Daily WHUFC News - 12th October 2017

Rice: I'll keep working for more first-team opportunities
WHUFC.com

Declan Rice's successful season continued as he helped the Republic of
Ireland to top their UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying group during
the international break. The teenager, who has burst into the West Ham
United first-team picture in 2017/18, started both Group 5 ties as the Boys
in Green continued their unbeaten start. His focus now turns to Saturday's
Premier League fixture with Burnley at Turf Moor – the same stadium where he
made his first-team debut for the Hammers in May. With senior stars
returning from injury, competition for places is fierce, but the 18-year-old
is determined to keep his place in Slaven Bilic's squad…

Back to where it all began

I'm back from international duty and return to training at West Ham on
Wednesday and our focus is 100 per cent on Burnley on Saturday. Turf Moor is
the ground where I made my debut back in May and it would be good to pick up
another three points at Burnley after the good September that we had,
picking up seven points out of 12. It's a tough place to go, but I think we
have got the quality to go there and get the three points. We have a big
month ahead and they are all winnable games, but it's about how we go out
and perform on the pitch. If we play as we can, I think we can pick up close
to maximum points this month.
Manu Lanzini came back in our last game against Swansea and played a part in
the winner and he will be massive for us at Burnley. He changes everything
for the team on the pitch. He is an out-and-out number 10 and gets in little
pockets and takes up positions which make it so hard for the opposition.
He's unbelievable.
With Nobes and Cheik available and Pedro back from injury, I know there will
be big competition for places, but I hope to be named in the squad. It'll be
special to go back there and see the place where I made my debut again. I am
still only 18 and, at the start of the season, I never would have expected
to play as much as I have already, so I know my game-time is going to be
limited with all the great players we have got in the squad. But I'm not one
to sit back and I'm going to keep trying to get back in that team again.

Top of the group

As I said, I travelled to Dublin on international duty and linked up with
the Republic of Ireland U21 squad and we had a great week. We went into the
two games top of our group after being lucky enough to pick up six points
from our opening two games against Kosovo and Azerbaijan. We knew Norway
would be our toughest test on paper and we drew 0-0 with them and then, to
top it off, we beat Israel 4-0, so to have ten points out of 12 is a great
start. Norway then did us a favour by beating Germany on Tuesday night,
which helped us out, so we're sitting pretty at the top of group by four
points, so we're just focusing on the next game away to Norway and hopefully
we can pick up more points there.

We're having a laugh

I love going away with the Ireland boys, to be honest. We're all around the
same age, all have good banter and all have the same ambitions, which are to
establish ourselves at the highest level with our clubs and to keep
producing the goods for our country. We gel together as a team on the pitch
so well. There are no negotiables – we work for each other, we know what we
are doing for each other and we never look like we're going to concede. That
shows how close we are and I love being around them all and the staff. A lot
of the squad are, like me, born in England to Irish ancestry, and we've been
welcomed into the group by the Irish-born boys, so the conversation really
never dies. Like I said, it's great to be around them. After our game, we
watched the seniors get a massive win against Wales to get through to the
World Cup qualifying Play-Offs, which I'm sure they'll win. If I want to get
into the senior squad I know what I need to do – work hard, play well and
get into the West Ham side and keep impressing. If I can do that, I won't be
far away, but I need to be better than the players who are already in the
squad, so I need to keep progressing.

A partnership made in east London

I was fortunate enough to play in central midfield alongside Josh Cullen
(pictured, above) in both games for Ireland U21s. When you know you're
playing alongside Josh, you know what you're going to get. It's a pleasure
to play alongside him, because not only is he always available, but when he
has the ball he always looks for you. He works hard, tackles and is so
determined, so he gives you everything you want. Against Norway, I was
directly up against Martin Ødegaard, who played for the senior international
side at 15 and was signed by Real Madrid at 16. He is a good player and very
good technically. He didn't really affect the game as much as we expected
him to, as he drifted out wide quite a lot and kept cutting inside, so we
were able to handle him. When he had the ball, though, you could tell he is
a bit special.

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Fonte and Portugal snatch 2018 FIFA World Cup spot
WHUFC.com

Jose Fonte and Portugal snatched a 2018 FIFA World Cup spot in dramatic
fashion, defeating Switzerland 2-0 in Lisbon to finish top of qualifying
Group B.

The Swiss had won a perfect nine matches out of nine ahead of Tuesday
evening's tie at the Stadium of Light, but relinquished an automatic passage
to Russia.

Portugal's victory saw them and the Swiss finish level on 27 points out of a
possible 30, but Fonte's nation ended the campaign with a +28 goal
difference to Switzerland's +16.

A Johan Djourou own-goal put Portugal in front four minutes before
half-time, before Andre Silva made the game safe with 12 minutes of the
second half gone.

Fonte started alongside Pepe at centre-half as Portugal kept their seventh
clean sheet in ten qualifiers, ensuring the UEFA Euro 2016 winners could add
a maiden World Cup to the European title they secured last summer.

Portugal's victory means there could be as many as eleven West Ham players
in Russia next year, with England quartet Joe Hart, Aaron Cresswell, Michail
Antonio and Andy Carroll, Mexico's Chicharito, the Republic of Ireland's
Declan Rice and Senegal pair Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho among those
whose nations have either already qualified or are still in with a chance of
doing so.

Chicharito will miss Mexico's final qualifier in Trinidad & Tobago overnight
due to personal reasons, but his country have already secured top spot in
the CONCACAF region.

Elsewhere, Manuel Lanzini's Argentina need results to go their way overnight
to secure qualification from South America, where the fifth-placed nation
will take on Winston Reid's New Zealand in a two-legged Intercontinental
Play-Off.

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Bilic: An enjoyable international break, returning players and Burnley
optimism
WHUFC.com

For Slaven Bilic, a month made a huge difference to his mood during two
international breaks. The West Ham United manager entered the September
break on the back of three disappointing Premier League defeats. But after
winning seven points out of 12, progressing to the Carabao Cup fourth round
and keeping four clean sheets in five matches last month, the Croatian has
enjoyed the October break and told whufc.com he goes into Saturday's Premier
League fixture at Burnley full of optimism…

Slaven It must have been a more enjoyable international break this time
around…

"It was an enjoyable break, of course. That's why some of the games before
the international break are much more cautious. Nobody wants to lose,
because that defeat stays with you for a couple of weeks, because you have
to wait at least two weeks to make up for it. "We had a few things to sort
out. First, we had to sort out the defensive part of our game and get some
points and, to be fair, we did that because we got seven points and we are
also through in the [Carabao] Cup.
"From five games, four league games and one cup game against Bolton, we kept
four clean sheets, which was very good for the confidence, not only for the
goalkeeper or the back four or five, but for the whole team. It was a good
month for us."

What did you change from August to September?

"We never stopped working hard, even in the pre-season or in the training
sessions before and during those three [August] games which we have lost.
"You can't say we didn't work hard, but it clicked a bit and we also changed
the system, although to be fair the players were used to that kind of system
because in the last couple of years, we were using both systems, with three
at the back and four at the back. "We've been working on details and then we
had a good game against Huddersfield when we were solid and didn't give them
opportunities to counter attack us and all that. That helped. "We then had
the game against West Brom and the game against Bolton in the cup, then we
had the game against Spurs which was a derby game [which we lost], but there
were a few positives in that as well. "Then we had another clean sheet
against Swansea in a not very beautiful game, but if you are talking about
that part of the football game, we now need to improve in the other bits of
that."

What's been your priority during this international break? Is it a case of
keeping the guys you've got here fresh in mind as well as body?

"Yes, and also it is very important to say there are a lot of reasons why we
should be very optimistic now in this situation. It is not only because we
have seven points, not only because we got the confidence back, not only
that we kept three clean sheets in the last four [Premier League] games, but
also we have some players back. "We even [got those seven points] when some
of the players who were playing were not training. Not deliberately, but
because they were injured. "So, we used this break, even though we didn't
have a lot of players. We had more than usual, eight or nine players on the
pitch and among them there were players like Lanzini, Antonio and Carroll.
"Both Manuel and Antonio played part or all of the game against Swansea, but
two weeks before that game Antonio didn't make two training sessions, one
after another. "He needed the fitness to improve, Manuel needed the fitness
to improve, and then you've got the players coming back like Fernandes. We
used this break individually to build their fitness and we trained really
hard for the whole of last week. "They were off for the weekend, and now we
have the players like Pedro and Sam coming back to train. They are the
reasons why I am optimistic now, that we are going to get better and
better."

We have a big month ahead, starting at Burnley, who have made a good start
to the season…

"They made a great start and are looking really good, especially away from
home which wasn't the case last season. They beat Chelsea, they beat Everton
and got points against Spurs and Liverpool. "They are playing good and are
very confident. It's going to be a good game, of course I respect Burnley
but I am very, very happy that we're going to have almost the whole squad
available for Saturday."

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Peters double secures 3-1 victory at league leaders Charlton
WHUFC.com

Two excellent goals from Molly Peters helped West Ham United Ladies claim an
unforgettable 3-1 victory away to previously unbeaten league leaders
Charlton Athletic Women. Heading into this midweek contest Charlton had won
all eight of their league matches but a well-drilled West Ham side took the
lead after half an hour, thanks to a powerful Paige Anderson-James strike.
Peters would double the lead on 39 minutes with a clever solo goal in the
downpour at The Valley. An early second-half finish from distance gave
Charlton hope but Peters secured the win with a fabulous lobbed finish 20
minutes before the end. Despite Charlton's league position West Ham showed
no fear in the first period and their resistance was rewarded after 33
minutes, following two fantastic saves from Cherie Rowlands. Peters won the
ball in a promising position, leaving the Hammers with a two on one
situation. The forward played in Anderson-James who smashed home, via the
cross-bar.

Less than seven minutes later and it was 0-2. Peter was again the player of
the moment, as she drove up the pitch and fashioned herself a chance, which
struck the woodwork and rolled into the back of the net. In between the two
goals Mollie Kmita could have extended the lead with a cheeky lobbed effort
from distance, which had the Charlton goalkeeper scrambling to get the ball
away. West Ham's determination to hold out for the win was tested just eight
minutes after the restart. A stunning effort from distance by Graham was too
much, finding the top far corner. Just moments later the Addicks could have
levelled the game. Clifford somehow found herself in a one-on-one situation
but, fortunately for the Irons, rolled the ball wide of the post. It seems
to be the moment that sparked West Ham's second half into life, with De
Carnys's players showing resolution and maturity despite Charlton's attacks.
And the brilliant Peters once again made Charlton's poor passing at the back
pay on 69 minutes. The striker collected the ball and sent a delicious lob
over the goalkeeper, marking her second of the game and putting West Ham 3-1
up. The league leaders continued to test West Ham but the away side stood
strong, and claimed a brilliant three points against a side that, prior to
this evening, had not dropped any in the league.

West Ham United Ladies: Rowlands; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Auguste; Cooper
(c), Burr, R Kmita (Ezekiel-Meade 67'), Stobbs: Anderson-James (M Kmita
60'), Peters (Wealthall 81')
Subs not used: Chong

Goals: Anderson-James 33', Peters 39' 69'

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Calling older West Ham fans: free football programmes starting soon
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham fan? Aged 65 or over? Like the idea of sharing your memories of the
club or learning more about the team? If so, the charity Friends of the
Elderly and West Ham United Foundation invite you to connect with others,
using your shared love of football as a starting point. Together they have
been running successful, five-week programmes called Any Old Irons, based at
the East Ham Working Men's Club. Run in conjunction with the Premier League
(PL) and the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), these give
participants the opportunity to connect with other fans and people in their
community, bringing them together for fun and friendship. During the
programme, there will be the opportunity to share stories about the club,
hear guest speakers, enjoy a stadium tour and learn digital skills to help
you stay connected online.
Groups of Any Old Irons participants have also recently enjoyed outings such
as boat trip down the River Lee, watching a cricket match at Lord's, and a
day trip to Southend.

• There will be new, five-week Any Old Irons programmes starting on 25
October 2017 and 17 January 2018.

• If you would like to join in, or find out more, you can contact Friends of
the Elderly on 0330 332 111 or hello@fote.org.uk.

• You can also find out more at:
www.fote.org.uk/our-charity-work/football-friends/

Steve Maynard, was one of the first to take part in Any Old Irons. He
enjoyed it, and also found that it helped him deal with the recent loss of
his mother to dementia, so he has become a regular volunteer. Steve, who
was born in East Ham but who now lives in Hadleigh, Essex says: "My message
to other men, even if they are not a West Ham supporter, is to come along,
especially if they are feeling lonely. "It's always a friendly group of warm
people and there's a great atmosphere."

Meanwhile, recent Any Old Irons participant Zena had a great time too, even
though she confesses to not being an expert on the beautiful game! She
says: "I don't know much about football, but I went to a couple of matches
in my younger days, and I'd call myself a West Ham fan. I love coming to
meetings and talking about the old times. "I don't have children and I lost
my husband last year, so I think that it is very important to have something
like Any Old Irons happening locally – if you sit indoors, you can think you
are on your own, but this means you are not alone."

Friends of the Elderly


Founded in 1905, Friends of the Elderly is one of the UK's oldest
(registered) charities supporting older people. The charity's vision is a
society where all older people are treated with respect and have the
opportunity to lead fulfilled lives.

The charity provides support for all older people, particularly those in
need due to mental or physical frailty, isolation or poverty. Its range of
personalised care and support services includes care homes, befriending
schemes and grants.

Volunteering opportunities through the charity are available on an
individual and staff programme basis across a number of services. For more
information please visit the Friends of the Elderly website at
www.fote.org.uk.

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New Zealand hopes resting on West Ham link
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

Former West Ham Academy star Anthony Hudson is 90 minutes away from taking
New Zealand to an historic appearance in next summer's World Cup Finals.
Although he never featured for West Ham's first team, 35-year-old Hudson
spent his teenage years at the club's Academy learning his trade under Harry
Redknapp before moving abroad in 2001. Since hanging up his boots at the
tender age of just 27, Hudson - the son of '70s Chelsea star Alan Hudson -
enjoyed managerial spells with Real Maryland Monarchs, Newport County and
the Bahrain national team before he became New Zealand's head coach in 2014.
And now the former midfielder is just a play-off away from reaching the
Finals for only the third time in the country's history after his team
qualified for the knock out phase with ease courtesy of an 8-3 aggregate win
against the Solomon Islands in September.

Standing in the way of Hudson, New Zealand and current Hammer Winston Reid
are Peru, who the Kiwis will face in a two-legged, intercontinental play-off
next month to determine who qualifies for next summer's tournament in
Russia. However it could have been much worse for Hudson and his side, with
Argentina a potential opponent prior to their 3-0 dismantling of Ecuador
last night - which, according to one local source, led to "a collective sigh
of relief from around New Zealand". "For an Oceania team, for New Zealand to
go to a World Cup via South America is an incredibly tough task," he said.
"But now it's Peru I think we've done enough to have belief within the team.
"Against teams like Mexico and even Japan away from home, we've done enough
to know we can compete. I feel we're getting stronger and stronger and have
been able to consistently select our strongest squad. "I think I can speak
on behalf of the players, we all believe we can do something special here."

And Hudson can at least count on the support of his fellow Hammer, Winston
Reid, who prasied the manager for bringing "steady improvement" to the
national team. "Every single time I come back into camp, everything seems to
improve," he said. "It's good to see there's progression within the group,
and hopefully that will continue."

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Rice targets maximum points
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's teenage star Declan Rice believes that the Hammers should be
aiming to take maximum points from their next three Premier League fixtures.
Fresh from this week's international break, the Irons face Burnley (a),
Brighton (h), Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Crystal Palace (a) within the
space of a fortnight beginning at Turf Moor this weekend. And Rice, who made
his first team debut for the Hammers at Turf Moor on the final day of last
season believes that Slaven Bilic's side have the ability to secure maximum
points from the three league fixtures. "We have a big month ahead and they
are all winnable games," he told the club's website. "It's about how we go
out and perform on the pitch. If we play as we can, I think we can pick up
close to maximum points this month. "Turf Moor is where I made my debut back
in May and it would be good to pick up another three points at Burnley after
the good September that we had, picking up seven points out of 12. "It's a
tough place to go, but I think we have got the quality to go there and get
the three points."

The Irish Under 21 international, who has appeared in six first team matches
already this season - four times in the Premier League and twice in the
Carabao Cup - also hopes he can maintain a spot in the match day squad,
despite increased competition for places. "Manu Lanzini came back in our
last game against Swansea and played a part in the winner," added Rice. "He
will be massive for us at Burnley. "And with Nobes and Cheik available, and
Pedro back from injury, I know there will be big competition for places but
I hope to be named in the squad. It'll be special to go back there and see
the place where I made my debut again. "At the start of the season I never
would have expected to play as much as I have already, so I know my
game-time is going to be limited with all the great players we have got in
the squad. But I'm not one to sit back and I'm going to keep trying to get
back in the team again."

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Double delight for Hammers duo
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

Jose Fonte and Manuel Lanzini are celebrating this morning after their
respective nations qualified for next year's World Cup Finals.

Central defender Fonte started in Lisbon last night as the Portuguese rose
to see of the challenge of a previously-unbeaten Switzerland, securing their
place at Russia 2018 with a 2-0 win.

Swiss defender Johan Djourou gave Fonte's side the perfect start with an own
goal just four minutes into the game, before Andre Silva added the
all-important second goal in the game's closing stages.

Meanwhile attacking midfielder Lanzini, who wasn't involved in the squad due
to recent injury watched Lionel Messi almost single-handedly send Argentina
into the Finals with a virtuoso show in Quito.

Despite falling a goal behind early on, the Argentinians showed their
superiority to come through 3-1 against Ecuador thanks to a hat-trick from
the Barcelona star. Former Hammer Enner Valencia featured as a second half
substitute for the hosts.

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Reece Oxford exclusive: West Ham defender 'ready and patient' at Borussia
Monchengladbach
Last Updated: 11/10/17 2:33pm
SSN

Reece Oxford insists he feels fitter than ever and is ready to be given his
chance at Borussia Monchengladbach. The 18-year-old English defender, who
was loaned to the Bundesliga club by West Ham for the season, is yet to make
an appearance for Monchengladbach this season. He spent the tail-end of last
term on loan at Reading, making five appearances, after impressing early on
during his West Ham career. Now, Oxford insists he is remaining patient and
working hard in Germany for when the opportunity arises. He told Sky Sports:
"I think I'm fitter than ever now. I've done pre-season with Gladbach, I
feel good and ready, I'm just waiting for my opportunity. It's patience, I'm
young, watching the centre-backs ahead of me, and seeing what I can do to
make me better. "I'm just ready now, ready to make my debut, and hopefully
it'll be good and I won't look back from there. "I just hope to return to
West Ham as a more experienced player, ready to play in the Premier League
or any league."
Oxford, who has captained England at youth level, was named alongside the
likes of Marcus Rashford in the UEFA Golden Boy nominees last month. The
Edmonton-born player, who also appeared in defensive midfield for West Ham,
says his long-term goal is to become senior England captain and play at a
World Cup, and says Germany is a good place for young players to develop.
"My long-term goals are to be in the England squad, play in a World Cup and
be captain for my country, I've always wanted to be that. "Germany is just a
big experience, from the Championship, which is a physical league, to
Germany, which is fast and quick. "Germany is good for young players,
they're very strict and training is very intense. I'm not saying West Ham or
Reading's training wasn't good, it's just different here."

Oxford's West Ham debut came in a man-of-the-match display in the 2-0 win at
Arsenal on the first day of the 2015/16 season, and the youngster insists
that experience helped him to grow up fast. "It opened me up to the world.
Players said I couldn't do certain things, had to be more secretive with my
life, and that you can't be a kid anymore! "I had to be an adult, be mature
and grow up really. I took that on board and I like to think I am mature now
and have grown up."

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