw feels like a defeat
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic said that Saturday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace 'felt like a defeat' after West Ham surrendered a two goal lead to leave Selhurst Park with just the one point. Goals from Chicharito and Andre Ayew had given the Hammers a 2-0 lead at half-time, however Luka Milivojevic's penalty five minutes after the restart and Wilfried Zaha's 96th minute strike levelled things up in South London. "We are very disappointed, it feels like a defeat" the Hammers boss explained. "We are gutted because we were winning 2-0 and of course the game isn't over but we were in a great position. They put us under a lot of pressure in the second half, but the game was there for us."
West Ham had controlled much of the game in the first 45' and the scoreline at halfway reflected it, but the second period belonged to the hosts. Palace clawed one back just five minutes in to the second half and clearly took confidence from that in to the rest of the game. "Things were very good for us, we knew we had 45 minutes to play where they were going to take more risks and play more direct so we wanted to keep our shape but also explore the space that would leave behind – unfortunately we didn't do it" Bilic said. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, it came too early for us but to concede the second in this manner it makes it even harder to take."
The equaliser came in the last of six additional minutes. When Michail Antonio lost the ball high up the field, the hosts quickly moved it back towards the West Ham penalty area where Wilfried Zaha was on hand to slot it in the bottom corner. "To concede a goal in the last second, in that way when we have the ball high up the pitch, we are gutted." Bilic said. "It was a good goal well taken by Zaha but to be fair, we gave it to them. With five or ten seconds to go, we were in a position where all we had to do was to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision. "All we had to do is keep a hold of the ball but we made a few bad decisions in the last two minutes. Those couple of decisions were very naïve, but these things happen. "The point is not bad, but not right now. It feels like defeat."
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Chicharito: I'd happily swap my goals for points
WHUFC.com
Chicharito has admitted he would gladly swap his goal scored against Crystal Palace for a West Ham United win after the Eagles battled back to claim a 2-2 draw against the Irons. Chicharito netted his fourth Premier League goal of the season in the first half at Selhurst Park before Andre Ayew extended the Hammers' lead, but a Luka Milivojevic penalty and a finish in the 97th minute by Wilfried Zaha meant Slaven Bilic's side departed south London with only a point. The result leaves the Irons still waiting for a first league away win of the season and the Mexican says he would gladly give his goal against Palace – and indeed all of his finishes this campaign – in exchange for more points on the board. When asked about his goal Chicharito told whufc.com: "It's nice and it gives you lot of confidence. I'm a striker and goals give you that but the goals I have so far for the team haven't got us points or a victory so far, so I'm a little disappointed also. "I always say I'd prefer to win matches and change those goals to points. But yeah it was good feeling for Andre Ayew and me. We are both strikers and we scored one goal each."
The 29-year-old struggled to contain his disappointment at Saturday's result after he and Ayew fired the Hammers into the lead before half-time, but insists the side will look to take heart from a positive first-half showing. Chicharito also indicated that he and the team will take the positives from this game as the Club starts to turn towards next weekend's match, against Liverpool. "It's disappointing because we got a good advantage in the first half with two goals," the striker added: "We were two goals up but unfortunately they fought and we couldn't hold them, and then they scored in the last minute. The feeling is disappointment obviously because we felt like we could win this match. "Of course (we will take the positives). We played a good second half at Wembley and now a very good first half – as well the second half was good but they pushed us and they deserve credit as well. "It's not an easy team and it's a very difficult pitch here, it's very close. The fans push them and support them. We got one point at least and then we need to start thinking tomorrow towards the match against Liverpool."
Chicharito also reserved praise for the loyal West Ham United fans in attendance at Selhurst Park, thanking the supporters for their fantastic following at the match. He added: "They were great. They are always great. They always come and they always support us. You can see a very big amount of West Ham supporters and we just want to say thank you to the supporters."
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Martinez and Holland strike again as U23s beat Manchester City
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23s continued their bright start to the Premier League 2 Division 1 season with a scintillating 2-1 win over Manchester City. The Hammers and the Citizens combined to create well over 30 goal attempts during a hugely entertaining game at Dagenham & Redbridge FC's Chigwell Construction Stadium.
And it was leading scorer Toni Martinez who stole the headlines again, slamming an unstoppable low drive into the bottom left-hand corner with just seven minutes remaining. Saturday's victory means the newly-promoted Hammers now have 17 points from nine games and are up to third in the table. That there were just three goals scored – Nathan Holland had levelled Taylor Richards' 20th-minute opener before half-time – was largely down to the performances of goalkeepers Nathan Trott and Aro Muric. West Ham's England U20 stopper and City's Swiss youth international were both in inspired form, producing a succession of saves to keep their respective teams in the game. The two sides created chance after chance, although it was Terry Westley's hosts who will be more frustrated to have to settle for a single point, rather than all three. Trott was truly outstanding in the opening half, denying Richards, Rabbi Matondo and his 2017 UEFA European Championship-winning teammate Lukas Nmecha, who also side-footed wide when it looked easier to score. Even when City did finally beat the Bermuda-born 'keeper, Trott saved Nmecha's initial shot with his feet and Richards reacted quickest to find the roof of the net.
Having fallen behind, West Ham responded superbly, pinning City back and causing untold problems for centre-half Tosin Adarabioyo, who played 90 minutes in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The chances continued to flow, with the Hammers' exciting attackers – Holland, Sead Haksabanovic, Daniel Kemp, Domingos Quina and Toni Martinez – catching the eye with their quick feet, movement and combination play. Conor Coventry curled over before Muric denied Holland on no fewer than three occasions. Then, seven minutes before the break, Trott denied Nmecha and the Hammers broke the length of the field to level when the England U20 winger converted from Haksabanovic's pass. The chances continued at both ends as half-time approached, with Pask's superb challenge stopping Richards, Nmecha firing wide, Trott saving from Matondo, Haksabanovic firing wide and Kemp testing Muric with a rising drive.
The fun continued into the second half as West Ham went close five times in the opening five minutes as Holland saw two more shots blocked and a third saved by Muric, Kemp dragged wide and Quina's drive was charged down. City were struggling to contain the home side and Martinez saw a low shot saved comfortably before cutting back for Kemp, who smashed a rising effort agonisingly wide. At the other end, Trott had a much calmer time as City threatened sporadically, with Benjamin Garre's low shot into the side netting and Conor Coventry blocking Richards' effort.
Academy Director Westley sent on Martin Samuelsen and Grady Diangana for the closing stages, and it was the Norwegian who teed up Martinez to win it with an unstoppable low drive with seven minutes remaining, leaving Muric grasping at thin air. Even then, Trott was called into action again, saving superbly from substitute Jairo Dilrosun moments after Martinez's winner to secure three deserved points for his side. Next up for the Hammers is a Checkatrade Trophy group-stage fixture at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening.
West Ham United U23s: Trott, Johnson, Pask ©, Pike, R.Longelo, Coventry, Quina (Diangana 73), Holland, Kemp (Samuelsen 72), Haksabanovic (Hector-Ingram 87), Martinez
Subs not used: Scully, Wells
Goals: Holland 38, Martinez 83
Manchester City U23s: Muric, Oliver, Adarabioyo, Francis, Davenport, Smith, Matondo, Dele-Bashiru, Nmecha © (Bolton 66), Richards (Gonzalez 82), Garre (Dilrosun 59)
Subs not used: Sokol (GK), Diallo
Goal: Richards 20
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Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United
BBC.co.uk
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson felt Wilfried Zaha's 96th-minute equaliser against West Ham earned his side "scant reward" from a game they dominated.
Zaha snatched Palace their fourth point of the season with the final kick of the game, turning inside the box and finishing low through a host of bodies into the far corner. It came at the end of a battling second half from the home side, who found themselves 2-0 down at the break thanks to a neat finish from Javier Hernandez and a stunning 20-yard drive from Andre Ayew. Luka Milivojevic reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Andros Townsend had been fouled in the box by Angelo Ogbonna. Palace also hit the woodwork twice and forced a number of good saves from Joe Hart, but the Hammers keeper was powerless to prevent Zaha's effort finding the net. "If we had not got something then it would have been really, really unjust," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "To lose a game where you only faced two shots and you've had 20-odd, and hit the post and had one cleared off the line, it is hard to take. "Although we are pleased, because you are always pleased to get a point when staring defeat in the face, I still thought it was scant reward. "We are happy with a point but I believe, on the performance, we deserved more."
Hodgson's side remain bottom of the Premier League table, but have reduced the gap between themselves and the safety of 17th to four points. The draw also adds to the foundations given to them two weeks ago courtesy of their home win over champions Chelsea. It is a bitter blow to West Ham, who came into the game off the back of a rousing comeback win over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but now find themselves just a point above the bottom three.
Zaha the hero again
Wilfried Zaha's goal (96:06) was the second-latest goal scored in the Premier League this season, after Raheem Sterling's winner at Bournemouth in August (96:34) It is no surprise that Palace's upturn in results - at home at least - has coincided with Zaha's return from injury. The Ivory Coast international missed six of the seven defeats with which Palace began their league season, but returned to score the winner against Chelsea before again proving his worth on Saturday as the focal point of his side's attack. He was not alone in offering little in the first half, but significantly upped his game in the second to provide a regular threat, forcing Hart into full-stretch diving saves from two of his six attempts at goal. Zaha's fellow forward Townsend was also a greater presence in the game after the break and it was his run that coaxed a clumsy challenge from Ogbonna for the penalty, fired home by Milivojevic. Cabaye struck the post with a shot and the combative James Tomkins hit the bar with a header from a corner as Palace strove, initially in vain, for a parity that Zaha would dramatically provide. "We worked so hard. We did all the right things. We are buzzing and we deserved it," said Zaha. "The manager said at half-time that we were not playing badly. "The stress must be crazy as a Palace fan. We are playing cup finals every week."
One step forward, two steps back
West Ham's remarkable comeback from two goals down in their Carabao Cup tie at Tottenham on Wednesday suggested that reports of Slaven Bilic's imminent sacking were a tad premature. The Hammers' stirring response at Wembley showcased a determination and togetherness previously lacking in what has been a dire start to a Premier League campaign that plumbed new depths with last Friday's 3-0 home loss against Brighton. Bilic admitted that this result "felt like a defeat", with the final blow coming deep into a game in which they had shown an initial ruthlessness and then backs-to-the-wall resolve. The first half was full of positives for the Hammers, who drafted in four of their protagonists from Wednesday's game - Ogbonna and Cresswell at the back, Mark Noble in midfield and Ayew, scorer of two in that game, in attack. It was from Cresswell's cross that Hernandez opened the scoring with a neat finish using the outside of his boot, before Ayew scored the game's best goal, a long-range finish off the underside of the bar following a jinking run.
After conceding early in the second half they showed a resolve that has been largely lacking this season, but tarnished it in the game's final moments. Given the opportunity to hold on to the ball deep in Palace territory, and with 96 minutes on the clock, substitute Michail Antonio fired a loose and pointless cross straight into the arms of home keeper Julian Speroni. Less than a minute later, the home side were level and the under-pressure Bilic was storming to the changing room shaking his head in frustration. "We knew that the game was not over at 2-0 up at half-time," said Bilic. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, but the way we conceded the leveller was very disappointing. "We needed to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision, with Michail Antonio choosing to cross the ball rather than keep it. "We have to manage the game on the pitch. The game was finished."
Man of the match - Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Since the 2014-15 season, no player has scored more Premier League goals for Crystal Palace than Wilfried Zaha (15, level with Christian Benteke)
Palace still to keep a clean sheet - the stats you need to know
Crystal Palace are one of just four teams in the big 5 European leagues yet to keep a clean sheet this season (also Benevento, Malaga and Dijon).
West Ham are unbeaten in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace under Slaven Bilic (W3 D2 L0).
All 41 of Javier Hernandez's Premier League goals have been scored from inside the box; only Tim Cahill (56/56) has a higher 100% record.
Andre Ayew has scored three goals in his last two games in all competitions for West Ham - more than he'd managed in his previous 10 this season (2).
West Ham scored with both of their shots on target in this match.
What's next?
Both teams have tough fixtures. Palace travel to Tottenham on Sunday for a 12:00 BST Premier League kick-off.
West Ham are at home to Liverpool the day before (17:30).
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CRYSTAL PALACE 2-2 WEST HAM – MATCH REPORT
AUTHOR: BRIAN KNOX. PUBLISHED: 28 OCTOBER 2017 AT 5:43PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Match Report by @WestHamAmerican
Today West Ham drew even with Crystal Palace 2-2 late, in heartbreaking fashion as Wilfried Zaha scored the final goal in the 96th minute of play. The day began with promise for the Hammers who resumed their Premier League campaign after a surprising League Cup victory over Tottenham earlier in the week. Both Palace and West Ham have had disappointing starts to their year, and both sides were sorely in need of a victory to improve their position on the league table.
Midway through the opening half, it was West Ham who earned their way to the score sheet first. After some tight play in Palace penalty area it was Aaron Cresswell doing what he does best and perfectly crossing from the left side to Javier Hernandez who easily finished.
A few moments later it was Joe Hart earning his wages for the day blocking a very close header from James Tomkins. In the first half Hart showed great poise under attack. But the next goal came from the visiting club again as Andre Ayew took the ball on a long counter attack, sidestepped the defense and cracked a long range 25 yard strike into the net.
By halftime, West Ham had a commanding 2-0 lead and all of the momentum. Cresswell was replaced during the break by Arthur Masuaku after Cresswell showed some discomfort in the closing minutes of the half.
Early in the second half, the Eagles found their own lifeline as Angelo Ogbonna clumsily brought down Andros Townsend in the box and Luka Milivojevic easily converted the penalty kick to bring Crystal Palace back into the match. Unfortunately for West Ham it was their fourth and league leading penalty kick earned this early season. (All four have been converted to goals).
Moments later the West Ham supporters who traveled to Selhust Park almost gasped as Yohan Cabaye had a strong strike on goal. Once again the post saved West Ham from surrendering the equaliser.
In the 80th minute Palace was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. With a strong attempt, Cabaye almost had the goal if not for the acrobatic save of Joe Hart who punched it wide.
Playing behind the ball for much of the final moments, Palace mustered one last attack in the waning seconds of the match and it was Wilfried Zaha coming open from a defending Michail Antonio, who scored the needed goal basically in the final second of play.
After such a promising week with the Cup victory at Wembley, this defeat hurts. If West Ham can't secure three points against the bottom of the table, who will they fare in December when they play much of the top of the league? It has long been rumoured and reported in London sports media that Bilic had two games prevent his sacking. Only the board can know what these results mean for the embattled manager.
For West Ham, the road doesn't get easier as next week they host Liverpool, who are coming off a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield. Whether the club and the fans can bring some Boleyn magic to the London Stadium next weekend, will be a very important question.
Please check out TheWestHamWay.co.uk all week for any breaking news regarding the coaching status or injury updates for the team.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, van Aanholt, Tomkins, Dann, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Loftus-Cheek, Schlupp, Townsend, Zaha
Subs: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah (11'), Delaney, Riedewald, Kelly, Sako (60'), Puncheon
West Ham: Hart, Cresswell, Fonte, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Kouyate, Noble, Fernandes, Lanzini, Ayew, Chicharito
Subs: Adrian, Masuaku (45'), Rice (76′), Obiang, Arnautovic, Antonio (62′), Carroll
Referee: Robert Madley
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#REFWATCH: BOBBY MADLEY – CRYSTAL PALACE VS WEST HAM
AUTHOR: SAMTWHWREF. PUBLISHED: 28 OCTOBER 2017 AT 6:07PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @SamRoyden
After a good evening against Spurs in the cup midweek, we've been very quickly brought back down to earth, which was a must win game against Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace. Palace are rock bottom of the league with only 4 points so far this season with 29 defeats in 2017. West Ham visit Selhurt Park with no away wins so far in the Premier League and only scoring on 3 occasions so far this season. With two games to prove himself after being thumped by Brighton, all eyes on Slaven Bilic.
Bobby Madley was the referee appointed for this fixture. This was Madley's first West Ham fixture of the season and I've been heavily critical of Madley in past game due his inconsistency; it can be hugely costly. Madley had a good first half and to his credit he got 95% of the decisions spot on, although I feel his management of persistent fouls needs to be reviewed. Mark Noble gave a captain's display midweek but he was a little off the pace in the first half, with some rogue challenges. Noble gave away four fouls and even after Madley gave Noble a talking too, the West Ham man fouled once again but no action was taken by Madley. This is the type of inconsistencies that Madley needs to work on. Madley needs to manage this to ensure he's enforcing the laws of the games when it comes to misconduct.
The biggest decision Madley had to make was whether Wilfred Zaha was fouled by Jose Fonte in West Ham's penalty area. Madley's positioning was good, he was directly behind the incident and he would have seen that Jose Fonte pulled his leg out of the challenge and Zaha's right knee made contact with the West Ham defender thigh. Madley got this decision spot on in my opinion and 30 seconds later, West Ham scored the first goal of the game from Javier Hernandez. I have to take my hat off to Madley for this decision because he could have easily misinterpreted the challenge if he was at the wrong angle and behind play.
The only yellow card in the first half went to West Ham's Pablo Zabaleta. This was Zabaleta's fifth caution of the season which means that he is now banned for next weekend's home game against Liverpool. It was a poor touch by Zabaleta which made the Argentine lunge into a challenge with Fosu-Mensah who came out second best.
It was an awful start from West Ham in the second half, a moment of madness from Angelo Ogbonna who brought Andros Townsend down in the penalty area for Crystal Palace. Andros Townsend was going away from goal before the Italian stuck out a lazy right foot catching Townsend's ankle. Regardless whether you feel it was soft or not, there was contact and Ogbonna gave Madley that decision.
Bobby Madley had an odd couple of minutes with two obvious fouls which were either incorrectly awarded or not awarded at all. The first incident was between former Hammer James Tomkins and Javier Hernandez. Hernandez and Tomkins were having words before the throw-in when the West Ham men side barged into Tomkins and Tomkins retaliated with a rugby-style challenge with Madley awarding West Ham the free kick. In my opinion, Hernandez made the initial foul so this was incorrectly seen by Madley and his assistant referee. Secondly, Madley viewed this challenge as an over-aggressive challenge by Tomkins with arm around Hernandez's neck yet he wasn't cautioned. I question why because he gave a foul against Tomkins and it should have been a yellow card. Within two minutes of the first incident, Madley missed a stone wall free kick against Fosu-Mensah in the middle of the park – a surprising decision to some but this goes back to my comments earlier about a lack of consistency.
There were two additional cautions in the second half, one for each team. Scott Dann had his hands full all game with Javier Hernandez and the Palace man was caught out of position and pulled the Mexican down to the ground. Following injury to Aaron Cresswell at half time, Arthur Masuaku was bought on as a substitute however was cautioned for late challenges on Townsend from silly decisions.
Overall, Madley's performance was ok but the inconsistency is always a talking point which a referee in the Elite Select Group in the Premier League should have ironed out. To give Madley some credit, he did get the bigger decisions correct during the game with both penalty decisions which are always tough to call.
As I said in the opening paragraph, "brought back down to earth"; this is exactly what Crystal Palace did to us in the second half. Who's to blame? The players for not holding out 6 minutes into additional time. The manager's substitutions. Bilic replacing Zabaleta with Antonio? Regardless, for a Premier League club, against a team who are rock bottom of the league, to concede two goals after being 2-nil in front at half time is outrageous. The players' mentality is not a winning mentality, it's a weak mentality and to not to see out a game that you're leading for 96 minutes is criminal. It's going to be an uncomfortable weekend for Slaven Bilic. Will the board keep him after this performance? Personally, you have to look at the Cup in isolation and focus on Premier League results, the Cup is a one off and to beat Spurs is always added incentive. We need to win the Premier League games to stay out of a relegation battle, these games are vital against the likes of Swansea, Burnley, Brighton and Palace of which we've taken 5 points from a possible 12. If they keep him Bilic for another weekend with Liverpool visiting next weekend, are the board preventing the inevitable? We'll see in due course.
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Family thank life saver
KUMb.com
Filed: Saturday, 28th October 2017
By: Staff Writer
The son of a Hammers fan who suffered a heart attack prior to West Ham United's 3-2 win at Wembley on Wednesday night has thanked the individual who saved his father's life. Wayne Perry's father collapsed prior to the start of West Ham's Carabao Cup match with Tottenham on Wednesday but due to the quick-thinking of a fellow supporter who administered CPR on the spot, survived the ordeal. "Around 20 mins before kick off my Dad collapsed after having a heart attack (not known at the time)," Wayne told KUMB. "It got chaotic and we were shouting for a medic. We put Dad in the recovery position. "Then a gentleman approached my friend and said: "I'm a medic", ripped off Dad's shirt and began administering CPR. Although it seemed like this went on for an age, apparently the paramedics were there in two minutes and shocked him with a defibrillator to get his heart going. "The Doctors said that without that CPR he would not have made it. I never got to say anything to the guy who saved Dad's life as it was all a bit mad, hence my request to do so."
Following his father's recovery in hospital, Wayne and the Perry family asked KUMB to help find the individual who saved his father's life. And we are delighted to reveal that the Hammers hero is company director Ian Pearse. "When my Dad is better we plan to get together and sink a few!" added Wayne. "I can't thank everyone enough for their help and support. I was never a fan of social media but the messages and response has blown me away. "We are planning on turning an awful experience into a positive and I'd like to thank everyone involved for getting the message out there."
Administering CPR is known to save about five per cent of those who experience a heart attack or seizure. The chance of survival is hugely enhanced (to some 50 per cent) if a defibrillator is used, as in this case.
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Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham: Wilf ried Zaha leads Palace to vital point with last-gasp strike
By James Kilpatrick
Last Updated: 29/10/17 7:55am
SSN
Wilfried Zaha gave Crystal Palace a morale-boosting point against West Ham as they came from behind to draw 2-2.First-half strikes from Javier Hernandez (31) and Andre Ayew (43) were cancelled out by a Luka Milivojevic penalty (50) and Zaha's dramatic last-minute equaliser (90+7) in a fiery contest at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half, but Joe Hart pulled off a string of superb saves before Zaha slotted home to secure Roy Hodgson's men a crucial draw with seconds left on the clock. The result means Crystal Palace remain bottom on four points, while West Ham move up to 16th.
Player ratings
West Ham: Hart (9), Cresswell (7), Fonte (6), Zabaleta (5), Ogbonna (5), Kouyate (6), Noble (5), Fernandes (6), Lanzini (6), Ayew (7), Hernandez (7)
Subs: Masuaku (6), Rice (5), Antonio (5)
C Palace: Speroni (6), Ward (5), van Aanholt (N/A), Tomkins (6), Dann (6), Milivojevic (6), Cabaye (7), Loftus-Cheek (6), Schlupp (6), Townsend (7), Zaha (8)
Subs: Fosu-Mensah (6), Sako (6)
Man of the Match: Joe Hart
After a very slow beginning to the match with both sides tentative when attacking, the first real sign of action was in the 29th minute when Zaha tumbled in the box, but referee Bobby Madley waved away any protests. Following the incident came a West Ham counter-attack which Hernandez finished off as he slotted in Aaron Cresswell's low cross from close range.
Moments later, Joe Hart pulled off an incredible double save. First, he denied Tomkins's header with a stunning reflex stop before he unintentionally batted away Jeffrey Schlupp's point-blank strike with his shoulder.
With Palace looking sloppy going forward, it was perhaps no surprise that West Ham's second goal came from a poor giveaway by Milivojevic in central midfield. Ayew was given the licence to go on a fine individual run before he smashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Crystal Palace responded brightly in the second half and were back in the game five minutes in after Andros Townsend was bundled over in the box by Angelo Ogbonna. Milivojevic converted the penalty straight down the centre of the goal to provide Palace some much-needed momentum.
Yohan Cabaye so nearly found the equaliser for Palace minutes later but his venomous drive from outside the box beat Hart, but clattered off the inside of the post and out. Palace continued to dominate in the second half but Joe Hart was proving hard to beat. In the 77th minute, he superbly pushed away Zaha's fierce strike shortly before he dived across goal to keep out Cabaye's free-kick.
In the 90th minute, Hart tipped James Tomkins' header onto the bar but Palace would get their equaliser in the 97th minute. Zaha engineered space in the box to beat Cheikhou Kouyate, before firing a shot through substitute Damian Rice's legs into the bottom corner to hand Palace what could be a vital point at the end of the season.
Man of the match - Joe Hart
Joe Hart had his best match in a West Ham shirt. He pulled off two superb saves in quick succession in the opening 45 minutes before denying Zaha twice, Cabaye and Tomkins in the second half. Hart will feel hard done by to concede so late on to the Ivory Coast international, but he put on a display to be proud of and arguably justified Slaven Bilic's decision to start ahead of Adrian.
The pundit - Phil Thompson
"Crystal Palace thoroughly deserved it, as poor as they were in the first half they were as good in the second. "Joe Hart dispelled whatever people have been saying about him because he was absolutely terrific, on his own he kept Palace out. "It was such a good atmosphere in this ground and the home fans were sucking the ball in the second half and they thoroughly deserved it because they gave it a right good go."
Opta stats
West Ham are unbeaten in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace under Slaven Bilic (W3 D2 L0).
Wilfried Zaha's goal (96:06) was the second latest goal scored in the Premier League this season, after Raheem Sterling's winner at Bournemouth in August (96:34).
All 41 of Javier Hernandez's Premier League goals have been scored from inside the box; only Tim Cahill (56/56) has a higher 100% record.
Crystal Palace are one of just four teams in the big five European leagues yet to keep a clean sheet this season (also Benevento, Malaga and Dijon).
What's next?
Crystal Palace face a tough away trip to Tottenham Hotspur for next weekend's Super Sunday. West Ham, meanwhile, next play Liverpool on Saturday evening.
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HERNANDEZ AND AYEW SCORE WITH TWO TOP CLASS STRIKES - BBC MOTD FAILS TO NOTICE!
By S J Chandos 29 Oct 2017 at 08:00
WTID
It was unusual to see a West Ham match second in the MoTD schedule on Saturday evening. Usually we are last or second from last, with some rushed and clipped comments from the match analysts. It was obviously the Palace fight-back from 0-2 down, to grab a draw, that brought about our rare promotion. The post-highlight analysis was a joke as per usual, plenty of stuff about Palace 'deserving' the win and West Ham's naivety, which I expected. What I did not expect was the absence of even a single reference to the quality of West Ham's two goals. The Hernandez opener was a superb strike with the outside of the Mexican international's boot and the build up play was also very sharp, carving open the Palace rear guard with a cool and beautiful efficiency. While, Ayew scored with a great long range strike, that hit the top left of the net like a rocket. So much for Ayew only scoring penalty box tap-ins!
In all honesty, and with due respect, how can any decent TV match analysis fail to praise such outstanding finishing? Would they have been ignored if they had been scored by Man City, Spurs, Man Utd or Liverpool strikers? I think we all know the answer to that. Anyway, do not expect either goal to feature on the short-list for BBC MoTD goal of the month for October!
Today's result was undoubtedly disappointing. Having gone two goals ahead, we should have scored a third and killed the game off. Instead, Palace come out in the second half all fire and determination. And we allowed them to boss the rest of the game. The role of Zaha and Townsend was crucial in that and their wing play (plus some fairly obvious dives) resulted in a penalty and a glut of Palace corners and free-kicks. This does, of course, beg the question why we did not better adapt our tactics to counter their threat and grab back the initiative? As for bad luck (if one is tempted to use that excuse), losing two points in the 7th minute of extra time is beyond being unlucky in my book. Especially as we were in the last minute and Antonio had possession out on the flank, deep in Palace territory. Criticism of Antonio's play in that situation is justified, but lets keep it real and in proportion. The Palace keeper gathered the ball from Antonio's poor cross, it was poor decision-making not to keep the ball, but there was still a awful lot to do between the punt up field and Zaha's shot finding the corner of the net. We must equally scrutinise not just Antonio's decision-making, but also our poor defending in the lead up to the equaliser.
The match report in the Daily Mail was excessively negative in my opinion, arguing that the positivity/momentum arising from the Spurs win has been dissipated and the pressure was back on Bilic. They would argue that because the would much rather run with 'doom and gloom' headlines and stories about Bilic's imminent sacking. It is part of their 'modus operandi.' Mistakes and losing points unnecessarily hurts, but this experience can be productive in the long-run if we only learn from it. The bottom line is the team must learn from it and use it to make us stronger for the remainder of the campaign.
And there were actually positives arising from the match. Firstly, Joe Hart had his best match in a West Ham keeper's shirt. He pulled off some first class saves and, hopefully, his form will continue to improve with his confidence. Cresswell looked much more like his old self in this match and his contribution to the build up to Hernandez's opening goal was excellent. Hernandez demonstrated what a class striker he is. His strike with the outside of his boot was a technically difficult skill, beautifully executed. While Ayew seems to be a player re-born. His long-distance strike was superb and just shows what increased self-confidence can do. Indeed, having a goal scoring midfielder back within our ranks (weighing with 10-15 goals) can be an important factor in revitalising our season. Mark Noble is still not at his very best, but he has improved and is applying himself manfully. He is our leader on the pitch and it is quality leadership and experience that we need at the moment. Moreover, he cares about the club and his reaction at the end of the Palace game (regardless of the rights and wrongs of it from a disciplinary perspective) at least demonstrates his passion. Finally, we still have Reid and Carroll to come back in to the team. Reid is our best defender and leads the defensive unit; while Carroll brings a different set of attributes to our forward line.
So, the bottom line for me is that things were not all wonderful after the Spurs win and ruinous after dropping points to Palace. The team need to learn from the Palace result and use the experience constructively. There were positives from yesterday, if we care to look for them, and these needs to also be considered by the fans (if not MoTD) along with the obvious negatives.
Yes, to climb the table we need a run of wins and it would have been preferable to have began that yesterday, but it will happen. And why not start by beating Liverpool, at home, on 4th November? Stranger things have happened! This is West Ham United after all. COYI!
SJ. Chandos.
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CRYSTAL PALACE 2, WEST HAM 2. FROM WORST TO BAD.
By David Hautzig 28 Oct 2017 at 19:15
WTID
Slaven has two games to save his job.
Save Our Season.
Watershed moment.
Blah blah blah. We've heard it all before. I was almost surprised that I was so annoyed before today's match as opposed to my regular feelings of despair. I said after the Newcastle match that the sample size was big enough to make a strong argument for a change at the top. The cat was already out of the proverbial bag, yet the board were supposedly still contemplating. Reviewing. And after reading a superb piece on Claret & Hugh by Bobby Galbraith, http://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-thinking-must-change-from-bottom-to-top/, I don't feel much confidence that the club as a whole can climb out of the ditch we always find ourselves in. And yes, I do know what we did Wednesday night. It was enthralling and brilliant. But a nice meal and a film with your partner doesn't mean a relationship that has been awful for a year should continue. Three points today would ease the pain. Control the rot. Maybe I'm being dramatic, which those who know me won't be surprised by. But I stand by my opinion, and today only reinforced it.
One statistic that has driven me nuts lately is that West Ham have played the most long balls in the Premier League, precisely what supporters hated during the days of He Who Shall Not Be Named. So what did we do twenty seconds into the match? Ogbonna sent a long ball to nobody that ended in a Palace goal kick. Another area of concern has been our defensive mistakes. So what did Lanzini do two minutes later? Commit a silly foul just outside the West Ham penalty area, giving Palace a dangerous free kick. The more things change, etc.
The opening fifteen minutes were a combination of dire and boring. With a few injuries for good measure. Hideous giveaways, passes to phantom players, and virtually zero skill. Even Hernandez gave the ball away time and time again. Like a tennis match with unforced errors all over the place. Neither team looked even remotely Premier League quality….yeah, I know what you're thinking, but I ain't gonna write that. In fact, I didn't know what to say at that point. My trip to the garbage dump this morning to unload an old set of stairs was significantly more exciting. So I decided silence in the written form, along with some coffee, was my best bet.
Like an alarm clock when you are fast asleep, West Ham woke us up in the 31st minute. After Zaha and his fellow Palace players wanted Madley to call a penalty on Fonte, West Ham broke on the counter. Lanzini fed Ayew on the top of the box. The man with the brace on Wednesday rolled a pass to Cresswell on the left, who then whipped a low cross that Hernandez guided in with the outside of his right foot.
Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 1
West Ham almost doubled their lead a few minutes later when Lanzini sent a corner into the box that Ogbonna should have done better with but the ball rolled out for a goal kick. Moments later, Palace earned two quick corners, and on the second Hart showed the qualities that made him one of the better keepers in England for a few years. Palace had a number of unmarked headers in the box, a potentially bad sign for sure, and the third one came off the noggin of James Tomkins. It was headed for goal but Hart somehow got his right hand on it. The rebound fell to Schlupp two yards out, but his shot hit Hart's left armed and went over the bar. If that series of events happens 100 times, 99 result in a goal. So West Ham got one of a few mulligans for the day.
When Andre Ayew signed for Swansea, reportedly over West Ham, I knew a few supporters who were royally disappointed. When he jumped the Welsh ship for us last year, many were pleased in spite of the price tag. He has scored a few goals, but overall he has been a disappointment. But Wednesday gave us a glimpse of what he can do if he fires on all cylinders. In the 43rd minute, Milivojevic took a turn playing the Horrible Giveaway game, and Ayew went to the races. He turned Dann inside out before rifling a shot past a dining Speroni.
Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 2
Zaha earned Crystal Palace a corner in the dying seconds of first half added time. The set piece flew into the West Ham penalty area, and again it looked like no West Ham defender had any interest in, well, defending. Dann had a free header that he sent to Loftus Cheek at the near post. Hart may have had it covered, but he didn't need to because the ball went wide.
Halftime
Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 2
The second half brought an unexpected substitution from Slaven Bilic, with Cresswell coming off for Masuaku. As an attacking move I could see it. But at two-nil up, it had to be an injury to Cresswell. There were reports on Twitter that Cresswell was seen limping at the end of the opening forty five minutes. Masuaku was beaten by Townsend on the right, but Palace couldn't capitalize. But moments later, a pass into the West Ham penalty area was run down by Townsend. Ogbonna stupidly bumped him in the area, and Madley pointed at the spot. Milivojevic, the man responsible for sending Ayew off on the run for West Ham's second goal, stepped up and put it past Hart.
Crystal Palace 1
West Ham 2
Palace went right back on the front foot after their goal, and couldn't have come any closer to an equalizer if they tried. After good work by Zaha on the left, the ball went to Cabaye near the top of the penalty area. His shot hit the inside of the far post and rebounded out to safety. For years I have always feared two-nil leads. One of those crazy West Ham neuroses we all have in some form or another. My fear felt appropriate.
Antonio came on for Zabaleta in the 60th minute in what could only be thought of as injury related again. At least I hope so, because if that was a tactical move you would be hard pressed to find anyone to defend it.
With 17 minutes to go, Fonte went down and signaled his day was done. To those who wanted to see youth given a chance to show what they can do, Declan Rice entered the game while Fonte hobbled off. Despite the desire for The Academy Of Football to return, it was the kind of moment West Ham fans know can be a turning point for the worst.
Moments after the switch, Hart again came to the rescue with a lovely save off of Zaha. A minute later, Ogbonna was again at fault for a bad challenge, giving Palace a free kick at the top of the penalty area. I couldn't watch. I walked out of the room but heard the groans. Thankfully the replay was the same as the live action as Hart dove to his left to make the stop.
Crystal Palace kept up the pressure and won their ninth corner of the match in the 81st minute. The ball bounced around before Milivojevic fired a shot well over the bar. A few minutes later Masuaku saw yellow for continued infringement, and Cabaye whipped in a set piece that West Ham handled well. Then Townsend again beat Masuaku on the right but nobody was in the box to get on the end of his cutback.
I fired another antacid tablet down my throat.
In the 88th minute, my stream died. I got a little bit of audio, most of which sounded like Tony Gale saying West Ham were sloppy and daring Crystal Palace to level the match. Hart made a great save on Tomkins again, and Rice made a good play to intercept a cross. But West Ham had chances to kill off the game, and in the end couldn't. I'm told Antonio was downright negligent when he flipped the ball to Speroni with two Hammers in the box. Zaha beat Kouyate and Rice to score in the final seconds of added time, and we dropped a 2-0 halftime lead to a team that had conspired to lose 29 games this year while not scoring in 17 of them.
Final Score
Crystal Palace 2
West Ham 2
We are on a path that is eerily similar to the season under Grant. If we don't act soon, and in my opinion it's already later than it should have been, we could suffer the same fate. And if the board don't realize relegation at the London Stadium would be far different than it was at Upton Park, they are sadly mistaken. Which doesn't mean I have any faith in them fixing what appears to be broken. They would rather put tar on a hole in their roof than replace the roof itself. So I still expect Bilic to be in charge in May.
I only hope it's more like Zola than Grant and we stay up.
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Winston Reid misses match for West Ham ahead of World Cup playoffs
Last updated 10:16 29/10/2017
Where is Winston Reid?
The All Whites captain was absent from West Ham United's squad for the latest English Premier League round – a fortnight out from the intercontinental World Cup playoff series against Peru. Reid was missing from West Ham's 2-2 draw with lowly Crystal Palace on Saturday (Sunday NZ Time). The 29-year-old – who signed a new six-year contract last August – captained West Ham's 3-0 home defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion and a 1-1 draw with Chris Wood's Burnley in the previous two EPL rounds. Reid has played more than 150 EPL games since joining West Ham in 2010 after playing for the All Whites at the World Cup finals in South Africa. He is contracted to the east London club until 2023. There has been no word from West Ham manager Slaven Bilic about Reid's absence. Bilic did not mention Reid in his post-match comments after a Palace draw the West Ham boss likened to "a defeat".
Reid was certainly expected to play by most major news outlets, who listed him in the probable starting lineup for the Palace match and his omission was queried by some Hammers supporters in online forums. The New Zealand skipper's sidelining could be a mixed blessing for All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. It reduces the risk of injury to the defensive lynchpin before the Peru series, but it also means he has missed some match practice. Reid could be in line for a return for next weekend's home match against Liverpool with West Ham criticised for defensive blunders in the Palace stalemate.
Hammers centreback Angel Obanna – Reid's replacement – gave away a penalty, converted by Wilfred Zaha, who scored Palace's equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time after a blunder by West Ham's Michail Antonio. The substitute right wingback opted to launch a cross into Palace's area rather than run the ball out to the corner flag and Zaha scored on the counter-attack. Bilic said: "That was just a bad decision that shouldn't happen at this level of football, definitely.
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1899 Hoffenheim 1-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Reece Oxford made a belated competitive debut for Borussia Monchengladbach more than two months into the Bundesliga season. The England Under-20 defender, signed on loan from West Ham in July, came on for the final 10 minutes of Saturday's 3-1 win at Hoffenheim. Oxford, 18, played in five pre-season games for the club, but had only been an unused substitute in the league. Thorgan Hazard, Matthias Ginter and Jannik Vestergaard scored for Gladbach. They came from behind to secure the victory, which lifted them above their opponents into sixth place, after Kerem Demirbay had given Hoffenheim a half-time lead.
Oxford, who spent five months on loan at Reading last season, has made seven Premier League appearances.
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Slaven Bilic: Michail Antonio's mistake shouldn't happen at Premier League level
JACK ROSSER at Selhurst Park
ES Sport
Slaven Bilic says Michail Antonio's late mistake which cost West Ham two precious points against Crystal Palace should not happen at Premier League level. In the final moments of six additional minutes at Selhurst Park, and with Hammers closing in on three vital points, Antonio opted to cross into the Palace area rather than dribble towards the corner flag to see the game out. Antonio, who had come off the bench to fill in at right wing-back, spotted Manuel Lanzini on the far side of the box but Palace regained possession with ease and immediately started an attack which Wilfried Zaha finished in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Bilic was blunt in his assessment, praising his players' efforts after a stunning comeback against Tottenham just three days ago before expressing his disappointment at the manner of the equaliser. "The players gave everything again," he said. "They ran, they defended, as I said some of them played 90 minutes three days ago. "That goal has nothing to do with their attitude in terms of being too sloppy or too casual or not in position. That was just a bad decision that shouldn't happen at this level of football, definitely." The late goal means Bilic now faces the task of once again lifting his players' spirits before they welcome Liverpool to London Stadium next weekend.
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Every word of Joe Hart's emotional outburst to his teammates after West Ham's draw with Crystal Palace
The Hammers conceded an equaliser in stoppage time
Football London
Andy Ha
06:30, 29 OCT 2017UPDATED07:24, 29 OCT 2017
Joe Hart slammed his West Ham United teammates after the Hammers conceded a 96th minute equaliser against Crystal Palace. Goals from Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew gave Slaven Bilic's a 2-0 lead, before Luka Milivojevic reduced the deficit from the penalty spot, after Andros Townsend had been fouled in the box by Angelo Ogbonna. With the clock ticking down and the Hammers heading towards an important three points, Wilfried Zaha snatched Palace their fourth point of the season with the final kick of the game.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Hart said: "I can't believe we've done that. We've come in quick after the game, we probably shouldn't have come in quick after the game, but I can't believe we've fought all the way til the end and been so unprofessional at the end."
Asked if the dressing room was quiet after the game, Hart added: "Yeah a little bit. No one does things on purpose in this team, but I think it's two points dropped, it's as simple as that."
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was equally disappointed, suggesting Michail Antonio should have displayed better game management at the end. "We knew that the game was not over at 2-0 up at half-time," said Bilic. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, but the way we conceded the leveller was very disappointing. "We needed to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision, with Michail Antonio choosing to cross the ball rather than keep it. "We have to manage the game on the pitch. The game was finished."
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HAM BUSTER West Ham landlords on verge of going bust – with millions more in public cash set be poured into London Stadium
New dispute over the club's low-cost lease seems certain as the price of keeping E20 Stadium LLP out of administration is likely to be MORE public funding on top of hundreds of millions
EXCLUSIVE
By Dan King
26th October 2017, 5:25 pm
Updated: 26th October 2017, 5:29 pm
The Sun
WEST HAM'S landlords at the London Stadium are on the verge of going bust. The Mayor of London and Newham Council will move heaven and earth to avoid the humiliation of the Hammers being locked out of their ground or made homeless. West Ham were dumped 3-0 by Brighton in their last match at London Stadium and could now face off-field problems. But the price of keeping E20 Stadium LLP out of administration is almost certain to be the investment of even more public money on top of the hundreds of millions already spent. And athletics chiefs are worried the crisis could lead to their sport losing its annual right to stage events in the former Olympic Stadium, totally undermining the London 2012 legacy.
Sources indicate there is no realistic prospect of persuading or forcing West Ham to increase their current annual rent of just £2.5m. But the generous terms of the Premier League strugglers' 99-year lease are likely to come under renewed attack. The row was already due to go public again in the coming weeks with the publication of a report into why it cost £323m to convert the stadium - on top of the £429m spent on construction. E20 Stadium LLP is a joint venture between the London Legacy Development Corporation – an offshoot of the Greater London Authority – and Newham Legacy Investments Ltd, a company controlled by the London Borough of Newham. They invested about £260m and £40m of public money respectively into the conversion costs, with West Ham providing £15m. Current London mayor Sadiq Khan commissioned the report last year and is putting pressure on accountancy firm Moore Stephens to deliver their findings, which were due back in June. Khan will use the report as political ammunition to attack predecessor Boris Johnson over key decisions made about the stadium. But the review is also expected to lay bare the troubled finances of E20 and major stakeholders are already privately discussing the possibility of administration.
The main issue is the annual £8m cost of converting West Ham's football arena into a track and field venue and back again, in accordance with the separate 99-year deal signed with UK Athletics. E20's last accounts, for the year to March 31 2016, showed the stadium lost more than £9m through its day to day operations BEFORE West Ham took up residence in August 2016. As well as the £8m summer conversion costs, E20 is now also liable for other expenses related to the Hammers' tenancy, from heating, lighting, policing, stewarding, cleaning and turnstile operators to the goalposts, net and corner flags. The failure to secure a naming rights deal is another factor in the current financial uncertainty surrounding a venue whose overall cost is well over £700m. Newham and GLA hoped to recoup their investment from E20's profits, but there ARE no profits and no prospect of any under the current arrangements. All that public money would be at risk if E20 went into administration, so high-level discussions are now taking place to find a long-term solution. But West Ham coughing up more is unlikely to be it.
Another approach would be to invest in adapting the stadium so it was quicker and cheaper to convert for athletics each summer. The cost would depend on the method chosen, but a state-of-the-art system like the Stade de France's would need about £100m and require West Ham to vacate the site for a while or face years of disruption while work was done on a stand-by-stand basis. There are also degrees of possible compromise on athletics. The sport fears losing its annual presence in the iconic London 2012 venue altogether but other options are under consideration, such as partial summer conversion which would leave the East Stand seats undisturbed. This is a modal window.
A Newham Council spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the E20 contractors to explore all potential solutions and improve the overall financial position of the stadium." An LLDC spokesman said: "The Mayor and officials are in discussions with the relevant parties and we will comment further when the Moore Stephens review has been published."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Goals from Chicharito and Andre Ayew were not enough to secure West Ham United a first away league win of the season after a very late equaliser by Wilfried Zaha in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace. A clever flicked finish from Chicharito on 31 minutes was followed up by a fantastic strike by Ayew moments before half-time, giving the forward three goals in his last two matches. Palace got a goal back after the interval via the penalty spot through Luka Milivojevic while Joe Hart produced some moments of brilliance in goal, most notably a double stop just before the half-time whistle. But, despite a gallant effort, West Ham's resolve was broken seven minutes into injury time as Zaha squeezed home with virtually the last kick of the game. After a tepid start to the game at Selhurst Park the match exploded into life after half an hour. Ayew found Aaron Cresswell in space on the flank, and the defender's first-time cross eluded the legs of every Palace player.
The ball found Chicharito, who brilliantly finished with the outside of his right foot to put the Irons into the lead. The finish sprung the home side into action and the Eagles came close to equalising, and would have done, if not for a fantastic double save from Joe Hart. The England international brilliantly checked his momentum to stop James Tomkins' headed effort finding the net, before blocking away Zaha's follow-up effort. With Hart's terrific save keeping West Ham in front, Ayew put the Hammers in control just before half-time with a fantastic finish from outside the box. The forward crafted the chance himself, having taken possession on the half-way line, and fired into the top corner from the edge of the area. Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a chance to half the deficit for Palace in added time but his header went just wide of the post.
It took just five minutes of the second period for Palace to get a goal back however. Angelo Ogbonna brought down Andros Townsend in the box, and Milivojevic tucked away the resulting penalty to cut West Ham's lead to one. The Eagles then hit the post through a Yohan Cabaye strike while Jose Fonte, who came off for Declan Rice, saw a header go wide. Palace continued to threaten and if not for some excellent work by Hart, the home team may have levelled. The shot-stopper palmed away a Zaha effort before also brilliantly saving a Cabaye free-kick. Captain Noble also put his body on the line with some tremendous blocks in and around the area, stopping Palace from levelling the game. Former Hammer Tomkins then hit the crossbar while Bakary Sako hooked over from two yards. But, as the game played out to a close, Zaha received the ball inside the box and was able to turn home low effort, breaking West Ham heart's with what was almost the last kick of the match.
West Ham United: Hart; Kouyate, Fonte (76'), Ogbonna; Zabaleta (Antonio 61'), Noble, Fernandes, Cresswell (Masuaku 46'); Ayew, Chicharito, Lanzini
Subs not used: Adrian, Obiang, Arnautovic, Carroll
Goals: Chicharito 31', Ayew 43'
Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward (Sako 60'), Tomkins, Dann, Van Aanholt (Fosu-Mensah 11'); Milivojevic, Cabaye, Townsend, Loftus-Cheek, Schlupp; Zaha
Subs not used: Hennessey, Delaney, Kelly, Puncheon, Riedewald
Goals: Milivojevic (p) 50', Zaha 90+7
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Bilic - Palace draw feels like a defeat
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic said that Saturday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace 'felt like a defeat' after West Ham surrendered a two goal lead to leave Selhurst Park with just the one point. Goals from Chicharito and Andre Ayew had given the Hammers a 2-0 lead at half-time, however Luka Milivojevic's penalty five minutes after the restart and Wilfried Zaha's 96th minute strike levelled things up in South London. "We are very disappointed, it feels like a defeat" the Hammers boss explained. "We are gutted because we were winning 2-0 and of course the game isn't over but we were in a great position. They put us under a lot of pressure in the second half, but the game was there for us."
West Ham had controlled much of the game in the first 45' and the scoreline at halfway reflected it, but the second period belonged to the hosts. Palace clawed one back just five minutes in to the second half and clearly took confidence from that in to the rest of the game. "Things were very good for us, we knew we had 45 minutes to play where they were going to take more risks and play more direct so we wanted to keep our shape but also explore the space that would leave behind – unfortunately we didn't do it" Bilic said. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, it came too early for us but to concede the second in this manner it makes it even harder to take."
The equaliser came in the last of six additional minutes. When Michail Antonio lost the ball high up the field, the hosts quickly moved it back towards the West Ham penalty area where Wilfried Zaha was on hand to slot it in the bottom corner. "To concede a goal in the last second, in that way when we have the ball high up the pitch, we are gutted." Bilic said. "It was a good goal well taken by Zaha but to be fair, we gave it to them. With five or ten seconds to go, we were in a position where all we had to do was to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision. "All we had to do is keep a hold of the ball but we made a few bad decisions in the last two minutes. Those couple of decisions were very naïve, but these things happen. "The point is not bad, but not right now. It feels like defeat."
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Chicharito: I'd happily swap my goals for points
WHUFC.com
Chicharito has admitted he would gladly swap his goal scored against Crystal Palace for a West Ham United win after the Eagles battled back to claim a 2-2 draw against the Irons. Chicharito netted his fourth Premier League goal of the season in the first half at Selhurst Park before Andre Ayew extended the Hammers' lead, but a Luka Milivojevic penalty and a finish in the 97th minute by Wilfried Zaha meant Slaven Bilic's side departed south London with only a point. The result leaves the Irons still waiting for a first league away win of the season and the Mexican says he would gladly give his goal against Palace – and indeed all of his finishes this campaign – in exchange for more points on the board. When asked about his goal Chicharito told whufc.com: "It's nice and it gives you lot of confidence. I'm a striker and goals give you that but the goals I have so far for the team haven't got us points or a victory so far, so I'm a little disappointed also. "I always say I'd prefer to win matches and change those goals to points. But yeah it was good feeling for Andre Ayew and me. We are both strikers and we scored one goal each."
The 29-year-old struggled to contain his disappointment at Saturday's result after he and Ayew fired the Hammers into the lead before half-time, but insists the side will look to take heart from a positive first-half showing. Chicharito also indicated that he and the team will take the positives from this game as the Club starts to turn towards next weekend's match, against Liverpool. "It's disappointing because we got a good advantage in the first half with two goals," the striker added: "We were two goals up but unfortunately they fought and we couldn't hold them, and then they scored in the last minute. The feeling is disappointment obviously because we felt like we could win this match. "Of course (we will take the positives). We played a good second half at Wembley and now a very good first half – as well the second half was good but they pushed us and they deserve credit as well. "It's not an easy team and it's a very difficult pitch here, it's very close. The fans push them and support them. We got one point at least and then we need to start thinking tomorrow towards the match against Liverpool."
Chicharito also reserved praise for the loyal West Ham United fans in attendance at Selhurst Park, thanking the supporters for their fantastic following at the match. He added: "They were great. They are always great. They always come and they always support us. You can see a very big amount of West Ham supporters and we just want to say thank you to the supporters."
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Martinez and Holland strike again as U23s beat Manchester City
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23s continued their bright start to the Premier League 2 Division 1 season with a scintillating 2-1 win over Manchester City. The Hammers and the Citizens combined to create well over 30 goal attempts during a hugely entertaining game at Dagenham & Redbridge FC's Chigwell Construction Stadium.
And it was leading scorer Toni Martinez who stole the headlines again, slamming an unstoppable low drive into the bottom left-hand corner with just seven minutes remaining. Saturday's victory means the newly-promoted Hammers now have 17 points from nine games and are up to third in the table. That there were just three goals scored – Nathan Holland had levelled Taylor Richards' 20th-minute opener before half-time – was largely down to the performances of goalkeepers Nathan Trott and Aro Muric. West Ham's England U20 stopper and City's Swiss youth international were both in inspired form, producing a succession of saves to keep their respective teams in the game. The two sides created chance after chance, although it was Terry Westley's hosts who will be more frustrated to have to settle for a single point, rather than all three. Trott was truly outstanding in the opening half, denying Richards, Rabbi Matondo and his 2017 UEFA European Championship-winning teammate Lukas Nmecha, who also side-footed wide when it looked easier to score. Even when City did finally beat the Bermuda-born 'keeper, Trott saved Nmecha's initial shot with his feet and Richards reacted quickest to find the roof of the net.
Having fallen behind, West Ham responded superbly, pinning City back and causing untold problems for centre-half Tosin Adarabioyo, who played 90 minutes in the midweek Carabao Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The chances continued to flow, with the Hammers' exciting attackers – Holland, Sead Haksabanovic, Daniel Kemp, Domingos Quina and Toni Martinez – catching the eye with their quick feet, movement and combination play. Conor Coventry curled over before Muric denied Holland on no fewer than three occasions. Then, seven minutes before the break, Trott denied Nmecha and the Hammers broke the length of the field to level when the England U20 winger converted from Haksabanovic's pass. The chances continued at both ends as half-time approached, with Pask's superb challenge stopping Richards, Nmecha firing wide, Trott saving from Matondo, Haksabanovic firing wide and Kemp testing Muric with a rising drive.
The fun continued into the second half as West Ham went close five times in the opening five minutes as Holland saw two more shots blocked and a third saved by Muric, Kemp dragged wide and Quina's drive was charged down. City were struggling to contain the home side and Martinez saw a low shot saved comfortably before cutting back for Kemp, who smashed a rising effort agonisingly wide. At the other end, Trott had a much calmer time as City threatened sporadically, with Benjamin Garre's low shot into the side netting and Conor Coventry blocking Richards' effort.
Academy Director Westley sent on Martin Samuelsen and Grady Diangana for the closing stages, and it was the Norwegian who teed up Martinez to win it with an unstoppable low drive with seven minutes remaining, leaving Muric grasping at thin air. Even then, Trott was called into action again, saving superbly from substitute Jairo Dilrosun moments after Martinez's winner to secure three deserved points for his side. Next up for the Hammers is a Checkatrade Trophy group-stage fixture at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening.
West Ham United U23s: Trott, Johnson, Pask ©, Pike, R.Longelo, Coventry, Quina (Diangana 73), Holland, Kemp (Samuelsen 72), Haksabanovic (Hector-Ingram 87), Martinez
Subs not used: Scully, Wells
Goals: Holland 38, Martinez 83
Manchester City U23s: Muric, Oliver, Adarabioyo, Francis, Davenport, Smith, Matondo, Dele-Bashiru, Nmecha © (Bolton 66), Richards (Gonzalez 82), Garre (Dilrosun 59)
Subs not used: Sokol (GK), Diallo
Goal: Richards 20
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Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United
BBC.co.uk
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson felt Wilfried Zaha's 96th-minute equaliser against West Ham earned his side "scant reward" from a game they dominated.
Zaha snatched Palace their fourth point of the season with the final kick of the game, turning inside the box and finishing low through a host of bodies into the far corner. It came at the end of a battling second half from the home side, who found themselves 2-0 down at the break thanks to a neat finish from Javier Hernandez and a stunning 20-yard drive from Andre Ayew. Luka Milivojevic reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Andros Townsend had been fouled in the box by Angelo Ogbonna. Palace also hit the woodwork twice and forced a number of good saves from Joe Hart, but the Hammers keeper was powerless to prevent Zaha's effort finding the net. "If we had not got something then it would have been really, really unjust," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "To lose a game where you only faced two shots and you've had 20-odd, and hit the post and had one cleared off the line, it is hard to take. "Although we are pleased, because you are always pleased to get a point when staring defeat in the face, I still thought it was scant reward. "We are happy with a point but I believe, on the performance, we deserved more."
Hodgson's side remain bottom of the Premier League table, but have reduced the gap between themselves and the safety of 17th to four points. The draw also adds to the foundations given to them two weeks ago courtesy of their home win over champions Chelsea. It is a bitter blow to West Ham, who came into the game off the back of a rousing comeback win over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but now find themselves just a point above the bottom three.
Zaha the hero again
Wilfried Zaha's goal (96:06) was the second-latest goal scored in the Premier League this season, after Raheem Sterling's winner at Bournemouth in August (96:34) It is no surprise that Palace's upturn in results - at home at least - has coincided with Zaha's return from injury. The Ivory Coast international missed six of the seven defeats with which Palace began their league season, but returned to score the winner against Chelsea before again proving his worth on Saturday as the focal point of his side's attack. He was not alone in offering little in the first half, but significantly upped his game in the second to provide a regular threat, forcing Hart into full-stretch diving saves from two of his six attempts at goal. Zaha's fellow forward Townsend was also a greater presence in the game after the break and it was his run that coaxed a clumsy challenge from Ogbonna for the penalty, fired home by Milivojevic. Cabaye struck the post with a shot and the combative James Tomkins hit the bar with a header from a corner as Palace strove, initially in vain, for a parity that Zaha would dramatically provide. "We worked so hard. We did all the right things. We are buzzing and we deserved it," said Zaha. "The manager said at half-time that we were not playing badly. "The stress must be crazy as a Palace fan. We are playing cup finals every week."
One step forward, two steps back
West Ham's remarkable comeback from two goals down in their Carabao Cup tie at Tottenham on Wednesday suggested that reports of Slaven Bilic's imminent sacking were a tad premature. The Hammers' stirring response at Wembley showcased a determination and togetherness previously lacking in what has been a dire start to a Premier League campaign that plumbed new depths with last Friday's 3-0 home loss against Brighton. Bilic admitted that this result "felt like a defeat", with the final blow coming deep into a game in which they had shown an initial ruthlessness and then backs-to-the-wall resolve. The first half was full of positives for the Hammers, who drafted in four of their protagonists from Wednesday's game - Ogbonna and Cresswell at the back, Mark Noble in midfield and Ayew, scorer of two in that game, in attack. It was from Cresswell's cross that Hernandez opened the scoring with a neat finish using the outside of his boot, before Ayew scored the game's best goal, a long-range finish off the underside of the bar following a jinking run.
After conceding early in the second half they showed a resolve that has been largely lacking this season, but tarnished it in the game's final moments. Given the opportunity to hold on to the ball deep in Palace territory, and with 96 minutes on the clock, substitute Michail Antonio fired a loose and pointless cross straight into the arms of home keeper Julian Speroni. Less than a minute later, the home side were level and the under-pressure Bilic was storming to the changing room shaking his head in frustration. "We knew that the game was not over at 2-0 up at half-time," said Bilic. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, but the way we conceded the leveller was very disappointing. "We needed to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision, with Michail Antonio choosing to cross the ball rather than keep it. "We have to manage the game on the pitch. The game was finished."
Man of the match - Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Since the 2014-15 season, no player has scored more Premier League goals for Crystal Palace than Wilfried Zaha (15, level with Christian Benteke)
Palace still to keep a clean sheet - the stats you need to know
Crystal Palace are one of just four teams in the big 5 European leagues yet to keep a clean sheet this season (also Benevento, Malaga and Dijon).
West Ham are unbeaten in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace under Slaven Bilic (W3 D2 L0).
All 41 of Javier Hernandez's Premier League goals have been scored from inside the box; only Tim Cahill (56/56) has a higher 100% record.
Andre Ayew has scored three goals in his last two games in all competitions for West Ham - more than he'd managed in his previous 10 this season (2).
West Ham scored with both of their shots on target in this match.
What's next?
Both teams have tough fixtures. Palace travel to Tottenham on Sunday for a 12:00 BST Premier League kick-off.
West Ham are at home to Liverpool the day before (17:30).
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CRYSTAL PALACE 2-2 WEST HAM – MATCH REPORT
AUTHOR: BRIAN KNOX. PUBLISHED: 28 OCTOBER 2017 AT 5:43PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Match Report by @WestHamAmerican
Today West Ham drew even with Crystal Palace 2-2 late, in heartbreaking fashion as Wilfried Zaha scored the final goal in the 96th minute of play. The day began with promise for the Hammers who resumed their Premier League campaign after a surprising League Cup victory over Tottenham earlier in the week. Both Palace and West Ham have had disappointing starts to their year, and both sides were sorely in need of a victory to improve their position on the league table.
Midway through the opening half, it was West Ham who earned their way to the score sheet first. After some tight play in Palace penalty area it was Aaron Cresswell doing what he does best and perfectly crossing from the left side to Javier Hernandez who easily finished.
A few moments later it was Joe Hart earning his wages for the day blocking a very close header from James Tomkins. In the first half Hart showed great poise under attack. But the next goal came from the visiting club again as Andre Ayew took the ball on a long counter attack, sidestepped the defense and cracked a long range 25 yard strike into the net.
By halftime, West Ham had a commanding 2-0 lead and all of the momentum. Cresswell was replaced during the break by Arthur Masuaku after Cresswell showed some discomfort in the closing minutes of the half.
Early in the second half, the Eagles found their own lifeline as Angelo Ogbonna clumsily brought down Andros Townsend in the box and Luka Milivojevic easily converted the penalty kick to bring Crystal Palace back into the match. Unfortunately for West Ham it was their fourth and league leading penalty kick earned this early season. (All four have been converted to goals).
Moments later the West Ham supporters who traveled to Selhust Park almost gasped as Yohan Cabaye had a strong strike on goal. Once again the post saved West Ham from surrendering the equaliser.
In the 80th minute Palace was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. With a strong attempt, Cabaye almost had the goal if not for the acrobatic save of Joe Hart who punched it wide.
Playing behind the ball for much of the final moments, Palace mustered one last attack in the waning seconds of the match and it was Wilfried Zaha coming open from a defending Michail Antonio, who scored the needed goal basically in the final second of play.
After such a promising week with the Cup victory at Wembley, this defeat hurts. If West Ham can't secure three points against the bottom of the table, who will they fare in December when they play much of the top of the league? It has long been rumoured and reported in London sports media that Bilic had two games prevent his sacking. Only the board can know what these results mean for the embattled manager.
For West Ham, the road doesn't get easier as next week they host Liverpool, who are coming off a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield. Whether the club and the fans can bring some Boleyn magic to the London Stadium next weekend, will be a very important question.
Please check out TheWestHamWay.co.uk all week for any breaking news regarding the coaching status or injury updates for the team.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, van Aanholt, Tomkins, Dann, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Loftus-Cheek, Schlupp, Townsend, Zaha
Subs: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah (11'), Delaney, Riedewald, Kelly, Sako (60'), Puncheon
West Ham: Hart, Cresswell, Fonte, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Kouyate, Noble, Fernandes, Lanzini, Ayew, Chicharito
Subs: Adrian, Masuaku (45'), Rice (76′), Obiang, Arnautovic, Antonio (62′), Carroll
Referee: Robert Madley
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#REFWATCH: BOBBY MADLEY – CRYSTAL PALACE VS WEST HAM
AUTHOR: SAMTWHWREF. PUBLISHED: 28 OCTOBER 2017 AT 6:07PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @SamRoyden
After a good evening against Spurs in the cup midweek, we've been very quickly brought back down to earth, which was a must win game against Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace. Palace are rock bottom of the league with only 4 points so far this season with 29 defeats in 2017. West Ham visit Selhurt Park with no away wins so far in the Premier League and only scoring on 3 occasions so far this season. With two games to prove himself after being thumped by Brighton, all eyes on Slaven Bilic.
Bobby Madley was the referee appointed for this fixture. This was Madley's first West Ham fixture of the season and I've been heavily critical of Madley in past game due his inconsistency; it can be hugely costly. Madley had a good first half and to his credit he got 95% of the decisions spot on, although I feel his management of persistent fouls needs to be reviewed. Mark Noble gave a captain's display midweek but he was a little off the pace in the first half, with some rogue challenges. Noble gave away four fouls and even after Madley gave Noble a talking too, the West Ham man fouled once again but no action was taken by Madley. This is the type of inconsistencies that Madley needs to work on. Madley needs to manage this to ensure he's enforcing the laws of the games when it comes to misconduct.
The biggest decision Madley had to make was whether Wilfred Zaha was fouled by Jose Fonte in West Ham's penalty area. Madley's positioning was good, he was directly behind the incident and he would have seen that Jose Fonte pulled his leg out of the challenge and Zaha's right knee made contact with the West Ham defender thigh. Madley got this decision spot on in my opinion and 30 seconds later, West Ham scored the first goal of the game from Javier Hernandez. I have to take my hat off to Madley for this decision because he could have easily misinterpreted the challenge if he was at the wrong angle and behind play.
The only yellow card in the first half went to West Ham's Pablo Zabaleta. This was Zabaleta's fifth caution of the season which means that he is now banned for next weekend's home game against Liverpool. It was a poor touch by Zabaleta which made the Argentine lunge into a challenge with Fosu-Mensah who came out second best.
It was an awful start from West Ham in the second half, a moment of madness from Angelo Ogbonna who brought Andros Townsend down in the penalty area for Crystal Palace. Andros Townsend was going away from goal before the Italian stuck out a lazy right foot catching Townsend's ankle. Regardless whether you feel it was soft or not, there was contact and Ogbonna gave Madley that decision.
Bobby Madley had an odd couple of minutes with two obvious fouls which were either incorrectly awarded or not awarded at all. The first incident was between former Hammer James Tomkins and Javier Hernandez. Hernandez and Tomkins were having words before the throw-in when the West Ham men side barged into Tomkins and Tomkins retaliated with a rugby-style challenge with Madley awarding West Ham the free kick. In my opinion, Hernandez made the initial foul so this was incorrectly seen by Madley and his assistant referee. Secondly, Madley viewed this challenge as an over-aggressive challenge by Tomkins with arm around Hernandez's neck yet he wasn't cautioned. I question why because he gave a foul against Tomkins and it should have been a yellow card. Within two minutes of the first incident, Madley missed a stone wall free kick against Fosu-Mensah in the middle of the park – a surprising decision to some but this goes back to my comments earlier about a lack of consistency.
There were two additional cautions in the second half, one for each team. Scott Dann had his hands full all game with Javier Hernandez and the Palace man was caught out of position and pulled the Mexican down to the ground. Following injury to Aaron Cresswell at half time, Arthur Masuaku was bought on as a substitute however was cautioned for late challenges on Townsend from silly decisions.
Overall, Madley's performance was ok but the inconsistency is always a talking point which a referee in the Elite Select Group in the Premier League should have ironed out. To give Madley some credit, he did get the bigger decisions correct during the game with both penalty decisions which are always tough to call.
As I said in the opening paragraph, "brought back down to earth"; this is exactly what Crystal Palace did to us in the second half. Who's to blame? The players for not holding out 6 minutes into additional time. The manager's substitutions. Bilic replacing Zabaleta with Antonio? Regardless, for a Premier League club, against a team who are rock bottom of the league, to concede two goals after being 2-nil in front at half time is outrageous. The players' mentality is not a winning mentality, it's a weak mentality and to not to see out a game that you're leading for 96 minutes is criminal. It's going to be an uncomfortable weekend for Slaven Bilic. Will the board keep him after this performance? Personally, you have to look at the Cup in isolation and focus on Premier League results, the Cup is a one off and to beat Spurs is always added incentive. We need to win the Premier League games to stay out of a relegation battle, these games are vital against the likes of Swansea, Burnley, Brighton and Palace of which we've taken 5 points from a possible 12. If they keep him Bilic for another weekend with Liverpool visiting next weekend, are the board preventing the inevitable? We'll see in due course.
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Family thank life saver
KUMb.com
Filed: Saturday, 28th October 2017
By: Staff Writer
The son of a Hammers fan who suffered a heart attack prior to West Ham United's 3-2 win at Wembley on Wednesday night has thanked the individual who saved his father's life. Wayne Perry's father collapsed prior to the start of West Ham's Carabao Cup match with Tottenham on Wednesday but due to the quick-thinking of a fellow supporter who administered CPR on the spot, survived the ordeal. "Around 20 mins before kick off my Dad collapsed after having a heart attack (not known at the time)," Wayne told KUMB. "It got chaotic and we were shouting for a medic. We put Dad in the recovery position. "Then a gentleman approached my friend and said: "I'm a medic", ripped off Dad's shirt and began administering CPR. Although it seemed like this went on for an age, apparently the paramedics were there in two minutes and shocked him with a defibrillator to get his heart going. "The Doctors said that without that CPR he would not have made it. I never got to say anything to the guy who saved Dad's life as it was all a bit mad, hence my request to do so."
Following his father's recovery in hospital, Wayne and the Perry family asked KUMB to help find the individual who saved his father's life. And we are delighted to reveal that the Hammers hero is company director Ian Pearse. "When my Dad is better we plan to get together and sink a few!" added Wayne. "I can't thank everyone enough for their help and support. I was never a fan of social media but the messages and response has blown me away. "We are planning on turning an awful experience into a positive and I'd like to thank everyone involved for getting the message out there."
Administering CPR is known to save about five per cent of those who experience a heart attack or seizure. The chance of survival is hugely enhanced (to some 50 per cent) if a defibrillator is used, as in this case.
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Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham: Wilf ried Zaha leads Palace to vital point with last-gasp strike
By James Kilpatrick
Last Updated: 29/10/17 7:55am
SSN
Wilfried Zaha gave Crystal Palace a morale-boosting point against West Ham as they came from behind to draw 2-2.First-half strikes from Javier Hernandez (31) and Andre Ayew (43) were cancelled out by a Luka Milivojevic penalty (50) and Zaha's dramatic last-minute equaliser (90+7) in a fiery contest at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half, but Joe Hart pulled off a string of superb saves before Zaha slotted home to secure Roy Hodgson's men a crucial draw with seconds left on the clock. The result means Crystal Palace remain bottom on four points, while West Ham move up to 16th.
Player ratings
West Ham: Hart (9), Cresswell (7), Fonte (6), Zabaleta (5), Ogbonna (5), Kouyate (6), Noble (5), Fernandes (6), Lanzini (6), Ayew (7), Hernandez (7)
Subs: Masuaku (6), Rice (5), Antonio (5)
C Palace: Speroni (6), Ward (5), van Aanholt (N/A), Tomkins (6), Dann (6), Milivojevic (6), Cabaye (7), Loftus-Cheek (6), Schlupp (6), Townsend (7), Zaha (8)
Subs: Fosu-Mensah (6), Sako (6)
Man of the Match: Joe Hart
After a very slow beginning to the match with both sides tentative when attacking, the first real sign of action was in the 29th minute when Zaha tumbled in the box, but referee Bobby Madley waved away any protests. Following the incident came a West Ham counter-attack which Hernandez finished off as he slotted in Aaron Cresswell's low cross from close range.
Moments later, Joe Hart pulled off an incredible double save. First, he denied Tomkins's header with a stunning reflex stop before he unintentionally batted away Jeffrey Schlupp's point-blank strike with his shoulder.
With Palace looking sloppy going forward, it was perhaps no surprise that West Ham's second goal came from a poor giveaway by Milivojevic in central midfield. Ayew was given the licence to go on a fine individual run before he smashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Crystal Palace responded brightly in the second half and were back in the game five minutes in after Andros Townsend was bundled over in the box by Angelo Ogbonna. Milivojevic converted the penalty straight down the centre of the goal to provide Palace some much-needed momentum.
Yohan Cabaye so nearly found the equaliser for Palace minutes later but his venomous drive from outside the box beat Hart, but clattered off the inside of the post and out. Palace continued to dominate in the second half but Joe Hart was proving hard to beat. In the 77th minute, he superbly pushed away Zaha's fierce strike shortly before he dived across goal to keep out Cabaye's free-kick.
In the 90th minute, Hart tipped James Tomkins' header onto the bar but Palace would get their equaliser in the 97th minute. Zaha engineered space in the box to beat Cheikhou Kouyate, before firing a shot through substitute Damian Rice's legs into the bottom corner to hand Palace what could be a vital point at the end of the season.
Man of the match - Joe Hart
Joe Hart had his best match in a West Ham shirt. He pulled off two superb saves in quick succession in the opening 45 minutes before denying Zaha twice, Cabaye and Tomkins in the second half. Hart will feel hard done by to concede so late on to the Ivory Coast international, but he put on a display to be proud of and arguably justified Slaven Bilic's decision to start ahead of Adrian.
The pundit - Phil Thompson
"Crystal Palace thoroughly deserved it, as poor as they were in the first half they were as good in the second. "Joe Hart dispelled whatever people have been saying about him because he was absolutely terrific, on his own he kept Palace out. "It was such a good atmosphere in this ground and the home fans were sucking the ball in the second half and they thoroughly deserved it because they gave it a right good go."
Opta stats
West Ham are unbeaten in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace under Slaven Bilic (W3 D2 L0).
Wilfried Zaha's goal (96:06) was the second latest goal scored in the Premier League this season, after Raheem Sterling's winner at Bournemouth in August (96:34).
All 41 of Javier Hernandez's Premier League goals have been scored from inside the box; only Tim Cahill (56/56) has a higher 100% record.
Crystal Palace are one of just four teams in the big five European leagues yet to keep a clean sheet this season (also Benevento, Malaga and Dijon).
What's next?
Crystal Palace face a tough away trip to Tottenham Hotspur for next weekend's Super Sunday. West Ham, meanwhile, next play Liverpool on Saturday evening.
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HERNANDEZ AND AYEW SCORE WITH TWO TOP CLASS STRIKES - BBC MOTD FAILS TO NOTICE!
By S J Chandos 29 Oct 2017 at 08:00
WTID
It was unusual to see a West Ham match second in the MoTD schedule on Saturday evening. Usually we are last or second from last, with some rushed and clipped comments from the match analysts. It was obviously the Palace fight-back from 0-2 down, to grab a draw, that brought about our rare promotion. The post-highlight analysis was a joke as per usual, plenty of stuff about Palace 'deserving' the win and West Ham's naivety, which I expected. What I did not expect was the absence of even a single reference to the quality of West Ham's two goals. The Hernandez opener was a superb strike with the outside of the Mexican international's boot and the build up play was also very sharp, carving open the Palace rear guard with a cool and beautiful efficiency. While, Ayew scored with a great long range strike, that hit the top left of the net like a rocket. So much for Ayew only scoring penalty box tap-ins!
In all honesty, and with due respect, how can any decent TV match analysis fail to praise such outstanding finishing? Would they have been ignored if they had been scored by Man City, Spurs, Man Utd or Liverpool strikers? I think we all know the answer to that. Anyway, do not expect either goal to feature on the short-list for BBC MoTD goal of the month for October!
Today's result was undoubtedly disappointing. Having gone two goals ahead, we should have scored a third and killed the game off. Instead, Palace come out in the second half all fire and determination. And we allowed them to boss the rest of the game. The role of Zaha and Townsend was crucial in that and their wing play (plus some fairly obvious dives) resulted in a penalty and a glut of Palace corners and free-kicks. This does, of course, beg the question why we did not better adapt our tactics to counter their threat and grab back the initiative? As for bad luck (if one is tempted to use that excuse), losing two points in the 7th minute of extra time is beyond being unlucky in my book. Especially as we were in the last minute and Antonio had possession out on the flank, deep in Palace territory. Criticism of Antonio's play in that situation is justified, but lets keep it real and in proportion. The Palace keeper gathered the ball from Antonio's poor cross, it was poor decision-making not to keep the ball, but there was still a awful lot to do between the punt up field and Zaha's shot finding the corner of the net. We must equally scrutinise not just Antonio's decision-making, but also our poor defending in the lead up to the equaliser.
The match report in the Daily Mail was excessively negative in my opinion, arguing that the positivity/momentum arising from the Spurs win has been dissipated and the pressure was back on Bilic. They would argue that because the would much rather run with 'doom and gloom' headlines and stories about Bilic's imminent sacking. It is part of their 'modus operandi.' Mistakes and losing points unnecessarily hurts, but this experience can be productive in the long-run if we only learn from it. The bottom line is the team must learn from it and use it to make us stronger for the remainder of the campaign.
And there were actually positives arising from the match. Firstly, Joe Hart had his best match in a West Ham keeper's shirt. He pulled off some first class saves and, hopefully, his form will continue to improve with his confidence. Cresswell looked much more like his old self in this match and his contribution to the build up to Hernandez's opening goal was excellent. Hernandez demonstrated what a class striker he is. His strike with the outside of his boot was a technically difficult skill, beautifully executed. While Ayew seems to be a player re-born. His long-distance strike was superb and just shows what increased self-confidence can do. Indeed, having a goal scoring midfielder back within our ranks (weighing with 10-15 goals) can be an important factor in revitalising our season. Mark Noble is still not at his very best, but he has improved and is applying himself manfully. He is our leader on the pitch and it is quality leadership and experience that we need at the moment. Moreover, he cares about the club and his reaction at the end of the Palace game (regardless of the rights and wrongs of it from a disciplinary perspective) at least demonstrates his passion. Finally, we still have Reid and Carroll to come back in to the team. Reid is our best defender and leads the defensive unit; while Carroll brings a different set of attributes to our forward line.
So, the bottom line for me is that things were not all wonderful after the Spurs win and ruinous after dropping points to Palace. The team need to learn from the Palace result and use the experience constructively. There were positives from yesterday, if we care to look for them, and these needs to also be considered by the fans (if not MoTD) along with the obvious negatives.
Yes, to climb the table we need a run of wins and it would have been preferable to have began that yesterday, but it will happen. And why not start by beating Liverpool, at home, on 4th November? Stranger things have happened! This is West Ham United after all. COYI!
SJ. Chandos.
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CRYSTAL PALACE 2, WEST HAM 2. FROM WORST TO BAD.
By David Hautzig 28 Oct 2017 at 19:15
WTID
Slaven has two games to save his job.
Save Our Season.
Watershed moment.
Blah blah blah. We've heard it all before. I was almost surprised that I was so annoyed before today's match as opposed to my regular feelings of despair. I said after the Newcastle match that the sample size was big enough to make a strong argument for a change at the top. The cat was already out of the proverbial bag, yet the board were supposedly still contemplating. Reviewing. And after reading a superb piece on Claret & Hugh by Bobby Galbraith, http://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-thinking-must-change-from-bottom-to-top/, I don't feel much confidence that the club as a whole can climb out of the ditch we always find ourselves in. And yes, I do know what we did Wednesday night. It was enthralling and brilliant. But a nice meal and a film with your partner doesn't mean a relationship that has been awful for a year should continue. Three points today would ease the pain. Control the rot. Maybe I'm being dramatic, which those who know me won't be surprised by. But I stand by my opinion, and today only reinforced it.
One statistic that has driven me nuts lately is that West Ham have played the most long balls in the Premier League, precisely what supporters hated during the days of He Who Shall Not Be Named. So what did we do twenty seconds into the match? Ogbonna sent a long ball to nobody that ended in a Palace goal kick. Another area of concern has been our defensive mistakes. So what did Lanzini do two minutes later? Commit a silly foul just outside the West Ham penalty area, giving Palace a dangerous free kick. The more things change, etc.
The opening fifteen minutes were a combination of dire and boring. With a few injuries for good measure. Hideous giveaways, passes to phantom players, and virtually zero skill. Even Hernandez gave the ball away time and time again. Like a tennis match with unforced errors all over the place. Neither team looked even remotely Premier League quality….yeah, I know what you're thinking, but I ain't gonna write that. In fact, I didn't know what to say at that point. My trip to the garbage dump this morning to unload an old set of stairs was significantly more exciting. So I decided silence in the written form, along with some coffee, was my best bet.
Like an alarm clock when you are fast asleep, West Ham woke us up in the 31st minute. After Zaha and his fellow Palace players wanted Madley to call a penalty on Fonte, West Ham broke on the counter. Lanzini fed Ayew on the top of the box. The man with the brace on Wednesday rolled a pass to Cresswell on the left, who then whipped a low cross that Hernandez guided in with the outside of his right foot.
Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 1
West Ham almost doubled their lead a few minutes later when Lanzini sent a corner into the box that Ogbonna should have done better with but the ball rolled out for a goal kick. Moments later, Palace earned two quick corners, and on the second Hart showed the qualities that made him one of the better keepers in England for a few years. Palace had a number of unmarked headers in the box, a potentially bad sign for sure, and the third one came off the noggin of James Tomkins. It was headed for goal but Hart somehow got his right hand on it. The rebound fell to Schlupp two yards out, but his shot hit Hart's left armed and went over the bar. If that series of events happens 100 times, 99 result in a goal. So West Ham got one of a few mulligans for the day.
When Andre Ayew signed for Swansea, reportedly over West Ham, I knew a few supporters who were royally disappointed. When he jumped the Welsh ship for us last year, many were pleased in spite of the price tag. He has scored a few goals, but overall he has been a disappointment. But Wednesday gave us a glimpse of what he can do if he fires on all cylinders. In the 43rd minute, Milivojevic took a turn playing the Horrible Giveaway game, and Ayew went to the races. He turned Dann inside out before rifling a shot past a dining Speroni.
Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 2
Zaha earned Crystal Palace a corner in the dying seconds of first half added time. The set piece flew into the West Ham penalty area, and again it looked like no West Ham defender had any interest in, well, defending. Dann had a free header that he sent to Loftus Cheek at the near post. Hart may have had it covered, but he didn't need to because the ball went wide.
Halftime
Crystal Palace 0
West Ham 2
The second half brought an unexpected substitution from Slaven Bilic, with Cresswell coming off for Masuaku. As an attacking move I could see it. But at two-nil up, it had to be an injury to Cresswell. There were reports on Twitter that Cresswell was seen limping at the end of the opening forty five minutes. Masuaku was beaten by Townsend on the right, but Palace couldn't capitalize. But moments later, a pass into the West Ham penalty area was run down by Townsend. Ogbonna stupidly bumped him in the area, and Madley pointed at the spot. Milivojevic, the man responsible for sending Ayew off on the run for West Ham's second goal, stepped up and put it past Hart.
Crystal Palace 1
West Ham 2
Palace went right back on the front foot after their goal, and couldn't have come any closer to an equalizer if they tried. After good work by Zaha on the left, the ball went to Cabaye near the top of the penalty area. His shot hit the inside of the far post and rebounded out to safety. For years I have always feared two-nil leads. One of those crazy West Ham neuroses we all have in some form or another. My fear felt appropriate.
Antonio came on for Zabaleta in the 60th minute in what could only be thought of as injury related again. At least I hope so, because if that was a tactical move you would be hard pressed to find anyone to defend it.
With 17 minutes to go, Fonte went down and signaled his day was done. To those who wanted to see youth given a chance to show what they can do, Declan Rice entered the game while Fonte hobbled off. Despite the desire for The Academy Of Football to return, it was the kind of moment West Ham fans know can be a turning point for the worst.
Moments after the switch, Hart again came to the rescue with a lovely save off of Zaha. A minute later, Ogbonna was again at fault for a bad challenge, giving Palace a free kick at the top of the penalty area. I couldn't watch. I walked out of the room but heard the groans. Thankfully the replay was the same as the live action as Hart dove to his left to make the stop.
Crystal Palace kept up the pressure and won their ninth corner of the match in the 81st minute. The ball bounced around before Milivojevic fired a shot well over the bar. A few minutes later Masuaku saw yellow for continued infringement, and Cabaye whipped in a set piece that West Ham handled well. Then Townsend again beat Masuaku on the right but nobody was in the box to get on the end of his cutback.
I fired another antacid tablet down my throat.
In the 88th minute, my stream died. I got a little bit of audio, most of which sounded like Tony Gale saying West Ham were sloppy and daring Crystal Palace to level the match. Hart made a great save on Tomkins again, and Rice made a good play to intercept a cross. But West Ham had chances to kill off the game, and in the end couldn't. I'm told Antonio was downright negligent when he flipped the ball to Speroni with two Hammers in the box. Zaha beat Kouyate and Rice to score in the final seconds of added time, and we dropped a 2-0 halftime lead to a team that had conspired to lose 29 games this year while not scoring in 17 of them.
Final Score
Crystal Palace 2
West Ham 2
We are on a path that is eerily similar to the season under Grant. If we don't act soon, and in my opinion it's already later than it should have been, we could suffer the same fate. And if the board don't realize relegation at the London Stadium would be far different than it was at Upton Park, they are sadly mistaken. Which doesn't mean I have any faith in them fixing what appears to be broken. They would rather put tar on a hole in their roof than replace the roof itself. So I still expect Bilic to be in charge in May.
I only hope it's more like Zola than Grant and we stay up.
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Winston Reid misses match for West Ham ahead of World Cup playoffs
Last updated 10:16 29/10/2017
Where is Winston Reid?
The All Whites captain was absent from West Ham United's squad for the latest English Premier League round – a fortnight out from the intercontinental World Cup playoff series against Peru. Reid was missing from West Ham's 2-2 draw with lowly Crystal Palace on Saturday (Sunday NZ Time). The 29-year-old – who signed a new six-year contract last August – captained West Ham's 3-0 home defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion and a 1-1 draw with Chris Wood's Burnley in the previous two EPL rounds. Reid has played more than 150 EPL games since joining West Ham in 2010 after playing for the All Whites at the World Cup finals in South Africa. He is contracted to the east London club until 2023. There has been no word from West Ham manager Slaven Bilic about Reid's absence. Bilic did not mention Reid in his post-match comments after a Palace draw the West Ham boss likened to "a defeat".
Reid was certainly expected to play by most major news outlets, who listed him in the probable starting lineup for the Palace match and his omission was queried by some Hammers supporters in online forums. The New Zealand skipper's sidelining could be a mixed blessing for All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. It reduces the risk of injury to the defensive lynchpin before the Peru series, but it also means he has missed some match practice. Reid could be in line for a return for next weekend's home match against Liverpool with West Ham criticised for defensive blunders in the Palace stalemate.
Hammers centreback Angel Obanna – Reid's replacement – gave away a penalty, converted by Wilfred Zaha, who scored Palace's equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time after a blunder by West Ham's Michail Antonio. The substitute right wingback opted to launch a cross into Palace's area rather than run the ball out to the corner flag and Zaha scored on the counter-attack. Bilic said: "That was just a bad decision that shouldn't happen at this level of football, definitely.
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1899 Hoffenheim 1-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Reece Oxford made a belated competitive debut for Borussia Monchengladbach more than two months into the Bundesliga season. The England Under-20 defender, signed on loan from West Ham in July, came on for the final 10 minutes of Saturday's 3-1 win at Hoffenheim. Oxford, 18, played in five pre-season games for the club, but had only been an unused substitute in the league. Thorgan Hazard, Matthias Ginter and Jannik Vestergaard scored for Gladbach. They came from behind to secure the victory, which lifted them above their opponents into sixth place, after Kerem Demirbay had given Hoffenheim a half-time lead.
Oxford, who spent five months on loan at Reading last season, has made seven Premier League appearances.
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Slaven Bilic: Michail Antonio's mistake shouldn't happen at Premier League level
JACK ROSSER at Selhurst Park
ES Sport
Slaven Bilic says Michail Antonio's late mistake which cost West Ham two precious points against Crystal Palace should not happen at Premier League level. In the final moments of six additional minutes at Selhurst Park, and with Hammers closing in on three vital points, Antonio opted to cross into the Palace area rather than dribble towards the corner flag to see the game out. Antonio, who had come off the bench to fill in at right wing-back, spotted Manuel Lanzini on the far side of the box but Palace regained possession with ease and immediately started an attack which Wilfried Zaha finished in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Bilic was blunt in his assessment, praising his players' efforts after a stunning comeback against Tottenham just three days ago before expressing his disappointment at the manner of the equaliser. "The players gave everything again," he said. "They ran, they defended, as I said some of them played 90 minutes three days ago. "That goal has nothing to do with their attitude in terms of being too sloppy or too casual or not in position. That was just a bad decision that shouldn't happen at this level of football, definitely." The late goal means Bilic now faces the task of once again lifting his players' spirits before they welcome Liverpool to London Stadium next weekend.
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Every word of Joe Hart's emotional outburst to his teammates after West Ham's draw with Crystal Palace
The Hammers conceded an equaliser in stoppage time
Football London
Andy Ha
06:30, 29 OCT 2017UPDATED07:24, 29 OCT 2017
Joe Hart slammed his West Ham United teammates after the Hammers conceded a 96th minute equaliser against Crystal Palace. Goals from Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew gave Slaven Bilic's a 2-0 lead, before Luka Milivojevic reduced the deficit from the penalty spot, after Andros Townsend had been fouled in the box by Angelo Ogbonna. With the clock ticking down and the Hammers heading towards an important three points, Wilfried Zaha snatched Palace their fourth point of the season with the final kick of the game.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Hart said: "I can't believe we've done that. We've come in quick after the game, we probably shouldn't have come in quick after the game, but I can't believe we've fought all the way til the end and been so unprofessional at the end."
Asked if the dressing room was quiet after the game, Hart added: "Yeah a little bit. No one does things on purpose in this team, but I think it's two points dropped, it's as simple as that."
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was equally disappointed, suggesting Michail Antonio should have displayed better game management at the end. "We knew that the game was not over at 2-0 up at half-time," said Bilic. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, but the way we conceded the leveller was very disappointing. "We needed to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision, with Michail Antonio choosing to cross the ball rather than keep it. "We have to manage the game on the pitch. The game was finished."
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HAM BUSTER West Ham landlords on verge of going bust – with millions more in public cash set be poured into London Stadium
New dispute over the club's low-cost lease seems certain as the price of keeping E20 Stadium LLP out of administration is likely to be MORE public funding on top of hundreds of millions
EXCLUSIVE
By Dan King
26th October 2017, 5:25 pm
Updated: 26th October 2017, 5:29 pm
The Sun
WEST HAM'S landlords at the London Stadium are on the verge of going bust. The Mayor of London and Newham Council will move heaven and earth to avoid the humiliation of the Hammers being locked out of their ground or made homeless. West Ham were dumped 3-0 by Brighton in their last match at London Stadium and could now face off-field problems. But the price of keeping E20 Stadium LLP out of administration is almost certain to be the investment of even more public money on top of the hundreds of millions already spent. And athletics chiefs are worried the crisis could lead to their sport losing its annual right to stage events in the former Olympic Stadium, totally undermining the London 2012 legacy.
Sources indicate there is no realistic prospect of persuading or forcing West Ham to increase their current annual rent of just £2.5m. But the generous terms of the Premier League strugglers' 99-year lease are likely to come under renewed attack. The row was already due to go public again in the coming weeks with the publication of a report into why it cost £323m to convert the stadium - on top of the £429m spent on construction. E20 Stadium LLP is a joint venture between the London Legacy Development Corporation – an offshoot of the Greater London Authority – and Newham Legacy Investments Ltd, a company controlled by the London Borough of Newham. They invested about £260m and £40m of public money respectively into the conversion costs, with West Ham providing £15m. Current London mayor Sadiq Khan commissioned the report last year and is putting pressure on accountancy firm Moore Stephens to deliver their findings, which were due back in June. Khan will use the report as political ammunition to attack predecessor Boris Johnson over key decisions made about the stadium. But the review is also expected to lay bare the troubled finances of E20 and major stakeholders are already privately discussing the possibility of administration.
The main issue is the annual £8m cost of converting West Ham's football arena into a track and field venue and back again, in accordance with the separate 99-year deal signed with UK Athletics. E20's last accounts, for the year to March 31 2016, showed the stadium lost more than £9m through its day to day operations BEFORE West Ham took up residence in August 2016. As well as the £8m summer conversion costs, E20 is now also liable for other expenses related to the Hammers' tenancy, from heating, lighting, policing, stewarding, cleaning and turnstile operators to the goalposts, net and corner flags. The failure to secure a naming rights deal is another factor in the current financial uncertainty surrounding a venue whose overall cost is well over £700m. Newham and GLA hoped to recoup their investment from E20's profits, but there ARE no profits and no prospect of any under the current arrangements. All that public money would be at risk if E20 went into administration, so high-level discussions are now taking place to find a long-term solution. But West Ham coughing up more is unlikely to be it.
Another approach would be to invest in adapting the stadium so it was quicker and cheaper to convert for athletics each summer. The cost would depend on the method chosen, but a state-of-the-art system like the Stade de France's would need about £100m and require West Ham to vacate the site for a while or face years of disruption while work was done on a stand-by-stand basis. There are also degrees of possible compromise on athletics. The sport fears losing its annual presence in the iconic London 2012 venue altogether but other options are under consideration, such as partial summer conversion which would leave the East Stand seats undisturbed. This is a modal window.
A Newham Council spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the E20 contractors to explore all potential solutions and improve the overall financial position of the stadium." An LLDC spokesman said: "The Mayor and officials are in discussions with the relevant parties and we will comment further when the Moore Stephens review has been published."
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