FT - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
WHUFC.com
Barclays Premier League, Villa Park, Saturday 26 December 2015
West Ham United drew for the fifth Barclays Premier League fixture in a row
after failing to land a Boxing Day knockout at bottom club Aston Villa. The
Hammers looked on course for a welcome first win in eight games when Aaron
Cresswell smashed home in first-half stoppage time, only for Jordan Ayew's
penalty to grab Villa a deserved point. The first half was a competitive
affair, even if the quality of play in the final third may not have been up
to the standard demanded by Slaven Bilic and Remi Garde. With injuries again
depriving Bilic of six first-team players, including five attackers, the
visitors struggled to create the clear-cut opportunities needed to put the
game beyond Villa after Cresswell's long-range strike.
West Ham's early momentum was slowed by another injury, with James Tomkins
suffering a nasty cut below his eye after clashing heads with Alan Hutton.
Despite resuming after lengthy treatment Tomkins would be replaced at
half-time. In the meantime, both sides went close once in the opening 25
minutes, Rudy Gestede heading Jordan Veretout's left-wing cross narrowly
wide before Mauro Zarate tested Brad Guzan with a low drive which the
American tipped past the post. After a period in the ascendancy, Villa then
lost Carlos Sanchez to a hamstring injury and then a goal to Cresswell, who
collected Michail Antonio's cross-field pass before firing a low, left-foot
shot past Guzan and into the bottom right-hand corner.
West Ham replaced Tomkins with Carl Jenkinson at the break and, after a
brief period of pressure from the visitors, Garde's men took control and
created a succession of decent chances. Gestede headed over before Adrian
dived to his right to keep out goal-bound efforts from Veretout and then the
big Benin striker, who proved to be a real handful on his return to the
starting XI. West Ham attacked sparingly, with Collins' glancing header over
the bar their only chance of note. Just after the hour-mark, Villa got their
reward for an improved showing when Angelo Ogbonna was penalised for
bundling over Gestede, and Ayew sent Adrian the wrong way from the penalty
spot.
Having levelled, Villa caused a few further moments of panic, but it was
West Ham who had the next half-chance, but penalty appeals were ignored
after Mark Noble's fierce volley thundered into Leandro Bacuna. Ashley
Westwood then volleyed over as Villa went back on the front foot, and
Collins had to be in exactly the right place to deny former teammate Hutton,
whose header looked destined for the Hammers net.
Bilic sent on Alex Song and Reece Oxford in a bid to slow the hosts' charge
and the move paid off, with Pedro Obiang testing Guzan, who then kept out
Valencia's dipping free-kick in the final minute of added time. In the final
analysis, West Ham may have surrendered their lead, but with so many regular
starters absent, this was another point earned through teamwork and
resilience. The Hammers will hope to welcome back some of those absent
players when they welcome Southampton to the Boleyn Ground on Monday 28
December at 5.30pm.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott (c), Bacuna, Westwood, Sanchez
(Gil 38), Gana, Veretout (Adama 83), Ayew, Gestede
Subs not used: Bunn (GK), Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Grealish
Goal: Ayew (61 pen)
Booked: Bacuna, Hutton, Lescott
West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins (Jenkinson 46), Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell
(Song 75), Obiang, Noble (c), Kouyate, Zarate (Oxford 85), Antonio, Valencia
Subs not used: Randolph (GK), Hendrie, Cullen, Parfitt-Williams
Goal: Cresswell (45+2)
Booked: Ogbonna, Collins, Kouyate
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Attendance: 38,661
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Mixed feelings for Cresswell
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell admitted the joy of scoring his first goal of the season was
tempered by frustration of letting Aston Villa grab a Barclays Premier
League draw on Boxing Day.
The left-back hammered his side in front in first-half stoppage time at
Villa Park, but the visitors were pegged pack and forced to settle for a
fifth stalemate in succession through Jordan Ayew's second-half penalty.
Injury added to insult for the No3, who was forced off with a minor
hamstring injury with 15 minutes remaining, ending his ever-present
top-flight record stretching back to his arrival in summer 2014.
"It's frustrating because, especially in the first half, I thought we had
some very good spells and we thoroughly deserved our lead at half-time,"
Cresswell told whufc.com.
"Going into the second half, it's disappointing that we didn't hold onto the
lead, but we're knew they were going to fight until the end because they're
in a massive relegation fight.
"We're just disappointed we had to settle for a draw and didn't come away
with the three points."
Before suffering second half heartache, Cresswell was able to celebrate his
first goal since April, collecting a cross-field pass from Michail Antonio
before blasting low past Brad Guzan from 25 yards.
The defender revealed how he expected to get forward regularly after Slaven
Bilic opted to start with a 4-4-2 diamond formation that saw the four
midfielders play compact and narrow, opening up space for him to run into.
"We knew myself and Tonks were going to get a lot of the ball and Michail
has switched the ball fantastically, I took a touch and shot and thankfully
it's gone in the bottom corner.
"It's nice to get goals and assists, but first and foremost as a defender
it's about clean sheets. We've conceded one goal in four games which is not
too bad when you look at it.
"Obviously we want to get the three points more than clean sheets and the
goals. That said, it's another point on the board and we've got a lot of
games coming up over the next two weeks and we've got to look forward to
Southampton now."
Cresswell was unsure whether the decision to penalise Angelo Ogbonna for a
foul on Rudy Gestede for Ayew's penalty was the correct one, while also
pointing to a late incident inside the Villa box, when Ashley Westwood
appeared to handle Alex Song's through-ball.
"I initially thought it was a foul on Angelo at first, but I think it was a
penalty. I'd have to see it again, though, looking at it from where I was on
the pitch.
"We could have had a couple of penalties ourselves there. I was sat inside
the dressing room in the last ten minutes watching the game on TV and Alex
had a little ball that he tried to dink over, their lad has clearly
handballed it and the ref hasn't given it."
While there was some frustration at failing to beat the Premier League's
bottom side, who have won just once all season, Cresswell said the Hammers
had to take pride in the fact they have become so hard to beat despite their
recent injury issues.
"Every team in the Premier League has got international and they're all
fantastic players. I said last week that an away point is never the worst
result in the world, but of course we fancied ourselves coming here, as
they're low on confidence whereas ours is quite high.
"It's bitterly disappointing we didn't hold onto the lead and take the three
points."
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Bilic - We'll take the point
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic had mixed feelings after Aston Villa
came from behind to claim a point against his team on Boxing Day. The
Hammers led 1-0 at the break thanks to Aaron Cresswell's fine strike, but
were pegged back by Jordan Ayew's second half penalty.
It extended the Londoners' draw streak to five, and Bilic said all things
considered, with their injury list, the result should be seen as a positive.
"Before the game we are looking to win it, and especially at half-time when
we are 1-0 up," he said. "Of course we knew they would come at us, but we
hoped we could frustrate them by keeping the ball or hurt them with the
space behind. "Unfortunately we didn't do it and they were awarded a penalty
which gave them a lift. To be fair, when you consider the whole situation
with injuries before the game, and even during the game, we will take the
point as a good one away from home."
The award of Villa's spot kick, for a foul on Rudy Gestede by Angelo
Ogbonna, was also a source of frustration for the Gaffer. He explained: "For
me, I had a good angle and Ogbonna was in front of Gestede. The only reason
Gestede came in front of Ogbonna is that he pulled his shirt. "It's not just
a quick one, it lasted, so for me it was a foul. But then he's given a
penalty, and then there's been a couple of handballs which at least one
should have been rewarded with a penalty. "We didn't, we can't change it.
We can moan, but what's the point of that?"
Bilic now faces a wait to see whether James Tomkins and Aaron Cresswell will
make Monday's visit of Southampton after departing the action early due to
injury. He added: "It's very frustrating to have both full-backs out of the
game [during the course of it]. With Tomkins it's a situation that long-term
it's nothing serious but his eye is shut and the problem is the game is in a
couple of days time. "Cresswell, he felt some tightness and it was a
precaution [to take him off]. We have to wait until tomorrow."
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Aston Villa 1 West Ham 1
26 December 2015
Last updated at 21:58
By Aimee Lewis
BBC Sport
A Jordan Ayew penalty helped bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa come from
behind to earn a draw against a West Ham team which has not won since 24
October. In an evenly contested game, Villa twice went close in the first
half through Rudy Gestede before Aaron Cresswell scored with a low strike.
The spirited hosts levelled through Ayew after Gestede was clumsily felled
by Angelo Ogbonna. As Villa searched for the winner, Alan Hutton went close
with a header. But the right-back's effort was cleared by James Collins as
West Ham held on for their fifth successive draw to remain ninth in the
league.
Villa have now battled back to earn a point in successive league matches,
but Remi Garde's team desperately need to start collecting three points if
they are to overcome the odds and maintain their Premier League status.
Garde has yet to oversee a Villa victory since succeeding Tim Sherwood as
manager at the beginning of November, although there may be some solace in
the desire his side displayed against a well-organised West Ham side despite
falling behind just before half-time. The grim reality, however, is that
Villa have not won since the opening day of the season and are now 10
matches without a win at Villa Park and nine points from safety. Only three
of the previous 23 sides who were bottom of the Premier League on Christmas
Day have avoided relegation, although the last two sides in that position -
Leicester in 2014 and Sunderland in 2013 - did both survive.
Although Villa fans might look at their mid-table rivals with envy, Slaven
Bilic's side are enduring a slump of their own slump after promising
early-season form. The Londoners' winless run has coincided with the absence
of the injured Dimitri Payet - scorer of five goals in an impressive start
since his arrival from Marseilles - and the France international's return in
the New Year will be welcomed by Bilic's injury-hit side. West Ham are
defensively sound - enjoying three successive clean sheets prior to this
match - but currently lack cutting edge in front of goal.
Not many sides would have been as obliging as Villa in giving Cresswell the
freedom to roam down the left, before cutting inside and striking low into
the far corner from the edge of the box to end West Ham's 388-minute goal
drought. The Hammers had their chances, with Cheikhou Kouyate hitting the
crossbar before Cresswell opened the scoring, but a draw was a fair result
as the visitors' verve died away after the break and the hosts came back
into it.
Man of the match - Jordan Ayew
Gestede was instrumental for Villa, but it was Ayew who led the hosts'
attack and scored a great penalty to give his team hope of survival. The
24-year-old summer signing has now scored five goals for Villa in nine games
and was adventurous and industrious.
What the managers said
Aston Villa boss Remi Garde: "I knew this game was crucial for us. I wanted
to win. A draw was not the goal for this game. "We only missed the points.
What we put into this game was probably the best we can do. I think we
deserved more than we got. I am frustrated and also a bit sad for my
players. "We are still in a very bad position but when I see my team play
it's very encouraging. The performance we gave was not a bottom one. We have
to score goals and be more efficient in the offensive parts."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Villa's penalty: "I am not happy with that
of course. From my point of view I saw Rudy Gestede was pulling Ogbonna's
shirt. With that it gained him an advantage and he got in front of Angelo.
For me it was a foul. "He gave a penalty but if he gave that he should have
given a penalty for one of the handballs for us. Unfortunately, he didn't.
"It's mixed emotions for us. When you are leading 1-0 at half-time against a
team which is fighting for their lives and nervous, you expect to win the
game. "They scored a penalty and then got the momentum so it was a fair
point. With the injuries and everything that happened we showed good
character. We got a point away from home which is good. Hopefully we will
have a few players back very soon."
The stats you need to know
Aston Villa are now winless in 17 Premier League games - only four teams
have ever had a longer run in the division (Derby 32, Sunderland 26, Norwich
21 and Nottingham Forest 19 - QPR also had a run of 17).
West Ham have recorded five successive top-flight draws for the first time
since October 1968.
Aaron Cresswell scored his first Premier League goal since April and his
first for the Hammers away from Upton Park.
Aston Villa have won just one of their past 15 games on Boxing Day (Won 1,
Drawn 5, Lost 9).
The Hammers have earned 16 points on the road so far this season, the same
tally as in the whole of last season.
What next?
Prior to this match, Garde had said his team needed "at least 10 victories"
from their remaining 21 matches to avoid relegation, and one of those
victories must surely come against fellow strugglers Norwich on Monday.
On the same day, West Ham will hope to end their eight-match winless run
against a Southampton side which enjoyed a thumping 4-0 win over Arsenal on
Boxing Day.
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Defensive duo doubtful for Southampton clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer
Aaron Cresswell and James Tomkins are both doubful for Monday 's game
against Southampton after both were substituted during this afternoon's 1-1
draw at Aston Villa. Full back Cresswell was substituted midway through the
second half after feeling a hamstring whilst Tomkins, playing out of
position at rigth back was replaced at half time after his eye closed up
following a first half challenge.
Slaven Bilic, speaking after the game about the two key players told
reporters: "It's very frustrating to have both full-backs out of the game.
"With Tomkins it's a situation that long-term is nothing serious, but his
eye is shut and the problem is the game is in a couple of days time.
Cresswell felt some tightness and it was a precaution. We have to wait until
tomorrow."
On the positive side, Bilic expects to have both Andy Carroll and Manuel
Lanzini - neither of whom were risked at Villa Park today - available for
selection once again following recent injuries.
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Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham were denied the opportunity to record their first win in eight
games deep into injury time.
Mike Dean, so often the scourge of West Ham over the years dropped another
clanger at Villa Park this afternoon when he failed to award Slaven Bilic's
side a cast-iron penalty for a clear hand ball by Ashley Westwood from an
Alex Song shot.
However to concede a spot kick at the death would have been harsh on the
hosts, who - despite having failed to win a Premier League game since the
opening day of the season in August - were by far the better side in a game
Hammers fans will be keen to forget.
Slaven Bilic's side, bereft of its key attacking personnel were distinctly
second best and despite having drawn a fifth successive game, have now taken
just six points from the last possible 24 - a sequence that has seen them
slip towards mid-table obscurity following a promising start to the
campaign.
Yet it was the Hammers who took the lead on the stroke of half time through
Aaron Cresswell, scoring his first goal of the season, against the run of
play.
Two minutes after Cheik Kouyate's glancing header had skimmed the crossbar,
and deep into first half injury time, the left back took advantage of acres
of room on the left-hand side to drive towards the penalty area from where
he unleashed a powerful drive that beat Brad Guzan's low to his left.
For a Villa side already bereft of confidence, that should have been a
killer blow. However the Hammers inexplicable allowed the hosts to take
control of the second period from the restart and the only surprise was that
it took them so long to equalise.
Tinged with controversy, the goal that levelled the game came from the
penalty spot after Angelo Ogbonna was adjudged to have felled Rudy Gestede
inside the penalty area. West Ham claims that Villa's striker impeded the
Italian international appeared to have some merit - even if they were
entirely ignored by referee Dean.
As the game wore on, only one side looked like winning the game and Adrian
was called into action time and time again - whilst James Collins, fresh
from signing a new two-year contract extension, ensured parity was
maintained with a goal-line clearance 16 minutes from time.
Yet it was West Ham who should have been afforded the opportunity to take
all three points when substitute Alex Song's shot was clearly handled by
Westwood in the third minute of added-on time. Despite protestations from
Bilic's men, the Villa midfielder was allowed to proceed unpunished by the
referee - and the game subsequently ended in a stalemate.
The draw extends West Ham's unbeaten run to four games, following earlier
draws against West Brom, Man United and Stoke. However concerns over
United's ability to break opposition teams down continue to arise.
Today saw Bilic start with nine players who were part of Sam Allardyce's
squad last season - and the performance was not dissimilar in style to those
produced on the road by Big Sam during his tenure at the club, with West Ham
apparently content to sit deep and play a containing game.
Although marginally better than last weekend when they managed just 27 per
cent possession against Swansea (it was 41 per cent today), on the road
Bilic's team are currently a shadow of the side that began the campaign in
such inventive, attacking fashion.
Whilst much of that is down to the absence of key creators such as Dimitri
Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses - and a key striker in Diafra Sakho -
the team appear to be content to merely tread water until their return.
That said, Bilic will no doubt have been the happier of the two managers at
the final whistle - with the point leaving Villa four points adrift at the
foot of the table still waiting for their first win since the opening day of
the season.
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Bilic disappointed with a point
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic has expressed his disappointment after Aston Villa came from
behind to earn a share of the spoils at Villa Park this afternoon. West Ham
were leading at half time thanks to Aaron Cresswell's excellent strike in
first half injury time. However the hosts came back to earn a point thanks
to Rudy Gestede's second half penalty - which arrived in dubious
circumstances, according to Bilic.
"I am not happy with that," he admitted post match. "From my point of view I
saw Rudy Gestede was pulling Ogbonna's shirt. With that, it gained him an
advantage and he got in front of Angelo. For me it was a foul. "He [referee
Mike Dean] gave a penalty, but if he gave that he should have given a
penalty for one of the handballs for us. Unfortunately, he didn't. "They
scored the penalty and then got the momentum, so it was a fair point. With
the injuries and everything that happened we showed good character and we
got a point away from home, which is good. Hopefully we will have a few
players back very soon."
Yet the manager - whose team have collected just six points from the last
possible 24, despite going unbeaten in their last five matches (all of which
have been drawn) - revealed that he was disappointed to lose the lead once
again. "It's mixed emotions for us," he said. "Before the game we are
looking to win it, and especially at half-time when we were 1-0 up. When you
are leading at half-time against a team which is fighting for their lives
and nervous, you expect to win the game. "Of course we knew they would come
at us, but we hoped we could frustrate them by keeping the ball or hurt them
with the space behind. Unfortunately we didn't do it and they were awarded a
penalty which gave them a lift. "To be fair, when you consider the whole
situation with injuries before the game, and even during the game, we will
take the point as a good one away from home."
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We deserved to win, says Garde
KUMb.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer
Aston Villa boss Remi Garde believes his side deserved to beat West Ham at
Villa Park this afternoon.
The French manager is still seeking his first win since becoming Villa boss
two months ago next week. However he felt his team, four points adrift at
the bottom of the Premier League were hard done by against an under-strength
Hammers side today.
"This game was crucial for us. I wanted to win," he told the media
post-match. "A draw was not the goal for this game. We only missed the
points, what we put into this game was probably the best we can do. I think
we deserved more than we got. I am frustrated and also a bit sad for my
players.
"We are still in a very bad position but when I see my team play [like that]
it's very encouraging. The performance we gave was not a bottom one but we
have to score goals and be more efficient in the offensive parts."
Yet Garde - who team found themselves 1-0 down at half time before grabbing
a second half equaliser from the penalty spot - also found time to praise
West Ham's defensive capabilities.
"West Ham defended very well," he added. "We knew they would because they
have had three clean sheets in a row in their last three games. We knew it
would be difficult to score goals today.
"But if you include the last 45 minutes at Newcastle, we've played good
football for a long time now - we just haven't been rewarded with the goals
which is a little bit frustrating.
"But the way we put them under pressure today was a very nice feeling. The
players did very well - what I was looking for. I am just very disappointed
for the lads because they fought very hard for 90 minutes."
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Slaven Bilic believes West Ham should have been awarded a penalty at Aston
Villa
Last Updated: 26/12/15 8:34pm
SSN
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic felt his side should have been awarded a penalty
in their Boxing Day draw with Aston Villa. The Hammers took the lead at
Villa Park thanks to Aaron Cresswell's strike in first half stoppage time
before Villa hit back through Jordan Ayew, who converted a penalty after
Angelo Ogbonna was adjudged to have fouled Rudy Gestede. The visitors then
saw two penalty claims waved away by referee Mike Dean, as both Leandro
Bacuna and Ashley Westwood escaped punishment for handling the ball in the
area. "We had two appeals for handballs and, for me, if the referee gave
them that penalty, he should have given us at least one, but he didn't,"
Bilic told Sky Sports. The Croatian questioned Dean's awarding of Aston
Villa's penalty, adding: "In my opinion, Ogbonna was in front of Gestede and
the only reason Gestede was able to get in front of Ogbonna was to because
he pulled his shirt. "For me it was a foul, the referee gave a penalty. We
can't change it, we have to move on, that's it."
The result at Villa Park was West Ham's fifth consecutive draw, although
Cresswell''s strike, his first since April, ensured the Hammers avoided
becoming the fourth team to play out four straight goalless draws. And Bilic
had no qualms with the final result, praising his side for their resilient
display as the club continues to deal with a severe injury crisis. "It was a
fair result; it was a good English game, very direct," he added. "We are not
totally happy because we were winning at half-time and we were expecting not
only to hold on but to resist their attacks and then have space to hurt them
and score a second one which would have probably killed the game off.
"Unfortunately we weren't able to score and after the break they were
awarded a penalty. After 1-1 it could have gone either way so with all those
things, and when you consider all of the injuries before the game and during
the game, it's a good point for us. The guys are battling, the guys are
fighting. We are not playing the way we played before and we are not playing
the way we would like but we are showing that character and we are picking
up points and not losing games. "Hopefully a few players will be back soon
and it's very important to go through this period but not losing games at
least."
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Four Premier League sides keen to sign Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie in January
22:30, 26 DEC 2015
BY TOM HOPKINSON
But Cherries boss Eddie Howe knows he cannot allow one of his top stars to
leave if they are to retain their Premier League status this season
The Mirror
Everton boss Roberto Martinez wants to sign Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth.
The Goodison Park gaffer is one of a number of Premier League bosses who
would love to have the 26-year-old in the ranks, with West Ham and West Brom
also keen. Even Manchester United are keeping tabs on the player, as we
first told you back in the summer. The problem for Martinez and his rivals,
however, is that Cherries boss Eddie Howe knows he cannot allow one of his
top stars to leave if they are to retain their Premier League status this
season. Ritchie, who signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract at
Bournemouth 11 months ago, has consistently been a stand-out performer for
the Dean Court side since they won promotion.
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Hammers slip to tenth in league
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 26, 2015 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H
One year ago today West Ham sat in fifth place after a Boxing Day two nil
away defeat Chelsea. After 18 games last term we managed nine wins, four
draws and five losses. We had 31 points and a goal difference of +8
conceding 21 goals but scoring 29 goals before Boxing day 2014.
Fast forward 365 days, we have won six games, drawn eight games and lost
four games. We have 26 points and a goal difference of +4, scoring 26 goals
but conceding 22 in the opposite direction.
Of course it is dangerous to compare the style of Sam Allardyce with Slaven
Bilic or put these two stats next to each other to tell us anything
meaningful.
It is strange season where Leicester City lead the league at the time of
writing, Crystal Palace sit in fifth place with 30 points and Manchester
United drop to sixth after four losses on the trot and no win in seven games
for the first time since 1990. Watford are also a surprise package sitting
in seventh place above us.
Some have argued we were in a false position when we sat in third place
earlier this season and a top six finish is unachievable this season. Our
wins against Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea seem a distant memory.
We have have not won in eight games since we beat Chelsea on 24th October
and today recorded our 5th draw in a row.
It is first time since October 1968 that West Ham have recorded five draws
in a row in the top flight.
If you were wondering when is the last time we didn't win in eight games it
was only last season although it included the West Bromwich Albion game in
the FA Cup. (7 league games and 1 FA Cup match) From Liverpool 31st Jan to
Arsenal 14th March.
Before that it was eleven games without a win with three West Ham managers
in charge. Avram Grant. Kevin Keen and Big Sam which included 9 losses and 2
draws. That bad run started with Stoke in the FA Cup 13th March. Keen took
charge for the last game of the season which we lost 3-0 to Sunderland. Sam
took charge first game of the following season and lost 1-0 to Cardiff City.
Before that run it was eight straight losses under Pardew 2006-07 includes 3
Cup games including 2 against Palermo. Roeder also had a twelve game run
without a win. My thanks to Steve Marsh for the historic stats above.
Poor old Aston Villa are now winless in 17 Premier League games - only four
teams have ever had a longer such run in the division (Derby 32, Sunderland
26, Norwich 21 and Nottingham Forest 19 - QPR also had a run of 17).
I am all for respecting the point but we need turn a corner very soon if we
don't want to slip further down the Premier League table.
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Sorry Irons - that simply wasn't good enough
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 26, 2015 in Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H
Match verdict
That was unacceptable - no ifs, no buts.simply not on!
However, within 10 mins of the game finishing there was a Twitter poll
running asking if Slaven Bilic was the right manager, or whether we need a
new boss. That too is equally unacceptable, indeed ridiculous.
Various things shocked me today but chiefly that Villa appeared to want it
so much more than us. Running that a close second was the fact that we
failed to control the ball al over the pitch or picked up second - or indeed
sometimes - third balls.
It was very very poor but for the record Villa scored their equaliser from a
very soft Ogbonna 'foul' and we should have had a couple ourselves notably
at the end when Westwood clearly used his arm inside the box to stop a
Hammers advance.
That is mentioned merely for the record and does not excuse the lightweight
performance which we really should have gone on to win after Aaron
Cresswell's beautiful angled shot which gave us the lead in first half
injury time.
Villa though cam out like men possessed in the second half and sadly we let
them play all round us before equalising when Ogbonna - running behind
Gestede was adjudged by ref Mike Dean to have brought him down. It was
marginal at best! Ayew however, took the coolest of spot kicks lifting the
ball high past Adrian.
However, we should have had one of our own in the 69th minute when Bacuna's
hands were up to push away a Noble piledriver which Dean presumably saw as
ball to hand. Doubtful.
Seven minutes later James Collins headed off the line and right at the end
Valencia saw a great free kick pushed around a post but it has to be said
that Villa were guvnors for much too long.
There are two ways of vewing the current run of results. You can see it as
all totally unacceptable and question the manager or you can be positive and
view it as an unbeaten run of five games in a very difficult time.
Today simply wasn't good enough against a team with a work ethic and not
much else. Hopefully Manu Lanzini will be back on Monday and Dimi Payet for
Liverpool.
That will make a difference but there's also a worry that we are stuck into
a defensive mode from which the players may find it hard to emerge.
We're in ninth place with another winnable match to come on Monday - it
needs to be won.
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Leroy: 'It's time to break the cycle and get positive'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 26, 2015 in Leroy's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H
Leroy Rosenior
Ok, we've all been very understanding of the injury crisis and accepted the
goal-less draws that have come our way over the last three games. BUT, we
simply cannot go to Villa Park this afternoon and defend for our lives and
just hope that something happens to break for us in their penalty area .
Villa are bottom of the League and their defence is very poor so we have to
make it pay. We cannpt be in a mood of gifting them ground, points and any
kind of morale boosting result. We really do need to get on the front foot
and make it happen for us. I think I was proved right about Jelavic - he's
not got any line leading virtues for me and I'd be tempted to play Antonio
through the middle and push Kouyate up behind him with Zarate down the left.
Look, these are not poor players. They have a lot about them and if we let
them loose they can beat Villa who really are not a good side. We need a win
- plain and simple. This defensive way of playing is all well and good and
it's been understandable but the trouble is once you get into this mindset
it isn't easy to break it when the flair players come back. The back four
looks after itself and with Noble and Song in front doing the holding, there
is plenty of opportunity for Kouyate to join in with the likes of Zarate,
Valencia and Antonio. We have enough to in this and I expect us to 2-1. But
Jelavic? He's not for me!
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Gold thrilled with Bilic decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 26, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Gold is delighted that Slaven Bilic insisted that James Collins was
offered a new deal at the club.
Ginge goes back to his former club Villa this afternoon clearly wanting to
celebrate the two year deal with a much needed victory.
And Gold - speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh - said: "If there was ever
a player who deserved it James is that man. His dedication to this club has
been immense and he couldn't be more pleased. I'm delighted for him.
"Slaven made the decision and we are all pleased to bits because we love
Ginge and it means he will probably see his career out with us."
Ginge spent three years at Villa between his two spells for the Irons and a
win up there this afternoon would be a perfect Christmas present for him and
the team."
Gold said: "He's shown such enormous application and was immense against
Swansea. He is the perfect role model for the young players at the club. A
real club man."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, December 27
Saturday, December 26
Daily WHUFC News - 26th December 2015
Preview - Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
The background
West Ham United make a festive trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day looking to
end an eight-game wait for victory.
The Hammers have drawn their last three games without a goal being scored -
a record Premier League streak for the Club - so will be hoping to break
their duck against bottom-of-the-table Villa.
Having been hurt by an extensive injury list to their attacking players,
West Ham's goal threat has been blunted in recent weeks, but fine defensive
work has meant they have continued to pick up points.
Villa haven't won since the opening day of the season and have only picked
up seven points to date.
One of those came last time out as Jordan Ayew's goal earned them a 1-1 draw
at fellow strugglers Newcastle United.
The game kicks off a busy Christmas for the Hammers, with games against
Southampton and Liverpool to follow.
The history
West Ham United and Aston Villa have met 108 times in all competitions going
into Saturday's fixture.
West Ham hold the edge with 39 wins to the Villans' 38. Last season the pair
drew 0-0 at the Boleyn Ground, but at Villa Park Tom Cleverley's goal gave
the hosts a 1-0 victory.
The Hammers' record win over Villa is the 7-2 success they enjoyed in 1958.
The match
Team news
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic will once again be without defender Winston Reid on Saturday as
he continues his recovery from a thigh injury.
Diafra Sakho is also out due to a thigh problem, while the Villa game comes
too soon for Dimitri Payet (ankle).
Manuel Lanzini has a slight chance of returning after his hamstring trouble
while Andy Carroll may also feature after missing the trip to Swansea with a
groin injury. Victor Moses (hamstring) is out.
Aston Villa
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.
Match info
- Saturday's referee is Mike Dean. He will be assisted by Mark Scholes and
Ian Hussin. Peter Bankes is the fourth official.
- West Ham have won just one of their last eight games at Villa Park (D2,
L5).
- 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.
- 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
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other details
- There will be a limited number of tickets available to Hammers fans at
Villa Park. Click here for details.
- No trains will be running from London to Birmingham in Boxing Day. Click
here for traffic news.
- Saturday is set to be a cloudy day with temperatures reaching 13C (55F) at
kick-off.
- If you're not heading to the game make sure you keep up to date on our
digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre has live audio commentary and
text updates, in-running stats and pictures and more. You can get involved
with the conversation on social using the hashtag #AVLWHU
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Cresswell eyeing Villa Park victory
WHUFC.com
Ever-present left-back Aaron Cresswell insisted his side will not
underestimate the challenge Aston Villa pose when the two sides face each
other at 3pm today.
Despite the hosts having accumulated just seven points so far this season,
Cresswell maintained that the Hammers will have to be at their best if they
are to come away from Villa Park with maximum points.
Speaking ahead of the Boxing Day clash, Cresswell said: "It's going to be
another tough game as every Premier League game is. We're fully aware of the
quality they have, there's no easy game as some recent results have shown.
It's a crazy league this season, just look at Bournemouth's results against
Chelsea and Manchester United.
"I genuinely don't think you ever say we're guaranteed three points. Yes,
Villa haven't won in ten games but it's a bonkers this season, anyone can
beat anyone, particularly around Christmas."
Meanwhile, the Hammers are looking for their first win in nine games as
injuries have depleted the Hammers' frontline.
In the absence of the likes of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Diafra Sakho
and Victor Moses, the defensive rear-guard have more than proved their worth
by securing three consecutive clean sheets.
Cresswell continued: "I think those clean sheets does give us confidence; we
haven't won in a while but we've kept clean sheets which is the next best
thing, we have to take the positives out of every game, and that has been
the main thing.
"Clean sheets, particularly away from home are massive. Any point away from
home is not a bad result, both Manchester United and Swansea City were tough
games, so to come away with two points and two clean sheets is certainly not
the end of the world."
Currently eighth with 25 points from 17 games, the Hammers face a tricky
festive period of games, hosting Southampton on the Monday 28th before the
early kick off with Liverpool on Saturday 2 January.
Reflecting on a positive first half of the campaign, Cresswell is hoping to
maintain their form in the second half: "We got a few big wins at the start
of the season which was great. The first half of the season as a whole is a
positive one, the injuries haven't helped, touch wood we don't pick up any
more and we'll get a few players back soon. We're all looking forward to the
second half of the season.
"I'm not sure exactly when the injured lads are going to be back but it
sounds like they'll be back a bit earlier than expected, we're all looking
forward to having them back as soon as possible.
"There's plenty of positives for us to take into 2016, we want to finish in
that top half, then we have the move to the new stadium to look forward to."
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The (ex) Rev's Christmas Message: expect a miracle!
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th December 2015
By: Elwin Cockett
As traditional now as the Queen's annual address, Archdeacon of West Ham and
Chair of Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Education Elwin Cockett shares his
annual Christmas message with the readers of Knees up Mother Brown ...
If Christmas is a time for poignant memories of people and times past,
that's doubly true for West Ham fans this year.
Leaving the Boleyn Ground is something that we've known was going to happen
for some years, but suddenly, as 2016 looms, it is all too real. Only a few
months' games are left now and, whatever routine we follow on a match day,
whether it involves Ken's Café or Nathan's, a pint in the Queens or the
Boleyn, or simply that familiar stroll down Green Street from the station to
the ground, all that's going to change before we know it.
All of us have our best memories of Upton Park. For me, standing on the
North Bank as a teenager is among them, and then, years later, getting to
know many of the remarkable people who have made West Ham United what it is.
When the wonderful Sir Geoff Hurst introduced himself to my daughter - at
that time a little girl - by saying "Hello, I'm George Best!", she knew
straight away that he wasn't because she knew his face very well from all my
memorabilia.
One privilege I will never forget was leading a memorial service for
'Budgie' Byrne, one of that cohort of players who lit up English football in
the mid-sixties.
Budgie's wife, Margaret, asked whether I could arrange the service, which
took place St Margaret's Church in Barking, followed by lunch together and
then a match at Upton Park. After the game, once the crowd had gone, his
family, friends and team-mates gathered around the centre circle to end the
day as we'd started it, remembering Budgie as a husband, a father, a mate
and as a player in the most successful West Ham team of all time. Steve
Bacon's photo of that moment is very special to me.
Speaking of Steve Bacon, the iconic club photographer, it was good to see
the West Ham family rallying round when he was hospitalised earlier this
year. Steve, if you're reading this, thousands of West Ham fans are wishing
you all the best, mate.
Perhaps the most poignant loss for me this year was that of Gina Allen, who
died after a courageous battle with cancer. For many years, Gina was the
staff member responsible for enabling disabled fans to watch West Ham, and
numerous supporters loved her for that. But she was also one of those people
that any organisation needs – a positive, caring person who always looks out
for the needs of others. She is much missed.
One happier memory is of how KUMB.com readers have responded to my appeal
for funds to build Grace's Place, a children's literacy centre in rural
Ghana. There are real challenges to pulling together such a project, but
with your help – and the help of the wonderful Kosmo Vinyl and the lovely
people at KUMB, I'm sure that we can make Grace's Place everything that we
want it to be for the children of that part of Africa. Thank you to everyone
who has contributed so far.
Finally, if Christmas gives an opportunity to look back, it's also a time to
look ahead, and we West Ham fans have SO much to look forward to. I haven't
always been a fan of developments in recent years, but I have to admit that
Karren Brady, David Gold and David Sullivan have done an amazing job in
getting us to where we are.
2016 sees the start of a whole new era for our club, and one that we can be
very excited about. When we remember how things were for West Ham following
the banking crisis, when wise men everywhere were writing us off, the club's
re-birth seems nothing short of a miracle. So, well done to our owners, and
perhaps it's a reminder that we should all remember to look for the best –
to look for a miracle, even - rather than going on about 'same old West
Ham'.
So, in the same spirit, let me close with a bit of poetry from my favourite
writer, U.A.Fanthorpe. She wrote some great Christmas poems, and this is one
of the greatest. It's a reminder to go on looking for a miracle, every day.
Merry Christmas, everyone – and a very happy New Year.
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Slaven Bilic urges Villa boss Remi Garde "don't be a realist if you want to
stay up"
22:30, 25 DEC 2015
BY NEIL MCLEMAN
"He doesn't have a car that can drive 100mph and he says he wants to drive
150mph" says West Ham boss ahead of their Boxing Day clash
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has claimed Aston Villa cannot afford to be realistic if they
want to stay up this season. New boss Remi Garde has set the Premier
League's bottom club a target of winning 10 of their last 21 games to stay
up – after failing to win in their last 16. Mission Impossible will have to
start with the Frenchman's first win against West Ham at Villa Park on
Boxing Day. But the Hammers proved miracles can happen when Alan
Curbishley's team beat the drop by winning seven of their final nine games
in 2007. And current Hammers boss Bilic said: "What is the point of being
realistic and what does it mean? "He doesn't have a car that can drive
100mph and he says he wants to drive 150mph. He has a football team – it's
live, it changes, he's optimistic. "Would he say he doesn't have a chance?
On the contrary, he is acting exactly like anybody would do. He is working
with them, he has seen a lot of positive things. They are fighting for their
lives. They have some quality players who can harm you. "What he wants is a
little bit of luck, to win two or three games and then it changes like that.
There are so many games left. They have a chance."
Bilic played against the former Arsenal midfielder – and got to know him
when Garde coached Dejan Lovren at Lyon. READ MORE: Aston Villa will
struggle to attract players in January if they remain adrift at the bottom,
admits Remi Garde "It's a brave decision to take on Villa but it's the
Premier League, it's a massive club, it's Villa," said the former Croatia
coach. "To manage every club nowadays is a very brave decision. You would
say the same if Guardiola signs for whoever he signs for. You have to be
brave to be involved in football. Who wouldn't take it, let's be honest?"
"We are coping well without the injured players," Bilic insisted. "We have
shown character and team spirit. And, when they come back, they will be
like new signings."
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Half term report card: How the Hammers rated
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 25, 2015 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H
The Board: David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady A+
The board have once again put their money where their mouths are, they
invested heavily in the summer and continue to address the legacy debt
problems. They took a huge risk in appointing Slaven Bilic which has paid
off handsomely. They are building towards our move to the Olympic Stadium
while respecting the past of the Boleyn Ground.
The Manager: Slaven Bilic and his back room staff B+
Great start by the former Hammers player, he has achieved beyond most media
and fan expectations so far. The fans and players are fully behind him and
there is a different atmosphere at West Ham following the departure of Sam
Allardyce last season. A dream start for the Croatian with wins against
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. Only marked him slightly down on
his choice of Jelavic for a permanent transfer, some of his substitutions
and no win in seven games but can improve second half of the season.
The Players: B+
Payet, Sakho and Lanzini have been the stand out players this season before
injuries and deserve an A+. Add to them solid B+ performances from Adrian,
Cresswell, Reid, Ogbonna, Collins, Noble, Kouyate and Zarate. Carroll,
Jenkinson, Moses and Song could do better and rate C for me. Too early to
say on Antonnio but I will gibe him a B- with room to improve.
Entertainment Value: B+
We certainly got our hallowed 'West Ham way' back this season. West Ham have
been a joy to watch when we were at full strength without injuries. Watching
games is no longer a chore (mostly). Three nil-nil results in recent times
and no win in seven games has taken the edge off the first half of the
season and the previous entertainment value. The Swansea game was a perfect
example of poor entertainment value but the whole very good and promising
for the future.
The Results: A
To be in eighth position in the Premier League on Christmas day is a great
achievement having been as high as third in the League at one point.
Finishing in eighth position at the end of the season would be a great
effort for Bilic's first season in charge but we could push on for a top six
finish with a bit of luck and no more injuries.
The Fans: A+
As always we have some of the best fans in the world, our away support and
experience is amazing and every one of our home League games at the Boleyn
Ground has been a complete sell out this season. Even our European games to
virtually unknown teams were well attended and our FA Cup match against
Wolves is due to sell out too.
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Jarvis deal won't tempt Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are unlikely to to be tempted into the January market despite
making room in the budget via the sale of Matt Jarvis to Norwich.
With £2.5 million in the bank and £40k a week freed up from his wages, the
club might have considered a move but sources inside the club have made it
clear that's highly improbable. Despite concluding a clever deal, the board
are set to keep the cash in their pockets having learned some lessons from
the January 'madness.' ClaretandHugh was told last night: "It's not a place
where we want to go given past experience. Where you get loan players better
than the ones we have. Have any of our January past loans really contributed
very much? £2.5 million is hardly a fortune and could probably be put to be
better use in the summer."
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Moncur jnr would love Irons return
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
George Moncur has spoken for the first time about his departure from the
club he loves – West Ham United. But don't expect a bitter outburst from the
Colchester midfielder who, with nine goals out of midfield so far this
season, has beaten his goal tally for last term.
The 22 year old was ditched by Sam Allardyce in 2014 and said: "I would love
nothing more than to go back to my club one day but I have to show that I am
worth that and believe that despite our league position I am playing well.
"I'm more than happy with my own game but we need to get off the bottom of
the table and out of the relegation spots."
George remembers being told his West Ham days were a thing of the past but
refuses to issue an angry outburst against then manager Sam Allardyce. He
said: "The manager has to make decisions. It was very, very hard to swallow
but you have to get on with it and one day I want to believe I'll make my
way back there. "It's the club where my Dad played for so long. I love the
place. Praps one day but I need to show I am good enough to play at the
highest level."
He believes the Hammers – despite their injury list – are a club on the up
under Slaven Bilic declaring: "He has had some great results and Dimi Payet
and Lanzini have really lit the club up. They are going to be fine and are
looking good. "They play some great football and I catch them whenever it's
possible. I still love the club with a passion" and again he muses "Perhaps
one day!"
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Jarvis finances revealed in full
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
After lengthy negotiations for the switch from Wolves Matt Jarvis finally
joined the Iron on August 23, 2012. Now ClaretandHugh can reveal exclusively
for the first time the precise details of the deal which comprised an
initial £7.5 million, rising to £10.75 million. His five year contract was
worth around £40,000 per week netting him a cool £10.4m over the five year
period.
The Hammers have paid £10.2m of that (excluding agent fees) of the
potential £10.75m transfer fee. Our most senior source told us: "He cost us
£10.2m in total. Not a great purchase by Sam from his agent Mark Curtis. The
fee was £7.5m, plus a £1m bonus on the first two occasions we stayed up, £1m
on appearances-with about £700k paid out plus 5 per cent to the league when
you buy a player, plus an agents fee of £750k."
He scored just 6 goals in all competitions at a cost of £2.8m per goal and
made 90 appearances at a cost of £188,888 per match. That said, his
departure will save a further £2m in wages in his final year of his contract
releasing pressure on the financial fair play wage cap and we have already
saved a further £2m by sending him out to loan to Norwich this season. A
£2.5m price tag is probably the best deal we could do in the current market
but it still leaves a net loss of £8.5m on his transfer fee.
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DG voices his Villa doubts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Gold has tweeted the Christmas news nobody wanted to hear. The Hammers
are set to be without both Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini at Villa Park
tomorrow as the team going looking for a much needed three points. The
injury update from the medics was not good this morning but Gold appears to
have confirmed things given his usually upbeat forecasting. He said: It
doesn't look like Andy Carroll or Manuel Lanzini will make it for the Villa
game however Enner Valencia is fully fit and could start. Dg We will all be
hoping the Valencia option is available given the off key performance of
Nikicia Jelavic against Swansea at the weekend. The team is likely to look
much the same as it was for the game in Wales although some reports from
inside the club are saying that Carl Jenkinson could get a longer spell of
match action although is unlikely to be on from the start.
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Irons hope defender's 'wake up call' works out
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Carl Jenkinson was told tonight: "We want the player back we saw last
season." The Arsenal right back has been well out of favour of course after
a poor start to his second Boleyn lon spell and club insiders have claimed
that having been sent a "serious wake up call" he is ready to come back and
stake his claim big time. Jenkinson is costing the club around £4 million
in loan fee and wages but has been a shadow of the player we saw last
season. And although the calm Slaven Bilic never makes a song and dance of
his dilemmas he has been very disappointed the player has failed to fire so
far. He has responded with a steel fist inside the velvet glove by not
hesitating to drop him in order to give him a dose of shock treatment. And a
top insider told us this evening: "For all the pleasant and amiable approach
from the manager, he knows exactly how to operate in circumstances. "Jenks
has had a wake up call. We all expected him to be left out for one game but
it's extending now although we get the impression he will soon get his
chance again. "We all want to see the player who performed so well last
season and hope the spell on the sidelines will have had the desired
effect."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
The background
West Ham United make a festive trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day looking to
end an eight-game wait for victory.
The Hammers have drawn their last three games without a goal being scored -
a record Premier League streak for the Club - so will be hoping to break
their duck against bottom-of-the-table Villa.
Having been hurt by an extensive injury list to their attacking players,
West Ham's goal threat has been blunted in recent weeks, but fine defensive
work has meant they have continued to pick up points.
Villa haven't won since the opening day of the season and have only picked
up seven points to date.
One of those came last time out as Jordan Ayew's goal earned them a 1-1 draw
at fellow strugglers Newcastle United.
The game kicks off a busy Christmas for the Hammers, with games against
Southampton and Liverpool to follow.
The history
West Ham United and Aston Villa have met 108 times in all competitions going
into Saturday's fixture.
West Ham hold the edge with 39 wins to the Villans' 38. Last season the pair
drew 0-0 at the Boleyn Ground, but at Villa Park Tom Cleverley's goal gave
the hosts a 1-0 victory.
The Hammers' record win over Villa is the 7-2 success they enjoyed in 1958.
The match
Team news
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic will once again be without defender Winston Reid on Saturday as
he continues his recovery from a thigh injury.
Diafra Sakho is also out due to a thigh problem, while the Villa game comes
too soon for Dimitri Payet (ankle).
Manuel Lanzini has a slight chance of returning after his hamstring trouble
while Andy Carroll may also feature after missing the trip to Swansea with a
groin injury. Victor Moses (hamstring) is out.
Aston Villa
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.
Match info
- Saturday's referee is Mike Dean. He will be assisted by Mark Scholes and
Ian Hussin. Peter Bankes is the fourth official.
- West Ham have won just one of their last eight games at Villa Park (D2,
L5).
- 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.
- 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
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other details
- There will be a limited number of tickets available to Hammers fans at
Villa Park. Click here for details.
- No trains will be running from London to Birmingham in Boxing Day. Click
here for traffic news.
- Saturday is set to be a cloudy day with temperatures reaching 13C (55F) at
kick-off.
- If you're not heading to the game make sure you keep up to date on our
digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre has live audio commentary and
text updates, in-running stats and pictures and more. You can get involved
with the conversation on social using the hashtag #AVLWHU
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Cresswell eyeing Villa Park victory
WHUFC.com
Ever-present left-back Aaron Cresswell insisted his side will not
underestimate the challenge Aston Villa pose when the two sides face each
other at 3pm today.
Despite the hosts having accumulated just seven points so far this season,
Cresswell maintained that the Hammers will have to be at their best if they
are to come away from Villa Park with maximum points.
Speaking ahead of the Boxing Day clash, Cresswell said: "It's going to be
another tough game as every Premier League game is. We're fully aware of the
quality they have, there's no easy game as some recent results have shown.
It's a crazy league this season, just look at Bournemouth's results against
Chelsea and Manchester United.
"I genuinely don't think you ever say we're guaranteed three points. Yes,
Villa haven't won in ten games but it's a bonkers this season, anyone can
beat anyone, particularly around Christmas."
Meanwhile, the Hammers are looking for their first win in nine games as
injuries have depleted the Hammers' frontline.
In the absence of the likes of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Diafra Sakho
and Victor Moses, the defensive rear-guard have more than proved their worth
by securing three consecutive clean sheets.
Cresswell continued: "I think those clean sheets does give us confidence; we
haven't won in a while but we've kept clean sheets which is the next best
thing, we have to take the positives out of every game, and that has been
the main thing.
"Clean sheets, particularly away from home are massive. Any point away from
home is not a bad result, both Manchester United and Swansea City were tough
games, so to come away with two points and two clean sheets is certainly not
the end of the world."
Currently eighth with 25 points from 17 games, the Hammers face a tricky
festive period of games, hosting Southampton on the Monday 28th before the
early kick off with Liverpool on Saturday 2 January.
Reflecting on a positive first half of the campaign, Cresswell is hoping to
maintain their form in the second half: "We got a few big wins at the start
of the season which was great. The first half of the season as a whole is a
positive one, the injuries haven't helped, touch wood we don't pick up any
more and we'll get a few players back soon. We're all looking forward to the
second half of the season.
"I'm not sure exactly when the injured lads are going to be back but it
sounds like they'll be back a bit earlier than expected, we're all looking
forward to having them back as soon as possible.
"There's plenty of positives for us to take into 2016, we want to finish in
that top half, then we have the move to the new stadium to look forward to."
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The (ex) Rev's Christmas Message: expect a miracle!
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th December 2015
By: Elwin Cockett
As traditional now as the Queen's annual address, Archdeacon of West Ham and
Chair of Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Education Elwin Cockett shares his
annual Christmas message with the readers of Knees up Mother Brown ...
If Christmas is a time for poignant memories of people and times past,
that's doubly true for West Ham fans this year.
Leaving the Boleyn Ground is something that we've known was going to happen
for some years, but suddenly, as 2016 looms, it is all too real. Only a few
months' games are left now and, whatever routine we follow on a match day,
whether it involves Ken's Café or Nathan's, a pint in the Queens or the
Boleyn, or simply that familiar stroll down Green Street from the station to
the ground, all that's going to change before we know it.
All of us have our best memories of Upton Park. For me, standing on the
North Bank as a teenager is among them, and then, years later, getting to
know many of the remarkable people who have made West Ham United what it is.
When the wonderful Sir Geoff Hurst introduced himself to my daughter - at
that time a little girl - by saying "Hello, I'm George Best!", she knew
straight away that he wasn't because she knew his face very well from all my
memorabilia.
One privilege I will never forget was leading a memorial service for
'Budgie' Byrne, one of that cohort of players who lit up English football in
the mid-sixties.
Budgie's wife, Margaret, asked whether I could arrange the service, which
took place St Margaret's Church in Barking, followed by lunch together and
then a match at Upton Park. After the game, once the crowd had gone, his
family, friends and team-mates gathered around the centre circle to end the
day as we'd started it, remembering Budgie as a husband, a father, a mate
and as a player in the most successful West Ham team of all time. Steve
Bacon's photo of that moment is very special to me.
Speaking of Steve Bacon, the iconic club photographer, it was good to see
the West Ham family rallying round when he was hospitalised earlier this
year. Steve, if you're reading this, thousands of West Ham fans are wishing
you all the best, mate.
Perhaps the most poignant loss for me this year was that of Gina Allen, who
died after a courageous battle with cancer. For many years, Gina was the
staff member responsible for enabling disabled fans to watch West Ham, and
numerous supporters loved her for that. But she was also one of those people
that any organisation needs – a positive, caring person who always looks out
for the needs of others. She is much missed.
One happier memory is of how KUMB.com readers have responded to my appeal
for funds to build Grace's Place, a children's literacy centre in rural
Ghana. There are real challenges to pulling together such a project, but
with your help – and the help of the wonderful Kosmo Vinyl and the lovely
people at KUMB, I'm sure that we can make Grace's Place everything that we
want it to be for the children of that part of Africa. Thank you to everyone
who has contributed so far.
Finally, if Christmas gives an opportunity to look back, it's also a time to
look ahead, and we West Ham fans have SO much to look forward to. I haven't
always been a fan of developments in recent years, but I have to admit that
Karren Brady, David Gold and David Sullivan have done an amazing job in
getting us to where we are.
2016 sees the start of a whole new era for our club, and one that we can be
very excited about. When we remember how things were for West Ham following
the banking crisis, when wise men everywhere were writing us off, the club's
re-birth seems nothing short of a miracle. So, well done to our owners, and
perhaps it's a reminder that we should all remember to look for the best –
to look for a miracle, even - rather than going on about 'same old West
Ham'.
So, in the same spirit, let me close with a bit of poetry from my favourite
writer, U.A.Fanthorpe. She wrote some great Christmas poems, and this is one
of the greatest. It's a reminder to go on looking for a miracle, every day.
Merry Christmas, everyone – and a very happy New Year.
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Slaven Bilic urges Villa boss Remi Garde "don't be a realist if you want to
stay up"
22:30, 25 DEC 2015
BY NEIL MCLEMAN
"He doesn't have a car that can drive 100mph and he says he wants to drive
150mph" says West Ham boss ahead of their Boxing Day clash
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has claimed Aston Villa cannot afford to be realistic if they
want to stay up this season. New boss Remi Garde has set the Premier
League's bottom club a target of winning 10 of their last 21 games to stay
up – after failing to win in their last 16. Mission Impossible will have to
start with the Frenchman's first win against West Ham at Villa Park on
Boxing Day. But the Hammers proved miracles can happen when Alan
Curbishley's team beat the drop by winning seven of their final nine games
in 2007. And current Hammers boss Bilic said: "What is the point of being
realistic and what does it mean? "He doesn't have a car that can drive
100mph and he says he wants to drive 150mph. He has a football team – it's
live, it changes, he's optimistic. "Would he say he doesn't have a chance?
On the contrary, he is acting exactly like anybody would do. He is working
with them, he has seen a lot of positive things. They are fighting for their
lives. They have some quality players who can harm you. "What he wants is a
little bit of luck, to win two or three games and then it changes like that.
There are so many games left. They have a chance."
Bilic played against the former Arsenal midfielder – and got to know him
when Garde coached Dejan Lovren at Lyon. READ MORE: Aston Villa will
struggle to attract players in January if they remain adrift at the bottom,
admits Remi Garde "It's a brave decision to take on Villa but it's the
Premier League, it's a massive club, it's Villa," said the former Croatia
coach. "To manage every club nowadays is a very brave decision. You would
say the same if Guardiola signs for whoever he signs for. You have to be
brave to be involved in football. Who wouldn't take it, let's be honest?"
"We are coping well without the injured players," Bilic insisted. "We have
shown character and team spirit. And, when they come back, they will be
like new signings."
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Half term report card: How the Hammers rated
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 25, 2015 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H
The Board: David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady A+
The board have once again put their money where their mouths are, they
invested heavily in the summer and continue to address the legacy debt
problems. They took a huge risk in appointing Slaven Bilic which has paid
off handsomely. They are building towards our move to the Olympic Stadium
while respecting the past of the Boleyn Ground.
The Manager: Slaven Bilic and his back room staff B+
Great start by the former Hammers player, he has achieved beyond most media
and fan expectations so far. The fans and players are fully behind him and
there is a different atmosphere at West Ham following the departure of Sam
Allardyce last season. A dream start for the Croatian with wins against
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. Only marked him slightly down on
his choice of Jelavic for a permanent transfer, some of his substitutions
and no win in seven games but can improve second half of the season.
The Players: B+
Payet, Sakho and Lanzini have been the stand out players this season before
injuries and deserve an A+. Add to them solid B+ performances from Adrian,
Cresswell, Reid, Ogbonna, Collins, Noble, Kouyate and Zarate. Carroll,
Jenkinson, Moses and Song could do better and rate C for me. Too early to
say on Antonnio but I will gibe him a B- with room to improve.
Entertainment Value: B+
We certainly got our hallowed 'West Ham way' back this season. West Ham have
been a joy to watch when we were at full strength without injuries. Watching
games is no longer a chore (mostly). Three nil-nil results in recent times
and no win in seven games has taken the edge off the first half of the
season and the previous entertainment value. The Swansea game was a perfect
example of poor entertainment value but the whole very good and promising
for the future.
The Results: A
To be in eighth position in the Premier League on Christmas day is a great
achievement having been as high as third in the League at one point.
Finishing in eighth position at the end of the season would be a great
effort for Bilic's first season in charge but we could push on for a top six
finish with a bit of luck and no more injuries.
The Fans: A+
As always we have some of the best fans in the world, our away support and
experience is amazing and every one of our home League games at the Boleyn
Ground has been a complete sell out this season. Even our European games to
virtually unknown teams were well attended and our FA Cup match against
Wolves is due to sell out too.
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Jarvis deal won't tempt Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are unlikely to to be tempted into the January market despite
making room in the budget via the sale of Matt Jarvis to Norwich.
With £2.5 million in the bank and £40k a week freed up from his wages, the
club might have considered a move but sources inside the club have made it
clear that's highly improbable. Despite concluding a clever deal, the board
are set to keep the cash in their pockets having learned some lessons from
the January 'madness.' ClaretandHugh was told last night: "It's not a place
where we want to go given past experience. Where you get loan players better
than the ones we have. Have any of our January past loans really contributed
very much? £2.5 million is hardly a fortune and could probably be put to be
better use in the summer."
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Moncur jnr would love Irons return
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
George Moncur has spoken for the first time about his departure from the
club he loves – West Ham United. But don't expect a bitter outburst from the
Colchester midfielder who, with nine goals out of midfield so far this
season, has beaten his goal tally for last term.
The 22 year old was ditched by Sam Allardyce in 2014 and said: "I would love
nothing more than to go back to my club one day but I have to show that I am
worth that and believe that despite our league position I am playing well.
"I'm more than happy with my own game but we need to get off the bottom of
the table and out of the relegation spots."
George remembers being told his West Ham days were a thing of the past but
refuses to issue an angry outburst against then manager Sam Allardyce. He
said: "The manager has to make decisions. It was very, very hard to swallow
but you have to get on with it and one day I want to believe I'll make my
way back there. "It's the club where my Dad played for so long. I love the
place. Praps one day but I need to show I am good enough to play at the
highest level."
He believes the Hammers – despite their injury list – are a club on the up
under Slaven Bilic declaring: "He has had some great results and Dimi Payet
and Lanzini have really lit the club up. They are going to be fine and are
looking good. "They play some great football and I catch them whenever it's
possible. I still love the club with a passion" and again he muses "Perhaps
one day!"
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Jarvis finances revealed in full
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
After lengthy negotiations for the switch from Wolves Matt Jarvis finally
joined the Iron on August 23, 2012. Now ClaretandHugh can reveal exclusively
for the first time the precise details of the deal which comprised an
initial £7.5 million, rising to £10.75 million. His five year contract was
worth around £40,000 per week netting him a cool £10.4m over the five year
period.
The Hammers have paid £10.2m of that (excluding agent fees) of the
potential £10.75m transfer fee. Our most senior source told us: "He cost us
£10.2m in total. Not a great purchase by Sam from his agent Mark Curtis. The
fee was £7.5m, plus a £1m bonus on the first two occasions we stayed up, £1m
on appearances-with about £700k paid out plus 5 per cent to the league when
you buy a player, plus an agents fee of £750k."
He scored just 6 goals in all competitions at a cost of £2.8m per goal and
made 90 appearances at a cost of £188,888 per match. That said, his
departure will save a further £2m in wages in his final year of his contract
releasing pressure on the financial fair play wage cap and we have already
saved a further £2m by sending him out to loan to Norwich this season. A
£2.5m price tag is probably the best deal we could do in the current market
but it still leaves a net loss of £8.5m on his transfer fee.
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DG voices his Villa doubts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 25, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Gold has tweeted the Christmas news nobody wanted to hear. The Hammers
are set to be without both Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini at Villa Park
tomorrow as the team going looking for a much needed three points. The
injury update from the medics was not good this morning but Gold appears to
have confirmed things given his usually upbeat forecasting. He said: It
doesn't look like Andy Carroll or Manuel Lanzini will make it for the Villa
game however Enner Valencia is fully fit and could start. Dg We will all be
hoping the Valencia option is available given the off key performance of
Nikicia Jelavic against Swansea at the weekend. The team is likely to look
much the same as it was for the game in Wales although some reports from
inside the club are saying that Carl Jenkinson could get a longer spell of
match action although is unlikely to be on from the start.
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Irons hope defender's 'wake up call' works out
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 24, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Carl Jenkinson was told tonight: "We want the player back we saw last
season." The Arsenal right back has been well out of favour of course after
a poor start to his second Boleyn lon spell and club insiders have claimed
that having been sent a "serious wake up call" he is ready to come back and
stake his claim big time. Jenkinson is costing the club around £4 million
in loan fee and wages but has been a shadow of the player we saw last
season. And although the calm Slaven Bilic never makes a song and dance of
his dilemmas he has been very disappointed the player has failed to fire so
far. He has responded with a steel fist inside the velvet glove by not
hesitating to drop him in order to give him a dose of shock treatment. And a
top insider told us this evening: "For all the pleasant and amiable approach
from the manager, he knows exactly how to operate in circumstances. "Jenks
has had a wake up call. We all expected him to be left out for one game but
it's extending now although we get the impression he will soon get his
chance again. "We all want to see the player who performed so well last
season and hope the spell on the sidelines will have had the desired
effect."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, December 25
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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'.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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).
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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'.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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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