West Ham United part company with Slaven Bilic
WHUFC.com
West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has today left his position with the Club. The Chairmen and board of West Ham United would like to place on record their thanks and gratitude to Slaven and his team for their services over the past two-and-a-half years, but believe a change is now necessary in order for the Club to move forward positively and in line with their ambition. West Ham United can confirm that Bilic's coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the Club with immediate effect. The Club's search for a new manager to take West Ham United forward is underway and an announcement regarding Bilic's successor is expected to be made over the coming days.
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A statement from the Joint-Chairmen
WHUFC.com
It is with disappointment and heavy hearts that we have made the decision to relieve Slaven Bilic of his duties as West Ham United manager. Since joining the Club in the summer of 2015, Slaven has conducted himself throughout with honesty and integrity, and shown great determination and commitment to the role. In his first season - our final campaign at the Boleyn Ground - he led the team to a memorable finish that no Hammers fan will ever forget, and gave us a 3-2 victory against Manchester United in our final home game there that will go down in West Ham United history. During the summer, the Board invested heavily signing the players Slaven believed would complete the squad he needed to push the Club back towards the level we had reached in his first season, and we believe we have the players capable of doing that.
Sadly, performances and results have not been of the expected standard and, in recent weeks, we have not seen enough indication of the required improvement to give us the encouragement that things would change and we would meet our Premier League aspirations this season. As custodians of the Football Club it is our responsibility as a Board to do what is best for West Ham United, and we believe a change is now necessary to ensure we can begin to move the team back in the right direction. We see this as an exciting opportunity to appoint a quality manager to the position to inject fresh ideas, organisation and enthusiasm into a very talented squad. We would like to thank Slaven for his efforts and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours. He will always be welcome at London Stadium, as a former player and manager who always gave everything for the Club. We would also like to place on record our sincere thanks to the team of coaches that assisted him.
We will now focus our entire efforts on bringing in the manager we believe can get the best out of the current squad of players and steer the Club towards the top half of the table as quickly as possible.
David Sullivan and David Gold
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A message from Slaven Bilic
WHUFC.com
I would like to say how proud I am to have been given the opportunity to manage West Ham United Football Club. It has been far more than just a job for me. Having worn the claret and blue shirt as a player, I felt that connection when I returned as manager and I have always known how truly special this club is.
I am sad that it hasn't worked out in the way we wanted this season. But I leave with my head held high, along with some wonderful memories that I will always cherish. My first season in charge was fantastic. We broke so many records, losing only one game against the top six teams home or away, and finishing just four points away from the Champions League places. And for it to end the way it did, on that unforgettable final night at the Boleyn Ground, was sensational. To have been a part of that magical evening is something that will live with me forever. I was confident that we would be able to progress this season and continue to close the gap between expectation levels and reality, but unfortunately it has not been the case. I believe in my qualities and wanted desperately to fight on to turn things around, but I understand the club's desire to make a change.
I would like to thank the Chairmen and the board, for offering me the chance to manage this great club, and for the support they have given me during my time in charge. I would also like to thank the players – some of whom have been here since my very first day as manager – for the effort and commitment they have shown me during the past two-and-a-half years. I thank my coaching team and the staff at the training ground for their support, loyalty and dedication – I have been lucky to have worked with such good people.
Finally, I would like to finish by thanking the West Ham United supporters. We had a special bond when I played for the club, and that bond was still there when I returned as manager. I genuinely hope they get the success they deserve and I wish everyone at West Ham United all the very best in the future.
Slaven Bilic
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Carroll: Hammers have 'great quality' despite 'terrible day' vs Liverpool
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll has conceded that West Ham United suffered a 'terrible day' against Liverpool but insists the Club have the quality to move up the table. Despite Manuel Lanzini's finish in the second half the Hammers fell to a 4-1 defeat to the Reds on Saturday, with Liverpool scoring through Mohamed Salah, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Carroll – who was introduced at the start of the second period – has bluntly admitted that this weekend's showing was unacceptable by the Irons. "Obviously, the result was terrible," Carroll said. "A counter-attack for the goal and the corner set-piece for the first two was not acceptable, really. We thought we were getting back into it with our goal and then they scored again, straightaway. It was unacceptable from us. It was a terrible day for us."
Despite the loss to Liverpool Carroll remains confident that he and the rest of the side can turn West Ham's season around and prove their ability once again.
The striker reckons it's just a slight difference that the team need to make to recognise their full potential. Carroll added: "I think we've got a good enough dressing room to turn it around. Everyone knows that in the dressing room. "We should be better and it's us that are to blame, but we've got great quality in the dressing room. We've got a fantastic team. We've just got to turn something around. Something's just not clicking at the minute." The 28-year-old says that the players were very annoyed by their showing against the Reds and will work together to change that. "We're down at the minute," Carroll said. "It was a 97th minute equaliser against Palace and then we wanted to put that right today. We didn't really get started in the first half. The second half I thought we did. We got the goal. "I came on at half-time and we've walked in fuming. It's frustration as well. The goals we've conceded were sloppy. It's not acceptable at all and we ourselves need to put that right."
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Slaven Bilic: West Ham sack manager with David Moyes likely to replace him
BBC.co.uk
Slaven Bilic has been sacked as West Ham manager with former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes set to replace him on an interim basis. Bilic, 49, departed with the club in the Premier League relegation zone. His last game in charge was Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Liverpool at London Stadium. West Ham said the club believed a change was necessary "to move forward positively and in line with their ambition".
West Ham seek 'fresh ideas, organisation & enthusiasm'
Speaking to reporters as he left West Ham's training ground, Bilic - who was appointed in the summer of 2015 - said: "There are no hard feelings. I can be very proud of my work here. "We didn't start this crucial season well. As in many clubs across Europe, the manager is the one who pays the price. It's a very logical move."
With 11 league matches gone, he is the fourth Premier League manager to leave his job this season following Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace), Ronald Koeman (Everton) and Craig Shakespeare (Leicester). A statement from joint chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said Bilic had conducted himself with "honesty and integrity" and the decision to sack him had been made "with disappointment and heavy hearts". "We see this as an exciting opportunity to appoint a quality manager to the position to inject fresh ideas, organisation and enthusiasm into a very talented squad," they said. West Ham say Bilic's coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the club with immediate effect. Chris Woods, who was goalkeeping coach under Moyes at Everton and United, is the only member of the coaching staff to remain. A club statement said: "The search for a new manager to take West Ham United forward is under way and an announcement regarding Bilic's successor is expected to be made over the coming days."
Former Croatia defender Bilic guided West Ham to seventh spot in his first season in charge, but an 11th-placed finish last term, their first at London Stadium, has been followed by a poor start this season. The Hammers are 18th, having won just two Premier League matches in 2017-18 - and lost their first three league games of the campaign. "We will now focus our entire efforts on bringing in the manager we believe can get the best out of the current squad of players and steer the club towards the top half of the table as quickly as possible," said Gold and Sullivan. West Ham's next match is at Watford on Sunday, 19 November.
Is Moyes the man for Hammers?
BBC Sport understands West Ham held talks with Moyes while Bilic's future was being reviewed. Speaking to Bein Sports on Sunday, the Scot denied there had been contact, but said he wanted to return to club management and was "interested" in the West Ham job. Moyes said: "I've always said I want to go back into club management. If the right opportunity comes around, I'll be interested." His most recent managerial job was at Sunderland - he resigned after they were relegated to the Championship in May. Asked specifically about West Ham, the 54-year-old said: "I am interested but at the moment that vacancy has not become available. I know what Slaven must be going through." lan Irvine, Moyes' former assistant at Everton, could be a candidate to join the Scot should he get the job.
Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton told BBC Radio 5 live that Moyes was "the safe option if you're thinking about grinding out until the end of the season and safety". But he added: "As a player, David Moyes coming in wouldn't inspire me."
Bilic's West Ham career by numbers
Bilic - who previously managed his country for six years - spent a reported £42m on players in the summer. That included the signings of forward Marko Arnautovic from Stoke City for a club record £20m, and former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez from Bayer Leverkusen for £16m. However, his side have taken just nine points from 11 league matches, conceding 23 goals in the process. They endured a poor start to last season, winning just two of the first seven Premier League home games after moving into London Stadium, and suffering heavy defeats by Watford (4-2), Southampton (3-0) and Arsenal (5-1). However, Bilic eventually guided the club to a mid-table finish and his record compares favourably with his predecessors, with none having claimed more Premier League points per game.
What do the fans say?
Graeme Howlett, editor of the West Ham fans' website Knees Up Mother Brown There's a general consensus that Slaven Bilic's time was up, even among those who have supported him throughout his tenure at the club. The fans seem quite unanimous in that they are not particularly keen to see Moyes come in. They would prefer to see someone more progressive. I suspect there would be an awful lot of criticism for the board, who are already under intense pressure following the move to the Olympic Stadium, which has not gone down well. Various reasons have been mentioned, including his record at Sunderland, where he came in at a similar position and failed to keep them in the Premier League. There was also the incident with the female reporter which has been mentioned a few times.
Are West Ham fans ever truly happy? I don't know. I saw Guus Hiddink mentioned on Twitter. Whether that's the sort of calibre of manager we could attract, I'm not convinced. It would have to be someone from that top tier to give West Ham fans some sort of confidence we can survive and stay in the Premier League next season.
Analysis
BBC Sport's Simon Stone
David Moyes' appointment as West Ham's new manager is likely to be confirmed within the next 24 hours. Moyes returned from a trip to Qatar, where he did some work as a TV pundit, on Monday morning. It is understood contact has been made with the Scot, who has already said he would like the chance to take over. Although the prospect of Moyes' arrival has not been positively received by many Hammers fans following disappointing stints at Manchester United and Sunderland, West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold view him as someone who will get the club moving in the right direction again. In particular, Moyes' work on the training ground is seen as having the potential to get more out of an underperforming group of players.
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Slaven Bilic: Sacked West Ham boss needs a break, says Ian Wright
BBc.co.uk
Slaven Bilic needed a break from management for the sake of his health, says ex-West Ham striker Ian Wright. Bilic, 49, was sacked as Hammers boss on Monday with the club in the relegation zone after winning two of their first 11 games. "As a friend, I'm actually pleased, knowing what he has been going through," Wright told BBC Radio 5 live. "For his health he needs this break from it, because you can't work like that, always two games from the sack."
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes, who resigned as Sunderland boss in May following the club's relegation from the Premier League, is expected to be brought in for the rest of the season. Bilic was appointed in 2015, and led West Ham to seventh in his first campaign, but they dropped to 11th the following season - their first at London Stadium. This season, they have beaten only Swansea and Huddersfield and conceded seven goals in their past two home defeats, against Brighton and Liverpool. "I don't think they looked like they were working hard enough and the stats prove it." Wright added on the Monday Night Club. "If it is David Moyes coming in, the first thing he has to do is improve the fitness because it looks like they were not interested and that has to come from the manager."
'Payet exit started slump'
Former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend believes the protracted departure of playmaker Dimitri Payet in January was a key factor in the club's slump. "I put it all back to that," he said. "They had a special player there and for whatever reason, he left - and in such a bad way that they never seemed to recover. They have been scratching around for form since." Townsend warned West Ham may suffer in the same way as Aston Villa, who secured three successive sixth-placed finishes under Martin O'Neill, but then fell down the table as spending was reduced, and were relegated in 2016. "Martin O'Neill desperately wanted to take them into that next arena," Townsend said. "Villa were on the cusp of being the next one to muscle past the big four. "I don't want to frighten West Ham fans with that Villa analogy but the owners at Villa decided they didn't want to spend that money and all of a sudden they started to slide."
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EXCLUSIVE UNCONFIRMED NEWS: MOYES SET TO BE NAMED AS MANAGER AND WITH THE FOLLOWING BACKROOM TEAM
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 6 NOVEMBER 2017 AT 2:20PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
We can exclusively reveal, although it is not finalised and anything can happen at this point, that David Moyes is set to be named West Ham manager and take his first training session tomorrow. He will be given a two and a half year contract with the opportunity for the club to break the clause at the end of the season regardless of what Moyes achieves in this time. The rumours that have been given to the site is that his backroom team could consist of his former assistant manager Alan Irvine, Steve Round, Jimmy Lumsden, Chris Woods (who is the only member of the backroom team to survive Bilic's sacking) and surprisingly Stuart Pearce (as the token Ex player returning)-although Pearce has since denied contact with the club. It is also thought that the backroom team will not include Phil Neville which was widely expected to happen. While we are keen to stress this is unconfirmed at this point these are the latest rumours that have came from the same source that told us Bilic would be sacked if we lost heavily to Liverpool and that Moyes was even in the running to be the manager. Whatever happens we will try our best via my twitter or the site to keep you up to date!
Please credit the site when using this information
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TACTICAL PROFILE: DAVID MOYES
AUTHOR: BEN COOPER. PUBLISHED: 6 NOVEMBER 2017 AT 9:59PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Welcome to the second installment of our tactical profile series. Today's focus comes in the wake of the sacking of Slaven Bilic. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Slav and his team for some of my fondest West Ham memories. During the final season at the Boleyn we saw some amazing football, and some incredible moments that will stay with us for life. I wish Slaven all the best for the future.
Today's profile is on David Moyes and his rumored backroom team. Moyes played the game as a centre back before taking on his first managerial position with Preston North End. His successes there got him the Everton job where he spent eleven years. He was praised for his achievements at Everton by many fellow managers including Sir Alex Ferguson who recommended Moyes as his successor.
He was sacked after 10 months as Manchester United manager after breaking many of the wrong records. These included the worst start to a league campaign for twenty four years and Manchester United's lowest ever points tally in the premier league era, leading to the team failing to qualify for the Champion's league for the first time since 1995. City, Liverpool, and Everton all managed to do the double over Manchester United in a season for the first time. The team suffered a home defeats at the hands of Newcastle for the first time since 1972, and West Brom for the first time since 1978, and Swansea for the first time ever. The appointment of Moyes will go down as one of Manchester United's greatest mistakes. However, the next appointment, Louis van Gaal did not out perform Moyes statistically, despite being far more active in the transfer market. A lack of backing in the transfer window is one of the reasons Paul Scholes cited when questioned about Moyes and his performance, although it had later transpired that he had been far too focused on landing Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas, two deals that ultimately broke down.
Moyes then went on to manage Real Sociedad for one year. This included a 1:0 victory over Barcelona which led journalists to recall his successful days at Everton. He was however sacked after a poor start to the following season.
His next appointment was with Sunderland who Sam Allardyce had kept up the season before. Big Sam left for England and Moyes was employed to replace him. Sunderland last season were one of the worst teams to ever play in the top division, they finished the season bottom of the league recording six wins, six draws, and a whopping twenty nine defeats. If West Ham give David Moyes a contract, he will surely be aware that it will be his final chance to restore his reputation as another failure will probably end his career as a top flight manager.
Tactically speaking, David Moyes tries to set up his teams to be difficult to beat and to nullify the opposition's strengths. Everton under Moyes played with lots of width, which mainly came from the fullbacks. His preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1 with the central attacking midfielder playing in an advanced position just behind a main striker, resembling a 4-4-2 at times. One of the central midfielders is often tasked with supporting the wide players and creating overloads on the opposition flanks, a role that Leon Osman excelled in with Everton. Moyes has a reputation of being quite negative but his Everton team created many chances, spending a large percentage of games in their opponent's half. He has been known to value 'the system' over any individual player, where players are picked to do specific jobs and follow a fairly rigid game plan. This last point worries me considerably as I fear that our best players may become unhappy if they do not fit in with the plan. This is something that Javier Hernandez has already experienced playing under Moyes at Manchester United. The first, and arguably most important task that Moyes will face if he joins us is getting Hernandez on his side, and smoothing over any issues from the past. He will face an uproar if he decides to freeze out our highest earner and most talented finisher.
Other players who have worked under Moyes have also been quite vocal about their experiences. Rio Ferdinand stated that the tactics under Moyes were 'embarrassing' and that he brought negativity and confusion to the club. He said that "He tried to impose a vision but never seemed to be completely clear what that vision should be" and "Often he told us to play it long, and other times he wanted 600 passes in the game". The Sunderland players nicknamed Moyes 'The energy vampire' and he was accused of sucking the life out of the club with a poor, defeatist attitude. However Leon Osman has recently said "I think his desire, his will to win and his attention to detail which you don't see when you just see a manager walking up and down the touchline on a Saturday, you don't see the amount of work and the detail that has gone in through the week. David Moyes was very passionate about working, getting his coaches involved and working through the week and West Ham will see the benefits of that."
The rumored backroom team consists of Alan Irvine, Steve Round, and Jimmy Lumsden who have all worked with Moyes previously. If they are appointed, I will provide more detailed profiles on them over the coming days. The most interesting rumor surrounding this potential appointment is that of Stuart Pearce who made 50 appearances for us scoring three times. He was named Hammer of the Year in 2001. I am hoping he has an active role if he joins as he was successful with the England under 21 side and he strikes me as someone who is tactically smart, and will not suffer fools.
I am far from excited about this potential appointment and I think this is a sideways step at best. It is clearly a risk appointing a manager who is on such a trajectory in terms of their career. Can he turn things around for both us and himself? Will we get the Moyes of Everton? I am not worried that we will suffer a similar fate to Sunderland though. I think at the very least, training will improve which will improve fitness allowing the squad to carry us through. We just need them playing as a team with intensity, something the players are more than capable of doing with some structure installed. We have to carry on supporting the team on the pitch, whoever is in place for the next game.
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SLAVEN BILIC-MY TRIBUTE
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 6 NOVEMBER 2017 AT 9:29PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Katie S @flump9
Well the inevitable happened today and as much as we are now all discussing the also inevitable recruitment of David Moyes, I still can't help but feel rather dejected at Slaven Bilic's departure.
There had been uncertainty surrounding Bilic for some months now and many are probably surprised that he lasted this long. His record the last two seasons was quite condemning and frankly indefensible and it was therefore understandable that a decision needed to be made sooner rather than later on his future and also that of our club.
His time was up, there is no denying it, but that doesn't mean I have to turn against him and celebrate him leaving. I have seen a small minority of fans revelling in the fact that he has been sacked and I just don't understand how people can wish bad upon a man that has shown nothing but respect towards our club. Yes, he was out of his depth. Yes, the team were not performing. Yes, he had made many questionable decisions. However, despite all of that, I still respect the man, sadly it just did not work out for him.
I have many fond memories of Slav, from his very first league game, where he made my 30th birthday a very special day, beating Arsenal at the Emirates! I thought that might have just been a fortunate day, however that day was one of many highlights in 2015/16 season. Let's not forget that it was his team that helped stop Tottenham from winning the league two years running and of course that unforgettable night at Upton Park, beating Manchester United in the farewell Boleyn match. There are simply no words to sum up the emotion and elation that I felt and it was clear to see in Bilic's face how much it meant to him also.
Slaven never put blame elsewhere, never criticised our fans nor the board and always took responsibility (even when he should have placed it elsewhere). Maybe this is part of the reason it did not work out for him, maybe he was just too agreeable. I can't help but feel that he needed to stand up for himself a little more, but then again, this is what makes Slav the man he is.
Whatever the reasons for his exit, I have a few final words that I would say to Slav if I were to see him…..
"Slaven, you have been classy, humble and respectful throughout your time at the club. I know you understood what it meant 'to be West Ham' and that is something that isn't easy to find. You gave me one of the most memorable seasons of my lifetime supporting West Ham United and for that I will forever be truly grateful. Thank you Slaven and I wish you all the luck in the world, wherever your future lies".
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West Ham 1 - 4 Liverpool (And Other Ramblings)
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 6th November 2017
By: HeadHammerShark
"When your heart is black and broken And you need a helping hand When you're so much in love you don't know Just how much you can stand" - The Stone Roses, "Ten Storey Love Song"
***
There is, in Greek mythology, the story of Sisyphus, a man condemned to roll a boulder uphill for eternity due to his trickery and deceitfulness. I don't think we can reasonably ascribe either of those two characteristics to Slaven Bilic, but I think the Croat would identify with the frustration and futility of the punishment.
Given that Hollywood are gradually rebooting every story ever told by man, I suspect that when they eventually update Sisyphus he will be a Croatian Premier League manager doomed to play in a cursed graveyard every week, with the slowest team ever assembled, and a Chairman determined not to sack him but at the same time, never support him either. He'll be played by Gerard Butler because a thing that happens sometimes is that people pay Gerard Butler to be in films. I do not know why.
Wait, did we just concede from....our own corner?
So let's briefly address this game.
We were destroyed.
The thing is, you don't need me to tell you anything about it because you've seen it so many times before. Would you need me to describe for you the plot of a horror movie? Why bother - you know that some of them won't make it out alive, nobody should go into the forest and going downstairs is a bad idea. Well, spoiler alert guys - we went downstairs, in the forest, drunk, lost sight of our chainsaws and only Lanzini made it out alive.
So this game didn't particularly move me in any way because it doesn't even crack the top 5 of worst home defeats under Bilic. The Board have made it perfectly clear over the last fifteen months that these kinds of results were not a problem for them. It can be dressed up in terms of wanting to support the manager but the reality is that so long as he didn't steer us into a genuine relegation battle, getting beaten 5-1 at home was an acceptable price to pay for mid table mediocrity and another £100m cheque from the Premier League.
People might scoff at that and think I'm being too harsh on the Board, but what other conclusion is there to be drawn from how long this has been allowed to continue? If you think the image of everyone being hacked apart with a chainsaw is distressing, I should warn you now that I am getting ready to hit you with some STATS once I've finished fleshing out how truly Greater Anglia Rail we were in this game.
***
"Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy, no one ever said it would be this hard"
- Coldplay, "The Scientist"
Things didn't start terribly as the East Stand did an excellent job of holding up some claret and blue plastic bags prior to kick off to create a moving tribute for Remembrance Day. I sound like I'm being sarcastic there but I'm not - it was genuinely lovely.
We weren't totally shit
Sadly, that was the most coordinated move that anyone in a West Ham shirt would manage all day, as we were soon two goals down for the TWENTY SIXTH time under Bilic. We actually started with a slight spring in our step and Lanzini soon set up Andre Ayew to hit the outside of the post. This created a film of optimism around the ground that had all the rigidity of a Fairy Liquid bubble and was soon popped when Liverpool opened the scoring.
The manner of the goal was a thing to behold as we somehow managed to turn our own corner into a three on one breakaway for the visitors, which ended with Mo Salah easily beating Hart at his near post. My daughters U10 team played a game this morning where they lost by so many that nobody had any idea of the score at the end and I still didn't see any defending as bad as for that goal.
Here is Aaron Cresswell attempting to repel that particular attack, for anyone who missed it:
We then defended a corner by having all our players close their eyes, hold hands and offer up a prayer to Sauron, and somehow that didn't work either and Liverpool scored again and now every time I see Joe Hart I can only imagine how much he must hate his agent.
So even as Manuel Lanzini briefly dragged us back into this game with a splendidly taken goal at 2-0 down, and then when we blew all of that up by conceding a third one fucking minute later, I couldn't even muster an angry epithet. This has happened so frequently, with such predictability and regularity that it simply doesn't register anymore. And truthfully I don't believe the Board are that fussed about these games, which in turn bleeds over into the crowd who can't get up for matches that we all know the team can't win, as well all accept that there is nothing in the running of the club which can change that.
None of which is to say that the players and manager don't care, or didn't try to win but only that if these massive home losses were of any relevance to the decision making at the Club they wouldn't have allowed so many to pile up. I think it's fair to say that right now the Board don't think that we can compete with the Top Six (we can't) and that the gap between them and the rest is so large (it is) that those results can't be a barometer of how well a manager is doing (here we disagree).
Truth be told, as I saw £35m Salah combining with £34m Mane, £29m Firmino and £35m Oxlade-Chamberlain I found it hard to disagree. Other clubs have managed it, of course, but then again we are not Burnley.
I say again - we are not Burnley, and the Burnley manager isn't going to leave them to come here. Ayew carumba indeed.
Quite how all of this led to the Board deciding to vote to give Liverpool a greater share of the Premier League television money is a question for another day, but right now we are in the same league as these teams in only one way and it isn't in a playing sense.
The visitors added another somewhere towards the end, when people in hockey masks and torches appeared and the walls started bleeding, and could have had several more but for Hart and the fact that most of the chances seemed to fall to James Milner. On another day I would probably attempt to describe how Liverpool didn't actually seem to play that well in this game but, you know, 4-1 does send something of a message.
***
"Numbers is hardly real and they never have feelings
But you push too hard and even numbers got limits"
- Mos Def, "Mathematics"
So, about those stats. Let's dig into the records of our time at the London Stadium, which I think we can all agree has unquestionably been built on the only Indian Burial Ground in Britain ((c) @LeBigHouse).
Let's start with our overall league record (I've ignored the Cups as this article is going to struggle to get an 18 rating as it is):
London Stadium Record
Played 24; Won 9; Drawn 4; Lost 11; For 25; Against41
Before you all lose your shit over that, please remember that this doesn't include any adjustment for the size of our digital screens.
How about goalscoring:
Teams To Have Scored Four Goals in a Game
Manchester City (x2); Liverpool (x2); Watford; Arsenal
We're not on this list. Watford are. The athletics were fun in the summer though.
Teams To Have Scored Three Or More Goals in a Game
West Ham (x3, Domzale, Crystal Palace, Bolton); Manchester City (x2); Liverpool (x2); Southampton; Leicester; Spurs; Brighton
So, to be clear, we have scored three times in a league game at our current ground as many times as Brighton have and fewer times than Liverpool. We are top of this list though, so let it not be said that we have been totally hopeless at our new home.
And lastly, a little look at a particular bugbear of mine, namely our first half performances:
Half Time Record
W 2; D 12; L 10; For 5; Against 20; 0-0 11
And just to put this little lot into perspective, what this is showing you is that West Ham have had a half time lead at the London Stadium as many times as Liverpool have.
***
"I don't feel bad about letting you go,
I just feel sad about letting you know"
- Billy Bragg, "A New England"
While those tables might make for worse reading than Andy Carroll's medical records, they do unfairly discount Bilic's first season when we were still at Upton Park, Payet was still here, the sun used to shine and there was nothing wrong with the world. But, the sad truth is that his tenure has to be split into two halves - there and here. The first bit was an amazing glimpse into a brighter world, that now seems like it was about two centuries ago. When I watch video clips of those games I an amazed that they aren't in black and white with visible film breaks.
Who else remembers when we were good?
But no matter how great all of that was, the sands of time continued draining away inexorably and we've all paid for new season tickets, the owner has a new stadium and what have you done for me lately, Slav? And the sad answer to that question is...nothing but oversee decline.
Even the most ardent Bilic fan would have to accept that the team look listless and lacking in structure. I understand the flares of hope that go up when we win at Wembley or play well at Burnley with ten men, but that cannot be enough for a team with sixty thousand fans, the 18th highest turnover in world football and a squad that has so many of the 2014 Fantasy Premier League's top performers.
As I write this, Bilic remains in a job, but by the time you read this that may change. In many ways, I don't see why he is losing his job now given that this defeat was no different to the similarly lame capitulation against the same opponents at the end of last season. But if this was the end, then I will breathe a sigh of relief. There would be some, admittedly faint, sense of comfort that perhaps we might now improve and also for Bilic himself who will no longer have to stand alone on the touchline at the Terrordome, hands on knees, flicking his jacket out behind him in frustration as Mark Noble looks up again to find none of his teammates want the ball off him.
Can it be as simple as Payet being responsible for everything good that happened in 15/16 and once he left that was that? Can a manager who took his tiny country to two European Championships really have been solely reliant upon one player? We'll find out when the inevitable book comes out and Bilic reveals the true horror of what West Ham is really like behind the scenes, but I struggle to believe that. Whatever happens, he has carried himself with dignity in the face of working for people who have used him to mask their own failures.
In the end, the fault lines were too wide and too pronounced and we are now in a highly precarious position, bereft of confidence and with no discernible pattern of play. We're up shit creek without a boat.
But even if Bilic gave us all those two goal deficits he also gave us lots of high points too, and he deserves to be remembered for that. It's a shame that one of those - the Spurs 1-0 victory last May - was enough to convince our hopeless Board to stick with him into the new season. That mystifying decision has now left us adrift, with nothing to attract in any managers of high regard who have so far taken one look at the ageing playing staff, the board room interference and the fact that they will have little chance to reinforce the squad and all suddenly remembered that they have an urgent appointment but will definitely call Mr Sullivan back when they get a minute.
***
"There is a wait so long, you'll never wait so long
Here comes your man"
- The Pixies, "Here Comes Your Man"
So against the backdrop of all this turmoil, one man has emerged confidently into the spotlight.
My defence is how old?
As I write this David Moyes is the odds-on favourite to succeed Bilic tomorrow, leaving us all with the thrilling prospect of having Darren Gibson and John O'Shea in the fold come January. There is so much about this which is odd, but not the least of it is that our Board searched the entire globe and decided that Moyes was the answer. And when I say the entire globe I of course mean the contacts list of British managers represented by whatever agent is in favour with Sullivan today. What a stultifying lack of imagination, and what a hospital pass to a manager who will get no honeymoon with a disbelieving fanbase.
Still, Moyes worked wonders at Everton on a mid sized budget, which in turn led to the Manchester United job. That's a significant achievement and whilst he didn't last long, with the benefit of hindsight I'm not sure his tenure was the failure it was deemed at the time. Thereafter he did what so many Brits do and decided to take himself off to Spain, where Real Sociedad were waiting to hammer another nail into his coffin shaped reputation.
Having left La Liga he decided to give up professional football management altogether and instead took over at Sunderland. There he presided over an absolutely shambolic campaign which ended in relegation as Moyes tried his best to reassemble his Everton side of 2009, which might have worked better if any of them still had their own hips.
There are those who would defend Moyes and say that Sunderland are a joke club with no direction, a ludicrous board, an ageing and uninterested playing staff and systemic off field problems that run far deeper than anybody knew. To which I say - yeah, does any of that sound familiar?
However, Sullivan is an apparent long time admirer of the Scot and we know that he has neither the wit, self confidence or ability to pluck a young up and coming manager from overseas or the lower leagues. He prefers the safety of getting a known quantity, meaning that we will forever be subjected to the known quantities of the British manager threshing machine. This same decision making process has delivered us to 18th in the Premier League, which is two places lower than we were when they took over. Ho fucking hum.
But worse than that is the news tonight that Sullivan is now reconsidering his decision in the face of a social media backlash from West Ham fans to the leaked news of Moyes arrival. This is not something that professional organisations do. They ignore the wishes of fans because fans do not have access to the information that would allow them to credibly form those opinions. That might include details of finances, availability of other targets and even things like the health of the candidates. Why on earth would Sullivan be taking into account the views of a crowd who, two weeks ago, were booing the team for smashing aimless long balls at Andy Carroll and then booed any players who declined to do that on Saturday and instead passed it backwards? Why listen to a crowd who were booing Mark Noble for being the only player brave enough to actually get on the ball in the middle of the park?
Fans are fickle, emotional, easily swayed and the last people who should ever be considered when making choices such as this. No other team does it. No other team is so insecure in their decision making processes that they subject it to the whims of Twitter. Indeed I would suggest that the very suggestion of doing so is evidence enough that those people shouldn't be within a million miles of a decision of this importance.
Properly run teams can trust the process of their selection and analysis, and put faith in the talents of the people making the decision, meaning they can ignore public sentiment because they are sure of what they are doing. The West Ham board (correctly) realise this doesn't apply to them, but instead of changing those people, they instead farm the decision out to bloody Facebook, with the seeming aim of blaming the fans if it doesn't come off. What a joke. What a Tyrannosaurus Shambles. What an embarrassment. Consider for a moment if Southampton Twitter would have wanted Mauricio Pochettino and then realise what a nonsense this is.
What's somehow even worse is that I do object to Moyes joining the Club on the grounds that at Sunderland he threatened a female reporter. "It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there so just watch yourself. You might still get a slap even though you're a woman. Careful the next time you come in," he said, charmingly, to BBC reporter Vicki Sparks, and though he apologised to her the fact that Moyes can seemingly stroll into a job like ours just shows how little professional football cares about domestic violence or misogyny. What message does this send to our female supporters? What message does it send to our female employees?
Naturally when he was interviewed on TV this weekend about the job it was by Richard Keys on BeIN Sports in Qatar. Tell me, how's the sisterhood these days, Karren?
So, Moyes may join, most likely because he's cheap and he's prepared to work for Sullivan, which in itself probably suggests that he's going to struggle. Anyone decent would tell them where to go. And indeed, they frequently do, by all accounts.
***
"But there is really nothing, nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten, life can always start up anew"
- MGMT, "Time To Pretend"
One viewpoint that tends to gain prominence at such times of crisis is that somehow getting relegated wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. It's hard to overstate how untrue this really is. Going down decimates clubs as they lose their playing staff, support staff, recruitment staff, community staff, youth coaches and so on all the way down to match day employees. None of that is worth the fleeting thrill of winning a few more away games, which will quickly lose it's lustre the first time you see Lanzini or Antonio score for Spurs.
If you want a real life example, the England U17 World Cup winning star player Rhian Brewster hails from Chadwell Heath and plays for Liverpool. This is what happens when you have to reduce your scouting and development network as we did after our last relegation.
One way to make sense of all of this madness is to begin viewing all decisions made at the Club through a very specific prism. Assume the club has no money.
I have no inside knowledge here, no smoking gun and no knowledge of things unseen but merely a simple theory that I've been working on for a while. It was Sherlock Holmes who once said that when all possible solutions to a problem have been eliminated whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truth. Now Holmes was a fictional character so he should shut up really, but it kind of works here.
Why was our net spend so low in the summer? Why would we have resisted firing Bilic despite all evidence suggesting he should have gone in the summer? Why would we now be looking to avoid paying compensation for a replacement? Why bring them in on a short term contract that leaves the club in limbo yet further?
All of these can be answered logically in a number of ways, but one way to cogently explain them all is to assume we're broke. And don't forget to sign me up for your company annual seminar as a motivational speaker, folks.
"And no, Toni Martinez ain't the answer either"
I'm truly sorry to end up writing such a negative and gloomy piece but I suppose that's the reality of supporting the House of Sullivan these days. I hope they prove me wrong.
***
On a final, cheerier note (for me) I was thrilled to be nominated for "Blogger of the Year" at the Football Supporters Federation annual awards. This is a prestigious award ceremony, which offers up the pleasing prospect of me having to attend a formal dinner where my place setting will say "HeadHammerShark".
Anyway, if you would like to vote for me, I'd be delighted to accept and if you wanted to get your family, extended family, neighbours and tarot readers to do the same that would be just dandy too. You can just click on this link and do it in 30 seconds. Many thanks in advance.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Bilic bids farewell
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 6th November 2017
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic has written to West Ham fans to thank them for their support during his tenure at the club. Bilic was sacked this morning following West Ham's 4-1 defeat at home to Liverpool at the weekend - since when he has written an open letter to the club's fans.
"I would like to say how proud I am to have been given the opportunity to manage West Ham United Football Club," said Bilic. "It has been far more than just a job for me. Having worn the claret and blue shirt as a player, I felt that connection when I returned as manager and I have always known how truly special this club is. "I am sad that it hasn't worked out in the way we wanted this season. But I leave with my head held high, along with some wonderful memories that I will always cherish. "My first season in charge was fantastic. We broke so many records, losing only one game against the top six teams home or away, and finishing just four points away from the Champions League places. "And for it to end the way it did, on that unforgettable final night at the Boleyn Ground, was sensational. To have been a part of that magical evening is something that will live with me forever. "I was confident that we would be able to progress this season and continue to close the gap between expectation levels and reality, but unfortunately it has not been the case. "I believe in my qualities and wanted desperately to fight on to turn things around, but I understand the club's desire to make a change."
Bilic ended his statement by thanking his squad and his employers for their support during his time as the club's 15th full-time manager. "I would like to thank the Chairmen and the board, for offering me the chance to manage this great club, and for the support they have given me during my time in charge," he continued.
"I would also like to thank the players – some of whom have been here since my very first day as manager – for the effort and commitment they have shown me during the past two-and-a-half years. "I thank my coaching team and the staff at the training ground for their support, loyalty and dedication – I have been lucky to have worked with such good people. "Finally, I would like to finish by thanking the West Ham United supporters. We had a special bond when I played for the club, and that bond was still there when I returned as manager. "I genuinely hope they get the success they deserve and I wish everyone at West Ham United all the very best in the future."
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Pardew seeking to address 'unfinished business'
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 6th November 2017
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammers boss Alan Pardew has revealed he is interested in the vacant West Ham manager's position. The 56-year-old was in charge of West Ham between 2004 to 2006 but was fired by the club's new Icelandic owners following a run of eight successive defeats in all competitions. However 'Pards' - as he was affectionately known by the West Ham fanbase - has privately revealed within the past 48 hours that he is keen to return to the club - although the chances of that appear minimal now, as David Moyes is set to be offered the position instead. Pardew, who has been out of the game since leaving Crystal Palace last year is familiar with a number of West Ham's current squad having worked with the likes of Mark Noble, Andy Carroll, Michail Antonio and Jose Fonte in the past.
And the former midfielder has revealed he would be "100 per cent" happy to take the role on a temporary basis, according to a KUMB source, with view to agreeing a new contract should he keep West Ham in the Premier League this season. Upon leaving West Ham mnore than a decade ago, Pardew - who is seen more frequently in TV studios these days than on the touchline - insisted that he would return to the club at some point in order to complete his "unfinished business". Yet despite being available, it looks like he is set to miss the boat once again.
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No hard feelings, says Bilic
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 6th November 2017
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic has told reporters that he bears no ill-feeling towards West Ham, on the day he was fired from his position. The club's 15th full-time manager left the club's training ground for the final time this morning having bid farewell to his staff following a brief meeting with Vice Chair Karren Brady - but insisted he was "proud" of what he'd achieved during his two-and-a-half year tenure. "I expected it," said Bilic as he prepared to leave. "There are no hard feelings, I can be very proud of my work here. "We didn't start this crucial season well. As in many clubs across Europe, the manager is the one who pays the price. It's a very logical move. And the fans were brilliant to me from the start until the end."
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Slaven Bilic sacked by West Ham after poor start to Premier League season
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 06/11/17 3:16pm
SSN
Slaven Bilic has been sacked by West Ham following their poor start to the new season. The Hammers have won only two of their opening 11 Premier League matches and were defeated 4-1 at home by Liverpool on Saturday. That defeat has left them in 18th place and Bilic, whose position had come under review twice already this season, has now paid the price for their slow start. Assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the club with immediate effect, West Ham confirmed in a brief statement which said a new appointment was "expected to be made over the coming days". A statement from owners David Gold and David Sullivan read: "During the summer, the board invested heavily signing the players Slaven believed would complete the squad he needed to push the Club back towards the level we had reached in his first season, and we believe we have the players capable of doing that. "Sadly, performances and results have not been of the expected standard and, in recent weeks, we have not seen enough indication of the required improvement to give us the encouragement that things would change and we would meet our Premier League aspirations this season. "As custodians of the football club it is our responsibility as a board to do what is best for West Ham United, and we believe a change is now necessary to ensure we can begin to move the team back in the right direction. "We see this as an exciting opportunity to appoint a quality manager to the position to inject fresh ideas, organisation and enthusiasm into a very talented squad."
Sky Sports News understands David Moyes has held talks with West Ham about replacing Bilic at the London Stadium, with the former Manchester United and Everton manager having already publicly expressed an interest in the role. Moyes has returned home to Preston from work as a TV pundit in Doha and remains in pole position to replace Bilic, although negotiations have not concluded and are understood to be continuing. If Moyes does succeed Bilic at West Ham, his first match in charge is likely to be against Watford at Vicarage Road on November 19, live on Sky Sports Premier League HD. Bilic joined West Ham in the summer of 2015 and led the club to their best Premier League points tally in what was their final campaign at the Boleyn Ground, finishing seventh on 62 points and securing a place in the Europa League. But he was unable to replicate the same success during the club's first season at the London Stadium, with West Ham failing to qualify for the Europa League group stage and flirting with the relegation places throughout the campaign before finishing in 11th place. Bilic did lead West Ham to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this season, earning their spot in the last eight with a 3-2 comeback win over London rivals Tottenham, but their failings in the Premier League has ultimately led to his dismissal.
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West Ham to appoint David Moyes as new manager
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 06/11/17 5:13pm
SSN
David Moyes will be confirmed as the new West Ham manager on Tuesday, Sky Sports News understands. The former Manchester United and Everton boss will succeed Slaven Bilic in the role after the Croatian was relieved of his duties on Monday. Moyes will become the 16th manager in West Ham's history and will sign an interim six-month contract, with the club languishing in 18th place in the Premier League. His first match in charge will be the Super Sunday clash against Watford at Vicarage Road on November 19, live on Sky Sports Main Event HD and Sky Sports Premier League HD. Prior to Bilic's sacking, Moyes publicly expressed an interest in the West Ham job while working as a TV pundit in Doha. The 54-year-old told beIN Sports: "I've always said I want to go back into club management and if the right opportunity comes around, then I'll be interested. "I've been there myself, I know what Slaven is going through at the moment. He must be hating it and wanting to get a result as quickly as he can. If it becomes available yes, but at the moment it's not available."
Slaven Bilic speaks to Sky Sports News after being sacked and says he has no hard feelings towards the club. Moyes has been out of working since leaving Sunderland at the end of last season after failing to keep the club in the Premier League. Sunderland won just six of their 38 top-flight matches under Moyes and finished bottom of the table. West Ham have won only two of their opening 11 Premier League matches and were beaten 4-1 at home by Liverpool on Saturday.
They face a tough run of fixtures in the lead up to Christmas, with matches against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal still to come.
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BILIC SACKED - WHAT NEXT?
By Tony Hanna 6 Nov 2017 at 13:31
WTID
Well the board took their time in making official their decision to sack Slaven Bilic in the wake of the Liverpool embarrassment. Why they made Slaven wait another 48 hours when the inevitable was going to happen lacks class and is devoid of any respect that, love him or loathe him, Bilic deserved. When they sacked Sam after the final game of the 2015 season it was a rush to beat the manager to the cameras, before he could say his tenure at West Ham was untenable. I just think not putting Slav out of his misery immediately after the Liverpool game sums us up as a club at the moment. However, there are some rumours that Bilic knew his fate and so did the players a few weeks ago and Slav stayed on until the new man was all sorted. Whether this is true or not I don't know. If it is, it is another example of what a fine man Slaven Bilic is, if it is not I stand by my original comments. Fans will have differing opinions on the job Bilic did for West Ham, I am sure only the misguided would not agree that he conducted himself at all times with integrity and grace while manager of our club?
I have sat on the fence for a long time regarding the decision to keep on supporting Bilic. Torn between what I was seeing now and my West Ham DNA. In private I told a close WHTID'er 12 months ago that I thought he was tactically making too many poor decisions and we should be looking for a replacement then, but there was still a lot of love for the man amongst the majority of supporters and I thought perhaps I was being too smart for my own good. I think we all like to think we are tactical geniuses and know best? Often we don't, however clever we like to think we are. My personal thoughts at the time flew in the face of all what I had been brought up with following West Ham and that was why I still wanted him to succeed. We show loyalty, especially to people who genuinely care about the Hammers – I have no doubt Slaven Bilic does love this club. When I first stepped into Upton Park as an eleven year old the club was only on its fourth manager some 72 years after formation. For fans who started to follow the club in this era it is often more difficult to understand and agree with the constant merry go round of managers. In those days there was more of a "we are in it together" vision. Perhaps I live with rose tinted glasses because I can't remember watching football in the 60's and 70's and any fans complaining about players "not trying". It seems to be an epidemic nowadays. On one of my visits back to the UK in 1996 I ran into an old mate who was a Spurs fan. He used to go to all the home games. I asked him about the Spuds and he said he didn't go anymore. "I got the hump spending most of my Saturdays, spending my hard earned to watch my team where it was evident some players were not even trying. I would have given anything to be good enough to play for my club and I am not paying money to watch over paid prime donnas waltz around with not a care for the club whilst earning as much in a week as I do in a year".
Iron Liddy posted a link to an article for me the other day. It stated that in 2015 the average tenure of a manager across the 92 League clubs in England was 1.23 years. Interestingly, Arsene Wenger is single-handedly keeping this figure over the one year threshold. I wrote an article a few weeks ago which said that Bilic would go "eventually" – and so will the next manager and the next. Almost certainly in similar circumstances. It is a sad indictment on today's game that so many players think they are bigger than the club it plays for? Yet they kiss the badge when they score whilst their agent works on a move for another multi-million quid move.
The Bilic/Payet season is one that no West Ham fan will ever forget. Amazing wins at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. The comeback at Everton and the final match at Upton Park where tears flowed. But those days have long since gone. I am not going to post stats on here – we all know it has not been pretty for a while. But I would like to thank Slav for the good times and wish him all the best for the future.
So, where to now? We languish in the bottom three with as tough a run of fixtures you could ask for looming in December. David Moyes has been backed into the "certainty" range with the bookies to take over the manager's job. However, nothing is simple or straight forward when it comes to our club at the moment. Apparently the Board may be getting nervous twitches about the appointment now because of the reaction on social media to their current number one choice. It is obvious that Moyes is not flavour of the month with many of the fans. And then there are reports that the job is only "short term". Really? So if the players aren't currently playing for a manager who's job initially wasn't going to last beyond the end of the season, why would they play for another manager who's tenure is exactly the same? I am sure it is not as simple as that but it does beg many questions of where the club is heading and why we are in such disarray at the moment? It will be interesting to see if the pressure of twitter, Facebook and fan site polls will have any effect on the Boards decision regarding any new manager?
We are currently the 18th biggest football club in the World and should be able to attract a top class manager under any circumstances, or so you would think? Taking over a team that is in the relegation zone should be a challenge for the brightest of managers in the knowledge there would be a handsome bonus for avoiding relegation. A World class stadium, OK but most would fall for that, and a club with fantastic support and traditions along with (on paper at least) a good squad of players, please don't tell me no one wants the job? Or can I take those rose tinted glasses off again because whilst our manager has under achieved in the past year, our problems I fear, lie much deeper?
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THANK YOU SLAVEN! THE END OF THE BILIC ERA - THE BEGINNING OF WHAT ?
By HamburgHammer 6 Nov 2017 at 08:00
WTID
After the game against Liverpool, another demonstration of unprofessional ball watching by the tools jogging along the pitch in claret and blue, and after watching that conveyor belt of schoolboy errors in defending (or rather lack of it) everything now is pointing towards the end of the Slaven Bilic era at West Ham. It may well be that he is no longer our manager once my column goes live, he may have resigned by then or given the boot by Sullivan (probably a Russian army boot matching his hat).
So I feel it's appropriate to begin by thanking Slaven Bilic, wholeheartedly, for his time at the club, for being the kind of guy he is, extremly likeable, infectious passion for the game, a deep affinity for our club and the fans ( and our old stadium too), he simply was a breath of fresh air after the Allardyce years, and of course we shall be grateful for that wonderful final season at the Boleyn which will never be forgotten.
He gave us a bunch of memorable wins over the big boys too, especially Arsenal and Liverpool away.
Alas, there comes a time when even a Bilic disciple like myself has to face the fact that Bilic no longer has any means or power left to get this squad of professional footballers to play anything remotely resembling the beautiful game of football.
Personally, I love Bilic to bits. If I was a footballer I reckon he'd be the kind of manager I'd go through brick walls for, take a bullet and then donate a kidney too if need be.
Shame that some of the players and our board no longer share that view, if they ever did to begin with. I will miss Bilic a lot and it might be a bit easier to take if I had an ounce of confidence that his replacement will be an awe inspiring rather than a convenient one, but I reckon there's more chance of a cat balancing a plate of scotch eggs on its rear legs while doing a handstand than West Ham attracting a top class manager and paying the guy accordingly. (More of the next manager issue later).
Earlier on matchday I was dealing with a different set of tools, in my case a branch cutter and a spade, to clear an area of my local sports club from various bramble bushes (thorny business that), but I didn't mind as the weather was fine and I could talk football with my co-worker (a staunch Hamburg SV fan) while we were hacking, digging and cutting away for four hours solid. So, with my bit for the community done for the day I headed back to my flat in eager anticipation of our game.
With my West Ham mug of tea waiting for me on the table, I took my seat in the comfy lower tier of my armchair (great view!), wearing my lucky West Ham shirt for the occasion with the famous screwdriver moving gently from one hand to the other. Then, unfortunately, the game got in the way of everything. Most of you will have seen it yourself, ball watching galore, virtually no pressing or chasing back, precious little effort, glaring lapses of concentration and focus, a multitude of defensive blunders and a well deserved 1:4 loss.
It's not like Liverpool were breathtakingly magnificent, they were not, in fact they looked painfully average on the day. Which, however, is more than good enough these days to still beat West Ham comfortably. Die to the reason that we usually beat ourselves, gifting goals galore to the opposition.
More often than not they don't even have to unwrap those presents, a lot of them come along on a silver plate, unwrapped already and ready to be scored at will.
So, how does one cope with a defeat like this coupled with the likely consequences for our club and manager ? Well, I have been accused on here previously of being too negative in my musings when penning my column. So allow me to focus on the positives for a bit:
a) Our goal scored by Lanzini was fantastic, great skill and technique, wonderful to watch. A truly great goal.
b) The pitch at the London Stadium looked amazing, plush green and in top condition.
c) I've overreached myself with c actually…
Okay, so sarcasm and irony doesn't quite work here. I have also been accused of being too much like a broken record playing the tune of bashing the owners.
Be that as it may, I think more fans are now realising where the root issues at West Ham are buried – and I am not talking about the cursed badger rotting away under the soil of our training pitches.
Now, when I have it in for our board I can't claim it to be personal. How could it be ? I've never met or socialised with any of them and it's not likely to happen in my lifetime for obvious reasons.
I can only judge them by their actions, by how they run the club, what decisions they come up with, what they do and don't do in the name and on behalf of West Ham United. Based on all that I can't pretend and say with conviction that they are good for West Ham and the overall future of our club.
Let's look at the likely replacement for Bilic. Rumours are it could well be David Moyes assisted by Phil Neville. Would that kind of decision ooze confidence, ambition and wisdom ?
Would it show that our board know what they are doing, making a tough decision for the wellbeing of West Ham, even if it involves spending money ?
Of course not. IF David Moyes were to come in as the new gaffer it is because he is available, he is cheap and he won't hassle the board too much with wanting things his own way. He would also be on an emergency short-term (cheap) contract anyway.
A stop gap. A reasonably priced gamble on staying up. Spend as little as possible while still making a change – then hope and pray it's enough to get your club 17th place at the end of the season.
I'm sorry, but after the Avram Grant experience, this would be borderline insanity. Under normal circumstances I would welcome any new manager at our club with wide open arms (okay, maybe I'd be using a certain finger instead if it was Allardyce coming back), but are these normal circumstances we are facing ?
I do understand why some fans were ultimately resigned to wanting Bilic out, he is no saint for sure and has to accept his part of the blame, looking at the state of the majority of our performances in the last 16 months or so. Training routines and setting up the team tactically for the games, that's very much the gaffer's responsibility, granted.
But the players have got it far too easy at West Ham and yet, even now Bilic is still holding his hands over them, shielding them from criticism. In my opinion though the players do deserve a bit of the good old hairdryer treatment actually.
You may not see eye to eye with the manager, you may not like his training methods or even roll your eyes at the gameplan – once you are out on the pitch on matchday, whistle sounding in a full stadium in front of a home crowd you give your all, you run, you tackle, you play your guts out. Not just because you are being paid handsomely for the privilege, but because the fans in the stadium deserve to see effort and desire.
That in fact is the bare minimum requirement. Maybe your opposition player on the day has more skill than you or better technique in which case you cannot match them in those departments.
But you can always match or beat the opposition in effort and desire, especially in front of your own fans.
I personally don't leave matches early, but I do understand those who left the stadium in droves against Liverpool during the second half. Losing as such ain't the issue, it rarely has been at West Ham throughout our history, we are used to losing football matches, but right now too many things are plain wrong at our club at the same time.
On and off the pitch. In the boardroom and the dressing room. On the matchday pitch and at the training ground. In the manager's office and our club HQ at Stratford.
In the past, after a bad loss, it still hurt of course. But as fans we could cling to familiar things like the stadium for comfort. Chatting about the game with mates in your favourite post-match boozer. We could cling to the characters in our team, players that sometimes were lacking in skill but who made up for it in effort and shedding of sweat tenfold.
There is precious little of West Ham left in West Ham these days I'm afraid.
Some of that is down to natural change in the world of professional football in general and the Premier League in particular where things have been revamped beyond belief in the last ten, twenty years.
So that change basically is a force majeure, a given. Then there is the stadium move, and again, other clubs have done it, struggling with it initially, but it can be done.
The circumstances at West Ham, however, are such that we have moved into a stadium which is essentially the direct opposite of what we used to have, a vast stadium, not purpose-built for football, but nonetheless supposed to serve as a home for world class players.
Yet, we are being owned by people who are unwilling or unable to pay the kind of money needed to attract world class players and a world class manager to our club.
In my view only top players and a top manager can make the stadium move work for our club and the fans eventually.
Without it the newbie fans will leave as quickly as they came while the old guard will be gone already, while others may not see much reason to keep coming back for more of the same . Unless of course you are one of the brave diehard Hammers who will continue to go quite simply because "it's what we do", no matter what!
Kudos to every single one of them!
The board will do what they want when they want. And one fine day they are likely to walk away with some degree of profit once their era at our club is finally over.
I wonder what West Ham will look like at that point or if we will still be called West Ham.
As for me I don't fear relegation. I certainly don't like it, but at the same time it wouldn't stop my support. I will continue to follow our club one way or another.
Although I have to admit that I am looking more forward to watching our U23s play next month when I'm over again than going to the London Stadium for our first team games against Chelsea and Arsenal. Of course I will still go and hope for the best, but the U23s in my book are always a joy to watch and I hope the same can be said about our first team again very soon.
I forgot to mention a positive thing actually – on Saturday I received my membership card for the West Ham Supporters Club, so it's definitely something to look forward to for my upcoming visit for the Chelsea and Arsenal fixture.
I'm excited also at the prospect of meeting some of my fellow Hammers again, sharing a chinwag, a drink and hopefully a laugh or two, even though admittedly it's getting harder to find reasons to laugh at this point.
But maybe it's the only viable option we have – laugh adversity in the face.
West Ham have survived numerous bumps, earthquakes and even scandals.
I doubt even the current board have enough in their locker to kill this club for good, although they seem to be trying awfully hard.
Whoever comes in as our new manager now, I hope you can bring some much needed joy and positivity to our club. I wish you all the best and hope you will get more out of our squad than Slaven could at the end. That is going to be your only chance as you are unlikely to see a lot of trust and support from the board otherwise.
COYI!!!
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West Ham dropping to the Championship would be a nightmare - but David Moyes can deliver happy ending
Steely Scot Moyes is driven by the desire to restore the lofty reputation that he took years to build at Goodison Park
The Mirror
Darren Lewis
20:28, 6 NOV 2017
For both West Ham and David Moyes the motivation is simple – a fight to avoid the nightmare scenario. For Moyes – sacked at Manchester United, Real Sociedad before quitting at Sunderland – taking the Hammers down would mean a huge blow to his managerial ambitions at the top level of English football. For West Ham failure would mean a plunge into the abyss. A fall into the Championship that would render the brave new world they believed they were entering with their move to the London Stadium a wasteland. They simply had to take the move to sack Slaven Bilic. Striker Andy Carroll unwittingly hinted at the concerns on Saturday when he called out Hammers fans for turning their backs on the team long before the final whistle.
Against Brighton a fortnight ago and again, at home to Liverpool, the stadium was half-empty with 15 minutes to go. The supporters had had enough. Imagine that on a regular basis in the Championship next season. With the good players long gone, the atmosphere toxic and the remaining underachievers believing themselves to be above a scrap for promotion. Imagine the scalp they would be for the second-tier regulars. The battle-hardened bruisers that would queue up to chin them week in, week out if their attitude isn't right.
Should Moyes fail to impress over the next six months, West Ham will want to turn to the likes of Marco Silva, Manuel Pellegrini or Roberto Mancini. None of that trio wanted to break their contracts at Watford, Hebei China Fortune and Zenit St Petersburg respectively before the end of the season. None of that trio will come anywhere near West Ham should they plunge out of the Premier League. The Hammers can forget about that calibre of manager altogether if they are not operating at the top level. Carroll reckons the club are too good to go down and was steadfast in his belief as he insisted as much on Saturday. Yet the Hammers sit third-bottom on nine points – the same number at this stage when they were relegated six years ago. Confidence is low, the morale of the fans is even lower and ticket sales could plummet if the unthinkable becomes a stark reality. It is the reason why West Ham had to take the decision to put Bilic out of his misery. All the promoted clubs – Brighton, Newcastle and Huddersfield – have been far more competitive than many would have expected.
The Premier League has been the most competitive we have seen. The Irons couldn't risk keeping things as they were going into the second half of the season.
Moyes may have failed at United but they were perhaps too big for him. As for Sunderland, we now know they are a basket case of a club. If West Ham – a far more stable, ambitious club – get the Moyes that pulled up trees at Everton then a difficult period for both parties could still have a happy ending. Hammers fans remain distinctly underwhelmed by Moyes' appointment. The steely Scot is driven, however, by the desire to restore the lofty reputation that he took years to build at Goodison Park. Should the fans get behind him and the players wake up, that could yet work massively in West Ham's favour.
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Dour David Moyes is a toxic replacement for Slaven Bilic - West Ham fans need to feel inspired
West Ham fans need a cuddle and to feel inspired, as if there is someone to rally around. Moyes isn't that man.
The Mirror
Stan Collymore
17:45, 6 NOV 2017UPDATED17:54, 6 NOV 2017
Slaven Bilic is toast – and David Moyes will be a toxic replacement. What West Ham need, particularly the way their fans react to things, is to feel inspired. They need somebody to follow and get behind. But David Moyes is such a flat, dejected type character that will never get a chance if he has two or three bad results.
By contrast, take somebody like Sam Allardyce for example. I know they got rid of him eventually, but at least you know that he will organise you properly. He will get results and get you out of the bottom three. Maybe they should just give him a couple of million quid until the end of the season and say right 'you're only staying until the end of the season, we're going to make it worth your while'. He is a big jolly fella, big smile on his face, much more relevant in terms of Premier League football and getting teams out of the trouble than Moyes is. Then at the end of the season, say to Allardyce, be on an advisory board to find a young hungry coach from around Europe who can take this club on. Moyes is the opposite of that and dour. Bilic looked at times that he is flat and dejected. West Ham fans need a cuddle and to feel as if there is someone to rally around. Moyes isn't that man. Even if he is a very good coach, which he is, is he going to be able to get the chance to implement his philosophy properly with a supporter base that is already pretty volatile and unhappy with what has happened in the last year? I doubt it. When Moyes got the Sunderland job he was done. He was already a busted flush. He went from Everton to Manchester United and it didn't work for him.
That was the big chance he had to kick on and be the next Sir Alex Ferguson. He then came back into football way too quickly, going to Spain with Real Sociedad and then coming back to England with Sunderland. For me, the biggest thing about Moyes was I remember seeing him during the Euros as a pundit and he looked like a man that hadn't been going behind the scenes of football, knowing the players, teams, the moves and trends of football. By contrast I went to Romania last week to interview the great Gheorghe Hagi for The Stan Collymore Show and I was very fortunate to have dinner with him. He has an academy Viitorul Constanța, started it eight years ago, turned them into the champions of Romania last year over the country's other big spenders like Steaua Bucharest. He knows every player this side of Sydney, because he has to know everybody, to know where the bargains are. Moyes looked the opposite. Like a man who was relying on his name, who looked deflated and dejected.
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David Moyes named new West Ham boss and will take training immediately after replacing Slaven Bilic on six-month deal
The former Manchester United boss will take charge until the end of the season after replacing Slaven Bilic at the London Stadium
The Mirror
Darren LewisMatt Lawless
16:30, 6 NOV 2017
David Moyes has been named West Ham's new manager - and will take training on Tuesday morning. The former Manchester United boss will take charge until the end of the season after replacing Slaven Bilic at the London Stadium. Moyes - relegated with Sunderland last season - has been tasked with keeping West Ham in the Premier League. If he is successful and impresses, he will land a two-year extension. Bilic paid the price for the Hammers dreadful start to the season. His two-and-a-half-year tenure was abruptly ended on Monday. The Croatian's contract was up at the end of the season. But after Saturday's shambolic 4-1 home defeat by Liverpool saw them fall into the drop zone, West Ham's owners decided to take immediate action. Moyes, 54, jetted in from Dubai to seal his temporary deal and will get to work immediately. Mirror Football understands that he will receive a transfer budget to bring in reinforcements when the window re-opens for business in January. Chris Woods will remain as part of Moyes' new-look backroom team as goalkeeper coach. The ex-Everton chief will look to bring in a new No.2, new first-team coach and a fitness coach after Nikola Jucevic, Edin Tazic and Viljenko Rak were culled along with Bilic and his coaching assistant Julian Dicks.
Alan Irvine and Stuart Pearce are set to be part of Moyes' setup. West Ham released a club statement confirming Bilic's sacking, saying: "West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has today left his position with the Club. "The Chairmen and board of West Ham United would like to place on record their thanks and gratitude to Slaven and his team for their services over the past two-and-a-half years, but believe a change is now necessary in order for the Club to move forward positively and in line with their ambition. "West Ham United can confirm that Bilic's coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak have also left the Club with immediate effect. "The Club's search for a new manager to take West Ham United forward is underway and an announcement regarding Bilic's successor is expected to be made over the coming days."
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SLAVEN BILIC'S LAST PRESS CONFERENCE AS WEST HAM MANAGER
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has been sacked as West Ham manager. The Premier League club announced the departure of the Croatia n, who was appointed in June 2015 on a three-year contract, on Monday after Saturday's 4-1 loss to Liverpool. "West Ham United can confirm that Slaven Bilic has today left his position with the club," the Hammers said in a statement. Former Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland boss David Moyes is widely expected to replace Bilic at the London Stadium.
Here's five issues he needs to address:
1. Leaky defence
The West Ham defence desperately needs protection. He has persisted with a back three in recent weeks but the Hammers don't have the players to suit the system. Winston Reid and co. are also in serious need of some protection, too. Bilic rejected William Carvalho and Grzegorz Krychowiak but they are the kind of steely screen they need.
2. Get Marko Arnautovic playing
The Austrian looked a decent player at Stoke but been poor since his summer arrival. The Hammers fans are not having him and rightly so after spending a club-record £25million on him. Arnautovic was sent off against Southampton in his second game - and gone downhill since. He was even booed off in the recent defeat to Brighton.
3. Provide service to Javier Hernandez
Big things were expected of the former Manchester United striker when he arrived in east London. But Bilic has failed to get the best out of Hernandez since he pitched up at the club in a £16million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. He has had nothing to feed off so far and to get him scoring, he simply needs more service.
4) What to do with Mark Noble
The midfielder is an inspirational figure at the London Stadium but inconsistent and divisive now. Does he deserve his place in the team? Or can Moyes use him sensibly enough to ensure he can make a significant impact at the right time.
5) Hammers suffering a crisis of confidence
Moyes needs to pump some belief into the team that has won just twice in their opening 11 Premier League games. Bilic always feared he was one game away from the sack. Moyes needs to regain the belief he had at Everton and transmit that to the players.
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David Moyes is a top operator and can thrive as West Ham manager... but it won't be pretty early on
West Ham are on the brink of appointing David Moyes as their new manager
Hammers fans have shown displeasure with links to Moyes on social media
Ex-Everton star Leon Osman spent 11 years playing under him at Goodison Park
The first thing Moyes will do is give West Ham's team serious organisation
By Leon Osman For The Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:17, 6 November 2017 | UPDATED: 22:27, 6 November 2017
It seems West Ham have chosen a manager who, judging by the reaction, is no longer fit for purpose in the Premier League. I've read and listened to the criticisms made of David Moyes in the past 48 hours but I don't recognise the man they are talking about. The man I know is a top operator well capable of thriving at the London Stadium. We spent 11 years together at Everton and, looking back, I think he doesn't get the credit he deserves. During the peak of his reign — 2005 to 2011 — we were always in the hunt for a top-four place. I still don't know how our squad didn't win something. How did he do it? First, he got us to buy into the belief that we were all in it together. He demands hard work and we all wanted to work hard for him and the team. Nobody wanted to be the one who let him down. Loyalty is a big thing for David and we had that in common. He knew I'd do the job exactly how he wanted it. We got on brilliantly and it felt as if he was as proud as I was when he told me I'd been given my first England call-up in 2012. His attention to detail is meticulous, obsessive almost. He would get us together on a Friday morning and in the final training session he would spend an hour walking us through our jobs at set pieces. It used to drive some older guys mad. You'd wonder how it would be beneficial, but, come Saturday, it paid off. It made us so difficult to break down. He also made us incredibly fit. His training sessions were no place for faint hearts and the mention of the words 'horse shoe' still make me wince. You had to go on this long run in a horse shoe shape, and by the end your legs would give way. Some runs he asked us to do were totally unrealistic — and he knew it — but there was a method. He wanted to see who had the heart to fight until the end, as they are the qualities he expects from his team. I'm delighted to see him at West Ham. People talk about his reputation being in tatters for what happened at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland but the only thing I would criticise him for is the choice of jobs he took since leaving Everton in 2013.
United was a poisoned chalice, going in after Sir Alex Ferguson; Real Sociedad was volatile and at Sunderland he effectively had a League One side competing in the Premier League without any money. How was he going to succeed in those circumstances? The first thing he will do is give West Ham's team serious organisation and I don't think it will be pretty early on. It will, though, be effective and he'll be planning to make this a success. This is a great match-up. David will want to build a team again. Given enough time and the right backing, he certainly can.
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West Ham fans need to stop moaning and get behind the team! They are like a 12th man... for the opposition
West Ham are on the brink of appointing David Moyes as their new manager
If fans want club to stay in Premier League, they have to get behind the team
Without creating some harmony, West Ham are in serious danger of relegation
At Upton Park, they created a positive energy - now it is a negative energy
By Martin Keown for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:00, 6 November 2017 | UPDATED: 22:25, 6 November 2017
What is it with West Ham fans? I didn't enjoy playing at the old ground and they liked letting me know. But I wouldn't want to play for them now. That crowd is like the 12th man… for the opposition. No wonder the players have no confidence. Yes, the team are a disjointed mess. In fact, they don't look like a team. But when I was listening to the radio commentary of their game with Liverpool at the London Stadium on Saturday all I could hear was the home fans booing every time Mark Noble got on the ball and passed it backwards to keep possession. On social media they are trying to create protests against the board! Have they not seen the league table? If West Ham fans want their club to stay in the Premier League, they have to get behind the team. They got rid of Sam Allardyce. They eventually turned on Slaven Bilic. They want to get rid of the board. They don't like the ground. They don't want David Moyes. Here's an idea: how about just supporting the team?
Without creating some harmony — call it a truce, if you like — West Ham are in serious danger of relegation. At Upton Park, when they got behind the team, they created a positive energy. Now it is a negative energy. Yes the team have to give them something to smile about. And I hope Moyes and Stuart Pearce can deliver that. I played against Stuart a few times. In an away game for Arsenal in 2000 I think I might have left something on him to see if I could get a reaction — and as the picture above shows I certainly did get a reaction! West Ham will hope he can bring some fire to their ranks. I know there is negativity about Moyes, but I think he could be a good appointment — if he is given a chance. He will work the players and these players really do have to go to work. He is intense and can be suffocating with his demands on his staff and players, but maybe West Ham need some of that. They look too easy-going, laid back, calm. There is no drive. Moyes will have to do that in a healthy way with the modern player, rather than hammering them into the ground. But they don't look fit to me. One alarm is that he took too long at Manchester United and Sunderland to find the problems and then solve them. He has 27 games and needs eight or nine wins. So he needs to move quickly to find solutions, get results and win over the fans. They are the most challenging support to win over. I wish him and Stuart all the luck.
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'Better late than never' - Alvaro Arbeloa takes brutal dig at sacked West Ham boss Slaven Bilic
By Alasdair Hooper - @adjhooper1992
Monday, November 6, 2017
Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and West Ham full-back Alvaro Arbeloa has taken a brutal dig at sacked Hammers boss Slaven Bilic on social media. The Croatian manager was sacked by the club on Monday after a dismal run of form with talkSPORT sources understanding ex-Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes will take over until the end of the season. The Spanish defender – who retired from football in the summer – spent last season at West Ham but made just a handful of appearances under Bilic. With just four outings in claret and blue the ex-Liverpool defender was reported to be at loggerheads with the manager. Judging by his comments on his official twitter account Arbeloa seems to confirm the ill-feeling as, when quoting a story reporting Bilic's sacking, he responded with: "Better late than never."
Shots fired from the former defender.
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'A toxic atmosphere': Last days of Slaven Bilic's West Ham reign as fans unhappy with incoming David Moyes
POPULAR VIDEOS
West Ham have sacked manager Slaven Bilic after a string of poor performances in the Premier League saw the Hammers drop into the relegation zone over the weekend. A lacklustre 4-1 home defeat to Liverpool was the final straw for Bilic, who after the game admitted that he would face up to the situation whichever way the owners decided to go and having been sacked said he could not blame owners David Sullivan and David Gold for their decision. David Moyes is set to meet with the London Stadium chiefs on Monday night to discuss taking on the job after flying in from Qatar where he was doing television work. The former Everton and Manchester United manager has been out of work since leaving Sunderland at the end of last season having finished bottom of the Premier League, though he will have the chance to bring in his own coaching staff as all but one of Bilic's colleagues have been dismissed.
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David Moyes up for the fight as new West Ham boss: 'I think my record will stand up as well as anybody's'
David Moyes set to become next West Ham manager after Slaven Bilic sacking
Having overseen Sunderland's relegation Scot is keen to get back to work
Senior figures at Hammers feel club was not being driven hard enough
Moyes hopes to persuade Stuart Pearce to join coaching staff with him
By Matt Lawton And Sami Mokbel For The Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 6 November 2017 | UPDATED: 22:41, 6 November 2017
David Moyes will be confirmed as the new manager of West Ham on Tuesday to shake up a dressing room that senior figures at the club felt was not being driven hard enough by Slaven Bilic. Bilic's tenure ended in a meeting with David Sullivan on Monday morning and the club moved immediately to secure the services of Moyes, who flew in from Qatar on Monday morning for talks in London. Moyes, 54, is set to sign a two-and-a-half year contract that will include a break clause at the end of this season if the Scot fails to make an impact. His arrival will certainly lift the intensity of training and for good measure he has turned to Stuart Pearce, a former West Ham player he hopes he can persuade to join his coaching staff. Alan Irvine is also expected to team up again with the former Everton and Manchester United boss, while Chris Woods was the one member of the Bilic backroom team to survive the axe. Moyes had Woods as his goalkeeping coach at Everton and United. Sportsmail understands Moyes' deal is heavily weighted towards a £2million bonus for keeping the club in the Premier League after Saturday's crushing 4-1 defeat by Liverpool saw them slip into the bottom three.
In a recent interview with this newspaper he expressed his determination to repair the damage of a difficult year in the north east which saw him relegated to the Championship with Sunderland. 'That was my first ever relegation and I hope it'll be my last,' he said. 'I want that winning feeling again.' Moyes has the international break to acquaint himself with the club and then three games that represent a decent chance of getting some precious points on the board; a trip to Watford is followed by an encounter with Leicester at the London Stadium before they face Everton at Goodison Park on November 29. After that, however, things get tougher, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal their next three games. But Moyes will walk into the East London club confident of his methods and proud of his record, despite some of the challenges he has faced, here in England and in Spain, since leaving Everton in 2013. 'I think my last game was 499 games as a Premier League manager,' he said in his recent interview. 'I've maybe got 880 or 890 as a manager in total. I think my record will stand up as well as anybody's.'
On the decision to dismiss Bilic after less than two-and-a-half years in charge, West Ham said there was an urgent need 'to move forward positively and in line with their ambition'. A statement from joint-chairmen Sullivan and David Gold said Bilic, the 49-year-old former Croatia coach, had conducted himself with 'honesty and integrity', while the decision to terminate his employment had been made 'with disappointment and heavy hearts'. They added: 'We see this as an exciting opportunity to appoint a quality manager to the position to inject fresh ideas, organisation and enthusiasm into a very talented squad. 'We will now focus our entire efforts on bringing in the manager we believe can get the best out of the current squad of players and steer the club towards the top half of the table as quickly as possible.' Speaking to reporters as he left West Ham's training ground, Bilic said: 'There are no hard feelings. I can be very proud of my work here. 'We didn't start this crucial season well. As in many clubs across Europe, the manager is the one who pays the price. It's a very logical move.' West Ham also announced that Bilic's coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak had also left with immediate effect. If Sam Allardyce takes the Everton manager's job it throws up the intriguing possibility at Goodison later this month of Moyes v Allardyce, both facing their old clubs.
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