Daily WHUFC News - 22nd October 2017

Wind-assisted U18s breeze to first league win of season
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U18s gave the Club a lift on Saturday as they scored their
first win of the season. The Hammers took advantage of the windy conditions
to snatch a 1-0 U18 Premier League Southern Division victory over Reading at
Little Heath. Bernardo Rosa was the hosts' first match-winner of 2017/18,
when his corner was cleared back to him, and the Brazilian's cross was
caught by a gust of wind and flew into the top corner via the goalkeeper's
gloves. Assistant manager Mark Phillips was delighted with the team's
application, both before and after Rosa's goal, as they picked up three
welcome points. "The wind definitely made things difficult, and it wasn't
the most attractive of games, but we worked harder than them and deserved
the victory," he said. "To get our first win of the season is a massive
boost for everyone in the dressing room, which had gone a bit flat in recent
weeks, as you might expect. I made sure the lads played a bit of music
before the game and it seemed to get them up for it. "It was the sort of
game where one goal was always likely to be decisive and we got it. I felt
that if we could get ahead, we'd go onto win, but if we'd conceded, we might
well have lost. "Bernardo's goal was the first time we have been in front
all season, so we were pleased with the way we defended and saw the game out
after we'd scored. "The captain Ben Wells led by example and defended well,
as did the whole back five. Schoolboy Josh Okotcha played up [an age group]
and did really well, while Rihards Matrevics made a really important save
late on to ensure we won the game."

After a weekend off, the Hammers will return to action on Saturday 4
November at 11am, when they host Liverpool in the U18 Premier League Cup at
Little Heath.
"It'll be Steven Gerrard versus Steve Potts in terms of coaches!" Phillips
smiled. "They had some battles as players and now they'll meet on the
touchline, so let's hope Pottsy comes out on top! "It's a game we're all
looking forward to, so we'd love as many supporters as possible to come
along to cheer us on ahead of the first-team's game against Liverpool later
that afternoon."

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Trott hopeful for Chelsea win after Manchester United statement
WHUFC.com

Nathan Trott is desperate for his West Ham United U23 side to follow up last
weekend's win over Manchester United with another when they travel to
Chelsea on Sunday. The goalkeeper believes his team put down at statement
with their 4-2 victory over the Red Devils last Sunday, courtesy of Toni
Martinez's hat-trick and Joe Powell's first of the season. The Blues have
recorded just one win so far in the league this campaign in comparison to
West Ham's four and Trott thinks with the confidence high, the Hammers are
well set to continue their good form. He said: "Manchester United are
obviously a really big club who have produced excellent players in the past,
so I think that it was a big statement by us to win that game 4-2. "I think
it now tells us how good we are as a team and that the players we produce
are up there with the best. "Everyone is in good spirits now. It was a big
win and hopefully we can use this as momentum and keep winning games from
here on, starting with our match against Chelsea."

Terry Westley's men will travel to Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground to
face the Blues, whose one and only Division 1 win so far came against Derby
County back in mid-August. With England U20 international Trott now the
Club's third choice stopper behind Joe Hart and Adrian, much of his time in
training and on matchdays is spent with the first team. Nathan TrottThe
youngster insisted, though, he remains as focused as ever when it comes to
U23 games. "I try not to think too much before games," he continued. "I have
the same routine before every game, so I block things out and just stay
focused. "Being in and around the first team has given me a different
picture. Being with them on so many matchdays this season has been a great
experience so far and it gives me a chance to see all the lads preparing and
see how they do that. "For me, I look at the keepers Joe and Adrian, how
they train beforehand and how focused they are and I try to take on as much
as I can. "They have both helped me a lot. They are very different keepers
so I can take different things from both of them, which is good. Both have
the same mentality, staying tough and blocking out any distractions. "It's
good having that blend between them, and they are both experienced guys and
experienced in the Premier League. "If I can take that into my own games, it
will only help me improve."

The Hammers currently sit in fourth place in Premier League 2 Division 1 in
their first campaign since promotion last May. Should other results go their
way on Saturday, Westley's men could move up to third with maximum points
against Chelsea. Supporters can follow, from 11am, live blog coverage of the
clash on whufc.com Sunday.

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#REFWATCH: MARTIN ATKINSON – WEST HAM VS BRIGHTON
AUTHOR: SAMTWHWREF. PUBLISHED: 20 OCTOBER 2017 AT 10:16PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @SamRoyden

Who doesn't love football on a Friday Night? After this performance, West
Ham fans for sure… After a challenging fixture at Burnley, we welcomed newly
promoted Brighton to the London Stadium for FNF which was live on Sky
Sports. Slaven Bilic and the players are under a microscope with recent
performances and especially since the move to the London Stadium, West Ham
have struggled to rediscover any type performance that we saw in the final
season at the Boleyn Ground.

Martin Atkinson was the referee appointed for this fixture and I was very
impressed with Atkinson last weekend for his performance in Liverpool Vs
Manchester United. It was a tough fixture to officiate but Atkinson was that
calm figure that the game needed and his decision making and player
management was impressive. I rate Atkinson highly and this was his second
West Ham appointment with the only other game being our first game of the
season away at Manchester United.

Martin Atkinson must be thinking to himself, what did I do to get given that
fixture? The first half was probably the easiest 45 minutes of Premier
League officiating he and his team could ask for. They cruised through the
half which lacked intensity and creativity. The only incident that is worth
talking about in the first half was the caution for Javier Hernandez. The
Mexican has been starved of chances and service so far this season and
within this particular incident, he came in late to a challenge clattering
Brighton's Anthony Knockaert. It was a 50/50 challenge but Knockaert was
caught and left in a heap after the challenge.

The match was desperately calling out for some end product by West Ham after
an awful 45 minutes after going 2-nil down. Martin Atkinson had limited to
do in the second half but thankfully a bit more busy than the first half.
Whenever a game is in cruise control, the worst thing you can do as a
referee is become complacent and lose focus; you never know when the game is
going to change and you need to be there to make that decision.

Glenn Murray was a handful for the West Ham defenders and he stepped over
the line on a few occasions. Atkinson was there to warn the Brighton striker
that his persistent infringing of the laws was unacceptable and gave him his
last warning. West Ham's evening took an even worse turn when Pablo Zabaleta
gave away a very stupid, lazy and tired penalty against the ever present
Glenn Murray. The West Ham man couldn't have any complaints with the
challenge and Martin Atkinson was well positioned to make the decision to
point to the spot.

Overall, Martin Atkinson had little to do during the game which during a
tough couple of years for referees, it was probably enjoyable to walk away
from a game which was incident free. A note on West Ham, it's pretty
shocking that you're playing at home against a newly promoted side and the
players look fed up, lacked intensity and creativity. Jamie Carragher summed
it up pretty well in commentary on Sky Sports – the team is full of
individuals and not a team. Personally, this comes from the management team
and filters down to the players and leaders in the squad. As we sit 17th in
the Premier League, it's going to be an uncomfortable couple of weeks for
Bilic. I do feel for him however it's a results business and something needs
to change in the team.

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@_CARLTONCOLE9'S THOUGHTS ON SLAVEN BILIC
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 21 OCTOBER 2017 AT 12:22PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @_CarltonCole9's thoughts on Slaven Bilic

If you've followed me for a while, you will know how much I love Slaven
Bilic. I have defended him throughout; regardless of how poor we've been I
have tweeted my praise for him and got a ton of abuse for being naive,
deluded and pretty much any synonym you can imagine. I have called people
who want him gone stupid and fickle. I have a massive scarf I got in Camden
Market saying Super Slav up in my bedroom. I do love him which is why
writing this is so hard so I'm just gonna come out and say it: For the sake
of West Ham United, Slaven Bilic needs to go.

He is still a good manager regardless of what people say. Maybe this is me
clinging on to the fact I do love him. Kinda like when your partner leaves
you and you hate them but you have that ounce of love for them. But the
Brighton game has pushed me too far. It was indefensible.

I have no idea what formation we were playing. Lanzini was acting as a
holding midfielder. Kouyate was wandering up front despite the fact he has
the shooting ability of a 4 year old American who has stolen their
grandmother's handgun from her handbag. But what baffles me the most is the
fact we kept crossing in for Hernandez and Ayew to score headers despite the
fact they're about 10 inches smaller than Brighton's centre backs.

However, the tip of the iceberg for me is the general attitude of the
players. They're not playing for him. They're not playing for the club. I
don't know what they're doing and they should be ashamed of themselves but
it seems like Bilic has hit the point of no return with them. He's fighting
a lost cause. Unless he does something drastic then this is gonna drag on
until the end of the season when his contract is up. The issue is I fear he
doesn't have it in him anymore.

I strongly disagree with people who say Bilic is a bad manager. He got us
our highest ever points tally – if you say that was Payet, remember who got
the best out of him – and with all the nonsense that happened last season we
still got a respectable 11th. But this season has been dire. Even the wins
have been dreadful. I've kid myself by saying a win's a win and that Slaven
got us the win (subs against Swansea) but the truth is, they were poor and
we were lucky. But losing 3-0 to 2 promoted sides, one at home, is
unacceptable for a club who want to fight for Europa.

This season hasn't just been Bilic's fault. It's been the player's fault as
well. I can't think of one player who's consistently been good. Zabaleta,
who's probably been our best player this season, has given away 2 penalties.
Hernandez isn't getting the service but on the rare occasion he does, he's
not doing anything. So far, Arnautovic has been a disaster, as have every
one of our central midfielders. As I said, they may not be playing for Bilic
but they could at least play for the shirt.

I have supported West Ham since Pardew. I'm aware many of you have been
supporting us for longer, but Slaven Bilic is my favourite West Ham manager.
I love the person and I did love the manager. But as long as he stays at
West Ham, his reputation will continue to get shredded apart. Thank you for
the memories Slaven and know that I do and always will love you. But,
similar to Big Sam, you've taken us as far as you can and it's time for you
to go.

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Slaven Bilic's future being discussed by West Ham board and owners
Last Updated: 21/10/17 4:45pm
SSN

West Ham owners and the club board are meeting on Saturday to discuss Slaven
Bilic's future as manager, according to Sky sources. Co-owners David
Sullivan and David Gold have a track record of standing by their managers,
but Sky Sports News understand the club's hierarchy are "very worried" by
what they saw during Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Brighton at the London
Stadium. Two goals from Glenn Murray and a Jose Izquierdo strike means the
Hammers, who are 17th in the Premier League, have made their worst start to
a season since 2010, taking just eight points from nine games. Sky sources
understand no final decision will be made on Bilic's future on Saturday as
the owners ponder whether to sack him or give him two more games - at
Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, and at Crystal
Palace next Saturday. Bilic's contract runs out at the end of the season,
and Sullivan backed the Croatian ahead of Friday night's game admitting he
felt it was "morally wrong" to sack managers and said he wants to give him
opportunity to see out his three-year contract. Speaking after Friday's
defeat, Bilic said: "It is very hard for me to say anything clever in this
moment apart from it's very disappointing. "As manager I take full
responsibility.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits it was a bad result but is unsure why the
performance was so poor after his side were defeated 3-0 at home by Brighton
in the Premier League. When asked if he was confident he will be given the
opportunity to turn West Ham's form around, he said: "The board will do what
they are going to do. "It is their decision. We have been in this situation
before and we got out. As a manager you take the credit and as a manager you
take the full responsibility. I don't want to hide. "I'm not worried [about
the sack]. I'm doing my best."

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Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher analyse Marko Arnautovic's West Ham
performance against Brighton
Last Updated: 21/10/17 10:03am
SSN

Gary Neville was critical of Marko Arnautovic after West Ham's heavy defeat
to Brighton on Friday Night Football, saying the forward "is Cristiano
Ronaldo in his own mind". Brighton produced a superb display to beat
struggling West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium, with two goals from Glenn
Murray and another by Jose Izquierdo. Neville and fellow Sky Sports analyst
Jamie Carragher dissected a "woeful" West Ham performance, reserving
particular criticism for the Hammers' £24m club-record signing Arnautovic.
"I have only ever played with one player that had an excuse not to track
back and that was Cristiano Ronaldo," Neville told Sky Sports. "He scored 40
goals in a season. "That guy [Arnautovic] is Ronaldo in his own mind. That's
the problem, he thinks he is better than he is. "The part of the game I
can't get my head around from a West Ham point of view is the first 20
minutes. "When you think about the opportunity they had tonight - they had
turned it around a little bit over the last few weeks - but they came out
against Brighton and were not alert on set-pieces, they had no concentration
or urgency. That's the period of the game that is unforgivable for me."

Carragher added: "That's the kind of performance that gets the manager
sacked. I was very critical of Arnautovic during the game, he was a huge
money signing.
"It can be difficult to settle and show your true form at a new club but
that performance was not one you think was desperate to show everyone what
he can do.
"He's walking about during the game, it was beyond belief, certainly in the
first half. It was so poor and it heaps so much pressure on the manager."

The defeat leaves West Ham in 17th place having taken eight points from
their opening nine games. Large numbers of the home supporters left the
ground after Murray's penalty made it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go and speaking
to Sky Sports after the game Slaven Bilic took "full responsibility" for the
display.

West Ham centre back Jose Fonte says it was a difficult night but they must
bounce back ahead of their next game following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
"Slaven was such a buoyant manager in his first season at the club, the pain
he will be feeling now," Neville added. "That was woeful tonight from West
Ham. "I think back to Sunderland last year, the fans walking out of the
ground. The QPR team from four or five years ago that was a disgrace. "There
aren't many times you can recall fans just walking out en masse and that's a
real problem. That is what owners look at. "I hope Slaven stays and [West
Ham co-chairman] David Sullivan sticks to his word to keep him until the end
of the season."

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Slaven Bilic given Tottenham and Crystal Palace games to save West Ham job
JACK ROSSER
ES Sport

Slaven Bilic will be given London derbies against Tottenham and Crystal
Palace to save his West Ham job. The Hammers 3-0 home defeat to Brighton on
Friday night raised immediate questions over the Croatian's future, with
fans calling for his departure and some even leaving at half-time. What was
billed as a big week before the clash with the Seagulls, with Tottenham and
Crystal Palace to come, has now turned into a season-defining seven days.
Speaking after the game, Bilic admitted that he did not know if he would be
given a chance to turn things around in east London. However, having
recovered from a somewhat similar position last season, losing to Watford
and Southampton at home, Standard Sport understands the board will give the
manager at least another two games. It was a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park last
season which put an end to a five-game winless run in the Premier League and
set the Hammers on the road to recovery, with Christian Benteke missing a
penalty, and Bilic may need similar luck this time around.

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Former Man City managers linked with West Ham job
BY LONDON FOOTBALL NEWS 22/10/2017

Former Manchester City bosses Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini have
been linked with the West Ham manager's job amid doubts over Slaven Bilic's
future.
Bilic, whose side were beaten 3-0 at home by Brighton on Friday, is
reportedly clinging onto his job ahead of London derbies against Tottenham
and Crystal Palace. The Sunday Mirror reckon Mancini, now in charge of
Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, is the man West Ham want if they decide to
axe Bilic. The Sunday Telegraph, on the other hand, say the Hammers board
like Pellegrini, who is currently at Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, and
Huddersfield boss David Wagner.
The Sunday Express tout former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancellotti for a return to
Stamford Bridge and in a separate story also link the Italian with West Ham.

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Slaven Bilic on the brink of West Ham sacking but club hit brick wall in
search for his possible replacement
West Ham United will likely sack Slaven Bilic if he loses his next two
matches
He is preparing for back-to-back derbies away at Tottenham then Crystal
Palace
Bilic is on the brink at the London Stadium after Friday's 3-0 defeat by
Brighton
But Hammers bigwigs are struggling to line-up a suitable replacement for him

By Kieran Gill for The Mail on Sunday
PUBLISHED: 23:56, 21 October 2017 | UPDATED: 01:43, 22 October 2017

Slaven Bilic is clinging to his job as West Ham boss but the club's board
are worried about their lack of obvious options for a successor. While Bilic
remains on the brink, their search for a suitable replacement in the short
and long term has seen the Hammers hit a brick wall. Friday night's 3-0 home
loss to Brighton means West Ham's manager now faces crucial away games
against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Crystal Palace in the Premier
League.
Club insiders say two losses will force the board's hand, regardless of
whether a replacement is lined up. It risks leaving them in the lurch like
Leicester, who sacked Craig Shakespeare last week. Assistant Michael
Appleton has temporarily taken over at the King Power Stadium. There is
concern in the West Ham boardroom that there is no obvious option within the
club who could act as a competent caretaker. They are considering a
short-term fix and looking at managers with Premier League experience who
are currently out of work. It comes amid frustration that their long-term
targets are unavailable. Manuel Pellegrini is in charge of Chinese Super
League side Hebei China Fortune on a lucrative contract, David Wagner wants
to see out the season with Huddersfield and Rafa Benitez is tied to
Newcastle. Carlo Ancelotti is out of work but has said he wants to sit out
this season. Their lack of options may have bought Bilic time after their
loss to Brighton, who secured their first top-flight away win since 1983.
The manner in which they were beaten by the newly-promoted Premier League
side sent West Ham into a tailspin. The club could allow Bilic to see out
his contract, which expires at the end of the season, but only if he bucks
up his ideas. Bilic and co-owner David Sullivan plan to speak on Monday over
the phone. There has been no major fallout between the pair despite the
alarming performance on Friday. To his credit, Bilic did not sell his
well-paid players down the river and accepted full responsibility in his
post-match press conference after the Brighton defeat.

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West Ham want Roberto Mancini as their next boss if Slaven Bilic cannot halt
Hammers slump
Bilic's men lost 3-0 to Brighton on Friday night to leave the side teetering
on the brink of the relegation zone
The Mirror
Steve Stammers
22:30, 21 OCT 2017

Roberto Mancini is the man West Ham want if Slaven Bilic fails to halt the
team's slump. The 3-0 defeat against Brighton at the London Stadium on
Friday left the Hammers hovering just above the relegation zone – and the
fans enraged. Tens of thousands left before the end and a handful, who
stayed, tried to confront co-chairman David Sullivan. Bilic now faces two
London derbies – the League Cup tie at Tottenham on Wednesday and a crunch
league game at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next
Saturday. A defeat at Palace could see Bilic on his way, with an approach
for Mancini likely to follow. The former Manchester City boss is the
favoured choice of West Ham's owners, who will need to persuade him to swap
the top of the Russian league with Zenit St Petersburg for a scrap at the
wrong end of the Premier League. If they fail to convince the Italian, they
will weigh up moves for Burnley's Sean Dyche and Jaap Stam, at Reading. Jose
Fonte has warned his team-mates they must fight as if their lives depended
on it. After the collapse against Brighton, Fonte admits both upcoming games
are now huge. He said: "After Brighton, we have to give our lives for a
result on Wednesday, then we go into the Palace game, which will be like a
final, as we need points.
"And, if we fight like our lives depend on it, I'm sure the result will be
better. We've got to take responsibility as a team. "It's two massive games
we have now."

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England goalkeeper Joe Hart 'robbed by moped thieves'
Scooter related crime has risen over recent months in the capital
Will Worley @willrworley 19 hours ago
The Independent Online

England goalkeeper Joe Hart has reportedly been robbed of his personal
possessions by a gang on scooters Currently on loan from Manchester City at
West Ham United, the player is thought to have lost his watch, wallet and
mobile phone. He is believed to be one of the most high profile victims of
the moped crime wave ongoing in London. Hart is believed to have been
leaving West Ham's training ground near Romford last week, when the
criminals struck at a petrol station.
An eyewitness told The Sun: "There were three robbers on two bikes and they
surrounded him as he got into his car and took his phone. "I think they also
got a watch and a wallet." Another person told the newspaper: "Joe wasn't
hurt but he was pretty shaken up. He's a big powerful guy and it took some
nerve to rob him. "If it can happen to the safest pair of hands in England
it can happen to anyone."
Concerns have been mounting over the rise in moped crime in the capital.
Earlier this week, Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick was forced
to deny the force had a "no pursuit" policy on moped criminals. But she
said officers needed stronger powers to protect them from legal action in
the case of injury to suspected criminals. Many police officers have cited
the 2014 death of Henry Hicks as a turning point in policing moped crime.
Hicks, 18, was fatally injured when his scooter collided with traffic in
Islington, north London, as he was followed by two unmarked patrol cars.
Yesterday, four police officers were cleared of gross misconduct over the
death.

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