Daily WHUFC News - 22nd January 2018

Moyes: Transfer targets, earning respect and Chicharito's future
WHUFC.com

David Moyes discussed his hopes for the closing weeks of the January
transfer window, winning the respect of the West Ham United supporters and
Chicharito's future with the daily newspaper journalists after Saturday's
1-1 Premier League draw with AFC Bournemouth. The manager said he would like
to strengthen his squad, admitting the Hammers are short of bodies in some
areas, but will not make any signings without being 100 per cent sure of
their quality. Moyes also compared the pressure to perform at West Ham to
his first club Celtic, before spending a few minutes answering questions
about his Mexican goalscorer. He is what he had to say…

Will you look to do business over the closing ten days of the transfer
window?

"I don't want it to be a lucky dip or just taking anything for the sake of
it. Look, we're short, but more importantly I would like to get the players
at the Club back fit, as they will be the ones who know the Club better and
know what is required. "If we can pick something up in the next week or two
who we really, really want then we will try and do so. "We are definitely
short and even if you looked at the number of players we have, we're
probably down two in terms of squad numbers, but sometimes that works
because it means you get a chance to introduce your young players onto the
bench and some of them get through. Sometimes that allows young players to
get a chance."

You are unbeaten in seven matches and have lost just one in nine in the
Premier League, so do you feel you have won over any remaining sceptical
West Ham fans?

"I think to earn the West Ham supporters' respect is a big thing, because
they are tough support and a lot of the media are West Ham supporters also.
"It reminds me a bit of Glasgow. It's tough if you play for the Old Firm,
which I did. You live in the city and it's a tough city, as people expect
something from you and they can see through it if you're not going to do it
right. "I've tried to say from the start 'I'll get the boys working as hard
as I can', then I hope the West Ham supporters can see that. Then we could
work on their deficiencies and we're starting to do that.

"At the moment, I think the fans are probably saying 'The effort the players
are putting in, we've seen that', but I want us to get better and our play
to be better all-round, but I can't change that in two months, although I
can ask them to play better. "The power we've got is our threat up front at
the moment. We've probably got the best forward on form, as good as anybody
at the moment, in Marko [Arnautovic]. His form has been so good that the
more we get it up to him quickly the better, so that's what we've been
doing."

Chicharito scored and played well after coming on as a substitute on
Saturday. He has not started many Premier League games recently, but can he
expect more chances after that performance?

"I keep saying this all the time to players, that sometimes they think
they're not in, then they'll be in and it's up to them to take their chances
when they get them.
"Chicharito has played some games for us and he came on on Saturday and made
a difference. Chicharito can do that. You can't question the club's he has
played for, as you don't play for Man United, Real Madrid and Bayer
Leverkusen if you're not a good player."

Is he more of a penalty box player than the Club's other forwards Marko
Arnautovic, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho or Andre Ayew?

"Chicharito is a really good player and, if we can get him the right service
and the right type of ball in the box and he gets a little bit of confidence
[he will score goals]. "He's looking a bit fitter, too. He was out for six
weeks with a hamstring injury. He was out when I got the job with a
hamstring injury suffered on injury duty with Mexico and he was missing for
nearly six weeks, so he was just missing a bit of where we were with the
players in the early weeks. I've got to say 'Great', because I hope he comes
up. "If we can get him good enough service, he can be a penalty box player,
but what you've seen at the moment is that we've had to become harder to
beat and play more on the counter attack and that might not suit him as much
as balls being whisked across the box. One which Sam Byram stuck in late on
was one where you expected Chicharito to pop up somewhere."

Will Chicharito definitely stay with the Club this month?

"Will he definitely stay? I'd like to think so, yeah. It would need to take
something… If you asked 'Would Paul Pogba definitely stay with Man United?',
if Real Madrid came in with £500 million, then he probably wouldn't, so
money would always be the talker. At the moment, no-one has made an offer,
as far as I know anyway."

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Collins: A point is 'a decent return'
WHUFC.com

James Collins believes West Ham United were well worth a point in their 1-1
draw against Bournemouth on Saturday. The Hammers were dominant in the
opening period of this weekend's Premier League contest, but fell behind in
the 71st minute to a Ryan Fraser strike. However, the Irons were level just
over a minute later as Chicharito linked with Marko Arnautovic to poke home
from close range. Collins is disappointed that the side didn't collect the
win against the Cherries but admits a share of the points is a good result
after going behind late in the second half. "We started the game pretty
well," Collins told whufc.com. "We were disappointed not be up in the first
half, and then they put us under a bit of pressure in the second. Looking at
the game, a point is a decent return. "I think there was a stop in play and
I think we lost our concentration, and they got through us too easily. It
was great character from the lads to come back and score a goal as soon as
we did. A point is a fair result."

The Welshman also expressed his happiness for Chicharito, who scored his
fifth Premier League goal of the campaign in the draw at London Stadium. He
continued: "I'm delighted for Chicharito. He probably hasn't played as much
as he would like to, but he's come on and scored an important goal for us."
Collins also indicated that fatigue played a role in the result, after some
of the players featured in the full 120 minutes of the FA Cup third round
replay against Shrewsbury Town. The defender is confident that he and his
teammates can recover in time for next weekend's match with Wigan Athletic.
"The game on Tuesday and then today, we probably didn't do as much training
this week as we usually do. There were a few tired legs out there. We
recover and we go again for the weekend."

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First Official Coaching Association session a success
WHUFC.com

Monday marked the first of West Ham United's Official Coaching Association
sessions as local coaches from across grassroots football gathered at
Chadwell Heath for the masterclass.

The evening, led by Academy Manager Terry Westley, was attended by more than
60 coaches – who gained a professional insight into youth football – from
the local community.

Westley led the introduction at the Hammers' famous and historic Chadwell
Heath base, before former Irons defenders Matthew Upson and Paul Konchesky –
both of whom are mentors for Academy players at the Club – held a question
and answer session.

Those present were then invited to watch the U12-U14s training inside the
sports dome to see the workings of a practical session. Steve Potts and Jack
Collison – another pair of ex-Hammers and current youth coaches – headed the
exercises as the Coaching Association members looked on with interest from
the sidelines.

Mark Phillips, joint-manager of the U18s alongside Potts, then rounded off
the evening with a debrief and invited attendees to return for the
Association's next date in February.

Westley labelled the opening Coaching Association night a huge success and
looked ahead with excitement to future events in east London.

He said: "It was a great turnout from all the grassroots coaches on Monday,
and it just shows what a fantastic opportunity there is to join in with the
coaching of a professional Club.

"It was a huge success and it shows that there is something in it for all
of us. The idea for us was to bring the fraternity of coaches from
grassroots football together with the professional game, and that's exactly
what we did.

"It kicked-off with a great question and answer with Matthew and Paul and
then we headed into the dome for the session with the U18 staff – Mark and
Steve – along with the goalkeeping coaches Billy Lepine and Jerome John.
Liam Manning also headed that up and took the players through their paces.

"I think you could see, from all the questions members were asking and the
engagement they were showing in the session, that it was useful evening for
them all and we're already looking forward to the next one."

Coaches at the evening ranged from across east London and Essex to even
further afield, and questions asked and directed at Westley, Upson,
Konchesky and more were wide-ranging.

You could see from the questions the members were asking and the engagement
they were showing that it was a useful evening

Terry Westley

From what to in a situation when training is for more than 40 children, to
dealing with varying standards of young players, the West Ham staff had
their brains racked throughout the night.

"There was a real engagement from the attendees in terms of 'What would you
do in this scenario?' and 'What do you do when some players are great and
others aren't so great?'," continued Westley.

"They were all the general questions you might expect coaches at this level
to ask, and the problems you expect them to be facing.

"We're trying to put on some sessions that enable them to go back to their
clubs and think about what they may have seen from us and what we have
hopefully helped them with and improve the quality of coaching at their own
sessions.

"We're all here to learn and try and improve in so many different areas and
if we can improve the quality of coaching in the local area, that is massive
for us. Obviously if they have a player in their team who is outstanding,
then that's of interest and it brings the community of grassroots closer to
the professional game, that can all only be a positive.

"If they have an outstanding team at U10s, for example, they can come here
with another team on a week night, get some great coaching which we can help
with and at the same time we can look at those quality players.

"I think the whole Association has got benefits for everybody, right across
the game, and this is the start of the first four sessions this season."

This campaign, there are three more Official Coaching Association sessions
that coaches can book onto; on Tuesday 13 February, Monday 5 March and
Monday 9 April.

More are likely to follow into 2018/19, but first, Westley outlined what
those interested can expect from the remaining masterclasses.

"We're going to bring Jack Collison and Steve Potts into the next session,
to get their own stories about the culture of West Ham and the journeys both
players went on in their time here," he explained.

"They were both here as young players but a lot has changed – how the
facilities have changed, how the coaching has developed.

"We'd also like to bring in people from the FA, from Dan Ashworth's team,
from the national game. Then, to invite foreign coaches in would be a great
insight for us all, and that's another thing we are looking to do.

"Finally, we'd like to bring in our own senior staff. David Moyes and his
staff; Alan Irvine, Stuart Pearce, Billy McKinlay and Chris Woods; will
hopefully get involved.

"Again, that will be of great value. We want to really open it up to all the
grassroots coaches across the community.

"On Monday, the coaches received a Coaching Association booklet which will
hopefully explain everything that we have done so far and in addition, the
question and answer with Matt and Paul will have also helped them.

"They are two players who have played over 1,000 games between them at the
very highest level and that insight is valuable.

"We're looking forward to the next session now, and I'd encourage any
coaches who considered coming to the first but didn't to get their name down
to do so quickly, because we will soon be reaching our number limit!"

To book your place on the next Official Coaching Association evening, visit
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc, head to 'find tickets' and look for the
Coaching Association.

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Andre Ayew: West Ham United reject Swansea City bid for forward
BBC.co.uk

Swansea City have had a bid rejected by West Ham United for their former
forward Andre Ayew. Ayew left the Liberty Stadium in August 2016 for the
Hammers, who paid close to £20m for a player who scored 15 goals in his
debut Premier League season. Swansea may need to break their £15.5m transfer
record, paid to Atletico Madrid for Borja Baston in August 2016, to re-sign
the 28-year-old. The Ghana international's brother Jordan plays for Swansea.
West Ham are short of options up front after Andy Carroll injured an ankle.
Manager David Moyes may also be reluctant to sell a player to a direct rival
in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

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West Ham turn down second offer for Diafra Sakho from Rennes
By Husmukh Kerai
Last Updated: 21/01/18 5:50pm
SSN

West Ham have rejected a second offer from Rennes for striker Diafra Sakho,
according to Sky sources. West Ham turned down a follow-up offer worth up to
£10m, including add-ons, for the Senegal international striker after
knocking back Rennes' initial bid of £6m last week. Sky Sports News
understands Bordeaux's new manager Gus Poyet is also interested in signing
the 28-year-old. Sakho wants to leave the Hammers because he feels
undervalued compared to the club's other strikers. The forward currently
earns £30,000 a week at the London Stadium, while the other strikers in
squad earn between £80,000 and £110,000 a week.
Sky Sports News reported Crystal Palace had agreed a fee, thought to be
between £10m and £12m, for the striker earlier this month, although one
source close to the deal has suggested Roy Hodgson's side have pulled out of
the move. Sakho has played 17 games for the Hammers this season, although he
is yet to start a match in the Premier League.

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David Moyes demands more from West Ham as he targets a top-10 spot
Last Updated: 21/01/18 11:16am
SSN

David Moyes says West Ham are making steady progress but he is demanding
more from his players who extended their unbeaten run to seven games. The
Hammers' undefeated sequence began with a 3-3 Boxing Day draw at
Bournemouth, who were the opponents in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium on
Saturday.
Moyes described the first half as the best football of his reign, which
began in November. However, the Hammers boss is demanding more from the
Londoners whose undefeated record in 2018 continued. "I'm looking for
better. A lot of the games we've been winning, but I'm looking for more,"
the former Everton and Manchester United boss said. "I thought there were
bits of the more [against Bournemouth]. This is just beginning to get a
little bit more design to it. "We've got blistering power and pace up front,
which we can use, ability on the ball. "We've got to try to mix it and do
the right thing. Once or twice we didn't quite get it right. We missed a
cutting edge."

Moyes says he is looking to bring in a couple of new signings in the
transfer window to keep the club's momentum going as he targets a top-10
finish for the club.
He told the club's website: "We're nudging along, making progress, the most
important thing come the end of the season is not to be in the bottom three,
but in the same breath I've got my eyes looking up to see if we can make the
top ten as well. "We could do with a body or two coming in, so we'll try to
do that. We're working on it and we'll try to get the right players and
people who we think can help us."

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West Ham reject Swansea bid for Andre Ayew
Last Updated: 21/01/18 6:22pm
SSN

West Ham have rejected a bid from Swansea for striker Andre Ayew, according
to Sky sources. The offer was worth up to £14m with add-ons, but the Hammers
value Ayew at £20m - the price they paid Swansea when they signed him in
August 2016. Sky Sports News reported Swansea's interest in bringing the
28-year-old back to the club earlier this week. A deal between the clubs is
unlikely, with sources close to Ayew insisting he is not keen on a return to
the Liberty Stadium. The Ghana international joined Swansea from Marseille
in 2015 and enjoyed a superb debut campaign in England, scoring 12 goals in
35 appearances. Ayew has struggled to establish himself as a first-team
regular at West Ham since he joined in August 2016 in a then club-record
deal for the club. He has scored 12 goals in 50 appearances for Hammers,
but this season he has managed three top-flight goals in 18 appearances.
David Moyes' side have also rejected a second offer from Rennes for striker
Diafra Sakho.

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Javier Hernandez steps in to fill gap left by Andy Carroll and Manuel
Lanzini at West Ham
Ben Findon, at london stadium
21 JANUARY 2018 • 10:30PM
Telegraph.co.uk

With the impeccable timing for which he was once so renowned, Javier
Hernandez moved centre-stage just as West Ham absorbed the implications of
the losses of fellow forwards Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini. West Ham
shelled out £16 million to acquire the 'Little Pea' from Bayer Leverkusen
last summer but too often he has been a bit-part player, usually found on
the subsitutes' bench when not struggling to make an impression on the wide
open spaces of the London Stadium.
But maybe, just maybe, not any more. Stepping off the bench to provide West
Ham's almost instant reposte to Ryan Fraser's well-taken strike for
Bournemouth, Hernandez provided a glimpse of the poaching skills that made
the Mexican such a prized asset among Europe's elite. There had even been
speculation over a move to Besiktas but that was being firmly quelled as
West Ham manager David Moyes, who clearly sees a key role for the
29-year-old over the months ahead.

"Chicarito has come on today and made a difference. He can do that," said
Moyes. "You can't question the clubs he's played for, Man United, Real
Madrid and Leverkusen. You don't get to play for them if you are not a good
player, and Chicharito is a really good player. "We need him. If we can get
him the right service, he gets that little bit more of confidence that sort
of goal he got today might be typical."

A reinvigorated Hernandez is even more crucial to West Ham following the
news on Sunday that Carroll will be out for three months after scans
confirmed a hairline fracture of his foot, while Lanzini could be out for up
to a month after sustaining a hamstring injury against Bournemouth. A point
apiece was about right on Saturday and means West Ham and Bournemouth both
continue to pull away from the Premier League's lower reaches. "To build
unbeaten runs in this division is so difficult so if you can do it, you can
transform your position," said Bournemouth's Eddie Howe, who marked his
100th Premier League match as a manager with the type of display he has
built his reputation on. "We've had that good flow about us in recent weeks
where we have attacked with freedom and haven't had too much caution in our
play. But we still have a lot of work to do."

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West Ham in talks with Clement Grenier over pre-contract deal
HITC
Jordan Harris

West Ham United are hoping to agree a deal for Clement Grenier who is out of
contract this summer. According to a report from The Sun, West Ham are
currently in talks with Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier about a potential
three-year deal as David Moyes looks to bolster his squad. The Irons have
been quiet during the January transfer window and are still awaiting their
first addition of the month. However, their surge up the table since Moyes'
appointment has arguably lessened the need for significant strengthening.
One player who may perhaps arrive at the London Stadium before the deadline
however, is Grenier, with The Sun reporting that the Irons are in talks with
the Frenchman about a move when his contract with the Ligue 1 side comes to
an end this summer. The Sun adds that Grenier is keen to leave Lyon, so it
would appear that there are not too many stumbling blocks between the Irons
and a potential deal for the 27-year-old.
But perhaps Moyes will decide against waiting until the summer. The Sun
suggests that the former France international could cost £1 million to sign
this month, so perhaps Moyes may be tempted to push the Irons hierarchy to
meet the demands. On a free transfer in the summer, or even for £1 million,
Grenier would arguably be a decent signing for West Ham if they can make a
deal happen. He has not featured that much over the last couple of years,
but would add some creativity if he can find his best form once again.

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