Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Looking ahead to the Arsenal game this Saturday at the Boleyn Ground, Slaven
Bilic is confident his side will respond strongly after the disappointment
of drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace.
The Hammers were 2-1 up and looking comfortable before Cheikhou Kouyate was
somewhat harshly dismissed for a tackle that was deemed reckless by referee
Mark Clattenburg. Palace made full worth of the man advantage as Dwight
Gayle equalised shortly afterward. However, despite the setback, Bilic is
confident in his player's response: "What I always say to our players is if
we are playing, we are playing 100%. If we are training, we will do that
100%, same with a day off, we will have fun. I don't like to do things
50/50. So, we will continue to work the way we have been all season, I
believe it has been working well for us. "Home or away, we are never happy
with a point, and I promise, we will bounce back, in training we will
refocus and be ready."
In parts, the Hammers played some exceptionally good free-flowing football,
a staple of this season which has kept them in the hunt for European
football. Bilic continued: "Of course we are disappointed to draw at home.
But it is done now, we can only move on and focus on next Saturday against
Arsenal which is a huge game. "I am very proud of my players because we
played some very good football, we should have been further ahead than 2-1
at half-time. The game wouldn't have been put to bed but we would have been
in a much more comfortable position."
The Hammers now face a busy period of fixtures where they face Arsenal,
Manchester United Leicester City and Watford in the space of two weeks.
However, while the games are coming thick and fast, Bilic believes he has
the depth of squad to deal with the fixtures pile up. He explained: "We will
not prioritise one game over another. We have a strong squad, Sam Byram and
James Collins are the only two players injured, and they are both close to
coming back. So we don't need to prioritise, and we also don't want to
because we want to win every game we play.
"We can't take any approach other than to take it each game at a time. In
this league you can't second guess anything, there's no point. So you have
to take it each game at a time, then we'll see where that takes us."
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Reid - Everyone can see we're playing well WHUFC.com
Winston Reid feels his side's performances are going unrewarded at present,
after West Ham United had to settle for a second successive 2-2 Barclays
Premier League draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Manuel Lanzini's
second goal in as many games and another trademark Dimitri Payet free-kick
saw the Hammers cancel out Damien Delaney's opener, before Cheikhou Kouyate
saw red and Dwight Gayle earned the visitors a precious point. Just as at
Stamford Bridge prior to the international break, the Hammers were again
pegged back in the game's latter stages and the New Zealander insists that
his side have been unfortunate to garner a total of just two points from the
two games.
He told West Ham TV: "When you have the lead you want to hold onto it, but
it's just one of those games, unfortunately we couldn't get the win and we
got a draw at the end. It's a bit disappointing. "You always get frustrated
with decisions, but at the end of the day the referee has made it and then
that's it, you can't do anything about it, you just have to get on with it.
"They got back into the game, scored a goal and we tried to push for it at
the end, tried to go up and get a win, we needed a win. "Of course, if we
had four points more we'd be a lot further up, but it wasn't the case to be.
Obviously, when the team's playing really well it's unfortunate not to pick
up those extra points. There are still seven games to play, so there's still
loads of football to be played and it's not like we're playing poorly or
anything, we've just been lacking maybe a little bit of sharpness and a
little bit of luck, probably, as well.
"We'll dust ourselves down, we'll get back on it next week and be ready for
the next game."
The Hammers play host to Arsenal next Saturday in the Barclays Premier
League prior to an Emirates FA Cup quarter-final replay showdown against
Manchester United on Wednesday 13 April. It's fast approaching crunch time
on both fronts and Reid said the Hammers would be treating the two
competitions in the same fashion. "I think everything's important for us,"
he added. "As long as we can keep playing well, like we're doing, and we'll
just try to be positive and pick up as many points. "Obviously, we have a
big game against Man United at home, which we want to progress and go to
Wembley, and try to get ourselves into a final. "The possibility [of doing
both] is there of course, but it's hard work and we'll have to wait and see.
I think everyone can see the team's playing well. It's not like we're
playing poorly, we just need to maybe sharpen up a little bit and hopefully
better results will come."
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Loan round up
WHUFC.com
Hammers loan man Sam Westley made his VVV-Venlo debut on Friday as they were
2-1 winners over FC Den Bosch in the Netherlands' second tier. The full-back
started and played 68 minutes in the victory which keeps second-placed Venlo
hot on the heels of Sparta Rotterdam at the top of the division.
West Ham loan pair Reece Burke and Josh Cullen both played 90 minutes for
Bradford City as they boosted their play-off hopes with a 1-0 home win over
Scunthorpe United. The victory, secured in the 68th minute when Steve Davies
turned in, moves the Bantams up to fifth in League One, five points clear of
Barnsley in seventh.
Elsewhere in the division, striker Elliot Lee started for Colchester United
in their goalless draw with Millwall, while Norwegian winger Martin
Samuelsen was an unused substitute for Peterborough United as they beat
Crewe Alexandra 3-0. Harry Beatyman grabbed a brace for the Posh before
their third was scored by Lee Angol.
Kyle Knoyle was also on a winning side, as ten-men Dundee United were 1-0
winners away from home at St Johnstone. The full-back played the whole match
in the game which was won by Ryan Dow.
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Goalkeeping trio set for Accessibility Fans' Forum WHUFC.com
Do you have a burning question for Adrian, Darren Randolph or Chris Woods?
This event, exclusively for disabled and visually impaired supporters, is
the ideal opportunity to meet the goalkeeping trio. If you are a Season
Ticket Holder, Academy Member, Corporate Seasonal Member or New Stadium
Season Ticket Priority List member, you could ask them in person at an
exclusive free fans' forum bought to you by Betway on Monday 11 April at the
Boleyn Ground. The trio will appear at the Legends Lounge A to answer
questions on a whole manner of subjects, dictated by you. Arrival is from
5.15pm and the Q&A session starts at 6pm, with a brief opportunity for
photos with the players from 6.45pm. Tickets will be allocated on a strictly
first-come, first-served basis at a rate of one per successful applicant.
Please note, Under-16s must be accompanied by an Adult Season Ticket Holder.
To secure one of the places available for this exclusive event, please call
0845 174 0174*. The Club will announce, via whufc.com, as and when all
spaces are filled. Supporters can pick up their free tickets at the Betway
Stand Ticket Office too.
Supporters who have secured tickets for the event can submit questions for
consideration by emailing supporterservices@westhamunited.co.uk, clearly
stating if it is for Adrian, Darren Randolph and Chris Woods. Please ensure
you include 'Fans' Form' in the subject of the email otherwise we cannot
guarantee your question will be received. If your question is selected we
will then come to you on the night so please ensure you remember what you
send in! The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday 8 April so please
make sure your email reaches us by then.
*Calls are charged at 13p/min plus your phone company's access charge.
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From the Terraces - Joe Difford
WHUFC.com
Fan blogger Joe Difford looks back at Saturday's draw with Crystal Palace…
Saturday's draw with Crystal Palace might have felt like a loss, but Dimitri
Payet's unbelievable free kick and the continuing home unbeaten run must not
be forgotten.
Going into the game, fans were hopeful and dare I say expectant of a home
win and a chance to overtake Manchester City or at least pull away from
Manchester United. However, two unfortunate mistakes in defence and a
controversial refereeing decision cost us the three points.
Things didn't go according to plan in the opening quarter of an hour, and
Damien Delaney opened the scoring in bizarre fashion. The usually reliable
Adrian failed to push a free kick round the post and the Palace defender
headed home from a tight angle.
As we have done on many occasions this season however, we struck back within
minutes through Manuel Lanzini. There was a hint of good fortune as the ball
fell to the Argentine, but he finished with aplomb.
The Boleyn Ground, full of Hammers supporter groups from around the world,
was in full voice as Dimitri Payet won a free kick on the edge of the area.
When the Frenchman puts the ball down and pulls the mud off the bottom of
his boots, you can't help but expect it to go in and having already missed
one free kick earlier on, fans expected to see the ball in the back of the
net this time.
Despite a rare seven-man wall intended to prevent Payet from curling the
ball into the top left as he has done against Bournemouth, Blackburn and
Manchester United this season, the midfield maestro whipped it out to the
right and into the top right corner, seemingly defying physics.
You would think the goal would be perfectly timed, allowing Bilic's men to
regroup at the break and come out ready to add to the score in the second
half, but Palace took advantage of some sloppy play.
The most controversial talking point of the game came in the 67th minute as
Cheikhou Kouyate was sent for an early bath. The ball bounced and the West
Ham midfielder and Palace's Dwight Gayle went in for the 50/50 ball, but
Gayle got there first and Kouyate caught him. The challenge was not reckless
nor was his foot high, but Mark Clattenburg decided to show the red card and
Palace capitalised soon after.
With a gaping hole in the centre of midfield, the visitors pressed and
eventually a defensive error, Angelo Ogbonna clearing the ball onto Winston
Reid and into the path of Gayle, allowed Alan Pardew's side to equalise.
It was difficult not to leave Upton Park frustrated after Saturday's tie,
but at the end of the day our magnificent home unbeaten run that stretches
back to August is still going strong. Not only that, but Payet has another
incredible goal to his name and is continuing his great form as we approach
the most important run of games in our Club's history.
Next up is the visit of Arsenal, and having beaten the Gunners at the
Emirates on the opening day along with our excellent home form, a win is
certainly not out of our reach.
Three points would have been ideal on Saturday, but European qualification
is still possible and we move forward with a squad that is almost at full
strength in terms of fitness and certainly at full strength in terms of team
spirit.
For more West Ham fan views or to join the conversation visit www.90min.com
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ExWHUEmployee's Exclusive Column: Special end of season tribute
planned-details here!
April 4, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
The Crystal Palace game was a really frustrating affair. The red card
obviously changed the game for us and once again it feels like a referee's
decisions has cost us. Katie S did an interesting article here
http://www.thewesthamway.co.uk/#!Costly-refereeing-decisions/maip4/570187880
cf2e0dbcac358b6 on costly refereeing decisions and it shows we are the team
with the most points lost due to incorrect decisions. There has to be a
way around this in my eyes, because every other sport is using technology to
get things right. Of course football isn't as stop start as other games
like cricket and rugby, but there are ways. I believe a solution could be
allowing the captain or the manager to have 1-3 challenges that they can
call on in a game. It is up to them when they use it and would actually add
another element to the role of captain or to the skills of a manager. It is
a similar system to what they use in tennis. People say the human error of
a referee is what makes it fun, I personally do not agree with this anymore,
as too much is on the line now in the game. There was opposition for years
on goal line technology, we put it off and off and the lack of it helped
eliminate England in the 2010 World Cup. Now we use it and it nobody
thinks twice about it.
We will appeal the red card although it is not clear that it will be
rescinded, this is due to the fact that some pundits/referees believe there
is a case for it being a red card. I was asked this morning whether by
appealing and not being successful it would add another game ban to the
amount of games missed. This only happens if the appeal is ridiculous and
has no chance of being overturned and apparently this isn't the case with
our appeal. It can also be said that some of the performances were not at
their best on Saturday and for the first time in a long time the defence and
keeper were not on top of their game. I personally believe our defence is
much stronger with James Collins in it and I personally cannot wait for his
return. Not only is he an extremely good defender, but he also leads that
defence and is great in the dressing room. I recently asked a member of
staff involved with the players, who is the player that gives the best
banter and they singled out "Ginge".
I thought Lanzini played really well and it is great that having proven his
fitness (something we covered in many articles) he has now been signed
permanently. His skill and class are currently being overshadowed by Payet,
but there is no doubt Lanzini's signing is huge for the club. Another thing
that we have covered through our columns is that Song, Moses and Emineke
will not be signed permanently and all three will return to their parent
clubs.
The signing of Antonio Martinez should go through this week. He is 18 years
old, plays for Valencia and has apparently scored consistently for their
youth teams. He is highly rated and frustrated at not being more involved
with their senior squad. There was some confusion on social media around
this signing last week. I was told that he was 99.9% likely to join us and
then obviously the owner's son Dave tweeted that there was no bid or deal in
place. The situation here is that Terry Westley and Tony Henry deal with
the recruitment at youth level and are trusted, rightly so, with bringing in
players without the need for the chairman to always be consulted. So David
Sullivan wasn't aware of the deal, but this is due to the trust he places in
Terry Westley who he worked with at Birmingham too. Let's hope that this
deal is similar in success to the Defoe deal we did when he was a kid and
not like the Youssef Sofiane, Petr Mikolanda and more notably Savio Nsreko
when trying to sign a young up and coming forward for the first team.
We should be making this move for a few other foreign youngsters in a
similar way to what Arsenal and Chelsea do and of course developing the
great British players that we currently have here. We were lucky enough to
interview under 18's Assistant Manager Mark Philips and he spoke very highly
of the players that we have coming through.
The end of season preparations for the Manchester United game are extremely
exciting. In some ways it is better that the game is a midweek fixture
under the lights rather than in daylight on a Saturday. The club have spent
a large budget on this, around about the £500k mark to make this special.
It is said to involve amazing special effects that will be simply
breathtaking. There are talks of holograms on the pitch and a chance to see
Bobby Moore walking up the steps from the changing rooms to greet the fans
and play on the pitch for one last time. He will then look down from the
skies onto the pitch and I challenge any of you not to cry at that moment.
The "show" will also feature many other club legends as well as a claret and
blue firework display. Pretty much all players that have featured for the
club and are available have been invited to the match. We are due to
interview someone who has and they have a very interesting story to tell
this week. Think unexpected debuts as a young lad in the 1990s and you will
probably work out the player. It is essential that fans do not run onto the
pitch, the lifetime ban seems harsh but it will literally spoil the event if
fans come on and I urge you all that this is not worth missing.
At The West Ham Way we have been delighted with how things are going with
the site. We have our Matthew Etherington, match worn, signed by the whole
first team squad, testimonial competition which should not be missed. See
this link for the ways to enter
https://twitter.com/WestHamWaycouk/status/715309707959930880. We donated
£150 to DT38 and featured in the official photos on the site and are
delighted to work further in the future with the charity.
We will also be donating £150 to Jonjo when he returns from his latest
charity walk too. This takes our total of money raised for charity to
almost £2000, all of which has come from you guys and shows why we have such
great fans. Our apps are out now for Andriod and Iphone (both ranked in the
top ten downloads in the UK when launched) and mean our hourly news and
articles come straight to your phone. We have a completely new website
layout and design coming out soon, which will be a lot faster and more
reliable! No more pages not loading for some of you and we have been
approached about two further exciting projects.
KUMB continue to lead the way for the independent sites and we are no way
near challenging our friends over there yet and we totally respect all that
they have achieved. In four months and without NewsNow membership yet, our
rise in internet ranking has been huge. Our shirts as modelled by Evan and
George in the videos and our model Daisy (her photos will be on the site
this week) are available to buy. £20 covers the shirt and postage and
anyone who buys one will be entered into another great competition on the
site as a thank you. We have claret with blue and blue with claret all in
stock, which I will deal with. I thank all of you for the positive comments
you give us at the games and on here, I hope we continue to reach your
expectations. We are still looking at getting some advertisers and we can
offer exclusive packages if you are interested. Please get in touch!
The future for the club is so bright and the chairman, manager and players
have all contributed to this great feel at the club.
COYI
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Referee Performance Analysis - Mark Clattenburg - West Ham vs Crystal
Palace?
April 3, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Sam Royden-Ryell
It's great to be back writing for The West Ham Way after the International
break. I couldn't agree more with Jack (Sullivan) in his column for The West
Ham Way on his views on the International break - they're meaningless and a
poor excuse to give overrated players the opportunity to receive the highest
honour they can get, which is to represent their country internationally.
While this was happening, Mark Noble was honoured with a well-deserved
testimonial. It was a great occasion for a great West Ham patriot and was
exciting to see some fan-favourite West Ham greats putting the claret and
blue shirt on again for the last time at the Boleyn.
It was back to business in the Premier League as West Ham welcomed Crystal
Palace and former West Ham manager Alan Pardew to the Boleyn Ground. This
was possibly my final Premier League game at the Boleyn Ground so I was
hoping that we'd keep our unbeaten run at home and continue our pursuit for
European football next season. The referee appointed for this fixture was
Mark Clattenburg; he also officiated our 3-1 win at Selhurst Park earlier on
in the season.
As a spectator this afternoon and sitting in the lower tier of the Betway
(West) Stand, 7 rows from the front, I cannot express to you what I
witnessed from a referee, who I have personally modelled my own referee
traits on. Clattenburg is undoubtedly one of the finest referees in English
Football. Clattenburg has been rewarded by representing the English FA in
Euro 2016 in France alongside Martin Atkinson, however today was a different
story.
The atmosphere started very promisingly however, progressively got more and
more hostile towards Clattenburg as the game went on. The countless number
of decisions that Clattenburg failed to give to West Ham and even more so
when Palace players persistently committed fouls without any action being
taken. Clattenburg showed two cautions within a matter of minutes to Mark
Noble and Winston Reid. Noble's challenge was a last ditch challenge to
prevent a promising attack by Palace. From my position, I felt Noble didn't
get the ball from his challenge, I have to agree with Clattenburg on this
decision. Winston Reid's caution on the other hand really riffled the West
Ham fans. Reid was cautioned for apparently blocking a Palace player when
from my angle it looked like the Palace player ran into Reid. Throughout the
game, Clattenburg missed obvious fouls by the Palace defenders who were
climbing and pushing the West Ham forward men and Clattenburg simply wasn't
interested.
The second half wasn't much better for Clattenburg as he failed to issue
Dwight Gale a caution for persistent infringement of the laws of the game
which you can imagine was really starting to infuriate the West Ham fans,
including myself. Clattenburg did eventually caution two Palace players in
the final stages of the game. Angelo Ogbonna was hacked down just inside the
Palace half by centre back Scott Dann which was hugely beneficial to Palace
as West Ham were on the counter attack. Bakary Sako was the next player into
Clattenburg's book after a somewhat late and reckless challenge on Enner
Valencia.
The biggest and most controversial decision of the game was the red card
given to Cheikhou Kouyaté after the West Ham midfielder challenged Palace
striker Dwight Gale for the ball on the half way line. Kouyaté slid into the
challenge with Gale, winning the ball and subsequently catching Gale
afterwards. Clattenburg sprinted over while furiously blowing his whistle
for a foul and when he started to reach for his top pocket I knew instantly
that he was going to reach for his red card. The decision wasn't helped by
the way Gale was rolling around unsportingly and tempers were clear with the
Palace striker after Kouyaté was down the tunnel. Even though Kouyaté did
get the ball, he did catch the player on the follow through (which was
unintentional) and I believe it was careless by the West Ham midfielder,
however he didn't use Excessive Force - which warrants a red card. In the
Laws of The Game, Excessive Force is when the player has exceeded the
necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent. Not for
one second do I feel this challenge was the above. Kouyaté was careless and
a caution would have been more than enough.
This decision epitomises the poor standard of refereeing we have seen this
season and it warrants yet another appeal to the FA Independent Regulatory
Commission on Monday, which should be another successful appeal. This is the
third time this season where a referee has made the most obvious error for a
challenge that I believe should be of been a caution at most. Mark Noble
away at Liverpool, Cheikhou Kouyaté at Blackburn and now against Palace, all
red cards of which shouldn't have been. It's hugely frustrating because I
was actually further away to the incident than Clattenburg and it was clear
that Kouyaté got the ball and he still got the decision wrong. I said on my
previous column that Video Technology is needed in Football. It isn't just
needed anymore, it is imperative! This would help stop game-changing
decisions like this which in hindsight lost West Ham two points. Who knows
what would have happened if Kouyaté did stay on the field, but it was the
turning point in the game which swung in Palace's favour. Overall,
Clattenburg had a very poor game, the only rationale on why he made decision
was that from his position, he felt Kouyaté didn't get the ball and caught
Gale late and lunged not in control and deemed the challenge as Excessive
Force. It's disappointing that a number of poor refereeing decisions
throughout the Premier League and especially the last three games off the
top of my head, are starting to impact the league at the most signifiant
time of the season.
Thanks,
Sam
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Monday musings: Ref off
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 4th April 2016
By: Graeme Howlett
When both sets of players and managers agree that a player has been harshly
sent off, it's difficult to express sympathy with the referee. And when your
team had been the victim of a string of similarly-poor calls, it's perhaps
no surprise that conspiracy theories begin to emerge. Only two people have
been outspoken in their support of referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to
dismiss Cheik Kouyate for a robust but fair challenge on Dwight Gayle during
Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground. One was MotD's
commentator, whose view can be dismissed on the basis that he claimed
Kouyate went into the challenge two-footed and with studs showing - which
simply didn't happen. The other was pundit and ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright,
who face the Hammers in their next fixture - sans the influential Kouyate,
as it stands.
At the risk of beginning to sound like a broken record, Slaven Bilic's
frustration is entirely understandable. Robbed of an FA Cup semi final spot
at Old Trafford and two vital Premier League points at Stamford Bridge days
later thanks to dreadful decisions, West Ham's season is being affected -
negatively - by bad calls from officials.
And the myth which suggests these poor decisions even themselves out over
the course of the season is just that - a falsehood that simply has no
evidence to support it, yet plenty to suggest otherwise.
In order to determine how much teams are affected, over at Talksport they
have been compiling a list of incorrect decisions by referees throughout the
season. The aforementioned conspiracists won't be shocked to see the Hammers
bottom of this table, having received four incorrect calls in their favour
this term - and 11 against.
Conversely, the table is topped by Manchester United (eight for, one
against), Leicester (surprisingly perhaps with twelve for and seven against)
and then Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City.
So whilst it may be going too far to suggest the game is bent - even though
it has been claimed in recent days that a great number of Premier League
stars have been administered performance-enhancing drugs - it seems that
somehow, enough pressure is being exerted upon match officials to cause them
to award marginal decisions in favour of the league's elite clubs when push
comes to shove.
However the real shame about Kouyate's dismissal and Clattenburg's generally
awful performance is that it completely overshadowed another incredible free
kick by Dimitri Payet, who is probably the world's premier dead ball
specialist at this point in time.
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Trio out as Bilic looks to OS
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 4th April 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are preparing to bid farewell to a trio of on-loan players at the
end of the season. None of Alex Song, Victor Moses nor Emmanuel Emenike have
done enough to earn permanent contracts, according to a KUMB source - and
all three will subsequently return to their parent clubs at the end of the
current campaign. Song, with 15 first team appearances to his name this term
is close to activating a clause in his contract that triggers a permanent
deal. However the midfielder, currently on his second loan spell at the
Boleyn will return to Barcelona having failed to convince Slave Bilic that
he has a long-term future at the Olympic Stadium. The situation is the same
for winger Moses, on loan from Chelsea and striker Emenike, at the club via
Fenerbahce. They have made 21 appearances (2 goals) and nine appearances
(also two goals) for West Ham respectively this season but both will return
to their parent clubs in May.
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Is this hypocrisy?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 4th April 2016
By: Paul Walker
Now I thought long and hard about this piece, because I know it goes right
against the grain of the general West Ham opinion over the Cheikhou Kouyate
situation. But in the end I am risking the wrath of Irons fans because not
to do so would compromise everything I have said and written about James
McCarthy and his shocking, poorly punished, assault on Dimitri Payet back in
November. And I feel we could be accused of hypocrisy in the way we are
defending Kouyate's tackle against Crystal Palace at the weekend, and any
potential appeal to the FA. Now I left the ground after the 2-2 draw on
Saturday, gutted that we had seen victory prised from our grasp by Mark
Clattenburg's red card for our outstanding midfielder. From 60 or so yards
away in the Bobby Moore lower I was in no position to judged the merits of
the tackle or the referee's decision. I just felt cheated.
For some weeks I had been convincing myself that we could finish in the top
two or three. Even, with a win over Palace, a double over Arsenal and then a
win at Leicester--yes, I believe we are a better footballing side than the
current league leaders--we could have put ourselves right in contention for
top honours. I feel with these two dropped points, that chance has gone now.
When needs must, the big boys all won at the weekend. Manchester United,
Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and yes Leicester too. We could not
afford our draw, and now we have a tough three games against the Gunners,
Man Utd in the FA Cup replay and Leicester away.
Of course I was angry. But I wanted to see the tackle on TV first, before
launching into a tirade of abuse at a referee, I believe is the best in the
country, even if I have frequently been critical of his arrogance, superior
attitude, boy band haircut, the fake tan and the gel. But, regardless of
all that, he is a referee the players like and respect and one that is
hugely well thought of around Europe, with him heading to the Euro' 16
finals in the summer.
Match of the Day bottled it. Their coverage was poor, Ian Wright thought it
was a red, Alan Shearer--who I recall had plenty of previous for dodgy
tackles--disagreed. They even laughed about the Umbro stamp on Peter
Schmeichel's thigh that Shearer once left. Oh how we laughed too! But Sky
the following day, nailed it with a careful, slow motion of the incident and
Chris Kamara's excellent analysis. And those shots showed, to my mind, why
Clattenburg acted so quickly. He was eight to ten yards away, viewing the
tackle from behind Kouyate. What he saw initially was the first part of the
tackle in which both the player's feet were off the ground. The end of the
sequence showed Kouyate's right foot six inches off the ground and
connecting with Gayle's ankle. Clattenburg would have been able to penalise
both parts of that tackle had he so wished. They key to all this is NOT that
people felt Kouyate touched the ball, it is whether his body is under
control and not endangering an opponent. Touching the ball first has nothing
to do with it. The directive this season has made it clear, that two feet
off the ground is a red card.
That is why I was so annoyed with Wigan referee Paul Tierney's
interpretation of James McCarthy's two footed, scissor assault on Payet. The
Everton player's feet were both off the ground during the tackle. But
Tierney, who has only had five Premier League games this term and been
nowhere near us since, opted just to book him. I recall a lengthy spell of
abuse from Everton fans aimed at me after that. They kept on about
connecting with the ball first, and one muppet even suggested that he could
not be expected to have control over his body with both feet off the ground.
Yes, me too. The fool completely missed the point.
Now Kouyate's tackle was nothing like as bad, but I am already seeing our
fans on websites claiming he got the ball, so that's OK. No it is not, the
FA and UEFA want dangerous tackles outlawed, they want stars like our
Dimitri to be allowed to produce their brilliance without fear of being cut
to pieces by thugs. Clattenburg does not make these sort of mistakes.
Already this season he sent off Victor Wanyama at Southampton in February
for a two footed lunge at Payet. That we could not beat ten men has been
dealt with elsewhere!
Clattenburg also sent off Dwight Gayle when we won 3-1 at Selhurst Park, for
a similar two-footer that had both feet off the ground. Alan Pardew moaned
about it again at the weekend.
So, while Tierney does not know the correct punishment, Clattenburg is spot
on. Consistent. Loads of folk, our owners to the fore, our manager, reckon
Kouyate was just unlucky and a little slow. They are probably right, but
Clattenburg saw the feet off the ground, and reacted instantly. That's why
some of our fans were claiming the red card came out with indecent haste.
Now the political bit. I have tried to see grounds for an appeal. But it is
our word against the Premier League's best referee. And I cannot see the
disciplinary people being too pleased to see Kouyate back in front of them
just over a month after his last sob story for the red card at Blackburn. He
got off that one, but certain people may see him now as a serial offender.
Two reprieves in five weeks. I doubt it. And there is another problem here.
We are shellshocked that he will miss three crucial games. Arsenal,
Manchester United and Leicester. If the FA consider any appeal to be
frivolous, they can hit us with another one match. And that would mean
Watford at home, just three days before a potential FA Cup semi-final at
Wembley.
Now you lot out there may not like my treasonable assessment of this latest
refereeing controversy to hit us, I will have to live with that and already
have the tin hat on. But if we are quick to rightly condemn McCarthy for a
two footed tackle, then I find it hard to see how we can try to argue our
way out of a lesser, but also two footed motion, from one of our own
players. OK, I am now off to Australia for a few weeks to avoid the flak.
But I bet any of you that the Premier League and the FA will not try to tell
Clattenburg that he was wrong. Quick, harsh yes. But his interpretation of
the laws was right, whether you like them or not. Sorry folks.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to let Alex Song, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike leave – Sky
sources
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 04/04/16 6:35pm
SSN
West Ham will not make the loan signings of Alex Song, Victor Moses and
Emmanuel Emenike permanent in the summer, according to Sky sources.
The trio are currently on-loan to West Ham until the end of the campaign
from Barcelona, Chelsea and Al Ain respectively. West Ham have the option
to make all the deals permanent, but Sky sources understand the Hammers have
decided not to do so. Song joined West Ham on a season-long loan from
Barcelona in August 2014 and enjoyed a hugely impressive first four months
at the club, playing a leading role under then-manager Sam Allardyce.
However, West Ham did not take up the option to make Song's move to the club
permanent at the end of last season after midfielder sustained an ankle
injury. Song did re-join West Ham in August, on a second season-long loan,
but remained on the sidelines for a further three months because of that
injury before making his long-awaited return as a late substitute in the 4-1
defeat at Tottenham. The 28-year-old has struggled to establish himself as
a first-team regular under Slaven Bilic this season and has started just
eight Premier League matches.
Song has also been an unused substitute in West Ham's previous three games.
Moses completed a season-long loan move to West Ham on the same day as Song
and enjoyed a productive start to life at the Boleyn Ground, starting 11
matches and scoring in the 2-1 victory over Manchester City.
A hamstring injury in the goalless draw with Manchester United in December
saw Moses miss six weeks of the season and he has not started in the Premier
League since.
Emenike joined West Ham on a six-month loan deal in January after the east
London club decided to sell Nikica Jelavic to Chinese second division side
Guizhou Renhe. The 29-year-old forward has scored two goals in nine
appearances - both goals coming in the 5-1 FA Cup fifth-round victory over
Blackburn Rovers - and started Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 'unfortunate' against Crystal Palace says Winston Reid By Zinny
Boswell Last Updated: 04/04/16 1:54pm SSN
West Ham defender Winston Reid says his side were unfortunate not to take
all three points from last Saturday's home game against Crystal Palace.
Damien Delaney headed Palace in front early on but goals from Manuel Lanzini
and a trademark Dimitri Payet free-kick put the Hammers in charge at Upton
Park. However, the 67th-minute dismissal of Cheikhou Kouyate - a decision
which West Ham have already appealed - saw Palace regain a foothold in the
match and Dwight Gayle secured a 2-2 draw when tapping in from close range
eight minutes later. Speaking to the club's official website, New Zealander
Reid said: "You always get frustrated with decisions, but at the end of the
day the referee has made it and then that's it, you can't do anything about
it, you just have to get on with it. "They got back into the game, scored a
goal and we tried to push for it at the end, tried to go up and get a win,
we needed a win. "Of course, if we had four points more we'd be a lot
further up, but it wasn't the case to be. Obviously, when the team's playing
really well it's unfortunate not to pick up those extra points. "There are
still seven games to play, so there's still loads of football to be played
and it's not like we're playing poorly or anything, we've just been lacking
maybe a little bit of sharpness and a little bit of luck, probably, as well.
"We'll dust ourselves down, we'll get back on it next week and be ready for
the next game."
West Ham lie sixth in the Premier League table, three points off
fourth-placed Manchester City, and will be looking to close the gap when
they host Arsenal on Saturday. But they will also be keeping an eye on their
highly-anticipated FA Cup quarter final replay against Manchester United
four days later. "I think everything's important for us," he added. "As long
as we can keep playing well, like we're doing, and we'll just try to be
positive and pick up as many points. "Obviously, we have a big game against
Man United at home, which we want to progress and go to Wembley, and try to
get ourselves into a final.
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Slav options grow ahead of Arsenal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 4, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H
Sam Byram and James Collins are set to join the squad which takes on Arsenal
at the weekend. And that looks likely to seethe signing from Leeds and fit
again James Tomkins battling it out for the right sided defensive role with
Michail Antonio being pushed into his attacking midfield role. Collins has
been missing since the 1-0 win over Tottenham in February but is reported
as being set for a training ground return this week. James Tomkins was back
in the Palace squad having recovered from a calf injury and with the
business end of the season upon us we could hardly be in better shape.
Manager Slaven Bilic said: "Ginger Collins and Sam Byram, they are going to
come back Even without we would try to finish as high as possible and try to
reach the (FA Cup) semi-finals. "We have a big enough squad, a lot of energy
and a lot of confidence."
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Slav's Payet concerns
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 4, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H
Slaven Bilic has spoken of the fitness concerns over Dimi Payet during the
game against Crystal Palace. The brilliant French international scored
another sensational free kick to take hisset piece to goals conversion rate
to 50 per cent. But afterwards the manager said: ""It was a brilliant goal.
I expected him to try and bend it over the wall" My assistant, (Julian
Dicks) he came to me before and I said I also scored one like that. I said
no way! But he added: "Maybe Payet wasn't that sharp in the game because
don't forget he has had a couple of games for France that were everything
for him but friendly games. "It was very exhausting and again here he did
everything but was missing that bit of sharpness. It is demanding for him
psychologically."
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TV cash inflation will see duo leave
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 4, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H
Emmanuel Emenike's £8 million price tag demonstrates the extent to which
inflation in the game will continue to grow this summer. The Irons will
allow the striker to return to his parent club Fenerbahce at the end of the
season as they bid to hold onto ever penny for the £20m-£25 million they are
planning to spend on a new striker shows. An insider told ClaretandHugh:
"Emmy will be allowed to go back and yes the asking price was £8 million -
the same as Lanzini. He's done well but we are unlikely to pursue it. "With
the billions coming into the game from TV money inflation is estimated at
around eight per cent and thus we will need every penny as prices for
players and their wages rise. "We are focused on a top striker as everybody
knows and need to make every penny count as a result."
It now seems absolutely certain that Alex Song will be allowed to return to
Barcelona after his recent absences which are understood to be on account of
him being close to making the number of appearances which would
automatically trigger a permanent move.
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Michail Antonio: West Ham need luck to change in Champions League chase
GERRY COX Evening Standard
Michail Antonio is hoping West Ham have a change of fortune during their
Premier League run-in as they bid for Champions League football. Hammers
manager Slaven Bilic felt aggrieved after another controversial decision
went against them in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace but Antonio says the
players will simply move on. Cheikhou Kouyate was dismissed by Mark
Clattenburg in the 67th minute for a studs-up lunge on Dwight Gayle which
divided opinion, with Palace boss Alan Pardew agreeing with Bilic that it
was harsh. One thing that is not in dispute is that the Hammers have not had
much joy from refereeing decisions in the past four games, with contentious
decisions costing them dear. A late penalty meant they drew 2-2 at Chelsea a
fortnight ago and again on Saturday they dropped two points as Dwight Gayle
equalised for Palace shortly after Kouyate's dismissal. They are now three
points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the race for a Champions
League spot, but Antonio says they should look forward rather than back and
hopes the tide turns in the final seven games of the season. "Certainly we
feel hard done by, because with 11 men we felt stronger than Palace and had
more possession and attempts on goal, but it was one of those things and we
have to move on," he said. "Decisions are not going our way but hopefully
our luck will change and something special can happen for us."
But the winger refuses to be seduced by the prospect of the Champions
League. "We are not looking that far ahead," he added. "That is when extra
pressure comes into games and mistakes start to happen. "It is about making
sure you get the best results you can, game by game." Although Damien
Delaney gave Palace an early lead after a rare error from Adrian, West Ham
equalised with Manuel Lanzini's low shot and then took the lead before
half-time with another superb Dimitri Payet free-kick. But Gayle's equaliser
meant it was more points dropped.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mark Clattenburg shouldn't have sent off Cheikhou Kouyate... the pressure of
going to Euro 2016 is getting to the Geordie ref Cheikhou Kouyate tackle on
Dwight Gayle was high but not excessive A yellow card would have been more
appropriate from Mark Clattenburg The pressure of being a major championship
referee can have its toll Attempt to appeal may prove unsuccessful as it is
more harsh than wrong By GRAHAM POLL FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 01:36, 4 April 2016 | UPDATED: 10:30, 4 April 2016
West Ham were held to a draw with Crystal Palace at Upton Park on Saturday
in a game not short on incident. Damien Delaney's opener for the visitors
was cancelled out by Manuel Lanzini and another sensational Dimitri Payet
free-kick. But the complexion of the game changed after referee Mark
Clattenburg sent off Cheikhou Kouyate for what he deemed to be a dangerous
challenge on Dwight Gayle, who would score the equaliser. Sportsmail's
Graham Poll gives his assessment of the latest refereeing decision to go
against the Hammers as Slaven Bilic's side lost ground in the race for a
Champions League place next season. West Ham's run of bad luck with
refereeing decisions continued with a very harsh red card for Cheikhou
Kouyate. It appeared to swing the balance of their game against Crystal
Palace in which they dropped two precious points. Mark Clattenburg is
usually a very good, considered referee who understands the mood of games
and players' intentions. Yet he rushed over in the 67th minute and
immediately took out his red card when Kouyate caught Dwight Gayle with a
high but not excessive tackle. A yellow card would have been more
appropriate and consistent with officiating this season. One can't help but
wonder if the pressure of being a major championship referee (Clattenburg
goes to the Euros this summer) is getting to the Geordie ref. Whilst West
Ham won an appeal when the same player was dismissed against Blackburn in
the FA Cup, I don't think they would win this as it is likely to be seen as
harsh rather than wrong.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham News: Kouyate red reaction, £15m Prem hitman wanted, £35m Payet
exit EXPRESS SPORT brings you all the latest from Upton Park.
By JACK STAPLEHURST
PUBLISHED: 08:30, Mon, Apr 4, 2016 | UPDATED: 08:35, Mon, Apr 4, 2016
West Ham star Cheikhou Kouyate is likely to have his appeal rejected by the
FA, according to former referee Graham Poll. Mark Clattenburg issued a
straight red card for a challenge on Dwight Gayle deemed reckless by the
official in the Hammers' 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Kouyate's
controversial sending off for a high foot will see him miss West Ham's next
three crucial games against Arsenal, Manchester United in the FA Cup and
Leicester. Manager Slaven Bilic was left infuriated by the dismissal which
came while the Hammers led 2-1 at Upton Park, and even Palace boss Alan
Pardew admitted: "I thought it was a bit harsh." In his Daily Mail column,
Poll said: "A yellow card would have been more appropriate and consistent
with officiating this season." However, the ex-Premier League referee added:
"I don't think they would win this as it is likely to be seen as harsh
rather than wrong."
West Ham have reportedly raised their interest in Watford striker Odion
Ighalo as they search for a proven goalscorer this summer. According to The
Sun, the Hammers have added Ighalo to their transfer wishlist which includes
the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Alexandre Lacazette. They may also be able
to secure the 26-year-old for a smaller fee than their other prime targets,
with Watford apparently ready to accept around £15million. Ighalo has netted
14 goals in his debut Premier League season on the back of a further 20 in
the 2014/15 Championship campaign. None of Bilic's strikers have scored more
than four league goals this term despite their Champions League push and
Ighalo is seen as a strong option heading into the Olympic Stadium.
Dimitri Payet is earning serious interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid,
according to reports. The West Ham playmaker has been a revelation this
season as their top creator and goalscorer, adding to his total on Saturday
with another free-kick, this time against Palace. The 29-year-old's form has
also earned him a recall to the France squad ahead of Euro 2016 where he
impressed during the international break. Despite arriving in east London
only last summer and penning a new five-year deal as recently as February,
the Brentwood Gazette claim the two La Liga powerhouses are monitoring Payet
carefully. The Spanish teams apparently face a head-to-head battle for the
attacking midfielder with both sides prepared to pay £35m.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tuesday, April 5
Monday, April 4
Daily WHUFC News - 4th April 2016
Cresswell - Payet is the best in the world
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell had the best view inside the Boleyn Ground when Dimitri
Payet lined up his free-kick against Crystal Palace on Saturday and has no
doubts he is the best in the world. Cresswell was standing next to the
French star when the Hammers were awarded a free-kick just before half-time.
After scoring a spectacular set-piece just a few days earlier for France,
Payet followed that up with another wonder strike as he curled the ball into
the opposite corner and the roof of the net. Cresswell feels Payet is the
best free-kick specialist in the world at the moment and hopes he can
continue his amazing form and help the Hammers push for a European spot come
the end of the season. Cresswell said: "I will put Dimi up there as the best
free-kick taker in the world at the moment. I was standing right behind him
and the ball looked destined for the top corner.
"Nobes came over to him and gave him a little heads-up, but he has put it in
the top corner once again and hopefully he can keep doing that for us. "I
will gladly sit behind him and keep watching him strike balls like that. "I
am not sure he will want to watch his first free-kick back but he has now
scored five or six in the top corner and as everyone saw in world football
the other day, he scored another one for France which was a ridiculous one
and he has now put one in the opposite corner. "As a keeper you can only
applaud someone like that and long may it continue if he can keep scoring
goals like that."
Cresswell was disappointed to only come away with a point against Palace and
felt the outcome would have been a lot different had Cheikhou Kouyate not
received a red card in the second half following his challenge on Dwight
Gayle. Cresswell added: "It is disappointing in the end considering the
circumstances. I think we were excellent in the first half and then during
the second half the sending off has changed the whole game. "If that had not
happened I think we would have gone on to win the game. "It is one of those
things which has happened and we have got to get it out of our system and go
again. I have seen the replay on the television and there is no malice in
it and he has not gone over the top of the ball. "He slid in and kicked the
ball. It might be a foul but it is not a yellow card and certainly not a red
card."
The point leaves the Hammers in fifth position and just three points behind
Manchester City in fourth place. With another London derby against Arsenal
next weekend at the Boleyn Ground, Cresswell says the race for a European
spot is still wide open as the Club prepare for the final seven league games
of the season. "We have still got it all to play for. It is another point on
the board and considering the circumstances we are disappointed with it, but
there is nothing we can do and the whole game changed from that. "We have
now got another big London derby against Arsenal next weekend and we need to
get ready for that. We will be 100 per cent at it and it is one we are
looking forward to."
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Dev Squad ready for Play-off push
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad host Stoke City in their final home
league game of the season on Monday 4 April, knowing a win will strengthen
their play-off chances. Currently fifth, just three points off tomorrow's
opponents Stoke, the Hammers are looking to fend off the chasing pack which
includes Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, all of
whom have games in hand. Earlier in the season, the Potters came from a goal
down to win 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in September thanks to late
goals from Dominic Telford and Yusuf Oban. Now, Terry Westley's men will be
looking to avenge that defeat and go in to tomorrow's encounter full of
confidence having progressed to the Barclays U21 Premier League Cup final
with Hull City, having beaten Liverpool in the semis.
Kick off at Rush Green Stadium is 7pm, admission is FREE for all fans.
Following Monday's encounter, the young Hammers travel to title-challenging
Aston Villa on Monday 11 April in their final game of the 2015/16 league
season.
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Stat's a Fact - Payet's free kick wizardry
WHUFC.com
You would have to go a long way to find a more in-form striker of free kicks
than Dimitri Payet at the moment. His wonderful goal against Crystal Palace
was his third successful conversion from a dead ball situation in his last
four games for club and country. The 20-yard strike left goalkeeper Wayne
Hennessey bamboozled and took his tally of free-kick goals to five for the
season. All five have come since the turn of the year, with Bournemouth's
Artur Boruc, Blackburn's Jason Steele, Manchester United's David de Gea,
Russia's Yuri Lodygin and now Hennessey having no answer to the Frenchman's
wizardry. His goals against the Red Devils and Russia were textbook examples
of lifting the ball over the wall and giving a goalkeeper no chance by
dipping it into the net with too much ground the make up. This time, against
Palace and with the ball so close to goal, he opted to change it up and whip
the shot over onto the goalkeeper's side, with the power, swerve and dip
leaving the Wales international with no chance. Such is Payet's prowess from
free kicks now, the award of one within shooting range now elicits such
anticipation from Hammers fans. Payet is certainly living up to that
expectation - and then some. Saturday's goal was perhaps the pick of the
lot. Only one player in the Barclays Premier League has scored more direct
free-kicks that Payet this term - Chelsea's Willian - but given the No27's
red hot form, it would be no surprise if he were to overhaul him by the
season's end.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aaron Cresswell hails West Ham's Dimitri Payet as one of the world's best
free-kick taker
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 03/04/16 4:28pm
SSN
Aaron Cresswell has labelled West Ham team-mate Dimitri Payet as the best
set-piece taker in the world. On Saturday, Payet scored a sensational
20-yard free-kick to put West Ham in front against Crystal Palace, but his
strike was not enough to claim victory with the visitors pegging the Hammers
back to claim a 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground. The 29-year-old's growing
reputation as a dead-ball specialist was enhanced earlier this week when he
struck a stunning 30-yard free-kick for France in their 4-2 international
friendly victory over Russia. Those strikes, coupled with Payet's other
free-kick goals in the recent FA Cup matches against Blackburn Rovers and
Manchester United, has left Cresswell in no doubt about the midfielder's
ability from dead-ball situations. "I will put Dimi up there as the best
free-kick taker in the world at the moment. I was standing right behind him
and the ball looked destined for the top corner," the left-back told the
club's official website. "Nobes [Mark Noble] came over to him and gave him
a little heads-up, but he has put it in the top corner once again and
hopefully he can keep doing that for us. I will gladly sit behind him and
keep watching him strike balls like that. I am not sure he will want to
watch his first free-kick back but he has now scored five or six in the top
corner and as everyone saw in world football the other day, he scored
another one for France which was a ridiculous one and he has now put one in
the opposite corner. "As a keeper you can only applaud someone like that
and long may it continue if he can keep scoring goals like that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to appeal against Cheikhou Kouyate red card
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 03/04/16 10:09am
SSN
West Ham will appeal the red card picked up by midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate
during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Kouyate was shown a straight
red card by referee Mark Clattenburg in the 67th minute, despite appearing
to win the ball first in a challenge with Palace forward Dwight Gayle. West
Ham, who were leading 2-1 at the time of Kouyate's dismissal, failed to hold
on to their one goal advantage with Gayle netting an equaliser in the 75th
minute to earn Palace a point.
Slaven Bilic has blasted referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to send off
Cheikhou Kouyate...
"Disappointing decision by Mark Clattenburg to red card Kouyate which we
will be appealing. We must give referees more TV replay help," a tweet from
West Ham co-chairman David Gold read. Kouyate will serve a three-match ban
if the Football Association decide to uphold Clattenburg's decision and miss
the upcoming matches against Arsenal and Leicester as well as the FA Cup
quarter-final replay with Manchester United.
In February, West Ham appealed successfully against the red card Kouyate
received during the 5-1 FA Cup fifth-round win over Blackburn Rovers.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CLATTENBURG: IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!
By Iain Dale 2 Apr 2016 at 20:36 145 comments
WTID
Guest Post by Rugby Irons
They say fine margins make all the difference. Today we saw just how true
that was. Mark Clattenburg with a rush of blood may have changed our season.
The best refs take their time to get the big decisions right but he couldn't
get his card out quick enough for Kouyate's dismissal.
It's a lazy tackle from a committed player. But it was an honest tackle. I
referee so know only too well how hard it is. I also know the Laws, which at
Premier level are judged differently and inconsistently. How Clattenberg has
deemed it a straight red is very disappointing if not surprising for him. He
is supposed to be a top referee so you would expect him to get the big ones
right.
His position was first rate ,just a couple of yards away, the game was was
an hour old ,so knew the players and pace of the game, he had a perfect
view, he could it was there to be won by both players, and if Kouyate got it
wrong, then it's a foul. Fair enough. But when you watch it again
Clattenburg is straight in - red card out, name in all the papers, wrong
decision and changed the game.
In truth, it's not a first time. Even in a small elite group, Clattenburg
makes the same rash decisions that change and spoil games. Can't he learn?
You will also note, that a lot of his decisions favour the bigger clubs. The
best referees take time to get the big decisions right. Had he done so we
would have had two more points.
But that of course is just the start of it. Koyoute is now missing for three
games - Arsenal, Man U and Leicester. Fancy that, the three biggest games of
the season to come, all in one week, and because of Clattenburg's poor
refereeing, we are now missing our best player.
If I were Mulder, I might start to think that sending off our most
influential player, just as we play the big boys might just be seen as a
conspiracy. But as I say, he has a history of favouritism to the big boys,
because they promote his career. So,unless we win an appeal, and let's face
it the FA are just as likely to protect United and Citeh's interests, that
one decision is really going to hurt us.
It's also worth noting that Kouyate was having a good game and we were very
likely to go on and win the game. And both Managers have come out and
disagreed with the decision, so credit to Pards for that.
So there you are, one rash decision, not a stray pass, an own goal, headbutt
or bite,but a well placed international referee, bigging himself up - again
- and getting it wrong. I'll be glad when we are a big club and the
decisions go our way!
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Dimi's amazing free kick/goals conversion rate
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Exclusive
Regular readers will know us over here at ClaretandHugh aren't big on stats
- news is more our scene!
But because we are about to reveal the truth on Dimitri Payet's amazing free
kicks we are happy to make an exception.
They show a pretty extraordinary conversion rate from free kicks to goals
since he became the Irons regular free kick taker.
The figures we are quoting here also include the incredible 37 yard goal he
scored on his return to the French international team last week.
Dimi started taking free kicks on January 12 in the goal-less draw at home
against Stoke City and since then he has struck 10 of them for five goals -
an extraordinary 50 per cent conversion rate.
He has also hit the post and forced a save of the season qualifier out of
Manchester City and England keeper Joe Hart so with just a touch more luck
he would have had a 70 per cent conversion rate.
The stats are amazing by anyone's standards but there are literally no words
to describe the quality of his strikes.
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Gold: This has to stop
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Fed-up David Gold has had enough of incorrect refereeing decisions and has
called for technology to be introduced NOW.
Taking again about the Mark Clattenburg decision to send off Cheik Kouyate
he told ClaretandHugh: "Nobody wants to see this and it is happening to us
week after week.
"I have called in the past for a third ref in the box and it has to happen -
surely. At the moment the referees have two assistants and in the majority
of cases they all seem to be coming to the same conclusion on incidents
which I frankly don't understand.
"Yesterday everybody we spoke to after the game agreed Cheik should not have
been send off - surely we can't all be wrong because several of them were
Palace people.
"Cricket has a third umpire and there are only odd occasions when the
decision remains unclear after several viewings and if that's the case in
football then we go with the referee. Simple.
"At the moment we are taking about decisions within the game rather than the
game itself. Referees must have help - the shouldn't be made to have to live
with decisions that may be wrong f we have the means of proving the issue
one way or the other. We're all human."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Football's stuck in dark ages - let's get a grip
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H
There's an old saying that goes: "Once is an accident, twice maybe
coincidence but after that you have more sinister thoughts!"
The bundling of Darren Randolph into the Manchester United net which led to
an FA Cup equaliser and a replay may therefore have been an accident, but
the penalty that never was against Chelsea and now the sending off of Cheik
Kouyate yesterday ( not to mention the rescinded one against Blackburn )
really does make you think.
David Gold has made his case for using technology and it's hard not to agree
that compared with other sports , the biggest and best game on the planet is
living in the dark ages.
Ok, as an Irons fans I've had enough, but surely every other sensible fan
believes the time has arrived for a radical technological shake up haven't
they?
Cricket - where a number of captain appeals are allowed against dodgepot
decision as well as regularly employing TV on a vriety of issues - - rugby
and the NFL have all moved into the 21st century so why has football left
itself stuck in the dark ages.
There are those who claim that the after match arguments are the beauty of
the game. I'm not among them. Cricket has benefited from the third umpire
and I believe the same would be true of football.
Quite apart from anything else there are millions of pounds at stake every
season on positional and European qualifying positioning.
Clubs may indeed be relegated as a result of the sort of decision we saw by
Mark Clattenburg yesterday. The time is here and the time is NOW. We need
technology to settle these errors of judgement or confirm correct decisions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No second thoughts on Kouyate
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham intend to go ahead with the appeal against Cheik Kouyate's red card
despite Slave Bilic being fed up with FA appeals.
ClaretandHugh was the first to beak the news that an appeal was on the way
against Mark Clattenbourg's game-changing decision against Palace.
And this morning David gold -currently holding an open day for fans at his
home - made it clear the club would not be changing its mind on the issue.
Bilic had declared: ""Will we appeal? I am fed up with appealing," said
Bilic.
However, Gold - and it is understood David Sullivan - are determined to get
what they consider is justive and Gold said: "No second thoughts - we will
be pressing ahead with the appeal.
"It can all become very tiring but this is a crucial last stage of the
season and we have to do all we can to keep our best players on the pitch."
Kouyate had looked tired as he made the challenge and it maybe that the trek
from international duty with Senegal found him out in the later stages of
the game.
However, there is now little question after Clattenburg's decision met with
a chorus of universal disapproval from all sides, the appeal will go ahead.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers respond to Watford rumour
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Re-cyled reports in The Sun that the Hammers are interested in Watford's
Odion Ighalo is "on West Ham's list for a big-name striker" are entirely
wrong.
The Hammers were interested earlier in the season and even made an inquiry
which is presumably where this report has been resurrected from.
But ClaretandHugh, when inquiring as to whether he remained a target was
told a week ago t the club had no interest at all.
We were told: "He looked the type of player we wanted when scoring 13 in the
first half of the season but he has managed only three since the turn of the
year and has fallen out of our thoughts as a result.
It's well known the Hammers are ready to spend big on a striker this summer
but that won't be on Nigerian Ighalo .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell had the best view inside the Boleyn Ground when Dimitri
Payet lined up his free-kick against Crystal Palace on Saturday and has no
doubts he is the best in the world. Cresswell was standing next to the
French star when the Hammers were awarded a free-kick just before half-time.
After scoring a spectacular set-piece just a few days earlier for France,
Payet followed that up with another wonder strike as he curled the ball into
the opposite corner and the roof of the net. Cresswell feels Payet is the
best free-kick specialist in the world at the moment and hopes he can
continue his amazing form and help the Hammers push for a European spot come
the end of the season. Cresswell said: "I will put Dimi up there as the best
free-kick taker in the world at the moment. I was standing right behind him
and the ball looked destined for the top corner.
"Nobes came over to him and gave him a little heads-up, but he has put it in
the top corner once again and hopefully he can keep doing that for us. "I
will gladly sit behind him and keep watching him strike balls like that. "I
am not sure he will want to watch his first free-kick back but he has now
scored five or six in the top corner and as everyone saw in world football
the other day, he scored another one for France which was a ridiculous one
and he has now put one in the opposite corner. "As a keeper you can only
applaud someone like that and long may it continue if he can keep scoring
goals like that."
Cresswell was disappointed to only come away with a point against Palace and
felt the outcome would have been a lot different had Cheikhou Kouyate not
received a red card in the second half following his challenge on Dwight
Gayle. Cresswell added: "It is disappointing in the end considering the
circumstances. I think we were excellent in the first half and then during
the second half the sending off has changed the whole game. "If that had not
happened I think we would have gone on to win the game. "It is one of those
things which has happened and we have got to get it out of our system and go
again. I have seen the replay on the television and there is no malice in
it and he has not gone over the top of the ball. "He slid in and kicked the
ball. It might be a foul but it is not a yellow card and certainly not a red
card."
The point leaves the Hammers in fifth position and just three points behind
Manchester City in fourth place. With another London derby against Arsenal
next weekend at the Boleyn Ground, Cresswell says the race for a European
spot is still wide open as the Club prepare for the final seven league games
of the season. "We have still got it all to play for. It is another point on
the board and considering the circumstances we are disappointed with it, but
there is nothing we can do and the whole game changed from that. "We have
now got another big London derby against Arsenal next weekend and we need to
get ready for that. We will be 100 per cent at it and it is one we are
looking forward to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dev Squad ready for Play-off push
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Development Squad host Stoke City in their final home
league game of the season on Monday 4 April, knowing a win will strengthen
their play-off chances. Currently fifth, just three points off tomorrow's
opponents Stoke, the Hammers are looking to fend off the chasing pack which
includes Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, all of
whom have games in hand. Earlier in the season, the Potters came from a goal
down to win 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in September thanks to late
goals from Dominic Telford and Yusuf Oban. Now, Terry Westley's men will be
looking to avenge that defeat and go in to tomorrow's encounter full of
confidence having progressed to the Barclays U21 Premier League Cup final
with Hull City, having beaten Liverpool in the semis.
Kick off at Rush Green Stadium is 7pm, admission is FREE for all fans.
Following Monday's encounter, the young Hammers travel to title-challenging
Aston Villa on Monday 11 April in their final game of the 2015/16 league
season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stat's a Fact - Payet's free kick wizardry
WHUFC.com
You would have to go a long way to find a more in-form striker of free kicks
than Dimitri Payet at the moment. His wonderful goal against Crystal Palace
was his third successful conversion from a dead ball situation in his last
four games for club and country. The 20-yard strike left goalkeeper Wayne
Hennessey bamboozled and took his tally of free-kick goals to five for the
season. All five have come since the turn of the year, with Bournemouth's
Artur Boruc, Blackburn's Jason Steele, Manchester United's David de Gea,
Russia's Yuri Lodygin and now Hennessey having no answer to the Frenchman's
wizardry. His goals against the Red Devils and Russia were textbook examples
of lifting the ball over the wall and giving a goalkeeper no chance by
dipping it into the net with too much ground the make up. This time, against
Palace and with the ball so close to goal, he opted to change it up and whip
the shot over onto the goalkeeper's side, with the power, swerve and dip
leaving the Wales international with no chance. Such is Payet's prowess from
free kicks now, the award of one within shooting range now elicits such
anticipation from Hammers fans. Payet is certainly living up to that
expectation - and then some. Saturday's goal was perhaps the pick of the
lot. Only one player in the Barclays Premier League has scored more direct
free-kicks that Payet this term - Chelsea's Willian - but given the No27's
red hot form, it would be no surprise if he were to overhaul him by the
season's end.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aaron Cresswell hails West Ham's Dimitri Payet as one of the world's best
free-kick taker
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 03/04/16 4:28pm
SSN
Aaron Cresswell has labelled West Ham team-mate Dimitri Payet as the best
set-piece taker in the world. On Saturday, Payet scored a sensational
20-yard free-kick to put West Ham in front against Crystal Palace, but his
strike was not enough to claim victory with the visitors pegging the Hammers
back to claim a 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground. The 29-year-old's growing
reputation as a dead-ball specialist was enhanced earlier this week when he
struck a stunning 30-yard free-kick for France in their 4-2 international
friendly victory over Russia. Those strikes, coupled with Payet's other
free-kick goals in the recent FA Cup matches against Blackburn Rovers and
Manchester United, has left Cresswell in no doubt about the midfielder's
ability from dead-ball situations. "I will put Dimi up there as the best
free-kick taker in the world at the moment. I was standing right behind him
and the ball looked destined for the top corner," the left-back told the
club's official website. "Nobes [Mark Noble] came over to him and gave him
a little heads-up, but he has put it in the top corner once again and
hopefully he can keep doing that for us. I will gladly sit behind him and
keep watching him strike balls like that. I am not sure he will want to
watch his first free-kick back but he has now scored five or six in the top
corner and as everyone saw in world football the other day, he scored
another one for France which was a ridiculous one and he has now put one in
the opposite corner. "As a keeper you can only applaud someone like that
and long may it continue if he can keep scoring goals like that."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to appeal against Cheikhou Kouyate red card
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 03/04/16 10:09am
SSN
West Ham will appeal the red card picked up by midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate
during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Kouyate was shown a straight
red card by referee Mark Clattenburg in the 67th minute, despite appearing
to win the ball first in a challenge with Palace forward Dwight Gayle. West
Ham, who were leading 2-1 at the time of Kouyate's dismissal, failed to hold
on to their one goal advantage with Gayle netting an equaliser in the 75th
minute to earn Palace a point.
Slaven Bilic has blasted referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to send off
Cheikhou Kouyate...
"Disappointing decision by Mark Clattenburg to red card Kouyate which we
will be appealing. We must give referees more TV replay help," a tweet from
West Ham co-chairman David Gold read. Kouyate will serve a three-match ban
if the Football Association decide to uphold Clattenburg's decision and miss
the upcoming matches against Arsenal and Leicester as well as the FA Cup
quarter-final replay with Manchester United.
In February, West Ham appealed successfully against the red card Kouyate
received during the 5-1 FA Cup fifth-round win over Blackburn Rovers.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CLATTENBURG: IT'S ALL ABOUT ME!
By Iain Dale 2 Apr 2016 at 20:36 145 comments
WTID
Guest Post by Rugby Irons
They say fine margins make all the difference. Today we saw just how true
that was. Mark Clattenburg with a rush of blood may have changed our season.
The best refs take their time to get the big decisions right but he couldn't
get his card out quick enough for Kouyate's dismissal.
It's a lazy tackle from a committed player. But it was an honest tackle. I
referee so know only too well how hard it is. I also know the Laws, which at
Premier level are judged differently and inconsistently. How Clattenberg has
deemed it a straight red is very disappointing if not surprising for him. He
is supposed to be a top referee so you would expect him to get the big ones
right.
His position was first rate ,just a couple of yards away, the game was was
an hour old ,so knew the players and pace of the game, he had a perfect
view, he could it was there to be won by both players, and if Kouyate got it
wrong, then it's a foul. Fair enough. But when you watch it again
Clattenburg is straight in - red card out, name in all the papers, wrong
decision and changed the game.
In truth, it's not a first time. Even in a small elite group, Clattenburg
makes the same rash decisions that change and spoil games. Can't he learn?
You will also note, that a lot of his decisions favour the bigger clubs. The
best referees take time to get the big decisions right. Had he done so we
would have had two more points.
But that of course is just the start of it. Koyoute is now missing for three
games - Arsenal, Man U and Leicester. Fancy that, the three biggest games of
the season to come, all in one week, and because of Clattenburg's poor
refereeing, we are now missing our best player.
If I were Mulder, I might start to think that sending off our most
influential player, just as we play the big boys might just be seen as a
conspiracy. But as I say, he has a history of favouritism to the big boys,
because they promote his career. So,unless we win an appeal, and let's face
it the FA are just as likely to protect United and Citeh's interests, that
one decision is really going to hurt us.
It's also worth noting that Kouyate was having a good game and we were very
likely to go on and win the game. And both Managers have come out and
disagreed with the decision, so credit to Pards for that.
So there you are, one rash decision, not a stray pass, an own goal, headbutt
or bite,but a well placed international referee, bigging himself up - again
- and getting it wrong. I'll be glad when we are a big club and the
decisions go our way!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dimi's amazing free kick/goals conversion rate
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Exclusive
Regular readers will know us over here at ClaretandHugh aren't big on stats
- news is more our scene!
But because we are about to reveal the truth on Dimitri Payet's amazing free
kicks we are happy to make an exception.
They show a pretty extraordinary conversion rate from free kicks to goals
since he became the Irons regular free kick taker.
The figures we are quoting here also include the incredible 37 yard goal he
scored on his return to the French international team last week.
Dimi started taking free kicks on January 12 in the goal-less draw at home
against Stoke City and since then he has struck 10 of them for five goals -
an extraordinary 50 per cent conversion rate.
He has also hit the post and forced a save of the season qualifier out of
Manchester City and England keeper Joe Hart so with just a touch more luck
he would have had a 70 per cent conversion rate.
The stats are amazing by anyone's standards but there are literally no words
to describe the quality of his strikes.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold: This has to stop
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Fed-up David Gold has had enough of incorrect refereeing decisions and has
called for technology to be introduced NOW.
Taking again about the Mark Clattenburg decision to send off Cheik Kouyate
he told ClaretandHugh: "Nobody wants to see this and it is happening to us
week after week.
"I have called in the past for a third ref in the box and it has to happen -
surely. At the moment the referees have two assistants and in the majority
of cases they all seem to be coming to the same conclusion on incidents
which I frankly don't understand.
"Yesterday everybody we spoke to after the game agreed Cheik should not have
been send off - surely we can't all be wrong because several of them were
Palace people.
"Cricket has a third umpire and there are only odd occasions when the
decision remains unclear after several viewings and if that's the case in
football then we go with the referee. Simple.
"At the moment we are taking about decisions within the game rather than the
game itself. Referees must have help - the shouldn't be made to have to live
with decisions that may be wrong f we have the means of proving the issue
one way or the other. We're all human."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Football's stuck in dark ages - let's get a grip
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H
There's an old saying that goes: "Once is an accident, twice maybe
coincidence but after that you have more sinister thoughts!"
The bundling of Darren Randolph into the Manchester United net which led to
an FA Cup equaliser and a replay may therefore have been an accident, but
the penalty that never was against Chelsea and now the sending off of Cheik
Kouyate yesterday ( not to mention the rescinded one against Blackburn )
really does make you think.
David Gold has made his case for using technology and it's hard not to agree
that compared with other sports , the biggest and best game on the planet is
living in the dark ages.
Ok, as an Irons fans I've had enough, but surely every other sensible fan
believes the time has arrived for a radical technological shake up haven't
they?
Cricket - where a number of captain appeals are allowed against dodgepot
decision as well as regularly employing TV on a vriety of issues - - rugby
and the NFL have all moved into the 21st century so why has football left
itself stuck in the dark ages.
There are those who claim that the after match arguments are the beauty of
the game. I'm not among them. Cricket has benefited from the third umpire
and I believe the same would be true of football.
Quite apart from anything else there are millions of pounds at stake every
season on positional and European qualifying positioning.
Clubs may indeed be relegated as a result of the sort of decision we saw by
Mark Clattenburg yesterday. The time is here and the time is NOW. We need
technology to settle these errors of judgement or confirm correct decisions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No second thoughts on Kouyate
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham intend to go ahead with the appeal against Cheik Kouyate's red card
despite Slave Bilic being fed up with FA appeals.
ClaretandHugh was the first to beak the news that an appeal was on the way
against Mark Clattenbourg's game-changing decision against Palace.
And this morning David gold -currently holding an open day for fans at his
home - made it clear the club would not be changing its mind on the issue.
Bilic had declared: ""Will we appeal? I am fed up with appealing," said
Bilic.
However, Gold - and it is understood David Sullivan - are determined to get
what they consider is justive and Gold said: "No second thoughts - we will
be pressing ahead with the appeal.
"It can all become very tiring but this is a crucial last stage of the
season and we have to do all we can to keep our best players on the pitch."
Kouyate had looked tired as he made the challenge and it maybe that the trek
from international duty with Senegal found him out in the later stages of
the game.
However, there is now little question after Clattenburg's decision met with
a chorus of universal disapproval from all sides, the appeal will go ahead.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers respond to Watford rumour
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 3, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Re-cyled reports in The Sun that the Hammers are interested in Watford's
Odion Ighalo is "on West Ham's list for a big-name striker" are entirely
wrong.
The Hammers were interested earlier in the season and even made an inquiry
which is presumably where this report has been resurrected from.
But ClaretandHugh, when inquiring as to whether he remained a target was
told a week ago t the club had no interest at all.
We were told: "He looked the type of player we wanted when scoring 13 in the
first half of the season but he has managed only three since the turn of the
year and has fallen out of our thoughts as a result.
It's well known the Hammers are ready to spend big on a striker this summer
but that won't be on Nigerian Ighalo .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 3
Daily WHUFC News - 3rd April 2016
West Ham United 2-2 Crystal Palace
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet scored another wonder goal but West Ham were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace after being reduced to ten men late in the game when Cheikhou Kouyate was shown a controversial red card. After Damien Delaney had headed Palace into the lead early in the game, the Hammers hit back straight away when Manuel Lanzini brought the home side level. Payet then scored another superb free-kick just before half-time and the home side were set for another three points as they look to keep their Champions League hopes alive. But the major turning point came on 67 minutes when Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on substitute Dwight Gayle, much to the anger of the Slaven Bilic and the West Ham supporters. Palace made the extra man count as Gayle converted from close-range following a mistake by Angelo Ogbonna.
The result keeps the Hammers in fifth position but the European dream is still very much alive as the Club prepare for two big games against Arsenal next Saturday and then Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter final replay. Palace opened the scoring on 15 minutes after Bakary Sako's curling free-kick was palmed away by Adrian but straight into the path of Delaney who headed the ball into the corner from the tightest of angles. But the home side hit back straight away and grabbed an equaliser on 18 minutes when Michail Antonio's cross from the right fell to Diafra Sakho who headed the ball back into the path of Lanzini and he made it two goals in two games with another clinical finish into the bottom corner. The goal ignited the home side and they could have doubled their lead when Sakho's first time shot was well saved by Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey on 21 minutes.
Payet also came close on 23 minutes when he weaved his way to the edge of the box before striking a low shot which produced a fine save from Hennessey. The home side could have been made to pay for those missed opportunities when Sako played in a superb cross from the left hand side on 33 minutes that picked out Jason Puncheon who volleyed the ball inches wide of the goal. In an open contest the Hammers had another great chance on 39 minutes when Payet's corner to the far post picked out Sakho who rose the highest inside the box but he directed his header just past the post. But the best moment of the game came on 40 minutes when that man Payet got on the scoresheet once again after he was brought down on the edge of the box. After curling a previous effort just over the bar the crowd anticipated something special was about to happen and they were proved right once again. After scoring another spectacular set-piece for France during the week, the French magician followed that up with another outstanding effort. Despite Palace having seven men in the wall, Payet showed his quality by striking the ball into the opposite corner and the ball flew in off the bar and post. It was another unstoppable effort from the Hammers superstar who took his tally to 12 goals this season.
The Hammers looked to make it three and Lanzini came close on 56 minutes when he broke free into the Palace half and fired a shot which Hennessey saved diving down to his right hand side. The home side were let off the hook on 65 minutes after Kouyate played a poor backpass which forced Adrian to race out of his goal and clear the ball away. The rebound fell to Sako who saw his shot superbly cleared off the line by Aaron Cresswell. The turning point in the game then followed on 67 minutes when Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Gayle. Palace were determined to make the extra man pay and could have drawn level on 72 minutes when Yannick Bolasie's cross from the right hand side picked out Sako who fired a volley wide of the post. The south London side made it 2-2 on 75 minutes when Ogbonna failed to deal with a cross from Pape Souare and the ball fell perfectly for substitute Gayle who slotted the ball past Adrian into the corner of the net.
The Hammers were forced to settle for a point but maintained their superb home record and are still only three points behind Manchester City as the club look to keep alive their hopes of securing a top four finish.
West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble (Obiang 80), Emenike (Carroll 60), Lanzini, Payet, Sakho (Valencia 68)
Subs not used: Randolph, Song, Tomkins, Moses
Bookings: Noble, Reid
Red Card: Kouyate
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Jedinak, Ledley (Campbell 70), Zaha (Gayle 46), Bolasie, Puncheon, Sako
Subs not used: Mariappa, McCarthy, Lee, Mutch, Kelly
Bookings: Ward, Sako
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 34,857
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'We're disappointed we haven't won'
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell and Dimitri Payet were left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon for West Ham United after Dwight Gayle's second half equaliser cost them the chance to claim maximum points against Crystal Palace. The Hammers seemed on course for another vital victory in their push for Europe when Manuel Lanzini and Payet notched to overturn Damien Delaney's 15th minute header. But Cheikhou Kouyate's dismissal three-quarters of the way through the contest opened the door again for Palace, with Gayle's leveller ensuring the points would be shared. The Hammers have now not lost in 13 home league games, but for left-back Cresswell, the outcome could have been better. He said: "It's frustrating [to drop points] because in the first half I thought we were excellent and fully deserved to lead. "In the second half the sending off changed the game and I think if that doesn't happen we win the game comfortably. "Over the last four league games we've picked up three wins and a draw and it would have been nice to carry that form on. "Unfortunately for us it wasn't to be and we're a bit disappointed that we haven't taken all three points."
For man of the moment Payet, his fantastic free-kick was his third goal in dead ball situations from his last four games and he just wants that rich vein of form to continue. He explained: "I'm very confident on free-kicks and it's good for me and good for the team [that another has gone in against Palace]. "It was difficult for us today, because Crystal Palace is a good team and we've got one point."
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Bilic 'proud' after Palace draw
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic maintained his dignity after another controversial refereeing decision went against his West Ham United side in Saturday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Crystal Palace. The Hammers had come from behind and were leading through goals from Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet - who netted another fantastic free-kick - when Cheikhou Kouyate lost control of the ball and challenged Dwight Gayle. Referee Mark Clattenburg showed Kouyate the red card, to the clear frustration of the No8 and his teammates, and manager Bilic thought the official had got it wrong. "I'm proud of the players," he told West Ham TV. "Every time we play good football, especially when it comes together with passion and energy, I'm happy. "Make no mistake, we are at a stage where we are trying to win every game and we are not happy because, if you'd asked if we'd take a point before the game, no way. But considering the circumstances of the game, this is a good point for us. "The game had two parts - before the red card and after the red card - although after the red card we didn't sink or sit back. It wasn't the Alamo, but of course they gained more possession and were finding good situations more easily, but we also had moments in the game and we wanted to score the winning goal. It was a very exciting game. "We knew they were going to be a big threat from set pieces, which they were and they scored a goal. Then we came back so good, so quick and in style and it wasn't just about the result, but the way we played, that gave us confidence. "We were so close to scoring a third goal that would have put us in a more comfortable situation, then the same pattern continued in the second half and then that thing happened. "It's kind of frustrating that it's happened again. For me it's very simple to judge that situation. It's nowhere near a red card and I think that anyone who had anything in any part of his life to do with football should say the same thing - there was no red card, no yellow card and it was in England not even a foul. "Let's say it's a foul and that's it, and it had a big impact on the game."
While clearly frustrated, the manager also expressed great pride in the way his team played superb football before going a man down, and created plenty of chances after being reduced to ten men in such circumstances. The highlight came four minutes before half-time when Dimitri Payet was fouled 25 yards from goal before stepping up and dipping an inch-perfect free-kick into the far top corner - rather than over the seven-man wall and into the top left-hand corner. "It was a great goal," Bilic agreed. "The whole team were good and were dominating. We're simply a good side playing great football. "We were not happy when it was only 2-1 because we should have scored another one and put ourselves in an even better situation than we did."
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Hammers duo set for Lakeside signing
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that Diafra Sakho and Sam Byram will be taking part in a store signing event at Lakeside Thurrock on Tuesday 5 April.
New signing Byram, who originally hails from Thurrock before moving to Yorkshire, will be attending his first signing event since joining the Hammers in January. Meanwhile last season's top goalscorer and fan favourite Diafra Sakho will also be in attendance from 2.30pm*, signing merchandise brought in-store on the day and posing for photographs. This is the perfect chance to meet two of the newest Hammers' heroes, up close and personal so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to avoid disappointment.
*Please note end times are always subject to change and so fans are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
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West Ham United 2-2 Crystal Palace
By Michael Emons
BBC Sport
West Ham's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dented as they could only draw with Crystal Palace. The Eagles went in front when Damien Delaney headed into the net from close range after a mistake from Adrian. But the Hammers equalised three minutes later through Manuel Lanzini's low effort before Dimitri Payet's stunning 20-yard free-kick put the hosts ahead. West Ham's Cheikhou Kouyate was sent off for fouling Dwight Gayle, who equalised after Angelo Ogbonna's error.
Red card decision changes the game
West Ham have never played in the Champions League and are now three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. But Slaven Bilic and his side will be furious with the decision from referee Mark Clattenburg in the 67th minute. The Hammers were 2-1 ahead when Clattenburg dismissed Kouyate after he clumsily lunged at Gayle. Contact was made, but a straight red card seemed an extremely harsh decision. Speaking after the match, Gayle admitted he did not think Kouyate's challenge was "too bad", but it had a big impact on the match. Palace, who instantly brought on striker Fraizer Campbell for midfielder Joe Ledley after Kouyate's sending off, equalised eight minutes later when Gayle pounced as Ogbonna made a mess of an attempted clearance.
Another wonderful goal for Payet
It was an afternoon of great entertainment at Upton Park. Before Kouyate's sending off, West Ham had looked well-placed to claim the three points. Despite falling behind in the 15th minute, they were only in arrears for three minutes before Diafra Sakho headed down Michail Antonio's cross and Lanzini drilled his low effort home. But the moment of the match, once again, came from the boot of midfielder Payet, whose curling, dipping 20-yard free-kick put the Hammers ahead as half-time approached. It was his 12th goal of the season and he has also been directly involved in 23 goals in all competitions, 13 more than any other West Ham player. If the Hammers do miss out on Champions League qualification then they will face a battle to keep hold of the France midfielder, who is surely going to be among the contenders for the Premier League's Player of the Year award.
Although they earned a good point, Crystal Palace may well see this as a missed opportunity. They were gifted a fortunate opener when Adrian parried Bakary Sako's free-kick, even though the ball was heading out, into Delaney's path, who headed in from close range. Even when they were pegged back, the Eagles should have retaken the lead when Jason Puncheon found himself free six yards out. But he did not know whether to head or volley the ball and did neither, with the ball bouncing off his knee and over the bar. Alan Pardew's side have now not won in 14 Premier League games, but will be encouraged by the number of chances they created. The Eagles, who have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, are 16th, seven points above Sunderland in 18th. However, with a home game against Norwich and a trip to struggling Newcastle among their remaining fixtures, Pardew will be confident his side will stay in the top flight.
The stats you need to know
Crystal Palace have scored the most goals by defenders in the Premier League this season (nine).
Only Southampton (six) have been shown more red cards than West Ham United (five) in the league this season.
Dwight Gayle ended a run of 20 Premier League games without a goal, scoring for the first time since January 2015.
Crystal Palace remain the only team in the top four tiers who are yet to win a game in 2016 (drawn two, lost nine).
Man of the match - Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
Dimitri Payet
West Ham's Dimitri Payet scored one of his three shots at goal and also made four passes that set up chances
What they said
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said: "I want to commend the players it was a good game of football, open, and we deserved to win. "When it was 11 v 11 the scoreline was correct. They caused us a threat, but only at set pieces, then we turned it around." On the decision to send off Kouyate, Bilic added: "I would love to say a lot of things. I asked the legal people what can I say and what I can't. It is never a red card and it's the fourth game in a row we are getting decisions that are costing us. "We're fighting to finish high. If the opponent is better than you, ok, but it is frustrating. We aren't going to sink or moan - we will come back and continue to play good football."
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew admitted that he did not agree with Mark Clattenburg's decision to send off Kouyate. "I thought the red card was harsh and I would've been disappointed to have that happen to one of my players," said Pardew. "When you are 2-1 down at West Ham, in the form they are in, you take a 2-2. I'm delighted for the team and they showed their heart is still very much in it. We've got ourselves into a bit of trouble but this is a great result. "Every point in the Premier League is gold-dust, especially to get something at West Ham. It was a great performance and a great result. West Ham had to defend for their lives at the end."
What next?
Next weekend is a vital one for West Ham and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as they entertain an Arsenal side third in the table. That London derby is the early kick-off on Saturday, 9 April, the same day as Crystal Palace's 3pm home game against Norwich City, another team fighting to stay in the Premier League.
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West Ham Utd 2-2 Crystal Palace
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd April 2016
By: Staff Writer
Referee Mark Clattenburg was booed off today after his decision to dismiss Cheikhou Kouyate allowed Palace to grab a share of the spoils at the Boleyn this afternoon.
West Ham, leading 2-1 at the time courtesy of goals from Manuel Lanzini and another wonderful free kick from Dimitri Payet saw the Senegal international dismissed for a second time in recent weeks for dangerous play.
However like the previous incident (at Blackburn in the FA Cup), it is expected that Kouyate will have the decision overturned upon appeal - for Clattenburg quite simply called it wrong
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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic slams Cheikhou Kouyate red card
By Rory O'Callaghan
Last Updated: 02/04/16 9:10pm
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has blasted referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to send off Cheikhou Kouyate during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Dwight Gayle midway through the second half of the match. The 26 year-old Senegal international appeared to take the ball cleanly and, although the midfielder's foot was high, even opposition manager Alan Pardew admitted that the decision looked "harsh".
West Ham, who were leading 2-1 at the time, were made to pay just eight minutes later when Gayle struck home a fierce equaliser. First-half goals from Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet had put the hosts in control after Damien Delaney's opener. And Bilic claimed that Kouyate's tackle might not have even warranted a free-kick. "For me it's very simple to judge that situation," the Hammers boss told West Ham TV. "It's nowhere near a red card and I think that anyone who had anything in any part of his life to do with football should say the same thing - there was no red card, no yellow card and it was in England not even a foul. "Let's say it's a foul and that's it, and it had a big impact on the game."
West Ham are now three points behind Manchester City in the race for Champions League places but, despite dropping two points at home, Bilic says he is proud of his players' reaction to going down to 10 men. "Make no mistake, we are at a stage where we are trying to win every game and we are not happy because, if you'd asked if we'd take a point before the game, no way," he said. "But considering the circumstances of the game, this is a good point for us. "The game had two parts - before the red card and after the red card - although after the red card we didn't sink or sit back. It wasn't the Alamo, but of course they gained more possession and were finding good situations more easily, but we also had moments in the game and we wanted to score the winning goal. It was a very exciting game."
Bilic was also impressed with the performance of France international Payet, who continued his fine goal scoring form with a superb 25-yard free-kick towards the end of the first half. "It was a great goal," Bilic agreed. "The whole team were good and were dominating. We're simply a good side playing great football. "We were not happy when it was only 2-1 because we should have scored another one and put ourselves in an even better situation than we did."
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West Ham 2-2 Crystal Palace: Ten-man Hammers held at home
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 02/04/16 6:40pm
SSN
A controversial red card for Cheikhou Kouyate proved costly for West Ham as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace at Upton Park. The Hammers led 2-1 at the break thanks to Dimitri Payet's stunning free-kick at the end of the half, after Manuel Lanzini had cancelled out Damien Delaney's opening goal. But Palace grew into the game in the second half and were aided when Kouyate was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Dwight Gayle. That proved decisive as Gayle - who was introduced as a substitute at half-time - scored the equaliser minutes later to earn a valuable point for Palace. The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute when Bakary Sako's in-swinging free-kick bounced awkwardly in front of Adrian and he palmed the ball straight to Delaney, who headed it into the net. That lead lasted less than three minutes however as West Ham hit straight back. Palace failed to clear a cross from the right and the ball fell to Lanzini, who took a touch before confidently rifling the ball into the bottom corner. Palace had a glorious chance to restore their lead just after the half-hour mark when Angelo Ogbonna misjudged Pape Souare's cross from the left but it caught Jason Puncheon by surprise and he could only divert the ball over the bar with his thigh. Diafra Sakho came close to giving the Hammers the lead soon after when he outjumped Mile Jedinak at the back post before heading a Payet corner inches wide.
After his heroics for France against Russia in midweek, Payet was largely quiet for much of the opening half but that ended in the 44th minute when he was hacked down by Joel Ward on the edge of the box.
The Frenchman got up to curl an absolutely stunning free-kick right into the top far corner, leaving Wayne Hennessey rooted to the spot.
Kouyate almost cost West Ham a goal in the 66th minute when he under hit a back pass to Adrian and the ball fell to Joe Ledley who teed up Bakary Sako to shoot from the edge of the box but Richard Cresswell did well to get back and clear off the line. Things got worse for Sako two minutes later when he miscontrolled a pass in midfield before lunging in on Gayle as he knicked the ball away. Ironically, it was a role reversal from this fixture earlier in the season when Gayle was sent off for a similar offence on Kouyate, with Mark Clattenburg the referee on both occasions.
That red card gave Palace a boost and they almost levelled immediately when Bolasie did brilliantly to beat Cresswell down the right before sending in a perfect cross to the back post but an unmarked Sako badly miscued his attempted left-foot volley. The reprieve was short-lived for West Ham however as Palace got their equaliser minutes later.
Souare provided a consistent attacking threat from left-back throughout the game and he was the source of the goal as he sent in a dangerous cross from the left which Winston Reid missed and Ogbonna only managed to clear as far as Gayle, who calmly passed the ball into the bottom right corner. Both sides pressed for a winner in the closing stages but neither could engineer one and instead settle for a result that doesn't greatly help either team. West Ham lose valuable ground in the race for the top four while Palace remain without a win in the league since December and sit just seven points above the relegation zone.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (5), Antonio (7), Reid (6), Ogbonna (5), Cresswell (7), Kouyate (5), Noble (6), Emenike (5), Lanzini (7), Payet (7), Sakho (7)
Subs: Carroll (7), Valencia (6), Obiang (6)
Crystal Palace: Hennessey (6), Ward (5), Dann (7), Delaney (7), Souare (7), Jedinak (5), Ledley (6), Zaha (5), Bolasie (7), Puncheon (5), Sako (6)
Subs: Gayle (7), Campbell (5)
Man of the match: Yannick Bolasie
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West Ham 2-2 Crystal Palace: Eagles salvage point against ten-man Hammers - 5 things we learned
16:56, 2 APR 2016 UPDATED 17:19, 2 APR 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Dimitri Payet scored another world-class free-kick, but Alan Pardew's men earned a draw thanks to Dwight Gayle's strike
The Mirror
Referee Mark Clattenburg blew a huge hole in West Ham's Champions League ambitions with his harsh dismissal of Cheikou Kouyate. The trigger-happy official produced a straight red on 67 minutes after the midfielder over-stretched to reach a ball that he had lost and caught substitute Dwight Gayle. Minutes later Gayle struck from inside the West Ham box to earn his Palace side a much-needed point. The goal cancelled out a brilliant free-kick, four minutes before the break, from Dimitri Payet to put West Ham ahead. The effort had been his third, sensational dead-ball strike in five matches and came after Palace boss Alan Pardew has warned his players not to give away free-kicks around the box for the Frenchman to strike. Payet curled a magnificent ball over a seven-man wall and into the top corner behind keeper Wayne Henessey. Palace, still without a win since December 19, had gone ahead on 20 minutes when Damien Delaney headed in from Bakary Sako's free-kick. Hammers keeper Adrian had fumbled the ball into his path at the far post. But Manuel Lanzini struck from just outside the six-yard box to draw level just two minutes later. It leaves West Ham three points behind Manchester City who pulled off an impressive away win at Bournemouth.
Here are five things we learned:
1. Payet is unstoppable
Concede a free-kick around the box for Payet and you may as well give West Ham a penalty. The French midfielder has now scored with three sensational dead balls from his last five games. Even West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady tweeted her excitement - like many of the club's fans - ahead of Payet's magnificent strike. A strong contender for Player of the Year.
2. Palace are still struggling to stop the rot
They have still only picked up just four points in four months. They last managed a Premier League win on December 19. They went ahead here before being pegged back. And they played the last 23 minutes or so against ten men. Their fragile confidence simply falls to pieces at the first sign of a setback and the clubs below them are closing.
3. Lanzini is also a player
In any other season it would be the diminutive Argentinian grabbing all the headlines. The brilliance of Payet, however, has left him in the shade. Yet Lanzini is going to become a fantastic player for West Ham with his close control and his clinical finishing which put drew them level.
4. Mark Clattenburg is as trigger-happy as ever
He was (too) quick to reach for his top pocket when it was clear that West Ham's Cheikou Kouyate was attempting to reach the ball and not to endanger the safety of his opponent.
5. Palace need a clearout
Alan Pardew may well have seen the best of this squad of players, many of whom are decent but not much more than that. If they survive, he will have to be ruthless.
Player ratings
West Ham
Adrian 5 - Fumbled to allow Delaney to score the first. Exposed for the second.
Cresswell 6 - Always an outlet and caused problems with his supply into the box.
Ogbonna 4 - Undone by the free-kick from which Palace scored and allowed Souare's cross to come off him for the second.
Reid 4 - All over the place for the equalising goal when he should have been braver.
Antonio 4 - Surged forward to supplement the attacks at times and at times forgot his defensive duties.
Noble 6 - Linked play with his usual confidence but looked shot late on. Replaced.
Kouyate 6 - Just too strong for the Palace midfield to overrun. Unfairly dismissed by referee Mark Clattenburg for foul on Gayle.
Payet 8 - A(nother) sensational free-kick to give West Ham the lead. Brilliant.
Lanzini 7 - Excellent, clinical finish to level the scores. Good link play too.
Emenike 6 - Good pace and power but tending to give away possession too often.
Sakho 6 - Linked play will but unable to get the supply (or into position) to strike.
Subs: Carroll 6, Obiang 6
Crystal Palace
Hennessey 5 - Bamboozled by Payet's free-kick which sneaked past him into the top corner.
Souare 5 - Decent supply into the box but all too often undone defensively.
Delaney 6 - Nice goal but the West Ham strike force always able to find space behind him.
Dann 5 - So many headaches from West Ham's interchanging front-line.
Ward 5 - Despite the instruction not to give away free kicks from Pardew, just just that - on Payet.
Ledley 5 - He and Jedinak were no match for Noble and Kouyate in the centre of the Hammers midfield.
Jedinak 4 - Starting to show his age and could be part of the summer overhaul at Selhurst Park.
Puncheon 5 - Missed a gilt-edged opportunity to put Palace ahead during the first half.
Bolasie 5 - Not enough goal threat to trouble the West Ham defence.
Zaha 4 - Not enough of anything during the first half. Replaced at the break.
Sako 6 - Provided the free-kick from which Delaney scored.
Subs: Gayle 7, Campbell 6
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Leroy: One of the worst reffing decisions I've seen
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
I probably have been but I really can't remember when I felt so angry about a refereeing decision as Mark Clattenburg's when sending off Cheik Kouyate this afternoon. It truly was utterly ridiculous - one of the worst I can recall seeing anywhere at any time - and I'm delighted the Irons immediately announced through ClaretandHugh that they will appeal it. If they don't win then there really is something seriously wrong with the game. Cheik stays on the pitch and there's only one result - Hammers win. Simple. We were done up. No two ways about it. That we should draw a game via their two scruffy goals against ours of the purest quality was shattering. The Payet free kick was - and I rarely use this word - INCREDIBLE. I don't know how he does it nd in all my time in this game I have never seen anything like it. Had the keeper stood on the post itself I don't think he would have stopped it. lt's magical - absolutely magical. We were the better team but that terrible decision changed everything and in the end we were denied a win which I think would have been entirely convincing. But hey, onwards and upwards. It's Arsenal next and there will be no fear whatsoever. We really are a seriously good team. Bring the Gooners on and COYI.
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Irons make Kouyate red card decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham will appeal the red card handed out to Chiek Kouyate against Palace this afternoon. And they expect exactly the same result as they had when the midfield dynamo received his marching orders unfairly against Blackburn Rovers. Chairman David Gold told ClaretandHugh a few minutes ago: "We have decided to appeal the card - the decision is plainly wrong and like everybody else I'm feeling very hard done by. "We had Darren Ramdolph bundled over the line for Manchester United's equaliser in the Cup match, a penalty awarded against us wrongly at Chelsea and now this.
"It's happening almost every week and again today we are on the end of a very wrong decision - we have to appeal and fully expect to get the right outcome. Everybody within West Ham and Palace admitted having seen it on replay that it was a yellow and the time has now come to introduce the technology to deal with these issue. I believe we are heading for a situation where our game could be brought into disrepute if we don't"
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Clattenburg leaves Irons in a mess
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Even with ten we should have won it but Cheik should never have been red carded! The game-changing Mark Clattenburg decision to send Kouyate off for a tired lunge on Gayle was poor - very poor and I'll be surprised if the club aren't already planning their appeal. Yes, he was late but look at how his foot is angled - downwards toward the ball - which he may even have got a touch to and it takes a very strange mind to reach for red instead of yellow.
That levelled the scores two minutes after Adrian - instead of pushing an awkwardly bouncing free kick around for a corner - managed to find Delaney who headed in. Lanzini levelled with fine close range effort after a cross by Antonio and Sakho knockdown and then came the game's highpoint on 40 minutes. After putting an effort over the bar earlier he curled an beautiful curling shot beyond a SEVEN MAN WALL and the helpless Hennessy.
To that point the Irons had put 223 passes together opposed to Palace's 84 and at times played some great stuff but it changed in the second half after a highly controversial sending off and the equaliser came from Gayle after a terrible mix up between Reid and Ogbonna. Despite a slow start we were the better team playing the better football but became very unsettled after the sening off and gave up possession to easily as Palace got a foothold. It was a real shame but we remain in fifth place and must hope that Everton can put it across United tomorrow afternoon. I hate excuses but with even Palace boss Alan Pardew admitting he didn't believe Kouyate should have been sent off, it's hard not to moan.
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Pardew reckons Kouyate red was harsh
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Alan Pardew admits he didn't agree with Mark Clattenburg's decision to red card Cheikhou Kouyate. The Palace boss sad: "I thought the red card was harsh and I would've been disappointed to have that happen to one of my players. "When you are 2-1 down at West Ham, in the form they are in, you take a 2-2. I'm delighted for the team and they showed their heart is still very much in it. We've got ourselves into a bit of trouble but this is a great result. "Every point in the Premier League is gold-dust, especially to get something at West Ham. It was a great performance and a great result. West Ham had to defend for their lives at the end."
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Irons laugh off reported Man City raid
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham have laughed off morning reports that they are set to sign Manchester Cuty 32 year old Yaya Toure.
A top Hammers source - in near disbelief at the suggestion - declared: "Exactly why would we give Chek Kouyate a big new deal if we intended doing that.
"Cheik has modelled his entire game on Toure and would love to see his future being as successful as Toure's."
Indeed Kouyate - who is similar in every way to the former Barcelona star told the official website last year: "Yaya is a role model of mine, an idol, I dreamed of being like him when I was younger. He has played for top clubs and given great performances. For three, four years, he was the best African player."
Regardless of that, The Express reported that the Hammers are in talks with the agent of Manchester City star Yaya Toure with regards to a shock move over the summer, swapping Eastlands for East London.
However, our source said: "We talk to many agents some usually representing more than one player!!"
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet scored another wonder goal but West Ham were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace after being reduced to ten men late in the game when Cheikhou Kouyate was shown a controversial red card. After Damien Delaney had headed Palace into the lead early in the game, the Hammers hit back straight away when Manuel Lanzini brought the home side level. Payet then scored another superb free-kick just before half-time and the home side were set for another three points as they look to keep their Champions League hopes alive. But the major turning point came on 67 minutes when Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on substitute Dwight Gayle, much to the anger of the Slaven Bilic and the West Ham supporters. Palace made the extra man count as Gayle converted from close-range following a mistake by Angelo Ogbonna.
The result keeps the Hammers in fifth position but the European dream is still very much alive as the Club prepare for two big games against Arsenal next Saturday and then Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter final replay. Palace opened the scoring on 15 minutes after Bakary Sako's curling free-kick was palmed away by Adrian but straight into the path of Delaney who headed the ball into the corner from the tightest of angles. But the home side hit back straight away and grabbed an equaliser on 18 minutes when Michail Antonio's cross from the right fell to Diafra Sakho who headed the ball back into the path of Lanzini and he made it two goals in two games with another clinical finish into the bottom corner. The goal ignited the home side and they could have doubled their lead when Sakho's first time shot was well saved by Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey on 21 minutes.
Payet also came close on 23 minutes when he weaved his way to the edge of the box before striking a low shot which produced a fine save from Hennessey. The home side could have been made to pay for those missed opportunities when Sako played in a superb cross from the left hand side on 33 minutes that picked out Jason Puncheon who volleyed the ball inches wide of the goal. In an open contest the Hammers had another great chance on 39 minutes when Payet's corner to the far post picked out Sakho who rose the highest inside the box but he directed his header just past the post. But the best moment of the game came on 40 minutes when that man Payet got on the scoresheet once again after he was brought down on the edge of the box. After curling a previous effort just over the bar the crowd anticipated something special was about to happen and they were proved right once again. After scoring another spectacular set-piece for France during the week, the French magician followed that up with another outstanding effort. Despite Palace having seven men in the wall, Payet showed his quality by striking the ball into the opposite corner and the ball flew in off the bar and post. It was another unstoppable effort from the Hammers superstar who took his tally to 12 goals this season.
The Hammers looked to make it three and Lanzini came close on 56 minutes when he broke free into the Palace half and fired a shot which Hennessey saved diving down to his right hand side. The home side were let off the hook on 65 minutes after Kouyate played a poor backpass which forced Adrian to race out of his goal and clear the ball away. The rebound fell to Sako who saw his shot superbly cleared off the line by Aaron Cresswell. The turning point in the game then followed on 67 minutes when Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Gayle. Palace were determined to make the extra man pay and could have drawn level on 72 minutes when Yannick Bolasie's cross from the right hand side picked out Sako who fired a volley wide of the post. The south London side made it 2-2 on 75 minutes when Ogbonna failed to deal with a cross from Pape Souare and the ball fell perfectly for substitute Gayle who slotted the ball past Adrian into the corner of the net.
The Hammers were forced to settle for a point but maintained their superb home record and are still only three points behind Manchester City as the club look to keep alive their hopes of securing a top four finish.
West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble (Obiang 80), Emenike (Carroll 60), Lanzini, Payet, Sakho (Valencia 68)
Subs not used: Randolph, Song, Tomkins, Moses
Bookings: Noble, Reid
Red Card: Kouyate
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Jedinak, Ledley (Campbell 70), Zaha (Gayle 46), Bolasie, Puncheon, Sako
Subs not used: Mariappa, McCarthy, Lee, Mutch, Kelly
Bookings: Ward, Sako
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 34,857
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'We're disappointed we haven't won'
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell and Dimitri Payet were left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon for West Ham United after Dwight Gayle's second half equaliser cost them the chance to claim maximum points against Crystal Palace. The Hammers seemed on course for another vital victory in their push for Europe when Manuel Lanzini and Payet notched to overturn Damien Delaney's 15th minute header. But Cheikhou Kouyate's dismissal three-quarters of the way through the contest opened the door again for Palace, with Gayle's leveller ensuring the points would be shared. The Hammers have now not lost in 13 home league games, but for left-back Cresswell, the outcome could have been better. He said: "It's frustrating [to drop points] because in the first half I thought we were excellent and fully deserved to lead. "In the second half the sending off changed the game and I think if that doesn't happen we win the game comfortably. "Over the last four league games we've picked up three wins and a draw and it would have been nice to carry that form on. "Unfortunately for us it wasn't to be and we're a bit disappointed that we haven't taken all three points."
For man of the moment Payet, his fantastic free-kick was his third goal in dead ball situations from his last four games and he just wants that rich vein of form to continue. He explained: "I'm very confident on free-kicks and it's good for me and good for the team [that another has gone in against Palace]. "It was difficult for us today, because Crystal Palace is a good team and we've got one point."
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Bilic 'proud' after Palace draw
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic maintained his dignity after another controversial refereeing decision went against his West Ham United side in Saturday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with Crystal Palace. The Hammers had come from behind and were leading through goals from Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet - who netted another fantastic free-kick - when Cheikhou Kouyate lost control of the ball and challenged Dwight Gayle. Referee Mark Clattenburg showed Kouyate the red card, to the clear frustration of the No8 and his teammates, and manager Bilic thought the official had got it wrong. "I'm proud of the players," he told West Ham TV. "Every time we play good football, especially when it comes together with passion and energy, I'm happy. "Make no mistake, we are at a stage where we are trying to win every game and we are not happy because, if you'd asked if we'd take a point before the game, no way. But considering the circumstances of the game, this is a good point for us. "The game had two parts - before the red card and after the red card - although after the red card we didn't sink or sit back. It wasn't the Alamo, but of course they gained more possession and were finding good situations more easily, but we also had moments in the game and we wanted to score the winning goal. It was a very exciting game. "We knew they were going to be a big threat from set pieces, which they were and they scored a goal. Then we came back so good, so quick and in style and it wasn't just about the result, but the way we played, that gave us confidence. "We were so close to scoring a third goal that would have put us in a more comfortable situation, then the same pattern continued in the second half and then that thing happened. "It's kind of frustrating that it's happened again. For me it's very simple to judge that situation. It's nowhere near a red card and I think that anyone who had anything in any part of his life to do with football should say the same thing - there was no red card, no yellow card and it was in England not even a foul. "Let's say it's a foul and that's it, and it had a big impact on the game."
While clearly frustrated, the manager also expressed great pride in the way his team played superb football before going a man down, and created plenty of chances after being reduced to ten men in such circumstances. The highlight came four minutes before half-time when Dimitri Payet was fouled 25 yards from goal before stepping up and dipping an inch-perfect free-kick into the far top corner - rather than over the seven-man wall and into the top left-hand corner. "It was a great goal," Bilic agreed. "The whole team were good and were dominating. We're simply a good side playing great football. "We were not happy when it was only 2-1 because we should have scored another one and put ourselves in an even better situation than we did."
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Hammers duo set for Lakeside signing
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that Diafra Sakho and Sam Byram will be taking part in a store signing event at Lakeside Thurrock on Tuesday 5 April.
New signing Byram, who originally hails from Thurrock before moving to Yorkshire, will be attending his first signing event since joining the Hammers in January. Meanwhile last season's top goalscorer and fan favourite Diafra Sakho will also be in attendance from 2.30pm*, signing merchandise brought in-store on the day and posing for photographs. This is the perfect chance to meet two of the newest Hammers' heroes, up close and personal so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to avoid disappointment.
*Please note end times are always subject to change and so fans are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
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West Ham United 2-2 Crystal Palace
By Michael Emons
BBC Sport
West Ham's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were dented as they could only draw with Crystal Palace. The Eagles went in front when Damien Delaney headed into the net from close range after a mistake from Adrian. But the Hammers equalised three minutes later through Manuel Lanzini's low effort before Dimitri Payet's stunning 20-yard free-kick put the hosts ahead. West Ham's Cheikhou Kouyate was sent off for fouling Dwight Gayle, who equalised after Angelo Ogbonna's error.
Red card decision changes the game
West Ham have never played in the Champions League and are now three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. But Slaven Bilic and his side will be furious with the decision from referee Mark Clattenburg in the 67th minute. The Hammers were 2-1 ahead when Clattenburg dismissed Kouyate after he clumsily lunged at Gayle. Contact was made, but a straight red card seemed an extremely harsh decision. Speaking after the match, Gayle admitted he did not think Kouyate's challenge was "too bad", but it had a big impact on the match. Palace, who instantly brought on striker Fraizer Campbell for midfielder Joe Ledley after Kouyate's sending off, equalised eight minutes later when Gayle pounced as Ogbonna made a mess of an attempted clearance.
Another wonderful goal for Payet
It was an afternoon of great entertainment at Upton Park. Before Kouyate's sending off, West Ham had looked well-placed to claim the three points. Despite falling behind in the 15th minute, they were only in arrears for three minutes before Diafra Sakho headed down Michail Antonio's cross and Lanzini drilled his low effort home. But the moment of the match, once again, came from the boot of midfielder Payet, whose curling, dipping 20-yard free-kick put the Hammers ahead as half-time approached. It was his 12th goal of the season and he has also been directly involved in 23 goals in all competitions, 13 more than any other West Ham player. If the Hammers do miss out on Champions League qualification then they will face a battle to keep hold of the France midfielder, who is surely going to be among the contenders for the Premier League's Player of the Year award.
Although they earned a good point, Crystal Palace may well see this as a missed opportunity. They were gifted a fortunate opener when Adrian parried Bakary Sako's free-kick, even though the ball was heading out, into Delaney's path, who headed in from close range. Even when they were pegged back, the Eagles should have retaken the lead when Jason Puncheon found himself free six yards out. But he did not know whether to head or volley the ball and did neither, with the ball bouncing off his knee and over the bar. Alan Pardew's side have now not won in 14 Premier League games, but will be encouraged by the number of chances they created. The Eagles, who have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, are 16th, seven points above Sunderland in 18th. However, with a home game against Norwich and a trip to struggling Newcastle among their remaining fixtures, Pardew will be confident his side will stay in the top flight.
The stats you need to know
Crystal Palace have scored the most goals by defenders in the Premier League this season (nine).
Only Southampton (six) have been shown more red cards than West Ham United (five) in the league this season.
Dwight Gayle ended a run of 20 Premier League games without a goal, scoring for the first time since January 2015.
Crystal Palace remain the only team in the top four tiers who are yet to win a game in 2016 (drawn two, lost nine).
Man of the match - Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
Dimitri Payet
West Ham's Dimitri Payet scored one of his three shots at goal and also made four passes that set up chances
What they said
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said: "I want to commend the players it was a good game of football, open, and we deserved to win. "When it was 11 v 11 the scoreline was correct. They caused us a threat, but only at set pieces, then we turned it around." On the decision to send off Kouyate, Bilic added: "I would love to say a lot of things. I asked the legal people what can I say and what I can't. It is never a red card and it's the fourth game in a row we are getting decisions that are costing us. "We're fighting to finish high. If the opponent is better than you, ok, but it is frustrating. We aren't going to sink or moan - we will come back and continue to play good football."
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew admitted that he did not agree with Mark Clattenburg's decision to send off Kouyate. "I thought the red card was harsh and I would've been disappointed to have that happen to one of my players," said Pardew. "When you are 2-1 down at West Ham, in the form they are in, you take a 2-2. I'm delighted for the team and they showed their heart is still very much in it. We've got ourselves into a bit of trouble but this is a great result. "Every point in the Premier League is gold-dust, especially to get something at West Ham. It was a great performance and a great result. West Ham had to defend for their lives at the end."
What next?
Next weekend is a vital one for West Ham and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as they entertain an Arsenal side third in the table. That London derby is the early kick-off on Saturday, 9 April, the same day as Crystal Palace's 3pm home game against Norwich City, another team fighting to stay in the Premier League.
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West Ham Utd 2-2 Crystal Palace
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 2nd April 2016
By: Staff Writer
Referee Mark Clattenburg was booed off today after his decision to dismiss Cheikhou Kouyate allowed Palace to grab a share of the spoils at the Boleyn this afternoon.
West Ham, leading 2-1 at the time courtesy of goals from Manuel Lanzini and another wonderful free kick from Dimitri Payet saw the Senegal international dismissed for a second time in recent weeks for dangerous play.
However like the previous incident (at Blackburn in the FA Cup), it is expected that Kouyate will have the decision overturned upon appeal - for Clattenburg quite simply called it wrong
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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic slams Cheikhou Kouyate red card
By Rory O'Callaghan
Last Updated: 02/04/16 9:10pm
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has blasted referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to send off Cheikhou Kouyate during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Dwight Gayle midway through the second half of the match. The 26 year-old Senegal international appeared to take the ball cleanly and, although the midfielder's foot was high, even opposition manager Alan Pardew admitted that the decision looked "harsh".
West Ham, who were leading 2-1 at the time, were made to pay just eight minutes later when Gayle struck home a fierce equaliser. First-half goals from Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet had put the hosts in control after Damien Delaney's opener. And Bilic claimed that Kouyate's tackle might not have even warranted a free-kick. "For me it's very simple to judge that situation," the Hammers boss told West Ham TV. "It's nowhere near a red card and I think that anyone who had anything in any part of his life to do with football should say the same thing - there was no red card, no yellow card and it was in England not even a foul. "Let's say it's a foul and that's it, and it had a big impact on the game."
West Ham are now three points behind Manchester City in the race for Champions League places but, despite dropping two points at home, Bilic says he is proud of his players' reaction to going down to 10 men. "Make no mistake, we are at a stage where we are trying to win every game and we are not happy because, if you'd asked if we'd take a point before the game, no way," he said. "But considering the circumstances of the game, this is a good point for us. "The game had two parts - before the red card and after the red card - although after the red card we didn't sink or sit back. It wasn't the Alamo, but of course they gained more possession and were finding good situations more easily, but we also had moments in the game and we wanted to score the winning goal. It was a very exciting game."
Bilic was also impressed with the performance of France international Payet, who continued his fine goal scoring form with a superb 25-yard free-kick towards the end of the first half. "It was a great goal," Bilic agreed. "The whole team were good and were dominating. We're simply a good side playing great football. "We were not happy when it was only 2-1 because we should have scored another one and put ourselves in an even better situation than we did."
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West Ham 2-2 Crystal Palace: Ten-man Hammers held at home
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 02/04/16 6:40pm
SSN
A controversial red card for Cheikhou Kouyate proved costly for West Ham as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace at Upton Park. The Hammers led 2-1 at the break thanks to Dimitri Payet's stunning free-kick at the end of the half, after Manuel Lanzini had cancelled out Damien Delaney's opening goal. But Palace grew into the game in the second half and were aided when Kouyate was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Dwight Gayle. That proved decisive as Gayle - who was introduced as a substitute at half-time - scored the equaliser minutes later to earn a valuable point for Palace. The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute when Bakary Sako's in-swinging free-kick bounced awkwardly in front of Adrian and he palmed the ball straight to Delaney, who headed it into the net. That lead lasted less than three minutes however as West Ham hit straight back. Palace failed to clear a cross from the right and the ball fell to Lanzini, who took a touch before confidently rifling the ball into the bottom corner. Palace had a glorious chance to restore their lead just after the half-hour mark when Angelo Ogbonna misjudged Pape Souare's cross from the left but it caught Jason Puncheon by surprise and he could only divert the ball over the bar with his thigh. Diafra Sakho came close to giving the Hammers the lead soon after when he outjumped Mile Jedinak at the back post before heading a Payet corner inches wide.
After his heroics for France against Russia in midweek, Payet was largely quiet for much of the opening half but that ended in the 44th minute when he was hacked down by Joel Ward on the edge of the box.
The Frenchman got up to curl an absolutely stunning free-kick right into the top far corner, leaving Wayne Hennessey rooted to the spot.
Kouyate almost cost West Ham a goal in the 66th minute when he under hit a back pass to Adrian and the ball fell to Joe Ledley who teed up Bakary Sako to shoot from the edge of the box but Richard Cresswell did well to get back and clear off the line. Things got worse for Sako two minutes later when he miscontrolled a pass in midfield before lunging in on Gayle as he knicked the ball away. Ironically, it was a role reversal from this fixture earlier in the season when Gayle was sent off for a similar offence on Kouyate, with Mark Clattenburg the referee on both occasions.
That red card gave Palace a boost and they almost levelled immediately when Bolasie did brilliantly to beat Cresswell down the right before sending in a perfect cross to the back post but an unmarked Sako badly miscued his attempted left-foot volley. The reprieve was short-lived for West Ham however as Palace got their equaliser minutes later.
Souare provided a consistent attacking threat from left-back throughout the game and he was the source of the goal as he sent in a dangerous cross from the left which Winston Reid missed and Ogbonna only managed to clear as far as Gayle, who calmly passed the ball into the bottom right corner. Both sides pressed for a winner in the closing stages but neither could engineer one and instead settle for a result that doesn't greatly help either team. West Ham lose valuable ground in the race for the top four while Palace remain without a win in the league since December and sit just seven points above the relegation zone.
Player ratings
West Ham: Adrian (5), Antonio (7), Reid (6), Ogbonna (5), Cresswell (7), Kouyate (5), Noble (6), Emenike (5), Lanzini (7), Payet (7), Sakho (7)
Subs: Carroll (7), Valencia (6), Obiang (6)
Crystal Palace: Hennessey (6), Ward (5), Dann (7), Delaney (7), Souare (7), Jedinak (5), Ledley (6), Zaha (5), Bolasie (7), Puncheon (5), Sako (6)
Subs: Gayle (7), Campbell (5)
Man of the match: Yannick Bolasie
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West Ham 2-2 Crystal Palace: Eagles salvage point against ten-man Hammers - 5 things we learned
16:56, 2 APR 2016 UPDATED 17:19, 2 APR 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
Dimitri Payet scored another world-class free-kick, but Alan Pardew's men earned a draw thanks to Dwight Gayle's strike
The Mirror
Referee Mark Clattenburg blew a huge hole in West Ham's Champions League ambitions with his harsh dismissal of Cheikou Kouyate. The trigger-happy official produced a straight red on 67 minutes after the midfielder over-stretched to reach a ball that he had lost and caught substitute Dwight Gayle. Minutes later Gayle struck from inside the West Ham box to earn his Palace side a much-needed point. The goal cancelled out a brilliant free-kick, four minutes before the break, from Dimitri Payet to put West Ham ahead. The effort had been his third, sensational dead-ball strike in five matches and came after Palace boss Alan Pardew has warned his players not to give away free-kicks around the box for the Frenchman to strike. Payet curled a magnificent ball over a seven-man wall and into the top corner behind keeper Wayne Henessey. Palace, still without a win since December 19, had gone ahead on 20 minutes when Damien Delaney headed in from Bakary Sako's free-kick. Hammers keeper Adrian had fumbled the ball into his path at the far post. But Manuel Lanzini struck from just outside the six-yard box to draw level just two minutes later. It leaves West Ham three points behind Manchester City who pulled off an impressive away win at Bournemouth.
Here are five things we learned:
1. Payet is unstoppable
Concede a free-kick around the box for Payet and you may as well give West Ham a penalty. The French midfielder has now scored with three sensational dead balls from his last five games. Even West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady tweeted her excitement - like many of the club's fans - ahead of Payet's magnificent strike. A strong contender for Player of the Year.
2. Palace are still struggling to stop the rot
They have still only picked up just four points in four months. They last managed a Premier League win on December 19. They went ahead here before being pegged back. And they played the last 23 minutes or so against ten men. Their fragile confidence simply falls to pieces at the first sign of a setback and the clubs below them are closing.
3. Lanzini is also a player
In any other season it would be the diminutive Argentinian grabbing all the headlines. The brilliance of Payet, however, has left him in the shade. Yet Lanzini is going to become a fantastic player for West Ham with his close control and his clinical finishing which put drew them level.
4. Mark Clattenburg is as trigger-happy as ever
He was (too) quick to reach for his top pocket when it was clear that West Ham's Cheikou Kouyate was attempting to reach the ball and not to endanger the safety of his opponent.
5. Palace need a clearout
Alan Pardew may well have seen the best of this squad of players, many of whom are decent but not much more than that. If they survive, he will have to be ruthless.
Player ratings
West Ham
Adrian 5 - Fumbled to allow Delaney to score the first. Exposed for the second.
Cresswell 6 - Always an outlet and caused problems with his supply into the box.
Ogbonna 4 - Undone by the free-kick from which Palace scored and allowed Souare's cross to come off him for the second.
Reid 4 - All over the place for the equalising goal when he should have been braver.
Antonio 4 - Surged forward to supplement the attacks at times and at times forgot his defensive duties.
Noble 6 - Linked play with his usual confidence but looked shot late on. Replaced.
Kouyate 6 - Just too strong for the Palace midfield to overrun. Unfairly dismissed by referee Mark Clattenburg for foul on Gayle.
Payet 8 - A(nother) sensational free-kick to give West Ham the lead. Brilliant.
Lanzini 7 - Excellent, clinical finish to level the scores. Good link play too.
Emenike 6 - Good pace and power but tending to give away possession too often.
Sakho 6 - Linked play will but unable to get the supply (or into position) to strike.
Subs: Carroll 6, Obiang 6
Crystal Palace
Hennessey 5 - Bamboozled by Payet's free-kick which sneaked past him into the top corner.
Souare 5 - Decent supply into the box but all too often undone defensively.
Delaney 6 - Nice goal but the West Ham strike force always able to find space behind him.
Dann 5 - So many headaches from West Ham's interchanging front-line.
Ward 5 - Despite the instruction not to give away free kicks from Pardew, just just that - on Payet.
Ledley 5 - He and Jedinak were no match for Noble and Kouyate in the centre of the Hammers midfield.
Jedinak 4 - Starting to show his age and could be part of the summer overhaul at Selhurst Park.
Puncheon 5 - Missed a gilt-edged opportunity to put Palace ahead during the first half.
Bolasie 5 - Not enough goal threat to trouble the West Ham defence.
Zaha 4 - Not enough of anything during the first half. Replaced at the break.
Sako 6 - Provided the free-kick from which Delaney scored.
Subs: Gayle 7, Campbell 6
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Leroy: One of the worst reffing decisions I've seen
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
I probably have been but I really can't remember when I felt so angry about a refereeing decision as Mark Clattenburg's when sending off Cheik Kouyate this afternoon. It truly was utterly ridiculous - one of the worst I can recall seeing anywhere at any time - and I'm delighted the Irons immediately announced through ClaretandHugh that they will appeal it. If they don't win then there really is something seriously wrong with the game. Cheik stays on the pitch and there's only one result - Hammers win. Simple. We were done up. No two ways about it. That we should draw a game via their two scruffy goals against ours of the purest quality was shattering. The Payet free kick was - and I rarely use this word - INCREDIBLE. I don't know how he does it nd in all my time in this game I have never seen anything like it. Had the keeper stood on the post itself I don't think he would have stopped it. lt's magical - absolutely magical. We were the better team but that terrible decision changed everything and in the end we were denied a win which I think would have been entirely convincing. But hey, onwards and upwards. It's Arsenal next and there will be no fear whatsoever. We really are a seriously good team. Bring the Gooners on and COYI.
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Irons make Kouyate red card decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham will appeal the red card handed out to Chiek Kouyate against Palace this afternoon. And they expect exactly the same result as they had when the midfield dynamo received his marching orders unfairly against Blackburn Rovers. Chairman David Gold told ClaretandHugh a few minutes ago: "We have decided to appeal the card - the decision is plainly wrong and like everybody else I'm feeling very hard done by. "We had Darren Ramdolph bundled over the line for Manchester United's equaliser in the Cup match, a penalty awarded against us wrongly at Chelsea and now this.
"It's happening almost every week and again today we are on the end of a very wrong decision - we have to appeal and fully expect to get the right outcome. Everybody within West Ham and Palace admitted having seen it on replay that it was a yellow and the time has now come to introduce the technology to deal with these issue. I believe we are heading for a situation where our game could be brought into disrepute if we don't"
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Clattenburg leaves Irons in a mess
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Even with ten we should have won it but Cheik should never have been red carded! The game-changing Mark Clattenburg decision to send Kouyate off for a tired lunge on Gayle was poor - very poor and I'll be surprised if the club aren't already planning their appeal. Yes, he was late but look at how his foot is angled - downwards toward the ball - which he may even have got a touch to and it takes a very strange mind to reach for red instead of yellow.
That levelled the scores two minutes after Adrian - instead of pushing an awkwardly bouncing free kick around for a corner - managed to find Delaney who headed in. Lanzini levelled with fine close range effort after a cross by Antonio and Sakho knockdown and then came the game's highpoint on 40 minutes. After putting an effort over the bar earlier he curled an beautiful curling shot beyond a SEVEN MAN WALL and the helpless Hennessy.
To that point the Irons had put 223 passes together opposed to Palace's 84 and at times played some great stuff but it changed in the second half after a highly controversial sending off and the equaliser came from Gayle after a terrible mix up between Reid and Ogbonna. Despite a slow start we were the better team playing the better football but became very unsettled after the sening off and gave up possession to easily as Palace got a foothold. It was a real shame but we remain in fifth place and must hope that Everton can put it across United tomorrow afternoon. I hate excuses but with even Palace boss Alan Pardew admitting he didn't believe Kouyate should have been sent off, it's hard not to moan.
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Pardew reckons Kouyate red was harsh
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Alan Pardew admits he didn't agree with Mark Clattenburg's decision to red card Cheikhou Kouyate. The Palace boss sad: "I thought the red card was harsh and I would've been disappointed to have that happen to one of my players. "When you are 2-1 down at West Ham, in the form they are in, you take a 2-2. I'm delighted for the team and they showed their heart is still very much in it. We've got ourselves into a bit of trouble but this is a great result. "Every point in the Premier League is gold-dust, especially to get something at West Ham. It was a great performance and a great result. West Ham had to defend for their lives at the end."
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Irons laugh off reported Man City raid
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham have laughed off morning reports that they are set to sign Manchester Cuty 32 year old Yaya Toure.
A top Hammers source - in near disbelief at the suggestion - declared: "Exactly why would we give Chek Kouyate a big new deal if we intended doing that.
"Cheik has modelled his entire game on Toure and would love to see his future being as successful as Toure's."
Indeed Kouyate - who is similar in every way to the former Barcelona star told the official website last year: "Yaya is a role model of mine, an idol, I dreamed of being like him when I was younger. He has played for top clubs and given great performances. For three, four years, he was the best African player."
Regardless of that, The Express reported that the Hammers are in talks with the agent of Manchester City star Yaya Toure with regards to a shock move over the summer, swapping Eastlands for East London.
However, our source said: "We talk to many agents some usually representing more than one player!!"
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