Daily WHUFC News - 6th September 2017

Hammer Hart 'so excited' by prospect of going to third World Cup
WHUFC.com

Joe Hart may have been capped 73 times by England, but the West Ham United
goalkeeper can still hardly contain his excitement about the prospect of
representing his country at another major tournament. The Hammers stopper
helped the Three Lions to a vital 2-1 FIFA World Cup European Group F
qualifying win over Slovakia at Wembley on Wednesday evening, a victory
which takes England within two points of a place at Russia 2018. Having also
beaten Malta 4-0 on Friday with a performance that saw Gareth Southgate's
team come in for criticism in some quarters, Hart was asked to reflect on
the two qualifiers and the pressures associated with trying to win the
nation's first major trophy in more than 50 years. "Monday's win was
important because we want to qualify for Russia, that's why it was
important," Hart told whufc.com at Wembley. "Friday was always going to be a
night where if we didn't play to blow them away, we were always going to get
some sort of comments. "A Friday in Malta is an enjoyable place to be, so
I'm sure people's frustrations were going to come out, but it would have
been the same if it was the other way around. If we'd been 4-0 up at
half-time then I think the support would have been amazing and it would have
been a carnival atmosphere. "That's the beauty of being in the England team.
They expect a lot of us and we expect a lot of ourselves. We're really
pleased and proud with how we stayed cool and calm in that game, as we also
did when we went 1-0 down on Monday night. "We fully deserved to win the
match and we fully deserve to be top of the group."

Hart has been to the last four major finals with England – the 2010 and 2014
World Cups and Euro 2012 and 2016 – but a combination of personal and
collective ill-fortune mean he is eager to paint more positive memories
should England reach Russia, as expected. The 30-year-old is experienced
enough to know England will be subject to weighty expectations when they
travel to the World Cup, but he is determined to fulfil them by helping his
country to enjoy a successful tournament. "We're relevant and if we weren't
relevant then people wouldn't have an opinion," he said. "We remain focused
and excited and I can only speak for myself and say I am so excited to
qualify for this World Cup. "It's a dream to play in these competitions and
I can't lie, it's not been good for me in tournament football and I want to
make a difference while I still can. We're not on this footballing world for
that long and opportunities come and go, so you've got to take them. "I've
come out of every tournament wishing I had the answer and trying to put my
finger on it, but hopefully we'll have done very well next summer and I'll
then be able to know why the others weren't so good."

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Cullen ready to skipper Ireland U21s in key clash
WHUFC.com

Josh Cullen will lead a Hammers midfield pairing when his Republic of
Ireland U21 side head to Azerbaijan for their second qualifying game for the
2019 UEFA U21 Championships on Tuesday afternoon. The Academy star,
currently on loan at Championship side Bolton Wanderers, will captain Noel
King's Ireland side in Azerbaijan, with fellow Hammer Declan Rice set to
make his debut at this age group alongside him. Cullen already has eight
caps for the U21s to his name and has been promoted to captain for this
campaign, as Ireland look to qualify for a European Championship finals for
the first time. Their campaign got off to the perfect start in March when
they defeated Kosovo 1-0 in Dublin and victory in the 4pm kick-off in Baku
could take the Irish top of Group 5, which also includes the likes of
Germany and Norway. Rice has impressed greatly in the Hammers' first team at
the start of this season and now steps up after earning six caps at U19
level.
Cullen is looking forward to stepping out alongside his club mate, saying:
"Declan could be a key player for us in this campaign. "He's been in
training with the senior squad but is focused on helping our squad get
results in this campaign to try qualify for the finals."

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From Slaven Bilic row to Aston Villa: The West Ham verdict on Robert
Snodgrass
Snodgrass has joined AVFC on loan until the end of the season
Birmingham Mail
COMMENTS
BYSAM INKERSOLEMAT KENDRICK

Robert Snodgrass is set for his Aston Villa debut this weekend after
arriving on a season-long loan from West Ham United. Snodgrass is expected
to start in Saturday's Championship match against Brentford at Villa Park.
We caught up with Hammers expert Sam Inkersole from football.london for a
lowdown on the 29-year-old Scottish international.

1) How excited were West Ham fans when he signed?

Very much so. We had all seen his performances for Hull and the Hammers
faithful - and me - thought they were actually getting a bargain for what
would eventually be £10.2m considering how good a start to the season he
had. We all just kind of expected him to continue on his merry way in east
London as he did on Humberside but in reality, it was horrendous.

2) Were Dimitri Payet's boots too big for him to fill?

It was ridiculous for anyone to think that Snodgrass was a Payet
replacement, even though many fans saw that as the case. Payet, a mercurial
but stroppy talent, had flounced back to Marseille but the slack should have
picked up by Manuel Lanzini in the short term, but it wasn't the case as
Snodgrass was given that role - wrongly. Eventually Slaven Bilic saw it was
Lanzini's role and that meant limited chances for Snodgrass and playing on
the wing when he did get a game, it's just not a good fit.

3) What do you make of the apparent friction between Snodgrass and Bilic?

A surprise and not a surprise at the same time. It's surprising in that
someone has actually spoken out about Bilic, something we haven't seen over
the dismal past 12 months or so. Someone was going to do it eventually and
now it has happens. Where it isn't a surprise is that Bilic methods have
been called into question by the likes of Reece Oxford, Simone Zaza,
Cheikhou Kouyate, former striker Enner Valencia, and also the terrible
Hammers injury record that speaks volumes.

4) How have West Ham fans reacted to Snodgrass going out on loan?

Honestly - they couldn't care less. Some fans will say he's not been given a
fair crack at the whip, which he wasn't. But the majority will also,
rightly, point to the 18 appearances he had for the Hammers were he did
barely anything positive of note. Most couldn't wait to get rid of him,
which is a shame.

5) He has three years left on his West Ham contract - do you think he will
play for them again?

Given that he thinks there is a "long-term plan" with Steve Bruce then you'd
think he sees his future at Villa Park. But, if he tears it up in the
Championship but Villa don't get promoted, will he stay and drop down a
league? I'm not so sure. If Bilic isn't the manager next season - and it's
pretty much nailed on that he won't be - the new manager might see something
in the Scotsman. But if you put gun to my head? I'd say we won't see him at
the London Stadium again.

6) Finally, what kind of player are Villa getting? What are his strengths
and weaknesses?

Strengths

He is a great option to play off the front man and not on the wing where he
spent the majority of his time at the Hammers.

He does have an excellent range of passing and his set pieces were supposed
to be good, but they weren't here. Maybe he can find them again at Villa
because we really didn't see him display many strengths here.

Weaknesses

Tracking back, don't even think about that happening, and his tackling is
pretty poor. He didn't show anywhere near good enough finishing and often
ran down blind-alleys and not really going anywhere, probably down to a lack
of confidence.

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Bilic's decision to stick with Mark Noble and ignore Renato Sanches speaks
volumes
HITC
Vincent Ralph

The West Ham United boss allegedly turned down a loan move for Renato
Sanches, who ultimately swapped Bayern Munich for Swansea City. West Ham
United fans would have been forgiven for double-taking when they read
comments from their joint-chairman about potential summer transfers earlier
this month.
In an article published on the Hammers' official website, David Sullivan
confirmed the club had been offered the chance to sign both Grzegorz
Krychowiak and Renato Sanches, only for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic to say
no and watch them join West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City respectively.
The decision to snub Sanches is particularly bizarre given the faltering
influence of skipper Mark Noble, who many West Ham fans feel should have
been hooked from the starting line-up long ago. Noble's impact has been on
the wane since last season and there is no doubt Sanches would have been a
considerable upgrade. The fact that Bilic felt he had enough quality in that
area of the field speaks volumes and perhaps hints that his time at the club
is coming to an end if he is really that out of touch. After all, the
20-year-old Portuguese international is an outstanding talent who - if he
plays to his full potential - will put Noble in the shade despite his
inexperience of English football.
There are few players more loyal to their club than Noble is to West Ham,
but loyalty is not enough when your performances do not justify your
continued selection. Bilic should have snapped Bayern's hand off for
Sanches, even if it was only for a year. He should have identified a clear
area of weakness in West Ham's starting XI and solved it with a bargain
deal. Instead he watched Sanches move to a top flight rival and you can rest
assured that decision will come back to bite him given his lack of
alternatives for an under-performing skipper.

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West Ham free agent and injury news latest as Fernandes and Ayew look set to
miss Huddersfield
Catch up with all the latest West Ham news with our Hammers writer
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
20:00, 5 SEP 2017

West Ham have suffered a potential double-injury blow ahead of the return to
Premier League action against Huddersfield Town on Monday night in E20.
Both of them are in midfield too as Andre Ayew has picked up a thigh problem
away on international duty, while Edimilson Fernandes has been sent for
scans on a possible sprained ankle, with both now major doubts for the
Terriers match. For a squad struggling with light numbers as it is, this is
a big blow to Slaven Bilic as he tries to retrieve the wreckage that has
been West Ham's season so far as they sit bottom of the Premier League table
with three games played. Bacary Sagna's name has been mentioned, as has
ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley, both of whom are on the market.

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Edimilson Fernandes suffers suspected sprained ankle as West Ham squad gets
stretched
With the Hammers squad thin on the ground, this is not good news
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
14:26, 5 SEP 2017

Football.London understand Edimilson Fernandes has been sent for a scan on
what is a suspected sprained ankle as the Hammers squad gets stretched to
breaking point. The Swiss midfielder looks set for a stint on the sidelines
following the problem, with the club now awaiting results on the scan but
we're told it is "looks like" the ankle is sprained, we don't yet know how
severely. Fernandes had featured in all three Premier League games so far
this season but had struggled to find any sort of form as the Hammers
slumped to three straight defeats. With West Ham already having a pretty
thin squad as it is, this latest injury setback will not be music to the
ears of Slaven Bilic, who is already suffering availability issues ahead of
the Premier League clash with Huddersfield next Monday. Andre Ayew has
picked up a thigh injury while on international duty with Ghana and isn't
going to feature in their World Cup qualifier this week and is therefore a
doubt for the Huddersfield game, while the Hammers are also sweating on the
fitness of Manuel Lanzini after he pulled out of the Argentina squad with a
knee issue.

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New development at West Ham managerial situation could have implications for
Newcastle Rafa Benitez
MILES STARFORTH
Email Published: 13:12 Tuesday
05 September 2017
Shields Gazette

Roberto Mancini is the "front-runner" to replace under-pressure Slaven Bilic
at West Ham United, according to a report. Newcastle United manager Rafa
Benitez is the favourite with one bookmaker to succeed Bilic at the Premier
League club. Benitez is unhappy at the summer transfer business at St
James's Park. However, Benitez will not resign, and United owner Mike Ashley
will not sack the 57-year-old. And the only way Benitez could conceivably
leave Newcastle this season would be if another club paid his multi-million
pound release clause – and he agreed to the move. Bilic's predicament has
led to speculation that West Ham could move for Benitez, who came close to
taking over at the club two years ago before joining Real Madrid. However,
the Evening Standard today claim that Mancini is being lined up for the role
should Bilic – who was presided over three league defeats this season – be
dismissed. West Ham have never previously paid compensation for a manager.
Mancini is manager of Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. Meanwhile,
Benitez is preparing his Newcastle team for Sunday's game against Swansea
City at the Liberty Stadium.

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West Ham are wasting their time taking legal action against Sporting Lisbon
by Amanda Paula34 minutes agoFollow @antillescap
GreeenStreetHammers

After a poor transfer window, West Ham should have shameful to have failure
instead of starting a process against the Portuguese club. We all know that
the midfielder William Carvalho was one of West Ham's targets. However, what
seemed a done deal, was shown to be another failure in this summer. Much to
the annoyance of fans of the club. Without him and other names, we finished
the market a little disappointed. I must say this was a huge disaster given
the lack of strength in our midfield. This was made worse after an official
statement by Dave Sullivan on West Ham's website on Friday. "It is no secret
that we made a club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho but
unfortunately that offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago. "Late last
night Sporting Lisbon made contact to accept the original offer, but
unfortunately it was just too late in the day, and we simply did not have
enough time to put the player through a medical.

Nevertheless, this declaration made by the Hammers owners did not sound too
good in Lisbon. One day after, Sporting Lisbon's sports director immediately
reported the statement on his Facebook post. David Sullivan lies. At
Sporting, as has already been said by our president, no proposal has been
made for the player William Carvalho. "The football industry is not the set
of an adult film in which all obscenities are allowed.So the boss of a club
demands a lot more than this intellectual pornography. "Mr David Sullivan
has a duty to prove what he says. That is why Sporting challenges him to
publicly show the proposals he claims to have made as well as the evidence
that Sporting received them. To reinforce a ridiculous situation David
Sullivan's son, posted a message affirming the stance against Sporting.

DAVE SULLIVAN JNR @DaveSulley
West Ham are commencing legal proceedings against the communications
director of sporting Lisbon as a written offer for the player was made
4:50 PM - Sep 3, 2017
428 428 Replies 175 175 Retweets 318 318 likes

DAVE SULLIVAN JNR @DaveSulley
To Bruno de Carvalho the president of sporting Lisbon. To say we never made
an offer is nonsense and serious libel
4:50 PM - Sep 3, 2017 · Marbella, Spain
337 337 Replies 99 99 Retweets 200 200 likes

I am not defending the Portuguese side, but what what Dave Sullivan has done
in our club is simply ridiculous. With two consecutive seasons with some of
the worst transfers and bad results, he has just put his foot in it. In
addition, why he decided to start a fight against another club? This is
insane, we do not need this, what we need is to win the next matches and
push to not be relegated. The focus should be on the squad we have, but
right now it's all over the place. The board are not helping a bad season
turn around at all.

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Kevin Friend appointed to referee Huddersfield Town's match against West Ham
The Leicester-based referee will take charge of the Monday night match
Theexaminer.co.uk
BYRORY BENSON
12:36, 5 SEP 2017

Huddersfield Town's match against West Ham next Monday will be taken charge
of by referee Kevin Friend. The official has taken charge of 158 Premier
League matches in his 32-year career as a referee, having started out at the
age of 14 in his home county of Leicestershire. His first top flight outing
came in 2009, when he oversaw Wolves' 2-1 victory over Fulham. He dished out
two yellow cards in that fixture and has gone on to show 585 more in his
Premier league career - brandishing 20 red cards as well - including one to
West Ham's Mark Noble in 2015.
Friend has taken charge of four Huddersfield Town matches in his career,
officiating three League One matches - a 1-1 draw against Oldham, a 1-0 loss
to Sheffield United and a 2-2 draw against Leeds United. The 46-year-old
also took charge as Town beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road in the Championship
in 2013.
Friend has overseen 12 West Ham matches, with the Hammers coming out on top
in seven, drawing one and losing four. The referee has also taken charge of
one major final in his career - the 2013 League Cup final in which Swansea
beat Bradford City by five goals to nil.

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Get Lanzini fit, reintegrate Sakho and find a partner for Reid - West Ham's
to do list after transfer window
There is plenty of work to be done at the London Stadium from now on
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
13:08, 5 SEP 2017

With the transfer window now closed, West Ham can turn their attention back
to football on the field and try to sort out the mess that was the
pre-international break start of the campaign. Slaven Bilic will have taken
stock of what he has seen over the past few weeks - and also have to sort
out the mess that has been flung upon the club in the past seven days and
now has the chance to work things out. There is plenty, plenty and plenty
more issues to be sorted but what are the most pressing priorities? Here's a
few things Bilic could really do with sorting out.

Re-integrate Diafra Sakho into the team

That whole story on Transfer Deadline Day was so "West Ham" it was scarcely
believable but if Sakho is reportedly now playing for a new contract in
January then the Senegal striker needs to be re-integrated back into the
team. He is the ideal partner for Javier Hernandez so if Bilic is going to
start him, there is no time like the present as in Sakho's eyes at east, he
is fit and ready to go. He's quite a divisive character but on his day can
be a real asset to the team and if he is now fit, Billic - whatever
differences the two have - needs to bring Sakho back in.

Find a central defensive partner for Winston Reid

We don't know if the Kiwi is going to be fit after picking up that injury in
the warm-up at Southampton but it is hoped he will be. If not, it'll be four
games with four different central defensive partners. Reid is clearly the
cog that holds the West Ham central defence together and it's finding a
partner for him between the candidates of Jose Fonte, Angelo Ogbonna, James
Collins, or two of those three in a three-man defence. Whatever it is going
to be, Bilic needs to stick with it once he has decided which way to go.

Don't rush Lanzini back but get him fit

West Ham need their Jewel back as soon as they can but it is important not
to rush him back if he has indeed suffered a recurrence of his knee injury.
The Hammers desperately lack a creative spark without Lanzini in the side
but they can't go through the scenario they had with Michail Antonio last
season when they rushed him back for the Arsenal game, then he tore his
hamstring again and that was him done for the season. It sounds as if
Lanzini won't be fit for Huddersfield so that at least gives the club extra
time to make sure he's around for the Spurs game at home, maybe not risk him
at West Brom the week after next.

When Arnautovic returns, play him up front with Hernandez or play another
striker?

When Marko Arnautovic returns from his three-match ban for the trip to West
Brom next week, Bilic needs to decide if he is gong to continue to employ
him as a wide man or play him with Chicharto to offer the Mexican some much
needed support. If not, Arnautovic would likely come into the team and Andre
Ayew be dropped, allowing Diafra Sakho/Andy Carroll to partner Hernandez,
who clearly need someone up with him to help out. Arnautovic owes West Ham
big time after his shoddy sending off at St Mary's and will certainly look
to make up for lost time.

This is all dependant on one thing though... Slaven Bilic still being in
charge of West Ham United. Lose to Huddersfield on Monday night, then who
knows...

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Under-fire West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has "thrown the towel in" claims
former Iron Danny Gabbidon
The struggling Hammers are rock-bottom of the Premier League table following
three straight defeats
The Mirror
BYNEIL MCLEMAN
11:50, 5 SEP 2017

Former West Ham star Danny Gabbidon has claimed Slaven Bilic "looks a shadow
of his former self" and had "pretty much thrown the towel in" after the
defeat at Newcastle. And he claimed the Hammers manager's transfer dealings
with co-owner David Sullivan are "a recipe for disaster". The former Croatia
is under mounting pressure after losing the first three Premier League
matches of the season. And Sullivan issued a weekend statement insisting the
board had signed "the top four players" on Bilic's summer wishlist and
claimed the manager turned down the chance to sign Grzegorz Krychowiak and
Renato Sanches on loan. Former Manchester City boss Mancini, who is now at
Zenit St Petersburg, is second favourite for the East End job behind former
target Rafa Benitez. West Ham play their first home game of the season
against Huddersfield on Monday. And ex-Wales defender Gabbidon, who played
for six years at Upton Park, told The West Ham Way website: "I look at
Slaven at the moment and he looks a shadow of his former self. "His body
language is that of man who looks tired, who doesn't have the answers
anymore, which is sad to see. His personality is his biggest strength but in
football management that can also be your biggest weakness. "Slaven looks
to me like he's lost his way and forgotten some of the things that made him
such a good manager in that first season in charge. "In fairness he's had a
lot to deal with in his short time at the club and it would be
understandable if some of the recent off field issues had contributed to him
losing a bit of focus and almost taken his mind away from what he's really
there to do - manage the team and get results. "From what I hear Slaven had
pretty much thrown the towel in with the words he spoke in the dressing room
to the players after the Newcastle defeat and this might possibly be just a
stay of execution but if I was in his shoes right now I would be thinking:
'I need to get back to basics meaning laying down the law in the dressing
room and getting things right tactically on the pitch'. "I hope that Slaven
Bilic is given a bit more time to turn things around and I hope he's used
this international break to take a good look at himself and say what am I
doing wrong? "And how can I make things better before it's too late. He
really is on borrowed time now."
Bilic made the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho a
priority in the final days of the window but the deal was not done. "It's
fairly obvious that all is not well between the two parties," Gabbidon
added. "Relationships seem to be at breaking point, comments about each
other publicly, an obvious lack of trust and support it almost doesn't feel
like the start of a season, much more like the end! "What you can't have is
owners who are signings players and then the manager who also wants his own
players or is refusing players that are offered to him. It's just a recipe
for disaster which has been clear for all to see."

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Dimitri Payet knows 'how to be a d***head' following controversial spell at
West Ham: 'When I want to p**s everyone off, I do it'
Dimitri Payet moved from West Ham to Marseille for £25million back in
January
The Frenchman lit up the Premier League in his first season but forced a
transfer
The 30-year-old admits he is difficult to manage and knows how to push
buttons
He conceded Slaven Bilic found out about his character traits the hard way
By Glen Williams For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 11:09, 5 September 2017 | UPDATED: 11:38, 5 September 2017

Dimitri Payet has admitted he is a difficult player to manage and 'knows how
to be a d****head' while reflecting on his unceremonious exit from West Ham.
The Frenchman shone during his debut season in east London, scoring 12 goals
and setting up 15 to drive the Hammers to a seventh-place finish — equalling
their highest league position since the 1998-99 season. But Payet's second
season, following West Ham's move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, was
blighted by his desire to seek a move away. The France international, a
former fan favourite in east London, finally sealed a move back to Ligue 1
just 18 months after touching down in England, joining Marseille for
£25million in January. And the 30-year-old has conceded he is a big
personality to manage, telling So Foot: 'I know how to be a d***head. It's
one of my specialities. It's a little game. When I want to p**s everyone
off, I do it. 'My managers understood that when I sulk, they talk to me.
It's a way for me to be heard. Those who know me play along, and, in the
end, it goes well. 'I left [West Ham] for many reasons, but the main one was
about football. 'West Ham's objectives weren't the same as the last season,
and I felt in danger for my football and my chances with the national team.
I had a choice to make.'
The France international admitted Slaven Bilic had a difficult time keeping
Payet's petulance under control during his stay at West Ham. And although he
said Bilic managed him 'like a father', the Croat was not enough to keep
Payet in the Premier League. '[Bilic and I] spoke every day,' Payet added.
'He quickly understood how I worked. You saw that straight away in how
quickly I adapted.' But, ultimately, Payet left for pastures new and has
made a flying return to Ligue 1 — scoring 20 goals in 33 games in all
competitions for the south coast club.

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The two West Ham youngsters ready to turn around the dreadful start to the
season
Youthful exuberance is no bad thing and Slaven Bilic should stick with for
the forseeable
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
09:35, 5 SEP 2017UPDATED10:02, 5 SEP 2017

Now that the international break is nearly over, it's time to focus once
again on the Premier League and for West Ham, rescuing their dismal start to
the season.
Three defeats from three games have left the Hammers rock bottom of the
table, with only goal difference separating them from Crystal Palace. They
could be even further adrift by the time Slaven Bilic's men eventually take
to the London Stadium pitch for the first time this season - next Monday
night against Huddersfield. With many players under performing and Marko
Arnautovic suspended, added to the Hammers already poor start, there are a
couple of places that should be up for grabs in the starting eleven if Bili
chooses not to stick with some underwhelming stars - and they are both
youngsters. Both are already familiar to West Ham fans anyway but their
injection of youthful exuberance, playing without fear and being an unknown
entity could be the key to helping turn things around in east London.

Nathan Holland

The winger can play on either side of the pitch and really impressed in
pre-season but has not been involved yet in the Premier League matchday
squads - that needs to change. With Michail Antonio on one wing and Holland
on the other, this team has pace and width to it. Andre Ayew consistently
goes in field from his position leaving the Hammers attacking threat very
narrow indeed. Holland has been in excellent form for the U23s as well and
while he might look mall ad lightweight, he is deceptively strong and his
low centre of gravity causes havoc for defenders. He will be eager, keen and
ready to go and would be an interesting wildcard pick for the Huddersfield
game.

Declan Rice

Yes, he has started two of the three previous matches but Bilic has to stick
with the teenager after his ill-judged substitution at Newcastle. Rice gives
the fans something to cheer about as well as he has come through the
academy. Plus, with hopefully the return of Cheikhou Kouyate, Rice is a much
better fit with the Senegal star than the under-performing Mark Noble. The
teenager is a hugely talented player and after subbing him off - wrongly -
against Newcastle, Bilic owes the kid another start. It's a great chance for
him to get his confidence back immediately in what, on paper, will look a
much stronger midfield with Kouyate in there. Rice himself will be eager to
prove the mistake he made- giving the ball away in the lead up to Joselu's
opener at Newcastle - was just a one-off as well and should be given the
chance to prove that.

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GUTTED, FUMING AND AMAZED
By Tony Hanna 5 Sep 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Last week was not a great week for West Ham. A week littered with off field
problems that proved just how much turmoil there is at the club at present
and raised more questions about our current ambitions. To be fair the owners
delivered on a right back and a proven goal scorer earlier in this transfer
window and that was what most fans wanted. But, to be honest I was
absolutely gutted when we failed to sign William Carvalho. Despite all the
smoke and mirrors, this was one player that Bilic wanted and the owners
failed him. Not many top quality players will come to West Ham as we can't
offer them Champions League football. Here was a player, already playing CL
football, and he wanted to join West Ham. Nearly all the teams that play us
know they can stop us playing out of the back by using the high press. We
end up hoofing the ball up field to Andy Carroll – oh wait, he isn't there
is he? Carvalho is just the quality ball playing defensive midfielder we
needed- and how. I can only imagine that our owners have already printed
Bilics P45 and are just waiting a few more games so that they can appoint
their dream manager, Rafa Benitez, on the promise he has 40m to spend in the
January window?

It is well documented now that we were hours away from appointing Benitez in
the summer of 2015, but Real Madrid came knocking and everyone understood
why he had to choose the Spanish giants. What is probably not as well known,
and this is information given to me at the time, we were actually in talks
with Rafa at a different point of time, many months before – during Sam's
reign. He chose not to come. Perhaps the time was not right then as well?
But it is now looming large that it may be 3rd time lucky – depending on
what your view of a Benitez managed West Ham may look like? Personally, I
still hope Slav can turn our season around but it is more in hope than
expectation.

Then of course there was the Sakho incident. Trying to force a move
"Odemwingie" style. I was gutted about Carvalho, but I was fuming about
Sakho. This for me was a new low in how today's players can show so little
respect to their club and its fans. When it happens to West Ham, us, it hits
a raw nerve. The player has hardly played in a year, yet the club have
picked up the bill. His goal (non) celebration against Cheltenham told it
all really. He doesn't want to be at West Ham and it shows. So why did we
not accept any offers for him? We could have used the money to clinch the
Carvalho deal. Payet didn't want to play for us either and we accepted a
"measly" 25m for him on the basis it would make for a toxic atmosphere
around the club if we kept him. Why didn't we force him (Payet) to stay too?
Or more pertinently, why didn't we just sell Sakho as well and keep up the
tradition of ridding ourselves of players who don't want to play for West
Ham? It is not like this was his first dummy spit or indiscretion.

If all that was not bad enough we then had Robert Snodgrass taking a pop at
Bilic following his loan move to Aston Villa. No need to go into the full
transcript here as I am sure you have all read it or got the drift. The very
unimpressive Snodgrass was played out of position apparently? "The manager
didn't know my best position when I signed, despite paying 10m quid for me?"
Well, Snoddy should add short term memory loss to his list of failings
because I can remember plenty of times he was played in his preferred
position, and he was still pretty awful then too! Despite all the complaints
though, one thing that the player did say really got me questioning my
thinking regarding Bilic's pre-game tactics. Snodgrass said: "I was coming
on against City and he (Bilic) said "Where do you want to play, on the left
or right?"

The questions I would be asking here are not only how much thought went into
the signing of a 10m pound player but how much thought went into the match
day tactics? Now I would have thought that any PL managers preparation would
have entailed studying our own players strengths and weaknesses as well as
our opponents? Perhaps coming up with a game plan to match? Certainly not
"left or right son?" Snodgrass was introduced into that game in the 64th
minute to replace Obiang, but his true replacement in a double change was
Feghouli. Any preference that Snodgrass may have given Bilic at that time
will have influenced where Antonio played for the rest of the game! Really?
To be honest I am amazed by this revelation. Now, I know we were 3-0 down at
the time, but this smacks of Hackney Marshes not the Olympic Stadium. I
realise wide players can and do swap during games but I wonder if this
example further shows that too many things are far too relaxed at West Ham?
In recent games it looks as though we have been sending eleven players out
onto the pitch to just get on with it best they can. Perhaps we should not
be surprised that what we are sowing at present is actually what we are
reaping?

We as fans always look forward to the start of any new season. It is a time
where we can start with a clean slate and with the optimism that new players
will gel us into a better team. But just three away games into this new
season and we are bottom of the table and filling the tabloids with bad
press. This weekend's game against Huddersfield is massive. It wouldn't
matter who we are playing, a win will go a long way to turning a toxic mood
into something a whole lot better. It won't completely alleviate all of our
problems but it will be a start. According to reports Bilic has a full squad
to choose from, barring the suspended Arnautovic. There will be a few
players that may still be a bit ring rusty but I can't remember us having so
many of our best players available at the same time? If we don't win on
Monday night the least the fans expect to see is some cohesiveness back in
our play and a very determined effort. Huddersfield are yet to concede a
goal this Premier League season and it will not be easy.

As Hamburg Hammer quite rightly wrote in his Monday column – "The owners,
just like the manager and players, are merely temporary features of West
Ham, custodians on borrowed time. Our fans will still be there, long after
Gold, Sullivan and Brady have packed it in, sold up and moved on to pastures
new." He is spot on the money there. I have been supporting this club for
over 50 years and many of them have been littered with poor signings, poor
managers and a plethora of disappointing seasons. I feel for our younger
supporters who have seen us win nothing of note. At least my generation saw
us win some Cups. What other club could at best finish 8th in the league
with three World Cup winners in it? What other club could play in the 2nd
tier of English football with the likes of Brooking, Devonshire, Bonds,
Martin, Lampard, Parkes and Stewart in their side? What other club could
squander the talents of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Michael
Carrick all before their prime? Yet each new season we lock ourselves in for
another ride despite the likelihood of further disappointment. Each bad
season seems worse than the last bad season but perhaps memories are short?

We all live this ride together. I have never met a person yet who told me "I
used to support West Ham." Let's just hope next week is better than last
week!

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Slavisa Jokanovic could be perfect for West Ham after Fulham success
HITC
Tom Seymour

If Slaven Bilic is sacked by West Ham then there is every reason to believe
Slavisa Jokanovic could be a real success if poached from Fulham. Ahead of
the 2016/17 Championship season Fulham were being tipped by some to be
relegated, having only avoided the drop by two places the previous season
after manager Slavisa Jokanovic took over in December. They certainly
weren't considered among the promotion favourites, yet a fast-paced and
attacking style under Jokanovic (the Cottagers were joint topscorers in the
division with champions Newcastle United and Norwich City with 85 goals) saw
them finish sixth, eventually eliminated from the playoffs over two
semi-final legs against Reading. This impressive feat saw the Serb catch
many an eye, particularly at West Ham United, who have been long-term
admirers of the 49-year-old and according to the Express are considering him
as a replacement for current boss Slaven Bilic - whose own position is under
threat after losing all three of the Hammers' Premier League matches to date
in 2017/18. Jokanovic may not have managed in the English top flight as yet,
but does have significant experience in the country having also guided
Watford to promotion in 2015 and there is every reason to think he could be
a success at the London Stadium. Not least because the former Yugoslavia
international would be backed by a board who according to the Telegraph were
the tenth biggest spenders in the division this summer, just behind
Leicester City on £48.7m worth of outgoings on the likes of Marko
Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and Joe Hart.
Quite a change from what Jokanovic has experienced at Craven Cottage in
recent times, with him complaining in a press conference back in May that;
"my role is completely ignored in recruitment this year." And this was
before the West London club sold Sone Aluko to the Royals against his
wishes, as reported by the Daily Mail. It seems that every day is a battle
for Jokanovic currently and while his side's start this term has been solid
but unremarkable with six points from five league matches and just the one
defeat, his achievements against the odds last campaign cannot be forgotten.
Bilic's position has been shaky for over a year now and if the West Ham
board are to sack the Croatian, then perhaps Jokanovic finally deserves his
chance in the big time where his attacking style could be facilitated by
some real talent that look lost at the moment under the current regime.

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Exciting Hammers duo out to impress in U-21 midfield
The Irish Independent
John Fallon
September 5 2017 2:30 AM
0

As Ireland's senior midfielders face another test tonight from Serbia, two
potential contenders for future slots from West Ham will be auditioning in
the Under-21s against Azerbaijan (3.0, Irish time).
Josh Cullen, promoted to captain by manager Noel King for this campaign,
will be joined in the engine-room for the first time on international duty
by his Hammers colleague Declan Rice.
Their composure will be needed as the Irish look to build upon their win
over Kosovo in the opening 2019 European Championship qualifier in March.

Baku in September presents similar humidity challenges to those apparent for
the senior squad in Tbilisi last weekend and ball retention will be vital.
Both London-born, Cullen was first to grab the attention of Slaven Bilic two
years ago, earning four first-team outings before being sent on loan to
Bradford City in February 2016.

That's where the 21-year-old remained until last May when the adventure
culminated with a League One play-off defeat to Millwall.
Phil Parkinson, his former boss at Bradford, has now taken Cullen on loan to
newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers in the Championship.

Rice, another playmaker to declare for Ireland through the grandparent rule,
has been kept at the London Stadium by the Croatian and started all three of
their Premier League games up to the international break.
Martin O'Neill also liked the look of the 18-year-old, fast-tracking him
into the senior squad's training camp in Cork in May 24 hours after being
granted his top-flight bow by Bilic.

Instead of retaining Rice for the current double-header of World Cup
qualifiers, however, O'Neill allowed the teen to boost King's prospects of
racking up six points from their opening two fixtures in the pool.
Far tougher assignments are in store next year when the Irish face reigning
champions Germany, yet the priority for now is surviving the 5000km trek
east.

"Declan could be a key player for us in this campaign," predicted Cullen.
"He's been in training with the senior squad but is focused on helping our
squad get results in this campaign to try qualify for the finals.

"Declan knows that he's not fully there yet in his career but is doing well
so far for our club. He played a few years younger than me at West Ham and,
although he wasn't the standout player in terms of ability, Declan had a
brilliant drive and determination.

"For myself, the aim is to keep getting experience in the Championship."
Ireland (probable): K O'Hara (Manchester United); D Kane (Huddersfield
Town), R Sweeney (Bristol Rovers), S Donnellan (West Brom), C Whelan
(Liverpool); D Rice (West Ham), J Cullen (Bolton Wanderers); C Ronan
(Wolves), R Manning (QPR), R Greco-Cox (QPR); R Curtis (Derry City).

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West Ham linked with move for former Man City and Arsenal free agent
Bacary Sagna is reportedly wanted by the Hammers
Football London
BYOLIVER HARBORD
06:30, 5 SEP 2017

West Ham have been linked with a move for former Manchester City and Arsenal
right back Bacary Sagna to add to their squad. Despite the transfer window
having been officially closed, the French international is currently without
a club and is a free agent so can move to a Premier League club. The
34-year-old has been touted to a few moves from around England at the
moment, and the Hammers have been reportedly one of the clubs that could
well make a deal for him.
Crystal Palace and Watford have also been linked with the FA Cup winner,
however it may seem like a strange choice if Slaven Bilic was to go for
another right back. The Hammers brought in Pablo Zabaleta after he was
released by City, while Sam Byram is also very much in the frame. Bilic
certainly needs something to turn around quickly, however, with three
defeats from three putting his side firmly planted at the bottom of the
Premier League table.

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