Daily WHUFC News - 5th April 2018

David Moyes pays tribute to Ray Wilkins
WHUFC.com

David Moyes has paid tribute to Ray Wilkins after the former England captain
sadly passed away at the age of 61 on Wednesday. Wilkins enjoyed a long and
distinguished playing career with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United,
Paris St Germain, AC Milan, Glasgow Rangers and Queens Park Rangers before
moving into coaching. He appeared for his country on 84 occasions, featuring
at UEFA Euro 1980 and the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups. Moyes said: "I knew
Ray and I found him a true gentleman. He was also a great footballer and I
watched him a lot when he was at Glasgow Rangers. "In the time I knew him he
was a really good man – I enjoyed his company. He was always very helpful
and polite in the times I was in his company."

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Zabaleta: Joao Mario showed his outstanding quality on Saturday
WHUFC.com

Pablo Zabaleta says Joao Mario can be an important figure for West Ham
United during the Premier League run-in. The Portuguese midfielder played an
influential role in Saturday's 3-0 win over Southampton at London Stadium,
scoring a sensational opener before providing the cross which led to Marko
Arnautovic to double the Hammers' lead inside 20 minutes. And Zabaleta says
the UEFA Euro 2016 winner be vital to West Ham's chances of ending the
season strongly. "Joao Mario showed his outstanding quality for us on
Saturday," said the Argentnian. "He has great technique and works hard for
the team. On Saturday he played his best game for us so far and we were all
happy for him. "He took his goal really well and this his cross for Arnie
was also fantastic. These moments are the difference in matches and Joao has
the qualities to help us win more games, for sure."

Reflecting on Saturday's victory in more depth, Zabaleta thanked the Claret
and Blue Army for playing their part in defeating relegation rivals
Southampton, and says the Hammers will strive to reach the same level in
each of their remaining seven matches. "I'm very pleased with our
performance. I thought the whole team was outstanding on Saturday. It was a
huge result for both teams because we were only two points above them and we
needed those three points. "I thought our first half performance was really
good, then in the second half we were obviously trying to manage the game to
keep the clean sheet. We also had a few more chances and could have scored
from them. I'm very pleased with the victory as it was very important. "When
you score first, it gives you confidence for the rest of the game. I thought
we were really good in the first half. We scored three great goals and we
must say 'Thank you' to the fans because they were behind the team for the
whole game.

"In football, at any level, you feel pressure. This is a great Club with a
great tradition in English football and with great fans who are so
demanding. This is something I really like from them and, let's be honest,
we've not been great and our performances have not been good in the last
three games, so we needed that win for them and for everyone. "It's still so
tight at the bottom of the table, so we need to keep picking up points to be
safe as soon as possible. We want to take this Club forward and the only way
to do that is to perform consistently and that's what the fans expect from
this team. "It's time to be all together now and we showed that unity on
Saturday and I'm very pleased for that."

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Manchester United date confirmed
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's London Stadium clash with Manchester United has been set
for Thursday 10 May, with kick-off at 7.45pm. The Hammers will now face the
Red Devils in their penultimate home game of the 2017/18 season, three days
before David Moyes' men take on Everton in east London. West Ham were
originally due to take on Jose Mourinho's side in March, but the match had
to be rescheduled due to their involvement in the Emirates FA Cup sixth
round. This match has been selected for broadcast by Sky Sports.

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Fernandes targets Chelsea involvement after impressing on return
WHUFC.com

Edimilson Fernandes is targeting a return to the West Ham United starting XI
in Sunday's London derby at Chelsea. The Swiss midfielder made his comeback
after four months out with a troublesome ankle injury on Saturday,
impressing after being introduced as an early substitute in the 3-0 Premier
League victory over Southampton at London Stadium. The energetic No31 made a
team-high four tackles and regained possession for his team seven times,
most notably when he won the ball from Saints midfielder Pierre-Emile
Højbjerg to start the move for West Ham's second goal. Having been on the
side-lines for so long, the 21-year-old was delighted to make such a
positive impact on his restoration to the matchday squad. Now, he is hoping
to be handed an opportunity from the kick-off at Stamford Bridge. "It was a
good return for me and a good match for the whole team and I just hope we
can continue like that," Fernandes told whufc.com. "After four months, it
was a big pleasure to return in a good match like that. It was class. I was
just pleased to be back on the pitch. It was a good performance from the
team and I feel strong, which I am happy about. "It was difficult to be out
for so long, physically and psychologically, not playing and not training on
the pitch alongside my teammates, so that's why I was so eager to return and
why it is so good to be back."

Next up for the Hammers is a trip to west London, where Fernandes is
relishing the prospect of testing himself against the likes of Eden Hazard,
Willian and Cesc Fabregas. The midfielder's best moment in a Claret and Blue
shirt so far came against the Blues in October 2016, when he marked just his
third start for the Club with a shock EFL Cup winner at London Stadium.
Eighteen months on, the Sion-born star hopes his injury issues are behind
him and he can make another positive impression against Antonio Conte's men
this weekend. "Chelsea is a good game and I am hoping we can play well
again, like we did against Southampton in our last match. "I am also hoping
I can be involved again and that, if I am, I do not perform badly as this is
another important match for the team, just like the previous one. "Chelsea
have some big players and I prefer to test myself against the best, which is
normal for any professional player, and I am hoping I can play well against
them."

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Update: Memorial Garden
WHUFC.com

West Ham United have implemented a programme of weekly maintenance to ensure
our supporters' Memorial Garden adjacent to the site of the Boleyn Ground
remains respectfully maintained. The Club has taken the decision to step up
its fortnightly maintenance support to developer Barratt London, further to
incidents of littering on the site, and will now monitor and ensure upkeep
on a weekly basis. Hammers fans visit the Memorial Garden on Green Street
regularly to pay respects to loved ones, whose ashes have been scattered or
buried beneath our former home. The photographs above were taken over the
Easter weekend.

The Memorial Garden is open Monday to Friday, between 8am and 3pm.

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West Ham's Goalkeepers' Union is strong - Woods
WHUFC.com

When it comes to picking a football team, every outfield player in the squad
has a chance of being included in the starting XI. But, when it comes to
goalkeepers, they know that no matter how well they perform in training,
only one can be picked to start between the sticks on matchday. With such a
fine line between fulfilment and disappointment, it is no surprise that a
special bond has developed between stoppers, commonly known as the
Goalkeepers' Union. There is no membership fee. Instead, all you need is a
pair of gloves and the willingness to do absolutely anything to keep the
ball out of your own team's net!

West Ham United coach Chris Woods has been a member throughout a 40-year
career that has seen him win the European Cup, Football League Cup, Scottish
Premier Division and 43 England caps. Nowadays, Woods works on a daily
basis with Joe Hart and Adrian – two senior goalkeepers who have competed
for one starting place for the Hammers throughout the 2017/18 season. In
true Goalkeepers' Union style, the pair have not complained, but instead
worked each other hard, ensuring the one given the nod on matchday is ready
for action. "They've both been very good," confirmed Woods. "They've
supported each other. In fact, as a coach, I couldn't have asked any more
from either of them. "Of course, the rivalry is there but they've both
worked very hard and whoever has been playing, the other has been very
supportive, either in training or out on the pitch, warming up before games.
"Deep down, as much they both want to play, they're both paid-up members of
the 'goalkeepers' union' which means you support each other but, in the
knowledge that, whoever is picked, he knows the other one is fighting for
your position. "That's the way it is. There is only one position up for
grabs and both goalkeepers want it."

Woods, who played second fiddle to the great Peter Shilton, first at
Nottingham Forest and then with England, understands the unique dynamic of
competing goalkeepers. "It's different with goalkeepers. Often in training,
we're working away from the rest of the team. We talk on different aspects
of goalkeeping, we're with each other a lot and I suppose it does become a
bit more personal. "As a coach, it's important that you build a good working
relationship with your goalkeepers. You're in close proximity to each other
for so long, they have to have confidence in you – and vice versa. "As for
England this summer, it's good that there are options for the goalkeeping
spot. Each and every one of the candidates will be wanting to play but also,
to be part of the squad and support whoever is playing, if it's not them.
"There is bound to be disappointment if they don't get the nod but that is
where the 'union' comes into play. "We all have to pull together, the
goalkeepers, the outfield players, the management and coaching staff – and
the fans."

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Snodgrass helps loan club Villa to important victory
WHUFC.com

Robert Snodgrass registered his 13th Championship assist of the season as
Aston Villa kept their automatic promotion hopes alive with a 3-0 win over
Reading on Tuesday. The West Ham United loanee provided the cross for Conor
Hourihane to head home the Villans' second goal after Iceland midfielder
Birkir Bjarnason had curled Steve Bruce's side into the lead. Scott Hogan
completed the scoring after dispossessing Royals' goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
Villa's victory kept up the pressure on second-place Cardiff City, who they
host next Tuesday evening. Before that, Snodgrass will face his former club
Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday lunchtime.

Elsewhere, Reece Burke played the full 90 minutes but was unable to prevent
Bolton Wanderers falling to a 1-0 defeat by Birmingham City at the Macron
Stadium.
Bolton remain 20th in the Championship table, five points clear of the
relegation zone with six matches remaining, the first of which is at
fifth-place Derby County on Saturday.

On Easter Monday, the wet weather put paid to Moses Makasi and Plymouth
Argyle's EFL League One fixture at Scunthorpe United, while Martin Samuelsen
was an unused substitute in Burton Albion's 1-1 Championship draw with
Middlesbrough.

Finally, Reece Oxford missed Borussia Monchengladbach's goalless German
Bundesliga draw at Mainz through injury.

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Noble: I knew the West Ham supporters would get right behind us
WHUFC.com

Mark Noble said the power of West Ham United has come to the fore at London
Stadium this week - firstly at Saturday's 3-0 Premier League victory over
Southampton, and then again at Tuesday's Family Fun Day. The captain said
the Hammers were inspired by the atmosphere created by the Claret and Blue
Army at the weekend, when a capacity crowd created a hugely positive
atmosphere on which the team clearly thrived. Lifelong Hammer Noble was not
surprised to hear his fellow supporters rally behind the players in what was
a vital fixture, and called on fans to create similar surroundings for West
Ham's final four home matches.
"Do you know what? I knew the supporters would get right behind us, because
we've been in tough situations before and I knew they would turn up in their
numbers and make noise," said the skipper, who met hundreds of fans at
Tuesday's Family Fun Day at London Stadium. "That was partly down to us, of
course,but I could tell from the moment I walked out of the tunnel that they
had come fully in voice and behind us. "You would never understand it unless
you've been there and felt it in the middle of the pitch. When you've got
50-odd thousand people behind you, it's a massive boost for everyone and you
saw that in the players with the way we started the game. "We knew how
important the game was but, collectively as a team and a set of fans, we
came together and got what we thoroughly deserved."

While West Ham's supporters produced the goods in the stands, the players
responded by producing the goods on the pitch, scoring three first-half
goals to kill off Southampton before the break. Marko Arnautovic scored
twice to take his recent tally to nine in his last 13 appearances after Joao
Mario had netted his first for the Club with a rasping, rising strike into
the top corner. At the other end of the pitch, Noble was impressed by
19-year-old Declan Rice, who helped to shackle Saints strikers Charlie
Austin, Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long with an assured performance at left
centre-back. "All in all, it probably could have been more, but we were over
the moon with a three-nil result. There was a lot of pressure after what
happened a few weeks ago, but we rose to it. "When he is playing like that,
sometimes Marko is unplayable. Arthur Masuaku also came back and he was
fantastic. We lost Ginge on the day before the game and Declan Rice stepped
in and he was outstanding. For a young player to play under that much
pressure in a game of that magnitude was massive for him. "All in all, the
whole team was fantastic. I said to them before we went out 'this is our
home stadium, so let's play like we're at home' and we did that. "We've got
four more home games and if the atmosphere is like it was on Saturday and
the players put that much effort and determination in, I'm hoping we can
play like we did against Southampton, like I know we can play, and pick up
more points."

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Memorial ground to receive regular maintenance
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 4th April 2018
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have announced that the memorial garden in Green Street is to
receive weekly maintenance. The small plot, situated where the entrance
gates to West Ham United's former home ground once stood is currently in the
centre of a building site and as such, has been vandalised on several
occasions since the club moved to Stratford in 2016. However that should no
longer be a issue with an announcement from the club today that the garden -
into which a large green plastic dustbin was thrown last week - will be
monitored and maintained on a weekly basis. The site is home to a number of
memorials to deceased supporters whose ashes were either scattered or buried
on the site of the former Boleyn Ground prior to the club leaving the area.

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Joao Mario says West Ham will be in Premier League next season
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 04/04/18 9:07am
SSN

Joao Mario has brushed aside any fears that West Ham may be relegated at the
end of the season. The Portuguese midfielder, who moved on loan in January
from Inter Milan until the summer, cannot wait to take on Chelsea on Sunday,
live on Sky Sports, with his team hovering above the drop zone. David Moyes'
side head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, looking to boost their hopes of
survival. They are five points above the relegation zone with seven games
left. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mario said: "Chelsea are a big team and
they have amazing players and it's never a good time to play them. "We will
try our best and we know we'll play against a strong team. We need to be
ready. "We need to fight until the end though. Everyone knows this is the
whole point of our club. "We need to be calm and play and for sure we're
going to stay in the Premier League."
Joao Mario was speaking at West Ham's Family Fun Day at the London Stadium
where 5,000 Hammers supporters were in attendance.

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NO SALVATION YET, BUT A BOOST FOR WEST HAM'S CONFIDENCE
By rapidhammer 4 Apr 2018 at 17:00
WTID

Easter Saturdays with West Ham involved in a relegation battle are something
special. I particularly remember a Holy Saturday eleven years ago, when West
Ham played Arsenal on April 7th, 2007. Mark Noble played in midfield and
Carlos Tevez and Bobby Zamora led the line. West Ham were the first team to
beat Arsenal in their new ground, winning this game 1-0 by virtue of Bobby
Zamora's goal. I'm sure everybody remembers this game being part of West
Ham's „Great Escape" which they managed that season.

This season a "great escape" will not be needed to avoid relegation, though
West Ham's season has been quite rich on disasters so far and everybody will
be happy to put this one behind us. But Saturday's victory on Holy Saturday,
beating the Saints 3-0, can make us more than confident that West Ham will
also escape the drop this season. With six games left, now being five points
away from the relegation zone after having won a real „six pointer" against
Southampton, the Hammers are really not far away from safety, but of course
not saved yet.

A difficult fixture list

And West Ham aren't going to have an easy run-in. Within the last part of
the season they will have to cross swords with last season's champions
Chelsea, this season's champions in the making Manchester City, runners up
Manchester United and Arsenal. But with Stoke at home in a fortnight and
Leicester (A) and Everton (H) in their last two games, there are plenty of
opportunities to collect the final points needed to avoid being dragged into
or nearer the relegation zone again.

It really was a fine first half performance on Saturday, the Irons played
with determination and urgency against a Southampton side which couldn't
muster a single shot on Joe Hart's goal before the break. Now why not let
"Bubbles" fly high again and start dreaming of getting something from next
Sunday's London derby at Stamford Bridge? Chelsea have just been beaten by
Tottenham at home this weekend and the top four now seem fairly out of reach
for the Blues, having won only 3 out of 10 league games so far in 2018.

„We have to try until the end to catch the teams in the Champions League
places," Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said after their defeat against Spurs,
but with already having fallen eight points behind the fourth spot this
isn't an easy challenge. Maybe West Ham will be able to capitalise twice
from Chelsea's inconsistency this season, having already beaten them back in
December when Marko Arnautovic scored his first league goal for the Hammers
in a famous 1-0 win at the London Stadium! With the confidence Marko has
achieved in recent weeks, scoring for Austria's national team and West Ham
in his last three games (below) and having got 9 goals and three assists for
the Hammers so far, now everything seems possible for our number seven. And
it already is beyond doubt for me that the Austrian international has to be
this season's „Hammer of the Year"!


A determined performance and a truce – will it last until the end of the
season?

Having won the crucial game against Southampton and playing a London derby
next Sunday will surely help to keep West Ham's truce between their fans and
the much criticised Board which seemed to be in force in the London Stadium
on Saturday. The fans were behind the team from the first minute in this
really important, season-defining match, and the supporters could not have
asked for a better response from the players. The mavericks in the team
really rose to the occasion, not only with Marko finding the net twice but
also João Mário playing his best game since his arrival in January with
scoring the priceless first goal of a happy afternoon for the Hammers!

West Ham's energetic pressing payed early dividends with two goals in the
13th and 17th minute, resulting from stealing possession from tedious
attacking moves of their opponents, followed by quick runs by the really
very well playing Cheikhou Kouyaté and an also impressing Edmilson Fernandes
as well as another player coming back from a six game ban, Arthur Musuaku.

Arnie at his cocky best, my favourite for "Hammer of the Year"

Marko Arnautovic denied having a personal feud with Mark Hughes, his former
manager at Stoke City whose first league game in charge of Southampton went
terribly wrong for him on Saturday. But it is a matter of fact that Arnie
again was "at it his cocky best against his old manager" (as Jacob Steinberg
put it "in the Guardian":
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/31/west-ham-southampton-premie
r-league-match-report , or could we already say "at his Cockney best" as
Arnie really seems to love playing in the East end of London), inspiring the
Hammers to another 3-0 win as he had done back in December beating his old
club Stoke 3-0. Arnie had celebrated his goal against Stoke with his arms
showing West Ham's crossed hammers in front of Stoke's supporters who had
abused and booed him throughout that game. And also this time having scored
his first goal, West Ham's 2-0, he crossed his arms and cast a thriumphal
glance to his old manager.


The very important third goal was Arnie's second one shortly before the
break in added time – a spectacular volley from a deep cross from Arthur
Masuaku. Now Arnie just showed his tongue as he likes to do sometimes and
did not spend a view on his old manager anymore.

The second half could have ended with another spectacular goal, but
Cresswell's volley hit the bar and the day passed off peacefully in the end.
Well, this win on the Saturday before Easter was not the final salvation for
West Ham, but a big step forward to securing Premier League football in the
London Stadium!

Blowing bubbles at Stamford Bridge?

We will be back to London this week and hopefully I will make the Chelsea
game on Sunday. Still have no tickets though!

Having witnessed my fellow Austrian Marko Arnautovic's first West Ham goal
against the same opponents back in December I am hoping to be able to watch
some other exploits of Arnie and the boys in claret and blue in the reverse
fixture. Well, I'm not expecting an unlikely „double" against the Blues, but
West Ham could be capable of getting away from Stamford Bridge with a
precious point. Especially after having kept a clean sheet in their last
game and young Declan Rice really being a revelation against Southampton,
West Ham's defensive unit can breed new confidence. And as the Hammers still
have the second worst defensive record of all teams in the Premier League
this season, it's really time to put things right at this side of the pitch!

See you on Sunday. Come on you Irons!

Please check back after the match for the results.

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West Ham boss David Moyes was spotted at Fulham vs Leeds - here's who he was
watching
Here's who West Ham boss David Moyes was watching at Fulham this evening
Football London
By Ryan O'Donovan
Fulham FC Reporter
09:00, 4 APR 2018UPDATED09:13, 4 APR 2018

West Ham boss David Moyes was in the stands at Craven Cottage to watch
Fulham's game with Leeds United, but who was he watching? The Hammers were
interested in Tom Cairney in the January Transfer Window, seeing bids
rejected for the talismanic midfielder before the end of the window. The
side were also reportedly interested in full back Ryan Fredericks, who,
along with Cairney, was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season
earlier on today. There's also Fulham's big striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Moyes was at Serbia's 2-0 win over Nigeria in the international break to
watch the Newcastle loanee score twice at Barnet's Hive Stadium, and was
here watching the striker score once again for Fulham. He's been in stunning
form for Fulham and Moyes is keen on the striker - he'll have been pleased
with what he saw tonight.

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West Ham boss David Moyes discusses signing Joao Mario permanently
HITC
Will Butcher

Joao Mario opened his account for West Ham on the weekend. West Ham United
manager David Moyes has been quoted by The Times as saying that he is yet to
decide whether he will make Joao Mario's loan from Inter Milan a permanent
move. The 25-year-old has found the going tough since his move to the
Premier League in January, as he was tasked with turning West Ham's fortunes
around in the absence of Manuel Lanzini. But following the return of the
Argentinian, Euro 2016 winner Mario has impressed and he produced his best
performance in claret and blue on Saturday during the Hamers' 3-0 win over
Southampton with his first West Ham goal. Former Everton and Manchester
United manager Moyes was asked if he was planning on luring the Portugal
international to the London Stadium on a permanent basis, but he responded
in a manner that is sure to disappoint fans. "I wouldn't want to even
comment on that now, because I won't make any decisions or even look at it
[yet]. I'll take my time, see what we've got, and see where we're going to
go," Moyes said. Mario was one of two signings made by the Hammers in
January, along with target man Jordan Hugill from Championship side Preston
North End - the latter making just three appearances from the bench,
culminating in just 22 minutes. It remains to be seen how much West Ham
would have to pay to land Mario on a permanent basis, with three years still
to run on his contract at Inter.

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