Daily WHUFC News - 28th October 2017

Crystal Palace v West Ham United: All you need to know
WHUFC.com

West Ham United return to Premier League action on Saturday as the Irons
travel to south London to take on Crystal Palace.

Read on for all the information you need to know ahead of this fixture,
including team news, travel information and recent history...

Where and when?

West Ham United will meet Crystal Palace on Saturday 28 October at Selhurst
Park, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.

How to follow:

You can follow the game live via our Matchday Blog on whufc.com, with
updates also available on Twitter throughout the afternoon. You can also
follow the match in different ways on our official Instagram, Facebook and
Snapchat channels!

Unfortunately, due to being a Saturday 3pm kick-off the match is not
available for viewing in the UK. For worldwide broadcast schedules, click
here.

Team news:

Slaven Bilic will offer updates on his squad and team ahead of Saturday's
Premier League match with Crystal Palace during his pre-game press
conference on Friday afternoon.

The press conference is due to begin at 12pm.

Match officials:

Referee: Bobby Madley
Assistant Referees: Marc Perry and Adrian Holmes
Fourth Official: James Linington

Meet the opposition:

Not many clubs in England have endured a more difficult start to the season
than Crystal Palace. The Eagles have already changed their manager this
campaign and now have former England boss Roy Hodgson at the helm.

Just one win in the league this campaign sees Palace rooted to the bottom of
the Premier League table. That victory however came in their last home match
against reigning champions Chelsea, which shows that on their day the Eagles
can soar.

Player to watch:

Two goals in Wednesday's 3-2 comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the
Carabao Cup has pushed Andre Ayew to the front of the West Ham United
collect mind.

The versatile forward now has four goals in all competitions this season and
will be eager to continue that form against Palace on Saturday.

Head-to-head:

Last season West Ham completed the double over Crystal Palace in the Premier
League. A Manuel Lanzini goal was the difference in the fixture at Selhurst
Park while the Argentinian was also on the score-sheet in the match at
London Stadium, a game now fixed in the memory thanks to Andy Carroll's
wonderful bicycle kick.

The last time the Hammers lost to Palace was in February 2015 but the Irons
have won their last three away contests against the Eagles.

Last five meetings:

West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace, Premier League, January 14 2017
Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham United, Premier League, October 15 2016
West Ham United 2-2 Crystal Palace, Premier League, April 2 2016
Crystal Palace 1-3 West Ham United, Premier League, October 17 2015
West Ham United 1-3 Crystal Palace, Premier League, February 28 2015

How to get there:

By rail

The nearest stations are Selhurst, Thornton Heath or Norwood Junction. All
of these are served by London Victoria main line station. Both Thornton
Heath and Norwood Junction are also served by trains from London Bridge.

By car

Leave the M25 at Junction 7 and follow the signs for the A23 to Croydon,
then go left onto the A23 at its junction with the A235. You will pass
roundabouts and junctions with the A232 and A236 as you pass Croydon, after
which the A23 bears left.

Follow the road, and turn right onto the high street. Go left onto
Whitehorse Lane and Selhurst Park is on your right.

Postcode: SE25 6PU

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Adrian: I've given the boss a selection headache
WHUFC.com

Adrian is hopeful his performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao
Cup on Wednesday will have left his manager with a selection headache before
tomorrow's clash with Crystal Palace. The Hammers staged a phenomenal
comeback against London rivals Spurs, scoring three times in 15 minutes
after being 2-0 down at half-time, to win the game 3-2. The goalkeeper
played an important role in the win, having made crucial saves from Dele
Alli and Moussa Sissoko either side of the break as West Ham progressed to
the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup for the second year in a row. The
Spaniard saw the match as an opportunity to stake his claim in the first
team and believes Wednesday's performance is evidence of his commitment to
the team and the level he wishes to play at. He told whufc.com: "It was a
good moment to vindicate my position in the team and for the manager. "I
enjoyed making these crucial saves [against Alli and Sissoko], helping the
team whenever I can to get that good result. We won the game and I'm so
happy. "Now I've given the boss a headache to choose which keeper to play.
Like I showed on Wednesday, I can do it. I am ready to play week-in,
week-out."

While opportunities have been few and far between for the No13, the three
games that Adrian has played this campaign have all been victories, yet none
have come in the league. The game against Tottenham was one of those three
wins and the 30-year-old shed light on how the team's dressing room talk at
half-time inspired the Hammers stage a stunning comeback. "The first half
was very hard for us and also very hard for the fans because they went there
to support us and we started losing. "2-0 down in the first half was hard.
But in the second half we spoke about giving our all in the dressing room,
to do the maximum level in 45 minutes and see if we can snatch a win. We won
and it was such a great night for us and all the Hammer fans." He added: "I
need to do my best when the opportunity arises for me to play. In the moment
it's cup football so I try to show the boss the level that I am at, giving
consistently 100%."

Adrian believes the win over Tottenham has given the team with much-needed
belief ahead of their match against local rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.
"It's a great motivation for us because the last game at home was very bad
and we understood that. "After the victory on Wednesday, everyone is in a
positive way because we've come back with a hard fought victory against a
top side. "The win has given us a platform to feed off, go to Palace on
Saturday and get a good result. It's time we climbed up the table."

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Bilic: Balance, belief and a love of big matches
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic met with the media on Friday afternoon to provide insight and
analysis ahead of West Ham United's Premier League match with Crystal
Palace. The manager was asked about the squad's mood after Wednesday's win
over Tottenham, the Eagle's recent form, and media speculation. 'I like big
games'
West Ham's opponents, Palace, head into Saturday's match on the back of a
tough run of form – one that has seen them win just once this season in the
league and lose their last match in the Carabao Cup to lower league
opposition. With this in mind Bilic was questioned whether he was pleased to
be playing the Eagles at this point in their season, just a few weeks after
Roy Hodgson was named their new manager. Bilic said: "When the new manager
comes it's better to play them straight away because everybody needs a
little bit of time to get to know the players and vice versa. They beat
Chelsea and it was a big boost for them, and since Chelsea they lost to
Newcastle although they played good and deserved something out of that game.
"No defeat is good but that Cup defeat was big for them, but then there were
resting most of their players."
Despite this the manager is still anticipating a difficult match for his
Hammers in another London derby, but Bilic is relishing the challenge. "I'm
expecting a very tough game tomorrow. A very big game. A game of characters.
A game of basic things. A physical game. A mental game. A game that will be
decided with togetherness and also a bit of quality, that I know we have but
also, they have. I hope we are going to use it to make a difference. But
first of all, both teams will have to be very strong, mentally and
physically. "Again, it's a derby and to be fair I'm really looking forward
to the game. I like big games and we're expecting that tomorrow."

A confidence boost from Spurs

A 3-2 comeback victory over rivals Tottenham has put the entire team,
supporters, and Bilic himself in good spirits heading into Saturday's
fixture. The manager was asked what such a win, in such a manner against
local opposition, did for the team. It means a lot of course," Bilic said:
"Like every defeat gets you a little bit down. Also, every win gives you a
boost and a better atmosphere, both for the team and also the individuals.
Especially if it happens like it happened the other night. It was a very
important game against Spurs, it's always a special kind of game and
especially at Wembley. To come back from 2-0 down to 3-2, it gives us a lot
of confidence. "I noticed if we raised the level of quality in the last
third we had a chance. The next goal was the key one and we also improved
our game when they had the ball. I asked that they raised the level and to
stay calm, not to lose focus or faith. That's what the guys did in the most
beautiful way." The manager was keen to emphasis however that his players
would not assume victory over Palace was guaranteed due to the win over
Tottenham. "No, no way. No way," he said when asked about over complacency:
"We beat Tottenham and I said straight after the game that if we think that
now we've beat Spurs that good performances would come by default it would
be totally wrong. "We know we have to build on that performance and to make
it even better, to cut out the mistakes. No one thinks like that."

'My job is about balance'

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson recently described football as a
"constant succession of funerals and parties" and that his job as the new
boss was to keep his players level. When asked about this quote Bilic was in
agreement with his coaching colleague, saying balance is crucial to any
team. He said: "The whole world, no matter in what way of life, there is no
middle. It's all extremes. The weather is like that! There's no Spring or
Autumn, there's Winter or Summer. "As I said before, your job is to keep the
team balanced and in the zone. Not to be too down when on a bad run and not
to fly when you're winning three or four games. Always stay focused and
think about the next game you have. "That's a big part of our job because
everybody else is trying to bring you down if are good and if you aren't,
everyone else is trying to lift you as high as possible. You can't allow
that."

'I'm focused on the things I can influence'

Bilic was once again asked about media speculation but the manager says he
is only worried about the things he can influence in his position. The
Croatian believes that focusing and bringing positivity will see that
speculation subside. "There are rumours but I talk to the chairmen, not
every day, but often enough. I know my situation and our situation. "As I've
told you, I'm totally focused on the things I can influence and that is only
the training, talking to the players, and the game. I am totally focused on
the game because only with that in your head can you improve and you can
affect those kinds of rumours to change."

'The next game is most important game'

West Ham have eight points so far in the Premier League this season but,
when asked if Crystal Palace was the most important game of the campaign,
Bilic offered a philosophical answer. "We said the same against Huddersfield
and the same against Swansea. The same against Brighton and the same against
Burnley. It's the Premier League and it's a very important game. "It's the
most important game. In every league, the biggest game and most important
game is the next one. For us that's the game against Palace tomorrow."

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Team news: Antonio back in training ahead of Crystal Palace clash
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic has confirmed that Michail Antonio has returned to first team
training and could be involved in West Ham United's Premier League fixture
with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Antonio sustained a bruised rib in last
Friday's defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, a knock which forced the
27-year-old to sit out the comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur at
Wembley on Wednesday. The winger however retuned to training on Thursday,
according to Bilic, and will be involved in the session on Friday afternoon.
A decision will be made on Antonio's availability for Saturday's game based
on how he comes through training. The manager also confirmed that the Iron's
only other absence due to injury will be James Collins, who is still out
after a knock against West Brom last month.

"It's good," Bilic told his press conference when asked about injuries:
"It's only Collins [who will miss out]. Michail Antonio had that bruise on
his rib and he only trained yesterday since the Brighton game, and even
yesterday was without contact. "Antonio will train today and based on that
training we will see what shape he is in for tomorrow's game. "We are going
to see today. As you know we played a couple of days ago and the players who
played had regeneration. We are going to see today with training this
afternoon, but nobody said yesterday that they felt this or that or were
tired. "The situation is that most of the squad is fit and we have to
consider a few things before we decide who will start tomorrow."

Bilic made nine changes to his starting XI for the match with Tottenham on
Wednesday, and that victory has prompted curiosity about West Ham's team for
this weekend's game. The manager admitted those players who performed so
well in the midweek game had given him a pleasant selection headache. Bilic
added: "We wanted to put a strong team out against Spurs. Okay we wanted to
rest some players but the players who played, deserved their chance. They
had already played and had minutes in the Premier League on the Cup in
previous rounds. "On one hand, you have the team that won the game in Spurs
away, and on the other hand you had the guys who played good, not in the
Brighton game, but in the games before that. We also have to bear in mind
that this game is less than 72 hours after the game against Spurs. Sometimes
the energy level, you can't expect the guys to repeat them in that short
period of time. "We will put all that into consideration when we decide who
starts tomorrow. When we decide, and I've said this publicly and to the
guys, the team is above every individual. There's no time or space for long
faces."

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Second cup winner another 'special moment' – Ogbonna
WHUFC.com

Almost two years ago, Angelo Ogbonna provided West Ham United fans
everywhere with a night to remember when he headed in an FA Cup winner
against Liverpool. Fast-forward almost 21 months, and the Italian was at it
again, nodding in the Hammers' third in another cup tie – this time in the
Carabao Cup – to put Slaven Bilic's men into the quarter-finals. Andre Ayew
had already drawn the visitors level at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur
with a double after Spurs had raced into a two-goal first half lead. It
wasn't just the centre-back's second cup-tie winning goal in a Claret and
Blue shirt, but also Ogbonna's second goal in two games, following a similar
header against Bolton Wanderers in the last round of the competition. The
defender could not hide his delight at the final whistle and beamed as he
hailed the night as one of his top moments at the Club. "It was so
incredible," he said. "It was a really special night and the way we got back
into the game was just incredible. Nobody expected that when we were 2-0
down! "It was so important for us in this situation we are in, to get the
victory. I guess it is not that common for defenders to score so much in cup
competitions like this! "But for me, now I have scored two winners in them
and I am very happy. They are both very, very memorable and special for me.
"For me, it is better to focus more on defending but still of course, at
Wembley, a huge stadium with a history, it was a great moment for me. More
importantly, it was huge for the team and the Club."
With Spurs 2-0 to the good at the break, the Hammers' chances of staging a
comeback looked bleak, but Bilic's men rallied and soon found a way back
into the game through Ayew's tap-in. The Ghanaian was at it again five
minutes later, side-footing past Michel Vorm and into the top corner from
Manuel Lanzini's centre as the momentum swung the Hammers' way. And sure
enough, Ogbonna was there to capitalise and head in the winner from another
terrific Lanzini delivery.
"We were scared when we were 2-0 down," admitted Ogbonna afterwards. "We
were scared but we talked to each other and we said that we cannot give up,
and we have to do something. "We had to be focused and we had to be brave,
because it's not easy in the situation we are in. No matter what we think,
no matter what we say, the important thing is getting results and this will
have helped us. "Maybe we could lose 5-0 or 6-0 but if we focus and do our
best and be brave, we can get back into the game and we did so well to do
that and get something from this game. "I think that I was in the right
position for the corner. One corner earlier, I missed my chance, so I said
to myself I will go there for the next one and if the balls comes, try to
get the ball and win it and it was good to do that."

Without a win in two in the Premier League, however, West Ham are in need of
a performance at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace on Saturday and
Ogbonna believes his side can use the confidence gained at Wembley to pick
up points. "It's given us a good mentality going into the next match, it's
given us confidence," he explained. "We showed really good form [against
Tottenham] so we are excited for the match. "It's important for us. [Palace]
are a different type of team to Tottenham in the style they play, but we
know it will be tough. "We have to look step-by-step and not talk too early.
We have to make sure that we are doing it on the pitch."

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Betway Insider's View of the Opposition: Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com

Fresh from their brilliant comeback against Spurs in the EFL Cup on
Wednesday, West Ham have their sights on a second London away win in the
space of four days this weekend. Interestingly, it was actually against
Crystal Palace that the Hammers picked up their first three points on the
road last season, winning at Selhurst Park for the third successive season.
And, given the Eagles' struggles so far this time around, Slaven Bilic's
side have good reason to feel confident of extending that winning run.
Palace are bottom of the league after accruing just three points from their
first nine matches, with a shock result against Chelsea earlier this month
not proving to be the turning point that some predicted. Their defeat away
to Newcastle last weekend was the eighth time in nine matches this season
that they have lost without scoring a goal. It was also the second time
under Roy Hodgson that they have failed to register a single shot on target,
an inevitable side effect of the former England manager's early attempts to
tighten them up at the back. So, with Christian Benteke still injured and
Wilfried Zaha feeling his way back from injury, another clean sheet for West
Ham's defence – who twice shut out their opponents last season – is more
than achievable.

Particularly considering how little Palace's fringe players did to state
their case on Tuesday, after being thrashed 4-1 by Championship side Bristol
City. West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini showed signs in midweek that he is
getting back up to full speed after his own spell on the sidelines, with two
assists to help swing the tie at Wembley. The Argentine has a remarkable
scoring record against Palace, with a goal in each of his four appearances
against them. And, considering that 11 of the 19 goals their hosts have
conceded so far this season have been scored by midfielders popping up in
the box, it is he who may well prove the biggest danger to Palace's
vulnerable defence.

Recommended bets:

West Ham to win – 9/4
West Ham to keep a clean sheet – 5/2
Manuel Lanzini to score at any time – 11/4

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Rice: Beating Spurs was the best night of my life!
WHUFC.com

Declan Rice says West Ham United are targeting a maiden Carabao Cup triumph
after overcoming Tottenham Hotspur on the 'best night' of his life. The
teenager returned to the starting XI at Wembley Stadium and helped the
Hammers recover from two goals down at half-time to win 3-2 and set up a
quarter-final tie at Arsenal. Rice could hardly contain his delight at
playing his part in a night that will live long in the memories of everyone
associated with the Club. "Being my first game at Wembley, after coming here
to watch as a fan many, many times, to get onto the pitch and beat Tottenham
was an amazing moment for me," he said.
"After the first half, most people thought we were down and out, but we had
a big get-together at half-time in the changing room and second half we came
out and showed what we're about. "I've never been part of something like
this before. I can't stop smiling. It's the best night of my life!"

Arsenal will host the Hammers in the fifth round in the week before
Christmas and Rice sees no reason why Slaven Bilic's side cannot complete a
north London double. But before that, there is the not insignificant matter
of Saturday's Premier League fixture at bottom side Crystal Palace. "We're
into the quarter-finals now and that makes Wednesday's result even more
important. We said at the start of the season that we wanted to have a
really good cup run and we've had three good results now and it is Arsenal
up next. "We're really confident, especially after beating a top side like
Spurs. We watched them against Liverpool on Sunday and they were
frightening, but we stopped that and everyone was unbelievable. "Without a
doubt, now we've beaten Spurs, it'll give us confidence going into a big
game at Crystal Palace on Saturday because the camp is buzzing."

Reflecting on the personal experience of facing a top team at the Home of
Football, the 18-year-old was proud, not only of the way West Ham came back,
but defended their lead in the closing stages. "It was kind of one of those
games where you think to yourself 'There are fans here, people are watching,
we're Premier League footballers and we don't want to embarrass ourselves,
so we've got to come out and show what we're really all about', and in the
second half that's what we did. "We had us three (Rice, Cheikhou Kouyate and
Angelo Ogbonna) and Andy [Carroll] dropping in at times at the end. I've
never experienced anything like that, with Premier League stars on top of
me. "It was amazing to be marking those types of players, taking in how they
move. It was a great experience for me."

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Pask: Home support can push us to U23 Manchester City glory
WHUFC.com

Josh Pask hopes the home support for West Ham United's U23s can help them to
victory when they face Manchester City at Dagenham and Redbridge's Chigwell
Construction Stadium on Saturday. Terry Westley's side have put together a
good run of form in the last few games, recording wins over the likes of
Sunderland and Manchester United as well as a goalless draw against Chelsea
in their last Premier League 2 clash. And the centre-back hopes that can
continue when the Sky Blues are visitors to east London on Saturday. He
said: "Hopefully we get a good turnout on Saturday because the first team
are away and it really helps the whole team and means a lot when the fans
are in support of us. "When there is a crowd there to cheer you on, it means
a lot and it has definitely helped us at times in the last couple of seasons
at Dagenham. "We have picked up some really good results recently and
hopefully that can keep going against Manchester City. The boys have been
excellent so far and we are confident going into any game we play."

The Hammers' youngsters have struggled early on in games recently, conceding
early goals to the likes of Villarreal and Manchester United but Pask, and
the rest of the side, were delighted to shut out Chelsea in their 0-0 draw
on Sunday. "It was something that had been the talk of the week leading up
to Chelsea so it was really important for us," continued the centre back.
"Early on, we have struggled recently so that was really important to us
that we stood strong and kept it tight against Chelsea, not just in the
first half but throughout the match. "There has been a couple of injuries in
defence recently, so it has been really good for everyone to have Dec [Rice]
back in the side in defence, and really good for me for him to be alongside
me. "It's helped solidify the back four and we were delighted to get a clean
sheet against Chelsea – Dec's former club."

West Ham face Man City at the Dagenham on Saturday, and supporters not
making the trip to watch Slaven Bilic's first team take on Crystal Palace
can support the U23s for free providing they are Season Ticket Holders.
Alternatively, adult tickets are priced at £5 and concessions are £3 at the
Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Despite the tough task the north west provide, Pask is keen to reward any
supporters who offer their support in east London on Saturday. "We want to
show the fans how much they mean to us," he said. "City are a good side, but
I just will go out there and do my job as best as i can. "I believe all the
boys will do the same and hopefully the outcome will result in a win, for us
and the fans that are there on Saturday."

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Crystal Palace v West Ham United
SAT, 28 OCT 2017PREMIER LEAGUE
15:00
Venue: Selhurst Park

West Ham's Manuel Lanzini has scored in each of the last four Premier League
matches against Crystal Palace

TEAM NEWS

Crystal Palace are assessing the fitness of James McArthur and Lee
Chung-yong, who have both been receiving treatment this week.

Christian Benteke remains injured and is not scheduled to return for at
least another four weeks.

Forward Michail Antonio will have a fitness test on the rib injury which
ruled him out of West Ham's Carabao Cup win on Tuesday.

Defender James Collins remains sidelined with an ankle problem.

Forward Andy Carroll is available for league action after serving a
one-match suspension while Andre Ayew is among those pushing for a recall
after impressing against Tottenham.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Simon Brotherton: "West Ham were narrow 1-0 winners in this fixture 12
months ago and we can expect a keenly-fought encounter this weekend in front
of a noisy full house at Selhurst Park.

"Wednesday's Carabao Cup comeback win at Wembley over Tottenham was a major
boost for the Hammers and their beleaguered manager Slaven Bilic, but it
won't mean much if they slip up again here.

"Palace saw off the champions Chelsea, and deservedly so, in their last home
match. If they can play to that level on something like a consistent basis,
they'll soon start moving up the table."

Twitter: @SimonBrotheron

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: "I think there is a belief which is
growing, there is a faith in what they are trying to do as a team.

"Training sessions are one thing, though, matches on a Saturday are a
different thing. We're not judged on how well we do in training, we're
judged on winning on Saturday or not."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I know our situation, our situation also
determines my situation. All I can say is it is a massively important game
and we have to get some points after we lost against Brighton at home.

"There are rumours... I talk to the chairman, not every day, but often
enough and I know my situation and I know our situation. But I am totally
focused on the things that I can influence and that is only the training,
talking to the players, and the game.

"I am totally focused on the game because only with that in your head can
you improve and affect those kind of rumours."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Crystal Palace were unlucky to lose at Newcastle in their last game - they
had enough of the play, and enough chances, to take something from the game
but could not convert any of them.

If the Eagles play like that again, they will get something out of this one.

Prediction: 1-1

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Crystal Palace have won only one of the last six Premier League meetings
between the clubs, losing four.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last four league matches with Palace (W3,
D1).
The Hammers earned a league double over the Eagles last season, with Manuel
Lanzini scoring the only goal at Selhurst Park last October.
Crystal Palace

Palace have lost 12 of their last 14 league matches, failing to score in any
of those defeats.
The Eagles have been beaten in 29 league matches in 2017, failing to score
in 17 of them.
This is the third occasion that Palace have started a top-flight season with
one win and eight defeats in their opening nine league matches.
They are the only Premier League side yet to keep a clean sheet.
West Ham United

West Ham are winless in five away league matches this season, drawing two
and losing three.
Their tally of eight points after nine Premier League matches is their
lowest in seven years.
The Hammers have conceded a league-high three penalties, all of which have
resulted in goals.
Under Slaven Bilic, West Ham have conceded 18 penalties in the Premier
League - four more than any other side.
They have conceded five headed goals this season, more than any other side.
Follow Match of the Day on Instagram for the best photos from the world of
football.

SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-1 Probability of draw: 28%
Probability of home win: 41% Probability of away win: 31%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale
at the University of Liverpool hat is used to predict the outcome of
football matches.

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West Ham boss hails Ayew as a 'game changer'
By Stanley Kwenda
BBC Sport

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says Andre Ayew is a "game changer" who can
help the struggling Premier League side rise up the table. Bilic said the
Ghanaian's performance in West Ham's Carabao Cup win against Tottenham on
Wednesday is exactly why he sanctioned a big money move to bring him to the
London club.
"It's me who wanted Andre to join us from Swansea," Bilic told BBC Sport. "I
rate Andre very highly. He's a great player. He was the game changer."

Ayew inspired West Ham to an unlikely win against Tottenham in the Carabao
Cup, scoring two quick-fire goals that sparked West Ham's revival in a 3-2
win.
The West Ham boss is hoping Ayew can add to his two league goals this season
when the Hammers travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday. "He's got that
(knack) for goals," said Bilic. "He's always in a good position at the right
time."

Ayew joined West Ham in August 2016 for around £20m after scoring 15 goals
in his debut Premier League season with Swansea City. The Croatian now wants
his form to continue as his side seek to rise up the Premier League
following a poor start. After nine games, West Ham lie 16th in the table and
are only out of the relegation zone thanks to their goal difference. "I told
him I want him to continue like this - not only scoring, but his game
overall. It's a big boost and I hope it's going to continue," said Bilic.
Just like his manager, Ayew has been under a lot of pressure to perform with
West Ham fans criticising his recent performances. He also recently lost his
place in Ghana's national team, overlooked for the last World Cup qualifier
against Uganda. Bilic, however, is tipping him to regain his form for both
club and country. "Players are always questioned, especially big ones like
Andre," said the Croatian. "For young people, it's not easy to be under that
kind of pressure but he's very strong in his head. He's very mature. "He's
been around for a long time in different countries, and also with Ghana. I
haven't been to Ghana but I can imagine how big the pressure he is under
when he's there for World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers." Ghana,
who can no longer qualify for Russia 2018, play their final qualifier at
home to Egypt next month.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WHAT WENT WRONG AGAINST BRIGHTON AND CANNOT BE REPEATED!!
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 27 OCTOBER 2017 AT 10:02AM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer

Editor's note: Before I write this can I just say that Fareham wrote the
article on Monday and because of the radio show and the Spurs match I have
only just got round to putting this on. It's well written and deserves to
be published but of course didn't then take into account we have beaten
Spurs since it was written. I think it is important to see the clear
differences between Fareham's great summary here of the Brighton game and
what made the second half against Spurs so much better.

Mama put the guns in the ground.

I can't shoot them anymore.

That cold black cloud is coming down.

Feels like I'm knocking on Heaven's door.

Knock-knock-knocking on Heaven's door.

The words of the song boomed through the Fareham precinct this morning, as
shopping was being done. Appropriate word's for every West Ham supporter on
Friday night! After that fiasco many would have come to the conclusion that
this is a black cloud too many. "I'm finished with this mob! Not coming back
until Bilic, The Board, The Players or whoever you blamed for the fiasco
have left The Club".

On Twitter supporters voiced their fury out on said individuals. We are
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, to vent our fury regards Friday nights shambles! But
unfortunately for us as supporters, there is no escape. West Ham is in the
blood It's a way of life. Almost like a couple who have had a furious bust
up, the one half knocks on the door and sheepishly says "Can we talk?" The
person comes in, they talk, and five minutes later they are holding hands
again. Same with us Hammers. Finished on Friday night, but back on board by
Sunday.

It is clear something is seriously amiss at The Club. I don't know if there
was more to the HMRC raid than we were led to believe. There may even be bad
blood between Sullivan and Bilic over Payet. I don't think Sullivan had any
intention of selling Payet. He had just given him a loyalty bonus. When
Slaven went public, Sullivan was left with no option but to sell the player.
This is just speculation but something is rotten at The Club and things need
to be sorted quickly or we will go down. If we did go down, we could well
land up like Coventry.

The Board are not going to sack Bilic. It's a myth that Gold and Sullivan
never sack a manager. The only reason why they don't sack them is because
they won't pay compensation. As for the tear jerker "The Board are worried
about the quality of manager available", yeah right! Just like "The
Portuguese are difficult to deal with in the transfer window". What a load
of crap! As with everything regards our Board, money is the issue. Enticing
a good manager from a Club would involve having to pay compensation. No
chance!

Anyway, I will revisit The Board in the not too distant future. However,
when I see some of the managerial 'candidates' suggested by fans on twitter
I cringe: Di Canio, Dicks, Kevin Nolan, some even calling for the ultimate
football prostitute, Harry Redknapp, to return. We are NOT that desperate!

I do have a certain amount of sympathy for The Board for the situation they
find themselves in. Sacking the manager is just one side of the story. If we
brought in the likes of Benitez, Pellegrini, Mancini, or any other big name
manager, they will demand a large transfer war chest for the January
transfer window. 40-50M is a conservative estimate. A lot of dough for a
growing Club like ourselves. If they go the other way and appoint someone
like Sean Dyche or Eddie Howe, there is a reasonable chance things could go
belly up big time. Dyche has limited managerial experience, in charge
nowhere bar Burnley. As for Eddie Howe, ironically the only other Club he
has managed other than Bournemouth has been Burnley. At the latter he most
certainly was not a success.

Like Dyche and Howe, Owen Coyle, Tony Mowbray and Phil Parkinson were hyped
up as young managers headed to the very top. Sadly they are now history.
West Ham simply cannot afford to gamble. I will say it again, Brendan
Rodgers is the one. He can work with a budget, plays attractive football,
and gives youth a chance. I think The Board could well get him now if they
wanted to.

The worst thing about Friday night was that no one could see it coming. We
seemed to have turned the corner and were on the way up, having played some
beautiful football at Burnley in patches. Then we absolutely imploded like
an alcoholic suffering a relapse. This has been the case too often under
Slaven Bilic. We can spend the whole day pointing fingers at this person or
that person, but that won't solve anything. Collectively Bilic, Players, and
Owners are all to blame! The Club is in permanent decline! "This is just
simply not true" some maintain. We have one of the best squads we have in
recent memory. And for the first time in the best part of two decades we
have some quality players coming through from the youth set up. However that
is no good if we produce performances likeFriday Night.

They say that money is the root of all evil but as far as our squad is
concerned money has definitely played a contributing role in the low squad
morale. Wages! When you get the likes of Snodgrass, Fonte, Arnautovic and
Hernandez on huge wages and bonuses, yet you have Mark Noble on £45,000,
Kouyate on £27,000, and Lanzini on £40,000. Then you get the likes of Sakho
on virtual peanuts. Are you telling me there are no camps and division and
resentment in the squad? There must be! It's a bit like you and I working
for a company for ten years, then the company brings in someone to do the
same job as you and gives them double your wages. Of course you would be
pissed off! Upgrading contracts will go a long way towards lifting squad
morale. Do it now, and lift the morale!

What of the manager and his coaching staff? Well, we cannot let it go on
like this! The players don't look fit. Even a workhorse like Antonio looked
exhausted after 20 minutes. The squad looked as though they were strangers
who never had played together before. Bilic resembled a punch drunk boxer,
standing on the touchline not having a clue how to change things. Good
players don't become bad players overnight. Neither do players go on to the
pitch and think "F*** Bilic, I'm going to play s*** today". It's all about
confidence. The manager loses confidence and obviously it has a knock on
effect with the players. A fresh face often gives a team a boost, gradually
raising everyones confidence. If I was Sullivan I would give Terry Westley a
duel role. Head of The Academy, as well as Director of Football at The Club.
He needs to be able to give an input as far as the first team squad affairs
are concerned, as well as running The Academy. We would then hopefully see a
couple of our youth players given a chance to showcase their talents. Just
thinking about some of the youth coming through lifts the gloom.

It is true that Bilic may not want the likes of Westley or anyone else as
Director of Football. In that case he should do the honourable thing and
resign. Either way, whether it be via Director of Football or managerial,
change is coming. So it should be! It is ridiculous that we find ourselves
in the position we are in the first place. However we shall overcome!

We are more than a football club!

We're a way of life!

COYI!!

Farehamhammer!!!

(Edited By Danny Twigg)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rice: the camp is buzzing
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 27th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

Declan Rice says that beating Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday night was
the highlight of his fledgling career. The 18-year-old defender played the
full 90 minutes as West Ham sent Spurs crashing out of the competition
thanks to a superb second half comeback, having been 2-0 behind at half
time. And Rice - who has made seven first team appearances since his full
debut at Burnley on the opening day of last season - was in no doubt that it
was the finest moment he is yet to experience. "After coming to Wembley as a
fan to watch many, many times, to get onto the pitch and beat Tottenham was
an amazing moment for me," he told West Ham's website. "After the first
half, most people thought we were down and out - but we had a big
get-together at half-time in the changing room and, in the second half, came
out and showed what we're about. "I've never been part of something like
this before. I can't stop smiling. It's the best night of my life!"

Although Rice is likely to return to the bench for tomorrow trip to Crystal
Palace, he firmly believes that Wednesday's win at Wembley will provide a
springboard to better things for the squad. "We said at the start of the
season that we wanted to have a really good cup run and we've had three good
results now," he added. "We're really confident, especially after beating a
top side like Spurs. "Without a doubt, now we've beaten Spurs, it'll give
us confidence going into a big game at Crystal Palace on Saturday because
the camp is buzzing."

Meanwhile Wednesday night's match winner, Angelo Ogbonna, also feels that
the confidence boost from beating Spurs on their own turf will prove
instrumental.
"It's given us a good mentality going into the next match and it's given us
confidence," he added. "We showed really good form so we are excited for the
match [against Palace]. "It's important for us. They are a different type of
team to Tottenham in the style they play, but we know it will be tough. We
have to take it step-by-step and make sure that we are doing it on the
pitch."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tufnell refutes 'fix' allegations
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 27th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

Former cricketer Phil Tufnell had denied charges of foul play relating to
the Carabao Cup quarter final draw in which he was involved yesterday.
Tufnell, along with former England rugby union international Matt Dawson
conducted the draw in secret after it was claimed that plans to broadcast it
live fell through due to a "technical hitch" at Twitter UK. And the former
England international spin bowler responded to the furore this morning by
insisting that the draw was perfectly legitimate - and that claims it had
been delayed due to his poor-timekeeping were also wide of the mark. "I
understand football fans' frustrations yesterday due to the delay in the
Carabao Cup quarter-final draw due to technical issues that were beyond both
Matt's and my control," said the Arsenal-supporting Tufnell, in a statement.
"However, due to the outpouring on Twitter where some suggested the delay
was likely due to my lateness, I feel I need to clarify this was certainly
not the case. "In fact, despite sledging by not only members of the general
public but also people within the media suggesting it's my 'form' to be
late, I actually pride myself on my time-keeping and arrived at the venue in
good time. "'Further, I totally refute ludicrous allegations that I would be
involved in anything not above board. Matt and I pulled out the balls in
front of various representatives who from my understanding were official
adjudicators! "Worse, for people to accuse me of anything untoward disgusts
and upsets me. I'm a football fan and former sportsman that was excited and
honoured to be asked to be a part of this and took the role seriously. "If
you have any further issues with this please take it up with the organisers
of this event and not me!"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic focused on football not future
By Richard Cooke
Last Updated: 27/10/17 2:16pm
SSN

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says he knows his situation and talks
regularly to the chairman but he is focused on playing Palace and not his
future.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic insists he is not thinking about the rumours
that persist about his future. Bilic has been under increasing pressure with
the team winning just two of their nine league games this season, the 3-0
defeat at home to Brighton last Friday leaving them 16th in the table ahead
of Saturday's trip Crystal Palace. West Ham's stunning comeback to beat
Tottenham 3-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday when they were 2-0 down at
half-time has gone some way to ease the pressure on Bilic, but he is under
no illusions that defeat at bottom club Palace would up the ante again. He
said: "I know our situation, our situation also determines my situation. All
I can say is that it is a massively important game and we have to get some
points after we lost against Brighton at home. "There are rumours and all
that. I talk to the chairman, not every day, but often enough and I know my
situation and I know our situation. "But I am totally focused on the things
that I can influence and that is only the training, talking to the players,
and the game. I am totally focused on the game because only with that in
your head can you improve and affect those kind of rumours."
Bilic was delighted by the resilience his side showed at Wembley in midweek
and he is hoping they can carry that momentum into their league campaign.
"For the next game it is very important," he added. "We want to continue
like that and we want to use that kind of a win, and self-confidence now,
when we approach the game tomorrow. "But tomorrow is a new game and
definitely we are in a position to build on something that was good only a
couple of days ago. It's a game of massive importance and we have to show
the same quality and character."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Crystal Palace v West Ham preview: James McArthur a doubt for Palace
Last Updated: 27/10/17 2:05pm
SSN

Crystal Palace are hopeful James McArthur will be available to face West Ham
on Saturday. The midfielder has been undergoing treatment all week in a bid
to be fit to face the Hammers, who, like Palace, have struggled in the
Premier League this season. Palace have just one win from nine games while
West Ham have only won twice. The two sides are coming off contrasting
results in the Carabao Cup in midweek, though, with Palace losing 4-1 to
Championship side Bristol City and the Hammers coming from 2-0 down to beat
Tottenham 3-2 at Wembley. "Wednesday night's game should set the standard
for us, in terms of closing teams down, in terms of compactness, in terms of
team play, in terms of sacrificing everything for the team," said West Ham
manager Slaven Bilic, whose position has been under scrutiny this week. "We
will win some games and we will lose some games, but I am quite confident we
are on a good way."

Team news

West Ham will have Andy Carroll available after he was banned for the defeat
to Brighton last week, but Andre Ayew will be pushing to start after scoring
twice against Tottenham. Michail Antonio faces a late fitness test after
missing the win at Wembley due to a bruised rib. Defender James Collins
remains sidelined because of an ankle problem.

McArthur will face a late fitness test for Palace while Lee Chung-yong has
been sent for a scan after receiving a nasty kick in the defeat at Bristol
City on Tuesday, so remains doubtful. Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham
are both out.

Opta stats

Crystal Palace have lost their last three home games against West Ham in
league competition, their longest losing run versus the Hammers on home
soil.

West Ham are unbeaten in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace under
Slaven Bilic (W3 D1 L0).

Crystal Palace have lost 12 of their last 14 Premier League games to nil.
Over 2017 as a whole, 17 of their 29 Premier League games have seen them
lose without scoring.

Manuel Lanzini has scored in all four of his Premier League games against
Crystal Palace (four goals). Lanzini has netted more Premier League goals vs
the Eagles than any other West Ham player and nine of his 14 Premier League
goals have come in London derby matches (64%). Only Riyad Mahrez (50) has
attempted more dribbles this season than Palace's Andros Townsend & West
Ham's Michail Antonio (both 43). However, the Palace winger has beaten his
opponent with 30 of these (70%) while Antonio has only been successful with
13 (30%).

Merson's prediction

West Ham will get a massive amount of belief from beating Tottenham and
Crystal Palace, who lost a six-pointer to Newcastle, just got hammered 4-1
by Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. I know they didn't put out a full team
but you don't lose by that many to a Championship side. You need to start
building your confidence.
Any fan wants to see desire, a bit of heart, and West Ham showed that in the
second half at Wembley. Fair play to them, I can't imagine too many of the
players wanted to come back onto the pitch 2-0 down at half-time but to
rally and win the match is impressive.

Paul predicts: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Betting

Crystal Palace are 13/10 favourites against fellow strugglers West Ham, who
can be backed at 21/10 with the draw on offer at 23/10.

Wilfried Zaha is 5/1 favourite to open the scoring, with the Hammers' Javier
Hernandez 6/1. It's 9/1 for no goals in this one.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MATCH PREVIEW: CRYSTAL PALACE V WEST HAM
By Dan Coker 27 Oct 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Blast from the past

Today's blast from the past involves a trip back to 28th March 1910 when
West Ham United enjoyed a 4-2 Southern League First Division victory over
Crystal Palace in front of 20,000. Edward VII had fallen very ill in Paris
with bronchitis and was in the last six weeks of his life and reign, Bela
Bartok's 'String Quartet No.1' had premiered in Budapest nine days earlier
and, ten days before the game, the first cinematic version of Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein had been released in the United States by Edison Studios,
becoming one of the first ever horror films.

This Easter Monday match was West Ham's third of four games in five days –
they had beaten Palace 3-1 at home in the reverse fixture on Good Friday,
lost 2-1 at Millwall on Easter Saturday and went on to win 1-0 at Southend
on Tuesday 29th March. I wonder how Jose Mourinho would cope with such a
schedule! Legendary Hammers goal-getter Danny Shea was on the scoresheet at
the Crystal Palace Stadium (the pre-Wembley home of the FA Cup Final), as
was outside-right Herbert 'Tiddler' Ashton. Shea would end the 1909/10
season as the Irons' top scorer with 31 goals in 43 games and Ashton would
make 336 appearances for the Hammers but it was a lesser-known light who
stole the show against our south London neighbours.


23-year-old Albert Scanes (pictured) made his debut during this game and
outshone both Shea and Ashton on the day. Born in Stepney on 19th December
1886 and signed from Barking as an understudy to West Ham's first ever
England international George Webb, whose business commitments often
prevented him from appearing for the Hammers, Scanes bagged a brace on his
debut to help the Hammers to this 4-2 victory over the Glaziers. He would
play only three games for West Ham, scoring three goals, with his other
strike coming in a 1-0 home victory over Northampton twelve days later. He
would move on to Croydon Common in 1911 and was a wood machinist in later
life. He passed away in 1972 at the age of 85.

Syd King's Hammers would finish ninth in the Southern League First Division
in 1909/10, while the Glaziers would end the campaign in seventh place, one
point and two places above the Irons. Brighton were promoted from the
division to the Football League as champions. Aston Villa won the league
title and Newcastle won the FA Cup.

West Ham United: George Kitchen, Fred Shreeve, Bob Fairman, Robert Whiteman,
Fred Massey, Tommy Randall, Herbert Ashton, Danny Shea, Albert Scanes, Fred
Blackburn, Thomas Caldwell.

Club Connections

Jose Fonte returns to Selhurst Park, while West Ham United Academy product
and 2012 Hammer of the Year runner-up James Tomkins could feature for
Crystal Palace. A large group of players have turned out for the Hammers and
the Eagles. Divided here by position, they include:

Goalkeepers: Perry Suckling, Steve Mautone, Vincent Blore.

Defenders: Eddie Presland, Kenny Brown, Malcolm Pyke, Alf Noakes, Bill
Roberts, Neil Ruddock, Paul Brush, Danny Gabbidon, Chris Powell, Alan
Stephenson, Tony Gale, Matthew Upson, Darren Powell.

Midfielders: Jimmy Wood, Anton Otulakowski, Hayden Mullins, Derek Jackman,
Carl Fletcher, Harry Gunning, Jobi McAnuff, Fred Norris, Trevor Dawkins,
Kyel Reid, Ray Houghton, Michael Hughes.

Strikers: Joe Johnson, Ron Williams, Ian Wright, Andy Smillie, Jeroen Boere,
Johnny Cartwright, Johnny Byrne, Peter Simpson, Clive Allen, Dave
Swindlehurst, Paul Kitson, Ron Brett, Dave Sexton, Marouane Chamakh, George
Petchey, Freddie Sears.

Malcolm Allison and Jack Tresadern played for the Hammers and managed the
Eagles, while Iain Dowie played for both clubs and also managed Palace. Alan
Pardew played for the Eagles and managed both clubs. Sam Allardyce has also
managed both clubs.

Today's focus though is on a current Nigeria international winger. Victor
Moses was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 12th December 1990, the son of a
Christian pastor. When Victor was just 11 years old in 2002 and playing in
the street with a football bound together with sticky tape, his parents
Austin and Josephine were attacked in their home and murdered. Religious
riots between the Muslim majority and Christian minority divided Nigeria and
Moses' father, who had his own church, was a target. The orphaned Victor was
hidden by his uncle for a week after the murder before he was flown to
England for his own safety to seek asylum.

Moses, who was coached by former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Colin Pates
while at school in Croydon, was offered a place in Crystal Palace's Academy
and scored 50 goals in one season for the Under-14s. He made his first team
debut at the age of 16 on 6th November 2007 in a 1-1 draw with Cardiff. His
first goal for the club arrived on 12th March 2008 in a 1-1 draw with West
Brom. Moses made 16 appearances as the Eagles reached the Championship
play-offs and signed a new contract with Neil Warnock's men at the end of
the season.

The winger scored twice in 32 matches in 2008/09 but Palace plummeted to
finish in 15th position. Moses went on a run of scoring six goals in eight
matches in the first half of 2009/10 and, as Palace went into administration
in January 2010, the 20-year-old Moses was sold to Premier League Wigan for
£2.5m. He had scored 11 goals for Crystal Palace in 69 appearances.

Moses spent two and a half years at Wigan before signing for Chelsea in
August 2012. He made a loan move to Liverpool the next summer, spending the
2013/14 season at Anfield before another season-long loan move to Stoke
materialised for 2014/15.

A third season-long loan took him to Slaven Bilic's West Ham United on 1st
September 2015 but not before the 24-year-old Moses had signed a four-year
contract with Chelsea, his parent club. He made his debut in a 2-0 home win
over Newcastle on 14th September 2015 and scored his first goal for the
Hammers in his next match five days later, the opener in our terrific 2-1
triumph at Manchester City.

An injury sustained at Old Trafford in early December, coupled with the
emergence of Michail Antonio as a force in his stead, curtailed Moses'
progress but he did score his second goal for the Irons in our 5-1 FA Cup
fifth round win at Blackburn on 21st February 2016. His final appearance for
the club was as a substitute on the final day of last season in the 2-1
defeat at Stoke. Having scored twice in 26 matches for West Ham United,
Moses returned to Chelsea.

Moses, now 26, was a revelation for Antonio Conte's title-winning Blues last
season in the right wing-back position. He has also scored nine goals in 27
appearances for Nigeria since making his debut in 2012, having appeared for
England at youth levels.

Referee

The referee on Saturday will be Bobby Madley. The Yorkshire-based official
will take charge of a West Ham game for the eighth time in the Premier
League, having also refereed our 2-1 victory at Manchester City in September
2015 and our 2-0 home win over Liverpool in January 2016. Madley's most
controversial appointment with the Irons saw him award Chelsea a last-minute
penalty at Stamford Bridge in March 2016 which saw the Blues salvage a 2-2
draw – replays showed that Michail Antonio's foul on Reuben Loftus-Cheek had
occurred outside the penalty area.

The 32-year-old refereed four Hammers matches last season, those being the
1-0 home wins against Sunderland in October and Burnley in December, as well
as the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth in March, when he awarded the home side two
penalties which were both missed, and the final day 2-1 win at Burnley.
Madley was also the man in the middle on a previous occasion when the
Hammers travelled to Burnley – Matt Taylor and Jack Collison converted one
spot-kick each in a 2-0 League Cup fourth round win at Turf Moor in October
2013, while Keith Treacy was sent off for the hosts for his involvement in
the second penalty incident.

Possible line-ups

Crystal Palace will be without injured midfielder Chung-Yong Lee, as well as
strikers Connor Wickham and Christian Benteke. Roy Hodgson also has a doubt
over James McArthur, who faces a late fitness test.

Slaven Bilic has seen a number of players put themselves into contention for
a starting spot after Wednesday night's win over Tottenham. James Collins,
Michail Antonio and Diafra Sakho could all be unavailable. West Ham will be
aiming for their fourth consecutive win at Selhurst Park.

Possible Crystal Palace XI: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Sakho, van Aanholt; Sako,
Milivojevic, Cabaye, Schlupp; Townsend, Zaha.

Possible West Ham United XI: Hart; Fonte, Reid, Ogbonna; Zabaleta, Noble,
Kouyate, Cresswell; Lanzini, Chicharito, Ayew.

Enjoy the game – Up The Hammers!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM STARLET'S LONG WAIT FOR FIRST TEAM ACTION COULD BE ABOUT TO END
Date: 27th October 2017 at 5:15pm
Written by: David Tully
Forever WestHam

German newspaper Express are tipping on loan West Ham defender Reece Oxford
to make his first appearance for Borussia Monchengladbach this weekend.

There has been speculation that the centre back could return to the Hammers
due to a lack of game time, but the player has spoken out in recent weeks
that he wants to remain on loan.

The German club have the joint worst defensive record in the Bundesliga,
conceding 17 goals in their first nine games, but manager Dieter Hecking has
so far failed to select Oxford for any competitive match this season. The
England under 20 international has been on the bench for every league game
this season but was not included in the squad for Tuesday's German Cup tie
against Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Express suggest the 18 year old's absence was a good sign that he may be
selected to start against Hoffenheim tomorrow afternoon. Changes are
expected in the defence for the game after Gladbach were hammered 5-1 by
Bayer Leverkusen last weekend. The Bundesliga side are currently eighth in
the league heading into the match.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 27th October 2017

Hammers drawn to face Arsenal in Carabao Cup quarter-finals
WHUFC.com

West Ham United have been drawn to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the
Carabao Cup. The Hammers will travel to Emirates Stadium for the last-eight
tie, which will be played in the week commencing 18 December. Slaven Bilic's
men booked their place in the quarter-finals with a thrilling comeback
victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. Trailing at the break to goals
from Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli, the Hammers came roaring back with Andre
Ayew's double and Angelo Obgonna's header sealing a 3-2 victory. Arsenal,
meanwhile, left it late to overcome Norwich City in their fourth round tie
on Tuesday, cancelling out Josh Murphy's opener through a debut double from
Edward Nketiah.

Carabao Cup quarter-final draw

Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal v West Ham United
Leicester City v Manchester City
Bristol City v Manchester United

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cresswell: Spurs win gives us momentum and confidence
WHUFC.com

West Ham United need to use the momentum Wednesday night's comeback win
against Tottenham Hotspur provided when they face Crystal Palace on
Saturday, according to full-back Aaron Cresswell. The Hammers came from two
goals behind to beat their London rivals at Wembley in the Carabao Cup
thanks to Andre Ayew's double and Angelo Ogbonna's headed winner. And with a
massive Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace to come on Saturday,
Cresswell thinks the victory has given his side a huge amount of confidence
going into their second consecutive London derby. He said: "Beating a team
like Tottenham is great because they're a fantastic team. It gives us
momentum and confidence. We have to take that momentum into Saturday because
Palace are fighting for their lives.
"Every game is massive. It's not as if one game is more important - every
game is. We want to get three points and push up that league. "Obviously we
read and hear these things [in the press] but as professionals, we have to
deal with that in a positive way and nights like these hopefully turn these
things away and we're looking forward to the Crystal Palace game now."

Cresswell was a constant threat for the Hammers particularly in the second
period, crossing dangerously from the left on a number of occasions to put
the hosts under pressure. It was the full-back's initial delivery which was
only half cleared before Manuel Lanzini set up Ayew's second - the Hammers'
equaliser. However it was the third goal, and particularly the resulting
celebrations, which Cresswell particularly enjoyed on the famous Wembley
evening. "For the third, I turned round and I think Adrian had got to Angelo
before I could even get there!" the England international laughed. "I turned
round and there he was! "You could see how delighted we all were with the
win. After the second goal went in, the momentum really swung our way. "It
wasn't good enough first half from us but second half was a different game.
Once we got that first goal, it felt like we could go onto win. It was a
strange match. "I spoke to Nobes [Mark Noble] about it; when the first goal
went in, we knew we were coming. We were on the front foot from there. "At
half time, we all pulled together and realised it was unacceptable, so we
game out fighting and we turned the game around. To do that in the way we
did and to get into the next round was brilliant."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bilic: Hard work, taking opportunities and setting the standard for Saturday
WHUFC.com

Manager Slaven Bilic was in good form in his post-match press conference
following West Ham United's 3-2 Carabao Cup fourth-round win over Tottenham
Hotspur at Wembley. The Croatian praised his players for their work-rate,
commitment and quality and challenged them to show the same qualities in
Saturday's Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Here is what he had to say...

We definitely put the hard work in at Wembley

I was asked before the match to comment on the statistics which Sky Sports
showed after our defeat by Brighton on Friday, which said we had run and
sprinted less than any other Premier League team this season. Nobody can say
we did not run and sprint on Wednesday. And nothing effects the running of
any football team, their closing down and their tempo, with or without the
ball, as much as goals do. We scored the first goal and, all of a sudden, we
were in the rhythm and they were a little bit not in a rhythm, then the
second goal came. Of course, we could still have gone on to lose the game
3-2 or 4-2, but it was us who was in charge and, to be fair, the lads
deserved it.

It was a great night for the Club.

In my opinion, whatever anyone says, we won the game, rather than Spurs lost
it. Mauricio Pochettino knows his Spurs team better than me and, if he
thinks their level dropped in the second half, fair enough. They don't
concede three goals very often - I don't remember the last time when they
did - and when he says they were a little bit 'Job done' and took it easy,
it is very hard to come back in a game, and that's what happened. OK, maybe
that happened a bit, but nothing can take one per cent from our guys. We
showed it and we deserved it. Maybe they gave us the opportunity to attack
them five against four or four against three, but still it's not easy to
score three goals against Spurs away.


We put things right in the dressing room at half-time

I said after the game, both to the television and the radio reporters and
then to the press, that our first half was not, for me, that bad. The result
was very, very bad, but I also saw a lot of good things from us. We were
passing the ball from the back and we were coming through into good areas,
but our crossing or passing in the final third of the pitch was very bad and
our movement in their penalty area was not good enough. So, at half-time, I
told them that the result was very bad, to calm down and to do some things
better when we had the ball, and Manuel Lanzini and Edi Fernandes to close
down Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli when they had the ball and I told one of
the strikers he has to be on Eric Dier, who had a lot of time and space in
the first half. I also told them that, when we had the ball, we had to show
more bravery and more quality with our crosses and all that, that we were
very much in the game and the next goal would be the decisive one.
That's exactly what we did brilliantly in the second half. We were closing
them down much better and were bursting out with the ball through Fernandes
and Lanzini. We scored the goal and we gained energy and our crosses started
to be world-class crosses and it was very hard for them to defend. From a
few of them we scored goals and we deserved it.

Wednesday's win set the standard for Saturday

Wednesday night's game should set the standard for us, in terms of closing
teams down, in terms of compactness, in terms of team play, in terms of
sacrificing everything for the team. We will win some games and we will lose
some games, but I am quite confident we are on a good way. We improved a
lot, the Brighton game aside, and we should use this game as a standard. It
gives us a lot of confidence going to Crystal Palace on Saturday and we need
to use this game, to do the same in training, to do the same to prepare and
to do the same on Saturday. If we think suddenly everything is OK, then it
would be better if we had lost on Wednesday, because we have to be focused
and use this opportunity to continue to work hard and sacrifice for the
team.

There were no long faces on Thursday morning

I made nine changes to the team on Wednesday night and the boys who came
into the side have given me and my staff a positive headache when it comes
to picking the team for Saturday. I've always said it is about the squad and
there is no space for individuals. Whoever plays on Saturday knows that. We
will need all of them over the course of the season. We wanted to go through
to the quarter-finals. OK, one or two of them were rested, but only because
we believe in the guys behind them and that they deserve to play - the likes
of Sam Byram (pictured, above), Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice, Edimilson
Fernandes and Andre Ayew - and they took their chance. We have two days to
prepare for Palace, which is not ideal, but the win gives us energy and
freshness and nobody felt tired and there were no long faces at the training
ground on Thursday morning.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sprint king Ayew and the other key numbers behind West Ham's Wembley
fightback
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's sensational comeback Carabao Cup fourth-round victory over
Tottenham Hotspur was the result of a real team effort. After external
criticism targeting a perceived lack of fitness in the Hammers ranks
following Friday's home defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, official Opta
statistics revealed West Ham outran their opponents at Wembley by more than
2,700m, covering 114.17km to Spurs' 111.48km. West Ham also ran 8.35km at
high intensity, compared to Tottenham's 7.68km. While the two teams' sprint
statistics were almost identical - 1,724m to 1,725m - the Hammers
outsprinted Mauricio Pochettino's side by 799m to 694m during their
resurgent second half. No player on either side covered more sprint (327m)
or high-intensity (1,318m) metres than two-goal Andre Ayew, with the
Ghanaian's 662m of high-intensity running in the second half an amazing 180m
higher than Spurs right wing-back Kieran Trippier in second place, and 298m
further than the next-highest Hammer, Edimilson Fernandes.

Indeed, while Ayew and Angelo Ogbonna got the goals, every player in Claret
and Blue stepped up to the plate during the Hammers' revival. After an
opening 45 minutes which saw them concede twice and rarely test the Spurs
defence, Slaven Bilic's team were a different proposition after the break.
Of West Ham's seven shots on target, five came in the second half and four
of them led either directly or indirectly to goals, with Ayew converting his
first goal after Edimilson Fernandes' fine half volley was parried by Michel
Vorm. It should come as no surprise that West Ham's three goals all resulted
from crosses from the left, seeing as the Hammers launched 48 per cent of
their attacks down that flank. With Aaron Cresswell and Manuel Lanzini
combining to good effect, with support from left centre-half Angelo Ogbonna,
West Ham clearly targeted an area filled by the attack-minded Kieran
Trippier and young Argentine defender Juan Foyth.

With the above in mind, unsurprisingly Lanzini had more touches, 86, than
any other West Ham player, and registered two assists, followed by
Cresswell's 68, Mark Noble's 67 and Ayew's 65. The Hammers were generally
good on the ball overall, too, with Andy Carroll the only outfield player
with a pass-completion of less than 86.5 per cent. Match-winner Ogbonna had
the best completion percentage of the starters, with a near-perfect 97.3 per
cent. The Italian completed 36 of the 37 passes he attempted, while
defensive partner Declan Rice completed 27 out of 28.

Defensively, West Ham gave it absolutely everything in the second half, with
ten of their 16 successful aerial battles coming in the final 30 minutes.
Seven were won by Carroll, including the header which led to Lanzini's cross
for Ayew's equaliser, while Ogbonna won four and Ayew himself three. The
Hammers made 39 clearances. Centre-backs Ogbonna, Kouyate and Rice made 22
between them, while no fewer than eleven individual players made at least
one clearance. Teenager Rice, playing as the middle centre-back, led the way
with four interceptions, while Fernandes, Noble and Byram made three each,
and the Hammers made 21 interceptions in total, while Spurs made just six.

Behind them, Adrian was at his eye-catching best, making four vital saves to
first keep his team in the game and, later, keep them on level terms and
maintain their advantage. The Spaniard's first stop came on 18 minutes, when
he made an instinctive one-handed save to keep out Dele Alli's header and
keep Spurs' lead down to 1-0. Then, moments after Andre Ayew had drawn the
Hammers level at 2-2, Adrian made another decisive save from Alli's volley.
Having raced 80 yards to celebrate Ogbonna's winner, the No13 showed his
concentration had not waivered by pushing Moussa Sissoko's curler to safety.
And finally, with full-time approaching, he dived to his right to push Ben
Davies' goal-bound effort aside. All in all, the Hammers showed yet again
that, when their backs are against the wall, and with Ayew leading the
charge, they really are West Ham United.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lanzini: We need to take the winning mentality to Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com

Manuel Lanzini says the wonderful Carabao Cup comeback against Tottenham
Hotspur has given West Ham United an 'enormous morale boost'. The Hammers
were in need of a metaphorical shot in the arm after a shattering 3-0 home
Premier League defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, and got it at Wembley on
Wednesday night. Playmaker Lanzini was key to the terrific turnaround,
supplying the corner which led to Andre Ayew's first goal and the assists
for the Ghanaian's second and Angelo Ogbonna's stunning winner. "I hope it's
the turning point of the season," said the talented Argentine, who continued
his own personal trend of excelling in London derbies. "These games, beyond
winning them, give you an enormous morale boost. "Obviously, it was
important for us because it wasn't just a big match but a derby, and you
always have to win derbies. But hey, we have to continue this way. We know
that we have to play like this, with this desire, with this attitude. We
have great players and we want to continue this way. "I'm happy for the two
assists but above all pleased by the performance of the team in the second
half. We were looking for, something like this [since the first match
against Tottenham], we couldn't do it in the League but luckily it happened
in a major tournament like the Cup and we hope to continue this way. Lanzini
also had words of praise for manager Slaven Bilic, citing his half-time
tactical adjustments and motivational team talk as reasons for West Ham's
resurgence.
It was a strange match because in the first half we started very badly. We
were uncomfortable on the pitch and we left huge spaces in midfield. In the
second half we went different, a couple of indications that made us change
the formation and pressure system, and that's what made us turn the game
around. "We are with the manager, we have known him for three years, he
knows us. He is a very good person and we are going to do everything
possible to help him continue on our bench."

Next up for the Hammers is a trip to Crystal Palace - another opponent that
Lanzini has enjoyed success against in the past, with four goals and an
assist in just four meetings. "Of course, we go into Saturday in good
spirits now. On Saturday, it is a big game for us also with a good team in
Crystal Palace, so we need to keep going like this, to train hard and put
the same mentality into that game. "Wednesday's game was good for us, for
the manager and the team, and we need to keep going like this, and that's
it."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Noble: Spurs comeback was down to belief and character
WHUFC.com

Club captain Mark Noble praised his team's belief and character after West
Ham United produced a terrific second half performance to beat Tottenham
Hotspur in the Carabao Cup at Wembley. The Hammers went 2-0 down against
their London rivals and looked beaten at half time, but came out all guns
blazing in the second half and were soon level thanks to Andre Ayew's brace.
And Angelo Ogbonna - bagging his second goal in as many starts - headed in a
winner from Manuel Lanzini's corner with 20 minutes remaining to book West
Ham's place in the quarter-finals of the competition. Despite making the
worst possible start in the clash, Slaven Bilic's men never believed it was
over, according to skipper Noble, and were playing for their boss. "I said
to the boys you have always got to believe," he said after the victory. "You
can't give up. We are Premier League footballers; you can't just give up.
"In all honesty, no [I don't believe it!] But do I believe in the team? Yes!
Do I believe in the players? Yes, but 2-0 down at Wembley to a fantastic
Spurs team, not only for us, but for any team, is a massive mountain to
climb.
"Obviously Spurs scored two goals, they can do that, but in the second half,
we showed a lot of character. "I thought we deserved it. They deserved it in
the first half and scored two, we did in the second half but scored three -
that's why we won the game. "I don't think you get that second half
performance if you aren't playing for your manager. Slaven is a proud man -
it kills him when we lose, you see it in his interviews. "It was a fantastic
night for everyone at West Ham. The fans loved it, the players loved it."

The Hammers went into the cup tie on the back of a disappointing defeat
against Brighton and Hove Albion on Friday and have another huge Premier
League clash in south east London on Saturday, against Crystal Palace. And
Noble hopes the Wembley win against Mauricio Pochettino's men can now act as
a catalyst to reignite their form in the league. "I hope it is [a defining
moment] for us," he continued. "It would be an absolute waste if we don't go
to Palace now and get points. It was a fantastic night for everyone and we
all worked hard. "I think we said a lot in the week, I said a lot after the
Brighton game and we did sit down as a team. "But we have to take this now
into the next game - it's about belief and confidence. You build momentum
and that's what you need. Sometimes it doesn't matter how you win, you just
need to win. "We know we haven't been doing ourselves justice. I know the
players we have got in that team and we are accountable for the performances
we put in. I said that we needed to have pride in their shirt and tonight,
in the second half, we did that." The midfielder also had huge praise for
forward Ayew, whose two goals dragged the Hammers level after a
disappointing first half. "We had a fantastic ball in from the corner [for
Ogbonna's goal], but the others, we've seen this from 'Dre before. "He knows
where the ball is going to drop. They were two fantastic goals from him. "He
has had a bit of stick, this player, but he's kept on grinding and he
deserves that tonight."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ayew: Wembley win shows we are West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Two-goal Andre Ayew insists West Ham United's never-say-die attitude
inspired them to come from 2-0 down to defeat Tottenham Hotspur in the
Carabaco Cup.
The Hammers' hopes of reaching the quarter-finals looked all but dead and
buried when first half goals from Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli sent them
back to the dressing room two goals behind at the break. However, a pair of
typically predatory finishes from the Ghana star, followed by a towering
header from Angelo Ogbonna, completed a sensational and unforgettable
comeback victory at the Home of Football. Now, Ayew says the challenge is
for West Ham to maintain the same levels of intensity and commitment when
they travel to Selhurst Park for an important Premier League derby with
Crystal Palace on Saturday. "I think the game started really tough as
Tottenham took the lead after five minutes, but we stayed confident and we
weren't down," said the Sky Sports' Man of the Match. "The coach [Slaven
Bilic] had the words at half-time, so I want to congratulate the whole team
for what they have done today. "It's a massive win, but we need to stay calm
because we've got a massive game on Saturday. We need to enjoy this win
tonight, because it's a derby and it's Tottenham and because it's always a
great victory, but prepare for Saturday because it's very, very important.
"We knew if we scored a goal early in the second half, we would have a
chance, but we also knew Tottenham have a big squad and great players and a
great manager. Tonight, we have shown we have character and we have quality,
but we need to relax and work hard, because Saturday is a big one. "Saturday
is very important so we're going to prepare, have a good rest, then work
hard and hopefully we can collect the three points."

Ayew said the Hammers' second-half performance showed the team are not only
united, but united behind manager Slaven Bilic. "We showed a lot of
determination in the second half. It was a very good win, considering what
we've been going through in the Premier League. "It's not been easy, it's
been a tough time, but we have a lot of quality players and we need to stick
together and keep fighting as a team and we'll get out of this situation.
"When you're in a Club like West Ham and the results are difficult, the
manager is under pressure, and the players are too, but we just need to keep
working hard. The manager knows the players are behind him and will give
everything, not just for him but for themselves too, because we have to wear
the shirt with pride. "We're going to do everything to get some points and
get out of that zone. There is a fighting spirit and we need to do it
week-in, week-out. "This is a good win for confidence. It's a derby with
Tottenham at Wembley and we were losing 2-0 at half-time, so there are a lot
of things from this which smell good, but in football we cannot get carried
away. We need to work even harder on Saturday if we want to get something."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
IF SLAV DOES GO, WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MAN AS A POTENTIAL
BOSS?!
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 26 OCTOBER 2017 AT 5:39PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

Today West Ham have been linked to 30 year old Hoffenhiem manager Julian
Nagelsmann. The German boss is in his second season for the Bundesliga club
and us catching the eye of some the biggest clubs in Europe. But should West
Ham start Investing in foreign youth and focus on young English managers
within our own successful pyramid system?

As much as I would love West Ham to start investing in the world's best
managers for short term successes, I feel the club should start Investing in
a manager who could build the squad. I'm not talking about the obvious young
English managers that are in the spotlight such as Eddie Howe, but I'm
looking further down the leagues and towards a manager who has grown from
the non-league not only as a player but now as a manager. A man who has
guided Lincoln City into League 2 using the bare minimum resources available
but thanks to the clubs progression, he has installed the resources back
into the club.
I'm talking about Havering born, childhood hammers fan Danny Cowley.

Danny Cowley has been a breath of fresh air in the lower leagues, by using
his grounded philosophy, consistent confidence and installation of trust in
his players to get the best out of his team. Likened to a modern day Harry
Redknapp, he has reaped the benefits and gained popular status in Lincoln,
putting the city back on the Footballing map. Having successful spells at
Hornchurch and Braintree Town as manager, he had built squad off players he
has trusted and used that players commitment to install a spine within his
team's. Something West Ham clearly lack.

If Danny Cowley became manager at West Ham, he would've like a child in a
toyshop with his mum's purse. Imagine the resources he would have at his
hands! A very good youth academy, premier league quality players, a good
scouting team, a transfer kitty he could swim in and a training facility
Lincoln city could only dream about. My logic here is this man has done well
with no money and no real setup, pure managerial qualities is why he is
doing well. And at only 39. Now give that person everything and see how well
he will do. I cannot see Pep or Jose doing well at Lincoln City and I feel
this is where West Ham's next long term managerial solution could be.

Let me know your thoughts coyi.
Adam Leatherbarrow (BA Hons & Dip Arch)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Quarter Final draw: West Ham to face Arsenal
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will face Arsenal at the Emirates in the quarter finals of the
Carabao Cup. The draw, which was eventually broadcast on twitter - though
not live as promised and more than 90 minutes late due to "technical
difficulties" - pitched Slaven Bilic's side against The Gunners as a reward
for their defeat of Tottenham last night. The full draw for the quarter
finals was as follows. As you can see, by some extraordinary coincidence
Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd managed to avoid each other:

Chelsea v Bournemouth
Arsenal v West Ham
Leicester v Manchester City
Bristol City v Manchester United

All ties will be played in the week commencing 18 December. News of which
ties are to be broadcast live will be announced in the coming days.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Leave the flag alone
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th October 2017
By: Staff Writer

A request to remove a flag referring to West Ham's Board as 'lying, thieving
cheats' from the away end at Wembley stadium last night was rejected by
stewards.

The flgag, which featured the slogan "Brady, Sullivan, Gold - next level?
Lying, thieving cheats" was the subject of a removal request by an employee
of the club, according to the West Ham Football twitter account.

However the club's lackey was apparently ignored by the Wembley officials
and the flag remained in full view for the remainder of the match, which
West Ham won 3-2 thanks to a stunning second half comeback.


Although chants berating the club's owners have been heard on a regular
basis away from home this season, West Ham club have previously blocked
attempts to bring flags bearing anti-Board slogans into the Olympic Stadium.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spurs 2-3 West Ham (And Other Ramblings)
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th October 2017
By: HeadHammerShark

Sometimes it's easy to take things for granted. Sometimes it's easy to
forget what made us fall in love with people, or places, or things or even,
yes, football teams.

Since I started writing The H List again at the start of last season, I
think I've forgotten a little of what it is that brings me to games, and
that drives the love I have for my team. What it is exactly that has me
excitedly texting my Dad before matches to see if he's listening, or rushing
home from work so I can tune in to some far off evening game in the North.

There's plenty of things wrong with West Ham, but Christ when she dances she
can really move.


Pretty, pretty, pretty good


So this isn't a night to talk about boardroom structures, managerial
changes, xG or the training pitches at Rush Green. Tonight is a night to
truly kick back and revel in the simple joy of being a football fan.

These are the nights we live for. Sure, Spurs fans are going to have spent
all evening sending you sarcastic text messages, before deciding that this
was suddenly a game they didn't care about. Forget them, our joy needn't be
defined by anybody else. These are the games that make it all worthwhile.

Forget the jibes about it being our Cup Final too. Who gives a shit? If it
was, well, we just went two nil down and came back to win it three - two. At
Wembley. And you're trying to somehow use this to mock us? Fuck off and go
and relearn what it is to be a football fan, brother.

Because on nights like this, when it all comes together and elevates us
above our circumstances and grown men hug perfect strangers and people can't
stop smiling and goalkeepers run seventy yards to celebrate a goal - that -
that, is what being a football fan is all about. Certainly we have to put up
with a lot of abject misery to get to this point, but that's just the base
that flavours the cake.

It's that same feeling of lightning in the veins that has me sat here at
1.30am with The Stone Roses for company, pouring all of this out on to the
page. For it's easy enough to take pot shots at the board week after week,
but it's a rare treat to write about a match like this when young kids, old
hands and unlikely heroes stepped out of the shadows and firmly on to the
stage when we needed them most.

But this feeling....man, I love my children dearly and the best thing I can
do for them is to let them know they are loved, keep them safe and help them
grow up as decent people. But I wish I could bottle this feeling for them
too and leave it under the Christmas tree. Maybe I'm in a post match
adrenaline fuelled frenzy, but right now there is an awful lot to savour in
this moment.

***

The crazy thing about this game is that the first half was awful. After
forty five minutes we were two-nil down, and I had literally no idea what we
were doing to attempt to score a goal. Andy Carroll was once more marooned
up front like a pissed Geordie lighthouse and the formation behind him was
so confusing that after twenty minutes I was reduced to assuming it was some
sort of homage to Brownian Motion.

Mauricio Pochettino went full Spurs before the game by telling everyone that
he was only interested in winning important trophies and that this wasn't
one of them, before naming a team that had seven changes from Sunday but
still had a very "Jesus, Poch, I thought you weren't taking this seriously"
vibe to it.

By contrast, Bilic made nine changes and put out a group with a very "I got
drunk and picked this out of a hat" feel. Two central midfielders, Rice and
Kouyate, were in a back three while Andre Ayew came in to play in that weird
netherworld between here and Narnia, which still didn't put him close enough
to Carroll to have any impact on anything.

Meanwhile, Wembley was strangely flat as the home fans kept their powder dry
for Real Madrid next week, and the atmosphere got lost in the wide open
spaces. In fairness, we should have felt right at home.

Moussa Sissoko opens the scoring


Yet things began in customary style as Spurs scored after just six minutes,
while our guys were apparently still doing an introductory ice breaker
session in the centre circle. I'm not saying Moussa Sissoko was in a lot of
space when he broke on to a Son through ball, but he could have been in a
scene from the fucking English Patient, so isolated was he.

With that goal went the light canopy of hope that covered the West Ham end
and attentions soon turned to the World Posturing Championships being held
between home and visiting fans at the periphery of the away section. It's
half term so both teams were strongly represented.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, after long periods of not very much, Dele Alli
doubled the lead with a deflected effort, coming shortly after he had been
brilliantly denied once already by Adrian. With that, all optimism went
south and chants of "Sack The Board" could be heard in full-throated roar.
When the away following turns, it won't be long before others follow. It
felt like the start of a long night, especially as Spurs seemed to be barely
out of first gear.

While this isn't a time for long detailed analysis, there was much to lament
about that first half. Carroll has been roundly criticised this season, but
it's hard to find fault with him when he's being played in a system so
manifestly unsuited to his strengths. That said, his effort in the first
half wasn't sufficient and with no pressure on the ball anywhere Spurs were
dominating us as though we were a lower league team having a jolly day out
in the Big Smoke.

To watch Spurs attack is to really see the difference between us and the
business end of the league. Here they zipped and spun and glided and built
their attacks like they were wearing ice skates on a frozen pond. By
contrast, we seemed to be attempting to push a trebuchet up a hill, and so
poor were we that our only effort of any note was a long range Noble strike
that Michel Vorm could have kept out with a fairly solid exhale.

At half time some people left and I can't say I would ever do the same, but
I also didn't have any more optimism than them. After a performance that
seemed to scream "and you thought Brighton was bad", the only question was
how much we could limit the damage.

***

When I was a kid I spent hours playing in my back garden, and my absolute
favourite scenario was Spurs in the Cup Final at Wembley. We'd go two down
and then I would lead a stirring fightback to claim the trophy with a
stunning 3-2 win. I was a centre back at the time, so it did require quite a
lot of imagination, some patient parents and also many daffodils died to
bring you that little reminiscence.

So on a night of childhood fantasy, it seems fitting to me that the guy who
probably had the exact same dreams as me was there to lead our fightback.
Mark Noble gets plenty of criticism from people like me, but this was a
beautiful two fingers to us all as he combined with the electric Lanzini to
start, finally, pushing Spurs back.


I mean, you wouldn't want to have to explain this to your wife


Some seem to think it was the Noble fisticuffs with Danny Rose that got
things moving, or maybe that the lads were injected with "passion" at half
time but I'm not sure I'd ascribe it to any of those things. Fernandes and
Ayew went further forward and got closer to Carroll, Noble began to win the
ball in midfield and Lanzini just started to run riot. As we began to win
some loose balls, and finally get on top of Son, their best player, we edged
into the contest.

Carroll too, began to work, with all the lugubrious effort of a shire horse
in the rain and then in fifteen glorious minutes we were back in it. First,
a Lanzini corner fell to Fernandes on the edge of the box and his low drive
was only parried by Vorm to the waiting Ayew, who poked it home. The Ghanian
does a very passable impression of Chicharito, it has to be said.

Five minutes later he was at it again, as this time Carroll produced a
lovely deft header to free Lanzini, who in turn gloriously pulled it down
with his left and crossed with his right for Ayew to finish sumptuously. At
this point, there was a palpable sense of disbelief around the national
stadium.

Spurs fans were perplexed at how their brilliantly coached, fluidly moving
team were capitulating in the face of the first flush of competition they'd
faced all evening and West Ham fans were wondering where the hell this had
been all season and whether their half time pints had been laced with LSD.
Better was to come as Ogbonna rose unchallenged to nod home a Lanzini
corner, and in the space of fifteen minutes Slaven Bilic had written another
one of his famous survival stories into the annals of his West Ham history.

And, in truth, that was that. As dangerous as they looked before the break,
Spurs were completely toothless afterward. In the cold light of reflection
they never threatened, and as our Ayew-led frontline continued to stretch
them and harry them and dog them, it was tempting to wonder quite how much
lasagne the home team had eaten at half time.

***

And what of Slaven Bilic? Well, if he has to take the criticism for losing
3-0 at home to Brighton, then he surely gets to stand on his desk and give
people like me the bird after this. There are whispers that there was a team
meeting in the week, but when you start giving credence to stuff like that
you're on the slippery slope to believing in things like fairies and the
existence of decent Vin Diesel films. Bilic is the manager and we don't get
to attribute the wins to the players and the defeats to him. That's not how
this works. It's not a US Presidential election - there are rules.

For Bilic, I hope this is the start of him saving his job. That might seem
odd, given that I think he should have been sacked ages ago, but if he puts
together a long run of fantastic results and drags us up to a top eight
finish then that would be a very pleasant way to be wrong.

I don't want Bilic to fail - I just think he has, and will continue to do
so. But here, when the spotlight was at it's brightest he did what managers
are supposed to do. His team were awful in the first half, and he galvanised
them to come back and beat a better opponent simply through the force of his
own will. Had Pochettino done it, we'd be hearing about it forever.

I repeat, that's what managers are supposed to do.

It's happened again


Likewise, Andre Ayew deserves his moment of sticking it to the man. While he
may be yet another confused signing with no discernible position or obvious
use, there can be no denying that on this night he was a leader. His work
rate and mobility, particularly in the second half, was the beacon that lit
the way for others to follow. And when we needed him, his preternatural
positioning allowed him to poach two goals that one assumed couldn't be
scored without Chicharito on the pitch.

We can't get too carried away, but he is now our top scorer and surely
deserves a place on Saturday at Palace, but crucially in whatever position
it is that best serves him. I maintain that as best as I can determine, that
is as a second striker. All the best with that, Slav.

Behind him, others stood tall when we needed them. Adrian continues to make
a mockery of the notion that he is somehow inferior to Joe Hart, while Byram
and Rice showed that there is at last some genuine competition in the squad
for places. But perhaps the best thing about tonight was less the individual
performances and more the collective pulling-together when it was most
needed. Teams like us must be more than the sum of our constituent parts or
else we will fall in the face of the greater firepower of teams like Spurs.

Take tonight, when Son was the best player on the pitch in the first half
and yet isn't a regular starter for them. The gulf is huge, and while I tend
to place my faith in analysis and proper metrics, I also accept that
sometimes a team like ours can benefit from more prosaic qualities. Bilic
took some abuse this morning for his confusing comments about the team not
running enough, as though that was something outside of his control and also
as though running around a lot is the sole reason for a team to be doing
well.

But here tonight was a reminder that greater graft and the great drug
confidence can be enough to pull a team back into a game. We should perhaps
all remember that when times get tough again, and the choice is to either
support our players or abuse them. Men like Arnautovic and Carroll could
assuredly use a little more, y'know, support from their supporters.

***

So where to from here? I would suggest nowhere. Enjoy this moment and forget
about the Palace game, or the continued slow starts, or the constant
tinkering with the formation and instead take a moment to take in what
happened tonight. I know it's only a Carabao Cup round of sixteen game, but
never let people tell you what you're allowed to be happy about.

No, take a minute to savour the idea of brining on Marko Arnautovic when
you're trying to defend a lead. Smile at the memory of Andy Carroll and
Andre Ayew combining to snuff out last minute attacks in our box with the
demented fervour of banshees. Laugh yourself silly at the shenanigans on
Wembley Way because, let's face it, we're probably not going to be having
that experience again any time soon.

Live in the moment, folks. We haven't had many of them lately, and whether
you've been dreaming about this since you were a little boy or girl, or you
came to this Club later through some unfathomably bad decision making on
your part, it doesn't matter. Who cares if you're in England or overseas. It
matters not if you were there or at home. All that matters is that you are
West Ham and tonight our team gave us a gold plated reminder of why we
follow.

3-2 in our cup final? Sure. Why the fuck not.

After all, that's pretty, pretty, pretty good.

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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Eight arrests at Tottenham game against West Ham at Wembley
Last Updated: 26/10/17 2:41pm
SSN

Eight people were arrested at Wednesday night's Carabao Cup match between
Tottenham and West Ham at Wembley. Two men were arrested by police on
suspicion of possession of class A drugs, two others were arrested on
suspicion of assault, while others were arrested on suspicion of assault on
a police officer, violent disorder, affray and of being drunk and
disorderly.
Videos have emerged online following the game which allegedly show the two
sets of fans clashing, and there were reports of fighting in the Club
Wembley section. Some footage has also emerged on social media which appears
to show a fan throwing a plastic cup full of urine towards the West Ham
fans. The video allegedly shows someone in the home section urinating into a
pint glass before preceding to throw its contents at the travelling fans.
Tottenham have told Sky Sports News they are investigating the footage and
have urged fans who have information about "anything untoward" at last
night's game to contact either the club or the police. A spokesperson has
told us: "This behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are currently
investigating and working to identify the individual responsible."
In the second clash of the season between these two clubs, Mauricio
Pochettino's side led 2-0, but Slaven Bilic's West Ham managed to score
three second-half goals - ensuring their place in the quarter-final of the
competition.

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VILE MOMENT SPURS FAN URINATES IN A CUP AND THROWS IT OVER WEST HAM
SUPPORTERS
The Mirror

This is the vile moment a Tottenham fan urinated in a cup and it was thrown
towards West Ham supporters. The two clubs clashed at Wembley in the Carabao
Cup on Wednesday evening in the second meeting between the two rivals this
season. And footage shows a man in the home section at Wembley relieving
himself into a plastic container before it is launched at the away fans.
Spurs took a 2-0 lead in the tie but three second-half goals for the Hammers
meant it was Slaven Bilic's side that took their place in the last eight.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andre Ayew: West Ham players will 'give everything' for manager Slaven Bilic
Sam Dean
26 OCTOBER 2017 . 10:30PM
Telegraph.co.uk

Andre Ayew has insisted the West Ham United players are behind under-fire
manager Slaven Bilic after they battled back to defeat Tottenham Hotspur in
the League Cup at Wembley. Ayew scored two goals in West Ham's 3-2 win,
which relieved some of the pressure on Bilic after another difficult start
to the season.
West Ham have faced accusations that they are failing to run enough during
games, but Ayew said the team is giving "everything" for the manager. "When
you are at a club like West Ham and the results are difficult, the manager
is under pressure for sure," Ayew said. "But so are the players. We have to
keep working hard and the manager knows the players are behind him. We will
give everything we can. "Not only for the manager but for ourselves too. We
have to wear the shirt with a lot of pride. There is a fighting spirit."
West Ham will hope to be buoyed by the comeback against their London rivals
as they face struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday. "It is a good win for
the confidence to come from behind to beat Spurs at Wembley," Ayew said. "We
can't get carried away." Spurs face Manchester United on Saturday and
defender Toby Alderweireld said the loss will serve as a "reality check"
after impressive performances against Real Madrid and Liverpool. "We were
not flying or anything in our heads but I think it is a good reality check
that you still need to work very hard, even if you are 2-0 up, to get
results," he said. "Everybody's disappointed but we have to learn from this
moment. On Saturday there's a big game coming up and we have to focus on
this."

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