From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
I must sound like a broken record, but when you lose five forwards – and I don't even include Victor Moses in that – it's going to hurt any team. In the first half against Southampton we simply weren't good enough but in the second half we made a couple of changes and switched the full backs. The manager should be complimented on how he changed things at half time and did a wonderful job. It was a very exciting second half and I would like to thank the supporters that really got behind the team as they make a really big difference. It felt like one of those night games from ten or twenty years ago under lights as it was an incredible atmosphere towards the end of the game.
We had good chances in the second half to score a lot more goals and Andy Carroll scored the most wonderful header. Not many people would have been able to score in the way that he did. He headed it with power away from the goalkeeper, who was in that corner of the goal so it was by no means an easy chance. Michail Antonio is now getting back to fitness and people are starting to see why we bought him. He's a great member of our team and our squad and it shows why the manager would not loan him out when six Championship clubs came in for him before the loan window shut four or five weeks ago. And thank goodness we didn't as we need him. We were due a bit of luck. Whether his goal was a bit of luck or just pure determination is up for debate. I've never seen a player try so hard and I take my hat off to the people that voted him man of the match. I think everyone really was a man of the match for the second half performance.
When Manuel Lanzini came on with Andy it made a real difference to the team. And when Dimitri Payet comes back, most likely for the Liverpool game, and Diafra Sakho comes back we'll go up another level as well. Even though we've only lost four games all season, with all of the draws you start to look down the table and start to worry. We can now start to look up again and string a few wins together.
Looking ahead to 2016 we've now got 19 games to go and as I said in the summer anything is possible. We know if we play to our maximum then there is not a team in this division we cannot beat. I think it's extremely unlikely we could finish third or fourth but it's possible. I think it's unlikely we'll win the FA Cup but it's possible if you get the right draw and that's the mentality we must have.
Finally, I really enjoyed meeting some of the people that our outstanding Foundation have been helping over the Christmas period as part of a special project that I funded with the homeless charity Crisis. I personally paid for the week-long scheme, which saw Foundation coaches delivering fun football sessions, as well as supplying West Ham kit and match day tickets for the meeting with Southampton. I was delighted we could do something to help make their Christmas more enjoyable.
Thanks again for your support and I wish you happy and prosperous start to 2016.
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Antonio – I should have got a hat-trick!
WHUFC.com
Now that he has opened his West Ham United account, man of the moment and Man of the Match Michail Antonio plans to kick on in claret and blue. His second-half leveller in Monday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League success over Southampton may neither have been the prettiest, nor even intentional, but was absolutely crucial all the same. After storming into the box, the 25-year-old fell to earth and was then merely a spectator as Victor Wanyama thumped the ball in his direction. Happily, it thudded off the then floored Antonio and arced over Saints 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. "It was unbelievable," he told West Ham TV. "I didn't really know anything about it, so I was trying to celebrate but I was still a bit dazed from when it hit me! "I thought it was a great performance, after going behind against a good team, who beat Arsenal 4-0 at the weekend, we showed that we can dig in and managed to get the goals."
Antonio hailed the Hammers' change of tack at the interval, with the introductions of Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini paying dividends.
When it comes to scoring goals, the former Nottingham Forest man can be as greedy as he likes and the No30 was quick to point out that he could easily have gone home with the match ball for company! He continued: "We've come out [in the second half], we've changed formation, put AC [Andy Carroll] up top, so that we can win more headers and pick up more second balls. "We've shown our drive and I should have got a hat-trick, really. It was a good three days of football. We managed to get four points out of the two games. Three points at home, one away, good results!"
As for the winner, Antonio admits he should have tucked it away without Carroll's intervention, having crashed a header against the underside of the bar. But just his being in the right place at the right time is encouraging and reason enough to think that more chances and more goals are on their way. "I should have finished it first time," he added. "AC was sharp, on his toes and managed to put a good header into the far corner. We've got to push on now and Liverpool at home on Saturday. "I've always said I will try to get into the box, I always try to get goals and now that I've managed to get one, hopefully I can keep going. "I feel over the last four games I've been growing in confidence, I feel that I've been getting better and hopefully the fans see it."
Victory on Monday, the Hammers' first since back in October, was the perfect end to 2015 and, says Antonio, casts a very different light on the recent spate of stalemates. "We're now unbeaten in six, it's turned from a negative, where we kept drawing and drawing, to now being unbeaten in six. How long can we stay unbeaten? "All you can do is concentrate on the next game, make sure we keep getting three points, make sure we keep getting points on the board and we'll keep moving forward."
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The Big Interview - Andy Carroll
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was thrilled to play his part as West Ham United produced a stunning turnaround to defeat Southampton 2-1 on Monday evening.
Carroll was a half-time substitute and scored the winner with eleven minutes to go, following in to head home after Michail Antonio struck the crossbar. The big No9 was delighted with the goal and can see a bright 2016 ahead.
Andy, what a turnaround that was in the second half - and what an impact you had...
AC: "It felt like a different game watching and then coming on. We're just happy we got the win in the end really."
What did the manager say at half time to get the team going?
AC: "To be honest I was out warming up as I knew I was coming on, I don't know what he said, but whatever was said it shook the lads up and we came out in the second half a lot better."
Chances were much more forthcoming after half time. Maybe there was a little bit of luck with the equaliser but was that what we needed in the situation?
AC: "We did need a bit of luck and it's been a lot of games where we've not had that luck. We had it for the equaliser and obviously Michail's done great for the end one to assist for me.
For yourself it was a case of doing what all good strikers do and follow in the chances when they come...
AC: "I took one off Tonks' toe early on when I came on, and I knew when I missed that I had to make up for it. Michail hit the bar and I just had to follow it up.
Your two goals this season have been crucial ones - both winners...
AC: "Yes. Two goals that have won important games and this was one of those important games."
Just coming back from a little injury, it must be nice to have that impact on your first game back?
AC: "I had a little niggle in my groin, which I didn't want, especially over Christmas as I wanted to play the games. I've been working in the gym and coming on against Southampton it was great to get the winner."
From the team's point of view, people were talking about not winning in eight, but now we can say we're six unbeaten...
AC: "We've been playing good football, it's just been very unlucky. We had a bit of luck on our side on Monday and got the win."
With the likes of yourself and Lanzini coming back on Monday, and more to come, is there plenty of reason to be optimistic going into the New Year?
AC: "Yes, we've got most of our players coming back fit now which is great. The lads who have come in, like Michail, have shown their quality and that they should be in the squad. It's a great squad to be involved in when everyone's fighting for places."
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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
Recorder Series West Ham United correspondent Dave Evans reflects on a winning end to 2015...
It was a difficult first half against Southampton on Monday evening – probably the worst I have seen West Ham play this season aside from Tottenham away.
But the way Slaven Bilic turned it around by bringing on Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini – two players who have been missing and have been vital at various stages this season – was outstanding. There is obviously more to come from them, and they definitely changed the game.
West Ham got the rub of the green on Monday, which they haven't always had in the last few weeks. They have worked really hard and got some good draws when they haven't really looked like scoring, holding on really well.
On Monday, they had a bit of luck with Michail getting into the box, because anything could have happened there. Then, for the second one as well, it could have gone anywhere when it hit the bar, but Andy anticipated it really well and headed it home – happy days!
James Collins was outstanding again and has been absolutely superb since he slotted back into the team. He seamlessly comes back into the team after periods on the bench and he never lets anyone down.
I have never seen any player block the ball as much as he does and I thought his heading was superb again on Monday. He just holds things together and I don't think there is anyone who gives more for West Ham than James Collins.
Another player who caught the eye on Monday was Enner Valencia. He also works hard. Enner can be frustrating at times when he loses the ball, but you can see there is some skill and pace there, which is what you need at this level.
Slaven himself should take a lot of credit for changing things round against Southampton. He did make a mistake with some of the selections in the first half, and it could not have got any worse after half-time.
Changing the full-backs over was important because Carl Jenkinson is a right-back and showed that in
the second half, getting down that flank and creating space for Lanzini. James Tomkins seems to be able to play anywhere and always gives 100 per cent.
I'd have to give Slaven credit for his tactical acumen by the end.
I am very positive as we go into 2016, as long as the star players come back – particularly Dimitri Payet. There are players who are to come back into this team and when you think West Ham are seventh, there are bright times ahead.
Yes, West Ham have drawn too many games, but that's because their scorers and flair players have not been there.
They have missed Diafra Sakho a lot too, because they have had to change the way they play the game, or they've tried to play the same way and it hasn't worked. If those two come back and stay fit, then they can still finish in the top six.
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Pavel Srnicek: Former Newcastle keeper dies aged 47
BBC.co.uk
Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek has died at the age of 47, nine days after suffering cardiac arrest in his native Czech Republic. A big favourite with fans during his first spell at St James' Park between 1991 and 1998, Srnicek collapsed while jogging on 20 December. He was taken to a hospital in Ostrava and placed in an induced coma. Srnicek, who also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and West Ham, made 49 appearances for his country. His agent, Steve Wraith, said the final brain scans on Monday had shown "irreversible damage" and the decision "had to be taken" to switch off the life support machine. Wraith added: "Pav passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, 29 December 2015, with his family by his side."
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Pavel Srnicek
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 29th December 2015
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammer Pavel Srnicek has died, a week after suffering a cardiac arrest. Just 47, the Czech goalkeeper fell ill nine days ago since when he has been kept in hospital in an induced coma. The decision to turn off life support due to serious brain damage was taken yesterday by his family and he died earlier today. The goalkeeper's agent, Steve Wraith confirmed the news earlier today. "Pav passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, 29 December 2015, with his family by his side," he said. "My final conversation with him was about getting the entertainers team back together one more time for charity next year as it will be 20 years since that Newcastle team almost won the Premier League. "We will make that happen and celebrate this great man's life together. United. Fans and players alike."
The former goalkeeper made three appearances on loan for West Ham in the 2003/04 season, having been signed as a replacement for another loanee, Rami Shabaan. Speaking at the time of his move, Srnicek said: "I feel good being here; I had a session and a talk with the manager and I am enjoying it. I am here for a month and we will see how it goes afterwards. This is a good chance and I have taken it."
Following the culmination of his short-term loan, the Czech stopper - who made his debut in the 4-1 defeat at Millwall on 21 March 2004 - completed a free transfer to West Ham having been released by Portsmouth but made just two further first team appearances. He represented the club in a goalless draw with Derby at the Boleyn Ground and a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park before losing his place to Stephen Bywater.
Rob Lee ✔ @7RobLee
Totally devastated at the loss of my friend and teammate @PavelSrnicekUK #RIP #entertainers
4:13 PM - 29 Dec 2015 · Romford, London, United Kingdom
Srnicek was also an unused substitute in the 1-0 play-off final defeat to Crystal Palace at the Millennium Stadium in May 2004. The thoughts and best wishes of everyone at KUMB are with Pavel and his family.
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Ten lessons from the victory over Southampton
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 29th December 2015
By: David Meagher
The tussle with Southampton at Upton Park yesterday evening certainly was a game of two halves.
The Saints could have been two or even three goals up at half time as a clueless West Ham seemed to lack a clear plan and stumbled in at half time looking totally dazed. However, Slaven Bilic was brave and made two major substitutions at the break bringing on Carroll and Lanzini for Zarate and Song.
This produced a remarkable transition as the Hammers slowly took over, ultimately turning the game on its head for a deserved 2-1 victory. The performance was very revealing about the nature of our squad. Among the important points were:
1. Michail Antonio CAN be a major Premier League force. The lad has struggled for game time since moving from Notts Forest and there have been glimpses of his ability but he looks some distance from the finished product.
Last night he deservedly received the MOTM award after terrorising Southampton's defence in the second half where, once he received some decent service, he ran at the Southampton back line to devastating effect. Sides will adapt to his directness (probably) but his innate physicality and enthusiasm will give his mentors much to work with. How you wish Teddy Sheringham was still helping out as attacking coach!
2. Alex Song is better suited to a defensive midfield role. Bilic played Song in an unusual position at the front of a midfield triangle but the experiment did not work out as we looked sluggish moving forward and did not create a single decent scoring chance in the first half.
Song may not be quite back to full fitness but, notably, has a career total of just 11 goals in 411 games which speaks volumes for his relative attacking versus defensive abilities. By the way, that record should read 12 goals but his perfectly good strike against Arsenal was bizarrely disallowed last season. Grrr.
3. Carl Jenkinson is regaining his confidence. Jenks has had a torrid season - despite scoring twice in the campaign, his defensive performances have been erratic resulting in him being dropped in favour of James Tomkins at right back. He has returned as a substitute in our two previous matches where he performed well (albeit for short stints).
Last night Jenks was given the daunting role of trying to replace the effervescent Aaron Cresswell at left back and then later was switched to the right. He was solid in both positions (if a little one-footed for the left sided role) and looks to be returning to his former level of excellence. Let's hope that this trend continues.
4. Bilic can weather a crisis and is capable of using it to develop his squad. In contrast to Sam Allardyce, who responded to adversity by parking the bus and bringing in over the hill journey men (Roger the Relegator springs to mind!), Bilic has been realistic about the impact of our injury epidemic and adapted our style accordingly.
We have had little joy over the past eight games with refereeing decisions and the likes but still maintained a decent defensive record and gathered some useful points that keep us in seventh position in the table and well away from the pressure of scrapping in the bottom half. He has also blooded some new talent with Antonio finally getting the opportunity to show what he can do. In addition, Reece Oxford has slipped in some game time while Song and Valencia are getting back to match fitness. Cloud and silver lining come to mind!
5. Lanzini has a crucial creative ability and should be signed on a permanent deal as soon as possible. There is much to like about the Noble-Kouyate-Song combo in midfield which makes it super-difficult for opposition sides to score against us, but we need an incisive force if we are to create enough decent scoring opportunities to win games.
Lanzini looked a bit off the pace for the first few minutes after he entered the fray last night but soon adjusted and suddenly we started to tick in attack and started to ask serious questions from a Southampton defence that had been cruising up to that point. Returning to the Lanzini-Payet combo as our offensive engine is a delicious prospect that we will hopefully get to realise over the near future. Tasty!
6. Mauro Zarate does not justify a starting place when we have a fully fit squad. The little Argentinian is certainly a better performer than his time under Allardyce suggested but he is a frustrating player who holds on to the ball too long and often tries to dribble out of dangerous situations in his own half.
His concession of the ball to Davis towards the end of the first half last night very nearly provided Southampton with the two-goal, half time cushion they deserved. With a full squad available his primary contribution will be as a useful impact substitute.
7. Bilic can get it wrong sometimes! James Collins had fallen down the pecking order since Bilic arrived and looked set to join Big Sam at Sunderland until injuries forced Slaven's hand and the Ginger Pele got to strut his stuff. Is he the best shot blocker in our defence? Yes, he is! His recent two year extension may not be big media news but it represents very good business for the club. With Tomkins impressing at right back, Collins has a more obvious role in the squad.
8. Mark Noble's set pieces are very average. Lanzini took over responsibilities once he came on and suddenly we looked more dangerous. Noble's corner kicks all too frequently fail to get past the first line of opposition defence and lack the 'whip' that creates better opportunity. Payet and Lanzini will assume primary responsibility for firing in our set piece missiles. Captain Claret is our heartbeat but he can't do it all himself!
9. James Tomkins should be in the England set up. The lad has grown in maturity and positional sense over the past two years and that TOWIE incident is well behind him. Maybe Alex Song should loan Roy Hodgson his funky spectacles so that the England boss can see some of the talent at West Ham that he has been ignoring.
10. Mark Noble should play for Ireland (I couldn't resist this one!). At 28 and with Hodgson looking comfortably ensconced as head honcho at International level, it's time those Cork relatives explained to Nobes the many delights of the Emerald Isle.
Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane are still smarting over the Jack Grealish affair and would love to capture Noble's services as they lack a natural partner for James McCarthy in midfield ahead of the Euros where they are in the group of death with Italy, Belgium and Sweden. It's approaching last chance saloon for Noble and it seems a terrible waste that such a quality player may not get a single run out at full international level. Stop this nonsense we say – sign up now!
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New Year's resolutions
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 29th December 2015
By: Brian Williams
I once resolved to never again make a New Year's resolution for the simple reason I am too weak-willed to keep them.
But by calling on the same set of double standards that means I believe every time one of our players goes down in the box it's a penalty and when an opponent is brought crashing to the ground it's a blatant dive, I am quite happy to make them for other people. So this year I have ten resolutions that I would like West Ham United and those of us who support them to adopt.
1. I want a solemn pledge from the club that this year we are going to have a serious crack at the FA Cup – a tournament which means the world to everyone with claret and blue blood coursing through their veins.
Had Lionel Scaloni sportingly returned the ball to Liverpool via a mighty hoof into the River Taff in 2006 it would almost certainly now be the case that you don't have to of an age when you are thinking about your pension arrangements to be able to remember the last time we won the most famous trophy in club football. As it is, you have to go back to 1980 and Sir Trev's headed goal against an astonished Arsenal side who thought they only had to turn up to lift the cup that day. Another trip to Wembley would be a fitting way to round off our final year at the Boleyn Ground.
2. Find the person with the voodoo doll that, given the number of injuries suffered by our most creative players in 2015, must now have so many needles inserted into various parts of its unholy body it will resemble a hedgehog. (I can only assume the practitioner of this dark art is a Tottenham fan.) Either that, or start training on the spongey stuff they use in kids' playgrounds and insist on playing the second half of the season under the rules of Bubble Football.
3. Ditch the idea for the new badge before the players wear it in public and we embarrass ourselves. We were told we were getting a "bolder, cleaner and more vibrant club crest" that is "the handiwork of world-class designers' Do me favour. The crossed hammers are still there, of course. But where we once had a castle we now have the word "London". What's that all about?
A decent Latin motto I could take – there would be a touch of class about that. But London? We know where we are, FFS. Or is this the first baby-step on the road to an American-style franchising system in which the Dakota Donkeys can become the Detroit Donkeys overnight, and no one seems to bat an eyelid? I hope I'm wrong. But when the London Hammers find themselves playing the Manchester Red Devils it will be the day I finally hand in my claret and blue scarf and take up fishing.
4. Buy a decent right back during the summer transfer window. Right now I wouldn't take Carl Jenkinson on a permanent deal from Arsenal if he were on sale for 12 quid, let alone £12m. For that sort of money we could make a serious bid for Serge Aurier, who is busily making a name for himself at PSG. They used to say right back was the easiest position of the lot. Not these days, when the job is a delicate balancing act between getting forward and taking care of the defensive duties. Time to get someone who can do both.
5. Please, let's get the words to Bubbles right. It's: "They fly so high, nearly reach the sky" not: "They fly so high, they reach the sky". A small point, but the little things make all the difference.
6. The club should climb down off its high horse and agree to allow supporters on the pitch after the final game. It's going to happen anyway, so why not withdraw the draconian threat of lifetime bans and accept the inevitable with good grace? People are looking to have a party, not a riot.
7. It's time we all stopped laughing at Chelsea. Seriously? Nah – of course not! In fact, if you can find a bit of spare time in your busy day I'd urge you to laugh at Man U as well.
8. Let's have an unequivocal commitment to safe standing at the Olympic Stadium. David Gold hinted at it in an exclusive interview with Blowing Bubbles editor David Blackmore in 2013.
The club's co-owner said then: "We now don't have the violence we once had and already what exists is unsafe standing. At Upton Park, we currently have unsafe standing that is illegal and anti-social. It's time to give something back to the fans. The fans who want to stand should be given an area to do so. I'd be stunned if we don't have some form of safe standing experiment soon. I think in five years we will see safe standing at football stadiums because, let's face it, it's not very expensive to install and it's safe, very safe, in fact it's twice or three times safer than what we have at the moment." Well said, Mr Gold. But, as Elvis so neatly put it: "A little less conversation, a little more action please."
9. As the club has decided to take the Champions Statue to Stratford, even though it was partly paid for by the local council, the least it can do is put something else in its place. There used to be some public toilets where our World Cup heroes now stand, and I'm sure the local residents would be relieved in more ways than one to see the lavs rebuilt. But if the consensus is for another statue, how about John Hartson and Eyal Berkowich? Their training ground bust-up would fittingly represent the kick in the teeth that the tradespeople of East Ham and Plaistow will be given as a result of the move to the Olympic Stadium.
10. Better still, scrap the move to the Olympic Stadium altogether and stay put at our real home. Tell Galliard where to stick their luxury flats. Tell that slimy little toerag Seb Coe where to stick his running track. And tell yourselves that West Ham United's one true home is in Green Street – with a stadium that was built for football and where, when roused, Irons' supporters can still create an atmosphere like no other in the country. Sorry, I know that's not going to happen. Is it time for my medication yet, nurse?
Have a wonderful 2016.
* Brian Williams is the author of Nearly Reach The Sky – A Farewell to Upton Park. You can read his regular column in Blowing Bubbles every month.
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David Sullivan insists West Ham is not for sale
By Kaveh Solhekol, Chief news reporter
Last Updated: 29/12/15 2:37pm
SSN
West Ham is not for sale - that is the message from David Sullivan as American and Far East investors continue to invest in Premier League clubs. Sullivan and David Gold bought West Ham six years ago in a deal which valued the club at £105m. Since then, they have been relegated but have now re-established themselves as a Premier League club. Their improving finances, their location in London and their imminent move to the Olympic Stadium have made them an attractive target for foreign businessmen who want to invest in English football.
But Sullivan, the West Ham co-chairman and co-owner, is not interested in making a profit on his own investment. He said: "We have zero desire to sell the club unless the King of Saudi Arabia or the Sultan of Brunei come along. We're not going to sell to an American or Chinese consortium. "We might sell a minority shareholding to clear our debts, but in all probability our kids will take over from us. We love West Ham, we're not going anywhere."
West Ham are one of only eight Premier League clubs who have English owners. In the past month, two American businessmen, Josh Harris and David Blitzer, have bought stakes in Crystal Palace, and a group of US investors are in advanced talks to buy Everton in a deal which values the club at about £200m.
According to Sullivan, that would not be enough to tempt him to sell West Ham. He said: "If someone offers us a couple of hundred million pounds tomorrow, we are not selling - it is as simple as that." One of the factors that is attracting investors to West Ham is their location in London. Sullivan says their London home is also making it easier for them to sign foreign players. West Ham are not expected to make any significant moves in the transfer market in January, but manager Slaven Bilic will have about £30m to spend in the summer.
Sullivan said: "Foreign players come to England for the money and because their wives want to live in London. Going forward we're going to sign some top players and being in London is a big factor."
David Sullivan was speaking at an event to publicise the release of a film he has produced called 'The Fall of the Krays'. The follow-up to 'The Rise of the Krays' is released in cinemas and for download on 1 January.
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Dimitri Payet could return for West Ham against Liverpool
By Paul Vinnell
Last Updated: 29/12/15 12:58pm
SSN
West Ham could welcome back three of their injured stars - including Dimitri Payet - when they host Liverpool on Saturday. Midfielder Payet, centre-back Winston Reid and winger Victor Moses could all feature against Jurgen Klopp's men after spells on the sidelines.
Payet was one of the Premier League's most impressive performers until he suffered an ankle injury against Everton in early November.
"Hopefully some of the players will be back now, against Liverpool," said boss Slaven Bilic. "Payet, Reidy, Moses... It's only Diafra Sakho who we will be without for another four or five weeks. "Dimitri started to train with the team on Sunday. He looks good, his ankle is very stable and the target is the game against Liverpool. I am delighted he is going to be with us for that game."
With Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll making their returns as substitutes against Southampton on Monday evening, West Ham's injury crisis finally looks like easing. Carroll's 79th-minute header secured a 2-1 win - the Hammers' first victory in nine attempts - after Michail Antonio had cancelled out Carl Jenkinson's first-half own-goal. But Bilic added: "I want to praise the other players who have been picking up points without them. That was crucial, but now with them back it should be better. "It's good for me. It's hard to drop the other players but it's all about competition. If we want to be a big club, and if you want to get through periods like this with all the injuries, then you need a squad. "That's the only way you can have the long-term success that the chairmen and the fans want."
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WEST HAM 2, SOUTHAMPTON 1. WINE, SAUSAGES, & THREE POINTS.
By David Hautzig 29 Dec 2015 at 03:09
WTID
Prior to accepting this writing internship, my West Ham viewing wasn't that consistent. Nerves were the main reason. If things were going badly, either during a stretch of games or within a game, I could and often would turn away. Or not even turn it on. So today was a bit of a throwback to that. Thus, a slightly different "version" of reporting on today's events at Upton Park. Perhaps, based on the way things turned out, I should do this through the rest of the season. We might win the league.
Having been asked by a fairly new restaurant to show them a bunch of wines, I couldn't use football as an excuse to refuse. So the game started while I was showing a very nice Pinot Noir from Argentina. Which the restaurant bought I'm happy to report. As I got in my car, the football app on my IPhone dinged. We were down 0-1. Driving five minutes away to a local pub to catch the rest of the first half all of a sudden became a chore as opposed to an activity. But another customer/mate was there and I said I'd stop by. Alex is his name. Young guy. Just opened his own wine bar. Serves some pretty brave stuff I must say. He was there with his mate, Devin. The place was packed.
We looked awful. Long came close. So did Fonte. Mane and Tadic could have made more of their opportunities. And when West Ham did somehow gain possession of the ball, it was easy to glance over at the Chelsea – United game or maybe Arsenal. Why not? We weren't going to do anything. Zarate was doing a pretty good imitation of Scott Parker without the circling back. Valencia looked utterly alone, with nobody to pass to or expect a ball from. I inhaled my plate of sausages and mashed potatoes and ran out at halftime to see another customer before driving home early to pick up my daughter and bring her to the orthodontist. Oh joy.
The phone buzzed. It was Alex from the pub. "Yahtzee" said the text. Seconds later, the football app buzzed informing me we had leveled. I called him, wanting to know the details. "I don't know if it was an own goal or that new kid scored. Antonio." Alex sounded excited. His team is New York Red Bull of MLS. He's unattached as far as the EPL goes, but he reads these reports now. We might have a live one to pull into our ranks. I then called my best mate, Jon. He was at his office following the game on ESPN. While discussing the fact that we were both pleased to have been so abject in the opening 45 only to adjust and fight back, Jon saw the update that we had scored again. My phone buzzed, this time a text with a GIF of bubbles floating in the air. Alex. Oh yeah. He's caught the bug. The hooks are in and I ain't letting go. Sorry, mate. You're done. Crispy fried.
As I pulled into my house, Jon told me it was over. Three points, up to seventh. Paired with a nice sale to that restaurant and I'd say it was a good day, only slightly muted by the news that both Valencia and Ginge were seen limping after the match. After dinner, while my son built a new Lego set my dad got him and my daughter practiced guitar, I played the match on my DVR. A few musings.
•After the Villa match, I ended my report with the view that the midfield was likely the issue for our goal scoring problems. Not rocket science, I know. But to see the immediate and dramatic change in our play as soon as the second half started crystallized that point. In Lanzini, we had a player the back four knew they could safely give the ball to. Those up front whose marching orders basically said "score" knew we had a player who could help them do that. It didn't matter that Lanzini himself didn't serve up the actual goals. Two minutes into the half his effective corner was almost put in by Collins, and Carroll should have scored seconds later. The knock on effect to the other nine outfield players was so obvious it bordered on transparent.
•There was a baseball player here many years ago named Lefty Gomez. Said a lot of funny stuff. Google it if you like. One of his most famous quotes was "I'd rather be lucky than good". I think you have to be good to be lucky, and while Antonio is certainly a raw piece of material now, he is an acorn that very well might become an oak. So however that ball found itself into the back of the net, it did. And if it was only luck, he wouldn't have hit the crossbar before the winner. And he wouldn't have made that late run that only needed a millisecond of patience and a pass to become a third West Ham goal. I'm glad he's ours on a long term deal.
•It ain't my money. So I don't care how much he cost, and I don't care how much another team would theoretically offer. I want Andy Carroll to be a West Ham player. After he scored against Chelsea, I wrote that in my opinion Bilic had found the perfect role for him. Off the bench, sometime in the second half, when the opposition back four are already on their final bit of fuel. To deal with a fresh AC at that point must be demoralizing. It took major cajones to put him in to start the second half, along with Lanzini. But Bilic has a pair of those made of Titanium, so we shouldn't be surprised when he tries stuff like that.
•After the match, Nigel The Wrath Of Kahn sent me a text with a picture of a Monopoly Get Out Of Jail Free card. "Used this today" he said. Maybe. But we showed a lot of determination and self belief to turn the game around in the second half when it could have been over before half an hour had elapsed. Not to mention some inspired halftime work by our manager. I think we deserved our two goals and were the better side in that second forty five. If anything we made bail, reported to our parole officer, and turned things around. Perhaps that's what Mr. Kahn meant.
Just made myself an Espresso. Drinking it from one of those little white mugs. Found em on Amazon for cheap. I feel like a serious writer sipping on it, hunched over my IPad. Time to pretend I have a serious thought.
We are so inundated with immediate gratification now it's hard to see the bigger picture. Only a few years ago, we had to wait for the evening news or the morning paper. Now, the Web, Twitter and Facebook provide information in droves without any way to filter the inherent nonsense in much of it. People used to look at investing their money as a long term proposition. Now we have Day Traders. Take a guy like Valencia. Last season, when he scored that wonder strike at Hull and was galloping around with Sakho people were calling him Gods Gift. Those same people have called him Godzilla at times the past few weeks when he hasn't looked as sharp. But in minutes today, he sent the cross in that became the winning goal and then added a top shelf defensive header when the Saints were lurking. Does either define him and his contribution to the collective good of our club? No. The same analysis could be made for any number of people. There will be ups and downs. The real question that counts is this;
Are we trying to go in a direction the supporters want, are we enjoying the trip, and will we be happy if we get there?
Cheers.
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The sad Irons list of January signings
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 29, 2015 in News, Whispers
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We've known for some time that for the first time in 25 years as club owners the two Davids are very unlikely to bring anybody in during the January transfer window. January is recognised at every club as being a notoriously bad time to buy or loan players – many of whom are on the market only because of some problem or other at their current 'place of employment.' A senior insider told ClaretandHugh a few days ago: "What's the point. Can you recall any player we've brought in during that window that's really done it for us?"
So with the help of club DJ Leon Hyde we dug back through the records and looked at every player who has arrived since 2010 and it's very hard to make a sensible case for venturing into the January market.
2011 may have been an exception..
Here's the list of names who have appeared at Upton Park in deep midwinter since the Davids arrived as owners.
2010: Guillermo Franco, Benni McCarthy, Mido
2011: Robbie Keane, Wayne Bridge, Dema Ba, Gary O'Neill
2012: Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison, Nicky Maynard
2013: Joe Cole, Pablo Armero, Roger Johnson, Antonio Nocerino, Marcelo Borriello
2014: Nene, Doneil Henry
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Champions League? Chance there for the taking
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 29, 2015 in News, Whispers
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Brian Neil Gay is a member of the ClaretandHugh Facebook Group and a long time Iron. Here – in his first blog for the site – he talks of his excitement at last night's performance against Saints and his hopes for the season in our new series of Fans' blogs. Send your blogs to claretandhugh@gmail.com
I have been an Iron since the late 60s so I've see many of our greats, enjoyed our highs and endured the numerous disappointments too but I can't remember the last time I have enjoyed a season as much as the one we are experiencing now.
I get to games when I can but always make a point of watching live streams because I don't think one can really judge a result unless you see the match and that game yesterday under the Boleyn lights was a massive result for us and will I believe seriously effect where we end up.
Had the Saints held on to win it would have been hard to accept that we still had a realistic chance of the Champions' League places but some match results are more significant than others and I think that the final 49 minutes at the Boleyn on Monday will have a much bigger influence on our season outcome than being just a home win against Southampton.
The comeback to win was thrilling, but as a result it's importance should not be underestimated. Lose it and we start the second half of season in the bottom half of the table as the result of a continuing slide down the table (despite not losing in six). Win it and we put ourselves right back in contention for the top half a dozen and I believe those Champions league places.
I suspect that like many I was apprehensive about just how our makeshift first eleven could overcome a buoyant Saints fresh from thumping the Arsenal.
I hoped the Saints would have expended too much energy in that game but the first 45 at the Boleyn dispelled that completely. It was us who looked the more fatigued, the slower, the unsure. Players starting out of position only added to our uncomfortable play.
Whatever Slaven Billic had seen to suggest that playing Alex Song in an advanced role of Cheikou Kouyate clearly was not working and we were lucky not to go in 3-0 down rather than the somewhat unfortunate Jenkinson own goal. I am not so sure Tadic's touch would have netted without Jenk's contact.
The groans were there for all to hear as the Boleyn faithful wanted endeavour and attack but were largely served up slow and lethargic, unimaginative football with no credible creativity on show.
I knew something had to change after half-time and I was pleased to see the manager had made the call to switch it round with a double substitution that was about to change the game. The confidence lift in the rest of the team was evident as we went after the equaliser inspired by Manuel Lanzini's calm and confident ball work and Andy Carroll's running and endeavour.
Andy Carroll attracts a lot of column inches but yesterday's second half performance for me saw him back to very near his best. He has scored the winner against Chelsea and now against Saints. In fact AC is now only three goals away from being our joint top scorer!
On the evidence of yesterday's second half I think he could work well with Enner Valencia and Michail Antonio. There were the first real signs of an understanding of between these three. Given the service we know that AC will win headers and score.
He won two or three headers in the box that I recall, was fouled in the penalty area on one occasion which should have been a penaltyand missed one chance he perhaps should have buried but he looked a lot sharper to me. If he stays fit and keeps his confidence up who knows 2016 could be a good year for him and us.
The swashbuckling attack minded second half display had the Boleyn rocking in the way that we all want to see in this her final season.
I know we have all perhaps been a tad frustrated during this period of missing first teamers but let's be honest Slaven Billic and the fit players have weathered a storm without losing and there is every reason to think with the Payet / Lanzini act about to resume we could well push on for that top six and maybe even the top four.
I mean the league is there for the taking for someone this year and so too are the Champions League places. All the established top teams have slipped up more than once this season, it is no longer a foregone conclusion that City, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool and that other North London team will have it all their own way.
It is time for real belief, belief in our manager, our players and their abilities. So I am convinced that we could given an injury free 2016 be in with a shout of come May.
COYI.
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Former Hammers goal keeper dies
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 29, 2015 in News, Whispers
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West Ham's former goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek has died at the age of 47. The former Hammer collapsed with a cardiac arrest while out jogging in the Czech Republic on 20th December. He stopped breathing for 20 minutes before he was revived. Following brain scans a decision was made by his family and doctors to turn off his life support machine his agent confirmed to press this afternoon.
His agent, Steve Wraith said:"It is with deep sadness that I have to announce he passing of Pavel Srnicek. Pavel suffered a cardiac arrest before the Christmas period in his home country and had been in an induced coma in hospital with his close family around his bedside."
"Despite the best medical attention the final brain scans on Monday showed irreversible damage and the decision had to be taken to switch off the life support machine. Pav passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday 29th December 2015, with his family by his side."
pavel2Srníček joined West Ham on a one-month loan deal from parent club Portsmouth on 19th February 2004. He made his debut against rivals Millwall as a substitute, following the sending off of goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, Srníček moved to West Ham on a free permanent transfer, signing a contract until the end of the 2004 season. He started two matches in Bywater's absence, against Derby and Palace. He played no further games for West Ham and left the club at the end of the season at which point he was released later rejoining Newcastle for a second spell at the club.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
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Boleyn Ground windfall in doubt
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 29, 2015 in News, Whispers
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The London borough of Newham, home to the former Olympic Stadium, Boleyn Ground and West Ham United, enjoyed the biggest rise in house prices across the UK in 2015, according to the Halifax.
The average house price there rose 22.2% over the year compared with 2014. Homes in Newham, situated five miles east of the City of London, are now worth an average £319,522 as against £261,399 previously.
This could potentially be good news for Galliard Homes who purchased the land the Boleyn Ground is built on. Earlier this year Barratt Homes joined forces with Galliard to transform West Ham's former stadium into flats.
It is understood that the two building firms are currently seeking planning permission for the development, and are in discussion with Newham Council over the level of "affordable housing" that must be provided.
Galliard faced criticism earlier this year over its initial plans for the Boleyn Ground. In its original proposal, the developer detailed a "village" of 838 homes in blocks up to 15 storeys high, with just 51 units – or 6pc of the total – deemed to be "affordable"
However, a senior source told ClaretandHugh it is doubtful whether the increase in Newham prices will help the developers turn a bigger profit at West Ham's former home. Our source told us: "West ham received a flat fee for the land, but they (Galliard) over paid in the first place. It's a bad part of Newham. The real growth is near Stratford & the Olympic Park."
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Di Canio booked for Boleyn return
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 29, 2015 in News, Whispers
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Sources close to Mark Noble understand that Paolo Di Canio has provisionally agreed to take part in the captain's testimonial at Easter.
Twenty-eight-year old Noble, who joined West Ham as a 13-year-old, and is now approaching 350 first-team appearances is understood to be approaching Teddy Sheringham, Bobby Zamora and Carlos Tevez amongst other former Hammers about their availability.
And a source close to him told ClaretandHugh exclusively that they understood PDC would be turning out unless there were "unforseen circumstances."
Di Canio previously appeared for Tony Carr's XI for his testimonial back in 2010.
The long-serving club captain will be honoured with a match between the current West Ham first team against a West Ham United All-Stars squad, with all funds raised being donated to charity.
The fixture, which will take place at the Boleyn Ground on Easter Monday 28th March 2016 at 2pm. home. Noble told WHUFC.com "I am hugely honoured and grateful that the Board have awarded me a Testimonial match at the Boleyn Ground, This is where I come from and this is my Football Club, so I pdc2can think of nothing better than having my Testimonial at the stadium where I have laughed, cheered and cried, both as a fan and as a player."
"Everyone knows how much West Ham United means to me, so to have the opportunity to share a pitch with the players who I have grown up with will be fantastic – and it will be even more special to have my family, friends and so many Hammers fans watching from the stands."I am pleased and proud to say we will be donating all the proceeds from my Testimonial match to three charities that mean a huge amount to me – Richard House Children's Hospice, Help for Heroes and the DT38 Foundation."
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Koeman: 'Carroll changed the confidence"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 29, 2015 in News, Whispers
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Football is not 45 minutes, football is 95 minutes and the second half was totally different," Southampton manager Ronald Koeman told BBC Sport. "The first 20-25 minutes of the second half we lost control. When Carroll came in he changed the confidence of the West Ham team, because the first 45 minutes Southampton were by far the dominant team. "We spoke at half-time about how they will give a reaction, they will bring in Carroll, which means they will play the long ball, they will fight for second balls, they will be more aggressive, and then you need to concentrate. "If you play so well for 45 minutes and you get some very good chances you have to score more than one and we didn't."
Koeman also took to his own official twitter account to tell Saints fans "Disappointed final result! If you play so well during 45 min you have to score more than 1 goal! More mistakes in 2 half! #WeMarchOn"
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 30
Tuesday, December 29
Daily WHUFC News - 29th December 2015
West Ham United 2-1 Southampton
WHUFC.com
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United ended 2015 in style as two second-half goals in the space of
ten minutes fired the Hammers to victory over Southampton at the Boleyn
Ground. After Dusan Tadic had diverted Shane Long's cross beyond Adrian -
albeit via the unfortunate Carl Jenkinson - in the 13th minute, the Saints
threatened to inflict further damage in a difficult opening 45. But Slaven
Bilic's men came out fighting after the interval and eventually turned the
game on its head. Michail Antonio levelled matters when an attempted
clearance cannoned off his head and looped over Maarten Stekelenburg, before
the returning Andy Carroll nodded home from point blank range to earn the
Hammers a first win in nine in front of a jubilant Boleyn Ground. Bilic made
two changes to the side held at Villa Park on Boxing Day, with Jenkinson
replacing the injured Aaron Cresswell at left-back, while Pedro Obiang made
way for Alex Song - the latter again sporting protective eyewear.
The Hammers had looked the more likely in the early exchanges and thrice had
opportunities, albeit half chances at best. Mauro Zarate got across his
marker but steered James Tomkins' cross wide of the far post, before Enner
Valencia saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked. Then, Mark Noble
teed up Cheikhou Kouyate, who screwed well wide of Stekelenburg's left-hand
upright. The Saints, however, hit the front with their first attack of note
and it was well worked, too. Sadio Mane flicked into the path of Steven
Davis, who fed Long on the left edge of the box. The Republic of Ireland man
squared across the face, where Tadic played it onto the unfortunate
Jenkinson and beyond Adrian in a flash. It took the wind out of West Ham
sails and, but for James Collins, it might have been two on 25. Long broke
free down the right this time and pulled back perfectly for Davis. Collins
flung himself in the way and Davis' shot ricocheted over Adrian's crossbar.
Ten minutes later and Zarate was robbed on the touchline by Davis. The
Saints' No8 strode forward and flashed a drive just wide of the far post.
The chances continued to come. Adrian repelled a Jose Fonte header, before
Victor Wanyama spanked the rebound over the top. Seconds later and Mane was
bearing down on goal, but he couldn't quite bring the ball under his spell
and his finish was a tame one. Tadic had a dig too, though the busy Adrian
flung himself to his right and clung on.
No doubt troubled by what he had seen, Bilic made a double change at the
break. Zarate and Song were withdrawn and in their stead came the fit-again
duo Carroll and Manuel Lanzini. And the former passed up a glorious
opportunity within three minutes of joining the action. After Collins'
header had been cleared off the line by Cuco Martina, Tomkins controlled
Noble's cross and Carroll blasted over the top from little more than six
yards out.
But parity was restored in the 69th minute in bizarre fashion, courtesy of
Antonio's first goal in Claret and Blue. The winger burst into the box and
despite being tripped before pulling the trigger, Wanyama's clearance
cannoned into the No30 and looped over Stekelenburg. It was nothing more
than Antonio's enterprise deserved.
The Hammers sought to turn the screw and turned the game on its head ten
minutes later. Valencia's cross from the right sat up sweetly for Antonio
and after his header came crashing back off the underside of the bar, there
was Carroll to gleefully nod home.
Antonio might have sealed it late on, but he smashed wide of the near post
with only the 'keeper to beat. It mattered not, however, as West Ham held
firm to climb up to seventh spot.
West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Jenkinson, Kouyate, Song
(Lanzini 46), Noble (c), Antonio, Zarate (Carroll 46), Valencia (Obiang 87)
Subs: Randolph (GK), Oxford, Hendrie, Cullen
Booked: Tomkins
Goals: Antonio 69, Carroll 79
Southampton: Stekelenburg, Martina (Yoshida 70), Van Dijk, Fonte (c),
Bertrand, Romeu, Wanyama, Mane (Juanmi 75), Davis, Tadic (Ramirez 75), Long
Booked: Martina, Romeu, Bertrand
Goal: Jenkinson (og)
Subs: Gazzaniga (GK), Caulker, Clasie, Ward-Prowse
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Carroll - 2016 is looking positive
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll is looking forward to a 'positive' 2016 after bagging his
second Boleyn Ground winner of the season to see off Southampton.
West Ham United ended a run of seven Barclays Premier League matches without
a win and scored their first come-from-behind victory in over a year thanks
to a stirring second half display. Southampton dominated the first half and
scored through Dusan Tadic, but a half-time change in tactics and personnel
- including the introduction of Carroll and Manuel Lanzini - altered the
course of the match. Man of the Match Michail Antonio equalised with 21
minutes remaining when his buccaneering run was ended by a foul tackle, only
for Victor Wanyama's clearance to ricochet off the winger's head and loop
into the net. Then, with eleven to go, the Boleyn Ground erupted as Carroll
signed-off 2015 with a signature header after Antonio had nodded Enner
Valencia's bouncing cross onto the underside of the crossbar. "It's been
eight or so games since we won so we are all delighted and I'm just glad we
got the win in the end," said a smiling Carroll. "It's great getting a goal
and for it to be the winner. I've had a little niggle so it was great to be
back out there."
There was much debate inside the stadium about Carroll's new braided
hairstyle, but the No9 laughed off jokes about his appearance, and instead
heaped praise on Antonio and his teammates for showing the resilience to
turn the game on its head. After a challenging first half that saw
frustration levels rise in some sections of the crowd, West Ham were a
transformed side after the break. Carroll gave the forward line a focal
point, Lanzini started pulling the strings in the No10 position, while the
switching of full-backs Carl Jenkinson and James Tomkins also added impetus
down the flanks. The result was a stirring and deserved victory which will
see the Hammers end the calendar year in no worse than eighth place in the
table. "The new hairstyle will stay all season if I keep scoring!" laughed
the centre forward, who then had words of support for Antonio and the squad
as a whole. "We've had some difficult moments over the last few weeks but
Michail has put his chance away and won Man of the Match. "We've got players
coming back from injury and a big and deep squad so 2016 is looking
positive."
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Bilic - It's a massive three points
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic hailed a huge victory for his team after the Hammers came from
behind to defeat Southampton 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Monday evening.
Victory looked in doubt when Carl Jenkinson's unfortunate own goal gave the
Saints an interval lead, but the Hammers were galvanised in the second half
and turned the game around. Michail Antonio levelled before Andy Carroll
nodded home the winner to leave Bilic a happy man. "It's three massive
points for us," he said. "We needed it and now we can talk about a positive
series, because we are six unbeaten and we ended up with a win. "Otherwise
it would be eight without a win and it's not spinning words, it's fact. It's
really good, considering everything that happened in the first half. "We
showed a change in character, a change in determination and a change in
attitude. To be fair they could have been two up at half time, but they
weren't, and nobody can say we didn't deserve it in the end. "We deserved it
with the hard work, the approach and, at the end of the day, the quality we
showed in the second half. "We turned the game around which is very
difficult to do in the Premier League and it's great for belief. "It's great
for the players who came back and it's good motivation because we are
expecting even more players to come back. "It's a really good night for
West Ham fans and I'm especially pleased for them as they were the ones who
lifted us in the second half. They were behind us and we felt that."
Bilic was especially pleased for the two goalscorers, who have had
frustrating seasons to date. He added: "Andy is like that, he's that kind of
a player. He needs to stay regular in training without any injuries and his
quality was never a question. "Michail deserves it. He is one of those
examples which is important for new players, for young players and for
players who are changing levels like he did. "He didn't play at the start of
the season because we had some players who played really well in those
positions."
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West Ham: Rafa Benitez 'signed a contract to become manager'
BBC.co.uk
West Ham were "two hours" away from appointing Rafael Benitez as manager in
the summer before hiring Slaven Bilic, Hammers co-owner David Sullivan says.
"We were two hours from getting Benitez and then Real Madrid came in. We had
agreed a contract," Sullivan said. "He is a top manager whatever anybody
says, and I think he'd have done a wonderful job for us."
Sullivan also said West Ham approached Jurgen Klopp, who joined Liverpool
instead to replace Brendan Rodgers. "We tried Klopp as well but he wouldn't
come because he said he wanted a break. But I'm glad with the manager we
have got," added Sullivan.
West Ham are 10th in the Premier League and have lost only four league
matches since former Croatia boss Bilic took over. Sullivan also heaped
praise on injured midfielder Dimitri Payet - calling him "the best player
I've signed in 25 years" - and said the Hammers will make Manuel Lanzini's
season-long loan from Al Jazira Club a permanent deal "by February or
March", two months earlier than planned.
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West Ham 2 Southampton 1
28 December 2015
Last updated at 19:48
By Patrick Jennings
BBC Sport
Andy Carroll came on to score the winner as West Ham recorded their first
Premier League victory in two months by fighting back to beat Southampton.
Saints dominated the first half and went ahead when Dusan Tadic's prodded
effort deflected in off Carl Jenkinson. Michail Antonio levelled in bizarre
fashion when a clearance hit him and looped in, before Carroll struck. The
West Ham striker made amends for a terrible miss by heading in from close
range after Antonio had hit the bar. Victory was the Hammers' first since a
2-1 win at home to Chelsea on 24 October, when then Blues boss Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands. Slaven Bilic's side move up to seventh in the table,
while Ronald Koeman's Saints, who beat Arsenal 4-0 at home on Boxing Day,
stay 12th.
Hammers finally have attacking threat
After drawing for a fifth time in a row on Saturday, Hammers boss Bilic
bemoaned the injuries to his key attacking players. Carroll and Manuel
Lanzini made their returns as second-half substitutes on Monday, but the
Croat is still without Victor Moses, Dimitri Payet, and Diafra Sakho up
front. Having scored just four times in their previous eight games, the
comeback looked far from likely, but West Ham transformed the match through
a second-half performance that was a world apart from their poor opening to
the game. There was a huge element of fortune about Antonio's equaliser, but
it was deserved for the number of chances they created after the break, with
Carroll having earlier blazed over from six yards out. Antonio, a threat
throughout the match with his powerful runs, was unlucky to see his header
come back off the underside of the bar for Carroll's winner, and fired
wildly wide when through on goal late on.
Average positions for West Ham and Southampton
For much of the game Southampton looked to have the better shape - and in
the first half they certainly played the more progressive football. But
after the break it was West Ham who fashioned the better chances as the away
side faded The way Southampton started the match made you think they had
finally turned the corner and rediscovered the kind of form that saw them
finish seventh last year. Koeman's side had picked up only one point from
five league games before Saturday's demolition of Arsenal at St Mary's and
that result had clearly given them confidence. In the first half Saints had
zip and zeal in midfield, were solid at the back, and created chances
aplenty through the running of Shane Long and Sadio Mane up front. But if
the away side were far superior in the opening 45 minutes, the opposite was
true in the second half as the introduction of Carroll and Lanzini turned
the match in the Hammers' favour.
Man of the match - Michail Antonio
The West Ham winger got his first Hammers goal to draw his side level, and
almost had a second when heading onto the underside of the bar.
What the managers said:
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "After the goal we were totally down and I
waited for half-time because I didn't want to humiliate the players by
changing them before. I was happy when the referee blew, because they could
have been 2-0 up. "At half-time we made some changes but it was a change of
character, of approach, of determination and will. They did try in the first
half, but this was a different West Ham.
"We equalised and continued to chase, and at the end of the day we were
rewarded for everything we did in the second half."
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "The second half was totally different to
the first. We had to score more than one in the first half, because
otherwise you expect their reaction in the second. If you score only one
they still have belief. "The first half was the level of the Arsenal game.
It was one team on the pitch playing football. But out of a better second
half they scored two goals, and from a fantastic first we scored one. "If
you are the dominant side you have to score more than one goal, and that was
the problem."
What next?
West Ham play Liverpool at home in a 12:45 GMT kick-off on Saturday, when
Southampton travel to Norwich for a 15:00 start.
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West Ham 2-1 Southampton: Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio seal comeback win
By Peter Smith
Last Updated: 28/12/15 9:07pm
SSN
Andy Carroll stepped off the bench to head West Ham to a 2-1 comeback win
over Southampton - their first Premier League victory in nine games. Ronald
Koeman's side - who had stunned Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day - dominated the
first half and should have had more reward for their efforts than Carl
Jenkinson's own goal. But a double change by Slaven Bilic at the break paid
off for the hosts, with substitute Carroll nodding in the winner with 11
minutes to play after Michail Antonio scored a fortunate equaliser. The
victory moves West Ham up to seventh and ends a run of five straight draws,
while Saints stay 12th. West Ham had gone into the match unbeaten in their
last six Premier League home games and made a positive start, with Mauro
Zarate clipping a shot wide before Enner Valencia saw a long-range drive
blocked.
However, on 13 minutes Southampton took the lead through the first real
chance of the match. Shane Long surged into the area after good play from
the visitors and squared across the six-yard box, where Dusan Tadic
deflected the ball onto Jenkinson, who sent the ball into his own net. The
visitors seized the initiative from there on, dominating possession and
going close through Long before failing to convert a flurry of chances
before the interval. Jose Fonte drew a dramatic save from Adrian, Sadio Mane
shot wide and Tadic - after some neat footwork - fired at the 'keeper as
Southampton pushed for a second.
After seeing his side outplayed for much of the first period, Bilic rang the
changes at the break, throwing on Carroll and Manuel Lanzini for Zarate and
Alex Song - and almost immediately got the response he was after. Just two
minutes after the re-start, James Collins' header was cleared off the line
from an early corner before Carroll blew a golden opportunity, blasting over
off the bar from five yards out with the goal at his mercy. Carroll and
Oriol Romeu then sent tame efforts goalwards at either end before West Ham
pulled level in bizarre circumstances. Antonio burst into the Southampton
box but lost his footing and fell to the ground. However, Victor Wanyama,
trying to clear, fired the ball into the West Ham man and the ball looped up
and over Maarten Stekelenburg and into the net. With the momentum on their
side, West Ham surged forward looking for a winner, with Antonio teeing up
Lanzini to shoot wide before Carroll seemed unfortunate to see a free-kick
awarded against him rather than a penalty given in his favour when he
collided with Ryan Bertrand in the box. Southampton were far from pinned in
their own half, but the visitors were stung on 79 minutes when Carroll put
West Ham ahead. Antonio - involved in all of West Ham's best moves - headed
Valencia's cross against the underside of the bar and Carroll was quickest
to react, pouncing on the loose ball to score his second of the season. West
Ham had to hold off a determined onslaught from Southampton in the closing
stages but, aside from Virgil van Dijk's off-target shot, the hosts were
largely untroubled and saw out the final minutes to sign off 2015 with a
victory.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (8), Jenkinson (5), Collins (7), Tomkins (6), Ogbonna (6),
Song (5), Kouyate (6), Antonio (9), Noble (7), Zarate (6), Valencia (6).
Subs used: Carroll (7), Obiang (6), Lanzini (7)
Southampton: Stekelenburg (6), Martina (6), Fonte (6), Van Dijk (6),
Bertrand (6), Wanyama (6), Romeu (6), Tadic (7), Mane (6), Steven Davis (7),
Long (7).
Subs used: Yoshida (6), Juanmi (5), Ramirez (5)
Man of the match: Michail Antonio (West Ham)
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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic praised supersub Andy Carroll
Last Updated: 28/12/15 9:35pm
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic praised supersub Andy Carroll after his winner
against Southampton and said there are few better teams in the Premier
League than the Hammers. Southampton arrived at the Boleyn Ground on the
back of thumping Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day and the Saints went into the
break one-nil up thanks to Carl Jenkinson's own goal. But an inspired
double-substitution by Bilic saw the Hammers come from behind to claim their
first victory since October after Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll came off
the bench to turn the game on its head.
Bilic said afterwards that he was pleased with his side's character. "It was
a massive win," he told Sky Sports. "This was like a special game for us.
The way we done it, we have done it and shown two faces. I am not talking
about the quality now. "I know that we are without some players but we had
a great character and showed in the second half great willingness, great
determination, great character, and we deserved to win this game at the
end."
Goalscorer Carroll had found the net just twice this season after being
reduced to 11 appearances this campaign and Bilic said he might deploy the
striker as an impact player after such a lengthy time on the sidelines. "He
is always crucial," the West Ham manager said. "So far he showed although he
had some really good games he started for us in the game against Man United
away in the game against Stoke at home I thought he was really good. "To be
fair I think he was best for us this season when he was coming on [as a
substitute] so as an impact player. So maybe that is what he has to do also
with the big long break that he had. "His impact against Norwich, against
Chelsea, or today it's not only because of the goal. He is making spaces, he
is winning the ball, he is working really hard and he can also pass the ball
so he was also one of the reasons we turned the game around in the second
half."
The victory meant West Ham sit in seventh place, one point behind Manchester
United, and Bilic said there were few teams in the Premier League better
than the Hammers. "This is the Premier League. Basically my son told me the
other day - and he is right, no matter about which team you are talking
[about in] this Premier League - more or less every win you have to
celebrate like an FA Cup final. And not just West Ham but Chelsea and all
them. So basically, there are no guarantees here. What I said at the
beginning of the season, and I stick by my words, is if we stay out of
injuries and all that - ok maybe we will get one, two or three maybe - then
I am very optimistic. If we work hard then we have a very good football
team. There a very few who are better than us."
Enner Valencia had to be replaced towards the end of the game and was seen
hobbling after the full-time whistle. However, Bilic said the injury was not
serious.
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Andy Carroll fires West Ham to first win in 2 months and vows to keep dodgy
haircut
21:53, 28 DEC 2015 UPDATED 22:08, 28 DEC 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
In front of watching England boss Roy Hodgson, the half-time sub's
79th-minute header ended the East Londoners' eight-game wait for a win
The Mirror
Andy Carroll's dodgy hair-do could be here to stay after he fired West Ham
to their first win in more than two months as they overcame Southampton 2-1
. Carroll made sure it was not just his braided barnet that stood out at
Upton Park as he came off the bench to net the winner. In front of watching
England boss Roy Hodgson, the half-time sub's 79th-minute header ended the
East Londoners' eight-game wait for a win. Carroll said: "I will keep the
haircut all season if I keep scoring. I've had a niggle recently but it's
great to get back out there." Nobody would have predicted the outcome at
half time. Southampton totally dominated and West Ham trailed when Carl
Jenkinson turned Shane Long's cross into his own net. But boss Slaven Bilic
sent on fit-again duo Carroll and Manuel Lanzini and the game turned on its
head. James Collins and Carroll went close before the ball looped in off
Michail Antonio as he fell to the floor. But they fully deserved their
winner which came when Carroll reacted quickest after Antonio hit the bar.
Saints manager Ronald Koeman admitted: "If you play good football, as we did
in the first 45 minutes, and you don't kill the game then you can expect
this."
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Sullivan told he pulled a pre-match masterstroke
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan was told this evening he had pulled a master stroke when
announcing that he would complete Manu Lanzini's permanent West Ham switch
by February or March before tonight's 2-1 win over Saints. ClaretandHugh's
chief analyst Leroy Rosenior said: "That was brilliant - quite brilliant and
I must give the chairman full credit because it would have given the boy a
fantastic lift for the game.
"He came out with the attitude: 'Right guys I'm one of you now so just watch
me go' and he was brilliant who made a fantastic difference."
ClaretandHugh reported that the chairman was ready to complete the deal soon
after he had revealed the news to the BBC earlier in the day.
And Leroy said: "The timing was quite brilliant and the player did an
amazing job. Mind you on this occasion I can't agree with my pal Hugh who
reckons both he and Andy Carroll should have played from the start and
looked fit enough. "You have to be very careful with returning players but
it didn't matter anyway. The manager and his team got it absolutely spot on
in the second half and we are now looking in terrific nick as we head for
the second part of the campaign."
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Lanzini returns and proves the knockers wrong
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
So back comes one creative player and the difference is immediate and
enormous. For several games - and I make no apologies for my own comments
about the performance at Villa Park - many have been claiming we can't keep
pleading injuries as an excuse for sub standard performances. Sorry and all
that but we can yer know as was shown when the ball carrying and genuinely
creative Manu Lanzini returned for the second half and made all the
difference in the world. My only complaint is that he wasn't on from the
start because he looked more than ready and up for it with the sort of 45
minutes we haven't had at the Boleyn for a long time. It was great to watch
and when Dimi Payet returns just watch us fly. So please no more nonsense
about injuries to hugely talented players not mattering. The other great
plus this afternoon was Michail Antonio. In injury crises players need to
grab their chance and he did that brilliantly with a goal and an assist.
It's no formality that Moses will march straight back in when fit. Carroll
looked fit enough too and grabbed his second match winning goal of the
season and again I must single out James Collins who did great against the
very good Shane Long. I said at the beginning of the season we'd finish in
the top six. I'm glad it remains very much on.
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Irons Match verdict: Give it up for the boys!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
Match verdict
C and H
Irons 2 Saints 1
First things first - heartiest congratulations Michail Antonio on your man
of the match - thoroughly deserved.
Welcome back Manu Lanzini - you made the difference.
.very well done Andy Carroll - we are delighted for you..
.and finally we are back up to seventh place with 29 points!
That was one hell of a game - we were utterly hopeless in the first half
which for very good reasons we will forget but with the arrival of Carroll
and Lanzini after half time absolutely everything changed.
The ball carrying Argentinian appeared for the entirely ineffective Alex
Song and coupled with the fearless and direct running of Antonio we suddenly
looked fearless, dangerous, gutsy and exciting.
With Lanzini's skill and invention coming to the fore the Saints team - who
had ruled it over us in a one sided first half - were pushed further and
further back and it was only going to be a matter of time before Jenkinson's
own goal from the 13th minute was going to be cancelled out.
Poor Jenks had been launched into the left back position as the patched up
Hammers went looking for their first win in two months and it was almost par
for the course that his would be the final boot on a ball in from Shane
Long's cross which first was touched on by Tanic - Adrian was left with no
chance.
But Antonio, as he had promised, came to the party and fulfilled his promise
that he could scare Premier League defences.
And he scored the luckiest goal ever when he charged into the box on 68
mins, lost control, appealed for a pen, saw had the ball crashed back
against him and watched in wonder as it looped over the keeper and into
the net.
The Hammers were rampant after that with Valencia - showing some real form
at last - seeing a low shot well saved before we should have had a spot kick
when Carroll was blocked off by Bertrand only for the ref to give a foul the
other way.
It was to make no difference because 11 minutes from time Valencia curled in
a wicked ball, that man Antonio headed against the bar and AC waltzed in to
head the rebound into the corner of the net.
There were a couple of scares towards the end but the amazing second half
heroics of every Iron on the pitch ensured that we hung on for our first win
in two months.
A victory on the final day of the old year is precisely what we required.We
have our best players coming back but I'll tell you this - Antonio is
becoming a better and better player and Slav will have a hard time dropping
the boy.
One run right at the death from his own penalty area, 70 yards down field
before his legs turned to jelly and he fired over was a sight to behold.
Make no mistake - there's nothing to worry about in this squad - it was just
the lads took too long to show the impetus we've been crying out for.
But it's back and we look great.
Give it up for the mighty Irons everybody! Remember this was the team that
had beaten the Gooners 4-0 a couple of days ago.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United ended 2015 in style as two second-half goals in the space of
ten minutes fired the Hammers to victory over Southampton at the Boleyn
Ground. After Dusan Tadic had diverted Shane Long's cross beyond Adrian -
albeit via the unfortunate Carl Jenkinson - in the 13th minute, the Saints
threatened to inflict further damage in a difficult opening 45. But Slaven
Bilic's men came out fighting after the interval and eventually turned the
game on its head. Michail Antonio levelled matters when an attempted
clearance cannoned off his head and looped over Maarten Stekelenburg, before
the returning Andy Carroll nodded home from point blank range to earn the
Hammers a first win in nine in front of a jubilant Boleyn Ground. Bilic made
two changes to the side held at Villa Park on Boxing Day, with Jenkinson
replacing the injured Aaron Cresswell at left-back, while Pedro Obiang made
way for Alex Song - the latter again sporting protective eyewear.
The Hammers had looked the more likely in the early exchanges and thrice had
opportunities, albeit half chances at best. Mauro Zarate got across his
marker but steered James Tomkins' cross wide of the far post, before Enner
Valencia saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked. Then, Mark Noble
teed up Cheikhou Kouyate, who screwed well wide of Stekelenburg's left-hand
upright. The Saints, however, hit the front with their first attack of note
and it was well worked, too. Sadio Mane flicked into the path of Steven
Davis, who fed Long on the left edge of the box. The Republic of Ireland man
squared across the face, where Tadic played it onto the unfortunate
Jenkinson and beyond Adrian in a flash. It took the wind out of West Ham
sails and, but for James Collins, it might have been two on 25. Long broke
free down the right this time and pulled back perfectly for Davis. Collins
flung himself in the way and Davis' shot ricocheted over Adrian's crossbar.
Ten minutes later and Zarate was robbed on the touchline by Davis. The
Saints' No8 strode forward and flashed a drive just wide of the far post.
The chances continued to come. Adrian repelled a Jose Fonte header, before
Victor Wanyama spanked the rebound over the top. Seconds later and Mane was
bearing down on goal, but he couldn't quite bring the ball under his spell
and his finish was a tame one. Tadic had a dig too, though the busy Adrian
flung himself to his right and clung on.
No doubt troubled by what he had seen, Bilic made a double change at the
break. Zarate and Song were withdrawn and in their stead came the fit-again
duo Carroll and Manuel Lanzini. And the former passed up a glorious
opportunity within three minutes of joining the action. After Collins'
header had been cleared off the line by Cuco Martina, Tomkins controlled
Noble's cross and Carroll blasted over the top from little more than six
yards out.
But parity was restored in the 69th minute in bizarre fashion, courtesy of
Antonio's first goal in Claret and Blue. The winger burst into the box and
despite being tripped before pulling the trigger, Wanyama's clearance
cannoned into the No30 and looped over Stekelenburg. It was nothing more
than Antonio's enterprise deserved.
The Hammers sought to turn the screw and turned the game on its head ten
minutes later. Valencia's cross from the right sat up sweetly for Antonio
and after his header came crashing back off the underside of the bar, there
was Carroll to gleefully nod home.
Antonio might have sealed it late on, but he smashed wide of the near post
with only the 'keeper to beat. It mattered not, however, as West Ham held
firm to climb up to seventh spot.
West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Jenkinson, Kouyate, Song
(Lanzini 46), Noble (c), Antonio, Zarate (Carroll 46), Valencia (Obiang 87)
Subs: Randolph (GK), Oxford, Hendrie, Cullen
Booked: Tomkins
Goals: Antonio 69, Carroll 79
Southampton: Stekelenburg, Martina (Yoshida 70), Van Dijk, Fonte (c),
Bertrand, Romeu, Wanyama, Mane (Juanmi 75), Davis, Tadic (Ramirez 75), Long
Booked: Martina, Romeu, Bertrand
Goal: Jenkinson (og)
Subs: Gazzaniga (GK), Caulker, Clasie, Ward-Prowse
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll - 2016 is looking positive
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll is looking forward to a 'positive' 2016 after bagging his
second Boleyn Ground winner of the season to see off Southampton.
West Ham United ended a run of seven Barclays Premier League matches without
a win and scored their first come-from-behind victory in over a year thanks
to a stirring second half display. Southampton dominated the first half and
scored through Dusan Tadic, but a half-time change in tactics and personnel
- including the introduction of Carroll and Manuel Lanzini - altered the
course of the match. Man of the Match Michail Antonio equalised with 21
minutes remaining when his buccaneering run was ended by a foul tackle, only
for Victor Wanyama's clearance to ricochet off the winger's head and loop
into the net. Then, with eleven to go, the Boleyn Ground erupted as Carroll
signed-off 2015 with a signature header after Antonio had nodded Enner
Valencia's bouncing cross onto the underside of the crossbar. "It's been
eight or so games since we won so we are all delighted and I'm just glad we
got the win in the end," said a smiling Carroll. "It's great getting a goal
and for it to be the winner. I've had a little niggle so it was great to be
back out there."
There was much debate inside the stadium about Carroll's new braided
hairstyle, but the No9 laughed off jokes about his appearance, and instead
heaped praise on Antonio and his teammates for showing the resilience to
turn the game on its head. After a challenging first half that saw
frustration levels rise in some sections of the crowd, West Ham were a
transformed side after the break. Carroll gave the forward line a focal
point, Lanzini started pulling the strings in the No10 position, while the
switching of full-backs Carl Jenkinson and James Tomkins also added impetus
down the flanks. The result was a stirring and deserved victory which will
see the Hammers end the calendar year in no worse than eighth place in the
table. "The new hairstyle will stay all season if I keep scoring!" laughed
the centre forward, who then had words of support for Antonio and the squad
as a whole. "We've had some difficult moments over the last few weeks but
Michail has put his chance away and won Man of the Match. "We've got players
coming back from injury and a big and deep squad so 2016 is looking
positive."
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Bilic - It's a massive three points
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic hailed a huge victory for his team after the Hammers came from
behind to defeat Southampton 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Monday evening.
Victory looked in doubt when Carl Jenkinson's unfortunate own goal gave the
Saints an interval lead, but the Hammers were galvanised in the second half
and turned the game around. Michail Antonio levelled before Andy Carroll
nodded home the winner to leave Bilic a happy man. "It's three massive
points for us," he said. "We needed it and now we can talk about a positive
series, because we are six unbeaten and we ended up with a win. "Otherwise
it would be eight without a win and it's not spinning words, it's fact. It's
really good, considering everything that happened in the first half. "We
showed a change in character, a change in determination and a change in
attitude. To be fair they could have been two up at half time, but they
weren't, and nobody can say we didn't deserve it in the end. "We deserved it
with the hard work, the approach and, at the end of the day, the quality we
showed in the second half. "We turned the game around which is very
difficult to do in the Premier League and it's great for belief. "It's great
for the players who came back and it's good motivation because we are
expecting even more players to come back. "It's a really good night for
West Ham fans and I'm especially pleased for them as they were the ones who
lifted us in the second half. They were behind us and we felt that."
Bilic was especially pleased for the two goalscorers, who have had
frustrating seasons to date. He added: "Andy is like that, he's that kind of
a player. He needs to stay regular in training without any injuries and his
quality was never a question. "Michail deserves it. He is one of those
examples which is important for new players, for young players and for
players who are changing levels like he did. "He didn't play at the start of
the season because we had some players who played really well in those
positions."
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West Ham: Rafa Benitez 'signed a contract to become manager'
BBC.co.uk
West Ham were "two hours" away from appointing Rafael Benitez as manager in
the summer before hiring Slaven Bilic, Hammers co-owner David Sullivan says.
"We were two hours from getting Benitez and then Real Madrid came in. We had
agreed a contract," Sullivan said. "He is a top manager whatever anybody
says, and I think he'd have done a wonderful job for us."
Sullivan also said West Ham approached Jurgen Klopp, who joined Liverpool
instead to replace Brendan Rodgers. "We tried Klopp as well but he wouldn't
come because he said he wanted a break. But I'm glad with the manager we
have got," added Sullivan.
West Ham are 10th in the Premier League and have lost only four league
matches since former Croatia boss Bilic took over. Sullivan also heaped
praise on injured midfielder Dimitri Payet - calling him "the best player
I've signed in 25 years" - and said the Hammers will make Manuel Lanzini's
season-long loan from Al Jazira Club a permanent deal "by February or
March", two months earlier than planned.
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West Ham 2 Southampton 1
28 December 2015
Last updated at 19:48
By Patrick Jennings
BBC Sport
Andy Carroll came on to score the winner as West Ham recorded their first
Premier League victory in two months by fighting back to beat Southampton.
Saints dominated the first half and went ahead when Dusan Tadic's prodded
effort deflected in off Carl Jenkinson. Michail Antonio levelled in bizarre
fashion when a clearance hit him and looped in, before Carroll struck. The
West Ham striker made amends for a terrible miss by heading in from close
range after Antonio had hit the bar. Victory was the Hammers' first since a
2-1 win at home to Chelsea on 24 October, when then Blues boss Jose Mourinho
was sent to the stands. Slaven Bilic's side move up to seventh in the table,
while Ronald Koeman's Saints, who beat Arsenal 4-0 at home on Boxing Day,
stay 12th.
Hammers finally have attacking threat
After drawing for a fifth time in a row on Saturday, Hammers boss Bilic
bemoaned the injuries to his key attacking players. Carroll and Manuel
Lanzini made their returns as second-half substitutes on Monday, but the
Croat is still without Victor Moses, Dimitri Payet, and Diafra Sakho up
front. Having scored just four times in their previous eight games, the
comeback looked far from likely, but West Ham transformed the match through
a second-half performance that was a world apart from their poor opening to
the game. There was a huge element of fortune about Antonio's equaliser, but
it was deserved for the number of chances they created after the break, with
Carroll having earlier blazed over from six yards out. Antonio, a threat
throughout the match with his powerful runs, was unlucky to see his header
come back off the underside of the bar for Carroll's winner, and fired
wildly wide when through on goal late on.
Average positions for West Ham and Southampton
For much of the game Southampton looked to have the better shape - and in
the first half they certainly played the more progressive football. But
after the break it was West Ham who fashioned the better chances as the away
side faded The way Southampton started the match made you think they had
finally turned the corner and rediscovered the kind of form that saw them
finish seventh last year. Koeman's side had picked up only one point from
five league games before Saturday's demolition of Arsenal at St Mary's and
that result had clearly given them confidence. In the first half Saints had
zip and zeal in midfield, were solid at the back, and created chances
aplenty through the running of Shane Long and Sadio Mane up front. But if
the away side were far superior in the opening 45 minutes, the opposite was
true in the second half as the introduction of Carroll and Lanzini turned
the match in the Hammers' favour.
Man of the match - Michail Antonio
The West Ham winger got his first Hammers goal to draw his side level, and
almost had a second when heading onto the underside of the bar.
What the managers said:
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "After the goal we were totally down and I
waited for half-time because I didn't want to humiliate the players by
changing them before. I was happy when the referee blew, because they could
have been 2-0 up. "At half-time we made some changes but it was a change of
character, of approach, of determination and will. They did try in the first
half, but this was a different West Ham.
"We equalised and continued to chase, and at the end of the day we were
rewarded for everything we did in the second half."
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman: "The second half was totally different to
the first. We had to score more than one in the first half, because
otherwise you expect their reaction in the second. If you score only one
they still have belief. "The first half was the level of the Arsenal game.
It was one team on the pitch playing football. But out of a better second
half they scored two goals, and from a fantastic first we scored one. "If
you are the dominant side you have to score more than one goal, and that was
the problem."
What next?
West Ham play Liverpool at home in a 12:45 GMT kick-off on Saturday, when
Southampton travel to Norwich for a 15:00 start.
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West Ham 2-1 Southampton: Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio seal comeback win
By Peter Smith
Last Updated: 28/12/15 9:07pm
SSN
Andy Carroll stepped off the bench to head West Ham to a 2-1 comeback win
over Southampton - their first Premier League victory in nine games. Ronald
Koeman's side - who had stunned Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day - dominated the
first half and should have had more reward for their efforts than Carl
Jenkinson's own goal. But a double change by Slaven Bilic at the break paid
off for the hosts, with substitute Carroll nodding in the winner with 11
minutes to play after Michail Antonio scored a fortunate equaliser. The
victory moves West Ham up to seventh and ends a run of five straight draws,
while Saints stay 12th. West Ham had gone into the match unbeaten in their
last six Premier League home games and made a positive start, with Mauro
Zarate clipping a shot wide before Enner Valencia saw a long-range drive
blocked.
However, on 13 minutes Southampton took the lead through the first real
chance of the match. Shane Long surged into the area after good play from
the visitors and squared across the six-yard box, where Dusan Tadic
deflected the ball onto Jenkinson, who sent the ball into his own net. The
visitors seized the initiative from there on, dominating possession and
going close through Long before failing to convert a flurry of chances
before the interval. Jose Fonte drew a dramatic save from Adrian, Sadio Mane
shot wide and Tadic - after some neat footwork - fired at the 'keeper as
Southampton pushed for a second.
After seeing his side outplayed for much of the first period, Bilic rang the
changes at the break, throwing on Carroll and Manuel Lanzini for Zarate and
Alex Song - and almost immediately got the response he was after. Just two
minutes after the re-start, James Collins' header was cleared off the line
from an early corner before Carroll blew a golden opportunity, blasting over
off the bar from five yards out with the goal at his mercy. Carroll and
Oriol Romeu then sent tame efforts goalwards at either end before West Ham
pulled level in bizarre circumstances. Antonio burst into the Southampton
box but lost his footing and fell to the ground. However, Victor Wanyama,
trying to clear, fired the ball into the West Ham man and the ball looped up
and over Maarten Stekelenburg and into the net. With the momentum on their
side, West Ham surged forward looking for a winner, with Antonio teeing up
Lanzini to shoot wide before Carroll seemed unfortunate to see a free-kick
awarded against him rather than a penalty given in his favour when he
collided with Ryan Bertrand in the box. Southampton were far from pinned in
their own half, but the visitors were stung on 79 minutes when Carroll put
West Ham ahead. Antonio - involved in all of West Ham's best moves - headed
Valencia's cross against the underside of the bar and Carroll was quickest
to react, pouncing on the loose ball to score his second of the season. West
Ham had to hold off a determined onslaught from Southampton in the closing
stages but, aside from Virgil van Dijk's off-target shot, the hosts were
largely untroubled and saw out the final minutes to sign off 2015 with a
victory.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (8), Jenkinson (5), Collins (7), Tomkins (6), Ogbonna (6),
Song (5), Kouyate (6), Antonio (9), Noble (7), Zarate (6), Valencia (6).
Subs used: Carroll (7), Obiang (6), Lanzini (7)
Southampton: Stekelenburg (6), Martina (6), Fonte (6), Van Dijk (6),
Bertrand (6), Wanyama (6), Romeu (6), Tadic (7), Mane (6), Steven Davis (7),
Long (7).
Subs used: Yoshida (6), Juanmi (5), Ramirez (5)
Man of the match: Michail Antonio (West Ham)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic praised supersub Andy Carroll
Last Updated: 28/12/15 9:35pm
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic praised supersub Andy Carroll after his winner
against Southampton and said there are few better teams in the Premier
League than the Hammers. Southampton arrived at the Boleyn Ground on the
back of thumping Arsenal 4-0 on Boxing Day and the Saints went into the
break one-nil up thanks to Carl Jenkinson's own goal. But an inspired
double-substitution by Bilic saw the Hammers come from behind to claim their
first victory since October after Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll came off
the bench to turn the game on its head.
Bilic said afterwards that he was pleased with his side's character. "It was
a massive win," he told Sky Sports. "This was like a special game for us.
The way we done it, we have done it and shown two faces. I am not talking
about the quality now. "I know that we are without some players but we had
a great character and showed in the second half great willingness, great
determination, great character, and we deserved to win this game at the
end."
Goalscorer Carroll had found the net just twice this season after being
reduced to 11 appearances this campaign and Bilic said he might deploy the
striker as an impact player after such a lengthy time on the sidelines. "He
is always crucial," the West Ham manager said. "So far he showed although he
had some really good games he started for us in the game against Man United
away in the game against Stoke at home I thought he was really good. "To be
fair I think he was best for us this season when he was coming on [as a
substitute] so as an impact player. So maybe that is what he has to do also
with the big long break that he had. "His impact against Norwich, against
Chelsea, or today it's not only because of the goal. He is making spaces, he
is winning the ball, he is working really hard and he can also pass the ball
so he was also one of the reasons we turned the game around in the second
half."
The victory meant West Ham sit in seventh place, one point behind Manchester
United, and Bilic said there were few teams in the Premier League better
than the Hammers. "This is the Premier League. Basically my son told me the
other day - and he is right, no matter about which team you are talking
[about in] this Premier League - more or less every win you have to
celebrate like an FA Cup final. And not just West Ham but Chelsea and all
them. So basically, there are no guarantees here. What I said at the
beginning of the season, and I stick by my words, is if we stay out of
injuries and all that - ok maybe we will get one, two or three maybe - then
I am very optimistic. If we work hard then we have a very good football
team. There a very few who are better than us."
Enner Valencia had to be replaced towards the end of the game and was seen
hobbling after the full-time whistle. However, Bilic said the injury was not
serious.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll fires West Ham to first win in 2 months and vows to keep dodgy
haircut
21:53, 28 DEC 2015 UPDATED 22:08, 28 DEC 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
In front of watching England boss Roy Hodgson, the half-time sub's
79th-minute header ended the East Londoners' eight-game wait for a win
The Mirror
Andy Carroll's dodgy hair-do could be here to stay after he fired West Ham
to their first win in more than two months as they overcame Southampton 2-1
. Carroll made sure it was not just his braided barnet that stood out at
Upton Park as he came off the bench to net the winner. In front of watching
England boss Roy Hodgson, the half-time sub's 79th-minute header ended the
East Londoners' eight-game wait for a win. Carroll said: "I will keep the
haircut all season if I keep scoring. I've had a niggle recently but it's
great to get back out there." Nobody would have predicted the outcome at
half time. Southampton totally dominated and West Ham trailed when Carl
Jenkinson turned Shane Long's cross into his own net. But boss Slaven Bilic
sent on fit-again duo Carroll and Manuel Lanzini and the game turned on its
head. James Collins and Carroll went close before the ball looped in off
Michail Antonio as he fell to the floor. But they fully deserved their
winner which came when Carroll reacted quickest after Antonio hit the bar.
Saints manager Ronald Koeman admitted: "If you play good football, as we did
in the first 45 minutes, and you don't kill the game then you can expect
this."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan told he pulled a pre-match masterstroke
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan was told this evening he had pulled a master stroke when
announcing that he would complete Manu Lanzini's permanent West Ham switch
by February or March before tonight's 2-1 win over Saints. ClaretandHugh's
chief analyst Leroy Rosenior said: "That was brilliant - quite brilliant and
I must give the chairman full credit because it would have given the boy a
fantastic lift for the game.
"He came out with the attitude: 'Right guys I'm one of you now so just watch
me go' and he was brilliant who made a fantastic difference."
ClaretandHugh reported that the chairman was ready to complete the deal soon
after he had revealed the news to the BBC earlier in the day.
And Leroy said: "The timing was quite brilliant and the player did an
amazing job. Mind you on this occasion I can't agree with my pal Hugh who
reckons both he and Andy Carroll should have played from the start and
looked fit enough. "You have to be very careful with returning players but
it didn't matter anyway. The manager and his team got it absolutely spot on
in the second half and we are now looking in terrific nick as we head for
the second part of the campaign."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lanzini returns and proves the knockers wrong
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
So back comes one creative player and the difference is immediate and
enormous. For several games - and I make no apologies for my own comments
about the performance at Villa Park - many have been claiming we can't keep
pleading injuries as an excuse for sub standard performances. Sorry and all
that but we can yer know as was shown when the ball carrying and genuinely
creative Manu Lanzini returned for the second half and made all the
difference in the world. My only complaint is that he wasn't on from the
start because he looked more than ready and up for it with the sort of 45
minutes we haven't had at the Boleyn for a long time. It was great to watch
and when Dimi Payet returns just watch us fly. So please no more nonsense
about injuries to hugely talented players not mattering. The other great
plus this afternoon was Michail Antonio. In injury crises players need to
grab their chance and he did that brilliantly with a goal and an assist.
It's no formality that Moses will march straight back in when fit. Carroll
looked fit enough too and grabbed his second match winning goal of the
season and again I must single out James Collins who did great against the
very good Shane Long. I said at the beginning of the season we'd finish in
the top six. I'm glad it remains very much on.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons Match verdict: Give it up for the boys!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
Match verdict
C and H
Irons 2 Saints 1
First things first - heartiest congratulations Michail Antonio on your man
of the match - thoroughly deserved.
Welcome back Manu Lanzini - you made the difference.
.very well done Andy Carroll - we are delighted for you..
.and finally we are back up to seventh place with 29 points!
That was one hell of a game - we were utterly hopeless in the first half
which for very good reasons we will forget but with the arrival of Carroll
and Lanzini after half time absolutely everything changed.
The ball carrying Argentinian appeared for the entirely ineffective Alex
Song and coupled with the fearless and direct running of Antonio we suddenly
looked fearless, dangerous, gutsy and exciting.
With Lanzini's skill and invention coming to the fore the Saints team - who
had ruled it over us in a one sided first half - were pushed further and
further back and it was only going to be a matter of time before Jenkinson's
own goal from the 13th minute was going to be cancelled out.
Poor Jenks had been launched into the left back position as the patched up
Hammers went looking for their first win in two months and it was almost par
for the course that his would be the final boot on a ball in from Shane
Long's cross which first was touched on by Tanic - Adrian was left with no
chance.
But Antonio, as he had promised, came to the party and fulfilled his promise
that he could scare Premier League defences.
And he scored the luckiest goal ever when he charged into the box on 68
mins, lost control, appealed for a pen, saw had the ball crashed back
against him and watched in wonder as it looped over the keeper and into
the net.
The Hammers were rampant after that with Valencia - showing some real form
at last - seeing a low shot well saved before we should have had a spot kick
when Carroll was blocked off by Bertrand only for the ref to give a foul the
other way.
It was to make no difference because 11 minutes from time Valencia curled in
a wicked ball, that man Antonio headed against the bar and AC waltzed in to
head the rebound into the corner of the net.
There were a couple of scares towards the end but the amazing second half
heroics of every Iron on the pitch ensured that we hung on for our first win
in two months.
A victory on the final day of the old year is precisely what we required.We
have our best players coming back but I'll tell you this - Antonio is
becoming a better and better player and Slav will have a hard time dropping
the boy.
One run right at the death from his own penalty area, 70 yards down field
before his legs turned to jelly and he fired over was a sight to behold.
Make no mistake - there's nothing to worry about in this squad - it was just
the lads took too long to show the impetus we've been crying out for.
But it's back and we look great.
Give it up for the mighty Irons everybody! Remember this was the team that
had beaten the Gooners 4-0 a couple of days ago.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, December 28
Daily WHUFC News II - 28th December 2015
Slaven Speaks - Southampton
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic speaks to the media ahead of Monday's game against Southampton.
Slaven, with the game coming so quickly after the Aston Villa match, can we
expect many changes?
SB: "We can't make any changes really. We might be forced to make changes
but if you've been following West Ham you probably know the situation.
Before the Villa game we had the same situation for about five weeks now and
that is why I want to praise the players as we have such limited options.
"We are not losing games and we are picking up points game by game. We
probably aren't going to have many options to rotate or to rest. Hopefully
our two players that got injured at Aston Villa [James Tomkins and Aaron
Cresswell] will be able to play, but we won't know that until the last
minute. Then hopefully maybe one player or maximum two of the others will
come back for Southampton, without rotations of course."
Who do you think will be back?
SB: "Well I think Tomkins and Cresswell have a chance, but the only problem
is the game is so soon after Villa. Other than that, more hopefully than
probably, it will be Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini."
Is there a chance Dimitri Payet will make the game?
SB: "No, Dimitri will not be available before the Liverpool game."
Given how well Lanzini has played this season, how much of a boost would it
be if he returns?
SB: "It would be a huge boost but it's not only about him coming back. We
have Reid to strengthen our defensive options and then up front we have
Payet, Lanzini, Sakho, Moses, Carroll and Jelavic to come back. Thank God we
have Valencia back.
"It will be a big boost when Lanzini comes back and, although we do really
need him, the question is do we want to risk him for one game when he can be
out for another few weeks or months. So that's why we, no matter how
desperate we are to have them back, we're going to think about it with a
cold head.
"So, it's about time. Is it going to be against Southampton or is it going
to be a few days after against Liverpool?"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham set to make Manuel Lanzini a permanent Hammer
By Kaveh Solhekol, Chief news reporter
Last Updated: 28/12/15 8:41am
SSN
Manuel Lanzini will become a permanent West Ham player two months earlier
than planned. Lanzini is on a season-long loan from Al Jazira Club in the
United Arab Emirates and West Ham's option to sign the 22-year-old Argentine
attacking midfielder permanently runs out in April. West Ham co-chairman
David Sullivan said: "The contract we have is 100% watertight. We have until
April to make it permanent but we'll probably do it before the due date. "He
is a fantastic player and a fantastic man. By February or March, he will be
a permanent West Ham player. He could be a top, top, top player. He's
already sensational and he could be as good as any player in the world."
Lanzini is close to returning after a thigh injury and West Ham have scored
only once since his last game, against West Bromwich Albion on November 29.
Only Dimitri Payet, signed from Marseille in the summer, has scored more
goals than Lanzini for West Ham this season. Sullivan said: "Payet is the
signing of the season. He's the best player I've signed in 25 years. He's a
£30m player. He's a supreme footballer. He makes every player in our side
play better. On his day, he's world class, he's unstoppable." Payet has not
played since the 1-1 draw with Everton at Upton Park seven weeks ago. He is
expected to return from an ankle injury next month.
West Ham's problems in scoring without Payet and Lanzini have led to reports
that they may be interested in signing free agent Emmanuel Adebayor. West
Ham co-chairman David Sullivan says the club won't be spending any money
unless they sell players first - something they have no intention of doing.
The Togo striker was released by Tottenham in September and he was in talks
about moving to West Ham last summer. But Sullivan said: "It's very
unlikely we'd sign him. He hasn't played for ages, so he's not match fit. He
could have an impact wherever he goes but we've got too many players here
and we can't pay any more wages."
West Ham are budgeting on spending £30m in the transfer market every summer
and their plans will not be affected by the amount of money Sullivan is
spending on producing films. Sullivan's new movie 'The Fall of the Krays' is
released next week. He said: "It's like my hobby and it's also a way to make
money because I don't make money out of football. The Krays were nasty,
horrible people, serious gangsters. It's a fantastic film. I love making
films. "We're going to make lot more films. I've got to make a living! I
work 90 hours a week, half of that on West Ham, so I'm not short-changing
West Ham. We'll spend another £30m on players next summer."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michail will take the knocks in his stride
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Honest Michail Antonio may have taken stick on the social networks but this
is a bloke with serious faith in his own ability. Even finding that co
chairman David Gold had mistaken his identity on his arrival hasn't phased
him describing the error as ' a bit of banter.'
Some fans though had more serious problems with the £7 million signing's
performance against Villa but Michail is taking everything in his stride.
That seems unfair after such a limited Irons career but the player knows
such criticism goes with the territory and won't be letting that get him
down. He said: "One thing I have faith in is my ability. Right now I do feel
a bit rusty, I need to get sharper, but I feel I will get to that point and
once I do I believe I can terrorise the Premier League as well as the
Championship. "I am a player where I try and excite the fans and run at
players. I always give 100 per cent. Right now I feel I am doing all right,
but I need to do more back in the team as an attacker to get more assists
and more goals. "I had quite a bit of a break but as the games are coming on
I feel myself getting better and getting sharper. "Hopefully Monday things
will start building on until I start playing my game." He added: "Right now
we are going through a bit of a draw rut but it could be worse, we could be
getting no points. "We can't complain with our form but it is about getting
more goals now."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers would love this midfield star to stay
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are keenly watching Alex Song's progress from injury and remain
keen to offer the on loan Barcelona midfielder a new two tear deal. Song –
sidelined with an eye infection against Villa – has yet to return to full
match fitness but is looking stronger and more creative match by match. The
Hammers showed their enthusiasm to make him a permanent part of the club
scene when offering him a loan deal despite him having struggled towards the
end of last season and before he was properly recovered from injury. Now
they are keen to see the player return to his very best form in order to
offer him a to year deal as the club heads for the Olympic Stadium. Co
chairman David Gold told ClaretandHugh: "We know that Alex is absolutely top
quality and we believe that class will always out. "Obviously we want him at
the club and the signs are that he is getting there. He knows the situation
– he loves the club and we would love to see him here permanently."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jelavic to have a scan on his injured knee
December 27, 2015
Westhamway.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
The West Ham Way have exclusively discovered that Nikica Jelavic has injured
his knee with scans expected to reveal the full extent of the injury
tomorrow. This of course rules him out of the Southampton game at the very
minimum and we will update you on how this goes on the site.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Players to return to the Southampton Squad and give a massive boost!!
December 27, 2015
Westha mway.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
We have found out exclusively that Tomkins will be available for tomorrow's
game with Andy Carroll expected to be on the bench too. There is also a
real hope in the camp that Lanzini will pass a late fitness test and also be
on the bench to provide a much needed injury boost to the side with Payet
not far behind and likely to make the subs list for the Liverpool game.
Lanzini may even be able to figure for half and hour or so as an impact sub
against the in form Saints. Unfortunately it is now likely that Cresswell
will not figure against Southtampton, although he has not yet been ruled out
for the Liverpool match.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
What does Jarvis' sale mean for the January Transfer Window?
December 26, 2015
Westhamway.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
Yet another draw and I cannot help but feel disappointed with that result.
Let's be honest Villa are dreadful and are clearly the worse team in the
league and if we are looking to finish in top 8 or so we have to beat teams
like that. It wasn't a very good performance.
We do have to put it into perspective that it is an away point which you can
never be too angry with and that is even more notable when you consider the
injuries. We have arguably all of our best players out injured now and if
you throw Tomkins (who must be a doubt for Southampton) and Cresswell who
must be even more of a doubt we really are depleted. There is talk that
Lanzini and Carroll will be back for Southampton but considering that is in
two days there must be some uncertainty with this too!! We really need these
injured players back.
I thought Valencia worked hard and played well today but again wasn't much
of a goal threat. This could be said for pretty much all of our forwards
since Payet has been injured. This highlights two things that perhaps
Carroll and Jelavic are not as bad as people like to make out and also how
crucial Payet is to the team. Since his injury we really have struggled for
goals and creativity and we need him back so crucially. Take Lanzini and
Moses out of the attacking equation too it is no wonder these forwards have
struggled. I thought Adrian and Collins were the best players again. I
saw many people saying whenever Jenkinson plays we concede. It is getting a
bit ridiculous how much certain accounts have to ridicule players. Yes he
has been poor this season and probably the worst player but that goal was
nothing to do with him. It wasn't his side, it was Ogbonna who was arguably
fouled before and then shouldn't have brought the defender down either. Yet
somehow this was linked back to Jenkinson, which is just boring and wrong.
As I have been reporting all window we had been looking to sell on Jarvis
but the £2.5m that we raised really doesn't give us much transfer options.
The chairman believe that you cannot get real value in the January window
and so are unlikely to spend any transfer funds, despite that fact we will
be linked with every man and his dog over the January window. The £2.5m
will be better spent in the summer is the general consensus at board room
level. The club will try to loan a player in the window but will not pay
over the odds to make this happen. They believe that with Payet, Lanzini
and Carroll are very close to returning and Moses and Reid not too far away,
that because of this they do not need to go into the market. Of course we
also have Sakho to return but that isn't too close at the moment. It also
doesn't make much of a difference to the Financial Fair Play status because
Jarvis' salary was already off the bill for this season and so it hasn't
made the situation any better. If he had returned it would have been at the
expense of Moses/Jenkinson's salary being off the wage bill in the summer.
If the transfer situation changes we will let you know.
We appear to be playing Southampton at just the wrong time as they have just
hammered Arsenal but we have to hope this performance and with it being the
late kick off, that they may be fatigued but it is really hard to predict
these things.
I was delighted that Mark Noble was awarded with a testimonial game in
March. It will be a great occasion and many ex heroes will take part. Dean
Ashton and Trevor Sinclair have put their names forward and Carlos Tevez and
Di Canio will be approached. It will be a team full of ex hammers to play
with Mark such Sheringham, Zamora, Parker and many others.
Make sure you tune in to the website this week because we will be finishing
our Upton Park Memories competition and reporting on all the news. Don't
forget to look at our forum as it has some good discussion and I am hoping
my admin account will be sorted out soon so that I can take part. The site
is continuing to grow and hopefully improve and we hope to take you with us
on our journey.
All the best! COYI
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers chief claims Newcastle United are the only club who could sign Andy
Carroll in January
London 24
09:06 28 December 2015 Brad Pinard
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan admits Newcastle are the only club who
could sign Andy Carroll. The striker has struggled yet again this season and
is hoping to return from yet another injury against Southampton on Monday
evening. Having missed more games than he has played since joining the
Hammers from Liverpool, Carroll has become an expensive frustration, however
Sullivan is giving him every chance of staying. "Andy is doing a great job.
He's part of the club, part of the team," Sullivan told SkySports. "I would
think it's very unlikely he'd want to go anywhere. "He's got a fiancée and a
baby in this area. Whether he'd go back to Newcastle to go to his home, I
wouldn't think there'd be any club he'd want to go to other than Newcastle.
"If Sunderland or a club offered him more money I don't think he'd go
there."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic speaks to the media ahead of Monday's game against Southampton.
Slaven, with the game coming so quickly after the Aston Villa match, can we
expect many changes?
SB: "We can't make any changes really. We might be forced to make changes
but if you've been following West Ham you probably know the situation.
Before the Villa game we had the same situation for about five weeks now and
that is why I want to praise the players as we have such limited options.
"We are not losing games and we are picking up points game by game. We
probably aren't going to have many options to rotate or to rest. Hopefully
our two players that got injured at Aston Villa [James Tomkins and Aaron
Cresswell] will be able to play, but we won't know that until the last
minute. Then hopefully maybe one player or maximum two of the others will
come back for Southampton, without rotations of course."
Who do you think will be back?
SB: "Well I think Tomkins and Cresswell have a chance, but the only problem
is the game is so soon after Villa. Other than that, more hopefully than
probably, it will be Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini."
Is there a chance Dimitri Payet will make the game?
SB: "No, Dimitri will not be available before the Liverpool game."
Given how well Lanzini has played this season, how much of a boost would it
be if he returns?
SB: "It would be a huge boost but it's not only about him coming back. We
have Reid to strengthen our defensive options and then up front we have
Payet, Lanzini, Sakho, Moses, Carroll and Jelavic to come back. Thank God we
have Valencia back.
"It will be a big boost when Lanzini comes back and, although we do really
need him, the question is do we want to risk him for one game when he can be
out for another few weeks or months. So that's why we, no matter how
desperate we are to have them back, we're going to think about it with a
cold head.
"So, it's about time. Is it going to be against Southampton or is it going
to be a few days after against Liverpool?"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham set to make Manuel Lanzini a permanent Hammer
By Kaveh Solhekol, Chief news reporter
Last Updated: 28/12/15 8:41am
SSN
Manuel Lanzini will become a permanent West Ham player two months earlier
than planned. Lanzini is on a season-long loan from Al Jazira Club in the
United Arab Emirates and West Ham's option to sign the 22-year-old Argentine
attacking midfielder permanently runs out in April. West Ham co-chairman
David Sullivan said: "The contract we have is 100% watertight. We have until
April to make it permanent but we'll probably do it before the due date. "He
is a fantastic player and a fantastic man. By February or March, he will be
a permanent West Ham player. He could be a top, top, top player. He's
already sensational and he could be as good as any player in the world."
Lanzini is close to returning after a thigh injury and West Ham have scored
only once since his last game, against West Bromwich Albion on November 29.
Only Dimitri Payet, signed from Marseille in the summer, has scored more
goals than Lanzini for West Ham this season. Sullivan said: "Payet is the
signing of the season. He's the best player I've signed in 25 years. He's a
£30m player. He's a supreme footballer. He makes every player in our side
play better. On his day, he's world class, he's unstoppable." Payet has not
played since the 1-1 draw with Everton at Upton Park seven weeks ago. He is
expected to return from an ankle injury next month.
West Ham's problems in scoring without Payet and Lanzini have led to reports
that they may be interested in signing free agent Emmanuel Adebayor. West
Ham co-chairman David Sullivan says the club won't be spending any money
unless they sell players first - something they have no intention of doing.
The Togo striker was released by Tottenham in September and he was in talks
about moving to West Ham last summer. But Sullivan said: "It's very
unlikely we'd sign him. He hasn't played for ages, so he's not match fit. He
could have an impact wherever he goes but we've got too many players here
and we can't pay any more wages."
West Ham are budgeting on spending £30m in the transfer market every summer
and their plans will not be affected by the amount of money Sullivan is
spending on producing films. Sullivan's new movie 'The Fall of the Krays' is
released next week. He said: "It's like my hobby and it's also a way to make
money because I don't make money out of football. The Krays were nasty,
horrible people, serious gangsters. It's a fantastic film. I love making
films. "We're going to make lot more films. I've got to make a living! I
work 90 hours a week, half of that on West Ham, so I'm not short-changing
West Ham. We'll spend another £30m on players next summer."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michail will take the knocks in his stride
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Honest Michail Antonio may have taken stick on the social networks but this
is a bloke with serious faith in his own ability. Even finding that co
chairman David Gold had mistaken his identity on his arrival hasn't phased
him describing the error as ' a bit of banter.'
Some fans though had more serious problems with the £7 million signing's
performance against Villa but Michail is taking everything in his stride.
That seems unfair after such a limited Irons career but the player knows
such criticism goes with the territory and won't be letting that get him
down. He said: "One thing I have faith in is my ability. Right now I do feel
a bit rusty, I need to get sharper, but I feel I will get to that point and
once I do I believe I can terrorise the Premier League as well as the
Championship. "I am a player where I try and excite the fans and run at
players. I always give 100 per cent. Right now I feel I am doing all right,
but I need to do more back in the team as an attacker to get more assists
and more goals. "I had quite a bit of a break but as the games are coming on
I feel myself getting better and getting sharper. "Hopefully Monday things
will start building on until I start playing my game." He added: "Right now
we are going through a bit of a draw rut but it could be worse, we could be
getting no points. "We can't complain with our form but it is about getting
more goals now."
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Hammers would love this midfield star to stay
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 28, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are keenly watching Alex Song's progress from injury and remain
keen to offer the on loan Barcelona midfielder a new two tear deal. Song –
sidelined with an eye infection against Villa – has yet to return to full
match fitness but is looking stronger and more creative match by match. The
Hammers showed their enthusiasm to make him a permanent part of the club
scene when offering him a loan deal despite him having struggled towards the
end of last season and before he was properly recovered from injury. Now
they are keen to see the player return to his very best form in order to
offer him a to year deal as the club heads for the Olympic Stadium. Co
chairman David Gold told ClaretandHugh: "We know that Alex is absolutely top
quality and we believe that class will always out. "Obviously we want him at
the club and the signs are that he is getting there. He knows the situation
– he loves the club and we would love to see him here permanently."
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Jelavic to have a scan on his injured knee
December 27, 2015
Westhamway.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
The West Ham Way have exclusively discovered that Nikica Jelavic has injured
his knee with scans expected to reveal the full extent of the injury
tomorrow. This of course rules him out of the Southampton game at the very
minimum and we will update you on how this goes on the site.
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Players to return to the Southampton Squad and give a massive boost!!
December 27, 2015
Westha mway.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
We have found out exclusively that Tomkins will be available for tomorrow's
game with Andy Carroll expected to be on the bench too. There is also a
real hope in the camp that Lanzini will pass a late fitness test and also be
on the bench to provide a much needed injury boost to the side with Payet
not far behind and likely to make the subs list for the Liverpool game.
Lanzini may even be able to figure for half and hour or so as an impact sub
against the in form Saints. Unfortunately it is now likely that Cresswell
will not figure against Southtampton, although he has not yet been ruled out
for the Liverpool match.
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What does Jarvis' sale mean for the January Transfer Window?
December 26, 2015
Westhamway.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
Yet another draw and I cannot help but feel disappointed with that result.
Let's be honest Villa are dreadful and are clearly the worse team in the
league and if we are looking to finish in top 8 or so we have to beat teams
like that. It wasn't a very good performance.
We do have to put it into perspective that it is an away point which you can
never be too angry with and that is even more notable when you consider the
injuries. We have arguably all of our best players out injured now and if
you throw Tomkins (who must be a doubt for Southampton) and Cresswell who
must be even more of a doubt we really are depleted. There is talk that
Lanzini and Carroll will be back for Southampton but considering that is in
two days there must be some uncertainty with this too!! We really need these
injured players back.
I thought Valencia worked hard and played well today but again wasn't much
of a goal threat. This could be said for pretty much all of our forwards
since Payet has been injured. This highlights two things that perhaps
Carroll and Jelavic are not as bad as people like to make out and also how
crucial Payet is to the team. Since his injury we really have struggled for
goals and creativity and we need him back so crucially. Take Lanzini and
Moses out of the attacking equation too it is no wonder these forwards have
struggled. I thought Adrian and Collins were the best players again. I
saw many people saying whenever Jenkinson plays we concede. It is getting a
bit ridiculous how much certain accounts have to ridicule players. Yes he
has been poor this season and probably the worst player but that goal was
nothing to do with him. It wasn't his side, it was Ogbonna who was arguably
fouled before and then shouldn't have brought the defender down either. Yet
somehow this was linked back to Jenkinson, which is just boring and wrong.
As I have been reporting all window we had been looking to sell on Jarvis
but the £2.5m that we raised really doesn't give us much transfer options.
The chairman believe that you cannot get real value in the January window
and so are unlikely to spend any transfer funds, despite that fact we will
be linked with every man and his dog over the January window. The £2.5m
will be better spent in the summer is the general consensus at board room
level. The club will try to loan a player in the window but will not pay
over the odds to make this happen. They believe that with Payet, Lanzini
and Carroll are very close to returning and Moses and Reid not too far away,
that because of this they do not need to go into the market. Of course we
also have Sakho to return but that isn't too close at the moment. It also
doesn't make much of a difference to the Financial Fair Play status because
Jarvis' salary was already off the bill for this season and so it hasn't
made the situation any better. If he had returned it would have been at the
expense of Moses/Jenkinson's salary being off the wage bill in the summer.
If the transfer situation changes we will let you know.
We appear to be playing Southampton at just the wrong time as they have just
hammered Arsenal but we have to hope this performance and with it being the
late kick off, that they may be fatigued but it is really hard to predict
these things.
I was delighted that Mark Noble was awarded with a testimonial game in
March. It will be a great occasion and many ex heroes will take part. Dean
Ashton and Trevor Sinclair have put their names forward and Carlos Tevez and
Di Canio will be approached. It will be a team full of ex hammers to play
with Mark such Sheringham, Zamora, Parker and many others.
Make sure you tune in to the website this week because we will be finishing
our Upton Park Memories competition and reporting on all the news. Don't
forget to look at our forum as it has some good discussion and I am hoping
my admin account will be sorted out soon so that I can take part. The site
is continuing to grow and hopefully improve and we hope to take you with us
on our journey.
All the best! COYI
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Hammers chief claims Newcastle United are the only club who could sign Andy
Carroll in January
London 24
09:06 28 December 2015 Brad Pinard
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan admits Newcastle are the only club who
could sign Andy Carroll. The striker has struggled yet again this season and
is hoping to return from yet another injury against Southampton on Monday
evening. Having missed more games than he has played since joining the
Hammers from Liverpool, Carroll has become an expensive frustration, however
Sullivan is giving him every chance of staying. "Andy is doing a great job.
He's part of the club, part of the team," Sullivan told SkySports. "I would
think it's very unlikely he'd want to go anywhere. "He's got a fiancée and a
baby in this area. Whether he'd go back to Newcastle to go to his home, I
wouldn't think there'd be any club he'd want to go to other than Newcastle.
"If Sunderland or a club offered him more money I don't think he'd go
there."
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