Preview - Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
When and where?
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Premier League
Saturday 15 October 2016, 5.30pm
Selhurst Park
What's the story?
The long wait for the return of Premier League football comes to an end on Saturday when the Hammers make the short journey south of the River Thames to take on Crystal Palace.
After an international break in which the likes of Dimitri Payet, Darren Randolph, Winston Reid, Sofiane Feghouli and Cheikhou Kouyate all turned out for their countries, the focus returns to club football with Slaven Bilic keen to return to winning ways.
The opening two months of the new Premier League season have not gone to plan for West Ham, with one win and one draw from their opening seven games leaving them 18th in the early league table.
A draw with Middlesbrough last time out, in which Dimitri Payet scored an outrageous solo goal, arrested a run of four defeats in the league and Bilic will be hoping that signals an upturn in fortunes.
Crystal Palace have enjoyed a better start, with eleven points from their opening seven games – although only four of them have been gained at home.
At Selhurst Park, they came up short against West Bromwich Albion in their season opener, but have recovered to draw 1-1 with AFC Bournemouth and comfortably defeat Stoke City 4-1.
They drew 1-1 at Everton last time out and possess a striker who has three goals to his name already this term in Christian Benteke.
Team news
The Hammers welcome Aaron Cresswell back into the fold following a three-month absence with a knee injury and he is expected to be in the matchday squad after returning to full training recently.
Elswehere, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri are fit again, but Sam Byram (hamstring) and Gokhan Tore (quadriceps) are both injured.
Andy Carroll, Andre Ayew and Arthur Masuaku continue their recoveries from injury.
For Crystal Palace captain and centre back Scott Dann is missing with a hamstring injury.
Pape Soure and Loic Remy are long-term absentees and will not be available for Saturday's fixture.
Player head-to-head
Any links between the two?
Mark Noble admits Saturday's game will be a strange one for him as he lines up against friend and long-time teammate James Tomkins for the first time.
Tomkins needs no introduction to Hammers fans, having come through the ranks at the Boleyn Ground and played 243 games for the Club.
Palace manager Alan Pardew is also a familiar face for the Hammers, having managed the Club between 2003-06, winning promotion in the 2004/05 campaign and leading West Ham to the FA Cup final the following year.
How do I get to the game?
Click here for directions of how to get to Selhurst Park. The latest news on the roads and TfL train and Underground services can be found here and National Rail services here.
How can I watch the game?
The game is being shown live in the UK on BT Sport. See below for details of international coverage.
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Five Talking Points - Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
Cresswell, Tomkins, Antonio and Townsend are among the topics for discussion ahead of the Hammers' trip to Selhurst Park...
London derby
West Ham United return to Premier League action after a two-week international break eager to end a run of five top-flight matches without a victory. The Hammers' indifferent form and results have seen them unexpectedly slip towards the lower reaches of the table, and Slaven Bilic and his players will be desperate to return to winning ways on Saturday. However, the teatime kick-off at Selhurst Park will be no cakewalk for West Ham, where they face a resurgent Crystal Palace. Alan Pardew's side have collected ten points from their last four Premier League matches to climb into the top half and the form guide suggests the Eagles will soar to another three on home turf.
However, this is a London derby, and the form guide will (hopefully) go out of the window…
A welcome return
West Ham fans will likely have reason to cheer come 4.30pm on Saturday, when the official teams and substitutes are announced at Selhurst Park. Aaron Cresswell's name is set to be among them, ending a three-month injury absence for the popular left-back, who was hurt in a challenge during a pre-season fixture in Austria back in July. The No3's absence has been recognised as one of the reasons for the Hammers' slow start to 2016/17, and the defender's return will add solidity and balance to a back four which has conceded 16 goals in seven matches without him.
Pards
Alan Pardew may have departed the Boleyn Ground on the back of a terrible run of form that needed a Carlos Tevez-inspired Great Escape to keep West Ham in the Premier League, but his previous achievements will ensure his popularity in east London endures. As manager, 'Pards' led the Hammers to two Play-Off finals, winning the second in 2005, to within seconds of glory in the 2006 FA Cup final, and to a host of exciting Premier League victories during his three-plus years in charge. Pardew's win-percentage of 41.1% puts him fourth on the all-time list behind caretaker Sir Trevor Brooking (64.29%), Billy Bonds (43.61%) and Charlie Paynter (41.25%), but his only motivation on Saturday will be to score his fifth win in eleven career matches AGAINST West Ham.
Andros v Antonio
Saturday's fixture will pit two current England squad members against one another in wingers Andros Townsend and Michail Antonio. Townsend was involved as a substitute in Tuesday's goalless World Cup qualifying draw in Slovenia, while Antonio made the trip to Ljubljana for no more than a watching brief. A look at the statistics shows that the West Ham man has enjoyed the better start to the season, with five goals to Townsend's one, more shots on goal and an equal number of dribbles attempted, but it is the Palace player who has earned international recognition. This weekend, Antonio will get the chance to show Gareth Southgate that it is he who should feature for the Three Lions when they face Scotland and Spain in November.
Tonks
Saturday's fixture will see James Tomkins face West Ham for the first time since he completed a summer switch to Crystal Palace. The Basildon-born centre-half has made a fine start to life in south London, helping his side to collect seven points from the four Premier League matches he has featured in, and defeat Blackpool in the EFL Cup second round. At the age of 27, and after nearly ten years in the West Ham first-team squad, Tomkins felt he needed to leave the club which produced him in search of regular Premier League football, and this weekend he will have the opportunity to show his previous employers exactly what they let go.
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Hammers' Nigerian partnership confirmed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's relationship with African partner Capital Oil and Gas Ind. Ltd strengthened
Managing director Angus Kinnear welcomed to Nigeria by founder Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah
Agreement was signed in August 2016 with aim of boosting football in the African nation
West Ham United's strong relationship with the Club's first African partner was confirmed at a star-studded ceremony in Nigeria.
The Hammers agreed a historic partnership with Nigeria Premier League side FC Ifeanyi Ubah as part of the long-term agreement signed with the club's principal investor Capital Oil and Gas Ind. Ltd in August.
The partnership between West Ham and FC Ifeanyi Ubah, which will see the clubs work together to produce and develop young Nigerian footballers, was confirmed at a gala event in the West African country's largest city, Lagos.
Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, who founded Capital Oil and Gas in 2001 and bought the club which now bears his name in 2015, welcomed West Ham's managing director Angus Kinnear and a host of leading dignitaries from Nigeria's political and sporting worlds to the launch event.
Also present at the partnership launch event were the Chairman of Nigeria's National Assembly Sports Committee Senator Joseph Ogba, Nigerian Football Federation Chairman Amaju Pinnick, League Management Company Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, Ministry of Sports Permanent Secretary Solomon Dalung and members of the FC Ifeanyi Ubah coaching staff.
Alongside them sat a who's who of Nigerian football, including former internationals Taribo West, Peter Rufai, Victor Ikpeba, Victor Agali, Julius Aghahowa and Henry Nwosu, as well as current Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu.
There, Dr Ubah spoke passionately of the major benefits of the partnership for young Nigerians, saying: "Our vision is to get kids involved in football. Nigeria is a nation of over 180 million people. Nothing should stop us from producing the future Cristiano Ronaldos and Lionel Messis of these world.
"We have at least 18 areas why we are partnering with West Ham United ranging from scouting and merchandising to going to England to play friendly matches, among others. We chose West Ham United because they are famed for running the best academy in the world.
Dr Ubah's enthusiasm was shared by Kinnear, who also presented a £35,000 donation to the Anambra State Football Association and Okongwu Memorial Grammar School towards the development of youth sport in the state.
"We believe FC Ifeanyi Ubah are ideal partners as they share West Ham's vision and ambition for youth football development," Kinnear confirmed. "We are delighted to seal our first partnership in Africa and this trip has proved we could not have made a better choice. Whilst we are confident this partnership will deliver elite playing talent we will focus initially at the grass roots level where it has the capacity to turn young lives around.
"The fantastic on pitch achievements of FC Ifeanyi Ubah since their foundation less than two years ago demonstrate that the driver of this partnership, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, is a man who is passionate about football and has a unique vision for the development of the game across Africa.
"In the next two to ten years, we want to look back and see that we have created a lot of value for Nigerian football, whilst simultaneously building the West Ham fan base in Africa's most populous nation."
The duo's visit to the businessman and philanthropist's home state to promote the 'Made in Anambra Football' project was graced by the supportive presence of Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Chief Solochukwu Lobelu and the traditional supreme ruler of the city of Nnewi, HRH Igwe K.O.N III (Igwe of Nnewi), who was presented with a West Ham United shirt.
Also present were local cabinet members Crown Prince Obi Orizu and Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, alongside former Nigeria and Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu and Nollywood actor and comedian John Okafor.
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Angelo's World
WHUFC.com
Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna returns in the latest edition of his new blog, which delves into the Italian's life with the Club and outside football.
This week, the former Juventus centre-back discusses the recent international break which saw him team up with the Italy squad and West Ham's upcoming Premier League London derby against Crystal Palace.
The 28-year-old also revealed why he can't wait for Christmas to come around this year…
Hello everyone,
I've just returned from the international period with Italy, and it was a good break for me. For us, our 1-1 result at home to Spain was a very good result. Spain are huge in world football with a great team so it was a good result. First half maybe wasn't as good as we'd liked, but in the end, we drew and one point for us is really good.
Then we had Macedonia, and it was the first time I've ever been there. It is a nice country. It was quiet and that was good for the squad. We won 3-2 which was also a great result because although we made a few mistakes, after we got back to win.
The team morale around our Italy camp is good. There have been a lot of changes and we have a new generation, and sometimes you can lose games and make mistakes. But you have to be very focused as it can be hard, but it is good around the team at the moment.
For West Ham, I'm not sure if the international break came at a good or bad time for us. But it has been our time to reflect and work on things ahead of the game against Crystal Palace. We tried to win the last game against Middlesbrough and we tried to show our character.
At the moment, of course it is a difficult time for us. We have no excuses to complain; the Stadium or anything – no. We have to work and always prepare for the next game which we are now doing.
The upcoming match is our big London derby so we're all looking forward to it. I think the most important thing is the performance. If our performance is good, the points will come.
We will obviously be up against my former teammate James Tomkins, and it will be great to see him. He is a good player, and I didn't expect his move during the summer. It was a good move for him. I wish him the best of luck at Palace – although not on Saturday! After the game, hopefully we can greet him and have a chat.
I enjoyed playing with him at the back last season. He can play in many positions on the pitch, so everyone liked to be alongside him. Sometimes when there are a lot of changes, you are disappointed because you have lost your friend or teammate, but this is football. I wish him the best of luck.
Away from football, everything is good for me and my wife, who is currently pregnant. Our baby is due on Christmas Day! It could be a big celebration for us and a really good gift! We are starting to prepare but we are not in a rush, we have time. My wife needs to be relaxed.
We know it is going to be a boy, and maybe he can be a footballer when he is older too! The most important thing is that he is healthy, though.
As I said previously, I have a very good relationship with Matteo Darmian as we played together at Torino. We meet frequently, but I see a lot of footballers who are in London who I also know too!
London and England is great; there is respect. You can walk where you want and people don't stop you too much and you can live your life.
When you are the training ground, you are focused fully on your next game, as we are for Palace, but outside of football, England allows you to live your life also.
I hope we can get the three points on Saturday at Selhurst Park. Enjoy the game, everybody.
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Noble & Adrian visit Richard House
WHUFC.com
It was another special day for the young children at Richard House Hospice after club skipper Mark Noble and Adrian spent the afternoon supporting such a great cause in Beckton.
Noble has a special affiliation with the Hospice having grown up just down the road and has been a patron for a number of years.
The Hammers midfielder donated part of his Testimonial proceeds to Richard House and has forged a number of close relationships – including some special young friends.
Noble cannot praise the staff enough for the sacrifices and hard work they put in to support the youngsters and says it makes him realise how fortunate he is to be a Premier League footballer.
Noble said: "This is something that means a lot to me. Some of the proceeds from my Testimonial came to Richard House and I wanted to see how everyone is getting on.
"The staff do an amazing job and you don't really appreciate until you come here how lucky you are. It puts life into perspective every time you come here.
"When people hear the word hospice, you know what that means. It is not a nice word and no-one likes it. But you have got to face it and the job the staff do and the patience they have is incredible.
"You see us playing with the kids for ten minutes and water being chucked about and the kids squirting everyone, the staff have this all the time and they deserve a lot of credit.
"I didn't realise until I had kids how hard it is for them. It is not going great at West Ham at the moment, but you come to places like this and realise there is a lot worse things going on in the world.
"It is nice to come here and realise that life is not really that bad. We all want the results to turn around and I am sure they will, but places like this make you realise what is important in the world.
"I know our results affect a lot of people and as captain I feel it as much as anyone else because winning games is very important."
Adrian was also pleased he could put a smile on the few of the youngsters and also paid tribute to the hard work that is done by everyone at Richard House.
Adrian said: "It is great to spend some time with the children. They probably don't know much about us but they enjoyed playing with the ball and the water. It is a great thing.
"This is real life and it is great that we can provide the opportunity for them to have a smile on their face. The staff do an amazing job every day to support the children when they have difficult moments.
"The children need maximum support and they need help from the beginning and the staff help them so much.
"It is a great thing for the Club to show their support towards such a great cause."
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Latest fixture changes confirmed
WHUFC.com
The Premier League have announced their fixture changes for December and January, with five changes for the Hammers.
West Ham United's home fixture against Arsenal remains on Saturday 3 December, but will now kick-off at 5.30pm.
The game at Liverpool the following weekend will now take place on Sunday 11 December with a 4.30pm kick-off.
As a result of this fixture moving, the Hammers' home date with Burnley will now be on Wednesday 14 December, with kick-off still at 7.45pm.
Our first game of the New Year, at home to Manchester United, remains on Monday 2 January, but kick-off is now at 5.15pm.
Finally, the home match against Manchester City moves back 24 hours to Wednesday 1 February, with a 7.45pm kick-off.
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Adrian - We need to get back that winning feeling
WHUFC.com
Adrian has stressed the importance of getting back on the winning trail against Crystal Palace and moving out of the bottom three this weekend.
The Hammers are keen to get their season back on track in south London following a frustrating start to the campaign which has seen them win just one Premier League game.
But Slaven Bilic's side showed they have the character to get out of the situation as they came from behind to earn a draw with Middlesbrough in the last game and end their losing run of games.
Adrian says the players have been working even harder over the international break to address the situation and hopes they can achieve a similar result to last season when they came away with an impressive 3-1 victory at Selhurst Park.
Adrian said: "We are hoping to get back to winning ways against Crystal Palace on Saturday. We have been preparing for this game for a long time and we have spent a long time together over the national break.
"The players who were away on international duty are now back with the squad and we have enough time to prepare. We want the three points and a victory.
"We had a good result against Palace last year but this is a different season and we need to get a win and move towards the top of the table.
"We have great players and a good squad and we just need to get back that winning feeling and just take it game-by-game."
Adrian is looking forward to meeting up with former team-mate James Tomkins for the first time following his summer move to Palace.
The Spanish keeper knows the qualities that Tomkins possesses having played behind him for such a long period and hopes he gets a great reception from the travelling West Ham supporters.
Adrian added: "It will be strange to play against James Tomkins but this is football. I wish him all the best but not for this Saturday. We need to get the win and have a good performance.
"James played for West Ham for a long time and was a great player and a great person. He deserves a good welcome from the West Ham fans."
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Crystal Palace v West Ham United
SAT, 15 OCT 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
17:30
Venue: Selhurst Park
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has presided over the club's worst start to a top-flight season since 1988-89.
TEAM NEWS
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has confirmed Scott Dann will again be missing with a hamstring injury, but he should return for their next match.
Long-term absentees Pape Soure and Loic Remy remain out.
West Ham include fit-again Aaron Cresswell for the first time this season after a knee injury. Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have shaken off knocks, but Andre Ayew, Sam Byram, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Arthur Masuaku and Gokhan Tore are out.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Jonathan Pearce: "Are you a glass half-full or glass half-empty person? "Palace will equal their best Premier League run if they avoid defeat. But they've picked up just eight points from the last 33 in derbies. If they don't improve that record they won't finish in the top half. "West Ham have won on their last two visits to Selhurst Park. They looked better defensively against Middlesbrough. But it's still their worst start to a top-flight campaign since they were relegated in 1988-89.
"In the last five years, nine of the 15 clubs in the bottom three at this stage have gone down "How's your glass now?"
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew on Slaven Bilic's problems: "It is part of the managerial role we have that everything is centred on the results. Sometimes all the stuff that goes on around them makes it difficult to get those results. "But he's an experienced manager - an experienced international manager - and he'll know how to deal with it. Better than I will. I have no doubt he'll get it right sooner rather than later."
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic: "Crystal Palace didn't start well but the last four games they have got 10 points and they probably didn't want the break.
"We played really well there last year and won 3-1 and hopefully we can do the same on Saturday."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Crystal Palace are one of the form teams in the country at the moment. It's safe to say that West Ham aren't. Dimitri Payet got the Hammers out of jail against Middlesbrough with that superb solo goal to earn them a point. I think they would be happy with the same result at Selhurst Park,
Prediction: 1-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Crystal Palace have won just one of their last four top-flight meetings with West Ham.
The Hammers have won on each of their last two league visits to Selhurst Park - they have never won three in a row away to Crystal Palace in the league.
There has been a sending off in each of the last three league games between these sides: Cheikhou Kouyate in April 2016, Dwight Gayle in October 2015 and Glenn Murray in February 2015.
Crystal Palace
Palace can equal their Premier League club record of six matches unbeaten, which they have achieved twice before: November-December 2015 and February-March 1993.
Alan Pardew's side have gone 12 successive league matches without a clean sheet.
Jason Puncheon has created 24 goalscoring chances this season, more than any other Premier League player prior to the weekend matches.
Since his Premier League debut in September 2012, Christian Benteke has scored 19 goals with his head - the joint most in that period with Arsenal's Olivier Giroud.
West Ham United
West Ham are without a win in their last five league games.
The Hammers have conceded 17 goals so far this season, the most in the division.
They have failed to score a first-half goal in six of their seven league games.
Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini scored in both of West Ham's league matches against Crystal Palace last season.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-1 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 51% Probability of away win: 25%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.
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West Ham donate £35,000 to Nigerian club
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have announced a partnership with Nigerian Premier League club Ifeanyi Ubah FC.
According to the club, the new partnership "will see the clubs work together to produce and develop young Nigerian footballers".
The deal was signed on behalf of Ifeanyi Ubah by Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, who was the subject of a recent article in the West Ham Utd vs Southampton match day programme (25 September).
Celebrating Dr Ubah's birthday, the article on page 39 described him as "a successful businessman, industrialist, publisher, oil magnate, philanthropist, humanitarian, ambassador, plenipotentiary, sports investor, youth mobiliser and mentor as well as an astute politician."
The new partnership will see the two clubs work together in order to enable young, talented Nigerian (population 180m) footballers to develop. Representing West Ham at a ceremony in Lagos to celebrate the new partnership was Managing Director Angus Kinnear.
Speaking at the event, Unah said that he chose West Ham as a partner due to the club's well-established Academy. "Our vision is to get kids involved in football," he said. "Nothing should stop us from producing the future Cristiano Ronaldos and Lionel Messis of this world.
"We chose West Ham United because they are famed for running the best academy in the world. We are partnering with them in at least 18 areas ranging from scouting and merchandising to going to England to play friendly matches, among others.
"With this partnership with West Ham United, we are going to be producing over 50,000 footballers in [FC Ifeanyi Ubah's home state of] Anambra soon."
West Ham United ✔ @WestHamUtd
West Ham United have strengthened the Club's partnership with @CAPITALOILNIG and @FCIfeanyiUbah ➡️ http://wes.hm/COG141016 #COYI
3:56 PM - 14 Oct 2016
46 46 Retweets 50 50 likes
Kinnear presented a cheque from West Ham for £35,000 to aid Anambra State Football Association and Okongwu Memorial Grammar School with youth development.
"We believe FC Ifeanyi Ubah are ideal partners as they share West Ham's vision and ambition for youth football development," said Kinnear. "We are delighted to seal our first partnership in Africa and this trip has proved we could not have made a better choice.
"Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, is a man who is passionate about football and has a unique vision for the development of the game across Africa.
"In the next two to ten years, we want to look back and see that we have created a lot of value for Nigerian football, whilst simultaneously building the West Ham fan base in Africa's most populous nation."
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Evening all: five games rescheduled for TV
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
No less than FIVE of West Ham's fixtures between December and the beginning of February have been rescheduled for the benefit of television.
Three games in December - plus one each in January and February - have been changed at the behest of the TV companies, four of which are to be played at the Olympic Stadium later than originally scheduled.
The home fixtures against Arsenal, Burnley, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been moved to either late afternoon or evening kick-offs - whilst the trip to Liverpool will now take place on a Sunday afternoon.
That means only five of West Ham's pre-2017 home matches will take place at the traditional 3pm kick-off time. The new dates are as follows:
Saturday, 3 December: Arsenal (h) 5.30pm
Sunday, 11 December: Liverpool (a) 4.30pm
Wednesday, 14 December: Burnley (h) 7.45pm
Monday, 2 January: Manchester Utd (h) 5.15pm
Wednesday, 1 February: Manchester City (h) 7.45pm
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Stadium operators to oppose capacity rise
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 14th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Olympic Stadium operators LS1856 are set to oppose West Ham United's plans to extend the capacity of the ground by a further 9,000, according to reports. A story in today's Daily Mail claims that West Ham's proposal to accommodate up to 66,000 supporters every game will be blocked by the company, who have been heavily criticised for their handling of previous matches at the stadium this season. And whilst the news may not go down particularly well in West Ham's boardroom, it is potentially good news for existing supporters who have experienced serious delays getting to and from the stadium in recent weeks - with attendances considerably below maximum capacity (currently 57,000). Whilst the stadium infrastructure is already in place to cope with extra demand, LS185 will oppose West Ham's plans as a result of the extra costs likely to be incurred, adds the Mail, citing the need for additional stewarding. It is also suggested that the stadium operators are determined to eradicate any of the many existing issues that have plagued West Ham's move from Upton Park to Stratford before agreeing to expand the arena's capacity.
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Crystal Palace v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Preview Percy
Preview Percy takes a look at this weekend's visit to Crystal Palace. As usual we would advise readers with any connection to the London Borough Of Croydon to take a stiff drink before proceeding any further.....
Next up we have to visit the London Borough Of Croydon, where we will be hosted by Crystal Palace. Kick-off is 5:30pm for televisual purposes and, for those of you coming in to Liverpool Street, that's probably just as well. Yup those pesky engineering works that have blighted our home matches in recent weeks are set to continue so if you are coming in from anywhere between Liverpool Street and, well, Russia, look forward to rail replacement buses etc. Thankfully south of the water there's no digging up of the tracks but check before you leave to be on the safe side.
The London Borough Of Croydon is, as I'm sure you will remember, the dreadful place that spawned the first Mrs Percy, something that even the locals there are embarrassed about. Unfortunately, my proposal that a huge wall be erected around the place lest anyone quite so dreadful escape from there again still hasn't been granted planning permission so it looks like we will have to continue our annual outing from the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered for another year until they get relegated. Which is a shame because once that odd Mr Trump fails to get elected there will be millions of workers hanging around over there with no wall to build.
The local side are having a not bad run at the moment sitting in 8th spot with 11 points from their 7 games. This followed a particularly poor run in the league last season after last yuletide which saw them barely scrape a win in the league until the end of term, their early season form being enough to keep them afloat. All that was sort of disguised by their progress to the FA Cup Final where they lost to the team that would have been out at the quarter final stage but from some remarkably dishonest refereeing at Old Trafford last March. Did I say "remarkably" I meant "typically".
Their main problem last season was the fact that nobody employed as a forward at the club seemed capable of scoring goals. Which, when you think about it, is pretty much a failing if you happen to be a forward employed to do just that. The failure in this department was hardly surprising when you think that the striking options at various stages included Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh, neither of whom would qualify as "prolific". Clearly changes were required if improvements were to be made.
Out went Dwight Gayle to Newcastle for what the work experience girl wearing the Van Der Graaf Generator T-Shirt without knowing who they are assures me was £10m of Her Majesty's Pounds. That seemed a lot to me – maybe the notoriously tight-fisted Mike Ashley was off sick that day.
The money didn't rest in that account for too long though. In fact they returned it to SJP with a further £3m in return for Andros Townsend. Townsend it appears had a clause in his contract allowing him to leg it out of toon the second they got relegated. It was a case of "yes guys it's all very nice up here and all and the Northumberland countryside is very nice but, if it's all the same to you I'd rather go to someone still in the Premier League, because, like, I won't get picked for England if I stay here". Having said that he was initially omitted from the latest England squad, only being drafted in when Raheem Sterling got hooked due to injury (I bet HIS calf muscle strain will have cleared up by this weekend).
A reported £27m went to Liverpool in return for Christian Benteke as the scousers cut their losses on the player after an unimpressive spell up there. Now he's picked up a goal or two in recent weeks prompting some to bemoan the fact that we didn't sign him ourselves. However, I've not been over-impressed with him over the years and he wouldn't have been my first choice of striker when we were in the market for one.
Slightly less known is the fact that Benteke came in a "buy-one-get-one –free" type deal whereby Palace nipped over to Belgium to pick up Benteke's kid brother Jonathan. I'm sure that the deal was completed on merit and was in no way a sweetener made in return for Benteke senior's signature. The pair of them had 6 minutes of shared pitch time towards the end of their trip to Boro' but Benteke minor suffered a knee injury and is now out of contention for 4 months, an injury described by the manager (of whom less later) as "disappointing".
They also brought in Chelsea striker Loic Remy on loan from that bit of the Chelsea organisation that seems to have been specifically set up to buy and subsequently loan out players – football's equivalent of Moss Bros if you will. He promptly got injured and went back to the Stamford Bridge treatment room where he is likely to stay for another month or so.
The worst injury of all happened to full-back Pape Souare. It's not often one could describe a player with a broken leg as "lucky" but given that the break was the worst of the injuries the lad received during a car crash on the M4 things could have been a whole lot worse for the Senegalese full-back. Happily the prognosis is that the player should be able to make a full – if lengthy – physical recovery.
Back on the transfer front they also went abroad to pick up a new 'keeper in the form of Steve Mandanda who came in for either an undisclosed fee or on a free transfer – sources differ – from Marseille. Mandanda was born in Zaire and qualifies internationally for the Democratic Republic Of Congo on the grounds that it is the same country following a "rebranding" (as we must call it) that took place in 1997. However, he opted to play for France which led to his goalkeeper siblings to nickname him "Frenchie". Which is a pretty damned horrible insult in my book, ranking right up there with "Croydonian". Mind you "Steve" did rather get the short straw when it comes to forenames when you consider the fact that his younger brothers are named Parfait, Riffi and Ever. Steve has been capped over 20 times at senior level by France though these days he is seen pretty much as Lloris's deputy over the channel. Which meant that he got to watch Payet play against Bulgaria last weekend like the rest of us.
They bolstered the central defensive area by paying us a reported £10m for James "He Hits Who He Wants" Tomkins. Now that was a transfer that didn't overly please us at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered, though, having reportedly been told that his first XI chances would be limited at the Olympic Stadium one can see the logic of his departure to ensure first team football, even if it does mean his having to visit Croydon every other week. The uncertain start we've made would have meant him having the chance to build up a run in the first team. Strength in depth against keeping players happy - the perennial struggle.
Tomkins may be partnered by skipper Scott Dann who is due to return from a hamstring injury. Palace supporters have been clamouring for him to be included in England squads for a while, which just goes to show that once you start picking players as limited as Henderson everyone starts to think they can get in.
They are of course managed by Alan Pardew about whom the kumb lawyers have insisted I write precisely nothing. For some reason. So I'll move swiftly on to other matters. England then. Liverpool fans were hailing their latest "world-class" player (titter) as Jordan Henderson was the least worst player on the pitch against, er, Malta, resulting in him being awarded the captaincy against Slovakia. Whereupon he gave the ball away so often he reminded the rest of us that he's bloody lucky to be anywhere near an international squad in the first place. Still, as awful as it is watching England these days (Sturridge here's a cow's backside, here's a banjo. Come back when you've mastered that) at least we're not Scottish. (Note to Scottish readers: hahahahahaha!)
Meanwhile we are all avoiding looking at the photos of the Boleyn being demolished – we were tearful enough on that last night without seeing the place getting pulled apart. Taking our minds off things we have injury news, and as usual, there is another one to add to the list. This time it's Gokan Tore who has a thigh injury that will keep him out for about five to six weeks. Poor bloke must have walked under half a dozen ladders on his way over from Turkey. It had been thought that Carroll and Sakho might be close to recalls but that now looks more likely to happen at the end of the month – maybe the extra hour in bed when the clocks change just before Everton away will make all the difference. Ayew & Masuaku are still a fair way off and Byram's hamstring was bad enough to require an operation last week. On the plus side Cresswell, Nordveidt and Calleri have all returned to full training. Cresswell has been sorely (pun intended) missed after that two-bob nutter from Karlsruhe did him in pre-season so let's just hope he really IS fully fit this time around – we can't afford for him to miss any more games.
Prediction? Well my original optimism for this match has been tempered by the injury news – I'd originally been working on the lines that one or more of Carroll and Sakho might be about. Their absence leaves us looking at Zaza and Calleri as the main options, with perhaps Antonio taking on some sort of striking role as he did against Boro'. Zaza is struggling for form at the moment and if he wants to stay he'll need to start pulling his finger out. Calleri has been injured but even before that he wasn't exactly in the Samsung league in terms of setting the world alight. I do have a rather bad feeling about this one given they are in a run of luck at the moment. So I think that the £2.50 I was going to pay to watch the next UKIP boxing match (well there's bound to be one isn't there?) will go on a pessimistic 2-1 home victory as soon as I can get myself down to Winstones The Turf Accountants, the one bright spot being that if any idiot dressed as a clown gets in my way as I get near the ground on Saturday I can happily deck them safe in the knowledge that, since they come from the London Borough Of Croydon, I will be doing the world a double favour.
Enjoy the game!
When last we met at Selhurst Park: Won 3-1 (Premier League October 2015) An eventful match that took place almost a year ago to the day. Jenkinson put us 1-0 up before a very dodgy twice-taken spot kick from Cabaye levelled the scores. Gayle then got himself dismissed rather stupidly, kicking lumps out of Payet and Kouyate with a petulant shove on Adrian coming in between to suggest that he had an early date that evening – (this being back in the days when referees actually bothered to issue second yellow cards when they were due). It seemed that the self-styled greatest supporters in the world all had similar plans to Gayle as even the twit with the "official drum" legged it once Lanzini had put us 2-1 up. So they would have missed the delightful finish from Payet that sealed the points. Talking of whom, it was in this match that "The Payet Song" really started to take hold, something that occurred with a spontaneity light years beyond the comprehension of the risible home "ultras".
Danger Man: Christian Benteke I don't particularly rate him but that makes him precisely the sort of player in form that will play well enough to bite us on the bum. Honourable mention for James Tomkins who will be a danger at corners with the added influence of the law of the ex to come into play.
Referee: Martin Atkinson Of course it is. We get him every three bloody games whatever happens.
Percy's Poser: Last time out we asked you why the BBC had to issue a disclaimer at the end of series 3 of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, which had partly been set in Middlesbrough. The first correct answer out of the digital hat came from Mrs Winifred Cornplaster of Pitsea who told us: "The BBC told us that they had had received complaints that the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge had been dismantled for the programme. The last episode of the programme therefore contained a disclaimer aimed at Spurs supporters and other hard of thinking groups pointing out that the bridge was still actually intact and fully functional and the apparent absence of the structure on the tv was the result of not very convincing special effects.." The prize of a can of genuine Middlesbrough Smog is on its way to you Mrs Cornplaster even as we speak. Well done Winifred!
For this week's poser we will be asking the question: The London Borough Of Croydon's employees have a warped sense of humour – how else do you explain their granting of a safety certificate to Selhurst Park every year? But what did the burghers of that lousy borough do in 1954, 2000, 2002 and 2012 that caused the rest of the country to collapse uncontrollably with laughter. First correct answer out of the digital hat will win either the London Borough Of Croydon or a used J-cloth. Good luck everyone!
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Crystal Palace v West Ham preview: Scott Dann misses out, Tomkins to start against former club
Last Updated: 14/10/16 3:13pm
SSN
Crystal Palace and West Ham, who are at contrasting ends of the form table, meet at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening. The Eagles are unbeaten in five Premier League games (W3 D2 L0), their longest run without defeat since December 2015 while West Ham are without a win in their last five top-flight games (W0 D1 L4), their longest winless streak in the competition since December 2015. West Ham will be hoping Dimitri Payet, who has scored just once in the league this season, rediscovers his best form against a team he scored twice against last campaign.
Team news
Crystal Palace's Scott Dann remains unavailable for the hosts. The captain and central defender is still recovering from a hamstring strain, so James Tomkins is expected to start against his former club alongside Damien Delaney.
Manager Alan Pardew hopes Dann will be fit for next Saturday's trip to Leicester, but beyond him his only absentees are Pape Souare, who fractured his thigh and jaw, and Jonathan Benteke, who has an injured knee.
Aaron Cresswell is in the West Ham squad for the first time this season.
The left-back is fit after recovering from a knee injury sustained in pre-season, and he is joined by midfielder Havard Nordtveit and striker Jonathan Calleri who have shaken off minor niggles.
Summer signing Gokhan Tore (thigh) and right-back Sam Byram (hamstring) have replaced them in the treatment room while Andy Carroll, Andre Ayew, Arthur Masuaku and Diafra Sakho are still unavailable.
Match stats
Crystal Palace have won just one of their last four top-flight meetings with West Ham, drawing one and losing two.
West Ham have won on each of their last two top-flight visits to Selhurst Park; they've never won three in a row away to Crystal Palace in the league.
There has been a sending off in each of the last three top-flight clashes between these two sides (Kouyate in Apr 2016, Gayle in Oct 2015 and Murray in Feb 2015).
Manuel Lanzini also scored in both West Ham's games against the Eagles last season (two goals in total); with Palace the only side he has scored more than one against in the top flight.
Since Christian Benteke's Premier League debut in September 2012, only Olivier Giroud (also 19) has scored as many headed goals in the competition as the Belgian striker.
Crystal Palace have now gone seven games without a London derby win in the Premier League (W0 D2 L5), the longest run of any current top-flight club.
West Ham have picked up just four points from their opening seven Premier League games; their worst points tally in a top-flight season at this stage since 1988-89 (also 4 - and they were relegated at the end of that campaign).
Since the start of last season, Dann has netted seven goals in the top-flight, more than any other defender.
Jason Puncheon has created more goalscoring chances than any other Premier League player in the opening seven matchdays of the 2016-17 season (24).
Merson's predictions
Benteke should be unplayable. He is tall, strong, quick and great in the air, and it was just a lack of confidence at Liverpool. He's got that back now and has been great for Palace.
In contrast, West Ham are struggling and their confidence is shot, so if Alan Pardew's side start quickly I can see them running away with it.
It is a concerning time for the Hammers because it took an unbelievable piece of magic by Payet to get a draw at home to Middlesbrough.
They have played Watford, Bournemouth, Southampton and Boro at the London Stadium and only have one win. All the big boys are still to come.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)
Betting
A Saturday evening London derby at Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace are 11/10 with Sky Bet to inflict another defeat on struggling West Ham. The Hammers are 12/5 for their second Premier League win of the campaign, with the same price available on the draw.
Benteke has scored in Palace's last two games and netted a hat-trick for Belgium against Gibraltar: he's a clear 4/1 favourite to net the opening goal in this one.
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West Ham look to reboot in London derby against Crystal Palace
ESPN.com
West Ham return to league action after the international break with a clearly defined objective. The team need to start winning matches -- and soon. Although many football fans find the enforced international breaks a distraction, it's undoubtedly a fact that the Premier League season is now defined by the segments resulting from the demands of the international football timetable. Following a poor early season and a series of awful defensive displays, the Hammers' latest season restart is surely the most significant. There's always a point when a poor slump turns into a crisis and Slaven Bilic and his men are slowly approaching it.
If the improvement shown against Middlesbrough last time out is maintained, then the Hammers can hopefully move out of the bottom three and set about repairing their season. If the calamitous start continues however, then the club will almost certainly find themselves in a relegation battle. It's usually during the autumn when these things are set in stone. League history then often dictates that the battle -- whether ultimately successful or not -- will continue well into the next spring.
The return to form of Dimitri Payet is one thing that should encourage Bilic. It was noticeable that the whole team seemed lifted when the French international scored his wonder goal against Boro. The manager will also be hoping that the age-old injury issues are starting to ease with both Andy Carroll and Aaron Creswell both hoping for an earlier than expected return from the physiotherapist's room.
Despite strong reservations from many fans about the injury-prone striker's long-term contribution to the squad, the fact remains that Carroll's strength up front and, more importantly, in defence is something that the team miss when he is unavailable. As for Cresswell, there was never a doubt. An instant hit from the moment he joined the club from Ipswich, the 26-year-old's influence at left-back is keenly felt. The Hammers' defence looks completely out of kilter when he is not playing.
A local derby is always eagerly anticipated and the hop across the river to face south London rivals Crystal Palace will be a strong test for Bilic and his team. Many of the claret and blue faithful think their latest manager can learn a lot from their old boss. Alan Pardew's return to Palace, the club he used to play for, has been nothing but an unqualified success. The former West Ham and Newcastle United manager bought well in the summer -- not least in securing the services of Boleyn favourite James Tomkins. Meanwhile, seeking a winger, Bilic turned to players he knew from his previous club; the result has been depressingly underwhelming. Pardew on the other hand, shrewdly bought Andros Townsend from Newcastle. There is no doubt who has made the most impact. Dimitri Payet's late goal allowed West Ham to avoid extra time. Dimitri Payet's form has been one of the few bright sparks for West Ham United this season.
Similarly, while the Hammers searched for a striker all summer, it was Pardew who decided that the Premier League experience of Liverpool forward Christian Benteke would be a sensible option. West Ham were linked with the Belgian International throughout but ultimately did nothing. Instead, Bilic's pursuit of Simone Zaza is already looking like a big mistake; with rumours that the player will return to Italy in January rife.
The Hammers have a good record against Palace generally, but there is one major threat to them this time out. When a player with something to prove comes up against his old club there is usually only one outcome. Tomkins is a fine defender, but he scored many goals in the claret and blue by powering in from the far post; he will surely be looking at the porous defence of his former club and thinking he can prove Bilic was wrong to let him leave in the summer for £10 million.
West Ham may be happy to take a point away from Selhurst Park, but Bilic knows his team need to start winning soon. If not, then there might be another type of chill wind blowing around the club in the coming months.
Peter Thorne, aka Billy Blagg (@BillyBlaggEsq), is ESPN FC's West Ham blogger.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, October 15
Friday, October 14
Daily WHUFC News - 14th October 2016
Slaven Speaks - Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic faced the media ahead of the London derby against Crystal Palace on Saturday and was asked about the latest team-news including the return of Aaron Cresswell. Bilic was also asked about the mood in the squad over the international break and the importance of moving out of the bottom three....
Slaven, what is the latest team-news ahead of the big London derby on Saturday?
SB: "A few of the players who were away on international duty are coming back today. Winston Reid is the latest one because they played in the States, he is back today and tomorrow we have a full team. "The other players who were here trained really hard over the break. "Aaron Cresswell is back. He has started training for a couple of weeks with the physio's and the fitness coaches. He has started to train with us and has had 10 days training. He looks good, sharp and will be in the squad."
How much do you put the bad results this season down to the number of injuries which have affected the squad?
SB: "I am not looking for excuses but definitely they are one of the reasons why we didn't start as we wanted to and definitely we had injuries from the pre-season and a lot of them were long term. "Now, a lot of the players are coming back and the injury list is not that big. Cresswell is already back and we are expecting a few of them to come back soon."
A lot of people have said the big move into the new Stadium has also played a part in the results. How much do you agree with that?
SB: "The stadium is not a reason, the stadium is great. Many clubs changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, get used to the stadium. It is great stadium and we have to win a few games to feel more at home. "Make no mistake, we would rather play at home because there we feel 60,000 people. Of course it is not a relief, we would like to play Palace at home on Saturday."
Dimitri Payet scored a wonder goal in your last game against Middlesbrough. How much would you love to see him repeat that against Palace on Saturday?
SB: "He had the Euros and then he was injured, then he came back and he is sharp and fit, with quality of course, and he produced that kind of magic with a goal that was amazing. "We are expecting him to continue - not to score those kind of goal, not a one-off in his case but very hard to score those goals. "In every side, you have players who you are expecting to do that. Last year it wasn't only him, there were a few players doing that stuff in the games. Dimi is one of them. That's why he was one of the best players in the Premier League last season."
Have you had time to reflect on the opening part of the season over the international break and how much has it helped the injured players like Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew move a step closer to a first-team return?
SB: "We used the international break to train a bit more with the players who were injured before the last international break. We used this couple of weeks to get them in the state that is required for the Premier League. "I am happy the way they trained and I am expecting them to be fit and good. This break gives us two weeks to the next game, the players who were really close are back training with us. "A few like Ayew, Sakho, Carroll are still not fit but are closer. The spirit in the group and the shortening of the list of injuries is giving us belief and hope and optimism before the games."
What do you make of the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday and how much would you love to repeat the 3-1 victory you had at Selhurst Park last season?
SB: "Palace didn't start well in the first three games and got one point. In the last four games they got 10 points. "Benteke gelled straight away and they probably didn't want the break as they were playing good. "We went there last season at this stage and we played very well and we won the game 3-1 so hopefully we are going to do the same, although we are expecting a very difficult game."
Finally, you will be facing James Tomkins for the first time since he left the Club during the summer. Do you have any regrets over your decision to let him leave?
SB: "I tried to explain the situation with James. I didn't want him to leave or go but last year he played many, many games for us in different positions and he was very good for our squad. "But I couldn't guarantee he would play week in week out and that is the reason he left. He didn't want to leave because he is West Ham born and bred. "He wanted guarantees basically and I couldn't give him that."
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Noble - It will feel very strange against Tonks
WHUFC.com
Having played alongside one of his best mates in football for over 15 years, Mark Noble says it will be a weird feeling when he lines up against James Tomkins for the first time in a competitive game. Both players progressed through the West Ham Academy and became close friends as they made their way into the first-team and became a key part of the squad. The duo experienced a number of memorable moments together including the victory at Wembley over Blackpool back in 2012 which helped the Hammers gain promotion back into the Premier League. Tomkins made a big decision during the summer to leave the east London Club as he was not guaranteed first-team football and made the switch across London to join up with former manager Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace. The Hammers skipper says it will be an emotional day coming up against his former team-mate, but says he has to earn the bragging rights as Tomkins still lives down the road and bumps into him all the time. Noble said: "It will feel very strange on Saturday having played alongside James for so many years. "I say playing but looking after him for so many years! "I got him out of a number of situations on the pitch but I would like to put him in trouble on Saturday! "It is a shame he had to move on but that is football and it is very common for things to happen like that. "He is 27 and wanted to play regular first-team football. It is a big loss for us because it is not just how good he is on the pitch, but the impact he has around the training ground. We have to move on now and good luck to him. "He lives down the same road as me so we see each other a lot. But when we are on the pitch the main focus for me is getting the three points. "He is a great lad and we get on so well. But you have to accept these things and we need to get the win on Saturday."
Noble admits he would love to repeat the impressive 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last season, but says he would welcome any kind of victory as the team look to move away from the bottom three. Noble added: "It doesn't matter who scores or what the score is, we just want the three points. "There is always a great atmosphere at Selhurst Park with a small intense crowd. I played under Pards and Kevin Keen is now one of the coaches so it will be a good game. "It is not ideal for us to be in the bottom three but we will try our best to push up the table and get our season going."
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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
I am thrilled with the news that Ladies team are now being brought into the West Ham United family and this is the start of a new era. I know our fans will be excited about this move and hopefully this will help raise the profile and give our Ladies team every chance to be successful in the future. This is an opportunity that will give young women the chance to showcase their talents and give them a chance to represent the famous claret and blue. I have been a big advocator of bringing the Ladies team in-house and we have faced some issues in the past which has stopped us from doing this. But I am delighted that we have now been able to agree a deal and these are exciting times to be part of the Ladies set-up. If you want the Ladies team to compete at the highest level, they have to be associated with the football club. We are now well on the way to doing that and hopefully we will be able to challenge at the top level in the next few years.
I have always followed the Ladies game and remember watching the Ladies World Cup Final last year which was won by the United States. It was a great final and speaks volumes for how much the women's game has progressed. It would be great to see the England Women's team win the World Cup and hopefully we can have some players who can be part of the squad in years to come. The Ladies team play great football and I am just as excited watching their results as I am following the first-team because they represent our great Club. I am pleased we have now found a way to embrace it even more. You cannot have the Ladies team carrying the banner of West Ham United and not being affiliated to us. It was important to bring them into the fold. I have been to a number of games and have always enjoyed the experience and meeting up with a number of West Ham fans who like to follow all the teams. I realised how passionate the fans are for all things West Ham United. Of course this will not happen overnight and we will need some time to address all the issues and get things right, but the reward at the end of it could be something very special. I would urge all our fans to get behind the West Ham United Ladies and if you have not got any plans on Sunday, come along and support the team at Thurrock when they play Crystal Palace in the London FA Capital Cup. The extra support would be fantastic. I will certainly try and get down to see the Ladies in action in the near future and show my support.
We hope it will be a memorable weekend all-round for the football club and we can go into that game on Sundaycelebrating victory for the first-team at Selhurst Park on Saturday. I still have fond memories of the 3-1 win there last year and it would be fantastic if we could come away with a similar result. Palace are playing very well at the moment but we desperately need a victory and I want to walk into my office with my head held high on Monday! This will be the first time we are coming up against James Tomkins on Saturday and I am sure that he will get a great reception from the West Ham United fans. He came through the youth academy and was a great servant to the football club. We wish him well at Palace, but not necessarily this week! It will be a major boost for us having Aaron Cresswell back in the squad. We have missed him at the start of the season and having big players like him back in contention gives a major lift to everyone at the Club. The morale goes up with the fans going to the game and we want our top players available for selection. We know the importance of getting out the bottom three and we have every chance of doing that this weekend.
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Bilic: I didn't want to lose Tomkins
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Slaven BIlic has insisted that he didn't want to part company with James Tomkins - but claimed he had no choice. Bilic, speaking to the press this morning ahead of Saturday's trip to Tomkins' new club Crystal Palace also confirmed that the 27-year-old had no desire to leave West Ham. "I tried to explain the situation with James," he said. "I didn't want him to leave or go but last year he played many, many games for us in different positions and he was very good for our squad.
"I couldn't guarantee he would play week in week out and that is the reason he left. He didn't want to leave because he is West Ham born and bred. He wanted guarantees basically, and I couldn't give him that."
Bilic was speaking exactly one year to the day after co-owner David Sullivan dismissed reports that Tomkins would be leaving the club in the near future. When asked on 13 October last year about the Basildon-born defender, who was being linked with a move to Sam Allardyce's Sunderland, he said: "James is a West Ham United player and has four-and-a-half years left on the contract. "He loves the club. He won't be going anywhere."
West Ham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park at 5.30pm this Saturday.
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Carroll still crocked, Sakho still unavailable
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Andy Carroll is still nowhere near returning to first team action - nearly two months after it was reported he would be sidelined for 'four to six weeks'. The perma-crocked former England international sustained his latest injury back in August during the away leg of West Ham United' Europa League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu. At the time, club doc Stijn Vandenbroucke - writing in his weekly column for whufc.com on 23 August - suggested that Carroll would "be out for 4-6 weeks". Rather more telling however was Vandenbroucke's suggestion that "one should not underestimate the mental challenge that comes with a physical injury". And nearly eight weeks later Vandenbroucke has revealed that the 27-year-old striker still has "had a few bridges to cross" before he can be considered fit enough to be considered for selection once again. "Andy Carroll is continuing his rehab following the knee injury he suffered in the UEFA Europa League tie in Romania in August," wrote Vandenbroucke. "He is working as hard as he can on the pitch and in the gym, making progress. "Andy has a few bridges to cross before he can join in first team training."
In other injury news, Carroll's fellow striker Diafra Sakho is also nowhere near making a first team return despite having been undergoing his own unique pre-season programme since the beginning of the season. And club-record signing Andre Ayew, who has played less than 45 minutes for the Hammers since moving from Swansea in a £20million switch is also expected to be out of action for at least another month. "Diafra Sakho is undertaking his own pre-season, working very hard on his fitness levels with a view to join the squad on the pitch," confirmed Vandenbroucke. "Andre is continuing his rehab and is entering the stage, a mini pre-season, where he needs to get significant fitness work under his belt in order to cope with the demands of the Premier League."
There was further bad news with confirmation that loan signing Gokhan Tore has been ruled out for between "four and six weeks", after suffering a quadricep injury during the recent international break. Meanwhile Sam Byram has undergone an operation after sustaining "a significant hamstring injury" during the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. Finally Arthur Masuaku - who is also a month or so away from returning to first team training - is said to be "progressing well" and will have his knee brace removed early next week.
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Olympic Stadium not a problem, says Bilic
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic insists that the move to the Olympic Stadium has not been a factor in West Ham United's poor start to the 2016/17 season. Despite having been dumped out of the Europa League for the second successive season by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu and currently propping up the Premier League table, Bilic insisted that the club's new home has not been at fault. Rather more responsible, according to the the under-pressure manager, was the succession of injuries that continue to blight the club. "The stadium is not a reason, the stadium is great," he maintained when asked about the OS during this morning's pre-match press conference. "Many clubs changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, get used to the stadium.
"It is great stadium and we have to win a few games to feel more at home. "I am not looking for excuses but injuries are definitely one of the reasons why we didn't start as we wanted to. We also had injuries from pre-season and a lot of them were long term. Now a lot of the players are coming back and the injury list is not that big. "Cresswell is already back and we are expecting a few of them to come back soon. Ayew, Sakho, Carroll are still not fit but are closer. "A few of the players who were away on international duty are coming back today. Winston Reid is the latest one because they played in the States, he is back today and tomorrow we have a full team."
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Mark Noble exclusive: Players care more than some fans think
By Gerard Brand
Last Updated: 13/10/16 4:44pm
SSN
Mark Noble insists players care more about poor form than some fans think and believes that West Ham's results will improve. West Ham have struggled for form since moving to the London Stadium in the summer from Upton Park, and sit 18th in the Premier League. In an exclusive interview with Soccer Saturday, Noble said: "A lot of fans around the country and I'm not just talking West Ham fans, think that: 'Oh footballers get paid well, so if they lose it doesn't matter, they just go home to their nice cars and houses, and it doesn't matter.' "I can assure you that isn't the case. You do care. And I can assure you the players in there care, every one of them. "But sometimes when it isn't going for you, it isn't going for you, and you need to dig in and work hard for each other and try to turn it around."
Hammers captain Noble, who has been at the club his entire career, also suggested some teams have found it easier playing at London Stadium compared to the compact surrounding of their former ground.
"As I said before we even moved into the stadium, you've got to win points, because nobody is going to give you them, and teams are going to come here now and enjoy playing here. "If you ask them if they enjoyed playing at Upton Park, they'd probably say yes for the atmosphere, but because it was an intense place, so up-close and personal, it was a tough place to go and get a point. "A lot of the time the atmosphere is fantastic, and if I'm really honest we haven't given them much to shout about for sure. "But I've always said, and I believe I can say it because I've been here since I was a kid and have supported West Ham my whole life; if you can't support West Ham through times like this then why support us at all? "I mean it was great last year, we had spells where the fans were unhappy, we lost a couple of games, but the real fans and the fans who have stuck by us all these years will stay behind us I am sure."
West Ham finished seventh last year in Slaven Bilic's first season in charge, but have struggled to match those performances this season. They go to a rejuvenated Crystal Palace on Saturday looking to return to form, and Noble says the players have aired their views about recent form, which can only be a good thing going forward. "People have spoken up and said what they feel, whether it's wrong or right it's nice to get those feelings off your chest and get on and train. "If you train 100 per cent and play 100 per cent, nobody can really have a moan at you because you've given everything. "I don't think the effort is questioned, I just think it's probably at points a lack of confidence. "I do believe it will change around. I believe we've got the characters and the players in there, and the manager especially to do that, and quality. But quality doesn't always get you points, you have to dig in together, and that's what I think we've got in the changing room."
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West Ham's Aaron Cresswell back in squad for Crystal Palace trip
By Tommy Ardener
Last Updated: 13/10/16 11:52am
SSN
Aaron Cresswell will feature in West Ham's squad for the first time this season when they travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday. The 26-year-old full-back has returned to training this week - almost one month earlier than expected - after suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season. Before his injury, Cresswell had missed just one Premier League match in two seasons for the Hammers and was in contention for an England call-up.
Manager Slaven Bilic said: "Aaron Cresswell is back and looks sharp. He will be in the squad for Saturday and we will then make a decision." Fellow defender Havard Nordtveit and striker Jonathan Calleri have also returned to full training following minor injuries. However, Turkish winger Gokhan Tore will be out for up to six weeks with a quadriceps injury. West Ham's head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke said: "Gokhan injured his quadriceps in training during the international break and is going to be out for four to six weeks." Sam Byram also suffered a significant hamstring injury in West Ham's last fixture against Middlesbrough and underwent an operation on Saturday to reduce the risk of re-injury. The pair will join record signing Andre Ayew, striker Andy Carroll and left back Arthur Masuaku on the treatment table. West Ham are 18th in the Premier League standings and will be aiming to secure a first league win since August when they travel to Selhurst Park for the London derby.
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Slaven Bilic says West Ham's new home is a 'great stadium'
By Mark Crellin
Last Updated: 13/10/16 1:22pm
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has scoffed at the notion his side are happy to be away from home this weekend rather than playing at the London Stadium. The Hammers have endured a difficult start to the 2016/17 season and are 18th in the Premier League, with just one win from their first seven games. And life at their new home ground, the former Olympic Stadium, has been blighted by incidents of crowd trouble and the grumblings of unhappy fans. However, Bilic disagreed with the suggestion the Hammers were relieved to be playing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Make no mistake, we would rather play at home because there we feel the 60,000 people," said Bilic. "Of course it is not a relief, we would like to play Palace at home on Saturday. "The stadium is not a reason, the stadium is great. Many clubs changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, to get used to the stadium. "It is a great stadium but we have to win a few games to feel more at home."
Bilic also confirmed that an internal investigation into a squad night out last month remains ongoing. The Hammers boss told his players to go on a bonding session on the Monday night after the 3-0 loss at home to Southampton and pictures then surfaced on social media of striker Andy Carroll and goalkeeper Darren Randolph apparently still out, with users suggesting the pair appeared drunk. Blic subsequently promised an investigation but revealed on Thursday that there was nothing yet to report."It's still not over," he said. "It is an old story and it is not very important now. "It is not done yet. It is not easy, I can't do the investigation because it didn't happen on the pitch. "I'm going to react but it isn't done and I don't think about that at the moment, I am thinking about our next game. "I can only repeat what I said before, it was my decision. If they stepped out of the line of the rules of our club, they will be punished."
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Has Man United target Reece Oxford laughed off claims he's close to penning West Ham contract extension?
13:52, 13 OCT 2016 UPDATED 13:55, 13 OCT 2016
BY LIAM CORLESS
The 17-year-old has less than two years left to run on his current deal at the London Stadium and is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs
The Mirror
Reece Oxford has seemingly laughed off claims he is about to commit his long-term future to West Ham. The 17-year-old, who is wanted by a host of top Premier League clubs including Manchester United, has less than two years left to run on his currently Hammers contract. Oxford tweeted earlier this week: "Been hearing some funny stuff recently." The tweet was accompanied by a laughing face emoji. There have been a number of reports in recent weeks suggesting Oxford is close to penning a new deal at the London Stadium.
Jose Mourinho's United are the frontrunners to land Oxford if he opts against signing a renewal in east London. Arsenal and Manchester City are also tracking the England Under-21 star.
Oxford made seven Premier League appearances last season, impressing in a 2-0 win at Arsenal on his top flight debut, but he's yet to play in the league so far this term.
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West Ham's Aaron Cresswell available for Crystal Palace trip as Slaven Bilic refuses to blame London Stadium for poor form
KEN DYER, GIUSEPPE MURO
Evening Standard
West Ham welcome back Aaron Cresswell for Saturday's visit to Crystal Palace. The left-back has been out since July when he tore knee ligaments in a friendly but is fit to return to a defence, which has leaked 17 goals this season — the most in the Premier League. "He's been training with us for a few weeks and he will be in the squad on Saturday," said manager Slaven Bilic. Cresswell is the only player likely to return since strikers Andy Carroll (knee) and Diafra Sakho (back) are still not ready. Bilic believes West Ham's injury toll has contributed to their poor start to the season with the club 18th in the table. "I am not looking for excuses but the injuries are definitely one reason why we didn't start like we wanted to," he said. "Some players are now coming back now, which is good news." The Croatian, however, refused to blame the problems at West Ham's London Stadium for the team's struggles. West Ham have won only one of their four League games at their new home and Bilic said: "The stadium is not the reason. The stadium is great but we will feel more at home if we win a few games. "I am very happy with the way we have trained during the international break and I am expecting a good performance from the players on Saturday. "Palace themselves didn't start well and only had one point in the first three games but since then they have picked up and probably they didn't want the international break."
Palace captain Scott Dann is set to return to the side on Saturday, having missed the past two games with a hamstring strain. The 29-year-old has been one of the most consistent defenders in the League in recent seasons and his presence will boost Palace, who are looking to extend their unbeaten run of four games. James Tomkins, who left West Ham for Palace in the summer, has partnered Damien Delaney in Dann's absence.
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Aaron Cresswell set to return to West Ham side this weekend but Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew are still out
Aaron Cresswell has not featured for West Ham this season through injury
Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew are making good progress
West Ham travel to Selhurst Park to face London rivals Crystal Palace
By ADAM SHERGOLD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 11:36, 13 October 2016 | UPDATED: 11:36, 13 October 2016
West Ham will be boosted by the return of Aaron Cresswell for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace - and long-term absentees Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew are making great strides in their comebacks. Left-back Cresswell has yet to feature this season after suffering a knee injury, while the other three have stepped up training ahead of a return to action in the coming weeks. The Hammers currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone, having taken four points from their opening seven matches, and have won just once in the league at their new London Stadium home, which has been beset by problems. But manager Slaven Bilic believes the unrest at the Hammers' new home, which has erupted into crowd trouble at each of their home games this season, will disappear when they start winning. He said: 'The stadium is not a reason [for their poor start], the stadium is great. Many clubs have changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, get used to the stadium.'We have to win a few games to feel more at home. Make no mistake, we would rather play at home [than at Selhurst Park] because there we feel the 60,000 people. Of course, it is not a relief [to be playing away]. We would like to play Palace at home on Saturday.' On the improving injury situation, Bilic added: 'During this international break, they worked hard and they've trained really hard. 'Aaron Cresswell is back, he has started training for a couple of weeks with the physios and the fitness coaches. He started to train and has had 10 days. He looks good, sharp, and will be in the squad.' Bilic, who still has half-a-dozen players on the sidelines despite Cresswell's return, believes West Ham's poor start is in part due to the bad injury situation. He said: 'I am not looking for excuses but definitely they are one of the reasons why we didn't start as we wanted to and we had the injuries from pre-season and a lot of them were long term. 'Now, a lot of the players are coming back and the injury list is not that big. Cresswell is already back and we are expecting a few of them to come back soon. 'A few like Ayew, Sakho, Carroll are still not fit but are closer. The spirit in the group and the shortening of the list of injuries is giving us belief and hope and optimism before the games.' Bilic said he has not yet completed his investigation into Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph allegedly drinking until the dawn after he granted them permission to have a meal out following the 3-0 home loss to Southampton in late September. He said: 'It is not easy, I can't do the investigation because it didn't happen on the pitch. I'm going to react but it isn't done and I don't think about that at the moment, I am thinking about the game.
'I can only repeat what I said, it was my decision. If they stepped out of the line of the rules of our club, they will be punished.'
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West Ham would be 'crazy' to sack Slaven Bilic despite poor start, says Wales boss Chris Coleman
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard
Wales manager Chris Coleman has warned West Ham that they would be "crazy" if they considered sacking Slaven Bilic after the club's calamitous start to the season. Expectations had been running high at West Ham after Bilic's first season in charge when his side challenged for Champions League football for much of the campaign and ultimately finished a creditable seventh.
That form has not been replicated in the new campaign, with the Hammers lying in the relegation zone after one win and one draw from their first seven matches of the season. West Ham have also crashed out of the Europa League, eliminated by Astra Giurgiu for the second year in a row. But Bilic should not be the one to pay the price for West Ham's current travails, according to Coleman. "If you look at Slaven he has managed big clubs, he has managed his country, he has been in tournaments. I think West Ham would be crazy to even think about going down that road," said Coleman on The Premier League Show. "He won't be surprised. People are starting to point fingers at him, where last year he was the best thing since sliced bread.
"This year they are in the bottom three, everyone is analysing everything and double analysing it. He's in the middle of that. The fingers are pointing at him but he's a strong enough character to come through that. He'll be ok…
"You can't just look at Slaven. He's the same manager that he was last year, the same way the team is the same as last year. They've got great players, they've just got to get it together, don't make any excuses and get on with the job." West Ham's move from the Boleyn Ground, their home of 112 years, to the London Stadium has not aided the club this season. A section of supporters have not failed to make clear their unhappiness over the departure from Green Street for Stratford. Coleman believes that the new stadium lacks the feel of Upton Park and will have an effect on West Ham's performance. "That old West Ham stadium when I played there, it was a special atmosphere and now it's completely different," he said. "The supporters are sitting in different areas compared to where they used to sit at the old ground."
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Crystal Palace's James Tomkins: It will be weird to face West Ham
VAISHALI BHARDWAJ
Evening Standard
Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins admits it will be "weird" to line up against his former side West Ham at Selhurst Park this Saturday. Palace signed Tomkins, 27, on a five-year deal for £10million this summer after the defender was told he could have a reduced role at his boyhood club West Ham. Tomkins admitted his departure from the Hammers was tough, but insisted in August it was time for a new chapter in his career. The defender has since settled into Alan Pardew's side well and, ahead of the Eagles' clash with West Ham on Saturday evening, Tomkins admitted it will be "weird" to face his former club but said he is only focusing on helping Palace secure all three points. "I feel good and I think that just comes with playing more," Tomkins told the Croydon Advertiser about his form. "I have still only played two 90-minute games, so the fitness will come with that. "The more I play, the better I'll get, and I'm just trying to show what I can do. And results are going well for us. "It would have been nice if we had a game to play (last weekend), but it's just one of those things. "We can get some injured players back and up the fitness levels behind us, get more training and now we will be looking ahead to playing my old club. "It will be weird to play against them, but it's a game I'm looking forward to and a good one for us to come back in to after the break."
Slaven Bilic was today asked about Tomkins' departure from the club, which the West Ham manager admitted was a transfer he did not want to see happen. "I tried to explain the situation with James," Bilic said on Thursday. "I didn't want him to leave but I couldn't guarantee he would play every week."
West Ham United ✔ @WestHamUtd
SB: "I tried to explain situation with @TomkinsOfficial. I didn't want him to leave but I couldn't guarantee he would play every week.
10:14 AM - 13 Oct 2016
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Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan insists relationship with Andre Ayew is cordial
Published on: 13 October 2016
ghanasoccernet.com
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has quashed reports that he has a vendetta with Andre Ayew over the captaincy, insisting he has a cordial relationship with his deputy. Gyan is unhappy with speculations suggesting he is in a bitter quarrel with the West Ham star due to reports making rounds that Ayew is interested in taking over the leadership role in the team. The On-loan Al Ahli player is advising the public to desist from spreading false rumors which is very likely to bring a feud between two friends who are working hard together to help the nation chalk success. ''I don't have a problem with Andre. He has been my friend way back, since he joined the national team, I have been his inspiration,'' Gyan told Joy FM ''Sometimes people try to bring this rivalry between two Stars in the team. We have seen this before in the olden days but I always try to keep things real, I don't have any problem with Ayew. 'He's a great guy, a fighter on the field and plays with his heart. He added: ''My advice t people is to stop putting this rivalry between two players who are good to each other. People should stop because when they do that, It brings conflict to the team which there is unity and will not help the team.''
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West Ham trio return but Tore faces up to six weeks out
uk.reuters.com
West Ham United defenders Aaron Cresswell and Havard Nordtveit, and striker Jonathan Calleri have returned to full training but Turkish winger Gokhan Tore will be out for up to six weeks with a quadriceps injury, the club said on its website. Cresswell suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season but is set to return earlier than was initially expected, while Nordtveit and Calleri are also on the mend. "Aaron Cresswell, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have all returned to full training," said Stijn Vandenbroucke, West Ham's head of Medical and Sports Science. "Gokhan injured his quadriceps in training during the international break and is going to be out for 4-6 weeks."
Tore will join club's record signing Andre Ayew, striker Andy Carroll and left back Arthur Masuaku on the treatment table. West Ham, who finished seventh last season, are 18th in the Premier League standings after seven matches and will be aiming to secure a first league win since August when they travel to London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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Just how has it gone so wrong for West Ham this season, and how does Slaven Bilic fix it?
BY JJ Bull
13 OCTOBER 2016 • 9:05AM
It's not even November yet, and despite his heroics last season Slaven Bilic is already under pressure at West Ham. His team sits in 18th place, having shipped 17 goals in seven games and is clearly struggling to replicate the form that made them such a force in the Premier League in 2015/16. But why?
This might sound daft, but if anything, Clive, West Ham have almost had too much possession of the ball this season. Bilic likes to win games on the counter-attack and after seven games of last season this was abundantly clear, as his team enjoyed just 42 per cent possession.
That figure suggests, and backs up, that they spent most of the time patiently waiting for their opponent to make a mistake, rather than forcing their way through a defence with short passing football.
After the same number of games played this season, they have recorded an average of 47 per cent possession. It's not a huge amount, but fine margins make the difference in the Premier League and this marks a change in playing style.
Opposition teams are far more wary of the attacking threat posed by West Ham on the counter this season and as a result, don't mind sitting back and letting them keep the ball instead. Look how deep, and how many players behind the ball West Brom had during their 4-2 win at the Hawthorns:
Having more of the ball means West Ham have to create chances against better organised defences - this is almost certainly a key reason they've only scored eight goals so far this season. West Ham were the top scorers in the entire league at this same stage of last season, with 15.
Playing on the counter-attack means taking advantage of teams in transition, when defenders are caught out of position or there's a little indecision which results in space for forwards to exploit. Different teams start the "press" in different areas to suit different systems and players - Liverpool and Tottenham press with intensity high up the pitch, while last season's West Ham liked to win the ball in their own half, launching quick counter-attacks from deep.
Here's one they tried against Middlesbrough this season, where Bilic played Michail Antonio as the centre-forward.
The counter-attack starts from a bad Middlesbrough set-piece. Dimitri Payet is furthest forward, looks up, and plays in Antonio, who has dropped back to assist in defence but will get as high up the pitch as quickly as possible.
He does this, but the rest of West Ham's attacking players are nowhere near as fast and quickly Antonio becomes isolated with zero options to pass to other than backwards. Middlesbrough have kept men back to deal with the counter-attack threat and the move fizzles out.
Even when allowed to execute a play that worked so well and so regularly last season, West Ham aren't doing it very well. That might be because of the personnel available to put on the pitch.
Injury problems
Summer signing Andre Ayew suffered a cruel injury on the opening game of the season, Diafra Sakho is injured too, Andy Carroll is held together by glue and rubber bands, and Simone Zaza has been mostly useless since signing on loan from Juventus.
West Ham don't have many options upfront, which is why Antonio played the centre-forward role against Middlesbrough.
Antonio is naturally a wide player though and this causes problems as West Ham end up with five creative players behind the ball but nobody looking for it in front.
Below Antonio finds himself on the left wing, even though the left-back is also there. He has five players behind him who are all staring straight at two lines of defence. Middlesbrough are organised, sat deep near their own box and are looking to either draw West Ham in and hit them on the counter or simply keep the score at 0-0.
The player in the box is the defensive midfielder. Why?
The ball is swung into the box, Kouyate can't really make use of it and the attack peters out to nothing.
Either Bilic has deliberately changed the system to try and encourage the team to keep the ball more, or opponents realise the danger West Ham possess(ed) on the counter. This is an entirely different way of playing for West Ham and means their primary source of goal scoring opportunities is gone.
Another huge loss to the team is Aaron Cresswell, who despite being a defender, had created fewer chances to score than only Payet at this same stage last season.
Bad defending
Quite simply, West Ham's deeply disappointing start to the season really owes to them being terrible at defending. Already a goal down from a Nacer Chadli penalty, West Ham's centre-backs gave West Brom players far too much space in the box for their second goal in a 4-2 hiding. It's a recurring theme that their defenders aren't sharp enough, out of position and the midfield doesn't offer anywhere near enough protection. Cheikhou Kouyate in particular hasn't been as effective as he was last season and the back four is suffering as a result.
Salomon Rondon should categorically not have the space here that James Collins has given him. The defensive midfielder (hidden by the referee) also needs to be closer to the centre-back to eliminate the space between midfield and defence, the centre-backs both need to push out to limit that space further, and Collins should be so close to Rondon when he receives the ball that the striker cannot spin, face the goal, and shoot. That's exactly what he does. West Ham concede an entirely avoidable goal.
In the second half, at 3-0 down, they make an effort to get back into the match and go into all-out-attack mode, briefly forgetting that you can't win games if you have literally no-one except your goalkeeper defending. You can see above that West Ham are in possession and the ball is wide left of the box. What you might not notice on first glance is that every single one of their outfield players is in the box. Every single one. The cross is headed away at the near post and suddenly the team is in trouble. That's your Rondon there, being chased by attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini and holding midfielder Havard Nordtveidt. The defenders cannot be seen but they are just off screen, jogging back towards goal. Not working hard enough to recover from mistakes
Bizarrely, West Ham have made more interceptions than any other club in the league, making 169 compared to Burnley in second, who have made 125. They're doing something right in winning the ball back but as we've seen they are caught out on counter-attacks too easily, don't pose any real threat going forward other than the magic of Dimitri Payet and many talented players aren't maintaining their defensive discipline.
The way Middlesbrough won the corner that brought them their goal is an example of atrocious tracking back and poor organisation - West Ham aren't getting the basics right nor working hard enough to rectify these mistakes, something which must concern Bilic greatly.
Here, Adam Forshaw brings the ball out of defence after a failed West Ham attack. Three attackers stroll/jog back behind him, making no attempt to close him down whatsoever. Dimitri Payet, by the centre-circle, isn't expected to press anyone either - his job is to create, not defend.
Forshaw is able to run a good 30/40 yards in a straight line before chipping a ball over the top into the box, at which point West Ham's defence is - somehow - all over the place. Ogbonna is a centre-back playing at left-back, the right-back is nowhere to be seen, the midfield is miles away from the defence and nobody is sprinting back to help. Worse than that - they aren't in position in the first place.
West Ham have made the third lowest number of sprints per game in the league this season, at 453.4. By contrast, Liverpool (top of that particular table) have made 595 sprints per match. Does this show a lack of effort from West Ham's players? Or does it suggest that teams are sitting back and making West Ham pass the ball from side to side, thus stopping them from running?
Whatever the reason, they aren't going anywhere particularly quickly and Middlesbrough win a corner in the above example which they score from - more bad defending from a set piece.
Only a Dimitri Payet wondergoal rescued a point here and had he not decided to dribble past the entire Middlesbrough team on his own, West Ham very probably wouldn't have even managed a draw.
And there's the biggest problem of all...
A heavy dependence on Payet
It's wrong to say West Ham are a one-man team, but a disproportionate amount of their goal-scoring chances are created by Dimitri Payet. Having played in only five league games this season, he has already created 20 key chances for team-mates. The nearest to him is Mark Noble, who has created eight but has also played in all seven matches. The same was true of last season - after seven matches, Payet had created 26 chances while Aaron Cresswell was next on seven. Basically, West Ham rely on Payet far too much and if an opposition team can quiet him down and keep him out of most of the 90 minutes, it's likely that Bilic's team will find it very difficult to score.
Bilic tried to address this dependence on Payet in the summer, signing Sofiane Feghouli and Gokhan Tore - two attacking players who regularly created chances for their previous clubs. However, having too many creative, attacking forwards on the pitch leads to a lack of defensive discipline, and in trying to fix the Payet problem, West Ham have created a whole new one.
West Ham's season has been undone so far by bad injury luck, better organised opponents and what looks like a lack of defensive discipline and drive to rectify mistakes. Whether a hangover of the move to the London Stadium or a case of opponents sussing them out, West Ham are in a slump and need to change things quickly if they are to avoid a disastrous first season in their new home.
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West Ham forward Andre Ayew starts 'mini pre-season' as he steps up recovery from thigh injury
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
West Ham forward Andre Ayew has started a "mini pre-season" as he steps up his recovery from a serious thigh injury. Ayew joined West Ham from Swansea in a deal believed to be worth more than £20m but endured a disastrous start to his Hammers career. The Ghana international was substituted just 34 minutes into his Premier League debut for Slaven Bilic's side and is not expected to be available for the first-team until late November. But Ayew's rehabilitation is on track and he is stepping up his workload to ensure he can cope with the rigorous demands of top-flight football when he returns. "Andre Ayew is continuing his rehab from the thigh injury he suffered in the opening Premier League fixture at Chelsea in August," said Stijn Vandenbroucke, Head of Medical and Sports Science. "He is entering the stage, a mini pre-season, where he needs to get significant fitness work under his belt in order to cope with the demands of the Premier League and adapt to the new biomechanics following a significant injury, basically hard work day after day."
Having spent the majority of the summer searching for a marquee striker, Ayew's injury proved to be a significant blow as fellow summer signing Simone Zaza has made a slow start to his career in English football. West Ham have struggled for form in the early stages of the campaign and are currently languishing in the relegation zone. The east Londoners have won just one of their opening seven Premier League games and need to secure a positive result when they travel to Crystal Palace this weekend to pull clear of immediate danger.
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Man United boosted by Premier League youngster's dismissal: No new deal close
WEST HAM youngster Reece Oxford has snubbed suggestions he is close to agreeing a new deal, according to reports.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 05:15, Thu, Oct 13, 2016 | UPDATED: 05:39, Thu, Oct 13, 2016
Express.co.uk
Manchester United are keeping tabs on the 17-year-old with Jose Mourinho claimed to be a big fan. A number of other top Premier League sides have also been linked with the versatile centre-back, likened to Rio Ferdinand. As a result, the Hammers have been trying to tie Oxford down to a new extended contract. Slaven Bilic was even reportedly willing to get involved in order to secure the England Under-20 international's future at the London Stadium. However, following claims Oxford was edging nearer an agreement with the east London club, the Red Devils have been handed a boost in their ongoing pursuit. The youngster tweeted alongside rolling eyes and laughing emojis on Sunday night: "Been hearing some funny stuff recently".
And according to the Daily Mail, Oxford was directly referring to talk of his supposed new deal with West Ham. His current contract expires at the end of the 2017/18 season, with few first team opportunities handed to the rising star so far this term. United are apparently in pole position to land Oxford should he leave in the coming summer, although he is reportedly relaxed over his situation.
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On-loan West Ham United winger Martin Samuelsen hoping for more game time at Blackburn Rovers
Lancashire Telegraph
MARTIN Samuelsen is hoping to be given more of a chance to show what he can do at Blackburn Rovers. The teenage winger has made two substitute appearances in the Championship and one start in the EFL Cup since signing on a season-long loan from West Ham United in August. And, before he scored his first international goal for Norway on Tuesday, Samuelsen admitted he is aiming for more time on the pitch. Rovers, who are third from bottom after losing seven of their opening 11 games, return to action at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday. And Samuelsen, speaking to Norwegian media, said: "It has been a tough start, you can say, both for the team and for me. "There has been little playing time. I wish that I could have been involved more and contribute, to score and create goals, which is something I can do, but that's it. "The coach has a lot to think about and cannot go and talk to each player. I hope the turning point comes soon because I'm sure when I get to play I'm going to show what I can do."
West Ham have the option to recall Samuelsen in January.
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Chelsea frustrated over West Ham situation as fans suffer
CHELSEA are reportedly infuriated at how long their ticket allocation process is taking in the EFL Cup.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 05:00, Thu, Oct 13, 2016
Express.co.uk
Antonio Conte's side were drawn to face cross-town rivals West Ham in the fourth round of the competition. However, the clash at the London Stadium on October 26 is facing an array of issues - mostly for the visitors. Blues fans have been unable to buy tickets yet, despite the tie being less than two weeks away. And according to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have been left feeling frustrated by the situation. Security problems and safety fears have seen West Ham willing to give the Blues less than their full allocation of seats. Up to 10 per cent of the capacity can be claimed by visitors in the cup, which would see Chelsea have 5,700 of the 57,000-seater stadium. But due to the infrastructure of the venue, West Ham are restricted to hosting only 5,200. The Football League are taking some time to approve the reduction, which is apparently expected to be granted at a meeting today. However, Chelsea fans will be left with little time to organise themselves for the fixture should they eventually pick up tickets. The draw was made three weeks ago, and West Ham supporters have been able to purchase their seats already. To avoid Chelsea fans taking tickets in the home section too, the Hammers are only selling to people who can show they've bought tickets within the past five years.
Police are still not going to be inside the ground either due to the radio signal problems, but there will be a presence outside in case of any potential trouble.
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Trevor Sinclair criticises Slaven Bilic following West Ham's dismal start to Premier League campaign
West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League after seven games
They haven't won in league since beating Bournemouth in second game
Trevor Sinclair says you have to look at Slaven Bilic for their poor start
West Ham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening
By JONATHAN SPENCER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:53, 12 October 2016 | UPDATED: 00:01, 13 October 2016
Former West Ham player Trevor Sinclair has criticised Slaven Bilic for the club's disappointing start to the new season. West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League after seven games, winning one match and losing five along the way. Speaking on The Premier League show, Sinclair believes Bilic is the man you have to point the finger at for their poor start and insists if West Ham don't start picking up points quickly, the move to the London Stadium could prove disastrous. Sinclair said: 'It's clear West Ham are not defending as well as last season. 'That needs to change but the players don't turn into bad players overnight, so who do you look at. You've got to look at the manager. '(He was) very entertaining over the summer covering the Euros, should he have been concentrating on the recruitment, which has not been great this season? 'You look at the next three games, huge games. If they don't start putting points on the board, this dream move to the London Stadium could turn into a nightmare.' Bilic worked as a pundit at Euro 2016 this summer but returned from France after the group stage. West Ham's next three league fixtures are against Crystal Palace away, Sunderland at home and Everton away. Worryingly for Hammers fans, Sinclair also stated that at the same stage last season, West Ham had covered plenty more ground. 'An interesting fact, this stage last season, West Ham were fifth in distance covered (791km), this time round they are 13th (756km). Are they as fit, are they working as hard, I'm not so sure.' Bilic will be desperate for victory against Palace on Saturday, having not won in the league since their second game of the season against Bournemouth.
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Manchester United target Reece Oxford rubbishes claims that he is set to sign new deal with West Ham
Reece Oxford's current deal with West Ham runs out at end of next season
The 17-year-old laughed off speculation that he is close to signing new deal
Oxford wrote on Twitter: 'Been hearing some funny stuff recently'
The West Ham starlet has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal
By DAVID KENT FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 22:17, 12 October 2016 | UPDATED: 01:47, 13 October 2016
Reece Oxford has scoffed at suggestions he is close to signing a new contract at West Ham. The Hammers wonderkid has taken to social media to laugh off speculation he is likely to pen fresh terms. Having seen the reports, the 17-year-old tweeted: 'Been hearing some funny stuff recently'. And Sportsmail can reveal Oxford was directly referring to talk of a pending new deal at the London Stadium. His current deal is due to expire at the end of next season, but as Oxford has indicated, no agreement over an extension is close. Manchester United are in pole position to land the talented teenager if he decides to leave at the end of the season. But Oxford laughed off speculation and tweeted: 'Been hearing some funny stuff recently'
Arsenal and Manchester City are also interested in the central defender, who can also play in centre midfield. Initial talks over a new Hammers deal took place over the summer but the hierarchy were unable to settle the matter. Those talks have since stagnated; Oxford is understood to be relaxed about the situation even though there are no signs the impasse will be resolved anytime soon.
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Jonathan Calleri return to first-team training ahead of Crystal Palace game
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
West Ham have received a fitness boost ahead of this weekend's trip to Crystal Palace as Aaron Cresswell, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have all returned to full training. The Hammers have endured a difficult start to the season and are currently languishing in the relegation zone with just four points to their name. Injuries to key players has played a part in Slaven Bilic's side's slow start but the Croatian manager could welcome back several much-needed options at Selhurst Park. Cresswell suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season but is set to return significantly earlier than his initial prognosis suggested while Nordtveit and Calleri are also on the mend. "We will start with the positive news this week, which is that Aaron Cresswell, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have all returned to full training," said Stijn Vandenbroucke, West Ham's Head of Medical and Sports Science. "Aaron was injured in a pre-season match with Karlsruhe in Austria in July, while Havard is back in training after undergoing a small medical procedure, while Jonathan has had a minor injury."
Cresswell's imminent return is a timely one for West Ham as Arthur Masuaku - who was signed to provide cover for the Englishman - is now set for a spell on the sidelines himself.
The French full back has suffered a knee injury but the extent of his problem will be assessed next week. "Arthur Masuaku is progressing very well after suffering a knee injury in the EFL Cup tie with Accrington Stanley. "Arthur will have the brace removed from his knee early next week, after which we will progress to the next step in his rehabilitation," he added.
Co-chairman David Gold suggested earlier this month Andy Carroll would be available for the trip to south London but the striker has not yet returned to first-team training.
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Real Madrid plans prove how well West Ham have done for the Olympic Stadium
HITC
Damien Lucas
Proof that West Ham United's transformation of the Olympic Stadium into a football arena has been good value for Britain has emerged from Real Madrid. A woeful start to the season and life at their new 60,000 seater home has left morale on the pitch and in the stands at a new low. Fighting among fans and safety fears at the ground as well as a perceived lack of the famous intimidating Hammers atmosphere from Upton Park has seen the stadium switch cited by many as a reason for the club's contrast in fortunes compared to their fantastic campaign last term. Five defeats from the first seven Premier League games is the club's worst ever start to a season and Bilic's side were also unceremoniously dumped out of Europe in qualifying too. The club finds itself at the centre of a new negative story each week with the spotlight firmly fixed over East London following the move into such an iconic ground.
Fears that the huge stadium would turn into an expensive white elephant once the dust had settled on the London 2012 Olympics were seemingly allayed when the Premier League side were handed the keys to the iconic ground as anchor tenants in 2013. But legal challenges to have the decision thrown out from the likes of fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur and fellow East Londoners Leyton Orient marred the process and saw the Hammers' legitimacy to take over the running of the stadium called into question. The relatively small amount of money the Hammers had to pay towards conversion costs to make it a suitable as a football stadium has also received negative publicity. The £190 million transformation took to the total cost of the venue to £701 million - out of which the country got an Olympic Games, a Rugby World Cup, a Premier League football ground and retained its athletic and Olympic legacy. As part of the work West Ham installed an impressive cantilevered roof - which measures some 84 metres at its deepest point - and is the longest of its type in the world, covering every seat in the stadium.
Contrast that to approved plans in Spain at the mighty Real Madrid where they are set to spend an eye-watering £360m just to fit a new roof. The La Liga giants will add a retractable roof to the Santiago Bernabeu after finally reaching an agreement with the city to remodel the stadium, as reported by Sky Sports. Madrid president Florentino Perez revealed the project would cost £360m - more than half the cost of the Olympic Stadium and its subsequent transformation. It gives food for thought to critics of West Ham's move to the stadium, with whom co-owner David Sullivan is growing increasingly fed up, as reported by the club's official website.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic faced the media ahead of the London derby against Crystal Palace on Saturday and was asked about the latest team-news including the return of Aaron Cresswell. Bilic was also asked about the mood in the squad over the international break and the importance of moving out of the bottom three....
Slaven, what is the latest team-news ahead of the big London derby on Saturday?
SB: "A few of the players who were away on international duty are coming back today. Winston Reid is the latest one because they played in the States, he is back today and tomorrow we have a full team. "The other players who were here trained really hard over the break. "Aaron Cresswell is back. He has started training for a couple of weeks with the physio's and the fitness coaches. He has started to train with us and has had 10 days training. He looks good, sharp and will be in the squad."
How much do you put the bad results this season down to the number of injuries which have affected the squad?
SB: "I am not looking for excuses but definitely they are one of the reasons why we didn't start as we wanted to and definitely we had injuries from the pre-season and a lot of them were long term. "Now, a lot of the players are coming back and the injury list is not that big. Cresswell is already back and we are expecting a few of them to come back soon."
A lot of people have said the big move into the new Stadium has also played a part in the results. How much do you agree with that?
SB: "The stadium is not a reason, the stadium is great. Many clubs changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, get used to the stadium. It is great stadium and we have to win a few games to feel more at home. "Make no mistake, we would rather play at home because there we feel 60,000 people. Of course it is not a relief, we would like to play Palace at home on Saturday."
Dimitri Payet scored a wonder goal in your last game against Middlesbrough. How much would you love to see him repeat that against Palace on Saturday?
SB: "He had the Euros and then he was injured, then he came back and he is sharp and fit, with quality of course, and he produced that kind of magic with a goal that was amazing. "We are expecting him to continue - not to score those kind of goal, not a one-off in his case but very hard to score those goals. "In every side, you have players who you are expecting to do that. Last year it wasn't only him, there were a few players doing that stuff in the games. Dimi is one of them. That's why he was one of the best players in the Premier League last season."
Have you had time to reflect on the opening part of the season over the international break and how much has it helped the injured players like Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew move a step closer to a first-team return?
SB: "We used the international break to train a bit more with the players who were injured before the last international break. We used this couple of weeks to get them in the state that is required for the Premier League. "I am happy the way they trained and I am expecting them to be fit and good. This break gives us two weeks to the next game, the players who were really close are back training with us. "A few like Ayew, Sakho, Carroll are still not fit but are closer. The spirit in the group and the shortening of the list of injuries is giving us belief and hope and optimism before the games."
What do you make of the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday and how much would you love to repeat the 3-1 victory you had at Selhurst Park last season?
SB: "Palace didn't start well in the first three games and got one point. In the last four games they got 10 points. "Benteke gelled straight away and they probably didn't want the break as they were playing good. "We went there last season at this stage and we played very well and we won the game 3-1 so hopefully we are going to do the same, although we are expecting a very difficult game."
Finally, you will be facing James Tomkins for the first time since he left the Club during the summer. Do you have any regrets over your decision to let him leave?
SB: "I tried to explain the situation with James. I didn't want him to leave or go but last year he played many, many games for us in different positions and he was very good for our squad. "But I couldn't guarantee he would play week in week out and that is the reason he left. He didn't want to leave because he is West Ham born and bred. "He wanted guarantees basically and I couldn't give him that."
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Noble - It will feel very strange against Tonks
WHUFC.com
Having played alongside one of his best mates in football for over 15 years, Mark Noble says it will be a weird feeling when he lines up against James Tomkins for the first time in a competitive game. Both players progressed through the West Ham Academy and became close friends as they made their way into the first-team and became a key part of the squad. The duo experienced a number of memorable moments together including the victory at Wembley over Blackpool back in 2012 which helped the Hammers gain promotion back into the Premier League. Tomkins made a big decision during the summer to leave the east London Club as he was not guaranteed first-team football and made the switch across London to join up with former manager Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace. The Hammers skipper says it will be an emotional day coming up against his former team-mate, but says he has to earn the bragging rights as Tomkins still lives down the road and bumps into him all the time. Noble said: "It will feel very strange on Saturday having played alongside James for so many years. "I say playing but looking after him for so many years! "I got him out of a number of situations on the pitch but I would like to put him in trouble on Saturday! "It is a shame he had to move on but that is football and it is very common for things to happen like that. "He is 27 and wanted to play regular first-team football. It is a big loss for us because it is not just how good he is on the pitch, but the impact he has around the training ground. We have to move on now and good luck to him. "He lives down the same road as me so we see each other a lot. But when we are on the pitch the main focus for me is getting the three points. "He is a great lad and we get on so well. But you have to accept these things and we need to get the win on Saturday."
Noble admits he would love to repeat the impressive 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last season, but says he would welcome any kind of victory as the team look to move away from the bottom three. Noble added: "It doesn't matter who scores or what the score is, we just want the three points. "There is always a great atmosphere at Selhurst Park with a small intense crowd. I played under Pards and Kevin Keen is now one of the coaches so it will be a good game. "It is not ideal for us to be in the bottom three but we will try our best to push up the table and get our season going."
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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
I am thrilled with the news that Ladies team are now being brought into the West Ham United family and this is the start of a new era. I know our fans will be excited about this move and hopefully this will help raise the profile and give our Ladies team every chance to be successful in the future. This is an opportunity that will give young women the chance to showcase their talents and give them a chance to represent the famous claret and blue. I have been a big advocator of bringing the Ladies team in-house and we have faced some issues in the past which has stopped us from doing this. But I am delighted that we have now been able to agree a deal and these are exciting times to be part of the Ladies set-up. If you want the Ladies team to compete at the highest level, they have to be associated with the football club. We are now well on the way to doing that and hopefully we will be able to challenge at the top level in the next few years.
I have always followed the Ladies game and remember watching the Ladies World Cup Final last year which was won by the United States. It was a great final and speaks volumes for how much the women's game has progressed. It would be great to see the England Women's team win the World Cup and hopefully we can have some players who can be part of the squad in years to come. The Ladies team play great football and I am just as excited watching their results as I am following the first-team because they represent our great Club. I am pleased we have now found a way to embrace it even more. You cannot have the Ladies team carrying the banner of West Ham United and not being affiliated to us. It was important to bring them into the fold. I have been to a number of games and have always enjoyed the experience and meeting up with a number of West Ham fans who like to follow all the teams. I realised how passionate the fans are for all things West Ham United. Of course this will not happen overnight and we will need some time to address all the issues and get things right, but the reward at the end of it could be something very special. I would urge all our fans to get behind the West Ham United Ladies and if you have not got any plans on Sunday, come along and support the team at Thurrock when they play Crystal Palace in the London FA Capital Cup. The extra support would be fantastic. I will certainly try and get down to see the Ladies in action in the near future and show my support.
We hope it will be a memorable weekend all-round for the football club and we can go into that game on Sundaycelebrating victory for the first-team at Selhurst Park on Saturday. I still have fond memories of the 3-1 win there last year and it would be fantastic if we could come away with a similar result. Palace are playing very well at the moment but we desperately need a victory and I want to walk into my office with my head held high on Monday! This will be the first time we are coming up against James Tomkins on Saturday and I am sure that he will get a great reception from the West Ham United fans. He came through the youth academy and was a great servant to the football club. We wish him well at Palace, but not necessarily this week! It will be a major boost for us having Aaron Cresswell back in the squad. We have missed him at the start of the season and having big players like him back in contention gives a major lift to everyone at the Club. The morale goes up with the fans going to the game and we want our top players available for selection. We know the importance of getting out the bottom three and we have every chance of doing that this weekend.
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Bilic: I didn't want to lose Tomkins
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Slaven BIlic has insisted that he didn't want to part company with James Tomkins - but claimed he had no choice. Bilic, speaking to the press this morning ahead of Saturday's trip to Tomkins' new club Crystal Palace also confirmed that the 27-year-old had no desire to leave West Ham. "I tried to explain the situation with James," he said. "I didn't want him to leave or go but last year he played many, many games for us in different positions and he was very good for our squad.
"I couldn't guarantee he would play week in week out and that is the reason he left. He didn't want to leave because he is West Ham born and bred. He wanted guarantees basically, and I couldn't give him that."
Bilic was speaking exactly one year to the day after co-owner David Sullivan dismissed reports that Tomkins would be leaving the club in the near future. When asked on 13 October last year about the Basildon-born defender, who was being linked with a move to Sam Allardyce's Sunderland, he said: "James is a West Ham United player and has four-and-a-half years left on the contract. "He loves the club. He won't be going anywhere."
West Ham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park at 5.30pm this Saturday.
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Carroll still crocked, Sakho still unavailable
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Andy Carroll is still nowhere near returning to first team action - nearly two months after it was reported he would be sidelined for 'four to six weeks'. The perma-crocked former England international sustained his latest injury back in August during the away leg of West Ham United' Europa League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu. At the time, club doc Stijn Vandenbroucke - writing in his weekly column for whufc.com on 23 August - suggested that Carroll would "be out for 4-6 weeks". Rather more telling however was Vandenbroucke's suggestion that "one should not underestimate the mental challenge that comes with a physical injury". And nearly eight weeks later Vandenbroucke has revealed that the 27-year-old striker still has "had a few bridges to cross" before he can be considered fit enough to be considered for selection once again. "Andy Carroll is continuing his rehab following the knee injury he suffered in the UEFA Europa League tie in Romania in August," wrote Vandenbroucke. "He is working as hard as he can on the pitch and in the gym, making progress. "Andy has a few bridges to cross before he can join in first team training."
In other injury news, Carroll's fellow striker Diafra Sakho is also nowhere near making a first team return despite having been undergoing his own unique pre-season programme since the beginning of the season. And club-record signing Andre Ayew, who has played less than 45 minutes for the Hammers since moving from Swansea in a £20million switch is also expected to be out of action for at least another month. "Diafra Sakho is undertaking his own pre-season, working very hard on his fitness levels with a view to join the squad on the pitch," confirmed Vandenbroucke. "Andre is continuing his rehab and is entering the stage, a mini pre-season, where he needs to get significant fitness work under his belt in order to cope with the demands of the Premier League."
There was further bad news with confirmation that loan signing Gokhan Tore has been ruled out for between "four and six weeks", after suffering a quadricep injury during the recent international break. Meanwhile Sam Byram has undergone an operation after sustaining "a significant hamstring injury" during the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. Finally Arthur Masuaku - who is also a month or so away from returning to first team training - is said to be "progressing well" and will have his knee brace removed early next week.
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Olympic Stadium not a problem, says Bilic
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 13th October 2016
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic insists that the move to the Olympic Stadium has not been a factor in West Ham United's poor start to the 2016/17 season. Despite having been dumped out of the Europa League for the second successive season by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu and currently propping up the Premier League table, Bilic insisted that the club's new home has not been at fault. Rather more responsible, according to the the under-pressure manager, was the succession of injuries that continue to blight the club. "The stadium is not a reason, the stadium is great," he maintained when asked about the OS during this morning's pre-match press conference. "Many clubs changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, get used to the stadium.
"It is great stadium and we have to win a few games to feel more at home. "I am not looking for excuses but injuries are definitely one of the reasons why we didn't start as we wanted to. We also had injuries from pre-season and a lot of them were long term. Now a lot of the players are coming back and the injury list is not that big. "Cresswell is already back and we are expecting a few of them to come back soon. Ayew, Sakho, Carroll are still not fit but are closer. "A few of the players who were away on international duty are coming back today. Winston Reid is the latest one because they played in the States, he is back today and tomorrow we have a full team."
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Mark Noble exclusive: Players care more than some fans think
By Gerard Brand
Last Updated: 13/10/16 4:44pm
SSN
Mark Noble insists players care more about poor form than some fans think and believes that West Ham's results will improve. West Ham have struggled for form since moving to the London Stadium in the summer from Upton Park, and sit 18th in the Premier League. In an exclusive interview with Soccer Saturday, Noble said: "A lot of fans around the country and I'm not just talking West Ham fans, think that: 'Oh footballers get paid well, so if they lose it doesn't matter, they just go home to their nice cars and houses, and it doesn't matter.' "I can assure you that isn't the case. You do care. And I can assure you the players in there care, every one of them. "But sometimes when it isn't going for you, it isn't going for you, and you need to dig in and work hard for each other and try to turn it around."
Hammers captain Noble, who has been at the club his entire career, also suggested some teams have found it easier playing at London Stadium compared to the compact surrounding of their former ground.
"As I said before we even moved into the stadium, you've got to win points, because nobody is going to give you them, and teams are going to come here now and enjoy playing here. "If you ask them if they enjoyed playing at Upton Park, they'd probably say yes for the atmosphere, but because it was an intense place, so up-close and personal, it was a tough place to go and get a point. "A lot of the time the atmosphere is fantastic, and if I'm really honest we haven't given them much to shout about for sure. "But I've always said, and I believe I can say it because I've been here since I was a kid and have supported West Ham my whole life; if you can't support West Ham through times like this then why support us at all? "I mean it was great last year, we had spells where the fans were unhappy, we lost a couple of games, but the real fans and the fans who have stuck by us all these years will stay behind us I am sure."
West Ham finished seventh last year in Slaven Bilic's first season in charge, but have struggled to match those performances this season. They go to a rejuvenated Crystal Palace on Saturday looking to return to form, and Noble says the players have aired their views about recent form, which can only be a good thing going forward. "People have spoken up and said what they feel, whether it's wrong or right it's nice to get those feelings off your chest and get on and train. "If you train 100 per cent and play 100 per cent, nobody can really have a moan at you because you've given everything. "I don't think the effort is questioned, I just think it's probably at points a lack of confidence. "I do believe it will change around. I believe we've got the characters and the players in there, and the manager especially to do that, and quality. But quality doesn't always get you points, you have to dig in together, and that's what I think we've got in the changing room."
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West Ham's Aaron Cresswell back in squad for Crystal Palace trip
By Tommy Ardener
Last Updated: 13/10/16 11:52am
SSN
Aaron Cresswell will feature in West Ham's squad for the first time this season when they travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday. The 26-year-old full-back has returned to training this week - almost one month earlier than expected - after suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season. Before his injury, Cresswell had missed just one Premier League match in two seasons for the Hammers and was in contention for an England call-up.
Manager Slaven Bilic said: "Aaron Cresswell is back and looks sharp. He will be in the squad for Saturday and we will then make a decision." Fellow defender Havard Nordtveit and striker Jonathan Calleri have also returned to full training following minor injuries. However, Turkish winger Gokhan Tore will be out for up to six weeks with a quadriceps injury. West Ham's head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke said: "Gokhan injured his quadriceps in training during the international break and is going to be out for four to six weeks." Sam Byram also suffered a significant hamstring injury in West Ham's last fixture against Middlesbrough and underwent an operation on Saturday to reduce the risk of re-injury. The pair will join record signing Andre Ayew, striker Andy Carroll and left back Arthur Masuaku on the treatment table. West Ham are 18th in the Premier League standings and will be aiming to secure a first league win since August when they travel to Selhurst Park for the London derby.
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Slaven Bilic says West Ham's new home is a 'great stadium'
By Mark Crellin
Last Updated: 13/10/16 1:22pm
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has scoffed at the notion his side are happy to be away from home this weekend rather than playing at the London Stadium. The Hammers have endured a difficult start to the 2016/17 season and are 18th in the Premier League, with just one win from their first seven games. And life at their new home ground, the former Olympic Stadium, has been blighted by incidents of crowd trouble and the grumblings of unhappy fans. However, Bilic disagreed with the suggestion the Hammers were relieved to be playing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Make no mistake, we would rather play at home because there we feel the 60,000 people," said Bilic. "Of course it is not a relief, we would like to play Palace at home on Saturday. "The stadium is not a reason, the stadium is great. Many clubs changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, to get used to the stadium. "It is a great stadium but we have to win a few games to feel more at home."
Bilic also confirmed that an internal investigation into a squad night out last month remains ongoing. The Hammers boss told his players to go on a bonding session on the Monday night after the 3-0 loss at home to Southampton and pictures then surfaced on social media of striker Andy Carroll and goalkeeper Darren Randolph apparently still out, with users suggesting the pair appeared drunk. Blic subsequently promised an investigation but revealed on Thursday that there was nothing yet to report."It's still not over," he said. "It is an old story and it is not very important now. "It is not done yet. It is not easy, I can't do the investigation because it didn't happen on the pitch. "I'm going to react but it isn't done and I don't think about that at the moment, I am thinking about our next game. "I can only repeat what I said before, it was my decision. If they stepped out of the line of the rules of our club, they will be punished."
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Has Man United target Reece Oxford laughed off claims he's close to penning West Ham contract extension?
13:52, 13 OCT 2016 UPDATED 13:55, 13 OCT 2016
BY LIAM CORLESS
The 17-year-old has less than two years left to run on his current deal at the London Stadium and is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs
The Mirror
Reece Oxford has seemingly laughed off claims he is about to commit his long-term future to West Ham. The 17-year-old, who is wanted by a host of top Premier League clubs including Manchester United, has less than two years left to run on his currently Hammers contract. Oxford tweeted earlier this week: "Been hearing some funny stuff recently." The tweet was accompanied by a laughing face emoji. There have been a number of reports in recent weeks suggesting Oxford is close to penning a new deal at the London Stadium.
Jose Mourinho's United are the frontrunners to land Oxford if he opts against signing a renewal in east London. Arsenal and Manchester City are also tracking the England Under-21 star.
Oxford made seven Premier League appearances last season, impressing in a 2-0 win at Arsenal on his top flight debut, but he's yet to play in the league so far this term.
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West Ham's Aaron Cresswell available for Crystal Palace trip as Slaven Bilic refuses to blame London Stadium for poor form
KEN DYER, GIUSEPPE MURO
Evening Standard
West Ham welcome back Aaron Cresswell for Saturday's visit to Crystal Palace. The left-back has been out since July when he tore knee ligaments in a friendly but is fit to return to a defence, which has leaked 17 goals this season — the most in the Premier League. "He's been training with us for a few weeks and he will be in the squad on Saturday," said manager Slaven Bilic. Cresswell is the only player likely to return since strikers Andy Carroll (knee) and Diafra Sakho (back) are still not ready. Bilic believes West Ham's injury toll has contributed to their poor start to the season with the club 18th in the table. "I am not looking for excuses but the injuries are definitely one reason why we didn't start like we wanted to," he said. "Some players are now coming back now, which is good news." The Croatian, however, refused to blame the problems at West Ham's London Stadium for the team's struggles. West Ham have won only one of their four League games at their new home and Bilic said: "The stadium is not the reason. The stadium is great but we will feel more at home if we win a few games. "I am very happy with the way we have trained during the international break and I am expecting a good performance from the players on Saturday. "Palace themselves didn't start well and only had one point in the first three games but since then they have picked up and probably they didn't want the international break."
Palace captain Scott Dann is set to return to the side on Saturday, having missed the past two games with a hamstring strain. The 29-year-old has been one of the most consistent defenders in the League in recent seasons and his presence will boost Palace, who are looking to extend their unbeaten run of four games. James Tomkins, who left West Ham for Palace in the summer, has partnered Damien Delaney in Dann's absence.
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Aaron Cresswell set to return to West Ham side this weekend but Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew are still out
Aaron Cresswell has not featured for West Ham this season through injury
Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew are making good progress
West Ham travel to Selhurst Park to face London rivals Crystal Palace
By ADAM SHERGOLD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 11:36, 13 October 2016 | UPDATED: 11:36, 13 October 2016
West Ham will be boosted by the return of Aaron Cresswell for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace - and long-term absentees Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew are making great strides in their comebacks. Left-back Cresswell has yet to feature this season after suffering a knee injury, while the other three have stepped up training ahead of a return to action in the coming weeks. The Hammers currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone, having taken four points from their opening seven matches, and have won just once in the league at their new London Stadium home, which has been beset by problems. But manager Slaven Bilic believes the unrest at the Hammers' new home, which has erupted into crowd trouble at each of their home games this season, will disappear when they start winning. He said: 'The stadium is not a reason [for their poor start], the stadium is great. Many clubs have changed stadiums and needed time to settle in, get used to the stadium.'We have to win a few games to feel more at home. Make no mistake, we would rather play at home [than at Selhurst Park] because there we feel the 60,000 people. Of course, it is not a relief [to be playing away]. We would like to play Palace at home on Saturday.' On the improving injury situation, Bilic added: 'During this international break, they worked hard and they've trained really hard. 'Aaron Cresswell is back, he has started training for a couple of weeks with the physios and the fitness coaches. He started to train and has had 10 days. He looks good, sharp, and will be in the squad.' Bilic, who still has half-a-dozen players on the sidelines despite Cresswell's return, believes West Ham's poor start is in part due to the bad injury situation. He said: 'I am not looking for excuses but definitely they are one of the reasons why we didn't start as we wanted to and we had the injuries from pre-season and a lot of them were long term. 'Now, a lot of the players are coming back and the injury list is not that big. Cresswell is already back and we are expecting a few of them to come back soon. 'A few like Ayew, Sakho, Carroll are still not fit but are closer. The spirit in the group and the shortening of the list of injuries is giving us belief and hope and optimism before the games.' Bilic said he has not yet completed his investigation into Andy Carroll and Darren Randolph allegedly drinking until the dawn after he granted them permission to have a meal out following the 3-0 home loss to Southampton in late September. He said: 'It is not easy, I can't do the investigation because it didn't happen on the pitch. I'm going to react but it isn't done and I don't think about that at the moment, I am thinking about the game.
'I can only repeat what I said, it was my decision. If they stepped out of the line of the rules of our club, they will be punished.'
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West Ham would be 'crazy' to sack Slaven Bilic despite poor start, says Wales boss Chris Coleman
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard
Wales manager Chris Coleman has warned West Ham that they would be "crazy" if they considered sacking Slaven Bilic after the club's calamitous start to the season. Expectations had been running high at West Ham after Bilic's first season in charge when his side challenged for Champions League football for much of the campaign and ultimately finished a creditable seventh.
That form has not been replicated in the new campaign, with the Hammers lying in the relegation zone after one win and one draw from their first seven matches of the season. West Ham have also crashed out of the Europa League, eliminated by Astra Giurgiu for the second year in a row. But Bilic should not be the one to pay the price for West Ham's current travails, according to Coleman. "If you look at Slaven he has managed big clubs, he has managed his country, he has been in tournaments. I think West Ham would be crazy to even think about going down that road," said Coleman on The Premier League Show. "He won't be surprised. People are starting to point fingers at him, where last year he was the best thing since sliced bread.
"This year they are in the bottom three, everyone is analysing everything and double analysing it. He's in the middle of that. The fingers are pointing at him but he's a strong enough character to come through that. He'll be ok…
"You can't just look at Slaven. He's the same manager that he was last year, the same way the team is the same as last year. They've got great players, they've just got to get it together, don't make any excuses and get on with the job." West Ham's move from the Boleyn Ground, their home of 112 years, to the London Stadium has not aided the club this season. A section of supporters have not failed to make clear their unhappiness over the departure from Green Street for Stratford. Coleman believes that the new stadium lacks the feel of Upton Park and will have an effect on West Ham's performance. "That old West Ham stadium when I played there, it was a special atmosphere and now it's completely different," he said. "The supporters are sitting in different areas compared to where they used to sit at the old ground."
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Crystal Palace's James Tomkins: It will be weird to face West Ham
VAISHALI BHARDWAJ
Evening Standard
Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins admits it will be "weird" to line up against his former side West Ham at Selhurst Park this Saturday. Palace signed Tomkins, 27, on a five-year deal for £10million this summer after the defender was told he could have a reduced role at his boyhood club West Ham. Tomkins admitted his departure from the Hammers was tough, but insisted in August it was time for a new chapter in his career. The defender has since settled into Alan Pardew's side well and, ahead of the Eagles' clash with West Ham on Saturday evening, Tomkins admitted it will be "weird" to face his former club but said he is only focusing on helping Palace secure all three points. "I feel good and I think that just comes with playing more," Tomkins told the Croydon Advertiser about his form. "I have still only played two 90-minute games, so the fitness will come with that. "The more I play, the better I'll get, and I'm just trying to show what I can do. And results are going well for us. "It would have been nice if we had a game to play (last weekend), but it's just one of those things. "We can get some injured players back and up the fitness levels behind us, get more training and now we will be looking ahead to playing my old club. "It will be weird to play against them, but it's a game I'm looking forward to and a good one for us to come back in to after the break."
Slaven Bilic was today asked about Tomkins' departure from the club, which the West Ham manager admitted was a transfer he did not want to see happen. "I tried to explain the situation with James," Bilic said on Thursday. "I didn't want him to leave but I couldn't guarantee he would play every week."
West Ham United ✔ @WestHamUtd
SB: "I tried to explain situation with @TomkinsOfficial. I didn't want him to leave but I couldn't guarantee he would play every week.
10:14 AM - 13 Oct 2016
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Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan insists relationship with Andre Ayew is cordial
Published on: 13 October 2016
ghanasoccernet.com
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has quashed reports that he has a vendetta with Andre Ayew over the captaincy, insisting he has a cordial relationship with his deputy. Gyan is unhappy with speculations suggesting he is in a bitter quarrel with the West Ham star due to reports making rounds that Ayew is interested in taking over the leadership role in the team. The On-loan Al Ahli player is advising the public to desist from spreading false rumors which is very likely to bring a feud between two friends who are working hard together to help the nation chalk success. ''I don't have a problem with Andre. He has been my friend way back, since he joined the national team, I have been his inspiration,'' Gyan told Joy FM ''Sometimes people try to bring this rivalry between two Stars in the team. We have seen this before in the olden days but I always try to keep things real, I don't have any problem with Ayew. 'He's a great guy, a fighter on the field and plays with his heart. He added: ''My advice t people is to stop putting this rivalry between two players who are good to each other. People should stop because when they do that, It brings conflict to the team which there is unity and will not help the team.''
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West Ham trio return but Tore faces up to six weeks out
uk.reuters.com
West Ham United defenders Aaron Cresswell and Havard Nordtveit, and striker Jonathan Calleri have returned to full training but Turkish winger Gokhan Tore will be out for up to six weeks with a quadriceps injury, the club said on its website. Cresswell suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season but is set to return earlier than was initially expected, while Nordtveit and Calleri are also on the mend. "Aaron Cresswell, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have all returned to full training," said Stijn Vandenbroucke, West Ham's head of Medical and Sports Science. "Gokhan injured his quadriceps in training during the international break and is going to be out for 4-6 weeks."
Tore will join club's record signing Andre Ayew, striker Andy Carroll and left back Arthur Masuaku on the treatment table. West Ham, who finished seventh last season, are 18th in the Premier League standings after seven matches and will be aiming to secure a first league win since August when they travel to London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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Just how has it gone so wrong for West Ham this season, and how does Slaven Bilic fix it?
BY JJ Bull
13 OCTOBER 2016 • 9:05AM
It's not even November yet, and despite his heroics last season Slaven Bilic is already under pressure at West Ham. His team sits in 18th place, having shipped 17 goals in seven games and is clearly struggling to replicate the form that made them such a force in the Premier League in 2015/16. But why?
This might sound daft, but if anything, Clive, West Ham have almost had too much possession of the ball this season. Bilic likes to win games on the counter-attack and after seven games of last season this was abundantly clear, as his team enjoyed just 42 per cent possession.
That figure suggests, and backs up, that they spent most of the time patiently waiting for their opponent to make a mistake, rather than forcing their way through a defence with short passing football.
After the same number of games played this season, they have recorded an average of 47 per cent possession. It's not a huge amount, but fine margins make the difference in the Premier League and this marks a change in playing style.
Opposition teams are far more wary of the attacking threat posed by West Ham on the counter this season and as a result, don't mind sitting back and letting them keep the ball instead. Look how deep, and how many players behind the ball West Brom had during their 4-2 win at the Hawthorns:
Having more of the ball means West Ham have to create chances against better organised defences - this is almost certainly a key reason they've only scored eight goals so far this season. West Ham were the top scorers in the entire league at this same stage of last season, with 15.
Playing on the counter-attack means taking advantage of teams in transition, when defenders are caught out of position or there's a little indecision which results in space for forwards to exploit. Different teams start the "press" in different areas to suit different systems and players - Liverpool and Tottenham press with intensity high up the pitch, while last season's West Ham liked to win the ball in their own half, launching quick counter-attacks from deep.
Here's one they tried against Middlesbrough this season, where Bilic played Michail Antonio as the centre-forward.
The counter-attack starts from a bad Middlesbrough set-piece. Dimitri Payet is furthest forward, looks up, and plays in Antonio, who has dropped back to assist in defence but will get as high up the pitch as quickly as possible.
He does this, but the rest of West Ham's attacking players are nowhere near as fast and quickly Antonio becomes isolated with zero options to pass to other than backwards. Middlesbrough have kept men back to deal with the counter-attack threat and the move fizzles out.
Even when allowed to execute a play that worked so well and so regularly last season, West Ham aren't doing it very well. That might be because of the personnel available to put on the pitch.
Injury problems
Summer signing Andre Ayew suffered a cruel injury on the opening game of the season, Diafra Sakho is injured too, Andy Carroll is held together by glue and rubber bands, and Simone Zaza has been mostly useless since signing on loan from Juventus.
West Ham don't have many options upfront, which is why Antonio played the centre-forward role against Middlesbrough.
Antonio is naturally a wide player though and this causes problems as West Ham end up with five creative players behind the ball but nobody looking for it in front.
Below Antonio finds himself on the left wing, even though the left-back is also there. He has five players behind him who are all staring straight at two lines of defence. Middlesbrough are organised, sat deep near their own box and are looking to either draw West Ham in and hit them on the counter or simply keep the score at 0-0.
The player in the box is the defensive midfielder. Why?
The ball is swung into the box, Kouyate can't really make use of it and the attack peters out to nothing.
Either Bilic has deliberately changed the system to try and encourage the team to keep the ball more, or opponents realise the danger West Ham possess(ed) on the counter. This is an entirely different way of playing for West Ham and means their primary source of goal scoring opportunities is gone.
Another huge loss to the team is Aaron Cresswell, who despite being a defender, had created fewer chances to score than only Payet at this same stage last season.
Bad defending
Quite simply, West Ham's deeply disappointing start to the season really owes to them being terrible at defending. Already a goal down from a Nacer Chadli penalty, West Ham's centre-backs gave West Brom players far too much space in the box for their second goal in a 4-2 hiding. It's a recurring theme that their defenders aren't sharp enough, out of position and the midfield doesn't offer anywhere near enough protection. Cheikhou Kouyate in particular hasn't been as effective as he was last season and the back four is suffering as a result.
Salomon Rondon should categorically not have the space here that James Collins has given him. The defensive midfielder (hidden by the referee) also needs to be closer to the centre-back to eliminate the space between midfield and defence, the centre-backs both need to push out to limit that space further, and Collins should be so close to Rondon when he receives the ball that the striker cannot spin, face the goal, and shoot. That's exactly what he does. West Ham concede an entirely avoidable goal.
In the second half, at 3-0 down, they make an effort to get back into the match and go into all-out-attack mode, briefly forgetting that you can't win games if you have literally no-one except your goalkeeper defending. You can see above that West Ham are in possession and the ball is wide left of the box. What you might not notice on first glance is that every single one of their outfield players is in the box. Every single one. The cross is headed away at the near post and suddenly the team is in trouble. That's your Rondon there, being chased by attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini and holding midfielder Havard Nordtveidt. The defenders cannot be seen but they are just off screen, jogging back towards goal. Not working hard enough to recover from mistakes
Bizarrely, West Ham have made more interceptions than any other club in the league, making 169 compared to Burnley in second, who have made 125. They're doing something right in winning the ball back but as we've seen they are caught out on counter-attacks too easily, don't pose any real threat going forward other than the magic of Dimitri Payet and many talented players aren't maintaining their defensive discipline.
The way Middlesbrough won the corner that brought them their goal is an example of atrocious tracking back and poor organisation - West Ham aren't getting the basics right nor working hard enough to rectify these mistakes, something which must concern Bilic greatly.
Here, Adam Forshaw brings the ball out of defence after a failed West Ham attack. Three attackers stroll/jog back behind him, making no attempt to close him down whatsoever. Dimitri Payet, by the centre-circle, isn't expected to press anyone either - his job is to create, not defend.
Forshaw is able to run a good 30/40 yards in a straight line before chipping a ball over the top into the box, at which point West Ham's defence is - somehow - all over the place. Ogbonna is a centre-back playing at left-back, the right-back is nowhere to be seen, the midfield is miles away from the defence and nobody is sprinting back to help. Worse than that - they aren't in position in the first place.
West Ham have made the third lowest number of sprints per game in the league this season, at 453.4. By contrast, Liverpool (top of that particular table) have made 595 sprints per match. Does this show a lack of effort from West Ham's players? Or does it suggest that teams are sitting back and making West Ham pass the ball from side to side, thus stopping them from running?
Whatever the reason, they aren't going anywhere particularly quickly and Middlesbrough win a corner in the above example which they score from - more bad defending from a set piece.
Only a Dimitri Payet wondergoal rescued a point here and had he not decided to dribble past the entire Middlesbrough team on his own, West Ham very probably wouldn't have even managed a draw.
And there's the biggest problem of all...
A heavy dependence on Payet
It's wrong to say West Ham are a one-man team, but a disproportionate amount of their goal-scoring chances are created by Dimitri Payet. Having played in only five league games this season, he has already created 20 key chances for team-mates. The nearest to him is Mark Noble, who has created eight but has also played in all seven matches. The same was true of last season - after seven matches, Payet had created 26 chances while Aaron Cresswell was next on seven. Basically, West Ham rely on Payet far too much and if an opposition team can quiet him down and keep him out of most of the 90 minutes, it's likely that Bilic's team will find it very difficult to score.
Bilic tried to address this dependence on Payet in the summer, signing Sofiane Feghouli and Gokhan Tore - two attacking players who regularly created chances for their previous clubs. However, having too many creative, attacking forwards on the pitch leads to a lack of defensive discipline, and in trying to fix the Payet problem, West Ham have created a whole new one.
West Ham's season has been undone so far by bad injury luck, better organised opponents and what looks like a lack of defensive discipline and drive to rectify mistakes. Whether a hangover of the move to the London Stadium or a case of opponents sussing them out, West Ham are in a slump and need to change things quickly if they are to avoid a disastrous first season in their new home.
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West Ham forward Andre Ayew starts 'mini pre-season' as he steps up recovery from thigh injury
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
West Ham forward Andre Ayew has started a "mini pre-season" as he steps up his recovery from a serious thigh injury. Ayew joined West Ham from Swansea in a deal believed to be worth more than £20m but endured a disastrous start to his Hammers career. The Ghana international was substituted just 34 minutes into his Premier League debut for Slaven Bilic's side and is not expected to be available for the first-team until late November. But Ayew's rehabilitation is on track and he is stepping up his workload to ensure he can cope with the rigorous demands of top-flight football when he returns. "Andre Ayew is continuing his rehab from the thigh injury he suffered in the opening Premier League fixture at Chelsea in August," said Stijn Vandenbroucke, Head of Medical and Sports Science. "He is entering the stage, a mini pre-season, where he needs to get significant fitness work under his belt in order to cope with the demands of the Premier League and adapt to the new biomechanics following a significant injury, basically hard work day after day."
Having spent the majority of the summer searching for a marquee striker, Ayew's injury proved to be a significant blow as fellow summer signing Simone Zaza has made a slow start to his career in English football. West Ham have struggled for form in the early stages of the campaign and are currently languishing in the relegation zone. The east Londoners have won just one of their opening seven Premier League games and need to secure a positive result when they travel to Crystal Palace this weekend to pull clear of immediate danger.
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Man United boosted by Premier League youngster's dismissal: No new deal close
WEST HAM youngster Reece Oxford has snubbed suggestions he is close to agreeing a new deal, according to reports.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 05:15, Thu, Oct 13, 2016 | UPDATED: 05:39, Thu, Oct 13, 2016
Express.co.uk
Manchester United are keeping tabs on the 17-year-old with Jose Mourinho claimed to be a big fan. A number of other top Premier League sides have also been linked with the versatile centre-back, likened to Rio Ferdinand. As a result, the Hammers have been trying to tie Oxford down to a new extended contract. Slaven Bilic was even reportedly willing to get involved in order to secure the England Under-20 international's future at the London Stadium. However, following claims Oxford was edging nearer an agreement with the east London club, the Red Devils have been handed a boost in their ongoing pursuit. The youngster tweeted alongside rolling eyes and laughing emojis on Sunday night: "Been hearing some funny stuff recently".
And according to the Daily Mail, Oxford was directly referring to talk of his supposed new deal with West Ham. His current contract expires at the end of the 2017/18 season, with few first team opportunities handed to the rising star so far this term. United are apparently in pole position to land Oxford should he leave in the coming summer, although he is reportedly relaxed over his situation.
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On-loan West Ham United winger Martin Samuelsen hoping for more game time at Blackburn Rovers
Lancashire Telegraph
MARTIN Samuelsen is hoping to be given more of a chance to show what he can do at Blackburn Rovers. The teenage winger has made two substitute appearances in the Championship and one start in the EFL Cup since signing on a season-long loan from West Ham United in August. And, before he scored his first international goal for Norway on Tuesday, Samuelsen admitted he is aiming for more time on the pitch. Rovers, who are third from bottom after losing seven of their opening 11 games, return to action at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday. And Samuelsen, speaking to Norwegian media, said: "It has been a tough start, you can say, both for the team and for me. "There has been little playing time. I wish that I could have been involved more and contribute, to score and create goals, which is something I can do, but that's it. "The coach has a lot to think about and cannot go and talk to each player. I hope the turning point comes soon because I'm sure when I get to play I'm going to show what I can do."
West Ham have the option to recall Samuelsen in January.
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Chelsea frustrated over West Ham situation as fans suffer
CHELSEA are reportedly infuriated at how long their ticket allocation process is taking in the EFL Cup.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 05:00, Thu, Oct 13, 2016
Express.co.uk
Antonio Conte's side were drawn to face cross-town rivals West Ham in the fourth round of the competition. However, the clash at the London Stadium on October 26 is facing an array of issues - mostly for the visitors. Blues fans have been unable to buy tickets yet, despite the tie being less than two weeks away. And according to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have been left feeling frustrated by the situation. Security problems and safety fears have seen West Ham willing to give the Blues less than their full allocation of seats. Up to 10 per cent of the capacity can be claimed by visitors in the cup, which would see Chelsea have 5,700 of the 57,000-seater stadium. But due to the infrastructure of the venue, West Ham are restricted to hosting only 5,200. The Football League are taking some time to approve the reduction, which is apparently expected to be granted at a meeting today. However, Chelsea fans will be left with little time to organise themselves for the fixture should they eventually pick up tickets. The draw was made three weeks ago, and West Ham supporters have been able to purchase their seats already. To avoid Chelsea fans taking tickets in the home section too, the Hammers are only selling to people who can show they've bought tickets within the past five years.
Police are still not going to be inside the ground either due to the radio signal problems, but there will be a presence outside in case of any potential trouble.
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Trevor Sinclair criticises Slaven Bilic following West Ham's dismal start to Premier League campaign
West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League after seven games
They haven't won in league since beating Bournemouth in second game
Trevor Sinclair says you have to look at Slaven Bilic for their poor start
West Ham face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening
By JONATHAN SPENCER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:53, 12 October 2016 | UPDATED: 00:01, 13 October 2016
Former West Ham player Trevor Sinclair has criticised Slaven Bilic for the club's disappointing start to the new season. West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League after seven games, winning one match and losing five along the way. Speaking on The Premier League show, Sinclair believes Bilic is the man you have to point the finger at for their poor start and insists if West Ham don't start picking up points quickly, the move to the London Stadium could prove disastrous. Sinclair said: 'It's clear West Ham are not defending as well as last season. 'That needs to change but the players don't turn into bad players overnight, so who do you look at. You've got to look at the manager. '(He was) very entertaining over the summer covering the Euros, should he have been concentrating on the recruitment, which has not been great this season? 'You look at the next three games, huge games. If they don't start putting points on the board, this dream move to the London Stadium could turn into a nightmare.' Bilic worked as a pundit at Euro 2016 this summer but returned from France after the group stage. West Ham's next three league fixtures are against Crystal Palace away, Sunderland at home and Everton away. Worryingly for Hammers fans, Sinclair also stated that at the same stage last season, West Ham had covered plenty more ground. 'An interesting fact, this stage last season, West Ham were fifth in distance covered (791km), this time round they are 13th (756km). Are they as fit, are they working as hard, I'm not so sure.' Bilic will be desperate for victory against Palace on Saturday, having not won in the league since their second game of the season against Bournemouth.
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Manchester United target Reece Oxford rubbishes claims that he is set to sign new deal with West Ham
Reece Oxford's current deal with West Ham runs out at end of next season
The 17-year-old laughed off speculation that he is close to signing new deal
Oxford wrote on Twitter: 'Been hearing some funny stuff recently'
The West Ham starlet has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal
By DAVID KENT FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 22:17, 12 October 2016 | UPDATED: 01:47, 13 October 2016
Reece Oxford has scoffed at suggestions he is close to signing a new contract at West Ham. The Hammers wonderkid has taken to social media to laugh off speculation he is likely to pen fresh terms. Having seen the reports, the 17-year-old tweeted: 'Been hearing some funny stuff recently'. And Sportsmail can reveal Oxford was directly referring to talk of a pending new deal at the London Stadium. His current deal is due to expire at the end of next season, but as Oxford has indicated, no agreement over an extension is close. Manchester United are in pole position to land the talented teenager if he decides to leave at the end of the season. But Oxford laughed off speculation and tweeted: 'Been hearing some funny stuff recently'
Arsenal and Manchester City are also interested in the central defender, who can also play in centre midfield. Initial talks over a new Hammers deal took place over the summer but the hierarchy were unable to settle the matter. Those talks have since stagnated; Oxford is understood to be relaxed about the situation even though there are no signs the impasse will be resolved anytime soon.
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Jonathan Calleri return to first-team training ahead of Crystal Palace game
SAM LONG
Evening Standard
West Ham have received a fitness boost ahead of this weekend's trip to Crystal Palace as Aaron Cresswell, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have all returned to full training. The Hammers have endured a difficult start to the season and are currently languishing in the relegation zone with just four points to their name. Injuries to key players has played a part in Slaven Bilic's side's slow start but the Croatian manager could welcome back several much-needed options at Selhurst Park. Cresswell suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season but is set to return significantly earlier than his initial prognosis suggested while Nordtveit and Calleri are also on the mend. "We will start with the positive news this week, which is that Aaron Cresswell, Havard Nordtveit and Jonathan Calleri have all returned to full training," said Stijn Vandenbroucke, West Ham's Head of Medical and Sports Science. "Aaron was injured in a pre-season match with Karlsruhe in Austria in July, while Havard is back in training after undergoing a small medical procedure, while Jonathan has had a minor injury."
Cresswell's imminent return is a timely one for West Ham as Arthur Masuaku - who was signed to provide cover for the Englishman - is now set for a spell on the sidelines himself.
The French full back has suffered a knee injury but the extent of his problem will be assessed next week. "Arthur Masuaku is progressing very well after suffering a knee injury in the EFL Cup tie with Accrington Stanley. "Arthur will have the brace removed from his knee early next week, after which we will progress to the next step in his rehabilitation," he added.
Co-chairman David Gold suggested earlier this month Andy Carroll would be available for the trip to south London but the striker has not yet returned to first-team training.
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Real Madrid plans prove how well West Ham have done for the Olympic Stadium
HITC
Damien Lucas
Proof that West Ham United's transformation of the Olympic Stadium into a football arena has been good value for Britain has emerged from Real Madrid. A woeful start to the season and life at their new 60,000 seater home has left morale on the pitch and in the stands at a new low. Fighting among fans and safety fears at the ground as well as a perceived lack of the famous intimidating Hammers atmosphere from Upton Park has seen the stadium switch cited by many as a reason for the club's contrast in fortunes compared to their fantastic campaign last term. Five defeats from the first seven Premier League games is the club's worst ever start to a season and Bilic's side were also unceremoniously dumped out of Europe in qualifying too. The club finds itself at the centre of a new negative story each week with the spotlight firmly fixed over East London following the move into such an iconic ground.
Fears that the huge stadium would turn into an expensive white elephant once the dust had settled on the London 2012 Olympics were seemingly allayed when the Premier League side were handed the keys to the iconic ground as anchor tenants in 2013. But legal challenges to have the decision thrown out from the likes of fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur and fellow East Londoners Leyton Orient marred the process and saw the Hammers' legitimacy to take over the running of the stadium called into question. The relatively small amount of money the Hammers had to pay towards conversion costs to make it a suitable as a football stadium has also received negative publicity. The £190 million transformation took to the total cost of the venue to £701 million - out of which the country got an Olympic Games, a Rugby World Cup, a Premier League football ground and retained its athletic and Olympic legacy. As part of the work West Ham installed an impressive cantilevered roof - which measures some 84 metres at its deepest point - and is the longest of its type in the world, covering every seat in the stadium.
Contrast that to approved plans in Spain at the mighty Real Madrid where they are set to spend an eye-watering £360m just to fit a new roof. The La Liga giants will add a retractable roof to the Santiago Bernabeu after finally reaching an agreement with the city to remodel the stadium, as reported by Sky Sports. Madrid president Florentino Perez revealed the project would cost £360m - more than half the cost of the Olympic Stadium and its subsequent transformation. It gives food for thought to critics of West Ham's move to the stadium, with whom co-owner David Sullivan is growing increasingly fed up, as reported by the club's official website.
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