Daily WHUFC News - 6th December 2017

West Ham United Statement: Sporting Clube de Portugal
WHUFC.com

West Ham and Sporting Clube de Portugal acknowledge that a breakdown in
communication based in contacts between representatives from both Clubs in
respect of a possible transfer of William Carvalho was the cause of a
misunderstanding.

Subsequent to this, the Clubs have had positive communications and the
matter is now resolved. On this basis, friendly relations between the Clubs
will resume and there will be no barriers to both Clubs negotiating or
working together in the future.

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Ogbonna: There are positives to build on
WHUFC.com

Angelo Ogbonna says Sunday's performance at Manchester City gives the
Hammers a platform to build from, even if they were denied a point by David
Silva's late winner. West Ham fought bravely at Etihad Stadium and, for a
spell around half-time, Ogbonna's towering header had them dreaming of
becoming the first team to defeat Pep Guardiola's men this season.
Ultimately, City's second half possession and pressure was made to count by
goals from Nicolas Otamendi and Silva, and although Ogbonna was disappointed
to end up on the losing side, he said there was plenty to be proud of. He
said: "I think it was a positive performance for us, because after we lost
in midweek against Everton we've come back on Sunday and responded. Mentally
I think it's good for us, the way we approached the game. "The result is
difficult to take. It was a tough game but we scored in the first half and
were a little bit unlucky. "Against a big team it's difficult to keep the
ball, but we had our chance from a corner, and we counter-attacked with
Michail Antonio as well. "You have to stay compact against Manchester City
and then try to run in behind. We did that and I think we played a really
good game and maybe deserved to take a point home."

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Adrian: We need to continue to defend like we did at City
WHUFC.com

Adrian believes Sunday's defensive performance against Manchester City gives
his team plenty of reasons for encouragement ahead of two more fixtures
against Premier League high-flyers in the next week. West Ham follow their
narrow loss at Etihad Stadium by taking on Chelsea and Arsenal in
back-to-back home fixtures, with Adrian calling for the same solidity they
displayed in the north west. The Spanish keeper was making his first Premier
League start of the season, with the on-loan Joe Hart unavailable to face
his parent club, and he was thrilled to be able to play his part. "We made
things difficult for City," he said. "We decided to sit back and
counter-attack and we did quite well, we had our chances, and we even
managed to open the scoring. We knew that in the second half they were going
to push much more. They brought all the artillery they had into the pitch.
"In the end their big amount of talent defined the match. Silva scored an
amazing goal, we could have made it 2-2 but we lacked a little bit of luck
and missed that chance. But we must get something positive even in defeat
and, although we are not happy, I think we should continue with the line of
defending well and looking dangerous when attacking. "It was my first
Premier League game this season, I try to make it difficult for the coach
and give my best and I think I showed that I am still here and I hope to
have more minutes from now on. "It is clear that we have a difficult streak
against teams from the top of the table but it is also clear that all
Premier League matches are difficult. We have to always play with the same
mentality, to get points and go match-by-match."

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West Ham United become accredited London Living Wage payer
WHUFC.com

West Ham United has become an accredited London Living Wage payer at a
ceremony at London Stadium this morning on Tuesday. The Hammers become just
the third Premier League club to be accredited by the Living Wage
Foundation, after Chelsea and Everton. The commitment sees everyone at West
Ham United, regardless of whether they are direct employees or third party
contracted staff, receive a minimum hourly rate of £10.20, significantly
higher than the statutory minimum for over-25s of £7.50 per hour. The
Hammers have been paying all permanent employees at the level of the London
Living Wage since 1 June 2015, but previously could not be accredited by the
Living Wage Foundation due to some London Stadium staff not receiving the
London Living Wage. London Stadium's owners have now committed to pay their
employees the London Living Wage and are working on setting a timeline to
uplift their staff's wages, which means that West Ham United can now be
officially accredited. The Living Wage campaign is an independent movement
that originates from east London, which is supported by businesses,
organisations and people who believe 'a hard day's work deserves a fair
day's pay'.

The London Living Wage is independently calculated every year based on what
employees and their families need to get by. The calculation is based on a
social consensus of what people need for a decent standard of living and to
participate fully in society, including things like housing, transport to
work and heating, but also enough for small birthday celebration or a trip
to the cinema.

West Ham United Vice-chairman Karren Brady said, "We are absolutely
delighted to have secured the Living Wage Foundation's seal of approval as
an accredited London Living Wage employer, and hope to act as a good example
for all other Premier League clubs and big businesses in London. "The Living
Wage Foundation accreditation is something we have been working towards for
a long time, including lobbying the Mayor to help encourage our landlords to
commit to paying a fair day's pay, and we are over the moon to now be in a
position where we can finally become a recognised Living Wage employer. "The
football club isn't just made up of the eleven players on the pitch, and by
making this commitment we hope to ensure that West Ham United continues be a
place where the best talents want to ply their trade, and London Stadium,
Rush Green and Chadwell Heath are environments in which they can achieve
their goals. "We recognise the contribution of each and every employee at
the club, and rewarding and retaining our staff is a major part of that. We
take pride in the way we conduct ourselves as an organisation on and off the
pitch and by doing the right thing and paying the London Living Wage, we
hope this will urge other clubs to soon follow suit."

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation said, "We are
delighted that West Ham United have become the third Premier League football
club to sign up as an accredited Living Wage employer, ensuring that all
their staff receive a real Living Wage that covers the cost of living.
That's a pay rise for almost 200 people, including cleaners and staff at
their training facilities. "The Living Wage badge is the mark of a
responsible employer and West Ham United are joining a movement of over
3,700 employers across the UK who are making sure that all employees can
live with dignity. "It's fantastic to see West Ham United's leadership and
I hope more football clubs will take their lead and follow suit."

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Moyes: Shrewsbury FA Cup tie will be a fantastic occasion
WHUFC.com

David Moyes is relishing an Emirates FA Cup reunion with Shrewsbury Town,
but knows there are plenty of Premier League points to play for ahead of his
return to Shropshire. Both West Ham United manager Moyes and goalkeeper Joe
Hart played for the Shrews earlier in their careers, with the former
totalling 108 appearances for the Shropshire club between 1987-90. The Scot
has since faced his old club twice as a manager, first in the FA Cup third
round during his first full season at Everton back in 2003, then in an EFL
Cup second-round tie at Sunderland in August 2016. "There is obviously a lot
of football to play and a very busy run of fixtures before we can focus on
the trip to Shrewsbury but I'm sure there will be a lot of excitement once
we get closer to the game," Moyes told whufc.com. The manager reached the FA
Cup final with Everton back in 2009 and would love to repeat that
achievement with West Ham, giving the Claret and Blue Army a first major
final in 38 years to enjoy and day out at Wembley in the process. "I know
how important the cup competitions are to West Ham fans, and I also know
they will give us great support up at New Meadow," he observed. Shrewsbury
got the better of Moyes' Everton back in January 2003, when the Shropshire
side were managed by Toffees legend Kevin Ratcliffe, but the former Shrews
defender did beat his old club when Sunderland scored a 1-0 victory at the
Stadium of Light last season. Shrewsbury will present a difficult obstacle
to overcome again this time around, with Paul Hurst's side flying high in
the League One table. Town have lost just five matches all season and are in
position to return to the second tie for the first time in 29 years. Moyes,
for one, is well aware of the threat posed by the Shrews, but will only turn
his attention to the Emirates FA Cup after his side have contended with a
busy Christmas and New Year period in the Premier League. "Shrewsbury are
going very well in League One, and it is a club I know well having spent
three years there as a player. "The tie will be a fantastic occasion for
them and we will give their team the utmost respect, but we have seven very
important Premier League matches to play before then and that is our only
focus at the minute."

West Ham, who have never met Shrewsbury previously in a knockout
competition, will travel to the New Meadow over the weekend of 5-8 January
2018. The date, kick-off time and ticket details will be confirmed in due
course.

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West Ham and Sporting Lisbon resolve William Carvalho dispute
BBC.co.uk

West Ham say the dispute with Sporting Lisbon over their summer pursuit of
Portugal's William Carvalho was caused by a "breakdown in communication" and
the matter has now been resolved. Sporting said they were going to report
the Hammers to Fifa for an illegal pursuit of the 25-year-old midfielder.
The Portuguese club also made personal comments about West Ham owners David
Sullivan and David Gold. "Friendly relations between the clubs will resume,"
said a Hammers statement. In September, West Ham said they made a bid for
the Portugal defensive midfielder and released emails that claim to show
their official approach.
But Sporting's communications director Nuno Saraiva questioned the validity
of the leaked emails, which purport to show a 25m euros (£22.8m) offer, as
well suggestions Sullivan was called a "liar" and a "parasite" in a Facebook
post. West Ham refuted the claims, called them "attention seeking", and
considered legal action.
However on Tuesday the Premier League club said: "West Ham and Sporting
acknowledge that a breakdown in communication based in contacts between
representatives from both clubs in respect of a possible transfer of William
Carvalho was the cause of a misunderstanding. "Subsequent to this, the clubs
have had positive communications and the matter is now resolved. On this
basis, there will be no barriers to both clubs negotiating or working
together in the future."

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MOYES' WEST HAM: ARE THE HAMMERINGS OVER?
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 5 DECEMBER 2017 AT 9:03PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Elliot Ramsden

On 3rd December, West Ham United almost did what many are starting to
believe is impossible: take points from Manchester City. At half-time, West
Ham had taken an unexpected lead via the head of Angelo Ogbonna and was
absorbing the City pressure well. But, almost inevitably, the home side
broke through with a goal from Nicolas Otamendi 12 minutes into the second
half and David Silva, with under ten minutes to go, to claim all three
points.

The biggest takeaway was how sharp Adrian was. The Spaniard fell out of
favour under the Slaven Bilic regime, being benched for some calamitous
showings early last season to give the net to Darren Randolph, only to
regain it for the last five league games of the season, keep three clean
sheets, and then be replaced by the loaned-in Joe Hart. He may belong to
league leaders Manchester City, and he may be England's long-standing
first-choice goalie, but Joe Hart has been very weak this season. In
contrast, Adrian's showing against City was mostly superb.

If Moyes were to give Adrian the nod for a stretch of games, it could very
well invigorate the back line with a new faith in their shot-stopper, as
Hart certainly hasn't earned it thus far. Their problems don't end in net,
of course; West Ham may have had the worst goal difference in the league by
the 15th game. The key to improvement isn't up top or net, it's in midfield.

West Ham are second-favourites to get relegated this season, sitting at 5/6
to avoid relegation in the Premier League betting, and the best way that
they can improve their chances of beating the drop is by making some savvy
and necessary signings in the January transfer window. What the Irons need
the most is a strong central midfielder who can hold up the ball, play smart
passes, read the play well enough to make interceptions regularly and, most
importantly, be a clinical tackler.

Through 15 games, West Ham had the worst disciplinary record in the Premier
League with 32 yellow cards, and two reds dished out to their players. But,
this was coupled with the team committing the 7th least fouls at 9.7 per
game, meaning that more of the tackles deemed as fouls were bad enough to
receive a booking.

One supposed transfer target has already taken himself out of the running.
Bournemouth's crafty midfielder Harry Arter has said that he wants to focus
on success for the club and manager that have given him a career, but there
are plenty of other options in the Premier League. West Ham United is still
a huge name in English football and have financial backing, so the club
could easily poach a star from one of the clubs sitting above them who can't
match West Ham's prestige. Aaron Mooy of Huddersfield Town has been
particularly impressive in all facets of the game and Dale Stephens of
Brighton & Hove Albion has proven himself to be a rock in front of the
Seagulls' backline.

However, if the Hammers aren't interesting in forking out Premier League
prices in January, there are a few good fits in the other European top
flights. Bruno Zuculini of Hellas Verona, for example, is a masterful
tackler and could be the midfield saviour that both move the ball well and
protects the defence. Also, assuming that the Hammers do pull themselves up
the table, Ruben Perez would be the perfect long-term fix. Currently on loan
to Leganes from Granada, Perez has been exemplary in the middle of the park
and would be an excellent, yet rather cost-effective, addition to the Irons.

It's going to be an exciting transfer window as all Premier League clubs try
to better themselves for the second half of the season, so with a clear need
for a
collected presence in midfield, West Ham should certainly be opening their
wallets for a new face.

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Board slash loan interest rate
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 5th December 2017
By: Staff Writer

News that the interest rate charged by David Sullivan and David Gold to West
Ham United FC has been reduced has been welcomed by fans. Speaking at last
week's meeting with supporters, at which KUMB was represented by deputy
Editor Gordon Thrower, vice chair Karren Brady revealed that the 7 per cent
interest rate previously charged had effectively been halved since April.
And that could mean in the region of an extra £1.5million per year being
made available to manager David Moyes, instead of going to the owners in
additional interest payments. David Sullivan and David Gold, to whom the
club still owes in the region of £45m-£50m have been charging West Ham the
vastly-inflated interest rate since 2011, costing the club circa £3m-£3.5m
annually.
However Sullivan and Gold will still be coining it in despite slashing the
interest rate charged, with the club still responsible for interest payments
worth around £2m per annum as a result. Speaking in an exclusive interview
with KUMB in 2013, David Sullivan insisted that charging interest on the
loan was mandatory. " it's not interest free - we're not allowed to," he
said when asked to detail the loan. However Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich
and Newcastle United's Mike Ashley - to name but two - have both given
interest free loans to their clubs during the same period.

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West Ham back on 'friendly relations' with Sporting Lisbon after William
Carvalho fallout
Last Updated: 05/12/17 12:09pm
SSN

West Ham say "friendly relations" with Sporting Lisbon have resumed
following a war of words over the potential transfer of William Carvalho in
the summer. In September, the Hammers said they were pursuing legal action
against Sporting's communications director, Nuno Saraiva, after he claimed
the club received no proposals from West Ham for Carvalho, while also making
controversial remarks about co-chairman David Sullivan. Sky Sports News then
revealed two emails which appeared to show Sullivan's different offers for
the player but no deal for Carvalho was forthcoming in the end as
communication between the two clubs broke down.
However, West Ham say that relations between the two clubs are now back on
friendly terms. A West Ham statement said: "West Ham and Sporting Clube de
Portugal acknowledge that a breakdown in communication based on contacts
between representatives from both clubs in respect of a possible transfer of
William Carvalho was the cause of a misunderstanding. "Subsequent to this,
the clubs have had positive communications and the matter is now resolved.
"On this basis, friendly relations between the clubs will resume and there
will be no barriers to both clubs negotiating or working together in the
future."

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Joe Hart faces fight for World Cup place with West Ham set to demote him to
the sub's bench
The Three Lions stopper is set to lose his place in the Hammers starting XI
to Adrian, who impressed against Man City
The Mirror
ByDarren Lewis
22:30, 4 DEC 2017

Joe Hart's World Cup place is in jeopardy with the England keeper set to be
demoted to the West Ham bench. Spanish keeper Adrian, who impressed at
Manchester City on Sunday, will keep the no.1 shirt for the foreseeable
future - starting on Sunday when West Ham host Chelsea. England boss Gareth
Southgate has already made it clear that he will favour players performing
regularly for their clubs when he picks his squad for Russia next summer.
Hart - whose £175,000-a-week wages are being subsidised by both City and
West Ham - was ineligible to play against his parent club due to the terms
of his loan deal. But Hammers boss David Moyes had already been unhappy with
the 30-year-old's previous performances. Adrian, also 30, pulled off a
string of fine saves for his injury-ravaged side at the Etihad as the Irons
threatened to cause a major upset against Pep Guardiola's team. During the
reign of Moyes' predecessor, Slaven Bilic, Adrian had threatened to quit
West Ham in January after Hart had come in to take his place. Now it is Hart
facing an uncertain future ahead of next summer. Everton's Jordan Pickford
has been impressive for club and country while Stoke's Jack Butland remains
highly-rated. Despite the quality of Wayne Rooney's wonder-goal at Goodison
last Wednesday night, Hart has been criticised for racing out of his box
only to play the ball to his former England team-mate instead to sending it
into touch. Hart was also accused of being at fault for Watford's second
goal in the Hornets' 2-0 win at Vicarage Road last month. The former
Shrewsbury stopper has defiantly refused to be cowed by his critics and was
regularly supported by Bilic until the Croatian's departure. But with West
Ham in the bottom three and fighting for survival, Moyes is ready to be
ruthless in his bid to try to save the club.

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West Ham renew interest in William Carvalho after healing rift with Sporting
Lisbon from summer row
William Carvalho wanted to join West Ham but club fell out with Sporting
Lisbon
Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were labelled 'dildo brothers'
The relationship has now healed and West Ham may return for William Carvalho
By Kieran Gill for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 12:41, 5 December 2017 | UPDATED: 15:13, 5 December 2017

West Ham will be free to pursue William Carvalho in January after announcing
they are back on good terms with Sporting Lisbon. The Premier League club
have brought their war of words with the Portuguese side to an end – a very
public argument which involved several twists and turns. There were leaked
emails of supposed transfer offers, allegations of lies and public
name-calling, including West Ham's co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
being labelled the 'dildo brothers'. Yet the announcement that it is all
water under the bridge leaves the door open for West Ham to return for
Carvalho with David Moyes set to be backed in the January window. Before
being sacked, Slaven Bilic was known to be interested in going back in for
the £30million-rated defensive midfielder after Christmas.
The club still like Carvalho and West Ham could now re-open talks. A
statement from the Premier League club read: 'West Ham and Sporting Clube de
Portugal acknowledge that a breakdown in communication based in contacts
between representatives from both clubs in respect of a possible transfer of
William Carvalho was the cause of a misunderstanding. 'Subsequent to this,
the clubs have had positive communications and the matter is now resolved.
'On this basis, friendly relations between the clubs will resume and there
will be no barriers to both clubs negotiating or working together in the
future.' Carvalho was keen to move to the Premier League in the summer
before the two clubs came to blows.

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Reece Oxford could have benefitted immediately from Moyes' West Ham
appointment had he been there
HITC
Vincent Ralph

The West Ham United youngster is currently on loan in Germany, just when he
could have returned to the first-team fold. Of all Slaven Bilic's
questionable decisions while West Ham United manager, the decision to send
Reece Oxford on a two-year loan deal to Borussia Monchengladbach is among
the strangest.
The youngster showed at just 16 that he has what it takes to play regularly
in the Premier League and yet he was soon shunted aside and a failed loan
spell at Reading was followed by his trip to Germany. Oxford's current
situation is even more frustrating considering he could have been the
Hammers youngster with the best chance of making an immediate impact under
new manager David Moyes. The Scot has never been afraid to give youth a
chance and he would have surely found a place for Oxford, who can operate at
centre-back, right-back or as a holding midfielder. Considering the way West
Ham lined up against Manchester City last weekend, Moyes will need all the
top defenders and energetic midfielders he can get, with injuries and
suspensions likely to take their toll in the second half of the campaign.
As a consequence, Oxford could have been the solution to a whole host of
temporary problems in the months ahead, and yet instead he is sitting unused
on Monchengladbach's substitutes' bench. Declan Rice has already proved his
worth at West Ham and one can only hope that in time Oxford returns and does
the same. Some may suggest he did just that with his outstanding performance
against Arsenal but that game will only be remembered for so long.

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Could Smolov and Hernandez work as a pair at West Ham?
HITC
Vincent Ralph

West Ham United are said to be tracking the Russian international. According
to the Daily Mail, West Ham United are interested in signing Fedor Smolov
from Krasnodar, but would the 27-year-old work effectively with Javier
Hernandez or force the Mexican international out of contention at the London
Stadium? Hernandez arrived at the London Stadium for a reported £13million
(Guardian) amid plenty of fanfare, with Hammers supporters feeling they
finally had the prolific striker necessary to fire them up the table.
Unfortunately, a poor start to the campaign under Slaven Bilic meant that
plenty of West Ham's star names were underperforming, and Hernandez could
only do so much to stop the rot. Four goals in his first 10 league games was
not bad for a team struggling to create sufficient chances, yet a
badly-timed hamstring injury ruled him out just when new manager David Moyes
will be looking to stamp his mark on the side. If West Ham sign the prolific
Smolov, it will be with the intention of playing him in his natural position
as a central striker, but given he plays on his own for Krasnodar, with
support further back from the likes of Mauricio Pereyra and Viktor Claesson,
it is difficult to see the Russian playing effectively with Hernandez, who
himself will be seeking similar channels and opportunities to pounce. If
Moyes can find a way to play the pair as a front two, they could be
brilliant for West Ham, but the more likely scenario is that the Hammers
boss opts for one up front and then a secondary attacker such as Manuel
Lanzini, who can work his magic in the space left by a centre-forward.
Assuming that is how things ultimately play out, Hernandez may have to get
used to life as a super-sub, just as he did when he was last in England.

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West Ham surely taking gamble considering selling Andre Ayew back to Swansea
HITC
Jordan Harris

West Ham United are reportedly willing to consider selling Andre Ayew back
to Swansea City. According to a report from The Sun (print edition; 5th
December 2017; page 50), Swansea are interested in re-signing West Ham
forward Andre Ayew just over a year after selling him to the Hammers for £20
million. Interestingly, The Sun suggests that the Irons may be prepared to
let the 27-year-old return to the Liberty Stadium for half the price that
they paid for him.
That may not appear to be the best business, but given that he has scored
eight Premier League goals in 38 games, it would not be a surprise if a
number of Irons fans were urging the club to let the Ghana international
leave if they do receive an eight-figure bid. But perhaps it would be a
gamble for West Ham to let Ayew return to Swansea given where the two sides
lie in the Premier League table. As things stand, West Ham are 19th in the
top flight, while the Swans are bottom of the table and there is just one
point separating the two, while David Moyes' men find themselves three
points off safety. If Moyes feels that the £10 million they will receive
from Swansea is exactly what he needs to bolster his transfer kitty so he
can go out and get a target that will lead the Irons away from danger, then
he should have little hesitation about sanctioning a deal. But Moyes should
really consider whether selling one of their players to a relegation rival
makes sense at this stage of the season. The last thing he will want is to
sell a player to Swansea who then inspires them to get themselves away from
the bottom three and leave the Hammers in more trouble.

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EUROPEAN OUTFIT SEEKING PERMANENT DEAL FOR WEST HAM STARLETFeatured Image
Date: 5th December 2017 at 9:04pm
Written by: Josh Challies

West Ham risk losing one of their brightest youngsters after failing to hand
him chances that many feel he deserves, reports suggest. The Evening
Standard states Borussia Monchengladbach are still interested in making
Reece Oxford's loan stint in the Bundesliga a permanent move, despite the
youngster having failed to settle into the side this season. Oxford has been
on the bench for every league game this season and has made just one
appearance, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim.
Despite the lack of football, Gladbach's sporting director Max Eberl spoke
about the club's continued interest to German publication the Rheinische
Post. "He's a top lad. He's come on well and we're very happy with him. It
takes time to find your feet in the Bundesliga, but we certainly want him to
stay. West Ham now have the final say."
Gladbach reportedly had a clause in Oxford's loan that could make a switch
permanent in the New Year if he reached a certain number of appearances but
that is now no longer possible, though Eberl still wants to pursue a deal.
"We could look into signing him anyway. When our injured players are back,
we're going to have quite a strong troop."

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Martinez's prolific ex-teammate set to be available for free, West Ham have
to move
HITC
Dan Coombs

West Ham must consider Valencia's wantaway forward Rafa Mir. West Ham United
should be on high alert over the possibility of signing Valencia forward
Rafa Mir.
The Hammer swooped on Valencia two years ago to sign Antonio Martinez, and
the forward has been prolific for their under-23 team, netting eight goals
already this season. Fans have been calling for Martinez to get a first team
chance, and it's only a matter of time. Now with Valencia youngster Mir set
to become available for free, West Ham should seek to double up on the
talented Spanish pair. Mir has scored 15 goals in 17 games for Valencia's B
team this season, but has refused to sign a new contract. Super Deporte
reported this weekend that he has now been dropped from the side as
Valencia's frustrations grow. He will be free to negotiate a pre-contract
agreement in January, while Valencia could be forced to sell to avoid losing
him for nothing. Mir is attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur and
Celtic, Super Deporte reported earlier this year. The 20-year-old would be a
smart investment for West Ham, and like Martinez, could be ready to
contribute straight away if he was just given a chance. West Ham's scouting
team came through to pull off the Martinez deal, and they should aim to do
the same for Mir, backed by David Moyes' knowledge of Spanish football from
his brief time in La Liga.

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