Daily WHUFC News - 24th November 2017

Moyes: Unity, togetherness, home advantage, young players and the same old
Leicester City
WHUFC.com

David Moyes sat down with the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of his first
home match in charge of West Ham United.

The Hammers host Leicester City at London Stadium on Friday evening anxious
to end a run of five Premier League matches without a win – a record which
has seen them drop into the bottom three and led to Moyes' appointment a
little over a fortnight ago. The new manager was asked what his team need to
do to improve their fortunes, about his excitement ahead of his first home
game and for his view on Friday's visitors. Here is what he had to say…

Unity and togetherness will be key to our success

I want everybody to be together and be united and help each other along, not
just at London Stadium on Friday evening, but for the remainder of the
season. West Ham have always been a very vocal support. I can vouch for that
over the years and years I've been coming, I was always looking to get away
from Upton Park after the game because we knew it was going to be tough. We
want them to be supportive of the team. We have knowledgeable supporters and
they've seen a lot of good stuff down the years here and they want their
team to play well. What we've got to do is build it [togetherness] and make
sure we are all together and make sure that whatever happens and whatever is
said is affecting us all and not just one.

London Stadium is brilliant and we need to make it our fortress

I've been down a couple of times in the week and was there a year ago as
manager of Sunderland. It's a brilliant stadium and don't let anybody tell
you any different. It's going to be the stadium we play in for the next 100
years. I watched the game against Chelsea last year and it was one of the
best atmospheres I heard in the Premier League last season, if I'm honest,
so it's possible. What we need to do is give the supporters something to
shout about because if we give them something to shout about that's
half-decent then I think they will support us wherever. I think West Ham
supporters will support their team, no matter what stadium they're playing
in.

Youngsters will get their opportunities at the right time

I've always wanted to introduce young players, especially when I think it's
right, as I showed during my time at Everton. Declan Rice has already been
in the side for a few games this season. The bigger problem for Toni
Martinez is that he has competition in front of him from other centre
forwards – Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho, obviously Andy Carroll as well can do
that roll – so that's his biggest thing. Young Domingos Quina has been
training with us and he was on the bench as well. We're a bit short of
midfield players, so the openings can come for young players due to injuries
or suspensions or just not having players in those positions.

Leicester City – new manager, same playing style

I've watched a couple of Leicester City games as we're playing them and the
structure hasn't really changed even from Claudio Ranieri's time, to be
honest. They've got some outstanding players and their style of play really
fits their team and their club. I've got to say I think the new manager
Claude Puel has introduced one or two different things I've seen, I think,
and overall you'll see the Leicester City most people recognise from the way
they played a few years ago.
Because of their speed and their aggressiveness, I have to think about the
opposition, particularly with where we are in the league When you're at the
top, you think about your own team completely, but when you're in the
position we're in, we have to think about what the opposition could do to
hurt us. We also have to think about what we can do to hurt the opposition
so there's a balance. We obviously know what Leicester's threats are but we
need to give Leicester problems as well by how we play and what we do, so
it's a tight balance and we hope to be able to do both.

Mahrez and Vardy remain the Foxes' biggest threat

Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy were arguably Leicester City's most-important
players when they won the Premier League title two seasons ago and that
remains the case now. While Vardy still plays on the last man and uses his
pace to run in behind, Mahrez now, possibly playing as a No10, gives them a
different way of playing with a more technical player in that position,
rather than a Shinji Okazaki, for example who would give them the energy and
the legs. I don't know if he will play wide or as a No10, but in one of the
games they played he was in that position and gave them a bit more craft in
the middle of the pitch. As for Vardy, his wife is in the jungle on I'm a
Celebrity… and I wouldn't mind Jamie being in the jungle instead, if I could
do a swap deal!

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West Ham United statement: Boxing Day fixtures
WHUFC.com

Contrary to reports, West Ham United have not requested that the Club's
Boxing Day Premier League fixture be played away from London Stadium. A West
Ham United spokesperson said: "There is categorically no agreement in place
that means West Ham United have to play Boxing Day fixtures away from home.
"It is not uncommon for emergency services or other stakeholders to make
requests to the Premier League to avoid certain fixture dates. "However,
these requests will not always be granted by the Premier League and we fully
expect to play at London Stadium on Boxing Day in future seasons."

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Team News: Arnautovic and Ayew available for Leicester match
WHUFC.com

David Moyes has confirmed that Marko Arnautovic and Andre Ayew will be
available for West Ham United's match with Leicester City, but the Irons
will still be without Chicharito and Michail Antonio. The Hammers take on
the Foxes in the Premier League on Friday evening in Moyes's first match at
London Stadium in charge of West Ham United. The manager's squad will be
boosted by the availability of two attacking players in Arnautovic and Ayew.
The No7 was substituted in the second half of last weekend's match with
Watford with a suspected arm injury, but Arnautovic's knock was not as
serious as first feared and he will be able to play against Leicester. Ayew
meanwhile missed Moyes's first match due to illness, but the Ghanaian has
recovered in time to return to consideration for Friday's game "It [Marko
Arnautovic's injury] looked really serious when he came off," Moyes admitted
to his press conference. "It was bad. The first stop was broken arm and then
broken thumb. Thankfully there's no breaks. "It was badly swollen – it was a
bit like a boxer's hand when we saw it the next day. But he's fine. He has
trained with a good plaster on it. He's okay. "Andre Ayew was out with
illness. His wasn't so bad but he has taken a couple of days to find his
feet after. He's back in amongst us too which is good."

Michail Antonio has also returned to full training this week after suffering
an injury which kept the forward out of the Liverpool and Watford matches.
The 27-year-old, like James Collins, is on the road back to fitness after
his set-back but Moyes has indicated that neither will be risked versus
Leicester City, with the manager keeping one eye on a busy festive fixture
list. Moyes added: "Michail Antonio is back among the group but I think he
looks short of fitness and match practice. He won't be included in the squad
for the game but we need him back for the coming weeks. "James Collins has
been back training. He came out of training for one day due to a little
tweak. We are feeding him in and bringing him out, but we're trying to get
him back because we've got so many games and a really busy schedule coming
up. "Rushing James Collins and Michail Antonio back, I don't necessarily
think is the right thing to do at the moment. Because of the heavy period
coming up I'm going to need them in the coming weeks and months."

Moyes also offered updates on Chicharito, who is expected to return to
running next week, as well as Sam Byram – who has been out of action after
suffering an injury in training at the start of the month. "It would be get
to some of the other boys back, like Sam Byram. It would be good to get them
back. "Javier Hernandez will hopefully start some running and join in from
next week. We are hopeful for him from next week."

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'Sore loser' Antonio eager to help Hammers return to winning ways
WHUFC.com

'Sore loser' Michail Antonio is desperate to return to action and help West
Ham United get back to winning ways. The winger has missed the Hammers' last
two Premier League matches with a hamstring injury, but is now back in full
training and hopes to make his first appearance under David Moyes against
Leicester City on Friday evening. Antonio admits watching his teammates lose
out to Liverpool and Watford was difficult and vowed to do everything he can
to help Moyes record his maiden win as West Ham manager at London Stadium.
"My missus calls me a 'sore loser' and I'm definitely someone who is
competitive and wants to win games, so hopefully we can turn things around
and turn these 'Ls' into 'Ws'," he said, with typical bullishness.
"Leicester have picked things up lately and they are doing all right but,
for me, it's one of those things where we have a better squad and have got
better players and on Friday it should be a win for us."

Antonio's unique blend of strength and speed will undoubtedly add something
different to Moyes' squad, should he be declared fit for Friday's game, and
the No30 revealed the manager has spoken to him about his role going
forward. The player himself is desperate to prove his worth, not only to
Moyes but to everyone associated with the Club, after being criticised for
his role in Crystal Palace's last-gasp equaliser at Selhurst Park on his
last appearance in Claret and Blue. "I'm feeling good, to be honest. I had a
little bit of a tweak to my hamstring, but I've been training for a couple
of days now and it's feeling good and hopefully I'll be available for the
game on Friday. "With the wingers that we have in the squad, I believe I
bring a different aspect to the game as I stay wide and have pace and power,
and I also like to get crosses into the box as often as I can and as early
as possible. I am different, so it depends what sort of aspect the gaffer is
going for and we'll see what the team is on Friday. "Obviously I missed the
first week of training under the new manager, which was frustrating, but I
spoke to him and he told me what he expects from me and what he wants from
me. "I've now had a couple of days of training with him and his coaches and
the sessions were good and sharp, so hopefully we can take that sharpness
into the game against Leicester."

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Powell: We can turn over another big team
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U23 midfielder Joe Powell is confident his side will be a
match for Arsenal when the sides contest a London derby on Friday in Premier
League 2.
Terry Westley's side take on the Gunners an hour earlier than first team's
match with Leicester City at London Stadium, at Borehamwood FC's Meadow
Park.
And after victories over both Manchester City, Manchester United and
Tottenham Hotspur so far this season, as well as a draw with Chelsea, Powell
believes the Hammers will be more than a handful for Arsenal. He said:
"Coming out of the the game on Tuesday [against Benfica], although we took a
two-goal defeat, it didn't quite feel like that because we were actually the
better team having the young players out that we did. "We go into Friday
with a very positive attitude and knowing that we have done well in the
league this season. We'll look to get three points. Joe Powell"We've turned
over the biggest teams in the league this season already – Manchester City,
Manchester United – and got a good draw against Chelsea. "We've shown that
we can be a force against the big teams in this division and nobody should
be doubting that we can do it again on Friday."

Powell played at left-back in Tuesday's Premier League International Cup
fixture with Benfica, a position he has started in a number of times this
season. The natural winger has also found himself in central midfield and
although he admitted attacking is his main focus, he is happy to play
wherever the manager needs him. "Everyone wants to play in their favoured
position but sometimes you have a got to do a job and when you do it well,
of course it can become very enjoyable as well," he continued. "I've played
central midfield too, and that's somewhere I like playing because I can get
on the ball plenty and try to make this happen through the middle of the
park. "Left-back, you have to show a different side of your game, and as
well getting forward and being positive you have to defend hard, stay
switched on at all times and be strong on your opponent. I do enjoy it, but
not quite as much as my preferred position!"

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West Ham United v Leicester City
FRI 24 NOV 2017
PREMIER LEAGUE
20:00
Venue: London Stadium
BBC.co.uk

TEAM NEWS

West Ham manager David Moyes remains without injured trio Javier Hernandez,
Michail Antonio and James Collins for his first home game in charge. Andre
Ayew has recovered from illness and Marko Arnautovic is available as a
nasty-looking injury against Watford turned out to be only a swollen thumb.

Leicester manager Claude Puel has no fresh injury worries and has suggested
he will keep changes to a minimum. Defender Robert Huth and midfielder Matty
James remain sidelined.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Simon Brotherton: "There can't be many managers who have to stand on the
touchline listening to cries of 'sack the board', 'you're not fit to wear
the shirt' and 'you destroyed our club', while watching their first match in
charge end in ignominious defeat. "But that was the background to David
Moyes' hostile baptism at Vicarage Road last Sunday. Judging by his
post-match comments, the fans aren't the only ones hoping for more from the
players. "The reaction on and off the field at the London Stadium will be
interesting, with Leicester providing the opposition for Moyes' first home
game. "The Foxes didn't manage a single shot on target last week against
Manchester City but are unbeaten in their last four away matches."

Twitter: @SimonBrotherton

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

West Ham manager David Moyes: "We need to give the supporters something to
shout about and something that looks half decent, and then they will support
us.
"I want everyone to be together. I am not aware of the problems before I
came, I was a bit surprised when I heard (chanting against the board). "I
want them behind us to give us a chance of winning."

Leicester City manager Claude Puel: "I have a good feeling with the players;
they listen, they work hard on the pitch and I feel their ambition. "We will
see in the next games, with a good adaption and rotation, to see them
approach it with a positive attitude."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Even a draw against Leicester would be something to build on and I think the
most important thing for David Moyes in his first home game in charge is
that they do not lose.

Prediction: 1-1

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

West Ham are on a six-match winless streak against Leicester in all
competitions, losing five of them.
The Foxes could record three successive away victories in this fixture for
the first time. They had only won one of their 28 league visits to West Ham
prior to back-to-back victories in the past two seasons.

West Ham United

Nine points after 12 games represents West Ham's second worst start to a
Premier League season. They had eight points in the 2010-11 relegation
campaign.
They could lose three successive Premier League home games for the first
time since August 2015 when they still played at the Boleyn Ground.
David Moyes has failed to win any of his 10 Premier League home fixtures in
2017 (D4, L6). The record for most home games in a calendar year without a
victory is 11, set by Mick McCarthy 12 years ago.
West Ham have the division's worst defensive record, with 25 goals conceded
- their joint most at this stage of a Premier League season. They have let
in 89 league goals in 50 games since the start of last season.
The Hammers covered 114.5km against Watford on Sunday, their highest figure
of the season. However, they still trail every other team in the division
bar Manchester United, and they have made the fewest sprints.
They have conceded 12 of their 25 Premier League goals after the hour mark.
West Ham have scored just 11 league goals so far this season from 126
attempts.
Andy Carroll has gone 12 hours and 49 minutes without a goal - spanning 10
games - since scoring against Hull on 1 April.

Leicester City

The Foxes have gone four away matches without defeat in the league, although
their only win came at Swansea.
They failed to register an attempt on target in a Premier League game for
the first time in 13 months against Manchester City last weekend.
Jamie Vardy has scored two goals and provided two assists in his last four
Premier League appearances against West Ham.

SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-1 Probability of draw: 28%
Probability of home win: 38% Probability of away win: 34%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Liverpool that is used to predict the outcome of
football matches.

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New supporter pressure group launches
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 23rd November 2017
By: Staff Writer

Lifelong Hammers Andy Swallow and Micky Morgan took to social media this
lunchtime in order to deliver an impassioned call for unity from West Ham
supporters.

The hour-long broadcast was published on the 'Real West Ham Fans' Facebook
group, a new initiative that was set up yesterday in order to hold the
club's Board, who have been heavily criticised for their perceived
mismanagement of the club since leaving Upton Park, to account.

Swallow, 57, confirmed that he will be meeting the club in due course in
order to push the new group's agenda. He also denied reports that the club
have cancelled a previously-arranged meeting.

Whilst yet to be determined, the new body's schedule will centre upon
improving the fans' experience at the Olympic Stadium and making the Board
more accountable, following increasing discontent from the fanbase regarding
the manner in which the club is being run.

Additionally, the process will almost certainly involve a planned protest -
with both the Chelsea (9 December) or Arsenal (13 December) home games
mooted as potential dates. However this Friday's televised clash with
Leicester is seen as too soon to rally and organise effectively.

"We're going to demonstrate and take action until we're listened to,"
Swallow told the hundreds of West Ham fans who tuned in to today's live
broadcast. "We've had enough.

"We're looking for suggestions what to do and the best way to do it in order
to maximise it but also ensure limited damage to the football team itself as
they're our priority. We're aiming to make the stadium feel like home - and
to get a piece of our club back."

You may view the entire broadcast on the Real West Ham Fans Facebook group.

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Boxing Day cancelled as Stratford can't cope
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 23rd November 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United specifically requested that they play away from home this
coming Boxing Day in order to placate the owners of Westfield, according to
new revelations.

The Telegraph's Sam Wallace writes that West Ham made the request on the
basis that Stratford station would not be able to cope with a 50,000
football crowd in addition to the extra shoppers expected during the
Christmas period. This has since been confirmed by the Premier League.

It is the second successive season that West Ham have asked to play away
from home on Boxing Day. Last season United were sent to Swansea, whilst a
trip to Bournemouth this year will provide its own logistical nightmares for
Hammers hoping to see the game.

The revelation follows a request from the club earlier this year that the
club's opening four games of the season - three in the Premier League and
one in the Carabao Cup - be played away from home as a result of last
summer's World Athletics Championship event.

A club spokesman told the Telegraph: ""It is not uncommon for emergency
services or other stakeholders to make requests to the Premier League to
avoid certain fixture dates, however these requests will not always be
granted by the Premier League and we fully expect to play at London Stadium
on Boxing Day in future seasons."

Back in August, vice-chair Karren Brady insisted that West Ham fixtures
would always take precedence over any other events in Stratford. "When we
signed the contract in 2013 we were aware that the IAFF was going to
happen," she said, in reference to last summer's games.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime situation and it's the only time our games won't
take precedence." West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League, having
accrued just nine points from their opening 12 fixtures.

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E20 on the rocks
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 23rd November 2017
By: Staff Writer

Members of the London Assembley have demanded to see accounts relating to
the company that runs the Olympic Stadium, after rumours that they were
about to be wound up emerged.

E20 Stadium LLP was formed in July 2012 as an partnership between Newham
Council and the LLDC (London Legacy Development Corporation). However
rumours that the company is about to go uner led the Assembly to demand
answers in a meeting held earlier this week.

"This company spends vast amounts of public money and we know it is in
financial difficulty," said committee chairman Gareth Bacon. "But we have
been prevented from seeing the accounts of E20 Stadium LLP. Why?

"The assembly needs this information immediately so we can assess whether
[Sadiq Khan] is making the right decisions when it comes to the London
Stadium and Olympic legacy. The assembly needs to do its job of scrutinising
the issues that matter to London, unhindered."

Earlier this month the LLDC confirmed that it had no plans to cancel West
Ham's 99-year lease of the stadium, depite referrring to the agreement as
"onerous".

"We have a concession agreement with West Ham," LLDC Chief Executive David
Goldstone told the assembly. "Those contracts are onerous, we make a loss -
but we are working to fix it so the losses are dramatically less."

Meanwhile E20 have been given a fortnight in which to provide copies of
their latest, up-to-date accounts, whilst an LLDC spokesman confirmed that a
review - ordered recently by Mayor Khan and being prepared by accountancy
firm Moore Stephens - was forthcoming.

"LLDC and Newham Council are working closely with E20, the London Stadium's
owners, to address the long-standing financial challenges in the best
interests of the residents of Newham and Londoners," they said.

"A decision about the future of E20 and the stadium will be made by the
Mayor alongside the publication of the Moore Stephens review."

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Still no details for Tottenham trip
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 23rd November 2017
By: Staff Writer

Tottenham have written an apology to supporters for the delay in providing
ticketing information regarding West Ham United's trip to Wembley on Sunday,
31 December.

With little more than a month to go until the game takes place, ticket
details for the match have still not been released by the North London club
- who blamed "complicated circumstances" (without qualifying exactly what
those circumstances are) for the ensuing delay.

"We fully understand that for those loyal and committed fans anticipating
attending, this delay is inconvenient as we are already beyond the normal
deadline for the confirmations you deserve," read a statment on behalf of
SPurs and the Premier League.

"Staging matches requires many elements to be put in place, primarily to
ensure that you can all enjoy them safely and can get to and from grounds in
reasonable time.

"Given the complicated circumstances we are asking for a little more time to
work through solutions acceptable to those with the ultimate responsibility
for ensuring this match is played and enjoyed safely. We thank you for your
understanding."

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West Ham v Leicester preview: David Moyes' first home game on Friday Night
Football
Last Updated: 23/11/17 6:35pm
SSN

David Moyes presides over his first home game as West Ham manager when
Leicester City visit on Friday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Premier
League. The Hammers fans vented their anger at joint-chairmen David Sullivan
and David Gold, and vice-chair Karren Brady, during the 2-0 defeat at
Watford last Sunday.
Following some poor displays, which have left West Ham in the relegation
zone, Moyes hopes a decent performance will get the fans back on side. He
said: "I want everyone to be together. I am not aware of the problems before
I came, I was a bit surprised when I heard (the board criticism). "I want
them behind us to give us a chance of winning. But I'm looking for better
quality play, I'm looking for more opportunities albeit I don't think we're
going to get many better than the last game but we just need to improve our
all-round play really. Leicester manager Claude Puel believes the spirit
within his camp bodes well for the future as he prepares his team for a trip
to east London. "I have a good feeling with the players, they listen, they
work hard on the pitch and I feel their ambition," Puel told a press
conference. "We will see in the next games, with a good adaption and
rotation, to see them approach it with a positive attitude."

Team news

West Ham will still be without Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, winger
Michail Antonio and defender James Collins through injury. But forward Andre
Ayew is fit after illness ruled him out at Vicarage Road and Marko
Arnautovic has made what appears to be a remarkable recovery from the horror
injury he seemed to suffer against the Hornets. The Austria international
was left writing on the pitch in agony and left the field after lengthy
treatment on what turned out to be a sore thumb.
Leicester boss Puel has no fresh injury worries, but continues to be without
Robert Huth. The defender is yet to play this season as he continues to
battle a knee injury while Matty James is also sidelined with an Achilles
problem. Puel suggested he is unlikely to rotate his squad following last
weekend's defeat to Manchester City as he looks ahead to making changes
during the Christmas period instead.

Opta stats

West Ham are winless in their last five Premier League meetings with
Leicester, drawing one and losing four since a 2-0 home win in December
2014. Leicester have won their last two away league games against West Ham,
having won just one of their previous 28 in east London (W1 D6 L21). They've
never won three consecutively at the Hammers before. Having won their
previous two home Premier League matches on a Friday, West Ham lost their
last such match 0-3 against Brighton last month. Leicester City are yet to
win a Premier League game on a Friday (W0 D1 L3), though their four previous
matches have seen both sides score each time, producing a total of 15 goals
(3.8 per game).

Merson's prediction

Massive game, and I'm going for Leicester. I think this is a nightmare game
for West Ham. Firstly, they're not playing well, and Leicester are a
counter-attacking team. West Ham have to have a go, and I'm not sure about
what David Moyes said about the players after the defeat at Watford. He
criticised some of them for their performances; you say that to the players
in the dressing room, don't come out and say it on your first day! The
players won't be happy with that, no way.
If I were a player, I'd be thinking: 'Come on, tell us in the dressing room,
don't blame us in public.' I know it was the players' fault, but there's a
way of doing it. That was poor in my opinion.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (22/1 with Sky Bet)

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David Moyes wants 'better quality play' from West Ham
By Richard Cooke
Last Updated: 23/11/17 3:27pm
SSN

West Ham manager David Moyes says he is looking for more quality on the
pitch and has reitarated the need for togetherness ahead of his first home
game against Leicester. West Ham manager David Moyes says he wants to see
more quality on the pitch. Moyes first match in charge ended in a 2-0 defeat
at Watford on Sunday and he is looking to put things right in his first home
game against Leicester on Friday live on Sky Sports. The result left West
Ham in the bottom three with just two wins from 12 games and Moyes was
disappointed with the standard of football from his team. He said: "I think
their attitude and their application wasn't in question for me against
Watford, far from it, we could show that wasn't the case, so I think that's
the first thing we need to say. "But I'm looking for better quality play,
I'm looking for more opportunities albeit I don't think we're going to get
many better than the last game but we just need to improve our all round
play really. West Ham's travelling support made their feelings known during
and after the game, but Moyes wants them to get behind the team on Friday
night. He added: "I want everybody to be together and be united and help
each other along. I'm not aware of any problems before I came, I wasn't made
aware of anything. I was a little bit surprised when I heard it [the abuse
at Watford] I've got to say. I want them behind us, I want to give the team
every chance of winning. "West Ham have always been a really vocal support,
I can vouch for that over the years. For years and years I came and you're
always looking forward to getting away from Upton Park after the game
because you knew it was going to be tough so we want them to be supportive
of the team. "They are knowledgeable supporters, they've seen a lot of good
stuff going on over the years here and they will be wanting the team to play
well. "What we've got to do is build it [togetherness], make sure within the
team we build it. I've said many times you've got to be all together and
make sure whatever happens and whatever is said outside is affecting us all,
not just one".

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SUPPORTING WEST HAM-SUPPORTING MOYES
By Blind Hammer 23 Nov 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Blind Hammer looks at avoiding relegation and argues against protest.

Tomorrow night's game against Leicester will be a test not just for David
Moyes and the team but also the fans. By now Moyes will realised the huge
size of the task confronting him. Our display demonstrated a disjointed and
ineffectual effort against a depleted Watford shorn of many first team
regulars. Despite this Silva's men produced a confident display of verve and
attacking football which West Ham can only dream of. Those who argued for
the hiring of Silva over the summer will feel vindicated.

Yet there is no point in now dwelling on what might have been, in actual
fact, we need managerial speculation now like we need a hole in the head.

What we do need to manage is expectation. I wrote last week that Moyes'
capacity to transform our squad's fitness was fancifully overblown. Large
numbers of our squad, absent during the international break, would have
barely met Moyes, in Winston Read's case, returning only hours before
travelling to Watford. , Upcoming fixture congestion will [[[provide no
opportunity for any boot camp style fitness program. Expecting Moyes to wave
an immediate fitness magic wand was unrealistic. The club videos advertising
new training intensity looks like unfortunate spin now.

We need to face some unpalatable facts. For some weeks it has been clear
that we are in for a relegation fight. Too many points have been conceded
against average or poor teams. Games will get no easier in the weeks ahead.
We have consistently demonstrated that we have the worst defence in the
premiership. An average team with the worst defence will always struggle. We
are in for a rocky ride.

Things are already turning ugly with some of our fans. The stupidity of some
of Carroll's play against Watford was immediately exceeded by the stupidity
of fans who abuse him outside the ground. This is entirely
counterproductive. In this period of adversity with a team struggling for
confidence players will need not abuse but support like they has rarely
needed it before.

There will be no easy games. An expectation to roll over teams like Watford,
Brighton, Stoke, and Bournemouth West Bromwich should not currently exist.
Lashing out at the team, manager and even the Board because we have a team
bereft of confidence is a luxury we cannot afford.

Moyes was not a popular appointment and the chances are that he has
inherited a squad which will give him negative results. It is likely that
any honeymoon period will be brief and dissent will emerge. But for people
to react with an "I told you so" will not help, Moyes is the Manager until
the end of the season and no fan protest will or indeed even should change
this. Multiple managerial sacking rarely helps any club.

Equally futile is lashing out at our Board. We cannot afford the luxury of
petulant Stadium protests. We all tend to look for blame but this is
currently an indulgence.

We have been here before. The protest against the huge own goal of the Bond
scheme in 1991 was objectively entirely justified. Nevertheless however
justified the protest was it still resulted in a toxic atmosphere which
Billy Bonds, our manager at the time, was convinced was the cause of our
relegation.

I do not want to see history repeat itself. It seems some would almost
welcome relegation if it gave them a stick to beat the Board with and punish
them for moving to what they repeatedly call the "Athletics Bowl in a
desperate attempt to create a "feel bad" atmosphere. There should be no
satisfaction in seeing West Ham fail. Constant whining about how the Board
allegedly "promised the next level" is pointless now. We have to become more
positive if West Ham is ever to thrive again. Opposition fans love watching
our current disunity. Upton Park is no more, we can either engage in
perennial but futile whingeing about the past or we can try to move on a
support the club.
Having said that, I will now make my own constructive Board criticism. The
fact is that they also have to considerably up their game. The announcement
following Moyes' appointment was clumsy at best. They are far too fond of
getting excuses in early. They seem to have been taking lessons from the
Boris Johnston School of Diplomacy. Sullivan's "shooting from the hip"
description of Moyes as a "gamble" was crass in the extreme. His subsequent
description of Moyes as not the best but only "the "best available" also
damns him with faint praise. Sullivan is the boss at West Ham so he has the
right to speak his mind. However despite Boris's example a political leader
is normally media coached to avoid making these sorts of gaffs. , Sullivan
desperately needs similar support. The problem is who, at West Ham, will be
able to tell him he needs this? Will the brave PR person please stand up?

So we must positively support Moyes and the club as a whole in the difficult
weeks ahead. From top to bottom, from Board to fans, we must embrace Moyes
as a legitimate Manager and try to build confidence in our team.

Once upon a time West Ham used to be famous for supporting our team in
adversity. Players remember fans support much more when things are going
badly rather than when they are going well. From tomorrow night's game
against Leicester I have committed myself to supporting the team through our
current adversity. I will not leave early no matter what the score. I will
not boo, no matter what. I will try to encourage and do my tiny bit to
improve the love and support the team can feel. In return I expect the team
to try their best. This use to be the West Ham Mojo. If we are to prove that
there are three teams worse than us we need to rediscover it fast.

COYI
David Griffith

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WEST HAM'S DAVID MOYES PREVIEWS LEICESTER GAME
The Mirror

New boss David Moyes showed his West Ham players he means business — by
reading Andy Carroll the riot act after his first game in charge. Manager
Moyes stunned witnesses by "hammering" star striker Carroll over his display
in Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Watford. The England international was taken off
in the 65th minute, immediately after the Hornets' second goal. He was
walking a tightrope after being booked for a foul on Richarlison, having
escaped punishment for catching defender Marvin Zegelaar with a stray elbow
just six seconds into the match. However, it was his overall performance
rather than just his ill-discipline – in his first league start for five
weeks following a red card at Burnley – that angered Moyes. The Scot is
understood to have told Carroll in no uncertain terms in Vicarage Road's
away dressing room that his display was not up to scratch and he needed to
liven up. Moyes, who has vowed to get tough with West Ham's players, hasn't
held back in publicising his expectations of the squad he's inherited from
the sacked Slaven Bilic. He underlined that in his treatment of Carroll, and
sent out a warning to the rest of his squad in the process. Though Moyes
didn't begin his reign with the result he wanted at Watford, he is
understood to have made a positive impression since taking charge. His
straight-talking communication style and hard work have gone down well with
many of the players, along with the intensity and hands-on approach he has
brought to training sessions. Moyes' displeasure was clear after the Watford
defeat, when he said diplomatically that "there were some players with big
reputations who disappointed me a little bit" having singled out Carroll
behind closed doors. And his criticism of West Ham's one-time £15m record
signing will increase the scrutiny on the striker in Friday's home game
against Leicester. He was taunted with chants of "You're not fit to wear the
shirt" when hooked on Sunday — having angered sections of the fan-base after
what proved to be Bilic's final game, a 4-1 loss to Liverpool, by telling
them they "really should be staying until the end" of matches.

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