West Ham United v Chelsea: All you need to know
WHUFC.com
West Ham United welcome Chelsea to London Stadium on Saturday as Premier League action returns to Stratford.
Read on for all the information you need to know ahead of this weekend's contest!
Where and when?
West Ham United v Chelsea will be played on Saturday 9 December 2017 with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm.
The match will be played at London Stadium in Stratford.
How to follow:
Sky Sports will provide live coverage of Saturday's match on their Main Event and Premier League channels, with the programme due to begin at 11am.
Live match updates will be provided through the official West Ham Twitter account.
You can also follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com.
You can also follow the match on our official Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat channels.
Audio coverage will also be provided by BBC Radio 5 Live.
Meet the opposition:
Team news:
David Moyes will offer an update on his squad for this weekend's game against Chelsea on Friday, during his press conference.
The West Ham manager will be speaking to the media at 1pm.
Jose Fonte and Sam Byram are long-term injuries, but Chicharito is back in training with the first team.
What they say:
"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."
Adrian
Match Officials:
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistant Referees: Peter Kirkup and Stuart Burt
Fourth Official: Graham Scott
Last five meetings:
0:39
How to get there:
There are four Underground stations that supporters should utilise to reach London Stadium: Stratford Station, Stratford International, Hackney Wick and Pudding Mill Lane. All four are expected to be running with decent service on matchday.
By Train
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ogbonna: West Ham fans can roar us on to vital Chelsea victory
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna has called on the Claret and Blue Army to play their part again when West Ham United face Chelsea on Saturday. The Hammers fans created one of the best atmosphere's in London Stadium's brief history in the last home match, roaring their team on to come from behind to draw with Leicester City a fortnight ago. And the defender has urged the 50,000-plus home supporters inside the ground this weekend to replicate their performance, while he and his teammates give 100 per cent and try to replicate theirs "At this moment, it is a hard one for us, but the fans know that the way they can help us change things is with the atmosphere they create," he told Saturday's Official Programme. "Against Leicester, it was the best atmosphere I have heard in London Stadium and it has to be like this every time."
Ogbonna, of course, nearly lifted the roof off the Boleyn Ground when he netted an unforgettable last-minute goal in an FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over Liverpool in February 2016.
And, after sending the travelling fans into a state of delirium when he opened the scoring in last Sunday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester City, the 29-year-old wants to be part of another special atmosphere on Saturday.
"We can change things together and it has to be really similar to that night at the Boleyn Ground!"
As well as his many friends in the stands, Ogbonna will also have the support of his family in the stands this afternoon, with a large number of the player's relations having flown in from Italy this week to commence their Christmas celebrations.
"The best way for me to have a good Christmas is to spend it with my family and they are coming to the game today!"
"My family are all coming, my Mum, my sister, my wife, my son, everybody is coming! Hopefully we will be able to celebrate an early Christmas by beating Chelsea.
"I wish the best of luck for us and if they can give us a bit of luck, that's important."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rice thankful to be learning his trade from England greats
WHUFC.com
If you want tips on how to become a top-class defender, then you could do far worse than take them from England greats Stuart Pearce and John Terry.Thankfully for West Ham United's up-and-coming star Declan Rice, Pearce recently returned to the Club as one of new manager David Moyes' assistants, while Terry has been mentoring the teenager since his formative years at Chelsea. The former Hammer of the Year and 78-times capped Pearce has been a permanent presence on the training pitch, running drills and sessions to improve West Ham's defensive play, both collectively and individually. One of those individuals who is benefitting from Pearce's knowledge and experience is 18-year-old Rice, who returned to the starting XI to produce another encouraging display in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Premier League leaders Manchester City. "I'm really liking life under the new manager David Moyes and his staff," Rice revealed, before going on to single out the former Manchester City, England U21 and Nottingham Forest boss for special praise. "The training is good, the intensity is high and it really suits me having Stuart Pearce here as well, as he helps me out quite a lot. "It's really good working with him. I wasn't even born when he was in his prime, but I've been watching clips of him playing for England and going into tackles and thinking I wouldn't even have gone into that tackle with him! "He's a nice guy and I get on really well with him. He's been giving me all-round defensive tips, to be honest. He's been giving me lots of really good things that I'll take into my game."
Pearce is not the only one who has been taking a keen interest in Rice's rapid development, which has seen him graduate from U23s captain to being a regular member of the first-team squad this season. Of his current teammates, James Collins and Mark Noble regularly speak to the teenager to ensure he remains focused and does not let his recent ascent go to his head, while Academy Director Terry Westley is in daily contact, either in person or by text message or phone call. And Rice also meets his long-time mentor Terry, whose former club Chelsea visit London Stadium on Saturday, on a monthly basis, having initially come into contact with the then-Chelsea captain as a 14-year-old Academy schoolboy. They pair discuss everything from stopping Premier League strikers to how he should conduct himself in media interviews and around the training ground. "I'd say James Collins and Mark Noble influence me most from the current squad. They have been there and done it, while I am still young so they want me to come through and do well. They pass on their experience to me. "John is a nice guy and he's helped me massively. When I was released from Chelsea I was heartbroken. I didn't know what to expect going into the next step of my career and he gave me advice and told me to work hard every day. I took it all on board and that's exactly what I've done."
Despite his historic association with the Blues, Rice is desperate to earn another start against his old team and even more desperate to earn three points for the Hammers. "It's amazing. All my family are Chelsea fans so they'll all be watching, and I played for Chelsea when I was youngster, so I hope all the Academy coaches will be tuning in as well! "Hopefully I can get the start and do well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cresswell: We want to take the game to Chelsea at London Stadium
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell says West Ham United want to take the game to Chelsea at London Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers came within a whisker of snatching a deserved point at Premier League leaders Manchester City last weekend by using a positive approach. And the England left-back believes a similar mindset will stand them in good stead against the champions. "It's been really tough this season and we know it hasn't been good enough from day one, and we know it's only us that can turn it around," said the 27-year-old. "The manager [David Moyes] has come in and he's given us belief and now we just need the points to go with it.
"We played Man City and we took something from the game. Although we got beat, we dug deep and felt we deserved something out of the game. It wasn't to be, so we've got to take on Chelsea now and get some points. "The manager has instilled a work ethic. When you're down in the bottom three, you can have the best players in the world, but if you don't work hard, you certainly won't win games and he has emphasised that and said 'If you don't run, you won't play' and the lads have listened and it's certainly improved us. "Organisation and running and work ethic are the key to everything and he's certainly brought that through the door. You've got to do the gritty things and you've got to do the hard things and we've been out there doing that and working on our shape, our set pieces and how we're going to take the game to Chelsea. "We're putting in the work but we haven't picked up the points yet, so that's the next thing we need to work on."
Cresswell was handed a new left centre-back role at Manchester City last weekend, where he lined up in a back three alongside Declan Rice and Angelo Ogbonna.
With James Collins and Winston Reid potentially ready to return against Chelsea, the No3 could return to his regular full-back position. Wherever he lines up, Cresswell is determined to show his best form after an admittedly indifferent start to 2017/18. "I've not played as well as I'd have like to, to be honest, and I think if you ask every other player in our dressing room, they'd say the same thing. "There is no margin for error in the Premier League and it's tough when you can't put your finger on why you're not playing as you want to and confidence drops, but all you can do is work hard on the training ground and hopefully that will shine through on the pitch on matchday. "We've got 23 games left now and we've got to do our best. The main thing is picking up points and if we get a few on the board then we'll start enjoying our football again and climbing the table."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Miklosko: Victory over Chelsea would be the perfect birthday present
WHUFC.com
West Ham United great Ludek Miklosko says a win over Chelsea would be the perfect birthday present. The giant former goalkeeper will be at London Stadium with friends to celebrate turning 56 on Saturday and Miklosko, who tasted victory over the Blues five times during his 373-match Claret and Blue career, would love nothing more than to see his old team put one over their London rivals again. While Chelsea will go into the lunchtime kick-off as favourites, the Czech says a home win would serve as the catalyst for the Hammers to turn their season around. "It will be a very, very tough game because Chelsea are doing very well and having a good season but I think our players need to go into the game with clear heads, try to perform and in football anything is possible," Miklosko told whufc.com. "I believe that they can turn it around because if they can win that game, they can carry on and it will be a massive, massive boost for all of them.
"A win would certainly be the perfect birthday present for me!"
As a fans' favourite during his own eight-year spell between the West Ham sticks, Miklosko knows full well how vociferous support can inspire players to produce their best. And he says the Claret and Blue Army will have a big part to play before and during Saturday's game, if they want their team to upset the odds and defeat Antonio Conte's Premier League champions. "I know it is sometimes frustrating for the fans but as players, you need them, especially in the home games. To win these games you need a 12th man and that's the fans. They really need to stay with the team and support them through the whole game. "At the same time, the players need to give 100 per cent in every game. Sometimes the fans feel the players are not giving it and that frustrates them even more, but that's not the case now. "If the players show total commitment, the fans will recognise that and support them. That's the only way."
Part of that support will almost certainly be a chorus or two of the legendary terrace chant paying homage to 'Ludo'. Despite the fact this week marks 20 years since Miklosko played his last game for the Club, fans of all ages continue to sing in his honour at every home and away game. Unsurprisingly, the catchy tune brings a smile to the face of the man himself every time he hears it! "I can't remember exactly when it started, but I think I heard the fans sing the 'He comes from near Moscow' song for the first time two or three years before I left. It's really amazing that they are still singing it 20 years later! "On Saturday, for my birthday, I will be in the crowd because I'm bringing my colleagues to London and we're coming to the Chelsea game, which will be great. "They know about the song, but they've never heard it live, so hopefully the fans will sing it and they will hear it. Maybe I will even sing along myself!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ben Johnson: Being involved at Manchester City was a great experience
WHUFC.com
"Johnson who?" remarked one or two West Ham United supporters on social media when the squad to face Premier League leaders Manchester City was announced last weekend. Ben Johnson; that's who. And for those fans who know little about one of the Academy's fastest-emerging young talents, now's your chance to correct that. "It was funny, to be fair, when I saw it on Twitter," laughs the teenager in reference to those select replies to the announcement of Sunday's squad. The 17-year-old right-back was not known to everyone prior to the trip to the Etihad Stadium when he was named in the Hammers' first team matchday squad for the very first time. Naturally, the youngster is now on the radar of most. "Some didn't know me, I'm young so it's understandable!" he continues. "There were a few injuries so Dec [Rice] was starting, and I was put onto the bench. "It was a crazy weekend. I trained with the team on Saturday morning and the gaffer said to me that I was travelling, so there wasn't really much time to think about it. We went up there and it was a great feeling for me.
"I was just focused on the game the next day, and the team played very well. For me, it shows that my hard work must be paying off. I guess it also shows the manager must see something in me, so I'm happy about that. "Being involved was just a great experience. I still have a lot of time to develop, so having that experience so early is a good advantage. Hopefully I can get on the pitch before the end of the season; that's the aim." And given Johnson's speedy progression already this campaign, that aim is not unrealistic. In the U18s squad at the start of the season, the youngster was only drafted into the U23s due to injuries. Impressing at right-back, he quickly made the position his own despite his natural inclination to get forward given his roots as a midfielder. "I've only just started playing 23s football, and you could probably say I'm not even established in that team yet, so it was probably a shock for the fans to be on the bench," Johnson explains. "I started at the 18s this season and had a long term injury, but I came back and there were injuries in the 23s and Terry picked me. Then, game by game, I've been progressing and putting down a statement that I'm good enough at this level. "Last season, I always thought I was a midfielder but there were a lot in our U18s squad. Mark Phillips and Steve Potts sat me down and said as a midfielder, you'll be on the bench, or you can start as a right-back. "Of course I wanted to play, so I said yes, I did well and I've been progressing from there and I'm trying to make the position my own."
Make it his own, he certainly has. Can he go on to do the same in the senior squad? Only time will tell, but at just 17-years-old, Johnson is most certainly on the right tracks.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Academy youngsters head to Belgium for Truce Tournament
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's U12s made the trip to Ypres, Belgium, on Thursday to take part in the Premier League's Truce Tournament which is being held this weekend.
The tournament takes place every year to mark and remember the Christmas Day Truce which between Allied and German soldiers who famously played football in no man's land during the First World War. And the Hammers will be represented by an U12 team in Ypres for the second year running, having qualified for the competition last year as well. This year's qualification was different, for the Club, however; rather than win a qualifying match, the youngsters were rewarded with a spot at the tournament through their hard work and commitment in an education project surrounding the Battle of Passchendaele. The two clubs who produced the best projects on the Battle which took place in the Belgian town over 100 years ago sealed spots for their teams to compete and alongside the Hammers, Middlesbrough also qualified. Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester City and Manchester United are the four other English clubs who will also be competing over the weekend. Led by the Academy of Football's Head of Education Oli Lethbridge, the youngsters organised a memorial service for two soldiers as part of the project; Stratford's Walter Ellis and Robert Pilgrim Evans, from Coggeshall in Essex.
They also wrote letters and poems, produced an article for the Club's Liverpool matchday programme, and scripted and featured in a video that was shared on the Club's social media platforms (which can be viewed below). Ahead of the tournament, Lethbridge said: "The boys, myself and the staff who are attending, are really looking forward to it, not just the footballing reasons, but actually for holistic development that is going to take place. "We're fortunate enough that over the past few years the boys have been to the Truce tournament before. "That's a really exciting opportunity for the boys, to go and meet other people in a similar position and in different cultures. "Teams like PSG from France and Seattle Sounders from America will pose a different challenge on the pitch to them, which will give them an opportunity to problem solve in order to try and overcome those teams. "The challenges of the project for the lads was trying to connect with the local community, trying to get their involvement in the project to raise awareness for the Battle of Passchendaele, which, as well as remembering, was also the main part of the project, to get others to remember and to get others to learn about this particular battle. "The main thing they would have taken away, not just from the video but also the Remembrance service they organised was how important it is to remember the sacrifice many young soldiers made when they fought in the First World War. Subsequently, other wars since."
In Ypres, the six English teams will face Paris Saint-Germain, last year's champions Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Koln, Hertha Berlin, and Seattle Sounders. They each represent nations who fought on the fields of Belgium in the Great War. At the tournament the education off the field will continue as the participating U12s get to see in person the scenes of the battles at which their ancestors fought a century ago.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Date set for Shrewsbury FA Cup tie
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will travel to Shrewsbury Town for their Emirates FA Cup third round tie on Sunday 7 January, with kick-off at 2pm. The Hammers were paired with the Shrews in this week's draw, giving David Moyes' side a first competitive trip to the Shropshire outfit since 1981. Shrewsbury are currently in League One, and sit second in the table with 40 points from their opening 19 games. In the FA Cup, they have seen off Aldershot Town and Morecambe to reach this stage of the competition. The match will be broadcast live on the BBC, and ticket information will follow in due course.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers stars spread festive cheer for Richard House and Newham University Hospital
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's first team players took a break from their busy festive schedule to spread the Christmas cheer this week. Michail Antonio, Arthur Masuaku, Diafra Sakho, Toni Martinez and Sam Byram visited the children's Rainbow Centre at Newham University Hospital to meet youngsters and hand over claret and blue gifts, while manager David Moyes and his players got into the festive spirit as London Stadium played host to special visitors from Richard House Children's Hospice. Ahead of the Beckton-based charity's awareness match against Chelsea on Saturday, Moyes, captain Mark Noble, James Collins, Aaron Cresswell, Winston Reid and Andy Carroll welcomed 25 children, parents and staff to a special Christmas party.
The enthralled youngsters, many of whom are dealing with serious life-limiting medical conditions, wore big smiles on their faces as they enjoyed arts and crafts, messy play and even took on their Hammers heroes at FIFA 18. It continues the Club's yearly tradition of visiting the hospital just before Christmas begins and the visit, once again, brought smiles to faces of the young children currently under the care of doctors and nurses. 2017 Hammer of the Year Antonio said he and the players were only too pleased to pay a visit to those having to spend time in hospital over Christmas. "It's very important for us to spread some Christmas cheer," he said. "Being in hospital over Christmas is not nice, so it's important that we can bring a smile or a bit of laughter to their faces
"I'm a father myself and with my first son he was in hospital over Christmas because he was born six weeks early, so I know how the parents are feeling over this time "Hopefully some of these kids can get out of hospital before Christmas, but for the ones that don't, hopefully the gifts we've brought along can help them through their tough time."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Chelsea
SAT 09 DEC 2017PREMIER LEAGUE
12:30
Venue: London Stadium
TEAM NEWS
West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart looks set to be dropped for Saturday's game against Chelsea, with Adrian expected to start. Forward Javier Hernandez could be involved after five weeks out with a hamstring injury, and Winston Reid's similar problem will be assessed.
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte will be without midfielder Danny Drinkwater, who has an illness. Out-of-favour defender David Luiz also remains sidelined with a knee injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Jonathan Pearce: "West Ham look a more disciplined, fitter and tighter team under David Moyes but it's still eight league games without a win. The last time they went nine without a victory, in 2011, they were relegated. "If they can rekindle the spirit of their 2016 League Cup success against Chelsea they have a chance, even though they can't score goals. "Chelsea have conceded just four goals in their last seven in all competitions. They were average against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League but showed the reliance that can extend their unbeaten league run to eight games and, if they're cold and analytical, bring a 50th win against the Hammers. "If they get sucked into an old fashioned derby scrap it could be a different story."
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
West Ham manager David Moyes: "I would want to say that Adrian's performance [against Manchester City when Hart was ineligible] gives me a good problem because I'm looking for keen competition for places in this team. "I don't want anyone to feel they have a divine right to play. I'm not going to reveal just at this moment which of them will be playing on Saturday. "I am also aware that Joe is England's first-choice goalkeeper and there is a World Cup next summer but, as West Ham's manager, I am only interested in winning matches and doing what is right for this club."
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte: "This league is very tough, especially because there is a team [Manchester City] that is on an extraordinary path. "West Ham has a good squad with good players. To see them in this position is a bit strange."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I think West Ham will be buoyed by their performance in their narrow defeat at Manchester City and I am backing them to get something against Chelsea.
Prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham have won just two and lost 16 of their last 22 Premier League games against Chelsea.
Chelsea won 2-1 in both league meetings last season, but West Ham came out on top by the same score in a League Cup tie at the London Stadium.
Chelsea are one victory away from their 50th in all competitions against West Ham.
West Ham United
The Hammers are without a win in eight league games, including five defeats. They have scored only six goals during that run.
They have not gone nine top-flight games without a win since May 2011, a season which ended in relegation.
West Ham's tally of 10 points after 15 games is their lowest at this stage of a Premier League season.
The Hammers have taken only one point out of a possible 12 under David Moyes.
This is the 41st consecutive Premier League matchday that a side managed by Moyes will start out in the relegation zone, breaking John Gorman's record set at Swindon Town in 1993-94.
Moyes' final match as manager of previous Sunderland was a 5-1 defeat at Antonio Conte's Chelsea in May.
Nine of Manuel Lanzini's 15 Premier League goals for West Ham have come in London derby matches, including two in as many games against Chelsea.
Chelsea
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last seven league games, winning six of them.
The Blues' last league defeat came in a London derby away to Crystal Palace in mid-October.
Chelsea have won each of their last seven Premier League matches played in December.
They have scored a league-high nine headed goals this term.
Alvaro Morata has been involved in 13 goals for Chelsea in his first 14 Premier League appearances, scoring nine goals and supplying four assists.
Morata's next goal will be his 50th in the top flight, taking in spells in Spain, Italy and England.
Eden Hazard has been involved in seven goals in his last eight Premier League games against the Hammers, scoring four and setting up three.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 0-1 Probability of draw: 20%
Probability of home win: 13% Probability of away win: 67%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Liverpool that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
LUTON TOWN 4 V 0 WEST HAM UNDER 23S
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 7 DECEMBER 2017 AT 9:21PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @silverexebo
Terry Westley took his West Ham United Under 21's side to Kenilworth Road tonight for a chance to win a place in the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy. We were up against a Luton Town side who currently sit top of the League Two table, with an impressive plus 30 goal difference.
It was a trip down memory lane for Westley, who had a brief spell as Luton manager in 1995 but there was no time for sentiment tonight as Westley fielded a strong starting 11. The Hatters have a fine collection of former Hammers including, Dan Potts, Elliot and Olly Lee, Pelly Ruddock and Marek Stech. Although Ruddock was the only if these ex-players to start tonight's game. Nathan Jones obviously felt able to rest some of the stars of this years' successful campaign, for this Tuesday night fixture under the lights of a charming, yet tired, Kenilworth Road.
The game started well, with an open style, however Luton had more of the early chances and began pressing, their perseverance paid off in the 28th minute, when Lawson D'Ath scored the first for the Hatters. We picked ourselves up and finished the first 45 with a good free kick from Domingos Quina, tipped over the bar by the Luton keeper, leading to a couple of corners and a strong finish to the half.
There was a lively start to the second half with West Ham going close, with a couple of well taken corners from Haksabanovic and a saved effort from Martinez. We started to believe that we had a chance to get back in the game. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be our night, as Aaron Jarvis scored a second for the Hatters, followed by a third from Kavan Cotter, scoring his first professional goal. The 108 travelling West Ham fans kept themselves amused during the second half by ribbing the opposing keeper, James Shea, with amusing shouts of 'you're Shea, ahh' which certainly drew a smile or two. Sadly, that was about all we had to smile about, as in injury time, after an embarrassing blunder by our keeper Nathan Trott, Jordan Cook scored, to end the game with a flattering 4-0 score line and giving West Ham United U21's their 5th defeat in a row.
I have to admit, I was really looking forward to a chance to see the much-hyped Martinez, in the flesh, and after being named on the bench at the weekend, Ben Johnson, at right back was another player I was keen to get a glimpse of. I was hoping to see some flashes of brilliance tonight and although there were some sparks, no one lit up the pitch for us this evening. Unfortunately, Martinez was well marked by Luton's number 39 Famewo, and was kept quiet for large spells of the game. Quina, Samuelsen, Haksabanovic and Powell all had positive spells, but based on that performance I don't think any of those looked Premier League ready.
A quick nod to Samuelsen and Martinez, who came over and shook hands with the travelling fans after the game. A nice touch, given the poor display from the team tonight.
All in all, a cold, disappointing night for the West Ham players and for those who travelled to watch. A game to forget for us, let's hope the team can turn around this bad run and show some of the form they were showing earlier in the season. Best of luck to the Hatters in the next round.
Claire Hillman @silvervexcebo
LUTON TOWN: Shea, Justin, Musonda, Famewo, Senior, Mpanzu, Cotter, D'Ath, Gambin, Cook, Jarvis.
Subs: Potts, O Lee, Rea, Berry, Read, E Lee, Isted
WEST HAM UNITED UNDER 21'S: Trott, Haksabanovic, Martinez, Quina, Pike, Samuelsen, Makasi, Powell, Akinola, Johnson, Coventry.
Subs: Diangana, Hector-Ingram, Matrevics, Scully, Lewis, Wells, Costa Da Rosa
REFEREE: Darren Drysdale
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 7 DECEMBER 2017 AT 9:36PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
West Ham fans are angry and want answers, justifiably so. As a fan base we have always been passionate, loyal a 'broad church' with many different viewpoints regards our great club. However some of the name calling and the rest, is certainly not helping the cause. Some are called Board 'haters' others are called board 'lovers'. Terms that are simplistic and naive. Last week a group of bloggers went up to meet Mrs Brady. Taking time off work in doing so, simply because like you and I, they deeply love West Ham United. I was rather amazed that fans who were not at the meeting, seemed to know word for word what was said at the meeting. The general assumption was that they were just The Board's little puppets. Yes some of them may be supporters of The Board, others may agree on some points and differ on others. What most people are missing about these meetings is this, it has kept dialogue open between The Club and supporters which is so important.
There are so many groups and individuals protesting about every aspect of The Club. People with very good intentions, but if supporters hope to influence progressive and lasting change at The Club, there can only be one body representing the supporters. That body must not just represent every aspect of West Ham's support, but be dedicated disciplined and be ready to influence positive change at The Club. Crucially though anybody hoping to represent The Club's supporters, must have the full backing of the fans. You have got to start somewhere, and the first step would be setting up a venue of everyone interested in joining the cause, in helping turning things round at The Club. You could do that anywhere: The Boleyn or The East Ham Working Man's Club for e.g. you would then get a master of ceremonies to run proceedings. Giving chance for people to take the floor to vent their grievances, and equally important to suggest positive changes that could be implemented which The Club would benefit long term.
Towards the end of night, one could ask for suggestions regards getting people nominated to be part of the vehicle of change at West Ham United, change that is desperately needed. Once that is done you have to elect a Chairperson and deputy of the group. You could even co-opt an ex player on to the committee. You could approach Sullivan's children Jack and David, as well as Gold's Jacqueline and Vanessa to join the group. A group of people with vastly different viewpoints under the same umbrella, singing off the same hymn sheet. Determined to change things for the better regards West Ham United! Fresh ideas! Moving forward! Granted a few people will be uncomfortable sitting round the same table to begin with, but that's how you achieve meaningful change and solutions to our problems.
You see it all the time in politics all the time. The Northern Ireland peace accord, the uniting of Eastern and West Germany. And Nelson Mandela talking to his jailers of 27 years in South Africa. Time for leadership, questions, answers, time for the truth and time to put things right! What is the alternative? Everyone 'claiming' to represent fans, hurling abuse at each other on Twitter. Having a pop at Gold on twitter, making Sullivan's children sound like Jon Venables. Yep I am no different! FRUSTRATIONS!!! Is the one!! But deep down do you think that has any sort of impact? Of course it doesn't!! On the long run it can only have a negative. On the team and The Club itself. I hate saying it knowing my long held anti Board stance but at some point, Sullivan in particular may just say: "This has gone too far, I'm not putting a penny more into The Club" Then start asset stripping The Club. A fate that we have avoided but has befallen on many a Club. Owners that have promised the world but asset stripped a Club.
Yes there have been promises about the next level and the rest and many have mentioned net spend a thousand times over, but the harsh reality is this: Gold and Sullivan own The Club and they can do what they want in a transfer window. They don't have to spend ONE single penny in the transfer window. Not a pleasant thought but absolutely true. I agree there has been many a false promise, lies and spin, but we have a choice now. He can sing sack The Board every week- which in reality changes nothing. Or elect a body that represents us all, and is the driving force behind a positive change, that through meaningful and truthful dialogue will see our great Club realise its undoubted potential and hold The Board Accountable for their actions. At the same time working with them in a positive way. Time for us to make a difference. United we stand, divided we fall!
We are more than a football Club,
We're a way of life!!
COYI!!
Farehamhammer!!!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ludo reimbursed for ticket costs
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have reimbursed former goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko after he was asked to pay for his own tickets to see United's Premier League meeting with Chelsea this weekend. Speaking at a supporters' event in Hornchurch last night, the 55-year-old shocked fans by revealing how he was left out of pocket as West Ham failed to offer him complimentary tickets - as is standard for retired former players. However a club source told KUMB that since the story broke on social media late last night, they had spoken to Miklosko in order to resolve the "misunderstanding", whilst fully reimbursing him for all associated costs. The source confirmed that it was West Ham's policy to offer complimentary tickets to all returning players - as will be the case this weekend, when former Hammers such as Ray Stewart will be present at the Olympic Stadium - but admitted that Miklosko's visit had slipped through the net. The confusion is believed to have been the result of Miklosko using a third party to obtain the tickets on his behalf, instead of approaching the club directly.
* Yesterday, in our earlier story, it was reported that Arsenal granted Miklosko and his party use of an executive box at the Emirate Stadium. For clarification purposes, the private area in question is rented by an agency whom Miklosko represents.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hart hard done by, claims goalkeeper's union
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
Joe Hart's former England colleague Chris Kirkland says that some people appear to have a "vendetta" against the current England goalkeeper. Hart could be on the verge of losing his place in West Ham's first team following a string of disappointing performances since joining the Hammers on a season-long loan and the re-emergence of Adrian as a capable replacement. Yet according to Kirkland, who retired from the game just over a year ago having battled depression for four years, Hart has been harshly treated since returning from a loan spell with Torino last season. "There seems to be a bit of a vendetta against him at the minute," Kirkland told talkSPORT. "For me he's a top, top keeper. "The criticism Joe has taken has been very harsh, but we all know the industry we're in - when you get a target on your back unfortunately it stays there for a while. But Joe is a big boy, he's a great goalkeeper and he's very confident – he'll fight this all the way."
Speaking about his goalkeeper dilemma earlier, Moyes refused to confirm which of his two 'keepers would start against Chelsea at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow. "I have got the decision in my mind but I'll keep it to myself," he told reporters.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chelsea without key duo for West Ham clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
Antonio Conte has revealed that he will be without the services of two key players when Chelsea visit the Olympic Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Both defender David Luis (persistent knee problem) and England international Danny Drinkwater (fever) have been ruled out of the weekend's big London derby, a game in which West Ham are desperate to take points from. And Conte admitted that there could be further withdrawals ahead of tomorrow afternoon's kick off. "I try to protect every player," the Italian boss told the media in his pre-match press conference. "When you play every three days it's very difficult, impossible even to keep your form at the best level if you play without training sessions. Your form can go up and down. This can be dangerous. "Also, the risk of injury is very high. I will try to rotate my players. Our squad is not so big, but I am giving my players the chance to show me they deserve to play. When I did this I received a good response from my players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes plays down Ings interest
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes has refused to acknowledge reports suggesting that West Ham are interested in signing Liverpool striker Danny Ings next month. The Hammers boss was asked during this lunchtime's press conference whether he was interested in signing the out-of-favour 25-year-old striker, who joined Liverpool from Burnley in an £8million switch during the summer of 2015. However Moyes refused to confirm or deny whether West Ham's purported interest in the player was genuine. "There seems to be a lot of names being banded about at the moment, but I've not had any involvement in it at the moment," he replied. "I will do over the coming weeks. Maybe Tony Henry and the chairman are talking to some people, but I have no idea about that at the moment." Ings, whose career has effectively been halted by a series of knee injuries is currently being courted by several clubs desperate to improve their available firepower, according to various reports.
Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Stoke City are all reported to have expressed an interest in landing the once-capped striker, whose last Premier League start for his current club came more than two years ago.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes to stick with 'in-form' players
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes says he intends to keep faith with his 'in form' players for this weekend's Premier League clash with Chelsea. Speaking to the media this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's afternoon's vital derby encounter with the Blues, the 54-year-old insisted that the players who had been meeting expectations would retain ther place in Saturday's team. However when asked, he refused to confirm whether Adrian - who received the backing of 97 per cent of supporters in a KUMB Forum poll this week - would retain his place ahaead of the on-loan Joe Hart. "I wouldn't give the team out as I don't want to help Chelsea," said Moyes. "I have got the decision in my mind but I'll keep it to myself. I'd always try to speak to the players first; there are some occasions when I do and others when I don't need to."
Another player expected to retain his starting spot is central defender Declan Rice, who was widely praised for his performance at Manchester City last weekend - although Moyes revealed that the youngster is a doubt, having only just recovered from a bout of flu. "I thought Declan did well last week," he added. "Playing a young centre-half is more difficult than playing as a young goalkeeper, because he's 18 and up against strikers with top quality. In the second half it was Aguero and Jesus - and that's some task. "I told him it's a good sign if you're not noticed as a centre-half as it means you're doing a good job. That second goal he could have done better with, with his concentration, and he knows that. But overall, his performance last week was good. "Declan is the one who is looking like he could force his way into the first team, but he's been off for three days with the flu this week."
However one player definitely back in the squad this weekend is leading striker Javier Hernandez, who is back in contention following a month off with a hamstring injury. "It's looking much better," said Moyes. "We've got a whole host of players back training and it's good to get them back. Chicharito is one of those who is back training."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sporting wanted €25m for Carvalho - so we offered 20
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has been speaking about the botched move to sign Sporting midfielder William Carvalho. Sullivan was talking to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg in the same week that the Board confirmed they would not be following through with a threat to sue Sporting - and claimed that he thought a deal had been done, before the Portuguese moved the goalposts.
"We're not liars and we did make an offer," he insisted, in response to Sporting director Nuno Saraiva's September charge. "The manager came to me and said he had an agent working on this who assures me if we give the player 70 or 80 grand a week and pay €25m to Sporting Lisbon, they will take the deal. I've gone in with a €20m offer. They said no. "I told Slaven that I was going back in with €25m. They said 'we want €35m guaranteed plus another €15m of achievable add-ons'. I told Slaven that all we had was €25m and even that's a stretch. "I did what Slaven wanted and his agent couldn't deliver. If he had said at the start it was €35m plus €15m of achievable add-ons, I would have said that I couldn't do it."
Whilst the co-chairman steadfastly refused to accept any responsibility for the Carvalho saga, he admitted that certain mistakes had been made with the club's transfer policy since moving to Stratford in the summer of 2016 - on Slaven Bilic's watch. "I feel I haven't done well enough," he said. "Nobody's done well enough. I work my socks off, but sometimes it's not good enough. "Tony [Henry] is frustrated because we've signed who the manager wants. We've put names up to the manager and he's said he won't take a chance on people straight from South America. "In the first year [of Bilic's tenure] I was more involved and the next two years I was less involved. We've let the manager pick who he wants. He had a policy of wanting older, proven Premier League players. That gives you an old squad and players who you've seen the best of. "Maybe going forward we won't. We have to take a look at the age of the players we're signing. We will have to bring in two or three in January. They won't be old journeymen, they will be young players. They won't be 32."
And according to Sullivan, that could be with the assistance of a recognised Director of Football, which many fans have been requesting for some considerable time. "There's one very good one in the Premier League," he added. "I would seriously think about taking him on in due course and I know he would come because he's approached me."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moyes tight-lipped on goalkeeper conundrum
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
David Moyes is refusing to reveal which of his two goalkeepers will be between the sticks against Chelsea on Saturday. The Hammers boss admitted he had been given a tough decision to make as a result of Adrian's excellent poerformance against Manchester City last weekend and Hart's indifferent form in recent weeks - but refused to indicate where his preference lay. "With Joe Hart ineligible for the City game, Adrian came in and did very well," he told the Standard. "Adrian's performance gives me a good problem, because I'm looking for keen competition for places in this team and I don't want anyone to feel they have a divine right to play. "I'm not going to reveal just at this moment which of them will be playing on Saturday. Adrian did well against City but Joe is an exceptional goalkeeper who has qualities which may go unnoticed, such as his communication, his influence in the dressing room and his invaluable experience. "I am also aware that he is England's first-choice goalkeeper and there is a World Cup next summer but, as West Ham's manager, I am only interested in winning matches and doing what is right for this club."
Moyes, who is yet to taste victory since becoming West Ham's latest manager also insisted that whoever he chose to start against Chelsea would have to maintain their form in order to retain a first team spot. "The competition is tight," he added. "When I came in, I was told that Adrian was chomping at the bit for his opportunity and that was always going to come, both in Cup games and against City at the very least. "He's done himself no harm following his performance last weekend and it might be that it's going to be tough for both of them, since whoever gets the nod might need to play very well to stay in. "I do believe, though, that you have to have some consideration for the players involved and any decision I make will take due account of their welfare."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham facing January nightmare
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 8th December 2017
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have been handed a New Year fixture pile-up as a result of the recent decision to move the derby with Tottenham to Thursday, 4 January. Originally scheduled for New Year's Eve, the trip to Wembley was re-arranged due to safety concerns - leaving the Hammers facing three vital matches within five-and-a-half days.
On Tuesday, 2 January, David Moyes' side - already missing several key players through injury - host Alan Pardew's West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. 48 hours later, they travel across town in order to seek a second successive win at Tottenham's temporary Wembley home. The busy run concludes on Sunday lunchtime with the third round FA Cup tie at League One Shrewsbury Town, which kicks of at 2pm and will be broadcast live by the BBC. The hosts will have enjoyed six days' rest since their previous outing against Oldham Athletic on New Year's Day, compared to West Ham's two.
Additionally, should the Hammers upset the odds and prove triumphant against Arsenal in their Carabao Cup quarter final tie later this month, they would face the first leg of the semi final on either Tuesday, 9th or Wednesday, 10th January - resulting in the club potentially facing four season-defining fixtures in just eight days.
West Ham Utd/Early-January Opponent Fixture Schedules
WEST HAM UTD: 2 Jan (h) West Brom; 4 Jan (a) Spurs; 7 Jan (a) Shrewsbury
West Bromwich Albion: 31 Dec (h) Arsenal; 2 Jan (a) West Ham Utd; 6 Jan (tbc) FA Cup 3rd Rd
Tottenham: 2 Jan (a) Swansea; 4 Jan (h) West Ham Utd; 7 Jan (h) Wimbledon
Shrewsbury: 30 Dec (a) Southend; 1 Jan (h) Oldham; 7 Jan (h) West Ham Utd
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Moyes says Joe Hart and Mark Noble have no guarantees over West Ham starting spots
Last Updated: 08/12/17 6:37pm
SSN
David Moyes insists no West Ham player is guaranteed a spot in his first XI, with goalkeeper Joe Hart waiting to hear if he will start Saturday's derby against Chelsea. Hart is on a season-long loan at the London Stadium from Manchester City but his position has come under scrutiny, having conceded 16 goals in his last six appearances for the Hammers. With Hart ineligible against his parent club last weekend, Adrian impressed in West Ham's 2-1 defeat by the Premier League leaders and the Spaniard could retain his starting position for the visit of Chelsea, live on Sky Sports Premier League. Hart is currently England manager Gareth Southgate's first choice but faces stiff competition from the likes of Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland ahead of next summer's World Cup in Russia. Losing his club place could harm the 30-year-old's World Cup ambitions but Moyes says he is happy to have the goalkeeper conundrum. "I'll keep my team until tomorrow. But I have made a decision in my own mind," he said. "No one is guaranteed. We have to find a way of winning. I want to pick the players who are in form. "I would always try to speak to the players. There are some occasions you should speak to them and others there is no need to. "It is a good problem for West Ham. I don't know if it is a good problem going into the World Cup. "I would like those problems in a few other positions. I am happy having the two of them."
West Ham captain Mark Noble has also found his position in question since Moyes' appointment. The 30-year-old has not featured since the Scot's first game in charge against Watford and was not even included in West Ham's squad for the Manchester City game. "Mark is really influential, he's great around the club," Moyes continued. "But he is not guaranteed. No one is guaranteed. We have to find a way of winning. I want to pick the players who are in form."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Chelsea preview: David Moyes looking for first Hammers win live on Sky Sports
Last Updated: 08/12/17 5:28pm
SSN
David Moyes goes in search of his first victory as West Ham manager at the fifth time of asking when they host Chelsea on Saturday. A bumper Premier League weekend kicks off at the London Stadium as the Hammers host the champions live in front of the Sky Sports cameras. West Ham so nearly became the second side to take points off league leaders Manchester City last time out but David Silva's late winner inflicted a fourth defeat in six games. The Hammers have only picked up one point since Moyes' appointment but, despite their poor form, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte says his side need to maintain their concentration at the London Stadium, having lost on three of their last six visits to West Ham in all competitions (W3). "It's a bit strange to see them in this position," he said. "They have a lot of good players with great talent. Also this is a very physical team. For sure they have the potential to do better. I hope not tomorrow, but after our game. I am surprised they have struggled. "In their last game, I saw Manchester City struggling a lot before they won. It won't be easy and it's a London derby. We must pay great attention."
Team news
Joe Hart is set to drop to the bench while Winston Reid, Javier Hernandez (both hamstring) and Andy Carroll (knee) should be back in the West Ham squad.
Spanish goalkeeper Adrian impressed when deputising for Hart against his parent club Man City last weekend and he is poised to keep his place.
Danny Drinkwater is out of Chelsea's trip after missing three days' training through illness while David Luiz remains sidelined with a knee injury and Conte reluctant to put a timescale on his absence. The Blues, who have been without Charly Musonda and Kenedy in recent weeks, also have "two or three" undisclosed doubts.
Opta stats
West Ham have won just two of their last 22 Premier League games against Chelsea (D4 L16), losing both matches last season 2-1.
Half of the eight Premier League defeats that Chelsea have suffered under Antonio Conte have been in London derby matches - Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace (twice) during the Italian's reign.
West Ham's total of 10 points from their 15 games this season is their third worst-ever start to a league season; only in 1973/74 and 1976/77 (both nine points, based on three points for a win) have seen them win fewer at this stage.
This will be the 41st consecutive Premier League matchday in which David Moyes has started in charge of a team in the relegation zone, breaking the Premier League record. The previous highest tally was held by John Gorman in 1993/94 at Swindon Town (40 in a row).
Eden Hazard has been directly involved in seven goals in his last eight Premier League games against the Hammers (four goals, three assists).
Nine of Manuel Lanzini's 15 Premier League goals for West Ham United have come in London derby matches (60 per cent) - this includes two in his last two against Chelsea.
Merson's prediction
These aren't the games that matter for West Ham. I know it is a London derby and they don't like each other. I don't expect them to get anything from this, but if you lose to Arsenal and Chelsea it isn't too bad. It is the games against Stoke, Newcastle and Bournemouth that matter most. Chelsea are a superior football team by far. West Ham's battles are still to come. Chelsea have turned a corner, and have some good fixtures coming up, so I expect them to be putting pressure on Manchester City.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss David Moyes lauds 'fantastic' Chelsea
By Zinny Boswell
Last Updated: 08/12/17 3:49pm
SSN
David Moyes says Chelsea are as good any team in the Premier League, despite Antonio Conte's side trailing leaders Manchester City by 11 points. Chelsea have experienced a stuttering start to their title defence, losing three of their opening 15 games after only suffering five defeats throughout the whole of last season.
But West Ham manager Moyes was keen to praise the reigning champions ahead of their Saturday lunchtime fixture, which is live on Sky Sports Premier League.
"I'm not an expert on Chelsea but I think how they played last year was fantastic," Moyes said. "I think they've got numerous good players, I think maybe just a slow start to the season might have just caught them out a little bit. "Manchester City have been so strong from day one, but I think Chelsea on their day are a match for anyone in the Premier League. "They proved that last year and I think they are probably doing that a bit more now as well." Both Moyes' former clubs Everton and Manchester United feature on Derby Day this Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League, and the Scot was keen to extend his support to both sides.
"They're really hard to call the derbies, I think the Manchester derby is the two best teams playing against each other," he added. "It might favour Manchester United being at Old Trafford because of the home advantage, but Manchester City have been good wherever they've gone this season. "I think at Everton it was always difficult going to Anfield, over the years we played against some great Liverpool teams. "By the end of my time we had managed to finish above Liverpool the last two years in a row, but I've got to say from where I have been I want Everton to win and I want Manchester United to win."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mark Noble backs David Moyes' impact at West Ham to produce results
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 07/12/17 7:32am
SSN
Mark Noble spoke of David Moyes' impact as West Ham players attended a Christmas Party for youngsters from the local Richard House Children's Hospice on Wednesday. Mark Noble says West Ham's performances are improving under David Moyes but mean nothing until results get better. Moyes is yet to win as West Ham manager since taking over from Slaven Bilic in early November, earning just a point in his four games in charge. Noble, West Ham's captain, admitted changes Moyes has made are yet to affect their league position, but believes the mood remains positive among the players. "I'm not going to stand here and say it's been fantastic because, for me, football is not enjoyable unless you're winning games," Noble told Sky Sports News, speaking at a Christmas Party at the London Stadium for youngsters from the local Richard House Children's Hospice. "I love to win. We're in a results business now where you have to win games and we haven't done that. "What I will say is that it's been good under the new manager, he's set a stall out for how he wants to play. Some of the performances have been really good but the results haven't gone the way we wanted. You can slowly see it turning around. If you don't stick together you'll be in trouble. "I've been in dressing rooms where the atmosphere has been much worse. We've got a good bunch of honest players that it hasn't gone for them this season. I can see the small changes in the things we're doing that hopefully, the results turn around."
West Ham conceded late on to suffered a narrow defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City last weekend, and Noble has taken confidence that they can claim scalps in a tough run of fixtures, with champions Chelsea up next. "We're going to have to pull a couple of big guns out the hat," said Noble. "Chelsea are a fantastic team, I've watched a lot of them, they've got great players. "But we played really well against Manchester City last weekend and if we play like that we'll have a chance."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aaron Cresswell exclusive: David Moyes has West Ham players working harder
Last Updated: 08/12/17 1:50pm
SSN
David Moyes has brought a huge improvement in work ethic and organisation to West Ham since arriving at the club, says Aaron Cresswell. Moyes, who took over from Slaven Bilic last month, has guided West Ham to just one point in his four games in charge, but left-back Cresswell says he has noticed a change at the training ground. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's clash at home to West Ham, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 12.30pm, Cresswell says Moyes has emphasised that players will not be selected if they do not work hard. He told Sky Sports: "Organisation is the key to everything, running, work ethic, and he's certainly brought that since he's come through the door. "Whenever a new manager comes in, it doesn't matter for what reason it is, the tempo in training, the games, the running stats go up. That's happened at our place, but we haven't picked up the points we'd like, and we need to do that sooner rather than later. "For the position we're in now, it's not about enjoying it, you've got to do the gritty things, the hard things, and he certainly works on that. "It's work ethic. Especially when you're down in the relegation zone. You can have the best players in the world, but if you don't work hard you won't win games. "He has emphasised that if you don't run, you won't play, and the lads have took to it. It's improving us."
West Ham are currently 19th in the Premier League, having picked up 10 points from 15 games. They are without a win in eight league games, and Cresswell admits recent times have been difficult for the club. "It has been really tough, and we know it hasn't been good enough from day one. We know it's only us who can turn this around. "The manager has come in, has belief, and we just need those points. We played Man City, and we sort of took something from the game, even though we lost we dug deep and felt we deserved a point out of it. "You look at the start we had, it was really poor, but on the other hand we've been in some good positions and lost or drew the games, for example against Palace and Burnley. There's four points straight away. "There's still 23 games to go, and we still need to pick points up."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MATCH PREVIEW: WEST HAM V CHELSEA
By Dan Coker 8 Dec 2017 at 08:00 359 comments
WTID
2nd October 1993 – Saturday morning children's TV programme Live & Kicking was broadcast for the first time, with Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince at number one with 'Boom! Shake The Room' and The Fugitive in UK cinemas, West Ham United met Chelsea for the first time in the Premier League at the Boleyn Ground in front of 18,917.
The match marked first league starts at Upton Park for new signings David Burrows, Mike Marsh and Lee Chapman – Burrows and Marsh had been involved in the part-exchange switch which saw Julian Dicks head to Anfield. The trio had all played their parts in a 5-1 home win over Chesterfield in the League Cup but this was their first Premier League appearance at their new home.
The Blues came into the game on a seven-match unbeaten run under new player-manager Glenn Hoddle but the Hammers took great delight in ensuring it came to a shuddering halt. The Irons went close when Burrows sent a fierce shot whistling wide before the deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute – Matty Holmes found Trevor Morley who controlled, swivelled and fired beyond Dimitri Kharin from 25 yards. Morley would go on to be the club's top scorer in 1993/94 with 16 goals from 49 matches.
Chelsea skipper Dennis Wise was sent off just a minute after the goal for a two-footed tackle on Burrows but the Hammers failed to finish off the ten men in the second half. Indeed it was the Blues who came closest to scoring, Hoddle, Neil Shipperley and Eddie Newton all testing Ludo Miklosko. The winning goal, and an interview with West Ham manager Billy Bonds, can be viewed in my video below.
The Hammers would go on to finish 13th in 1993/94 while Chelsea would finish 14th and reach the FA Cup Final, losing to Manchester United, who also won the league title. Morley was named Hammer of the Year, with Steve Potts runner-up.
West Ham United: Ludek Miklosko, Tim Breacker, Steve Potts, Tony Gale, David Burrows, Mike Marsh (Martin Allen), Peter Butler, Ian Bishop, Matty Holmes, Trevor Morley, Lee Chapman.
Chelsea: Dimitri Kharin, Steve Clarke (Gareth Hall), Frank Sinclair, Jakob Kjeldberg, Mal Donaghy, Dennis Wise, Eddie Newton, Glenn Hoddle, Andy Dow (John Spencer), Gavin Peacock, Neil Shipperley.
Club Connections
A decent number of players have represented both West Ham United and Chelsea. Victor Moses spent the 2015/16 season on loan with the Hammers and is now proving a key player for Antonio Conte's Blues. Others to have worn the colours of both clubs include:
Goalkeepers: Craig Forrest and Harry Medhurst.
Defenders: Tal Ben Haim, Scott Minto, Wayne Bridge, Ian Pearce, Joe Kirkup, Glen Johnson and Jon Harley.
Midfielders: Bill Jackson, Frank Lampard Junior, Andy Malcolm, Syd Bishop, Peter Brabrook, Alan Dickens, George Horn, Eric Parsons, Robert Bush, Scott Parker, Yossi Benayoun, Joe Cole, Jim Frost and John Sissons.
Strikers: David Speedie, Len Goulden, Billy Bridgeman, Demba Ba, Joe Payne, Clive Allen, George Hilsdon, Carlton Cole, Billy Brown, Jimmy Greaves, Pop Robson, Billy Williams, Ron Tindall and Bob Deacon.
Ron Greenwood and Gianfranco Zola played for Chelsea and managed West Ham, while Sir Geoff Hurst and Dave Sexton both played for the Hammers and managed the Blues. Avram Grant has managed both clubs.
Today's focus is on a former West Ham United striker who went on to be assistant and caretaker manager of Chelsea. Bobby Gould was born on the 12th June 1946 in Coventry and began his career with his hometown club before moving to Arsenal for £90,000 in February 1968. He joined Wolves in June 1970 but moved to Black Country rivals West Brom just 15 months later. He signed for Bristol City in December 1972 before his move to east London.
Gould joined Ron Greenwood's West Ham United in November 1973 for £80,000 with the Hammers badly struggling in the bottom three of the First Division. He made his debut against one of his former clubs, Arsenal, on 24th November 1973 in a 3-1 defeat at the Boleyn Ground. Gould scored his first Hammers goal in a 3-1 defeat at Birmingham on 15th December 1973 and notched another in a 4-2 win at Chelsea on Boxing Day 1973. His first goal at Upton Park arrived on New Year's Day 1974 in another 4-2 win, this time over Norwich. Gould's last goal of 1973/74 came at Manchester City in a 2-1 defeat on 20th April.
The hard-working striker bagged a hat-trick in a 6-0 League Cup second round replay win over Tranmere at the Boleyn on 18th September 1974 and followed that with a brace in a 6-2 home win over Leicester three days later. Strikes in successive away games at Coventry and Everton in October secured 1-1 draws before he fired the fifth and final goal against former club Wolves in a 5-2 home win on 16th November 1974. Two more goals followed before Christmas, one in a 2-1 home win over Leeds and another in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea. Gould got the Hammers' ultimately triumphant FA Cup campaign off to a flyer by scoring in the 2-1 win at Southampton in the third round but would be ruled out for seven weeks, although he did score in his comeback game at Wolves in a 3-1 defeat. Another goal on the road came a month later at Sheffield United in a 3-2 loss but nine games without a goal at the end of the season cost Gould his place in the FA Cup Final team which defeated Fulham 2-0 – Gould was an unused substitute. His day in the Wembley sun was yet to come…
Gould, who used to conduct the Boleyn Ground crowd during renditions of 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles', put that disappointment behind him and scored at Stoke on the opening day of 1975/76 in a 2-1 win. Injury struck again and he would be out of the side for two months – his hard work building back to fitness paid dividends when he bagged the winner in a 2-1 triumph over Manchester United at Upton Park on 25th October 1975, his final goal in claret and blue. Gould played his final match as a Hammer in a 2-1 defeat at Derby on 15th November 1975 – he had joined the club when they were in the bottom two of the First Division and he left almost two years later with the club enjoying FA Cup holder status and sitting fifth in the top flight. Gould had played a significant part in lifting team spirit during his time at the club and departed having scored 19 goals in 62 appearances.
Five of Gould's 19 West Ham goals can be viewed in my video below – his first strike for the club at Birmingham, the fifth in the 5-2 win over former club Wolves, the FA Cup third round header at Southampton, his goal at Sheffield United and his winner against Manchester United.
Gould returned to Wolves in December 1975 for £30,000. He moved on to Bristol Rovers in October 1977 and had spells with Norwegian club Aalesunds and back in England with Hereford before hanging up his boots. He became Geoff Hurst's assistant at Chelsea in 1979 and took caretaker control when Hurst was sacked by the then Division Two Blues in April 1981. Gould took charge of two matches before leaving the club, a 3-0 defeat at Swansea and a 2-0 home loss to Notts County, who finished runners-up to West Ham.
Gould had two spells as boss at former club Bristol Rovers with a period in charge back where it all began at Coventry sandwiched in between. He became manager of Wimbledon in 1987 and led them to an unlikely FA Cup fairytale when they won the trophy in 1988, defeating Liverpool in the Final and making up for Gould's non-appearance back in 1975. He went on to manage another former club, West Brom, before returning to Coventry in 1992 to lead them into the Premier League era. International management followed with a four-year spell in charge of Wales from 1995 to 1999. He returned to club management with Cardiff in 2000.
Gould's final full-time managerial post came in February 2003 when he took over at Division Two strugglers Cheltenham Town. Gould has since had brief spells with Peterborough and Weymouth. Now 71, he is a regular on TalkSport Radio and occasionally appears on BBC Radio 5Live's Fighting Talk. His elder son Jonathan was a goalkeeper at Coventry, Bradford, Celtic and Preston (amongst other clubs), while younger son Richard is Chief Executive of Surrey County Cricket Club. Bobby's grandson Matt is a goalkeeper for Stourbridge in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
Referee
The referee on Saturday will be Anthony Taylor – the Hammers were allocated the 39-year-old on five occasions in 2015/16 as he took charge of our defeat at Tottenham, as well as our home win over Newcastle which came just three games after he had controversially sent off Adrian against Leicester. He was also the man in the middle for our FA Cup third round win over Wolves and our 3-2 win at Everton in March 2016. Last season, Taylor took charge of our 2-0 defeat at Everton in October and our 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in August, awarding the home side a penalty and later controversially failing to issue a second yellow card to Diego Costa for an awful lunge at Adrian – Costa remained on the pitch to score the 89th-minute winner. He also refereed our 1-0 defeat at Leicester on New Year's Eve and, most recently, our 1-0 win over Tottenham in May.
Indeed, controversy and incident are never far away when the Cheshire-based official is the referee for a West Ham United match. Taylor is the referee who had not one, but two red cards rescinded from the same game after he had sent off Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson in the Hammers' 2-1 home defeat to Everton in December 2012. He sent off the home side's Kevin Mirallas against the Hammers at Goodison Park in March 2016 and awarded the Toffees a penalty which Romelu Lukaku saw saved by Adrian.
Possible line-ups
West Ham United are without the injured Jose Fonte and Andy Carroll, while Sam Byram, Winston Reid and Chicharito are doubts. James Collins, Cheikhou Kouyate and Michail Antonio are being assessed.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will be without David Luiz.
Looking ahead to our next match against Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez is one yellow card away from missing our match with the Gunners on Wednesday – Arsenal face Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday.
Possible West Ham United XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku; Arnautovic, Obiang, Noble, Lanzini; Sakho.
Possible Chelsea XI: Courtois; Christensen, Azpilicueta, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Morata, Hazard.
Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
PHYSICALITY – IS IT THE NUMBER 1 ATTRIBUTE YOUTH PLAYERS NEED?
By Goatygav 7 Dec 2017 at 17:00
WTID
Declan Rice looks like the only player to be breaking through from the Academy at present. Apart from Declan the most recent player to get close to a regular first team squad place was Reece Oxford. Before those two James Tomkins and our modern day Mr West Ham, Mark Noble, were the newest players to emerge from the youth ranks.
It's hardly a prolific development regime we've had in recent years, which saddens me, but, perhaps, even more disappointing is the similarity between all of those players. They are all combative defenders and midfielders. You need to go back quite some time to find a forward who's been promoted from the youth ranks.
Many youth team players have been attack minded and had flair. When he was coming through the ranks Blair Turgott was an exciting one to watch. A player with great ball manipulation who would run at defenders, taking them on and beating them with his skill. There were many other examples who never made it to the top level at the club. One such was Junior Stanislas. Junior became a terrace hero with his two goals in the 3-1 win against Milwall in the League Cup in 2009. Introduced by Gianfranco Zola, and playing 9 times in 2008-09 then appearing 28 times in the 2009-10 season, he was not fancied by Avram Grant and played on only 5 occasions under the Israeli manager. Sam Allardyce played him twice during a period of time when he was labelled 'not good enough for the Premier League'. Junior has disproved his detractors by becoming a key player for Bournemouth since their promotion to the Prem and widely regarded as 'one that got away' from West Ham. Both players made youth international teams with England – Blair Turgott from U16 through U19 levels while Stanislas got a few at U20 & U21's.
Back to the present youth/development squad. Tuesday night's Checkatrade Trophy exit against Luton Town was a shame. The lack of stronger and more mature players in the squad, due to injuries as well as Rice's first team inclusion on the weekend, meant it was always going to be a struggle against the high flying Division 2 side. In a recent piece I wrote about the Ex Academy players now plying their trade at Luton I outlined five at the club. It must have been pleasing for them to face their old academy team in the competition – they certainly look like they relished it
"click here":https://www.whufc.com/fixtures/first-team/fixtures-and-results/season-20172018/luton-town-vs-west-ham-united to view the highlights of the match.
So what's the reason why 'The Academy' is not bringing through attacking players? Is it that the expertise is no longer present? Is it that youth attackers get to a certain level at West Ham but can go no further? Or could it be that West Ham have not had managers who have been prepared to blood attacking talent? I've heard many suggest that playing these players is 'too much of a risk' but I really don't buy in to that at all. If anything then inexperienced defenders represent far more of a risk than attackers. You could argue that Jack Collison was an exception to this 'defensive player only' theory about the Academy, and that it was injury that curtailed his career with the club, but it's true to say that he was sold before he established himself as a first team regular. Then again maybe his serious injury did put paid to his time in the squad.
I mean no dis-service to Declan Rice's fantastic achievements so far. In terms of skill it's obvious the lad as a genuine 'footballing brain'. He uses the ball well in possession too but an attacker he's not.
As for the future I'm hopeful. Tony Martinez looks like he has all the attributes to become a superb striker. Ex Everton youth team player Nathan Holland also looks an incredible prospect. I've no doubt that Luton Town benefited from his absence Tuesday night and I'm sure we all wish Nathan a speedy recovery from his recent surgery. Portuguese midfielder Domingos Quina has shown great promise – earning 2 first team appearances in the League Cup this season. And Haksabanovic has been brought in with first team football in mind.
Physicality plays a huge role in modern football. Without it players stand little chance of making it at the top level. For some it's the main feature of their game, getting by with lesser touch and technique, but for others it's something to work on. Probably the greatest current example of a player who needs to 'bulk up' to enable greater physicality is Martin Samuelson. The lad's skill is frightening, and his athleticism is top calibre, but he really needs to prove he can excel and some gym time definitely won't jeopardise his chances.
When Joe Cole was coming through he quickly realised that he needed to get in the gym and gain bulk and strength. So to the gym he went and soon he became a player that was extremely difficult to shake off the ball. A similar thing happened to Lionel Messi who, in my opinion, has been the World's best player for a number of years – arguably the best ever. Without that strength training he wouldn't have been the same player.
So have the players that have come through done so because of their ability to look after themselves against more physical 'grown' men and have those who haven't made the grade lacked the physicality to compete? One thing's for certain – the facts don't lie. West Ham's Academy produces more defenders than it does attackers.
Quick word about the City game. I commented at the time that I was proud of our beleaguered Hammers but that was the extent of it. I was looking no further ahead or reflecting no further back than the 90 odd minutes of the match. They go again against Chelsea and need to show the same hunger, desire, work-rate and organisation as they did last Sunday. As for young Declan – I hope he has another blinder and has learned and grown from the couple of minute errors made. He's a smart lad so I would wager he has.
COYI! West Ham 4 The Cup!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM AND MOORE-STEPHENS- THE £3 BILLION COST OF ATHLETICS
By Blind Hammer 7 Dec 2017 at 08:00
WTID
In the first of a series on Moore-Stephens Blind Hammer explains why Athletics have no future at the LS.
Last week saw the long awaited Moore-Stephens Report into the financial chaos of the London Stadium. The Mayoral Press release focussed on the "deal of the century" struck by West Ham. Predictably the press followed this with lazy headlines implying that the root of the problem lay with "West Ham fleecing the Tax Payers. Whilst the report does criticise the LLDC negotiation, this analysis does not accurately reflect the substance of the findings. The support of the Mayoral slant is probably perpetuated by Journalists who have relied on the Press Release and not bothered to read the full report. The Mayoral description of the conclusions seems designed to exact public pressure for a renegotiation with West Ham. In reality any renegotiation will only scratch the surface of the financial meltdown. I will however, address the whole issue of renegotiation in a future article.
So what does the report really tell us?
It is clear that West Ham is not the problem for the Stadium but an integral part of the solution. The Stadium has a viable financial future only with West Ham as anchor tenants.
Consequently the problems associated with the viability of the Stadium are not related to the aspirations of West Ham. The current financial Problems and Tax Payer burden actually have their roots in the legal challenge mounted by Daniel levy, supported by Barry Hearn. The pressure of this challenge caused a flawed reaction by the then Mayor Johnston. In a fatal error of judgement he withdrew support from the plan to transfer the Stadium to West Ham. Under this arrangement liability for the Tax Payer would have been capped at £35 million. Instead he cobbled together a plan to rent out a "multi-use Stadium under public ownership. This is the structure which underlies all the current problems. Moore-Stephens is crystal clear on this point.
In particular, fatefully, this decision transferred all the risks of Stadium development from West ham to the tax Payer.
Ever since There have been a legacy of problems. The outstanding issue going forward is the cost of annual Stadium conversion. Until now we have not known the financial costs associated with facilitating summer athletics. What the Moore Stephens report lays bare is a situation far worse than any could have imagined.
A key passage Copied from the report appears below.
""The income and expenditure items that have differed most from amounts expected in E20 business plans are:
The operating costs of the relocatable seating which now represents the largest annual expense to E20.
These costs are in excess of £10m per annum, which is over 300 times greater than the figure budgeted (of £300k). This cost is not just limited to one year, but is an ongoing issue as the movement of seats is required every year, and this level of operating cost is not expected to be reduced without a new solution for seating being implemented, at considerable additional capital expense.""
I suspect Moore-Stephens calculator may have been on the blink as I make £10 million a factor of 30 and not 300 times the original estimate of £300,000. Whilst this may be embarrassing for the financial credibility of the analysis, nevertheless the general point still holds. It is important to note this annual capital outlay is wasted investment with no long term return. Apart from the benefit of staging a 2 week Athletics meeting. It is the investment plan equivalent to spending £10 million a year digging a hole and then filling it in again. It is the infrastructural plan of the mad house. The Tax Payer spends over £10 million a year in capital investment but at the end of the process UK Athletics are in exactly the same position as it was before the start of the investment.
So there is no returns apart from allowing the stadium to host a 2 week Athletic event. What this means is that even ignoring inflation the tax Payer will, over 10 years, subsidise Athletics to the tune of £100 million for staging Athletics for just 20 weeks.
When you consider the vast sums involved in building projects it is sometimes hard to contextualise. However this is serious money which could do a great deal elsewhere. For comparison sake the cost of building The Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in 2015 was £75 million. So in just 8 years moving seats for athletics will start to dwarf the cost of building a small hospital. The value of a Hospital building will support thousands with critical care all year around, 24 hours a day, and last for at least a generation. The seat relocation investment provides value only for an annual 2 weeks Athletics window. By any reasonable scrutiny this is a colossal waste of public money.
£10million for seat relocation is astonishing. Even rejecting Moore Stephens incorrect estimate it is still 30 times larger than the sum budgeted for in the original Business Plan. There is no doubt that if the actual cost of seat relocation had been properly scoped, the whole Multi-use Plan would have been jettisoned at birth.
A further problem is that these conversion costs will increase rather than decrease over time. The original vision of a hi-tech 21st Century technological solution with sliding smooth retractable stands has long disappeared. This has been replaced by 19th Century labour intensive scaffolding technology. By massive deployment of brawn brain and muscle, an internal stadium is effectively demolished and constructed every year. The largest part of the relocation budget will be wages sensitive to inflation.
Ignoring inflation, the current Stadium Project is already schedule to accrue cost of £1,000 million over the life of the lease. In other words a billion pounds. This is a budget more suited to running Government Departments than putting on an Athletics event.
When we consider inflation the situation is even worse. In 10 years the annual cost of seat relocation will be, assuming 2% inflation, over £12 million a year. By the end of the planned lease based again on an average 2% inflation the annual cost will be nearly £70 million and the state would have invested £3 billion in order to stage Athletics for 2 weeks a year.
I have compiled a financial analysis of the costs over the terms of the lease, including inflation which can be downloaded from "here":https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/vqyw67
So the unavoidable conclusion is that seat relocation has no practical future. The real question then is whether the Stadium has a future with Athletics as the anchor tenants with West Ham relocating elsewhere. The answer is no. The unavoidable consequence then is that it is Athletics which will have to relocate. It is only with Premiership Football that the Stadium has a future.
This will undoubtedly disrupt the vision for legacy. It is not in dispute that Athletics needs a national home but this must be invested in another place. The State must commit to providing a world class legacy for Athletics. This was the vision of 2012 and should be honoured. It just cannot be honoured at the London Stadium.
COYI
David Griffith
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Sullivan: 'I feel I haven't done well enough. Nobody's done well enough'
West Ham's co-owner discusses regrets over Slaven Bilic, why it may be time to stop allowing the manager to choose all the main transfer targets and how his sons could take over from him
Jacob Steinberg
@JacobSteinberg
Friday 8 December 2017 12.01 GMT Last modified on Friday 8 December 2017 16.37 GMT
"I feel like I haven't done well enough," David Sullivan says as he considers how swiftly and brutally West Ham United's grand ambitions have unravelled after 18 troubled months in their huge new stadium. "Nobody's done well enough. I work my socks off but sometimes it's not good enough."
West Ham's co-owner pauses, giving himself time to reflect on everything that has happened since the move to the London Stadium, and it is clear he is hurting. Those who have worked closely with Sullivan respect his intelligence and they talk of a West Ham fanatic.
But there are other points of view. One former executive describes Sullivan as dictatorial and argues that West Ham are the most dysfunctional club in the Premier League. There is a feeling they need to focus more on analytics, sports science and recruitment and, while David Gold and Karren Brady are influential figures, Sullivan has the power to execute change. He is the one blamed by many supporters for the club's woes.
In that context it is to Sullivan's credit he has agreed to speak. It is a month since he replaced Slaven Bilic with David Moyes on a six-month deal but West Ham's relegation fears have not eased before they host Chelsea on Saturday and there were anti-board chants during the recent defeat by Watford.
"I think we're the most honest, open people you'll ever deal with," Sullivan says, however, and he denies he has any plans to sell the club. "David Gold is 81, it's his whole life. He has nothing in his life except West Ham. He has no hobbies. He has a family but he has one granddaughter. I love football and I want to be nowhere else but West Ham. We're not in it for a quick buck."
Those comments lend weight to the theory that Sullivan will hand control to his sons one day. Jack became the managing director of West Ham Ladies in the summer, while Dave Jr started working at the club this week.
"Jack's learning his trade," Sullivan says. "He was desperate to do it. He worked in every department at West Ham for a week. He knows everyone. He has opinions on everybody." Could Jack be chairman in the future? "Possibly. Or Dave. Or both of them. We'll see. They may get bored with it. Jack's going to make mistakes. He's 18. I make mistakes and I'm 68."
Sullivan's critics feel he has made too many but he rejects the suggestion the facilities at the training ground in Rush Green are not up to scratch, saying £4.8m has been spent on six new pitches, and responds to questions about Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium by pointing out West Ham have made tickets affordable to young fans. "I think Daniel Levy has done a fantastic job at Tottenham," he says. "But his cheapest season ticket price will be three times ours. There might be a tiny little corner with 200 kids he calls the family stand. Maybe we should have gone a different route and borrowed it all. We would have bankrupted the club."
David Sullivan says West Ham are pushing for the London Stadium to look and feel more like home but feels the ground move was justified. 'When players come to look at West Ham, they look at where you play.'
However, Sullivan admits he is not entirely happy with the 57,000-capacity London Stadium, revealing the club is pushing for it to look and feel more like West Ham's home. "We're about £10m a year better off," he says. "It's not going to change our lives."
So why bother moving? "I just think we feel like a big club," Sullivan says. "Not a tinpot club. When players come to look at West Ham, they look at where you play."
But West Ham's critics would say they are not showing proper ambition and Sullivan is contrite when reminded about all the times he has spoken about qualifying for the Champions League. "I'm sure there's 100 things I've said that I regret," he says. "I didn't realise how hard that task was. The money going into the top six is getting bigger."
Now Sullivan says West Ham, who had a season in the Championship after going down in 2011, are even money to be relegated this season. "It's going to be very damaging if it happens," he says. "We'd have to do whatever it takes to keep the club afloat. If we go down, we'll come straight back up. We always come straight back up. We had to put £30m in the last time."
While Sullivan was right to sack Bilic, whose squad was not fit enough, the situation was allowed to persist for too long. He begged the Croat to shake up his fitness team but Bilic would not listen. "I should have got rid of him in the summer," he says. "But beating Tottenham in the last home game and beating Burnley was just enough. My family gave me such grief for not doing it. I thought he'd sorted things out."
That reluctance to act wasted time and exposes West Ham's muddle. Following the thread is tricky. Sullivan is referred to as the club's director of football in the most recent set of accounts – with no one to scrutinise him – but he is surprised to hear that. "Well, I'm not really the director of football," he says. "I never go to the training ground. The manager had a policy of wanting older, proven Premier League players. That gives you an old squad and players who you've seen the best of."
It is said Sullivan takes an active role in identifying transfers but he claims he mostly signed Bilic's targets. "I'm very involved with physically bringing in the players," he says. "I'm not involved in the strategy. The manager said he wanted Fonte from Southampton and Snodgrass from Hull. My kids begged me not to sign them."
Sullivan goes on to take the credit for signing Manuel Lanzini, Ashley Fletcher and Havard Nordtveit but he adds that Bilic wanted Marko Arnautovic, Joe Hart, Javier Hernández and Pablo Zabaleta. "I regret it in a way, the first year I was more involved and the next two years I was less involved. We've let the manager pick who he wants.
"Maybe going forward we won't. We have to take a look at the age of the players we're signing. We will have to bring in two or three in January. They won't be old journeymen, they will be young players. They won't be 32."
West Ham have broken their transfer record in the last two summers, spending £20m on André Ayew and £24m on Arnautovic, but their squad has holes and Sullivan is thinking about hiring a director of football. After all, someone performing that role could have challenged Bilic's training methods at an early stage. "There's one very good one in the Premier League," he says. "I would seriously think about taking him on in due course and I know he would come because he's approached me.
"But I also want to sign the next Mr Stones, who Everton got for £500,000. He was found by David Moyes and Tony Henry, our current head of scouting. Tony is frustrated because we've signed who the manager wants. We've put names up to the manager and he's said he won't take a chance on people straight from South America."
The conversation turns to whether Sullivan, who anticipates improvement under Moyes, has undermined his managers by talking too much. Bilic was deeply unhappy when West Ham failed to sign William Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon last summer. In a farcical episode Sullivan released a statement detailing how close he was to a deal for the midfielder, revealed Bilic had turned down Grzegorz Krychowiak and Renato Sanches and threatened Sporting with a lawsuit after the Portuguese side said there was no offer for Carvalho.
The two clubs made up this week, although Sullivan is still keen to tell his side of the story. "We're not liars and we did make an offer," he says. "The manager came to me and said he had an agent working on this who assures me if we give the player 70 or 80 grand a week and pay €25m to Sporting Lisbon, they will take the deal. I've gone in with a €20m offer. They said no.
"I told Slaven that I was going in with €25m. They said: 'We want €35m guaranteed plus another €15m of achievable add-ons.' I told Slaven that all we had was €25m and even that's a stretch. I did what Slaven wanted and his agent couldn't deliver. If he had said at the start it was €35m plus €15m of achievable add-ons, I would have said that I couldn't do it."
Sanches and Krychowiak have not impressed at Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion respectively, though. "The manager was probably proven right on those two," Sullivan says. "Maybe I shouldn't have made it public."
Sullivan still thinks Krychowiak is a fantastic player, though, and he tells a story about the time he let Sam Allardyce know that Chelsea would listen to a £10m offer for Romelu Lukaku. "I asked Sam if he fancied Lukaku," he says. "Sam said he'd take him on loan but he wouldn't buy him for that. Again I've supported the manager."
The phone on Sullivan's desk is starting to ring with increasing persistence. Henry has arrived to discuss transfer plans. There are deals to be done and a relegation battle to be won, but Sullivan is still dreaming. "We have to get in the top six eventually," he says. "We've had a go and it hasn't worked. We'll keep having a go. We'll keep changing the model and try different things. We dare to dream."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham chairman David Sullivan admits club turned down the chance to sign Romelu Lukaku for £10million
The then Chelsea striker was offered to the east London club, but then boss Sam Allardyce wasn't interested
The Mirror
ByJake Polden
15:29, 8 DEC 2017UPDATED15:36, 8 DEC 2017
West Ham chairman David Sullivan has admitted the club turned down the chance to sign Romelu Lukaku for just £10million. The Belgium striker was at Chelsea at the time, according to Sullivan, and was offered to then manager Sam Allardyce. Lukaku has always shown great potential, but the now Everton boss wasn't prepared to splash out on him. Instead he was only prepared to take the Belgian on loan, but missed out on him altogether, and well, the rest is history. Recalling the story in an interview with The Guardian, Sullivan said: "I asked Sam if he fancied Lukaku [for £10million]. "Sam said he'd take him on loan but he wouldn't buy him for that. Again I've supported the manager."
Lukaku signed for Manchester United at the beginning of the season for a whopping £75million. He started in tremendous form for the Red Devils, scoring in seven of his first eight Premier League fixtures.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Robert Snodgrass sarcastically thanks West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan after he revealed his kids 'begged' him not to sign the winger from Hull
Robert Snodgrass has let rip at West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan on Twitter
The 30-year-old winger was signed for £10.2million less than a year ago
Sullivan confessed that his kids 'begged' him not to sign Snodgrass from Hull
By Kieran Gill for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 20:24, 8 December 2017 | UPDATED: 20:36, 8 December 2017
Robert Snodgrass is showing no signs of wanting to return to his West Ham nightmare as he sarcastically thanked co-chairman David Sullivan on Friday night.
The 30-year-old winger was signed for £10.2million less than a year ago but is now on loan at Aston Villa after falling out of favour at West Ham. Sullivan gave an interview this week where he confessed his kids 'begged' him not to sign Snodgrass from Hull.
Responding on Twitter, Snodgrass wrote: 'Everyone tagging me in this like your all surprised. Thanks for your support MR CHAIRMAN.'
Snodgrass is contracted to West Ham until 2020 but is unlikely to appear for them again. The Hammers will try to recuperate their original fee. Aston Villa, where he is on loan for this season, are likely to try to make the deal permanent in the summer as they chase promotion to the Premier League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment