Daily WHUFC News - 25th December 2015

Jarvis to join Norwich City
WHUFC.com

West Ham United can confirm an agreement has been reached to sell midfielder
Matt Jarvis to Norwich City for an undisclosed fee. Jarvis, 29, made 90
appearances and scored six goals for the Club following his move from Wolves
back in August 2012, and will make his loan move permanent on 2 January. He
has scored twice in seven games for the Canaries this term and the Hammers
wish him well in his future career.

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Ginge signs contract until 2018
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to confirm that James Collins has signed a
two-year contract extension. The centre-half has been rewarded for a series
of strong performances and an all-round professional approach with a deal
that now expires in the summer of 2018. The Wales international, who has
made 160 appearances for the Hammers over two spells, could hardly contain
his pride and delight at putting pen to paper. "I'm obviously delighted to
sign, as it was worrying me a bit that I'd have to leave again!" he smiled.
"To be signing for another two years, I can't explain how happy I am to be
part of a Club that is moving forward and getting bigger and bigger, so to
be part of that is unbelievable. "I try to be professional, as I've been in
teams where players make a negative effect when they're not playing, so I am
just proud to be part of such an amazing Club. I'm happy coming in every
morning, whether I'm playing or not playing, and I train hard and try to
keep myself fit. "Like I said, to be part of such a big club for such a long
time, I'm a very lucky boy. To sign for another two years is something that,
to be honest, looked doubtful at the start of the season, so I got my head
down and trained hard and tried to show what I could do."

While he may now be lacking the flame-coloured hair that gave him his
nickname, Ginge says he is feeling fitter and sharper than at any stage in
his illustrious career. The 32-year-old has been excellent this season,
helping West Ham to a top-half position and Wales to qualify for next
summer's UEFA European Championship finals. He revealed that advice from
former teammate, coach and friend Teddy Sheringham has helped him to remain
in top shape. "I said to the gaffer this week that I feel better now than I
did when I was 23 or 24, as I struggled a lot with injuries in my early
days," he explained. "I am still really close with Teddy Sheringham and he
told me that the older you get, people try to stop you training as much, but
Ted always said 'the older you get, the more you've got to train to keep up
with these younger lads'."The game has changed a lot as I've got older, with
a lot of younger lads coming through fighting for your place, so you've got
to stay as fit as you can for as long as you can, and I took Teddy's advice
on board and trained every day and feel as fit as I ever have."

For Collins, West Ham and Wales, the future is looking extremely bright and
he cannot wait to be part of West Ham's move into the new Stadium on Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park next summer. "It's massive and that was the biggest
thing in my head, really – to be part of something that is moving forward
and is so big," he revealed. "The thought of not being involved in it was
getting me down a little bit.
"The thought of not being involved in this Club, and with the fans who I
have got a special relationship with and have always been great to me, was
playing on my mind. "As soon as I knew I could get a chance, I had to
perform to be involved in that, and fortunately that's what has happened."

On a personal level, remaining with West Ham is also hugely important to
Collins and his family and friends, with his wife and three young children
happily settled in the Essex area. "Again, that was big, the thought of
having to move the kids was something me and the wife talked about," he
explained. "Obviously we didn't want it to happen, but the longer it went
on, we had to talk about it and it was playing on everyone's minds. "It was
another major reason why I had to knuckle down and prove to the gaffer and
all of the staff that I was worthy of a contract. "I've got my head down and
thanks to the gaffer, the Club and everyone involved that I have signed a
new contract. Merry Christmas!"

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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues his latest
update – in association with Spire Roding Hospital...

Hello,

I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and we are all looking
forward to the New Year with a few players coming back from injury early in
2016.

Dimi Payet is in a good physical place as he continues his recovery from a
high ankle sprain. He is training with our rehab fitness coach, which is
always the last phase before players join back in with the full squad
training, so he is nearly there.

After a long time out, players need to get to a minimum level of fitness to
reduce the risk of injury on their return.

As the manager has said, Manuel Lanzini is also in the final phase of his
rehab and, should he continue to progress at the current rate, he will be
join the full squad very soon.

Andy Carroll has unfortunately injured his adductor muscle in training. He
has worked very hard this year to come back from a serious injury and is
also close to joining the full squad in training. However, we always keep in
mind that his previous injury and fatigue are important risk factors for a
re-injury.

Winston Reid and Victor Moses are running outside and are both on schedule
to join training in early January. We will have more details on their
recovery from their respective hamstring injuries next week.

Finally, Alex Song suffered a small eye injury during the game against
Swansea City and is currently training with protective glasses on.

I finally would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas on behalf of
myself and the Medical and Sports Science department!

Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science

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Aston Villa v West Ham
KO 15:00
24 December 2015
Last updated at 11:29

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Saturday, 26 December

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa captain Micah Richards is expected to miss a fourth consecutive
game because of a knee injury. Full-backs Joe Bennett and Aly Cissokho have
both been recalled from loan spells but will not be eligible to play until
January.

West Ham's Andy Carroll could return from a thigh problem but the game comes
too soon for Manuel Lanzini, who is recovering from a similar injury. Diafra
Sakho, Victor Moses, Winston Reid and Dimitri Payet are still out.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Simon Brotherton: "There hasn't been much for Villa fans to cheer about this
season, but at least their team looked capable of putting up a bit of a
fight in the second half at Newcastle last weekend. "That's a start and on
recent evidence was far from a guarantee. A point wasn't bad but with the
ever widening gap to safety, clearly not enough. "They need a couple of wins
at least just to instil some belief and a measure of hope. "West Ham have no
such worries, but haven't won in the league for two months now themselves
and, for the first time in their history, have drawn each of the last three
games 0-0."
Twitter: @SimonBrotherton

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde: "I think we need at least 10 victories. Step
by step we need to concentrate on the first win, then the second. "We need
to start [winning] very quickly that is for sure."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I saw their [Villa's] last few games... I
have seen the energy, seen their quality and they are fighting for their
lives. "They have confidence now because they have one point from an away
game. They are at home against us and they look forward to that game. "So,
make no mistake, I am not expecting anything easier than against Swansea,
Stoke or Manchester United. They have some quality players who can harm
you."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I would never normally say before Christmas that a team will be relegated -
but I think Aston Villa will be relegated. West Ham have not got many goals
in them but look sound defensively - illustrated by three consecutive 0-0
draws.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
West Ham have won just one of their last eight games at Villa Park (D2, L5).
Villa have kept clean sheets in five of those eight matches.
Aston Villa
Only three of the previous 23 sides who were bottom of the Premier League on
Christmas Day have avoided relegation. However, the last two - Leicester in
2014 and Sunderland in 2013 - did both survive.
Villa are bottom of the top division at Christmas for only the third time in
their history, after 1935-36 and 1958-59. They ended up being relegated on
both of those previous occasions.
The Villans are enduring two unwanted club league records: 16 matches
without a win, and nine home matches without a victory since beating West
Ham in May.
They have kept just two Premier League clean sheets this season - only
Norwich, with one, have a worse record.
Aston Villa have won just one of their last 14 Premier League games played
on Boxing Day (D4, L9) and have failed to score in the last four.
West Ham United
West Ham have drawn three successive league games 0-0 for the first time in
their history.
The Hammers have shared the points in their last four matches.
They have averaged 0.4 goals per game since Dimitri Payet was injured -
compared to 1.9 goals per game in their opening 12 Premier League matches
(all of which Payet started).

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Matt Jarvis: West Ham winger signs for Norwich City
BBC.co.uk

Norwich City have agreed a deal to sign West Ham winger Matt Jarvis for a
reported fee of £2.5m. The 29-year-old will join the Canaries on a
three-and-a-half-year deal when the transfer window opens on 2 January.
Jarvis has already played seven times for Norwich this season, scoring
twice, having joined on loan in September. "I've really enjoyed my time here
so far so I'm delighted to sign," said Jarvis, who scored on his Norwich
debut - a 3-1 win over Bournemouth. Jarvis, currently sidelined by a knee
injury, added: "It's nice to get it done before the window opens as the club
have shown they really wanted me. "I had a great start here and hopefully
I'll be back up and running soon for the rest of the season." Norwich boss
Alex Neil added: "He'll give us pace on the other flank which I don't think
we've had. Only a few years ago he commanded a transfer fee of over £10m and
as a player he has a lot to offer."

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The Christmas Q&A - with Dave Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Christmas is of course a family affair - so we asked Dave Sullivan, son of
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan to tell us how he and the family
will be celebrating the big day!

Dave, the eldest of the chairman's two sons also happens to be a fanatical
Hammer - so we couldn't help asking him about his 2015 highlights too, in
our exclusive Christmas Eve Q&A...

Dave: where will you be spending Christmas Day and with whom?
I will be spending it with my brother Jack, Mum and Dad. We'll be in London
so we can make the Aston Villa game on Boxing Day.

Who'll be cooking Christmas dinner for you?
We go for lunch at the Ritz because we've had a few nightmares in the past
when we've tried to cook it at home!

What do you want for Christmas?
To be honest, I have no idea what I want! My Mum has been on at me to think
of something but I don't really want anything. That's quite a boring answer,
but it's the truth!

What's your favourite Christmas present ever?
Probably some Nerf guns which I got when I was much younger. Jack and I had
a lot of fun for a couple of hours shooting each other, though I'm not so
sure my Mum and Dad were as pleased as we were!

Do you watch the Queen's speech on Christmas Day?
No!

On to West Ham; who was your best signing of 2015?
Dimitri Payet - the statistics speak for themselves. I think if he had been
fit up until now, we'd be in the top four - 100 per cent.

And your favourite player?
Payet, again. He has so much such skill and he doesn't run with the ball, he
glides with it. The little tricks he does are like he's playing beach or
street football. I think he possesses certain characteristics which may be
drilled out of players who have been at Academies from the age of seven; as
with Jamie Vardy, there are some things you just can't be taught.

We've had some cracking results, but what was your favourite match of 2015?
We always get smashed up at Anfield, so away to Liverpool - especially after
going 1-0 ahead and having a feeling we would throw it away. Instead the
game went totally the opposite way and we beat Liverpool comfortably!

Back of the net - what was your favourite goal of the year?
Mauro Zarate's in the 2-0 win at the Emirates on the opening day of the
season. It was a very good goal - with an element of goalkeeper error,
admittedly - but also because it helped seal a win against Arsenal.

The transfer window is almost upon us once again; what are your hopes for
January?
I think it will be fairly quiet, but you never know. In the summer we need
to sign a proven striker; more goals equals more points. Also Carl
Jenkinson's loan is up so we need to sign a right back, but if James Tomkins
maintains his current form in that position we won't be needing one!

What are your hopes for the remainder of the 2015/16 season - and where do
you predict we'll finish?
I think if we keep the squad fit anything is possible, but the way this
season has been going I couldn't tell you! We could finish fourth, equally
it could be 10th. If pushed, I'd go for ninth.

There's a good crop of youngsters coming through the Academy once again. If
asked to pick one, who'd be your tip for the future?
Reece Oxford. If he keeps progressing at the rate he is, he will be playing
for England in no time at all.

Your father and DG purchased a majority share of West Ham United six years
ago next month; what's your favourite memory of the Boleyn Ground so far?
I couldn't give you just one as there have been so many good times! However
beating Manchester United 4-0 at a wintry Boleyn Ground in the Carling Cup
was great.

What's the funniest thing you've seen at a West Ham game this year?
That'd be when we beat Chelsea 2-1 back in October. Right after we scored
the second goal, the guy behind me almost pushed me over the edge of the
Betway Stand Upper Tier whilst we were celebrating !

Mind your backs: the Directors' Box celebrate Andy Carroll's winning goal
against Chelsea

* Our thanks go to Dave Sullivan for taking part in our Q&A.

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West Ham cut their losses as Jarvis completes Norwich move
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Winger Matt Jarvis has completed a cut-price £2.5million switch to Norwich
City.

The 29-year-old winger, who cost West Ham United a colossal £10.75million
when signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2012 made his
season-long loan deal permanent this morning when putting pen to paper on a
three-and-a-half year contract.

Speaking to canaries.co.uk, Jarvis said: "I've really enjoyed my time here
so far so I'm delighted to sign on the dotted line. It's nice to get it done
before the window opens as the Club have shown they really wanted me. I had
a great start here and hopefully I'll be back up-and-running soon for the
rest of the season.

"My first game especially was great. To get out in front of the home fans
and score in a win was a perfect start which carried on for a while.
Unfortunately I then picked up an injury but I'm desperate to get back
fully-fit, and back playing.

"To get the deal sorted is really nice and I'm looking forward to helping
the team as soon as I can."

Norwich manager Alex Neil added: "Matt is a good competitor and a good team
player. He'll give us pace on the flank which I don't think we've had. Only
a few years ago he commanded a transfer fee of over £10m and as a player he
has a lot to offer."

Jarvis - who has scored twice for the Canries since moving to Carrow Road
back in August - will officially become a Norwich player on 2 January.

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Aston Villa v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th December 2015
By: Preview Percy

Preview Percy took time out from laying out his seasonal array of
anti-personnel mines for carol singers to write this. Aren't we the lucky
ones.....

Villa away then. Boxing Day. 3pm kick-off. Nice and traditional. Trains?
Yeah right. Unless you have one of those hand powered see-saw type trolleys
I think it's the M1 for you matey what with just about every part of the
network shut. Good luck then.

Aston Villa. Bottom. 7 points from 17 games with a -17 goal difference. In
many cultures 7 is considered to be a lucky number. Not in Birmingham I
suspect. They started out with Tottenham Tim Sherwood in charge. He had what
you might call an "interesting" transfer window.

It started promisingly enough, Scott Sinclair came in on a free having
previously been on loan from Man City. Sinclair's story is a salutary lesson
for young players who get blinded by the bright lights of the glitzier
clubs. Having been signed by Chelsea from Bristol City for what the work
experience kid in the Harry Potter spectacles described as "some fluff
Abrahamovic found down the back of his sofa" he spent a while on the Chelsea
trading stock loan merry-go-round before alighting on the other side of the
Severn Bridge at Swansea, which was where his reputation really started to
grow. A hat-trick against Reading in the 2011 play-off final (titter) saw
Swansea promoted. A reasonable first season in the Premier League ensued
whereupon he announced that he wouldn't be signing a new deal.

Moneybags Man City came a-knockin' but, as is often the case when young
talent gets snapped up by one of the big boys a bit too early, he found
opportunities severely limited at the Etihad. Injuries didn't help of course
but even so in retrospect he might now be musing at what might have happened
had he spent just one more season in Wales. After a loan spell spent mostly
in West Brom's reserves he arrived at Villa Park in January on loan, the
deal being made permanent this summer.

Another thing Sherwood had to deal with was the departure of Fabian Delph.
Delph signed a new 4 year contract in January of this year. Come the close
season it seemed clear that he was on his way. It was said that a medical
had been arranged at Man City. However, with half of Sky's OB team
presumably camped outside City's training ground in a hope of getting a
glimpse of the new Citizen, there was no sign of the player to be seen. A
statement was released on the Villa website saying that the player was happy
and was staying put. Presumably it was at this point that someone had a word
in his shell-like that consisted of the phrase "Are you bonkers in the nut
or something?" and, a week after his love note to Villa Park he upped sticks
and joined City for the £8m release clause contained in his contract.

They also got a further £32m in for Christian Benteke, who probably finds
his diving skills more appreciated on Mersyside. So with £40m in for just
those two players surely the scene was set to bring in some quality? Er,
well, not exactly. The likes of Gueye, Amavi, Ayew (J), Gestede, et al all
read less like a "Who's Who" of football and more like a "Who the hell are
you?

So, with better players leaving and their replacements looking as if they
were bought from football's equivalent of those "Happy Shopper" places that
I understand some of you working class oiks frequent – specifically the "own
brand" sections, it didn't come as a major surprise that team that struggled
for much of last term continued to do so at the start of this one. All those
sevens leave them a whopping 10 points clear of the safety zone, behind
Newcastle with whom they played out a 1-1 draw on Tyneside this weekend. In
the end Sherwood lasted until 24 October before being given the boot by the
improbably-and hilariously-named Randy Lerner.

The new boss is Remi Garde. Garde's previous managerial experience consists
of a few years in charge at Lyon, which is a French football club as well as
being a chain of Corner Houses famed for afternoon teas. There Garde
concentrated on first team matters, delegating the signing of nippies and
the ordering of buns to other members of staff (one for the teens there).

Garde left Lyon in 2014 citing "personal and family reasons", an explanation
that always raises eyebrows, especially when it comes from an MP, though for
the benefit of the kumb lawyers whose faces are draining of blood by the
second, I would point out that in the case of Garde I'm sure nothing
improper was going on. Probably.

With Lyon he won the 2012 French Cup and followed that up with the French
Version of whatever the FA have currently "rebranded" (ugh) the Charity
Shield. Since leaving Lyon he's been sat at home watching whatever the
French version of Jeremy Kyle is (that must be a sight – horrible loathsome
people who are also French? Doesn't bear thinking about, does it?!).They
still await their first win under the new regime, three draws (0-0 at home
to Man City and 1-1 away at both Man City and Newcastle) and three defeats
(4-0 at Everton, 3-2 at home to Watford and 2-0 at home to Arsenal) being
the order of the day.

One of Garde's first jobs was dealing with the probably not quite as
talented as he thinks Jack Grealish. Grealish's previous misdemeanours have
included the use of nitrous oxide for non-dental purposes and, after the 4-0
thrashing at Everton, he was pictured out on the lash. If Garde was looking
for some sort of incident to use to stamp his authority on the squad,
Grealish's behaviour was a gold-plated present wrapped up in Harrods' finest
gift-wrapping paper. Grealish found himself banished from the first team
squad to train with the U21s. He's since been restored to play with the big
boys, though the fact that he's been on the bench since his "return"
suggests that forgiveness is a slow process with Garde. The work-experience
kid with the Harry Potter spectacles reckons that Grealish got ten minutes
or so v Arsenal and was unused up at Newcastle last weekend so no doubt
he'll be chomping at the bit if he gets any action against us.

Part of the problem with Grealish may lie indirectly with our very own Joe
Cole. After the "laughing gas" furore Cole, at the behest of Sherwood, is
said to have taken Grealish under his wing. Maybe it's just coincidence that
Grealish's recent problems have coincided with Joe's departure on loan to
Coventry. Maybe not. The other issue he has had recently has been the fuss
about whether he wants to play for the Republic Of Ireland or England at
full international level. He has been capped at U21 for the Irish but he has
now apparently plumped for England. He will need clearance from FIFA which,
as far as I can ascertain, has yet to be granted. Presumably with Blatter
and Platini now out of the picture for the next 8 years nobody is quite sure
who to bribe to get the paperwork done.

Their goalscorer up at SJP was Jordan Ayew, brother of Andre who we faced
last weekend. He came in from French outfit Lorient for a reported £8m. He'd
scored 12 in 31 league matches for Les Merlus (a type of cod apparently)
which was a much better return than the 14 in 111 that Marseilles, his
previous employers, had gotten out of him. No goals in his first 7 at Villa
Park originally suggested a player more Leyton Orient than Lorient but four
in his last eight suggests that he is slowly beginning to find his feet a
bit more.

And so to the week in football. Chelsea, having found that Allardyce was not
available to come in and save them, have appointed Hiddink as manager to the
end of the seasom. I wonder if he's on a bonus if he keeps them up.
Mourinho's availability and the announcement that Pep Guardiola will be free
this summer prompted speculation about the future of Van Gaal up at Old
Trafford. And having celebrated a 1-1 draw at home to West Brom as if it
were a 5-0 away win in the Nou Camp, Liverpool have declared a city-wide day
of mourning following their hilarious defeat to Watford. However, the open
top bus tour planned for this weekend will still go ahead as long as they
get a corner to celebrate against Leicester this weekend.

Us? Well the 0-0 draw against Swansea wasn't as entertaining as either the
Stoke or the Man Utd games but when you have six frontline and mainly
attacking players out I guess that's the time to start talking about
"respecting the point" (and not when you have a full squad to choose from).
Much has been written about the possession stats from Sunday. Now I'm all
for playing it about but 25 passes that start and end with the 'keeper
without actually getting into your opponents half is, I'd suggest, possibly
not the way forward. We created the same number of on target chances from
about a third of the possession which would worry me if I were Swansea.

Our attacking options may improve by the weekend with the return of both
Carroll and Lanzini, though Villa Park may be a day or two too soon for
them. I did notice Jelavic getting some stick from a few people on Sunday. I
felt a little sorry for him – he did a lot of running around to try and
close down the opposition but for that to work if you're playing one up
front you do need your midfielders to press forward and help out. This
didn't happen so having shuttled his way back and forth across the back four
it must have been a little frustrating for the player to find the ball
played in behind him with his nearest team mate 50 yards away.

The rest of the injury crew are still out for a while. Reid and Moses are
looking at mid-January, Payet, Dimitri Payet may be fit for Liverpool whilst
Sakho will probably be February or possibly even March. For our opponents
the big absentee is likely to be Micah Richards who is "very doubtful" with
a knee problem.

Which leads me nicely on to a prediction. Whilst it's fair to say that, with
all the injuries, we haven't been winning too many, it's also fair to say
that we haven't lost too many either. There is a lot of psychology attached
to this match. Whilst the old twaddle about being bottom at Christmas has
not proven to be true over the past two seasons, neither Leicester or
Sunderland were more than a win or two away from safety come yuletide. Villa
on the other hand are a whopping ten points shy of Newcastle going into
Boxing Day. This may, in my humble opinion (humble????? – ed) prove to be
the decisive factor in this match.

For all the personnel problems we have had, much better teams than Villa
currently are have found us hard to beat, so adding a bit of attacking
quality to that mix will hopefully prove to be the difference between the
two teams.

At this time of year we at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The
Bewildered usually have to remind cook that whilst leftover turkey is,
generally, acceptable to be serving on Boxing Day, it should at least be
turkey left over from THIS Christmas. However, despite this, I am going to
take a risk and take the £2.50 we had earmarked to top up on Diocalm for the
holiday period down to Winstone's The Turf Accountant and place it on us to
win 2-1 .

Enjoy the game!

When Last We Met At Villa Park: :Lost 1-0 (May 2015) As the season ground to
its inevitable end we all just wanted it to be over. Cleverley's goal on the
half hour combined with the usual string of bent decisions from Lee Mason
were enough to give them three points and just about guarantee them safety
for the season.

Danger Man: Jordan Ayew Although Scott Sinclair is nominally their top
scorer, all but two of his six this season have come in the League Cup. Ayew
has four in his last eight, all of which have come in the league and his
goal up at SJP last week wasn't bad at all.

Referee: Mike Dean Gees they really hate us at PGMOL don't they? With
Blatter out of football for 8 years this is the person they should go for
next.

Irritatiing Celebrity Supporter of The Week: I had a few complaints last
week. "Come now" they said, "Catherine Zeta Jones? Hardly 'irritating' is
she?". Ok but I think you'll find that this week's choice more than makes up
for that> Ladies and gentlemen I give you the man whose fake accent makes
Dick Van Dyke sound like he was born in the Belfry at St Mary Le Bow, Mr
Nigel Kennedy. There is hilarious footage of him being interviewed by the
BBC as a schoolboy in the 1960s with an oh-so plummy middle class accent
which, by the time he had reached adulthood, had mysteriously changed into
marketing tool cockney.

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ndy Carroll 'not for sale', says West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Last Updated: 23/12/15 9:24pm
SSN

Slaven Bilic insists West Ham will not be selling Andy Carroll during
January's transfer window. It has been reported in the British media that
Newcastle are keen to re-sign the striker they sold to Liverpool for £35m
four years ago. The 25-year-old has endured another injury-hit campaign and
has netted just one goal in 10 Premier League appearances this season.
However, Bilic says he wants Carroll to remain at Upton Park: "We need
players. We need him fit and we need him back. "I don't judge my
centre-forwards on whether they score goals or not. In the game against
Stoke he ran and he did everything, "He was creating space, he was holding
the ball up. He looked to me that he was back fitness-wise and then he got
injured. But hopefully the injury is not too bad. "When he is fit, he's a
big asset for us, he's a big weapon, and it is hard to play against him. "He
has his presence, his hunger, his ability and, of course, he's really
important for us.
"He fits into my attacking plans. I said this from the start and that has
not changed."
And Bilic revealed James Collins could be offered a new deal. The
32-year-old defender is out of contract at the end of the season but Bilic
intends to speak to him about his future. He added: "He wasn't just good
against Swansea but as I have said a number of times before, he's a
brilliant professional. "He has been from day one, whether he was on the
bench, or just training or playing for five minutes or coming on for half an
hour, or now 90 minutes, he's magnificent for us."

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Aston Villa v West Ham preview: Micah Richards a doubt for Villa
By Sam Drury
Last Updated: 24/12/15 9:18am
SSN

Aston Villa will discover later in the week whether captain Micah Richards
is fit to return to the side to face West Ham on Boxing Day.
The centre-back has missed the last three games with a knee injury, making
his last appearance in the home defeat to Watford at the end of
November.His return would be a boost to a Villa side looking for their first
league win since the opening day of the season and a first under new boss
Remi Garde. They are bottom of the table at Christmas, 10 points from
safety, and Garde thinks they will need to win nearly half of their
remaining 21 games to survive. West Ham are in a far better position in the
top half of the table but have not won in seven games since beating Chelsea
in October. They have also failed to score in their last three games,
although they have kept clean sheets in each of them with goalless draws.

Team news

Garde must wait to discover whether he will have Richards available at Villa
Park, but long-term absentees Jordan Amavi and Gary Gardner are out.

West Ham have no new injury concerns but Slaven Bilic thinks Dimitri Payet
is set to return ahead of schedule and could feature against Liverpool in
early January. Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll remain sidelined but Bilic is
hopeful that they will be fit to play in the clash with Southampton on
Monday.

Opta stats

Both Aston Villa and West Ham have failed to score in three of the last four
meetings between the two sides.

West Ham have won just one of their last eight trips to Villa Park in the
Premier League (W1 D2 L5), failing to score in five of the games in that
run.

Aston Villa have won just one of their last 14 Premier League games played
on Boxing Day (W1 D4 L9).

The team that were bottom of the Premier League at Christmas in the last two
seasons has stayed up (Leicester City in 2014-15 and Sunderland in 2013-14).
The only other team to do this in the Premier League era were West Brom in
2004-05.

West Ham have drawn their last three Premier League games 0-0 - the first
time they've been involved in three successive goalless draws in the league.

Only on three previous occasions have a team drawn four successive Premier
League games 0-0; Arsenal (Feb 2009), Spurs (Feb 2001) and Arsenal (Oct
1993).

Merson's prediction

Remi Garde says they need 10 wins from 21 games? I reckon Man United would
do well to do that! I don't mean that in a horrible way, but I just don't
see Villa doing it. That's a lot of wins, they've only won once all season,
and at the moment I can't see Villa winning a football match. West Ham have
had some real injury problems, I know they haven't won for a while either,
but they've got a bit of an excuse there. Even with players out, though, I'm
still struggling to see a Villa victory so I'm going for the draw.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (9/2 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Aston Villa are Sky Bet's marginal favourites at 8/5 despite being odds-on
favourites for relegation, with West Ham 7/4 to inflict another defeat on
their struggling hosts.

However, the draw looks the most logical outcome at 11/5 with the Hammers
sharing the spoils in each of their last four games, while Remi Garde's men
have drawn two of their last three. Rudy Gestede heads the first goalscorer
betting at 5/1 while Andy Carroll is rated the visitors' main threat at
11/2.

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'GINGER PELE' SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION
By Iain Dale 24 Dec 2015 at 13:51
WTID

It's just been announced that James Collins has signed a contract extension,
taking him up to the end of the 2017-18 season, when he will be 35 years
old. It had been thought that Sam Allardyce might come in for him during he
January transfer window, but this puts paid to any speculation that the
'Ginger Pele' will leave the club. He will now see out his career at West
Ham and will be hoping to use the rest of this season to secure a first team
place in the Wales European Championship lineup.

I'm delighted in all sorts of ways. When he's played this season he's hardly
put a foot wrong. Indeed, I'd say he's been our best defender so far this
season, and it's good to see the club recognising this.

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As predicted…Collins gets new deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

James Collins has landed the predicted new deal which will keep him at West
Ham for another two years. It came on top of his awesome performance against
Swansea at the weekend and confrmed ClaretandHugh's story yesterday that the
manager was ready to "talk turkey" with the central defender. We had
reported: " it was the big topic of conversation inside the club and that
the manager was edging towards offer Ginge a one or two year contract."And
this morning the club announced the the centre-half has been rewarded for a
series of strong performances and an all-round professional approach with a
deal that now expires in the summer of 2018. Speaking to the official site
Collins said: "I'm obviously delighted to sign, as it was worrying me a bit
that I'd have to leave again! To be signing for another two years, I can't
explain how happy I am to be part of a Club that is moving forward and
getting bigger and bigger, so to be part of that is unbelievable. "I try to
be professional, as I've been in teams where players make a negative effect
when they're not playing, so I am just proud to be part of such an amazing
Club. I'm happy coming in every morning, whether I'm playing or not playing,
and I train hard and try to keep myself fit. "Like I said, to be part of
such a big club for such a long time, I'm a very lucky boy. To sign for
another two years is something that, to be honest, looked doubtful at the
start of the season, so I got my head down and trained hard and tried to
show what I could do."

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Moncs: 'We really do need to win at Villa'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

We really have to be thinking three points at Villa on Boxing Day. We appear
to be in the last days of the injury crisis and may start with the same team
that drew at Bournemouth but we have to go up there with a winning
mentality. Unlike some, I'm not complaining about the recent three results –
we have hung in and ground out results against decent opposition. Even
Swansea, despite their lowly position, are a good team and know how to pass
the ball around. We gave them a lot of ground but never looked like losing
but on Saturday we have to be ready to give it a bit of a go whilst
retaining our defensive shape and hopefully come away with three points. I'm
hoping that should Carroll and Lanzini still be unavailable, Slav will go
with Enner Valencia up front because we looked a different proposition when
he came on against the Swans. Alex Song too is starting to look good so
hopefully we will see some real craft despite being without our main men who
thankfully all seem on the way back now. I see no reason why we can't beat
Southampton next Monday and I understand the manager has to be careful how
he manages the squad over such a crowded period. But the Saints manager
Koeman is starting to criticise his players and this may be a very good time
to be meeting them. I think six points is very very feasible but I don't
think we can be happy with any less than four. However, three in the bag
from Boxing Day would brighten the mood considerably and set us up
beautifully for Monday.

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Report: Jarvis in Norwich rock bottom deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 23, 2015 in News
C and H

Norwich City have tonight being reported as having agreed a rock bottom
£2.5million deal for winger Matt Jarvis. The story is reported in the Mail
On Line and means the Hammers have suffered loss of £8.25 million on a
player brought in from Wolves by former manager Sam Allardyce in 2012. But
it means the Hammers now have around £40k in wages they could use in the
January transfer window plus cash in the bank for a loan or transfer fee.
The Hammers sources used by ClaretandHugh have always insist that players
will have to be sold for manager Slaven Bilic to buy and the Jarvis deal –
when confirmed – would be the first brick in that wall. It's being reported
that the winger – despite being out for the past month with a knee injury –
has been offered a four year deal at Carrow Road.

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Ferguson: "Agent Twins will not join West Ham"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Doncaster Rovers manager, Darren Ferguson says the reports in the media last
weekend linking twins Paul and Jack McKay with a move to West Ham are
completely untrue. The Sun newspaper reported last Sunday that the
19-year-old twins had been training with the Hammers but Ferguson has denied
they will be joining us. "There's no truth in it in terms of them joining
them at all," Ferguson said "They`ve both trained with us today."
The twins are the sons of football agent Willie McKay who has been
frequently involved with deals for West Ham players. The youngsters have
both come from the Doncaster youth system and have been on the fringes of
the first team in the past twelve months. Jack made four first team
appearances last season whilst the pair have been unused substitutes for the
first team this term. The pair have recently been out on loan. Jack had a
spell with Ilkeston Town. Paul also had a spell with Ilkeston and he has
recently returned to the Keepmoat having had a loan spell with Gainsborough
Trinity.

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arvis deal changed way Irons do business
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have this morning have confirmed to ClaretandHugh that Matt Jarvis
has indeed left for Norwich in what being seen as an early Christmas
present. And it was also made clear that the former Wolves winger – who cost
£10.5 million – forever changed the way the Irons do their business. The
switch was first revealed last night and involved a £2.5 million fee to the
Hammers who have also lost his wages of around £40k a week. Jarvis became a
fringe player at Upton Park and was given a chance to impress early in the
Uefa League games this season which eventually helped lead to his Carrow
Road switch. The player was of course brought into the club by Sam Allardyce
after prolonged negotiations but last season made just 11 Premier League and
two Cup appearances. A top source told ClaretandHugh exclusively: "There was
18 months left on his contract and there wasn't a club that would even pay
his wages till 5.00pm on transfer deadline day. "So its' good business. It
was one of the former manager's poorer buys and after him Modibo Maiga and
maybe even AC was why the board decided to take over transfers.

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TWO PLAYERS SET TO LEAVE UPTON PARK?
By Iain Dale 24 Dec 2015 at 09:36
WTID

Matt Jarvis looks as if he going to sign a permanent deal with Norwich City,
where he has been on loan since August. It's clear he has little future at
West Ham and it has to be admitted that he has impressed in the seven games
he has played during his time at Carrow Road, scoring two goals for good
measure. Jarvis signed for West Ham for a massive £10 million in 2012, but
has only played 78 games in four seasons, scoring a paltry 4 goals. If the
deal to Norwich goes through we'll take a massive haircut, with only £2.5
million coming into the West Ham coffers. If that fee is true, Norwich have
got an absolute steal. Quite why we never seem to get enough money for our
players, I have never quite worked out, but here we go again.

The jungle drums are beating on Andy Carroll too, with several stories
appearing saying that the club don't want to sell Andy Carroll, but might be
persuaded by a bid of £18 million. That sounds to me as if someone if flying
a kite… I have to say that if we could get anywhere near that sort of money
it would be good business but only if it was reinvested immediately in a
goalscoring striker. I'm not sure that would be possible in the January
window, so I wouldn't expect it to happen until the summer. By then we will
have seen if Andy Carroll can capture anything like the form we know he is
capable of. Assuming he stays fit… And that's a big 'if'.

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Andy Carroll to stay at West Ham in January as Slaven Bilic plays down link
to Newcastle
By RIATH AL-SAMARRAI FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:02, 23 December 2015 | UPDATED: 23:18, 23 December 2015

Slaven Bilic has told Newcastle not to bother with an approach for Andy
Carroll in January as he is not for sale. The striker's former club are
known to be keen on a move to re-sign the 26-year-old, who left for
Liverpool in 2011 before switching to West Ham. But asked yesterday if he
would consider selling his targetman, Bilic said: 'I don't think so, I don't
think so. We need players, we need him fit, we need him back. 'When he is
fit, he's a big asset for us, he's a big weapon, it's hard to play against
him. When he has his presence, his hungerness, his ability, of course he's
really important for us. 'He fits my attacking plans. I have said that from
the start.'
Bilic has had precious little mileage out of the targetman, with injuries
limiting Carroll to only five Premier League starts and one goal this
season. Carroll's latest issue, a groin strain, kept him out of Sunday's 0-0
draw at Swansea, but he has returned to light training and is rated as
having a 'slight chance' of playing the Boxing Day fixture at Aston Villa.
His injury has contributed to a major attacking crisis at the club, which
has gone seven games without a win and struggled badly for goals in the
absence of Diafra Sako, Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses.
Bilic revealed Payet is 'well ahead of schedule' in his recovery from an
ankle problem, having initially expected his playmaker to out until February
after his excellent start to the season was derailed against Everton on
November 7. Bilic said: 'It is good news. He is ahead of schedule. He should
train with us after the Aston Villa game on Boxing Day. He is training with
the fitness coaches and he might be available for the Liverpool game which
is a good boost. 'In the beginning we thought he might be back in February
but he is way ahead of schedule – his ankle is good, stable. I hope it will
be like that.' James Collins, meanwhile, is set to open talks over a new
contract. The 32-year-old is out of contract in the summer and in desperate
need of regular football if he is to force his way into Wales's Euro 2016
squad. Bilic said: 'We will definitely talk. I will do that with him. I have
said a number of times, he's a brilliant pro. He has been from day one,
whether he was on the bench, or just training or playing for five minutes
coming or half an hour, or now 90mins, he's magnificent for us.'

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 24th December 2015

Just wanted to wish everyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year
All the very best
PeterR

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Slaven Speaks - Aston Villa
WHUFC.com

Ahead of the Hammers' Boxing Day duel with Aston Villa, manager Slaven Bilic
faced the media. During the pre-match press conference the gaffer fielded a
range of questions from updates on Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini, a busy
Christmas schedule and Mark Noble's testimonial.

Good morning Slaven, will Andy Carroll be fit to play at Aston Villa?

SB: "We were off yesterday; we have training now and then training tomorrow,
then the game on Saturday. His injury is not like a big one. But that would
rule him out of the game against Villa. "There is a chance; the chance is
small, from all of these players who are out. With Andy there is a little
bit of a chance. We shouldn't forget that we have two games in two days.
That is a very tricky period. For him or for them, it's impossible if some
of them play at Villa, it would be a big risk or impossible to put them into
Southampton as well. It would be great to mix. Now it looks like Andy might
- might - be available for the game."

What about the other players you have out injured?

SB: "It is good news that Dimitri Payet is ahead of schedule. He should
train with us after Villa and is with the fitness coaches now. He might be
involved in the Liverpool game which would be a big boost for us. Lanzini is
progressing and will probably be available for the Southampton game. It
looks like it will be the same squad as against Swansea, but we should have
one or two back for Southampton."

What do you make of the Christmas schedule, are you a fan of the number of
games?

SB: "We will train on Christmas Day, in the afternoon, then we will travel
to Birmingham. It's as usual in England - that's the schedule. Every game is
difficult in the Premier League and Aston Villa are struggling, but they
played a good game against Newcastle last week. They are fighting for their
lives and will have confidence from that away point. I am not expecting
anything easier than Swansea. "As for the Christmas schedule, it's not ideal
with the injuries we have but it isn't something we can't control, so we
have to deal with it. It is the same for every team and the fans enjoy
also."

What is the situation James Collins? His contract is up this summer. Will
you talk to him about that?

SB: "Definitely. I will do that with him. He wasn't just good against
Swansea. I have said a number of times, he's a brilliant pro. He has been
from day one, whether he was on the bench or just training or playing for
five minutes coming or half an hour, or now 90 minutes, he's magnificent for
us."

Yesterday the Club announced that Mark Noble has been awarded a testimonial,
what are your thoughts on that?

SB: "I am very happy for Mark, of course. He deserves it for all his hard
work over the years, he's a great player, captain and role model. It's great
that Mark Noble is going to have a testimonial game. He deserves it and is a
Club legend, not many players get testimonials in modern football."

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Zarate - We are in a good way
WHUFC.com

Mauro Zarate says West Ham United are determined to spread some Christmas
cheer by scoring a Boxing Day victory at Aston Villa. The No10 has cut a
frustrated figure in recent matches when, despite his best efforts to break
the deadlock, the Hammers have been held to a record three goalless draws in
succession. The last of those came at Swansea on Sunday, when Zarate came
close twice to beating goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, but was again forced to
make do with drawing a blank. Next up for the Argentinian and co is a Boxing
Day trip to Villa Park, where he hopes to take advantage of a meeting with
the Barclays Premier League's bottom club to pick up a welcome three points.
"At Swansea, the fans were great as they always are, but we have to win for
them," he told whufc.com. "We have a good match on Boxing Day at Aston Villa
where we will try to take the three points. "We have three tough matches but
we are in a good way and we feel like we are prepared to get the wins we
need. We want to get the victory at Villa and then we'll start thinking
about the next match."

Zarate has been in good form this season, scoring five goals, and is looking
forward to his first Christmas in English football. At his previous clubs in
Argentina, Italy and Qatar, the 28-year-old was given a break over the
festive period, but it is a different story in this country. On top of the
football, the South American has also fulfilled a host of other commitments
during a busy December, including recent visits to Newham General Hospital
and the Club's Lakeside Thurrock Store with his teammates. While scoring
goals is his No1 target, Zarate is a father himself and acutely aware of the
responsibility of footballers to make youngsters' dreams come true at
Christmas time. "It was great to be there with the fans," he revealed. "Me
and the boys signed lots of pictures, so it was a great day. It's a good
moment for us at Christmas, and of course for the fans too."

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Noble granted Testimonial
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that Mark Noble has been awarded a
Testimonial match by the Board. The long-serving Club captain will be
honoured with a match between the current West Ham United first team and a
West Ham United All-Stars squad, with all funds raised being donated to
charity. The fixture, which will take place at the Boleyn Ground on Easter
Monday 28 March 2016 at 2pm, will give Hammers of all ages a final
opportunity to see many of their heroes in action at the Club's historic
home. Noble, who joined West Ham as a 13-year-old schoolboy and is now
approaching 350 first-team appearances in Claret and Blue, cannot wait for a
special occasion, which will form part of his overall activities for his
testimonial year.
"I am hugely honoured and grateful that the Board have awarded me a
Testimonial match at the Boleyn Ground," said the popular No16, who was born
and raised in nearby Canning Town. "This is where I come from and this is my
Football Club, so I can think of nothing better than having my Testimonial
at the stadium where I have laughed, cheered and cried, both as a fan and as
a player. "Everyone knows how much West Ham United means to me, so to have
the opportunity to share a pitch with the players who I have grown up with
will be fantastic - and it will be even more special to have my family,
friends and so many Hammers fans watching from the stands. "I am pleased and
proud to say we will be donating all the proceeds from my Testimonial match
to three charities that mean a huge amount to me - Richard House Children's
Hospice, Help for Heroes and the DT38 Foundation."

In granting Noble a Testimonial match, Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and
David Gold paid tribute to a player and a man they have huge respect and
affection for. "Mark is the modern-day 'Mr West Ham', so it was natural that
he would be granted a Testimonial at the end of what will be his 12th season
as a member of the first-team squad," said the Joint-Chairmen. "Mark has
been a tremendous servant to West Ham United both on the field and off it
and this Testimonial match is recognition of the long and dignified career
he has enjoyed in a Claret and Blue shirt.
"It is a mark of the man that he will donate all the proceeds from this
match to three charities that mean so much to him and to everyone at the
Club. "The match has been scheduled for the afternoon of Easter Monday,
meaning fans of all ages can come along to the Boleyn Ground and see some of
their heroes in action one last time. We are sure Mark and his Testimonial
Committee will ensure it is a truly ?memorable event?."

Further details will be released as the date for the Mark Noble Testimonial
Match approaches, including ticketing and corporate hospitality
arrangements, on whufc.com and across the Club's social media channels.

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Mark Noble - Mr West Ham
WHUFC.com

A look back at Testimonial awardee Mark Noble's 15 memorable years in Claret
and Blue...

2003 - Becomes the youngest player to appear for West Ham United's reserve
team in February, before signing on as a full-time trainee in summer of the
same year.

2004 - Makes his first-team debut in the 2-0 home League Cup second-round
win over Southend United on 24 August.

2005 - Appeared as a substitute in the Championship Play-Off final victory
over Preston North End. Named Young Hammer of the Year before making his
Premier League debut by starting the 3-1 opening-day home victory over
Blackburn Rovers on 13 August.

2007 - Scored his maiden first-team goal in a 4-3 Premier League defeat by
Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground. Inspired the Hammers to a 'Great
Escape' from relegation alongside Carlos Tevez, Bobby Zamora and others,
before signing a new long-term contract.

2009 - Now an established first-team regular under Gianfranco Zola, Noble
made his 100th West Ham appearance at Blackburn Rovers in March and was
later rewarded with a new long-term deal until 2013.

2011 - Helped West Ham to reach the League Cup semi-finals, but also
suffered the disappointment of relegation to the Championship. Named
vice-captain by new manager Sam Allardyce.

2012 - Voted Hammer of the Year for the first time. Missed just one of 49
Championship and Play-Off fixtures as West Ham bounced back at the first
attempt, defeating Blackpool in the Championship Play-Off final at Wembley.
Signed another new long-term contract in the summer.

2014 - Voted Hammer of the Year for a second time, and also named Players'
Player of the Year by his fellow squad members.

2015 - Became the Hammers' all-time leading Premier League appearance maker.
Named Club captain by new manager Slaven Bilic. Scored as West Ham United
won at Liverpool for the first time in 52 years.

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Stat's a Fact - Courageous Collins
WHUFC.com

You don't need to be Albert Einstein to work out that James Collins put in
an influential defensive performance in Sunday's goalless Barclays Premier
League draw at Swansea City.
The Wales international was at his best on home soil, making a team-high 13
clearances - the next highest was seven by centre-half partner Angelo
Ogbonna - and blocking four shots - the same number as his Italian teammate,
and making three interceptions. The 32-year-old threw his body in front of
everything the Swans could throw at him at the Liberty Stadium, ending
proceedings with an egg-shaped bump on the back of his head. That injury
came after Collins had made yet another courageous block to prevent Ki's
shot from troubling Adrian, when the South Korean then accidentally fell
into the No19 and his knee crashed into his head. While he was a defensive
rock, Collins also influenced the game at the attacking end too, having a
team-high three efforts on Swansea's goal. Collins' display in South Wales
typified his statistical strengths, namely blocking the ball and clearing
the ball out of defence often. Only Winston Reid (7.3) averages more
clearances per game than Collins (6.1), while the two defenders each average
a team-high 1.3 blocks for every 90 minutes they play. As such, the
shaven-headed defender's display at the Liberty Stadium should have come as
no surprise to anyone of a Claret and Blue persuasion. Collins was simply
doing what he does best - keeping the ball out of his team's net by any
means possible!

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From the Terraces - Joe Difford
WHUFC.com


Fan blogger Joe Difford looks at Sunday's draw with Swansea...

Sunday afternoon's game between Swansea and West Ham was a rather bizarre
one. Two sides who have been known to play some wonderful football in recent
times, but are both going through a tough spell of form, drew 0-0, despite a
total of 32 shots between them. News of Andy Carroll's injury and subsequent
absence from the game was a bad start, with so many key players already out,
Nikica Jelavic was drafted in upfront. He had a couple of chances but it
wasn't his day in front of goal. He was denied near the end and but for some
great defending he could have scored the winner. Swansea dominated the first
half, and were unlucky to go in at the break without a goal, as Ki
Sung-yueng and Andre Ayew missed good chances. The home side had lost five
of their last six games, but we were slow to start, giving them confidence
and a new-found belief, which nearly resulted in a few goals. They were at
it after the break too, with Jack Cork seeing his impressive volley saved
well by Adrian before penalty appeals were waved away after the ball hit
James Collins' arm, but the defender was not at fault. Collins put on his
best performance of the season, and was a joy to watch, throwing his body in
the way of anything and everything to secure a clean sheet. The Welshman at
times is unfairly criticised but he was faultless on Sunday, and deserves a
medal for some of the painful blocks he made, but man of the match will have
to do for now. Despite eleven shots on goal, only two made their way on
target, both being long-range efforts from Mauro Zarate and Enner Valencia.
Eighth place isn't a bad place to be right now, especially when you consider
the somewhat ridiculous injury crisis we are suffering right now. With so
many key men out, form is always likely to suffer, as the eleven men each
week are eleven men who have never played together before, so it will take
time to gel. Form is temporary, class is permanent, as they say, and it
won't be long before we're back to winning ways, but hopefully the fact that
we're now winless in seven will spur the boys in claret and blue on.
Sunday's game made it three successive 0-0 draws in a row, something we have
never done before in our history, and it is hard to believe when you look at
our shot counts for these games. You don't want to blame bad form on luck,
but it certainly is playing a part in recent weeks, and it can't last
forever. We travel to bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa , who are now ten
points from safety on Boxing Day, so Bilic and Co. need to take the
opportunity to try and get back to winning ways and get a positive result.
This period of injuries was always going to be a tough one, and three 0-0
draws on the trot isn't great, but every point counts and in such an
unpredictable and tight season, who knows how important Sunday's point will
turn out to be. For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation
visit www.90min.com

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Antonio - I'm due a goal
WHUFC.com

Michail Antonio believes his first West Ham United goal is just around the
corner as Slaven Bilic's men prepare for a Boxing Day trip to Villa Park.
The former Nottingham Forest winger looks set for a third successive
Barclays Premier League start on Saturday and hopes it won't be long before
he and the Hammers get back on the goal trail. Though Remi Garde's Villa
will be propping up the table on Christmas Day, the 25-year-old is still
expecting a stern examination and insists it would be foolish to think
otherwise. "We approach the game on Boxing Day the same way we do every
game, we set out to get the three points," he told West Ham TV. "You can see
that Villa are struggling, though they played quite well last time out
against Newcastle."They were quite attacking, fearless, but this time we've
got to go out and try to get the three points, because we've drawn three
games in a row now. "As long as we get the three points on Saturday, we can
start kicking on with our season. "It doesn't matter that they're bottom of
the league, it's the Premier League and they're in the Premier League.
"They've definitely got something about them so we're not going to there and
underestimate anyone.
We're going to go there and be prepared for whatever comes at us. We're
preparing right, we've got our mind right and we're going to go there to get
three points."

And safe in the knowledge that the Hammers are defensively sound, Antonio
now wants the Hammers to turn their attention to the attacking third,
starting at Villa Park. He continued: "The last three games were 0-0 and now
we've got to stick one in the back of the net! We've shown that we can keep
clean sheets, so if we do score, we'll probably get the three points. We've
got to push on and make sure that we do that. "I've always believed in my
ability and in the last couple of games I think I've done alright. I've not
really done much going forward just yet, but give me time and I'll show you
what I can do. "I'm not really the sort of person to go through quite a few
games without getting a goal, so I should be due one soon!"

Speaking at Wednesday's Romford Store signing, the summer recruit felt the
Hammers had plenty to be proud of in scrapping to a goalless draw at the
Liberty Stadium on Sunday, even if it came at a personal cost! "I got a few
blows to the face, I've got a massive hole in my tongue, but it's just one
of those things, part and parcel of the game," he explained. "It's one of
the things that I enjoy, I love the hustle and bustle of the Premier League,
I like the challenge and we've got to keep pushing forward. "It was a great
point in the end. We were up against a Swansea side that had just lost their
manager and it felt like they had nothing to lose. They played some great
football, one touch, two touch, had a couple of opportunities and a few half
chances, as did we. I think a draw, in the end, was the right result. "We've
got to think about Aston Villa now and try to get the right result."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll likely to stay at West Ham - Slaven Bilic
BBc.co.uk

Striker Andy Carroll is a "big asset" for West Ham and is unlikely to be
sold during the January transfer window, says manager Slaven Bilic. Carroll
has made 10 league appearances for the Hammers this season but has only
scored once and is currently sidelined with a thigh injury. But Bilic said:
"I don't think [he will be sold]. We need players. We need him fit and we
need him back. "He's a big weapon for us and he fits into my attacking
plans." Carroll, 26, is in contention to return to the side for the Boxing
Day game with Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Bilic says he intends to speak to
defender James Collins, who is out of contract at the end of the season,
about a new deal.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dimitri Payet: West Ham midfielder might be fit for Liverpool
BBC.co.uk

West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet could make his first-team return against
Liverpool on 2 January, according to manager Slaven Bilic. The summer
signing, 28, impressed with his early displays and scored five goals before
sustaining an ankle injury in November which was expected to keep him out
until February. He's ahead of schedule," Bilic said. Payet is training with
the fitness coaches and he might be involved in the Liverpool game, which is
a big boost." Bilic added: "His ankle is very good - it is stable - so it
is great news if it goes like this."
France international Payet signed for £10.7m from Marseille in June.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We'll take a lucky win, admits Garde
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde says he doesn't care how his team play this
weekend - as long as they produce a winning performance. With his Villa side
bereft of confidence having collected just seven points from their opening
17 Premier League games, Garde has set the squad a target of ten more wins
to stand a chance of avoiding relegation for the first time since the late
1980s. And the 49-year-old, who is still seeking his first win since
succeeding Tim Sherwood at the beginning of November hopes that sequence
begins on Boxing Day against West Ham - even if the manner in which it is
achieved is considered secondary. "I prefer to win playing well, of course.
This is how I see football," Garde told the media this morning. "But
sometimes in this situation, a bad or lucky win will be a very good gift for
us.

"Confidence for playing good football is absolutely vital. At the moment
we're low in confidence. It is normal because when you don't win games
you're not confident. "I'm sure with the quality of the team, the points we
have picked up doesn't reflect the quality of the players. Of course quality
is not enough - you have to work hard and have to put your quality for the
team. It's not an individual sport; sometimes you have to behave to have the
right attitude."

Garde also called upon the Villa fans to get behind their team - especially
if West Ham start the brighter of the two teams. "I totally understand our
fans' frustration because we are bottom of the league and we don't win
games," he added. "But without this support it's more difficult for the
players, the club and all the team. "During the game you never know - even
if you are one goal down, maybe you can score two at the end of the game
before the final whistle. We need to be altogether - the fans, the players -
because the situation requires that. You cannot afford to behave
differently."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sincs set for coaching role
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Trevor Sinclair is set for a return to English football - as coach of
National League North outfit AFC Fylde.

'Tricky' Trev was a hugely popular figure during his five-year spell at West
Ham at the turn of the century and was one of the last English players to
represent the club at the World Cup Finals, back in 2002.

As recently revealed on the KUMB Podcast, the 42-year-old former winger has
been spending much of his time in recent years in the Middle East. However
he is now poised to return to the UK as manager of Fylde (previously known
as Kirkham & Wesham FC).

Sinclair, whose career also took in spells at QPR and Manchester City has
held discussions with the club regarding a permanent post. Chairman David
Haythornthwaite, speaking via the club's website said: "We have been in
discussions with Trevor for some time.

"He is a local lad and he has great affection for the club and the area and
is well known to the Blackpool fans for his time there. When the chance
arose to get Trevor involved, we were keen to pursue it. The manager met
with Trevor to discuss the opportunity and discussions are ongoing.

"We are hopeful of a positive outcome in the not too distant future."

Meanwhile Sinclair, responding to the news said: "There is a very exciting
situation developing. AFC Fylde are a fantastically ambitious club and I too
am equally as ambitious as a coach as I was a player.

"If a deal is done then I feel I could have a positive impact at the club
going forward. I have been following the club for a few years now and the
opportunity would suit me down to the ground."

Sinclair made a total of 205 appearances - only three of which were as a
substitute - for West Ham United between 1998 and 2003, scoring 38 goals. He
also represented England on 12 occasions, including the famous 1-0 win over
Argentina at the 2002 World Cup Finals.

Last year he became assistant manager of Lancaster City and made one
appearance - at the age of 41 - for the team as a second half substitute in
a 3-1 defeat at Clitheroe.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The West Ham way: the kids are alright
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd December 2015
By: Staff Writer #3

These are undeniably exciting times to be a West Ham United fan, with the
move to the Olympic Stadium providing the club with the superb opportunity
to potentially challenge for the major honours on a regular basis.

Expectations are now such that some seem to be advocating a Viv Nicholson
"spend, spend, spend" policy in the transfer market. Compiling player
wish-lists is all well and good, but there is a tendency to forget both FFP
restrictions and the youngsters already on the books.

The Academy and developing our own players is a significant part of the
club's identity and whatever the financial benefits of the stadium move and
the vast hike in TV money from next summer, it should remain so. It's a case
of striking the right balance between big name recruitment and continuing to
provide first-team opportunities for academy prospects.

The club has been keen to stress that, having overspent in the summer, the
January transfer window will be one spent largely watching from the
sidelines. With the exception of securing a permanent deal for Manuel
Lanzini, significant business would seem unlikely. The current squad already
has greater depth than for many a year and, with clubs understandably
reluctant to do business mid-season, it's widely acknowledged that the
January isn't an ideal time to be recruiting.

It's not as if there's a desperate need to go on a spending spree either.
You would have to be a fully paid-up member of the BFS fan club not to
acknowledge that there has been a significant upturn in the quality of
football on show this term. Much of that comes down to having a manager who
understands that there is some moral obligation to entertain the paying
public but, in fairness to Allardyce, the performances, if not the results
of late, are also testament to the benefits of the greater strength in depth
of this season's squad.

That's not to say that the cheque book should necessarily be put under lock
and key, but that the squad situation is such that we can afford to wait
until the calmer waters of the summer transfer window and, where possible,
put our faith in the youth to step-up until then if required.

So what positions currently provide cause for concern? Well I suppose the
most obvious one is right-back, where Slaven has clearly lost faith
(probably only temporarily) in Carl Jenkinson following some poor
performances earlier this season. With James Tomkins now filling-in, there
are calls from some quarters for a replacement to be brought in. Is it
really that pressing a need that it can't wait until the summer?

By my reckoning, in addition to Tomkins and Jenkinson, there are a number of
other candidates that could first be considered. Reece Burke's loan deal
with Bradford City is set to end on 2nd January and, although primarily a
centre-back, he is capable of filling in at right-back if required.

There are other youngsters in the frame too, in Kyle Knoyle, Leo Chambers
(recently returned after a lengthy injury absence) and Alex Pike. There's
also Joey O'Brien, although given the fact that he hasn't featured at all
since recovering from injury, it would strongly suggest that he will be out
the door next month.

Even so, between them, Tomkins, Jenkinson and the youngsters should
certainly see us through until the end of the current campaign, at which
point a decision can be made as to a long-term solution.

There has also been talk of cover being required at left-back, although with
summer recruit Stephen Hendrie and Lewis Page on the books, would it really
be sensible to thwart their progress and opportunities? If required, Angelo
Ogbonna could also switch to left-back from the centre (with Reece Oxford
potentially getting an opportunity at the back). Were we still in Europa
League and Capital One Cup contention there might be a valid argument for a
back-up now, but there's already sufficient cover under the circumstances.

The other main area of concern is among the forwards. We certainly don't
want for numbers, but there are valid question marks over the fitness, form
and suitability of those available. You certainly wouldn't put money on Andy
Carroll, Enner Valencia or Nikica Jelavic being at the club at the start of
next season, but signing quality strikers in January is often a notoriously
complicated and expensive business. Unless Slaven has someone already lined
up, it's difficult to envisage much movement in or out until the summer.

There doesn't appear to be any imminent sign of a young striker coming
through the ranks at present. Elliot Lee is currently on loan at Blackpool
until early January, but is now 21-years-old and out of contract in the
summer. It's now make or break for Lee as far as West Ham are concerned. At
least give him an occasional place on the bench over the latter half of the
campaign to see if he warrants a new deal.

The midfield is already well-stocked, so it would be something of a surprise
were there to be any moves on that front next month (Lanzini aside) unless
there is an opportunity for Slaven to bring in a long-term target ahead of
schedule.

Despite the competition for places, Josh Cullen has had a taste of Europa
League football and even a few seconds of Premier League action. Martin
Samuelsen, currently on a one-month loan at Peterborough United, is another
who might get the occasional opportunity to add to his own European
experience over the coming months. There is also Diego Poyet to return from
Milton Keynes Dons for next season.

Let's not go down the road of that lot across town who've just given the
boot to the P45 One by overlooking our youngsters or just farming them out
on loan. West Ham is better than that. Have some faith in the kids.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic orders players to train on Christmas Day
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic says he'd prefer to spend Christmas at home with his family -
but will be with his squad instead, as they prepare for the Boxing Day trip
to Birmingham. Bilic's side face Aston Villa in the traditional Boxing Day
round of fixtures this year and the manager has revealed that the travelling
party will spend the latter half of Christmas Day together. "We're going to
train on Christmas Day as we have to do something the day before the game,"
he said. "Normally we train in the morning but as it's Christmas Day we're
going to train at four o'clock and after that, we're going to drive to
Birmingham and play the next day. "Like all people we'd like to be with our
families for the Christmas period, or for New Year's Eve, but it's great for
the fans and it's great for football and we're looking forward to it. This
is normal in England and that's the schedule. It's the same for every team."

The manager also revealed that he expects his side to face a stern test at
Villa Park - despite the hosts, currently five points adrift at the bottom
of the table having failed to win a single Premier league fixture since the
opening day of the season at Bournemouth. "Every game is difficult and Aston
Villa are struggling," he said. "They're bottom of the table and they need
to start picking up points if they want to stay up. But I've seen a few of
their games and they had a really good game against Newcastle, especially
after they equalised. For 20 minutes they were the better team. "I've seen
the energy, I've seen the quality and they are fighting for their lives.
They have confidence now, having taken a point from an away game, and now
they are playing at home and looking forward to the game. Make no mistake,
I'm not expecting anything easier than Swansea, Stoke or Man United. "They
have some quality players that can harm you and as I said, I've seen a lot
of positives about their game - especially against Newcastle."

In terms of personnel, there are unlikely to be any changes from the squad
that travelled to South Wales last weekend for the goalless draw with
Swansea. "It looks as if we'll have the same squad now," added Bilic. "We
could hopefully have one or two back for the Southampton game. There's a
slight chance that Andy Carroll's going to be back for Villa, but we're not
sure so it might be the same."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Payet way ahead of schedule, says Bilic
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic has given West Ham United fans an early Christmas present - by
confirming that Dimitri Payet is expected to return to the first team a
month ahead of schedule. Payet was sidelined by an horrific challenge from
Everton's James McCarthy in the 1-1 draw at the Boleyn Ground at the
beginning of October, after which it was revealed that he was expected to be
out of action until February next year. However Bilic revealed during his
pre-match press conference this morning that the 28-year-old creative
midfielder's rehabilitation was well ahead of schedule. "It is good news
with Dimitri as he is ahead of schedule, so he should train with us after
the Villa game or the Southampton game," he said. "He is training with the
fitness coaches and he might be involved in the Liverpool game which is a
big boost. "At the beginning we thought he would be back in February but he
is way ahead of schedule and it is not that bad. His ankle is very good - it
is stable - so it is great news if it goes like this."

West Ham face Aston Villa on Boxing Day before completing their Christmas
programme with two home games against Southampton and Liverpool.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dimitri Payet could return for West Ham against Liverpool
By Matthew Treadwell
Last Updated: 23/12/15 12:36pm
SSN

West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet could return for the home game with
Liverpool on January 2, manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed. The France
international played a key role in the club's impressive start to the
season, scoring five goals in 12 Premier League matches before injuring his
ankle in the 1-1 draw with Everton on November 7. Payet was expected to be
ruled out for around three months but now looks likely to be back in action
earlier than expected. That would offer a welcome boost to Bilic, whose side
have not won in the five matches Payet has missed, drawing their last three
matches 0-0 in the process. "It is good news that Dimitri Payet is ahead of
schedule. He should train with us after Villa and is with the fitness
coaches now," Bilic said ahead of their Boxing Day game with bottom club
Aston Villa. "He might be involved in the Liverpool game, which would be a
big boost. "At the beginning we thought he would be back in February but he
is way ahead of schedule and it is not that bad. "His ankle is very good -
it is stable - so it is great news if it goes like this."

Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini is also expected to return to action
over the Christmas period, after he injured his thigh in training ahead of
the goalless draw with Manchester United.
"Manuel Lanzini is progressing and will probably be available for the
Southampton game [on December 28]," he added. "It looks like it will be the
same squad as against Swansea for Villa, but we should have one or two back
for Southampton."

As for Boxing Day opponents Villa, Bilic insists they should not be taken
lightly, despite their perilous position in the league table. "I saw their
last few games and against Newcastle they had a really good game, especially
after they equalised," said Bilic of Villa's 1-1 draw at St James' Park.
"For 20 minutes they were much better and I have seen the energy, seen their
quality and they are fighting for their lives. "But they have confidence now
because they have one point from an away game. They are at home against us
and they look forward to that game. "So, make no mistake I am not expecting
anything easier than against Swansea, Stoke or Manchester United. They have
some quality players who can harm you."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Security measures at Villa Park
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Aston Villa have asked all West Ham fans to turn up at Villa Park on Boxing
day at least 30 minutes before the 3pm kick off because of continuing
security awareness following the November Paris attacks. The Hammers have an
allocation of 3,000 tickets costing £41 for adults, £19 for under 18's and
£12 for the under 8's.
Aston Villa have released a statement saying: "We are continuing to operate
with an increased level of security for our forthcoming home games,
including our Boxing Day encounter with West Ham. Therefore, we would ask
all fans to arrive at Villa Park no later than 30 minutes before kick-off
(2.30pm).
To help with security measures, we would also request fans to approach the
turnstiles with coats and jackets unfastened and open. Please be aware that
we are unable to store large bags and suitcases and these items will not be
allowed into the stadium.Also, to assist in keeping the stadium as secure as
possible, the smoking area at the top of the external Holte End stairs will
not be in operation at half-time until further notice. Thank you for your
co-operation."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lanzini back for Saints and Payet back for Liverpool
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic held his pre match press conference this morning "It is good
news that Dimtri Payet is ahead of schedule. He should train with us after
Villa and is with the fitness coaches now. He might be involved in the
Liverpool game which would be a big boost for us. Lanzini is progressing and
will probably be available for the Southampton game. It looks like it will
be the same squad as v Swansea for Villa, but we should have one or two back
for Southampton. "We will train on Christmas Day, in the afternoon, then we
will travel to Birmingham. It's as usual in England - that's the schedule.
Every game is difficult in the Premier League and Aston Villa are
struggling, but they played a good game against Newcastle last week. "They
are fighting for their lives and will have confidence from that away point.
I am not expecting anything easier than Swansea, Stoke or Man Utd. They have
some quality players who can hurt you.
"It's great that Mark Noble is going to have a testimonial game. He deserves
it and is a Club legend."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Payet back in training today
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Dimtri Payet returned to training today with Hammers fitness coaches. West
Ham posted pictures of him back in training on their official facebook page
and twitter account. Slaven Bilic has confirmed he will fully return to full
training with the first team after the Boxing day match against Aston Villa.

Payet was injured in a horror tackle by Everton's James McCarthy on 7th
November which left him crocked. Initially it was thought that Payet would
require surgery and would be out for three months or more.

He later found out he did not need surgery on the ankle injury which has
allowed a far quicker recovery period. the Hammers have not won a game since
losing Payet on 7th November. Our last win coming in October when we beat
15th place Chelsea. Despite being missing since November it remains one of
the leading Premier League midfielders with 5 goals, 46 chances created and
three assists. Payet has completed 400 passes this season with a pass
accuracy of 82%, of which 61% were forward passes.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Payet returns to fold but Jelavic worry goes on
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

First the good news: Dimitri Payet will be training with the first team
squad after Boxing Day's match against Aston Villa.
Now the bad: Nikicia Jelavic could easily lead the line on Boxing Day if
nether Andy Carroll - over whom there is a question mark - or Enner Valencia
is trusted from the start.

And it appears too that despite the bright forecasts for this weekend Manu
Lanzini won't be available unless Slav is involving himself in a cute
guessing game. He said: "It is good news that Dimitri Payet is ahead of
schedule. He should train with us after Villa and is with the fitness
coaches now. "He might be involved in the Liverpool game which would be a
big boost for us. Lanzini is progressing and will probably be available for
the Southampton game. It looks like it will be the same squad as against
Swansea, but we should have one or two back for Southampton."
That of course means that in the meantime we are lumbered with the
ineffective Jelavic who has taken an all round hammering from pundits and
public alike. However, with Enner fit we can only hope that - should Andy
Carroll not make it - the manager will decide to give the Ecuadorian striker
a line leading role as it's impossible to see the Croat performing in any
way effectively even against a lacklustre Villa.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers decide on Italian striker
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Simone Zaza will not be joining West Ham on loan in January as striker
cover. The Juventus front man has been regularly linked with the Irons since
the summer and, with the injury problems at the club, again this month. The
24 year old is valued at around £10 million and - unable to hold down a
regular place at the Serie A club - was seen by many as a shoe in at Upton
Park this winter given Diafra Sakho's injury and Andy Carroll's latest
problem. But ClaretandHugh was told this morning it won't happen as with
players returning to fitness Slaven Bilic is disinterested in adding to the
quartet of hit men available to him. We were told: "The club has gone down
that route previously, bringing in expensive loan fee players and seeing
them sit on the sidelines. We have players on the way back - there's no
panic "Our injury problems are improving day on day and we won't be adding
to the squad this winter unless it is absolutely necessary and it doesn't
look that way at the moment."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slav set for Collins talks
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 23, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic has gone on the record to announce that he will be talking to
James Collins about a new deal. As ClaretandHugh reported 24 hours ago
(Tues) the manager is ready to talk turkey with the central defender which
could see the 32 year stay at the club. We reported that it was the big
topic of conversation inside the club and that the manager was edging
towards offer Ginge a one or two year contract. Now Slav has revealed at
www.whufc.com that is precisely his agenda adding that he "definitely" wants
to talk with him thus seemingly slamming the door shut on any hopes Sam
Allardyce may have had of grabbing the player in this January's transfer
window. He said: ""Definitely. I will do that with him. He wasn't just good
against Swansea. I have said a number of times, he's a brilliant pro. "He
has been from day one, whether he was on the bench or just training or
playing for five minutes coming or half an hour, or now 90 minutes, he's
magnificent for us."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tore the truth, O'Brien to leave plus massive Payet boost
December 22, 2015
Thewesthamway.co.uk

ExWHUEmployee

So the window is upon us and here come the rumours many of which are used to
generate web traffic and hits etc. as I have said all windows. The bottom
line is transfer news gets the most attention by a long way, there is no way
to hide it and of course I have first-hand experience of this. I urge
people to take rumours with a pinch of salt because many times they have no
substance. At the West Ham Way we run a daily news feature that covers all
the news that is being reported elsewhere. Every single day there appears
to be another player linked most of which are quite baffling.

The latest rumour is that Tore a highly rated winger from Slaven Bilic's ex
club is set to join for £11m.
There is no denying that he is a player that is on our radar and has been
for a long time. West Ham scouts have attended many of their matches
recently, as like Marseille last year, there are a number of players that we
are keeping tabs on. One of which is the Midfielder/right back Hutchinson
and the other is Serdar Kurtuluş another right back. Tore holds a German
passport and is therefore very desirable. He comes with a number of
admirers from abroad and therefore his price is around £11m.

The situation with the budget is that there is no money to spend on new
players unless we sell. There has been talk of Joey O'Brien moving on this
window but that will not raise much. Originally it was thought that Collins
may go to Sunderland too but Bilic has been very impressed with his
attitude, inspirational qualities and of course his defending in recent
months so a new one year deal could be on the table. The other possible
deal is Matt Jarvis being made permanent at Norwich but this is likely to be
for no more than £3m quite a long way short of the £11m required. There is
currently no other players who are likely to move on.

Tore is likely to be very high up on the radar for our summer signings of
which we will make a number of marque signings to take us into the new
stadium. Part of the transfer rumour hype was also started by The West Ham
Way writer Jack Sullivan announcing himself as a "happy hammer" the night
before. We caught up with Jack and he described his tweet as "I was just
happy". Of course the news that Lanzini is back for the Villa game may have
helped his mood. The following news would have made him delighted. Payet is
well on track to make an early return. Some are saying he is targeting
Liverpool and there is an outside chance he will make it. The more realistic
date is either Wolves in the cup or the Bournemouth away game. The way he
keeps improving let's hope it is Liverpool that he makes.

Please do not get caught up in people using transfers to get hits/attention
with myself and Jack Sullivan on board we will try to bring the most
accurate transfer picture that we can.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham hold talks with PSG goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez has reportedly held initial
talks with West Ham over a January move The 35-year-old is currently third
choice at the French club and is looking to secure a move to the Premier
League for a career swansong. According to L'Equipe, Douchez visited a
London club recently, which is understood to have been West Ham. The Hammers
are on the lookout for an experienced alternative to current No 1 Adrian and
Douchez could be an ideal candidate to provide support for the Spaniard.
However, West Ham are wary of the fact that Douchez has only played 10
league games for PSG since he signed for them from Rennes back in July 2011
and have yet to make a decision over whether to make a bid.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic says Dimitri Payet could return against Liverpool as West Ham
United boss looks ahead to Aston Villa clash
GUardian.co.uk

West Ham United have been handed an injury boost after Slaven Bilic revealed
Dimitri Payet is set to make his first-team return against Liverpool on
January 2. Payet, who scored five goals in his impressive start to life in
the Premier League, was expected to be out until February after he sustained
an ankle injury following a tackle by James McCarthy in West Ham's 1-1 draw
at Everton last month. But Bilic, speaking ahead of his side's Boxing Day
clash against Aston Villa, says the France international will return to
training in the coming days, and could feature when Liverpool travel to
Upton Park in the new year. "It is good news with Dimitri as he is ahead of
schedule, so he should train with us after the Villa game or the Southampton
game," Bilic said. "He is training with the fitness coaches and he might be
involved in the Liverpool game which is a big boost. "At the beginning we
thought he would be back in February but he is way ahead of schedule and it
is not that bad. His ankle is very good - it is stable - so it is great news
if it goes like this."

West Ham have drawn a blank in their last three outings and last tasted
victory in their 2-1 defeat of Chelsea on October 24. Their trip to Villa,
who have accumulated only seven points this season, would appear to resemble
a good opportunity for Bilic's side to get their campaign back on track. But
the former Croatia manager is not taking anything for granted. "I saw their
last few games and against Newcastle they had a really good game, especially
after they equalised," said Bilic of Villa's 1-1 draw at St James' Park.
"For 20 minutes they were much better and I have seen the energy, seen their
quality and they are fighting for their lives. "But they have confidence now
because they have one point from an away game. They are at home against us
and they look forward to that game. "So, make no mistake I am not expecting
anything easier than against Swansea, Stoke or Manchester United. They have
some quality players who can harm you."
West Ham's trip to Villa could come too soon for playmaker Manuel Lanzini,
who has been sidelined for one month with a thigh injury, but striker Andy
Carroll could be available.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 22nd December 2015

From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

It was a familiar story for us on Sunday as we drew for the third game in
succession. Although goals have been harder to come by since we've been hit
so hard by injuries, we have tightened up significantly at the other end and
managed to claim results against Manchester United, Stoke City and now
Swansea City. It might not have been the three points we really wanted – but
the team do deserve credit for the way they have dug in after being faced
with adversity in recent weeks. Yes, we have struggled to score, but any
team would after being shorn of four top attacking players, and three of
their top four goalscorers. Without Dimitri Payet, Diafra Sakho, Manuel
Lanzini, Victor Moses and Andy Carroll it's no surprise that the goals have
not been as free-flowing as at the start of the season. With the lack of
goals, it is important that the defenders have stepped up to the plate and
once again I have to say that Adrian was magnificent at Swansea. He is
having a fine season, and has really established himself as one of the top
goalkeepers in the league in the three seasons he has been here. Equally
impressive on Sunday was James Collins, who gave a real lion-hearted display
to help us hold on to our clean sheet and ultimately make our point. James
has had to be patient this season as we now have four top quality centre
halves at the Club, but he has taken his chance with our recent clean sheets
and he was a big part of the result on Sunday. An away point is a positive,
and there are more positives to take as the manager has made clear that we
expect some of the injured players back sooner rather than later.

We could be looking at having Lanzini back for Aston Villa or Southampton
and Payet for Liverpool, so although we have lacked a cutting edge recently
the cavalry will be arriving soon! It has been a hugely encouraging first
half of this season, and as Christmas and the New Year approaches, we can
look forward to 2016 with great optimism as we welcome those key players
back.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to
seeing you at Aston Villa.

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Hammers fans enjoy festive treat
WHUFC.com

West Ham United fans were given a festive treat on Monday as Mauro Zarate,
Pedro Obiang and Enner Valenica headed to the intu Lakeside Thurrock centre
for a player signing session. The trio were on hand at the Hammers store to
pose for photographs and sign autographs for hundreds of fans who combined
their last-minute Christmas shopping with the chance to meet their heroes.
Less than 24 hours after securing a point at Swansea City, the first teamers
were appreciative of the support shown to them both at the Liberty Stadium
and at Lakeside.
Zarate said: "It was great to meet the fans on Monday. They've seen us for
pictures and for us to sign autographs for them so it's been a great day.
"Especially at Christmas it's a good moment for us and for all the fans
here. "Their support was great at Swansea on Sunday, like always, and now we
have to win at Aston Villa for them."

Supporter Steve from Colchester, who took his son Jake, 8, to the event was
thrilled to meet the trio. He said: "It was great today. Jake really wanted
to see Mauro Zarate as he is his favourite player. "We've been really
impressed with how we've performed this season. We've been going a lot and
hopefully will get a season ticket for next year. Jake added: "I love Mauro
because he can really lift the ball into the goal and he has scored some
really good goals this season."

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James Collins: Wales defender wants regular West Ham spot
BBC.co.uk

Defender James Collins hopes to earn a new deal with West Ham to help secure
his place in Wales' Euro 2016 squad. The 32-year-old has played in only
seven league games so far this season and his contract expires in the
summer. Collins started in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Swansea and says he needs to
be playing regularly if he is to be involved with Wales in France. "I need
to concentrate on my club form and playing well for West Ham," Collins said.

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Keen lands new management role
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Former West Ham midfielder Kevin Keen has been appointed as the new manager
of League One side Colchester United. Keen - who took temporary charge of
West Ham following the departure of Alan Pardew in December 2006, the first
of three stints in that particular role - was named the new manager of the
struggling Essex club earlier this afternoon. Now 48, Keen spent a decade as
a Hammer between 1983 and 1993 making 278 appearances for the club in all
competitions, before moving into coaching. At West Ham he worked alongside
the likes of Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Franco Zola and Avram Grant before
joining Liverpool as first team coach in 2011. He was most recently
assistant to Steve Clarke at Reading before the duo were fired following a
string of poor results. However he has returned to the game after just one
week without a job. In May 2011 he entered the race - unsuccessfully - to
replace Avram Grant, stating: "I would love the opportunity to speak to the
owners and Karren Brady and give my views about the future. Maybe in the
future I will be given a opportunity to turn it around."

That opportunity has now arisen, though not at the Boleyn Ground as hoped.
Keen's assistant at Colchester - who are currently bottom of League One - is
former Us midfielder David Wright, who makes the step up from Under 21 boss.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former Hammer suffers cardiac arrest
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Ex-Hammers goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek is in a critical condition after
suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday. The 47-year-old was jogging in his
home town of Ostrava in the Czech Republic when he was taken ill. Although
he was immediately rushed to hospital, he remains unconscious and in
intensive care. Agent Steve Wraith told BBC Sport: ""I spoke to his family
in the Czech Republic who said his heart had stopped. He is in a critical
condition in hospital and remains unconscious." The former goalkeeper made
three appearances on loan for West Ham in the 2003/04 season, having been
signed as a replacement for another loanee, Rami Shabaan. Speaking at the
time of his move, Srnicek said: "I feel good being here; I had a session and
a talk with the manager and I am enjoying it. I am here for a month and we
will see how it goes afterwards. This is a good chance and I have taken it."


Following the culmination of his short-term loan, the Czech stopper - who
made his debut in the 4-1 defeat at Millwall on 21 March 2004 - completed a
free transfer to West Ham having been released by Portsmouth but made just
two further first team appearances. He represented the club in a goalless
draw with Derby at the Boleyn Ground and a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at
Selhurst Park before losing his place to Stephen Bywater. Srnicek was also
an unused substitute in the 1-0 play-off final defeat to Crystal Palace at
the Millennium Stadium in May 2004. The thoughts and best wishes of everyone
at KUMB are with Pavel and his family.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Italian striker back on West Ham's radar
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 21st December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic is once again being linked with a move for Juventus forward
Simone Zaza.

West Ham came agonisingly close to landing the 24-year-old during the summer
transfer window after the two clubs agreed a deal, only for the player
himself to reject the move following the departure of two key figures -
Fernando Llorente and Kingsley Coman - which sent him up the pecking order
at Juve.

However West Ham - and specifically Bilic, who is a huge fan of the player -
are understood to have renewed their interest following the recent injury
crisis that saw Mauro Zarate and Nikica Jelavic start at Swansea yesterday.

Zaza - whose rejection led to the deadline day arrival of Jelavic from Hull
City - has made just three starts for Juventus in Serie A so far this
season, scoring twice, including the opening goal in a 4-0 win over Torino
last Wednesday.

In addition to four Serie A appearances from the bench he had made two cameo
appearances in the Champions League, featured once in the Coppa Italia and
made one substitute appearance for Italy an a 3-1 defeat in Belgium last
month.

However he is understood to be receptive to a move with a place in next
summer's European Championships potentially at stake.

"It's an honour that [Juve coach] Allegri has said he doesn't want me to
leave, it really is, but there's a European Championship in June," Zaza told
La Gazzetta dello Sport. I'm happy here, but [Italy coach Antonio] Conte has
been clear and there's a European Championship in June and I hope to be
playing regularly."

* In other transfer news, the Hammers are once again being linked with a
move for former Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor who has been out of
contract since agreeing to terminate his £100,000-per-week contract at White
Hart Lane in September.

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YES IT'S MORE OF THE SAME BUT FOR NOW, THE SAME IS GOOD ENOUGH
By Benjamin Cronin 21 Dec 2015 at 20:45
WTID

In my most recent post, I tried to explain how what could be perceived as a
disappointing winless run was in actual fact, an acceptable run of results.
Some may have agreed with that stance, some may have disagreed with it, but
I stand by my comments and that stance still remains almost one week on. It
was an incredibly dull affair at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday afternoon,
not the best game to watch by any stretch of the imagination. It was a great
opportunity to get a much needed win under our belt, a game most of us would
have been confident going into but unfortunately, one that didn't have the
desired outcome. However, it was another clean sheet and another a point on
the board.

The foundation of reasoning behind my belief that going without a win in six
(it was six, now seven) Premier League games was acceptable was that for the
most recent of those games, we were looking for the win and in fairness,
probably should have got it. Having caught myself almost nodding off during
the game against Swansea, I don't think many would say it was similar affair
to those against West Brom, Manchester United and Stoke. Considering Swansea
were without a manager and sitting in the bottom three of the table, if we'd
managed the same level of performance as those previous three fixtures,
maximum points would have been there for the taking. If only it were that
simple.

The statistics from the match made for quite interesting reading and with
the commentators and pundits intent on drawing everyone's attention to them,
they were quite hard to miss. Swansea have always been a possession side and
Sunday's game was no different, short and simple passes in areas that were
of no threat is essentially what we had to watch for 90 minutes. Yes, there
were over 30 attempts on goal between the two sides but only four of those
(two a piece) were actually on target. It's easy to sit back and say all we
had to do was attack a bit more and put them under pressure but that would
have undoubtedly worked in their favour. Those short, simple passes would
have quickened up and found gaps to create clear cut chances, rather than
speculative efforts from 25+ yards out. We've been left with incredibly
limited options due to recent injuries and having had time to think and
watch most of the game again (the Sky+ fast forward facility was fully
utilised), Slav probably got things right. Well, as right as he could have
anyway.

On a different day, we could have snatched the game and been pleased as
punch to come away with a win. If we take that view though, on that
different day, it could have been the Swans who took all three points.
Adrian was once again in fine form and made a few great saves, ones that
certainly looked more goal bound than the efforts Fabianski got in the way
of. While I was screaming at the TV when Ashley Williams appeared to handle
the ball just after half-time, I found myself wincing in acceptance at both
Antonio and Collins appearing to do the same (no matter how convincing the
theatrics that followed were).

While the negatives are perhaps more evident from our most recent
performance, as I stated before, I'm still happy with the progress we have
made. Things can quickly change and while these draws could turn into
defeats and see us drop down the league, they could also turn into wins and
see us put daylight between those below us and start overtaking those above.
I guess it depends on your outlook but given our current situation and the
circumstances we are playing under, I'm happy to see us get a few draws on
the bounce and show that we are difficult to beat. Yes, if one or two of
those draws had been wins it would have been great but I shouldn't have to
re-iterate, we are 8th in the Premier League at Christmas and still only
four points of 4th position.

While I've been pleased with our defensive performances and the potential
Michail Antonio has shown, I'm sure, like me, everyone is eagerly
anticipating the return of Payet, Lanzini, Moses and Reid because of the
difference we know they are capable of making. Unfortunately, we're going to
have to battle on and do our best until those returns come about. Our best
might not be good enough for a lot of people at the moment and I can
understand that, but perhaps we just need a bit of perspective and to look
forward to what the New Year brings. At the moment we have more promise and
hope than ever before, we're in a good position to build and there's
exciting times ahead. We've got the transfer window to look forward to but
I'm going to try and enjoy Christmas with my family and hope you all do the
same before all that fun begins.

COYI!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham hopeful of receiving triple fitness boost ahead of Boxing Day clash
with Aston Villa
13:38, 21 DEC 2015 UPDATED 13:38, 21 DEC 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Hammers are hoping to have Manuel Lanzini, Andy Carroll and Enner
Valencia all available for the trip to Villa Park
The Mirror

West Ham are hoping for a triple fitness boost for their Boxing Day trip to
Aston Villa. Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll are set to be fit again for
Saturday's Villa Park clash. Playmaker Lanzini was ruled out for six weeks
at the start of December with a thigh injury. But his recovery has
progressed much quicker than expected and he is now on course to return
against Villa. Striker Carroll is expected to be fit after missing
yesterday's draw at Swansea with a groin injury. Meanwhile, Enner Valencia
is ready to step up his workload against Villa.
The forward made a second substitutes appearance against Swansea after
recovering from his second ankle injury of his injury-hit season.
Co-chairman David Gold said: "He could only play 30 mins (against Swansea),
next week he should be able to play 90." Gold has revealed Dimitri Payet is
also ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ankle injury and is set to
make his comeback sooner than expected. Payet was ruled out for three months
in November but Gold said: "If all goes well Payet will be back mid
January."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Payet may be back next month
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has told long suffering fans the Hammers could have every front
line player bar Diafra Sakho back by next month. And Dimi Payet could easily
be back in the first team by mid January according to the co chairman who
refuses to let the treatment table blues get him down. He told
ClaretandHugh: "Diafra will take a little while and Winston needs time but
these are not long term, out for a long time injuries. "Things are
improving all the time and Dimitri could be back by January for example.
He's doing very well indeed." "We weren't at our best against Swansea but we
got another point and that was important. Enner Valencia is back, Andy
Carroll should be back for Villa and Lanzini too. Things look very good and
we can feel very positive going forward and we keep our fingers crossed for
a quick Winston Reid recovery.

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Judge at end of season – this is the wrong time!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Final word on yesterday because the negativity pouring off some forums is
mind boggling.

People are unhappy that we didn't beat a team that we know can play but are
having a rough time and will I believe find themselves a long way from
relegation by season's end.

All the arguments have been aired and ClaretandHugh blogger Rich Sprent gave
the knockers a perfect answer in his superb blog earlier in the day.

But I'm still struggling big time to get my head around the position of
those who don't believe that six utterly key injuries weren't in some way
responsible for a lack lustre showing – yes those people actually exist.

Let me repeat my status on the ClaretandHugh Facebook @ forum from last
night: https://www.facebook.com/groups/363174467150521/

It's a bit like taking Ken Brown, Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Peter Brabrook
Geoff Hurst and Budgie Byrne out of the sixties team and then saying "What's
wrong with us."?

PF-hurst-20_1475435iHere's the truth of it for me. Just like way back then,
we are a good team when our best players are available and not very good
when they are not.

That will change in the summer when we add even more quality and improve
year on year.

In the meantime we must get used to the fact that we have a manager who
refuses to use injuries as his excuse but gets it in the ear from some
anyway as a result.

Were he to take that easy route he'd be criticised for doing so and thus
can't win so I'll say it for him and the squad: they are digging in,
treading water, not sliding and when the injured return we'll be beating
more than beat us.

Patience, tolerance, a bit of understanding and balance is required.

The moaning needs to stop until the season ends. That's the time to judge!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Collison vote of confidence for Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Exclusive

Jack Collison watched yesterday's game against Swansea and reckons manager
Slaven Bilic and his team did a thoroughly professional job.
The former Hammer favourite really can't believe how anybody can criticise a
performance whch he described as "solid, workmanlike and gutsy given the
circumstances with injured players."
He said: "I don't think there's much doubt that we could easily have lost
that match last season as we may have done against Manchester United and
Stoke. "The fact is that Swansea are a very good side who really shouldn't
be in the position they occupy and I don't believe they will still be down
there at the end of the season. "We should all have known how tough it was
going to be and the manager set us up perfectly to absorb what they threw at
us and when Enner Valencia came on it was there for the winning. He changed
things. "The team dug in and showed how well they can defend as they have
done over the last three games. We know the flair they have when everybody
is fit and we should be delighted that they showed themselves so solid at
the back. "I'm sure the manager is and I certainly was. The keyword as far
as the fans is concerned is patience. When we get the big boys back we'll be
beating teams all over the place again."

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Keen to take over Colchester
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Former Hammer Kevin Keen has been appointed the new manager of Colchester
United. The 48-year-old was officially announced as the new gaffer of the
strugglers at the bottom of League One.

Keen began his career with Wycombe Wanderers before joining West Ham in
1983. He spent seven seasons with the "Hammers" making 219 appearances and
scoring 21 goals. He was twice promoted and twice relegated with the Irons.
He left for Wolves in 1993 after a poor contract offer by the then manager
Billy Bonds.

kk2Keen rejoined West Ham in July 2002 as under-17 academy coach. He was
later appointed reserve team coach and became first-team coach in October
2006. Following the sacking of manager Alan Pardew in December 2006, he was
very briefly placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs until Alan
Curbishley was appointed two days later when he reverted to his previous
role as reserve team coach. He was formally announced as caretaker manager
on 3rd September 2008 after the resignation of manager Alan Curbishley. Keen
took charge of West Ham for one game only; a 3–2 away defeat to West Brom on
13th September 2008 before handing over the manager's role to Gianfranco
Zola. Keen was appointed again as caretaker-manager of West Ham, for their
last game of the 2010/2011 season, following the sacking of their previous
manager, Avram Grant on 15 May 2011.

After three spells as caretaker manager at West Ham, Keen left the club in
July 2011 to take up the role of first team coach at Liverpool.

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Hammers talk on investment speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham insiders have categorically denied that there is a wave of
investment coming into the club this winter or next summer. Rumours have
been sweeping a particular Irons on line forum for a couple of months that
big time investors have been kept under wraps by the club and that our
imminent arrival at the Olympic Stadium will see them emerge from the
shadows. However, ClaretandHugh again put the speculation on top club
sources today and can confirm that no such situation exists inside the club
– much as some may be wishing it.
The co chairmen, David Gold and David Sullivan have been looking for
investment partners since their arrival at the club but nobody has come
forward to share the financial burden.

And the chief shareholder has made it clear that the club has already
overspent and will lose money this year. Today, we were told when putting
the investment story on our top sources: "The club is always open to
conversations with realistic investors but sadly no one has come forward and
the two Davids remain alone in their running of the club's finances."

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Hartson: "Irons should be happy with a point"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 21, 2015 in Videos, Whispers
C and H

West Ham Fan TV caught up with former Hammer Super Johnny Hartson after the
game

Hartson told WHFTV "Not the best game in the world, bit of a boring nil-nil
wasn't it, but as I said West Ham will be delighted to have gone away with a
point to be honest, to come here up to Swansea. A proper full strength squad
would put on a better show, do you know what I mean. No Lanzini, No Payet,
No Carroll, No Moses, No Reid. I thought the back two today especially
Collins were a rock. Jelavic made his first start of the season, he wasn't
really a major threat, Valencia came in and got a few shots off for you.
From a Swansea point of view dominated possession with 73% of the ball but
only two shots on target"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons hang in and Payet-led cavalry on the way
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 21, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Leading ClaretandHugh blogger Rich Sprent has watched all the discussions
unfold on the forums and has come to some big conclusions on the present
state of play at Upton Park.

Normally we would add a 'rider' saying that the article reflects only the
views of the blogger and not necessarily ClaretandHugh but there's no need
this time – we agree with every word.

So where can this team finish? Top 10? Top 8? Top 6? Top 4? Fans'
expectations vary but certainly this team 'can beat anyone on our day'.

Some are finding that quite hard to swallow with the heart ripped from the
team over the past month or so. No wins in the last six games, no goals in
the last three. The creativity is missing. The team is cobbled together to
be 'hard to beat' and despite the really poor Villa being next up anything
other than a point looks to rely on some luck from somewhere.

So where are the positives? Three 0-0 draws on the bounce in a run that's
seen five draws and a humiliating loss at the hands of those preening cocks
of N17. Hard to see much to smile about?

I disagree. I am seeing the makings of a credible force. Yes, it's always
nice to see rip- roaring football, sublime skill and goals goals goals. They
say that you find more out about yourself during times of adversity than at
any other time. And this team are reminding me of the team that are
gatekeepers to being a consistent force in the Premier League top half –
Everton.

Whenever a West Ham side are beginning to purr it's usually the Toffess that
bring us down to earth. Despite being under-invested and having a relativity
small squad they show resilience in their spirit and continue to be a threat
on the European places year on year.

Slav has had to adapt his desire for having two flying fullbacks and a swarm
of attacking midfielders supporting a tirelessly running front man. Tomkins
has come in to good effect to shore things up, Collins throws himself in
front of everything. Antonio looks tireless in his work rate. They're doing
ok, even if not giving us what we all want.

The squad has been sorely tested and whilst the replacements lack all the
attributes of Sakho, Payet, Lanzini, Moses, Reid and big Andy they have
shown that they can stand up to teams and hang on in there.

Uninspiring as that may sound, that we have SIX players to come back in
contention for a starting spot and Valencia just back and getting minutes
under his belt, shows plenty.

It's not the exciting rip roaring free scoring Hammers that we know we are
when everyone's there. The cloth is being cut accordingly in a time of need.

We are six goals-for less than Everton and three less conceded. If we had
scored one more goal in each of the last six games we'd have converted five
draws to five wins. Another 10 points. We'd be 3 points behind the leaders
sitting in second spot.

IF, If, If… I know, I know, but… that we have hung in there and are still
sat in eighth spot is to be admired if not overly celebrated on the pitch in
front of the Bobby Moore Lower by manager and team.

The other unseen bonus is that the manager will have had ample opportunity
to see where the team's deficiencies lie.

The fullbacks have been a revelation, in how poor they've been. Tomkins is
doing a fantastic job standing in, but what we gain defensively from him, we
lose offensively. Alas, Jenkinson cannot be trusted without all the flair
players to link with when going forward.

And he doesn't seem to have the concentration in defending first that he had
last season. Cresswell is knuckling down and much more is expected from him
for the rest of the season. He has his moments both good and bad. He needs
to improve. Having to buy two fullbacks in the Summer could prove pricey.

Make no bones about it. We are in Plan B mode. Hunker down, try to nick a
win. It starts at the back. Having two fully operating fullbacks is
essential to fulfil the potential that the team can show. It provides width
when in possession and allows the creative swarm up front to do their thing.

Everton of the South? Not inspiring is it? It is a compliment however. That
we are top eight heading into the last two games of the calendar year is a
solid and good start for Slaven Bilic. We have seven draws. Only Sp*rs and
Everton have more.

Not getting beat when the chips are down is the way forward. The wagons are
circled and the Dimitri- Payet led cavalry are coming. Those reinforcements
will begin to make the difference as they each return over the last 21 games
of the season.

We sit above both Merseyside clubs. And I don't think it's a stretch to
estimate that three of the clubs above us, Watford, Palace and high flying
Leicester, wouldn't be above us if it was they who had six from their
preferred starting XI missing for over a month. I'd argue they'd be battling
the bottom 3.

Bring on the Villa and the Saints!

A huge ' Come on you Irons' and a 'Happy Holidays' to every Hammer
everywhere.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com