Slav aiming for Liverpool repeat
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic is aiming for a Liverpool repeat - on two fronts.
The Hammers enjoyed two home victories against the Reds last season, and with a 2-2 draw at Anfield this term also still fresh in the memory, they have plenty of positive experiences to call upon.
More recently, last week's 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur provided the perfect blueprint for West Ham to follow that up in their final home game of the campaign and the manager is demanding a similar performance.
"We are preparing and we are planning to do something similar to last week when we play Liverpool," he said.
"There are a lot of similarities in those two sides - we still have two games and we are very ambitious for six points from those two games.
"We can climb up in the table - it is not the situation that we are safe now and are already on our holidays. Definitely I am expecting the same kind of determination, commitment and teamwork like it was against Spurs.
"We want to win every game and now we are without the negative type of pressure that we had against Spurs - thinking 'if we concede a goal we're going to be in that kind of situation'.
"That burden is off, so I'm expecting at least what we did against Spurs, in terms of playing and commitment.
"Talking about our home performances, we definitely improved a lot across our last six, seven or eight games. Since the start of 2017, I remember the home games improving a lot, and there were only a couple of games against Manchester City in the cup and league that were not good.
"We lost some games, like against Leicester, but we were really good. I'm not talking about the results, only, but about the performances too and they have improved a lot."
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Bilic - The team is still strong
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic says the team he will put out against Liverpool on Sunday will still be a strong one, despite the addition of Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate to the Hammers' injury list.
Noble and Kouyate have gone under the surgeon's knife for abdominal and wrist injuries respectively, bringing their seasons to a slightly premature close.
With Andy Carroll set to miss out against his former Club too, Bilic will have to turn to his squad - but as he pointed out, every player has had plenty of game time this season due to the injuries he has had to deal with all campaign.
The manager explained: "The team news is from the team that played against Spurs, we are without Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate, but the good thing is that the players who will start against Liverpool have all played a lot of games this season because of their form, or because of injuries. We will still put out a really good team.
"Andy Carroll isn't going to play. He is still feeling his hip or groin - it's in that area and since the last three or four weeks its been like a 50/50 chance whether he'll play, but unfortunately he can't.
"He tried to do it yesterday and the day before yesterday - it's nothing major, but it is frustrating not to have him because you know what he means to us."
The good thing is that the players who will start against Liverpool have all played a lot of games this season because of their form, or because of injuries. We will still put out a really good team.
The manager hailed Noble and Kouyate for their willingness to play through the pain barrier as they postponed surgery for the good of the team over the last couple of months.
He added: "It is a hernia thing for Mark. He has had it for the last couple of months - he didn't want to talk about it because he is a captain, a great captain and he wanted to help the Club and the team.
"Of course it affected him because he felt the pain, but he played through it and now, it has become a bit worse. "It is not that we're safe now and we don't want him to play - I really wanted him to play against Liverpool and he wanted it, but the surgeon said it should be done as soon as possible, so there was really no way he could play another game this season.
"He was one of our key players against Spurs, and it meant a lot to the team to have the skipper playing in that game, so it was a good decision by him [to keep his injury quiet].
"It is the same for Cheik - his wrist problem has been there since the Africa Cup of Nations, but it became worse over time and he has played through a lot of pain.
"He was supposed to do the operation earlier, but because we needed him we made a plan for him to play as much as possible."
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West Ham v Liverpool: The tactician's view
WHUFC.com
Tactical analyst George Elek looks at how Sunday's meeting with Liverpool could play out...
There is arguably no better time for West Ham to host Liverpool, with Jürgen Klopp's men struggling to find their early season groove in the absence of the injured Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson.
Seven points from their past four games represents a decent haul, but they have only scored three goals in that period. Liverpool are missing the penetrative pace of Mane, whilst Henderson's metronomic passing had provided the platform for Liverpool's attacking trio.
They have won their last three games on the road, all by one-goal margins, against Stoke, West Brom and Watford and a focus on not conceding the first goal away from home has seen their form improve from early season struggles, but West Ham's form since switching to the back three should give them a great deal to be positive about.
The Hammers have kept three consecutive clean sheets, with the trio of Jose Fonte, Winston Reid and James Collins proving tough for opposing teams to break down.
The advancing Sam Byram and Aaron Cresswell on the flanks has enabled Andre Ayew and Manuel Lanzini to drift inside and provide a fluid attacking force.
Liverpool's forward play has come under much scrutiny this season, with an unwelcome trend of dominating possession against weaker teams, but in areas of the pitch where they are unlikely to hurt the opposition.
They enjoyed nearly 65 per cent possession against Southampton last Sunday and had 17 shots but, except for James Milner's missed penalty, just three of these were taken from inside the box.
Lucas Leiva has stepped into Henderson's central midfield role and whilst his passing may be tidy, it perhaps lacks the probing effect of the club captain's. Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can have taken on this deep-lying playmaker role, with the forward players dropping too deep at times in an attempt to force the issue.
Against Southampton Philipe Coutinho, who should be Liverpool's greatest attacking threat, did not touch the ball once inside the penalty area. Firmino has managed three touches in this zone in their past two fixtures.
West Ham can take heart in this chink in Liverpool's armour; with the tremendous work of the defence on Friday night largely keeping Tottenham's attacking talents quiet. Spurs were restricted to just four shots on goal from inside the area, whilst England striker Harry Kane touched the ball just twice in the box.
To keep Liverpool at bay the key is pressing high in wide areas, forcing Coutinho and Firmino to drop deep to get the ball. Cresswell and Byram will likely be charged with that responsibility, whilst the back three will have to ensure that the Liverpool centre-forward, whether it is Origi or Sturridge, is not able to peel into the space in behind that will be vacated by the wingers.
The likes of Can, Lallana, Wijnaldum and Firmino are experts at timing their runs into the area to meet crosses, so the onus should be on keeping Liverpool's possession in the area between the half-way line and the final third, forcing them to take pot-shots from long range.
Such a tactic would also see West Ham able to really hurt Liverpool on the counter-attack. In Ayew and Lanzini there is little doubt that the hosts have the weapons to punish Liverpool.
Full-backs Nathanial Clyne and James Milner look to push right up the flank, meaning there should be a great deal of space for the fluid forwards to cause damage going forward. Jonathan Calleri was full of energy against Tottenham, and a similar harrying display in putting pressure on the Liverpool centre-backs would enable West Ham to win the ball in advanced areas.
The teams who have had the most joy against Liverpool this season have structured their performance in two areas, with a defence set-up to frustrate and a front line looking to spring into life higher up the pitch. It will be a tough test to maintain the unbeaten run, but West Ham proved on Friday that they have the tools to beat anyone.
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Hammers enjoying benefits of TransferMate partnership
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Official Global Payments partner TransferMate are delivering results off the pitch for the Club, playing a key role in its international payments since the launch of their partnership last December.
As the Official Global Payments partner of the club, TransferMate are delighted to play a strategic role in the club's international transactions, during what has been an important season for the club.
TransferMate has developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the Club, offering better exchange rates, as well as a fast and secure international payment solution, much to the delight of West Ham Chief Financial Officer Andy Mollett.
He said: "One of the keys for us in the transfer market is to be able to deliver the cash at the right time, and in an efficient way, so we rely completely on TransferMate to turn around the requests as fast as they can, and that's what they do for us.
"The key for West Ham is to be able to make smart, efficient, international payments at the very best rates, and TransferMate deliver that for us."
TransferMate provides an innovative global payment solution for the Club, and look forward to assisting West Ham with reliability and efficiency as they prepare to conduct their transfer business in the summer window.
About TransferMate
TransferMate is the market-leading, international choice for businesses worldwide, and now boasts one of the world's largest currency settlement networks that provides companies of all sizes and financial institutions with a payments engine for conducting cross-border transfers globally - at top speed and lowest cost.
The company has created one of the world's most extensive networks of bank accounts in over 50 countries allowing them to secure better exchange rates, eradicate bank fees and provide our clients with faster payment services. It is through these proprietary solutions that have led to over $8billion transacted in the year to date.
As a leader of global payment solutions, TransferMate has developed a range of services to meet the exacting needs of its global client base. TransferMate understand that each business has specific requirements and faces its own range of different challenges.
To discuss your requirements and any business concerns with currency volatility contact ther 24 hour team or alternatively check out their website on www.transfermate.com/westhamunited
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Longelo - We want to finish well
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s visit Arsenal for their final game of the season this weekend
The Hammers can finish as high as fifth with a victory at the Arsenal Training Centre
Rosaire Longelo says everybody is excited for the season climax
Rosaire Longelo is delighted with how his season has panned out as he and his U18 teammates aim to finish on a high away to Arsenal this weekend.
First-year scholar Longelo enjoyed a terrific first half of the season, scoring in the 3-2 win over Swansea City that put the Hammers top of U18 Premier League South.
The versatile player unfortunately missed two months between January and March through injury but has returned and helped the Hammers to string of good performances in the Merit Group.
"I'm very pleased with how the season has gone," said Longelo. "I didn't really expect it to go this well.
"I've been surprised with how many games I've had because I've been injured a bit. But I'm really looking forward to our last game."
The Hammers are currently second from bottom in Merit Group A but their recent performances could have easily produced more points.
Last time out, they battled to a 1-1 draw against FA Youth Cup finalists Manchester City with Jahmal Hector-Ingram scoring the equaliser in the second half.
Longelo admits results have not matched performances recently but hopes the season can end on a positive at London Colney on Saturday.
"I think as a group we've played quite well this season but recently our results haven't been good," he added.
"We always try our best in every game but I think we've been lacking an end product over the past couple of months.
"Everyone is very excited for the game this weekend. It's our last chance to play with this year's second years as a group and hopefully we can get the win.
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Ginge wants to keep it clean
WHUFC.com
James Collins says the Hammers know exactly what is required to end their home slate of fixtures on a high against Liverpool on Sunday - and they only have to look back a week for inspiration.
Last Friday's 1-0 victory all but ended Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of landing the Premier League title and the Hammers can dent another team's lofty ambitions this weekend with Jurgen Klopp's side chasing UEFA Champions League qualification.
With three clean sheets in a row and four from their last five starts, Collins is confident his team can keep things tight again and add a second scalp in succession to their collection.
"We have to go about combating their threat the same way we have in the last couple of games," he said. "That's defending well as a team with everyone working together and hopefully we can get a similar result to last Friday.
"I've played as part of a back three for a long time with Wales. We're playing with that system and it's working at the minute. It's getting played more in the Premier League and we've got the players to do it.
"It's been great playing alongside Reidy and Jose as a three. They're tremendous centre-halves and any mistakes I make they see what's going on and clear up for me. Hopefully I do the same for them. It's going well."
Collins has enjoyed some fine days against Liverpool in Claret and Blue - he played in both home wins against the Reds last term and kept Luis Suarez extremely quiet in a 0-0 draw at Anfield in 2013 - so has good memories of this fixture.
He added: "I've had some tremendous results against them over the years - that game at Anfield when we drew 0-0 in particular is one that sticks in the head.
"We're full of confidence at the minute - we're not really thinking about who we're playing against, we just know that if we turn up and play like we did last week we can beat anyone."
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West Ham United v Liverpool
SUN, 14 MAY 2017PREMIER LEAGUE
14:15
Venue: London Stadium
BBC.co.uk
TEAM NEWS
Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate will miss West Ham's final two games after surgery on long-standing injuries.
Andy Carroll, Michail Antonio, Pedro Obiang, Diafra Sakho, Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku remain sidelined.
Roberto Firmino and Lucas Leiva are both doubts for Liverpool because of muscle problems.
Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge are in contention to start after making several substitute appearances following returns from injury.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Alistair Mann: "Having spoiled Tottenham's pursuit of the title in their last game, West Ham now have the opportunity to wreck another team's plans by damaging Liverpool's target of Champions League football.
"With arguably their best performance of the season, the Hammers not only demonstrated what they are capable of when everything is in sync, but also proved that the London Stadium can work to their advantage - if they harness the fervent atmosphere their huge new home can generate.
"Despite entering the weekend in third, a run of just one win from their last three games has been extremely untimely for the visitors, who will feel any further dropped points may well irrevocably floor their ambitions."
Twitter:@alistairmann01
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "Everything is still in our hands. All the teams have to play tough games and no-one wins all of them. Now we have to win ours and it will be fine.
"A week ago we thought we had to win all three. Now we know a draw and a win could be enough depending on other results.
"That is the situation so let's feel the opportunity together."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Andy Carroll's injury problems: "Andy is kind of a player that has such a big impact on our game that we won't give up on him.
"Especially now as this has nothing to do with lifestyle or not being committed enough. He works really hard, it was bad luck and, as I said, I will never give up on him.
"On the other hand it is no good having a player whose name you put down first, second or third and can't rely on him."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I think Liverpool will need to win their final two games to make the top four - but I am just not convinced they will do it. I don't think they will get three points against West Ham for starters.
Prediction: 1-1
Lawro's full predictions v tennis world number one Andy Murray
Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game
West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
West Ham are unbeaten in five league and cup games against Liverpool, winning three of those matches. They have never gone six matches undefeated against the Reds.
The Hammers have won their last three home games against Liverpool.
The Reds have kept one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League visits to West Ham, in a 3-0 victory in May 2009.
None of the last 11 Premier League meetings in east London have ended level, with West Ham winning four and Liverpool claiming seven victories since a 1-1 draw in December 2001.
West Ham United
West Ham are unbeaten in five league games (W2, D3), after losing the previous five.
The Hammers have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets at the London Stadium for the first time - they last kept four in a row at home between January and February 2010.
Six of their seven league wins at the London Stadium have been by a 1-0 scoreline, with the only exception their 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace.
If the Hammers fail to score they will end the season with just 19 home league goals - their joint-lowest total in a top-flight season (also set in 1988-89).
They have lost 22 points from winning positions - a league-high prior to the latest round of fixtures.
Manuel Lanzini has scored in five of his last eight Premier League home games.
Liverpool
If Liverpool win at the London Stadium, it will be the 52nd different venue where they have claimed a Premier League victory, more than any other side.
The Reds have won their last three away games in the Premier League - they last had a longer run between February and April 2014 (six matches).
Liverpool have won three of their four Premier League games in London this season, drawing the other. The last time they remained unbeaten in the capital across an entire league season was in 1988-89.
They have only lost one of their last 10 top-flight matches in London - their 2-0 defeat at West Ham on 2 January 2016.
Victory will give the Reds 73 Premier League points - the most a team has had in 38-game season without finishing in the top four is 72 points.
SAM's verdict
Most probable score: 1-1 Probability of draw: 24%
Probability of home win: 32% Probability of away win: 44%
SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.
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A NOBLE PROBLEM
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 12 MAY 2017 AT 4:43PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
I'm down at Eastleigh Sports Ground, watching Portsmouth train with a mate. Saggy Chops Redknapp is the Pompey manager. A bloke I absolutely loathe! It is a terrible day, windy with light rain. Joe Jordan, one of Pompey's coaches, is going NUTS on the training ground. Kanu arrived late and is not bothering his arse. Misplaced passes, barely walking, shooting terrible. After about twenty minutes, Redknapp, who had been standing on the touchline, hands in pocket with a deadpan expression, Calls out to Kanu." 'King' come over here son". Kanu reaches Redknapp, now with a huge smile on his face. Redknapp gives him a hug, puts his arm around his waist and like young lovers they walk off into the distance chatting away. After about ten minutes they come back. Redknapp pats him on the back and Kanu goes back on the pitch. The transformation in Kanu's play was UNBELIEVABLE! He was absolutely UNPLAYABLE! I think Noble could have done with an arm around him at several points of this difficult season. At times his body language did not look right. Those would have been the times for the manager to tell him "Son, you are my Captain, and I believe in you. It's going to be ok".
Leadership is a lonely place when things are going wrong at any club.
As many know. I'm not Noble's biggest fan. In fact, in my opinion it is a close call whether he should be in the team. Which I will come to in a moment. But being West Ham through and through, events on and off the pitch affected him more than most. For Noble, West Ham is not just about events on the training ground or on match day. Mark Noble can run but he can't hide. His family live and breathe West Ham, his local shops live and breathe West Ham. When results are poor, they want answers from The Boy from Canning Town. Which goes some way to explain Noble's headless chicken approach to games this season. Charging around all over the pitch, trying to do three people's job. As a result, he got frustrated and his discipline suffered on the pitch.
The biggest problem regarding Mark Noble's form this season was he simply tried too hard. Till a few weeks ago, I felt his time was up perhaps the now reported injury was the problem for this though in hindsight. I felt Kouyate and Obiang should be nailed on in centre midfield. I also felt that Nordveidt was better than Noble when he was played in his correct position. It's obvious that Noble's lack of pace is a problem. When closed down quickly, he often gets dispossessed and gives away needless free–kicks. When further forward, if we lose possession the opposition break and have a free run on goal due in part to Noble's inability to get back. As a goal threat he offered nothing this season. To be fair to Noble, when he was out of the team results hardly improved. So it's a close call whether we keep Noble or ditch him.
But his lack of pace need not be a problem for Noble. Older generations of Hammers fans will tell you that the great Bobby Moore lacked pace. Moore made up for it by being a superb reader of the game. As a result he was always one step ahead on the pitch. With Noble in the team, you must have pace and movement ahead of him. Give him a bit of space, and he is capable of switching play superbly. Noble has to be far more disciplined and played a bit deeper to get the best out of him. There is no room for sentimentality in football. You cannot be selected for the team because you are 'Mr West Ham'. Like a manager, you have got to produce the goods. For players it's on the pitch.
Noble cannot afford another poor season. If he does he will be history as far as being a West Ham first team regular is concerned. But I would not bet against the boy from Canning Town, a man who has played more than 400 games for The Club. Mark James Noble brings something to the table few footballers do today. He brings loyalty. He is West Ham's heart. At this moment in time Mark Noble needs West Ham and West Ham need Mark Noble.
We are more than a football club, we are a way of life!
COYIS!
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50 years since he signed for West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 12th May 2017
By: Paul Walker
There are important landmarks in any club's history…and then there's the day Billy Bonds arrived at West Ham. They don't come much more important than that.
Bonds arrived at West Ham 50 years ago tomorrow --May 13th, to be exact--tall, slim, shy, clean shaven then, and set to become one of the greatest players in the club's history.
Ron Greenwood paid Charlton just shy of £50,000 for him, hard to argue that being the best bit of business West Ham have ever done. The fee was £48,500 to be precise, and they'd have got another £2,000 if he played for England. Amazingly that never happened.
That figure doesn't sound much by modern standards, but it was a big outlay for a 21-year-old in those days. Some clever mathematician will tell me how much that is worth at today's rate, but I don't need to be told his worth.
Bonds went on to become a true West Ham legend, player, coach, manager and he holds an appearance record for the club that will surely never be broken.
It's generally accepted that Bobby Moore is the greatest player in our history on a global scale, but Bonds pushes him very close when it just comes down to the club achievements of both. There are even some who believe his contribution far outstrips the Moore legacy.
It's a nice discussion to have, not an argument!
Moore became probably bigger than the club, a glamorous international figure and of course captain of England in '66 when the World Cup was won. That gives him an world-wide aura greater than Bonds, obviously.
But somehow there's a different sort of legacy with Bonds. The unflinching standard bearer, the protector for Trevor Brooking and Alan Devonshire, you didn't mess with Billy. Moore of course captained us to FA Cup final glory and the European Cup Winners' Cup triumph. There was also a League Cup final and a shared Charity Shield.
He also became an iconic figure for all that is good in football, with class, composure and sheer cool skills.
Bonds was a different sort of icon. He twice captained us to FA Cup final victories, was a Cup Winners' Cup final runner-up, a runner-up in the League Cup and also captain of the promotion side of 80-81. His spell as manager also produced two promotions.
Don't ask me to pick one over the other, it's hardly fair. We all love them both.
Bonzo was never capped--an outrage really--but he played for West Ham until he was 41, a club career of 20 years 9 months and 12 days to be precise, and with 793 games, the club's appearances record. In fact he was 41 years and 225 days old on his final appearance against Southampton at the Dell on April 30, 1988.
To many, Bonds was the true Mr. West Ham. I am not trying to belittle Moore's contribution, but we know now he wanted out long before he finally left for Fulham in 1974, and would have worn a Spurs shirt at the end of his career if Greenwood had allowed him to leave earlier.
That he didn't get his wish was a cloud that hung over his final years at Upton Park, even though his brilliance and desire for his local team never abated.
Moore was a master of his craft, he led by example, a cool, majestic captain. An inspiration. Bonds was a leader of men in a very different way. A fearsome swashbuckling hero, bearded by then and a true warrior in midfield. "6ft 2, eyes of blue, Billy Bonds is after you" we all sang. And you'd better believe it.
I was fortunate to see Moore's career at West Ham start in 1958, and to witness Bonds' debut against Sheffield Wednesday on the first day of the 67-68 season, Of course West Ham lost that day, but nobody there left worrying about whether young Billy--playing at right-back-was good enough for the top flight.
Greenwood used him later in central defence and then more effectively in midfield. That he never played for England is laughable now looking at the current crop of so-called England stars.
He was never lucky with England. Even when Greenwood, then national manager, named Bonds in one of his squads--and made it clear he would play--Billy managed to get injured in an end of season game at Hillsborough. Funny how Sheffield Wednesday keep cropping up--and that ruled him out of the England squad.
I was there that day in Yorkshire, and he was obviously playing in pain after a collision with Phil Parkes. You just knew watching him troop off that his international chance had gone.
His arrival at Upton Park was typical of a bygone age. No agents, just accompanied by then Charlton boss Bob Stokoe, the pair having watched West Ham's final game of the 1966-67 season against Manchester City.
A couple of weeks earlier Bonds had played for Charlton in the Wembley fives--I used to love that night out--and West Ham won the trophy that night with a squad that included Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Johnny Byrne, John Sissons and Colin Mackleworth.
The following day, so the story goes, Hurst said to manager Ron Greenwood that if he was looking for a new right-back, the kid from Charlton was a good bet.
Greenwood went to watch Charlton's last game of the season against Birmingham and spoke to Bonds--again with Stokoe--at the Valley after the match. Bonds says in his autobiography that he tried to tell Ron that other clubs were interested!
Ron is supposed to have left the room, Stokoe coming in to give Billy a rollicking for messing West Ham about. That was the end of the bartering, and Billy got a contract that doubled his wages to £60 a week and a £2,500 signing on fee.
The contract was actually signed in Ron's Upton Park office after that Man City game on May 13. Both Dennis Burnett and Trevor Dawkins were suggested as part-exchange, but both declined and Ron said: "Don't worry Billy, we'll just pay cash."
His first game for the club came two days later with a first-half performance in Ken Brown's testimonial. There was around 15,000 there to see the new recruit.
The rest is history. A wonderful club servant, tireless, magnificent captain and to my mind part of the five-strong group of players who are the best in our history: Moore, Peters, Hurst, Brooking and Bonds.
That quintet only played for three seasons together, 67-68, 68-69 and 69-70. Just what would they be worth in today's current transfer market?
We've all got our own special Bonds memory, mine came just days after he had taken over as manager in 1980.
Lou Macari had left between the two League Cup semi-final games against Oldham, the first being that infamous 6-0 defeat on the plastic at Boundary Park. Not the best West Ham performance I've seen!
Ronnie Boyce did a caretaker stint and Bonds took over ahead of the thankless second leg. Nobody in my company's London office was bothered about covering the second-leg, so I volunteered to come down from Manchester. A chance for the firm to pay for the petrol to visit my parents!
I did the pre-match press conference at the Boleyn and afterwards introduced myself, told Billy I was a West Ham fan and wished him all the luck in the world. Bonzo took me up to his office, we had a cup of tea and chatted about the Hammers for 20 minutes. Enough material for a feature piece after the 3-0 second-leg win.
He had enough on his plate at that point, with all the fuss about Macari and the cup tie debacle. But he was as good as gold that day and had time for a chat with someone he had never met before.
A gentleman then. A gentleman throughout his West Ham career. Fifty years ago? It seems just like yesterday. We were lucky to have him.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.
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West Ham v Liverpool preview: Andy Carroll misses out against former side
Last Updated: 12/05/17 12:50pm
SSN
West Ham striker Andy Carroll is set to miss out against his former club after failing to recover in time from a groin injury, while Mark Noble is also absent.
Noble has undergone surgery on a long-standing abdominal issue, a condition which he has played on with for a number of weeks.
Carroll, who joined Liverpool in 2011 before moving to the Hammers a year later, was seen as 50/50 for Sunday's game, but Slaven Bilic has revealed he will not feature.
"He tried to do it yesterday and the day before yesterday - it's nothing major, Billic said, but it is frustrating not to have him because you know what he means to us."
Liverpool - who sit third and have a one-point lead over Manchester City - know a win is crucial, especially when it comes to attracting new players says Jurgen Klopp.
"It's important - how it is always important - for the club. Everybody knows it's a lot of money in the Champions League, it's not only the sports challenge, even though it's really exciting, it's also the money you can earn and as a football club we have to do this too," he said.
Team news
Cheikhou Kouyate has also undergone surgery on a wrist injury, which he has had since the Africa Cup of Nations. Fellow midfielder Noble (abdominal) will not feature again this season and Carroll remains sidelined.
Liverpool will assess the fitness of Roberto Firmino and Lucas Leiva ahead of the trip to the London Stadium.
Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana could both return to boost the visitors' attacking options as they look to cement Champions League qualification.
Opta stats
West Ham have won their last two home Premier League meetings with Liverpool, their best run since winning three in a row between 1997 and 1999.
The Reds have kept one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League visits to West Ham, a 3-0 victory in May 2009.
None of the last 11 Premier League meetings between these sides at West Ham have ended as a draw, with the Hammers winning four and Liverpool seven since a 1-1 draw in December 2001.
In all competitions, the Reds are winless in their last five games against West Ham, their worst run since February 1965 (also five without a win); they've never gone six without a win against them.
If Liverpool win at the London Stadium, it will be the 52nd different ground at which they've won a Premier League game, more than any other side (Arsenal and Manchester United next on 50).
The Reds have won their last three away games in the Premier League - they last had a longer run in April 2014 (six games).
The Hammers have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets at the London Stadium for the first time - they last kept four in a row at home in February 2010.
Six of West Ham's seven Premier League home wins this season have been against sides currently in the bottom half of the table - the only exception was their last home game against Spurs (1-0).
Liverpool have won three of their four Premier League games in London this season, drawing the other. The last time they remained unbeaten in the capital across an entire league season was in 1988-89.
Manuel Lanzini has found the net in five of his last eight Premier League home games.
Merson's prediction
It all depends on which West Ham turns up, whether it's the team from the last few months or the one who beat Tottenham last week. It's a big game for them because another win could wipe away the cobwebs at the London Stadium and help them feel much more positive about the place next year.
You just don't know with Liverpool against so-called lesser teams. I would probably fancy them more if they were going to Man City. There's something missing in these games and they need to sort that out if they want to push on.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
West Ham are Sky Bet's 18/5 outsiders to win with Liverpool the odds-on favourites at 7/10 and the draw is 14/5. All four of Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi are priced at 9/2 at the head of a wide-open first goalscorer market, with Andy Carroll seen as the biggest threat for the home side at 13/2. Liverpool are 3/1 to finish outside of the top four and West Ham out to 4/1 to make it into the top half.
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Slaven Bilic 'not giving up' on injury-hit Andy Carroll
Last Updated: 12/05/17 1:36pm
SSN
Slaven Bilic will "never give up" on injury-jinxed Andy Carroll, who will miss Sunday's final home game of the season against Liverpool.
The striker's latest injury is his groin but the West Ham manager confirmed it was not a serious issue.
Speaking at Friday's pre-match press conference, Bilic said: "Andy Carroll won't be able to play against Liverpool.
"He's still feeling his groin. It's nothing major but he will miss the game."
And the Croatian says the 28-year-old remains a key figure at the club and would not comment on the former Newcastle and Liverpool player's future.
He added: "It is not a subject for now, but Andy is kind of a player that has such a big impact on our game that we won't give up on him.
"Especially now, as this has nothing to do with lifestyle or not being committed enough.
"He works really hard, it was bad luck and, as I said, I will never give up on him.
"On the other hand, it is no good having a player whose name you put down first, second or third and can't rely on him."
Two midfielders who are sidelined for the season are Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate, both of whom require surgery.
Bilic went on: "Mark has had a hernia in the last couple of months, he didn't want to talk about it as he is a great captain and wanted to help the team.
"He played through the pain and with that pain and it became a bit worse.
"It's not because we are safe now and he doesn't want to play. I wanted him to play one more game but the surgeon said he should get it done.
"Kouyate has a wrist problem, he played through a lot of pain with injections. He was supposed to do that operation earlier.
"We made a plan for him to play as much as possible, but it became worse."
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West Ham battling Everton in race to land £25million Swansea playmaker Glyfi Sigurdsson
Swansea want to keep hold of the Icelandic star but relegation could force them to sell this summer
The Mirror
BYDARREN LEWIS
20:57, 12 MAY 2017
SPORT
West Ham will take on Everton in the battle for £25million Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Irons have had a long-standing admiration for Swansea's in-demand midfielder and want to sign him this summer. Slaven Bilic, who will remain in his post, is set to go on another recruitment drive when the transfer windows. His brief will be to ensure the club are competing in the top half of the table - as they were last year - next season.
Sigurdsson has been in outstanding form during the current campaign with nine Premier League goals and 12 assists in 36 games, despite Swansea's struggles. Paul Clement intends to fight to keep the 27-year-old, who is under contract at the Liberty until 2020. But Swansea could be forced to sell if they go down. Clement revealed last month that he believed Sigurdsson was one of the most underrated players in the Premier League. "When teams are lower down in the table, the individual players don't always get that recognition they deserve, but he is a player that's done really, really well," he said.
"Every day in training he is pushing, doing extra stuff to work on his technique, his finishing, set-plays.
"He is really alert and attentive in the video meetings, takes good care of his body... a very good professional."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, May 13
Friday, May 12
Daily WHUFC News - 12th May 2017
Antonio signs new deal
WHUFC.com
• Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio has signed a new and improved contract with West Ham United
• Winger and leading goalscorer has put pen to paper on a deal until summer 2021
• Antonio has scored 18 goals in 69 appearances since arriving in east London in summer 2015
Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio has signed a new and improved long-term contract with West Ham United. The newly-crowned player of the season and leading scorer put pen to paper on a four-year deal at London Stadium on Friday, pledging his future to the Club he joined in September 2015.
The 27-year-old will now spend the prime years of his career in east London, having already made a huge impact during his two seasons in Claret and Blue by scoring 18 goals in 69 appearances and earning his maiden England call-up. Antonio was pleased to put end speculation over his future and commit himself to the Hammers until June 2021.
"It's about time, eh!" said the winger, with a laugh. "I'm only joking! I'm over the moon, I've loved my time here and I'm just happy that we have managed to get things sorted so I can move onto next season and do what I've done this season. "I'm delighted to have signed a new four-year deal. I'd like to thank the Chairman [David Sullivan] because we had a nice little deal for this to get sorted. He's a lovely man and thanks very much!"
"When I was younger, I was growing up in south London and I used to come to West Ham games. I've loved my time here. Last season I managed to finish as runner-up in the Hammer of the Year award and this year I've won it, so it's a case of pushing on and I don't want to drop my standards next season.
"This year has been a better year than last year because I've played from start to finish and I managed to get the England call-up I've been dreaming of since I was a child. Hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing even better, because I always want to do better than I have done previously."
I'm delighted to have signed a new four-year deal. I'd like to thank the Chairman David Sullivan because we had a nice little deal for this to get sorted. He's a lovely man and thanks very much!
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan, who worked tirelessly to secure the deal, said: "Michail has been absolutely outstanding since he joined the Club nearly two years ago, and was deservedly voted Hammer of the Year this week. "We are determined to keep our best players at the Club and Michail is certainly one of them. His best years are still ahead of him and we are looking forward to seeing him spend them in a Claret and Blue shirt. "We wish Michail well with the rehabilitation off his hamstring injury and look forward to seeing him come back stronger next season!"
Antonio's new deal marks the latest stage in his stunning career, which saw the winger start out with non-league Tooting & Mitcham United before climbing the Football League ladder with Reading, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest. A relentless worker and model professional, the ambitious Antonio made it to the Premier League at the age of 25, when he joined the Hammers from Forest 21 months ago.
The powerful and versatile south Londoner made his debut at Manchester City before netting his maiden goal against Southampton at the Boleyn Ground just after Christmas 2015.
It marked the start of a marvellous run of form, goals and eye-catching celebrations, including vital headers against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, that saw him become a hero among the Claret and Blue Army. After being rewarded with a new four-year deal in July, Antonio continued to make the headlines by nodding in the first Premier League goal in London Stadium history against AFC Bournemouth. Further goals against Manchester City, Watford and West Bromwich Albion followed, while he was named in the England squad for the first time by former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Antonio's versatility shone through when Slaven Bilic lost key players to injury, with the No30 turning out on both wings, at right-back and as a centre forward during the winter. The season ended on another high when Antonio was voted Hammer of the Year for the first time by supporters, receiving his award at the 2016/17 Player Awards earlier this week.
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Antonio - I can fulfil my ambitions here
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio put the finishing touches on a memorable season by signing a new long-term contract with West Ham United.
Fresh from scoring the first Premier League goal at London Stadium, receiving his first England call-up and winning his first Hammer of the Year award, Antonio put pen to paper on an improved four-year deal with the Hammers.
Having pledged his future to the Claret and Blue, the winger sat down with West Ham TV to reflect on an unforgettable 2016/17 and look ahead to the future.
Congratulations Michail! What's your reaction to signing a new deal until 2021?
"I'm over the moon, I've loved my time here and I'm just happy that we have managed to get things sorted so I can move onto next season and do what I've done this season.
"I'm delighted to have signed a new four-year deal. I'd like to thank the Chairman [David Sullivan] because we had a nice little deal for this to get sorted. He's a lovely man and thanks very much!"
You've had quite a year…!
"When I was younger, I was growing up in south London and I used to come to West Ham games. I've loved my time here. Last season I managed to finish as runner-up in the Hammer of the Year award and this year I've won it, so it's a case of pushing on and I don't want to drop my standards next season.
"This year has been a better year than last year because I've played from start to finish and I managed to get the England call-up I've been dreaming of since I was a child. Hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing even better, because I always want to do better than I have done previously."
You have achieved so much in your career already, but you only turned 27 in March, so do you feel the best years of your career are still ahead of you?
"Definitely, I always wanted to get this sorted, get the contract sorted because this year I'm going to be in my prime of my career and anything could happen.
"Every footballer wants to leave a mark in their career and I've managed to do that. I scored the very first goal at London Stadium, one of the last goals at the Boleyn Ground so I just love that I manage to leave a mark in my football career but I don't want to end on that and I want to leave more marks as I go."
You've always said you are ambitious and want to take the next step in your career whenever you can, so presumably signing a new deal means you feel your ambitions can be fulfilled with West Ham United?
"I'm a very ambitious person, one thing I want to do is play Champions League and me signing this contract now, in my prime years, is showing that I believe West Ham can get in to the Champions League spots. I believe that we can push on and that we can be involved in the top four and that is my mission and something I'm hoping we achieve."
Are West Ham a bigger club than you believed you were signing for in September 2015?
"I've always known West Ham as a massive club with a massive fan base. When I went to the Boleyn Ground, I was very surprised it was only 35,000 holding there because I was thinking 'where are all the rest of the fans?' Everywhere I'd go, I meet West Ham fans – doesn't matter where I've gone, Dubai, Japan – wherever I go there is West Ham fans there! "I knew we definitely needed to double the capacity and moving here was definitely the best decision we've done."
You've already been part of some of the biggest moments in our history at London Stadium. Do you feel we are now making this magnificent arena home?
"Leaving the Boleyn Ground, that's where people's whole lives were and so much history was left there and so obviously people were going to be intimidated by moving to the new place.
"It's like moving home – it's not going to feel like 'home' for a couple of years and it's taken a bit of time for us to get used to it and work through everything but now things are working out and this will turn in to the new West Ham home."
Sorry to put a downer on things, but you're currently nursing a hamstring injury. How is the rehab going?
"The rehab is going well, right now I'm still on the crutches and will be for the next week and after that I'll be off them. I'll start doing some strength work for the next two, three, four weeks, then I'll be outside doing running and I'll be in and out of training to get my way back in for the start of the season.
"It's either I'll be back for the first couple of games or, the worst case scenario, I'll be back fully available for the team after the international break at the end of August."
You're getting married next month, so presumably you want to be off the crutches by then!
"I'll definitely be off the crutches by then [the wedding], I said I need to be off crutches by then! Imagine that, stood at the isle with the knee brace on and crutches in my arms – imagine the first dance – it's just not a nice look! But no, It will definitely be off by then and I'll be well on my way to strengthening it."
Finally, when you think you were playing non-league football just a few years ago, do you have to pinch yourself when you think about what you have achieved in the game?
"I do pinch myself. There's times when I wake up and I just can't believe my luck. To this day, I've got three kids, and I still pinch myself - 'I've got three kids, I'm 27, I still remember being 18 like it was yesterday.
"Life has just flown by and I am taking it my stride so it's a bit off both, I am really enjoying life. People say I one of those happy people, I'm always smiling, what can I complain about?"
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Noble to undergo surgery
WHUFC.com
West Ham United captain Mark Noble will have an operation to rectify a long-standing abdominal injury on Saturday and will miss the remainder of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke confirmed that Noble has been playing with the painful condition for many weeks, but the skipper requested to delay the operation as long as possible.
"Mark has been playing in pain, but he is the captain and he wanted to do everything he could to ensure the Club retained its Premier League status," Vandenbroucke confirmed.
"Mark is as brave as they come and he ignored the pain as best he could, but the Premier League takes it toll.
"We attended an appointment with the specialist on the evening before the Tottenham game and it was deemed that the surgery was now urgent, he played in the game and played a big part in our victory that ensured the Club's safety."
Noble will miss the Premier League fixtures with Liverpool and Burnley.
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Bilic delighted by Antonio news
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic has expressed his delight at seeing Michail Antonio agree a new long-term contract and backed the 27-year-old to enjoy a brilliant future with West Ham United.
The 2016/17 Hammer of the Year was at London Stadium on Friday afternoon to sign a four-year deal, and the news was a huge boost for his manager, who admitted that Antonio's talent had not surprisingly attracted rival clubs.
"It's great news for us," said Slaven. "To be fair, I have always been confident Mikey would sign, but it is still a great feeling to have one of our top players to commit himself to us for the long term.
"The Chairman has worked very hard to get the deal done because, to be honest, it's not just paper talk – there have been a lot of big clubs interested in him, so it is great for the club to do this before the end of the season.
"He appreciates that we have done a lot for him as a club, and he sees his future at West Ham, which is brilliant."
Signed from Nottingham Forest back in September 2015, Antonio has enjoyed a scintillating first two years in the claret and blue. After making his debut as a substitute in a 2-1 win at Manchester City later that month, he broke into Bilic's side two months later and hasn't looked back since, with nine goals in each campaign.
"His progress has been incredible," said the Hammers boss. "He was raw material when he played in the Championship, but he has now improved tactically, as a team player, and has kept that amazing physical ability.
"Of course, like any player, there are still things he can work on and continue to improve, but now he is much more complete.
"He represents the real modern day player. He can play up front, on the wings, or he can defend, he has pace, he has power and he scores goals, which of course is the most important thing in football. He's a great asset for us."
Having broken into the full England squad at the start of the season, Antonio was all set to make his international debut in March before injury ruled him out. However, Bilic firmly believes that the former Reading, Southampton and Forest star will force his way into Gareth Southgate's team next season.
"Yes I do," he said. "England have some good players in attacking positions but if Mikey continues to show the form he showed this season then he will be in the running.
"He got into the squad at the start of the qualification early in the season, and I expect him to push on and stay involved. Because not many players can do the kind of things he is doing on the pitch, week in, week out."
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AIN'T NO BODY, LIKE LANZINI
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 11 MAY 2017 AT 9:03PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @6_AaronLee
After Friday nights brilliant performance and result against Tottenham Hotspur we confirmed our Premier League status for next season and also stopped Spurs effectively having a chance of winning the league ( its happened again…).
I thought everyone on the night was brilliant the fans,players and also Slaven Bilic who I thought got his tactics absolutely spot on despite some questions being raised when the team news was confirmed,but one man in particular stood out for me and that was Manuel Lanzini. In a season of up's and lets be honest quite a few down's Manu has stepped up massively especially since Dimitri Payet's departure in January. He along with the likes of Antonio,Reid and Obiang have been consistent performers for West Ham this season and he has gone on to make himself a vital player for us.
You only need to look at his stats since January when he became our main creative man to see how pivotal he has been for the club by scoring some important goals for us and grabbing a few assists.
I've always been a big fan of Lanzini. You can't fault the guy for his work rate going forward and coming back when needed. On many occasions last season we see him during games beating opposition players with ease and getting into the right areas when the opportunity presented itself but there was always a claim that at times he would often go missing. This season after missing a few games due to an injury sustained at the Olympics with Argentina, upon his return he began to show glimpses of the player he can become but once again fans at times claimed that he would still drift in and out of games far to often. For me the moment he began to really assert himself was in our away victory against Crystal Palace in October, where he netted the winner and absolutely run the show, we were on a poor run of results and hadn't won away from home so far in the Premier League. Obviously we are all aware of what took place in the lead up to the January transfer window and despite the negativity we managed to put a run of form together and Lanzini was one of the main reasons for our upturn in form. I believe he has relished stepping out of other players shadow's and asserting himself as one of our key players and long may this continue because I think he has the talent to be one of the best players we have seen pull on a claret and blue shirt in many years.
For me personally Lanzini is the player we need to build our team around. You could see on Friday night just how important he is to us the fans, his team mates and Bilic. He was giving Kyle Walker the run around after the first few minuets, helping out defensively, dropping deep to collect the ball to begin an attack and going past the Spurs players as if they wasn't there and once again popping up in the right area to net our winner. You could see how much it meant to him as he ran towards the fans and displayed the hammers sign in celebration at his goal and once the cheering had stopped his song was belted out around the London Stadium.
It came as no surprise to me that he was voted players player of the season at our award ceremony on Tuesday, also coming runner up Hammer of the year to Michail Antonio due to his performances this season. Hopefully we can manage to keep hold of Lanzini for many years as I'm sure he will only get better and better.
Come on you Irons!
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"SLAV GOT HIS TACTICS SPOT ON!"-MARK WARD
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 11 MAY 2017 AT 10:18PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @mark7ward
I really hope that the fantastic win against Spurs is the break through period of what we all have wanted. A frenzied atmosphere created by the fans but only created because of the intensity and professional performance of the players-to a man-brilliant. Slav got his tactics spot on.Lets have the same v Liverpool on Sunday and it would be another scalp to be proud of and a really positive end to a disappointing season.
Before the game on Sunday i will be hosting the last West Ham Way Pre Match Event of the season and have the one and only MAD DOG Martin Allen !!! It is not to be missed!! Get your tickets here: bit.ly/TWHWTICKET10
I would like to thank the two lads Dave and Ex for their hard work organising the event and we will be building on the success of these prematch events for next season. I hope to see more and more of you at them and make this the most go to place before any match!
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TIME FOR THE ACADEMY TO DELIVER
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 11 MAY 2017 AT 8:27PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
In July 2014 the club completed a much needed overhaul of The Academy, with Terry Westley replacing the legendary Tony Car as director of The Academy. Frankly, an overhaul was long overdue. We were producing quantity and not quality for far too long. Many people lived in the past, thinking we had a whole array of rich talent waiting in The Academy for a chance to prove they could be the next Peter's, Moore or Hurst.
After every poor run of results, whether it was Zola, Grant or Allardyce, the cry would be "Play The kids from The Academy! They will play for the shirt!" Well, you can play for the shirt all you want, but if you are not good enough forget it. Sam Allardyce got slaughtered for picking youngsters against Nottingham Forest in The FA Cup when we lost 5-0. Kids at 21 or 22? Do me a favour! When was he supposed to play them? Two of the brightest stars were Elliot Lee and Rob Hall, and where are they now? Luton Town and Oxford United. Says it all really. Granted, it is tough getting young talent to join the club in the first place. There is an ever decreasing pool of youngsters which clubs are virtually fighting over to sign.
Part of the problem is that a few decades back, families would often have 4, 5 or 6 kids. Now a typical family consists of 2 or 3 kids. Back then kids would head to the local Park, put jumpers down as goal posts, play till tea time, then after tea it would be back down the Park again! Kids would all want to be their personal hero. With the internet explosion things are different now. Instead of kicking a ball around, kids are updating their Facebook status or playing Call of Duty. The only football action they are likely to see is when they play FIFA.
The appointment of Terry Westley as Director of the Academy came as no surprise since he was Gold and Sullivan's youth Academy director at Birmingham City. In his first year at The Club, Westley saw the U 21's relegated from the The Premier League Division One without winning a single match. Yet Karen Brady rewarded failure by giving Westley a new five year contact. There have also been charges of nepotism against Westley, with his son Sam following him from Birmingham City. Clearly not good enough, yet he is kept on by The Club while other far more deserving players have been discarded.
However, it would be unfair on Terry Westley to say there has been no progress at The Academy. There has. The Club has gone about signing some talented youngsters who had been discarded by top Clubs, as well as players who turned down deals at their existing Clubs. We have signed the pacey and talented Nathan Holland from Everton, who has already made the bench this season, and former Chelsea midfielder Domingos Quina has had rave reviews for his performances for the U23's. Another rising star signed from Chelsea is U23 captain Declan Rice, has also made the bench. Toni Martinez, who has been a virtual goal machine at U 23 level, has done well at Oxford. Last but not least, my personal favourite, the wonderfully talented and elegant Martin Samuelsen, who can play down either wing or in midfield.
So as we can see it's not all doom and gloom at The Academy of Football. In the harsh world of professional football even talented footballers, for whatever reason, sometimes fail to make the grade.
I think few would argue that at this point the title of The Academy of Football belongs to Southampton Football Club. They have made big money bringing on talented youngsters and then selling them on for huge transfer fees. They don't send youngsters out on loan after loan and then discard them. What is the point of that? Copy Southampton's model! If they are old enough play them! At some point as in life, you must sink or swim in football. At Southampton Football Club, whether you are 16, 17, or 18, if you are good enough you play! One or two bad games? No problem! Youth players are kept in the squad, enabling them to develop a first team mentality. Are you telling me that you would back the likes of Jonathan Calleri over Toni Marinez? Must be having a laugh surely? Fair enough, if The Youth are given a fair crack of the whip and they fail then it's time to tell Terry Westley that he is the weakest link. However, if Southampton can do it, so can West Ham. With The Academy costing four million per year to run it's simply got to produce results. There is no reason why we cannot reclaim our worldwide reputation as The Academy of Football from Southampton. Over to you, Terry Westley!
We are more than a football club, we're a way of life!
COYI'S!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
• Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio has signed a new and improved contract with West Ham United
• Winger and leading goalscorer has put pen to paper on a deal until summer 2021
• Antonio has scored 18 goals in 69 appearances since arriving in east London in summer 2015
Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio has signed a new and improved long-term contract with West Ham United. The newly-crowned player of the season and leading scorer put pen to paper on a four-year deal at London Stadium on Friday, pledging his future to the Club he joined in September 2015.
The 27-year-old will now spend the prime years of his career in east London, having already made a huge impact during his two seasons in Claret and Blue by scoring 18 goals in 69 appearances and earning his maiden England call-up. Antonio was pleased to put end speculation over his future and commit himself to the Hammers until June 2021.
"It's about time, eh!" said the winger, with a laugh. "I'm only joking! I'm over the moon, I've loved my time here and I'm just happy that we have managed to get things sorted so I can move onto next season and do what I've done this season. "I'm delighted to have signed a new four-year deal. I'd like to thank the Chairman [David Sullivan] because we had a nice little deal for this to get sorted. He's a lovely man and thanks very much!"
"When I was younger, I was growing up in south London and I used to come to West Ham games. I've loved my time here. Last season I managed to finish as runner-up in the Hammer of the Year award and this year I've won it, so it's a case of pushing on and I don't want to drop my standards next season.
"This year has been a better year than last year because I've played from start to finish and I managed to get the England call-up I've been dreaming of since I was a child. Hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing even better, because I always want to do better than I have done previously."
I'm delighted to have signed a new four-year deal. I'd like to thank the Chairman David Sullivan because we had a nice little deal for this to get sorted. He's a lovely man and thanks very much!
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan, who worked tirelessly to secure the deal, said: "Michail has been absolutely outstanding since he joined the Club nearly two years ago, and was deservedly voted Hammer of the Year this week. "We are determined to keep our best players at the Club and Michail is certainly one of them. His best years are still ahead of him and we are looking forward to seeing him spend them in a Claret and Blue shirt. "We wish Michail well with the rehabilitation off his hamstring injury and look forward to seeing him come back stronger next season!"
Antonio's new deal marks the latest stage in his stunning career, which saw the winger start out with non-league Tooting & Mitcham United before climbing the Football League ladder with Reading, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest. A relentless worker and model professional, the ambitious Antonio made it to the Premier League at the age of 25, when he joined the Hammers from Forest 21 months ago.
The powerful and versatile south Londoner made his debut at Manchester City before netting his maiden goal against Southampton at the Boleyn Ground just after Christmas 2015.
It marked the start of a marvellous run of form, goals and eye-catching celebrations, including vital headers against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, that saw him become a hero among the Claret and Blue Army. After being rewarded with a new four-year deal in July, Antonio continued to make the headlines by nodding in the first Premier League goal in London Stadium history against AFC Bournemouth. Further goals against Manchester City, Watford and West Bromwich Albion followed, while he was named in the England squad for the first time by former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Antonio's versatility shone through when Slaven Bilic lost key players to injury, with the No30 turning out on both wings, at right-back and as a centre forward during the winter. The season ended on another high when Antonio was voted Hammer of the Year for the first time by supporters, receiving his award at the 2016/17 Player Awards earlier this week.
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Antonio - I can fulfil my ambitions here
WHUFC.com
Michail Antonio put the finishing touches on a memorable season by signing a new long-term contract with West Ham United.
Fresh from scoring the first Premier League goal at London Stadium, receiving his first England call-up and winning his first Hammer of the Year award, Antonio put pen to paper on an improved four-year deal with the Hammers.
Having pledged his future to the Claret and Blue, the winger sat down with West Ham TV to reflect on an unforgettable 2016/17 and look ahead to the future.
Congratulations Michail! What's your reaction to signing a new deal until 2021?
"I'm over the moon, I've loved my time here and I'm just happy that we have managed to get things sorted so I can move onto next season and do what I've done this season.
"I'm delighted to have signed a new four-year deal. I'd like to thank the Chairman [David Sullivan] because we had a nice little deal for this to get sorted. He's a lovely man and thanks very much!"
You've had quite a year…!
"When I was younger, I was growing up in south London and I used to come to West Ham games. I've loved my time here. Last season I managed to finish as runner-up in the Hammer of the Year award and this year I've won it, so it's a case of pushing on and I don't want to drop my standards next season.
"This year has been a better year than last year because I've played from start to finish and I managed to get the England call-up I've been dreaming of since I was a child. Hopefully I can keep pushing on and doing even better, because I always want to do better than I have done previously."
You have achieved so much in your career already, but you only turned 27 in March, so do you feel the best years of your career are still ahead of you?
"Definitely, I always wanted to get this sorted, get the contract sorted because this year I'm going to be in my prime of my career and anything could happen.
"Every footballer wants to leave a mark in their career and I've managed to do that. I scored the very first goal at London Stadium, one of the last goals at the Boleyn Ground so I just love that I manage to leave a mark in my football career but I don't want to end on that and I want to leave more marks as I go."
You've always said you are ambitious and want to take the next step in your career whenever you can, so presumably signing a new deal means you feel your ambitions can be fulfilled with West Ham United?
"I'm a very ambitious person, one thing I want to do is play Champions League and me signing this contract now, in my prime years, is showing that I believe West Ham can get in to the Champions League spots. I believe that we can push on and that we can be involved in the top four and that is my mission and something I'm hoping we achieve."
Are West Ham a bigger club than you believed you were signing for in September 2015?
"I've always known West Ham as a massive club with a massive fan base. When I went to the Boleyn Ground, I was very surprised it was only 35,000 holding there because I was thinking 'where are all the rest of the fans?' Everywhere I'd go, I meet West Ham fans – doesn't matter where I've gone, Dubai, Japan – wherever I go there is West Ham fans there! "I knew we definitely needed to double the capacity and moving here was definitely the best decision we've done."
You've already been part of some of the biggest moments in our history at London Stadium. Do you feel we are now making this magnificent arena home?
"Leaving the Boleyn Ground, that's where people's whole lives were and so much history was left there and so obviously people were going to be intimidated by moving to the new place.
"It's like moving home – it's not going to feel like 'home' for a couple of years and it's taken a bit of time for us to get used to it and work through everything but now things are working out and this will turn in to the new West Ham home."
Sorry to put a downer on things, but you're currently nursing a hamstring injury. How is the rehab going?
"The rehab is going well, right now I'm still on the crutches and will be for the next week and after that I'll be off them. I'll start doing some strength work for the next two, three, four weeks, then I'll be outside doing running and I'll be in and out of training to get my way back in for the start of the season.
"It's either I'll be back for the first couple of games or, the worst case scenario, I'll be back fully available for the team after the international break at the end of August."
You're getting married next month, so presumably you want to be off the crutches by then!
"I'll definitely be off the crutches by then [the wedding], I said I need to be off crutches by then! Imagine that, stood at the isle with the knee brace on and crutches in my arms – imagine the first dance – it's just not a nice look! But no, It will definitely be off by then and I'll be well on my way to strengthening it."
Finally, when you think you were playing non-league football just a few years ago, do you have to pinch yourself when you think about what you have achieved in the game?
"I do pinch myself. There's times when I wake up and I just can't believe my luck. To this day, I've got three kids, and I still pinch myself - 'I've got three kids, I'm 27, I still remember being 18 like it was yesterday.
"Life has just flown by and I am taking it my stride so it's a bit off both, I am really enjoying life. People say I one of those happy people, I'm always smiling, what can I complain about?"
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Noble to undergo surgery
WHUFC.com
West Ham United captain Mark Noble will have an operation to rectify a long-standing abdominal injury on Saturday and will miss the remainder of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke confirmed that Noble has been playing with the painful condition for many weeks, but the skipper requested to delay the operation as long as possible.
"Mark has been playing in pain, but he is the captain and he wanted to do everything he could to ensure the Club retained its Premier League status," Vandenbroucke confirmed.
"Mark is as brave as they come and he ignored the pain as best he could, but the Premier League takes it toll.
"We attended an appointment with the specialist on the evening before the Tottenham game and it was deemed that the surgery was now urgent, he played in the game and played a big part in our victory that ensured the Club's safety."
Noble will miss the Premier League fixtures with Liverpool and Burnley.
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Bilic delighted by Antonio news
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic has expressed his delight at seeing Michail Antonio agree a new long-term contract and backed the 27-year-old to enjoy a brilliant future with West Ham United.
The 2016/17 Hammer of the Year was at London Stadium on Friday afternoon to sign a four-year deal, and the news was a huge boost for his manager, who admitted that Antonio's talent had not surprisingly attracted rival clubs.
"It's great news for us," said Slaven. "To be fair, I have always been confident Mikey would sign, but it is still a great feeling to have one of our top players to commit himself to us for the long term.
"The Chairman has worked very hard to get the deal done because, to be honest, it's not just paper talk – there have been a lot of big clubs interested in him, so it is great for the club to do this before the end of the season.
"He appreciates that we have done a lot for him as a club, and he sees his future at West Ham, which is brilliant."
Signed from Nottingham Forest back in September 2015, Antonio has enjoyed a scintillating first two years in the claret and blue. After making his debut as a substitute in a 2-1 win at Manchester City later that month, he broke into Bilic's side two months later and hasn't looked back since, with nine goals in each campaign.
"His progress has been incredible," said the Hammers boss. "He was raw material when he played in the Championship, but he has now improved tactically, as a team player, and has kept that amazing physical ability.
"Of course, like any player, there are still things he can work on and continue to improve, but now he is much more complete.
"He represents the real modern day player. He can play up front, on the wings, or he can defend, he has pace, he has power and he scores goals, which of course is the most important thing in football. He's a great asset for us."
Having broken into the full England squad at the start of the season, Antonio was all set to make his international debut in March before injury ruled him out. However, Bilic firmly believes that the former Reading, Southampton and Forest star will force his way into Gareth Southgate's team next season.
"Yes I do," he said. "England have some good players in attacking positions but if Mikey continues to show the form he showed this season then he will be in the running.
"He got into the squad at the start of the qualification early in the season, and I expect him to push on and stay involved. Because not many players can do the kind of things he is doing on the pitch, week in, week out."
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AIN'T NO BODY, LIKE LANZINI
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 11 MAY 2017 AT 9:03PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @6_AaronLee
After Friday nights brilliant performance and result against Tottenham Hotspur we confirmed our Premier League status for next season and also stopped Spurs effectively having a chance of winning the league ( its happened again…).
I thought everyone on the night was brilliant the fans,players and also Slaven Bilic who I thought got his tactics absolutely spot on despite some questions being raised when the team news was confirmed,but one man in particular stood out for me and that was Manuel Lanzini. In a season of up's and lets be honest quite a few down's Manu has stepped up massively especially since Dimitri Payet's departure in January. He along with the likes of Antonio,Reid and Obiang have been consistent performers for West Ham this season and he has gone on to make himself a vital player for us.
You only need to look at his stats since January when he became our main creative man to see how pivotal he has been for the club by scoring some important goals for us and grabbing a few assists.
I've always been a big fan of Lanzini. You can't fault the guy for his work rate going forward and coming back when needed. On many occasions last season we see him during games beating opposition players with ease and getting into the right areas when the opportunity presented itself but there was always a claim that at times he would often go missing. This season after missing a few games due to an injury sustained at the Olympics with Argentina, upon his return he began to show glimpses of the player he can become but once again fans at times claimed that he would still drift in and out of games far to often. For me the moment he began to really assert himself was in our away victory against Crystal Palace in October, where he netted the winner and absolutely run the show, we were on a poor run of results and hadn't won away from home so far in the Premier League. Obviously we are all aware of what took place in the lead up to the January transfer window and despite the negativity we managed to put a run of form together and Lanzini was one of the main reasons for our upturn in form. I believe he has relished stepping out of other players shadow's and asserting himself as one of our key players and long may this continue because I think he has the talent to be one of the best players we have seen pull on a claret and blue shirt in many years.
For me personally Lanzini is the player we need to build our team around. You could see on Friday night just how important he is to us the fans, his team mates and Bilic. He was giving Kyle Walker the run around after the first few minuets, helping out defensively, dropping deep to collect the ball to begin an attack and going past the Spurs players as if they wasn't there and once again popping up in the right area to net our winner. You could see how much it meant to him as he ran towards the fans and displayed the hammers sign in celebration at his goal and once the cheering had stopped his song was belted out around the London Stadium.
It came as no surprise to me that he was voted players player of the season at our award ceremony on Tuesday, also coming runner up Hammer of the year to Michail Antonio due to his performances this season. Hopefully we can manage to keep hold of Lanzini for many years as I'm sure he will only get better and better.
Come on you Irons!
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"SLAV GOT HIS TACTICS SPOT ON!"-MARK WARD
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 11 MAY 2017 AT 10:18PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @mark7ward
I really hope that the fantastic win against Spurs is the break through period of what we all have wanted. A frenzied atmosphere created by the fans but only created because of the intensity and professional performance of the players-to a man-brilliant. Slav got his tactics spot on.Lets have the same v Liverpool on Sunday and it would be another scalp to be proud of and a really positive end to a disappointing season.
Before the game on Sunday i will be hosting the last West Ham Way Pre Match Event of the season and have the one and only MAD DOG Martin Allen !!! It is not to be missed!! Get your tickets here: bit.ly/TWHWTICKET10
I would like to thank the two lads Dave and Ex for their hard work organising the event and we will be building on the success of these prematch events for next season. I hope to see more and more of you at them and make this the most go to place before any match!
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TIME FOR THE ACADEMY TO DELIVER
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 11 MAY 2017 AT 8:27PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
In July 2014 the club completed a much needed overhaul of The Academy, with Terry Westley replacing the legendary Tony Car as director of The Academy. Frankly, an overhaul was long overdue. We were producing quantity and not quality for far too long. Many people lived in the past, thinking we had a whole array of rich talent waiting in The Academy for a chance to prove they could be the next Peter's, Moore or Hurst.
After every poor run of results, whether it was Zola, Grant or Allardyce, the cry would be "Play The kids from The Academy! They will play for the shirt!" Well, you can play for the shirt all you want, but if you are not good enough forget it. Sam Allardyce got slaughtered for picking youngsters against Nottingham Forest in The FA Cup when we lost 5-0. Kids at 21 or 22? Do me a favour! When was he supposed to play them? Two of the brightest stars were Elliot Lee and Rob Hall, and where are they now? Luton Town and Oxford United. Says it all really. Granted, it is tough getting young talent to join the club in the first place. There is an ever decreasing pool of youngsters which clubs are virtually fighting over to sign.
Part of the problem is that a few decades back, families would often have 4, 5 or 6 kids. Now a typical family consists of 2 or 3 kids. Back then kids would head to the local Park, put jumpers down as goal posts, play till tea time, then after tea it would be back down the Park again! Kids would all want to be their personal hero. With the internet explosion things are different now. Instead of kicking a ball around, kids are updating their Facebook status or playing Call of Duty. The only football action they are likely to see is when they play FIFA.
The appointment of Terry Westley as Director of the Academy came as no surprise since he was Gold and Sullivan's youth Academy director at Birmingham City. In his first year at The Club, Westley saw the U 21's relegated from the The Premier League Division One without winning a single match. Yet Karen Brady rewarded failure by giving Westley a new five year contact. There have also been charges of nepotism against Westley, with his son Sam following him from Birmingham City. Clearly not good enough, yet he is kept on by The Club while other far more deserving players have been discarded.
However, it would be unfair on Terry Westley to say there has been no progress at The Academy. There has. The Club has gone about signing some talented youngsters who had been discarded by top Clubs, as well as players who turned down deals at their existing Clubs. We have signed the pacey and talented Nathan Holland from Everton, who has already made the bench this season, and former Chelsea midfielder Domingos Quina has had rave reviews for his performances for the U23's. Another rising star signed from Chelsea is U23 captain Declan Rice, has also made the bench. Toni Martinez, who has been a virtual goal machine at U 23 level, has done well at Oxford. Last but not least, my personal favourite, the wonderfully talented and elegant Martin Samuelsen, who can play down either wing or in midfield.
So as we can see it's not all doom and gloom at The Academy of Football. In the harsh world of professional football even talented footballers, for whatever reason, sometimes fail to make the grade.
I think few would argue that at this point the title of The Academy of Football belongs to Southampton Football Club. They have made big money bringing on talented youngsters and then selling them on for huge transfer fees. They don't send youngsters out on loan after loan and then discard them. What is the point of that? Copy Southampton's model! If they are old enough play them! At some point as in life, you must sink or swim in football. At Southampton Football Club, whether you are 16, 17, or 18, if you are good enough you play! One or two bad games? No problem! Youth players are kept in the squad, enabling them to develop a first team mentality. Are you telling me that you would back the likes of Jonathan Calleri over Toni Marinez? Must be having a laugh surely? Fair enough, if The Youth are given a fair crack of the whip and they fail then it's time to tell Terry Westley that he is the weakest link. However, if Southampton can do it, so can West Ham. With The Academy costing four million per year to run it's simply got to produce results. There is no reason why we cannot reclaim our worldwide reputation as The Academy of Football from Southampton. Over to you, Terry Westley!
We are more than a football club, we're a way of life!
COYI'S!
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, May 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th May 2017
Antonio crowned Betway Hammer of the Year
WHUC.com
Michail Antonio crowned as the 2016/17 Betway Hammer of the Year
Manuel Lanzini finishes as runner-up, with Pedro Obiang in third place
Billy Bonds receives Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the late, great
Bobby Moore
Michail Antonio has been crowned as the 2016/17 Betway Hammer of the Year.
The winger has been recognised for his outstanding season for West Ham
United by becoming the 39th different player to win the acclaim of the
Claret and Blue Army. Antonio, who has scored nine goals and registered five
assists in 37 appearances, won 47 per cent of the vote, with Manuel Lanzini
finishing as runner-up with 21 per cent, and Pedro Obiang third with 14 per
cent. "It's just a great feeling and hopefully I can do it again!" said the
winger. "I'm extremely grateful to the fans who voted for me because they
have been to home and away games, week-in, week-out, so for them to give
this Award to me has left me so overwhelmed and buzzing. "It's crazy because
I've only been in the Premier League for two years and last year I came
runner-up and this year I've won it, so hopefully I can keep going, keep
pushing on and keep doing what I'm doing.
"I have to say my England call-up was a massive highlight and winning Hammer
of the Year is amazing because it's come from the fans, who can be our
biggest critics."
Antonio has enjoyed two superb seasons since arriving from Nottingham Forest
in summer 2015, scoring 18 goals in 69 appearances, including the equaliser
in West Ham's unforgettable Final Game win over Manchester United at the
Boleyn Ground last May. The current campaign saw the No30 kick-off in style,
scoring the first Premier League goal in London Stadium history against AFC
Bournemouth in August, and five in his opening four top-flight appearances.
That form saw him earn a first-ever England call-up for Sam Allardyce's only
game in charge, and he was included in the Three Lions squad for a second
time by Big Sam's successor Gareth Southgate in March.
While his scoring rate in Claret and Blue slowed, Antonio continued to
produce the goods in a variety of positions, as injuries and suspensions saw
him fielded as a right wing-back, right winger and centre forward by manager
Slaven Bilic. After scoring at Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City either
side of Christmas, the Wandsworth-born player turned provider against
Crystal Palace, when his three second-half assists inspired the Hammers to a
vital 3-0 home win. A ninth and final goal of the campaign arrived at AFC
Bournemouth before a hamstring injury prematurely ended Antonio's season,
but the 27-year-old had already done enough to secure a deserved maiden
Hammer of the Year award. Antonio was one of a host of winners at the
2016/17 Player Awards brought to by Betway in aid of the Academy, which were
held for the first time at InterContinental London – The O2.
Lanzini took home the Players' Player of the Year honour, Andy Carroll
benefited from one of Antonio's aforementioned assists to net the Goal of
the Season against Crystal Palace, while Darren Randolph's fingertip stop to
deny Liverpool's Jordan Henderson scooped the Save of the Season award.
James Collins' display in the 1-0 win over Swansea City won the Best
Individual Performance trophy, while the 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Chelsea at
London Stadium was the Best Team Performance.
Signing of the Season went to Edimilson Fernandes, while Young Hammer of the
Year was Declan Rice and Domingos Quina won the Dylan Tombides Award.
Finally, the late, great Bobby Moore OBE was recognised with a posthumous
Lifetime Achievement Award. Bobby Moore OBE led his club to their first
major domestic and European trophy before completing a unique, unforgettable
hat-trick by captaining England to FIFA World Cup glory in 1966. Born in
Barking in 1941, Moore attended Westbury Primary School and Tom Hood School,
Leytonstone, before joining the Hammers at the age of 15 in 1956 Two years
later, having honed his game under the watchful eye of Ted Fenton and
Malcolm Allison inside the Academy of Football, the blond-haired,
ball-playing defender was handed his first-team debut at 17, in a 3-2 First
Division win over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground. It was the
beginning of a special career spanning nearly two decades at the very
highest level, which encompassed winning the FA Cup, European Cup Winners'
Cup, FIFA World Cup, 108 England caps and numerous other accolades. Sadly,
Moore passed away following a brave battle with bowel cancer in 1993, aged
just 51, but his legacy lives on in the shape of the Bobby Moore Fund for
Cancer Research UK charity.
2016/17 Player Awards brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy winners
Betway Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by JM Sealant Contracts Bobby Moore OBE
Best Individual Performance sponsored by Peter Rayney Tax Consulting James
Collins v Swansea City (H), Premier League, 8 April 2017
Best Team Performance sponsored by Shore Capital v Chelsea (H), EFL Cup
third round, 26 October 2017
Players' Player of the Year sponsored by Asmatt Ltd Manuel Lanzini
Goal of the Season sponsored by FRP Advisory Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace
(H), Premier League, 14 January 2017
Save of the Season sponsored by Higgins Darren Randolph v Liverpool (A),
Premier League, 11 December 2016
Signing of the Season sponsored by S14 VIP Limited Edimilson Fernandes
Top Goalscorer sponsored by Mulalley Michail Antonio or Manuel Lanzini
Young Hammer of the Year sponsored by Ark Build PLC Declan Rice
Dylan Tombides Award sponsored by Rich Energy Domingos Quina
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Ginge and Manu win acclaim
WHUFC.com
James Collins wins Best Individual Performance award for outstanding display
in win over Swansea City
Manuel Lanzini is acclaimed by his teammates as Players' Player of the Year
Unforgettable 2-1 EFL Cup win over Chelsea at London Stadium is voted Best
Team Performance
James Collins and Manuel Lanzini were the headline-makers as four more
trophies were presented at the West Ham United 2016/17 Player Awards,
brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy. Centre-half Collins was
rewarded for his outstanding display in the vital 1-0 Premier League win
over Swansea City in April as the fans' choice for Best Individual
Performance, sponsored by Peter Rayney Tax Consulting. The Wales
international made an imperious 12 clearances to ensure the Hammers kept a
clean sheet in defeating the Swans at London Stadium, ensuring he took home
the Award ahead of Cheikhou Kouyate, Darren Randolph, Winston Reid, Michail
Antonio and Pedro Obiang. "It's a massive honour and my first Award in the
ten years I've been here, and to win it for my performance in such a big
game is massive!" said the Ginger Pele. "We had lost to Arsenal earlier on
in the week and everyone was a bit down, but the Gaffer came in and said
'You've got to forget about this as quick as possible because we've got a
big game against Swansea', so we knew it was a massive game, but we
performed well and got the three points. "We'd have liked it to have been a
bit more comfortable, but as a defender I was happy with the one and the
clean sheet all day!"
Meanwhile, Argentinian playmaker Lanzini capped an impressive campaign by
winning the acclaim of his teammates to scoop the Players' Player of the
Year award, sponsored by AsMATT Limited. The No10 has been outstanding in
recent months, especially, scoring beautiful goals in wins over Crystal
Palace – home and away – and a vital strike in the home victory over
Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium.
With eight in all competitions, the 24-year-old is also in the running for
the Top Goalscorer award, sponsored by Mulalley. With two games remaining,
Lanzini sits just one goal behind Michail Antonio in the scoring charts.
Meanwhile, manager Slaven Bilic took to the stage with his players to
receive the Best Team Performance award, for the 2-1 EFL Cup fourth-round
win over Chelsea at London Stadium in October. Cheikhou Kouyate and
Edimilson Fernandes were the heroes as the Hammers edged out Antonio Conte's
Blues on an unforgettable night in Stratford, beating off fellow nominees
and Premier League wins over Swansea City, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and
Southampton.
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The Big Interview – Mark Noble
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble wants Friday's victory against Tottenham Hotspur to help launch
the Hammers into a finishing position in the Premier League's top half. The
memorable derby success extended West Ham's unbeaten run to five games and
made absolutely sure of their top flight spot. But, with Liverpool and
Burnley left to play, Noble wants more and believes ending in the top ten is
achievable.
Mark, a win over Tottenham on Friday and then your 30th birthday on Monday –
it was a good few days for you!
After Friday night, the weekend I had was pretty special. I'm still getting
over Friday now to be honest with you, it was amazing.
You've done it before, haven't you? That was our sixth win against Spurs in
the last six years…
For me, we should have beaten them away from home this season as well, to be
honest. We saw again on Friday night when this Club pulls together as one, a
little bit like the Swansea game too when we needed to win, [what we can
do]. It was definitely one of the highlights of the season.
The atmosphere was something special…
Yes. As I said, when we needed each other this year – the players and fans –
against Swansea, against Crystal Palace and the Spurs game as well, we've
been together and we've got results.
The Swansea game was special for you for another reason. It was your 400th
game for West Ham. When you were on the terraces as a kid, did you ever
dream of 400 appearances?
I used to walk to the stadium and ask for autographs after games, so to
captain this great Club and play 400 games is pretty special, not just for
me but for everyone. To have one of their own captain the Club is great.
Just finally we don't want the Tottenham game to be the last good thing to
happen this season, so we? We want to finish strongly and on a high…
The aim is to get more points on the board. We can't worry about Spurs any
more, it was a great performance and a great win but we want to beat
Liverpool at home. I know we're going to have the crowd behind us and then
we want to go away to Burnley and get some points there.
We want to finish as high up the table as possible and after beating Spurs,
to not go on and get some more results would be disappointing. We want to
finish in the top half and then that would be a very good season for us.
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Lanzini gets shirty with Lionel!
WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini has expressed his pride after Lionel Messi posted a photo of
his West Ham United shirt on social media.
The Barcelona superstar published an image of himself and son Thiago sitting
among his collection of football shirts on Instagram, with Lanzini's Claret
and Blue No28 taking pride of place next to Messi's own jerseys.
Among the dozens of other shirts on show were those Messi had exchanged with
the likes of Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez, Francesco Totti, Raul, Deco, Cesc
Fabregas and Thierry Henry – but it was Lanzini's which stood out alongside
the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's iconic Argentina No10 strip.
The Argentinian duo met in Barcelona through a mutual friend last year, when
they swapped signed shirts, with the Hammers' newly-crowned Players' Player
of the Year describing the encounter as a 'dream come true'.
Lanzini himself spotted the post, telling whufc.com he idolised the
29-year-old during his own formative years with Buenos Aires giants River
Plate.
"It's amazing, because the best player in the world put my t-shirt on
there!" said the 24-year-old. "I could not believe it.
"I would not say we are friends, but I met him one time in Barcelona because
we have a mutual friend and that's when it happened. He gave me his t-shirt
and I gave him my t-shirt and he's a very good person. It's good!"
Playmaker Lanzini has enjoyed an impressive season for West Ham, scoring
eight goals in 37 games in all competitions, while Messi has continued his
imperious form for Barcelona, netting an amazing 51 times in 49 appearances.
The Hammers No10 was selected for the Argentina Olympic squad for Rio 2016,
only to miss the tournament through injury, but the former River Plate star
could yet force his way into Jorge Sampaoli's for next summer's FIFA World
Cup finals in Russia.
Should he do so, he would line up in the same shirt as Lionel Messi!
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LUNCHTIME ROUND UP: SLAV TO BE BACKED THIS SUMMER, TWO STRIKERS LINKED,
ENNER TO DEPART?
BY DAN CHAPMAN ON 10 MAY 2017 AT 1:41PM
TheWestHamWay.couk
Hello Hammers. Here is today's lunchtime round up.
Michail Antonio was named as West Ham's Player of the Season last night at
the club's awards night. (Sky Sports)
I personally thought Winston Reid should have won the award, but
congratulations to Michail. He has had a brilliant season and hopefully he
will continue to improve with us next season.
West Ham are targeting deals for Michy Batshuayi and Shane Long this summer.
(Evening Standard)
I would be very happy if these deals were to happen. Michy Batshuayi is top
of my personal wishlist, because I think he could well be the missing link
in our team. I do hope we go in with a huge offer to Chelsea in the summer.
Shane Long is another good striker, in my opinion. He isn't the best, but he
gets his fair share of goals during a season. I also feel that with his
pace, he could be a great option to bring off the bench to stretch
opposition defenders.
West Ham will back Slaven Bilic in the summer and are targeting Yaya Toure
as a statement signing. (Telegraph)
This is exactly how it should be. You back your manager in the transfer
window. I hope the board back him properly and give him the funds to improve
the team over the summer. However, I am not so sure on Yaya Toure. He is
without doubt a great player, but he is ageing now and he is also on
ridiculous wages. I don't think that deal will happen to be honest.
David Gold has revealed that Michail Antonio is close to signing a new
contract at West Ham. (Football Insider)
Michail fully deserves a new contract. I know he only got an improved deal
last summer, but the season he has had fully warrants getting another one.
He also won the Player of the Year award last night, and that only backs up
him deserving a new deal.
Tony Cottee says he would love to see Jermain Defoe back at West Ham. (HITC)
Back in January, I would have agreed with this. However, not so much now. He
has had a brilliant career and will go down as one of the Premier League's
greatest strikers, without a doubt. He is now 35 years old and is apparently
still demanding £80,000 a week over a three year deal. I do not think he is
worth that, and I also think we could get someone better and younger for
less than that.
Enner Valencia is being lined up to return to former club Pachuca in the
summer. (HITC)
I actually like Enner. I think he tries very hard, but it just isn't enough.
He is not good enough for the Premier League and I believe we should sell
him this summer. He is still relatively young and will be more suited to a
league abroad I feel, so we may be able to get a decent fee for him.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michail Antonio named West Ham's Player of the Season
By Alice Piper
Last Updated: 10/05/17 12:16am
SSN
Michail Antonio was named Player of the Season at West Ham's end-of-season
awards on Tuesday. The 27-year-old winger has impressed for the Hammers this
season, contributing nine goals from 29 league appearances before his term
came to an abrupt end when he suffered a hamstring injury last month. Manuel
Lanzini picked up the Players' Player of the Year award, having produced a
number of impressive displays to fill the void in midfield following Dimitri
Payet's departure. The 24-year-old Argentinian, who joined the Hammers from
Al Jazira Club in July 2015, has scored eight goals from 33 league
appearances this campaign. Meanwhile, Andy Carroll won Goal of the Season
for his unstoppable bicycle kick that sealed West Ham's 3-0 win over Crystal
Palace in January. James Collins claimed Best Individual Performance for his
display in West Ham's 1-0 win over Swansea in April, while the club's Young
Hammer of the Year went to defender Declan Rice.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic's West Ham future assessed ahead of Liverpool clash
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 10/05/17 6:28am
SSN
Slaven Bilic has enjoyed mixed fortunes during his two-year spell at West
Ham, but is it time for the Croatian to leave?
The Hammers' 1-0 victory over rivals Tottenham on Friday Night Football
finally guaranteed their Premier League survival after a difficult first
season at London Stadium. Despite the win, talks over a new contract for
Bilic are on hold and Sky Sports News HQ understands the 48-year-old's
position will be reviewed at the end of the season. It is a far cry from
last season when Bilic led West Ham to their highest ever points total in
the Premier League- 62 - as they finished in seventh place, securing
qualification for the Europa League. So, does that leave the West Ham
manager still in credit or facing the sack? Ahead of the Super Sunday clash
against Liverpool, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Nick Lustig assesses whether
Bilic should still be in charge next season…
SUMMER SIGNINGS
A case can be made that West Ham's failings on the pitch this season were
more due to disappointing recruitment rather than the much-publicised move
from the Boleyn Ground to London Stadium. A scattergun approach to transfers
last summer, with the club preparing to play in the Premier League as well
as the Europa League, left Bilic with a disjointed squad that at times
lacked functionality and cohesion. The experiment of playing Michail Antonio
at right-back came to a rather inevitable conclusion in August and left
Bilic with three right wingers following the arrivals of Sofiane Feghouli
and Gokhan Tore. It also left him with a gap at right-back, with the
subsequent acquisition of former Liverpool and Real Madrid defender Alvaro
Arbeloa doing little to fill that hole. The failure to sign a recognised
goalscorer has also blighted West Ham, with an all too familiar picture
forming with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho once again struck down by a
series of injuries. It has left them 20 goals worse off from last season and
light in terms of capable options.
Simone Zaza's disastrous loan spell was cut short in January after 11 games
without a goal, while Andre Ayew, Ashley Fletcher and Jonathan Calleri are
still yet to make any real goalscoring impact following their summer moves.
There is currently an apparent lack of clarity on who is making the
decisions on the players the club signs, with Bilic, head of recruitment
Tony Henry and co-owner David Sullivan all involved in the dialogue. This
confusion has transmitted into the club's transfer dealings and unless Bilic
is given freedom to build the squad he wants, it is hard to make a case
against him.
VERDICT: Bilic must take part of the blame on the club's recruitment,
however, he deserves the chance of another summer transfer window to rectify
last year's failings. Bilic stays.
COPING WITHOUT DIMITRI PAYET
The acrimonious departure of the France midfielder in January cannot be
underestimated. Payet was integral to the way West Ham played under Bilic
and his return to Marseille left the Hammers boss without his talisman for
the second half of the season. Payet was instrumental in West Ham's
memorable final season at the Boleyn Ground, providing 12 goals, the same
number of assists and a catalogue of memorable moments. His sensational form
was duly rewarded and then some. A new five-and-a-half year contract, worth
£125,000-a-week, made Payet the highest-paid player in the club's history, a
mural for him was created at London Stadium and a £1m loyalty bonus also
followed. But the new season did not bring with it the Payet from the
previous year. Rumours of the 30-year-old's discontent at the club had
already begun to circulate following his brilliant Euro 2016 campaign. And
although there were fleeting moments of the old Payet, the same desire to
play for the club was no longer apparent and it came as no surprise in early
January when Bilic went public on the French international's refusal to play
because of his wish to return to Marseille.
It left Bilic with a huge predicament, but one he dealt with admirably.
Payet was demoted to the U23s squad before eventually sealing his £25m move
back to the south of France, while Bilic turned his focus to uniting his
squad and building his team around midfield playmaker Manuel Lanzini. "We
have talked about the importance of Manuel Lanzini last year. But of course
from some players on the ball you are expecting more and for sure, he is one
of them," Bilic said in January. Lanzini has certainly stepped up to the
plate and been nothing less than superb for West Ham. No longer in the
shadow of Payet, Lanzini has become the go-to man and creative spark for his
team-mates. A shift into a more central attacking role has enabled Lanzini
to increase his influence on matches and it is no surprise that his stats
show a vast improvement in his productivity on the pitch. Bilic certainly
deserves enormous credit for not allowing the negativity from the Payet saga
to derail his side's battle to secure Premier League safety, while the
decision to promote Lanzini to the fore has been vindicated and allowed
supporters to forget about the once revered Frenchman.
Manuel Lanzini
With Payet Per
90 Without Payet Per 90
Games played 17 -
17 -
Games started 14 -
16 -
Minutes played 1152 -
1468 -
Goals 3
0.23 5 0.31
Mins per goal 384 -
293.6 -
Total shots 26
2.03 43 2.64
On target shots 7 0.55
15 0.92
Conversion rate 11.54 -
11.63 -
Assists 0
0 2 0.12
Chances created 21 1.64
34 2.08
Touches 856
66.88 1229 75.35
Passing accuracy 85.93 -
88.05 -
Dribbles completed 22 1.72
62 3.8
VERDICT: Losing your best player midway through a season is a manager's
worst nightmare, but Bilic has managed to find a way of playing without
Payet and a formula that has guided West Ham to Premier League safety. Bilic
stays.
LONDON STADIUM
The first season at London Stadium was always going to prove difficult for
West Ham following 112 years at the Boleyn Ground. Persistent standing,
ineffective segregation and crowd trouble were the teething issues that
overshadowed the opening months at the club's new home - serious issues, but
not ones that are likely to have impacted on player performances. However,
what Bilic and the players have had to contend with is a longer pitch and
fans who are further away. The pitch at the London Stadium is 4.5 metres
longer and, in March, Michail Antonio admitted the new dimensions had caused
difficulties. He said: "We're not used to the pitch, we're not used to the
size of it. It's massive. The Boleyn was a nice, tight ground, and we could
get round pressing. Now we have to sit back and choose when to go. It has
taken time but we have got used to it."
Heavy home defeats to Southampton, Arsenal and Manchester City certainly did
not help, but West Ham are not the first club to find it hard in their first
season in a new stadium. Manchester City struggled in their maiden campaign
at the City of Manchester Stadium (later renamed the Etihad Stadium) and
ultimately finished in 16th place. Recent home form has improved. Victory
over London rivals Tottenham is certain to have gone a long way to making
London Stadium feel more like home for West Ham and also keeps them within
touching distance of securing a top-10 finish.
VERDICT: It was always going to take time for West Ham to settle into their
new surroundings and Bilic faced an unenviable task of attempting to provide
an immediate winning formula. Bilic stays.
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Michail Antonio's five best games which earned him West Ham Hammer of the
Year award
The winger has been inspired this season
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
09:51, 10 MAY 2017
He might be out injured for the rest of the season but Michail Antonio
scooped the much-coveted Hammer of the Year at the West Ham Player Awards in
London last night. The 27-year-old, still the Hammers' top scorer this
season despite missing the past four games, won the prize ahead of Manuel
Lanzini in second place and Pedro Obiang, who finished in third. Antonio -
who hinted at his future in his acceptance speech saying he "wants to win it
again" - has been a shining light in what has been a tough season for the
Hammers, despite his own injury issues as well. But what were his stand out
performances that led him to being crowned Hammer of the Year? We have had a
look at five of his games in claret and blue this year - statistically at
least - that were his best.
West Ham 1-0 Bournemouth (August 21, 2016)
The eyes of the footballing world were on the London Stadium as West Ham
played their first Premier League game at their new home having moved from
the Boleyn after 112 years. The hosts won a nervy clash 1-0 thanks to
Antonio's 85th minute header. The England man had the most shots of any
player on the pitch (4), had 54 touches, a pass success rate of 82% and a
100% dribble success rate. He also won seven aerial battles and won two of
his three attempted tackles. But, getting the winning goal was the most
important stat of all.
West Brom 4-2 West Ham (September 16)
That was a rough day at the Hawthorns but Antonio certainly stood out on
what was a very tough afternoon, especially when the visitors were 3-0 down
at half time. Antonio had got on the scoresheet to give the Hammers hope at
3-1 and struck eight times at goal in an attempt to salvage something. He
also had an 82% pass success rate, completed two dribbles won two aerial
challenges defensively and two offensively as well. He also had a 100%
tackle success rate from his two attempted, with Arhthur Masuaku (4) only
bettering that.
Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 West Ham (November 19, 2016)
This performance came in defeat for Antonio and West Ham but he was the best
Hammer on the pitch that night as Harry Kane's late spot kick condemned the
Hammers to defeat. Deployed on the right wing, Antonio had three shots on
goal, 81 touches, a pass success rate of 70%, completed three dribbles, won
four corners and dispossessed Spurs three times - the most of any visiting
player. Antonio also got on the scoresheet, giving the Hammers a 1-0 lead in
the 24th minute but ultimately, it wouldn't be enough.
West Ham 3-0 Crystal Palace (January 14, 2017)
Antoni didn't find the target during this game, arguably one of the Hammers
better performances this season (until beating Spurs that is) but the
wideman bagged himself an assist for all three West Ham goals. He had just
the one shot on target but supplied the pass for Sofiane Feghouli to open
the scoring, the cross for Andy Carroll's world-class overhead kick (goal of
the season at the awards do) and the defence splitting pass for Manuel
Lanzini to chip home the third. Antonio also completed two dribbles, won all
of his aerial challenges (4), dispossessed Palace four times and completed
two tackles as well. Statistically, it was his best game this season.
Bournemouth 3-2 West Ham (March 11, 2017)
Another game where Antonio shone in defeat for the Hammers as Josh King
bagged himself a hat trick (and missed a penalty) on the south coast.
Antonio was playing in the number ten role behind Andy Carroll for this game
and smashed six shots on goal, only one of them was off target - the most
for any Hammers player. His pass success rate of 85% was the best of any
Hammer who started the game and completed his solitary dribble of the game.
Antonio also completed two tackles and won possession back twice in
attacking areas.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michy Batshuayi and Shane Long on West Ham wishlist as Slaven Bilic targets
pace
KEN DYER
Evening Standard
West Ham will prioritise pace when they strengthen their squad in the
summer. Now that Premier League safety is assured, the board, manager Slaven
Bilic and head of recruitment Tony Henry have begun planning for next
season, with the emphasis on signing mobile players who will increase the
tempo of the team. Apart from Michail Antonio, who is out for the rest of
the season with a hamstring injury, there is a lack of lightning pace in the
squad and Bilic will be looking to rectify that situation, especially with
the bigger pitch at London Stadium in mind. The playing surface is 105m x
68m, which is almost five metres longer than it was at the club's previous
home, the Boleyn Ground. West Ham's players, while finding it difficult
initially, have gradually adjusted to their new environment and last
Friday's 1-0 victory over Tottenham was, arguably, their best all-round team
performance since they moved there last summer.
Against Tottenham, Bilic's team managed to get behind the visitors' defence
on occasions but, again, their lack of real pace let them down. So, quick
offensive players are what are required by the Hammers — and preferably
those who have Premier League experience.
Southampton's Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long, who was on the club's
radar last summer, could again become a target, while another player who
would fit the bill is Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi.
West Ham looked favourites to sign the Belgian international last year after
offering his then club Marseille £30million. Crystal Palace joined the race
with an increased offer of £31.5m but the 23-year-old striker finally joined
Chelsea for £33.2m. Batshuayi's opportunities have been limited — all 17 of
his Premier League appearances have come off the bench — and the Stamford
Bridge club could be prepared to let him go this summer, probably on a loan
deal. Another priority for West Ham remains a right-back. The experiment of
playing Antonio in a wide, defensive position proved a failure, while their
only other specialised right-back, Sam Byram, has been plagued with injury.
The future of West Ham goalkeeper Adrian also remains uncertain. Although
restored to being first-choice goalkeeper and playing well, his contract
expires this summer and several La Liga clubs are interested in signing the
Spaniard. Adrian has intimated that he wants to stay but with assurances
that he will remain the No1. West Ham have been linked with a move for
Manchester City's Joe Hart, who is on loan at Torino.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure
HITC
Saikat Mandal
West Ham United are reportedly considering making a move for Manchester City
midfielder Yaya Toure in the summer transfer window. West Ham United are
considering making Yaya Toure one of their major signings of the summer
transfer window, according to reports from The Telegraph. The Ivorian is out
of contract at City at the end of the season, and is yet to agree a one-year
contract extension. The report suggests that West Ham are emerging as a
viable destination for the 33-year-old. Although Toure has been offered a
new deal to stay, the Ivorian is thinking of turning down a contract
extension at the club. He feels that his first team chances could be limited
next season. One of the major problems for West Ham will be to meet his wage
demands, should he leave City, and Toure may have to take a wage drop if he
is keen to move on. The report adds that a deal could be struck, given that
he would be available as a free agent, and that Toure would decide on his
future soon. At one point of time, it looked like he was heading for the for
the exit, having not played a Premier league game under Pep Guardiola till
mid-November. However, he made full use of the opportunity after Ilkay
Gundogan got injured and has gone on to play 28 matches in all competitions.
West Ham could face a tough competition from Newcastle United in the race to
sign Toure. According to reports from The Sun, the Magpies are believed to
be tracking Toure as well. However, any possible deal will hinge upon
whether the midfielder takes a significant pay-cut or not.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUC.com
Michail Antonio crowned as the 2016/17 Betway Hammer of the Year
Manuel Lanzini finishes as runner-up, with Pedro Obiang in third place
Billy Bonds receives Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the late, great
Bobby Moore
Michail Antonio has been crowned as the 2016/17 Betway Hammer of the Year.
The winger has been recognised for his outstanding season for West Ham
United by becoming the 39th different player to win the acclaim of the
Claret and Blue Army. Antonio, who has scored nine goals and registered five
assists in 37 appearances, won 47 per cent of the vote, with Manuel Lanzini
finishing as runner-up with 21 per cent, and Pedro Obiang third with 14 per
cent. "It's just a great feeling and hopefully I can do it again!" said the
winger. "I'm extremely grateful to the fans who voted for me because they
have been to home and away games, week-in, week-out, so for them to give
this Award to me has left me so overwhelmed and buzzing. "It's crazy because
I've only been in the Premier League for two years and last year I came
runner-up and this year I've won it, so hopefully I can keep going, keep
pushing on and keep doing what I'm doing.
"I have to say my England call-up was a massive highlight and winning Hammer
of the Year is amazing because it's come from the fans, who can be our
biggest critics."
Antonio has enjoyed two superb seasons since arriving from Nottingham Forest
in summer 2015, scoring 18 goals in 69 appearances, including the equaliser
in West Ham's unforgettable Final Game win over Manchester United at the
Boleyn Ground last May. The current campaign saw the No30 kick-off in style,
scoring the first Premier League goal in London Stadium history against AFC
Bournemouth in August, and five in his opening four top-flight appearances.
That form saw him earn a first-ever England call-up for Sam Allardyce's only
game in charge, and he was included in the Three Lions squad for a second
time by Big Sam's successor Gareth Southgate in March.
While his scoring rate in Claret and Blue slowed, Antonio continued to
produce the goods in a variety of positions, as injuries and suspensions saw
him fielded as a right wing-back, right winger and centre forward by manager
Slaven Bilic. After scoring at Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City either
side of Christmas, the Wandsworth-born player turned provider against
Crystal Palace, when his three second-half assists inspired the Hammers to a
vital 3-0 home win. A ninth and final goal of the campaign arrived at AFC
Bournemouth before a hamstring injury prematurely ended Antonio's season,
but the 27-year-old had already done enough to secure a deserved maiden
Hammer of the Year award. Antonio was one of a host of winners at the
2016/17 Player Awards brought to by Betway in aid of the Academy, which were
held for the first time at InterContinental London – The O2.
Lanzini took home the Players' Player of the Year honour, Andy Carroll
benefited from one of Antonio's aforementioned assists to net the Goal of
the Season against Crystal Palace, while Darren Randolph's fingertip stop to
deny Liverpool's Jordan Henderson scooped the Save of the Season award.
James Collins' display in the 1-0 win over Swansea City won the Best
Individual Performance trophy, while the 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Chelsea at
London Stadium was the Best Team Performance.
Signing of the Season went to Edimilson Fernandes, while Young Hammer of the
Year was Declan Rice and Domingos Quina won the Dylan Tombides Award.
Finally, the late, great Bobby Moore OBE was recognised with a posthumous
Lifetime Achievement Award. Bobby Moore OBE led his club to their first
major domestic and European trophy before completing a unique, unforgettable
hat-trick by captaining England to FIFA World Cup glory in 1966. Born in
Barking in 1941, Moore attended Westbury Primary School and Tom Hood School,
Leytonstone, before joining the Hammers at the age of 15 in 1956 Two years
later, having honed his game under the watchful eye of Ted Fenton and
Malcolm Allison inside the Academy of Football, the blond-haired,
ball-playing defender was handed his first-team debut at 17, in a 3-2 First
Division win over Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground. It was the
beginning of a special career spanning nearly two decades at the very
highest level, which encompassed winning the FA Cup, European Cup Winners'
Cup, FIFA World Cup, 108 England caps and numerous other accolades. Sadly,
Moore passed away following a brave battle with bowel cancer in 1993, aged
just 51, but his legacy lives on in the shape of the Bobby Moore Fund for
Cancer Research UK charity.
2016/17 Player Awards brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy winners
Betway Hammer of the Year Michail Antonio
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by JM Sealant Contracts Bobby Moore OBE
Best Individual Performance sponsored by Peter Rayney Tax Consulting James
Collins v Swansea City (H), Premier League, 8 April 2017
Best Team Performance sponsored by Shore Capital v Chelsea (H), EFL Cup
third round, 26 October 2017
Players' Player of the Year sponsored by Asmatt Ltd Manuel Lanzini
Goal of the Season sponsored by FRP Advisory Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace
(H), Premier League, 14 January 2017
Save of the Season sponsored by Higgins Darren Randolph v Liverpool (A),
Premier League, 11 December 2016
Signing of the Season sponsored by S14 VIP Limited Edimilson Fernandes
Top Goalscorer sponsored by Mulalley Michail Antonio or Manuel Lanzini
Young Hammer of the Year sponsored by Ark Build PLC Declan Rice
Dylan Tombides Award sponsored by Rich Energy Domingos Quina
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Ginge and Manu win acclaim
WHUFC.com
James Collins wins Best Individual Performance award for outstanding display
in win over Swansea City
Manuel Lanzini is acclaimed by his teammates as Players' Player of the Year
Unforgettable 2-1 EFL Cup win over Chelsea at London Stadium is voted Best
Team Performance
James Collins and Manuel Lanzini were the headline-makers as four more
trophies were presented at the West Ham United 2016/17 Player Awards,
brought to you by Betway in aid of the Academy. Centre-half Collins was
rewarded for his outstanding display in the vital 1-0 Premier League win
over Swansea City in April as the fans' choice for Best Individual
Performance, sponsored by Peter Rayney Tax Consulting. The Wales
international made an imperious 12 clearances to ensure the Hammers kept a
clean sheet in defeating the Swans at London Stadium, ensuring he took home
the Award ahead of Cheikhou Kouyate, Darren Randolph, Winston Reid, Michail
Antonio and Pedro Obiang. "It's a massive honour and my first Award in the
ten years I've been here, and to win it for my performance in such a big
game is massive!" said the Ginger Pele. "We had lost to Arsenal earlier on
in the week and everyone was a bit down, but the Gaffer came in and said
'You've got to forget about this as quick as possible because we've got a
big game against Swansea', so we knew it was a massive game, but we
performed well and got the three points. "We'd have liked it to have been a
bit more comfortable, but as a defender I was happy with the one and the
clean sheet all day!"
Meanwhile, Argentinian playmaker Lanzini capped an impressive campaign by
winning the acclaim of his teammates to scoop the Players' Player of the
Year award, sponsored by AsMATT Limited. The No10 has been outstanding in
recent months, especially, scoring beautiful goals in wins over Crystal
Palace – home and away – and a vital strike in the home victory over
Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium.
With eight in all competitions, the 24-year-old is also in the running for
the Top Goalscorer award, sponsored by Mulalley. With two games remaining,
Lanzini sits just one goal behind Michail Antonio in the scoring charts.
Meanwhile, manager Slaven Bilic took to the stage with his players to
receive the Best Team Performance award, for the 2-1 EFL Cup fourth-round
win over Chelsea at London Stadium in October. Cheikhou Kouyate and
Edimilson Fernandes were the heroes as the Hammers edged out Antonio Conte's
Blues on an unforgettable night in Stratford, beating off fellow nominees
and Premier League wins over Swansea City, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and
Southampton.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview – Mark Noble
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble wants Friday's victory against Tottenham Hotspur to help launch
the Hammers into a finishing position in the Premier League's top half. The
memorable derby success extended West Ham's unbeaten run to five games and
made absolutely sure of their top flight spot. But, with Liverpool and
Burnley left to play, Noble wants more and believes ending in the top ten is
achievable.
Mark, a win over Tottenham on Friday and then your 30th birthday on Monday –
it was a good few days for you!
After Friday night, the weekend I had was pretty special. I'm still getting
over Friday now to be honest with you, it was amazing.
You've done it before, haven't you? That was our sixth win against Spurs in
the last six years…
For me, we should have beaten them away from home this season as well, to be
honest. We saw again on Friday night when this Club pulls together as one, a
little bit like the Swansea game too when we needed to win, [what we can
do]. It was definitely one of the highlights of the season.
The atmosphere was something special…
Yes. As I said, when we needed each other this year – the players and fans –
against Swansea, against Crystal Palace and the Spurs game as well, we've
been together and we've got results.
The Swansea game was special for you for another reason. It was your 400th
game for West Ham. When you were on the terraces as a kid, did you ever
dream of 400 appearances?
I used to walk to the stadium and ask for autographs after games, so to
captain this great Club and play 400 games is pretty special, not just for
me but for everyone. To have one of their own captain the Club is great.
Just finally we don't want the Tottenham game to be the last good thing to
happen this season, so we? We want to finish strongly and on a high…
The aim is to get more points on the board. We can't worry about Spurs any
more, it was a great performance and a great win but we want to beat
Liverpool at home. I know we're going to have the crowd behind us and then
we want to go away to Burnley and get some points there.
We want to finish as high up the table as possible and after beating Spurs,
to not go on and get some more results would be disappointing. We want to
finish in the top half and then that would be a very good season for us.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lanzini gets shirty with Lionel!
WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini has expressed his pride after Lionel Messi posted a photo of
his West Ham United shirt on social media.
The Barcelona superstar published an image of himself and son Thiago sitting
among his collection of football shirts on Instagram, with Lanzini's Claret
and Blue No28 taking pride of place next to Messi's own jerseys.
Among the dozens of other shirts on show were those Messi had exchanged with
the likes of Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez, Francesco Totti, Raul, Deco, Cesc
Fabregas and Thierry Henry – but it was Lanzini's which stood out alongside
the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's iconic Argentina No10 strip.
The Argentinian duo met in Barcelona through a mutual friend last year, when
they swapped signed shirts, with the Hammers' newly-crowned Players' Player
of the Year describing the encounter as a 'dream come true'.
Lanzini himself spotted the post, telling whufc.com he idolised the
29-year-old during his own formative years with Buenos Aires giants River
Plate.
"It's amazing, because the best player in the world put my t-shirt on
there!" said the 24-year-old. "I could not believe it.
"I would not say we are friends, but I met him one time in Barcelona because
we have a mutual friend and that's when it happened. He gave me his t-shirt
and I gave him my t-shirt and he's a very good person. It's good!"
Playmaker Lanzini has enjoyed an impressive season for West Ham, scoring
eight goals in 37 games in all competitions, while Messi has continued his
imperious form for Barcelona, netting an amazing 51 times in 49 appearances.
The Hammers No10 was selected for the Argentina Olympic squad for Rio 2016,
only to miss the tournament through injury, but the former River Plate star
could yet force his way into Jorge Sampaoli's for next summer's FIFA World
Cup finals in Russia.
Should he do so, he would line up in the same shirt as Lionel Messi!
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LUNCHTIME ROUND UP: SLAV TO BE BACKED THIS SUMMER, TWO STRIKERS LINKED,
ENNER TO DEPART?
BY DAN CHAPMAN ON 10 MAY 2017 AT 1:41PM
TheWestHamWay.couk
Hello Hammers. Here is today's lunchtime round up.
Michail Antonio was named as West Ham's Player of the Season last night at
the club's awards night. (Sky Sports)
I personally thought Winston Reid should have won the award, but
congratulations to Michail. He has had a brilliant season and hopefully he
will continue to improve with us next season.
West Ham are targeting deals for Michy Batshuayi and Shane Long this summer.
(Evening Standard)
I would be very happy if these deals were to happen. Michy Batshuayi is top
of my personal wishlist, because I think he could well be the missing link
in our team. I do hope we go in with a huge offer to Chelsea in the summer.
Shane Long is another good striker, in my opinion. He isn't the best, but he
gets his fair share of goals during a season. I also feel that with his
pace, he could be a great option to bring off the bench to stretch
opposition defenders.
West Ham will back Slaven Bilic in the summer and are targeting Yaya Toure
as a statement signing. (Telegraph)
This is exactly how it should be. You back your manager in the transfer
window. I hope the board back him properly and give him the funds to improve
the team over the summer. However, I am not so sure on Yaya Toure. He is
without doubt a great player, but he is ageing now and he is also on
ridiculous wages. I don't think that deal will happen to be honest.
David Gold has revealed that Michail Antonio is close to signing a new
contract at West Ham. (Football Insider)
Michail fully deserves a new contract. I know he only got an improved deal
last summer, but the season he has had fully warrants getting another one.
He also won the Player of the Year award last night, and that only backs up
him deserving a new deal.
Tony Cottee says he would love to see Jermain Defoe back at West Ham. (HITC)
Back in January, I would have agreed with this. However, not so much now. He
has had a brilliant career and will go down as one of the Premier League's
greatest strikers, without a doubt. He is now 35 years old and is apparently
still demanding £80,000 a week over a three year deal. I do not think he is
worth that, and I also think we could get someone better and younger for
less than that.
Enner Valencia is being lined up to return to former club Pachuca in the
summer. (HITC)
I actually like Enner. I think he tries very hard, but it just isn't enough.
He is not good enough for the Premier League and I believe we should sell
him this summer. He is still relatively young and will be more suited to a
league abroad I feel, so we may be able to get a decent fee for him.
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Michail Antonio named West Ham's Player of the Season
By Alice Piper
Last Updated: 10/05/17 12:16am
SSN
Michail Antonio was named Player of the Season at West Ham's end-of-season
awards on Tuesday. The 27-year-old winger has impressed for the Hammers this
season, contributing nine goals from 29 league appearances before his term
came to an abrupt end when he suffered a hamstring injury last month. Manuel
Lanzini picked up the Players' Player of the Year award, having produced a
number of impressive displays to fill the void in midfield following Dimitri
Payet's departure. The 24-year-old Argentinian, who joined the Hammers from
Al Jazira Club in July 2015, has scored eight goals from 33 league
appearances this campaign. Meanwhile, Andy Carroll won Goal of the Season
for his unstoppable bicycle kick that sealed West Ham's 3-0 win over Crystal
Palace in January. James Collins claimed Best Individual Performance for his
display in West Ham's 1-0 win over Swansea in April, while the club's Young
Hammer of the Year went to defender Declan Rice.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic's West Ham future assessed ahead of Liverpool clash
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 10/05/17 6:28am
SSN
Slaven Bilic has enjoyed mixed fortunes during his two-year spell at West
Ham, but is it time for the Croatian to leave?
The Hammers' 1-0 victory over rivals Tottenham on Friday Night Football
finally guaranteed their Premier League survival after a difficult first
season at London Stadium. Despite the win, talks over a new contract for
Bilic are on hold and Sky Sports News HQ understands the 48-year-old's
position will be reviewed at the end of the season. It is a far cry from
last season when Bilic led West Ham to their highest ever points total in
the Premier League- 62 - as they finished in seventh place, securing
qualification for the Europa League. So, does that leave the West Ham
manager still in credit or facing the sack? Ahead of the Super Sunday clash
against Liverpool, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Nick Lustig assesses whether
Bilic should still be in charge next season…
SUMMER SIGNINGS
A case can be made that West Ham's failings on the pitch this season were
more due to disappointing recruitment rather than the much-publicised move
from the Boleyn Ground to London Stadium. A scattergun approach to transfers
last summer, with the club preparing to play in the Premier League as well
as the Europa League, left Bilic with a disjointed squad that at times
lacked functionality and cohesion. The experiment of playing Michail Antonio
at right-back came to a rather inevitable conclusion in August and left
Bilic with three right wingers following the arrivals of Sofiane Feghouli
and Gokhan Tore. It also left him with a gap at right-back, with the
subsequent acquisition of former Liverpool and Real Madrid defender Alvaro
Arbeloa doing little to fill that hole. The failure to sign a recognised
goalscorer has also blighted West Ham, with an all too familiar picture
forming with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho once again struck down by a
series of injuries. It has left them 20 goals worse off from last season and
light in terms of capable options.
Simone Zaza's disastrous loan spell was cut short in January after 11 games
without a goal, while Andre Ayew, Ashley Fletcher and Jonathan Calleri are
still yet to make any real goalscoring impact following their summer moves.
There is currently an apparent lack of clarity on who is making the
decisions on the players the club signs, with Bilic, head of recruitment
Tony Henry and co-owner David Sullivan all involved in the dialogue. This
confusion has transmitted into the club's transfer dealings and unless Bilic
is given freedom to build the squad he wants, it is hard to make a case
against him.
VERDICT: Bilic must take part of the blame on the club's recruitment,
however, he deserves the chance of another summer transfer window to rectify
last year's failings. Bilic stays.
COPING WITHOUT DIMITRI PAYET
The acrimonious departure of the France midfielder in January cannot be
underestimated. Payet was integral to the way West Ham played under Bilic
and his return to Marseille left the Hammers boss without his talisman for
the second half of the season. Payet was instrumental in West Ham's
memorable final season at the Boleyn Ground, providing 12 goals, the same
number of assists and a catalogue of memorable moments. His sensational form
was duly rewarded and then some. A new five-and-a-half year contract, worth
£125,000-a-week, made Payet the highest-paid player in the club's history, a
mural for him was created at London Stadium and a £1m loyalty bonus also
followed. But the new season did not bring with it the Payet from the
previous year. Rumours of the 30-year-old's discontent at the club had
already begun to circulate following his brilliant Euro 2016 campaign. And
although there were fleeting moments of the old Payet, the same desire to
play for the club was no longer apparent and it came as no surprise in early
January when Bilic went public on the French international's refusal to play
because of his wish to return to Marseille.
It left Bilic with a huge predicament, but one he dealt with admirably.
Payet was demoted to the U23s squad before eventually sealing his £25m move
back to the south of France, while Bilic turned his focus to uniting his
squad and building his team around midfield playmaker Manuel Lanzini. "We
have talked about the importance of Manuel Lanzini last year. But of course
from some players on the ball you are expecting more and for sure, he is one
of them," Bilic said in January. Lanzini has certainly stepped up to the
plate and been nothing less than superb for West Ham. No longer in the
shadow of Payet, Lanzini has become the go-to man and creative spark for his
team-mates. A shift into a more central attacking role has enabled Lanzini
to increase his influence on matches and it is no surprise that his stats
show a vast improvement in his productivity on the pitch. Bilic certainly
deserves enormous credit for not allowing the negativity from the Payet saga
to derail his side's battle to secure Premier League safety, while the
decision to promote Lanzini to the fore has been vindicated and allowed
supporters to forget about the once revered Frenchman.
Manuel Lanzini
With Payet Per
90 Without Payet Per 90
Games played 17 -
17 -
Games started 14 -
16 -
Minutes played 1152 -
1468 -
Goals 3
0.23 5 0.31
Mins per goal 384 -
293.6 -
Total shots 26
2.03 43 2.64
On target shots 7 0.55
15 0.92
Conversion rate 11.54 -
11.63 -
Assists 0
0 2 0.12
Chances created 21 1.64
34 2.08
Touches 856
66.88 1229 75.35
Passing accuracy 85.93 -
88.05 -
Dribbles completed 22 1.72
62 3.8
VERDICT: Losing your best player midway through a season is a manager's
worst nightmare, but Bilic has managed to find a way of playing without
Payet and a formula that has guided West Ham to Premier League safety. Bilic
stays.
LONDON STADIUM
The first season at London Stadium was always going to prove difficult for
West Ham following 112 years at the Boleyn Ground. Persistent standing,
ineffective segregation and crowd trouble were the teething issues that
overshadowed the opening months at the club's new home - serious issues, but
not ones that are likely to have impacted on player performances. However,
what Bilic and the players have had to contend with is a longer pitch and
fans who are further away. The pitch at the London Stadium is 4.5 metres
longer and, in March, Michail Antonio admitted the new dimensions had caused
difficulties. He said: "We're not used to the pitch, we're not used to the
size of it. It's massive. The Boleyn was a nice, tight ground, and we could
get round pressing. Now we have to sit back and choose when to go. It has
taken time but we have got used to it."
Heavy home defeats to Southampton, Arsenal and Manchester City certainly did
not help, but West Ham are not the first club to find it hard in their first
season in a new stadium. Manchester City struggled in their maiden campaign
at the City of Manchester Stadium (later renamed the Etihad Stadium) and
ultimately finished in 16th place. Recent home form has improved. Victory
over London rivals Tottenham is certain to have gone a long way to making
London Stadium feel more like home for West Ham and also keeps them within
touching distance of securing a top-10 finish.
VERDICT: It was always going to take time for West Ham to settle into their
new surroundings and Bilic faced an unenviable task of attempting to provide
an immediate winning formula. Bilic stays.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michail Antonio's five best games which earned him West Ham Hammer of the
Year award
The winger has been inspired this season
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
09:51, 10 MAY 2017
He might be out injured for the rest of the season but Michail Antonio
scooped the much-coveted Hammer of the Year at the West Ham Player Awards in
London last night. The 27-year-old, still the Hammers' top scorer this
season despite missing the past four games, won the prize ahead of Manuel
Lanzini in second place and Pedro Obiang, who finished in third. Antonio -
who hinted at his future in his acceptance speech saying he "wants to win it
again" - has been a shining light in what has been a tough season for the
Hammers, despite his own injury issues as well. But what were his stand out
performances that led him to being crowned Hammer of the Year? We have had a
look at five of his games in claret and blue this year - statistically at
least - that were his best.
West Ham 1-0 Bournemouth (August 21, 2016)
The eyes of the footballing world were on the London Stadium as West Ham
played their first Premier League game at their new home having moved from
the Boleyn after 112 years. The hosts won a nervy clash 1-0 thanks to
Antonio's 85th minute header. The England man had the most shots of any
player on the pitch (4), had 54 touches, a pass success rate of 82% and a
100% dribble success rate. He also won seven aerial battles and won two of
his three attempted tackles. But, getting the winning goal was the most
important stat of all.
West Brom 4-2 West Ham (September 16)
That was a rough day at the Hawthorns but Antonio certainly stood out on
what was a very tough afternoon, especially when the visitors were 3-0 down
at half time. Antonio had got on the scoresheet to give the Hammers hope at
3-1 and struck eight times at goal in an attempt to salvage something. He
also had an 82% pass success rate, completed two dribbles won two aerial
challenges defensively and two offensively as well. He also had a 100%
tackle success rate from his two attempted, with Arhthur Masuaku (4) only
bettering that.
Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 West Ham (November 19, 2016)
This performance came in defeat for Antonio and West Ham but he was the best
Hammer on the pitch that night as Harry Kane's late spot kick condemned the
Hammers to defeat. Deployed on the right wing, Antonio had three shots on
goal, 81 touches, a pass success rate of 70%, completed three dribbles, won
four corners and dispossessed Spurs three times - the most of any visiting
player. Antonio also got on the scoresheet, giving the Hammers a 1-0 lead in
the 24th minute but ultimately, it wouldn't be enough.
West Ham 3-0 Crystal Palace (January 14, 2017)
Antoni didn't find the target during this game, arguably one of the Hammers
better performances this season (until beating Spurs that is) but the
wideman bagged himself an assist for all three West Ham goals. He had just
the one shot on target but supplied the pass for Sofiane Feghouli to open
the scoring, the cross for Andy Carroll's world-class overhead kick (goal of
the season at the awards do) and the defence splitting pass for Manuel
Lanzini to chip home the third. Antonio also completed two dribbles, won all
of his aerial challenges (4), dispossessed Palace four times and completed
two tackles as well. Statistically, it was his best game this season.
Bournemouth 3-2 West Ham (March 11, 2017)
Another game where Antonio shone in defeat for the Hammers as Josh King
bagged himself a hat trick (and missed a penalty) on the south coast.
Antonio was playing in the number ten role behind Andy Carroll for this game
and smashed six shots on goal, only one of them was off target - the most
for any Hammers player. His pass success rate of 85% was the best of any
Hammer who started the game and completed his solitary dribble of the game.
Antonio also completed two tackles and won possession back twice in
attacking areas.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Michy Batshuayi and Shane Long on West Ham wishlist as Slaven Bilic targets
pace
KEN DYER
Evening Standard
West Ham will prioritise pace when they strengthen their squad in the
summer. Now that Premier League safety is assured, the board, manager Slaven
Bilic and head of recruitment Tony Henry have begun planning for next
season, with the emphasis on signing mobile players who will increase the
tempo of the team. Apart from Michail Antonio, who is out for the rest of
the season with a hamstring injury, there is a lack of lightning pace in the
squad and Bilic will be looking to rectify that situation, especially with
the bigger pitch at London Stadium in mind. The playing surface is 105m x
68m, which is almost five metres longer than it was at the club's previous
home, the Boleyn Ground. West Ham's players, while finding it difficult
initially, have gradually adjusted to their new environment and last
Friday's 1-0 victory over Tottenham was, arguably, their best all-round team
performance since they moved there last summer.
Against Tottenham, Bilic's team managed to get behind the visitors' defence
on occasions but, again, their lack of real pace let them down. So, quick
offensive players are what are required by the Hammers — and preferably
those who have Premier League experience.
Southampton's Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long, who was on the club's
radar last summer, could again become a target, while another player who
would fit the bill is Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi.
West Ham looked favourites to sign the Belgian international last year after
offering his then club Marseille £30million. Crystal Palace joined the race
with an increased offer of £31.5m but the 23-year-old striker finally joined
Chelsea for £33.2m. Batshuayi's opportunities have been limited — all 17 of
his Premier League appearances have come off the bench — and the Stamford
Bridge club could be prepared to let him go this summer, probably on a loan
deal. Another priority for West Ham remains a right-back. The experiment of
playing Antonio in a wide, defensive position proved a failure, while their
only other specialised right-back, Sam Byram, has been plagued with injury.
The future of West Ham goalkeeper Adrian also remains uncertain. Although
restored to being first-choice goalkeeper and playing well, his contract
expires this summer and several La Liga clubs are interested in signing the
Spaniard. Adrian has intimated that he wants to stay but with assurances
that he will remain the No1. West Ham have been linked with a move for
Manchester City's Joe Hart, who is on loan at Torino.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure
HITC
Saikat Mandal
West Ham United are reportedly considering making a move for Manchester City
midfielder Yaya Toure in the summer transfer window. West Ham United are
considering making Yaya Toure one of their major signings of the summer
transfer window, according to reports from The Telegraph. The Ivorian is out
of contract at City at the end of the season, and is yet to agree a one-year
contract extension. The report suggests that West Ham are emerging as a
viable destination for the 33-year-old. Although Toure has been offered a
new deal to stay, the Ivorian is thinking of turning down a contract
extension at the club. He feels that his first team chances could be limited
next season. One of the major problems for West Ham will be to meet his wage
demands, should he leave City, and Toure may have to take a wage drop if he
is keen to move on. The report adds that a deal could be struck, given that
he would be available as a free agent, and that Toure would decide on his
future soon. At one point of time, it looked like he was heading for the for
the exit, having not played a Premier league game under Pep Guardiola till
mid-November. However, he made full use of the opportunity after Ilkay
Gundogan got injured and has gone on to play 28 matches in all competitions.
West Ham could face a tough competition from Newcastle United in the race to
sign Toure. According to reports from The Sun, the Magpies are believed to
be tracking Toure as well. However, any possible deal will hinge upon
whether the midfielder takes a significant pay-cut or not.
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