Hammers to sign Spanish striker
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of promising Spanish forward Toni Martinez from Valencia CF. The 18-year-old striker has been a prolific scorer throughout his time with Los Che, netting more than 100 times over the past four seasons. The Spain U17 international will join the Hammers on a three-year contract on 1 July 2016, but Valencia have kindly given the 18-year-old permission to train with his future teammates immediately to help him to settle in England. The Murcia-born frontman, who was also part of the Spain U19 squad which ultimately won the 2015 UEFA European Championship title, is looking forward to linking up with West Ham this summer. "For me, it's a great opportunity to be here and I hope to make the most of being at such a big club," said Martinez, who will celebrate his 19th birthday in June. "I joined West Ham because of the progress that the club is making. The decision to come here was made because it is a brilliant opportunity to join an interesting club in the Premier League."
Martinez featured eight times for Valencia in the UEFA Youth League this season, scoring once and recording three assists as his side reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated on penalties by Chelsea. And it is a former Blues striker that the teenager models his game on – Atletico Madrid and Spain star Fernando Torres. Having agreed to follow in Torres' footsteps and move to London, Martinez has hopes of making his own name in the Premier League. "I am a striker and usually get compared to Fernando Torres," he confirmed. "I am a striker, but I also like getting back and playing as part of the team. "The Premier League is well considered across the world and in Spain, we believe that it is one of the best leagues in the world. This is a fantastic opportunity and I am fulfilling a lifelong dream by signing for one of the big clubs in the Premier League."
While Martinez will initially join Terry Westley's Development Squad, Martinez has long-term ambitions of forcing his way into the first-team squad at the Club's new home. West Ham move to the 60,000-capacity Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford this summer, and the new boy harbours hopes of running out there in a Claret and Blue shirt before too long. "The prospect of playing in front of 60,000 people next year really catches my attention, and it is a Stadium that has so much history," he concluded. "I am hoping to be able to get the opportunity to do that and I hope that it will be soon."
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Academy side ready for Liverpool test
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is desperate for the U18s to get off the mark with a first win this weekend against Liverpool in the Premier League final stages. Three of the young Hammers' four matches in the upper section of the league have so far finished level, while Manchester City beat Mark Phillips' side 3-0. This Saturday, the Merseysiders travel to Little Heath for the 11am kick-off and Rice hopes his team can finally get three points on the board. He said: "It's disappointing that we haven't yet won a game in the final stages. We drew the first game against Fulham 2-2 when we conceded in the last minute, and ideally we should have had three points. "The week after, we drew with Chelsea, so we're due a win now. We've been playing well, so hopefully this week we can turn a performance into three points."
The Hammers qualified for the league's upper section after finishing fourth in the South Division, and now face big guns such as Man City, Everton, Chelsea and, of course, Liverpool, something Rice is delighted with. "They are 100 per cent the teams you want to be playing," he continued. "When you play the top sides, sometimes you come out of your shell and play better against very good players. It was brilliant to qualify, so we were very happy. I remember Mark [Phillips] saying to us that if we win the last four games, we'll have a chance. "We did that, and luckily enough, Tottenham beat Arsenal for us to qualify."
The 17-year-old has been in great form this season, catching the eye of the Development Squad coaches, and he is keen to kick on again next term.
"I've been pretty happy with my performances this season, and it's probably been my best season as a player so hopefully it carries on. "Next season I can hopefully start some more U21 games and get on the bench for the first team, too, if I'm playing well. "It would be brilliant to hopefully get a chance to train with the first team in pre-season as well, as it would be fantastic experience for me."
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First and Last - Nikola Jurcevic
WHUFC.com
As West Ham United continue the final season at the Boleyn Ground, we've asked our players for some memorable lasts from their careers and lives, as well as some firsts. Assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic goes under the spotlight…
FIRSTS
Can you tell us about the first trophy you won as a player?
"Yes, I won the Austrian league championship with Austria Salzburg. I was also the top scorer in the league and for me it was a very nice time in Austria, because we were champions two times and we played in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup final. I was also voted the best foreign player in Austria one year, so it was a very nice time for me."
Can you tell us about your first goal in professional football?
"It was many years ago for NK Zagreb, the team from my home city. We played away in a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina called Trebinje and I scored the first two goals in a 3-2 victory."
Which rule would you change in football first?
"For now it is the confusion caused by passive offside – whether or not a player is interfering with play. There are many difficult decisions and explanations and it could be done better. Also, very important I feel a penalty plus a red card is too big a punishment."
Who was your first football hero?
"Mario Kempes, the Argentina forward who won the World Cup in 1978."
What was your first nickname?
"Jura!"
LASTS
Who is the last teammate – past or present – who you would want to be stuck in a lift with?
"This is a very difficult question! It would maybe be my old Croatia colleague Aljosa Asanovic. He used to hate being in the lift, so if we got stuck he would start to panic a little bit!"
Can you tell us about the last goal of your career?
"Yes, I had to finish my career at 33 because I had a back injury, a herniated disc, so my last goal was for Austria Salzburg against Anderlecht in the UEFA Cup."
Style-wise, which was the last shirt you would want to wear again?
"I could never say a shirt I wore was bad style! The best was the shirt I wore with Zagreb, because this is my club and I liked them all my life. We had a shirt with a blue collar which I loved."
Who was the last shirt you collected after a game?
"Like many players I was a big fan of collecting shirts and since I have retired I have given some away as presents to my friends. The last one I swapped was with Mehmet Scholl of Germany at Old Trafford, where we lost 2-1 at Euro 96."
What was the last piece of fan mail you received from a supporter?
"I cannot remember the last item, but in Austria we did well and were very popular. At my mother's home, I think she still has more than 1,000 letters, with some supporting messages and small souvenirs, including some which said 'I love you!' – but that was a long time ago!"
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Antonio - It will be an unbelievable achievement
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio admits it will be an unbelievable achievement if his side can secure a top four finish this season. The Hammers are just four points behind Manchester City in fourth place following their 3-1 victory over Watford on Wednesday night. Slaven Bilic's side have lost just six games this season and created a new club record against Watford when they made it 15 Premier League games unbeaten at home this season. With the last four games against West Brom, Swansea, Manchester United and Stoke, Antonio is confident the Club can enjoy a strong end to the campaign and feels it would be the ultimate farewell to the Boleyn Ground if they could secure a European place. Antonio said: "It is nice to get that winning feeling back and to score three goals was fantastic. "It will be an unbelievable achievement if we can manage to get into the top four. We are just taking each game as it comes. "We now have ten days to recuperate before the next game and build on what we have done. Hopefully we can keep pushing on and just want to focus on the next game. "It will be amazing if we can get into Europe. I was always someone who wanted to play in the Premier League and to be just four points off the Champions League, that is always going to be the next step for us. "If we manage to bring that to the new Stadium, it will be a fantastic achievement. If we don't manage to do it we will still be ready to build on it for next season."
Antonio has nothing but praise for the way Mark Noble has such a formidable record from the penalty spot after he scored two more in the 3-1 victory over Watford. Noble refuses to practice them in training but the decision certainly pays off as he has now scored 26 from 29 penalties and has one of the best records in the top flight. Antonio added: "His record is unbelievable. We get penalties in training and Nobes will say he is not going to take any and he wants to save them for matchdays and rightly so when you see his record. "He could keep scoring them in training and then miss them in the games! "Andy took a decent penalty against Leicester on Sunday but it shows the respect that the players have for Mark that Andy threw the ball straight away to him as he is the first choice taker."
The PFA are set to announce their Player of the Year this weekend and Antonio believes there is only one man who should come away with the award - Dimitri Payet. "Hopefully Dimitri can win the award because he deserves it. He has scored goals and created a number of assists. "He has been one of the main reasons we are high in the table and hopefully he can win it."
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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
I was thrilled with the victory against Watford on Wednesday night. We knew they would be focusing on the FA Cup semi-final this weekend, but we still had to beat them and it was an impressive all-round performance. It was great to see Diafra Sakho back in the team and Andy Carroll back to his best. Adrian made a penalty save and we came out 3-1 winners. Andy made it six goals in six games and that is what we want to see from him. He can make a big difference to our team. There are not many centre forwards around like him and he showed his quality once again. He is a very good footballer and that was very evident against Watford. Mark Noble scored two more penalties and it is a remarkable record that he has now scored 26 from 29 attempts. You feel comfortable when you see him step up and you cannot get any better stats than what he is showing from the penalty spot. It is incredible that he doesn't practice them in training, but he has a mental toughness and knows exactly what he is going to do.
The victory over Watford also saw the Club set a new top flight record of going 15 games unbeaten at the Boleyn Ground this season which is an amazing achievement. We have broken a number of records this year with our first double over Liverpool for over fifty years and no team in the Premier League being able to do the double over us this season. It shows how far we have come and we are a serious contender now. It is great to see us challenging in the top half of the table and I hope that will continue when we move into the new Stadium. It is not impossible for the Club to win the remaining four matches of the season and I know that Slaven and the players will be doing everything they can to get maximum points from those games.
The European dream is still alive.
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Toni Martinez: West Ham sign teenage Valencia striker
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have signed teenage striker Toni Martinez from Valencia on a three-year contract. The 18-year-old, a Spain Under-17 international, will officially join the Hammers on 1 July but is already training with his future team-mates. A prolific scorer for Valencia's youth team, Martinez will initially link up with the Hammers' development squad. "For me, it's a great opportunity to be here and I hope to make the most of being at such a big club," he said. "I joined West Ham because of the progress that the club is making." The Hammers are sixth in the Premier League with four matches remaining. They will move to the Olympic Stadium next season and Martinez added: "The prospect of playing in front of 60,000 people really catches my attention.
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West Ham complete Martinez capture
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd April 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have confirmed the signing of former Valencia teenager Toni Martinez. As exclusively revealed on the KUMB Forum last month, the 18-year-old striker has agreed terms with West Ham with whom he has signed a three-year contract, which commences this summer. Speaking to whufc.com, Martinez said that he was delighted top finally arrive in London. "For me, it's a great opportunity and I hope to make the most of being at such a big club," he said. "I joined West Ham because of the progress that the club is making. The decision to come here was made because it is a brilliant opportunity to join an interesting club in the Premier League."
Martinez, who has traded the opportunity of featuring in Valencia's 55,000-capacity Mestalla Stadium for the Olympic Stadium added: "The prospect of playing in front of 60,000 people next year really catches my attention and it is a stadium that has so much history. "I am hoping to be able to get the opportunity to do that and I hope that it will be soon."
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A Youth Update: Players join as loan moves are discussed
April 22, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Kai Barratt
Hi everyone,
First of all, apologies for the long wait for the column.
I'd like to talk first about the U21s cup final. It's an incredible achievement to get there of course, and even more so considering a more younger U21 side has always been fielded by us. Unfortunately I won't be able to make either legs but I'll do my best to cover it on social media. Make sure to get tickets if you haven't already as I'm sure it will be a special occasion.
League wise, the U21s narrowly missed out on a promotion playoff place. Again, they have played very well this season with quite a young side and the likes of Marcus Browne, Grady Diangana and Sam Howes should be regulars next season and may go out on short loans. The likes of Josh Cullen and Reece Burke may go out on loan again too but this time to a Championship side or maybe even a Premier League one—but they still should be in Slaven Bilic's plans.
Spanish striker Antonio Martinez has finally signed with the club too and of course Ex has been right again. He has scored over 100 goals for Valencia's youth teams and compliments an impressive set of young strikers alongside the likes of Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Idris Kanu. Ex is also reporting that Domingos Quina will join us from Chelsea.
The U18s play Liverpool tomorrow (Saturday) and of course last season there was a memorable game between the two. Matt Carter scored directly from a corner and with the Hammers losing 2-1 with ten minutes to go, on came then U15 striker Idris Kanu who scored twice to give West Ham three points. Hopefully we can get our first win in Tier One but despite there not being a win yet the boys have played very well.
I was at the away game against Manchester City, and despite the 3-0 loss we played very well. City had an older, more experienced team with several youth internationals but we worked very hard. I'd like to give credit to Reece Hannam, an U15 left back who was making his full U18 debut who looked good and was a threat going forward and was solid defensively. Definitely another in our long list of defensive talents!
That's all for now but I'm sure I'll be back with more news in the next few weeks. As always, make sure to check The West Ham Way for the most reliable news!
Kai Barrett
Founder/Editor of whufcyouth
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Chelsea starlet Domingos Quina to sign tomorrow
April 22, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee
West Ham are set to pull off the sensational signing of Chelsea starlet Domingos Quina, ExWHUEmployee can exclusively reveal. As Ex has been reporting in his columns for weeks now the club are keen to sign talented youth players and develop them at the club to play a huge role in the club's future. The transfer follows on from the Antonio Martinez deal that was confirmed by the club today and reported by ExWHUEmployee four weeks ago.
The 16 year old is extremely highly rated and the club are said to have beaten the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United to the player's signature. It had been reported recently that he would be in fact joining Arsenal but it seems that our youth manager Terry Westley has managed to persuade the wonder kid to join the claret and blue.
The reasons why Quina no longer wanted to be at Stamford Bridge were left something of a mystery, but, reading between the lines, it seems obvious he wasn't happy with the club. Born in Guinea Bissau, Domingos Quina was brought up in Portugal and on the books at Benfica as a youngster before being lured to Chelsea as a 13-year-old. The midfielder's talent has been the source of much attention from rival clubs. Manchester United were rumoured to have considered a bid back in January and Arsenal in recent weeks. Quina primarily plays in the No 10 role for Chelsea and Portugal's youth teams. His strengths are dribbling, his ability to beat a man and shooting. He helped Portugal Under 17s finish top of the their UEFA Elite Round group in Croatia last month before returning to England. He is a brilliant coup for the club and one which shows how bright our future is.
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Bids already made for Lacazette?
April 22, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
BKHammer
All throughout the season, there have been many reports that West Ham United are looking for a new striker to unveil at the Olympic Stadium, one who would be considered a major purchase for the club.
Top of that list seemed to be Marseille's Michy Batshuayi, a player Slaven Bilic praised publicly many times, and was even prepared to travel to meet personally, but he isn't the only one the Hammers have been monitoring.
According to L'Equipe in France, Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette has received a lot of attention since he started finding once again the back of the net regularly in 2016, and with 44 league goals in his past two seasons, he'd be the kind of striker West Ham want.
The French newspaper states three clubs, including West Ham, have already made bids for the player.
Jean-Michel Aulas recently stated that some of his players aren't for sale, but admitted he had also said that about Mahamadou Diarra and Michael Essien in the past, and both were sold.
The general idea here is that it would take a lot of money to persuade Lyon to sell their top striker, who himself in turn would want a move that would allow him to further his career.
While a transfer to the Premier League would be a step in the right direction, the prospect of once again playing Champions League next season with Lyon could be appealing, especially considering how badly the club did in this year's edition of the tournament.
West Ham were said to be prepared to spend around €35m on a new striker this summer meaning money, and a lot of it, will probably decide this one.
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West Ham offered Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as Arsenal midfielder set to be shipped out this summer
22:30, 22 APR 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The confirmation that the 22-year-old attacker is available at the end of the season is sure to spark a scramble for his services
The Mirror
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been offered to West Ham . The confirmation that the 22-year-old attacker is available this summer is sure to spark a scramble for his services. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is poised to stage a clearout this summer following the club's title failure with several players set to be moved on. Ambitious West Ham are set to move to the Olympic Stadium next season and remain in the hunt for a shock top-four place. Versatile Oxlade-Chamberlain has 24 caps for England and last scored for the Three Lions in their European Championship qualifying win over Lithuania in October. Yet he is unlikely to go to this summer's European Championships after being hit by a knee injury suffered in the Champions League last-16 first leg defeat to Barcelona. He moved to north London in a high-profile switch from Southampton in 2011. The England international was seen back than as one of the most exciting talents in the country. But he has had to compete with a starting spot at Arsenal with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla. Young Alex Iwobi, who has burst onto the scene so impressively this season, has also now moved above Oxlade Chamberlain in the pecking order. Earlier this month Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier suggested the Ox should rejoin the Saints to revive his outstanding talents under Ronald Koeman. Le Tissier told Mirror Sport: "He's a very good player. He's obviously suffered with injuries in the last couple of seasons so he's not really been a regular in that Arsenal side. "If the boy wants to play regular first team football and to be a first choice in the team then sure it's realistic. It's not like he'd be dropping down to the bottom half of the table."
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West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady gives Hammers fans a sneak peek inside Olympic Stadium
20:59, 22 APR 2016 UPDATED 22:20, 22 APR 2016
BY LIAM CORLESS
The Hammers will move to the Olympic Stadium in the summer after 112 years at their current Upton Park home
The Mirror
Karren Brady has given West Ham's supporters a sneak peek inside the Olympic Stadium ahead of the club's move from Upton Park in the summer.
She uploaded a video to Twitter from the centre of the field, as she showed how impressive the inside of the stadium looks. It was last week revealed that the Hammers will pay £2.5million-a-year to rent the stadium. Arsene Wenger said the Hammers had "won the lottery" when he was questioned about the deal earlier this month. He said: "I say [to West Ham], 'Well done! You have won in the lottery, and you do not need to sweat like I did for long years, and fight for every pound.' "I could say that, for me, the first six years were very difficult financially. Going into April, thinking if you are not in the Champions League you are in trouble. That has been absolutely super-difficult. "So it's very well done, they have made a good deal, they have negotiated very well, it was a fight with Tottenham. "For me, it is similar to the Man City situation — Man City got a new stadium for £20million, basically. Yes they don't have to go through the pain. They have taken this opportunity and taken it very well."
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Axl Rose to play at Olympic Stadium
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Axl Rose is joining AC/DC for the remainder of their world tour, taking in the concert at the former Olympic Stadium on June 4th, just two months before West Ham move in. The Guns N' Roses singer will replace Brian Johnson starting on May through to the conclusion of the Rock or Bust tour in Denmark on June 12.
A question mark had been hanging over whether the Olympic Stadium gig would take place ever since AC/DC lead OS66singer Brian Johnson was forced to quit touring with immediate effect – or face the prospect of going deaf.
A statement on AC/DC's website said: "Band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures.
"As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian's decision to stop touring and save his hearing.
"We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment.
"AC/DC will resume their Rock Or Bust World Tour with Axl Rose joining on vocals. Following this European run of dates with AC/DC, Axl Rose will head out on his Guns N Roses, Not In This Lifetime Summer Stadium Tour."
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LLDC call for an emergency OS meeting
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) has called an emergency meeting this afternoon at 2.30pm (Friday) at the LLDC offices at 1 Stratford Place, Montfichet Road, London.
The authority are usually required to give a minimum five days notice to their board members but this meeting about the former Olympic stadium transformation works is deemed urgent due to special circumstances and says a decision on a confidential matter regarding the stadium transformation is now required at the earliest opportunity.
Although the meeting will be open to the public, the main body of the meeting concerning an update report on the stadium transformation works will be held in private.
The agenda confirms remaining stadium transformation works include ongoing works to relay the Desso pitch and the new Mondo running track. Other works taking place before Summer 2016 include: Completion of the retractable seating works, completion of hospitality fit-out works, completion of concession area fit out works and completion of catering fit-out.
The LLDC have played down the significance of the emergency meeting by telling Claret and Hugh "There is no particular urgency for the meeting, the board need to be updated on the Stadium transformation given we are getting close to the end but due to the Mayoral election and being in purdah there wasn't a scheduled meeting."
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Irons target lays down his condition
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 22, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H
Lyon's France international Alexandre Lacazette (above) would be ready to join West Ham if they manage to clinch place in the Premier League top four.
Arsenal are also keen to bring the striker to England in the summer and Liverpool are also interested but have the same top four problem as the Irons.
ClaretandHugh has learned that the Irons negotiators are believed to have discovered that Lacazette is determined to land a Champions League club this summer if he's to make the move from Lyon.
He and the club are aware of interest from the trio of Premier League clubs but a move to the Emirates carries the risk of non selection for the first team given the squad strength and depth.
West Ham have made their interest known along with Liverpool and a source close to the player said: "All the options are up in the air at the moment.
"However, we can that West Ham hold an interest and that their end of season is being closely watched. Champions League football would aid the cause dramatically as he sees that as an important condition."
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West Ham set for triple record
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham has already broken one record this season by recording their 15th league match unbeaten in The Premier League at home at the Boleyn ground and the Hammers appear to odds on to break two more Premier League club records by the end of the season.
We have have some way to beat our all time record unbeaten run at home set between 1980 and 1982. We went 20 games unbeaten in the 1980-1981 season with a further 7 games at the start of 1981-1982 season. That record of 27 games unbeaten at home might stand for some time yet. We previously recorded 14 games unbeaten at home during the historic 1985/1986 season in the top flight when we finished third in the old division one league.
Our biggest points total ever in the Premier League was 57 points set in the 1998/1999 season under Harry Redknapp when we finished 5th and qualified for the Intertoto cup. We are currently on 56 points with four games and 12 points to play for, it would be extremely disappointing not to set a new club record for our largest points tally in the Premier League this season.
Our goal difference is probably the biggest improvement in our history of the Premier League. Our best goal difference at the end of a season is -1 again set in 1998/1999 season. Our current goal difference of +13 is set to smash our best ever difference in the past 24 years since the inception of the Premier League.
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Boleyn Memories: Galey carried my dying brother on his shoulders the day he was an Irons mascot
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Facebook member and site follower Andrew Reardon has provided perhaps the most poignant Boleyn memory ever and we are delighted to give him a permanent reminder of a wonderful if hugely sad moment in the life ofhis family.
The Bolyn is more than a footballing arena as this story shows – it has provided some of the greatest moments in people's lives – it is part of our lives and souls.
Andrew told us: My best memorie of was back in 1991/92 and the FA Cup game against Aldershot Town.
My older brother Robbie was mascot for the match and was dying of a brain tumour and had to be carried on the pitch by Tony Gale.
"I remember who he asked to put him down so he could walk on the pitch on his own feet. He is still the only non player to be on the front of a match programme apart from the Queen as far as I know."
ClaretandHugh contacted Galey on the family's behalf and the former Irons central defender remembered the day clearly saying: "The little lad passed away soon afterwards and myself and Ian Bishop attended the funeral. He was a lovely little chap.
"I recall he had the various wires etc in his nose and thought at the time that he was around the same age as my two kids and how lucky I was.
"I remember him walking across the turf and then I put him on my shoulders and carried him back to the side. Please pass on my best wishes to the family. These things stay in your mind forever. He was a great little chap."
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Peer's sneak preview of Olympic Stadium
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 22, 2016 in Videos, Whispers
C and H
West Ham's Vice-Chairman, Karren Brady has published a video sneak preview of West Ham's new stadium. On Wednesday this week Lady Brady visited the former Olympic stadium to check on progress tweeting from her personal account "Off to the Olympic Stadium this morning to film the update and behind the scenes tour for West Ham United – can't wait to share it with you"
Posting the video from her mobile phone below the Vice -Chairman added "Everything is starting to come together at the stadium, First layer of Desso pitch in/seats looking more claret&blue"
She later posted "Delighted to announce we have been given planning permission for our new Stadium Store signage" before travelling on to Boleyn Ground boardroom to watch West Ham beat Watford 3-1 on Wednesday night.
West Ham will move into their new stadium in August this year although West Ham office staff including Lady Brady are expected to move into dedicated office space sometime before August.
Everything is starting to come together at the stadium, First layer of Desso pitch in/seats looking more claret&blue http://pic.twitter.com/fkMTRarOvz
— Lady Brady (@karren_brady) April 20, 2016
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West Ham agent fees revealed
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
The FA have published fees paid to agents. The table above shows total payments made by Premier League clubs to registered Intermediaries for the four-month period of 1st October 2015 to 1st February 2016. West Ham spent the fifth most on agents in the Premier League shelling out £2.69m in a four month period. Based on that rate over four months agent fees could top £8m over the full twelve months.
The previous amount paid to Agents/Intermediaries by West Ham during the period 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015 was £7,049,001.18.
West Ham were the sixth biggest spenders to agents last year. Premier League clubs have been required to publish the amount they pay to agents since 2008 and West Ham has paid over £33.6m since records begun in 2008/2009. West Ham did not have to reveal agent fees in 2011/2012 as they spend one season in the Championship.
In 2013/2014 West Ham paid £6,380,339 in agent fees
In 2012/2013 West Ham paid £4,169,134 in agent fees
In 2010/2011 West ham spent £4,436,992 in agent fees
In 2009/2010 West Ham spent £3,419,089 in agent fees
In 2008/2009 West Ham spent £5,527,548 in agent fees
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Rugby to return to the Olympic Stadium
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
The Olympic Stadium will again host a rugby league match in this year's Four Nations tournament three months after West Ham move in.
England, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia will contest the tournament, which will be broadcast by the BBC. The former Olympic Stadium in London has chosen as a venue, with England taking on Australia there in the final group match on Sunday, 13th November 2016.
New Zealand beat England at the Olympic Stadium last November, the first rugby league match to be played at the venue. "Playing at iconic venues such as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Anfield is one of the reasons we play the game," said England captain Sean O'Loughlin.
"Walking out in front of 45,000 fans in London was one of the highlights of 2015 for me and I am sure that playing in front of big home crowds will push the team on to what will hopefully be a successful campaign."
Four Nations 2016 fixtures
Fri 28 Oct: Australia v Scotland, KC Lightstream Stadium, Hull, 20:00 BST
Sat 29 Oct: England v New Zealand, John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, 14:30
Sat 5 Nov: England v Scotland, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, 17:30
Sat 5 Nov: New Zealand v Australia, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, 20:00
Fri 11 Nov: New Zealand v Scotland, Zebra Claims Stadium, Workington, 20:00
Sun 13 Nov: England v Australia, Olympic Stadium, 15:30
Sun 20 Nov: Final, Anfield, Liverpool, 14:30
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Carroll/Sakho pairing may create Slav headache
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
The return of Diafra Sakho will – as far as I can see – have handed Slaven Bilic a headache.
On the face of it, the front pairing of AC and the Senegal striker works but the worry is that we don't get as much as we should from Sak when he's played wide.
With six goals from six games it's impossible to move Carroll from the central role but it means that his partner is not going to be among the goals to the same extent as he was at the start of his Irons career – as is being shown.
For that to happen he needs to return to the main striker role but with Carroll in such goal scoring form that can't happen and we have to live with the fact that as a result we are probably losing perhaps 20 per cent of Sak's game.
He has the pace and abililty to really stretch defences and with Dimi in behind him supported by Manu Lanzini we could be seriously potent.
AC has been regularly described as an impact sub over recent weeks but it's become clear he's a lot more than that but I can't help feeling for Sak.
It's a matter of personal preference how we like to see our team play and PERSONALLY I would prefer to see the Senegal striker though the middle because it allows more fluidity and movement.
Yes, it's great to be able to mix it up and have big fella Andy doing his thing when required but as a preferred system I'd sooner see Sak line leading in front of the two playmakers.
It's a tricky one for the boss and maybe it's all about playing the men in form to the system that suits them best at any given time.
It's what happens of course when you have a squad of very good players – we live in great Hammers times but I'd welcome your views on this one.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, April 23
Friday, April 22
Daily WHUFC News -
Bilic looking up after Watford win
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic said Wednesday's 3-1 win over Watford meant West Ham United
would continue to look up the Barclays Premier League table, rather than
over their shoulders at those behind them.
A deserved victory over the Hornets – secured by Andy Carroll's volley and
two Mark Noble penalties – mean the Hammers remain in sixth position, three
points behind Manchester United and four behind fourth-placed Arsenal. An
Adrian penalty save and an eye-catching return to action from Diafra Sakho
completed a decent night's work from West Ham, even if the manager claimed
his side should have scored 'four or five more goals'. "It was a good win
and a good night for us after a few draws and a lot of difficult games when
we were unhappy at the end because we think that we deserved more out of
them," said Bilic, whose side made it a Club-record 15 Premier League home
games without defeat. "It's nice to win at home and we played really good
football. We could have scored four or five more goals. It's a really good
feeling for us. "It was a really important game for us, because we said to
that players before that it was like a decisive one. We told them in
pre-match that this game would determine whether we would look up and think
'Maybe we've got a chance [of top four] if we win, or if we lose we would
look below us'. "Of course there are still clubs below us and it's not over
but it's good. We're looking up and it's nice to have five points cushion to
Southampton or nine points to Stoke. It's a good position. "Now we have a
break and a rest, then we'll have some balanced training to be really fit
for the last four games in which we'll give everything we can to win them."
There were many aspects of Wednesday's game for Bilic to be happy about –
Carroll's volley from Dimitri Payet's fine pass, Noble's nerveless
penalties, Sakho's all-round display and Adrian's late stop to deny Troy
Deeney from 12 yards. "Yes, brilliant, it was a team performance," he
agreed. "Every game, you have different individuals who are stepping up and
getting the credit, but the credit should go to the team because they were
all good. "Of course it's nice to have Sakho back with the work-rate and the
quality and everything. It's good to see the combinations, to see Andy
scoring the goal from the beautiful ball from Dimitri. "They were a great
couple of penalties, make no mistake, against a guy who saved a couple of
penalties on Saturday. And it was about time Adrian saved one because I was
told he was good. I was like 'Any chance?!' so it was a good night for us.
"OK, you could say they had half their mind on Wembley [and the FA Cup
semi-final] and named a weaker side by resting players, but I've seen enough
times in football when second options or mixed teams played brilliant
football. "All their players were international players and it was a
dangerous game for us, and that's why I was pleased not only with the three
points but the way we got them."
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Noble proud of new club record
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble admits is a great achievement to set a new Club record and go 15
Premier League games unbeaten at the Boleyn Ground and hopes they can extend
that impressive run until the end of the season. Noble has been instrumental
in helping the Hammers make Upton Park a fortress this season and enjoyed
another memorable evening against Watford as he scored two penalties to help
Slaven Bilic's side come away with a 3-1 victory. West Ham have not been
beaten at home in the top flight since the defeat against Bournemouth back
in August and have kept alive their hopes of securing a European place with
a formidable home record. Noble says he has been proud to lead the players
this year and says the new Club record is a fitting way for them to finish
their final ever season at the Boleyn Ground. Noble said: "Apart from the FA
Cup we are unbeaten here since August which is unbelievable with the last
every year at the Boleyn. "It is a great achievement from us and we want to
keep it that way. There has been a lot of hard work, determination and skill
that has helped us along the way. "For me to lead the boys through that is
fantastic. We want to keep doing that until the end and see what happens."
It turned out to be another impressive evening for the club skipper after he
made it 25 goals from 28 penalties to continue his formidable spot-kick
record. Noble added: "I am delighted with my record from the penalty spot. I
was a bit disappointed that we got our first away penalty in six years
(against Leicester) and I wasn't on the pitch! "But I managed to get two
goals tonight and they were two important ones as we were only 1-0 up and it
was a dangerous game for us. The penalty put us two goals in front and gave
us that cushion before getting another one. "I just try and relax when I
take them. I pick my spot and remain confident. I have never changed the way
I take them. I always believe in myself and 25 out of 28 is not bad.
"We keep pushing and we have had a lot of bad luck against us in recent
games. We could have been a lot higher but tonight we got what we deserved.
"Watford changed a lot of their players because of the FA Cup semi-final at
the weekend and good luck to them. But it was a potential banana skin for us
and we had to put a performance in. "It was a great ball from Dimi for
Andy's finish and that is six in six for big AC now and another assist for
Dimi. It was a good night."
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Carroll - It's positive all round
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was delighted to continue his rich vein of form by extending
his goalscoring run to six in six games on Wednesday. Carroll got the
scoring started in the Hammers' 3-1 victory against Watford, knocking home
Dimitri Payet's cross before Mark Noble's double have his team an
unassailable advantage. It ended a run of four straight draws and maintained
the push for European qualification, so understandably the No9 was full of
smiles at the final whistle. "It was very good to get back to winning ways,"
he admitted. "We've been looking for it for a while and should have had a
couple in the last couple of weeks. "It has been tough for the lads not
getting the win, so it was great for us on Wednesday. "We knew there were
going to be changes from them, but we didn't really know who was going to
play. "The tactics were to go out there, get at them, press them and that
was exactly what we did. "I felt like we were in control of the game from
the beginning. We were in their half and kept hold of the ball, so it was
positive from us all round. "I think we can get our hands on European
qualification. We haven't been beaten for a long time and we're going in the
right direction so hopefully with a few more wins we'll get there."
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian dedicates his fifth Premier League penalty
save to his baby son Enzo...
Hello everyone,
I was so happy to save my first penalty for my son Enzo against Watford on
Wednesday night! It was his first game and I give this penalty to him
because it's the first penalty I've saved since he was born, but he probably
didn't see anything because he was sleeping! He is so calm – unlike me! He
sleeps well at night, for five hours at a time, and is a good little guy.
I'll tell him about the save when he's grown up! It's another one for my
count and it's always nice when you save a penalty. I think it was my fifth
penalty save in the Premier League and I'm happy for this. On the other hand
I am not happy to not keep a clean sheet, even if it was a great finish for
them. The three points were the most important thing. We played really well
from the start, we pushed them, pressed them and had great chances. I think
it was a great game for us and a massive three points after some draws. I
have confidence in Mark when we get a penalty. Some people in the crowd were
singing 'Adrian, Adrian!' for the second one, but I stayed in goal! Mark is
a great penalty-taker and he showed that again on Wednesday night. I don't
know how I make it hard for penalty-takers. You have to ask them! I just
keep fighting and try to win the duel against them. This time, I was lucky
to save this penalty with my elbow.
As I said, after the tough run of draws during which we deserved more
points, it was important that we got a win at home. It's a massive three
points for us with two games left at Upton Park and we will fight until the
end. Manchester United won and Liverpool won, so I don't know how many
points we need to get to finish in the top six, but we'll try to win all the
games. Sometimes you can win, sometimes you can draw or lose but I think
we're showing great form from the start of the season. This season is
massive for the Club and also for us and we're going to try to stay in a
high position. We have time off now and we need to rest also as goalkeepers!
Of course, we were thinking we'd still be in the FA Cup but we were unlucky
to go out now. We need to relax in these days off with our families and
enjoy them and then come back on Saturday with 150 per cent of our battery
for the last four games.
Come on you Irons!
Adrian
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Payet in PFA Team of the Year!
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet has been voted into the 2015/16 Premier League PFA Team of the
Year by his fellow professionals. The France international attacking
midfielder has enjoyed an outstanding debut season with West Ham United,
scoring nine goals and recording nine assists in 27 Barclays Premier League
appearances. Aside from inspiring the Club's European challenge, Payet has
added three more goals and assists apiece in the knockout competitions as
the Hammers reached the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals. The No27 is joined
in the Team of the Year by four players each from Tottenham Hotspur and
Leicester City, Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin and Manchester United
goalkeeper David de Gea. The outstanding 29-year-old is also among six
players shortlisted for the individual PFA Men's Player of the Year award.
Payet is just the West Ham player to be voted into the top-flight Team of
the Year by his fellow professionals. England playmaker Trevor Brooking
earned a place in the First Division side in 1977/78 – a season that ended
in the Hammers' relegation – while Billy Bonds was also voted into the First
Division Team of the Year in the FA Cup-winning 1974/75 season. More
recently, Mark Noble and James Tomkins were voted into the Championship Team
of the Year in the promotion season of 2011/12, while Michael Carrick was in
the Division One (now Championship) selection in 2003/04. Prior to that,
Julian Dicks (twice), Ludek Miklosko (twice), Ian Bishop, Trevor Morley and
Martin Allen were all voted into the Second Division side in the 1990s. The
title-winning 1980/81 season saw West Ham players fill the Second Division
side with no fewer than eight players, while Brooking, Billy Bonds and Alan
Devonshire were also included the previous year.
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Former Player Boleyn Memories
WHUFC.com
Valon Behrami enjoyed a memorable two-and-a-half year spell with the Hammers
making 63 appearances and scoring five goals. The Swiss international has
now made a return to the Premier League with Watford but says he will never
forget his relationship with the West Ham supporters and will be full of
emotions as the Club prepare to play their final ever game at the Boleyn
Ground next month. I have some amazing memories from the Boleyn Ground and
it was amazing to play here. I had a great time as a player and it helped me
grow up as a person as well. Even though we suffered a bad result on
Wednesday night, it was a great feeling to come back here. I was sad that it
was going to be my last ever game playing at the stadium as the atmosphere
is fantastic. There is something magical about the Boleyn Ground but I know
it is a good step for the club for them to move. I had a number of good
games and I was a different player at that time. It was amazing for me to
play in the Premier League in my first year but things started to change
when I picked up a knee injury. I started to feel negative things in my body
and I had to make a return to Italy. But I have now come back to England a
different player and I have a different feeling now. I was a youngster when
I joined West Ham and I needed to learn a lot of things. But my spell at the
Hammers taught me a lot of things and I will always be grateful to the Club.
I had a great relationship with the fans and the passion they showed towards
me on the field. They made me run more and fight harder. It was amazing. t
will be an emotional night when they play their final ever game at the
Boleyn Ground and it will be unforgettable. This ground has seen so many
moments over the year and has so much history. I will definitely watch the
game and it will be an amazing feeling.
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Payet named in PFA Team of the Year
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st April 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Dimitri Payet has been named in the Professional
Footballer Association's Team of the Year for 2015/16. The 29-year-old
Hammer, who has enjoyed a thoroughly-productive first season at the club is
one of only three players not at Leicester City or Tottenham to be nominated
in the select XI.
In addition to goalkeeper David De Gea - who Payet embarrassed at Old
Trafford in the FA Cup last month with a trademark 30-yard free kick -
Arsenal full back Hector Bellerin has been named in the team.
However it is a selection dominated by the Premier League's current top two,
with four players from each included. Leicester's Wes Morgan, N'Golo Kante,
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy join Tottenham's Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld,
Dele Alli and Harry Kane in this year's PFA select.
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West Ham captain Mark Noble wants to give Boleyn Ground the perfect send-off
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 21/04/16 2:22pm
SSN
Mark Noble says West Ham are determined to give the Boleyn Ground the best
possible send-off by leaving with their unbeaten record intact. The Hammers
set a new club record of 15 home Premier League matches without defeat when
they claimed a 3-1 victory over Watford on Wednesday night, with Noble
grabbing two of the goals. They have only two home games remaining, against
Swansea and Manchester United, before bidding farewell to their home of 112
years and moving to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Victory over the
Hornets maintained West Ham's push for European qualification and Noble is
desperate to ensure the club end a memorable campaign on a high. "Apart from
the FA Cup we are unbeaten here since August which is unbelievable in the
last ever year at the Boleyn," he told West Ham TV. "It is a great
achievement from us and we want to keep it that way. There has been a lot of
hard work, determination and skill that has helped us along the way. "For me
to lead the boys through that is fantastic. We want to keep doing that until
the end and see what happens."
Noble scored two penalties, after Andy Carroll had opened the scoring, to
help West Ham claim their eighth home win of the season. The long-serving
midfielder now boasts an impressive record of 25 successful spot-kicks from
28 attempts. "I am delighted with my record from the penalty spot," he
added. "They were two important ones as we were only 1-0 up and it was a
dangerous game for us. "I just try and relax when I take them. I pick my
spot and remain confident. I have never changed the way I take them. I
always believe in myself and 25 out of 28 is not bad."
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Slaven Bilic still hasn't quite got the grasp of acceptable language for
media interviews
13:07, 21 APR 2016 UPDATED 13:07, 21 APR 2016
BY JOE MEWIS
The West Ham boss saw his side pick up another three points with a 3-1 win
over Watford last night, but turned the airwaves blue following the game
The Mirror
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has proved to be an instant success in the
Premier League, guiding the Hammers to the brink of a European place during
his first season in charge. But while everything is clicking on the pitch
for Bilic, it would appear that the passionate Croatian is still getting the
hang of his post-match media responsibilities. When quizzed by BBC 5Live
following his side's 3-1 win over Watford, Bilic used a spicy turn of phrase
to describe his side's efficiency in the box. "We weren't taking the p*** in
front of goal," he replied when asked if they should have scored more, as he
sent the reporters scrambling for cover. The Hammers did manage three goals
though, with Andy Carroll netting his sixth goal in six games. Mark Noble
added two from the penalty spot to put the hosts 3-0 up in their penultimate
game under the lights at Upton Park, before Sebastian Prodl pulled one back
for the Hornets. Watford winger Nordin Amrabat was sent off in stoppage time
after picking up a second yellow. The win saw the Hammers keep their hopes
of a European place alive, with Bilic's side sitting three points behind
Manchester United in fifth-place. And the Hammers' good form is clearly
exciting the Croatian - as you can hear in the interview above.
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Newham twist in OS agreement
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Buried in the small print of the rental agreement for the former Olympic
Stadium between West Ham United and stadium owners Newham and LLDC is a
clause that West Ham must agree to certain legacy benefits.
One of these legacy benefits is a target that 75 per cent of all West Ham
employees working within the stadium should be sourced from within the
borough of Newham.
The clause says "There will be a target of 75 per cent of employees being
sourced from within the London Borough of Newham, subject to the obligations
of the Parties under English and EU law. in respect of jobs at the Stadium."
"In support of achieving this target the Grantor will working
collaboratively with the London Borough of Newham employment programmes
(currently "Workplace") to develop appropriate training to prepare residents
for job opportunities, subject to English and EU law."
The same legacy benefits also thought to apply to the stadium owners E20
Stadium LLP and French stadium operators Vinci Stadium and their sub
division London Stadium 185 Limited.
Historically match day stewards at West Ham are supporters but the vast
majority live outside the borough of Newham so this may a challenge going
forward. The same may be true for the employee's of the club's store, cafe,
finance team, marketing and press teams all of which will be based at the
stadium from August. I wonder whether Mr Gold, Sullivan or Lady Brady will
consider moving to Newham to help reach this target.
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Relax, it really is good news as issue gets sorted
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Sometimes news seems too good to be true and when you have been around this
game a long long time it's best to check, check and check again when there's
a suspicion that may be the case. That's why I have spent a considerable
part of my day ensuring that all is as it seems on the Diafra Sakho front
and I'm very relieved and happy to declare that most certainly seems to be
the case.
Reports last weekend that the striker had a bust-up with another player on
the training ground and stormed out have been circulating for too long to be
ignored. And even former player Tony Gale during a commentary on the Watford
match last night laughed when being told he had returned from injury: "Oh
from injury is it? There may have been a bit more to it than that because we
now Slaven stands for absolutely no nonsense."
It's fairly widely accepted that something went off after training when
Sakho was told he wasn't in the team for Arsenal – later an injury emerged
and once a week had passed the player came out declaring peace and goodwill
in all directions. This s all very much par for the course and can sometimes
be entirely dismissed as the club covering things with some cosmetic window
dressing room leaving plenty of room for cynicism.
Not this time however, because after checking with our top source who has
given us some of the best stories we've run ClaretandHugh is happy to
announce: Sak and West Ham are hand in glove again! We were told as
categorically as we have been told anything: "Everything has been settled at
all points – there are no problems at all. "He made a difference last night
– worked really hard. His body language was good and he and the manager are
absolutely fine. "He's a West Ham player and will remain so -he is
incredibly important to the team and the style of football we want to play.
It's all sorted."
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We've got Pele
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Videos, Whispers
C and H
James Collins showed he remains a firm favourite with the fans after they
invented a new take on the Dimitri Payet Song. Supporters in the Sir Trevor
Brooking lower stand sung "We've Pele, Ginger Pele! I just don't think you
understand. He's Super Slavs man, he's better than Zidane. We've got Ginger
Pele!" The Ginger Pele was warming up at the time in front of the Sir Trevor
Brooking and West stand. When he stopped to tie his boot laces a young
Hammers fan approached him to chat with him and Collins immediately gave him
his training top as a memento. Collins came on for a cameo role in the 93rd
minute as Bilic ran the clock down to the Hammer's 3-1 win over Watford.
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Sakho breaks silence
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Diafra Sakho has finally broken silence after being noticeable absent on
social media for the past few weeks. Heo took to his personal twitter and
instagram to send a personal message to the fans after his return to the
starting line-up during yesterday's 3-1 win over Watford. The striker posted
a photo him embracing Slaven Bilic when he came off together with a message
saying: "Great team effort and important 3 points! It has been a difficult
season for me with injuries, but I would like to thank the fans for all
their support. I am very grateful. I hope the injuries are behind me now & I
will continue to give 100% to the team. #COYI" Bilic applauded Sakho after
he was substituted for Victor Moses in the 77th minute and there were smiles
from both sides and a short embrace when he left the field of play. Whatever
has gone on in the last two weeks it appears both parties have put it behind
them now and kissed and made up.
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We salute Irons fan power and the Watford boss
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Our fantastic fans reached a new high last night – we all know you are the
best in the land but this morning I pay humble homage to you all and indeed
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
There had been very little publicity given, indeed CandH had been asked to
spread the word about the round of applause for Dylan Tombides, on 38
minutes. Yet as the clock ticked to the seventh minute before half time
thunderous acclaim ripped out around Upton Park in memory of the much loved
teenager who lost his battle against cancer. It was an incredible display of
Fan Power from those who have taken the youngster into their hearts and
never intend to forget him. It was a deeply moving moment but what was
fabulous was to see the Hornets boss join in the full minute despite being
caught in the heat of what was eventually a losing battle. Sadly I can't
find a picture of the moment which is a shame because it really was very
special so I've done the best I can in the image above. You lot really are
the best and Mr Flores we all salute your humanity – some things are bigger
even than the game!
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Hammers route to Europe
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
A top eight finish in the Premier League this season for West Ham could be
enough to qualify for European football again next season. West Ham
currently occupy sixth place, three points behind fifth placed Manchester
United, four behind fourth placed Arsenal and five behind third placed
Manchester City. Liverpool are breathing down our necks in seventh two
points behind us while Southampton are fivepoints behind in eighth place.
UEFA Champions League qualification
The most straight-forward qualification outcome is that the clubs who finish
in the top four positions in the 2015/16 Premier League will qualify to
compete in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League.
1. UEFA Champions League – group stage
2. UEFA Champions League – group stage
3. UEFA Champions League – group stage
4. UEFA Champions League – play-off stage
If a club who do not finish in the top four of the Premier League win the
UEFA Champions league, they automatically take a place in the group stage of
the Europe's elite club competition at the expense of the fourth-placed
club, who will instead appear in the UEFA Europa League.
UEFA Europa League
Generally speaking there are three UEFA Europa League places given to
English clubs who fulfil the following criteria: winning the FA Cup, winning
the Capital One Cup and finishing fifth in the Premier League.
However, if the Capital One Cup winners Manchester City finish in the top
four, their UEFA Europa League place goes to the next-highest ranked team in
the Premier League (nominally the sixth-placed team).
Champions-League-FinalIf Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish outside
the top four, their UEFA Europa League place goes to the next-highest ranked
team in the Premier League (nominally the seventh-placed team).
Finally If Liverpool win the Europa League and finish in the top seven they
will qualify for Champions League play off stage. It means a Europa league
place could go down to eighth place should Manchester United also win the FA
Cup.
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West Ham can still claim Champions League spot, claims Slaven Bilic
West Ham maintained their push for the top four by beating Watford 3-1
Just four points separate The Hammers in sixth and fourth-placed Arsenal
The Gunners have a game in hand and face West Brom on Thursday night
By MARTHA KELNER FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 00:17, 21 April 2016 | UPDATED: 00:17, 21 April 2016
Slaven Bilic insisted the race for the top four is not over yet for West Ham
and piled the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester United ahead of them. The
Hammers' emphatic victory over Watford took them to within three points of
United and four points of Arsenal, who currently occupy fourth place, but
the Croatian said they should be feeling nervous about his side creeping up.
Bilic said: 'This is not over. We have had a really good season make no
mistake but I am not happy and think we should have won more points. 'We
will give everything in this last four games to win all of them. Where that
will take us we don't know but we are going to give everything and if we
play like this or even better we have a chance against every team.'
It seemed West Ham would be left ruing missed opportunities this season
after dropping eight points in their last four games before hosting the
Hornets. But this win means Thursday's game at the Emirates between Arsenal
and West Brom, who beat them in the reverse fixture earlier this season, is
of monumental importance. 'We have the pressure because we are not in this
situation every year,' said Bilic. 'Just like Leicester have the pressure,
whatever they say, but the pressure is there otherwise they wouldn't be that
nervous like they were on Sunday [when they drew against West Ham]. The
pressure is on us as well, but it's great pressure, positive pressure, not
like the pressure that Sunderland and Newcastle and Norwich are now feeling.
'This is the pressure that you should be grateful for and should worship and
should go to church and pray that it's going to be the same for the next few
seasons.' Meanwhile, Quique Sanchez Flores fiercely defended his record as
Watford manager after Sportsmail reports that he could face the sack despite
taking his side to 12th in the season and an at least an FA Cup semi-final.
'I don't know why the rumours are coming,' said Flores, 'I don't know why in
this important moment in the season for Watford they are talking about me.
'It's not time to talk about me, it's time to talk about the FA Cup, it's
time to talk about keeping the club in the Premier League next year.'
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PENALTIES GALORE
By Zaman Siddiqui 21 Apr 2016 at 07:00
WTID
This match may have been a penalty shootout, as half of all goals scored
came from penalties, though it could have been more had it not been for
Adrián! He has once more shown us why he is our number one goalkeeper. He
has not lost any home match this calendar year, which serves to emphasise
what a huge asset he is going into our new home. Furthermore, Noble has
converted 17 out of 20 (85%) penalties in the Premier League. To be honest,
I was a bit nervous as Watford's goalkeeper saved two penalties last weekend
against West Brom to give his side a 1-0 win. But the skipper did what we
expected of him. In recent years, we haven't been awarded our fair share of
penalties. Just to emphasise how rarely we get a chance from the spot, it is
the first time we have now scored in back-to-back PL games for the first
time since December 2009.
A victory yesterday was crucial. We are in contention for a spot in the top
5 competing against the two most successful sides in English football –
Manchester United and Liverpool. They have not, however, lived up to their
standards in recent years. That said, they have picked up more points than
us in the final five games of the season. For instance, in the last three
seasons, we have managed to pick up an average of 4.7 points from the last
five games, however, Manchester United have picked up 6.7 points, and
Liverpool have picked up 8.3 points. The point differences may appear small,
but even a point could make the difference between finishing 5th and 6th.
This informs us that recent history favours the incumbents. In the context
of the season, we need not worry, as we still have a match against
Manchester United, however, Liverpool have a game in hand.
Moreover, we have a chance to create history. We shouldn't let history
dictate where we will finish. For example, Manchester United are currently
on a run of 2 league matches unbeaten, Liverpool are on 6, and we are on 9.
This suggests that our form is better than theirs. Additionally, both of the
incumbents have lost 9 matches in the Premier League, however, we have only
lost 6. This means that we are good at getting a result, in spite of being
in a dire situation on occasion.
Another reason why the win was needed is because Watford play Crystal Palace
in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Imagine losing to a side with different
priorities. Flores rightly made seven changes, as his plan "was to try to
conserve and be fit for the weekend." Good luck to them at Wembley. Also, it
is the first time they started a league match without the striking duo of
Deeney and Ighalo since October 2014. That was back in the Championship!
Andy Carroll has done very well for himself scoring in three consecutive PL
matches for the first time in his career. It is more than his physical and
aerial presence that he brings to the side. He also provides multiple
outlets be it from the flanks to cross or through the centre creating space
for team mates. This can leave the opposition a tad perplexed what with our
range of options at our disposal. I used to resent Carroll starting matches,
as I felt he had a greater impact being subbed on. I partly felt that way,
because I used to doubt his fitness. However, of late, he has been utilised
more effectively early on in games. That is why he has started scoring
earlier rather than later. What's more, he is our second highest goalscorer
this season in all competitions. No prizes for guessing who is top…
Our grand entrance into the Olympic Stadium will be one to cherish. We have
a new club record of 15 home league matches unbeaten. Also, no team can do
the double over us, meaning we have beaten the best and the rest. As if
there weren't enough records to commemorate our final season at the Boleyn
(such as a positive goal difference for the first time in the PL), we are
only two points away from a Premier League record points total.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic said Wednesday's 3-1 win over Watford meant West Ham United
would continue to look up the Barclays Premier League table, rather than
over their shoulders at those behind them.
A deserved victory over the Hornets – secured by Andy Carroll's volley and
two Mark Noble penalties – mean the Hammers remain in sixth position, three
points behind Manchester United and four behind fourth-placed Arsenal. An
Adrian penalty save and an eye-catching return to action from Diafra Sakho
completed a decent night's work from West Ham, even if the manager claimed
his side should have scored 'four or five more goals'. "It was a good win
and a good night for us after a few draws and a lot of difficult games when
we were unhappy at the end because we think that we deserved more out of
them," said Bilic, whose side made it a Club-record 15 Premier League home
games without defeat. "It's nice to win at home and we played really good
football. We could have scored four or five more goals. It's a really good
feeling for us. "It was a really important game for us, because we said to
that players before that it was like a decisive one. We told them in
pre-match that this game would determine whether we would look up and think
'Maybe we've got a chance [of top four] if we win, or if we lose we would
look below us'. "Of course there are still clubs below us and it's not over
but it's good. We're looking up and it's nice to have five points cushion to
Southampton or nine points to Stoke. It's a good position. "Now we have a
break and a rest, then we'll have some balanced training to be really fit
for the last four games in which we'll give everything we can to win them."
There were many aspects of Wednesday's game for Bilic to be happy about –
Carroll's volley from Dimitri Payet's fine pass, Noble's nerveless
penalties, Sakho's all-round display and Adrian's late stop to deny Troy
Deeney from 12 yards. "Yes, brilliant, it was a team performance," he
agreed. "Every game, you have different individuals who are stepping up and
getting the credit, but the credit should go to the team because they were
all good. "Of course it's nice to have Sakho back with the work-rate and the
quality and everything. It's good to see the combinations, to see Andy
scoring the goal from the beautiful ball from Dimitri. "They were a great
couple of penalties, make no mistake, against a guy who saved a couple of
penalties on Saturday. And it was about time Adrian saved one because I was
told he was good. I was like 'Any chance?!' so it was a good night for us.
"OK, you could say they had half their mind on Wembley [and the FA Cup
semi-final] and named a weaker side by resting players, but I've seen enough
times in football when second options or mixed teams played brilliant
football. "All their players were international players and it was a
dangerous game for us, and that's why I was pleased not only with the three
points but the way we got them."
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Noble proud of new club record
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble admits is a great achievement to set a new Club record and go 15
Premier League games unbeaten at the Boleyn Ground and hopes they can extend
that impressive run until the end of the season. Noble has been instrumental
in helping the Hammers make Upton Park a fortress this season and enjoyed
another memorable evening against Watford as he scored two penalties to help
Slaven Bilic's side come away with a 3-1 victory. West Ham have not been
beaten at home in the top flight since the defeat against Bournemouth back
in August and have kept alive their hopes of securing a European place with
a formidable home record. Noble says he has been proud to lead the players
this year and says the new Club record is a fitting way for them to finish
their final ever season at the Boleyn Ground. Noble said: "Apart from the FA
Cup we are unbeaten here since August which is unbelievable with the last
every year at the Boleyn. "It is a great achievement from us and we want to
keep it that way. There has been a lot of hard work, determination and skill
that has helped us along the way. "For me to lead the boys through that is
fantastic. We want to keep doing that until the end and see what happens."
It turned out to be another impressive evening for the club skipper after he
made it 25 goals from 28 penalties to continue his formidable spot-kick
record. Noble added: "I am delighted with my record from the penalty spot. I
was a bit disappointed that we got our first away penalty in six years
(against Leicester) and I wasn't on the pitch! "But I managed to get two
goals tonight and they were two important ones as we were only 1-0 up and it
was a dangerous game for us. The penalty put us two goals in front and gave
us that cushion before getting another one. "I just try and relax when I
take them. I pick my spot and remain confident. I have never changed the way
I take them. I always believe in myself and 25 out of 28 is not bad.
"We keep pushing and we have had a lot of bad luck against us in recent
games. We could have been a lot higher but tonight we got what we deserved.
"Watford changed a lot of their players because of the FA Cup semi-final at
the weekend and good luck to them. But it was a potential banana skin for us
and we had to put a performance in. "It was a great ball from Dimi for
Andy's finish and that is six in six for big AC now and another assist for
Dimi. It was a good night."
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Carroll - It's positive all round
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was delighted to continue his rich vein of form by extending
his goalscoring run to six in six games on Wednesday. Carroll got the
scoring started in the Hammers' 3-1 victory against Watford, knocking home
Dimitri Payet's cross before Mark Noble's double have his team an
unassailable advantage. It ended a run of four straight draws and maintained
the push for European qualification, so understandably the No9 was full of
smiles at the final whistle. "It was very good to get back to winning ways,"
he admitted. "We've been looking for it for a while and should have had a
couple in the last couple of weeks. "It has been tough for the lads not
getting the win, so it was great for us on Wednesday. "We knew there were
going to be changes from them, but we didn't really know who was going to
play. "The tactics were to go out there, get at them, press them and that
was exactly what we did. "I felt like we were in control of the game from
the beginning. We were in their half and kept hold of the ball, so it was
positive from us all round. "I think we can get our hands on European
qualification. We haven't been beaten for a long time and we're going in the
right direction so hopefully with a few more wins we'll get there."
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian dedicates his fifth Premier League penalty
save to his baby son Enzo...
Hello everyone,
I was so happy to save my first penalty for my son Enzo against Watford on
Wednesday night! It was his first game and I give this penalty to him
because it's the first penalty I've saved since he was born, but he probably
didn't see anything because he was sleeping! He is so calm – unlike me! He
sleeps well at night, for five hours at a time, and is a good little guy.
I'll tell him about the save when he's grown up! It's another one for my
count and it's always nice when you save a penalty. I think it was my fifth
penalty save in the Premier League and I'm happy for this. On the other hand
I am not happy to not keep a clean sheet, even if it was a great finish for
them. The three points were the most important thing. We played really well
from the start, we pushed them, pressed them and had great chances. I think
it was a great game for us and a massive three points after some draws. I
have confidence in Mark when we get a penalty. Some people in the crowd were
singing 'Adrian, Adrian!' for the second one, but I stayed in goal! Mark is
a great penalty-taker and he showed that again on Wednesday night. I don't
know how I make it hard for penalty-takers. You have to ask them! I just
keep fighting and try to win the duel against them. This time, I was lucky
to save this penalty with my elbow.
As I said, after the tough run of draws during which we deserved more
points, it was important that we got a win at home. It's a massive three
points for us with two games left at Upton Park and we will fight until the
end. Manchester United won and Liverpool won, so I don't know how many
points we need to get to finish in the top six, but we'll try to win all the
games. Sometimes you can win, sometimes you can draw or lose but I think
we're showing great form from the start of the season. This season is
massive for the Club and also for us and we're going to try to stay in a
high position. We have time off now and we need to rest also as goalkeepers!
Of course, we were thinking we'd still be in the FA Cup but we were unlucky
to go out now. We need to relax in these days off with our families and
enjoy them and then come back on Saturday with 150 per cent of our battery
for the last four games.
Come on you Irons!
Adrian
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Payet in PFA Team of the Year!
WHUFC.com
Dimitri Payet has been voted into the 2015/16 Premier League PFA Team of the
Year by his fellow professionals. The France international attacking
midfielder has enjoyed an outstanding debut season with West Ham United,
scoring nine goals and recording nine assists in 27 Barclays Premier League
appearances. Aside from inspiring the Club's European challenge, Payet has
added three more goals and assists apiece in the knockout competitions as
the Hammers reached the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals. The No27 is joined
in the Team of the Year by four players each from Tottenham Hotspur and
Leicester City, Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin and Manchester United
goalkeeper David de Gea. The outstanding 29-year-old is also among six
players shortlisted for the individual PFA Men's Player of the Year award.
Payet is just the West Ham player to be voted into the top-flight Team of
the Year by his fellow professionals. England playmaker Trevor Brooking
earned a place in the First Division side in 1977/78 – a season that ended
in the Hammers' relegation – while Billy Bonds was also voted into the First
Division Team of the Year in the FA Cup-winning 1974/75 season. More
recently, Mark Noble and James Tomkins were voted into the Championship Team
of the Year in the promotion season of 2011/12, while Michael Carrick was in
the Division One (now Championship) selection in 2003/04. Prior to that,
Julian Dicks (twice), Ludek Miklosko (twice), Ian Bishop, Trevor Morley and
Martin Allen were all voted into the Second Division side in the 1990s. The
title-winning 1980/81 season saw West Ham players fill the Second Division
side with no fewer than eight players, while Brooking, Billy Bonds and Alan
Devonshire were also included the previous year.
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Former Player Boleyn Memories
WHUFC.com
Valon Behrami enjoyed a memorable two-and-a-half year spell with the Hammers
making 63 appearances and scoring five goals. The Swiss international has
now made a return to the Premier League with Watford but says he will never
forget his relationship with the West Ham supporters and will be full of
emotions as the Club prepare to play their final ever game at the Boleyn
Ground next month. I have some amazing memories from the Boleyn Ground and
it was amazing to play here. I had a great time as a player and it helped me
grow up as a person as well. Even though we suffered a bad result on
Wednesday night, it was a great feeling to come back here. I was sad that it
was going to be my last ever game playing at the stadium as the atmosphere
is fantastic. There is something magical about the Boleyn Ground but I know
it is a good step for the club for them to move. I had a number of good
games and I was a different player at that time. It was amazing for me to
play in the Premier League in my first year but things started to change
when I picked up a knee injury. I started to feel negative things in my body
and I had to make a return to Italy. But I have now come back to England a
different player and I have a different feeling now. I was a youngster when
I joined West Ham and I needed to learn a lot of things. But my spell at the
Hammers taught me a lot of things and I will always be grateful to the Club.
I had a great relationship with the fans and the passion they showed towards
me on the field. They made me run more and fight harder. It was amazing. t
will be an emotional night when they play their final ever game at the
Boleyn Ground and it will be unforgettable. This ground has seen so many
moments over the year and has so much history. I will definitely watch the
game and it will be an amazing feeling.
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Payet named in PFA Team of the Year
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st April 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Dimitri Payet has been named in the Professional
Footballer Association's Team of the Year for 2015/16. The 29-year-old
Hammer, who has enjoyed a thoroughly-productive first season at the club is
one of only three players not at Leicester City or Tottenham to be nominated
in the select XI.
In addition to goalkeeper David De Gea - who Payet embarrassed at Old
Trafford in the FA Cup last month with a trademark 30-yard free kick -
Arsenal full back Hector Bellerin has been named in the team.
However it is a selection dominated by the Premier League's current top two,
with four players from each included. Leicester's Wes Morgan, N'Golo Kante,
Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy join Tottenham's Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld,
Dele Alli and Harry Kane in this year's PFA select.
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West Ham captain Mark Noble wants to give Boleyn Ground the perfect send-off
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 21/04/16 2:22pm
SSN
Mark Noble says West Ham are determined to give the Boleyn Ground the best
possible send-off by leaving with their unbeaten record intact. The Hammers
set a new club record of 15 home Premier League matches without defeat when
they claimed a 3-1 victory over Watford on Wednesday night, with Noble
grabbing two of the goals. They have only two home games remaining, against
Swansea and Manchester United, before bidding farewell to their home of 112
years and moving to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Victory over the
Hornets maintained West Ham's push for European qualification and Noble is
desperate to ensure the club end a memorable campaign on a high. "Apart from
the FA Cup we are unbeaten here since August which is unbelievable in the
last ever year at the Boleyn," he told West Ham TV. "It is a great
achievement from us and we want to keep it that way. There has been a lot of
hard work, determination and skill that has helped us along the way. "For me
to lead the boys through that is fantastic. We want to keep doing that until
the end and see what happens."
Noble scored two penalties, after Andy Carroll had opened the scoring, to
help West Ham claim their eighth home win of the season. The long-serving
midfielder now boasts an impressive record of 25 successful spot-kicks from
28 attempts. "I am delighted with my record from the penalty spot," he
added. "They were two important ones as we were only 1-0 up and it was a
dangerous game for us. "I just try and relax when I take them. I pick my
spot and remain confident. I have never changed the way I take them. I
always believe in myself and 25 out of 28 is not bad."
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Slaven Bilic still hasn't quite got the grasp of acceptable language for
media interviews
13:07, 21 APR 2016 UPDATED 13:07, 21 APR 2016
BY JOE MEWIS
The West Ham boss saw his side pick up another three points with a 3-1 win
over Watford last night, but turned the airwaves blue following the game
The Mirror
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has proved to be an instant success in the
Premier League, guiding the Hammers to the brink of a European place during
his first season in charge. But while everything is clicking on the pitch
for Bilic, it would appear that the passionate Croatian is still getting the
hang of his post-match media responsibilities. When quizzed by BBC 5Live
following his side's 3-1 win over Watford, Bilic used a spicy turn of phrase
to describe his side's efficiency in the box. "We weren't taking the p*** in
front of goal," he replied when asked if they should have scored more, as he
sent the reporters scrambling for cover. The Hammers did manage three goals
though, with Andy Carroll netting his sixth goal in six games. Mark Noble
added two from the penalty spot to put the hosts 3-0 up in their penultimate
game under the lights at Upton Park, before Sebastian Prodl pulled one back
for the Hornets. Watford winger Nordin Amrabat was sent off in stoppage time
after picking up a second yellow. The win saw the Hammers keep their hopes
of a European place alive, with Bilic's side sitting three points behind
Manchester United in fifth-place. And the Hammers' good form is clearly
exciting the Croatian - as you can hear in the interview above.
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Newham twist in OS agreement
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Buried in the small print of the rental agreement for the former Olympic
Stadium between West Ham United and stadium owners Newham and LLDC is a
clause that West Ham must agree to certain legacy benefits.
One of these legacy benefits is a target that 75 per cent of all West Ham
employees working within the stadium should be sourced from within the
borough of Newham.
The clause says "There will be a target of 75 per cent of employees being
sourced from within the London Borough of Newham, subject to the obligations
of the Parties under English and EU law. in respect of jobs at the Stadium."
"In support of achieving this target the Grantor will working
collaboratively with the London Borough of Newham employment programmes
(currently "Workplace") to develop appropriate training to prepare residents
for job opportunities, subject to English and EU law."
The same legacy benefits also thought to apply to the stadium owners E20
Stadium LLP and French stadium operators Vinci Stadium and their sub
division London Stadium 185 Limited.
Historically match day stewards at West Ham are supporters but the vast
majority live outside the borough of Newham so this may a challenge going
forward. The same may be true for the employee's of the club's store, cafe,
finance team, marketing and press teams all of which will be based at the
stadium from August. I wonder whether Mr Gold, Sullivan or Lady Brady will
consider moving to Newham to help reach this target.
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Relax, it really is good news as issue gets sorted
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Sometimes news seems too good to be true and when you have been around this
game a long long time it's best to check, check and check again when there's
a suspicion that may be the case. That's why I have spent a considerable
part of my day ensuring that all is as it seems on the Diafra Sakho front
and I'm very relieved and happy to declare that most certainly seems to be
the case.
Reports last weekend that the striker had a bust-up with another player on
the training ground and stormed out have been circulating for too long to be
ignored. And even former player Tony Gale during a commentary on the Watford
match last night laughed when being told he had returned from injury: "Oh
from injury is it? There may have been a bit more to it than that because we
now Slaven stands for absolutely no nonsense."
It's fairly widely accepted that something went off after training when
Sakho was told he wasn't in the team for Arsenal – later an injury emerged
and once a week had passed the player came out declaring peace and goodwill
in all directions. This s all very much par for the course and can sometimes
be entirely dismissed as the club covering things with some cosmetic window
dressing room leaving plenty of room for cynicism.
Not this time however, because after checking with our top source who has
given us some of the best stories we've run ClaretandHugh is happy to
announce: Sak and West Ham are hand in glove again! We were told as
categorically as we have been told anything: "Everything has been settled at
all points – there are no problems at all. "He made a difference last night
– worked really hard. His body language was good and he and the manager are
absolutely fine. "He's a West Ham player and will remain so -he is
incredibly important to the team and the style of football we want to play.
It's all sorted."
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We've got Pele
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Videos, Whispers
C and H
James Collins showed he remains a firm favourite with the fans after they
invented a new take on the Dimitri Payet Song. Supporters in the Sir Trevor
Brooking lower stand sung "We've Pele, Ginger Pele! I just don't think you
understand. He's Super Slavs man, he's better than Zidane. We've got Ginger
Pele!" The Ginger Pele was warming up at the time in front of the Sir Trevor
Brooking and West stand. When he stopped to tie his boot laces a young
Hammers fan approached him to chat with him and Collins immediately gave him
his training top as a memento. Collins came on for a cameo role in the 93rd
minute as Bilic ran the clock down to the Hammer's 3-1 win over Watford.
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Sakho breaks silence
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Diafra Sakho has finally broken silence after being noticeable absent on
social media for the past few weeks. Heo took to his personal twitter and
instagram to send a personal message to the fans after his return to the
starting line-up during yesterday's 3-1 win over Watford. The striker posted
a photo him embracing Slaven Bilic when he came off together with a message
saying: "Great team effort and important 3 points! It has been a difficult
season for me with injuries, but I would like to thank the fans for all
their support. I am very grateful. I hope the injuries are behind me now & I
will continue to give 100% to the team. #COYI" Bilic applauded Sakho after
he was substituted for Victor Moses in the 77th minute and there were smiles
from both sides and a short embrace when he left the field of play. Whatever
has gone on in the last two weeks it appears both parties have put it behind
them now and kissed and made up.
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We salute Irons fan power and the Watford boss
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Our fantastic fans reached a new high last night – we all know you are the
best in the land but this morning I pay humble homage to you all and indeed
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
There had been very little publicity given, indeed CandH had been asked to
spread the word about the round of applause for Dylan Tombides, on 38
minutes. Yet as the clock ticked to the seventh minute before half time
thunderous acclaim ripped out around Upton Park in memory of the much loved
teenager who lost his battle against cancer. It was an incredible display of
Fan Power from those who have taken the youngster into their hearts and
never intend to forget him. It was a deeply moving moment but what was
fabulous was to see the Hornets boss join in the full minute despite being
caught in the heat of what was eventually a losing battle. Sadly I can't
find a picture of the moment which is a shame because it really was very
special so I've done the best I can in the image above. You lot really are
the best and Mr Flores we all salute your humanity – some things are bigger
even than the game!
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Hammers route to Europe
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
A top eight finish in the Premier League this season for West Ham could be
enough to qualify for European football again next season. West Ham
currently occupy sixth place, three points behind fifth placed Manchester
United, four behind fourth placed Arsenal and five behind third placed
Manchester City. Liverpool are breathing down our necks in seventh two
points behind us while Southampton are fivepoints behind in eighth place.
UEFA Champions League qualification
The most straight-forward qualification outcome is that the clubs who finish
in the top four positions in the 2015/16 Premier League will qualify to
compete in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League.
1. UEFA Champions League – group stage
2. UEFA Champions League – group stage
3. UEFA Champions League – group stage
4. UEFA Champions League – play-off stage
If a club who do not finish in the top four of the Premier League win the
UEFA Champions league, they automatically take a place in the group stage of
the Europe's elite club competition at the expense of the fourth-placed
club, who will instead appear in the UEFA Europa League.
UEFA Europa League
Generally speaking there are three UEFA Europa League places given to
English clubs who fulfil the following criteria: winning the FA Cup, winning
the Capital One Cup and finishing fifth in the Premier League.
However, if the Capital One Cup winners Manchester City finish in the top
four, their UEFA Europa League place goes to the next-highest ranked team in
the Premier League (nominally the sixth-placed team).
Champions-League-FinalIf Manchester United win the FA Cup and finish outside
the top four, their UEFA Europa League place goes to the next-highest ranked
team in the Premier League (nominally the seventh-placed team).
Finally If Liverpool win the Europa League and finish in the top seven they
will qualify for Champions League play off stage. It means a Europa league
place could go down to eighth place should Manchester United also win the FA
Cup.
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West Ham can still claim Champions League spot, claims Slaven Bilic
West Ham maintained their push for the top four by beating Watford 3-1
Just four points separate The Hammers in sixth and fourth-placed Arsenal
The Gunners have a game in hand and face West Brom on Thursday night
By MARTHA KELNER FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 00:17, 21 April 2016 | UPDATED: 00:17, 21 April 2016
Slaven Bilic insisted the race for the top four is not over yet for West Ham
and piled the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester United ahead of them. The
Hammers' emphatic victory over Watford took them to within three points of
United and four points of Arsenal, who currently occupy fourth place, but
the Croatian said they should be feeling nervous about his side creeping up.
Bilic said: 'This is not over. We have had a really good season make no
mistake but I am not happy and think we should have won more points. 'We
will give everything in this last four games to win all of them. Where that
will take us we don't know but we are going to give everything and if we
play like this or even better we have a chance against every team.'
It seemed West Ham would be left ruing missed opportunities this season
after dropping eight points in their last four games before hosting the
Hornets. But this win means Thursday's game at the Emirates between Arsenal
and West Brom, who beat them in the reverse fixture earlier this season, is
of monumental importance. 'We have the pressure because we are not in this
situation every year,' said Bilic. 'Just like Leicester have the pressure,
whatever they say, but the pressure is there otherwise they wouldn't be that
nervous like they were on Sunday [when they drew against West Ham]. The
pressure is on us as well, but it's great pressure, positive pressure, not
like the pressure that Sunderland and Newcastle and Norwich are now feeling.
'This is the pressure that you should be grateful for and should worship and
should go to church and pray that it's going to be the same for the next few
seasons.' Meanwhile, Quique Sanchez Flores fiercely defended his record as
Watford manager after Sportsmail reports that he could face the sack despite
taking his side to 12th in the season and an at least an FA Cup semi-final.
'I don't know why the rumours are coming,' said Flores, 'I don't know why in
this important moment in the season for Watford they are talking about me.
'It's not time to talk about me, it's time to talk about the FA Cup, it's
time to talk about keeping the club in the Premier League next year.'
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PENALTIES GALORE
By Zaman Siddiqui 21 Apr 2016 at 07:00
WTID
This match may have been a penalty shootout, as half of all goals scored
came from penalties, though it could have been more had it not been for
Adrián! He has once more shown us why he is our number one goalkeeper. He
has not lost any home match this calendar year, which serves to emphasise
what a huge asset he is going into our new home. Furthermore, Noble has
converted 17 out of 20 (85%) penalties in the Premier League. To be honest,
I was a bit nervous as Watford's goalkeeper saved two penalties last weekend
against West Brom to give his side a 1-0 win. But the skipper did what we
expected of him. In recent years, we haven't been awarded our fair share of
penalties. Just to emphasise how rarely we get a chance from the spot, it is
the first time we have now scored in back-to-back PL games for the first
time since December 2009.
A victory yesterday was crucial. We are in contention for a spot in the top
5 competing against the two most successful sides in English football –
Manchester United and Liverpool. They have not, however, lived up to their
standards in recent years. That said, they have picked up more points than
us in the final five games of the season. For instance, in the last three
seasons, we have managed to pick up an average of 4.7 points from the last
five games, however, Manchester United have picked up 6.7 points, and
Liverpool have picked up 8.3 points. The point differences may appear small,
but even a point could make the difference between finishing 5th and 6th.
This informs us that recent history favours the incumbents. In the context
of the season, we need not worry, as we still have a match against
Manchester United, however, Liverpool have a game in hand.
Moreover, we have a chance to create history. We shouldn't let history
dictate where we will finish. For example, Manchester United are currently
on a run of 2 league matches unbeaten, Liverpool are on 6, and we are on 9.
This suggests that our form is better than theirs. Additionally, both of the
incumbents have lost 9 matches in the Premier League, however, we have only
lost 6. This means that we are good at getting a result, in spite of being
in a dire situation on occasion.
Another reason why the win was needed is because Watford play Crystal Palace
in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Imagine losing to a side with different
priorities. Flores rightly made seven changes, as his plan "was to try to
conserve and be fit for the weekend." Good luck to them at Wembley. Also, it
is the first time they started a league match without the striking duo of
Deeney and Ighalo since October 2014. That was back in the Championship!
Andy Carroll has done very well for himself scoring in three consecutive PL
matches for the first time in his career. It is more than his physical and
aerial presence that he brings to the side. He also provides multiple
outlets be it from the flanks to cross or through the centre creating space
for team mates. This can leave the opposition a tad perplexed what with our
range of options at our disposal. I used to resent Carroll starting matches,
as I felt he had a greater impact being subbed on. I partly felt that way,
because I used to doubt his fitness. However, of late, he has been utilised
more effectively early on in games. That is why he has started scoring
earlier rather than later. What's more, he is our second highest goalscorer
this season in all competitions. No prizes for guessing who is top…
Our grand entrance into the Olympic Stadium will be one to cherish. We have
a new club record of 15 home league matches unbeaten. Also, no team can do
the double over us, meaning we have beaten the best and the rest. As if
there weren't enough records to commemorate our final season at the Boleyn
(such as a positive goal difference for the first time in the PL), we are
only two points away from a Premier League record points total.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, April 21
Daily WHUFC News - 21st April 2016
West Ham United 3-1 Watford
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble netted a brace and Andy Carroll continued his impressive
goalscoring run as West Ham set a new top-flight club record of going 15
Premier League games unbeaten at the Boleyn Ground with a 3-1 win over
Watford. The Hammers have made Upton Park a fortress this season and have
not been beaten at home since the defeat against Bournemouth back in August.
The victory also ensured Slaven Bilic's side have now gone nine league
matches without defeat for the first time since an 18-match run back in
1985. It was another night for Noble to remember under the lights as he
scored two penalties and continued his formidable record of 25 goals from
his last 28 spot kicks. Carroll also continued his impressive recent run in
front of goal making it six goals from his last six games. Watford defender
Sebastian Prodl pulled back a consolation goal for the away side, while
Adrian saved a late penalty and Nordin Amrabat was sent off in stoppage
time. After four league draws, the Hammers enjoyed a memorable victory and
the three points keeps alive the Club's hopes of securing a European spot.
The home side got off to the perfect start when they opened the scoring on
ten minutes. Dimitri Payet played the perfect cross in for Carroll who
volleyed the ball past Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes to make it six in six.
Carroll has certainly returned to the first-team with a point to prove and
if he carries on this impressive goalscoring record, he will give himself
every chance of making the England squad for the Euro Finals during the
summer. The goal was the catalyst for the home side to dominate the first
half proceedings and they came close to adding a second on 15 minutes when
Payet turned provider once again, weaving his way into the box and the ball
fell to Diafra Sakho who saw his close-range shot well kept out by Gomes.
The home side were awarded a free-kick just outside the box on 22 minutes
which meant only thing as Payet prepared to take aim. The Frenchman tried
something different on this occasion with a low shot past the wall but Gomes
made a comfortable save. The Hammers continued to dominate and could have
doubled their lead on the half hour mark following a great move which saw
Lanzini burst clear towards the Watford box. The Argentine midfielder laid
the ball into Payet who fired a shot inches over the bar. Payet came close
again on 36 minutes after he produced a great piece of skill to take the
ball down first time following a great cross-field ball from Carroll and
curled a shot which flew just wide of the post.
The home fans paid tribute to Dylan Tombides with a minute's applause on 38
minutes after the youngster sadly passed away two years ago this week. And
the tribute seemed to inspire the home side as they managed to double their
lead on the stroke of half-time after Jose Holebas climbed over Cheikohou
Kouyate and brought him down inside the area. Referee Mike Dean had no
hesitation in pointing to the spot and Noble made no mistake striking the
spot kick into the bottom corner. The Hammers should have added a third just
seconds later after Sakho broke clear and played the ball into Manuel
Lanzini who had the goal at his mercy but he struck his shot wide of the
goal.
The home fans didn't have to wait too much longer before seeing a third
goal. Michail Antonio was brought down by Almen Abdi on 52 minutes and Dean
once again pointed to the spot. Noble added his second of the game when he
slammed the ball straight down the middle and raced towards to the corner
flag to celebrate with the home fans. Watford refused to lie down and pulled
a goal back on 63 minutes when substitute Steven Berghuis' free-kick picked
out Prodl who fired an unstoppable shot past Adrian into the roof of the
net. The Hammers had chances to make it four with the best opportunity
coming on 83 minutes when Victor Moses was through on goal but saw his low
show well saved by Gomes. Adrian showed his quality once again in injury
time when he made a superb save to deny Troy Deeney from the penalty spot
after Angelo Ogbonna brought down Prodl inside the box.
Watford's misery was compounded when Amrabat was shown his second yellow
card of the game for a foul on Winston Reid.
West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (C), Kouyate,
Lanzini, Payet (Collins 90), Sakho (Moses 78), Carroll (Emenike 86)
Subs not used: Randolph, Byram, Tomkins, Obiang
Bookings:
Watford: Gomes (C), Paredes, Prödl, Cathcart, Holebas, Suarez, Behrami;
Guedioura (Anya 56), Jurado (Berghuis 56), Abdi (Deeney 75), Amrabat
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Nyom, Britos, Watson
Bookings: Prodl, Amrabat
Red Card: Amrabat
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 34,857
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Farewell Boleyn - From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
David Croft is the well known voice on Sky Sports covering Formula One and
is a lifelong West Ham supporter. Crofty has a number of magical memories
from his time at the Boleyn Ground and will be full of emotions as the club
prepares to play their final ever game against Manchester United.
I started coming to the Boleyn Ground on a regular basis during the
mid-eighties and the only reason that started was a man who lived down my
street was a season ticket holder and he offered to take me. I was 15 at the
time and I made a habit of coming with this neighbour called Gerry and we
stood together on the North Bank and then graduated to the South Bank where
all the singing took place and it was a lot of fun. You had a feeling that
you belonged with the claret and blue army and it was magnificent. I
remember Frank McAvennie as he trotted out with that grin on his face as he
always did and Tony Cottee alongside him. I was captivated by heroes who
were there in front of me. I can't remember all the games but the ones that
do stand out are the League Cup win over Liverpool with Galey's free-kick
and Paul Ince scoring twice. I also had the pleasure of seeing one of the
greatest own goals the Boleyn Ground has ever seen with Steve Staunton
completely unmarked and he planted this header into the bottom corner and it
rivalled Iain Dowie's header at Stockport. Everything came together for the
team that night and we beat the mighty Liverpool 4-1. It was a memorable
night.
As West Ham fans we don't always win the war but we win the battle. There is
no better ground under the lights than the Boleyn Ground. Another memorable
game was against Wimbledon when about nine minutes from time Martin Allen
scored and I can still hear the sound of the ball hitting his boot to this
day because you are right on top of everything. The Spurs game this season
was another great evening and the atmosphere was electric. We are never
going to re-create the days when we used to sign songs for an hour and half
before kick-off on the North and South Banks but we get pretty close at
times. I will always remember the game against Wolves, a few days after the
legendary Bobby Moore passed away and seeing grown men with tears in their
eyes. We went out and gave a performance worthy of Bobby that day. We have
had some great players over the years and I was lucky enough to see Liam
Brady play at the end of his career and then Paolo Di Canio with his wonder
goal against Wimbledon.
Not all of our great goals have been captured on television but they stay in
our minds. Every time I have been back with my boys this season I have told
them to make the most of it because we will not be coming back here much
longer. I have spent 30 years of my life coming to the Boleyn Ground and I
know for a number of fans it has been a lot longer and we are going to miss
this place. I am gutted that I will not be around for the final game against
Manchester United as I will be covering the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona
but I will be at the Swansea game and will probably stay in my seat after
the whistle has been blown and try and stay there for as long as possible!!
When everything is going well under the lights there is no better place to
be than the Boleyn Ground and I will always cherish the great memories.
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West Ham United 3-1 Watford: Two Mark Noble penalties help Hammers to win
By Patrick Surlis
Last Updated: 20/04/16 10:09pm
SSN
Mark Noble struck twice from the penalty spot as West Ham beat Watford 3-1
at Upton Park to keep alive their faint hopes of a top-four place.
Andy Carroll gave the hosts the lead after 11 minutes on Wednesday night,
and Noble added West Ham's second with the first of three penalties on the
night after Cheikhou Kouyate was fouled by Jose Holebas.
Almen Abdi's shirt-pull on Michail Antonio gave Noble another chance eight
minutes after the break, and the Hammers midfielder coolly slotted home from
12 yards.
Watford were handed a lifeline when Sebastian Prodl slammed in a half-volley
after 64 minutes, but substitute Troy Deeney saw his late penalty saved by
Adrian before Nordin Amrabat was sent off for his second yellow card in the
dying seconds.
Manchester United's win over Crystal Palace means West Ham remain sixth,
three points off fifth and a further point behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who
face West Brom live on Sky Sports on Thursday.
Watford, with an FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, made seven changes but it was
Carroll, one of three West Ham alterations from their 2-2 draw at Leicester,
who opened the scoring.
It took just 11 minutes as the Hammers striker guided home Dimitri Payet's
cross for his sixth goal in as many games in the month of April.
Falling behind brought Watford to life, but with Odion Ighalo left out of
the squad and Deeney on the bench, they lacked a focal point to finish their
promising attacks, and West Ham made them pay just before half-time.
Holebas was the villain for the visitors, climbing over the back of Kouyate,
and referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing the spot.
Noble still had plenty to do up against Heurelho Gomes, saver of two Saido
Berahino penalties at the weekend, but the midfielder sent the goalkeeper
the wrong way.
It could have got even better for the home side in first-half stoppage time,
but Manuel Lanzini miscued wide when it looked easier to score.
Abdi spared his blushes shortly after the restart, turning Jose Manuel
Jurado's cross over the bar and leaving manager Flores with his head in his
hands on the sideline.
The Hornets midfielder capped a nightmare few minutes when he then conceded
the second penalty of the evening for a pull on Antonio, duly dispatched by
a grateful Noble.
But barely 10 minutes later Watford threatened to make a game of it as Prodl
expertly fired home Steven Berghuis' free-kick.
The goal prompted Flores to introduce Ikechi Anya and Deeney, and the pair
made a difference as Anya twice stretched the West Ham defence.
The hosts had chances to wrap up the points too, as Victor Moses and Lanzini
both squandered clear-cut opportunities, but an Angelo Ogbonna shirt-pull on
Prodl gave Deeney the chance from the spot to set up a frantic finish.
The Hornets striker could not take it, though, as his poorly-struck
spot-kick was kept out by Adrian.
Things got worse for the visitors in the closing stages when Amrabat, booked
for a late challenge on Kouyate midway through the second half, saw red for
a similarly mistimed lunge on Winston Reid deep into stoppage time.
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West Ham 3-1 Watford: Hammers sweep past Hornets through two Mark Noble
penalties - 5 things we learned
21:40, 20 APR 2016 UPDATED 21:45, 20 APR 2016
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Hammers are keeping pressure on the top four teams with another win, as
the long Upton Park farewell continues to deliver good memories
TheMirror
Mark Noble showed Saido Berahino how it is done to inspire West Ham to a
comfortable victory over Watford . Four days after West Brom striker
Berahino had two penalties saved by Heurelho Gomes, West Ham skipper Noble
beat the Brazilian twice from 12 yards to help the Hammers to a 3-1 win.
Andy Carroll got West Ham off to a flier when he volleyed in Dimitri Payet's
cross in the 11th minute. Noble scored his first spot-kick on the stroke of
half-time after Cheikhou Kouyate was bundled over by Jose Holebas. Michail
Antonio was then tripped in the box by Almen Abdi in the 53rd minute and
Noble dispatched his second penalty of the night. Sebastican Prodl pulled a
64th minute consolation back for Watford from Holebas' free-kick andn Troy
Deeney missed a chance to further cut the deficit when his injury time
penalty was saved by Adrian.
Here are five things we learned:
1) Whisper it quietly, but top-four still a possibility...
They are relying on others dropping points but West Ham's Champions League
dreams are still alive. Victory kept them sixth but lifted them to within
four points of fourth placed Arsenal.
2) Watford's eyes on the FA Cup
Watford's stars should be fit and firing for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.
Quique Sanchez Flores promised to rest his main men with the Crystal Palace
clash and was true to his word, making seven changes.
3) Michail Antonio shows he can play further back
Antonio has been an impressive performer as a winger but Slaven Bilic
fancies him as a right-back, even ahead of the fit-again Sam Byram.
He showed impressive defensive instincts against Watford and used his pace
to raid forward regularly, winning the penalty that led to West Ham's third
goal.
4) Bilic and Sakho patch things up
All is forgiven between Slaven Bilic and Diafra Sakho. After he pulled out
of the recent draw with Arsenal claiming he was injured the Senegal striker
was back in the West Ham starting line up. And the West Ham fans have
forgiven him too and gave him a standing ovation when he went off in the
second half.
5) Andy Carroll back on song
You can never talk too soon when it comes to Andy Carroll but Slaven Bilic
seems to be managing his fitness and workload. Having looked knackered
towards the end of the 3-3 draw against Arsenal, Carroll looked much
stronger in the closing stages against Watford and that was after putting in
a shift in which he contributed all over the pitch. He looked to have
benefited from the first-half rest he got against Leicester on Sunday.
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West Ham's Slaven Bilic eager to get more penalties — because he's not
Mahatma Gandhi!
22:30, 19 APR 2016
BY NEIL MCLEMAN
The Hammers had their first spot-kick in an away game for FOUR years on
Sunday and their manager isn't too holy to wish they won a few others
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic wants his West Ham side to win more penalties – because he is
not like statesman Mahatma Gandhi. The Hammers were given their first
spot-kick away from Upton Park in more than FOUR years on Sunday. But
opponents Leicester denied them three points after their 11th such award of
this season alone. Manager Bilic insisted the West Ham way is not to dive
for penalties. "When your player comes into the box, you want him to assist
or to have a strike on goal," he said. "His first idea shouldn't be to watch
for a contact and all that." But Bilic added before Wednesday's trip to
Watford: "I'm not Mahatma Gandhi! I'm not going to lie. I would like us to
get a penalty. "We, as a club, don't want to get that label, but
occasionally I wouldn't mind it. But I'm proud that we're not that kind of
club. "Even if it was only one example that they were labelling us – the
dive with Dimitri Payet [in the FA Cup game at Manchester United] – that was
a touch. [And] Sometimes when you feel a touch you go down, which is
different for me than diving. So that wasn't a dive."
Bilic was involved in an infamous penalty-box tussle in the 1998 World Cup
semi-final when he collapsed and got France's Laurent Blanc sent off and
suspended for the final. "I'm not proud of that, but I tried to explain it
then and I have the same story now," said the former defender.
"I didn't want him to get him sent off – I wanted to protect myself there. I
didn't want my second yellow and I don't play in the final if we go to the
final. Maybe I should think more about Laurent Blanc, but I was thinking
more about myself."
The FA have written to Bilic and Hammers striker Andy Carroll for their
comments about post-match interviews they gave at the King Power Stadium.
England international Carroll claimed that referee Jon Moss had tried to
"even things up" by awarding the late penalty which allowed leaders
Leicester to snatch a 2-2 draw. But Bilic said: "It's what players and
managers say after a game."
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Job done as AC and Nobes keep cool
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 20, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H
Irons 3 Watford 1
Andy Carroll made it six goals from six games…Mark Noble was super cool from
the spot twice…and Adrian saved a spot kick at the end.
On the face of it that would all seem pretty exciting yet the victory over
Watford was really no more than satisfactory in a match that was never
destined to hit the heights.
The Hammers grabbed the opener via a close range left foot volley from AC
after a delightful chip in – inevitably – from Dimi Payet.
Noble scored from the spot after Holivas had climbed all over Cheik Kouyate
at the end of the first half and added another when Antonio was brought down
in the second.
But Watford defender defender Prodl thumped home a decent drive to reduce
the arrears before Adrian pushed away a poorly taken spot kick in injury
time after Ogbonna had dragged down his man in the box.
By and large the Irons were always the better team and deserved their
victory but both Lanzini and Payet were guilty of several squandered
chances.
Diafra Sakho made his return and was always busy front and back, his
movement creating the sort of openings we haven't seen for several games.
Whilst the team were never at their best, the desire and urgency to get a
result couldn't be faulted as they continue to eye a return to Europe.
And with Manchester United beating Palace and Liverpool winning 4-0 against
Everton, all that mattered was the three points and at the end of it all we
could justifiably claim with some relief, if not excitement – job done.
Andy Carroll summed it up at the end when he said that the team knew there
would be changes from Sunday and declared: "The tactics were go out there
and get at them and that's exactly what we did. I felt we were in control
from the beginning. It was positive for us all around."
It was indeed but there's still so much to play for – we move on to West
Brom with the pressure remaining very much on for yet another win.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble netted a brace and Andy Carroll continued his impressive
goalscoring run as West Ham set a new top-flight club record of going 15
Premier League games unbeaten at the Boleyn Ground with a 3-1 win over
Watford. The Hammers have made Upton Park a fortress this season and have
not been beaten at home since the defeat against Bournemouth back in August.
The victory also ensured Slaven Bilic's side have now gone nine league
matches without defeat for the first time since an 18-match run back in
1985. It was another night for Noble to remember under the lights as he
scored two penalties and continued his formidable record of 25 goals from
his last 28 spot kicks. Carroll also continued his impressive recent run in
front of goal making it six goals from his last six games. Watford defender
Sebastian Prodl pulled back a consolation goal for the away side, while
Adrian saved a late penalty and Nordin Amrabat was sent off in stoppage
time. After four league draws, the Hammers enjoyed a memorable victory and
the three points keeps alive the Club's hopes of securing a European spot.
The home side got off to the perfect start when they opened the scoring on
ten minutes. Dimitri Payet played the perfect cross in for Carroll who
volleyed the ball past Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes to make it six in six.
Carroll has certainly returned to the first-team with a point to prove and
if he carries on this impressive goalscoring record, he will give himself
every chance of making the England squad for the Euro Finals during the
summer. The goal was the catalyst for the home side to dominate the first
half proceedings and they came close to adding a second on 15 minutes when
Payet turned provider once again, weaving his way into the box and the ball
fell to Diafra Sakho who saw his close-range shot well kept out by Gomes.
The home side were awarded a free-kick just outside the box on 22 minutes
which meant only thing as Payet prepared to take aim. The Frenchman tried
something different on this occasion with a low shot past the wall but Gomes
made a comfortable save. The Hammers continued to dominate and could have
doubled their lead on the half hour mark following a great move which saw
Lanzini burst clear towards the Watford box. The Argentine midfielder laid
the ball into Payet who fired a shot inches over the bar. Payet came close
again on 36 minutes after he produced a great piece of skill to take the
ball down first time following a great cross-field ball from Carroll and
curled a shot which flew just wide of the post.
The home fans paid tribute to Dylan Tombides with a minute's applause on 38
minutes after the youngster sadly passed away two years ago this week. And
the tribute seemed to inspire the home side as they managed to double their
lead on the stroke of half-time after Jose Holebas climbed over Cheikohou
Kouyate and brought him down inside the area. Referee Mike Dean had no
hesitation in pointing to the spot and Noble made no mistake striking the
spot kick into the bottom corner. The Hammers should have added a third just
seconds later after Sakho broke clear and played the ball into Manuel
Lanzini who had the goal at his mercy but he struck his shot wide of the
goal.
The home fans didn't have to wait too much longer before seeing a third
goal. Michail Antonio was brought down by Almen Abdi on 52 minutes and Dean
once again pointed to the spot. Noble added his second of the game when he
slammed the ball straight down the middle and raced towards to the corner
flag to celebrate with the home fans. Watford refused to lie down and pulled
a goal back on 63 minutes when substitute Steven Berghuis' free-kick picked
out Prodl who fired an unstoppable shot past Adrian into the roof of the
net. The Hammers had chances to make it four with the best opportunity
coming on 83 minutes when Victor Moses was through on goal but saw his low
show well saved by Gomes. Adrian showed his quality once again in injury
time when he made a superb save to deny Troy Deeney from the penalty spot
after Angelo Ogbonna brought down Prodl inside the box.
Watford's misery was compounded when Amrabat was shown his second yellow
card of the game for a foul on Winston Reid.
West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble (C), Kouyate,
Lanzini, Payet (Collins 90), Sakho (Moses 78), Carroll (Emenike 86)
Subs not used: Randolph, Byram, Tomkins, Obiang
Bookings:
Watford: Gomes (C), Paredes, Prödl, Cathcart, Holebas, Suarez, Behrami;
Guedioura (Anya 56), Jurado (Berghuis 56), Abdi (Deeney 75), Amrabat
Subs not used: Pantilimon, Nyom, Britos, Watson
Bookings: Prodl, Amrabat
Red Card: Amrabat
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 34,857
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Farewell Boleyn - From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
David Croft is the well known voice on Sky Sports covering Formula One and
is a lifelong West Ham supporter. Crofty has a number of magical memories
from his time at the Boleyn Ground and will be full of emotions as the club
prepares to play their final ever game against Manchester United.
I started coming to the Boleyn Ground on a regular basis during the
mid-eighties and the only reason that started was a man who lived down my
street was a season ticket holder and he offered to take me. I was 15 at the
time and I made a habit of coming with this neighbour called Gerry and we
stood together on the North Bank and then graduated to the South Bank where
all the singing took place and it was a lot of fun. You had a feeling that
you belonged with the claret and blue army and it was magnificent. I
remember Frank McAvennie as he trotted out with that grin on his face as he
always did and Tony Cottee alongside him. I was captivated by heroes who
were there in front of me. I can't remember all the games but the ones that
do stand out are the League Cup win over Liverpool with Galey's free-kick
and Paul Ince scoring twice. I also had the pleasure of seeing one of the
greatest own goals the Boleyn Ground has ever seen with Steve Staunton
completely unmarked and he planted this header into the bottom corner and it
rivalled Iain Dowie's header at Stockport. Everything came together for the
team that night and we beat the mighty Liverpool 4-1. It was a memorable
night.
As West Ham fans we don't always win the war but we win the battle. There is
no better ground under the lights than the Boleyn Ground. Another memorable
game was against Wimbledon when about nine minutes from time Martin Allen
scored and I can still hear the sound of the ball hitting his boot to this
day because you are right on top of everything. The Spurs game this season
was another great evening and the atmosphere was electric. We are never
going to re-create the days when we used to sign songs for an hour and half
before kick-off on the North and South Banks but we get pretty close at
times. I will always remember the game against Wolves, a few days after the
legendary Bobby Moore passed away and seeing grown men with tears in their
eyes. We went out and gave a performance worthy of Bobby that day. We have
had some great players over the years and I was lucky enough to see Liam
Brady play at the end of his career and then Paolo Di Canio with his wonder
goal against Wimbledon.
Not all of our great goals have been captured on television but they stay in
our minds. Every time I have been back with my boys this season I have told
them to make the most of it because we will not be coming back here much
longer. I have spent 30 years of my life coming to the Boleyn Ground and I
know for a number of fans it has been a lot longer and we are going to miss
this place. I am gutted that I will not be around for the final game against
Manchester United as I will be covering the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona
but I will be at the Swansea game and will probably stay in my seat after
the whistle has been blown and try and stay there for as long as possible!!
When everything is going well under the lights there is no better place to
be than the Boleyn Ground and I will always cherish the great memories.
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West Ham United 3-1 Watford: Two Mark Noble penalties help Hammers to win
By Patrick Surlis
Last Updated: 20/04/16 10:09pm
SSN
Mark Noble struck twice from the penalty spot as West Ham beat Watford 3-1
at Upton Park to keep alive their faint hopes of a top-four place.
Andy Carroll gave the hosts the lead after 11 minutes on Wednesday night,
and Noble added West Ham's second with the first of three penalties on the
night after Cheikhou Kouyate was fouled by Jose Holebas.
Almen Abdi's shirt-pull on Michail Antonio gave Noble another chance eight
minutes after the break, and the Hammers midfielder coolly slotted home from
12 yards.
Watford were handed a lifeline when Sebastian Prodl slammed in a half-volley
after 64 minutes, but substitute Troy Deeney saw his late penalty saved by
Adrian before Nordin Amrabat was sent off for his second yellow card in the
dying seconds.
Manchester United's win over Crystal Palace means West Ham remain sixth,
three points off fifth and a further point behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who
face West Brom live on Sky Sports on Thursday.
Watford, with an FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, made seven changes but it was
Carroll, one of three West Ham alterations from their 2-2 draw at Leicester,
who opened the scoring.
It took just 11 minutes as the Hammers striker guided home Dimitri Payet's
cross for his sixth goal in as many games in the month of April.
Falling behind brought Watford to life, but with Odion Ighalo left out of
the squad and Deeney on the bench, they lacked a focal point to finish their
promising attacks, and West Ham made them pay just before half-time.
Holebas was the villain for the visitors, climbing over the back of Kouyate,
and referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing the spot.
Noble still had plenty to do up against Heurelho Gomes, saver of two Saido
Berahino penalties at the weekend, but the midfielder sent the goalkeeper
the wrong way.
It could have got even better for the home side in first-half stoppage time,
but Manuel Lanzini miscued wide when it looked easier to score.
Abdi spared his blushes shortly after the restart, turning Jose Manuel
Jurado's cross over the bar and leaving manager Flores with his head in his
hands on the sideline.
The Hornets midfielder capped a nightmare few minutes when he then conceded
the second penalty of the evening for a pull on Antonio, duly dispatched by
a grateful Noble.
But barely 10 minutes later Watford threatened to make a game of it as Prodl
expertly fired home Steven Berghuis' free-kick.
The goal prompted Flores to introduce Ikechi Anya and Deeney, and the pair
made a difference as Anya twice stretched the West Ham defence.
The hosts had chances to wrap up the points too, as Victor Moses and Lanzini
both squandered clear-cut opportunities, but an Angelo Ogbonna shirt-pull on
Prodl gave Deeney the chance from the spot to set up a frantic finish.
The Hornets striker could not take it, though, as his poorly-struck
spot-kick was kept out by Adrian.
Things got worse for the visitors in the closing stages when Amrabat, booked
for a late challenge on Kouyate midway through the second half, saw red for
a similarly mistimed lunge on Winston Reid deep into stoppage time.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3-1 Watford: Hammers sweep past Hornets through two Mark Noble
penalties - 5 things we learned
21:40, 20 APR 2016 UPDATED 21:45, 20 APR 2016
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Hammers are keeping pressure on the top four teams with another win, as
the long Upton Park farewell continues to deliver good memories
TheMirror
Mark Noble showed Saido Berahino how it is done to inspire West Ham to a
comfortable victory over Watford . Four days after West Brom striker
Berahino had two penalties saved by Heurelho Gomes, West Ham skipper Noble
beat the Brazilian twice from 12 yards to help the Hammers to a 3-1 win.
Andy Carroll got West Ham off to a flier when he volleyed in Dimitri Payet's
cross in the 11th minute. Noble scored his first spot-kick on the stroke of
half-time after Cheikhou Kouyate was bundled over by Jose Holebas. Michail
Antonio was then tripped in the box by Almen Abdi in the 53rd minute and
Noble dispatched his second penalty of the night. Sebastican Prodl pulled a
64th minute consolation back for Watford from Holebas' free-kick andn Troy
Deeney missed a chance to further cut the deficit when his injury time
penalty was saved by Adrian.
Here are five things we learned:
1) Whisper it quietly, but top-four still a possibility...
They are relying on others dropping points but West Ham's Champions League
dreams are still alive. Victory kept them sixth but lifted them to within
four points of fourth placed Arsenal.
2) Watford's eyes on the FA Cup
Watford's stars should be fit and firing for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.
Quique Sanchez Flores promised to rest his main men with the Crystal Palace
clash and was true to his word, making seven changes.
3) Michail Antonio shows he can play further back
Antonio has been an impressive performer as a winger but Slaven Bilic
fancies him as a right-back, even ahead of the fit-again Sam Byram.
He showed impressive defensive instincts against Watford and used his pace
to raid forward regularly, winning the penalty that led to West Ham's third
goal.
4) Bilic and Sakho patch things up
All is forgiven between Slaven Bilic and Diafra Sakho. After he pulled out
of the recent draw with Arsenal claiming he was injured the Senegal striker
was back in the West Ham starting line up. And the West Ham fans have
forgiven him too and gave him a standing ovation when he went off in the
second half.
5) Andy Carroll back on song
You can never talk too soon when it comes to Andy Carroll but Slaven Bilic
seems to be managing his fitness and workload. Having looked knackered
towards the end of the 3-3 draw against Arsenal, Carroll looked much
stronger in the closing stages against Watford and that was after putting in
a shift in which he contributed all over the pitch. He looked to have
benefited from the first-half rest he got against Leicester on Sunday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Slaven Bilic eager to get more penalties — because he's not
Mahatma Gandhi!
22:30, 19 APR 2016
BY NEIL MCLEMAN
The Hammers had their first spot-kick in an away game for FOUR years on
Sunday and their manager isn't too holy to wish they won a few others
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic wants his West Ham side to win more penalties – because he is
not like statesman Mahatma Gandhi. The Hammers were given their first
spot-kick away from Upton Park in more than FOUR years on Sunday. But
opponents Leicester denied them three points after their 11th such award of
this season alone. Manager Bilic insisted the West Ham way is not to dive
for penalties. "When your player comes into the box, you want him to assist
or to have a strike on goal," he said. "His first idea shouldn't be to watch
for a contact and all that." But Bilic added before Wednesday's trip to
Watford: "I'm not Mahatma Gandhi! I'm not going to lie. I would like us to
get a penalty. "We, as a club, don't want to get that label, but
occasionally I wouldn't mind it. But I'm proud that we're not that kind of
club. "Even if it was only one example that they were labelling us – the
dive with Dimitri Payet [in the FA Cup game at Manchester United] – that was
a touch. [And] Sometimes when you feel a touch you go down, which is
different for me than diving. So that wasn't a dive."
Bilic was involved in an infamous penalty-box tussle in the 1998 World Cup
semi-final when he collapsed and got France's Laurent Blanc sent off and
suspended for the final. "I'm not proud of that, but I tried to explain it
then and I have the same story now," said the former defender.
"I didn't want him to get him sent off – I wanted to protect myself there. I
didn't want my second yellow and I don't play in the final if we go to the
final. Maybe I should think more about Laurent Blanc, but I was thinking
more about myself."
The FA have written to Bilic and Hammers striker Andy Carroll for their
comments about post-match interviews they gave at the King Power Stadium.
England international Carroll claimed that referee Jon Moss had tried to
"even things up" by awarding the late penalty which allowed leaders
Leicester to snatch a 2-2 draw. But Bilic said: "It's what players and
managers say after a game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Job done as AC and Nobes keep cool
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 20, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H
Irons 3 Watford 1
Andy Carroll made it six goals from six games…Mark Noble was super cool from
the spot twice…and Adrian saved a spot kick at the end.
On the face of it that would all seem pretty exciting yet the victory over
Watford was really no more than satisfactory in a match that was never
destined to hit the heights.
The Hammers grabbed the opener via a close range left foot volley from AC
after a delightful chip in – inevitably – from Dimi Payet.
Noble scored from the spot after Holivas had climbed all over Cheik Kouyate
at the end of the first half and added another when Antonio was brought down
in the second.
But Watford defender defender Prodl thumped home a decent drive to reduce
the arrears before Adrian pushed away a poorly taken spot kick in injury
time after Ogbonna had dragged down his man in the box.
By and large the Irons were always the better team and deserved their
victory but both Lanzini and Payet were guilty of several squandered
chances.
Diafra Sakho made his return and was always busy front and back, his
movement creating the sort of openings we haven't seen for several games.
Whilst the team were never at their best, the desire and urgency to get a
result couldn't be faulted as they continue to eye a return to Europe.
And with Manchester United beating Palace and Liverpool winning 4-0 against
Everton, all that mattered was the three points and at the end of it all we
could justifiably claim with some relief, if not excitement – job done.
Andy Carroll summed it up at the end when he said that the team knew there
would be changes from Sunday and declared: "The tactics were go out there
and get at them and that's exactly what we did. I felt we were in control
from the beginning. It was positive for us all around."
It was indeed but there's still so much to play for – we move on to West
Brom with the pressure remaining very much on for yet another win.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 20
Daily WHUFC News - II 20th April 2016
From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update – in
association with Spire Roding Hospital...
Hello everyone,
We have all players fit and all players available for selection for
tonight's Barclays Premier League visit of Watford to the Boleyn Ground.
Diafra Sakho returned to full training a few days ago after recovering from
a minor right knee injury. We were all disappointed not to reach the FA Cup
semi-finals last week, but we have five cup finals left in the Premier
League.
We have a fixture-free weekend coming up but, after a couple of days' rest
after the Watford game, the players will be in over the weekend for training
ahead of our next game at West Bromwich Albion. Looking further ahead, we
are planning the off-season and pre-season, which will be very short for
some players and a bit longer for others. We have players going off to the
Euros 2016 in France, to South America for World Cup qualifiers, to Africa
for Cup of Nations qualifiers, younger players to qualifiers and tournaments
and, potentially, players going to the Olympic Games in Rio. With all that
in mind, we are preparing individual off-season plans for every single
player, to give them the best-possible chance of returning for pre-season.
With regard to the pre-season, these plans are approaching finalization and
I am sure the Club will release the details to supporters in due course.
Enjoy the game tonight!
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tomkins - Watford pair are a 'real handful'
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins has warned West Ham United's Official Programme that Watford's
front pair of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney are a 'real handful'. The No5
started at of centre-half at Vicarage Road when West Ham travelled around
the A406 to take on the newly-promoted Hornets – who visit the Boleyn Ground
in the Barclays Premier League this evening – last October. The Hammers sat
third in the table, while Watford went into the game in 13th, but the form
guide went out of the window as Quique Sanchez Flores' side secured a
deserved 2-0 victory. Both goals that horrible Halloween afternoon were
scored by Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, who has gone on to enjoy a fine
debut season in England's top-flight with 14 Premier League goals to his
name.
Ighalo's partnership with captain Troy Deeney has been key to Watford's
seemingly secure position in mid-table, and Tomkins knows whoever is tasked
with marking the pair will need to be on their game this evening. "They are
a good team and obviously their front two are a real handful," Tomkins told
the Official Progrmame. "We obviously need to deal with them at our place,
because we didn't at theirs. "With Watford being a new team to the Premier
League, we didn't know a lot about them and we got a bit of a shock, because
it was a very hard game. We didn't underestimate them, but they were just
too good on the day."
Another Watford player Tomkins will need no second introduction to is the
Hornets' all-action midfielder Valon Behrami. The Switzerland international
spent two-and-a-half years in Claret and Blue between summer 2008 and
January 2011, lining up alongside the home-grown defender on dozens of
occasions. While he has been in and out of Flores' starting XI following his
£2.5 million move from German club Hamburg last July, Tomkins knows Behrami
possesses the quality to hurt his former employers this evening. "Yeah,
Valon, he was at West Ham and he always loved a bit of contact!" Tomkins
laughed, remembering his erstwhile colleague's non-stop, physical approach.
"That was Valon and the way he played. He always did his best for the team
and I'm sure he's doing the same for Watford. "I'm not sure he plays as
regularly for them as he did for us, but he's a good player among a lot of
good players who Watford have got."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United v Watford
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th April 2016
By: Preview Percy
Due to circumstances beyond our control Preview Percy has been away. And due
to circumstances beyond our control, he's back.....
Where were we before I was interrupted. Right. Watford next. Home. 7:45pm on
a Wednesday. Just the usual rush hour rubbish to contend with on the tubes
then.
Our opponents come into the match limping along in the league in 12th place
with 41 points from the 33 games played thus far. They're not going to
trouble the European scorers through their league position and they are far
enough away from the relegation places for them not to be looking up results
from St James Park, Carrow Road or The Stadium of Light every Saturday
evening.
League form has not been that inspiring. Until their 1-0 win at the
Hawthorns last weekend you had to go back to February 13 for their last win,
a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park over Crystal Palace, who they meet in the Cup
semi-final this weekend, their progress having not been decided by the
increasingly unfit for purpose PGMOL. Since that win they have gained five
points from the seven matches played, the three points at West Brom being
accompanied by singletons from home draws with Bournemouth (0-0) and Everton
(1-1). Other than that it's been defeats all the way: 1-0 away at Man Utd
and at home to Leicester, 2-1 at home to Stoke and 4-0 away at Arsenal.
There was an element of high farce about their win over the Baggies at the
weekend where a woeful West Brom contrived to lose despite being awarded
penalties in the plural, something that came as quite a shock to us watching
the highlights on Match Of The Day who had been under the misapprehension
that once awarded a penalty no team that isn't Liverpool or Man Utd is
allowed another one until Halley's Comet has reappeared. Apparently that's
not the case but, just in case it was Berahino elected to tap both of them
gently back to Heurelho Gomes to give the 'keeper some practice lest the
weekend's Cup Semi-Final go the distance.
Gomes is the one confirmed starter for this one as Flores shuffles the pack
ahead of the Cup semi-final. The work experience kid with the Harry Potter
spectacles tells me that Pantilimon is the preferred custodian for the cup
games. He came in during the January window for an undisclosed fee in the
region of £5m, the move ending a spell at Sunderland that was less than
happy as he swapped places time and time again with the equally hapless Vito
"8-0" Mannone.
I suppose some of the more gullible amongst the Watford support might have
been taken in by the "Suarez Signs For Watford" headlines but not that many.
The headlines did, of course, refer to the Spanish defensive midfielder
Mario of that ilk tarther than the racist diving biting cheat currently with
Barcelona. The Spanish lad came in from Fiorentina for around £4m having had
an unsuccessful spell in Florence (no that's not a "Magic Roundabout" joke)
who he had joined in the Summer window from Atletico Madrid, where he did
spend some time being managed by Hornets' boss Quique Flores. He does have
full representative honours for Spain but three caps in as many years, with
the last coming over a year ago, suggests that he'll be on a beach somewhere
when his compatriots open their campaign in Toulouse against whatever the
Czech Republic will be called by then.
Another winter arrival was the Dutch-born Moroccan Nordin Amrabat who
pitched up at Vicarage Road from Malaga who received a reported £6m for
their trouble, The work experience kid with the Harry Potter spectacles
highlighted the following comment from the player's Wikipedia page: His
father recommended that Amrabat play at the amateur level while studying for
a different profession. He washed dishes, made desserts and vacuum cleaned
his school while playing for SV Huizen in Almere. Now that's a trick I'd pay
good money to see. Amrabat was once sent off for making a gesture that
suggested that a referee required glasses. I'm not quite sure how he would
have reacted to Jon Moss last weekend – if there is a gesture that signifies
that a brain transplant is required I have yet to encounter it, useful
though it might be here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The
Bewildered.
Top scorer is Odion Igalho who may have been one of the last people to have
been named after the cinema in which they were conceived. Let's face it even
the chavviest single parent (and there is one around here who called her
pair Talullah and Leonardo) is probably going to baulk at saddling her
youngest with the name "Multiplex". Meanwhile (back on planet earth – ed)
Igalho has a haul of 16 goals in all competitions this season, 14 of those
coming in the league. Having said that, he's not notched in the league since
the home win in the league against Newcastle back in January, though he did
score in the Cup matches against Forest and the quarter-final against
Arsenal at the library.
The ex-Hammer in their midst is Valon Behrami. The Swiss international's
tenure at the Bo;eyn was punctuated by injury, though the one that he had
that mysteriously disappeared the second a transfer window closed did
somewhat call his commitment to the cause into question, especially as he
was gone as soon as the next window opened.
So what has happened over the past few weeks while I've been tending to the
needs of my even more aged parent, the malingering invalid? Not much. Every
game we have had has been decided one way or another by the failure of
referees to apply the laws of the game in a correct and proper manner. So
much the same as ever. The fact that the penalty given to us up at Leicester
was the first away penalty in the league since October 2010 (according to
the work experience kid with the Harry Potter spectacles) tells you
everything you need to know really. Especially as we now know that Halley's
Comet isn't due to make an appearance until 2061.
There are two sorts of referee in PGMOL. The arrogant and the incompetent.
The arrogant like to be the centre of attention at all times and are not
above making the odd controversial decision to ensure that that continues to
be the case. The incompetent have much the same effect on matches only they
do it by accident. There are those of you who like to defend the
indefensible, usually opening the argument with the phrase "it's a really
difficult job…." I agree. Which is why we should ensure those employed to do
the job are up to it. How would you like a clearly substandard airline pilot
to be taking charge of your flight to whichever Costa you great unwashed go
to these days purely because BALPA decided to scrap regular pilot
assessments to protect the ones that aren't very good? (I have dismissed
Matron's comment that you would probably want the plane to crash if you were
stuck in the seat next to that occupied by Kerry Katona on the grounds that
I haven't the foggiest idea who or what she is talking about). Well that's
where we have got to today – much as I predicted many years ago when first
Hackett and then Riley were given the job of illustrating the concept of
lunatics taking over the asylum.
The fact is that, due to substandard refereeing we are out of the cup and a
good load of points behind where we should be in the league. In fact, the
fact that we are so far up the table in spite of PGMOL is little short of a
miracle really.
Team news is that Sakho's mystery "minor right knee knock and in no way a
falling out with the boss" (hmmmm) seems to have got all better so he might
be in contention. Young Byram is available and I'd like to see him start if
fit if only to give Antonio more of a run further forward. Tone has done ok
at right back for someone for whom right back is not a natural position.
Sakho's possible return means that only Jenkinson of the registered squad
will be unavailable. That's unprecedented in the million or so years I've
been doing this (no, it just seems that long – ed.
Prediction? Well I did contact PGMOL to ask them what the score is going to
be since they clearly have it all arranged in advance these days. However,
they told me if I called them one more time they would call the police.
Strangely, when I offered to give them the number of the Fraud Squad they
sounded very worried and pretended to be a Chinese takeaway. So my
prediction is based on the result being decided by the relative merits and
strengths of the two teams involved. I realise that this is a radical
concept that will never catch on amongst the refereeing classes but hey I
think they ought to give it a go.
I've therefore stuck the £2.50 that would have gone on a get well soon card
for Knowledge Norman on a 2-1 home win down at Winstone's The Turf
Accountants. If that's alright with the officials.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At The Boleyn: Drew 1-1 (Championship March 2012). A "park
the bus" performance from the visitors who had taken the lead with a cruelly
deflected goal against the run of play early in the second half. A late Vaz
Te equaliser saw us share the points as we blew the chance to go top. Still
it all ended up ok in the end I suppose.
Referee: Mike Dean. like it matters. Falls into the arrogant pompous idiot
camp so he will do whatever he wants.
Danger Man: Mike Dean Let's face it the men in the middle have done us more
damage than any opponent this season and this particular clown has previous.
Irritating Celebrity Supporter Of The Week: XXXXX XXXX The name has been
removed due to an injunction. Apparently we're not allowed to tell you that
his XXXXXXX has a habit of indulging in XXXXXXXXX with XXXXXXX. Or that he
supports Watford. Well you would keep that quiet wouldn't you.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Robbed..and it hurts like hell
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th April 2016
By: Paul Walker
We are being robbed, aren't we? Robbed of the best season of our lives.
Systematically mugged off at every turn.
We are the victim of circumstance, never (well, almost never)getting the rub
of the green, never the beneficiary of 'things evening themselves out.'
Utterly devoid of anything that looks faintly like luck.
It hurts, doesn't it? We have longed for this season all our lives, to see
our team playing with such style, defiance and collective spirit. Slav and
the boys have not once let us down, they have been on the front foot and
going for it. A credit to our shirt. We are not getting what we deserve.
But it's not a conspiracy. There are no dark moves afoot to deny us success,
there's no refereeing mafia who are going out of their way to ruin our
dreams. We are just the victims of incompetence. Referees who make mistakes,
referees who cannot handle the pressure of a bear-pit like Leicester,
officials who are paid to do one thing right-- see offsides accurately--but
fail game after game.
Up until now it is us fans, via websites, forums and bloggers, who have
moaned and complained about the string of very poor decisions that have cost
us so much. But this time a player has lost patience, has broken cover and
said it like it is.
Our joint owners have tweeted and twirled it. Our vice-chairman has used her
Sun column to point out the facts--like no away penalty for five
years--while the surveys show we have had more game-changing bad decisions
go against us than any other top flight club this season.
But I insist that referees are not bent. They do not go out of their way to
harm us. They call it like it is. Our referees, maybe not as good
collectively as they were, are still the best around. Honest to a man. Slav
came to the defence of Jon Moss, explaining the horrendous pressures he
faced at Leicester. I would not have wanted to be in his shoes.
Now, finally, a player--Andy Carroll--has revealed what the players think,
what infuriates them as hours of hard work, training and planning go up in
smoke. They feel cheated. Simple as that. Andy, at the moment he talked
freely to a TV interviewer, became one of us.
Just like Leighton Baines at Everton who made it clear he felt there was a
lack of chemistry at Goodison Park. Shamefully he was hauled in and made to
apologise. Even worse, that smarmy Roberto Martinez then went into a press
conference to claim Baines had been misquoted. Rubbish. He just said what
Everton fans feel. They produced banners saying 'Baines is one of us' and
big Andy deserves the same treatment from the Boleyn faithful.
He said it like it is. Like the non-penalty at Chelsea that cost us victory,
the red card for Cheikhou Kouyate against Palace that cost us victory, the
wrongly disallowed Manuel Lanzini goal against Arsenal that cost us victory.
And now the ridiculous Leicester penalty on Sunday that cost us victory.
Eight points he rightly said that would have seen us in third spot. Faced
with this level of adversity--and nobody will ever convince me that clubs
like Manchester United ,Arsenal and Liverpool would ever be in our
position--our team has stuck their chests out, kept going forward and
refused to buckle.
We should be proud of them. Carroll rightly says that the refereeing is not
acceptable. He is perfectly entitled to that opinion as long as he does not
doubt an official's honesty and integrity. Even saying he felt that Moss was
trying to even things up just about stops short of that charge.
Mind you, I don't expect the FA to see it that way. Certainly having decided
to throw the book at Jamie Vardy , and charging Leicester with not
controlling their players, they will want to even things up by 'doing' one
of ours.
But it had to be said. We have been robbed. And it started really at Old
Trafford, when we outplayed Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final
and were robbed when Darren Randolph was smashed into the back of the net by
Bastian Schweinsteiger as United equalised. And don't forget the
trip(faintly I admit) on Dimitri Payet in the box by Marcos Rojo that failed
to produce a penalty.
Louis van Gaal slaughtered Payet after that, and have you seen how few
decisions have gone his way since. Danny Simpson's first tackle on Sunday
was straight through the back of the Frenchman's ankles, it was a foul, but
no yellow card.
If Moss had penalised that properly, maybe some of the intimidatory stuff
that followed from Leicester for a full half hour would not have happened.
Funny isn't it? I have kept my opinions of Leicester to myself this season
(my old fella used to say, if you can't say something nice, don't say
anything).
But I have never bought into this miracle club, all the small-fry Cinderella
stuff hasn't washed with me. They are no paupers against the big boys with
all that Thai money pouring into their coffers.
What I have seen is a cynical, hard-bitten team who get away with murder.
Who hit long balls at Vardy while relying on a couple of thugs in Robert
Huth and Wes Morgan--two players whose careers were going nowhere--to a
shore up the back, anyway they wanted.
Leicester have a world class goalkeeper and two excellent midfielders, but
this is not a team I can be proud of as champions. I have never warmed to
them, and tried not to be swept up in the rags to riches hype.
And that brings me to Vardy. He does very little to dispel the theory that
he is a spiteful piece of chav street vermin. His attitude to Moss'
authority stinks, and every game I see him in there is always a
confrontation and a mouthful of venom aimed at someone.
His journey to fame via a pub brawl, police cell and days wearing an ankle
tag along with a curfew is the stuff of dreams for the Hollywood people on
his case. I dread to think what the outcome of their film will be, a real
backstreet victim for sure.
Don't get me wrong. He has great talent, stunning pace, big heart and
clinical, brilliant finishing. High quality. But part of his game is the
high speed, high press that Leicester operate in which he gives defenders
hell. No problem with that, but he plays as if the phrase 'leaves his foot
in' was invented just for him.
That accumulation of poor tackles got him booked in the first place on
Sunday, and paved the way for his red card for a blatant dive. And of
course, his manager Claudio Ranieri claims he doesn't dive. Yea, right, tell
that to fans up and down the country who know better.
Enough of Leicester. If it comes to it, I want them to win the title in lieu
of anyone else, because I could not bare Spurs winning it. Enough said
there.
As for Sunday, our penalty came because Moss had three times warned
Leicester's defenders. Morgan and Huth individually and then as a pair. Moss
had had enough, and was going to give the next indiscretion. He didn't have
to wait long.
Sure, he could have given 100 such infringements, as in every other game you
witness these days. But Leicester pushed it just too far. We could have
suffered the same way, clearly, it is that easy to give penalties for the
all-in wresting that goes on every game. But in the end Moss found a way to
penalise us, and Carroll suffered.
Leicester were delighted, and aggrieved in equal measure. Their fans have
discovered a form of entitlement, they believe they are everyone's heroes
and deserve their place in history. So we had their fans abusing our
chairmen and their families, while little boys sobbed on their mother's
laps. Sometimes you cannot make it up.
Our boys were robbed at the end, the way we have been robbed blind for
weeks. But don't anyone try to tell you that it is all a massive conspiracy.
I know we deserve better, Carroll knows we deserve better. Good on you pal
for speaking out. To hell with whatever the FA may decide to do, you are one
of us now.
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Slaven Bilic not against West Ham players diving
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 20/04/16 11:47am
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has revealed he has no problem with his
players "occasionally" diving. The Hammers' 2-2 league draw with league
leaders Leicester City on Sunday garnered a lot of attention after referee
Jonathan Moss awarded two controversial penalties, one to each side, and
gave a second yellow card to striker Jamie Vardy for simulation. West Ham's
penalty came when Foxes captain Wes Morgan was penalised for grappling with
Winston Reid during a corner kick. That penalty was just West Ham's second
of the season, compared to seven conceded, and while Bilic says he does want
his players to become serial divers, he is keen to see them win more
penalties. "I would like us to get a penalty, but also we as a club don't
want to get that label [of divers]," Bilic said. "Occasionally I wouldn't
mind it, but I'm proud that we're not that kind of club."
Bilic is no stranger to diving controversy having been involved in an
incident when playing for Croatia against France in the 1998 World Cup
final. With France leading 2-1, Bilic went down clutching his face after
being shoved in the chest by French defender Laurent Blanc as the two
grappled at a corner. Blanc was sent off for the first time in his career
and was suspended for the final which host nation France won 3-0 over
tournament favourites Brazil. Asked about the 1998 incident with Blanc,
Bilic said: "I'm not proud of that. I didn't want him to get sent off, no
way. Why? For him to miss the final? The final is not against us. "I wanted
to protect myself there. I didn't want the referee to come with what they
were usually doing then - yellow, yellow - and it's my second yellow and I
don't play in the final if we go to the final. "Maybe I should think more
about Laurent Blanc but I was thinking more about myself. I only wanted to
protect myself."
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Dimi's terraces tribute after "bizarre" decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 20, 2016 in News
C and H
Dimi Payet believes his nomination as the PFA Players of the Year has
justified his decision to sign for the Irons – which he claims may have
seemed "bizarre." The front runner in ClaretandHugh's Iron of the Year poll
told the official site: "There is a lot of quality on the list and just to
be nominated is really something special. Some people thought that it was a
slightly bizarre decision to come to West Ham, but like I have done in all
the clubs I have played for, I have improved and taken my game to the next
level." "I have worked very hard and now I am reaping the rewards and
enjoying my time here. I am making the most of every moment here as things
are going well. The fans here are great, there are lots of things being
created for me. Some t-shirts with the song they sing about me which is
really nice. It's touching to have been welcomed so nicely and the love the
fans give me is absolutely incredible." Totally professional, Dimi declares
that he isn't even thinking about the European Finals with France because
there's too much to think about at West Ham. He said"No (to thinking about
the Euros) , I am still fully focussed on my game here. We have had game
after game in the past few weeks. "There are too many important things to
think about before then, with so many games that can have an impact on a
final position in the League."
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Mahindra may be a Hammers magic wand
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Should Indian company Mahindra, win the naming rights for the former Olympic
Stadium it could open up the massive Indian market for West Ham. India has a
population of over 1.27 billion people which is growing and expected to
surpass China by 2050. Star sports owns the TV rights to broadcast all the
Premier League games which continues to grow in popularity with young
Indians. Only Manchester United have an established brand in India many
thanks to David Beckham's high-profile but maybe now West Ham can raise it's
profile big time. Mahindra is the world's number one seller of tractors and
farm equipment although the £11 billion per year group is much more diverse
involved in the production of cars, technology and IT as well.
The firm produces some of the best Moto GP bikes. Mahindra are now set to
launch a new electric car in the UK very soon. West Ham's vice president has
a link with Mahindra when she spoke at their European conference in 2013 as
a motivational speaker. Should Mahindra win the naming rights they will pay
an estimated £120m over 20 years with West Ham receiving £20m of that in
rent rebates. Their name is not very well known in the UK at the moment but
West Ham will hope it is a two way street with Mahindra becoming a household
name in the UK while West Ham United becomes a household name to over a
billion Indians.
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Hammers miss out on £60m OS windfall
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Reports coming out of India, claim that American company International
Management Group (IMG) were originally the front runners for the naming
rights for the former Olympic Stadium. The report from www.sportskeeda.com
alleges that IMG were initially approached as stadium naming partners but
negotiations failed. IMG is a global leader in sports, events, media and
fashion, operating in more than 25 countries head quartered out of New York.
The company represents and manages some of the world's greatest sports
figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded
entertainment experiences annually; and is one of the largest independent
producers and distributors of sports media. The company was bought in 2014
for $2.4 billion dollars by WME. The article published by football writer
Khushwant Ramesh who is based in India says: "The LLDC – London Legacy
Development Corporation – initially approached industry giants IMG over a
£15 million-a-year deal but talks didn't progress and they were forced to
look elsewhere." At £15m per year, that deal would have raised over £300m
over the twenty year term which would have given West Ham up to £60m of free
rental, performance and league payments. This would have meant that West Ham
would have got the Olympic Stadium effectively rent free for the first
twenty years.
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Mooro would be so pleased with last day news
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 20, 2016 in News
C and H
It's a huge relief to be able to reveal that a hologram of Bobby Moore will
NOT be making it's way across the Boleyn on the final day of the season.
There's a very simple reason for this – the technology to create a walking
image in these hi tech terms simply doesn't exist. Reports have been
circulating for months that 'Mooro will live again on the last day' (SIGH)
via the new technology but trust us it's not going to happen. We had a good
look into the situation and have learned it is physically impossible to
create a hologram that would walk across the pitch (the famous ones like
Tupac and Golrillaz etc) have all been done on black background with a
contained staging area. The idea is dead as is the possibility of bringing
in Iron Maiden to do a last day gig – quite simply because they are touring
Australia. So why are we relieved that there's gonna be no hologram? Mooro
was the least fussy man in the world – he hated as he once put it "palaver,"
and in a column we wrote in The Sport with him he told me: "Please let's
have no statues of famous people anymore – the best camera for memories is
in our heads!"
The idea of seeing himself in the form of a hologram walking out over the
Boleyn would have absolutely horrified the great man.
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Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores describes West Ham United star Dimitri
Payet as special player
Guardian Series
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has described West Ham United attacker
Dimitri Payet as a special player but insists it is down to their whole team
to collectively stop his threat.
The Hornets will play their final game at Upton Park tonight and Payet has
been a huge part of the Hammers' success this season. The France
international has scored 12 goals in his first year at the club and is on
the shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year. Flores said: "Payet
is a very special player and I think one of the best in the league this
season. He plays on the right or the left and loves to go inside and create
trouble for the opponent. "He's very good from free-kicks and set pieces.
He's very important for West Ham and we know that. It's the same with the
other good players. We need to try to stop this player in a collective way."
The Boleyn Ground is considered one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the
top flight and it will be Flores' only chance to experience the venue with
West Ham moving to the Olympic Stadium next season. Flores said: "I love to
have this kind of experience. I would love to go there and try to do
something really special for our team and fans. It's an incredible
opportunity to try to win at an amazing stadium."
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West Ham in talks over partnership with Croatian club Hajduk Split as
Premier League club look to agree 5% stake
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic began his career at Hajduk Split
Bilic met delegates of club after the draw with Arsenal earlier this month
The Hammers are looking to open up opportunities on and off the pitch
Agreement would be similar to that between Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem
By CHRIS WHEELER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 00:28, 20 April 2016 | UPDATED: 00:47, 20 April 2016
West Ham are in discussions over a partnership with Croatian club Hajduk
Split. The Hammers are looking to open up opportunities on and off the pitch
and have held talks over taking a five per cent stake in Split where manager
Slaven Bilic began his career. Bilic met delegates of the club following the
3-3 draw with Arsenal earlier this month, and the respective club owners
have continued discussions over a partnership similar to that between
Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem. Hajduk are renowned for developing young talent
such as Croatia Under 19 winger Nikola Vlasic, and the partnership could
involve West Ham bringing their players to the Premier League. Hajduk's
marketing director Aljosi Basic confirmed further talks with West Ham
commercial director Felicity Barnard, saying: 'West Ham would like to enter
in the ownership structure of Hajduk, but is not interested in a majority
stake. 'Of course, most of the credit for this meeting belongs to Slaven
Bilic, who had half an hour after the match with Arsenal and received Hajduk
delegates in his office. His charisma encouraged West Ham to offer us
co-operation.'
West Ham have also held discussions over a similar deal involving League of
Ireland club Shamrock Rovers. West Ham co-chairmen David Sullivan and David
Gold have complained of being targeted for abuse by Leicester supporters in
Sunday's draw at the Walkers Stadium. The 2-2 result came as a blow to
Leicester's Barclays Premier League title ambitions, with only a late
penalty from Leonardo Ulloa sparing the Foxes from defeat. Leicester led
through Jamie Vardy's goal, but the striker was later sent off and Andy
Carroll's penalty drew the teams level before Aaron Cresswell fired West Ham
ahead. Carroll's challenge on Jeff Schlupp was punished with the
stoppage-time penalty from which Leicester forced the draw. Sullivan told
the Daily Mirror: 'We didn't stay to applaud our own players off as we felt
threatened. We've spoken to Leicester and they've told us they would look
into it.' Gold wrote on Twitter: 'Elderly Leicester fans turned into
monsters when WHU went 2-1 up then returned to nice old people when LCFC
equalised.' He added on Tuesday: 'I want Leicester to win the PL and I am
pleased for their fans but their behaviour towards us was unacceptable.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic would not mind questionable decisions going West Ham's way
Slaven Bilic wants questionable decisions to go in West Ham's favour
West Ham boss did not blame Jon Moss for Leicester's late equaliser
The Hammers face Watford as they look to get back to winning ways
By OLIVER TODD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 19 April 2016 | UPDATED: 01:15, 20 April 2016
Slaven Bilic will shun his image as West Ham's pacifist leader if it takes
indulging in the game's dark arts to boost his side's top-four bid. The
Hammers face Watford on Wednesday looking to get back to winning ways after
Sunday's controversial draw at Leicester City. Bilic chose not to blame
referee Jon Moss for the perceived injustice of Leicester's late penalty
equaliser, but he wouldn't mind some questionable decisions coming in his
team's favour now. Questioned on his ethical stance when it came to winning
decisions, Bilic said: 'I'm not Mahatma Gandhi! I'm not going to lie... I
would like us to get a penalty. 'But we, as a club, don't want to get that
label, though occasionally I wouldn't mind it. But I'm proud that we're not
that kind of club. 'In training sometimes they (the players) deliberately
dive to make a scene out of it, to make a show in training but when your
player comes into the box you want him to assist or to have a strike on
goal. 'His first idea shouldn't be to watch for a contact and all that.'
Sunday's draw at the King Power Stadium was littered with grappling
incidents inside the penalty areas of both sides – with one earning West Ham
a penalty of their own. Bilic believes it was a little rougher back in his
playing days at Upton Park but says the issue of hands in the box is now
much more prominent. 'It was rougher but at that time you were afraid,'
Bilic said. 'You couldn't hold the opponent like that and be sure that it
isn't going to be a penalty. 'I feel that it's happening like never before
but that's because of the cameras, now you see everything. 'This is a
contact sport, there's going to be contact but contact is different - you
can't hold a player like that in a box. 'If that's allowed then I'm going
to tell my players everybody do that, give them 50 corners a game and no
problem, you can counter-attack them! 'It's got to be punished but the
problem is when you see in different games you see in the same round there
are decisions that are given or not given, or in the same game, but it's
also hard for the referee because he can't give every one of them.'
Wednesday's visit of Watford offers an opportunity to get back to winning
ways for the Hammers in the Boleyn Ground's penultimate big night under the
lights. Bilic knows they need a victory to keep in touch with the likes of
Arsenal and Manchester City inside the qualifying placesfor the Champions
League. 'We are talking about top four. It is hard. We aren't going to give
up but it is hard, extremely hard now. 'It is not slipping away but we need
to win here and to win as many games as we can until the end of the season,'
he said. Meanwhile, Leicester are investigating West Ham co-chairmen David
Sullivan and David Gold's complaints that they were targeted by abuse from
fans during Sunday's draw.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke issues an update – in
association with Spire Roding Hospital...
Hello everyone,
We have all players fit and all players available for selection for
tonight's Barclays Premier League visit of Watford to the Boleyn Ground.
Diafra Sakho returned to full training a few days ago after recovering from
a minor right knee injury. We were all disappointed not to reach the FA Cup
semi-finals last week, but we have five cup finals left in the Premier
League.
We have a fixture-free weekend coming up but, after a couple of days' rest
after the Watford game, the players will be in over the weekend for training
ahead of our next game at West Bromwich Albion. Looking further ahead, we
are planning the off-season and pre-season, which will be very short for
some players and a bit longer for others. We have players going off to the
Euros 2016 in France, to South America for World Cup qualifiers, to Africa
for Cup of Nations qualifiers, younger players to qualifiers and tournaments
and, potentially, players going to the Olympic Games in Rio. With all that
in mind, we are preparing individual off-season plans for every single
player, to give them the best-possible chance of returning for pre-season.
With regard to the pre-season, these plans are approaching finalization and
I am sure the Club will release the details to supporters in due course.
Enjoy the game tonight!
Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science
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Tomkins - Watford pair are a 'real handful'
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins has warned West Ham United's Official Programme that Watford's
front pair of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney are a 'real handful'. The No5
started at of centre-half at Vicarage Road when West Ham travelled around
the A406 to take on the newly-promoted Hornets – who visit the Boleyn Ground
in the Barclays Premier League this evening – last October. The Hammers sat
third in the table, while Watford went into the game in 13th, but the form
guide went out of the window as Quique Sanchez Flores' side secured a
deserved 2-0 victory. Both goals that horrible Halloween afternoon were
scored by Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, who has gone on to enjoy a fine
debut season in England's top-flight with 14 Premier League goals to his
name.
Ighalo's partnership with captain Troy Deeney has been key to Watford's
seemingly secure position in mid-table, and Tomkins knows whoever is tasked
with marking the pair will need to be on their game this evening. "They are
a good team and obviously their front two are a real handful," Tomkins told
the Official Progrmame. "We obviously need to deal with them at our place,
because we didn't at theirs. "With Watford being a new team to the Premier
League, we didn't know a lot about them and we got a bit of a shock, because
it was a very hard game. We didn't underestimate them, but they were just
too good on the day."
Another Watford player Tomkins will need no second introduction to is the
Hornets' all-action midfielder Valon Behrami. The Switzerland international
spent two-and-a-half years in Claret and Blue between summer 2008 and
January 2011, lining up alongside the home-grown defender on dozens of
occasions. While he has been in and out of Flores' starting XI following his
£2.5 million move from German club Hamburg last July, Tomkins knows Behrami
possesses the quality to hurt his former employers this evening. "Yeah,
Valon, he was at West Ham and he always loved a bit of contact!" Tomkins
laughed, remembering his erstwhile colleague's non-stop, physical approach.
"That was Valon and the way he played. He always did his best for the team
and I'm sure he's doing the same for Watford. "I'm not sure he plays as
regularly for them as he did for us, but he's a good player among a lot of
good players who Watford have got."
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West Ham United v Watford
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th April 2016
By: Preview Percy
Due to circumstances beyond our control Preview Percy has been away. And due
to circumstances beyond our control, he's back.....
Where were we before I was interrupted. Right. Watford next. Home. 7:45pm on
a Wednesday. Just the usual rush hour rubbish to contend with on the tubes
then.
Our opponents come into the match limping along in the league in 12th place
with 41 points from the 33 games played thus far. They're not going to
trouble the European scorers through their league position and they are far
enough away from the relegation places for them not to be looking up results
from St James Park, Carrow Road or The Stadium of Light every Saturday
evening.
League form has not been that inspiring. Until their 1-0 win at the
Hawthorns last weekend you had to go back to February 13 for their last win,
a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park over Crystal Palace, who they meet in the Cup
semi-final this weekend, their progress having not been decided by the
increasingly unfit for purpose PGMOL. Since that win they have gained five
points from the seven matches played, the three points at West Brom being
accompanied by singletons from home draws with Bournemouth (0-0) and Everton
(1-1). Other than that it's been defeats all the way: 1-0 away at Man Utd
and at home to Leicester, 2-1 at home to Stoke and 4-0 away at Arsenal.
There was an element of high farce about their win over the Baggies at the
weekend where a woeful West Brom contrived to lose despite being awarded
penalties in the plural, something that came as quite a shock to us watching
the highlights on Match Of The Day who had been under the misapprehension
that once awarded a penalty no team that isn't Liverpool or Man Utd is
allowed another one until Halley's Comet has reappeared. Apparently that's
not the case but, just in case it was Berahino elected to tap both of them
gently back to Heurelho Gomes to give the 'keeper some practice lest the
weekend's Cup Semi-Final go the distance.
Gomes is the one confirmed starter for this one as Flores shuffles the pack
ahead of the Cup semi-final. The work experience kid with the Harry Potter
spectacles tells me that Pantilimon is the preferred custodian for the cup
games. He came in during the January window for an undisclosed fee in the
region of £5m, the move ending a spell at Sunderland that was less than
happy as he swapped places time and time again with the equally hapless Vito
"8-0" Mannone.
I suppose some of the more gullible amongst the Watford support might have
been taken in by the "Suarez Signs For Watford" headlines but not that many.
The headlines did, of course, refer to the Spanish defensive midfielder
Mario of that ilk tarther than the racist diving biting cheat currently with
Barcelona. The Spanish lad came in from Fiorentina for around £4m having had
an unsuccessful spell in Florence (no that's not a "Magic Roundabout" joke)
who he had joined in the Summer window from Atletico Madrid, where he did
spend some time being managed by Hornets' boss Quique Flores. He does have
full representative honours for Spain but three caps in as many years, with
the last coming over a year ago, suggests that he'll be on a beach somewhere
when his compatriots open their campaign in Toulouse against whatever the
Czech Republic will be called by then.
Another winter arrival was the Dutch-born Moroccan Nordin Amrabat who
pitched up at Vicarage Road from Malaga who received a reported £6m for
their trouble, The work experience kid with the Harry Potter spectacles
highlighted the following comment from the player's Wikipedia page: His
father recommended that Amrabat play at the amateur level while studying for
a different profession. He washed dishes, made desserts and vacuum cleaned
his school while playing for SV Huizen in Almere. Now that's a trick I'd pay
good money to see. Amrabat was once sent off for making a gesture that
suggested that a referee required glasses. I'm not quite sure how he would
have reacted to Jon Moss last weekend – if there is a gesture that signifies
that a brain transplant is required I have yet to encounter it, useful
though it might be here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The
Bewildered.
Top scorer is Odion Igalho who may have been one of the last people to have
been named after the cinema in which they were conceived. Let's face it even
the chavviest single parent (and there is one around here who called her
pair Talullah and Leonardo) is probably going to baulk at saddling her
youngest with the name "Multiplex". Meanwhile (back on planet earth – ed)
Igalho has a haul of 16 goals in all competitions this season, 14 of those
coming in the league. Having said that, he's not notched in the league since
the home win in the league against Newcastle back in January, though he did
score in the Cup matches against Forest and the quarter-final against
Arsenal at the library.
The ex-Hammer in their midst is Valon Behrami. The Swiss international's
tenure at the Bo;eyn was punctuated by injury, though the one that he had
that mysteriously disappeared the second a transfer window closed did
somewhat call his commitment to the cause into question, especially as he
was gone as soon as the next window opened.
So what has happened over the past few weeks while I've been tending to the
needs of my even more aged parent, the malingering invalid? Not much. Every
game we have had has been decided one way or another by the failure of
referees to apply the laws of the game in a correct and proper manner. So
much the same as ever. The fact that the penalty given to us up at Leicester
was the first away penalty in the league since October 2010 (according to
the work experience kid with the Harry Potter spectacles) tells you
everything you need to know really. Especially as we now know that Halley's
Comet isn't due to make an appearance until 2061.
There are two sorts of referee in PGMOL. The arrogant and the incompetent.
The arrogant like to be the centre of attention at all times and are not
above making the odd controversial decision to ensure that that continues to
be the case. The incompetent have much the same effect on matches only they
do it by accident. There are those of you who like to defend the
indefensible, usually opening the argument with the phrase "it's a really
difficult job…." I agree. Which is why we should ensure those employed to do
the job are up to it. How would you like a clearly substandard airline pilot
to be taking charge of your flight to whichever Costa you great unwashed go
to these days purely because BALPA decided to scrap regular pilot
assessments to protect the ones that aren't very good? (I have dismissed
Matron's comment that you would probably want the plane to crash if you were
stuck in the seat next to that occupied by Kerry Katona on the grounds that
I haven't the foggiest idea who or what she is talking about). Well that's
where we have got to today – much as I predicted many years ago when first
Hackett and then Riley were given the job of illustrating the concept of
lunatics taking over the asylum.
The fact is that, due to substandard refereeing we are out of the cup and a
good load of points behind where we should be in the league. In fact, the
fact that we are so far up the table in spite of PGMOL is little short of a
miracle really.
Team news is that Sakho's mystery "minor right knee knock and in no way a
falling out with the boss" (hmmmm) seems to have got all better so he might
be in contention. Young Byram is available and I'd like to see him start if
fit if only to give Antonio more of a run further forward. Tone has done ok
at right back for someone for whom right back is not a natural position.
Sakho's possible return means that only Jenkinson of the registered squad
will be unavailable. That's unprecedented in the million or so years I've
been doing this (no, it just seems that long – ed.
Prediction? Well I did contact PGMOL to ask them what the score is going to
be since they clearly have it all arranged in advance these days. However,
they told me if I called them one more time they would call the police.
Strangely, when I offered to give them the number of the Fraud Squad they
sounded very worried and pretended to be a Chinese takeaway. So my
prediction is based on the result being decided by the relative merits and
strengths of the two teams involved. I realise that this is a radical
concept that will never catch on amongst the refereeing classes but hey I
think they ought to give it a go.
I've therefore stuck the £2.50 that would have gone on a get well soon card
for Knowledge Norman on a 2-1 home win down at Winstone's The Turf
Accountants. If that's alright with the officials.
Enjoy the game!
When Last We Met At The Boleyn: Drew 1-1 (Championship March 2012). A "park
the bus" performance from the visitors who had taken the lead with a cruelly
deflected goal against the run of play early in the second half. A late Vaz
Te equaliser saw us share the points as we blew the chance to go top. Still
it all ended up ok in the end I suppose.
Referee: Mike Dean. like it matters. Falls into the arrogant pompous idiot
camp so he will do whatever he wants.
Danger Man: Mike Dean Let's face it the men in the middle have done us more
damage than any opponent this season and this particular clown has previous.
Irritating Celebrity Supporter Of The Week: XXXXX XXXX The name has been
removed due to an injunction. Apparently we're not allowed to tell you that
his XXXXXXX has a habit of indulging in XXXXXXXXX with XXXXXXX. Or that he
supports Watford. Well you would keep that quiet wouldn't you.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.
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Robbed..and it hurts like hell
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th April 2016
By: Paul Walker
We are being robbed, aren't we? Robbed of the best season of our lives.
Systematically mugged off at every turn.
We are the victim of circumstance, never (well, almost never)getting the rub
of the green, never the beneficiary of 'things evening themselves out.'
Utterly devoid of anything that looks faintly like luck.
It hurts, doesn't it? We have longed for this season all our lives, to see
our team playing with such style, defiance and collective spirit. Slav and
the boys have not once let us down, they have been on the front foot and
going for it. A credit to our shirt. We are not getting what we deserve.
But it's not a conspiracy. There are no dark moves afoot to deny us success,
there's no refereeing mafia who are going out of their way to ruin our
dreams. We are just the victims of incompetence. Referees who make mistakes,
referees who cannot handle the pressure of a bear-pit like Leicester,
officials who are paid to do one thing right-- see offsides accurately--but
fail game after game.
Up until now it is us fans, via websites, forums and bloggers, who have
moaned and complained about the string of very poor decisions that have cost
us so much. But this time a player has lost patience, has broken cover and
said it like it is.
Our joint owners have tweeted and twirled it. Our vice-chairman has used her
Sun column to point out the facts--like no away penalty for five
years--while the surveys show we have had more game-changing bad decisions
go against us than any other top flight club this season.
But I insist that referees are not bent. They do not go out of their way to
harm us. They call it like it is. Our referees, maybe not as good
collectively as they were, are still the best around. Honest to a man. Slav
came to the defence of Jon Moss, explaining the horrendous pressures he
faced at Leicester. I would not have wanted to be in his shoes.
Now, finally, a player--Andy Carroll--has revealed what the players think,
what infuriates them as hours of hard work, training and planning go up in
smoke. They feel cheated. Simple as that. Andy, at the moment he talked
freely to a TV interviewer, became one of us.
Just like Leighton Baines at Everton who made it clear he felt there was a
lack of chemistry at Goodison Park. Shamefully he was hauled in and made to
apologise. Even worse, that smarmy Roberto Martinez then went into a press
conference to claim Baines had been misquoted. Rubbish. He just said what
Everton fans feel. They produced banners saying 'Baines is one of us' and
big Andy deserves the same treatment from the Boleyn faithful.
He said it like it is. Like the non-penalty at Chelsea that cost us victory,
the red card for Cheikhou Kouyate against Palace that cost us victory, the
wrongly disallowed Manuel Lanzini goal against Arsenal that cost us victory.
And now the ridiculous Leicester penalty on Sunday that cost us victory.
Eight points he rightly said that would have seen us in third spot. Faced
with this level of adversity--and nobody will ever convince me that clubs
like Manchester United ,Arsenal and Liverpool would ever be in our
position--our team has stuck their chests out, kept going forward and
refused to buckle.
We should be proud of them. Carroll rightly says that the refereeing is not
acceptable. He is perfectly entitled to that opinion as long as he does not
doubt an official's honesty and integrity. Even saying he felt that Moss was
trying to even things up just about stops short of that charge.
Mind you, I don't expect the FA to see it that way. Certainly having decided
to throw the book at Jamie Vardy , and charging Leicester with not
controlling their players, they will want to even things up by 'doing' one
of ours.
But it had to be said. We have been robbed. And it started really at Old
Trafford, when we outplayed Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final
and were robbed when Darren Randolph was smashed into the back of the net by
Bastian Schweinsteiger as United equalised. And don't forget the
trip(faintly I admit) on Dimitri Payet in the box by Marcos Rojo that failed
to produce a penalty.
Louis van Gaal slaughtered Payet after that, and have you seen how few
decisions have gone his way since. Danny Simpson's first tackle on Sunday
was straight through the back of the Frenchman's ankles, it was a foul, but
no yellow card.
If Moss had penalised that properly, maybe some of the intimidatory stuff
that followed from Leicester for a full half hour would not have happened.
Funny isn't it? I have kept my opinions of Leicester to myself this season
(my old fella used to say, if you can't say something nice, don't say
anything).
But I have never bought into this miracle club, all the small-fry Cinderella
stuff hasn't washed with me. They are no paupers against the big boys with
all that Thai money pouring into their coffers.
What I have seen is a cynical, hard-bitten team who get away with murder.
Who hit long balls at Vardy while relying on a couple of thugs in Robert
Huth and Wes Morgan--two players whose careers were going nowhere--to a
shore up the back, anyway they wanted.
Leicester have a world class goalkeeper and two excellent midfielders, but
this is not a team I can be proud of as champions. I have never warmed to
them, and tried not to be swept up in the rags to riches hype.
And that brings me to Vardy. He does very little to dispel the theory that
he is a spiteful piece of chav street vermin. His attitude to Moss'
authority stinks, and every game I see him in there is always a
confrontation and a mouthful of venom aimed at someone.
His journey to fame via a pub brawl, police cell and days wearing an ankle
tag along with a curfew is the stuff of dreams for the Hollywood people on
his case. I dread to think what the outcome of their film will be, a real
backstreet victim for sure.
Don't get me wrong. He has great talent, stunning pace, big heart and
clinical, brilliant finishing. High quality. But part of his game is the
high speed, high press that Leicester operate in which he gives defenders
hell. No problem with that, but he plays as if the phrase 'leaves his foot
in' was invented just for him.
That accumulation of poor tackles got him booked in the first place on
Sunday, and paved the way for his red card for a blatant dive. And of
course, his manager Claudio Ranieri claims he doesn't dive. Yea, right, tell
that to fans up and down the country who know better.
Enough of Leicester. If it comes to it, I want them to win the title in lieu
of anyone else, because I could not bare Spurs winning it. Enough said
there.
As for Sunday, our penalty came because Moss had three times warned
Leicester's defenders. Morgan and Huth individually and then as a pair. Moss
had had enough, and was going to give the next indiscretion. He didn't have
to wait long.
Sure, he could have given 100 such infringements, as in every other game you
witness these days. But Leicester pushed it just too far. We could have
suffered the same way, clearly, it is that easy to give penalties for the
all-in wresting that goes on every game. But in the end Moss found a way to
penalise us, and Carroll suffered.
Leicester were delighted, and aggrieved in equal measure. Their fans have
discovered a form of entitlement, they believe they are everyone's heroes
and deserve their place in history. So we had their fans abusing our
chairmen and their families, while little boys sobbed on their mother's
laps. Sometimes you cannot make it up.
Our boys were robbed at the end, the way we have been robbed blind for
weeks. But don't anyone try to tell you that it is all a massive conspiracy.
I know we deserve better, Carroll knows we deserve better. Good on you pal
for speaking out. To hell with whatever the FA may decide to do, you are one
of us now.
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Slaven Bilic not against West Ham players diving
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 20/04/16 11:47am
SSN
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has revealed he has no problem with his
players "occasionally" diving. The Hammers' 2-2 league draw with league
leaders Leicester City on Sunday garnered a lot of attention after referee
Jonathan Moss awarded two controversial penalties, one to each side, and
gave a second yellow card to striker Jamie Vardy for simulation. West Ham's
penalty came when Foxes captain Wes Morgan was penalised for grappling with
Winston Reid during a corner kick. That penalty was just West Ham's second
of the season, compared to seven conceded, and while Bilic says he does want
his players to become serial divers, he is keen to see them win more
penalties. "I would like us to get a penalty, but also we as a club don't
want to get that label [of divers]," Bilic said. "Occasionally I wouldn't
mind it, but I'm proud that we're not that kind of club."
Bilic is no stranger to diving controversy having been involved in an
incident when playing for Croatia against France in the 1998 World Cup
final. With France leading 2-1, Bilic went down clutching his face after
being shoved in the chest by French defender Laurent Blanc as the two
grappled at a corner. Blanc was sent off for the first time in his career
and was suspended for the final which host nation France won 3-0 over
tournament favourites Brazil. Asked about the 1998 incident with Blanc,
Bilic said: "I'm not proud of that. I didn't want him to get sent off, no
way. Why? For him to miss the final? The final is not against us. "I wanted
to protect myself there. I didn't want the referee to come with what they
were usually doing then - yellow, yellow - and it's my second yellow and I
don't play in the final if we go to the final. "Maybe I should think more
about Laurent Blanc but I was thinking more about myself. I only wanted to
protect myself."
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Dimi's terraces tribute after "bizarre" decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 20, 2016 in News
C and H
Dimi Payet believes his nomination as the PFA Players of the Year has
justified his decision to sign for the Irons – which he claims may have
seemed "bizarre." The front runner in ClaretandHugh's Iron of the Year poll
told the official site: "There is a lot of quality on the list and just to
be nominated is really something special. Some people thought that it was a
slightly bizarre decision to come to West Ham, but like I have done in all
the clubs I have played for, I have improved and taken my game to the next
level." "I have worked very hard and now I am reaping the rewards and
enjoying my time here. I am making the most of every moment here as things
are going well. The fans here are great, there are lots of things being
created for me. Some t-shirts with the song they sing about me which is
really nice. It's touching to have been welcomed so nicely and the love the
fans give me is absolutely incredible." Totally professional, Dimi declares
that he isn't even thinking about the European Finals with France because
there's too much to think about at West Ham. He said"No (to thinking about
the Euros) , I am still fully focussed on my game here. We have had game
after game in the past few weeks. "There are too many important things to
think about before then, with so many games that can have an impact on a
final position in the League."
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Mahindra may be a Hammers magic wand
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Should Indian company Mahindra, win the naming rights for the former Olympic
Stadium it could open up the massive Indian market for West Ham. India has a
population of over 1.27 billion people which is growing and expected to
surpass China by 2050. Star sports owns the TV rights to broadcast all the
Premier League games which continues to grow in popularity with young
Indians. Only Manchester United have an established brand in India many
thanks to David Beckham's high-profile but maybe now West Ham can raise it's
profile big time. Mahindra is the world's number one seller of tractors and
farm equipment although the £11 billion per year group is much more diverse
involved in the production of cars, technology and IT as well.
The firm produces some of the best Moto GP bikes. Mahindra are now set to
launch a new electric car in the UK very soon. West Ham's vice president has
a link with Mahindra when she spoke at their European conference in 2013 as
a motivational speaker. Should Mahindra win the naming rights they will pay
an estimated £120m over 20 years with West Ham receiving £20m of that in
rent rebates. Their name is not very well known in the UK at the moment but
West Ham will hope it is a two way street with Mahindra becoming a household
name in the UK while West Ham United becomes a household name to over a
billion Indians.
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Hammers miss out on £60m OS windfall
Posted by Sean Whetstone on April 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Reports coming out of India, claim that American company International
Management Group (IMG) were originally the front runners for the naming
rights for the former Olympic Stadium. The report from www.sportskeeda.com
alleges that IMG were initially approached as stadium naming partners but
negotiations failed. IMG is a global leader in sports, events, media and
fashion, operating in more than 25 countries head quartered out of New York.
The company represents and manages some of the world's greatest sports
figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded
entertainment experiences annually; and is one of the largest independent
producers and distributors of sports media. The company was bought in 2014
for $2.4 billion dollars by WME. The article published by football writer
Khushwant Ramesh who is based in India says: "The LLDC – London Legacy
Development Corporation – initially approached industry giants IMG over a
£15 million-a-year deal but talks didn't progress and they were forced to
look elsewhere." At £15m per year, that deal would have raised over £300m
over the twenty year term which would have given West Ham up to £60m of free
rental, performance and league payments. This would have meant that West Ham
would have got the Olympic Stadium effectively rent free for the first
twenty years.
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Mooro would be so pleased with last day news
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 20, 2016 in News
C and H
It's a huge relief to be able to reveal that a hologram of Bobby Moore will
NOT be making it's way across the Boleyn on the final day of the season.
There's a very simple reason for this – the technology to create a walking
image in these hi tech terms simply doesn't exist. Reports have been
circulating for months that 'Mooro will live again on the last day' (SIGH)
via the new technology but trust us it's not going to happen. We had a good
look into the situation and have learned it is physically impossible to
create a hologram that would walk across the pitch (the famous ones like
Tupac and Golrillaz etc) have all been done on black background with a
contained staging area. The idea is dead as is the possibility of bringing
in Iron Maiden to do a last day gig – quite simply because they are touring
Australia. So why are we relieved that there's gonna be no hologram? Mooro
was the least fussy man in the world – he hated as he once put it "palaver,"
and in a column we wrote in The Sport with him he told me: "Please let's
have no statues of famous people anymore – the best camera for memories is
in our heads!"
The idea of seeing himself in the form of a hologram walking out over the
Boleyn would have absolutely horrified the great man.
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Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores describes West Ham United star Dimitri
Payet as special player
Guardian Series
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has described West Ham United attacker
Dimitri Payet as a special player but insists it is down to their whole team
to collectively stop his threat.
The Hornets will play their final game at Upton Park tonight and Payet has
been a huge part of the Hammers' success this season. The France
international has scored 12 goals in his first year at the club and is on
the shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year. Flores said: "Payet
is a very special player and I think one of the best in the league this
season. He plays on the right or the left and loves to go inside and create
trouble for the opponent. "He's very good from free-kicks and set pieces.
He's very important for West Ham and we know that. It's the same with the
other good players. We need to try to stop this player in a collective way."
The Boleyn Ground is considered one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the
top flight and it will be Flores' only chance to experience the venue with
West Ham moving to the Olympic Stadium next season. Flores said: "I love to
have this kind of experience. I would love to go there and try to do
something really special for our team and fans. It's an incredible
opportunity to try to win at an amazing stadium."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham in talks over partnership with Croatian club Hajduk Split as
Premier League club look to agree 5% stake
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic began his career at Hajduk Split
Bilic met delegates of club after the draw with Arsenal earlier this month
The Hammers are looking to open up opportunities on and off the pitch
Agreement would be similar to that between Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem
By CHRIS WHEELER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 00:28, 20 April 2016 | UPDATED: 00:47, 20 April 2016
West Ham are in discussions over a partnership with Croatian club Hajduk
Split. The Hammers are looking to open up opportunities on and off the pitch
and have held talks over taking a five per cent stake in Split where manager
Slaven Bilic began his career. Bilic met delegates of the club following the
3-3 draw with Arsenal earlier this month, and the respective club owners
have continued discussions over a partnership similar to that between
Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem. Hajduk are renowned for developing young talent
such as Croatia Under 19 winger Nikola Vlasic, and the partnership could
involve West Ham bringing their players to the Premier League. Hajduk's
marketing director Aljosi Basic confirmed further talks with West Ham
commercial director Felicity Barnard, saying: 'West Ham would like to enter
in the ownership structure of Hajduk, but is not interested in a majority
stake. 'Of course, most of the credit for this meeting belongs to Slaven
Bilic, who had half an hour after the match with Arsenal and received Hajduk
delegates in his office. His charisma encouraged West Ham to offer us
co-operation.'
West Ham have also held discussions over a similar deal involving League of
Ireland club Shamrock Rovers. West Ham co-chairmen David Sullivan and David
Gold have complained of being targeted for abuse by Leicester supporters in
Sunday's draw at the Walkers Stadium. The 2-2 result came as a blow to
Leicester's Barclays Premier League title ambitions, with only a late
penalty from Leonardo Ulloa sparing the Foxes from defeat. Leicester led
through Jamie Vardy's goal, but the striker was later sent off and Andy
Carroll's penalty drew the teams level before Aaron Cresswell fired West Ham
ahead. Carroll's challenge on Jeff Schlupp was punished with the
stoppage-time penalty from which Leicester forced the draw. Sullivan told
the Daily Mirror: 'We didn't stay to applaud our own players off as we felt
threatened. We've spoken to Leicester and they've told us they would look
into it.' Gold wrote on Twitter: 'Elderly Leicester fans turned into
monsters when WHU went 2-1 up then returned to nice old people when LCFC
equalised.' He added on Tuesday: 'I want Leicester to win the PL and I am
pleased for their fans but their behaviour towards us was unacceptable.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic would not mind questionable decisions going West Ham's way
Slaven Bilic wants questionable decisions to go in West Ham's favour
West Ham boss did not blame Jon Moss for Leicester's late equaliser
The Hammers face Watford as they look to get back to winning ways
By OLIVER TODD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 19 April 2016 | UPDATED: 01:15, 20 April 2016
Slaven Bilic will shun his image as West Ham's pacifist leader if it takes
indulging in the game's dark arts to boost his side's top-four bid. The
Hammers face Watford on Wednesday looking to get back to winning ways after
Sunday's controversial draw at Leicester City. Bilic chose not to blame
referee Jon Moss for the perceived injustice of Leicester's late penalty
equaliser, but he wouldn't mind some questionable decisions coming in his
team's favour now. Questioned on his ethical stance when it came to winning
decisions, Bilic said: 'I'm not Mahatma Gandhi! I'm not going to lie... I
would like us to get a penalty. 'But we, as a club, don't want to get that
label, though occasionally I wouldn't mind it. But I'm proud that we're not
that kind of club. 'In training sometimes they (the players) deliberately
dive to make a scene out of it, to make a show in training but when your
player comes into the box you want him to assist or to have a strike on
goal. 'His first idea shouldn't be to watch for a contact and all that.'
Sunday's draw at the King Power Stadium was littered with grappling
incidents inside the penalty areas of both sides – with one earning West Ham
a penalty of their own. Bilic believes it was a little rougher back in his
playing days at Upton Park but says the issue of hands in the box is now
much more prominent. 'It was rougher but at that time you were afraid,'
Bilic said. 'You couldn't hold the opponent like that and be sure that it
isn't going to be a penalty. 'I feel that it's happening like never before
but that's because of the cameras, now you see everything. 'This is a
contact sport, there's going to be contact but contact is different - you
can't hold a player like that in a box. 'If that's allowed then I'm going
to tell my players everybody do that, give them 50 corners a game and no
problem, you can counter-attack them! 'It's got to be punished but the
problem is when you see in different games you see in the same round there
are decisions that are given or not given, or in the same game, but it's
also hard for the referee because he can't give every one of them.'
Wednesday's visit of Watford offers an opportunity to get back to winning
ways for the Hammers in the Boleyn Ground's penultimate big night under the
lights. Bilic knows they need a victory to keep in touch with the likes of
Arsenal and Manchester City inside the qualifying placesfor the Champions
League. 'We are talking about top four. It is hard. We aren't going to give
up but it is hard, extremely hard now. 'It is not slipping away but we need
to win here and to win as many games as we can until the end of the season,'
he said. Meanwhile, Leicester are investigating West Ham co-chairmen David
Sullivan and David Gold's complaints that they were targeted by abuse from
fans during Sunday's draw.
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