Daily WHUFC News - 27th April 2018

Arnautovic crowned Betway Hammer of the Year
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has been crowned as the 2017/18 Betway Hammer of the Year.
The Austria international forward has been recognised for his outstanding
season for West Ham United by becoming the 40th different player to win the
acclaim of the Claret and Blue Army. Arnautovic, who has scored ten goals
and registered four assists in 31 appearances, won 68 per cent of the vote,
with Declan Rice finishing as runner-up, and Pablo Zabaleta third. "This
award that I have received today, I am very happy and very proud," he said.
"I want to keep doing my job for this Club because I came here to do my job
and everybody has seen what I can do and that I'm very happy to be here and
I want to keep doing it. "I want to thank every single fan who supports West
Ham for this award. It means a lot to me. It was hard for me at the
beginning of the season but now it's going well and I want to do my job for
many years to come. We are not finished yet. "I try to do my best. The
gaffer gave me some advice which was to run hard and do my best and I did
it. All the players helped me. I love them and they love me - you can hear
this! "The best moment? Of course scoring goals is a good moment for me, but
to receive these awards is the best moment so far for me. I'll do my best in
the last four games, I'll give everything and then we're going to go on
holiday and come back and do better next season. "Thank you all for this and
I love you all!"

Arnautovic has enjoyed a superb debut season in E20, scoring those ten goals
in his last 16 Premier League appearances, during a hot run of form over the
winter and spring months Having signed for a Club record fee from Stoke City
in the summer, Arnautovic's first goal for the Hammers was a memorable one,
as he fired David Moyes' men to a 1-0 London Stadium triumph over Chelsea in
December. He followed that with four more strikes before 2017 was out – one
at his former side Stoke, another against Newcastle and a Boxing Day brace
at AFC Bournemouth. Arnautovic's appetite for goals showed no sign of
slowing as the calendar turned over into 2018, with vital contributions at
Huddersfield Town and against Watford and Southampton at home, helping the
Hammers to important victories.
He reached double figures with a fierce strike in last Sunday's defeat at
Arsenal, becoming the first Hammer to hit ten Premier League goals in a
season since Diafra Sakho in 2014/15. Arnautovic's Hammer of the Year
honours capped his three trophies at the 2017/18 Player Awards brought to by
Betway in aid of the Academy, which were held at InterContinental London –
The O2 on Wednesday night.

Award Winners

Betway Hammer of the Year – Marko Arnautovic

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by JM Sealant Contracts – Ken Brown

Goal of the Season sponsored by Mulalley & Co – Pedro Obiang v Tottenham
Hotspur

Signing of the Season sponsored by Lycamobile – Marko Arnautovic

Players' Player of the Season sponsored by Peter Rayney Tax Consulting –
Marko Arnautovic

Young Player of the Year sponsored by Eurostat Office Supplies – Declan Rice

Dylan Tombides Award sponsored by Blue Cube Security – Conor Coventry

Ladies Players' Player of the Year sponsored by Spire London East Hospital
– Ellie Zoepf

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Magical Marko named Players' Player of the Year
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic picked up his second award of the night when he was named
2017/18 Players' Player of the Year sponsored by Peter Rayney Tax
Consulting.
Arnautovic won the acclaim of his fellow players after smashing in ten goals
– six of them coming in winning efforts – since his summer 2017 move from
Stoke City.
The Austrian is a popular figure in the dressing room and he beat off
competition from the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna
and Aaron Cresswell to follow Manuel Lanzini in winning this prize.
Arnautovic was earlier named the Signing of the Season sponsored by
Lycamobile

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Ellie Zoepfl wins inaugural Ladies Players' Player of the Year prize
WHUFC.com

Ellie Zoepfl is the inaugural Ladies Players' Player of the Year sponsored
by Spire London East Hospital. Zoepfl has been one of the outstanding
performers in a landmark campaign for the Ladies, who have lifted two
trophies in recent weeks while going unbeaten in the whole of 2018 to date –
a run that has stretched for 13 games. American midfielder Zoepfl has been
in unstoppable form since linking up with the Hammers in November, netting
ten goals in 13 games and playing a key role in the success of Karen Ray's
side. Zoepfl was one of a number of contenders for this award, with the
likes of defender Hannah Wheeler and striker Kelly Wealthall pushing her
hard for the prize. "It feels really really good to win this award, but I
wouldn't be anywhere without my teammates," she said modestly.
"With the change of coaching, we've changed the attitude among the players
and it has been amazing. We've won two trophies and winning is fun so it's
been a really fun season. "We don't want the season to end! We're just
getting into our groove and if we had been like this at the start of the
season we would have probably been at the top of the table. This has been my
first season at the Club and I appreciate everything that has been done for
me. The players and coaching staff give me the confidence to play how I've
been playing."

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Obiang collects Goal of the Season prize for Wembley scorcher
WHUFC.com

Pedro Obiang's outstanding strike at Tottenham Hotspur has won the Club's
2017/18 Goal of the Season award, sponsored by Mulalley & Co. The Spaniard's
scorcher at Wembley Stadium was the winner of the whufc.com fan vote,
polling 59 percent, ahead of Chicharito's individual strike at Brighton &
Hove Albion in second. Marko Arnautovic's volley in the home 3-0 victory
over Southampton was in third place. Obiang's goal was one that will live
long in the memory of Hammers fans, as he picked up possession midway inside
the Spurs half with seemingly little on. He looked for a pass, but instead
spied an opportunity to shoot from 30 yards, taking the chance with real
aplomb as his right-footed rocket flew past Hugo Lloris and rifled into the
top left-hand corner. "For me it was something different because every day
in training I try to shoot differently towards the far post, but this time I
went for the near post and it went in!" he smiled. "It was really nice and a
really emotional goal, especially because it was at Wembley too!"

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Arnautovic wins Signing of the Season
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has capped a fine debut campaign in Claret and Blue by
being named the 2017/18 Signing of the Season sponsored by Lycamobile. The
29-year-old forward, who has scored ten goals and laid on a further four
more in his first 31 appearances as a Hammer, beat off competiton from
Chicharito and Pablo Zabaleta to lift the award. Arnautovic was a clear
winner of the whufc.com fan poll, taking 74 per cent of the vote, and he was
thrilled to pick up the first trophy of the evening. The No7 joins the likes
of Edimilson Fernandes, Dimitri Payet and Adrian in winning this award in
recent years. Stay right here to find out all the award winners from the
2018 Player Awards brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy.

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Declan Rice retains Young Hammer of the Year prize
WHUFC.com

Declan Rice has won the Young Hammer of the Year sponsored by Eurostat
Office Supplies for the second season in a row. Nineteen-year-old Rice has
made his mark in a terrific campaign after debuting on the final day of
2016/17, building on that by appearing in the Premier League a further 22
times so far this term.
The versatile youngster recently made his senior Republic of Ireland debut,
winning the Man of the Match award to cap a remarkable campaign which has
seen him perform admirably at centre-half and in midfield. After stepping
off the bench in the season opener at Manchester United, Rice has gone from
strength-to-strength, playing some part in all but one of the Hammers'
top-flight games in 2018 and earning praise from his fellow players and fans
alike. "There were other great candidates who have had great years, so I'm
very grateful that I've done enough to win this award for a second straight
year," he said. "It's been a great year and I can't wait to end it strongly.
"It's been an amazing year. I was picking up this award last year and I was
talking about loan options, but now I've made 30-odd appearances, have had
some praise from some top, top people and I'm loving every minute of it and
I can't wait to play more games and win more trophies in the future."

Rice has played in huge games this season, including the 3-2 EFL Cup win
over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley and the recent 1-1 Premier League draw at
his boyhood club Chelsea, but it was another match which he picked as his
standout moment of 2017/18 so far. "It was the game against Southampton
which we won 3-0. There was so much pressure in that game, as we'd come back
after three weeks and we won 3-0. "For the manager to put me in and trust me
and for us to get a clean sheet and win, that was my proudest and best
moment of the season."

Rice expressed his gratitude for the support and mentoring he has received
this standout season, from his old Academy coaches, the first-team staff and
teammates alike. "You've only got to go into the Academy to see how much
work is going. There are so many top people there working and they are
bringing top players through and the U23s are beating Manchester City and
Manchester United, which shows how well we're doing. "Credit to Terry
Westley and his staff – Liam Manning, Steve Potts and Mark Phillips – for
giving players their opportunities and making them better. A massive thank
you to all them for getting me to this point. "All of my teammates have been
there for me. I've been lucky to come through with this group of lads, who
have all been in my position, the likes of Joe Hart and Marko Arnautovic,
who are like older brothers to me, and Nobes, Ginge and Andy Carroll.
"That's the thing about this squad. We're all so close that anyone can go to
anyone and it's great to be part of this squad."

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Conor Coventry wins Dylan Tombides Award
WHUFC.com

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Conor Coventry is the winner of the 2017/18
Dylan Tombides Award sponsored by Blue Cube Security, recognising an
outstanding season for the youngster with the Academy. Coventry, who has
been capped by the Republic of Ireland up to U19 level, has featured
regularly for the Premier League 2 side this season, playing ten games as
Terry Westley's side achieved a top half finish in their first season back
at the top tier of U23 football. With four EFL Trophy and four U18 Premier
League appearances also under his belt, Coventry has made great strides over
the past twelve months, beating fellow nominees Ben Johnson, Ajibola Alese
and Domingos Quina to lift the prize. Named in memory of the sadly departed
Dylan Tombides, this award recognises the Academy Player of the Year and
after collecting the trophy Coventry could not hide his delight. "Dylan left
a great legacy at the Club, to so win the award named after him is a great
feeling," he said. "I'm really proud. "It's been a big season for me -
appearing against senior teams in the Checkatrade Trophy, and going to both
Man City and Man United away in PL2 and winning was great. I'd pick out the
United game as the highlight, I played well that day and it was a great win.
"It was always a target to play PL2 this year, but I didn't expect to play
as much as I did. I'm very pleased with the season, it's been a success.
"Seeing Declan Rice play so many times for the first team this season is a
massive inspiration. It drives everyone to work harder and keep trying and
it just shows us we can get there."

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Arnautovic thanks 'every single fan' for Hammer of the Year award
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has thanked 'every single West Ham fan' after being crowned
Hammer of the Year for the first time. The Austrian attacker continued his
outstanding debut season in Claret and Blue by winning the supporters' vote
for their player of the season, which was announced at Wednesday's 2018
Player Awards, brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy, at the
Intercontinental London – The O2. Speaking to West Ham TV amidst loud and
widespread acclaim from his teammates – Pablo Zabaleta thanked Arnautovic
for letting the players attend 'his party' – the No7 was quick to pay
tribute to tens of thousands of supporters who now sing his name every
matchday. "I want to thank every single fan who supports West Ham for this
award," he said, before telling his West Ham teammates to keep up their
cheering! "It means a lot to me. It was hard for me at the beginning of the
season but now it's going well and I want to do my job for many years to
come. We are not finished yet. "This award that I have received, I am very
happy and very proud. I want to keep doing my job for this Club because I
came here to do my job and everybody has seen what I can do and that I'm
very happy to be here and I want to keep doing it. "I try to do my best. The
gaffer gave me some advice which was to run hard and do my best and I did
it. All the players helped me. I love them and they love me – you can hear
this!"

Arnautovic has formed a close bond with the Claret and Blue Army following
his Club-record move from Stoke City last summer, overcoming a difficult
start to plunder ten Premier League goals and impress all with his
work-rate, commitment and passion for the cause. With four top-flight
matches left to play, starting with Sunday's visit of champions Manchester
City, the recently-turned 29-year-old is looking to repay the fans' support
with another important goal or two at London Stadium "The best moment so
far? Of course, every time I score a goal is a good moment for me, but to
receive these awards is the best moment so far for me. "I'll do my best in
the last four games, I'll give everything and then we're going to go on
holiday and come back and do better next season. "Thank you all for this and
I love you all!"

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Hammers heroes to feature in Team Isla fundraising match
WHUFC.com

A host of Hammers favourites from years gone by will pull on their boots
again to raise funds for brave Isla Caton. Isla, from Hornchurch in Essex,
was diagnosed with a rare child cancer called Neuroblastoma – the same
disease which tragically took the life of heroic young Sunderland fan
Bradley Lowery last year – in March 2017. The three-year-old's family, who
are all lifelong West Ham United supporters, are trying to raise £400,000 to
take Isla to the United States for immunotherapy – which involves the
injection of an antibody therapy – not currently available in this country.
The next fundraising event will take place on Sunday 6 May at Redbridge FC
in the shape of a star-studded football match between Team Celebrity and
Team Isla.
Among those who have confirmed their participation are former West Ham
players Jack Collison, Paul Konchesky, Matty Etherington, Jimmy Walker,
Rufus Brevett, Kenny Brown and Marlon Harewood. They will be joined by West
Ham-supporting boxers Mark Little and Sammy McNess, snooker player Mark
King, The Apprentice star Sofiane Khelfa, comedian Neg Dupree and reality TV
star Jeff Brazier.

Tickets for the match, which will kick-off at 2pm at Oakside Stadium, are
priced at £10 for Adults, £5 for Children aged between two and 12 and free
for youngsters aged one and under. Family tickets for two Adults and two
Children are available for £26.

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Moyes: We're going to need the fans to make sure we get over the line
WHUFC.com

David Moyes says the support of a capacity London Stadium crowd will be
vital to West Ham United's chances of beating Manchester City. The Hammers
will go into Sunday's fixture with the Premier League champions as
outsiders, but manager Moyes believes the Claret and Blue Army can play a
big part in the Hammers upsetting the odds. Speaking at Wednesday's Player
Awards, brought to by Betway in aid of the Academy, the Scot encouraged West
Ham fans to recreate the atmosphere which inspired his team to a 3-0 home
victory over Southampton at the end of March.

"On the day against Southampton, I thought the supporters were right there
for us and supporters understand when they're really needed, and they
understood how much they were needed on that day, just like we're going to
need them in the next three home games," he told host Alvin Martin, his
staff, players and 600 guests at the Intercontinental London at the O2.
"We're going to need 60,000 people helping us to make sure we get over the
line and we get in the right place.
"I want my team to play much better in games and to continue to improve. We
had the disappointing day against Burnley, when it affected the players, so
to play as well as we did against Southampton, it showed what it meant to
them and we bounced right back. "We had a brilliant first half and I think
that day was a really important day, not only for the players but also for
the Club as well. From that, the players have grown as well, with more
confidence and more self-belief. We're playing well at the moment and
hopefully they continue to do that."

As a former Celtic player and Everton and Manchester United manager, Moyes
has plenty of experience of working in high-pressure environments with
demanding supporters. The boss, who turned 55 on Wednesday, is relishing
those surroundings as well in east London and is hoping the passion shines
through again on Sunday afternoon. "I draw comparisons to Glasgow, as
Glasgow is probably similar to the East End of London in many ways, as
supporters are tough, rough, know exactly what they want and let you know
when it's not going well. "When you've been in cities like Glasgow and
Liverpool and at passionate football clubs, coming to West Ham, you know
exactly what you're getting. "When you used to come to Upton Park, you knew
exactly what you were getting over the years and I don't think that's
changed."

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The men who put West Ham United on the map
WHUFC.com

Saturday 26 April 1958 remains a pivotal date in the history of West Ham
United.

Playing 250 miles away at Middlesbrough, in the final match of the season,
goals from John Dick, Vic Keeble and Malcolm Musgrove sealed a 3-1 victory
for Ted Fenton's team.

More importantly, the two points secured the old Second Division title for
the Hammers and promotion back to the top tier of English football after 26
years.

Over 1,000 jubilant Hammers fans were packed on the platform at Kings Cross
station to welcome captain Noel Cantwell and his team-mates as they stepped
off their train as champions.

For Cantwell and his close friend Malcolm Allison, it was a long-awaited
reward for their creative and modern approach, cooked up at Cassetari's Café
on Barking Road – the origins of the famed 'Academy'.

The goals for Dick and Keeble made it 50 in total from the prolific strike
partnership. What made their tally even remarkable was the fact that neither
had scored a league goal between them until late October!

In fact, back-up striker Billy Dare had initially been the main man in front
of goal, scoring ten goals in the first ten games – five of which ended in
defeat

Once Dick and Keeble clicked, however, so did the team. With the steady
hands of Ernie Gregory between the sticks, a formidable back line of John
Bond, Ken Brown and Cantwell ably supported by the tigerish Andy Malcolm
ahead of them, and the likes of Mike Grice, John Smith and Malcolm Musgrove
pulling the strings in attacking areas, the preparation of the last few
years finally paid off.

Fenton's men lost just three more matches during the remainder of the
season, broke the Club record for its biggest victory with an 8-0 thrashing
of Rotherham United in March, and finished the campaign having netted 101
goals.

Long-serving chairman Reg Pratt said at the time: "This is, indeed, a
wonderful moment for us. It is said that if you want something badly enough
you'll get it in the end. We have waited for this occasion for a very long
time, and now regard our present success not so much as an end but as a new
beginning, a challenge, a spur to greater efforts."

Those celebratory words could not have been more prophetic, as the Club went
on to enjoy their golden period of the mid 1960s, culminating in three
homegrown players leading England to the greatest triumph in world football.

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KHAN'S ANTI-WEST HAM VENDETTA?
By Blind Hammer 26 Apr 2018 at 08:00
WTID

Blind hammer investigates possible motivations underlying mayoral hostility
towards West HAM.

I voted for Sadiq khan. I support many of his initiatives. I am a lifelong
Labour voter. I have no political agenda feeding my criticisms here. I am
nevertheless saddened by his apparent hostility towards West ham and its
supporters.

Let us review the basics. In the process of allocating first virtual
ownership and then, once this collapsed, tenancy of the London Stadium, West
Ham had to win, in a competitive process, not once but twice. At no stage,
despite the most snide of allusions from the Mayoral office has anybody
established that West Ham did anything wrong. Instead the club are lambasted
for negotiating what is cynically described as "a good deal". What is
unspoken but constantly insinuated, is that the deal is not just good but
unfair. It is suggested that West Ham somehow pulled the wool over the eyes
of poor naïve and deluded LLDC negotiators. Dark villains of skilful West
Ham lawyers duped the Government representatives into an unfeasible Business
Plan. This cheating negotiating strategy, robbing the tax payer, needs
redressing.

The problem is that this bizarre description has no basis in reality.
Instead it exists purely to support a political agenda. The description of
West Ham as skilled City Slick financial negotiators able to out manoeuvre
the cream of government Lawyers will baffle most. Whilst arguably some
incompetence may be attributed to government representatives, the depiction
of smart brained West Ham operators is less convincing. Remember this is a
club which has failed to negotiate basic football transfers with clubs like
Sporting Lisbon.

Khan Seemed disappointed after his investment into the Moore-Stephens
inquiry. The report did not deliver expected condemnation. What is striking
is the lack of fit between Moore-Stephens and the Mayoral response. At no
time did Moore-Stephen attribute any blame to West Ham. He does however
criticise LLDC negotiators for not achieving a better deal. This point is
mute. There is no evidence given the competitive process that any better
deal was available. Moore-Stephens unconvincingly argues that a "no deal"
could have pressured better terms. In reality a "No deal" approach would
have placed more pressure on the State and legacy ambitions than West Ham.

What is inescapable and foremost in Moore-Stephens is his focus on the
budgetary pressures and long term infeasibility of hosting Athletics. A
solution must be found to the crippling need to annually relocate seating.
The failure to deliver income from naming rights also figure but
overwhelmingly budgetary pressures will not be relieved until a political
nettle is grasped to resolve the accommodation of Athletics.

It is little short of astonishing then that the mayoral response to
Moore-Stephens does not highlight this dysfunctional Athletics Business
Structure. Instead it focusses overwhelmingly on the deal with West Ham. It
is hard to conclude that this is driven by anything but cynical political
posturing.

The problem is that it is not just West Ham but UK Athletics who have rights
in the Stadium. Any breach will result in compensation. The political as
well as financial fall out from this failure would be considerable. The
responsibility for breakdown would lay unequivocally with those who
originally envisioned the shared use Model. The "National Athletics Legacy"
would lie in ruins. The politically uncomfortable consequence is that West
Ham would emerge as the major benefactor. It would be politically most
expedient then if blame and consequent financial accountability could be
somehow deflected to West Ham.

It appears then that Khan's has decided his best strategy is to scapegoat
West Ham. If he can achieve this he may shift at least some of the
responsibility for this collapse. If the Stadium has no future as a vehicle
for an Athletics Legacy then someone else should pay. He may want to force
West Ham to assume responsibility by re-locating the duty to compensate from
the State to them. Such a strategy is only viable if he can sustain a view
that West Ham, and not the State planners, are the real villains.

Such an approach seems to explain the constant negativity and obfuscation
which has characterised Khan's direct dealings. Correspondence released by
Freedom of Information request show Karen Brady pleading with Khan to meet
positively and plan together a future for the Stadium. Repeatedly Khan
Rejects these overtures by claiming his diary is full or referring issues to
junior Managers. He did not agree to meet West Ham until this year. Despite
showing an extraordinary reluctance to talk directly, he has in contrast,
hurled himself onto any negative available public bandwagon to criticise
West Ham and/or its supporters.

Objectively this campaign of hostility is puzzling. West Ham is the only
Stadium partners which significantly provide income for the Business Model.
They are the only partners which have offered any extra infrastructyural
investment. The response of E20 and the LLDC has been to block any positive
development of the Stadium, whether this relates to maximising capacity,
installing pitch surrounds, or making ridiculous demands for payments to
facilitate concourse TV. They are determined to negatively "work to rule" in
an attempt to force a renegotiation. Rather than working with West Ham to
deliver Stadium legacy potentials they seem determined to create a series of
increasingly desperate bickering legal disputes. These will come to Court
later in the year. In contrast UK Athletics are seen as pristine with no
responsibility for current Stadium difficulties. This approach does not help
anybody, least of all, in delivering the Olympic Legacy.

The shared Use Athletics model is now widely seen as disastrous.
Disentangling this will be complicated. Yet the attempt to vilify West Ham
for this failure of vision smacks of desperate measure by the increasingly
desperate. Some are frantic to avoid political accountability for this
debacle. Yet whipping up hostility to a football club and its supporters has
risks.

Football is tribal. Unfortunately rivalries, especially amongst London clubs
can easily develop into levels of hatred and violence. Hatred of opposition
supporters, though objectively illogical, can result in not just mayhem and
disorder but serious physical harm. West Ham and its supporters may be one
of the few remaining minorities against which it may be legal/conceivable to
raise a hostile negative prejudice. The whipping up of this antagonistic
narrative in the hope of achieving a longer term political objective is
particularly unsavoury. Yet khan must know that to indulge in this game has
risks. A vendetta which supports a campaign of vindictiveness could provide
validation for those football rivals with hatred and violence in their
hearts. These opposition rivals could grasp any justification for their
assaults. If the anti-West Ham campaign spills over into a return to the
lethal viciousness which has marred our game in the past all those presently
playing political games will have to look to their consciences. I
desperately hope that Khan adjusts his approach, and even at this stage
repudiates the torrent of anti-West ham briefings. He should instead agree
to work positively with the club. Whether this all descends into court
battles later this year or even worse physical battles from opposition fans
will provide a litmus test.

David Griffith

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Revealed: The big-money bonus David Moyes could receive if West Ham avoid
relegation
The Hammers are on the path to survival and the manager is going to be
rewarded in kind
By Sam Inkersole
West Ham Correspondent
07:46, 26 APR 2018

David Moyes is in line for a decent wedge of cash dropping in to his bank
account if he keeps West Ham in the Premier League this season, according to
West Ham news site Claret & Hugh. Moyes is seemingly steering the club to
safety despite the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon as Moyes' side
sit six points clear of the drop zone with just four games of the season to
go. The Scotsman was employed back in November to replace Slaven Bilic on
an apparent £15,000 a week deal until the end of this season with the sole
purpose of keeping the club in the Premier League. It's been known that the
57-year-old would be in line to get some sort of bonus at the end of this
season if top-flight status was preserved and now, C&H claim they know the
figures.
The Hammers boss could be set to pocket anywhere between £1.25m and £2.1m
should West Ham remain a Premier League team next season. The lower figure
will be paid if the Hammers finish in 17th, one spot out of the drop zone,
and scaled up to a maximum of the high figure for any further positions
gained in the table between now and the end of the season. Survival will
also trigger new contract negotiations between West Ham and Moyes, with the
club seemingly happy with his displays as boss so far and the discipline he
has instilled in the squad as they inch slowly towards survival. Moyes could
be in line for a contract of £200,000-£250,000 a month to remain in charge
at the London Stadium. if he decides to carry on in east London for the near
future. The manager has insisted near enough every week that negotiations
over any possible new deal would not take place until West Ham's place in th
Premier League for next season is absolutely assured.

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Former Manchester United youngster drops massive hint about wanting West Ham
return
The midfielder stayed at Upton Park between 2012 and 2015 before moving on
to pastures
Football London
Sam Ikersole

Former West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison has dropped a hint on Instagram he
fancies a return to West Ham, more than three years after leaving the club
having made just 18 appearances. The 25-year-old midfielder is currently
plying his trade with Mexican Liga MX side Atlas Guadalajara, where has
scored three times in 18 appearances since signing on loan from Lazio.
Morrison arrived at West Ham in 2012 but after a series of loans away,
departed the club having been brought to east London by Sam Allardyce as it
didn't pan out quite how either party wanted, eventually leaving permanently
in 2015. West Ham fans saw glimpses of what Morrison could offer and
displayed during his time at Manchester United, something that led to former
Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson saying Morrison was, supposedly telling former
West Ham defender Rio Ferdinand that Morrison was a "genius."
Now seemingly rebuilding his career in Mexico having had loan spells at
Cardiff City, QPR and Birmingham, Morrison might be keen on a switch back to
London if you believe what he has posted on Instagram. The midfielder posted
a video on his social media scoring an absolute peach of a chip in training
for Atlas and it led to cult Hammers hero Carlton Cole sending him a reply,
saying: "Bro time to come back to England."
Morrison saw Cole's reply and sent one back in kind, adding: "Bring me back
to West Ham you have the power."
Now, whether Morrison was messing around or was being serious, only he
knows. But, could you imagine if he did make his way back to east London?
You suspect Hammers fans would be delighted and want to see it happen.

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West Ham's Adrian wants exit if Moyes stays, mystery English club interested
HITC
Olly Dawes

West Ham United could lose goalkeeper Adrian this summer. According to The
Sun, West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian wants to leave the club this summer
if manager David Moyes stays beyond the end of the season. The Hammers still
aren't safe from relegation just yet, meaning David Moyes' future isn't
secure either, and most of the focus is on who West Ham could sign to boost
their squad this summer. However, some players will be leaving, such as
James Collins, and reports now suggest that another Hammers veteran is
eyeing the London Stadium exit door. The Sun report that West Ham goalkeeper
Adrian is keen to leave the club this summer if Moyes keeps his job, though
he does still have a year left on his contract. It's claimed that the
Spaniard isn't happy that he has been dropped for Joe Hart, and is even more
bemused that the England international has kept his place despite recent
errors. The report notes that Adrian is keen to stay in the Premier League
though, and one mystery club have already registered an interest in his
signature ahead of the summer transfer window. Adrian, 31, will be in goal
against Manchester City this weekend due to Hart's ineligibility, but that
could prove to be his final appearance in a West Ham shirt.

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'Bring me back'; Ravel Morrison pleads for West Ham return on Instagram
HITC
Danny Owen

Ravel Morrison was released by West Ham United back in 2015 and has not
played in the Premier League since. Now, Carlton Cole may be quite the cult
hero at West Ham but it seems a little unlikely that he would have the power
to open the doors for former players to return to the London Stadium. Though
that has not stopped the one and only Ravel Morrison from asking his former
Hammers team-mate to put in a good word on Instagram.
pic.twitter.com/OC75Nh6tzT

Morrison is perhaps one of the most infamous examples of wasted talent
English football has seen in the 21st century. He had the natural ability to
rival any other homegrown talent of his generation but moments like that
wonderfull solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur back in 2013 have been
distinctly few and far between.
With a string of problems following him around off the field, legendary
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson decided Morrison wasn't worth
the hassle. And nor, in the end, did his West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. "He
was the biggest waste of talent I ever worked with," Allardyce told Sky
Sports in 2017, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, two years after
Morrison was released by The Hammers.

Since then, the now 25-year-old has managed a grand total of four Serie A
appearances for Lazio and, rather bizarrely, finds himself on loan at
Mexican outfit Atlas. But it seems that eye for the spectacular has never
left him, posting a video of him scoring a glorious chip in training for the
Liga MX side on his Instagram page.
Though a West Ham return, even though Allardyce has gone, seems very
unlikely indeed - regardless of what Carlton Cole says.

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Adrian could be set to make his final appearance for West Ham United on
Sunday
HITC
John Verrall

West Ham United are due to take on Manchester City this weekend. Adrian
could be set to make his 142nd and last appearance for West Ham United, if
reports in The Sun about his desire to leave are true. Adrian will
reportedly depart West Ham if David Moyes stays in charge, which is looking
increasingly likely. The Spaniard's departure would end his five year stay
at the London club, but he could have a chance to say goodbye to the Hammers
fans this weekend. Adrian has lost his place in West Ham's goal to Joe Hart
this season, but the Manchester City loanee is ineligible this weekend. Due
to the terms in his loan, Hart is not allowed to keep goal for West Ham on
Sunday which could present Adrian with the chance to play at the London
Stadium for one final time.

Should West Ham let Adrian go?

Adrian has been a good servant of West Ham, but his departure cannot be seen
as a major blow. The 31-year-old is a solid stopper, but he is not of the
quality required to be a permanent starter for West Ham. And Moyes will
surely have a new goalkeeper near the very top of his transfer wishlist this
summer.

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Olympic Stadium overlooked for World Cup dates
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th April 2018
By: Staff Writer

The Olympic Stadium will NOT be used as one of the 11 venues to stage
matches in next summer's Cricket World Cup, it has been confirmed. Despite
lengthy negotiations in recent weeks and months during which the Stratford
arena was mooted as a possible venue, it was announced today that the
stadium will not be used by the England & Wales Cricket Board from May to
June 2019. The stadium, which enjoyed a capacity of 80,000 for 2012 Games
can comfortably seat more than twice as many spectators as the largest
stadium chosen - Lords, which has a capacity of some 30,000 - but has been
overlooked for unknown reasons.

The possibility of its use had initially been raised by the International
Cricket Council, who are said to have been encouraged by the use of large
stadiums in Australia and New Zealand at the last tournament in 2015. As a
result, the Final will be hosted at Lords on 14 July. The 11 venues selected
to host the ten-team World Cup by the E&WCB are as follows: Bristol;
Cardiff; Chester-le-Street; Edgbaston; Headingley; Lord's; Old Trafford; The
Oval; Taunton; Trent Bridge and Southampton.

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Arnie claims Hammer of the Year gong
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th April 2018
By: Staff Writer

Marko Arnautovic has been named Hammer of the Year - in his first full
season at the club. The Austrian international scooped the main award at
last night's lavish Player Awards Ceremony - as well as the Signing of the
Season and Players Player of the Season awards.
Meanwhile Declan Rice wan named as Young Player of the Year, Pedro Obiang
took Goal of the Season (so far) for his outstanding effort against
Tottenham and Conor Coventry took the Dylan Tombides Award.

* Keep an eye on Knees up Mother Brown for the 21st Annual KUMB.com Awards
voting form, which will be available from early May. Categories this season
are as follows:

- Player of the Year (held by Manuel Lanzini)
- Young Player of the Year (held by Edimilson Fernandes)
- Goal of the Season (held by Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace)
- Most Memorable Match (1-0 vs Tottenham)
- Best Signing (held by Edimilson Fernandes)
- Most Improved Player (held by Pedro Obiang)

- Most Missed (held by Dimitri Payet)
- Worst Player (held by Gokhan Tore)
- Worst Signing (held by Simone Zaza)
- Greatest Disappoitnment (leaving the Boleyn Ground)
- Hackett of the Year (held by Dimitri Payet)

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Snodgrass nominated as Championship Player of the Year
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th April 2018
By: Staff Writer

Robert Snodgrass has been nominated by Match of the Day Magazine for
Championship Player of the Year. The 31-year-old - on whom a £12million
price tag has been set by West Ham - has enjoyed a successful season in the
Championship with Villa, who are closing in on a place in the Football
League play-offs and are keen to retain his services. And he is currently
running second in a five-man poll to find the league's best player of
2017/18 behind Wolves' Ruben Neves, who leads the pack with 43% of the votes
at time of writing (considerably ahead of Snodgrass with 19%).
Meanwhile the Scottish international has hinted that he could be set to stay
at Aston Villa - following a tweet to the club's new kit designer. A
reasonably-innocuous tweet from Snodgrass to designer Luke Roper (of Luke
1977) has excited fans of the Birmingham-based club who are keen to see him
stay at Villa Park - whether that be in a Premier League or Championship
side next season.

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Fans' support breeds confidence, claims Moyes
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th April 2018
By: Staff Writer

David Moyes has once again called upon the West Ham United fan base to steer
the team towards Premier League survival. Last weekend's defeat at Arsenal
left the Hammers 15th in the Premier League and six points clear of the drop
zone, with four matches of the season left to play. However the interim
manager was taking no chances and called upon "60,000 people" to help steer
the club to safety. "Against Southampton the supporters were right there for
us," Moyes said during last night's speech at the Player Awards. "We had
the disappointing day against Burnley, when it affected the players, so to
play as well as we did against Southampton showed what it meant to them and
we bounced right back. "From that, the players have grown with more
confidence and more self-belief. We're playing well at the moment and
hopefully they continue to do that. I want my team to play much better in
games and to continue to improve. "Supporters understand when they're
really needed, and they understood how much they were needed on that day,
just like we're going to need them in the next three home games. "We're
going to need 60,000 people helping us to make sure we get over the line and
we get in the right place."
However Moyes left some fans scratching their heads when he claimed the
Olympic Stadium was comparable to the Boleyn Ground in terms of intimacy and
atmosphere. "Coming to West Ham, you know exactly what you're getting," he
said. "When you used to come to Upton Park, you knew exactly what you were
getting over the years - and I don't think that's changed."

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