Antonio targets Wembley rerun
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio is hoping for a Wembley rerun when West Ham United take on Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. The Hammers head to the Home of Football in the Carabao Cup fourth round, with both a place in the quarter-finals and local bragging rights at stake. For Antonio, the tie also represents an opportunity to repeat the success he enjoyed on his only previous visit to Wembley, when he scored a fine goal in Southampton's Football League Trophy final victory over Carlisle United in 2010. "It's a massive game," said the winger, who scored the winner against Tottenham in the final Premier League derby at the Boleyn Ground in March 2016. "Even if it wasn't at Wembley, it would be a massive game, as any game when West Ham and Tottenham are playing against each other, it is a massive. "Especially after they beat us at home, we need to go there and beat them at their home. We've got to steady our minds, go there and perform for the fans."
Antonio is one of a number of West Ham players who have turned out at Wembley before, with Joe Hart, Aaron Cresswell, Pablo Zabaleta, Jose Fonte, James Collins, Mark Noble and Andy Carroll all having trodden the hallowed turf in the past. Hart, Zabaleta and Carroll have all won the League Cup at the historic north London ground and the No30 would love to emulate that achievement. "It's Wembley. As much as they are playing home games there all season, it's Wembley so it's exciting for any team that goes there. "There are going to be loads of players who have not had the opportunity to play there, who will now get the opportunity to play there. "People are going to turn up and want to perform there because it is a historic ground."
Reflecting on his victorious goalscoring performance at Wembley seven years ago, Antonio cannot help but smile when he recalls that day. Playing alongside current Hammers teammate Jose Fonte and under former West Ham manager Alan Pardew on his 20th birthday, the winger scored the Saints' fourth and final goal in a comfortable victory over the Cumbrians. "It was an unbelievable day. There were 75,000 fans there and it was my birthday, as I'd just turned 20, we won and I scored! I had 15 of my family members and celebrated my goal in front of them, so it was just an unforgettable day. I remember everything about it to a tee.
"Scoring a goal at the historic Wembley Stadium was just unbelievable. Rickie Lambert headed the ball down and I've taken it on my chest and half-volleyed it with my left foot into the corner. "I'd love to do it again on Wednesday night!"
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Nolan: Mark Noble's character will be vital for West Ham United
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble's character could be vital to West Ham United's chances of winning at Wembley on Wednesday evening, according to former skipper Kevin Nolan. Nolan, who preceded Noble as Hammers captain and led the Club to Play-Off final glory at the Home of Football in 2012, says his successor remains vitally important to the squad, whether he is playing or not. The No16 was an unused substitute in Friday's loss to Brighton & Hove Albion and has started only five of West Ham's nine Premier League matches, with Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang, Edimilson Fernandes and youngster Declan Rice also available to play in the centre of the park. However, Noble did wear the armband in both Carabao Cup victories over Cheltenham Town and Bolton Wanderers, and Nolan believes his ex-teammate is the right man to lead the Hammers into battle against Spurs this week. The Notts County manager expects Noble's inner drive and character to motivate not just himself, but also his teammates. is use the feeling to motivate himself to get back into the team, such is the skippers' drive and character. "Of course, it will be bothering him that he's not playing," Nolan told whufc.com: "He's captain of the Club and right now he's not getting in the side. Nobes will be taking that to heart and will wanting to be doing something to put it right. "Not being in the team will be killing him, but one thing Mark Noble has got is a great character. Nobes is a great lad. This won't knock him. This will spur him on and make him want to try harder to get back in the team and help the side win games.
"He's got to keep his head down, work hard and be ready for his chance when it comes."
Nolan believes that chance may come at Wembley, where the pair shared one of the best moments of their respective careers five-and-a-half years ago. Noble was also part of the squad which knocked Spurs out of the League Cup at White Hart Lane in December 2013, and Nolan says his presence will also be of huge benefit this time around. He added: "Mark's a great character and he's a great lad. For me, he's what West Ham need. West Ham need those sorts of players, especially heading into a game like Tottenham away. "Mark Noble wears his heart on his sleeve and loves West Ham. He's a West Ham boy through and through, and for me he's the perfect fit for the Club and the captaincy and the way West Ham play."
Standard Tickets for West Ham United's Carabao Cup fourth round visit to Tottenham Hotspur have sold out, but the tie will be broadcast live by Sky Sports, with kick-off at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday at 8pm.
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FAIR TO MIDDLING
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 23 OCTOBER 2017 AT 4:54PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
As West Ham fans, we're pretty much used to being the middlemen of the Premier League. The current run has seen us finish 11th, 7th, 12th, 13th and 10th, echoing our previous run, which spanned 9th to 17th. Aside from our brief drop to the Championship and immediate bounce back, you can sometimes feel like the Hammers are there just to make up the numbers.
So, the recent predictions by sports analysts, Gracenote Sports, won't have come as much of a surprise to the West Ham faithful. Gracenote had us predicted to finish in 10th place with 47 points at the start of the season, and after seven games had revised that down by one win to put us in 14th place with 44 points.
Gracenote creates its Premier League predictions by ranking the top flight clubs using its Euro Club Index, then running over a million 'season simulations' to work out what it thinks will happen. After seven games, the exact placings may have shuffled a little, but the area of the table for each club has remained roughly the same. Pre-season favourites, Chelsea, have been replaced by Man City, and Crystal Palace have swapped places with Huddersfield at the bottom of the table.
You could argue that this is not exactly rocket science. Crystal Palace have lost all seven games and have yet to score a goal while conceding seventeen. My cat could predict their fate at the end of the season, and she's much more of a rugby fan. If anything, Gracenote's estimate of a 72% chance of the Eagles flying south seems rather generous.
Similarly, with both City and Man United unbeaten with six wins apiece, and with 39 goals between them and just two each against, you hardly need to be Nostradamus to predict one of them to be picking up the trophy next May. Gracenote reckon there's a 47% chance it will be City and a 24% chance it will be United, leaving just a 29% chance that the title will go anywhere else but Manchester.
Of course, predictions are not always right. With all its experts to call on, BBC Sport predicted Chelsea to win in 2015/16 and Leicester City to finish 19th. We all know how that turned out. They also predicted the Hammers would finish around our customary mid-table spot of 11th, but we beat that by four places to finish in the heady heights of the top seven. That was, indeed, a strange season all round.
In many ways, West Ham's reliable mid-table mediocrity saves us all a lot of sleepless nights towards the end of the season. It also saves us a few bob at the bookies, too, based on the old Premier League outright odds. After all, who is going to back us at 750-1 to win the Premier League, or even at 100-1 to finish in the top four? Certainly, no Hammers fan wants to tempt fate by having a cheeky fiver on relegation at 6-1.
Sometimes you just have to accept the fact that with West Ham neither at the bottom nor the top, like Kermit's nephew from the Muppet Show, we are destined to be forever Halfway Down The Stairs.
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WEST HAM UNITED, FOREVER ON THE ROAD TO NOWHERE!
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 23 OCTOBER 2017 AT 4:44PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @jasoninge
Well Friday Night Football couldn't of gone any worse, could it! I went into the game feeling very optimistic with the front four of Hernandez, Arnautovic, Lanzini and Antonio finally available to set a light our season. However in traditional West Ham style we were left being royally turned over by an awful Brighton side. Frankly it was a toothless, embarrassing performance by every single player that stepped out at the stadium that was supposed to be the catalyst for our great club to progress to the next level and compete with the big boys. However, although we were promised the world, ultimately nothing has changed, we're still the same old West Ham, a club that has so much potential but ultimately disappoints.
I've reflected a lot over the weekend since the bad defeat about why this club finds itself in an all too familiar situation, where we were struggling and the reasons for this, which I see as three fold. Like a lot the fans I had brought into this dream of West Ham becoming an elite club, competing in Europe on a regular basis and as a result only saw moving to the London Stadium as a necessary means as a result. However, it has now become apparent to me that we do not have the ingredients across the board to go to the next level.
Firstly, we have an average group of players that are simply nowhere near the standard of the top six teams. We are littered with overhyped players that individually and collectively make mistakes on a consistent basis that cost us results. We have a distant lack of creative, technically gifted players bar Lanzini, who for the record is the only player we have that is good enough to get in a top side, so the chances of actually competing with the big boys now is frankly impossible. In all honestly, we are no better than the any of clubs that are competing to be the best of the rest and therefore poor performances/results against poor teams is something that has been consistent throughout of history and will continue to plague our future. It's also been a suggested that we are no longer a selling club, but in reality Premier League Clubs aren't lining up to take our talent. Again that proves we're nowhere near a top six side.
Secondly, the manager isn't elite level. Now everyone who has seen my previous articles will know I back Slaven to the hilt and I will never turn on a manager, as I believe you support them as long as they're the man in charge. However, Slaven Bilic has proven in the last two seasons that he's unable to take this club any further than a mid table team and therefore finds himself in a virtually impossible situation to stay on as the manager past the current season. Furthermore, there is too much noise in the media and it's apparent that the owners are looking at replacements. It mirrors the exact same scenario as where Sam Allardyce found himself in during his last season. Obviously a lot of fans feel the need to make a managerial change now believing Slaven Bilic is the sole reason for our current blight and that the endless list of managers linked as replacements would all turn this around and have the capabilities to take this club forward to new heights. I completely disagree with this. We are West Ham United, and we are not capable of attracting an elite level manager, like Carlo Ancelotti to take us over. Also, I feel that sacking Slaven now would merely be a short term fix, and although would likely see an immediate resurgent in form and results this season, our history would show that it will be short lived before it ultimately goes wrong for said manager a year or two down the line, with fans calling for that person to be sacked. The reality is we find ourselves in a vicious cycle of hopes of achieving something followed by despair of underachieving.
Thirdly, the owners do not and will never have the finances needed to progress this club to the next level. We have a stadium that although isn't everyone's cup of tea is something that should of have been catalyst for better things for the club. However the current regime our wasting it and in all honestly continuing to fail with point after point of promises that really shouldn't have been hard to deliver. We are left talking about them failing to deliver a claret turf around the pitch with the current green one being a hindrance to the players on the pitch, because it costs too much money. We are left playing at a stadium with no naming rights because they are unable to seal the big deals like Man City and Arsenal have. All these issues show their shortcomings and exactly why they are incapable of progressing this club any further forward. However the most damning point is the distant lack of funds in the transfer market to buy the much better players needed. I'm not disputing they were able to get the majority of the managers targets this year, but it's simply not enough to make us a better club. You only have to look at our two record signings in the last two years. We've brought the two best players at Swansea and Stoke at the time, who like us are average teams in the hope they can replicate their good form with us, which neither have because average players are inconsistent. The club needs to be finding gems like Man City did when they were progressing forward to an elite club, with the likes David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany, but every world class player the owners have attempted to sign, they have failed to do so, because they don't have the finances required to buy those players. You can't expect progression if you can't spend big in this league!
So where do we go from here? Well in all honestly, we have to just get on with things. We are in a position where we have been many times over the years. Yes, we had hoped to never be in and around the relegation zone anymore, but we do have the capabilities of fighting our way of the situation. It's not a situation where we have lost six games on the spin and are ten points adrift. There is plenty of time to achieve a mid table finish, which is still our level and something that this manager and this group of players were able to achieve last season after a poor start. History shows the owners don't sack managers and honour contracts, whether you agree or not, we have to accept that. Long term though it is imperative that we are taken over, which will lead to a top class manager being appointed and a better squad being assembled that can finally challenge the top six. If that doesn't happen, we will continue down this road to nowhere with the pack likely to be shuffled in the summer once again and merry-go-around of joy followed by misery will go on.
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TIME TO THINK THE UNTHINKABLE
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 23 OCTOBER 2017 AT 4:24PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
by Malcolm Atkins @malatk
Apparently Ex is putting an article out which may shed more light but the rumour mill is that none of the board's preferred targets as a replacement for Slaven Bilic are available until summer with no temporary candidate currently appealing to them.
Most agree Slav is damaged beyond repair and for me, some sort of change is essential. I never thought I would propose this but….Paolo Di Canio anyone? OK he is fiery and unpredictable but he could be right man at the right time. Paolo would love the job and would probably agree a short term deal (trial) until the end of season.
Madness isn't it? Yes, but there are three big problems right now for me, the team lack fitness, they lack motivation and the fans are flat which is causing a big problem on match day. Di Canio would address the fitness issue without a doubt and certainly in the short term would fire players up. I bet he could get Arnautovic firing.
Then the fans, many – including me, have doubted his managerial credentials but he is hugely popular and would have the stadium rocking. Di Canio would produce a team that played with flair and swagger and most of all passion, The West Ham Way indeed.
If the board are too interfering etc. Paolo will tell us, if not, as they claim, we will know so and it will help repair their image a little.
I know there is a risk to this but it really can't get much worse. Big Sam may be pragmatic bu the fans would be divided and the board would look foolish. Paolo loves the club, wants the job, is passionate and views fitness as vital
Time to think the unthinkable? It is for me.
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Former City boss in the running?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd October 2017
By: Staff Writer
The vastly-experienced Manuel Pellegrini is the latest coach to be linked with Slaven Bilic's job. The Croat's position at West Ham is under serious threat following United's poor start to the 017/18 campaign and several managers - including Rafa Benitez and Alan Pardew - have been linked with the role. And now the Chilean - who is currently employed by Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune - is the latest big name to be linked with the post and a Premier League return, despite being under contract for a further 12 months. West Ham's Board met at the weekend following Friday's night's 3-0 humbling against Brighton & Hove Albion to discuss Bilic's position. The manager, who is out of contract at the end of the season is set to remain in charge for the foreseeable future, despite his team having accrued only eight points from their opening nine games of the campaign.
Manuel Pellegrini: managerial history
1988–1989: Universidad de Chile
1990–1992: Palestino
1992–1993: O'Higgins
1993–1995: Universidad Católica
1998: Palestino
1999–2000: LDU Quito
2001–2002: San Lorenzo
2002–2003: River Plate
2004–2009: Villarreal
2009–2010: Real Madrid
2010–2013: Málaga
2013–2016: Manchester City
2016-: Hebei China Fortune
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Spurs to miss talisman for Cup tie?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd October 2017
By: Staff Writer
Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane is set to miss this week's Carabao Cup clash between Tottenham and West Ham. The two clubs meet at Wembley on Wednesday night when the Hammers will be seeking to replicate their 2013 success at White Hart Lane in the same competition (then known as the Capital One Cup). And news of Kane's likely omission will come as a major boost to the Hammers, who are themselves sweating over the fitness of one or two key players ahead of the game. "We have many games ahead - Wednesday, then Manchester United at the weekend and Real Madrid," Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino told the media. "We finish the weekend with Crystal Palace. "It's important to know that Harry played two games for the national team before Bournemouth. It's been a massive effort from him, but his performance in that way he's so professional. "But he's not a machine and maybe Wednesday we'll give him a rest."
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They shoot horses, don't they?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd October 2017
By: Paul Walker
I think Neil Ashton on Sky at the weekend got it just about right. When will Slaven Bilic be put out of his misery?
The Sunday Supplement anchor and Daily Mail man could hardly have put it better. However you look at it, how much you blame Slav for our current predicament. This is no way to treat anyone.
As usual the 'two games to save his job' nonsense was filtered out after a weekend in which our board had been clearly unable to find someone to step in at short notice to turn the ship around. So Slav has to carry on.
You see, he is not trying to save his job, because he and us all know that decision has already been taken. If you tell someone that he can stay on only because they can't find anyone to take over, that is hardly much of an incentive.
And the players know it. They know the manager giving them instructions has absolutely no credibility any more, no clout, no position of an real authority.
Two games, Spurs at Wembley in what Sky may see as a very public execution (I thought we stopped all that a century back) and then a trip to an improving Crystal Palace who will be just baying for blood in a game they now feel that have a decent chance in.
And what next for Slav? It's Liverpool at home on 4 November. After that we have another two week international break. Yes, another one. And it is there that I reckon David Sullivan feels he may have a window of opportunity to get someone in.
Bilic just has to suck it up. Maybe the are trying to force him to resign, but why should he? The board have given him so much grief over the months, he probably feels entitled to that £2m pay-off.
If he soldiers on, he will get that with his contract ending next summer. If he walks away, he gets nothing. Lovely jubbly, Sullivan.
There has even been rumours, rejected by the board that Bilic has offered to quit. That rumour has come from somewhere to reach social media, and may well be how he has spoken to the players in times if real strife and weakness of the soul.
Now I have never been one to start calling for his head, nobody really knows what goes on in our club behind Karren's net curtains. But the Brighton disaster changed a few minds, the end of the road for many, who just cannot see how the tide can be turned.
Funnily enough, I was pretty confident on Friday, having seen the side draw at Burnley with ten men, a defiant, resilient display that no-one can convince me was a case of the manager having lost the dressing room.
Sullivan may well have felt that way when he did that interview with Gary Neville pre-match to say Slav would get to the end of his contract, he could have believed he was on firm ground.
Having not raised his head or said a word since that ridiculous row with Sporting Lisbon and the statement he issued to prove we had made a bid for William Carvalho - something I understand David Gold and Karren Brady did not know anything about until it had been done - here was the time for him to make a statesmanlike interview.
Ninety minutes later all that had changed.
There is no going back now. No 'two games to save your job.' It's all hot air and will change the instant someone agrees to step into Slav's boots.
But three more defeats would force Sullivan's hand, he will have to sack the manager. Because by then, even now many feel, there is a need for strong leadership, not only to do the decent thing by a man who has been held in high esteem as a player as well, initially, a manager at the club. You can't go on treating a man with such distain, such lack of respect, such mental cruelty, even.
Yes, I know, Slaven is a big boy, he knows the game and knows the consequences of this sort of crisis. But I cannot recall a manager being treated like this over such an extended period. Almost a silent war of attrition. Slav looks drained, tired of it all, a man now without answers.
Nobody deserves that, it has been going on far too long. Many feel Sullivan should have acted before the season started. The signs have been there for a long time.
I frankly don't know what Sullivan should do next in this endless search for a new manager. But then I am not the owner, I am not the person who has accepted that responsibility. He has to make the call, end the cruelty of Bilic and move on.
Palace found a decent manager pretty quickly, there are enough out-of-work people around to take the reigns for maybe a year, Alan Pardew springs to mind. Sullivan could even try a very short-term move of asking Mark Noble and Pablo Zabaleta to take the reigns with Terry Westley doing the nuts and bolts on the training ground. Just to give the club time to come to a decent decision.
But Bilic should be put out of his misery, this situation reminds me of the 'they shot horses, don't they' film!
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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500 days and counting: where do we go from here?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 23rd October 2017
By: Paul Walker
We have just passed the 500 days mark since we left our beloved Boleyn. Seems like yesterday, doesn't it, and those vivid memories of the last game played at Upton Park.
Manchester United stopped in their tracks - quite literally, outside and inside the ground - and vivid memories of that night, May 10 2016, when 30,000+ Hammers inside the stadium and 20,000 outside witnessed a night we will remember forever.
Those figures alone probably convinced our owners in the boardroom that night that we were a big club that had outgrown a small home. It no doubt re-enforced their view that everything would be hunky-dory in E20.
How wrong could they be. Our record is all matches since that night against Manchester United is P 58 W19 D 12 L27 F 70 A 97.
That is just shocking, and is the reason we are where we are with Bilic, a board that is not trusted by a vast majority of the fans and the potential disaster of a shattering relegation on our hands - something that must be the owners' worst nightmare.
I walked away that night back in May 2016 determined not to look back, and never go back to Green Street. My family, dad, grandad, uncles, brother, son, myself, had invested a century in that ground, some things are just too painful.
And nothing I have seen since has got even close to the excitement of the Boleyn. It has become a long, painful wait for take-off at the London Stadium, and a relentless, cruel destruction of Slaven Bilic. Back at the Boleyn he was the manager of passion, all hugs and kisses for his team.
Not too many kisses now. A manager sadly exposed and ridiculed. An endless list of being two/three matches away from the sack. How he must privately wish that these past 17 months had not happened, that he could somehow turn back the clock to better times.
Many feel like that for many conflicting reasons. I know my family, past, would not recognise our club now. We all have stories to tell about those family roots. I was told the grandfather I never knew watched West Ham before the First World War and was at Wembley in 1923.
And sadly there's no reason now to go back to the old manor. The streets of East Ham, my old aunt's place just behind Upton Park tube, the other family homes in Forest Gate, Barking, Ilford, all now distant memories. Replaced by Chelmsford, Southend and Sevenoaks in our Christmas card address book. I am sure that sort of tale is familiar to many East End, East London families, not just mine.
So it was off to the shiny new palace on the banks of the River Lea, the cold wastelands of Stratford's canals and rivers. Our island in the sun we were told.
It's fair to say that some have handled the moved better than others. Not for one moment am I saying folk should move on, my own memories here show that's very difficult. But it is history now, and maybe it's the time for a quick evaluation of where we are, and where we are going. Clearly, at some point, without Bilic. That is so blindingly clear now.
But in terms of progress, what could we have realistically expected at this stage? Cut through all the PR rubbish that was spouted about a new level, that's an expression I hate because it comes from a dream world for people who think Champions League, Europe and trophies were just going to fall from the sky.
Elsewhere on this site my colleague HHS produced a lengthy piece recently showing just how much nonsense it is to believe that we can make any sort of leap to a new level in a football industry that is totally loaded in favour of the elite, the established wealth domestically and in Europe.
Now this is not intended as another slagging for our owners and Lady Karren. That would be too easy in the current climate, and because they have done so much talking. So much hot air. Off the pitch they would say the move has been a success, now we are the 17th richest club in the world and are selling 56,000 tickets each week, if not filling the seats.
But even that is the same method of recording ticket sales used by every club. There are empty seats everywhere, even Old Trafford is reputed to have at least 5,000 empty seats some games.
Our owners are often accused of wholesale lies about the whole move. I would prefer to call it being economical with the truth…about athletics events, about the non-retractable, removable, temporary seating. About how far we are from the flamin'pitch, about the dreadful transport links and the constant closures of inadequate local stations.
But a lot of this stuff only effects those at the ends of the stadium, the BML and the TBL. I know folk sitting in posher, more expensive seats who are more than happy with things and this modern stadium.
In the end, it is what happens on the field that really matters, that changes moods and makes the problems we have all faced a little more acceptable. And that's where things have not gone well, to put it mildly.
We have had three transfer windows since we left the Boleyn, and frankly I do not see much of an improvement in the squad.
And the figures do little to help this perception. I reckon that we have spent around £96m on transfers since leaving Upton Park, and pulled in around £65m in sales. Those figures will no doubt be challenged because clubs tend to inflate figures for public consumption when they sell and reduce them when they buy, and of course they don't take into account the extra charges, wages and agents fees - seemingly we spend £9m on that a year.
The owners will point to breaking the transfer record twice in this time, but on what? Are they serious about the quality? It is pretty much accepted now that our buying has been a mess and a high percentage of acquisitions are no longer with us. Pick a card, chose who to blame!
What we have spent is far short of the clubs we are trying to emulate. But even that is not totally our owners' fault, because we are not allowed to throw, say, £200m at the problem, FFP regulations don't allow that.
You have the boost your transfer budget by raising cash from sponsorships and commercial activities. How long that takes to find its way into the food chain is anyone's guess. And certainly David Sullivan has a reputation for not spending cash unless he really has to.
Sadly, it is the results since we arrived in Stratford that severely let things down. It's 58 games in all, as previously mentioned Our league record in that time is P46 W13 D11 L22 F 54 A 81.
At the London Stadium it is even more miserable. In all competitions we have played 29 games at our new home, won just 13, drawn four, lost 12 and scored 34 while conceding 44.
It does not take much working out to see where the problem lies. What is being offered on the pitch does not come close to a reasonable level. Certainly not the next level. In fact, I struggle to recall games that have really excited me or lived up to any level of expectation.
Is that Bilic's fault, is it the fault of a board and transfer department that falls horribly short however you look at it?
Everybody can have a view on where the blame should rest, I can just present the statistics. I do not really want to jump on the 'Bilic out' bandwagon because I feel he has been dealt a pretty rough hand at times trying to overcome all the problems of the move and a restless, sometimes resentful public.
It all seems too much for him in the end. But one thing is for sure. Everybody has to improve across the board.
My view is that we should be challenging in the top eight by now, This current squad is underachieving, it is the most expensive, well-paid group we have ever had as a club. It's just not good enough, and our owners and manager, whoever he may be, know it.
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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WEST HAM ARE LIKE DENMARK - BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY
By HamburgHammer 23 Oct 2017 at 08:00
WTID
When I was a wee boy my family used to spend most of our summers in Denmark. My parents loved it there, it was easy to get to from Hamburg, reasonably priced (important for a young couple) and my folks also fell in love with the people there.
So much so that I ended up with Danish godparents, was given a Danish first name (same as my brother five years earlier) and basically grew up in Denmark. If my parents' accounts of those days are accurate, my first footprints as a toddler were left on Viking soil.
It's a beautiful little country, with friendly and laid back people who have a great sense of humour, a lot of warmth and who are also immensely proud of their history and heritage.
West Ham are like Denmark now, unfortunately not in terms of the positive connotations I just mentioned, but solely as in the famous Shakespeare quote from Hamlet:
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
When I came home on Friday evening, ready to watch the game against Brighton, I was in a reasonably good mood as I had just briefly been at the Concordia training ground, meeting our new signing, a young French striker from Lens who does even speak some English and who will hopefully help to turn Concordia's season around.
So I settled down in my armchair at home in good spirits, screwdriver at the ready, feeling confident that this was it, this would be the game where the team finally found their collective fourth and fifth gear, the lads would play like we all know they can and send Brighton back to the beach with zero points and tail firmly between their legs.
Or should that be wings clipped as they are called The Seagulls after all ?
At the end of the game we found ourselves in that now almost too familiar state of disbelief, shock and utter despair. I know that as a club we have suffered embarrassing defeats galore throughout our history. Painful cup exits against teams we weren't even sure where exactly in Britain they were from. Thrashings against the big boys. Getting beaten 3:4 by Wimbledon at the Boleyn after racing into a 3:0 lead after 27 minutes. The lot. As fans we've always come back for more because it was our club, it was in our blood, in our DNA, instilled into us either by birth or twist of fate, rarely by choice.
This feels different now somehow. There is so much wrong at the club that it is hard to simply file that under yet another bumpy ride or just another phase. Of course it is a phase insofar as Bilic will be replaced in the very near rather than the distant future. Already we are hearing that Bilic's job is safe until a replacement has been lined up, with numerous hats thrown into the ring: Pellegrini, Mancini, Wagner, Benitez, Moyes, Dyche, take your pick.
Temporary relief a new gaffer may bring, it may fix some temporary issues with training regimes, application and motivation of the players, organisation at the back, body language, ability and willingness to press the opposition and actually run for the majority of the 90 minutes on the pitch rather than just jogging along or strolling under the Stratford sky.
Granted, more effort and positive attitude from the team is what most fans would be quite happy with and even I agree at this point that Bilic looks completely lost, unable to make the players work and play hard – or even get the basics right.
Whatever Bilic may want from them, he ain't getting it. So, as much as it pains me to say it because I love Bilic as a human being, in terms of being West Ham's manager he has run his course now I'm afraid.
I hate sounding like a broken record, but it begins and ends with the people at the very top, running our club, making the decisions, be that about managers, signing players or stadium related issues. Hang on, when I say "our" club, is that actually true anymore what with us being addressed as mere customers ? In discussions with fellow fans and posters on here I was told a while ago "West Ham basically died when the final whistle sounded in that final Boleyn game against Manchester United".
I am not entirely sure that statement is true and if it's really just the stadium although it still seems to be a massive factor. We play in a giant bugger of a bowl, for rent.
We keep being told it's a world class stadium fit and meant for world class players, preferably those playing in claret and blue. At the moment it's hard to see any evidence of either. The board have decided to use the club as an investment vehicle, with the stadium move being key to pushing the ultimate club value and price up once they will have decided to sell up eventually. We don't know when exactly that is going to happen, but happen it will.
You cannot achieve the world class players in a world class stadium scenario if as owners you are merely prepared to spend the bare minimum, hoping against hope you will stay up every time to keep your seat on the Premier League money train. It is a very risky gamble this. It seems to be almost impossible to improve the matchday experience when you are at the mercy of the LLDC agreeing to any changes made to the stadium, even if it is about a seemingly simple matter such as putting a claret surface over the running track, to get a bit of contrast in relation to the green of the pitch.
Let's assume we get a new manager. What happens next ? Will the board suddenly start spending a decent amount of money on players ? Will they give the new manager a 40 million signing like Carvalho after denying Bilic that courtesy ? I doubt it will be a miraculous turnaround with a new manager, any new manager. Because the way the board run the club determines to a large degree where the ceiling for our club is. We deserve to be exactly where we are and they all need to shoulder the blame for this, not just Bilic. Also and especially Sullivan, Gold and Brady. They have fallen short, they have promised much and provided little.
Let us now anticipate the moment in time they do sell the club to new owners, be that in two years, five or ten. What will be left of West Ham as a club at that point ? Of the proverbial life and soul of the club ? It's the universal truth that the fans are the most permanent feature of any football club, they have a bond to their club for life, going through several owners, managers, players, even stadiums in their lifetimes. Change in football is also a permanent feature, but don't underestimate the undercurrent of heritage and history. You ignore the latter at your own peril.
Once the old guard are gone, will those who happily munch popcorn and take selfies at the London Stadium today still watch West Ham five or ten years from now ?
It's natural that some of the old guard were not willing to join the migration when the club were moving to the new stadium. There will be even more people who are going to reevaluate the status of the relationship they have with West Ham. So will I, even though I am not sure at this junction what my decision is going to be. Hiring a new manager will not fix this deeper rooted issue for me. Some of us will try to attend away games only in future. Others will stop going altogether, but may continue to watch on the telly or internet streams. And a small group may even pack it in for good.
I ain't stopping going just yet – before the Brighton game I actually arranged my next trip and I won't cancel it just because we lost in embarrassing fashion to Brighton.
I shall be taking in the pre-Christmas derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal in person. I will arrive in London on Friday, December 8th, returning to Hamburg on Thursday, December 14th.
It's highly likely Bilic will no longer be in charge at that point. But there are still things to look forward to, even when you wouldn't realistically expect a massive points haul from those two fixtures to be frank. I have joined the West Ham Supporters Club now, so I will be able to try out that new location, Stour Space, near the stadium, for pre- and post-match drinks and festivities (yeah, right!). I also can't wait to go and watch some football in Dagenham again as the West Ham Under 23s will face their Tottenham counterparts at the Chigwell Construction Stadium on Monday night. From a sporting perspective, as a contest under the lights this may well turn out to be the highlight of my upcoming trip.
I'll be as happy as a kitten waking up on a fully loaded milk float at the break of dawn when meeting up again with some of my friends from this blog, each and everyone of whom is more West Ham than the entire current board together.
Spurs in the cup next at Wembley. They are likely to play a weakened side. Not sure this gives an advantage to us. But this is West Ham. It wouldn't surprise me to see us beat them on the night. Saying that, it wouldn't surprise me to see our first team getting mullered 6:0 by their U18s either at this point. COYI!
Embed from Getty Images
PS: The Concordia update for those interested – a bit of a mixed bag. Cordi 2 won their game comfortably, 9:0 against the Out-of-Towners from Gülzow.
The boys are still very much on track for promotion after that result.
Then the first team earned themselves some much needed respect with a very decent 2:2 draw against one of the top sides in the league, Teutonia.
It was still unlucky as they conceded the equaliser in the shape of a wonder goal into the top corner from 25 yards out with the last kick of the game, after Cordi had played more than half an hour with a man advantage.
It was cold, it was raining stair-rods all game and 110 diehard spectators were braving the elements. The win would have been most welcome.
Cordi remain stuck in second gear and midtable.
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David Seaman backs West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart to start in goal for England at the World Cup
Hart has already let in 17 goals in nine Premier League games this season, including three against Brighton on Friday night
The Mirror
Neil McLeman
17:32, 23 OCT 2017
David Seaman has backed Joe Hart to be England No.1 at the World Cup next summer – and reckons the West Ham keeper will get lots of practice this season.
The on-loan Manchester City star has already let in 17 goals in nine Premier League games this season, including three against Brighton on Friday night. Hart, now 30, is under pressure for his England place from the next generation of keepers like Jack Butland, Tom Heaton and Jordan Pickford. He has won 74 caps and can equal the total of 75 set by Seaman in the international friendlies next month. And the former Arsenal star said: "I would stay with Joe for the World Cup. For me Joe is still England's No.1. The level he's played at for a long time is really good. Now the other guys are getting closer. That will push him. "I had the same situation when I was with England - I knew the other goalkeepers were getting closer, it just made me try and train a little bit harder and try to play better. It just focuses your mind a bit better. "It is difficult for keepers in struggling teams but even if they're having a bad time it means he's going to get more to do. It's a chance to show what you can do. "The more you have to do, the more there is a chance for a mistake and they're are things that get highlighted. "There was one against Brighton he might question himself. When you get that much of your hand to the ball and it goes in you're always a bit disappointed but it's not a mistake by any stretch. "He's having a lot more to do. He's playing for West Ham. He has more saves to make and that could lead to more mistakes as well. But when he plays for England he does his stuff."
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Ex-West Ham youth star made himself look 20 years older to secure cheaper car insurance on £30,000 Range Rover
The Hammers prospect once featured on the bench for a Europa League qualifier
The Mirror
Jack RathbornJack Rathborn
15:41, 23 OCT 2017
A former West Ham youth ace made himself look 20 years older to get a cheaper car insurance policy for his £30,000 Range Rover, a court heard today. Nathan Mabi-Mavila, 22, told insurers at RSA Group he was old enough to be his own father to get a cheaper premium for his luxury Range Rover Evoque. The talented young left-back and midfielder, who played for The Hammer's youth team from 2012-2014, also claimed he lived outside London in Kent in a bid to save £2,000.
Mavila was sussed out when he took his girlfriend for a spin and was asked to pull over and produce his documents at a police checkpoint in Grosvesnor Place, Belgravia, on 7 August. He admitted one count of fraud by false representation and one count of using a motor vehicle without third party insurance at Westminster Magistrates' court today. Mabi-Mavila joined Maidstone following his time at West Ham.
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Who is West Ham fitness chief Miljenko Rak after damning stat raises serious questions
The fitness of the West Ham players has come under massive scrutiny in the wake of the Brighton loss
Football London
Sam Inkersole
20:00, 23 OCT 2017UPDATED21:14, 23 OCT 2017
A damning stat was revealed on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night and it has raised some serious questions about what goes on at West Ham's Rush Green training ground. An accusation often levelled at the team this season as that they are not fit enough and that was no more evident than on Friday nights surrender against Brighton at the London Stadium. Michail Antonio looked exhausted after about 30 minutes and a number of players has simply ran out of gas by half time and in the final ten minutes of the game, the Hammers were at walking pace. On numerous times over the past 18 months, we have seen the Hammers ship late goals as a result of them being dead on their feet and unable to get that last bit of energy to get them over the line. Who is to blame for that? Numerous reports, particularly from former players and even ones currently on staff but away on loan (Reece Oxford and Robert Snodgrass) have slammed the training methods at Rush Green. The statistic revealed that the Hammers are ranked DEAD LAST in the amount of distance covered by the players this season (944.1km) and are also DEAD LAST in the number of sprints the players made (3938). But in terms of fitness, that's down to one man - West Ham's head of first team head of performance Miljenko Rak. The 70-year-old excelled at the long jump in his formative years before he moved into coaching and helped the careers of dozens of Croatian stars, including Olympic skier Janica Kostelic before turning hsi attention to football. Rak has been a long-serving lieutenant of Slaven Bilic, having worked with him for the Croatian national team, Lokomotiv Moscow, Besiktas and now West Ham. It's not just him that should be singled out for criticism however. There is the whole backroom team of assistant Nikola Jurcevic, the very eloquent coach Edin Terzic and Julian Dicks, plus goalkeeping coach Chris Woods, that all contribute to Rush Green. This is not the first time the work ethic has come under fire at the training ground and you do wonder what is going on behind closed doors.
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Referee announced for West Ham's crunch clash with Crystal Palace and it's excellent news
The man in the middle has a good record in charge of West Ham games
Football london
Sam Inkersole
18:00, 23 OCT 2017
If you're of the disposition where you like to look at good omens ahead of upcoming games for your team, West Ham fans will be delighted to see who is in charge of their clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Bobby Madley will be the man in the middle for what is already being called a six-pointer in the Premier League as two struggling London sides lock horns at what is sure to be a raucous Sehurst Park. Roy Hodgson's men showed a bit of a revival after beating Chelsea recently but then followed that up with a 1-0 loss to Newcastle United last weekend, while we all know what's gone on with the Hammers. A run of one defeat in six came crashing down around them and rendered worthless after they were humbled by Brighton at the London Stadium on Friday night, losing 3-0. The pressure is fully on Hammers boss Slaven Bilic but he might be able to take a crumb of comfort - maybe - when he looks at the record Madley has in charge of his team last season. He was the referee for four West Ham games last season and Bilic's men lost just one of them and won the other three. Two of those games were against Burnley, with a 1-0 win at the London Stadium thanks to a Mark Noble penalty and the other on the final day at Turf Moor, a 2-0 win. The other victory Madley was in charge for was the 1-0 win against Sunderland in the early days of the London Stadium, Winston Reid lashing home a stoppage time winner against the Black Cats a little more than a year ago. The one blot on his record was the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth last March, where Josh King ran riot and scored a hat trick at the Vitality Stadium. This season, Madley has been a bit card happy and has dished out four yellow cards in just seven games he has officiated, including two in the game between Man City and Everton on August 21 when he sent off Kyle Walker and Morgan Schneiderlin.
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
By Sean Whetstone 22 Oct 2017 at 17:30 31 comments
WTID
I have just returned home from watching the West Ham Under 23's take on Chelsea at Aldershot's stadium. Although it was a goalless draw the young team played with more passion, determination and grit than any of the first team showed on Friday night. I sat just behind Terry Westley and greeted him and wished him good luck before kick off. It was good to see him and his methods up close. He is another very passionate manager who frequently banged the clear plastic glass of the dugout when the game wasn't going his way. It was also great to see Declan Rice up close and personal, he truly is a wonderful prospect who clearly models himself on the late great Bobby Moore.
This afternoon was a pleasant distraction from the embarrassment that happened on Friday night. West Ham fans hopes were quickly extinguished after Brighton's first goal on 10 minutes. As the second killer goal went in just before halftime West Ham fans turned on West Ham fans inside the stadium. I personally witnessed a couple of incidents in my block 113 in the West stand of arguing, pushing and shoving and at halftime police rushed into the back of block 114 for another incident where one West Ham fan was arrested and hauled off. It seemed a return to old days of last season.
As the third goal went in on 75 minutes there was further trouble at Club London next to the director's box as some kind of altercation broke out in the corporate hospitality area. By then embarrassed by a 3-0 defeat at home by Brighton the London Stadium largely emptied and West Ham fans made their long way home in disbelief what they had just witnessed on the pitch. It is on nights like last night that the London Stadium doesn't feel like our new home.
A poll of over 3,100 supporters on Claret and Hugh on Saturday says the majority now want Slaven Bilic gone, over 77% want him gone immediately, over 10% want to give him until the Palace game, 4% say give him until January while 5% say the end of the season and a mere 3% want him to get a new contract.
There are rumours that he offered to resign after the Newcastle loss and again after Brighton. While it might have some element of truth I am told he has never offered to resign to the board at any time and the offer was made directly to the players instead which is meaningless.
I understand the board are currently unwilling to sack Slaven Bilic without a replacement with proven Premier League experience and they say there is simply no-one of the right calibre available at this time. They don't want to be in the same situation as Leicester City. They also believe there is no natural successor to become caretaker manager at West Ham and while they love Terry Westley to bits they don't think he has the right skill set to take over the Hammers as caretaker boss with demands of the Premier League.
Despite widespread reports, West Ham have NOT held any emergency board meetings over the weekend to decide whether Slaven Bilic should be sacked!
Speculation has been swirling around since Friday night's shock result that Bilic could be out of work by the weekend as a result of such a meeting. David Gold is currently away on a winter break in the Caribbean and no board meeting would be held without him.
However, West Ham are drawing up a list of candidates to take over from Slaven Bilic should the decision be made in the future and the club knows it has a serious problem and is quickly speaking to agents and intermediaries. One of the possibilities being considered is an approach to veteran coach Guus Hiddink on a short-term contract whilst the club look for their ideal long-term candidate but there is concern over his age.
Another surprise option being considered by the club is former manager Sam Allardyce, he is said to be interested in the USA International manager job and it remains to be seen if he would tell the board where to stick it he got a call to get them out of trouble short term. Another Claret and Hugh poll of over 2,000 supporters shows that nearly 54% of supporters would accept Big Sam back as a short-term fix while 46% would stick with Slaven Bilic for the remainder of the season even if he meant relegation given the choice.
Meanwhile, bookmakers have predictably made Slaven Bilic a massive the odds-on favourite as the next Premier League manager to be sacked this season. Slav's chance of the sack has been slashed to 1/3 making odds-on on favourite with Sky Bet to go with his closest rival Ronald Koeman at Everton on 11/4. Paddypower have Bilic 4/9 for the push while it's 2/5 with Bet Victor.
Sky Bet have Manuel Pellegrini as the 100/30 favourite to replace the Croatian with Carlo Ancelotti second favourite at 11/2, Rafa Benitez is third at 6/1 with Sean Dyche, Roberto Mancini and Slavisa Jokanovic all at 8/1.
Manuel Pellegrini is the manager of Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune since August 2016. He is thought to be on a lucrative contract in China worth £30m over three years. He is the bookies Odds on favourite to join Leicester City. Difficult to match his current package.
Carlo Ancelotti says he will take at least a 10-month break after the Bayern Munich axe. Was paid £12.6m per year on a three-year contract at Bayern. Even if we could afford him after his sabbatical he is unlikely to consider West Ham as a realistic option as he won't be short on offers.
Rafa Benitez says he is committed to Newcastle until the end of the season. He signed a new three-year contract in May this year worth £4.2m per year so West Ham could end up paying a compensation of around £10m should they tempt Rafa to leave the North East. With Newcastle up for sale, he is said to be keen to wait and find out what a new owner could bring to the Magpies in terms of backing in the transfer market.
Sean Dyche signed a contract extension at Burnley in 2016 and is one of lowest paid managers in the Premier League on £420,000 per year. He joined the Clarets in 2012 and in his five-year tenure has led them twice to Premier League promotion. Whether Dyche would leave Burnley and whether he would be an improvement on Slaven Bilic are all unanswered questions.
Roberto Mancini took over as Zenit St Petersburg manager this summer on a three-year contract thought to be worth €4.5m a year. He has the option of a two-year extension. Whether Mancini has a clause to leave if a Premier League club came in for him is unknown but there is likely to be a large compensation to persuade Zenit to part with him.
Slavisa Jokanovic took over at Championship side Fulham in 2015 and signed a two-year contract extension to stay in West London earlier this year. He has no Premier League experience despite previously getting Watford promoted to the Premier League. His lack of experience makes him somewhat of a gamble and would cost £5m in compensation to Fulham which makes him an unlikely candidate.
Personally, I think Bilic has already lost the dressing room and things will only get worse as the season goes on. Angelo Ogbonna says his baby daughter liked a 'Bilic Out' message on social media and it wasn't him (honest guv) but rumours suggest the dressing room is already divided.
The board need to act and act fast, enough is enough, this is the time they need to stand up and be counted. Will the next West Ham manager please come forward.
Thanks for all you have done as a player and manager Slav and good luck for the future!
Sean COYI
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West Ham players hold crisis talks at training ground following latest defeat by Brighton in Premier League
Mark Noble tore into his West Ham team-mates after Brighton defeat on Friday
West Ham were defeated 3-0 at home against Brighton on Friday night
Slaven Bilic is facing a huge fight to save his job following a poor start to season
By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 23 October 2017 | UPDATED: 22:30, 23 October 2017
West Ham players held a crisis meeting on Monday as manager Slaven Bilic faces fresh scrutiny over his job. And Sportsmail can reveal the training ground summit comes after captain Mark Noble tore into team-mates during a heated dressing room inquest following Friday's embarrassing home defeat to Brighton. Bilic is facing a huge fight to save his job following a poor start to the season, the loss to the newly-promoted Seagulls plunging the Croat into further difficulty.
Indeed, the Hammers hierarchy held further talks on Monday to address the club's plight, with Bilic still clinging on to his job. The Hammers squad took matters into their own hands on Monday, holding their own meeting in a bid to revive the club's ailing season. Having spoken extensively to Bilic earlier in the day, Noble is understood to have led Monday's talks. Fears are growing behind the scenes that the under pressure manager is losing the dressing room. Some players are privately questioning Bilic's tactics and training techniques, while the fact the 49-year-old is almost certain not to be the manager beyond the end of the season, when his current contract expires, is threatening his authority within the camp. It is hoped Monday's meeting at the club's Rush Green training base can spark a positive response from the Hammers, who face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Wednesday night before facing a crucial Premier League game at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Indeed, Bilic will be desperate to see an improvement from his team against Spurs following the debacle against Brighton last week.
In the aftermath of Friday's loss; sources claim that Noble — who was an unused substitute for the game - ripped into the team. Sportsmail understands the dressing room was largely silent after the defeat; something that is said to have annoyed Noble, who felt the players should have showed more emotion after the loss. Stalwart central defender James Collins, who is currently injured, is also understood to have addressed the players since the humbling defeat. The next two fixtures will be pivotal in determining whether Bilic keeps his job. Defeat at Wembley on Wednesday and another loss at Selhurst Park on Saturday would likely result in Bilic being sacked, despite co-owner David Sullivan's insistence last week that the manager's position would only be reviewed at the end of the season.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 24
Monday, October 23
Daily WHUFC News - 23rd October 2017
Hammers fall to County Cups defeat at Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
A spirited fight-back was not enough for West Ham United Ladies to avoid
losing at Crystal Palace Ladies 3-1, leading to their elimination from the
County Cups.
A controversial penalty and a close-ranged finish had put Palace in control
with a two-goal lead at half-time in Sunday's fixture, leaving the Hammers
with it all to do in the second period. A clever curling finish from Julie
Melfald with 15 minutes to play dragged the Ladies back into contention, but
a well-worked goal for Palace secured the home side's victory towards the
end of the game. The Hammers made three changes to their starting XI from
the last contest with Rosie Kmita, Paige Anderson-James and Molly Peters
struggling with injuries. The former duo at least made the bench while the
trio were replaced by Mollie Kmita, Andreya Ezekiel-Meade and Kelly
Wealthall in the side. The opening goal of the match came in dubious
circumstances as the referee awarded Palace a free-kick, only to then change
his mind and give the home side a penalty. Nikita Whinnett put the Eagles in
front from the spot on 15 minutes. A lively Kelly Wealthall stole possession
moments later and her shot was straight at the goalkeeper, before Burr
received the ball from a lovely pass by Chantelle Mackie, but her effort was
well-saved by Lynch. The Hammers were made to pay for that missed
opportunity as Palace went two ahead. Cherie Rowlands made a great save to
deny McRoberts but Elliie Stenning was on hand to smash home the rebound.
Burr again came close with a wonderful dipping effort that looked destined
for the top corner, if not for an incredible save, while Wealthall was able
to nip around Lynch only for the angle to be made too narrow by her touch.
Greg de Carnys made two changes at the start of the second half with Melfald
and Dayna Chong entering the fray, meaning all three had been used after
Anderson-James entered the fray after just 16 minutes, only to be removed at
half-time due to injury. The Hammers almost found a way back into the
contest within minutes of the restart as Amber Stobbs just failed to latch
onto a clever free-kick. The home side could have secured the win as
Rowlands was forced into an excellent save from a Bailes effort, but with 15
minutes to go substitute Melfald fired home a left-footed shot from outside
the area to half the deficit. Palace had hit the post as well, prior to
Melfald's well-taken goal, and the West Ham finish gave the away side hope
of getting back into the match in the final few minutes. But Palace found
the third that they had been threatening in the 82nd minute as an excellent
flicked pass allowed Bailes to fire into the net from close range.
West Ham United Ladies: Rowland; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Auguste; M Kmita,
Burr, Ezekiel-Meade (Anderson-James 16'- Chong 46'), Cooper, Stobbs;
Wealthall (Melfald 46')
Subs not used: Walker, R Kmita
Goals: Melfald 74'
Crystal Palace Ladies: Lynch; McRoberts, Foreman, Bailes, Paye (Collins
79'), Holdaway, Sherwood (Chandler 62'), Haydock, Whinnett, Goss (Davenport
76'), Stenning
Subs not used: Collins, Bryan
Goals: Whinnett 15' (p), Stenning 29', Bailes 82'
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First-half performance cost Ladies against Crystal Palace – De Carnys
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies' first half performance cost them the chance to
progress through the County Cups in the 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace,
according to Greg de Carnys. A dubious penalty and a close-ranged goal put
the Hammers two goals down heading into half-time, and while substitute
Julie Melfald halved the deficit on 74 minutes, a late finish secured
Palace's victory and eliminated the Irons. While the Ladies put in a lively
and encouraging performance in the second half the first period was cause
for concern for first team manager De Carnys, who has called on his team to
play to their full potential for the full 90 minutes. And the coach says
lessons need to be learned from Sunday's cup defeat. "We are disappointed
with our performance in the first half," De Carnys told whufc.com: "We need
to be prepared to up our game more from the start. It shouldn't come from
anything that happens at half-time. It shouldn't come from me, it should
come from the girls, and that's something that we've had a stern word about
in the changing room. "The second half we upped our game and there were
higher levels of performance from individuals on the pitch. I'm disappointed
because, in the second half, we showed we've got better players than were on
display in the first.
"Performing at a high level is not easy. It requires the players to be
really well prepared and doing things off the pitch right as well. As we
talk about the Club progressing and becoming more professional these are
lessons that the players have to learn quickly."
The side was also disrupted by a number of injury set-backs both before and
during the match. Molly Peters missed the game through injury while Paige
Anderson-James and Rosie Kmita, who started the last match, were only fit
enough for the bench. Anderson-James was brought on for Andreya
Ezekiel-Meade early on as the forward struggled with a knock, but the
substitute had to be taken off again at half-time due to a recurrence of her
problem. Kelly Wealthall, who started up front in Peters's absence, also was
withdrawn at the interval due to an injury. De Carnys added: "We had to make
changes to the starting XI due to injuries. Rosie [Kmita] and Paige
[Anderson-James] were on the bench but Molly [Peters] couldn't feature.
"Then we had to bring off Andreya [Ezekiel-Meade] because she was
struggling. Paige came on but could only play the rest of the first half
before we needed to substitute her as well. Add to that losing Kelly
[Wealthall] and that's all our options used before 46 minutes is on the
clock. "That obviously exasperates a difficult afternoon but we will assess
the severity of these knocks this week."
While De Carnys feels his Ladies gave a poor account of themselves in the
first half the opening goal – a penalty kick – did not help matters. The
referee had initially awarded a free-kick but a quick consultation with his
linesman saw the official change his mind and give the penalty. De Carnys
admits he didn't have the clearest view of the incident but feels the
decision to give a spot-kick was harsh. "I was quite a way from the incident
but from where I looked I had the same feeling as the referee – that the
foul was outside the box. I think the linesman has given it after."
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Ex-Blue Kemp disappointed not to beat Chelsea
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23s "bossed the game", according to winger Dan Kemp, but
could only record a goalless draw with Chelsea on Sunday. The Hammers
travelled to Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground to take on the Blues on the
back of two consecutive Premier League 2 Division 1 wins but were left
frustrated as they failed to break the deadlock. The visitors were the more
dangerous side throughout, creating the best openings and forcing goalkeeper
Jamie Cumming into action on a number of occasions.
Sead Haksabanovic, playing his first Hammers match since his first team bow
against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, came closest to scoring the
game's only goal when his superb scissor-kick shot was tipped round the
post. But Chelsea stayed compact at the back and frustrated Terry Westley's
men, who now have seven points from their last three league matches. Kemp –
a former Blues academy star – took the positives from the point, however,
when he spoke to West Ham TV after the full-time whistle. "We were a bit
disappointed in the end," he admitted, "but it's never a bad result away at
Chelsea getting a point. "We felt that we totally bossed the game. We felt
we dominated, had more chances so we're disappointed in a way. But it was a
good performance and the only thing missing was the goal.I thought the back
four were brilliant today, Vashon [Neufville], Dec [Rice], Pasky [Josh Pask]
and Johno [Ben Johnson] did well but especially Dec and Pasky kept the
forward out the game. I didn't really feel like he got into the game because
of them. Trotty as well did very well. "[The scissor kick] was a very good
effort from Sead. He had a really good game today. I felt that we had too
much for them with him, me, Nathan [Holland], Toni [Martinez] going forward
and Dec and Pasky at the back. At the front we had too much for them and
combined well together."
During the first half, Kemp was brought down in the penalty area by Chelsea
defender Trevoh Chalobah – brother of Watford's Nathaniel – but the referee
waved away the Hammers' strong spot-kick appeals. And after the game, the
winger looked back on the decision with frustration. "I felt that it was
almost a stone-wall [penalty]. I don't understand how the referee didn't
give it. "He said there was contact but that's something you have to get on
with. We did that and kept playing.
But we are getting more and more confident with every game and I think we
can compete with anyone in the league. We have got some great players and a
great squad, not just the players that start. "We have got a lot still to
come back [from injury] and we're really confident at the moment. We're
looking forward to keep improving and keep winning."
Kemp spent ten years as a youngster at Chelsea and played with a number of
the Blues who faced the Hammers on Sunday. And the England U19
international, who has gone from strength-to-strength since joining the east
Londoners in November 2015, looked back on his time there with fondness. "I
have a lot of great memories at Chelsea, and it was lovely to see them all
again and they were good to me. "It was nice to see the boys again and I
feel really content with the way I played. It was one of my better games
this season and it is always nice to do it against your old club. You always
have that little bit extra to give against them.
"Now, our focus is on Saturday and that's what is great about this league;
you play against very high quality opposition in the league. We will train
hard this week and look forward to another big game [against Manchester City
at Dagenham and Redbridge] on Saturday."
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'Rice is one of the best young centre-backs in England' - Westley
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Terry Westley labelled Declan Rice as one of the best young
central defenders in the country after West Ham United's PL2 side were held
to a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Rice, who was playing just his
second Premier League 2 fixture of the season, produced a man of the match
performance and, wearing the captain's armband, led his side superbly as
they secured a first clean sheet since the opening day of the season. "There
was one stand out player on the pitch today and that was Declan Rice." Terry
Westley explained. "His whole demeanour, the way he goes about the game, the
way he drives the team and his all-round ability, which covers all of that –
he was the stand out player on both sides."
The Republic of Ireland international received high praise for his
performances towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign, eventually making his
First Team debut on the final day of the Premier League season. And his form
has continued in to this term where he has established himself as a regular
in Slaven Bilic's match day squads – all at just 18 years of age. "If there
is a better young centre-back in the country, I haven't seen him, at least
not playing in under-23 football" said Westley. Rice was one of a number of
top performers in Hampshire as West Ham controlled much of the possession
against a highly-rated young Chelsea outfit. Dan Kemp, Nathan Holland, Sead
Haksabanovic and Conor Coventry all impressed and for Westley, there was
just one thing missing. "I think we edged the game and if you're coming to
Chelsea and you're disappointed that you haven't won, it shows the strides
we've come. "Our four attacking players were too much for them, I can't
remember Nathan Trott having to make a save. If I was critical, our final
ball in to the box wasn't quite good enough to open them up today."
"Holland, Kemp and Sead [Haksabanovic] in particular really caused them
grief and it would have been nice to round it off with a win but you have to
learn to stay in the game as well."
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Bobby Zamora: My West Ham Scrapbook
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora picks out his favourite memories
of his time in Claret and Blue...
Scoring on my home debut against Cardiff City in February 2004
Growing up as a West Ham fan, going to the Boleyn Ground as a kid and
singing 'Bubbles', I couldn't believe I was out on the pitch playing there.
Hearing 'Bubbles' two minutes before the game, it sent shivers down my spine
and I was singing along with it! It was my home debut, I ran out onto the
pitch and we won 1-0 and I scored the winning goal. It was what dreams were
made of. I had come from Spurs, but everyone knew I was a West Ham fan and I
didn't hear a single peep about Spurs, so it didn't bother me at all. The
West Ham took to me straight away and obviously scoring on my debut helped
me kick on from there.
The Championship Play-Off semi-final win over Ipswich Town in May 2005
I've got some great memories of the Play-Offs, of course, and none more so
than our win over Ipswich Town in 2005. We'd beaten Ipswich the previous
year, too, but lost to Crystal Palace in the final, then we had to face them
again. The 2004/05 season itself was not great for us, in terms of where we
finished, but we were on a roll at the right time. The volley for my second
goal at Portman Road was lovely and something people weren't expecting.
Marlon put the ball across and there was nothing the 'keeper could do. That
win set us up nicely for the final and when you're in that run of form as a
team, and myself as a striker, you feel nothing can go wrong and we hoped it
would continue into the Play-Off final.
Scoring in the 2005 Play-Off final win over Preston North End
As I said, I do like a Play-Off! The 2005 final was a cagey affair to be
honest and one goal was always likely to be enough to win it for either
side. Matty Etherington got down the left and put the ball over and the fact
I didn't make a great connection with it is probably what done the 'keeper!
I'd had a bit of a taste of it before with Spurs, but to be able to get the
team you love and support up into the Premier League was magnificent. That's
where all of us wanted to play, so to score and do it in front of so many
friends and family, including people I'd gone to games with as a kid, was a
great feeling. We had a great team spirit. I loved going into training, the
banter with all the lads was brilliant. It was just a great set of lads who
enjoyed a laugh and a joke, but we also put in the hard work so we could get
the results we needed.
2006 FA Cup final heartache
We got to the FA Cup final under Alan Pardew in 2006 and what a game it was,
as well! It had absolutely everything. I remember being gutted not to start.
Dean Ashton had been injured towards the end of the season and I'd come in
and done quite well, but Deano came back in. To be fair, the team done
brilliant and obviously it went down to a penalty shootout. We had practised
penalties at Chadwell Heath, where Ludo Miklosko had brought in Petr Cech to
help us out, and I remember taking three left-footed and three right-footed
and scoring them all! I was confident and knew where I wanted to go and what
I wanted to do. I hit the target and I still don't think it was a bad
penalty, but Pepe Reina chose the right way and saved it. We came so close
in the game itself and then by taking it to penalties, and losing it can't
take away from what an amazing season it was for us, really.
Scoring the first-ever away Premier League winner at the Emirates
We had been the last-ever visiting team to win at Highbury in February 2006,
when I scored in a 3-2 win over a very strong Arsenal team. When we went
there in April 2007, though, we were desperate for a win. Despite our
troubles, I really enjoyed that season. We had a great group of lads and
really shouldn't have been down where we were. Some of the players we had
were ridiculous. It just happened that we were down there but we showed that
spirit and togetherness again to pull through. We weathered the storm and
managed to become the first team to win at the Emirates and I managed to
score a nice goal too! I always felt we could win every single game we
played and this showed that.
Curling home a vital winner against Everton in April 2007
After winning at Arsenal, we'd been beaten heavily by Sheffield United and
Chelsea and were still right in it with a few games to go. We played Everton
at the Boleyn Ground with four matches to go and needed a win badly to boost
our chances of beating relegation. If you watch the goal again, it looks
like I take it quite nonchalantly, but it felt almost like a training
session the way it was backheeled to me by Yossi Benayoun and I took a touch
and smashed it into the top corner.
That win set us up very nicely and put us on the roll for the final three
games, which we won against Wigan, Bolton and Manchester United.
Completing the Great Escape at Old Trafford
What a fantastic afternoon that was! I had a really good understanding with
Carlos Tevez and the winning goal came after a one-two between us and a
little ricochet and he finished it really well. I absolutely loved playing
with him. We played a sort of 4-5-1 formation that season and the one of had
to fill in on the right wing when we were defending, so whenever we lost the
ball, we'd look at each other and laugh because one of us would have to
sprint back 50 yards to do some defending! We both had to do and had a
really good understanding which made it a pleasure playing alongside him. It
was a little bit surreal, that day, because they'd already won the Premier
League and you could tell they wanted to win that last game under their
fans. But then we won, so everyone in the stadium was happy, so it was a mad
vibe. It was a very special day.
*Bobby Zamora is a founder of the Legacy Foundation, which aims to bring
sport, education and high-quality housing to the areas that need it most,
and provides coaching for Football Escapes.
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RICE SHINES IN UNDER 23S DRAW WITH CHELSEA
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 22 OCTOBER 2017 AT 6:13PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Jack Lebeau
West Ham U23 visited Aldershot early this afternoon looking to climb up the
Premier League 2 table. An out-of-form Chelsea side, who had not won since
August 18th, stood in their way though.
The first half was very drab with neither side creating any brilliant
chances to go ahead. Chelsea's frustration mainly come down to Rice & Pask
forming a very solid centre-back partnership whilst West Ham's best chances
came through Haksabanovic, who was feeling very greedy on a number of
occasions, despite other players being in more space and in a better
position to score.
Kemp fared well up against Nathan Chalobah's younger brother Trevoh despite
him being twice the size of him!
Joe Powell replaced Quina at the start of the second half with Terry Westley
clearly looking to attack Chelsea as much as possible in the second half. We
started the second half really well too with both Martinez & Haksabanovic
coming incredibly close with brilliant shots within the first five minutes
of the re-start.
Trott got called into action mid-way and made a great save to keep the
scores level. Unfortunately, despite being the better side in the second
half, West Ham couldn't take advantage and the game ended 0-0. Man of the
Match for me would probably be Declan Rice purely because he won everything
both on the floor and in the air throughout. Notable mentions have to be for
Kemp & Holland though. Rice showed his class and we really do have a top
youngster on our hands here.
A few people have asked me who i'd bring into the side from the U23s for the
cup game against Spurs this week (if any), and my answer would be Martinez,
Rice & one of either Haksabanovic or Holland. Everyone knows how good Rice
can be so that is a no-brainer, and he should never have been dropped after
just one mistake against Newcastle, especially after being our best player
of the season up to that point. Martinez's goal-scoring record has been
phenomenal for the U23s so he also deserves a chance especially on the back
of a hat-trick against Manchester United last week. Meanwhile, West Ham have
appeared to be struggling out wide this season so either Haksabanovic or
Holland could inject some much needed enthusiasm and pace into our game.
I've also been asked about Terry Westley's potential takeover of the
first-team should Bilic be sacked or resign. Simply put, there's every
chance he could do well for us. He's passionate, very vocal, has motivated
the U23 players really well, developed them and got them playing good
football too. The players clearly want to play for him which is always a
good factor as well.
West Ham U23s next game is actually on Saturday at 1pm (an annoying clash
with the first-teams game against Palace) against Manchester City at
Dagenham's ground. As always, tickets are free for Season Ticket Holders, £3
for kids & £5 for adults. I'd definitely recommend seeing an U23 game soon
if you haven't already – they seem to be one of the only positive things
about the club at the moment.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE EXCLUSIVE: A MANAGER SITUATION UPDATE
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 22 OCTOBER 2017 AT 10:41PM
TheWestHamWayco.uk
So the performance against Brighton on Friday was littered with problems,
faults and errors. I don't want to spend the whole article talking about
them and probably will end up discussing it on the radio show.
In a nutshell it was dreadful and a performance like that has seen most fans
now seem to turn against the manager, myself included. Now whilst you can
argue the players need to take the ultimate responsibility, they do, but in
modern football the buck always stops with the manager. You could also say
that he should have been 100% fully backed by the club too and it hasn't
always felt like that but whatever is the case the situation isn't good and
for me and many others Slav's time is now up.
In my opinion, and I will elaborate on this on the radio show, the training
isn't up to standards. I have heard this from multiple sources and many
explayers have said this after leaving the club. Even players such as Reece
Oxford and Robert Snodgrass who are technically still our players have
commented. The players always look unfit and I would also question how
effective in their role some of the backroom staff are. In the past you
could always name West Ham's coaches and assistant manager etc now I would
really struggle to name anyone other than Julian Dicks and then I am not
clear on his role either.
I also believe now that some players do not want to play for Bilic, again
from what I have heard and what some players have said and there is clearly
an issue with academy players being selected for squads too. This could
explain why a lot of players look lost on the pitch, some unclear on their
roles and unmotivated. Perhaps they do not respect or want to play for the
manager anymore? I can only speculate but these issues seem more and more
obvious as more confirm them.
I would also like to clarify my comments on Bilic offering to resign after
the Newcastle game. I hadn't intended for this to be public information as
it seems wrong but it was already on social media so I confirmed it and it
has gone viral. The offer of resignation never went to anyone senior it was
in the dressing room at the end and why David Sullivan would not have heard
of it happening. This information has been confirmed to me by a number of
sources but apparently he said to the players "If you do not want to play
for me, I need to walk" to which the players said they did and persuaded him
to stay. Therefore Bilic saw that as the unity that he needed to continue,
allegedly.
I feel for Bilic, I have defended him on social media and the radio show for
ages now and I really want him to do well but Friday's performance was very
hard to defend and I think this is now felt by the board.
I think everyone feels it is time for him to go and that a new manager
should be brought in but the managers that we would target have all made it
clear they would rather move in the summer and that they do not want to walk
out on their teams in the middle of a season. You have to admire their
loyalty but question if we really did push out the financial boat would they
really be that loyal? I know we like Mancini, he has been on the radar for
a while as has Wagner of Huddersfield. Another manager who almost joined us
in the past, before Real Madrid moved in, is Benitez but I think he doesn't
want to go until the summer and also has a large compensation figure which
needs to be paid if he does go. Pellegrini is someone who I got wind of a
while ago and had heard he was seriously under consideration. At this point
he wasn't even in the bookies list of potential managers and you could get
35-1 on him, then within a few weeks he went to 3-1 favourite. Other
managers in the frame are Dyche of Burnley and Silva of Watford. The
problem is none of them, at this point, want to join until the summer.
This means that we could look at a caretaker option for six months, whilst
that might appeal to the club it might not appeal to potential managers. A
simple search on transfer market website shows the managers that could fall
into this category including old managers of ours: Redknapp, Pardew and
Allardyce. I have been told that the first two are not wanted by the club
and that Big Sam would not see our offer as appealing. There are many other
names on the list, some quite appealing, but the chairmen are unsure that
any of them are any better than the options we have and this includes
academy manager Westley at this point. They will continue to explore these
options and try to find a replacement but at this point no one stands out
and no one is guaranteed to join.
This in effect means Slav is guaranteed a few more games whilst options are
considered. He could win them and we would find ourselves back in the
position again where he buys himself sometime and actually makes it all the
way to the summer. I think the club are worried that there are genuinely no
better options than Slav and that they hope he turns it around or that a
really good candidate makes themselves clear. It is a very difficult and
worrying situation for the club to be in and if anything changes I will
update you.
We have former Hammer of the Year Matthew Etherington on the radio show this
week who has previously been very pro Bilic, speaking about his new opinions
and with inside knowledge of what is felt by some of the players, this
should make a great show. I have deliberately held off my opinion and
knowledge of Slav's time at the club but will go into these in more details
on the radio, I would also like to point out that the West Ham Way Pre
Match event is selling very fast. Below is where you can get your tickets
for the Danny Gabbidon event
https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/119305/chk/39ef
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic given two games to save job
By Kaveh Solhekol
Last Updated: 22/10/17 9:01pm
SSN
West Ham owners have decided Slaven Bilic will remain as manager - for the
time being, according to Sky sources. It is understood Bilic is being given
the next two games to save his job - at Spurs in the Carabao Cup on
Wednesday and at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday. The
Croatian's job is on the line following the 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton
on Friday. Despite extensive investment in new players in the summer with
the arrival of striker Javier Hernandez and goalkeeper Joe Hart, the club
have won only two of nine league games this season and have slipped to 16th
in the table. Sky Sports News reported that the club board were meeting on
Saturday to discuss Bilic's future. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
have a track record of standing by their managers, but it is understood that
the club's hierarchy were "very worried" by what they saw during Friday's
heavy loss at the London Stadium. Two goals from Glenn Murray and a Jose
Izquierdo strike condemned the Hammers to their worst start to a season
since 2010, taking just eight points from nine games. Bilic's contract runs
out at the end of the season, and Sullivan backed the Croatian ahead of
Friday night's game admitting he felt it was "morally wrong" to sack
managers and said he wants to give him opportunity to see out his three-year
contract. Speaking after Friday's defeat, Bilic said: "It is very hard for
me to say anything clever in this moment apart from it's very disappointing.
As manager I take full responsibility."
Asked if he was confident he will be given the opportunity to turn West
Ham's form around, he added: "The board will do what they are going to do.
"It is their decision. We have been in this situation before and we got out.
As a manager you take the credit and as a manager you take the full
responsibility. I don't want to hide. I'm not worried [about the sack]. I'm
doing my best." Bilic was appointed at West Ham in June 2015 when he
replaced Sam Allardyce, who left by mutual consent.
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Harry Kane set to be rested for League Cup encounter with West Ham
The Englishman scored twice in Tottenham's win over Liverpool
Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney
The Independent Sport
Mauricio Pochettino says he will likely rest Harry Kane for Wednesday's
fourth-round League Cup tie at home to West Ham United on Wednesday, but
insisted that the free-scoring striker is not injured despite going off
holding his hamstring at the end of Tottenham Hotspur's 4-1 thrashing of
Liverpool. The Argentine said that it was merely tiredness after a hectic
schedule, and that is why he will seek to give the 24-year-old a break,
after he scored twice against Jurgen Klopp's side.
"He was tired at the end," Pochettino said. "It was a massive effort,
Bournemouth [last week], Real Madrid [on Tuesday] and today. It's normal
he's a little bit tired. It will not be a problem. "Maybe, yes [I rest him].
We have many games ahead, Wednesday and then Man United [at Old Trafford on
Saturday]. It's important to know he played two games in the national team
before Bournemouth, so a massive effort from him. He's not a machine, so
maybe Wednesday he needs to rest. "He's amazing, one of the best strikers in
the world."
Before the game, Kane was one of two Tottenham players to have the privilege
of meeting Diego Maradona, along with Pochettino. The Spurs manager had
previously played with his compatriot when at Newell's Old Boys, and still
seemed in awe of the football great. "I saw him before in the manager's
room. It was difficult to let him go because when you're in front of
Maradona you want to speak with him. It was emotional. I hadn't seen him for
over 20 years. For me he was the best player ever in football. And he
remembers every single moment we shared at Newell's. Off the pitch a great,
great, great personalty, a great person. I hope to see him tomorrow at the
Fifa awards."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
A spirited fight-back was not enough for West Ham United Ladies to avoid
losing at Crystal Palace Ladies 3-1, leading to their elimination from the
County Cups.
A controversial penalty and a close-ranged finish had put Palace in control
with a two-goal lead at half-time in Sunday's fixture, leaving the Hammers
with it all to do in the second period. A clever curling finish from Julie
Melfald with 15 minutes to play dragged the Ladies back into contention, but
a well-worked goal for Palace secured the home side's victory towards the
end of the game. The Hammers made three changes to their starting XI from
the last contest with Rosie Kmita, Paige Anderson-James and Molly Peters
struggling with injuries. The former duo at least made the bench while the
trio were replaced by Mollie Kmita, Andreya Ezekiel-Meade and Kelly
Wealthall in the side. The opening goal of the match came in dubious
circumstances as the referee awarded Palace a free-kick, only to then change
his mind and give the home side a penalty. Nikita Whinnett put the Eagles in
front from the spot on 15 minutes. A lively Kelly Wealthall stole possession
moments later and her shot was straight at the goalkeeper, before Burr
received the ball from a lovely pass by Chantelle Mackie, but her effort was
well-saved by Lynch. The Hammers were made to pay for that missed
opportunity as Palace went two ahead. Cherie Rowlands made a great save to
deny McRoberts but Elliie Stenning was on hand to smash home the rebound.
Burr again came close with a wonderful dipping effort that looked destined
for the top corner, if not for an incredible save, while Wealthall was able
to nip around Lynch only for the angle to be made too narrow by her touch.
Greg de Carnys made two changes at the start of the second half with Melfald
and Dayna Chong entering the fray, meaning all three had been used after
Anderson-James entered the fray after just 16 minutes, only to be removed at
half-time due to injury. The Hammers almost found a way back into the
contest within minutes of the restart as Amber Stobbs just failed to latch
onto a clever free-kick. The home side could have secured the win as
Rowlands was forced into an excellent save from a Bailes effort, but with 15
minutes to go substitute Melfald fired home a left-footed shot from outside
the area to half the deficit. Palace had hit the post as well, prior to
Melfald's well-taken goal, and the West Ham finish gave the away side hope
of getting back into the match in the final few minutes. But Palace found
the third that they had been threatening in the 82nd minute as an excellent
flicked pass allowed Bailes to fire into the net from close range.
West Ham United Ladies: Rowland; Mackie, Wheeler, Austin, Auguste; M Kmita,
Burr, Ezekiel-Meade (Anderson-James 16'- Chong 46'), Cooper, Stobbs;
Wealthall (Melfald 46')
Subs not used: Walker, R Kmita
Goals: Melfald 74'
Crystal Palace Ladies: Lynch; McRoberts, Foreman, Bailes, Paye (Collins
79'), Holdaway, Sherwood (Chandler 62'), Haydock, Whinnett, Goss (Davenport
76'), Stenning
Subs not used: Collins, Bryan
Goals: Whinnett 15' (p), Stenning 29', Bailes 82'
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First-half performance cost Ladies against Crystal Palace – De Carnys
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies' first half performance cost them the chance to
progress through the County Cups in the 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace,
according to Greg de Carnys. A dubious penalty and a close-ranged goal put
the Hammers two goals down heading into half-time, and while substitute
Julie Melfald halved the deficit on 74 minutes, a late finish secured
Palace's victory and eliminated the Irons. While the Ladies put in a lively
and encouraging performance in the second half the first period was cause
for concern for first team manager De Carnys, who has called on his team to
play to their full potential for the full 90 minutes. And the coach says
lessons need to be learned from Sunday's cup defeat. "We are disappointed
with our performance in the first half," De Carnys told whufc.com: "We need
to be prepared to up our game more from the start. It shouldn't come from
anything that happens at half-time. It shouldn't come from me, it should
come from the girls, and that's something that we've had a stern word about
in the changing room. "The second half we upped our game and there were
higher levels of performance from individuals on the pitch. I'm disappointed
because, in the second half, we showed we've got better players than were on
display in the first.
"Performing at a high level is not easy. It requires the players to be
really well prepared and doing things off the pitch right as well. As we
talk about the Club progressing and becoming more professional these are
lessons that the players have to learn quickly."
The side was also disrupted by a number of injury set-backs both before and
during the match. Molly Peters missed the game through injury while Paige
Anderson-James and Rosie Kmita, who started the last match, were only fit
enough for the bench. Anderson-James was brought on for Andreya
Ezekiel-Meade early on as the forward struggled with a knock, but the
substitute had to be taken off again at half-time due to a recurrence of her
problem. Kelly Wealthall, who started up front in Peters's absence, also was
withdrawn at the interval due to an injury. De Carnys added: "We had to make
changes to the starting XI due to injuries. Rosie [Kmita] and Paige
[Anderson-James] were on the bench but Molly [Peters] couldn't feature.
"Then we had to bring off Andreya [Ezekiel-Meade] because she was
struggling. Paige came on but could only play the rest of the first half
before we needed to substitute her as well. Add to that losing Kelly
[Wealthall] and that's all our options used before 46 minutes is on the
clock. "That obviously exasperates a difficult afternoon but we will assess
the severity of these knocks this week."
While De Carnys feels his Ladies gave a poor account of themselves in the
first half the opening goal – a penalty kick – did not help matters. The
referee had initially awarded a free-kick but a quick consultation with his
linesman saw the official change his mind and give the penalty. De Carnys
admits he didn't have the clearest view of the incident but feels the
decision to give a spot-kick was harsh. "I was quite a way from the incident
but from where I looked I had the same feeling as the referee – that the
foul was outside the box. I think the linesman has given it after."
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Ex-Blue Kemp disappointed not to beat Chelsea
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U23s "bossed the game", according to winger Dan Kemp, but
could only record a goalless draw with Chelsea on Sunday. The Hammers
travelled to Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground to take on the Blues on the
back of two consecutive Premier League 2 Division 1 wins but were left
frustrated as they failed to break the deadlock. The visitors were the more
dangerous side throughout, creating the best openings and forcing goalkeeper
Jamie Cumming into action on a number of occasions.
Sead Haksabanovic, playing his first Hammers match since his first team bow
against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, came closest to scoring the
game's only goal when his superb scissor-kick shot was tipped round the
post. But Chelsea stayed compact at the back and frustrated Terry Westley's
men, who now have seven points from their last three league matches. Kemp –
a former Blues academy star – took the positives from the point, however,
when he spoke to West Ham TV after the full-time whistle. "We were a bit
disappointed in the end," he admitted, "but it's never a bad result away at
Chelsea getting a point. "We felt that we totally bossed the game. We felt
we dominated, had more chances so we're disappointed in a way. But it was a
good performance and the only thing missing was the goal.I thought the back
four were brilliant today, Vashon [Neufville], Dec [Rice], Pasky [Josh Pask]
and Johno [Ben Johnson] did well but especially Dec and Pasky kept the
forward out the game. I didn't really feel like he got into the game because
of them. Trotty as well did very well. "[The scissor kick] was a very good
effort from Sead. He had a really good game today. I felt that we had too
much for them with him, me, Nathan [Holland], Toni [Martinez] going forward
and Dec and Pasky at the back. At the front we had too much for them and
combined well together."
During the first half, Kemp was brought down in the penalty area by Chelsea
defender Trevoh Chalobah – brother of Watford's Nathaniel – but the referee
waved away the Hammers' strong spot-kick appeals. And after the game, the
winger looked back on the decision with frustration. "I felt that it was
almost a stone-wall [penalty]. I don't understand how the referee didn't
give it. "He said there was contact but that's something you have to get on
with. We did that and kept playing.
But we are getting more and more confident with every game and I think we
can compete with anyone in the league. We have got some great players and a
great squad, not just the players that start. "We have got a lot still to
come back [from injury] and we're really confident at the moment. We're
looking forward to keep improving and keep winning."
Kemp spent ten years as a youngster at Chelsea and played with a number of
the Blues who faced the Hammers on Sunday. And the England U19
international, who has gone from strength-to-strength since joining the east
Londoners in November 2015, looked back on his time there with fondness. "I
have a lot of great memories at Chelsea, and it was lovely to see them all
again and they were good to me. "It was nice to see the boys again and I
feel really content with the way I played. It was one of my better games
this season and it is always nice to do it against your old club. You always
have that little bit extra to give against them.
"Now, our focus is on Saturday and that's what is great about this league;
you play against very high quality opposition in the league. We will train
hard this week and look forward to another big game [against Manchester City
at Dagenham and Redbridge] on Saturday."
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'Rice is one of the best young centre-backs in England' - Westley
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Terry Westley labelled Declan Rice as one of the best young
central defenders in the country after West Ham United's PL2 side were held
to a 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Rice, who was playing just his
second Premier League 2 fixture of the season, produced a man of the match
performance and, wearing the captain's armband, led his side superbly as
they secured a first clean sheet since the opening day of the season. "There
was one stand out player on the pitch today and that was Declan Rice." Terry
Westley explained. "His whole demeanour, the way he goes about the game, the
way he drives the team and his all-round ability, which covers all of that –
he was the stand out player on both sides."
The Republic of Ireland international received high praise for his
performances towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign, eventually making his
First Team debut on the final day of the Premier League season. And his form
has continued in to this term where he has established himself as a regular
in Slaven Bilic's match day squads – all at just 18 years of age. "If there
is a better young centre-back in the country, I haven't seen him, at least
not playing in under-23 football" said Westley. Rice was one of a number of
top performers in Hampshire as West Ham controlled much of the possession
against a highly-rated young Chelsea outfit. Dan Kemp, Nathan Holland, Sead
Haksabanovic and Conor Coventry all impressed and for Westley, there was
just one thing missing. "I think we edged the game and if you're coming to
Chelsea and you're disappointed that you haven't won, it shows the strides
we've come. "Our four attacking players were too much for them, I can't
remember Nathan Trott having to make a save. If I was critical, our final
ball in to the box wasn't quite good enough to open them up today."
"Holland, Kemp and Sead [Haksabanovic] in particular really caused them
grief and it would have been nice to round it off with a win but you have to
learn to stay in the game as well."
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Bobby Zamora: My West Ham Scrapbook
WHUFC.com
Former West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora picks out his favourite memories
of his time in Claret and Blue...
Scoring on my home debut against Cardiff City in February 2004
Growing up as a West Ham fan, going to the Boleyn Ground as a kid and
singing 'Bubbles', I couldn't believe I was out on the pitch playing there.
Hearing 'Bubbles' two minutes before the game, it sent shivers down my spine
and I was singing along with it! It was my home debut, I ran out onto the
pitch and we won 1-0 and I scored the winning goal. It was what dreams were
made of. I had come from Spurs, but everyone knew I was a West Ham fan and I
didn't hear a single peep about Spurs, so it didn't bother me at all. The
West Ham took to me straight away and obviously scoring on my debut helped
me kick on from there.
The Championship Play-Off semi-final win over Ipswich Town in May 2005
I've got some great memories of the Play-Offs, of course, and none more so
than our win over Ipswich Town in 2005. We'd beaten Ipswich the previous
year, too, but lost to Crystal Palace in the final, then we had to face them
again. The 2004/05 season itself was not great for us, in terms of where we
finished, but we were on a roll at the right time. The volley for my second
goal at Portman Road was lovely and something people weren't expecting.
Marlon put the ball across and there was nothing the 'keeper could do. That
win set us up nicely for the final and when you're in that run of form as a
team, and myself as a striker, you feel nothing can go wrong and we hoped it
would continue into the Play-Off final.
Scoring in the 2005 Play-Off final win over Preston North End
As I said, I do like a Play-Off! The 2005 final was a cagey affair to be
honest and one goal was always likely to be enough to win it for either
side. Matty Etherington got down the left and put the ball over and the fact
I didn't make a great connection with it is probably what done the 'keeper!
I'd had a bit of a taste of it before with Spurs, but to be able to get the
team you love and support up into the Premier League was magnificent. That's
where all of us wanted to play, so to score and do it in front of so many
friends and family, including people I'd gone to games with as a kid, was a
great feeling. We had a great team spirit. I loved going into training, the
banter with all the lads was brilliant. It was just a great set of lads who
enjoyed a laugh and a joke, but we also put in the hard work so we could get
the results we needed.
2006 FA Cup final heartache
We got to the FA Cup final under Alan Pardew in 2006 and what a game it was,
as well! It had absolutely everything. I remember being gutted not to start.
Dean Ashton had been injured towards the end of the season and I'd come in
and done quite well, but Deano came back in. To be fair, the team done
brilliant and obviously it went down to a penalty shootout. We had practised
penalties at Chadwell Heath, where Ludo Miklosko had brought in Petr Cech to
help us out, and I remember taking three left-footed and three right-footed
and scoring them all! I was confident and knew where I wanted to go and what
I wanted to do. I hit the target and I still don't think it was a bad
penalty, but Pepe Reina chose the right way and saved it. We came so close
in the game itself and then by taking it to penalties, and losing it can't
take away from what an amazing season it was for us, really.
Scoring the first-ever away Premier League winner at the Emirates
We had been the last-ever visiting team to win at Highbury in February 2006,
when I scored in a 3-2 win over a very strong Arsenal team. When we went
there in April 2007, though, we were desperate for a win. Despite our
troubles, I really enjoyed that season. We had a great group of lads and
really shouldn't have been down where we were. Some of the players we had
were ridiculous. It just happened that we were down there but we showed that
spirit and togetherness again to pull through. We weathered the storm and
managed to become the first team to win at the Emirates and I managed to
score a nice goal too! I always felt we could win every single game we
played and this showed that.
Curling home a vital winner against Everton in April 2007
After winning at Arsenal, we'd been beaten heavily by Sheffield United and
Chelsea and were still right in it with a few games to go. We played Everton
at the Boleyn Ground with four matches to go and needed a win badly to boost
our chances of beating relegation. If you watch the goal again, it looks
like I take it quite nonchalantly, but it felt almost like a training
session the way it was backheeled to me by Yossi Benayoun and I took a touch
and smashed it into the top corner.
That win set us up very nicely and put us on the roll for the final three
games, which we won against Wigan, Bolton and Manchester United.
Completing the Great Escape at Old Trafford
What a fantastic afternoon that was! I had a really good understanding with
Carlos Tevez and the winning goal came after a one-two between us and a
little ricochet and he finished it really well. I absolutely loved playing
with him. We played a sort of 4-5-1 formation that season and the one of had
to fill in on the right wing when we were defending, so whenever we lost the
ball, we'd look at each other and laugh because one of us would have to
sprint back 50 yards to do some defending! We both had to do and had a
really good understanding which made it a pleasure playing alongside him. It
was a little bit surreal, that day, because they'd already won the Premier
League and you could tell they wanted to win that last game under their
fans. But then we won, so everyone in the stadium was happy, so it was a mad
vibe. It was a very special day.
*Bobby Zamora is a founder of the Legacy Foundation, which aims to bring
sport, education and high-quality housing to the areas that need it most,
and provides coaching for Football Escapes.
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RICE SHINES IN UNDER 23S DRAW WITH CHELSEA
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 22 OCTOBER 2017 AT 6:13PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Jack Lebeau
West Ham U23 visited Aldershot early this afternoon looking to climb up the
Premier League 2 table. An out-of-form Chelsea side, who had not won since
August 18th, stood in their way though.
The first half was very drab with neither side creating any brilliant
chances to go ahead. Chelsea's frustration mainly come down to Rice & Pask
forming a very solid centre-back partnership whilst West Ham's best chances
came through Haksabanovic, who was feeling very greedy on a number of
occasions, despite other players being in more space and in a better
position to score.
Kemp fared well up against Nathan Chalobah's younger brother Trevoh despite
him being twice the size of him!
Joe Powell replaced Quina at the start of the second half with Terry Westley
clearly looking to attack Chelsea as much as possible in the second half. We
started the second half really well too with both Martinez & Haksabanovic
coming incredibly close with brilliant shots within the first five minutes
of the re-start.
Trott got called into action mid-way and made a great save to keep the
scores level. Unfortunately, despite being the better side in the second
half, West Ham couldn't take advantage and the game ended 0-0. Man of the
Match for me would probably be Declan Rice purely because he won everything
both on the floor and in the air throughout. Notable mentions have to be for
Kemp & Holland though. Rice showed his class and we really do have a top
youngster on our hands here.
A few people have asked me who i'd bring into the side from the U23s for the
cup game against Spurs this week (if any), and my answer would be Martinez,
Rice & one of either Haksabanovic or Holland. Everyone knows how good Rice
can be so that is a no-brainer, and he should never have been dropped after
just one mistake against Newcastle, especially after being our best player
of the season up to that point. Martinez's goal-scoring record has been
phenomenal for the U23s so he also deserves a chance especially on the back
of a hat-trick against Manchester United last week. Meanwhile, West Ham have
appeared to be struggling out wide this season so either Haksabanovic or
Holland could inject some much needed enthusiasm and pace into our game.
I've also been asked about Terry Westley's potential takeover of the
first-team should Bilic be sacked or resign. Simply put, there's every
chance he could do well for us. He's passionate, very vocal, has motivated
the U23 players really well, developed them and got them playing good
football too. The players clearly want to play for him which is always a
good factor as well.
West Ham U23s next game is actually on Saturday at 1pm (an annoying clash
with the first-teams game against Palace) against Manchester City at
Dagenham's ground. As always, tickets are free for Season Ticket Holders, £3
for kids & £5 for adults. I'd definitely recommend seeing an U23 game soon
if you haven't already – they seem to be one of the only positive things
about the club at the moment.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE EXCLUSIVE: A MANAGER SITUATION UPDATE
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 22 OCTOBER 2017 AT 10:41PM
TheWestHamWayco.uk
So the performance against Brighton on Friday was littered with problems,
faults and errors. I don't want to spend the whole article talking about
them and probably will end up discussing it on the radio show.
In a nutshell it was dreadful and a performance like that has seen most fans
now seem to turn against the manager, myself included. Now whilst you can
argue the players need to take the ultimate responsibility, they do, but in
modern football the buck always stops with the manager. You could also say
that he should have been 100% fully backed by the club too and it hasn't
always felt like that but whatever is the case the situation isn't good and
for me and many others Slav's time is now up.
In my opinion, and I will elaborate on this on the radio show, the training
isn't up to standards. I have heard this from multiple sources and many
explayers have said this after leaving the club. Even players such as Reece
Oxford and Robert Snodgrass who are technically still our players have
commented. The players always look unfit and I would also question how
effective in their role some of the backroom staff are. In the past you
could always name West Ham's coaches and assistant manager etc now I would
really struggle to name anyone other than Julian Dicks and then I am not
clear on his role either.
I also believe now that some players do not want to play for Bilic, again
from what I have heard and what some players have said and there is clearly
an issue with academy players being selected for squads too. This could
explain why a lot of players look lost on the pitch, some unclear on their
roles and unmotivated. Perhaps they do not respect or want to play for the
manager anymore? I can only speculate but these issues seem more and more
obvious as more confirm them.
I would also like to clarify my comments on Bilic offering to resign after
the Newcastle game. I hadn't intended for this to be public information as
it seems wrong but it was already on social media so I confirmed it and it
has gone viral. The offer of resignation never went to anyone senior it was
in the dressing room at the end and why David Sullivan would not have heard
of it happening. This information has been confirmed to me by a number of
sources but apparently he said to the players "If you do not want to play
for me, I need to walk" to which the players said they did and persuaded him
to stay. Therefore Bilic saw that as the unity that he needed to continue,
allegedly.
I feel for Bilic, I have defended him on social media and the radio show for
ages now and I really want him to do well but Friday's performance was very
hard to defend and I think this is now felt by the board.
I think everyone feels it is time for him to go and that a new manager
should be brought in but the managers that we would target have all made it
clear they would rather move in the summer and that they do not want to walk
out on their teams in the middle of a season. You have to admire their
loyalty but question if we really did push out the financial boat would they
really be that loyal? I know we like Mancini, he has been on the radar for
a while as has Wagner of Huddersfield. Another manager who almost joined us
in the past, before Real Madrid moved in, is Benitez but I think he doesn't
want to go until the summer and also has a large compensation figure which
needs to be paid if he does go. Pellegrini is someone who I got wind of a
while ago and had heard he was seriously under consideration. At this point
he wasn't even in the bookies list of potential managers and you could get
35-1 on him, then within a few weeks he went to 3-1 favourite. Other
managers in the frame are Dyche of Burnley and Silva of Watford. The
problem is none of them, at this point, want to join until the summer.
This means that we could look at a caretaker option for six months, whilst
that might appeal to the club it might not appeal to potential managers. A
simple search on transfer market website shows the managers that could fall
into this category including old managers of ours: Redknapp, Pardew and
Allardyce. I have been told that the first two are not wanted by the club
and that Big Sam would not see our offer as appealing. There are many other
names on the list, some quite appealing, but the chairmen are unsure that
any of them are any better than the options we have and this includes
academy manager Westley at this point. They will continue to explore these
options and try to find a replacement but at this point no one stands out
and no one is guaranteed to join.
This in effect means Slav is guaranteed a few more games whilst options are
considered. He could win them and we would find ourselves back in the
position again where he buys himself sometime and actually makes it all the
way to the summer. I think the club are worried that there are genuinely no
better options than Slav and that they hope he turns it around or that a
really good candidate makes themselves clear. It is a very difficult and
worrying situation for the club to be in and if anything changes I will
update you.
We have former Hammer of the Year Matthew Etherington on the radio show this
week who has previously been very pro Bilic, speaking about his new opinions
and with inside knowledge of what is felt by some of the players, this
should make a great show. I have deliberately held off my opinion and
knowledge of Slav's time at the club but will go into these in more details
on the radio, I would also like to point out that the West Ham Way Pre
Match event is selling very fast. Below is where you can get your tickets
for the Danny Gabbidon event
https://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/119305/chk/39ef
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic given two games to save job
By Kaveh Solhekol
Last Updated: 22/10/17 9:01pm
SSN
West Ham owners have decided Slaven Bilic will remain as manager - for the
time being, according to Sky sources. It is understood Bilic is being given
the next two games to save his job - at Spurs in the Carabao Cup on
Wednesday and at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday. The
Croatian's job is on the line following the 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton
on Friday. Despite extensive investment in new players in the summer with
the arrival of striker Javier Hernandez and goalkeeper Joe Hart, the club
have won only two of nine league games this season and have slipped to 16th
in the table. Sky Sports News reported that the club board were meeting on
Saturday to discuss Bilic's future. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
have a track record of standing by their managers, but it is understood that
the club's hierarchy were "very worried" by what they saw during Friday's
heavy loss at the London Stadium. Two goals from Glenn Murray and a Jose
Izquierdo strike condemned the Hammers to their worst start to a season
since 2010, taking just eight points from nine games. Bilic's contract runs
out at the end of the season, and Sullivan backed the Croatian ahead of
Friday night's game admitting he felt it was "morally wrong" to sack
managers and said he wants to give him opportunity to see out his three-year
contract. Speaking after Friday's defeat, Bilic said: "It is very hard for
me to say anything clever in this moment apart from it's very disappointing.
As manager I take full responsibility."
Asked if he was confident he will be given the opportunity to turn West
Ham's form around, he added: "The board will do what they are going to do.
"It is their decision. We have been in this situation before and we got out.
As a manager you take the credit and as a manager you take the full
responsibility. I don't want to hide. I'm not worried [about the sack]. I'm
doing my best." Bilic was appointed at West Ham in June 2015 when he
replaced Sam Allardyce, who left by mutual consent.
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Harry Kane set to be rested for League Cup encounter with West Ham
The Englishman scored twice in Tottenham's win over Liverpool
Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney
The Independent Sport
Mauricio Pochettino says he will likely rest Harry Kane for Wednesday's
fourth-round League Cup tie at home to West Ham United on Wednesday, but
insisted that the free-scoring striker is not injured despite going off
holding his hamstring at the end of Tottenham Hotspur's 4-1 thrashing of
Liverpool. The Argentine said that it was merely tiredness after a hectic
schedule, and that is why he will seek to give the 24-year-old a break,
after he scored twice against Jurgen Klopp's side.
"He was tired at the end," Pochettino said. "It was a massive effort,
Bournemouth [last week], Real Madrid [on Tuesday] and today. It's normal
he's a little bit tired. It will not be a problem. "Maybe, yes [I rest him].
We have many games ahead, Wednesday and then Man United [at Old Trafford on
Saturday]. It's important to know he played two games in the national team
before Bournemouth, so a massive effort from him. He's not a machine, so
maybe Wednesday he needs to rest. "He's amazing, one of the best strikers in
the world."
Before the game, Kane was one of two Tottenham players to have the privilege
of meeting Diego Maradona, along with Pochettino. The Spurs manager had
previously played with his compatriot when at Newell's Old Boys, and still
seemed in awe of the football great. "I saw him before in the manager's
room. It was difficult to let him go because when you're in front of
Maradona you want to speak with him. It was emotional. I hadn't seen him for
over 20 years. For me he was the best player ever in football. And he
remembers every single moment we shared at Newell's. Off the pitch a great,
great, great personalty, a great person. I hope to see him tomorrow at the
Fifa awards."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 22
Daily WHUFC News - 22nd October 2017
Wind-assisted U18s breeze to first league win of season
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s gave the Club a lift on Saturday as they scored their
first win of the season. The Hammers took advantage of the windy conditions
to snatch a 1-0 U18 Premier League Southern Division victory over Reading at
Little Heath. Bernardo Rosa was the hosts' first match-winner of 2017/18,
when his corner was cleared back to him, and the Brazilian's cross was
caught by a gust of wind and flew into the top corner via the goalkeeper's
gloves. Assistant manager Mark Phillips was delighted with the team's
application, both before and after Rosa's goal, as they picked up three
welcome points. "The wind definitely made things difficult, and it wasn't
the most attractive of games, but we worked harder than them and deserved
the victory," he said. "To get our first win of the season is a massive
boost for everyone in the dressing room, which had gone a bit flat in recent
weeks, as you might expect. I made sure the lads played a bit of music
before the game and it seemed to get them up for it. "It was the sort of
game where one goal was always likely to be decisive and we got it. I felt
that if we could get ahead, we'd go onto win, but if we'd conceded, we might
well have lost. "Bernardo's goal was the first time we have been in front
all season, so we were pleased with the way we defended and saw the game out
after we'd scored. "The captain Ben Wells led by example and defended well,
as did the whole back five. Schoolboy Josh Okotcha played up [an age group]
and did really well, while Rihards Matrevics made a really important save
late on to ensure we won the game."
After a weekend off, the Hammers will return to action on Saturday 4
November at 11am, when they host Liverpool in the U18 Premier League Cup at
Little Heath.
"It'll be Steven Gerrard versus Steve Potts in terms of coaches!" Phillips
smiled. "They had some battles as players and now they'll meet on the
touchline, so let's hope Pottsy comes out on top! "It's a game we're all
looking forward to, so we'd love as many supporters as possible to come
along to cheer us on ahead of the first-team's game against Liverpool later
that afternoon."
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Trott hopeful for Chelsea win after Manchester United statement
WHUFC.com
Nathan Trott is desperate for his West Ham United U23 side to follow up last
weekend's win over Manchester United with another when they travel to
Chelsea on Sunday. The goalkeeper believes his team put down at statement
with their 4-2 victory over the Red Devils last Sunday, courtesy of Toni
Martinez's hat-trick and Joe Powell's first of the season. The Blues have
recorded just one win so far in the league this campaign in comparison to
West Ham's four and Trott thinks with the confidence high, the Hammers are
well set to continue their good form. He said: "Manchester United are
obviously a really big club who have produced excellent players in the past,
so I think that it was a big statement by us to win that game 4-2. "I think
it now tells us how good we are as a team and that the players we produce
are up there with the best. "Everyone is in good spirits now. It was a big
win and hopefully we can use this as momentum and keep winning games from
here on, starting with our match against Chelsea."
Terry Westley's men will travel to Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground to
face the Blues, whose one and only Division 1 win so far came against Derby
County back in mid-August. With England U20 international Trott now the
Club's third choice stopper behind Joe Hart and Adrian, much of his time in
training and on matchdays is spent with the first team. Nathan TrottThe
youngster insisted, though, he remains as focused as ever when it comes to
U23 games. "I try not to think too much before games," he continued. "I have
the same routine before every game, so I block things out and just stay
focused. "Being in and around the first team has given me a different
picture. Being with them on so many matchdays this season has been a great
experience so far and it gives me a chance to see all the lads preparing and
see how they do that. "For me, I look at the keepers Joe and Adrian, how
they train beforehand and how focused they are and I try to take on as much
as I can. "They have both helped me a lot. They are very different keepers
so I can take different things from both of them, which is good. Both have
the same mentality, staying tough and blocking out any distractions. "It's
good having that blend between them, and they are both experienced guys and
experienced in the Premier League. "If I can take that into my own games, it
will only help me improve."
The Hammers currently sit in fourth place in Premier League 2 Division 1 in
their first campaign since promotion last May. Should other results go their
way on Saturday, Westley's men could move up to third with maximum points
against Chelsea. Supporters can follow, from 11am, live blog coverage of the
clash on whufc.com Sunday.
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#REFWATCH: MARTIN ATKINSON – WEST HAM VS BRIGHTON
AUTHOR: SAMTWHWREF. PUBLISHED: 20 OCTOBER 2017 AT 10:16PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @SamRoyden
Who doesn't love football on a Friday Night? After this performance, West
Ham fans for sure… After a challenging fixture at Burnley, we welcomed newly
promoted Brighton to the London Stadium for FNF which was live on Sky
Sports. Slaven Bilic and the players are under a microscope with recent
performances and especially since the move to the London Stadium, West Ham
have struggled to rediscover any type performance that we saw in the final
season at the Boleyn Ground.
Martin Atkinson was the referee appointed for this fixture and I was very
impressed with Atkinson last weekend for his performance in Liverpool Vs
Manchester United. It was a tough fixture to officiate but Atkinson was that
calm figure that the game needed and his decision making and player
management was impressive. I rate Atkinson highly and this was his second
West Ham appointment with the only other game being our first game of the
season away at Manchester United.
Martin Atkinson must be thinking to himself, what did I do to get given that
fixture? The first half was probably the easiest 45 minutes of Premier
League officiating he and his team could ask for. They cruised through the
half which lacked intensity and creativity. The only incident that is worth
talking about in the first half was the caution for Javier Hernandez. The
Mexican has been starved of chances and service so far this season and
within this particular incident, he came in late to a challenge clattering
Brighton's Anthony Knockaert. It was a 50/50 challenge but Knockaert was
caught and left in a heap after the challenge.
The match was desperately calling out for some end product by West Ham after
an awful 45 minutes after going 2-nil down. Martin Atkinson had limited to
do in the second half but thankfully a bit more busy than the first half.
Whenever a game is in cruise control, the worst thing you can do as a
referee is become complacent and lose focus; you never know when the game is
going to change and you need to be there to make that decision.
Glenn Murray was a handful for the West Ham defenders and he stepped over
the line on a few occasions. Atkinson was there to warn the Brighton striker
that his persistent infringing of the laws was unacceptable and gave him his
last warning. West Ham's evening took an even worse turn when Pablo Zabaleta
gave away a very stupid, lazy and tired penalty against the ever present
Glenn Murray. The West Ham man couldn't have any complaints with the
challenge and Martin Atkinson was well positioned to make the decision to
point to the spot.
Overall, Martin Atkinson had little to do during the game which during a
tough couple of years for referees, it was probably enjoyable to walk away
from a game which was incident free. A note on West Ham, it's pretty
shocking that you're playing at home against a newly promoted side and the
players look fed up, lacked intensity and creativity. Jamie Carragher summed
it up pretty well in commentary on Sky Sports – the team is full of
individuals and not a team. Personally, this comes from the management team
and filters down to the players and leaders in the squad. As we sit 17th in
the Premier League, it's going to be an uncomfortable couple of weeks for
Bilic. I do feel for him however it's a results business and something needs
to change in the team.
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@_CARLTONCOLE9'S THOUGHTS ON SLAVEN BILIC
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 21 OCTOBER 2017 AT 12:22PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @_CarltonCole9's thoughts on Slaven Bilic
If you've followed me for a while, you will know how much I love Slaven
Bilic. I have defended him throughout; regardless of how poor we've been I
have tweeted my praise for him and got a ton of abuse for being naive,
deluded and pretty much any synonym you can imagine. I have called people
who want him gone stupid and fickle. I have a massive scarf I got in Camden
Market saying Super Slav up in my bedroom. I do love him which is why
writing this is so hard so I'm just gonna come out and say it: For the sake
of West Ham United, Slaven Bilic needs to go.
He is still a good manager regardless of what people say. Maybe this is me
clinging on to the fact I do love him. Kinda like when your partner leaves
you and you hate them but you have that ounce of love for them. But the
Brighton game has pushed me too far. It was indefensible.
I have no idea what formation we were playing. Lanzini was acting as a
holding midfielder. Kouyate was wandering up front despite the fact he has
the shooting ability of a 4 year old American who has stolen their
grandmother's handgun from her handbag. But what baffles me the most is the
fact we kept crossing in for Hernandez and Ayew to score headers despite the
fact they're about 10 inches smaller than Brighton's centre backs.
However, the tip of the iceberg for me is the general attitude of the
players. They're not playing for him. They're not playing for the club. I
don't know what they're doing and they should be ashamed of themselves but
it seems like Bilic has hit the point of no return with them. He's fighting
a lost cause. Unless he does something drastic then this is gonna drag on
until the end of the season when his contract is up. The issue is I fear he
doesn't have it in him anymore.
I strongly disagree with people who say Bilic is a bad manager. He got us
our highest ever points tally – if you say that was Payet, remember who got
the best out of him – and with all the nonsense that happened last season we
still got a respectable 11th. But this season has been dire. Even the wins
have been dreadful. I've kid myself by saying a win's a win and that Slaven
got us the win (subs against Swansea) but the truth is, they were poor and
we were lucky. But losing 3-0 to 2 promoted sides, one at home, is
unacceptable for a club who want to fight for Europa.
This season hasn't just been Bilic's fault. It's been the player's fault as
well. I can't think of one player who's consistently been good. Zabaleta,
who's probably been our best player this season, has given away 2 penalties.
Hernandez isn't getting the service but on the rare occasion he does, he's
not doing anything. So far, Arnautovic has been a disaster, as have every
one of our central midfielders. As I said, they may not be playing for Bilic
but they could at least play for the shirt.
I have supported West Ham since Pardew. I'm aware many of you have been
supporting us for longer, but Slaven Bilic is my favourite West Ham manager.
I love the person and I did love the manager. But as long as he stays at
West Ham, his reputation will continue to get shredded apart. Thank you for
the memories Slaven and know that I do and always will love you. But,
similar to Big Sam, you've taken us as far as you can and it's time for you
to go.
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Slaven Bilic's future being discussed by West Ham board and owners
Last Updated: 21/10/17 4:45pm
SSN
West Ham owners and the club board are meeting on Saturday to discuss Slaven
Bilic's future as manager, according to Sky sources. Co-owners David
Sullivan and David Gold have a track record of standing by their managers,
but Sky Sports News understand the club's hierarchy are "very worried" by
what they saw during Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Brighton at the London
Stadium. Two goals from Glenn Murray and a Jose Izquierdo strike means the
Hammers, who are 17th in the Premier League, have made their worst start to
a season since 2010, taking just eight points from nine games. Sky sources
understand no final decision will be made on Bilic's future on Saturday as
the owners ponder whether to sack him or give him two more games - at
Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, and at Crystal
Palace next Saturday. Bilic's contract runs out at the end of the season,
and Sullivan backed the Croatian ahead of Friday night's game admitting he
felt it was "morally wrong" to sack managers and said he wants to give him
opportunity to see out his three-year contract. Speaking after Friday's
defeat, Bilic said: "It is very hard for me to say anything clever in this
moment apart from it's very disappointing. "As manager I take full
responsibility.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits it was a bad result but is unsure why the
performance was so poor after his side were defeated 3-0 at home by Brighton
in the Premier League. When asked if he was confident he will be given the
opportunity to turn West Ham's form around, he said: "The board will do what
they are going to do. "It is their decision. We have been in this situation
before and we got out. As a manager you take the credit and as a manager you
take the full responsibility. I don't want to hide. "I'm not worried [about
the sack]. I'm doing my best."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher analyse Marko Arnautovic's West Ham
performance against Brighton
Last Updated: 21/10/17 10:03am
SSN
Gary Neville was critical of Marko Arnautovic after West Ham's heavy defeat
to Brighton on Friday Night Football, saying the forward "is Cristiano
Ronaldo in his own mind". Brighton produced a superb display to beat
struggling West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium, with two goals from Glenn
Murray and another by Jose Izquierdo. Neville and fellow Sky Sports analyst
Jamie Carragher dissected a "woeful" West Ham performance, reserving
particular criticism for the Hammers' £24m club-record signing Arnautovic.
"I have only ever played with one player that had an excuse not to track
back and that was Cristiano Ronaldo," Neville told Sky Sports. "He scored 40
goals in a season. "That guy [Arnautovic] is Ronaldo in his own mind. That's
the problem, he thinks he is better than he is. "The part of the game I
can't get my head around from a West Ham point of view is the first 20
minutes. "When you think about the opportunity they had tonight - they had
turned it around a little bit over the last few weeks - but they came out
against Brighton and were not alert on set-pieces, they had no concentration
or urgency. That's the period of the game that is unforgivable for me."
Carragher added: "That's the kind of performance that gets the manager
sacked. I was very critical of Arnautovic during the game, he was a huge
money signing.
"It can be difficult to settle and show your true form at a new club but
that performance was not one you think was desperate to show everyone what
he can do.
"He's walking about during the game, it was beyond belief, certainly in the
first half. It was so poor and it heaps so much pressure on the manager."
The defeat leaves West Ham in 17th place having taken eight points from
their opening nine games. Large numbers of the home supporters left the
ground after Murray's penalty made it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go and speaking
to Sky Sports after the game Slaven Bilic took "full responsibility" for the
display.
West Ham centre back Jose Fonte says it was a difficult night but they must
bounce back ahead of their next game following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
"Slaven was such a buoyant manager in his first season at the club, the pain
he will be feeling now," Neville added. "That was woeful tonight from West
Ham. "I think back to Sunderland last year, the fans walking out of the
ground. The QPR team from four or five years ago that was a disgrace. "There
aren't many times you can recall fans just walking out en masse and that's a
real problem. That is what owners look at. "I hope Slaven stays and [West
Ham co-chairman] David Sullivan sticks to his word to keep him until the end
of the season."
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Slaven Bilic given Tottenham and Crystal Palace games to save West Ham job
JACK ROSSER
ES Sport
Slaven Bilic will be given London derbies against Tottenham and Crystal
Palace to save his West Ham job. The Hammers 3-0 home defeat to Brighton on
Friday night raised immediate questions over the Croatian's future, with
fans calling for his departure and some even leaving at half-time. What was
billed as a big week before the clash with the Seagulls, with Tottenham and
Crystal Palace to come, has now turned into a season-defining seven days.
Speaking after the game, Bilic admitted that he did not know if he would be
given a chance to turn things around in east London. However, having
recovered from a somewhat similar position last season, losing to Watford
and Southampton at home, Standard Sport understands the board will give the
manager at least another two games. It was a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park last
season which put an end to a five-game winless run in the Premier League and
set the Hammers on the road to recovery, with Christian Benteke missing a
penalty, and Bilic may need similar luck this time around.
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Former Man City managers linked with West Ham job
BY LONDON FOOTBALL NEWS 22/10/2017
Former Manchester City bosses Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini have
been linked with the West Ham manager's job amid doubts over Slaven Bilic's
future.
Bilic, whose side were beaten 3-0 at home by Brighton on Friday, is
reportedly clinging onto his job ahead of London derbies against Tottenham
and Crystal Palace. The Sunday Mirror reckon Mancini, now in charge of
Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, is the man West Ham want if they decide to
axe Bilic. The Sunday Telegraph, on the other hand, say the Hammers board
like Pellegrini, who is currently at Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, and
Huddersfield boss David Wagner.
The Sunday Express tout former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancellotti for a return to
Stamford Bridge and in a separate story also link the Italian with West Ham.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic on the brink of West Ham sacking but club hit brick wall in
search for his possible replacement
West Ham United will likely sack Slaven Bilic if he loses his next two
matches
He is preparing for back-to-back derbies away at Tottenham then Crystal
Palace
Bilic is on the brink at the London Stadium after Friday's 3-0 defeat by
Brighton
But Hammers bigwigs are struggling to line-up a suitable replacement for him
By Kieran Gill for The Mail on Sunday
PUBLISHED: 23:56, 21 October 2017 | UPDATED: 01:43, 22 October 2017
Slaven Bilic is clinging to his job as West Ham boss but the club's board
are worried about their lack of obvious options for a successor. While Bilic
remains on the brink, their search for a suitable replacement in the short
and long term has seen the Hammers hit a brick wall. Friday night's 3-0 home
loss to Brighton means West Ham's manager now faces crucial away games
against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Crystal Palace in the Premier
League.
Club insiders say two losses will force the board's hand, regardless of
whether a replacement is lined up. It risks leaving them in the lurch like
Leicester, who sacked Craig Shakespeare last week. Assistant Michael
Appleton has temporarily taken over at the King Power Stadium. There is
concern in the West Ham boardroom that there is no obvious option within the
club who could act as a competent caretaker. They are considering a
short-term fix and looking at managers with Premier League experience who
are currently out of work. It comes amid frustration that their long-term
targets are unavailable. Manuel Pellegrini is in charge of Chinese Super
League side Hebei China Fortune on a lucrative contract, David Wagner wants
to see out the season with Huddersfield and Rafa Benitez is tied to
Newcastle. Carlo Ancelotti is out of work but has said he wants to sit out
this season. Their lack of options may have bought Bilic time after their
loss to Brighton, who secured their first top-flight away win since 1983.
The manner in which they were beaten by the newly-promoted Premier League
side sent West Ham into a tailspin. The club could allow Bilic to see out
his contract, which expires at the end of the season, but only if he bucks
up his ideas. Bilic and co-owner David Sullivan plan to speak on Monday over
the phone. There has been no major fallout between the pair despite the
alarming performance on Friday. To his credit, Bilic did not sell his
well-paid players down the river and accepted full responsibility in his
post-match press conference after the Brighton defeat.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want Roberto Mancini as their next boss if Slaven Bilic cannot halt
Hammers slump
Bilic's men lost 3-0 to Brighton on Friday night to leave the side teetering
on the brink of the relegation zone
The Mirror
Steve Stammers
22:30, 21 OCT 2017
Roberto Mancini is the man West Ham want if Slaven Bilic fails to halt the
team's slump. The 3-0 defeat against Brighton at the London Stadium on
Friday left the Hammers hovering just above the relegation zone – and the
fans enraged. Tens of thousands left before the end and a handful, who
stayed, tried to confront co-chairman David Sullivan. Bilic now faces two
London derbies – the League Cup tie at Tottenham on Wednesday and a crunch
league game at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next
Saturday. A defeat at Palace could see Bilic on his way, with an approach
for Mancini likely to follow. The former Manchester City boss is the
favoured choice of West Ham's owners, who will need to persuade him to swap
the top of the Russian league with Zenit St Petersburg for a scrap at the
wrong end of the Premier League. If they fail to convince the Italian, they
will weigh up moves for Burnley's Sean Dyche and Jaap Stam, at Reading. Jose
Fonte has warned his team-mates they must fight as if their lives depended
on it. After the collapse against Brighton, Fonte admits both upcoming games
are now huge. He said: "After Brighton, we have to give our lives for a
result on Wednesday, then we go into the Palace game, which will be like a
final, as we need points.
"And, if we fight like our lives depend on it, I'm sure the result will be
better. We've got to take responsibility as a team. "It's two massive games
we have now."
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England goalkeeper Joe Hart 'robbed by moped thieves'
Scooter related crime has risen over recent months in the capital
Will Worley @willrworley 19 hours ago
The Independent Online
England goalkeeper Joe Hart has reportedly been robbed of his personal
possessions by a gang on scooters Currently on loan from Manchester City at
West Ham United, the player is thought to have lost his watch, wallet and
mobile phone. He is believed to be one of the most high profile victims of
the moped crime wave ongoing in London. Hart is believed to have been
leaving West Ham's training ground near Romford last week, when the
criminals struck at a petrol station.
An eyewitness told The Sun: "There were three robbers on two bikes and they
surrounded him as he got into his car and took his phone. "I think they also
got a watch and a wallet." Another person told the newspaper: "Joe wasn't
hurt but he was pretty shaken up. He's a big powerful guy and it took some
nerve to rob him. "If it can happen to the safest pair of hands in England
it can happen to anyone."
Concerns have been mounting over the rise in moped crime in the capital.
Earlier this week, Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick was forced
to deny the force had a "no pursuit" policy on moped criminals. But she
said officers needed stronger powers to protect them from legal action in
the case of injury to suspected criminals. Many police officers have cited
the 2014 death of Henry Hicks as a turning point in policing moped crime.
Hicks, 18, was fatally injured when his scooter collided with traffic in
Islington, north London, as he was followed by two unmarked patrol cars.
Yesterday, four police officers were cleared of gross misconduct over the
death.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s gave the Club a lift on Saturday as they scored their
first win of the season. The Hammers took advantage of the windy conditions
to snatch a 1-0 U18 Premier League Southern Division victory over Reading at
Little Heath. Bernardo Rosa was the hosts' first match-winner of 2017/18,
when his corner was cleared back to him, and the Brazilian's cross was
caught by a gust of wind and flew into the top corner via the goalkeeper's
gloves. Assistant manager Mark Phillips was delighted with the team's
application, both before and after Rosa's goal, as they picked up three
welcome points. "The wind definitely made things difficult, and it wasn't
the most attractive of games, but we worked harder than them and deserved
the victory," he said. "To get our first win of the season is a massive
boost for everyone in the dressing room, which had gone a bit flat in recent
weeks, as you might expect. I made sure the lads played a bit of music
before the game and it seemed to get them up for it. "It was the sort of
game where one goal was always likely to be decisive and we got it. I felt
that if we could get ahead, we'd go onto win, but if we'd conceded, we might
well have lost. "Bernardo's goal was the first time we have been in front
all season, so we were pleased with the way we defended and saw the game out
after we'd scored. "The captain Ben Wells led by example and defended well,
as did the whole back five. Schoolboy Josh Okotcha played up [an age group]
and did really well, while Rihards Matrevics made a really important save
late on to ensure we won the game."
After a weekend off, the Hammers will return to action on Saturday 4
November at 11am, when they host Liverpool in the U18 Premier League Cup at
Little Heath.
"It'll be Steven Gerrard versus Steve Potts in terms of coaches!" Phillips
smiled. "They had some battles as players and now they'll meet on the
touchline, so let's hope Pottsy comes out on top! "It's a game we're all
looking forward to, so we'd love as many supporters as possible to come
along to cheer us on ahead of the first-team's game against Liverpool later
that afternoon."
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Trott hopeful for Chelsea win after Manchester United statement
WHUFC.com
Nathan Trott is desperate for his West Ham United U23 side to follow up last
weekend's win over Manchester United with another when they travel to
Chelsea on Sunday. The goalkeeper believes his team put down at statement
with their 4-2 victory over the Red Devils last Sunday, courtesy of Toni
Martinez's hat-trick and Joe Powell's first of the season. The Blues have
recorded just one win so far in the league this campaign in comparison to
West Ham's four and Trott thinks with the confidence high, the Hammers are
well set to continue their good form. He said: "Manchester United are
obviously a really big club who have produced excellent players in the past,
so I think that it was a big statement by us to win that game 4-2. "I think
it now tells us how good we are as a team and that the players we produce
are up there with the best. "Everyone is in good spirits now. It was a big
win and hopefully we can use this as momentum and keep winning games from
here on, starting with our match against Chelsea."
Terry Westley's men will travel to Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground to
face the Blues, whose one and only Division 1 win so far came against Derby
County back in mid-August. With England U20 international Trott now the
Club's third choice stopper behind Joe Hart and Adrian, much of his time in
training and on matchdays is spent with the first team. Nathan TrottThe
youngster insisted, though, he remains as focused as ever when it comes to
U23 games. "I try not to think too much before games," he continued. "I have
the same routine before every game, so I block things out and just stay
focused. "Being in and around the first team has given me a different
picture. Being with them on so many matchdays this season has been a great
experience so far and it gives me a chance to see all the lads preparing and
see how they do that. "For me, I look at the keepers Joe and Adrian, how
they train beforehand and how focused they are and I try to take on as much
as I can. "They have both helped me a lot. They are very different keepers
so I can take different things from both of them, which is good. Both have
the same mentality, staying tough and blocking out any distractions. "It's
good having that blend between them, and they are both experienced guys and
experienced in the Premier League. "If I can take that into my own games, it
will only help me improve."
The Hammers currently sit in fourth place in Premier League 2 Division 1 in
their first campaign since promotion last May. Should other results go their
way on Saturday, Westley's men could move up to third with maximum points
against Chelsea. Supporters can follow, from 11am, live blog coverage of the
clash on whufc.com Sunday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
#REFWATCH: MARTIN ATKINSON – WEST HAM VS BRIGHTON
AUTHOR: SAMTWHWREF. PUBLISHED: 20 OCTOBER 2017 AT 10:16PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @SamRoyden
Who doesn't love football on a Friday Night? After this performance, West
Ham fans for sure… After a challenging fixture at Burnley, we welcomed newly
promoted Brighton to the London Stadium for FNF which was live on Sky
Sports. Slaven Bilic and the players are under a microscope with recent
performances and especially since the move to the London Stadium, West Ham
have struggled to rediscover any type performance that we saw in the final
season at the Boleyn Ground.
Martin Atkinson was the referee appointed for this fixture and I was very
impressed with Atkinson last weekend for his performance in Liverpool Vs
Manchester United. It was a tough fixture to officiate but Atkinson was that
calm figure that the game needed and his decision making and player
management was impressive. I rate Atkinson highly and this was his second
West Ham appointment with the only other game being our first game of the
season away at Manchester United.
Martin Atkinson must be thinking to himself, what did I do to get given that
fixture? The first half was probably the easiest 45 minutes of Premier
League officiating he and his team could ask for. They cruised through the
half which lacked intensity and creativity. The only incident that is worth
talking about in the first half was the caution for Javier Hernandez. The
Mexican has been starved of chances and service so far this season and
within this particular incident, he came in late to a challenge clattering
Brighton's Anthony Knockaert. It was a 50/50 challenge but Knockaert was
caught and left in a heap after the challenge.
The match was desperately calling out for some end product by West Ham after
an awful 45 minutes after going 2-nil down. Martin Atkinson had limited to
do in the second half but thankfully a bit more busy than the first half.
Whenever a game is in cruise control, the worst thing you can do as a
referee is become complacent and lose focus; you never know when the game is
going to change and you need to be there to make that decision.
Glenn Murray was a handful for the West Ham defenders and he stepped over
the line on a few occasions. Atkinson was there to warn the Brighton striker
that his persistent infringing of the laws was unacceptable and gave him his
last warning. West Ham's evening took an even worse turn when Pablo Zabaleta
gave away a very stupid, lazy and tired penalty against the ever present
Glenn Murray. The West Ham man couldn't have any complaints with the
challenge and Martin Atkinson was well positioned to make the decision to
point to the spot.
Overall, Martin Atkinson had little to do during the game which during a
tough couple of years for referees, it was probably enjoyable to walk away
from a game which was incident free. A note on West Ham, it's pretty
shocking that you're playing at home against a newly promoted side and the
players look fed up, lacked intensity and creativity. Jamie Carragher summed
it up pretty well in commentary on Sky Sports – the team is full of
individuals and not a team. Personally, this comes from the management team
and filters down to the players and leaders in the squad. As we sit 17th in
the Premier League, it's going to be an uncomfortable couple of weeks for
Bilic. I do feel for him however it's a results business and something needs
to change in the team.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
@_CARLTONCOLE9'S THOUGHTS ON SLAVEN BILIC
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 21 OCTOBER 2017 AT 12:22PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @_CarltonCole9's thoughts on Slaven Bilic
If you've followed me for a while, you will know how much I love Slaven
Bilic. I have defended him throughout; regardless of how poor we've been I
have tweeted my praise for him and got a ton of abuse for being naive,
deluded and pretty much any synonym you can imagine. I have called people
who want him gone stupid and fickle. I have a massive scarf I got in Camden
Market saying Super Slav up in my bedroom. I do love him which is why
writing this is so hard so I'm just gonna come out and say it: For the sake
of West Ham United, Slaven Bilic needs to go.
He is still a good manager regardless of what people say. Maybe this is me
clinging on to the fact I do love him. Kinda like when your partner leaves
you and you hate them but you have that ounce of love for them. But the
Brighton game has pushed me too far. It was indefensible.
I have no idea what formation we were playing. Lanzini was acting as a
holding midfielder. Kouyate was wandering up front despite the fact he has
the shooting ability of a 4 year old American who has stolen their
grandmother's handgun from her handbag. But what baffles me the most is the
fact we kept crossing in for Hernandez and Ayew to score headers despite the
fact they're about 10 inches smaller than Brighton's centre backs.
However, the tip of the iceberg for me is the general attitude of the
players. They're not playing for him. They're not playing for the club. I
don't know what they're doing and they should be ashamed of themselves but
it seems like Bilic has hit the point of no return with them. He's fighting
a lost cause. Unless he does something drastic then this is gonna drag on
until the end of the season when his contract is up. The issue is I fear he
doesn't have it in him anymore.
I strongly disagree with people who say Bilic is a bad manager. He got us
our highest ever points tally – if you say that was Payet, remember who got
the best out of him – and with all the nonsense that happened last season we
still got a respectable 11th. But this season has been dire. Even the wins
have been dreadful. I've kid myself by saying a win's a win and that Slaven
got us the win (subs against Swansea) but the truth is, they were poor and
we were lucky. But losing 3-0 to 2 promoted sides, one at home, is
unacceptable for a club who want to fight for Europa.
This season hasn't just been Bilic's fault. It's been the player's fault as
well. I can't think of one player who's consistently been good. Zabaleta,
who's probably been our best player this season, has given away 2 penalties.
Hernandez isn't getting the service but on the rare occasion he does, he's
not doing anything. So far, Arnautovic has been a disaster, as have every
one of our central midfielders. As I said, they may not be playing for Bilic
but they could at least play for the shirt.
I have supported West Ham since Pardew. I'm aware many of you have been
supporting us for longer, but Slaven Bilic is my favourite West Ham manager.
I love the person and I did love the manager. But as long as he stays at
West Ham, his reputation will continue to get shredded apart. Thank you for
the memories Slaven and know that I do and always will love you. But,
similar to Big Sam, you've taken us as far as you can and it's time for you
to go.
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Slaven Bilic's future being discussed by West Ham board and owners
Last Updated: 21/10/17 4:45pm
SSN
West Ham owners and the club board are meeting on Saturday to discuss Slaven
Bilic's future as manager, according to Sky sources. Co-owners David
Sullivan and David Gold have a track record of standing by their managers,
but Sky Sports News understand the club's hierarchy are "very worried" by
what they saw during Friday's 3-0 home defeat to Brighton at the London
Stadium. Two goals from Glenn Murray and a Jose Izquierdo strike means the
Hammers, who are 17th in the Premier League, have made their worst start to
a season since 2010, taking just eight points from nine games. Sky sources
understand no final decision will be made on Bilic's future on Saturday as
the owners ponder whether to sack him or give him two more games - at
Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, and at Crystal
Palace next Saturday. Bilic's contract runs out at the end of the season,
and Sullivan backed the Croatian ahead of Friday night's game admitting he
felt it was "morally wrong" to sack managers and said he wants to give him
opportunity to see out his three-year contract. Speaking after Friday's
defeat, Bilic said: "It is very hard for me to say anything clever in this
moment apart from it's very disappointing. "As manager I take full
responsibility.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits it was a bad result but is unsure why the
performance was so poor after his side were defeated 3-0 at home by Brighton
in the Premier League. When asked if he was confident he will be given the
opportunity to turn West Ham's form around, he said: "The board will do what
they are going to do. "It is their decision. We have been in this situation
before and we got out. As a manager you take the credit and as a manager you
take the full responsibility. I don't want to hide. "I'm not worried [about
the sack]. I'm doing my best."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher analyse Marko Arnautovic's West Ham
performance against Brighton
Last Updated: 21/10/17 10:03am
SSN
Gary Neville was critical of Marko Arnautovic after West Ham's heavy defeat
to Brighton on Friday Night Football, saying the forward "is Cristiano
Ronaldo in his own mind". Brighton produced a superb display to beat
struggling West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium, with two goals from Glenn
Murray and another by Jose Izquierdo. Neville and fellow Sky Sports analyst
Jamie Carragher dissected a "woeful" West Ham performance, reserving
particular criticism for the Hammers' £24m club-record signing Arnautovic.
"I have only ever played with one player that had an excuse not to track
back and that was Cristiano Ronaldo," Neville told Sky Sports. "He scored 40
goals in a season. "That guy [Arnautovic] is Ronaldo in his own mind. That's
the problem, he thinks he is better than he is. "The part of the game I
can't get my head around from a West Ham point of view is the first 20
minutes. "When you think about the opportunity they had tonight - they had
turned it around a little bit over the last few weeks - but they came out
against Brighton and were not alert on set-pieces, they had no concentration
or urgency. That's the period of the game that is unforgivable for me."
Carragher added: "That's the kind of performance that gets the manager
sacked. I was very critical of Arnautovic during the game, he was a huge
money signing.
"It can be difficult to settle and show your true form at a new club but
that performance was not one you think was desperate to show everyone what
he can do.
"He's walking about during the game, it was beyond belief, certainly in the
first half. It was so poor and it heaps so much pressure on the manager."
The defeat leaves West Ham in 17th place having taken eight points from
their opening nine games. Large numbers of the home supporters left the
ground after Murray's penalty made it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go and speaking
to Sky Sports after the game Slaven Bilic took "full responsibility" for the
display.
West Ham centre back Jose Fonte says it was a difficult night but they must
bounce back ahead of their next game following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
"Slaven was such a buoyant manager in his first season at the club, the pain
he will be feeling now," Neville added. "That was woeful tonight from West
Ham. "I think back to Sunderland last year, the fans walking out of the
ground. The QPR team from four or five years ago that was a disgrace. "There
aren't many times you can recall fans just walking out en masse and that's a
real problem. That is what owners look at. "I hope Slaven stays and [West
Ham co-chairman] David Sullivan sticks to his word to keep him until the end
of the season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic given Tottenham and Crystal Palace games to save West Ham job
JACK ROSSER
ES Sport
Slaven Bilic will be given London derbies against Tottenham and Crystal
Palace to save his West Ham job. The Hammers 3-0 home defeat to Brighton on
Friday night raised immediate questions over the Croatian's future, with
fans calling for his departure and some even leaving at half-time. What was
billed as a big week before the clash with the Seagulls, with Tottenham and
Crystal Palace to come, has now turned into a season-defining seven days.
Speaking after the game, Bilic admitted that he did not know if he would be
given a chance to turn things around in east London. However, having
recovered from a somewhat similar position last season, losing to Watford
and Southampton at home, Standard Sport understands the board will give the
manager at least another two games. It was a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park last
season which put an end to a five-game winless run in the Premier League and
set the Hammers on the road to recovery, with Christian Benteke missing a
penalty, and Bilic may need similar luck this time around.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former Man City managers linked with West Ham job
BY LONDON FOOTBALL NEWS 22/10/2017
Former Manchester City bosses Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini have
been linked with the West Ham manager's job amid doubts over Slaven Bilic's
future.
Bilic, whose side were beaten 3-0 at home by Brighton on Friday, is
reportedly clinging onto his job ahead of London derbies against Tottenham
and Crystal Palace. The Sunday Mirror reckon Mancini, now in charge of
Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, is the man West Ham want if they decide to
axe Bilic. The Sunday Telegraph, on the other hand, say the Hammers board
like Pellegrini, who is currently at Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, and
Huddersfield boss David Wagner.
The Sunday Express tout former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancellotti for a return to
Stamford Bridge and in a separate story also link the Italian with West Ham.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic on the brink of West Ham sacking but club hit brick wall in
search for his possible replacement
West Ham United will likely sack Slaven Bilic if he loses his next two
matches
He is preparing for back-to-back derbies away at Tottenham then Crystal
Palace
Bilic is on the brink at the London Stadium after Friday's 3-0 defeat by
Brighton
But Hammers bigwigs are struggling to line-up a suitable replacement for him
By Kieran Gill for The Mail on Sunday
PUBLISHED: 23:56, 21 October 2017 | UPDATED: 01:43, 22 October 2017
Slaven Bilic is clinging to his job as West Ham boss but the club's board
are worried about their lack of obvious options for a successor. While Bilic
remains on the brink, their search for a suitable replacement in the short
and long term has seen the Hammers hit a brick wall. Friday night's 3-0 home
loss to Brighton means West Ham's manager now faces crucial away games
against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Crystal Palace in the Premier
League.
Club insiders say two losses will force the board's hand, regardless of
whether a replacement is lined up. It risks leaving them in the lurch like
Leicester, who sacked Craig Shakespeare last week. Assistant Michael
Appleton has temporarily taken over at the King Power Stadium. There is
concern in the West Ham boardroom that there is no obvious option within the
club who could act as a competent caretaker. They are considering a
short-term fix and looking at managers with Premier League experience who
are currently out of work. It comes amid frustration that their long-term
targets are unavailable. Manuel Pellegrini is in charge of Chinese Super
League side Hebei China Fortune on a lucrative contract, David Wagner wants
to see out the season with Huddersfield and Rafa Benitez is tied to
Newcastle. Carlo Ancelotti is out of work but has said he wants to sit out
this season. Their lack of options may have bought Bilic time after their
loss to Brighton, who secured their first top-flight away win since 1983.
The manner in which they were beaten by the newly-promoted Premier League
side sent West Ham into a tailspin. The club could allow Bilic to see out
his contract, which expires at the end of the season, but only if he bucks
up his ideas. Bilic and co-owner David Sullivan plan to speak on Monday over
the phone. There has been no major fallout between the pair despite the
alarming performance on Friday. To his credit, Bilic did not sell his
well-paid players down the river and accepted full responsibility in his
post-match press conference after the Brighton defeat.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want Roberto Mancini as their next boss if Slaven Bilic cannot halt
Hammers slump
Bilic's men lost 3-0 to Brighton on Friday night to leave the side teetering
on the brink of the relegation zone
The Mirror
Steve Stammers
22:30, 21 OCT 2017
Roberto Mancini is the man West Ham want if Slaven Bilic fails to halt the
team's slump. The 3-0 defeat against Brighton at the London Stadium on
Friday left the Hammers hovering just above the relegation zone – and the
fans enraged. Tens of thousands left before the end and a handful, who
stayed, tried to confront co-chairman David Sullivan. Bilic now faces two
London derbies – the League Cup tie at Tottenham on Wednesday and a crunch
league game at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next
Saturday. A defeat at Palace could see Bilic on his way, with an approach
for Mancini likely to follow. The former Manchester City boss is the
favoured choice of West Ham's owners, who will need to persuade him to swap
the top of the Russian league with Zenit St Petersburg for a scrap at the
wrong end of the Premier League. If they fail to convince the Italian, they
will weigh up moves for Burnley's Sean Dyche and Jaap Stam, at Reading. Jose
Fonte has warned his team-mates they must fight as if their lives depended
on it. After the collapse against Brighton, Fonte admits both upcoming games
are now huge. He said: "After Brighton, we have to give our lives for a
result on Wednesday, then we go into the Palace game, which will be like a
final, as we need points.
"And, if we fight like our lives depend on it, I'm sure the result will be
better. We've got to take responsibility as a team. "It's two massive games
we have now."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
England goalkeeper Joe Hart 'robbed by moped thieves'
Scooter related crime has risen over recent months in the capital
Will Worley @willrworley 19 hours ago
The Independent Online
England goalkeeper Joe Hart has reportedly been robbed of his personal
possessions by a gang on scooters Currently on loan from Manchester City at
West Ham United, the player is thought to have lost his watch, wallet and
mobile phone. He is believed to be one of the most high profile victims of
the moped crime wave ongoing in London. Hart is believed to have been
leaving West Ham's training ground near Romford last week, when the
criminals struck at a petrol station.
An eyewitness told The Sun: "There were three robbers on two bikes and they
surrounded him as he got into his car and took his phone. "I think they also
got a watch and a wallet." Another person told the newspaper: "Joe wasn't
hurt but he was pretty shaken up. He's a big powerful guy and it took some
nerve to rob him. "If it can happen to the safest pair of hands in England
it can happen to anyone."
Concerns have been mounting over the rise in moped crime in the capital.
Earlier this week, Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick was forced
to deny the force had a "no pursuit" policy on moped criminals. But she
said officers needed stronger powers to protect them from legal action in
the case of injury to suspected criminals. Many police officers have cited
the 2014 death of Henry Hicks as a turning point in policing moped crime.
Hicks, 18, was fatally injured when his scooter collided with traffic in
Islington, north London, as he was followed by two unmarked patrol cars.
Yesterday, four police officers were cleared of gross misconduct over the
death.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, October 20
Daily WHUFC News - 21st October 2017
Hammers bested by Brighton at London Stadium
WHUFC.com
Two goals from Glenn Murray and a strike by Jose Izquierdo condemned West
Ham United to a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. In a
disappointing evening at London Stadium the Irons, despite controlling the
possession, were made to pay for mistakes that Chris Hughton's Seagulls
pounced on. Murray headed home after just 10 minutes and Izquierdo fired
home from distance to put Brighton 2-0 up at half-time, and a penalty in the
second period secured the points for the away team. The first real
meaningful chance of the game provided the first goal. A well-placed ball in
from a free-kick by Brighton's Pascal Gross evaded the West Ham defence,
finding Murray, who was able to head into the ground and past Joe Hart after
just ten minutes. With a goal to their name Brighton seemed comfortable
sitting back, protecting their lead, and inviting pressure from the Hammers.
Arthur Masuaku saw a shot from distance blocked while a well-timed tackle on
Manuel Lanzini stopped the Argentinian from shooting in a dangerous area.
Two efforts from outside the area by Pedro Obiang were also dealt with by
the Seagulls before Chicharito had a half-volleyed shot deflected away and
then a low effort skid just wide of the far post. These missed chances came
back to haunt the home side however and Izquierdo doubled the away team's
tally just before half-time with a long-ranged effort that Hart could not
keep out, despite getting a hand to the ball.
The second half, much like the first, started with West Ham controlling
possession but struggled to get through a resolute Brighton team. Lanzini
saw two free-kicks miss the target as one went over the bar and the other
deflected wide of the near post. West Ham's miserable evening was compounded
15 minutes before the end as Brighton were awarded a penalty, which Murray
comfortably dispatched for his second and his side's third of the game.
West Ham United: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid (c), Fonte, Masuaku; Obiang, Kouyate
(Ayew 46'), Antonio, Lanzini, Arnautovic (Fernandes 73'); Chicharito
Subs not used: Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Byram, Noble
Brighton: Ryan, Bruno (c), Bong, Dunk, Stephens, Knockaert (Schelotto 84'),
Gross (Brown 77'), Murray, Izquierdo (March 69'), Duffy, Propper
Subs not used: Krul, Goldson, Suttner, Molumby
Goals: Murray 10 75' (p)', Izquierdo 45 +1'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fonte: We are all frustrated and we apologise
WHUFC.com
Jose Fonte apologised to supporters after West Ham United were beaten 3-0 by
Brighton and Hove Albion on Friday. Two Glenn Murray strikes either side of
Jose Izquierdo's long-range curler sealed the points for Chris Hughton's men
during a disappointing night for the Hammers. Manuel Lanzini and Chicharito
had the hosts' best opportunities in the first half, but the visitors
defended well to grab their first ever Premier League win on the road.
Portugal international Fonte was left gutted at the full time whistle and
assured fans the side will do everything they can to turn things around. "We
are all disappointed, we are all frustrated and we apologise," the
centre-back said. "It was not the performance we wanted to produce and it
wasn't the performance the fans deserve. "We need to look at ourselves in
the mirror because this cannot happen. It happened a few times last season,
and we have to put this right. This is West Ham and it's just not possible
[to let this happen]. "We have got to move on. We have a game Wednesday and
we need to go and beat Spurs because we have to react, we have to bounce
back."
The Hammers' night began in the worst possible fashion when Murray nodded
Pascal Gross' set-piece into the ground and past Joe Hart with just ten
minutes on the clock to give his side the lead. And with Slaven Bilic's side
pushing for an equaliser for the majority of the remainder of the opening
period, Brighton hit them on the break and doubled their lead spectacularly
with Izquierdo's strike. Murray grabbed his second from the penalty spot
after Pablo Zabaleta had fouled the forward and Fonte admitted all three
goals were hard to accept. "The first goal, from the set piece, when we
didn't do anything was difficult to take," he continued. "We had a lot of
possession but we couldn't create and it's disappointing. "I'm not going to
say it is unacceptable because the players, we tried hard. We tried the best
we could. It just didn't go our way. The second goal was a great shot from
outside the box and we go into the break 2-0 down. "Second half, we came
with the mentality of getting the goal back and trying to get back into the
game and the only occasion they came [forward] in the second half, they got
a penalty. "The fans don't like to lose 3-0 at home, we don't like to
either. We are going to work very hard on the training ground to not let
them down again like this. "Of course we have to look at ourselves in the
mirror. Everyone needs to work hard and we need to bounce back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic: I take full responsibility for Brighton defeat
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic admitted West Ham United had not risen to the occasion in
losing a 'very important' game 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Hammers
went into Friday night's fixture with the Seagulls at London Stadium knowing
a victory would take them into the Premier League's top ten, but slumped to
a frustrating and disappointing defeat to Chris Hughton's newly-promoted
team. Glenn Murray's double and a long-range strike from José Izquierdo on
the stroke of half-time condemned Bilic's side to a loss that the manager
was at a loss to explain. "It's a bad performance from us," he said. "The
goals killed us. The first one was very quick and between the first and
second goal we were dominating the game and we were there and put a lot of
balls in the box, but they defended the balls really well and then in those
moments at the end of the first half, we conceded the second one from a good
bit of individual skill from their player. "We tried to come back, but it's
very difficult for me to say anything clever now. All I can say is that it
was very disappointing and frustrating and as manager I take full
responsibility for that. "We all wanted to win. It happened to us a few
times last season at a time when we thought we were in a good situation, in
good form and all that and we had a home game like this, with the greatest
respect to them, when we thought we would get three points and climb up the
table and play with less negative pressure and we don't do it. "You start
the game with good shape and good confidence, but then they score and it's
1-0 for them and it gives them a boost. In the first half we played good
football, then they scored a second one, and it's affected the way we played
the game. "We were playing good football, but we were very sterile. On the
contrary, they were there in the situations when they could expose the
situations when we left space because we were losing and we wanted to take
risks. They were lethal and used it in the best possible way for them. "Why
did it happen? To be fair, I don't know. It looked very good on the training
ground and in the last few games we were getting players back in shape, but
we didn't look good enough."
When asked what effect West Ham's defeat would have on his own role, the
manager was typically honest, but insisted he would not give up his own
ambitions to forge a successful Hammers side in the future. "It is
definitely not a good situation and the Board will do what they're going to
do. It is their decision, but all I am saying is that we have been in this
situation before and got out of that. "As a manager, you are taking the
credit but on the other hand you are taking full responsibility for that and
I don't want to hide or get away from that. "I am not worried at all about
that, to be fair. I am doing my best, but when you lose 3-0 at home to
Brighton in a game that it's not must, must-win as it's not that stage of
the sason, but it was a very important game for us and we didn't make it. I
am a fighter, but it's not my decision."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Two goals from Glenn Murray and a strike by Jose Izquierdo condemned West
Ham United to a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. In a
disappointing evening at London Stadium the Irons, despite controlling the
possession, were made to pay for mistakes that Chris Hughton's Seagulls
pounced on. Murray headed home after just 10 minutes and Izquierdo fired
home from distance to put Brighton 2-0 up at half-time, and a penalty in the
second period secured the points for the away team. The first real
meaningful chance of the game provided the first goal. A well-placed ball in
from a free-kick by Brighton's Pascal Gross evaded the West Ham defence,
finding Murray, who was able to head into the ground and past Joe Hart after
just ten minutes. With a goal to their name Brighton seemed comfortable
sitting back, protecting their lead, and inviting pressure from the Hammers.
Arthur Masuaku saw a shot from distance blocked while a well-timed tackle on
Manuel Lanzini stopped the Argentinian from shooting in a dangerous area.
Two efforts from outside the area by Pedro Obiang were also dealt with by
the Seagulls before Chicharito had a half-volleyed shot deflected away and
then a low effort skid just wide of the far post. These missed chances came
back to haunt the home side however and Izquierdo doubled the away team's
tally just before half-time with a long-ranged effort that Hart could not
keep out, despite getting a hand to the ball.
The second half, much like the first, started with West Ham controlling
possession but struggled to get through a resolute Brighton team. Lanzini
saw two free-kicks miss the target as one went over the bar and the other
deflected wide of the near post. West Ham's miserable evening was compounded
15 minutes before the end as Brighton were awarded a penalty, which Murray
comfortably dispatched for his second and his side's third of the game.
West Ham United: Hart; Zabaleta, Reid (c), Fonte, Masuaku; Obiang, Kouyate
(Ayew 46'), Antonio, Lanzini, Arnautovic (Fernandes 73'); Chicharito
Subs not used: Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Byram, Noble
Brighton: Ryan, Bruno (c), Bong, Dunk, Stephens, Knockaert (Schelotto 84'),
Gross (Brown 77'), Murray, Izquierdo (March 69'), Duffy, Propper
Subs not used: Krul, Goldson, Suttner, Molumby
Goals: Murray 10 75' (p)', Izquierdo 45 +1'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fonte: We are all frustrated and we apologise
WHUFC.com
Jose Fonte apologised to supporters after West Ham United were beaten 3-0 by
Brighton and Hove Albion on Friday. Two Glenn Murray strikes either side of
Jose Izquierdo's long-range curler sealed the points for Chris Hughton's men
during a disappointing night for the Hammers. Manuel Lanzini and Chicharito
had the hosts' best opportunities in the first half, but the visitors
defended well to grab their first ever Premier League win on the road.
Portugal international Fonte was left gutted at the full time whistle and
assured fans the side will do everything they can to turn things around. "We
are all disappointed, we are all frustrated and we apologise," the
centre-back said. "It was not the performance we wanted to produce and it
wasn't the performance the fans deserve. "We need to look at ourselves in
the mirror because this cannot happen. It happened a few times last season,
and we have to put this right. This is West Ham and it's just not possible
[to let this happen]. "We have got to move on. We have a game Wednesday and
we need to go and beat Spurs because we have to react, we have to bounce
back."
The Hammers' night began in the worst possible fashion when Murray nodded
Pascal Gross' set-piece into the ground and past Joe Hart with just ten
minutes on the clock to give his side the lead. And with Slaven Bilic's side
pushing for an equaliser for the majority of the remainder of the opening
period, Brighton hit them on the break and doubled their lead spectacularly
with Izquierdo's strike. Murray grabbed his second from the penalty spot
after Pablo Zabaleta had fouled the forward and Fonte admitted all three
goals were hard to accept. "The first goal, from the set piece, when we
didn't do anything was difficult to take," he continued. "We had a lot of
possession but we couldn't create and it's disappointing. "I'm not going to
say it is unacceptable because the players, we tried hard. We tried the best
we could. It just didn't go our way. The second goal was a great shot from
outside the box and we go into the break 2-0 down. "Second half, we came
with the mentality of getting the goal back and trying to get back into the
game and the only occasion they came [forward] in the second half, they got
a penalty. "The fans don't like to lose 3-0 at home, we don't like to
either. We are going to work very hard on the training ground to not let
them down again like this. "Of course we have to look at ourselves in the
mirror. Everyone needs to work hard and we need to bounce back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic: I take full responsibility for Brighton defeat
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic admitted West Ham United had not risen to the occasion in
losing a 'very important' game 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Hammers
went into Friday night's fixture with the Seagulls at London Stadium knowing
a victory would take them into the Premier League's top ten, but slumped to
a frustrating and disappointing defeat to Chris Hughton's newly-promoted
team. Glenn Murray's double and a long-range strike from José Izquierdo on
the stroke of half-time condemned Bilic's side to a loss that the manager
was at a loss to explain. "It's a bad performance from us," he said. "The
goals killed us. The first one was very quick and between the first and
second goal we were dominating the game and we were there and put a lot of
balls in the box, but they defended the balls really well and then in those
moments at the end of the first half, we conceded the second one from a good
bit of individual skill from their player. "We tried to come back, but it's
very difficult for me to say anything clever now. All I can say is that it
was very disappointing and frustrating and as manager I take full
responsibility for that. "We all wanted to win. It happened to us a few
times last season at a time when we thought we were in a good situation, in
good form and all that and we had a home game like this, with the greatest
respect to them, when we thought we would get three points and climb up the
table and play with less negative pressure and we don't do it. "You start
the game with good shape and good confidence, but then they score and it's
1-0 for them and it gives them a boost. In the first half we played good
football, then they scored a second one, and it's affected the way we played
the game. "We were playing good football, but we were very sterile. On the
contrary, they were there in the situations when they could expose the
situations when we left space because we were losing and we wanted to take
risks. They were lethal and used it in the best possible way for them. "Why
did it happen? To be fair, I don't know. It looked very good on the training
ground and in the last few games we were getting players back in shape, but
we didn't look good enough."
When asked what effect West Ham's defeat would have on his own role, the
manager was typically honest, but insisted he would not give up his own
ambitions to forge a successful Hammers side in the future. "It is
definitely not a good situation and the Board will do what they're going to
do. It is their decision, but all I am saying is that we have been in this
situation before and got out of that. "As a manager, you are taking the
credit but on the other hand you are taking full responsibility for that and
I don't want to hide or get away from that. "I am not worried at all about
that, to be fair. I am doing my best, but when you lose 3-0 at home to
Brighton in a game that it's not must, must-win as it's not that stage of
the sason, but it was a very important game for us and we didn't make it. I
am a fighter, but it's not my decision."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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