Daily WHUFC News - 3rd February 2018

Club Statement
WHUFC.com

West Ham United have today terminated the contract of Director of Player
Recruitment, Tony Henry, with immediate effect following his unacceptable
comments that were widely reported in the press. Our action follows a full
and thorough investigation. West Ham United will not tolerate any type of
discrimination. The West Ham United family is an inclusive one where,
regardless of gender, age, ability, race, religion or sexual orientation,
everybody feels welcome and included.

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Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United: All you need to know
WHUFC.com

West Ham United take on Brighton & Hove Albion this week in the first
Premier League contest of February.

Read on for all the information you need to know ahead of this fixture.

Where and when?

West Ham and Brighton & Hove Albion will meet at the Amex Stadium on
Saturday 3rd February 2018.

The contest is scheduled to kick-off at 3pm.

How to follow:

Unfortunately, due to being a Saturday 3pm kick-off, this match is not
available for viewing in the UK. For worldwide broadcast schedules, click
here.

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.

Team news:

Manager David Moyes will issue an update on his available team for
Saturday's match with Brighton during his press conference on Friday.

The meeting with the media is scheduled to begin at 13:30.

Match Officials:

Referee: Roger East
Assistant Referees: Matthew Wilkes & Andy Garratt
Fourth Official: Kevin Friend

How to get there:

There are regular trains from Victoria, London Bridge and Blackfriars to
Brighton, with the journey varying from just under an hour to 90 minutes.

By Train

Take Junction 7 off the M25 and follow the M23 and A23 to the A27. Follow
the A27 and the Stadium is on the right.

By Car

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Team news: Antonio, Fonte, Reid and Hugill all in squad
WHUFC.com

Michail Antonio, Winston Reid, Jose Fonte and new signing Jordan Hugill
could all feature for West Ham United in Saturday's Premier League fixture
at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The quartet will bolster a Hammers squad missing a number of senior players
through injuries and suspension, with forward trio Marko Arnautovic, Manuel
Lanzini and Andy Carroll and wing-back Arthur Masuaku among those
unavailable for the trip to the Amex.

Attacker Antonio returns after missing the midweek draw with Crystal Palace
due to a disciplinary issue, while defenders Reid and Fonte are ready to
return after recovering from groin and ankle problems respectively.

You need a good squad in the Premier League because you need all your
players throughout the course of the season

David Moyes

"We hope Michail Antonio will have a chance of being available. Winston Reid
coming on a bit, and they would probably be the main ones [coming back],"
said the manager.

"With Jose Fonte, we had to bring him back last week because of the numbers
and he could probably do with a couple of reserve team games as he's been
out for a while, but he's training so we need all the numbers we have got."

Centre forward Hugill will likely have to make do with a place on the
substitutes' bench, but Moyes is confident the deadline day capture from
Preston North End will be ready if and when he is called upon.

The 25-year-old scored for Preston in a 2-2 Championship draw at Brighton
last season and his new manager is hopeful Hugill can replicate that form on
his Hammers debut.

"Because we've lost a couple of attacking players and a couple more are
injured at this time, we will need to find a way to blend together
Chicharito, Jordan Hugill and Joao Mario, who is slightly different and not
an out and out attacking player.

"I'm looking forward to getting Marko Arnautovic back because then we will
have not only a potent strike force, but we'll also have creators and people
on the bench who we can use as well.

"You need a good squad in the Premier League because you need all your
players throughout the course of the season."

The manager and his staff have also done plenty of homework on their
opponents, who go into Saturday's game on a six-match Premier League winless
run and with just one victory to their credit in their last 14 top-flight
matches.

Regardless of that recent record, Moyes had words of praise for opposite
number Chris Hughton, who guided the Seagulls to promotion from the
Championship last season.

"I think Chris has done a brilliant job overall, with the way he has brought
Brighton through and the way he has built the club over the last couple of
years, as well. I think he's done a really good job.

"With teams that come up, they come up with a real spirit, but the Premier
League is a long season and it's hard, but Chris really experienced and
knows what he is doing, so I think Brighton have done great."

While Brighton might have 'done great' so far this season, Moyes will have
no sentimental feelings towards the Sussex side on Saturday, as a victory
could take his Hammers back into the top ten and, perhaps more importantly,
put six points between the two clubs.

"At this time of the season, every win becomes more important, especially
when you are playing one of the teams around you.

"We've got to go there and try to get the three points but, at the same
time, we've got to make sure we don't lose as well. It's really important to
keep picking up points.

"I'd like to look up and challenge one or two teams who aren't too far above
us but, while there is a trapdoor not too far away, you're always looking at
it."

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Chicharito: I want to deliver for the fans
WHUFC.com

Chicharito is determined to deliver a strong close to the 2017/18 season as
West Ham United aim to continue their push up the Premier League table. The
Hammers are yet to taste defeat in the league since the turn of the year,
with Mexico striker Chicharito helping to preserve that record with the
equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with AFC Bournemouth. That poacher's finish was
his fifth of the campaign and with a potential appearance at a third FIFA
World Cup finals four months away, the 29-year-old has his sights set on
adding to that tally over the final 13 games of the campaign. "I feel good
with the fans," he explained. "I think they are happy with me. They have
treated me very well since the beginning. But I want to be better. I want to
deliver for them. "What I see in the dressing room, what I feel, is that we
want to be better. We all try to work very hard. "We all want more points,
more good results, to be higher in the table. We want to make the fans
happier and we are trying. We are working hard and the season is not over
yet."
Chicharito could feature alongside a Hammers new boy in Saturday's trip to
Brighton & Hove Albion, after David Moyes added Preston North End striker
Jordan Hugill to the squad on transfer deadline day. Hugill trained with his
new teammates for the first time at the end of the week and Chicharito has
already been impressed with him. "He is a very good football player." he
added. "He played in the Championship, he is confident and I understand his
feelings. "He has come to a Premier League club, so he is ambitious. He is
very happy. He is transmitted that and hopefully he can have a good career."

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Joao Mario: I'm feeling right at home as a Hammer
WHUFC.com

Joao Mario is already feeling right at home at West Ham United – literally!
The Portugal star used his day off on Wednesday to move into his new
apartment in London, before taking time out to learn a few more lines of the
Club's anthem I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. The No18 has also settled quickly
into the Hammers' squad, as illustrated by his impressive showing in
Tuesday's Premier League draw with Crystal Palace; a performance he would
like to replicate at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. I used my day off
on Wednesday to move into my new apartment, so I am happy that I have
already found the place where I'll live for the next few months!" said the
25-year-old, who revealed he had spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo before deciding
to move to England. "I am happy to be here and I must enjoy this opportunity
and I want to play well and go to the World Cup. I am here to help West Ham
and also to grow into the Premier League. "I am trying to keep listening to
know all the song Bubbles so hopefully I'll be able to learn the whole song
over the next few weeks! "My teammates are really helping me a lot to settle
in, especially Jose Fonte, because he's my teammate from the national team
and we can speak Portuguese. Many of them speak Spanish and Italian, too,
which makes it easier to talk, so I want to thank them."
Joao Mario's new teammates have clearly had a positive effect on the skilful
attacking midfielder, who played an influential role on his Premier League
debut, impressing the London Stadium faithful with his positive running,
accurate, incisive passing and ability to create space for himself and
others. The Euro 2016 winners' performance was all the more impressive when
you consider he only trained with the Hammers for the first time last Friday
morning. "Everything has happened fast," he confirmed. "I've not even been
here for one week, but I've already played twice for West Ham. I'm really
happy to be here. "I really enjoyed my first game at our amazing stadium.
Since I was a kid I appreciated the Premier League and now, being here and
playing was a dream come true. "English football has a different mentality
and different atmosphere and the passion you can feel on the pitch is
amazing."

Having made his Premier League debut, Joao Mario and his new colleagues will
travel to the Amex to take on Brighton in another fixture that will be vital
to West Ham's hopes of climbing further clear of the bottom three. With just
one defeat in their last ten top-flight matches, the Hammers can travel to
the south coast with confidence that they can avenge the Seagulls' 3-0
victory in the reverse fixture at London Stadium back in October. "This kind
of game, when teams are so close to one another, are the most important
games for us," Joao Mario observed. "We need to win this kind of game and I
hope the team can play well and win on Saturday against Brighton. "We are
trying to improve and get better and achieve the results to get as high as
possible in the table. "We have a great squad. We hope that the injured
players can come back soon and help the team and, together, we can do
something important and improve our position."

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Pearce relishing role in West Ham's unique coaching set-up
WHUFC.com

A strong team is greater than the sum of its parts, so the old saying goes,
and certainly appears accurate with reference to David Moyes and his
experienced backroom staff. The Scot has surrounded himself with people who
have virtually seen it all, where football at the highest level is
concerned. Alan Irvine played in the top flight and domestic cup finals for
Everton before managing West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League; Chris
Woods kept goal for England, won the League Cup with Norwich City and four
Scottish Premier League titles with Rangers; Billy McKinlay played for
Scotland at the FIFA World Cup finals and unearthed a host of future stars
while coaching at Fulham. The fourth member of Moyes' all-star quartet of
assistants is arguably the most-experienced of them all.
Stuart Pearce played non-league football until the age of 21, before turning
out 709 times as a professional, scoring 102 goals, captained Nottingham
Forest to the Premier League, two League Cup triumphs and an FA Cup final,
won the Hammer of the Year award at the age of 39, was capped 78 times by
England, featuring at three major tournaments, and has managed Team GB,
England's U21s and Manchester City. A true legend of the game, Pearce
returned to the Club he played for between 1999 and 2001 three months ago,
and has since played his part, alongside Irvine, Woods and McKinlay, in
turning West Ham's season around. The man himself, now 55, puts the Hammers'
resurgence and new-found resilience to the faith put in him and his fellow
assistants by manager Moyes. "For me, it's been two-fold, really. First,
being back at a Club that I represented before, so it that gave me a bit of
a head start, if you like, and second, working as part of this coaching set
up has really been an education for me. "David has got a wealth of
experience, as have Irv, Billy and Chris. I'd never worked alongside them as
a coach before so every time I come in has been a learning for me. "The
thoroughness of the manager has been the one thing that has really stuck out
for me; the depth in which he studies the opposition. "What I like about him
as well is that he courts opinion and he is not afraid. He wants opinion and
he wants the people around him to give opinion and, for me, that is ideal
management and ideal leadership, if I'm being quite honest with you. "His
wealth of knowledge is there for all to see. I've sat in meetings and the
way he has analysed the opposition and set teams up to go to places like
Manchester City and face teams like Chelsea at home to try and get
performances and results have been very good. "We've got a lot of work to
do, there's no doubt about that, and it's not straightforward work, so I see
it as an education, as well as fulfilling a role at the football club."

West Ham's senior coaching setup is unusual, if not unique at the highest
level of English football. While most Premier League clubs employ a manager
who is assisted by one or two trusted lieutenants, David Moyes has
surrounded himself with four senior assistants, all of whom share the same
level of seniority under their boss. The democratic environment has bred a
healthy exchange of views and ideas in both the meeting rooms and training
pitches at Rush Green, as well as the dressing rooms and technical areas
where the Hammers have been in action since the new regime took charge in
November. For Pearce, who has been a manager for the vast majority of his
22-year coaching career, the experience has been a new and refreshing one.
"While I have managed for the majority of my coaching and managerial career,
to be fair, I'm quite happy working with and for David and working for the
Club. "I've not gone in with an ego, suggesting I should make all the
decisions, but the good thing is that the empowers his staff to make
decisions and he wants you to make decisions and he will back those
decisions. That's good leadership."

Moyes himself said in a recent interview that the value of his assistants is
in the different strengths they bring – an assessment Pearce agrees with.
"We're different characters in many ways. Whenever we analyse a performance
or a set of circumstances, we all, because of our different experiences
working at different clubs for different people, probably bring slightly
different slants towards certain situations and we see different things.
"Our personalities dovetail quite nicely with one another. I've got to say,
in the coaches' room our mentality is to deliver the best service to the
players and for the football club. However we do that, it doesn't matter.
"Coaching sessions are led by the manager, but he is quite happy to step
back and say 'You boys take it'. It took us a few weeks to find our feet and
work out who gives the debriefs and who gives the presentations leading into
games and all of those things. The longer we are in the job as a group of
coaches and the longer the players work with us a little bit more, the more
they will pick up and the more we will keep improving."

While the remit of Moyes and his assistants was to improve West Ham's
results and position in the Premier League as quickly as possible, Pearce is
also eager to work with longer-term goals in mind. As a former player who
rose from the part-time ranks to becoming the best left-back in England, he
knows the value of a player spending time working on his game on the
training pitch. For West Ham's young players, and those more senior who
still have improvements that can be made with a bit of fine-tuning, Pearce
is looking forward to spending more time working one-to-one as the fixture
list thins out in the spring. "We've not had a great deal of actual coaching
weeks, where we've had no game from Saturday to Saturday, where you can get
out there and work with young players, and the seniors as well, and keep
educating them. We've been a bit limited in that aspect, because of the way
the games have fallen. "To achieve the results and performances we have
already got, we have used a cross-section of the classroom both leading into
games and debriefing after games, to coaching sessions that hopefully give
the boys a good indicator and make for an excuseless environment when we go
into games. "I've got to say, credit has to be given to the players. They
have taken it on board, their work-rate is up substantially. The manager has
demanded that and they have delivered. "I think we've got to realise, as a
football team, that we've still got a long way to go. What we've got to do
is deliver consistent performances over a consistent period. "A short burst
of 15, 16, 17 games or whatever we've done is all well and dandy, but there
is a relegation scrap which is going to go to the wire and involve 13 teams,
make no mistake about that, and will involve injuries, suspensions and form,
so we've got to make sure we deliver consistent performances week-in,
week-out, then you keep your fingers crossed they'll achieve results."

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Alese named in England squad for Algarve Tournament
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's Ajibola Alese has been named in the England U17s squad for
this month's Algarve Tournament. The 17-year-old has been called up to Steve
Cooper's side for the competition in Portugal, with the squad heading out
for the tournament next week. England will play Portugal, Germany and
Netherlands at the annual competition, with Alese getting the chance to
impress at international level ahead of this summer's European
Championships. "It's an honour to be called up to the England squad," Alese
told whufc.com. "I've been capped at U15 and U16 level in the past so I know
some of the boys already, and it's an opportunity to I'm really looking
forward to."
The call-up comes after Alese made his West Ham U23s debut earlier this
season, featuring in the first game of the campaign against Everton. The
defender has played four times in the competition this season for Terry
Westley's side and his strong performances at the back have seen Alese
receive high praise. However the campaign was interrupted for Alese by a
lengthy injury, suffered at the beginning of the season, but now the
centre-back is back and ready to show what he can do for both West Ham and
England. "I've recently come back from a long injury and I feel like I've
done well in some very tough fixtures, so it's amazing to get international
recognition in the few games I've played. "Hopefully it will be a good
experience and I'll be able to push on when I return with West Ham. I want
to play as many games as possible, both for Club and country."

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Moyes: Jordan Hugill is ready to make a big impact at West Ham
WHUFC.com

David Moyes believes new signing Jordan Hugill is ready for the challenge of
Premier League football after completing his deadline day transfer to West
Ham United. The centre forward was playing non-league football just five
years ago, before embarking on an inspirational journey up through the
Football League, culminating in his move to east London earlier this week.
Moyes has been impressed with the impact the 25-year-old has made in his
first training sessions as a Hammer, and is looking forward to seeing what
he can do in a Claret and Blue shirt after naming Hugill in his squad for
Saturday's Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion. "Jordan
Hugill will give us a bit of presence up front, which we need, and big
energy and honesty," said Moyes, before citing his previous success in
unearthing future top-flight stars during his tenure as Everton manager. "In
all Premier League clubs, you have to look in the lower leagues and I have
done it over the years, signing players like Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott
and Tim Cahill, and all of them were a real success. "Here, if you look at
Aaron Cresswell coming from Ipswich and Michail Antonio coming from
Nottingham Forest, they've done well, so I'm hoping Jordan can have as big
an impact as those players have. "I think Jordan is ready. I think he could
play and he won't let us down in terms of his effort and commitment. I think
it will take him time to get used to his new surroundings, but hopefully he
can help us in a period when we're a bit short of strikers."

Alongside Portugal playmaker Joao Mario, Hugill was one of two senior
players to join West Ham during the January transfer window. Moyes revealed
they could have been joined in east London by one or two other new faces,
but that moves for Leicester City's Algeria striker Islam Slimani,
Anderlecht's Belgium midfielder Leander Dendonker and Lille's Cameroon
defender Ibrahim Amadou had ultimately not been completed for a variety of
reasons. "I think we'd have liked one more player if we could have got it,"
the manager explained. "We tried right up to the last minute. At the start
of the window two players would have been adequate, and we tried for quite a
few players, but we were happy with what we saw from Joao Mario and we've
now got in Jordan Hugill, who is a different sort of centre forward and will
give us cover up front. "We were in for Slimani, but he had another option
to go to Newcastle and he chose that one. We had an interest in Dendonker
and Amadou as well and we hoped to get one of those two players later on,
but for different reasons they didn't come off. "We're happy enough. If we'd
have got one more at the end, it would have made it right, but two was
enough. "I think we've got enough cover if we get the injured boys back. We
hope Marko Arnautovic won't be too far away and obviously we know Manu
Lanzini is out, but we're getting the players back little by little and the
games thin out a bit over the coming weeks, when the games go Saturday to
Saturday, so that should help us as well."

The manager was also asked for his reaction to the suspension of Director of
Player Recruitment Tony Henry by the Club earlier this week, pending a full
and thorough investigation into alleged comments about the Club's transfer
policy surrounding African players. His response was clear – West Ham try to
recruit the best possible players, regardless of their nationality. "Well,
the comments are wrong. We were signing two players from Africa on deadline
day so I can only say they're wrong. "Of course we have an open transfer
policy. You can see the players the Club have signed over the years. We sign
good, quality players, the best players we can get, and it doesn't matter
where they are from to me, at all. "Never, ever, in all my time in football
have I ever had [a prejudiced transfer policy], at all. "I spoke with one or
two of the African players and they seem fine. They've trained well over the
last couple of days and morale in the camp is good because we're on the back
of a pretty good run where the players are doing really well, so we want to
keep it going."

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Arnautovic nominated for PFA Player of the Month award
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has been nominated for the PFA Bristol Street Motors Player
of the Month prize for January - with voting open here now, The Hammers
forward enjoyed another fruitful month, scoring in the victory at
Huddersfield and setting up three more goals as the Hammers went through
January unbeaten in the Premier League. Although he suffered an injury
towards the end of the month, his form earns him a nomination for the award,
alongside a host of top names. Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Leroy
Sane, Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and
Tottenham's Son Heung-min are the other players nominated.

https://www.footballfancast.com/pfa-awards

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Ray hails 'winning mentality' ahead of Palace clash
WHUFC.com

Karen Ray has praised the 'winning mentality' of her West Ham United Ladies
with her side set for their third match this week, against Crystal Palace.
The Hammers return to action against the Eagles on Sunday having claimed a
place in the Isthmian League Cup final on Wednesday with a 4-0 win at
Whyteleafe, and also a 6-2 victory away to Cardiff City last weekend. It
means the Ladies will play their third match in seven days and, having won
the previous two, Ray has been delighted with the commitment she has seen
from her squad. "Three games in seven days is a really big ask, but the
staff have done a fantastic job in preparing the players both physically and
mentally," Ray told whufc.com. "Our focus now returns to the league where we
face a very strong Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"We have to concentrate on each game and prepare the players as best we can
for the upcoming challenges. The girls committed to five days this week and
I commend each and every one of them for showing a winning mentality and a
desire to make a purposeful contribution to the Club."

Palace will present a tough test for the Hammers with the Eagles sat second
in the Women's Premier League Southern Division. The Hammers have been
bested twice already by Sunday's opponents, in league and Cup competitions,
but a good run of form puts West Ham in a strong position heading into the
match. Ray believes Wednesday's Cup semi-final win came from a conscious
increase in effort from her players, and is eager to see that level of
commitment again this weekend. The interim head coach and General Manager
also took the chance to praise the girls for reaching the Isthmian Cup
final, adding: "The girls have shown an admirable push to this half of the
season, they have played a lot of games in a short amount of time but
haven't wavered in their effort. As a coach, you can't ask for much more
than that. "Making a final is always a special feeling, and everyone at the
club deserves it. At Christmas, I told the girls we needed to park the past
and create ownership, accountability and trust in order for us to start
seeing the results we deserve. Making a final is a proud moment."

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Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United
SAT 03 FEB 2018PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: Amex Stadium
BBC.co.uk

TEAM NEWS
Brighton captain Bruno has been passed fit after missing the last three
matches with a back issue. Loan signing Leonardo Ulloa could start for the
Seagulls but new signing Jurgen Locadia is not match fit after a hamstring
injury.

West Ham's Michail Antonio may return after being dropped for disciplinary
reasons in midweek. Arthur Masuaku is suspended but new signing Jordan
Hugill could make his Hammers' debut.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Jonathan Pearce: "The return of Leo Ulloa to Brighton could prove one of the
best signings of the window. "Back on loan at the club where he scored 26
goals in 58 games and is hugely popular, he can cure their current scoring
blight. Just seven goals and one win in 14 league games is relegation form.
This is a must-win game. "West Ham can't afford to lose either. Injuries
have left their squad weak. But under David Moyes their resolve is strong.
"Given their problems, it's strange they sent three players out on loan and
sold Andre Ayew. It's also a big step up for Jordan Hugill. "Ulloa is the
key here."

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton: "At home would probably be the
disappointment that we haven't picked up more wins. "We have just seen
Swansea pick up two outstanding results at home [against Liverpool and
Arsenal) that most people probably wouldn't have expected. "Would they have
been able to do that away from home? It would have been a lot harder. Home
form will play the biggest part of this end of the season."

West Ham manager David Moyes on his squad's injury problems: "We're getting
the players back little by little and the games thin out a bit over the
coming weeks, when the games go Saturday to Saturday, so that should help us
as well."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
It will be a while until we see David Moyes' side at full strength because
of the injury problems they have. That is one of the reasons I am going for
a Brighton win here. The Seagulls have been struggling when they play away,
and their home form is what is going to give them a chance of staying up, so
this game is very important. Prediction: 2-1

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

Brighton are looking to do a league double over West Ham for the first time.
The Hammers won 1-0 on their last trip to Brighton, back in October 2011 in
a Championship game.
But the Seagulls have won both of their previous home top-flight matches
with West Ham, in the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton are yet to win in the league in 2018 (D2, L2).
They could go winless in their opening five league matches of a calendar
year for the first time since 1998, when they failed to win any of their
first nine fourth-tier fixtures.
The Seagulls have won only one of their last 14 league fixtures (D6, L7).
They have lost only three of their 12 home league matches this season (W3,
D6). The only teams to beat them are Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Brighton have scored just five goals in their last 13 Premier League games,
failing to find the net on nine occasions in that run.

West Ham United

West Ham are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches (W4, D2).
The Hammers could remain unbeaten in their opening six top-flight matches of
the calendar year for the first time since 1974, when they did not lose any
of their first 10.
They have already lost three Premier League games against newly-promoted
sides this season: twice against Newcastle, once against Brighton.
West Ham have taken eight points from their last four away games, as many as
in their previous 15 combined.
Brighton will be the 40th different opponent David Moyes has faced in the
Premier League - the only club he has failed to beat are his former club
Everton.

SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-1 Probability of draw: 28%
Probability of home win: 44% Probability of away win: 29%
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.

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West Ham manager David Moyes rejects African player claims
BBc.co.uk

West Ham manager David Moyes has said that claims the club would not sign
any more African players are wrong. Director of player recruitment Tony
Henry was suspended after the Daily Mail reported he said African players
"cause mayhem" when not in the team. Moyes said they tried to sign
African-born Islam Slimani and Ibrahim Amadou on transfer deadline day on
Wednesday. "We sign good, quality players and it doesn't matter where they
are from," said Moyes on Friday. He added that the mood in the Hammers'
squad, which has six players of African descent, had not been affected by
the controversy. "I've spoken to one or two of the African players and they
seem fine and they've trained well. Morale is good. We're on the back of a
pretty good run and we want to keep it going," said the Scot.
"I've never, ever witnessed any prejudicial transfer policy at any club I've
been at."

West Ham said on Thursday that Henry had been suspended pending "a full and
thorough investigation", while the Football Association says it will
formally investigate the matter. "The comments are wrong," added Moyes. "We
were trying to sign two African players on deadline day."
Leicester forward Slimani joined Newcastle on loan, while Amadou stayed with
French side Lille. "My first African player was Joseph Yobo. It was only
last year when I went to Nigeria to Joseph's testimonial and it was really
good," added former Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland manager Moyes.
"I have also signed Steven Pienaar three times. I don't think any Premier
League club has more African players than West Ham. "Over my time, we've had
good African players and bad African players just like we've had good
Scottish players and bad Scottish players as well, no difference."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tony Henry: West Ham sack head of recruitment over African player comments
BBc.o.uk

West Ham have sacked director of player recruitment Tony Henry over claims
he said the club would not sign any more African players. The decision
follows a report by the Daily Mail which carried quotes from Henry stating
African players "cause mayhem" when they are not in the team. The club said
his comments were "unacceptable", adding they conducted a "full and thorough
investigation". It added: "West Ham United will not tolerate any type of
discrimination." Earlier on Friday, Hammers manager David Moyes said Henry
had recommended two players from the African continent during the January
transfer window. The Scot said the club were "very, very close" to signing
Leicester's Algeria forward Islam Slimani, who joined Newcastle on loan, and
Lille's Cameroon defender Ibrahim Amadou.
When asked about the comments made by the former recruitment chief, Moyes
said: "It's a massive shock, because you are well aware of the couple of
players we were trying to sign on deadline day, so that's why it's a big
surprise. "I've known Tony and he has to get on with his stuff but all I can
say is that it wasn't correct because we were trying to sign two players
like that on deadline day."
Asked if Henry had recommended Slimani and Amadou, he added: "Yes. They were
two players who were slightly available, albeit who came up late." The
Professional Footballers' Association had said it was "shocked" by the
reported comments. It added: "The PFA strongly condemns any such views and
there is no place for them in football."
West Ham have six first-team squad members of African descent: Cheikhou
Kouyate, Pedro Obiang, Joao Mario, Angelo Ogbonna, Arthur Masuaku and
Edimilson Fernandes. Senegal striker Diafra Sakho left the club in the
January transfer window to join Rennes, with Ghana international Andre Ayew
heading to Swansea.

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Protest gathering momentum as fighting fund raises thousands
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd February 2018
By: Staff Writer

The Real West Ham Fans Action Group have announced plans for a protest match
on Saturday, 10 March. The group, set up recently to take West Ham United's
Board to task over a string of broken promises following the move to
Stratford will be heading a peaceful march little over a month from now.
Organisers of the event, which is being planned with the cooperation of
Police and local authorities hope to attract in excess of 3,000 West Ham
supporters to the event, which is scheduled to take place on the day West
Ham host Burnley in the Premier League.
However having received the backing of the vast majority of independent West
Ham websites and Facebook groups, it is thought that actual numbers could
exceed the target audience by some considerable amount. "We feel that David
Sulivan is unfit to run our football club," RWHFAG committee member Micky
Morgan told KUMB. "He helped destroy Birmingham and he's destroying West
Ham, which is why we're here. The damage is done now. "Sullivan seems to
think that West Ham fans no longer have any clout. He doesn't realise what's
coming. "The march is going to start in Stratford and we're going to descend
on the ground from there. There'll be transport available for disabled
supporters and those who have trouble walking long distances. "Everything is
being arranged in conjunction with the Police so it'll be a perfectly legal
march. Everyone is welcome, including families and children; there'll be
nans and granddads present too. "This is about West Ham United, there'll be
no confrontation, we're just protesting against the Board who have
effectively just banked £20million from the transfer window."

The depth of support for the initiative can be illustrated by a casual
glance at the RWHFAG's justgiving appeal, set up to create a fighting fund
for march organisers. The fundraising effort, which started this week with
the aim of raising £20,000 has already raised an incredible £14,000 in just
48 hours, with hundreds of West Ham supporters having donated to the cause.

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Cole praises inclusive West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd February 2018
By: Staff Writer

Former West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has insisted that players of
African origin were welcomed at the club throughout his time as a Hammer,
after the club.
Cole, now 34, spent a total of nine years at West Ham in two spells from
2006 to 2015. And in reference to the 'African players' scandal, he says
that there were never any race issues at the club during the period in which
he was an employee. "Not many people have played for West Ham United longer
than me and African players have always been made most welcome by the fans
and club," said Cole in a statement to the Press Association. "I am of
African heritage and am indeed proud of that, I am also proud to have played
for my country. In my nine years at West Ham United it was fantastic, the
fans and club have always judged players on their football ability, work
ethic and loyalty. "West Ham United is a club that is proud of its diversity
and has not tolerated discrimination during the whole time I played there
and been associated with the club. "We all have to be completely against any
form of prejudice, racism and discrimination, football must be about
inclusion and equality. I am pleased to see that the club have acted so
swiftly to investigate any accusations of discrimination and I'm sure
they'll reach a satisfactory conclusion."

Meanwhile it has emerged that another unnamed senior official left West Ham
some three months ago following an investigation. Who and why has however
not been revealed, although the club confirm it was not related to the
current Tony Henry investigation.

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A catalogue of errors
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 2nd February 2018
By: Iron Mark

When the Olympic Stadium was being sold to the fans one of the questions, if
I remember correctly, was 'would be happy to move if it meant being able to
attract better players'?

Since moving from Upton Park to Stratford, those players have included:

Andre Ayew - back at Swansea
Robert Snodgrass - on loan, comments from the board suggest he won't want to
come back
Simone Zaza - loan ended early, now scoring goals for Valencia
Jonathan Calleri - loan
Gokhan Tore - loan
Alvaro Arbeloa - well that worked well...
Ashley Fletcher - sold
Sofiane Feghouli - sold so Bilic could sign a player he wanted, ultimately
sold for no reason
Havard Nordtveit - sold

During this period we have also sold Dimitri Payet, James Tomkins, Diafra
Sakho and Enner Valencia. All players who played key roles for us in
previous seasons.

Despite selling most of last season's signings and a few others, leaving a
small squad with the limited incomings, we appear to have either no money or
have reached our wage cap.

This is probably not helped when one striker on big wages is always injured,
the other is struggling (though not financially with wages like that) and
our substitute goalkeeper is one of the highest-paid players we have.

So we have an injury-ravaged squad, short of depth or quality in some
important positions and absolutely no transfer policy in sight. Of course we
have also loaned out a few of the youngsters who have been involved recently
as there's clearly no chance we may need them again soon...

I guess this means the big move wasn't worth the money as we clearly aren't
seeing it on the pitch.

Maybe the owners can lend a hand? Most other clubs get some help every now
and again. Except, ours will only loan (with interest of course). Does that
mean we would be better off without them giving us any money at all?

Does buying a scarf in the club shop give the club more money than the
people running it? Does giving nothing contribute more? At least it's not
taking money away. Not the sort of owners you want to run the club
financially, then.

At least they try to keep themselves and the club out of the headlines -
unless they want to pat themselves on the back for signing the best 'keeper
someone has worked with (who's not quite good enough to displace the old
number one). Or if they decide to publicly criticise another signing.

Did they forget Snodgrass and Fonte still played for us when they came out
with those gems?

I'm still struggling to work out what they are good at. Money isn't their
forte nor is keeping themselves out of the headlines. Maybe they run a tight
ship? Recent events involving Tony Henry shows it unlikely.

Their children have free reign to do what they like. Imagine the son of
another chairman not only becoming a twitter mouthpiece, but actively
slagging off a new signing. No one would be that stupid...

Relations with other clubs? Maybe they know the business and can work a good
deal with their contacts? Ha. The only clubs they probably haven't annoyed
are the ones who haven't heard of them.

Squad relations? We have already seen how quick they are to slag the players
off when it suits. With all the rumours of players wanting to leave, it
makes you wonder if there is anyone, anywhere who actually likes working
under this Board.

So basically they are good for nothing, have sold our home to move into a
rented athletics stadium with no financial benefits, consistently weaken the
squad, have kept us in the headlines for all the wrong reasons (though
nothing seems to stick to them, I wonder why?) and generally piss everybody
(West Ham related or not) off in the process.

Even if they all left tomorrow, it still wouldn't be quick enough.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brighton v West Ham preview: Leonardo Ulloa makes Amex return
Last Updated: 02/02/18 3:06pm
SSN

Leonardo Ulloa could start for Brighton when they host injury-hit West Ham
on Saturday. The striker has returned to the Seagulls on loan from
Leicester, having spent 18 months with the club in 2013/14. He came on as a
substitute in the midweek draw with Southampton and is looking forward to
returning to the Amex Stadium. "I can't wait because I always feel really
good when I play there - it feels like a home and it will be a special
feeling," he said. "It's amazing, and the fans were so good, and now I'm
expecting them to be the same as they were three years ago on Saturday
against West Ham. "They gave me a great reception at Southampton, they were
singing my name and they were amazing."
Brighton are 15th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone
and without a league win this year. West Ham have lost just once in their
last 10 Premier League matches but are without several first-team players.

Team news
Brighton captain Bruno has been passed fit after missing the last three
matches to rest a minor back problem. New signing Jurgen Locadia has begun
training after a hamstring injury but is not match fit, while Jiri Skalak
and Steve Sidwell (both ankle) are sidelined.
Michail Antonio could return for West Ham after missing the midweek draw
with Newcastle due to disciplinary reasons. Arthur Masuaku is suspended but
Jose Fonte and Winston Reid could return from injury. Marko Arnautovic,
Manuel Lanzini, Andy Carroll and Pedro Obiang are out.

Opta stats
Brighton won both previous home top-flight encounters against West Ham,
doing so in 1981/82 and 1982/83.

West Ham have already lost three Premier League games against newly-promoted
sides this season (twice against Newcastle, once against Brighton) - they
have only lost four in a season once before, doing so in 2006/07.

Brighton have scored just five goals in their last 13 Premier League games,
failing to find the net on nine occasions in that run.

Mark Noble has scored in three of his last six Premier League appearances (3
goals), after a run of 18 games without a goal. Indeed, Noble's penalty in
midweek, made him the 11th player in Premier League history to score 20 or
more from the spot.

Glenn Murray has scored four of Brighton's last six goals in all
competitions, including each of the last three.

Merson's prediction
Brighton started brilliantly against Southampton and while they ended up
with a draw, it was probably a good point in the end. I also watched them
against Chelsea and they were so unlucky to lose 4-0. Looking at West Ham,
they've got a few injury problems at the moment and it could be a bit of a
struggle for them at the Amex.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Moyes expected Islam Slimani to join West Ham on loan
Last Updated: 02/02/18 10:38pm
SSN

David Moyes admits he thought Islam Slimani's proposed loan move to West Ham
was a done deal before the Algerian joined Newcastle. The Hammers were
hopeful of taking the Leicester striker on loan for the remainder of the
campaign before talks fell through, with Slimani instead heading to
Newcastle on the final day of the window. "Slimani was agreed on Tuesday
night and it didn't come off on Wednesday. I only woke up on Wednesday to be
told that it wasn't going to happen," said Moyes, who also revealed the
reasons behind the club's failed bid to land Lille midfielder Ibrahim
Amadou. "Then on Wednesday afternoon we hoped to do Amadou. We put in a loan
offer for him, which we hoped might have been good enough to get him. "We
didn't want to pay the asking price because we hadn't seen him often enough
to say it was worth putting out £16m for him but we made a really big loan
offer and couldn't get him in the end."

While the Hammers missed out on Slimani and Amadou, the club did manage to
sign Jordan Hugill on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Preston North End.
"He was always someone we had an eye on," said Moyes. "I've got a thing
about where do players come from, as in where do you bring them in if you're
buying new players. "It either has to come from your academy or the lower
leagues. Do we have it in the academy? No, well then the next place we
should look is in the UK. "We went looking and I thought Jordan would be
worth a go."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
David Moyes says West Ham have open transfer policy and alleged comments are
'wrong'
Last Updated: 02/02/18 3:08pm
SSN

David Moyes says West Ham have an open transfer policy and that alleged
comments made by director of player recruitment Tony Henry are "wrong".
Henry was suspended on Thursday while an investigation takes place into a
report in the Daily Mail about comments allegedly made by Henry to other
West Ham officials and agents in emails regarding the signing of African
players. "The comments are wrong, we were signing two players from Africa on
Deadline Day, so I can only say they are wrong," said Moyes. Asked whether
the club have an open transfer policy, Moyes replied: "Of course we have.
You can see the players we sign, you can see the players that the club has
signed over the years. "We always sign good quality players, the best
players we can get who are available to us, and it doesn't really matter
where they're from to me at all."
Asked whether he had ever experienced prejudice in regards to the transfer
policy at the club, he said: "Never ever at any club in football, I've never
had that. Never at all." West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate - who is of
African descent - posted a message on Instagram on Thursday, saying:
"African and proud".
Moyes says he does not think the alleged comments, which are being
investigated by the FA, have had an affect on team morale, ahead of their
game against Brighton on Saturday. "I spoke with one or two of the African
players and they seem fine," Moyes added. "They have trained well the last
couple of days and the morale in the camp is good because we are on the back
of a pretty good run. The players are doing really well so we want to try
and keep it going."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham wanted one more in the transfer window but I'm glad that is all
over
DAVID MOYES
ES Sport

I am sure I am not the only manager to be glad that the January transfer
window is over. This window changed for us a couple of weeks ago when we
lost influential players like Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini to
injuries. The position was made even more acute when we lost two more
players — Pedro Obiang with a medial knee ligament problem and Arthur
Masuaku, who sits out the second of his six-match ban against Brighton
tomorrow. Before those injuries, we had planned to bring in two players and
then, when the injuries occurred, we ideally wanted a third. That was our
intention right up until the 11th hour on Wednesday but, in the event, we
didn't quite manage it. We pushed hard to bring in midfielder Ibrahim Amadou
on loan from Lille late in the day but we could not get it over the line
before time ran out.

I have been consistent over the last month in wanting only to sign players
who would make us better and stronger. I believe the West Ham fans would
agree with me that, on the evidence of Joao Mario's full debut for us
against Crystal Palace on Tuesday, we have certainly added quality to our
squad. In Jordan Hugill, we know his capabilities because I've watched him
regularly. He has been wanted by a lot of clubs and I felt we need a
bigger, more robust striker to add to our squad, particularly with the
injury to Andy Carroll. Jordan has come a long way in a relatively short
time and, in that respect, he is not dissimilar to Aaron Cresswell, who came
to West Ham from Ipswich, and Michail Antonio, who arrived from Nottingham
Forest. We will give Jordan every opportunity to be a success here. It will
take him a little while to become used to the difference between the
Championship and the Premier League, but I can guarantee his attitude will
be first class. No-one will work harder and I am sure the supporters will
see someone who is really hungry to show what he can do.

Is he similar to Andy in his style of play? Not exactly. Jordan is a more
bustling centre-forward, a real team player who has good energy levels and
impressive physical statistics. He's a handful and if you are a central
defender, you wouldn't enjoy playing against him. I knew on the final day of
the window there was another Premier League club in for him, so it was
pleasing that we were able to win the race for his signature.

Reece Burke and Reece Oxford have gone back out on loan because we have some
cover in that position, but Josh Cullen has stayed. He has been on the road
for a year and he wanted to stay. We like him, he's a level-headed young
player and I would have no fear about putting him on. Antonio should be in
the squad for tomorrow's match. One of the things I said when I came to the
club was that I wanted good discipline. Michail has been injured but there
have been a couple of occasions recently when he's turned up late. I said
when I came in that this is how it's going to be and I'm not having it. If
you are going to be late regularly, then I will act, so he was left out
against Crystal Palace. He came to see me afterwards and said he was sorry.
I hold no grudges, so we quickly move on.

I'm unable to comment on the allegations surrounding the club's director of
player recruitment, Tony Henry, at the moment. I have read the claims and
heard what people have had to say. I hope people will understand that I am
unable to add anything at this time because of the club's and the Football
Association's investigations.

The fee for this column will be donated to the British Heart Foundation —
bhf.org.uk

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Javier Hernandez admits asking for January transfer but vows to
give everything now he is staying
Mexican set for a key role on the run-in tells Darren Lewis a lack of match
action made him worry about his World Cup place
ByDarren Lewis
22:30, 2 FEB 2018UPDATED22:48, 2 FEB 2018

Straight-talking Javier ­Hernandez has no qualms about putting the record
straight. Yes, he did ask to leave West Ham last month. Yes, he did consider
offers from rival Premier League clubs. Stuck on the bench with a place in
Mexico's World Cup squad this summer at stake, the former Manchester United
striker feared he had little option. West Ham's no-nonsense fans — no
strangers to calling it as they see it — will surely appreciate his
disarming honesty. Yet how quickly things change.

Denied an exit because of injury to Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho's
­departure to Rennes, Hernandez is determined to give his all for David
Moyes on the run-in to help keep the club away from the drop zone. "Yes, it
was the case that I wanted to go," said the 29-year-old, who only joined the
Hammers in the summer. "Not because I don't like West Ham, but because I
need to have minutes on the pitch. "The World Cup is just around the corner
and I want to play. But you can see that, even though my agent says I want
to go, I have been doing everything I can in a West Ham shirt to help the
team. "Against Bournemouth I scored a goal, I tried to play pretty well in
the Cup [going the full 90 minutes in their loss at Wigan last weekend] and,
in the last game, against Crystal Palace, I tried to do my best. "I am a
very ­professional guy and I want to do that. "Words can come and go. Your
acts are going to speak for themselves. Now that the window is closed I am
here and trying to achieve the main goals for the club, which is to be safe
from relegation. Then, in the summer, we will see."
"How can I not be?" he said, before Saturday's relegation six-pointer away
to Brighton. "Guadalajara, my home city, is one of the biggest in Mexico. I
have always been in big cities. "I feel good with the fans. I think they are
happy with me. They have treated me very well since the beginning. But I
want to be better. I want to deliver for them."
Were there offers from rival clubs in England?
"In the Premier League, yes."
Was he interested?
"I was ­interested, yes. In one."

The man nicknamed ­Chicharito – Little Pea – won't ­elaborate, and is more
focused on addressing the fears of worried Hammers fans. "Obviously, they
are concerned," he said. "But what I see in the dressing room, what I feel,
is that we want to be better. We all try to work very hard. We all want more
points, more good results, to be higher in the table. "We want to make the
fans happier and we are trying. We are working hard and the season is not
over yet."

Hernandez spoke after training with new £10million striker Jordan Hugill,
signed on Wednesday from Championship side Preston. "He is a very good
football player," he said. "He is confident and I understand his feelings.
He has come to a Premier League club, so he is ambitious. He is v ry happy.
He has transmitted that and, hopefully, can have a good career."

Though he left Old Trafford in summer 2014, initially on loan, Hernandez
continues to follow former club Man United's progress. "One of my best
friends in football is David De Gea," he said. "United was my first European
club. We won two titles and almost won the Champions League. We had good
moments I want them to have good times always. Same for Real Madrid and
­Leverkusen. "I always want my old clubs to do well. But I have only one
love in my life in football — my home club Chivas, in Guadalajara. The other
clubs are my girlfriends. "I love them in the moment I love them, then we
say goodbye. "Are the other clubs just jobs? Not jobs. They are like
girlfriends. You like them, you love them. You give them your best, they
give you the best – but it doesn't depend on them or me. You just ­separate.
"West Ham? They are my ­girlfriend right now!"

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