Daily WHUFC News - 21st November 2017

Zabaleta: We weren't clinical enough
WHUFC.com

West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta bemoaned his side's failure to
convert their chances in front of goal at Vicarage Road as Watford were 2-0
winners in the Premier League on Sunday. Will Hughes and Richarlison scored
for the hosts to seal the victory but it could have been an altogether
different story had David Moyes' team put away the opportunities that came
their way. Cheikhou Kouyate and Marko Arnautovic were both superbly denied
by Brazilian stopper Heurelho Gomes from point blank range in the first
half, and Senegal midfielder Kouyate spurned a great chance to equalise
after the break as he fired over from Arnautovic's cut-back. Manuel Lanzini
also had a shot cleared off the line and Argentinian defender Zabaleta was
left frustrated as the chances came and went. "That's the difference, when
you are not clinical enough in front of goal," he said after the defeat.
"Even when you don't play well, but you create chances, you have to take
them. We had a few chances in the game. "That makes the difference in games,
of course it does. It was a very disappointing afternoon, for sure. It
wasn't good enough again. "It seems like we are repeating the same words
every week. The game was over after 2-0. It's the same feeling every time.
"We concede two goals and then it's difficult and we are not in the game
anymore. We lost our concentration and at that level, it's not good."

The defeat was a third in four Premier League games for the Hammers and it
leaves them in the bottom three, a point from the safety of 17th.
Moyes' team have only four days until they can once again try and turn their
fortunes around, though; they host Leicester City on Friday and full-back
Zabaleta's focus has already switched to the huge London Stadium clash. "We
have Leicester at home so hopefully we can put in a performance and win that
game," he continued. "Listen, football is about moments. We know exactly
that from the beginning of the season, we've not been good enough. "As I
said before, players must take responsibility for that. We have a new
manager and new staff and it's a matter of keeping working. "We are doing
that during the week and we probably need to be more focused on what we have
to improve on during the week and of course then, when you win, that brings
the confidence back to work in a better situation. "As I say, I can see a
few teams at the moment that the reality is we're fighting for the bottom
three. We need to improve of course to win games and get us in a better
position. "There's still a long way to go. Of course it's a difficult moment
for everyone, and players need to take responsibility for that and just move
onto the next game."

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'We need to try and find a way of making sure we are together and united'
WHUFC.com

David Moyes has issued a plea for unity as he attempts to turn West Ham
United's season around.

The new manager did not need long to see why the Hammers have struggled this
season as mistakes at both ends of the pitch led to a 2-0 Premier League
defeat at Watford in his first game in charge. The loss, which left West Ham
inside the relegation zone after winning just two of their opening 12
top-flight matches, was met with frustration by the Claret and Blue Army.

Moyes understands the disappointment felt by the fans, but implored them to
get behind the team ahead of and during Friday's visit of Leicester City to
London Stadium...

We need a united Club

I don't know the reasons for it and the history of what's gone on here, and
I'm really thankful that they have been supportive of me. But we need them
now, we need a united Club, and it's hard and people have grievances. But
the supporters know the history and the past much better than I do.

I said to the players at the end 'It's tough to play when the crowd's like
that'. Small things can make a big difference. I can understand the
supporters' feelings because we didn't play well enough in the second half
especially.

The better team won on Sunday

The better team won the game. I did think we had three big opportunities,
two in the first half, one in the second, and I think they would have made
it one [goal] each. We need things to go our way to build confidence and to
get a togetherness, we need something.

It's tough for the players, I can sense that. But I didn't enjoy the
performance in the end. I didn't enjoy us getting robbed of the ball. We
gave it away cheaply and too many times and I expected us to do better with
it.

I thought we tried to stay in the game. We wanted to stay in the game to
give ourselves a chance, and we probably did. Even at 2-0, we had a few
balls flash across the box with nothing on the end of it.

But in the end, it wasn't good enough and that level of performance will not
be good enough to get much better.

I thought we defended OK, but we gave away cheap goals. The first goal we
had three half challenges and didn't deal with it. The second one, I think
Pablo Zabaleta went in for a cross and they were then running at us in the
inside left. I thought we didn't do well enough in all the departments at
different times. But we created one or two chances which could have changed
the outcome.

I thought Watford's build up and style was better than ours and I hope ours
will improve as I get to work with the players more and know them better.

I know I have a big job to do

We need to try and find a way of making sure we are together and united. I
can only try and get wins which will hopefully let the supporters feel
better about the team.

I thought this was a big job. I think there were players with big
reputations who disappointed me a little bit and I thought they will show me
more and show why there are regulars.

But Sunday was the first time I've had the chance to see them play. They
need to show why they have got a reputation. They need to show me why
they've got it.

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West Ham United U23s v Benfica: All you need to know
WHUFC.com

The U23s' final match of the Premier League International Cup will be played
on Tuesday evening as Terry Westley's side take on Benfica.

Read on for all the information you need ahead of this midweek contest...

Where and When?

The West Ham United U23s will take on Benfica at Billericay Town's AGP Arena
in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday 21 November, with
kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

How to follow:
Tickets will be available on the gate at the AGP Arena. Adults tickets cost
£5 while concessions are £3.

Season Ticket Holders and Claret Members can attend Tuesday's contest for
free with their respective cards.

Supporters can also follow this Tuesday's fixtures via a live blog,
available on the official West Ham United website.

Updates will also be available through the Club's official Twitter feed
while highlights from the contest will be visible from Wednesday morning.
Meet the opposition:

Benfica B
Benfica B play in the Segunda Liga, and currently sit 15th in the division
The Portuguese side have lost their last three matches in the league,
winning four of their 13 played.
Benfica B have only played once in the International Cup so far, losing a
close match against Villarreal.
A win against the Hammers on Tuesday will keep Benfica's hopes of qualifying
for the next stage of the competition alive.
Team News:

Academy Director Terry Westley has already vowed to give a few youngsters
the chance to impress in this game, with West Ham United already
mathematically out of the competition.

"I want to try and play some of the second year scholars who are going for
professional contracts. We will be very young in this game.

"I'll be looking at how those playing in the U18s against Aston Villa on
Saturday play with Mark [Phillips] and Steve [Potts], and then we'll all
come together to take the team on Tuesday against Benfica."
What they say:
"It's going to be a really difficult game for us. It will test us in so many
ways. We want to at least leave this competition on a high. It will be a
good experience to play against a quality opposition."
Jahmal Hector-Ingram
West Ham U23s
Last Time Out:

How to get there:
Take the M25 to Junction 28. Join up with the A12 before turning off at
Junction 12. Take Widvale Road and the A129 to Blunts Wall Road.
By Car
Billericay railway station is served by Abellio Greater Anglia and is a
15-20 minute walk to the AGP Arena.
By Train

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Hammers forward keen for goals to start flowing
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U23 striker Jahmal Hector-Ingram is desperate to get off the
mark for the season when the Academy side take on Benfica in the Premier
League International Cup.

Terry Westley's team entertain the Portuguese outfit at Billericay Town's
AGP Arena in their final match in the competition on Tuesday.

And Hector-Ingram, who is yet to find the back of the net in 12 appearances
so far this campaign – albeit ten have been from the bench – hopes the goals
will start flowing soon.

He said: "I'm very keen to get the run of goals going. For me, scoring will
be the only way to force myself into this team because then the manager has
to pick me.

"But this is a perfect opportunity to get my goals going and hopefully it
comes against Benfica. I've been in this situation before but once one goes
in for me, then I'll be in my flow.

"It's going to be a really difficult game for us. It will test us in so many
ways. Knowing that we can't progress any further in this competition and
Benfica still can, that makes it hard but we want to at least leave this
competition on a high.

"We also have a lot of young youth players playing which is a brilliant
opportunity for them to show what they have got against a good opposition.
But overall it will be a good experience to play against a quality
opposition."

The Hammers, now in a week which sees them first host Benfica before
travelling to Arsenal in Premier League 2 on Friday, will have to put to the
back of their minds Friday's disappointing 5-1 defeat to Derby County at
London Stadium.

But Hector-Ingram, who was a West Ham TV guest commentator, believes the
week of training they have already started can help them focus on purely
being positive.

"To bounce back this week, first of all we're going to need to recover
properly and make sure our bodies are in the best shape for both games this
week," he continued.

"And then we're going to need to train like how we have been this season and
that's with a high tempo. We don't need to change anything that we've been
doing.

"Of course it's important that we get over the Derby game as quickly as
possible because we have games in quick succession. I think that's good for
everyone. And for us to be successful in these games we can't be bringing
that negative energy into these games. We'll only be positive ahead of
Benfica.

"We have conceded a few early goals this season and did again on Friday and
I just think that's us trying to force things and to rush things really. I
think we need to understand that, yes we want to get a good quick start to
the game and score and early goal, but also have in mind that when we do try
to do that, that we're also at risk of conceding goals because were taking a
risks so early.

"So I think we should start off quick but be solid for the first 10-15
minutes and not concede any silly goals."

Supporters who are Hammers Season Ticket Holders can watch the U23s take on
Benfica free of charge by showing their Season Ticket card at Billericay,
while adults and concessions are priced at £5 and £3 respectively.

Tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the AGP Arena for the 7pm kick-off.

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West Ham: David Moyes will now realise the size of his task - Mark Lawrenson
By Mark Lawrenson
MOTD pundit at Vicarage Road
BBC.co.uk

David Moyes will have learned an awful lot about West Ham after their defeat
at Watford in his first game in charge, and not much of it was good. The new
Hammers boss already knows his players are not fit enough but what he also
found out on Sunday is how some of them are short of confidence and
character too. Off the field, there are more problems. The supporters are
completely disenchanted, as was made clear from their banners and chants at
Vicarage Road, although their anger was not directed at him. The defeat
meant West Ham stay in the bottom three and the only positive for Moyes was
that, despite a poor performance, his side still managed to create some very
good chances, and should have scored at least two goals. But that should not
mask the fact Watford fully deserved their win. The Hornets completely
dominated the game and, at times, things were far, far too easy for them.

Hammers stay deep but leave big gaps

In the first half in particular, West Ham were too deep and too narrow, with
and without the ball. Their defence was given no protection at all out wide,
and Watford found it far too easy in those areas. That was not because West
Ham's midfielders were too attack-minded, because they offered next to
nothing going forward for the first 30 minutes or so. West Ham's right side
was a good example of that. Marko Arnautovic put in one good cross in the
second half, which Cheikhou Kouyate wasted, but otherwise he contributed
little in defence or attack. It was not down to lack of effort - the 115.6km
that the West Ham team covered collectively over the 90 minutes was the most
distance they have managed in a Premier League game this season.

West Ham's biggest distance covered this season
Team Result Distance
Watford (a) L 0-2 115.58km
Crystal Palace (a) D 2-2 111.18km
Swansea (h) W 1-0 110.27km
Tottenham (a) L 2-3 109.81km
Brighton (h) L 0-3 108.89km
Season average: 106.52km

But there were still times when it appeared Watford had an extra man. West
Ham sat deep, initially, because I think Moyes was intent on making things
as difficult as possible for the home side. But it did not work. They
invited Watford on to them, but still conceded far too much space in key
areas and left gaps all over the pitch - without having a way to break out
effectively.

Moyes disappointed by 'big players'

Marko Arnautovic and Andy Carroll returned to West Ham's starting line-up,
with forward pair Javier Hernandez and Andre Ayew ruled out by injury. Pablo
Zabaleta replaced Edimilson Fernandes, who dropped to the bench. Because
they were so deep, West Ham took a long time to threaten at the other end
too. When he finally got a decent delivery, just before half-time, Andy
Carroll almost scored - but for too long he was given nothing to work with
in front of goal. The balls played up to him were often hopeful and poor,
but he had no team-mates anywhere near him anyway, even if he did get on the
end of them.
Instead he always had at least two Watford defenders around him and, because
he was so isolated, the Hornets always won the ball back quickly - and
launched another attack themselves. If Javier Hernandez had been fit and
available to play off Carroll, then that would have made a difference, but
solving the problem is not as simple as that. Of course playing with two up
front would make the Hammers more of a threat, but can they do that without
becoming even more open at the back?
I am not sure. They already have the worst defensive record in the Premier
League this season and, whatever shape Moyes decides on, I think he will be
trying to put that right first.

David Moyes 'didn't enjoy' Hammers' performance
Fans unrest could work in Moyes' favour

Moyes' first home game, against Leicester on Friday night, is going to be
another big moment for him. From what I saw and heard at Vicarage Road, the
atmosphere at London Stadium is not going to be a positive one. The West Ham
supporters are clearly angry and disillusioned with the club's owners, and
some of the players too. Their chants about how they will be playing
Millwall in nine months show how bad they think things are right now. That
might actually work in Moyes' favour, though, because if he can give them a
glimmer of hope then they will really get behind him. And, whatever the
supporters think of the owners, I think they will back Moyes in the transfer
market when the window opens in January. Moyes probably already had a good
idea of where things needed to improve before Sunday's game, but he will
know far more now. It is going to take time to get his players fit, because
many of them have been away on international duty for most of the time he
has been at the club. The defensive stability Moyes wants will not just
happen overnight either, and he needs to find a way of balancing it with
their attacking threat. I think he knew he had a big job on his hands
anyway, but now he will know how much work he has to do in every area of his
team.

Mark Lawrenson was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

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Banned? I wasn't even there!
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 20th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

The owner of a flag that was displayed outside David Sullivan's house this
morning has had his season tickets revoked by West Ham United. However the
individual in question claims that he wasn't even involved in the prank.
Earlier today a picture of the flag, tied to the gates at the Sullivan's
Essex residence appeared on social media. And within a matter of hours, the
owner of the flag was contacted and told that his two season tickets had
been revoked - and that he was banned from purchasing tickets for the next
THREE YEARS. "I'd like to correct a few people who assumed I was present at
Sullivan's property today," the owner wrote on the KUMB Forum. "I was not
there but as everybody knows, the flag is my property - and I've just had a
call from the club to confirm I've had both of my season tickets revoked."

Last month an official, working on behalf of West Ham attempted to have a
similar flag removed from the away end at Wembley Stadium on the night West
Ham beat Tottenham 3-2 in the Carabao Cup. That followed a similar attempt
by stewards working for West Ham at removing anti-Board flags at Vicarage
Road on Saturday.
Today's ban is the second time in the past 12 months that the flag's owner
has been suspended from the Olympic Stadium. His season tickets were
previously revoked after he attempted to take the same flag into a home
match - a ban that lasted just 24 hours following a backlash from other
supporters.

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I could have made an instant impact, says Pardew
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 20th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

Alan Pardew has confirmed that he would have been prepared to succeed Slaven
Bilic - if he had been offered the job. 95 per cent of our readers voted in
favour of re-hiring Pardew, compared to just five per cent going for Moyes,
in a recent KUMB poll. And despite KUMB revealing exclusively that Pardew
wanted the role, which he previously held between 2004 and 2006, he was
overlooked in favour of Moyes - who opened his account with a 2-0 defeat at
Watford yesterday.
"It was a job where you could tell it was a good board and good players in a
position where they are underperforming," he told Sky Sports. "As a manager,
that really helps when you go in because you can then make an instant
impact."

A fortnight ago KUMB revealed how Pardew had told friends privately that he
was "100 per cent" interested in succeeding Bilic, who was fired after a
poor start to the current campaign.

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Sullivan house targeted by anti-Board fans
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 20th November 2017
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan's Essex house was doorstepped by angry supporters this
morning as protests against the club's current administration intensified.
As you can see from the image below, the entrance to the co-Chairman's
residence was used as the backdrop for a large banner calling for the
removal of vice-chair Karren Brady, who some claim is partly responsible for
the club's current parlous state. The image was posted by @robson1986 on
Twitter, along with the message: "Created by the poor, stolen by the rich.
Thought there'd be no stewards to confiscate flags outside Sullivan's gaff."

Sullivan's house was last targeted by West Ham supporters in May 2014, when
banners urging the removal of Sam Allardyce were hung on the gates at the
entrance to the co-Chairman's property.

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West Ham fans warned not to call 999 after poor performances
By George Galpin
Last Updated: 20/11/17 5:05pm
SSN

Essex Police have urge West Ham fans to stop calling 999 if the team loses.
The Hammers lost 2-0 away to Watford in David Moyes' first game in charge
and sit 18th in the table one point from safety.

Force Control Room @EPControlRoom
Ringing 999 because @WestHamUtd have lost again and you aren't sure what to
do is not acceptable! It is a complete waste of our time.
#999foremergenciesonly
6:46 PM - Nov 19, 2017
243 243 Replies 5,513 5,513 Retweets 5,777 5,777 likes

Fans chanted in protest against the board and the team's form during the
game at Vicarage Road and the Essex Police Force Control Room have pleaded
with supporters to stop ringing the emergency number.

The @EPControlRoom account tweeted: "Ringing 999 because @WestHamUtd have
lost again and you aren't sure what to do is not acceptable! It is a
complete waste of our time. #999foremergencies only."

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NEW BROOMS, OLD DIRT AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE
By HamburgHammer 20 Nov 2017 at 08:00
WTID

My column today will be a lot shorter than you are used to, for a variety of
reasons. Part of it is to do with a long matchday at Concordia yesterday,
yielding mixed results and also the fact I then only joined the stream of
the Watford game shortly before the halftime whistle when we were already
1:0 down and Arnautovic was just missing a golden double goalscoring
opportunity.

1:0 down at halftime was not exactly an unexpected scoreline of course,
meaning I still had reasonably high hopes that the new broom effect would
properly kick in for us during the second half.

Alas, it wasn't to be. Earlier on Sunday it was a reasonably fine day in
Hamburg, with mostly clear skies, but it was incredibly cold. Cordi's second
team won the early game against their neighbours in the table, 4th placed
Vier- und Marschlande with a 1:0 scoreline, with the game itself not doing a
lot to raise either blood pressure or body temperature, but a win is a win.
Then in the afternoon it got really really frustrating though and I
inititially thought West Ham had just been beamed to Concordia's home ground
at short notice.

Why is that ? Well, the unbeaten table toppers of Dassendorf had come to
town. Not just unbeaten in fact, but as a team that had won all its 16
league games in a row so far this season, yet Concordia had them on the
brink, taking a promising 2:0 lead with 35 minutes to go. But, in best West
Ham fashion, the Cordi boys managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of
victory, despite putting on a commendable and brave fight against the
Invincibles from the countryside.

The guests were there for the taking but if you needlessly concede a
penalty, allowing your adversary a path back into the contest, then you also
cannot really complain if your goalkeeper makes one fatal blunder right at
the end to basically gift the opposition a late and slightly undeserved
winner. I was gutted. Shellshocked. Cordi had been oh so close to a massive
upset. But no cigar. And no grilled sausages either due to rampaging
youngsters vandalizing the club's barbecue grill a few weeks ago.

Well, at least there still was the West Ham game, they would be there for me
surely and cheer me up with a decent away performance – with a new gaffer in
charge surely there would be an upturn in miles covered, effort, guts and
results of course.

If only football was so simple. There were quite a few opportunities when
West Ham could have turned their game around. But we missed every single
goalscoring opportunity on the day. The defending still looked incredibly
shaky.
And I have to say that I was still mightily disappointed with the overall
running and pressing effort from our guys. For a team that already is smack
in the middle of a relegation scrap we still look fairly disinterested, not
really bovvered. So a new broom, but still the same old dirt and dust by the
looks of it.
Of course it can't be easy if you are in a downward spiral anyway – football
is a game where confidence is key. Confidence can only grow with results and
those will only begin to change for the better if we stop shipping goals and
start scoring them.

As a club we need to stop hiding behind excuses. Players should no longer
hide behind the manager. The board shouldn't point the finger at the manager
or the fans.
Moyes won't hide at this point anyway as he is still very much in the
process of finding his feet at his new club. So he will and should be
getting some time to change things for the better.

Everyone at the club needs to pull their weight, take responsibility in his
or her respective role. The thought of relegation doesn't even register yet.
There still is plenty of time to turn it all around. And turn it around we
must. But we need some decent performances and results sharpish for that to
happen in order to gain some much needed confidence. Confidence is key and
that's where the manager and team have to deliver. Us fans can do our bit,
but once the whistle sounds the players have to play, kick the ball and
perform.

This season feels very strange to me, I feel quite distant from it all
emotionally, and maybe this will all change with my upcoming visit when I
can actually watch another two games in person.

Usually the West Ham game is among the highlights of my week, at this point
I still watch when I can, but I am no longer anticipating the games as
eagerly as before.
Right now it feels very much like a force of habit watching our beloved
Hammers and I really hope the pure and undiluted joy I used to feel when
getting ready for the next game will come back to me over the course of the
season.

Luckily enough there now is no international break on the horizon, in fact
West Ham can put things right as early as Friday evening, against a
Leicester side I am simply unable to figure out this season. On paper the
game is definitely winnable. As the game will be played on a football pitch
though, and a bloody big one at that, God only knows what is going to
happen.

As usual I shall be hoping for the best. But changing the tyres on my motor
this Friday, finally putting the winter tyres on, may prove to be a more
exciting and also ultimately more successful enterprise than watching West
Ham's efforts to beat The Foxes in Stratford.

Mr.Moyes, please prove me wrong, get the lads back on the training pitch,
make 'em work their socks off and give us a win. Surely Leicester should
present us with a better chance to do that than upcoming opponents like
Arsenal or Chelsea. COYI!!!

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MOYES TARGETS TWO MIDFIELDERS IN £30M WEST HAM JANUARY SWOOPFeatured Image
Date: 20th November 2017 at 7:02pm
Written by: Josh Challies

West Ham boss David Moyes failed to achieve a perfect start to life with the
East London side as the Scottish manager lost his first match in charge
against Watford this weekend.

The 2-0 defeat means the Hammers remain in the relegation zone, one point
from safety, and Moyes will certainly be looking to strengthen his squad
when the January transfer window opens in around six weeks time.

Reports from The Daily Star reveal Moyes will be given £30m to spend in the
New Year and the former Sunderland boss has set his sights on two
midfielders, in the form of Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho and Hajduk
Split's Hamza Barry.

Portuguese international Carvalho is a long-term target for the Hammers, who
unsuccessfully tried to bring him to the Premier League in the summer, and
could end up costing more than record-signing Marko Arnautovic.

Barry, meanwhile, would cost significantly less and would provide plenty of
room for growth as he's just 23-years-old, though he presents a bargain as
the Gambian international has scored five goals and registered five assists
already this season.

A potential arrival of the pair would significantly bolster West Ham's
midfield options, where the likes of Mark Noble have disappointed in their
performances thus far.

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