Daily WHUFC News - 3rd April 2018

Ladies head coach Ray named March Manager of the Month
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Ladies head coach Karen Ray has been named the FA Women's
Premier League North/Southern Division March Manager of the Month. Ray has
guided the Ladies to a superb 2018 so far, with a run of excellent form that
continued through March. With three wins from the three games played in all
competitions last month, the Hammers scored 11 goals and didn't concede any
in the trio of matches. The month began with a potentially tricky test away
to Hull City Ladies in the semi-final of the WPL Plate. A 3-0 victory for
Ray's team secured a final place against AFC Fylde, to be played in just
under two weeks. A 2-0 league victory against Chichester City Ladies was
followed by a 6-0 win over Swindon Town last weekend, extending the side's
winning run to four matches and making the team unbeaten in nine contests
throughout 2018.

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Kmita: Ladies will go 'all guns blazing' in Isthmian League Cup final
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Ladies will not feel like underdogs when they play Charlton
Athletic Women, with vice-captain Rosie Kmita promising the side will give
their all in Wednesday's Isthmian League Cup final. The Hammers will take on
Charlton this week in the last two of the Women's Cup, with Karen Ray's side
aiming to continue an unbeaten run in 2018 with some silverware. In
Charlton though, West Ham take on a side that sit third in the Premier
League Southern Division, just two points off top spot, and have won 13 of
their 15 league contests this campaign. "We won't sugar-coat it, it will be
a tough game," Kmita admitted to whufc.com. "But one thing I will say about
our squad is, we know that and we will still give it 100 per cent. We won't
allow that to get in our heads. We will go out there, all guns blazing. "We
won't allow the fact they are a top team get to us. We will just play our
game, which is what Karen always tells us. We will stick to what we know, as
we always do. "The last time we played against Charlton we were, in a
sense, the underdogs. But now I think the group is top class and we don't
feel that. We haven't been losing and there's just excitement."

The last time Kmita refers to was the incredible 3-1 win for West Ham away
to Charlton at the Valley, inflicting a first defeat of the season on the
home side.
That game coincided with the week the vice-captain signed for the Irons, and
it was an occasion Kmita will never forget. When asked what she remembered
about that occasion, Kmita responded: "Mainly the nerves! It was a big game
anyway, with it being played at the Valley, but it was one of my first
games. You are always going to get those nerves! "That feeling when we won
the game – you can't beat that. We were such underdogs back then. Our run
before that game wasn't great and we went in as underdogs but when we come
out winners, it was an unbelievable feeling. I think that really changed our
mentality in terms of 'we can beat top teams'. It was incredible, that day."

West Ham United Ladies head into Wednesday's fixture on the back of nine
games unbeaten, a run that began at the start of 2018, with the Hammers
picking up a 6-0 away win over Swindon Town in their last match. The
significance of playing in a final is not lost on the squad, according to
Kmita, who believes winning the trophy will have been a well-earned reward
for the Club. "This is what you play for, moments like that. We work so hard
every training session, and every weekend we're giving 100 per cent. Just to
get that reward and win the Cup final would firstly be everything that we
earned – us and the staff – and it's also that feeling of winning it as a
team which will be amazing."

The Isthmian League Cup final will be played at Parkside, the home of Aveley
FC, with tickets available on the gate on the night from just £1. Kmita has
issued a rallying cry to all West Ham fans to attend Wednesday's fixture and
cheer on the Ladies, saying their support could push the Hammers to an even
better performance against Charlton. She added: "I think it's so important
that people get behind us on Wednesday and come and support us. Bring
friends, bring family, because that really does get us going. "Knowing
we've got everyone we love in the crowd, watching us, every individual on
the pitch gets a boost. Especially against the tough sides, you need that
naturally as well, so get behind us!"

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Loan watch: Frustration for Snodgrass, but joy for Makasi
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's band of loanees are being kept busy over Easter weekend.

Robert Snodgrass' Aston Villa fell further out of the race for automatic
promotion to the Premier League when they drew 0-0 at Hull City on Saturday.
Steve Bruce's side are nine points behind second-place Cardiff City with
seven matches left to play, the first of which will see Reading visit Villa
Park on Tuesday.

At the other end of the table, Reece Burke started at centre-half as Bolton
Wanderers lost 2-1 at Leeds United on Saturday, dropping to 20th in the
standings. The Trotters host Birmingham City, who sit one place and three
points below them, at the Macron Stadium on Tuesday evening

Elsewhere in the Championship, Martin Samuelsen returned to the Burton
Albion squad but was an unused substitute as the Brewers dropped to a 3-1
defeat at promotion-chasing Cardiff. Burton remain bottom of the table, four
points from safety ahead of Easter Monday's home match with Middlesbrough.

In League One, Moses Makasi played the full 90 minutes as Plymouth Argyle
climbed back into the Play-Off places with a 4-0 win over Southend United at
Home Park. The Pilgrims will hope to make further progress when they travel
to fifth-place Scunthorpe United on Monday afternoon.

In Spain, Toni Martinez was a late substitute in Real Valladolid's 1-0 win
over Reus on Saturday. The victory took Valladolid up to seventh, just a
point outside the promotion play-off positions and just seven behind leaders
Sporting Gijon. In Germany, Reece Oxford missed Borussia Monchengladbach's
0-0 Bundesliga draw at Mainz on Sunday through injury.

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Rice: Arnautovic is the 'best player I've played with'
WHUFC.com

Declan Rice has praised Marko Arnautovic as the best player he's shared a
pitch with after the Austrian netted twice in the 3-0 win over Southampton.
Arnautovic scored his eighth and ninth Premier League goals of the campaign
with a close-ranged effort and an excellent volley to guide the Irons to a
victory over the Saints on Saturday. The 28-year-old has been in tremendous
goalscoring form in recent months for West Ham and Rice, who helped the
Hammers to a clean-sheet, has named Arnautovic as the standout player that
he's played alongside. "He's an unbelievable player," Rice told West Ham TV
on Arnautovic: "He's probably the best player I've played with, and he's
such a nice guy as well. He's done it with Austria during the international
break, and he's done it for us today. He's a crucial part of our side."

It was Joao Mario who opened the scoring on an excellent day at London
Stadium, blasting home his first goal for the Club on the edge of the area
on 13 minutes.
Arnautovic added his first four minutes later after seeing an initial header
saved, before capping a sensational first half for David Moyes's team with a
brilliant volleyed strike after Arthur Masuaku's swerving cross. With no
goals conceded as well, Rice was delighted with a near perfect day on the
pitch for the Hammers. The 19-year-old continued: "As you can see on my
face, I'm over the moon. Today was special and we needed those three points.
That puts us five points ahead of Southampton and we need to build on that
now. We get back to training this week and look forward to Chelsea. "I
think today we've made them [the fans] happy. It's a 3-0 victory, a
clean-sheet, and today me, the lads and manager couldn't be happier."

The performance against Mark Hughes' Southampton caps an incredible few
weeks for Rice, who was named Man of the Match on his senior debut for the
Republic of Ireland last week. "I don't think I can quite sum it up," he
admitted. "It's been crazy to be honest. A crazy three weeks. I won
international player of the year for the U19s, I won Man of the Match on my
Ireland debut, and today topped it off with 3-0 and a clean-sheet. "It was
the first clean-sheet we've had in a while and to win today was a massive
boost."

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Arnautovic: We all enjoyed Saturday's performance
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic was delighted to leave London Stadium with a broad smile on
his face after the Hammers roared to a 3-0 victory over Southampton on
Saturday. Arnautovic terrorised the Saints, finishing crosses from Joao
Mario and Arthur Masuaku to help propel his side into a three-goal lead by
half-time. It was an advantage that the visitors were not able to come back
from and ended a run of three straight defeats for the Londoners. The
victory was certainly a timely one, as it put five points into the Saints
and allows Arnautovic – who now has nine goals for the season – and his
teammates to approach next Sunday's trip to Chelsea with more confidence. He
explained: "I always enjoy it when I am on the pitch, but obviously we
enjoyed [it more] on Saturday. Not only the players, but the fans, everyone.
We did a great job and played a brilliant game. We can enjoy that now, but
on Monday we will be focused on the next game at Chelsea. "We know that our
fans, when they are behind us, are amazing. They are very loud and they want
us to perform. We did that on Saturday, so well done to the fans and well
done to the boys. "I'm fit and I try to do my best in every season. When I
score some goals, everybody says 'is this your best year?' I try to do my
best every week and if it's working, it's working. "I have to come off the
pitch every time and be able to say to myself I've done everything. If we
win, it's brilliant."

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Moyes lauds impact made by Joao Mario and Masuaku
WHUFC.com

David Moyes lauded the impact made by Joao Mario and Arthur Masuaku in
Saturday's 3-0 Premier League win over Southampton at London Stadium. The
Portugal star belted in his first goal in Claret and Blue following his
January loan move from Inter Milan, while left wing-back Masuaku announced
his return from a six-match suspension with an outstanding assist for Marko
Arnautovic's second and West Ham's third which put the game beyond the
Saints. Speaking first about Joao Mario, Moyes says the technically-gifted
midfielder is getting better with every game he plays in English football.
"I think Joao Mario has done well since he came in," said the manager. "I
said to a friend the other day 'tell me who's made an impact as a signing in
January for any Premier League club?'. "It's not that easy to think of
players who have made an impact from January. To come to the Premier League
and play is not easy. "I think Joao Mario had probably his best game for us
on Saturday: he got us a really good goal, he got us the assist for the
second one, so that pleased me overall. I think You've got to praise him for
what he's done on Saturday, especially. "You hope the environment helped him
settle. Again, it's not an easy thing to come into the Premier League and do
something, but he's played quite a few games and that's helped him as well.
It's not an easy situation for him, but he's experienced, he's a Portuguese
international and he was at Inter Milan for a reason and that's because he
is a good player. "He brings a little bit of flair, he's good on the ball,
and a bit of natural talent. What goes unnoticed is that he's actually a
really hard-working boy as well. "What we've needed from him – we've not had
Manuel Lanzini, that was the reason we brought him, when [Lanzini] was
injured in January – was to give us a goal, or an assist, and he came up
with the goods."

Moving onto Masuaku, Moyes was delighted to welcome the direct running,
ability to carry the ball forward at pace and delivery the No26 brings to
the team. "We have missed the natural balance he brings, whether you see him
as a left-back, a left wing-back or a left winger, he's a little bit of all
of them at different times in the game for us. "In a way, I think he has
benefited from his time off, because we've used that time to practice his
finishing, his crossing and he's positionally a little bit better. The cross
he put in for Marko was terrific, so from that point of view, although it
was six games it felt like six months we were missing him!
"Overall, I thought Arthur contributed really well."

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Michail Antonio: West Ham winger out for rest of season
BBC.co.uk

West Ham winger Michail Antonio will miss the Premier League club's last
seven games of the season because of a hamstring injury. The 28-year-old
went off after nine minutes of Saturday's 3-0 win over Southampton at London
Stadium. Antonio has made 21 appearances, scoring three times, in an
injury-interrupted season.
Meanwhile, the Hammers hope playmaker Manuel Lanzini will be back from a
knee injury to face Chelsea on Sunday. The 25-year-old Argentine sustained
the injury while on international duty. West Ham are five points above the
relegation zone.

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KUMB member happy with season ticket resolution
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd April 2018
By: Staff Writer

A disabled KUMB member who was forced to move from his season ticket seat
had thanked the club after he was eventually re-situated to his
satisfaction. 'Eastbourne Hammer', who has been a member of KUMB since 2004
was disappointed to discover last week that he had been forcibly removed
from his regular, paid-for season ticket seat and offered a downgraded seat
as a result of the new barriers installed in and around the Directors' Box.
However after the supporter took to KUMB last week in order to express his
disappointment, the club leapt into action to ensure that 'EH' - also known
as Jim Gleeson - was given a seat closer to the half way line and with
access to the Boleyn Bar. "I received a call from West Ham telling me that
my season ticket seat just below the Director's Box was no longer available,
possibly for the rest of the season," he said. " This is because of the
barriers they want to put up which mean that I'll no longer be able to sit
there. "I was offered a move to a downgraded seat which I refused - I paid
for the best view and that's what I wanted. I was told that's not an option
and asked where would I like to move to? My response was, nowhere, you can
refund me the rest of my season ticket."

But after his plight was highlighted on the KUMB Forum, Mr Gleeson - who
attends home matches with a carer - was happy to learn that the club soon
discovered an alternative seat to his liking. "The replacement seat had an
excellent view and is at the same level as my usual seat, but closer to the
halfway line," he added.
"[I also have] access to the Boleyn Bar and was escorted to my seat to
ensure that I was happy with everything. Thanks to all involved for a great
match day experience - and nice to see the team turn up for this one, too!"

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Fit, happy and scoring goals
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 2nd April 2018
By: Staff Writer

Man of the Match Marko Arnautovic says he thoroughly enjoyed Saturday's
"brilliant" win over Southampton. The Hammers moved five points clear of the
relegation zone courtesy of the 3-0 win, in which the Austrian international
netted twice before celebrating in the direction of Saints boss Mark Hughes.
And according to Arnautovic the three points gained will ease the pressure
on the team considerably going into this weekend's London derby at Chelsea,
who were beaten at home by Spurs in another big all-London affair at the
weekend. "We did a great job and played a brilliant game," a delighted
Arnautovic told whufc.com. "We can enjoy that now, but on Monday we will be
focused on the next game at Chelsea. "I always enjoy it when I am on the
pitch, but obviously we enjoyed Saturday. Not only the players, but the
fans, everyone. I have to come off the pitch and be able to say to myself
I've done everything. If we win, it's brilliant. "I'm fit and I try to do my
best in every season. When I score some goals, everybody says 'is this your
best year?' I try to do my best every week and if it's working, it's
working."

Arnautovic's brace against Southampton takes him to nine goals for the
season, from 31 appearances - a tally that makes his the club's leading
goalscorer currently, two ahead of Javier Hernandez with seven.

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West Ham's Marko Arnautovic has no sympathy for former boss Mark Hughes
Last Updated: 02/04/18 10:21am
SSN

Marko Arnautovic doesn't feel sorry for former boss Mark Hughes after
scoring twice against his Southampton side on Saturday. Arnautovic and
Hughes were involved in a touchline spat in December when the former scored
against his former club Stoke. And the Austria international again appeared
to aim his celebration against Hughes - who has since taken charge of
Southampton - after scoring his first goal on Saturday. "I respect Mark
Hughes and what he's done for me but I heard some things when he was talking
about me and they were not good things," Arnautovic told The Mirror. "I'm
only doing my job, and if I score against Mark Hughes' team, it's nothing
personal. I try to score in every game and I don't feel sorry for anybody:
If we win and I score that's fine, nothing else matters. "I don't care what
he says - I perform on the pitch and I try to let my feet do the talking.
"Of course I'm grateful what he did for me at Stoke when he was my coach,
but if he wants to say bad things about me, that's up to him."

Arautovic's double against Saints took his season tally to nine goals and
moved West Ham five points clear of the relegation zone. The Hammers'
previous home game against Burnley was marred by fan protests but there was
a more positive atmosphere at the London Stadium as this time the home side
came out on the right side of a 3-0 scoreline. "I always enjoy being on the
pitch and I love to win games - everyone did a good job, not only the
players but the fans as well," said Arnautovic. "We know that when our fans
are behind us, they are amazing. We gave them what they wanted, so well done
to the fans and well done to the boys."I feel sharp and I try to do my best
but whenever I score goals people ask me, 'Is this your best year?' I work
hard every week and when I come off the pitch after each game I like to
think I've done everything possible to help my team. "This game was very
different to the last one here but it was very important to win and this
time I can go back to my family, play with my kids and feel happy again.
This is the most important thing."

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West Ham's Declan Rice is 'the next John Terry' and will be a top summer
transfer target, says Jamie Redknapp
ALEX YOUNG
ES Sport

West Ham youngster Declan Rice is "the next John Terry" and likely to
attract serious interest in the summer, says Jamie Redknapp. The 19-year-old
has established himself under David Moyes this season, making over 20
appearances in all competitions so far. Rice was again impressive as West
Ham significantly eased their relegation fears with victory over Southampton
and Redknapp predicts big things for the Ireland international. "It is
ridiculous that it is possible to win Young Player of the Year aged 24,"
Redknapp wrote in the Daily Mail. "The award should be given to the best
player under 20 - and with that criterion, Declan Rice would be a serious
contender. "This kid is the next John Terry. At 19 he plays with maturity,
is unbelievably brave and comfortable on the ball," Redknapp continued.
"Rice capped a fine week, in which he was man of the match on his Republic
of Ireland debut against Turkey, with an assured display against
Southampton. "This summer I have little doubt that West Ham will be fighting
off bids for their young star."

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