Adrian – We need to be more clinical
WHUFC.com
Adrian's joy at a second successive clean sheet was tempered by his side's failure to take all three Barclays Premier League points against Stoke City and so the West Ham United stopper urged his teammates to be more clinical in front of goal. The Spaniard felt the Hammers created more than enough opportunities to win Saturday's game at the Boleyn Ground, but were still indebted to the 28-year-old for two excellent stops from substitute Mame Biram Diouf. Still, Adrian insists the Hammers are doing all the right things and he insists the winning feeling will return so long as they continue to keep it tight at the back. "We have to be happy with the clean sheet, but I think a little bit frustrated that we didn't get the three points, because we had plenty of chances to score," he told West Ham TV. "[Jack] Butland also made some very good saves and, at the end of the day, we got one more point and another clean sheet is important as well. "I do my job, I always try to help my team by making saves and this time we got a point with those saves. The two saves [from Diouf] were with my right foot, I think I saved more with my right foot than with my hands. I'm the 'keeper and I need to save with all parts of the body! "The team defended well, not just me, all the team defended well and I think if we keep a clean sheet we have a chance to win the next game. "If we keep showing the same performance, continue to keep clean sheets and if we are more clinical in attack, I think we can get the three points there [at Swansea City]."
Saturday's story was not dissimilar to that of the Hammers' goalless draw at Old Trafford a week earlier, where the Hammers were also left wondering what might have been. He continued: "In both games we showed a great performance, we played well, we made good chances, we had opportunities to win the game but I think we need to be a little bit more clinical with our finishing.
"We showed good team spirit. We have five or six injuries and it's hard at this time, because we have many games coming over the Christmas period. I think we have a good squad now and the players that have the chance now, like Antonio, need to continue to play well."
With the season's halfway mark now just three games away, what does Adrian make of the Hammers' long-term prospects? "If we pass the Christmas period and start to get the injured players back into the team in January and February, and we are still in the same position, we can look to stay in the top six, or seven. We play to win and I think we deserve to be in the position that we are. "The points and the table is so narrow, you win two games and you go up, you lose two games and you're in the middle. We need to go game by game and nothing further. I think if we keep this same level of performance and improve results here in Upton Park, we can have a great season."
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Loan watch
WHUFC.com
In Sky Bet League Two, Hammers youngster Josh Pask has extended his youth loan with Dagenham & Redbridge until 16 January 2016. On Saturday, the defender was an unused substitute as his team suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat at Crawley Town.
Elliot Lee's Blackpool enjoyed a notable 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in Sky Bet League One. Lee played 65 minutes, while Tom Aldred's header secured victory for his team.
Diego Poyet was an unused substitute as Milton Keynes Dons suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ipswich Town in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday. The result drops the Dons into the bottom three, with 16 points from 20 games.
Meanwhile, young goalkeeper Clarke Bogard's Tilbury gave Vanarama National League side Welling United a real scare in the FA Trophy on Saturday. Tilbury, of the Ryman League Division One North – three leagues below their visitors – were only edged out by a 4-3 scoreline.
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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
I thought the whole team had an impressive display against Stoke on Saturday and it is just a matter of time before our luck turns. Just like the game against Manchester United, we could have easily had all three points and I am sure that Slaven Bilic would have been pleased with the effort that the players have shown in recent weeks. Mauro Zarate was desperately unlucky not to get the goal of the season as we hit the post again and how we didn't win the game in the last 20 seconds when the ball was cleared off the line twice, I still don't know!
I will mention it again but over a season for every time you hit the post you score four goals, so we are now due 15 or 20 before we hit the post again!
Stoke nearly got lucky when a wicked deflection ended up in the top corner, but Adrian managed to deflect the ball onto the crossbar.
It was pleasing to see the side come away with our second consecutive clean sheet and I thought it was a very good defensive display.
James Collins came back into the side and looked good alongside Angelo Ogbonna and James Tomkins once again showed his versatility with another solid display at right back. We have been suffering with injuries over the last few weeks but it was very pleasing to see Enner Valencia back on the pitch in the second half. We have been missing Enner for a large part of the season so we all hope he can have a successful return to action and play a big part for us in the second half of the campaign. Manuel Lanzini is also close to making a return and I know that Slaven has said that Dimitri is ahead of schedule so that is a major boost for everyone at the Club. We have another big game against Swansea on Sunday and I know the management will be working hard with the players as we look to get back on the winning trail at the weekend.
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Noble - The facilities are great
WHUFC.com
West Ham United captain Mark Noble says it felt different for him to change his daily routine to get to the training ground but insists the squad will not be affected by the short move to Rush Green. After securing another well earned point against Stoke on Saturday, the Hammers players were in good spirits as they began their first session two miles down the road from their normal setting at Chadwell Heath. The Rush Green training ground is normally used by the Development Squad and all the facilities that the first-team require will still be at their disposal.
Noble insists the players can only benefit from the move and says he is fully focused on helping his side getting back on the winning trail when they face Swansea on Sunday – even if he has to change the settings on his Sat Nav system. Noble said: "It is different as I have been used to going to Chadwell Heath every morning for the last 12 years. "We are training at Rush Green so we can look after the pitches a little bit at Chadwell. The facilities are great here so the other pitches can repair themselves a bit. "We are here to play football and that is our job.
We had a warm-down session on Monday and the real test will be over the next couple of days when we are fully at it."
With Enner Valencia making a first-team return against Stoke on Saturday and Manuel Lanzini due back in action in the near future the injury situation is looking a lot better for Slaven Bilic. The Hammers manager also revealed that Dimitri Payet could be back in action ahead of schedule and Noble says that is a big boost for everyone at the Club ahead of a busy Christmas and New Year period. Noble added: "It is great news for the Club that we are starting to get back the injured players. We lost five or six of our top players in the space of a month and it is not ideal. "But all credit to the lads as we went away to Manchester United and got a point, we had a good draw at home against Stoke which was an entertaining game to watch. "We have dug in well and sometimes you need to ride those moments when you get a bit of bad luck. We have hit the post a lot in the last few weeks but we have not lost a game. "We have come away with two clean sheets and it puts you in good stead for the rest of the season."
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FT - Dev Squad 1-1 Arsenal
WHUFC.com
West Ham United 1-1 Arsenal
Barclays U21 Premier League Division 2
FT: West Ham United U21 1-1 Arsenal
90: West Ham's final substitution sees Amos Nasha replace Djair Parfitt-Williams. Meanwhile three minutes of additional time have been signalled.
89: 2,394 people have turned out for this game. Great support for our U21s!
86: Arsenal have a free-kick in a dangerous position 22 yards out, but one-time Academy player Ben Sheaf can only find the wall with his effort.
81: Goal! The Hammers aren't so lucky this time. Chris Willock does well to keep the ball in on the left flank, races down the line, cuts inside and fires into the bottom corner. 1-1.
75: Josh Cullen gives the ball away cheaply and the Hammers are very nearly punished as Malen takes the ball on and attempts an audacious chip over Spiegel, but clears the crossbar.
73: Arsenal look to their bench as they try to change their fortunes and the players on are Kaylen Hinds and Ismael Bennacer, replacing Alex Iwobi and Dan Crowley
71: If Arsenal are going to get back into this is looks like Crowley or Malen will be their go-to men, and it is the former who tests Spiegel again with a curling shot from range.
66: Arsenal are starting to press and Dan Crowley floats a cross-shot just beyond Raphael Spiegel's left hand post.
58: Time for the Hammers' first changes of the evening as Anthony Scully and Jordan Brown come on for goalscorer Alex Pike and Jaanai Gordon.
56: Arsenal striker Malen is looking lively and he slips his way through before forcing another low save from Spiegel. The Swiss stopper is enjoying a fine evening so far.
54: To the other end and Donyell Malen produces a sharp turn to lose the attentions of his man. His shot from 20 yards is a fierce one too, but Spiegel gets down well to his right to tip the ball behind.
50: The subsequent corner is a deep one, but Obiang helps it back into the mix and Parfitt-Williams finishes, but is offside. A third disallowed goal for the Hammers.
49: Should be 2-0. Gordon disposseses Robinson in a dangerous area and passes inside to Cullen. He then feeds Makasi 12 yards out, but keeper Macey dives to his right to make a fine save.
48: Cullen then delivers the corner and Oxford isn't far wide with his cushioned volley.
47: Arsenal defender Bielik plays the ball straight to Cullen and he advances towards the area before slipping tyhe ball to Gordon, whose shot needs a touch from the keeper to take it wide.
46: Back underway at the Boleyn Ground with no changes for either team.
HT: The half time whistle blows and the Hammers will take a 1-0 lead into the interval. Alex Pike taking advantage of some defensive indecision to notch the only goal so far. Are West Ham on track for a sixth straight win? Join us in 15 minutes to find out in the second half!
43: The Hammers look for offside as Iwobi slips Adelaide in down the left channel, but no flag is forthcoming and Spiegel has to stand up well to deny the Arsenal man by his near post.
38: GOAL! 1-0 to the Hammers! The visitors are sloppy in defence and Alex Pike takes full advantage of the error to flick into the bottom corner.
37: Lovely move from the Hammers as they sweep the ball across the pitch. Cullen finds Knoyle advancing from right back, but he can't pick out a man with his cross.
31: Then a minute later Raphael Spiegel is called into action to make his first real save of the night, and it's a good one too as he flies to his left to push Sheaf's stinging effort away.
30: Arsenal are enjoying a little spell and Crowley threatens to weave his way through the Hammers' backline, but Obiang slides in to make a fine tackle on the edge of the box.
23: Arsenal are penalised for handball in the left channel and Cullen has the chance to deliver from a promising position, but the cross is too close to goalkeeper Macey, who claims easily.
21: The Hammers have a corner down the left and although the initial delivery is cleared, the ball falls to Lewis Page 30 yards out. He takes the shot on, but his radar is slightly off and the goalkeeper Macey can watch the ball wide.
17: Two minutes later and it's deja-vu as Gordon steps inside his man and fires home...but is offside again. No goal.
15: Gordon has the ball in the net for the Hammers, but it won't count as he was judged to have strayed off side to collect Cullen's pass. Still 0-0.
12: After that flurry for Arsenal the game has settled down again. West Ham yet to make their mark truly in an attacking sense yet though.
7: Big chance for the Gunners and Malen as his quick feet makes room in the heart of the penalty box for a shot, but he prods straight at Spiegel and the Hammers survive.
6: Arsenal threaten for the first time as Donyell Malen looks to find a pocket of space and burst onto Crowley's flicked pass, but he strays offside to find that pass and the flag goes up immediately.
5: Five minutes gone and not much to report so far. Both sides still to settle into the game.
0: The Hammers get us underway, kicking towards the Sir Trevor Brooking end in the first half.
6.57pm Reecre Oxford leads the Hammers out onto the pitch and it's almost time for action. The Hammers are going for a sixth straight win here.
6.20pm A very warm welcome to our live coverage of this evening's Development Squad clash with Arsenal. The teams are in!
West Ham United: Spiegel, Knoyle, Hendrie, Oxford, Page, Pike, Makasi, Cullen, Obiang, Parfitt-Williams, Gordon
Subs: T.Brown, Scully, Onariase, J.Brown, Nasha
Arsenal: Macey, Sheaf, Robinson, Kamara, Bielik, Pleguezuelo, Adelaide, Iwobi, Malen, Crowley, Willock
Subs: Hinds, Huddart, Bennacer, Mavididi, Bola
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Monday musings: no goals, but no lack of entertainment
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th December 2015
By: Graeme Howlett
As goalless draws go, West Ham's nil-nil with Stoke at the Boleyn has to go down as one of the more entertaining ones in recent times.
With the Hammers managing to produce more than 20 efforts at goal - and with nearly half of those on target - Jack Butland proved to be busier of the two goalkeepers on the day. However the Irons also had their custodian - Spanish stopper Adrian - to thank for ensuring they took a share of the spoils, after he made two superb saves in the losing stages to deny the Potters.
Mark Hughes' side, on a high following last weekend's victory against Manchester City may have produced fewer shots (12 in total) but always looked dangerous on the counter despite missing star man Xherdan Shaqiri. That, combined with City's physical threat - a lingering legacy of the Tony Pulis era - meant the Hammers defence had to be on their toes throughout.
Despite having witnessed his squad extend their run without a win to six matches Slaven Bilic was nonetheless reasonably pleased with the team's performance, specifically the number of occasions on which they managed to test Butland who has now managed to keep seven clean sheets in his last nine Premier League appearances.
However Bilic will no doubt be privately concerned at West Ham's inability to convert those chances and possession into goals, with his team having scored just three times in their last six fixtures - in stark contrast to the beginning of the season when they couldn't stop finding the net.
Much of that of course is down to the crippling injury situation at the club which has left Bilic without his main creative force Dimitri Payet and a supporting cast including Diafra Sakho, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses - the latter being the only player expected to feature again in 2015.
And there was further bad news in midweek as key defender Winston Reid was similarly ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring strain. The Kiwi became the latest in a long line of players to suffer a muscle injury during training at Chadwell Heath - a situation that prompted Bilic to being forward next summer's planned move to the club's Rush Green training complex with immediate effect.
Following their tough recent run of fixtures, it's lowly Swansea and Aston Villa who provide the next two opponents for West Ham. Fail to beat either of those and Bilic - who has been afforded an easy ride by supporters so far - may well begin to feel the heat for the first time since succeeding Sam Allardyce in the summer.
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Boleyn Ground memories: skinheads, Harringtons and tattoos
KUMb.com
Filed: Monday, 14th December 2015
By: Alison O'Brien
Queueing up at the North Bank turnstiles, I suddenly looked around and felt very nervous. I was the only woman as far as I could see and Jimbo, who was nine, was the only little boy.
We were surrounded by skinhead haircuts, Harringtons and tattoos! It'd been a spur of the moment decision on a Saturday lunchtime to take Jimbo to see our favourite team and, as it was 1988, we could still pay and get in on the day.
Jimbo was the son of my then partner and a lovely boy. He was clever, funny and cheeky with a heart of gold. The family had been going through a really hard time but Jimbo and his sister, Natasha were amazing and managed to cheer everyone up around them.
This particular week, Jimbo was desperate to go to West Ham, he'd been asking everyone and anyone if they'd take him. He'd been to a few games before with his Grandad but he really wanted to see this particular match.
In the morning we'd been round at his Nan's and Jimbo was getting increasingly fed up. His Nan said "Oh, I wish someone would take him". I looked at her, looked at him and said "Come on, let's go, you and me!"
We paid our money (I think it was a fiver!) and entered the stand just before kick off. The sound of "Bubbles" was deafening. The place was jam-packed and we struggled to push ourselves through the standing crowd.
I wanted to get Jimbo down to the front with the other kids so that he could see the game. But no matter how hard we squeezed and pushed we couldn't move any further than where we were, right in the middle of the North Bank.
I looked down at Jimbo and he smiled but I knew he could hardly see a thing in amongst all those adults. I tried to help him to a slightly better position but the most he could see was the halfway line and beyond through a gap. I wondered if this had been such a good idea.
The match began and West Ham made a fast move forward towards the goal down in front of us. The crowd leaned forward as one, cheering and shouting "Come on you Irons!!" I took a look at Jimbo next to me and all I could see was his little legs and trainers dangling at my eye level!
The man behind him had lifted him up so he could see! Jimbo was laughing his head off and watching the game. When the ball went back up to the other end of the pitch, he plonked him down again.
The man was huge with a skinhead haircut, Harrington and tattoos. He did not have a look that would normally make me feel safe - but that gentle giant must've picked Jimbo up and down about fifty times during the match and absolutely made his day!
We only drew, but I remember having trouble trying to keep a hold of Jimbo's hand walking down Green Street to the tube, he was so excited, jumping around talking and laughing about the game and of being chucked right up in the air! I think it'd been like being on a fairground ride in the Boleyn Ground!
I had said "thank you" a few times and tried to make conversation but the gentle giant didn't seem to want to or need to talk.
I'm hoping that he might read this and recognise himself. It's one of the best memories I have out of the many hundreds of good memories of the Boleyn Ground. My son and I have been season ticket holders for five years. He is 6 foot 2 now, but even when he was very little, I had no qualms about bringing him to Upton Park on my own, thanks to that gentle giant.
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Too good for Real Madrid
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 14, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Former Hammer Julian Faubert has been linked to shock move to Aston Villa as a free agent. Faubert signed for the Hammers for £6.1m in 2007 on a five year contract amid big expectations, but could score only two league goals during 103 appearances. He was famously loaned to Real Madrid for a loan fee thought to £1.5m plus wages while a Hammer where he was snapped sleeping on the subs bench. His loan spell finished with only two appearances. He is now a free agent after being released by Bordeaux in the summer and the Sun claim Aston Villa want to snap him up. West Ham play Aston Villa at Villa Park on Boxing Day and there remains a remote possibility he would face his former club.
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Nani joins Lanzini's parent club
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 14, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Lanzini's parent club Al Jazira has recruited former West Ham technical director Gianluca Nani as their new sports director today.
Officials at the Abu Dhabi club did not reveal much details but said he would begin work immediately. Jazira parted ways with their returning coach Abel Braga last week and Ali Khamis Al Junaibi, the club's Under 23 coach, has been appointed as caretaker until a new manager arrives. Nani was fired by new owners David Sullivan and David Gold in 2010, the Italian was brought in to assist Alan Curbishley in the summer of 2008, with his main role being that of chief scout. His salary of £300,000 was considered surplus to requirements by the new joint owners.
Whether this news has any impact on the deal to sign Lanzini on a permanent transfer at the end of the season from Al Jazira remains to be seen. Let's hope Nani doesn't let any personal feelings come in the way of a deal which is said to have already been agreed between the two clubs.
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January Shopping Spree NOT Needed
December 14, 2015
Thewesthamway.co.uk
It's nearly time for Christmas! Or as the football world sees it, almost time for the January transfer window to open.
With the Premier League's lucrative television deal looming, it is anticipated that most clubs will be spending more than average in order to ensure top flight status for next season.
West Ham especially are desperate to ensure that the Premier League is where their home football is being played, considering the fact that home games will be at the new Olympic Stadium.
However, all these things considered, it is highly unlikely that the Hammers will dip into the transfer market come the new year.
Is that the right choice, what with all these injuries to key players? After all, January's window is there for exactly that; to add reinforcments to depleated squads, to bolster the numbers and ensure that there is enough cover to see out the season and let's face facts, if any club falls perfectly into that mantra, it is West Ham.
Nevertheless, the Irons can safely save themselves the expense. For one, Premier League status should be a given (without taking anything for granted).
West Ham are looking up the table not down it this season. A respectable top half finish will count as a success under Bilic's debut season as the boss. But what about the injuries? Surely they justify a player or two? Well, quite simply put; no. One needs to consider the team that Bilic managed to put out against Manchester United and Stoke City.
The depth in the squad allowed, despite six key players out of action, for a very decent starting XI in both games. Albeit with a certain lack of creativity at times, but decent nontheless.
Antonio gave a performance to be proud of, Collins covered the centre half spot well enough, Tomkins is excelling in his new role at right back, Carroll looks stronger and fitter each game as well.
All things considered, the Hammers are doing ok and they have Valencia and Song back in the team and Lanzini and Payet are very close to a return as well.
It will be the end of the transfer window before all players are back in the action. I make that four new signings for the Hammers in the winter (or as good as) if the results and performances continue to be as solid in the mean time, there is absolutly no need whatsoever for any knee-jerk panic buying. West Ham have an extremely talented squad this season and unless a super star is available, no January spending is needed.
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Adrian: Here's where we can finish
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Adrian remains convinced the Irons can land a top six place and European football next season. The ever-upbeat keeper believes that if we can maintain our current performance levels and get our injured players back it's ON! He said: "I think we're playing well, especially away from home If we get the injured players back after January or February, and we're in the same position we're in now, we can stay in the top five, six or seven. "If we maintain the same level of performance away and improve at Upton Park, then we can have a great season. "We need to improve a little bit here at home, but I think we are showing a great level of performance in all of our games." "When we play away, the other team start with the ball and try and attack, which allows us to counter-attack, and we are very dangerous playing that way," he added. "Here at home, we have the ball and play out from defence and sometimes the other team are really narrow and defend well."
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Bilic sees something different
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2015 in News
C and H
Slaven Bilic believes new players in the team are bringing something different to the Hammers. Discussing the draw against Stoke this morning on the official site the manager said: "I am very happy that the players who have come in since the injuries have stepped up, they have really stepped up. Their all round play has brought something different to our game. "We are missing some really key players, especially offensively. Considering that, we did very well. I told the guys before and after Old Trafford that the only we way are going to compensate for that is by working as a team. We are still going to miss big players but the effect will be minimized if we work hard collectively, not as individuals. With teamwork and hard work, that is exactly what we did."
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This player really does look the business
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
I didn't honestly expect to be particularly impressed by Michail Antonio. That's no disrespect to the fella. I knew very little about him but £7 million really isn't a lot of money these days and Championship arrivals can't really be taken too seriously until they have had the chance of a decent PL run. I understood why Slav had not given him his chance. Things were going really well so why fix it if it ain't broke. Too many have done that in the past. It's far too early to make a judgement but my instincts told me on Saturday afternoon that this lad could be special and my immediate reaction was not to be too unhappy with the Victor Moses injury absence. The Chelsea player has signed a new deal at Stamford Bridge and is costing £185,000 a game with wages, loan fee apportioned and appearances.
Has he been worth it? Very debatable! Antonio on the other hand slowly started to excite me far more than Moses as he picked up the speed and eventually received a man of the match award on his debut. Victor can frustrate with a tendency to overplay. Antonio's power, pace, some devilishly quick turns and more direct approach was fresh and invigorating. Ok, there was a naivety in his play and the final ball was lacking but that can probably be put down to lack of match action and I really want to see a lot more of this fella. He looks the business to me and if he gets back to full match fitness over the next two or three weeks Moses may find it hard to return. Yep I really do like Antonio. Looks a real player.
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Hurt Gold's frankest interview
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 14, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Gold has given his frankest ever interview to ClaretandHugh within the last few minute after a deeply insulting tweet in which he was described as "illiterate" and questioned as to how he ever took charge of a real football club. The hugely offensive tweet from @gabbyobaetan has since been removed and it appears the page no longer exists but Gold remains hurt at the content. He responded at the time by saying: "I had dysentery, scarlet fever and nearly died from tuberculosis. I then left school at 14. I am dyslexic. dg"
He told us: "Yes it hurt badly at the time because I had such trouble with my schooling. I missed so much and it wasn't until much later that I discovered I was dyslexic. "It was so hard because you spend time wondering what's wrong and whether you are mentally retarded. It was a relief to discover the problem. I have tried very hard and don't think I'm doing too badly."
Gold was tempted to block the individual responsible for the Twitter disgrace but said: 'I can't do it. That would be like giving into them.' "However, I'm not prepared to say the day might come when I will do so. It really was pretty horrible butI am bouncing back as is usually the case."
Gold refuses to come off Twitter because he explains: "There are so many good fans out there from whom I learn a lot and who deserve to be kept as up to date as I can manage. "I can cope with the odd one or two who are so intensely awful but I have learned there's not much point in trying to engage within 140 characters. It doesn't work. Blocking? I don't want to but wouldn't rule it out."
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Rush Green will have state of the art facilities
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 14, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
The new Rush Green training ground will have state of art facilities when rebuilt. Last week we revealed that planning permission was granted subject to minor conditions. The main remodelled building will boast separate offices for the manager and first team coaches, an analysis room with the latest technology, a Sports science room, a first team restaurant and separate youth team restaurant served by a enlarged modern kitchen.
There are separate dressing rooms the first team with their own showers, elite staff, general staff have their own dressing rooms as well as visiting away teams. These are backed up by a fully functioning laundry plus separate boot and kit rooms. There is a large gym, medical room, a large treatment area and a Hydotherapy pool. Added to football related facilities there is also a large press room which doubles as a presentation room, a meeting room, a visiting Chairman's office which is adjoined to a large boardroom so the Chairman can keep a close eye on their investments.
Slaven Bilic and his first team moved into Rush Green this morning but will have to slum it until the end of the season at which point the building works will begin.
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West Ham transfer news: Karren Brady admits Hammers could buy if 'something interesting' comes up
RICHARD PARRY Saturday 12 December 20150 comments
Evening Standard
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady admits that, while the club have 'no real plans' to sign players in the January transfer window they could react if something 'interesting' comes up.
Slaven Bilic's squad has been struck hard by injuries to Winston Reid, Victor Moses, Manuel Lanzini, Diafra Sakho, Dimitri Payet and Enner Valencia in recent weeks, but the clubs has so far played down talk of a flurry of business when the market opens next month. Writing in his Evening Standard column last week, Bilic insisted that club won't make 'panic signings', while David Gold insisted that the Hammers already 'have a £35m striker in Andy Carroll' when asked if they needed striking reinforcements. In an interview with BT Sport, vice-chairman Karren Brady followed suit, albeit without ruling a move should the right player be available. Speaking to BT Sport's Football tonight show, Brady admitted: "January's never a great time for any club to buy players, because most of the good players are not really available for sale." "So we're not planning to do anything …but if something comes up that's quite interesting and makes sense for the manager then we might consider it, but no real plans."
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Manuel Lanzini drops hint about his West Ham future whilst discussing Olympic Stadium
HITC
Olly Dawes
Manuel Lanzini is looking forward to West Ham's arrival at the Olympic Stadium. West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini has raved about the Olympic Stadium in an interview with the club's official website, dropping a possible hint about his future in the process. The Argentine star, 22, is currently on a season-long loan with the Hammers having signed from United Arab Emirates club Al-Jazira over the summer.
So far, the former River Plate man has made a huge impression during his time at Upton Park, having scored five goals and notched one assist so far. Fans are keen to see Lanzini stay at Upton Park beyond the expiration of his loan deal, but are currently dealing with his absence, given that the midfielder has suffered a thigh injury and is currently on the sidelines.
Lanzini will return and look to recapture his best form under Slaven Bilic, and if he continues to do that, a permanent stay will be on the cards - but it won't be at Upton Park. West Ham leave Upton Park next summer in order to move in to the Olympic Stadium, which is seen as being the springboard for future success in East London.
Lanzini went to the Olympic Stadium last week, and told the club's official website that he was impressed with the stadium - before stating that he's looking forward to enjoying success and playing there, suggesting that he sees his long-term future in claret and blue.
"It is a very impressive stadium, not only the stands and the pitch but all the other facilities; they are just excellent," said Lanzini. "I think the move is really going to give West Ham a boost and that is obviously very important. I really think the fans and the players will enjoy it and I'm sure we'll have some successful years in the near future."
"Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to play in some fantastic stadiums so far, I think this stadium is going to be absolutely incredible, all footballers will want to come and play here and it'll help the Club grow. One of the most important things is that the fans, I'm sure, are going to enjoy coming here, and we're going to be relaxed about putting on a really good show," he added.
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Diafra Sakho shares nasty surgery scar on Instagram as West Ham striker continues three-month recovery from thigh injury
Diafra Sakho injured his thigh attempting to shoot against West Brom
West Ham's Senegalese star striker had surgery on December 5
Sakho said he's looking forward to the next stage of his rehabilitation
By MICHAEL GADD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 21:37, 14 December 2015 | UPDATED: 21:46, 14 December 2015
Diafra Sakho has shared a large incision made in his thigh during surgery as the West Ham striker counts down the days until he can begin the next phase of his rehabilitation. The 25-year-old who limped off the pitch in the Hammers' November 29 draw with West Brom and went under the knife the following weekend isn't expected back on the pitch for three months. On Monday night, he shared an image of his healing wound with a message: 'After 10 days I can start with the next step in rehab!! Happy to start working and give it my best!! #100% #COYI #inshallah.'
Sakho has given a timeframe of three months after the injury he suffered while attempted to shoot for goal. The layoff is a huge blow to Slaven Bilic's side which hasn't recorded a win since they beat Chelsea on October 24. Since then in the Premier League they've recorded two defeats (Watford and Tottenham) and four draws (Everton, West Brom, Manchester United and Stoke). All going to plan, Sakho's estimated return date of March 16 would come ahead of their nxt clash with Chelsea on the 19th. Senegal international Sakho has scored five goals in his 14 appearances this season and his absence over the past fortnight has opened the door for back-to-back starts up front for Andy Carroll. However, the English striker who's returning from his own series of injuries has failed to deliver with both games against Man United and Stoke ending in scoreless draws. West Ham's horror run of injuries has seen Bilic move the team from their Chadwell Heath base, where the pitches are deemed notoriously hard, to Rush Green, where they intended to relocate to next season.
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Agent claims Russian international Aleksandr Kokorin will join a club like West Ham
HITC
Olly Dawes
Aleksandr Kokorin is being backed for a move to England by a Russian agent. Dinamo Moscow striker Aleksandr Kokorin is being linked with a move to England - but Russian agent Alexey Safonov has told Izvestia that the player should be signing for a club like West Ham. Kokorin, 24, has long been regarded as one of Russian football's stars of the future, and after 19 goals in 114 games for Dinamo Moscow, he left for Anzhi Makhachkala - but returned to Dinamo having failed to even play one game for Anzhi due to financial problems. With 22 goals in 57 games for Dinamo in his second spell, it's clear that Kokorin is improving as he gains more experience, whilst he has also bagged ten goals in 36 games for the Russian national team, becoming their leading striker in recent years. Now, with the January transfer window drawing ever closer, speculation surrounds Kokorin's future at Dinamo. The Sun reported last week that, with Kokorin's contract set to expire at the end of the season, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is plotting a cut-price move to sign the forward next month. It's fair to say that Arsenal may need more attacking options, but one Russian agent isn't convinced that Kokorin is good enough for the Gunners.
Alexey Safonov represents a number of Russian players, and has told Izvestia that he thinks Kokorin isn't at the level Arsenal need - and he should instead be signing for an 'average' Premier League club like West Ham United instead. "In England, he could improve, but I do not believe that he is good enough for Arsenal," said Safonov. "This is a case when the level of the team is at a much higher level than the player. I think he eventually he will join an average British club, such as Swansea or West Ham," he added. West Ham fans will no doubt take offence to the comments that their team is 'average', especially considering that the Hammers beat Arsenal 2-0 at the start of the season - and in fact, with West Ham enduring an injury crisis, Kokorin could be a smart target in January, if the Hammers are indeed looking for striking solutions.
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INJURED DUO 'AHEAD OF SCHEDULE'
By Dan Wilcox 4
ironsinthecircle
West Ham duo Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini are both ahead of schedule in their recovery from injuries according to Slaven Bilic. The pair were absent from the 0-0 draw with Stoke on Saturday, but Bilic believes both may well be back sooner than anticipated.
The manager said (quotes via Evening Standard): Every day I talk to my medical department. We had Enner Valencia back ahead of schedule and also it looks as though Lanzini and Payet might also be ahead of their planned return date. Lanzini looks the most likely to return. Whether that will be for Swansea next Sunday I don't know. It was reported last week that Bilic was planning on moving his side's training sessions to West Ham's new training plot, Rush Green, and that has now happened.
Bilic intimated that the recent injury crisis could be down to the standard of pitch at Chadwell Heath. He said: It's not about the dressing rooms or the sauna, it's about the pitches and they are much better. The Croatian took the team for training at Rush Green for the first time today, with the manager hoping the move might help prevent more injuries.
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West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic was full of praise for his backup brigade after the Hammers' 0-0 draw with Stoke City on Saturday
Guardian.com
West Ham United head coach Slaven Bilic has praised the players who have deputised for the Hammers' growing list of absentees. The Croatian is without Dimitri Payet, Victor Moses, Diafra Sakho, Manuel Lanzini and Winston Reid but West Ham remain unbeaten in three following Saturday's goalless draw at home to Stoke City. West Ham might even have nicked a winner at the death but Cheikhou Kouyate saw his header punched over the bar by Jack Butland. Speaking to the club's website, Bilic said: I am very happy the players who have come in since the injuries have stepped up, they have really stepped up. Their all round play has brought something different to our game. "We are missing some really key players, especially offensively. "Considering that, we did very well. I told the guys before and after Old Trafford the only we way are going to compensate for that is by working as a team. "We are still going to miss big players but the effect will be minimized if we work hard collectively, not as individuals. With teamwork and hard work, that is exactly what we did." He added: "We wanted to win, we always want to win. Sometimes you have to take risks. This is football, it is worth throwing everything you've got for three points. "Saying that, the team defends as a whole and attacks as a whole, so the 11 on the pitch are only half of it. It is the shape and the mentality that is key."
The Hammers carved out a number of opportunities at Upton Park on Saturday – 22 to be precise – but couldn't find a way past the in-form Butland. West Ham keeper Adrian, was kept busy too – saving well from Mame Biram Diouf on two occasions – but felt the east Londoners ought to have taken maximum points. He said: "We have to be happy with the clean sheet but I think a little bit frustrated that we didn't get the three points, because we had plenty of chances to score. "Jack Butland also made some very good saves and, at the end of the day, we got one more point and another clean sheet is important as well." The Hammers have now drawn their last three and Adrian felt there were similarities on Saturday to last weekend's 1-1 draw at Manchester United in which they could also have claimed all three points. "In both games we showed a great performance, we played well, we made good chances, we had opportunities to win the game but I think we need to be a little bit more clinical with our finishing," explained the Spaniard. With the season almost at the halfway stage and the Hammers in eighth place, just five points shy of the Champions League spots, Adrian believes there is every reason to be optimistic for the second half of the campaign. He said: "If we pass the Christmas period and start to get the injured players back into the team in January and February, and we are still in the same position, we can look to stay in the top six or seven. "We play to win and I think we deserve to be in the position that we are. "The points and the table are so tight; you win two games and you go up, you lose two games and you're in the middle. "We need to go game by game and nothing further. I think if we keep this same level of performance and improve results here in Upton Park, we can have a great season."
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Report: West Ham hopeful of signing Argentina international Federico Mancuello for £2.5m
HITC
Dan Coombs
West Ham are eyeing in form winger Federico Mancuello. West Ham are looking to sign Argentine midfielder Federico Mancuello, report The Sun. Mancuello plays for Independiente and has two international caps for Argentina, with one goal, netting against El Salvador. The 26-year-old plays predominantly as a central midfielder but is also capable of featuring at left wing or at left-back. In 34 games in all competitions in 2015 Mancuello has scored 13 goals and provided nine assists. The Sun claim West Ham are hopeful of signing him at just £2.5 million, and do not need to worry about a work permit as he hold an Italian passport. The Hammers are unlikely to be the only side interested, and the bargain price could increase. He has played in South America his entire career to date, into his second spell with Independiente after a brief stint at Belgrano. West Ham are currently adjusting to the loss of Dmitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini to injury, and have drawn their last two games 0-0. Both are expected back in the New Year, but the addition of Mancuello would mean they will have greater strength in depth, and he could develop into a real star in the Premier League.
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Aston Villa eye shock transfer move for Julien Faubert
HITC
Dan Coombs
Aston Villa are considering signing former West Ham winger Julien Faubert. Ason Villa are considering a shock swoop for free agent Julien Faubert, The Sun claim. Faubert is best known in England for a spell with West Ham in which he was a huge disappointment. He signed for the Hammers in 2007 amid big expectations, but could score only two league goals during 70 appearances.
His career at the club was stunted early on by injury problems and he could never establish himself in the first team. He is free agent after being released by Bordeaux in the summer and The Sun claim Aston Villa want to snap him up. The connection comes via French manager Remi Garde who is familiar with him, and showing a real interest in the 32-year-old. Faubert had one cap for France but this came back in 2006 before he signed for West Ham, but perhaps the biggest surprise of his career came when he was signed by Real Madrid. The La Liga champions inexplicably signed him on loan while he was at West Ham, but he played only twice and the Spanish side did not take up an option to sign him permanently. It is tough to see that he would have a big impact at Aston Villa, but Remi Garde's side currently need all the help they can get, stuck at the bottom of the table with only six points. If Garde feels working with players he is familiar with will help, Faubert is a low risk option that despite reservations, may be of some use in the short-term.
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Slaven BIlic gives clear verdict on Michail Antonio's first West Ham start
HITC
Olly Dawes
Michail Antonio started for West Ham against Stoke City on Saturday. West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has told the Daily Mail that Michail Antonio 'did really well' on his full Premier League debut against Stoke City. Antonio, 25, was a deadline day signing from Championship club Nottingham Forest, where he starred last season with 15 goals in 49 games, before another four goals in five games at the start of this season before his big move to Upton Park. Noted for his pace and power out wide, the former Reading winger had big expectations on him - but so far he hasn't quite had the impact many imagined. Before Saturday's game against Stoke, Antonio had played just 91 minutes of Premier League action for West Ham, but he was called upon against Stoke after a number of injuries. With Manuel Lanzini, Dimitri Payet and Victor Moses all out injured, Antonio was finally handed his first Premier League start in the 0-0 draw against Stoke - and now, manager Bilic has given his view on Antonio's performance. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Bilic stated that he believes Antonio took his chance when it came to him, and is 'really pleased' for the wide man. "Michail did really well," said Bilic. "He worked hard and has been waiting for his chance. Now he has got it and he used it really well. Sometimes it is hard for a player to come in and take their chance when they get it. But he did exactly that and I am really pleased for him," he added. With Lanzini, Payet and Moses still out for at least a few weeks yet, Antonio could be in line for more starts over the Christmas period, as he finally bids to show the West Ham supporters what he can do.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 15
Monday, December 14
Daily WHUFC News - 14th December 2015
Zarate laments Stoke stalemate
WHUFC.com
Mauro Zarate says West Ham United 'need to do more' if they are to turn a
recent series of draws into wins. The Hammers have finished level in four of
their previous six Barclays Premier League fixtures – losing the other two –
including Saturday's stalemate with Stoke City at the Boleyn Ground. The
Argentinian came within inches of scoring the winner in an entertaining, if
goalless, clash with the Potters, but his second-half shot cannoned back off
the outside of the post. Zarate also completed 30 of his 36 attempted passes
- six of them key, including a number of dangerous crosses. "I thought it
was going in when I hit it and it was unlucky," said the No10, who also hit
the woodwork in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United the previous weekend. "We
created many chances but we can't score – we can't score against Man United
and we can't score."
While some players might have been content with another point added to the
tally, Zarate is not one of them. Instead, the former Velez Sarsfield, Lazio
and Internationale star insists the Hammers need to improve their
performances if they are to start winning again.
A rollercoaster match saw both sides enjoy periods in the ascendancy, with
West Ham creating 22 shots on goal – nine of them on target – and Stoke
substitute Mame Biram Diouf twice testing Adrian when clean through late on.
Finally, James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate both saw efforts cleared off the
line in the final seconds, and Zarate was left to lament a draw that was
'not enough' to satisfy him. "I think it's tough on us," he continued, "but
we have to win at home. It was a good match and we did a decent match
ourselves, but we have to do better if we want to win. "They created some
chances in the second and Adrian had to be really good. The zero-zero was
not a normal result because they created some chances and we did our job
too, but a draw is not enough for us. "We needed that goal at the end and we
needed to do more if we wanted to win."
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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
BBC London Sport reporter Nick Godwin says there are still plenty of reasons
for West Ham United to feel upbeat about this season... Saturday's game was
terrific. It was a great game of football and West Ham created a lot of good
chances. To be honest, Stoke created some good chances as well, and it could
easily have finished three-all. I suppose, when you have got as many
injuries as West Ham have got in attacking areas, it is going to take time
to gel. Michail Antonio made his first start, Mauro Zarate is being asked to
take a lot of responsibility and Andy Carroll is a very different player to
Diafra Sakho. It's not all going to click automatically. There is going to
be a bit of time needed for these players to bed in. Enner Valencia has also
come back in after basically missing the whole season, aside from two games,
so I don't think people expect West Ham to be scoring a lot of goals at the
minute. The turnover of attacking players has been so great. Previously, it
was Sakho, Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses, so basically this
is an entirely new front line.
The West Ham fans really appreciated the work of Carroll and Zarate and the
goals will come, but I think they're just going to take a little while
because the personnel keeps changing. That's understandable. At the other
end, West Ham have got some terrific defenders. Angelo Ogbonna has come in
and James Tomkins is playing well at right-back, and they've kept two clean
sheets in a row. The punch line these days is that keeping a clean sheet at
Old Trafford is easy but, let's be honest, it isn't.
Adrian made a couple of terrific saves on Saturday from Mame Biram Diouf,
who probably should have scored one of them, if not both.
There are positives to take from West Ham's recent run. The fact is they
have hung together when, more or less, they have lost their five best
players this season, and drilling out results away from home and not
buckling to a Stoke side who took Manchester City aside the previous
weekend. The fact West Ham have got through their last two games – and not
picked up any fresh injuries on Saturday, I understand – means they go into
the horrendously busy festive part of the campaign in relatively good shape.
Lesser teams would have folded, but West Ham haven't. Everyone said they had
a stronger bench this season and I think that's true – Antonio was fantastic
on Saturday, for one. I think the next few games will be interesting.
Swansea aren't in great form and Aston Villa aren't very good, so they are
games in which West Ham will have to try and make the weather themselves,
which has been difficult for Slaven Bilic's team. I get the feeling that, if
Payet is back in three weeks and Lanzini is back for the Swansea game, those
are massive boosts. If Enner Valencia gets some fitness into his legs as
well, you've got three of the four missing attackers back. I thought Andy
Carroll was excellent on Saturday, so these are all positive things going
into those games, where West Ham will have to do more of the playmaking. You
get the feeling that, because they've been so good for so much of the
season, West Ham know how well they can play and know the way back to those
high standards, so a couple of bits of luck should see them continue to
thrive.
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Michail Antonio fulfils dream with first Premier League start for West ham
By Paul Vinnell
Last Updated: 13/12/15 1:02pm
SSN
Michail Antonio shook off his 'missing man' tag as he finally got a chance
to impress for West Ham on Saturday. The winger had made just a handful of
appearances of the bench for the Hammers since his £7m summer switch from
Nottingham Forest. Even co-chairman David Gold appeared to have forgotten
about Antonio, mistakenly retweeting a picture of him after an internet
prankster appealed for information on a 'missing friend'. But amid an injury
crisis at Upton Park, Antonio was handed his first start against Stoke and
grabbed his opportunity with an all-action display in the goalless draw.
"Michail did really well," said manager Slaven Bilic. "He worked hard and
has been waiting for his chance. Now he has got it and he used it really
well. "Sometimes it is hard for a player to come in and take their chance
when they get it. But he did exactly that and I am really pleased for him."
Antonio went close to claiming all three points for West Ham but his
second-half volley was beaten away by City keeper Jack Butland.
With Victor Moses ruled out for around six weeks with the hamstring injury
he suffered against Manchester United, Antonio is likely to feature heavily
over the Christmas period. "It felt unbelievable to get a chance," he told
the club website. "This was my boyhood dream to play in the Premier League
and I've managed that. "Playing at Old Trafford last week set me up well for
this game. It showed me the levels of the league and it was a good 50
minutes. He added: "They have been 0-0 draws, but they haven't been 0-0
games. Against Man United we had quite a few opportunities, and in this game
I had quite a few opportunities. "We hit the post with Mauro Zarate as well,
so we definitely have the attacking threat, it's just putting it in the back
of the net."
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WHERE ART THOU ANTONIO?
By Zaman Siddiqui 13 Dec 2015 at 07:00
WTID
Antonio against two Stoke players
This is our third successive match that has ended in a draw. We won 2-1
against the champions Chelsea on the 24th of October and were 3rd that
gameweek, but a run of 4 points from 6 games has seen us drop down to 8th,
if not lower this week. A failure to get a win against Swansea, who nearly
beat City yesterday, would result in a winless run of two months! They are
currently without a manager having sacked former player Garry Monk on
Wednesday. I felt a draw against the Potters wasn't the worst result we had.
They had won three of their last four games with victories against last
season's top two along the way. Regardless, they started the day in 11th,
whilst we started off in 7th. If Liverpool win today, there will only be two
places between us just to show how well we need to perform to get back in
the mix for European qualification.
According to WhoScored, we were missing our top three players yesterday,
namely Payet, Lanzini, and Reid. Winston picked up a hamstring injury during
training at Chadwell Heath. Bilic made the decision to move into the new
training headquarters at Rush Green before schedule, despite the fact the
facilities are not completed. It is a good move, as we really can't afford
any more injuries. Additionally, the manager defended the training schedule.
Reid, alongside Moses, will be out until the New Year. Regarding the New
Zealander's injury, the gaffer said: "It's one of those they tell you is
four to six weeks but it doesn't look like a small one." On top of that,
Reid also felt it rupture. I am irate there has been another injury picked
up by a striker without any contact with another player. Valencia picked up
an injury against Everton without contact, but is back in action. Valencia
and Carroll could play quite well, if Bilic feels the need to play both
strikers next week, given that we have only scored 2 goals in 6 matches.
This match emphasised just how much depth we have in our squad. This is our
fourth season in the Premier League, and as such, we have built up our side
very well with cover in all areas. There is a lot of quality on show, with
Tomkins playing well in the RB position: we have not conceded a single goal
when he has played there. Our players are very flexible, with Kouyaté
capable of playing as a CB, CDM, and a presence in the box. Valencia is also
capable of playing as a winger. The Senegalese midfielder is also the joint
best goalscorer for us in the BPL this season along with Zárate. He
contributes well to our passing style of play. However, that is not the case
for Mauro, as he looks like that guy on Pro Clubs in FIFA who won't the pass
and try to do it all by himself.
The club has confirmed that they won't be spending big bucks in the January
transfer window. It is understood we are at the limit of our wage bill. We
have spent £32M in the summer, which is why we can't spend anymore. There
are two approaches we can take. The first is to spend more to ensure we have
improved in the league, and to keep our league standing high. The second is
to spend less, so that we free up our budget for our first season at the
Olympic Stadium. The lowest we have finished since being promoted in 2012 is
13th, so I am very certain that we won't be relegated. Most bookies have us
being relegated at 100/1, which is less than 1%, so I think we can redefine
the term 'mathematically safe'. I feel that a finish in the top 12 is enough
for us to build up momentum for the next season. Us and Everton finished in
12th and 11th last season, but are very likely to finish in the top 8 this
season.
This may have been another goalless draw, but there was a lot of action,
which should of led to quite a few goals. There was a bizarre chance for
Stoke, as a free header for van Ginkel was not met by him or Adrián. van
Ginkel missed a volley from about 8 yards out, which should of put the
Potters 1-0 up. Antonio got forward with a counter from a Stoke counter, in
which he ran into Pieters. Arnautovic missed another fabulous chance, in
which he was 6 yards out. Collins had a couple of chances from a free-kick,
which could have gone in, but for the number of players in the way.
Shawcross passed the ball into the path of Noble who doesn't have much pace,
as he got into the box, but lost possession to Shawcross who backtracked him
superbly. Noble went down, but there was not enough contact for a penalty to
be given by Andre Marriner. Cresswell's low cross across the box is cleared
by Wollscheid, which prevented Antonio from scoring before HT.
The game was adapted to suit Carroll's style of play. In the first half,
getting passes to him in the final third didn't work. Antonio hit a volley
well, but it was straight at Butland. The former Forest man beat Carroll to
the ball. Valencia came on for Song, and had a good impact on the game. An
Arnautovic free-kick hit the crossbar, in which a volley from Bojan was well
over. A cross from Zárate for Carroll is off-target with a strong challenge
from Pieters who was a rock. Valencia's free-kick is dipping from 35 yards
out, but is touched over by Butland. We know how good the Ecuadorian is from
distance. Mauro came closer, as he dribbled across the box, and hit the
crossbar with Butland beaten there. Diouf's shot is magnificently saved when
he is 1 on 1 against Adrián. In the final moment of the game, Kouyaté had a
chance to steal it, but his header was cleared off the line by Butland. The
game deserved a draw, but not a 0-0 draw. It should have been at least 1-1.
Michail Antonio had a great home debut today. I hope he continues his fine
form, as he has a lot of physicality and pace. The hologram has just been
fully projected onto the pitch!
The form in the Premier League never ceases to astound me! Swansea are
bottom of the form table, whilst we are 17th. It should be a cagey affair at
the Liberty Stadium. Bournemouth have won their last two matches against
Chelsea and now Manchester United. They could just stay up, despite the many
injuries they have. They are currently 14th. But the real praise should go
to Harry Arter, who lost a child at birth. He played yesterday on Saturday
Night Football against the side that won 2-1 against Man United. Eddie Howe
appraised him for how well he handled the incident with "real dignity".
Massive respect for him. Our thoughts are with Harry and his family.
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At last a pundit with Irons interests at heart
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
There wasn't a great deal of it but it was pleasing to get a positive MOTD
reaction from the studio pundits following the match. The match recording
confirmed the feelings of most of us during real time – that in the end a
draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play. Danny Murphy and
Alan Shearer both seemed pleased with the football on display and the former
Fulham man – during a very brief summary – said: "I'm really pleased for
West Ham that they are continuing to pick up points during all their injury
problems." And Shearer added: "It was a good game from two good sides."
After all the perceived knocking from a certain BBC pundit it was good to
see that at least one has our best interests at heart. Thanks Danny.
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Injury reports: good news looks likely
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
An interesting trend which is giving rising hope on the injury news front is
developing at West Ham. Yesterday saw the return of Enner Valencia from an
ankle injury he sustained against last month and the early reports were he'd
be out until the New Year. Instead he was back nearly three weeks early and
the same could be true of Manu Lanzini. He took a knock in training ahead of
the Manchester United game and after being informed he'd be back for
yesterday's game we were later told he could be out for six weeks. However,
that may now have been changed with the manager saying he is likely to be
fit for the Swansea game adding that: "Dimitri Payet is making good progress
so who knows?"
All of this follows a series of statements and predictions which have often
caused much public discussion whilst at times proving inaccurate. Even when
it was well known yesterday ahead of the game that Enner Valencia was
certain to be on the bench, David Gold in his 'From the Boardroom' column on
the official site referred only to "keeping fingers crossed for an early
return". One source told us: "People are being more careful and the longest
return date is now being quoted rather than the shortest or the 'hoped for.'
"As a result it's conceivable there could be some pleasantly surprising news
emerging, as we have already seen with Enner."
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"We create many chances but we can't score"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 13, 2015 in Videos, Whispers
C and H
Mauro Zarate told a TV interviewer post match "We create many chances but we
can't score, we can't score against United, we can't score against Stoke at
home, we need to score to win. We have to win at home, it was a good match,
a decent match but we have to do better if we want to win, we have to do
more. They created some chances in the second half, Adrian was really good,
0-0 was a result but a draw is not good enough for us, we need to more if we
want to win"
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Noble and corners? Oh dear!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Local boy Mark Noble might be a great skipper and a world class penalty
taker but he can't take corners. Yesterday, we saw the majority of Mark
Noble's corners go out of play before any advantage could be taken by the
home team desperate for a goal. This not a new problem. I for one, have
never rated Noble's corner taking but Sam Allardyce and now Slaven Bilic
continue to pick him as the primary corner taker. When Dimtri Payet joined
we saw a completely different level of corner taking for the Hammers but
since his injury we have drifted back to mediocre corners, many of which
have been wasted opportunities.
West Ham have won 82 corners this season in 15 games, averaging over 5
corners per game with a total of 11 during yesterday's 0-0 draw with Stoke
City. With a recent drop off in our creative attacking and goals from
players like Payet, Sakho and Lanzini we really need to take advantage of
these set pieces. Get practising those corners Nobes or make way for someone
else to take the corners!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Mauro Zarate says West Ham United 'need to do more' if they are to turn a
recent series of draws into wins. The Hammers have finished level in four of
their previous six Barclays Premier League fixtures – losing the other two –
including Saturday's stalemate with Stoke City at the Boleyn Ground. The
Argentinian came within inches of scoring the winner in an entertaining, if
goalless, clash with the Potters, but his second-half shot cannoned back off
the outside of the post. Zarate also completed 30 of his 36 attempted passes
- six of them key, including a number of dangerous crosses. "I thought it
was going in when I hit it and it was unlucky," said the No10, who also hit
the woodwork in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United the previous weekend. "We
created many chances but we can't score – we can't score against Man United
and we can't score."
While some players might have been content with another point added to the
tally, Zarate is not one of them. Instead, the former Velez Sarsfield, Lazio
and Internationale star insists the Hammers need to improve their
performances if they are to start winning again.
A rollercoaster match saw both sides enjoy periods in the ascendancy, with
West Ham creating 22 shots on goal – nine of them on target – and Stoke
substitute Mame Biram Diouf twice testing Adrian when clean through late on.
Finally, James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate both saw efforts cleared off the
line in the final seconds, and Zarate was left to lament a draw that was
'not enough' to satisfy him. "I think it's tough on us," he continued, "but
we have to win at home. It was a good match and we did a decent match
ourselves, but we have to do better if we want to win. "They created some
chances in the second and Adrian had to be really good. The zero-zero was
not a normal result because they created some chances and we did our job
too, but a draw is not enough for us. "We needed that goal at the end and we
needed to do more if we wanted to win."
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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
BBC London Sport reporter Nick Godwin says there are still plenty of reasons
for West Ham United to feel upbeat about this season... Saturday's game was
terrific. It was a great game of football and West Ham created a lot of good
chances. To be honest, Stoke created some good chances as well, and it could
easily have finished three-all. I suppose, when you have got as many
injuries as West Ham have got in attacking areas, it is going to take time
to gel. Michail Antonio made his first start, Mauro Zarate is being asked to
take a lot of responsibility and Andy Carroll is a very different player to
Diafra Sakho. It's not all going to click automatically. There is going to
be a bit of time needed for these players to bed in. Enner Valencia has also
come back in after basically missing the whole season, aside from two games,
so I don't think people expect West Ham to be scoring a lot of goals at the
minute. The turnover of attacking players has been so great. Previously, it
was Sakho, Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses, so basically this
is an entirely new front line.
The West Ham fans really appreciated the work of Carroll and Zarate and the
goals will come, but I think they're just going to take a little while
because the personnel keeps changing. That's understandable. At the other
end, West Ham have got some terrific defenders. Angelo Ogbonna has come in
and James Tomkins is playing well at right-back, and they've kept two clean
sheets in a row. The punch line these days is that keeping a clean sheet at
Old Trafford is easy but, let's be honest, it isn't.
Adrian made a couple of terrific saves on Saturday from Mame Biram Diouf,
who probably should have scored one of them, if not both.
There are positives to take from West Ham's recent run. The fact is they
have hung together when, more or less, they have lost their five best
players this season, and drilling out results away from home and not
buckling to a Stoke side who took Manchester City aside the previous
weekend. The fact West Ham have got through their last two games – and not
picked up any fresh injuries on Saturday, I understand – means they go into
the horrendously busy festive part of the campaign in relatively good shape.
Lesser teams would have folded, but West Ham haven't. Everyone said they had
a stronger bench this season and I think that's true – Antonio was fantastic
on Saturday, for one. I think the next few games will be interesting.
Swansea aren't in great form and Aston Villa aren't very good, so they are
games in which West Ham will have to try and make the weather themselves,
which has been difficult for Slaven Bilic's team. I get the feeling that, if
Payet is back in three weeks and Lanzini is back for the Swansea game, those
are massive boosts. If Enner Valencia gets some fitness into his legs as
well, you've got three of the four missing attackers back. I thought Andy
Carroll was excellent on Saturday, so these are all positive things going
into those games, where West Ham will have to do more of the playmaking. You
get the feeling that, because they've been so good for so much of the
season, West Ham know how well they can play and know the way back to those
high standards, so a couple of bits of luck should see them continue to
thrive.
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Michail Antonio fulfils dream with first Premier League start for West ham
By Paul Vinnell
Last Updated: 13/12/15 1:02pm
SSN
Michail Antonio shook off his 'missing man' tag as he finally got a chance
to impress for West Ham on Saturday. The winger had made just a handful of
appearances of the bench for the Hammers since his £7m summer switch from
Nottingham Forest. Even co-chairman David Gold appeared to have forgotten
about Antonio, mistakenly retweeting a picture of him after an internet
prankster appealed for information on a 'missing friend'. But amid an injury
crisis at Upton Park, Antonio was handed his first start against Stoke and
grabbed his opportunity with an all-action display in the goalless draw.
"Michail did really well," said manager Slaven Bilic. "He worked hard and
has been waiting for his chance. Now he has got it and he used it really
well. "Sometimes it is hard for a player to come in and take their chance
when they get it. But he did exactly that and I am really pleased for him."
Antonio went close to claiming all three points for West Ham but his
second-half volley was beaten away by City keeper Jack Butland.
With Victor Moses ruled out for around six weeks with the hamstring injury
he suffered against Manchester United, Antonio is likely to feature heavily
over the Christmas period. "It felt unbelievable to get a chance," he told
the club website. "This was my boyhood dream to play in the Premier League
and I've managed that. "Playing at Old Trafford last week set me up well for
this game. It showed me the levels of the league and it was a good 50
minutes. He added: "They have been 0-0 draws, but they haven't been 0-0
games. Against Man United we had quite a few opportunities, and in this game
I had quite a few opportunities. "We hit the post with Mauro Zarate as well,
so we definitely have the attacking threat, it's just putting it in the back
of the net."
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WHERE ART THOU ANTONIO?
By Zaman Siddiqui 13 Dec 2015 at 07:00
WTID
Antonio against two Stoke players
This is our third successive match that has ended in a draw. We won 2-1
against the champions Chelsea on the 24th of October and were 3rd that
gameweek, but a run of 4 points from 6 games has seen us drop down to 8th,
if not lower this week. A failure to get a win against Swansea, who nearly
beat City yesterday, would result in a winless run of two months! They are
currently without a manager having sacked former player Garry Monk on
Wednesday. I felt a draw against the Potters wasn't the worst result we had.
They had won three of their last four games with victories against last
season's top two along the way. Regardless, they started the day in 11th,
whilst we started off in 7th. If Liverpool win today, there will only be two
places between us just to show how well we need to perform to get back in
the mix for European qualification.
According to WhoScored, we were missing our top three players yesterday,
namely Payet, Lanzini, and Reid. Winston picked up a hamstring injury during
training at Chadwell Heath. Bilic made the decision to move into the new
training headquarters at Rush Green before schedule, despite the fact the
facilities are not completed. It is a good move, as we really can't afford
any more injuries. Additionally, the manager defended the training schedule.
Reid, alongside Moses, will be out until the New Year. Regarding the New
Zealander's injury, the gaffer said: "It's one of those they tell you is
four to six weeks but it doesn't look like a small one." On top of that,
Reid also felt it rupture. I am irate there has been another injury picked
up by a striker without any contact with another player. Valencia picked up
an injury against Everton without contact, but is back in action. Valencia
and Carroll could play quite well, if Bilic feels the need to play both
strikers next week, given that we have only scored 2 goals in 6 matches.
This match emphasised just how much depth we have in our squad. This is our
fourth season in the Premier League, and as such, we have built up our side
very well with cover in all areas. There is a lot of quality on show, with
Tomkins playing well in the RB position: we have not conceded a single goal
when he has played there. Our players are very flexible, with Kouyaté
capable of playing as a CB, CDM, and a presence in the box. Valencia is also
capable of playing as a winger. The Senegalese midfielder is also the joint
best goalscorer for us in the BPL this season along with Zárate. He
contributes well to our passing style of play. However, that is not the case
for Mauro, as he looks like that guy on Pro Clubs in FIFA who won't the pass
and try to do it all by himself.
The club has confirmed that they won't be spending big bucks in the January
transfer window. It is understood we are at the limit of our wage bill. We
have spent £32M in the summer, which is why we can't spend anymore. There
are two approaches we can take. The first is to spend more to ensure we have
improved in the league, and to keep our league standing high. The second is
to spend less, so that we free up our budget for our first season at the
Olympic Stadium. The lowest we have finished since being promoted in 2012 is
13th, so I am very certain that we won't be relegated. Most bookies have us
being relegated at 100/1, which is less than 1%, so I think we can redefine
the term 'mathematically safe'. I feel that a finish in the top 12 is enough
for us to build up momentum for the next season. Us and Everton finished in
12th and 11th last season, but are very likely to finish in the top 8 this
season.
This may have been another goalless draw, but there was a lot of action,
which should of led to quite a few goals. There was a bizarre chance for
Stoke, as a free header for van Ginkel was not met by him or Adrián. van
Ginkel missed a volley from about 8 yards out, which should of put the
Potters 1-0 up. Antonio got forward with a counter from a Stoke counter, in
which he ran into Pieters. Arnautovic missed another fabulous chance, in
which he was 6 yards out. Collins had a couple of chances from a free-kick,
which could have gone in, but for the number of players in the way.
Shawcross passed the ball into the path of Noble who doesn't have much pace,
as he got into the box, but lost possession to Shawcross who backtracked him
superbly. Noble went down, but there was not enough contact for a penalty to
be given by Andre Marriner. Cresswell's low cross across the box is cleared
by Wollscheid, which prevented Antonio from scoring before HT.
The game was adapted to suit Carroll's style of play. In the first half,
getting passes to him in the final third didn't work. Antonio hit a volley
well, but it was straight at Butland. The former Forest man beat Carroll to
the ball. Valencia came on for Song, and had a good impact on the game. An
Arnautovic free-kick hit the crossbar, in which a volley from Bojan was well
over. A cross from Zárate for Carroll is off-target with a strong challenge
from Pieters who was a rock. Valencia's free-kick is dipping from 35 yards
out, but is touched over by Butland. We know how good the Ecuadorian is from
distance. Mauro came closer, as he dribbled across the box, and hit the
crossbar with Butland beaten there. Diouf's shot is magnificently saved when
he is 1 on 1 against Adrián. In the final moment of the game, Kouyaté had a
chance to steal it, but his header was cleared off the line by Butland. The
game deserved a draw, but not a 0-0 draw. It should have been at least 1-1.
Michail Antonio had a great home debut today. I hope he continues his fine
form, as he has a lot of physicality and pace. The hologram has just been
fully projected onto the pitch!
The form in the Premier League never ceases to astound me! Swansea are
bottom of the form table, whilst we are 17th. It should be a cagey affair at
the Liberty Stadium. Bournemouth have won their last two matches against
Chelsea and now Manchester United. They could just stay up, despite the many
injuries they have. They are currently 14th. But the real praise should go
to Harry Arter, who lost a child at birth. He played yesterday on Saturday
Night Football against the side that won 2-1 against Man United. Eddie Howe
appraised him for how well he handled the incident with "real dignity".
Massive respect for him. Our thoughts are with Harry and his family.
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At last a pundit with Irons interests at heart
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
There wasn't a great deal of it but it was pleasing to get a positive MOTD
reaction from the studio pundits following the match. The match recording
confirmed the feelings of most of us during real time – that in the end a
draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play. Danny Murphy and
Alan Shearer both seemed pleased with the football on display and the former
Fulham man – during a very brief summary – said: "I'm really pleased for
West Ham that they are continuing to pick up points during all their injury
problems." And Shearer added: "It was a good game from two good sides."
After all the perceived knocking from a certain BBC pundit it was good to
see that at least one has our best interests at heart. Thanks Danny.
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Injury reports: good news looks likely
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
An interesting trend which is giving rising hope on the injury news front is
developing at West Ham. Yesterday saw the return of Enner Valencia from an
ankle injury he sustained against last month and the early reports were he'd
be out until the New Year. Instead he was back nearly three weeks early and
the same could be true of Manu Lanzini. He took a knock in training ahead of
the Manchester United game and after being informed he'd be back for
yesterday's game we were later told he could be out for six weeks. However,
that may now have been changed with the manager saying he is likely to be
fit for the Swansea game adding that: "Dimitri Payet is making good progress
so who knows?"
All of this follows a series of statements and predictions which have often
caused much public discussion whilst at times proving inaccurate. Even when
it was well known yesterday ahead of the game that Enner Valencia was
certain to be on the bench, David Gold in his 'From the Boardroom' column on
the official site referred only to "keeping fingers crossed for an early
return". One source told us: "People are being more careful and the longest
return date is now being quoted rather than the shortest or the 'hoped for.'
"As a result it's conceivable there could be some pleasantly surprising news
emerging, as we have already seen with Enner."
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"We create many chances but we can't score"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 13, 2015 in Videos, Whispers
C and H
Mauro Zarate told a TV interviewer post match "We create many chances but we
can't score, we can't score against United, we can't score against Stoke at
home, we need to score to win. We have to win at home, it was a good match,
a decent match but we have to do better if we want to win, we have to do
more. They created some chances in the second half, Adrian was really good,
0-0 was a result but a draw is not good enough for us, we need to more if we
want to win"
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Noble and corners? Oh dear!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Local boy Mark Noble might be a great skipper and a world class penalty
taker but he can't take corners. Yesterday, we saw the majority of Mark
Noble's corners go out of play before any advantage could be taken by the
home team desperate for a goal. This not a new problem. I for one, have
never rated Noble's corner taking but Sam Allardyce and now Slaven Bilic
continue to pick him as the primary corner taker. When Dimtri Payet joined
we saw a completely different level of corner taking for the Hammers but
since his injury we have drifted back to mediocre corners, many of which
have been wasted opportunities.
West Ham have won 82 corners this season in 15 games, averaging over 5
corners per game with a total of 11 during yesterday's 0-0 draw with Stoke
City. With a recent drop off in our creative attacking and goals from
players like Payet, Sakho and Lanzini we really need to take advantage of
these set pieces. Get practising those corners Nobes or make way for someone
else to take the corners!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, December 13
Daily WHUFC News - 13th December 2015
West Ham United 0-0 Stoke City
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were held to an entertaining goalless draw by Stoke City on
Saturday, a third successive Barclays Premier League stalemate at the Boleyn
Ground. Ibrahim Affelay caused the Hammers a headache before the interval
and it was his enterprise that presented Marco van Ginkel with a gilt-edged
chance in the 12th minute, one that he promptly squandered. Michail
Antonio, on his full debut, went close for the Hammers, but, like Cheikhou
Kouyate before him, was foiled by the fists of Jack Butland. Marko
Arnautovic struck the crossbar late on with a free-kick, while Mame Biram
Diouf was twice brilliantly denied by the excellent Adrian. For the hosts,
Mauro Zarate's drive cannoned off the outside of the upright, while James
Tomkins and Kouyate both saw efforts cleared off the line in a frantic
finale.
Following his first-half introduction at Old Trafford, Antonio was handed
his first Barclays Premier League start here and a debut outing at the
Boleyn Ground to boot. Elsewhere, in the absence of the sidelined Winston
Reid, James Collins returned to the heart of the Hammers' back four. With
the game less than three minutes old, Kouyate forced Jack Butland into an
early stop, beating away the Senegal man's rasping 25-yard drive. From the
resulting corner Antonio tried his luck from a similar spot, but this time
Butland gathered comfortably enough.
At the other end, Afellay was running amok down the right, thrice creating
chances. His first foray ended with a wicked ball into the middle. Adrian
was uncertain and when van Ginkel dangled a leg, he caught the 'keeper, not
the ball. The Spaniard was soon back to his feet. The Dutchman then wriggled
to the by-line only to be denied by an outstretched Adrian boot. The third
was a golden chance. After Angelo Ogbonna had blocked Afellay's centre, van
Ginkel should have scored, or at the very least hit the target. But, from
eight yards, he dragged it horribly wide. Afellay was furious.
Stoke's No14 tried to take matters into his own hands and his 20-yarder
cannoned into James Collins as it ballooned over the bar. West Ham,
meanwhile, huffed and puffed. Antonio turned smartly out on the right-hand
touchline but was eventually crowded out as he strode into the 18-yard box.
As the half-hour mark neared, the Potters went closer to still. Again, down
the right, the familiar figure of Glen Johnson squared for Arnautovic, who,
having scored a last-gasp equaliser here last term, side-footed wide of the
near post.
After Erik Pieters had cynically felled Kouyate, the resulting free-kick
caused chaos in the visitors' box. Collins tried, once, twice and even a
third time to fire goalward, but neither he nor Kouyate could do so cleanly.
Then, in first-half stoppage time, Song played in Aaron Cresswell down the
left, who, in turn, slid a devilish ball across the face. Antonio slid in at
the near post but, via a combination of the former Nottingham Forest and a
Stoke intervention, over it went.
The Hammers won an early corner after the break and, though Collins looked
favourite for it, it skipped beyond the Welshman and Ryan Shawcross was
relieved to nod it behind. Moments later and Carroll craned his neck to nod
Zarate's left-wing centre toward goal. Though it looked to be drifting just
wide, Butland was taking no chances and palmed it away for another corner.
West Ham looked the most likely. Antonio took advantage of Stoke indecision
to test Butland, but the England stopper was equal to it, beating it out of
harm's way. With 63 on the clock, the Boleyn Ground was greeted with the
refreshing sight of Enner Valencia on the touchline. The Ecuadorean, having
come a cropper against Everton, replaced Song, as the hosts went in search
of the breakthrough. But it was Stoke with heads in hands soon after.
Arnautovic's deflected free-kick struck the crossbar, before Bojan smashed
the rebound high into the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Into the final 20 and
Noble, on the stretch, watched his long-range dig sail over, while
Cresswell's mishit cross was pushed behind by the acrobatic Butland. West
Ham soon had Adrian to thank for keeping it level, as he stuck out a boot
once more to deny substitute Mame Biram Diouf from eight yards. But the
Hammers weren't done either. Zarate danced around the area and struck the
outside of Butland's left-hand upright, before Valencia so nearly applied a
telling touch to Carroll's header. By now an end-to-end affair, Biram Diouf
might have won it at the death, but Adrian was in no mood to be beaten, as
he saved with his feet, yet again.
There was still drama to come, as Tomkins hooked effort was headed off the
line, before Kouyate's header got the same treatment. With that, Andre
Marriner called time on the Hammers' third draw in four.
West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song
(Valencia 63), Noble (c), Antonio (Jelavic 83), Kouyate, Zarate, Carroll
Subs: Randolph (GK), Jenkinson, Obiang, Oxford, Cullen
Booked: Kouyate
Stoke City: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross (c), Wollscheid, Pieters, Cameron
(Adam 69), Whelan, Van Ginkel (Biram Diouf 56), Afellay (Walters 66), Bojan,
Arnautovic
Subs: Haugaard (GK), Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson
Booked: Pieters, Afellay
Referee: Andre Marriner
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Bilic - I am proud of the boys
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic could not have asked any more from his
players and was disappointed that they could not come away with all three
points following the 0-0 draw with Stoke. Despite missing key players such
as Dimiti Payet, Diafra Sakho, Victor Moses, Winston Reid and Manuel
Lanzini, the Hammers squad showed the quality they have with a number of
good chances to come away with the victory. Mauro Zarate saw his effort
strike the post, while James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate both had efforts
cleared off the line in the final few seconds. There were plenty of
positives for Bilic to take out of the game with Michail Antonio impressing
in his first Premier League start and James Collins producing another
impressive display at the heart of the defence to help the side come away
with another clean sheet.
Bilic said: "I am disappointed with the result but I said to the lads after
the game I could not have asked for anymore, especially effort wise. We had
good team energy and they played as a team today. I cannot be unhappy about
that. "I thought Mauro's shot had gone in and it was a great chance that he
created by himself coming from the left to the right hand side. We also had
a great chance right at the end. "Sometimes they are crucial for the season,
let alone for one game. You sometimes need those goals to boost the whole
club and the individuals. Unfortunately it was not meant to be today. "We
had a lot of positives from our side especially when you consider the amount
of players we had missing today. To play like this against a good team makes
me proud of the boys. "It was a good game to watch. We have not scored for
two games but we have kept two clean sheets and both of those games should
not have finished 0-0. "Michail did really well. He worked hard and has been
waiting for his chance. Now he has got it and he used it really well.
Sometimes it is hard for a player to come in and take their chance when they
get it. "But he did exactly that and I am really pleased for him."
Bilic was thrilled to see Enner Valencia back in action following a month on
the sidelines with an ankle injury. The Hammers boss had more good news on
the injury front after revealing that Lanzini could make a return against
Swansea next Sunday, while Payet could be back in action at the start of the
New Year. Bilic added: "Slowly we are getting all the players back from
injury. It is great to have Enner back. We have been practically missing him
since the start of the season. "Hopefully there is a chance that Manuel
Lanzini might be back for Swansea and even Payet doesn't look like a long,
long time. "So I hope that Lanzini will be back next week and maybe even
Payet in three weeks' time, but it's going to be longer for Sakho, Moses and
Reid."
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Antonio thrilled to take his chance
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio has had to be patient for his chance since joining West Ham
United in the summer, but made the most of his first start on Saturday. The
25-year-old winger was involved from the start against Stoke City and was
named Man of the Match following an all-action performance. He went close to
claiming all three points when his second half volley was beaten away by
Jack Butland and he is keen to build on his display. "It felt unbelievable
to get a chance," he said. "This was my boyhood dream to play in the Premier
League and I've managed that. "I got Man of the Match on my first start so
hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing well. "Playing at Old Trafford
last week set me up well for this game. It showed me the levels of the
league and it was a good 50 minutes."
The Hammers may have drawn their last two games without scoring, but the
chances created could have yielded greater reward, so Antonio is positive
ahead of the Christmas period. He added: "They have been 0-0 draws, but they
haven't been 0-0 games. Against Man Utd we had quite a few opportunities,
and in this game I had quite a few opportunities. "We hit the post with
Mauro Zarate as well, so we definitely have the attacking threat, it's just
putting it in the back of the net. "For my chance in the second half, it
came over the top and I volleyed it, but just hit it straight at him. A yard
each side it would have gone in, but it's one I've had to take on the swivel
so I didn't know where I was to the goal. "Hopefully in the next game I can
put it in the back of the net."
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Patient Jelavic ready to take opportunity
WHUFC.com
On the eve of what could be his full home debut West Ham striker Nikica
Jelavic said he is ready to step up should he be called upon.
Since joining the Hammers in the summer from Hull City, the experienced
Croatian has featured seven times as a substitute and is now hoping to force
his way into the starting eleven against Stoke City. Speaking ahead of the
Hammers fixture with the Potters, Jelavic said he is doing everything he can
to catch manager Slaven Bilic's eye: "We have a very good squad and some
very good strikers here so you have to earn your place in the team, I'm
giving 100% every training session so hopefully I am going to get my chance.
"Definitely, competition for places is very important, it's good to have a
couple of good players in every position, it helps you to push yourself and
put in 100% every session and try and impress the manager."
While 'Jela' has only been at the Club for four months, he has clearly
settled into life in east London quickly. The former Rangers, Everton and
Hull man continued by saying: "I have been involved in several different
squads in my career and this is definitely a happy squad to be part of. "You
can feel the history of the club and how important it is to the fans. We are
a big Premier League club; we have great fans and the move to the new
stadium next year will make us even bigger club then we are at the moment,
it's something great that everyone connected to the club will enjoy. "With
the new stadium coming next year I think we're in a good position, I'm sure
new players will come in and will want to play for West Ham, this season is
probably too early for Champions League, right now we should concentrate on
playing good football."
With injuries to Diafra Sakho, Dimitri Payet, Victor Moses and Manuel
Lanzini, Jelavic's goal scoring prowess may well be called upon come
Saturday afternoon as the Hammers are aiming to extend their unbeaten run to
three games. A lucky omen for everyone in claret and blue is the fact that
West Ham are yet to lose at home in a match where Jelavic has featured. He
continued: "We had a great season so far, great. We've had a couple of bad
results in the last month but in general when you look at it from the start
of the season, it has been great. "I think we will have a good season ahead
of us, we're playing good football definitely think the fans are watching
good football at the moment, we are certainly trying to. We have a couple of
injuries to key players but we have already showed against Manchester United
that we can cope."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
I was thrilled to be back at the new Stadium this week and spent the
afternoon with Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini and Reece Oxford.
We were delighted to be joined by members of the Priority List and Founders
who won a competition to join myself and the players at the new Stadium. We
thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The new Stadium improves every time I go
back there and it looks fantastic. It is about pride and we have achieved
something very special by moving there. We are absolutely thrilled that we
have record season tickets sales for the new Stadium and it shows you the
passion that is being generated. This is a special time to be a West Ham
United fan and this is a new era in the history of our great football club.
We had an outstanding display against Manchester United last weekend and I
hope that the players will be able to maintain that level of performance and
help us come away with all three points when we face Stoke on Saturday.
It is never easy going to Old Trafford but we got a well deserved point and
it so easily could have been all three. The fact that we are disappointed
about only coming away with a draw shows how far we have come over the last
decade. It has been amazing for us to win four big away games and now get a
draw with Manchester United. We are currently having a bad run of injuries
but we shouldn't be too disappointed and other clubs have their times when
injuries pile up. But the skill is to battle through. In the past we would
have injuries like this and be decimated. But if you look at the line-up
against Stoke it will still be a team full of quality. We also have a few
players coming back from injury. Alex Song started his first Premier League
game of the season last weekend and has added to the strength of the squad.
Fingers crossed Enner Valencia is very close to making a first-team return
and it gives the opportunities for players like Michail Antonio who has been
waiting patiently for his chance and it was great to see him playing against
Manchester United.
We know we are facing another tough game today against a Stoke side who will
be full of confidence following their victory over Manchester City last
weekend. There is no doubt they will be a challenge. But we are also a good
side and I am sure the players will be confident they can come away with a
victory.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Stoke
12 December 2015
Last updated at 18:01
By Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport
West Ham were held by Stoke in a scrappy but entertaining goalless draw. The
visitors produced an impressive attacking display to beat Manchester City
last week, but could not find the same form again. Marco van Ginkel, brought
in for the injured Xherdan Shaqiri, had Stoke's best chance in the first
half but he put wide from close range. West Ham enjoyed more action in front
of goal but they were denied time after time by Stoke goalkeeper Jack
Butland. It means the Hammers have now gone six games without a win in the
league - their last victory coming against Chelsea on 24 October - although
they have picked up four draws in that period. Stoke City have now kept
seven clean sheets in their last nine Premier League games. The draw saw the
hosts slip one place to eighth while the Potters remain 11th.
Stoke were dealt a blow before the game when Shaqiri was ruled out with a
hamstring strain, and they lacked the attacking prowess they showed in their
2-0 win last weekend. Van Ginkel should have done better when he scuffed
wide from Ibrahim Afellay's pass in the first half, while substitute Mame
Diouf nearly won it at the end when he went one-on-one with keeper Adrian,
who saved with his feet. Bojan was ineffective up-front, having only two
shots all game, while Marko Arnautovic failed to produce the same finishing
that saw him score twice against Man City. Although they lacked attacking
flair, their defence was solid once again, with Butland making eight saves.
West Ham have been hit by a number of injuries to key players in recent
weeks - the latest casualties Winston Reid and Victor Moses joining Dimitri
Payet, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini on the sidelines. Manager Slaven
Bilic called upon Michail Antonio to make his first Premier League start,
and the former Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder impressed for the
Hammers. The 25-year-old had five shots on goal - more than any other player
on the pitch - but failed to put it past an in-form Butland. Andy Carroll
made a menace of himself up front, and engaged in a physical battle with
defender Ryan Shawcross, but the big England striker was not able to find
the killer touch, with only two shots on target.
Man of the match Jack Butland
Michail Antonio looked decent for West Ham, but the plaudits go to Stoke
goalkeeper Jack Butland for keeping his seventh clean sheet of the season
Manager reaction
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "Both teams defended well. We hit the post twice
and they did once. I'm not happy with the result but it was a fair result.
"Considering the effort we put in I can't be unhappy with my team. "I can't
be happier with our spirit and togetherness and resilience and, at times,
our quality."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "We're reasonably pleased with the draw. "I
thought we defended really well. Both teams will be comfortable with the
point. That's something we can build on. "[The clean sheet record] is a base
and platform to build on. West Ham are a good team and as the home side we
knew it was a test for us."
The stats you need to know
No keeper has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than Jack Butland
this campaign (seven, level with Joe Hart). He also has the best
saves-to-shots ratio in the Premier League so far in 2015-16 (82.5%).
The Potters have not conceded a Premier League goal while Ryan Shawcross has
been on the pitch this season (497 minutes).
West Ham have won just two of their last nine Premier League home games (W2
D4 L3), but are unbeaten in the last six.
The Hammers have kept back-to-back clean sheets twice this season. They also
did it against Liverpool and Newcastle in August/September.
What next?
West Ham face managerless Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, 20
December while Stoke welcome Crystal palace the day before.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 0-0 Stoke: Draw extends Hammers' winless run
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 12/12/15 6:09pm
SSN
West Ham's winless run has been extended to six matches, after a goalless
draw at home to Stoke. A total of three goals in those six games suggests
Slaven Bilic's side are missing key attackers, and the better chances were
created by visitors looking for a fourth win in five Premier League games.
Both sides hit the frame of the goal after half-time, and either might have
won it during a chaotic final period, but neither did enough to warrant a
win which might have taken them into the top six. Stoke arrived on the back
of a victory over Manchester City that brought comparisons with Europe's
best, but their rebranding as 'Stokealona' seemed a touch premature on the
evidence of an open and occasionally ragged game. They had their moments,
Ibrahim Afellay creating two early chances for Marco van Ginkel, who
squandered the first when he opted to go feet-first at what would have been
a free header six yards out. The second was a sitter, shanked wide of the
near post, and Marko Arnautovic missed the same upright from a similar
distance after Afellay and Glen Johnson opened up West Ham's left-hand side.
The home side's list of absentees is well-documented, but they summoned a
forgotten man for a first start as Michail Antonio - subject of a spoof
'missing persons' poster recently - was given a first start more than three
months after a £7m transfer from Nottingham Forest. The winger's unrefined
menace was West Ham's likeliest source of a first-half breakthrough, and a
second-half snapshot stung Jack Butland's palms on what was an encouraging
full debut. Andy Carroll's team-mates adapted to his style in the second
half, but twice he was denied clean headers at goal by decent Stoke
defending, and the best chances continued to come at the other end.
Arnautovic's free-kick clipped Cheikhou Kouyate before cannoning the
crossbar and substitute Mame Diouf, on with Jon Walters as the Barca
blueprint was reworked in search of a winner, side-footed Johnson's pass
straight at Adrian.
Diouf repeated the trick in the last minute when a perfect Arnautovic ball
sent him through, but West Ham gave as good as they got in a five-minute
ding-dong at the end, and Butland was beaten when Mauro Zarate's shot bent
back to hit his left-hand post. The goalkeeper's impressive assurance
deserted him in added time as he spilled a corner, but Stoke's massed
defence came to his aid as Kouyate's header was kept out on the goal-line.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (8), Tomkins (7), Collins (7), Ogbonna (6), Cresswell (7),
Noble (6), Song (7), Kouyate (7), Antonio (7), Zarate (6), Carroll (6)
Subs used: Valencia (6), Jelavic (5)
Stoke: Butland (7), Johnson (7), Shawcross (7), Wollscheid (8), Pieters (7),
Cameron (7), van Ginkel (5), Whelan (6), Afellay (6), Arnautovic (7), Bojan
(7)
Subs used: Diouf (5), Walters (5), Adam (5)
Man of the match: Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michail Antonio good enough for West Ham, Slaven Bilic says
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 12/12/15 6:39pm
SSN
Slaven Bilic said Michail Antonio "proved he is a West Ham player" after
finally getting his first start against Stoke. The winger was a £7m
deadline-day signing from Nottingham Forest but has played so little that
West Ham fans recently circulated a spoof 'missing persons' poster of him. A
long injury list gave Antonio his chance against City, and he was lively and
energetic in an open goalless draw. Bilic afterwards told Sky Sports: "He
did well, especially in terms of quantity - how many times he went up there,
balls he recovered. He was very direct. "He proved today he's a West Ham
player and he's good enough. We expected that from him. He waited a long
time to get a chance but he did really well today."
West Ham have not won in six games, but four of those have been drawn and
their manager was happy with the performance of a side missing the likes of
Dimiti Payet, Diafra Sakho and Winston Reid. "We have to be realistic," he
said. "Considering the team we put out - a good team, but considering the
players missing and their quaity and their positions I have to be happy with
the way we played. "We battle on, and the only way we're going to make this
period easier is the way we played today - with a lot of energy and miles in
the legs."
Both teams had chances to win the game, Cheikhou Kouyate having a header
cleared off the line in the final seconds. "It was that [kind of] moment
that is very important not just for the game but for a whole season
sometimes. You need those added time goals. We had a good opportunity and it
would have been brilliant, but a draw is a fair result."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WEST HAM 0, STOKE CITY 0. FINE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
By David Hautzig 12 Dec 2015 at 18:48
WTID
For the record, I categorically dismiss The Warren Report and do not believe
Lee Harvey Oswald was the only gunman that day in Dallas. I happen to
subscribe to the theory that a secret service agent accidentally fired the
third and fatal shot. Ballistics and math seem to back that up better than
any other theory. As conspiracy theories go, who killed JFK is probably the
most debated of all time. Why West Ham suffer so many injuries isn't quite
as intriguing to the general public, but among us the debate is almost as
heated. Slaven Bilic thinks Chadwell Heath is the shot from The Grassy
Knoll, and has moved training to Rush Green. Too late to help Winston Reid,
the latest to fall. Going into today's match at Upton Park, how Bilic dealt
with that was the question that I felt would decide the match. And overall,
I think he dealt with it quite well.
West Ham looked to be off to a good start in the third minute when Noble
passed to Carroll, who then found Kouyate 20 yards from goal but his long
shot was put out for a corner by Butland. The ensuing set piece came out to
Antonio, who controlled nicely with his chest before trying his luck from 20
yards. It needed more than luck and Butland made an easy save.
Stoke had won four of their previous five games, and it was easy to see why
for much of the first half. In the 9th minute, Afellay broke down the right
and sent a low cross into the box. Both Adrian and van Ginkel hesitated
going for the ball and crashed into each other as the ball flew past them
and out for a corner after a slight touch by the West Ham keeper. Adrian
looked a bit shaken up, and with our luck I was shocked he didn't break his
leg and lacerate his kidney.
Stoke should have gone in front in the 11th minute when Afellay was on the
receiving end of a throw deep in the West Ham area. He ran along the end
line and tried a tight angle shot that bounce out to van Ginkel. Seven yards
out from goal, with nobody close enough to smell him, he somehow managed to
put his shot into the ground and bounce it wide for a goal kick.
Stoke continued on the front foot, and in the 17th minute Bojan made a run
on the left and found Afellay at the top of the box. The Dutchman shifted to
his left before attempting a shot that was deflected out for a corner by
Collins. The corner was cleared in a joint effort by Tomkins and the corner
flag, the latter of which got in the way of the initial attempt. Who needs a
12th man when you have a corner flag like that?
I remember one night many years ago, I was getting ready to go out with "the
fellas" in Manhattan. I was 24, and most of them were in there 30's. I
commented that I must be a pretty mature 24 to be able to hang out with
them. "Well, you do sometimes act like a 24 year old. But that's
understandable because you are 24" replied my friend. As I watched Antonio
embark on his West Ham career in earnest, I reminded myself of kind of the
same theme in the 24th minute when he took a pass from Noble at midfield,
turned on his man, and broke free into the Stoke half. But with Carroll
lurking in the middle Antonio dribbled into trouble and lost possession. It
wasn't the first time he did that in the first half, and it won't be the
last. But that's understandable because he is young and inexperienced at
this level.
Stoke had another great opportunity in the 27th minute when Afellay fed
Johnson on the right. Johnson got behind Cresswell and sent a low cross into
the box for Arnautovic but the Austrian was a bit too wide when he let his
shot go and thus so was his attempt. On another day, that's possibly a Stoke
goal.
Andre Mariner showed the first yellow of the match in the 39th minute when
Pieters was booked for a foul on Kouyate. Zarate stepped up to take the free
kick from 30 yards out, and put the ball into the danger zone where Collins
had two weak attempts that Butland eventually smothered.
The guys on The Football Ramble podcast said that Stoke have not conceded a
goal this season with Ryan Shawcross on the pitch. The 43rd minute could
have changed that when Noble stepped in front of an errant Shawcross pass
and ran in on goal. Shawcross tracked back and appeared to bring Noble down
inside the box. Mariner signaled for a corner, and replays showed it was
probably the correct call. A minute later Shawcross was called for a foul on
Carroll just outside the box, but Zarate's free kick went off the wall and
out for a corner that amounted to absolutely nothing.
In added time, Song sent Cresswell down the left and the West Ham left back
sent a low cross into the box that Antonio tried to get to but van Ginkel
reached it first to send it out for yet another corner wasted by a poor West
Ham delivery.
Halftime. West Ham 0, Stoke 0.
Could it be possible that both Bilic and the squad have taken the call for
more football to be played on the ground a bit too seriously? Meaning, if
you try it for 45 minutes and it gets you nowhere, there's no shame in
trying to cross the ball from out wide to your big man every so often. It
doesn't mean you're all of a sudden a 19th Century team.
Ahem.
In the 49th minute, Zarate sent what felt like the first cross into the box
intended for The Big Man all game. And somehow Carroll got to it despite
being covered on all sides and sent a header on goal that Butland put out
for a corner.
The next ten minutes seemed to show the strategy both managers wanted to use
in the second half. West Ham were going to be a bit more direct, and Stoke
were going to use quick passes in the midfield to open up runs down the
flanks.
West Ham's strategy almost paid dividends in the 61st minute when a former
manger special, a long ball from deep inside the West Ham end, somehow
bounced through the Stoke back line and into the path of Antonio, who
twisted is body to get a half volley off and force a save from Butland.
Moments later, Stoke tried to show their way was better when Afellay ran
down the right and fed Arnautovic in the box who sent a low strike that
Adrian did well to save.
In the 63rd minute, Zarate ran down a ball on the left that he did
everything he could do to lose control of and eventually crossed to Carroll,
but the header was as soft as his Man Bun and posed no threat to Stoke.
Moments later, an Afellay foul on Kouyate gave West Ham a free kick from 30
yards out. It might as well have been from 30 miles. Out for a goal kick.
The woodwork helped both sides today. West Ham were the beneficiary in the
67th minute when Stoke were awarded a free kick from 35 yards out.
Arnautovic can hit them from distance, and he tried to. It deflected off the
wall and struck the crossbar. The ball came out to Bojan, but his shot
sailed high over the bar.
Without Payet and Lanzini, Zarate is by far our most creative attacking
option. But when he is in that spot without the help of either of the
aforementioned two, he tries to do too much. In the 70th minute he did well
to get the ball on his right foot after a scramble on the left and send a
cross into Carroll. Pieters defended it well and turned what could have been
a great chance into a not so great half chance. A minute later, Zarate had
possession, cut to his right and rolled a pass to Noble but the Captain's
shot attempt was high. Minutes later, Zarate fed Cresswell on the left.
Instead of a cross, Cresswell tried to fool Butland with a side-footed shot
and it almost worked, forcing Butland to put the ball out for the first of
two corners. But for the 873rd time in the match…only a slight
exaggeration…West Ham's delivery from a corner was awful.
In the 80th, Stoke broke on the kind of speedy counterattack that they have
become known for this season. Bojan ran with the ball into space, while
Diouf broke into the box. Bojan fed Diouf near the back post, and the second
half sub looked likely to fire Stoke into the lead. But Adrian came up with
a fine save.
Lumber came to Stokes rescue two minutes later when Zarate cut to his right
along the top of the box. Then he did it again. And again. Finally, when he
created just a bit of space, he sent a low shot in on goal that clanged off
the post in what was West Ham's best chance of the game. The ball came back
into the box moments later, with Carroll and Valencia combining to force a
save from Butland.
After all of the missed chances last week at Old Trafford, I'm glad it will
be Stoke supporters who shake their heads all week wondering how they didn't
score in the 89th minute when Bojan passed to Arnautovic, who then found
Diouf in the box all alone in front of Adrian. But perhaps it was a case of
the jitters, because Diouf didn't look set when the ball came to him and he
shot right at Adrian.
The final chance in added time belonged to the home side when Zarate took a
corner and lofted it into the box. Butland came off his line to gather it
up, but it slipped through him and eventually came to Kouyate in front of
goal. His header was cleared off the line by any number of Stoke defenders
back to protect their away point.
Final Score. West Ham 0, Stoke 0.
Yesterday, when I asked Nigel Kahn what he expected today, his return text
was pretty ominous. "Prepare for defeat. I'll take a point". But he was
correct. To be as decimated by injuries as we are, and to play one of the
in-form sides in England, to expect victory would have been to invite
disappointment. The fact that Bilic made only offensive substitutions was
encouraging, as was our ability to get a draw while trying to get the win.
We are a side just trying to hold down the castle and not slide too far back
while we await our injured to return.
And under that light, we are doing OK.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 0-0 Stoke City: 5 things we learned as Hammers' home
struggles continue
16:52, 12 DEC 2015 UPDATED 17:25, 12 DEC 2015
BY DAVID ANDERSON
It's now just two wins from eight Premier League home games for Slaven
Bilic's side this campaign as injuries take their toll
The Mirror
West Ham's move to the Olympic Park cannot come soon enough as they continue
to struggle to win games at Upton Park. They may be impressive on the road,
but this stalemate makes it just two victories from their eight Premier
League home games this season, although Mauro Zarate did hit the post late
on. The goals have dried up and this second successive goalless draw means
they have managed just three in their last six games. Their many injuries up
front are taking their toll and they are missing the goal threat of the
likes of Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini. Stoke created enough chances to
win and Marco van Ginkel, Mame Biram Diouf and Marko Arnautovic missed
opportunities, while the Austrian also saw a free-kick deflected against the
bar.
1) Antonio needs more opportunities
Michail Antonio deserves a proper chance at West Ham. Antonio looked
promising on his first start for the Hammers and he showed good pace down
the right, even if his final ball was sometimes lacking. He scored four
goals in five appearances for Nottingham Forest this season before his
deadline-day £7million switch and he demonstrated against Stoke that he can
contribute for West Ham - given the opportunity.
2) Potters are the clean sheet experts
Stoke could play Scrooge in this season's Christmas panto. They really are
the Premier League meanies and this clean sheet was their sixth in their
last seven games. Ryan Shawcross was as resolute as ever and the Potters
have still to concede a Premier League goal this season with him on the
pitch. Bah, humbug!
3) Hammers' home woes continue
West Ham still can't win at home. The Hammers have been excellent on the
road, winning at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, but they cannot
repeat that form at Upton Park because playing on the counter suits them so
well.
4) Arnautovic still needs to do more to make his Mark
Marko Arnautovic needs to be more consistent. Arnautovic was brilliant
against Manchester City last Saturday, but he was not so dazzling today. He
missed a great chance to score, although he nearly atoned when he saw a
free-kick deflected against the bar.
5) Injury woes continue to take their toll on Hammers
West Ham needed their injured players back fast. They created little against
Stoke and are badly missing the creativity and firepower from the likes of
Victor Moses, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini.
Player ratings - by David Anderson
West Ham
Adrian 8 - MOTM. Made two fine stops with his feet late on to deny Diouf.
Tomkins 6 - Did well up against Arnautovic on the right side of the Hammers
defence.
Ogbonna 6 - Solid and composed at the heart of the West Ham defence.
Collins 6 - Replaced the injured Reid and threw himself in the way of
everything.
Cresswell 6 - Tried to overlap and almost caught Butland out with a
cross-cum-shot.
Song 7 - Tigerish tackler in the middle of the park and drove West Ham on.
Noble 6 - Played in by Shawcross' errant pass, but was too slow to make it
count.
Antonio 6 - Showed signs on his first start to suggest he warrants more of a
chance.
Kouyate 7 - Booked. Hit an early drive, which was saved by Butland, and got
stuck in.
Zarate 7 - Delivered a teasing cross for a Carroll header and shot against
the post.
Carroll 7 - Had a diving header saved by Butland and had a bruising physical
battle with Shawcross.
Subs:
Valencia (Song 63mins) 6
Jelavic (Antonio 83mins)
Subs not used: Randolph, Jenkinson, Obiang, Oxford, Cullen.
Stoke City
Butland 7 - Made a few decent stops and dealt with everything thrown at him.
Johnson 7 - Got forward well down the right and created a great chance for
Arnautovic.
Shawcross 7 - Great tackle on Noble after losing the ball and stood up to
Carroll's threat.
Wollscheid 7 - Fine goal-saving clearance to intercept a cross for Antonio.
Pieters 6 - Booked. Enjoyed a good battle with Antonio on his left flank.
Whelan 6 - Won his tackles to screen Stoke's back four effectively.
Cameron 6 - Produced great skill to lift the ball over Song and leave him in
his wake.
Van Ginkel 5 - Dragged a left foot shot wide when he should have scored.
Afellay 7 - Booked. Created Van Ginkel's opportunity and had a shot
deflected over.
Arnautovic 6 - Awful miss when he shot wide before seeing a free-kick
deflected onto the bar.
Bojan 6 - Put in a shift as he flitted between the wings to spearhead
Stoke's attack.
Subs:
Diouf (van Ginkel 55mins) 5
Walters (Afellay 66mins) 6
Adam (Cameron 68mins) 6.
Subs not used: Haugaard, Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson.
Referee: Andre Marriner Att: 34,857
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This player's day may be done at Upton Park
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
So here we were with an injury list extending to some of the best players
we've seen at the club in many a long year and what does Slav do? He leaves
a highly expensive loanee on the bench preferring instead to opt for
defensive solidarity rather than risk the sort of mistakes we suffered in
what may soon be known as the 'Jenkinson era.' For further injuries apart
it's already difficult to see how the bloke will be able to find his way
back into the side particularly with Tomkins having said in an interview
that he is "learning the job."I must admit that I was more than a little
surprised when I looked at the line up. I'd almost taken it for granted that
with Winston out, JT would slot in alongside Ogbonna and that the Gooner
would be back in the team. That instead, Slav chose to bring in Ginge –
fourth choice defender after all – particularly after his sending off, was
a big one to me and spoke volumes. It seems you don't want to blot your
copybook with this manager. There's no easy way back into his teams and
although JT gives us nothing in an attacking sense it's notable that we have
kept two clean sheets with him in the right back role. Looks to me as though
he's possibly being groomed into the job permanently thus leaving a £40k a
week player, on a £2m loan fee, out in the cold. Slaven Bilic never moans
about anything much, nor it seems does he pay much attention to reputations
from previous seasons. Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I reckon
Arsene Wenger's £15 million right back's day may be done at Upton Park.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man of the Match Antonio well pleased
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Michail Antonio answered most of the questions asked by us when he made his
debut for the Irons against Stoke this afternoon. And to be named Man of the
Match was the icing on the cake of a dream day for the £7 million signing
from Nottingham Forest. He was on it from the start and a familiar buzz of
excitement started to rumble around the ground as we realised this was a guy
who had power, pace and the ability to turn very quickly, leaving defenders
for dead. Ok, the final ball wasn't always there but we saw enough to
understand that this guy has an awful lot to offer. He commented afterwards:
"It felt unbelievable to get a chance. This was my boyhood dream to play in
the Premier League and I've managed that."I got Man of the Match on my first
start so hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing well. Playing at Old
Trafford last week set me up well for this game. It showed me the level of
the league and it was a good 50 minutes."
"We hit the post with Mauro Zarate as well, so we definitely have the
attacking threat, it's just putting it in the back of the net.
"For my chance in the second half, it came over the top and I volleyed it,
but just hit it straight at him. Hopefully in the next game I can put it in
the back of the net."
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Tough times but Irons show real steel
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Match Verdict
Irons 0 Stoke City 0
OK first things first… I have absolutely no complaints with that! We showed
some steel in rough circumstances. Many will be saying that Stoke City at
home is a game we should win but they'd be wrong because this is a team
which has won four of their last seven league games and seriously put
Manchester City to the sword last weekend. With so many key players missing
from the Irons line up and although never at our best as a result, we could
have won a game from which both teams can take some credit.
The harshest critics out there will be pointing to another draw as a
failure. I see it as a very noteworthy result, another clean sheet and
enough chances to win it. Michail Antonio on debut gave hints as to why we'd
spent £7 million with some sweet turns at pace and – by the way – he has one
hell of a long throw. Michail AntonioHe produced some of our best moments
but is ring rusty and failed to find the final ball and, on one occasion,
the finish, in front of goal. However a very promising prospect.
Shorn of Payet and Lanzini, Mauro Zarate – whilst clearly having some flaws
in his game – produced some fabulous moments and was unlucky when for the
second week on the trot he hit a post after a fine run across the face of
the Stoke defence. In truth, City had the more dangerous chances and Adrian
was twice called on to save with his feet from close range when all looked
lost. Our squad is being taken apart by injuries but that's another game
gone and another week nearer getting one of two back. Like I say, no
complaints.
Alex Song is coming back but still looked a bit off the pace whilst Manu
Lanzini could be back next week according to the manager. The other pleasing
aspect of today's game was that we showed we can get on the front foot and
attack teams but sadly there wasn't quite enough imagination to break down a
dour defence. Whilst our inventive players are absent there has to be an
alternative and once the ball went into Carroll's head on one or two
occasions in the second period we looked dangerous. We don't want a return
to the old ways but carefully used – as was the case against Chelsea – it's
a potent weapon. Onwards and upwards with lowly Swansea – beaten at the
Etihad – next on the agenda. Keep the faith – keep believing. The lads did
well in difficult circumstances.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were held to an entertaining goalless draw by Stoke City on
Saturday, a third successive Barclays Premier League stalemate at the Boleyn
Ground. Ibrahim Affelay caused the Hammers a headache before the interval
and it was his enterprise that presented Marco van Ginkel with a gilt-edged
chance in the 12th minute, one that he promptly squandered. Michail
Antonio, on his full debut, went close for the Hammers, but, like Cheikhou
Kouyate before him, was foiled by the fists of Jack Butland. Marko
Arnautovic struck the crossbar late on with a free-kick, while Mame Biram
Diouf was twice brilliantly denied by the excellent Adrian. For the hosts,
Mauro Zarate's drive cannoned off the outside of the upright, while James
Tomkins and Kouyate both saw efforts cleared off the line in a frantic
finale.
Following his first-half introduction at Old Trafford, Antonio was handed
his first Barclays Premier League start here and a debut outing at the
Boleyn Ground to boot. Elsewhere, in the absence of the sidelined Winston
Reid, James Collins returned to the heart of the Hammers' back four. With
the game less than three minutes old, Kouyate forced Jack Butland into an
early stop, beating away the Senegal man's rasping 25-yard drive. From the
resulting corner Antonio tried his luck from a similar spot, but this time
Butland gathered comfortably enough.
At the other end, Afellay was running amok down the right, thrice creating
chances. His first foray ended with a wicked ball into the middle. Adrian
was uncertain and when van Ginkel dangled a leg, he caught the 'keeper, not
the ball. The Spaniard was soon back to his feet. The Dutchman then wriggled
to the by-line only to be denied by an outstretched Adrian boot. The third
was a golden chance. After Angelo Ogbonna had blocked Afellay's centre, van
Ginkel should have scored, or at the very least hit the target. But, from
eight yards, he dragged it horribly wide. Afellay was furious.
Stoke's No14 tried to take matters into his own hands and his 20-yarder
cannoned into James Collins as it ballooned over the bar. West Ham,
meanwhile, huffed and puffed. Antonio turned smartly out on the right-hand
touchline but was eventually crowded out as he strode into the 18-yard box.
As the half-hour mark neared, the Potters went closer to still. Again, down
the right, the familiar figure of Glen Johnson squared for Arnautovic, who,
having scored a last-gasp equaliser here last term, side-footed wide of the
near post.
After Erik Pieters had cynically felled Kouyate, the resulting free-kick
caused chaos in the visitors' box. Collins tried, once, twice and even a
third time to fire goalward, but neither he nor Kouyate could do so cleanly.
Then, in first-half stoppage time, Song played in Aaron Cresswell down the
left, who, in turn, slid a devilish ball across the face. Antonio slid in at
the near post but, via a combination of the former Nottingham Forest and a
Stoke intervention, over it went.
The Hammers won an early corner after the break and, though Collins looked
favourite for it, it skipped beyond the Welshman and Ryan Shawcross was
relieved to nod it behind. Moments later and Carroll craned his neck to nod
Zarate's left-wing centre toward goal. Though it looked to be drifting just
wide, Butland was taking no chances and palmed it away for another corner.
West Ham looked the most likely. Antonio took advantage of Stoke indecision
to test Butland, but the England stopper was equal to it, beating it out of
harm's way. With 63 on the clock, the Boleyn Ground was greeted with the
refreshing sight of Enner Valencia on the touchline. The Ecuadorean, having
come a cropper against Everton, replaced Song, as the hosts went in search
of the breakthrough. But it was Stoke with heads in hands soon after.
Arnautovic's deflected free-kick struck the crossbar, before Bojan smashed
the rebound high into the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Into the final 20 and
Noble, on the stretch, watched his long-range dig sail over, while
Cresswell's mishit cross was pushed behind by the acrobatic Butland. West
Ham soon had Adrian to thank for keeping it level, as he stuck out a boot
once more to deny substitute Mame Biram Diouf from eight yards. But the
Hammers weren't done either. Zarate danced around the area and struck the
outside of Butland's left-hand upright, before Valencia so nearly applied a
telling touch to Carroll's header. By now an end-to-end affair, Biram Diouf
might have won it at the death, but Adrian was in no mood to be beaten, as
he saved with his feet, yet again.
There was still drama to come, as Tomkins hooked effort was headed off the
line, before Kouyate's header got the same treatment. With that, Andre
Marriner called time on the Hammers' third draw in four.
West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song
(Valencia 63), Noble (c), Antonio (Jelavic 83), Kouyate, Zarate, Carroll
Subs: Randolph (GK), Jenkinson, Obiang, Oxford, Cullen
Booked: Kouyate
Stoke City: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross (c), Wollscheid, Pieters, Cameron
(Adam 69), Whelan, Van Ginkel (Biram Diouf 56), Afellay (Walters 66), Bojan,
Arnautovic
Subs: Haugaard (GK), Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson
Booked: Pieters, Afellay
Referee: Andre Marriner
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Bilic - I am proud of the boys
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic could not have asked any more from his
players and was disappointed that they could not come away with all three
points following the 0-0 draw with Stoke. Despite missing key players such
as Dimiti Payet, Diafra Sakho, Victor Moses, Winston Reid and Manuel
Lanzini, the Hammers squad showed the quality they have with a number of
good chances to come away with the victory. Mauro Zarate saw his effort
strike the post, while James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate both had efforts
cleared off the line in the final few seconds. There were plenty of
positives for Bilic to take out of the game with Michail Antonio impressing
in his first Premier League start and James Collins producing another
impressive display at the heart of the defence to help the side come away
with another clean sheet.
Bilic said: "I am disappointed with the result but I said to the lads after
the game I could not have asked for anymore, especially effort wise. We had
good team energy and they played as a team today. I cannot be unhappy about
that. "I thought Mauro's shot had gone in and it was a great chance that he
created by himself coming from the left to the right hand side. We also had
a great chance right at the end. "Sometimes they are crucial for the season,
let alone for one game. You sometimes need those goals to boost the whole
club and the individuals. Unfortunately it was not meant to be today. "We
had a lot of positives from our side especially when you consider the amount
of players we had missing today. To play like this against a good team makes
me proud of the boys. "It was a good game to watch. We have not scored for
two games but we have kept two clean sheets and both of those games should
not have finished 0-0. "Michail did really well. He worked hard and has been
waiting for his chance. Now he has got it and he used it really well.
Sometimes it is hard for a player to come in and take their chance when they
get it. "But he did exactly that and I am really pleased for him."
Bilic was thrilled to see Enner Valencia back in action following a month on
the sidelines with an ankle injury. The Hammers boss had more good news on
the injury front after revealing that Lanzini could make a return against
Swansea next Sunday, while Payet could be back in action at the start of the
New Year. Bilic added: "Slowly we are getting all the players back from
injury. It is great to have Enner back. We have been practically missing him
since the start of the season. "Hopefully there is a chance that Manuel
Lanzini might be back for Swansea and even Payet doesn't look like a long,
long time. "So I hope that Lanzini will be back next week and maybe even
Payet in three weeks' time, but it's going to be longer for Sakho, Moses and
Reid."
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Antonio thrilled to take his chance
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio has had to be patient for his chance since joining West Ham
United in the summer, but made the most of his first start on Saturday. The
25-year-old winger was involved from the start against Stoke City and was
named Man of the Match following an all-action performance. He went close to
claiming all three points when his second half volley was beaten away by
Jack Butland and he is keen to build on his display. "It felt unbelievable
to get a chance," he said. "This was my boyhood dream to play in the Premier
League and I've managed that. "I got Man of the Match on my first start so
hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing well. "Playing at Old Trafford
last week set me up well for this game. It showed me the levels of the
league and it was a good 50 minutes."
The Hammers may have drawn their last two games without scoring, but the
chances created could have yielded greater reward, so Antonio is positive
ahead of the Christmas period. He added: "They have been 0-0 draws, but they
haven't been 0-0 games. Against Man Utd we had quite a few opportunities,
and in this game I had quite a few opportunities. "We hit the post with
Mauro Zarate as well, so we definitely have the attacking threat, it's just
putting it in the back of the net. "For my chance in the second half, it
came over the top and I volleyed it, but just hit it straight at him. A yard
each side it would have gone in, but it's one I've had to take on the swivel
so I didn't know where I was to the goal. "Hopefully in the next game I can
put it in the back of the net."
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Patient Jelavic ready to take opportunity
WHUFC.com
On the eve of what could be his full home debut West Ham striker Nikica
Jelavic said he is ready to step up should he be called upon.
Since joining the Hammers in the summer from Hull City, the experienced
Croatian has featured seven times as a substitute and is now hoping to force
his way into the starting eleven against Stoke City. Speaking ahead of the
Hammers fixture with the Potters, Jelavic said he is doing everything he can
to catch manager Slaven Bilic's eye: "We have a very good squad and some
very good strikers here so you have to earn your place in the team, I'm
giving 100% every training session so hopefully I am going to get my chance.
"Definitely, competition for places is very important, it's good to have a
couple of good players in every position, it helps you to push yourself and
put in 100% every session and try and impress the manager."
While 'Jela' has only been at the Club for four months, he has clearly
settled into life in east London quickly. The former Rangers, Everton and
Hull man continued by saying: "I have been involved in several different
squads in my career and this is definitely a happy squad to be part of. "You
can feel the history of the club and how important it is to the fans. We are
a big Premier League club; we have great fans and the move to the new
stadium next year will make us even bigger club then we are at the moment,
it's something great that everyone connected to the club will enjoy. "With
the new stadium coming next year I think we're in a good position, I'm sure
new players will come in and will want to play for West Ham, this season is
probably too early for Champions League, right now we should concentrate on
playing good football."
With injuries to Diafra Sakho, Dimitri Payet, Victor Moses and Manuel
Lanzini, Jelavic's goal scoring prowess may well be called upon come
Saturday afternoon as the Hammers are aiming to extend their unbeaten run to
three games. A lucky omen for everyone in claret and blue is the fact that
West Ham are yet to lose at home in a match where Jelavic has featured. He
continued: "We had a great season so far, great. We've had a couple of bad
results in the last month but in general when you look at it from the start
of the season, it has been great. "I think we will have a good season ahead
of us, we're playing good football definitely think the fans are watching
good football at the moment, we are certainly trying to. We have a couple of
injuries to key players but we have already showed against Manchester United
that we can cope."
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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
I was thrilled to be back at the new Stadium this week and spent the
afternoon with Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini and Reece Oxford.
We were delighted to be joined by members of the Priority List and Founders
who won a competition to join myself and the players at the new Stadium. We
thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The new Stadium improves every time I go
back there and it looks fantastic. It is about pride and we have achieved
something very special by moving there. We are absolutely thrilled that we
have record season tickets sales for the new Stadium and it shows you the
passion that is being generated. This is a special time to be a West Ham
United fan and this is a new era in the history of our great football club.
We had an outstanding display against Manchester United last weekend and I
hope that the players will be able to maintain that level of performance and
help us come away with all three points when we face Stoke on Saturday.
It is never easy going to Old Trafford but we got a well deserved point and
it so easily could have been all three. The fact that we are disappointed
about only coming away with a draw shows how far we have come over the last
decade. It has been amazing for us to win four big away games and now get a
draw with Manchester United. We are currently having a bad run of injuries
but we shouldn't be too disappointed and other clubs have their times when
injuries pile up. But the skill is to battle through. In the past we would
have injuries like this and be decimated. But if you look at the line-up
against Stoke it will still be a team full of quality. We also have a few
players coming back from injury. Alex Song started his first Premier League
game of the season last weekend and has added to the strength of the squad.
Fingers crossed Enner Valencia is very close to making a first-team return
and it gives the opportunities for players like Michail Antonio who has been
waiting patiently for his chance and it was great to see him playing against
Manchester United.
We know we are facing another tough game today against a Stoke side who will
be full of confidence following their victory over Manchester City last
weekend. There is no doubt they will be a challenge. But we are also a good
side and I am sure the players will be confident they can come away with a
victory.
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West Ham v Stoke
12 December 2015
Last updated at 18:01
By Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport
West Ham were held by Stoke in a scrappy but entertaining goalless draw. The
visitors produced an impressive attacking display to beat Manchester City
last week, but could not find the same form again. Marco van Ginkel, brought
in for the injured Xherdan Shaqiri, had Stoke's best chance in the first
half but he put wide from close range. West Ham enjoyed more action in front
of goal but they were denied time after time by Stoke goalkeeper Jack
Butland. It means the Hammers have now gone six games without a win in the
league - their last victory coming against Chelsea on 24 October - although
they have picked up four draws in that period. Stoke City have now kept
seven clean sheets in their last nine Premier League games. The draw saw the
hosts slip one place to eighth while the Potters remain 11th.
Stoke were dealt a blow before the game when Shaqiri was ruled out with a
hamstring strain, and they lacked the attacking prowess they showed in their
2-0 win last weekend. Van Ginkel should have done better when he scuffed
wide from Ibrahim Afellay's pass in the first half, while substitute Mame
Diouf nearly won it at the end when he went one-on-one with keeper Adrian,
who saved with his feet. Bojan was ineffective up-front, having only two
shots all game, while Marko Arnautovic failed to produce the same finishing
that saw him score twice against Man City. Although they lacked attacking
flair, their defence was solid once again, with Butland making eight saves.
West Ham have been hit by a number of injuries to key players in recent
weeks - the latest casualties Winston Reid and Victor Moses joining Dimitri
Payet, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini on the sidelines. Manager Slaven
Bilic called upon Michail Antonio to make his first Premier League start,
and the former Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder impressed for the
Hammers. The 25-year-old had five shots on goal - more than any other player
on the pitch - but failed to put it past an in-form Butland. Andy Carroll
made a menace of himself up front, and engaged in a physical battle with
defender Ryan Shawcross, but the big England striker was not able to find
the killer touch, with only two shots on target.
Man of the match Jack Butland
Michail Antonio looked decent for West Ham, but the plaudits go to Stoke
goalkeeper Jack Butland for keeping his seventh clean sheet of the season
Manager reaction
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: "Both teams defended well. We hit the post twice
and they did once. I'm not happy with the result but it was a fair result.
"Considering the effort we put in I can't be unhappy with my team. "I can't
be happier with our spirit and togetherness and resilience and, at times,
our quality."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "We're reasonably pleased with the draw. "I
thought we defended really well. Both teams will be comfortable with the
point. That's something we can build on. "[The clean sheet record] is a base
and platform to build on. West Ham are a good team and as the home side we
knew it was a test for us."
The stats you need to know
No keeper has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than Jack Butland
this campaign (seven, level with Joe Hart). He also has the best
saves-to-shots ratio in the Premier League so far in 2015-16 (82.5%).
The Potters have not conceded a Premier League goal while Ryan Shawcross has
been on the pitch this season (497 minutes).
West Ham have won just two of their last nine Premier League home games (W2
D4 L3), but are unbeaten in the last six.
The Hammers have kept back-to-back clean sheets twice this season. They also
did it against Liverpool and Newcastle in August/September.
What next?
West Ham face managerless Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday, 20
December while Stoke welcome Crystal palace the day before.
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West Ham 0-0 Stoke: Draw extends Hammers' winless run
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 12/12/15 6:09pm
SSN
West Ham's winless run has been extended to six matches, after a goalless
draw at home to Stoke. A total of three goals in those six games suggests
Slaven Bilic's side are missing key attackers, and the better chances were
created by visitors looking for a fourth win in five Premier League games.
Both sides hit the frame of the goal after half-time, and either might have
won it during a chaotic final period, but neither did enough to warrant a
win which might have taken them into the top six. Stoke arrived on the back
of a victory over Manchester City that brought comparisons with Europe's
best, but their rebranding as 'Stokealona' seemed a touch premature on the
evidence of an open and occasionally ragged game. They had their moments,
Ibrahim Afellay creating two early chances for Marco van Ginkel, who
squandered the first when he opted to go feet-first at what would have been
a free header six yards out. The second was a sitter, shanked wide of the
near post, and Marko Arnautovic missed the same upright from a similar
distance after Afellay and Glen Johnson opened up West Ham's left-hand side.
The home side's list of absentees is well-documented, but they summoned a
forgotten man for a first start as Michail Antonio - subject of a spoof
'missing persons' poster recently - was given a first start more than three
months after a £7m transfer from Nottingham Forest. The winger's unrefined
menace was West Ham's likeliest source of a first-half breakthrough, and a
second-half snapshot stung Jack Butland's palms on what was an encouraging
full debut. Andy Carroll's team-mates adapted to his style in the second
half, but twice he was denied clean headers at goal by decent Stoke
defending, and the best chances continued to come at the other end.
Arnautovic's free-kick clipped Cheikhou Kouyate before cannoning the
crossbar and substitute Mame Diouf, on with Jon Walters as the Barca
blueprint was reworked in search of a winner, side-footed Johnson's pass
straight at Adrian.
Diouf repeated the trick in the last minute when a perfect Arnautovic ball
sent him through, but West Ham gave as good as they got in a five-minute
ding-dong at the end, and Butland was beaten when Mauro Zarate's shot bent
back to hit his left-hand post. The goalkeeper's impressive assurance
deserted him in added time as he spilled a corner, but Stoke's massed
defence came to his aid as Kouyate's header was kept out on the goal-line.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (8), Tomkins (7), Collins (7), Ogbonna (6), Cresswell (7),
Noble (6), Song (7), Kouyate (7), Antonio (7), Zarate (6), Carroll (6)
Subs used: Valencia (6), Jelavic (5)
Stoke: Butland (7), Johnson (7), Shawcross (7), Wollscheid (8), Pieters (7),
Cameron (7), van Ginkel (5), Whelan (6), Afellay (6), Arnautovic (7), Bojan
(7)
Subs used: Diouf (5), Walters (5), Adam (5)
Man of the match: Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke)
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Michail Antonio good enough for West Ham, Slaven Bilic says
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 12/12/15 6:39pm
SSN
Slaven Bilic said Michail Antonio "proved he is a West Ham player" after
finally getting his first start against Stoke. The winger was a £7m
deadline-day signing from Nottingham Forest but has played so little that
West Ham fans recently circulated a spoof 'missing persons' poster of him. A
long injury list gave Antonio his chance against City, and he was lively and
energetic in an open goalless draw. Bilic afterwards told Sky Sports: "He
did well, especially in terms of quantity - how many times he went up there,
balls he recovered. He was very direct. "He proved today he's a West Ham
player and he's good enough. We expected that from him. He waited a long
time to get a chance but he did really well today."
West Ham have not won in six games, but four of those have been drawn and
their manager was happy with the performance of a side missing the likes of
Dimiti Payet, Diafra Sakho and Winston Reid. "We have to be realistic," he
said. "Considering the team we put out - a good team, but considering the
players missing and their quaity and their positions I have to be happy with
the way we played. "We battle on, and the only way we're going to make this
period easier is the way we played today - with a lot of energy and miles in
the legs."
Both teams had chances to win the game, Cheikhou Kouyate having a header
cleared off the line in the final seconds. "It was that [kind of] moment
that is very important not just for the game but for a whole season
sometimes. You need those added time goals. We had a good opportunity and it
would have been brilliant, but a draw is a fair result."
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WEST HAM 0, STOKE CITY 0. FINE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
By David Hautzig 12 Dec 2015 at 18:48
WTID
For the record, I categorically dismiss The Warren Report and do not believe
Lee Harvey Oswald was the only gunman that day in Dallas. I happen to
subscribe to the theory that a secret service agent accidentally fired the
third and fatal shot. Ballistics and math seem to back that up better than
any other theory. As conspiracy theories go, who killed JFK is probably the
most debated of all time. Why West Ham suffer so many injuries isn't quite
as intriguing to the general public, but among us the debate is almost as
heated. Slaven Bilic thinks Chadwell Heath is the shot from The Grassy
Knoll, and has moved training to Rush Green. Too late to help Winston Reid,
the latest to fall. Going into today's match at Upton Park, how Bilic dealt
with that was the question that I felt would decide the match. And overall,
I think he dealt with it quite well.
West Ham looked to be off to a good start in the third minute when Noble
passed to Carroll, who then found Kouyate 20 yards from goal but his long
shot was put out for a corner by Butland. The ensuing set piece came out to
Antonio, who controlled nicely with his chest before trying his luck from 20
yards. It needed more than luck and Butland made an easy save.
Stoke had won four of their previous five games, and it was easy to see why
for much of the first half. In the 9th minute, Afellay broke down the right
and sent a low cross into the box. Both Adrian and van Ginkel hesitated
going for the ball and crashed into each other as the ball flew past them
and out for a corner after a slight touch by the West Ham keeper. Adrian
looked a bit shaken up, and with our luck I was shocked he didn't break his
leg and lacerate his kidney.
Stoke should have gone in front in the 11th minute when Afellay was on the
receiving end of a throw deep in the West Ham area. He ran along the end
line and tried a tight angle shot that bounce out to van Ginkel. Seven yards
out from goal, with nobody close enough to smell him, he somehow managed to
put his shot into the ground and bounce it wide for a goal kick.
Stoke continued on the front foot, and in the 17th minute Bojan made a run
on the left and found Afellay at the top of the box. The Dutchman shifted to
his left before attempting a shot that was deflected out for a corner by
Collins. The corner was cleared in a joint effort by Tomkins and the corner
flag, the latter of which got in the way of the initial attempt. Who needs a
12th man when you have a corner flag like that?
I remember one night many years ago, I was getting ready to go out with "the
fellas" in Manhattan. I was 24, and most of them were in there 30's. I
commented that I must be a pretty mature 24 to be able to hang out with
them. "Well, you do sometimes act like a 24 year old. But that's
understandable because you are 24" replied my friend. As I watched Antonio
embark on his West Ham career in earnest, I reminded myself of kind of the
same theme in the 24th minute when he took a pass from Noble at midfield,
turned on his man, and broke free into the Stoke half. But with Carroll
lurking in the middle Antonio dribbled into trouble and lost possession. It
wasn't the first time he did that in the first half, and it won't be the
last. But that's understandable because he is young and inexperienced at
this level.
Stoke had another great opportunity in the 27th minute when Afellay fed
Johnson on the right. Johnson got behind Cresswell and sent a low cross into
the box for Arnautovic but the Austrian was a bit too wide when he let his
shot go and thus so was his attempt. On another day, that's possibly a Stoke
goal.
Andre Mariner showed the first yellow of the match in the 39th minute when
Pieters was booked for a foul on Kouyate. Zarate stepped up to take the free
kick from 30 yards out, and put the ball into the danger zone where Collins
had two weak attempts that Butland eventually smothered.
The guys on The Football Ramble podcast said that Stoke have not conceded a
goal this season with Ryan Shawcross on the pitch. The 43rd minute could
have changed that when Noble stepped in front of an errant Shawcross pass
and ran in on goal. Shawcross tracked back and appeared to bring Noble down
inside the box. Mariner signaled for a corner, and replays showed it was
probably the correct call. A minute later Shawcross was called for a foul on
Carroll just outside the box, but Zarate's free kick went off the wall and
out for a corner that amounted to absolutely nothing.
In added time, Song sent Cresswell down the left and the West Ham left back
sent a low cross into the box that Antonio tried to get to but van Ginkel
reached it first to send it out for yet another corner wasted by a poor West
Ham delivery.
Halftime. West Ham 0, Stoke 0.
Could it be possible that both Bilic and the squad have taken the call for
more football to be played on the ground a bit too seriously? Meaning, if
you try it for 45 minutes and it gets you nowhere, there's no shame in
trying to cross the ball from out wide to your big man every so often. It
doesn't mean you're all of a sudden a 19th Century team.
Ahem.
In the 49th minute, Zarate sent what felt like the first cross into the box
intended for The Big Man all game. And somehow Carroll got to it despite
being covered on all sides and sent a header on goal that Butland put out
for a corner.
The next ten minutes seemed to show the strategy both managers wanted to use
in the second half. West Ham were going to be a bit more direct, and Stoke
were going to use quick passes in the midfield to open up runs down the
flanks.
West Ham's strategy almost paid dividends in the 61st minute when a former
manger special, a long ball from deep inside the West Ham end, somehow
bounced through the Stoke back line and into the path of Antonio, who
twisted is body to get a half volley off and force a save from Butland.
Moments later, Stoke tried to show their way was better when Afellay ran
down the right and fed Arnautovic in the box who sent a low strike that
Adrian did well to save.
In the 63rd minute, Zarate ran down a ball on the left that he did
everything he could do to lose control of and eventually crossed to Carroll,
but the header was as soft as his Man Bun and posed no threat to Stoke.
Moments later, an Afellay foul on Kouyate gave West Ham a free kick from 30
yards out. It might as well have been from 30 miles. Out for a goal kick.
The woodwork helped both sides today. West Ham were the beneficiary in the
67th minute when Stoke were awarded a free kick from 35 yards out.
Arnautovic can hit them from distance, and he tried to. It deflected off the
wall and struck the crossbar. The ball came out to Bojan, but his shot
sailed high over the bar.
Without Payet and Lanzini, Zarate is by far our most creative attacking
option. But when he is in that spot without the help of either of the
aforementioned two, he tries to do too much. In the 70th minute he did well
to get the ball on his right foot after a scramble on the left and send a
cross into Carroll. Pieters defended it well and turned what could have been
a great chance into a not so great half chance. A minute later, Zarate had
possession, cut to his right and rolled a pass to Noble but the Captain's
shot attempt was high. Minutes later, Zarate fed Cresswell on the left.
Instead of a cross, Cresswell tried to fool Butland with a side-footed shot
and it almost worked, forcing Butland to put the ball out for the first of
two corners. But for the 873rd time in the match…only a slight
exaggeration…West Ham's delivery from a corner was awful.
In the 80th, Stoke broke on the kind of speedy counterattack that they have
become known for this season. Bojan ran with the ball into space, while
Diouf broke into the box. Bojan fed Diouf near the back post, and the second
half sub looked likely to fire Stoke into the lead. But Adrian came up with
a fine save.
Lumber came to Stokes rescue two minutes later when Zarate cut to his right
along the top of the box. Then he did it again. And again. Finally, when he
created just a bit of space, he sent a low shot in on goal that clanged off
the post in what was West Ham's best chance of the game. The ball came back
into the box moments later, with Carroll and Valencia combining to force a
save from Butland.
After all of the missed chances last week at Old Trafford, I'm glad it will
be Stoke supporters who shake their heads all week wondering how they didn't
score in the 89th minute when Bojan passed to Arnautovic, who then found
Diouf in the box all alone in front of Adrian. But perhaps it was a case of
the jitters, because Diouf didn't look set when the ball came to him and he
shot right at Adrian.
The final chance in added time belonged to the home side when Zarate took a
corner and lofted it into the box. Butland came off his line to gather it
up, but it slipped through him and eventually came to Kouyate in front of
goal. His header was cleared off the line by any number of Stoke defenders
back to protect their away point.
Final Score. West Ham 0, Stoke 0.
Yesterday, when I asked Nigel Kahn what he expected today, his return text
was pretty ominous. "Prepare for defeat. I'll take a point". But he was
correct. To be as decimated by injuries as we are, and to play one of the
in-form sides in England, to expect victory would have been to invite
disappointment. The fact that Bilic made only offensive substitutions was
encouraging, as was our ability to get a draw while trying to get the win.
We are a side just trying to hold down the castle and not slide too far back
while we await our injured to return.
And under that light, we are doing OK.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 0-0 Stoke City: 5 things we learned as Hammers' home
struggles continue
16:52, 12 DEC 2015 UPDATED 17:25, 12 DEC 2015
BY DAVID ANDERSON
It's now just two wins from eight Premier League home games for Slaven
Bilic's side this campaign as injuries take their toll
The Mirror
West Ham's move to the Olympic Park cannot come soon enough as they continue
to struggle to win games at Upton Park. They may be impressive on the road,
but this stalemate makes it just two victories from their eight Premier
League home games this season, although Mauro Zarate did hit the post late
on. The goals have dried up and this second successive goalless draw means
they have managed just three in their last six games. Their many injuries up
front are taking their toll and they are missing the goal threat of the
likes of Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini. Stoke created enough chances to
win and Marco van Ginkel, Mame Biram Diouf and Marko Arnautovic missed
opportunities, while the Austrian also saw a free-kick deflected against the
bar.
1) Antonio needs more opportunities
Michail Antonio deserves a proper chance at West Ham. Antonio looked
promising on his first start for the Hammers and he showed good pace down
the right, even if his final ball was sometimes lacking. He scored four
goals in five appearances for Nottingham Forest this season before his
deadline-day £7million switch and he demonstrated against Stoke that he can
contribute for West Ham - given the opportunity.
2) Potters are the clean sheet experts
Stoke could play Scrooge in this season's Christmas panto. They really are
the Premier League meanies and this clean sheet was their sixth in their
last seven games. Ryan Shawcross was as resolute as ever and the Potters
have still to concede a Premier League goal this season with him on the
pitch. Bah, humbug!
3) Hammers' home woes continue
West Ham still can't win at home. The Hammers have been excellent on the
road, winning at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, but they cannot
repeat that form at Upton Park because playing on the counter suits them so
well.
4) Arnautovic still needs to do more to make his Mark
Marko Arnautovic needs to be more consistent. Arnautovic was brilliant
against Manchester City last Saturday, but he was not so dazzling today. He
missed a great chance to score, although he nearly atoned when he saw a
free-kick deflected against the bar.
5) Injury woes continue to take their toll on Hammers
West Ham needed their injured players back fast. They created little against
Stoke and are badly missing the creativity and firepower from the likes of
Victor Moses, Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini.
Player ratings - by David Anderson
West Ham
Adrian 8 - MOTM. Made two fine stops with his feet late on to deny Diouf.
Tomkins 6 - Did well up against Arnautovic on the right side of the Hammers
defence.
Ogbonna 6 - Solid and composed at the heart of the West Ham defence.
Collins 6 - Replaced the injured Reid and threw himself in the way of
everything.
Cresswell 6 - Tried to overlap and almost caught Butland out with a
cross-cum-shot.
Song 7 - Tigerish tackler in the middle of the park and drove West Ham on.
Noble 6 - Played in by Shawcross' errant pass, but was too slow to make it
count.
Antonio 6 - Showed signs on his first start to suggest he warrants more of a
chance.
Kouyate 7 - Booked. Hit an early drive, which was saved by Butland, and got
stuck in.
Zarate 7 - Delivered a teasing cross for a Carroll header and shot against
the post.
Carroll 7 - Had a diving header saved by Butland and had a bruising physical
battle with Shawcross.
Subs:
Valencia (Song 63mins) 6
Jelavic (Antonio 83mins)
Subs not used: Randolph, Jenkinson, Obiang, Oxford, Cullen.
Stoke City
Butland 7 - Made a few decent stops and dealt with everything thrown at him.
Johnson 7 - Got forward well down the right and created a great chance for
Arnautovic.
Shawcross 7 - Great tackle on Noble after losing the ball and stood up to
Carroll's threat.
Wollscheid 7 - Fine goal-saving clearance to intercept a cross for Antonio.
Pieters 6 - Booked. Enjoyed a good battle with Antonio on his left flank.
Whelan 6 - Won his tackles to screen Stoke's back four effectively.
Cameron 6 - Produced great skill to lift the ball over Song and leave him in
his wake.
Van Ginkel 5 - Dragged a left foot shot wide when he should have scored.
Afellay 7 - Booked. Created Van Ginkel's opportunity and had a shot
deflected over.
Arnautovic 6 - Awful miss when he shot wide before seeing a free-kick
deflected onto the bar.
Bojan 6 - Put in a shift as he flitted between the wings to spearhead
Stoke's attack.
Subs:
Diouf (van Ginkel 55mins) 5
Walters (Afellay 66mins) 6
Adam (Cameron 68mins) 6.
Subs not used: Haugaard, Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson.
Referee: Andre Marriner Att: 34,857
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This player's day may be done at Upton Park
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
So here we were with an injury list extending to some of the best players
we've seen at the club in many a long year and what does Slav do? He leaves
a highly expensive loanee on the bench preferring instead to opt for
defensive solidarity rather than risk the sort of mistakes we suffered in
what may soon be known as the 'Jenkinson era.' For further injuries apart
it's already difficult to see how the bloke will be able to find his way
back into the side particularly with Tomkins having said in an interview
that he is "learning the job."I must admit that I was more than a little
surprised when I looked at the line up. I'd almost taken it for granted that
with Winston out, JT would slot in alongside Ogbonna and that the Gooner
would be back in the team. That instead, Slav chose to bring in Ginge –
fourth choice defender after all – particularly after his sending off, was
a big one to me and spoke volumes. It seems you don't want to blot your
copybook with this manager. There's no easy way back into his teams and
although JT gives us nothing in an attacking sense it's notable that we have
kept two clean sheets with him in the right back role. Looks to me as though
he's possibly being groomed into the job permanently thus leaving a £40k a
week player, on a £2m loan fee, out in the cold. Slaven Bilic never moans
about anything much, nor it seems does he pay much attention to reputations
from previous seasons. Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I reckon
Arsene Wenger's £15 million right back's day may be done at Upton Park.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Man of the Match Antonio well pleased
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Michail Antonio answered most of the questions asked by us when he made his
debut for the Irons against Stoke this afternoon. And to be named Man of the
Match was the icing on the cake of a dream day for the £7 million signing
from Nottingham Forest. He was on it from the start and a familiar buzz of
excitement started to rumble around the ground as we realised this was a guy
who had power, pace and the ability to turn very quickly, leaving defenders
for dead. Ok, the final ball wasn't always there but we saw enough to
understand that this guy has an awful lot to offer. He commented afterwards:
"It felt unbelievable to get a chance. This was my boyhood dream to play in
the Premier League and I've managed that."I got Man of the Match on my first
start so hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing well. Playing at Old
Trafford last week set me up well for this game. It showed me the level of
the league and it was a good 50 minutes."
"We hit the post with Mauro Zarate as well, so we definitely have the
attacking threat, it's just putting it in the back of the net.
"For my chance in the second half, it came over the top and I volleyed it,
but just hit it straight at him. Hopefully in the next game I can put it in
the back of the net."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tough times but Irons show real steel
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 12, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H
Match Verdict
Irons 0 Stoke City 0
OK first things first… I have absolutely no complaints with that! We showed
some steel in rough circumstances. Many will be saying that Stoke City at
home is a game we should win but they'd be wrong because this is a team
which has won four of their last seven league games and seriously put
Manchester City to the sword last weekend. With so many key players missing
from the Irons line up and although never at our best as a result, we could
have won a game from which both teams can take some credit.
The harshest critics out there will be pointing to another draw as a
failure. I see it as a very noteworthy result, another clean sheet and
enough chances to win it. Michail Antonio on debut gave hints as to why we'd
spent £7 million with some sweet turns at pace and – by the way – he has one
hell of a long throw. Michail AntonioHe produced some of our best moments
but is ring rusty and failed to find the final ball and, on one occasion,
the finish, in front of goal. However a very promising prospect.
Shorn of Payet and Lanzini, Mauro Zarate – whilst clearly having some flaws
in his game – produced some fabulous moments and was unlucky when for the
second week on the trot he hit a post after a fine run across the face of
the Stoke defence. In truth, City had the more dangerous chances and Adrian
was twice called on to save with his feet from close range when all looked
lost. Our squad is being taken apart by injuries but that's another game
gone and another week nearer getting one of two back. Like I say, no
complaints.
Alex Song is coming back but still looked a bit off the pace whilst Manu
Lanzini could be back next week according to the manager. The other pleasing
aspect of today's game was that we showed we can get on the front foot and
attack teams but sadly there wasn't quite enough imagination to break down a
dour defence. Whilst our inventive players are absent there has to be an
alternative and once the ball went into Carroll's head on one or two
occasions in the second period we looked dangerous. We don't want a return
to the old ways but carefully used – as was the case against Chelsea – it's
a potent weapon. Onwards and upwards with lowly Swansea – beaten at the
Etihad – next on the agenda. Keep the faith – keep believing. The lads did
well in difficult circumstances.
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