International round-up: Arnautovic and Kouyate feature in draws
WHUFC.com
West Ham United pair Marko Arnautovic and Cheikhou Kouyate both played 90 minutes as Austria and Senegal both picked up draws in their latest FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday night.
Arnautovic's Austria came from behind to claim a share of the spoils against Georgia in European qualifying Group D. The Georgians led through Valeriane Gvilla's early opener, until Austria's Louis Schaub levelled two minutes before the break. A final scoreline of 1-1 means Austria have now drawn three of their eight qualifiers and now sit five points adrift of James' Collins Wales, who occupy second place behind Serbia.
Meanwhile, in Ouagadougou, Kouyate started in midfield for Senegal, who first came from behind and were then pegged back by Burkina Faso in their 2-2 draw.
Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mane were on target for Senegal, but a last gasp own goal by Papa Seydou N'Diaye means they remain a point off top spot in Africa's Group D.
James Collins, Andre Ayew and Arthur Masuaku were not involved as Wales defeated Moldova, Ghana beat Congo and DR Congo drew with Tunisia respectively.
There was more success for West Ham's Irish U21 contingent, as Josh Cullen and Declan Rice started in the Boys In Green's 3-1 UEFA U21 Championship qualifying victory in Azerbaijan. Ireland, captained by Cullen, now top Group 5 with two wins from two, although tougher tests against the likes of Germany and Israel await.
Finally, Dan Kemp was on the bench as England U19s were defeated 3-1 by Germany. The Hammers youngster played a key role in the Young Lions' 7-1 victory against Poland last week, providing two assists.
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Cresswell: England experiences have boosted my confidence
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell is eager to bring his positive England experiences back to West Ham United. The Hammers left-back was part of the Three Lions squad for the recent victories over Malta and Slovakia – the third time he has been called-up by his country – which left Gareth Southgate's side just two points from securing their place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. And while Cresswell was an unused substitute for both successes, he confirmed that being part of both wins was good for his confidence after a challenging start to the Premier League season. "At the minute, it's not going great at West Ham with three defeats in our first three Premier League games," confirmed the No3. "But I'm looking forward to getting back in with the lads, as I'm sure Joe [Hart] is as well, getting back on the training pitch and working hard to do what we have to do to beat Huddersfield on Monday. "I'm also looking forward to getting back to London Stadium and hopefully we can give something back to the fans, get those three points and kick-start our season."
Should Cresswell produce the goods in Claret and Blue, he will also boost his chances of securing a place in England's squad for Russia 2018, should they qualify.
However, with fierce competition for places in his position – Southampton's Ryan Bertrand started both games, while Tottenham Hotspur's Danny Rose, Everton's Leighton Baines, Manchester United's Luke Shaw and West Bromwich Albion new boy Kieran Gibbs have all been capped – Cresswell knows he will need to play consistently well to stay in Southgate's thoughts. "We're two points from the World Cup and for me personally it's a good experience to be part of it with the boys," the No3, who has two caps, told whufc.com. "Of course, I'd have liked to have got on and played some part, but the lads have done well over the two games and got the two wins, which are the most important thing. We're two points from qualifying, which is massive. "The main aim for me is to play well this season and go to the World Cup. It's an ambition of every footballer to go to the best tournament in the world, so hopefully I can have a good year and we'll see where we are come the end of the season. "For me, playing for your country is the pinnacle of your career. It's nice to be involved in games like we've had recently and play in stadiums like Wembley and the Stade de France. I'm delighted that we won the two games and with the experience of being part of it."
Reflecting on Monday's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Slovakia, Cresswell was pleased with how his England squad-mates handled a potentially tricky situation after falling behind inside three minutes. "Obviously they scored first very early on and it showed great character to come from behind, get into the lead," he observed. "The main thing for us was to get the three points and move away from Slovakia in the group, which we've done. "We're only two points away from qualifying and we all believe we will get the job done in the next international break."
England complete their Group F campaign by hosting Slovenia at Wembley on 5 October before travelling to Lithuania three days later. Cresswell and company go into those games five points clear of second-place Slovakia with a superior goal difference, knowing one victory or two draws will be enough to take them to a 15th World Cup finals.
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Rice reflects on proud moment in Ireland shirt
WHUFC.com
Declan Rice labelled Tuesday night a "proud moment" as he helped the Republic of Ireland's U21s to a win on his competitive debut. The teenager started and completed 90 minutes in the Boys in Green's 3-1 UEFA European Championship qualifying victory over Azerbaijan. Noel King's side now top their qualifying group after they added Tuesday's three points to their win over Kosovo in March ahead of the 2019 tournament to be held in Italy and San Marino. Rice has been involved in all four of the Hammers' matches so far this campaign, impressing in a central midfield role, and could make his London Stadium debut on Monday against Huddersfield Town should he be selected by manager Slaven Bilic. The 18-year-old reflected on a moment to remember representing his country and looked ahead to the vital Premier League fixture. "It was a very proud moment for me and my family, to make my competitive debut for the U21s," the youngster said. "The start I've had to the season has been great and it's another part that I will always remember. "It would be a dream come true to play at London Stadium for the first time in a first team game if I get that opportunity on Monday. I'm very grateful to have been involved in every game so far, so I hope that can continue. "With Ireland, we couldn't have asked for a better start to qualifying, as a group. Two wins from two games is all that we wanted and it's what we've got.
Declan Rice represented Ireland's U21s"We need to take this into the next two games, now. We controlled the whole game in Azerbaijan. We always looked comfortable and they had a man sent off, so that helped us. "It was still up to us to beat what was in front of us, though. When you go all the way to a place like that and win, it's great to take the points home. It would have been so disappointing if we hadn't."
Rice – who skippered West Ham's U23s last season as a centre-back – played in midfield alongside fellow Hammer Josh Cullen, who is currently on loan at Bolton Wanderers. And the 18-year-old enjoyed teaming up with Cullen once again in his new, more advanced, role. "You know what you're going to get with Josh, and he's a fantastic player," Rice continued. "He's had a couple of good years on loan and will be hoping to do it again in the Championship. He's great to play alongside. "To be honest, I'm really liking playing there [in midfield], and I can show off more of my ability there, in the middle of the park. "But wherever any manager wants me to play, I'll always play there and put in 100 per cent."
Bilic's men return to action on Monday after more than a fortnight without a game due to the international break when Huddersfield Town visit east London.
And despite the Terriers' promising early form and the Hammers' disappointment, Rice believes his team has it in them to turn things around. "We just have to stay positive and keep working hard," he explained. "We have have to try and make things right. "For me personally, I feel like I can take back a lot of confidence from the international break having made my debut and a lot of the other boys won too. "That's definitely going to help us going back into Monday's game."
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WHERE DID THINGS GO WRONG?
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 AT 9:06PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
Many are now saying what the likes of Brother Enfield and myself have said for years regarding G&S.
They are spin merchants supreme. Masters of launching phantom 'bids' they know full well the selling Club won't accept. Another trick they have been known for, and I believe they still do, is not being able to agree personal terms for a player they are 'attempting' to sign. In other words, using every trick in the book to make sure a 'bid' is not concluded. Every summer transfer window, before season ticket renewal time, leak after leak about launching 'stunning 'bids' for this star or that appears in the media. They certainly know every trick in the book on how to manipulate the media, thanks to their years owning The Daily Sport. Hammers fans everywhere are tired of the constant bullshit, and as a result there is plenty of anti-Board sentiment and David Sullivan has copped most of it. The Sporting Lisbon Director, Nuno Saraiva, called him "A lying parasite and an 'intellectual' pornographer".
It's Sullivan Fareham!
Good old Nuno gave him the kicking he fully deserves. Sorry Nuno, but you were just covering your own arse. I will explain why in a bit. No, I have not had it all right regarding G&S. Neither has anyone else.
Let's have a look at things closely, trying to separate the truth from fiction. This transfer window was always going to be a tough ask, having to get rid of the dross brought to The Club last summer. The Board and Slaven have taken big stick over this. The question on my lips is why has the chief scout, Tony Henry, been allowed to escape any flak? We actually did well to shift most of them this summer. I'm afraid I do not believe that we made good money on the likes of Randolph and Fletcher. I think that was just positive spin, when in reality I think we made very little profit on the players we shifted. The thing that puzzles me about the transfer window is this. For 75% of the window we had been doing so well! Not a word from Sullivan or young Jack. In came Zabaleta, Hart, Arnautovic and Hernandez. I, like many of you, were on top of the world. Indeed supporters from other clubs had told me that we had done very impressive business. All seemed well, most were happy, and there was no talk of net spend then. Indeed many were saying "Its brilliant business not spending much money, and bringing these four in". Slaven could not stop singing The Board's praises.
Now it feels like we had spent months trying to reach the summit of Mount Everest, yet 500 yards from the summit we turned round and came back. Why? I think as per normal, The Chairman sat down with Slaven to discuss transfer targets and finances. I also think at about the same time Liverpool made contact about buying Manuel Lanzini, thinking that Coutinho would be off to Barcelona. Bilic would have been informed, and he would have had to sanction any potential move. Not the Chairman. I have an inkling the manager gave the nod for the player to be sold, providing he could spend the funds. Bilic would then have identified potential targets and discussed possible fan backlash with The Board. This is where William Carvalho comes in. I don't think that he was on the original list of transfer targets, agreed to by Slaven and The Board. I think that the talks must of escalated to the stage that a fee was agreed in principle regarding the sale of Lanzini. I think if Lanzini had been sold we would have brought in Carvalho and two more quality additions.
At the same time, despite what Nuno says, a similar scenario was unfolding between West Ham and Sporting. Almost like putting an offer on a house pending the sale of yours. Hence Carvalho, dropping out of Sporting matches with mysterious injuries. Likewise Lanzini at ours. Even to the point that Lanzini, dropped out of Argentina's match with a knee injury just before transfer deadline day. Yet just after deadline day, The Jewel made a miraculous recovery.
Funny that.
I like many spent the whole transfer window worrying that we would sell Lanzini, but the simple fact is every single Club is a selling Club. You have to be prepared to sell any player and have replacements in mind you can swoop for should you have to sell. The likes of Southampton and Spurs are experts at this, and it has not affected their on the field performances that much. While expecting three more faces to arrive we started trimming the squad to make way for Carvalho and the rest.
Tick, Tock the clock went on. No sale on Coutinho, no sale of Lanzini, budget already spent. No money for Carvalho and one or two others.
This was about two weeks before the window shut. It seems as though round about that time Bilic adopted the attitude of Lanzini gone or not he still wanted Carvalho. Hence the public courting of the player and constant talk of net spend from Bilic. No doubt this would not have gone down well with David Sullivan.
Right up to deadline day people everywhere were expecting Coutinho to be sold to Barcelona, which would have led to a catalogue of events transfer wise. Which I'm convinced would have led to William Carvalho playing his football in Claret and Blue this season. Unfortunately this has led to us having an unbalanced squad, lacking in pace and depth, without the available funds to conclude the last few deals. Still, it's by no means a terrible squad. It's pretty clear that the relationship between Bilic and Sullivan is toxic as a fallout over the Carvalho affair, which has resulted in Sullivan throwing Bilic under the bus. Just like Grant, Allardyce, and Zola it seems as though The Board are so tight fisted that they want to force Slaven to quit and thus avoid compensation. Sorry, but that is the behaviour of yobs! Do you think any decent manager would want to work in such a set up? Not on your life!
As for our manager, I like the charismatic Croat, but let's not pretend he is St Peter and all that. He couldn't wait to leave the Club for Everton after one season. On the pitch itself, while playing for Croatia in the World Cup semi-final against France, while jostling for a corner he got the faintest of touches against Lauren Blanc, dived and got Blanc sent off. So just like any human being he has his flaws. Who knows what goes on behind the scenes? Maybe Sullivan feels he got thrown under the bus first, hence the statement on the Official site last night. Who knows the truth about that one? Is Sullivan telling porkies or did Bilic really turn down Renato Sanches and Grzegorz krchowiak? I find that difficult to believe. Or is there the remote possibility that Bilic threw a massive sulk because he never got Carvalho and indeed did turn them down? A bit like a child wanting Nike trainer's and been giving a cheaper brand, them binning them in vindictive spite.
What I do know is this. At just past eleven when the transfer window closed, I poured myself a double Jack Daniels and Coke Zero, ran a bath and soaked myself. Then just like that I let out a LOUD FART! BUBBLES EVERYWHERE! Then I belted out Bubbles, had a good laugh, shook my head, and shouted West Ham!
I'm ready to go to war for OUR great Club as always. Bring on Huddersfield. Let's get those three points. Like the desert needs the rain, West Ham (not G&S) needs YOU! Now more than ever, we desperately need to hold our nerve and really get behind the team. We CANNOT afford not too! A toxic atmosphere is just going to lead to disaster, on and off the pitch. What decent player will want to join us if we are in the bottom three come January? Or what decent manager will come to us at the end of the season if we've been relegated? We CANNOT afford relegation at any cost. If we did get relegated we could end up like Coventry. As for The Board, it's not been all bad under them. One only has to look at the squad from five years ago and compare it to today, and one must acknowledge progress has been made. It's just the lies, lies, sweet little lies that piss everybody off.
As for Jack Sullivan, good luck in learning the ropes at the club. David Sullivan JNR, with whom I have had sporadic communication with, I will only say he's a top lad! Your Mum and Dad MUST be doing something right!
While spreading the love, a message to our manager! Christ Slav! We want you to do well! But please remember Noble can't play as a striker and Hernandez can't play as a right back. To all fellow Hammers, have a great week! WEST HAM!! F… the rest!
We are more than a football club, we're a way of life!
COYI!!
Farehamhammer!!
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FORTUNES WILL ALWAYS BE HIDING……
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 AT 8:55PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @jasoninge
With the transfer now closed, I feel this is the perfect opportunity to access where the club is in terms of progression and discuss what I believe our the fundamental issues with how the club is run.
After an underwhelming first season at our new home, I went into the summer hoping that the owners would learn from the poor recruitment that took place both in the summer and January, by purchasing players that would take this club onto the next level. We were promised that they would be playing their cards closer to the chest this time around, but through Director of Recruitment, Tony Henry, stated we were looking at bringing in quality over quantity with a maximum of three players coming in. I was immediately concerned by this statement because I felt that was simply just bringing the players to fill in the gapping gaps in the team and not looking to improve in every position with better players.
The beginning of the window saw us finally fill our problematic right back position for many of a year with Pablo Zabaleta joining, adding much needed experience and leadership to the squad. After a frustrating month in June, where fans alike began to panic that we would not bring in a top class striker, eventually deals for Marco Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez were concluded. Arnautovic has all the makings to be a top quality player but has blown hot and cold at Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and Stoke. However the general conscientious was that he would take away a huge burden on Manuel Lanzini to create chances and go some way at attempting to replace Dimitri Payet. Hernandez whose goals to minute's ratio at football's elite clubs speaks for itself and with West Ham strikers failing to reach double figures for goals for over a decade, can only be considered a superb bit of business. England's number one, Joe Hart also joined on a year's long loan deal. It is fair to say that in the recent couple of seasons, the goalkeepers highly rated reputation has fallen, but I do feel that if he can regain some form he is certainly an upgrade on both Adrian and the departing Randolph, who both had mistake ridden campaigns. The final signing of the window saw what has become commonplace as the 'one for the future signing' in Sead Haksabanovic. Like Edimilson Fernandes, I expect Sead to be in and around the first team, making the odd appearance from the bench.
The transfer window, we have also seen sixteen players depart, with all the permanent ones proving that they were simply not good enough for a club that is supposed to be progressing to the next level and we did make very good money on the majority of these departures.
Overall, I feel that the signings have been able to plug much needed gaps in the starting 11, but we simply haven't done anywhere near enough business to strengthen an already stretched squad that consistently suffers injuries to key personnel. I feel we needed to buy at least one more top level striker, as in Carroll and Sakho, it's the case of how many games we can get out of them, rather than relying on them week in week out. Plus with Sakho's latest display of unprofessionalism, I hope he rots in the reserves. We have also seen three strikers depart and only brought one in, which simply leaves us short once again. Furthermore, I feel Hernandez is far more effective playing with a striker, than up top by himself.
I also feel that we need to bring in an additional creative wide player to replace both Feghouli and Snodgrass, as we really do lack creativity and players that can beat a man since Payet departed. In addition, we needed to bring in a top class defensive midfielder, to protect our shaky defence, as well as someone who is far more comfortable with the ball under pressure than our current midfielders. Finally I feel that we needed to bring in a new centre back, as without Reid, the other three defenders lack pace, concentration and composure with the ball.
So now assessing where the club is and where it is supposed to be progressing too, I am simply left disillusioned by the following two areas.
The Owners
Back in 2010, David Sullivan and David Gold set out a plan to take the club to the next level, which saw an ambition proposal of the Champions League by 2017. Since then, we've obviously had a major rebuild and period of stabilisation, which was much needed. We also secured the former Olympic Stadium, which had been portrayed as a key ingredient to this club growing in stature, allowing us to purchase better players and ultimately become a side that can compete in Europe on a regular basis. Unfortunately this has turned out to nothing but a pipe dream. Now, I'm not disputing that David Sullivan works tirelessly in the transfer market, but ultimately he doesn't have the finances to go out and purchase what is required to take this club forward. Only last night he put out a ludicrous statement on the official website, defending the transfer policy. It was claimed that a deal could have been done for the defensive midfielder that the team has been crying out for and the manager desperately wanted, William Carvalho. However we apparently ran out of time to conclude the deal due to not being able to complete a medical, with the player being away on International duty. Simply that is nonsense, as Leicester City have shown with Adrien Silva, who was also with the Portugal squad, the medical could have been completed after the window, providing the relevant paperwork for the signing was completed. Had we desperately wanted to get Carvalho over the line we would have.
Unfortunately with the owners, there is always an excuse and some form of justification for the not sealing the very best signings. David Gold, spoke on Talksport about having to find the money to do deals, which is frankly alarming for a club that is trying to progress. Karren Brady spoke on Sky Sports' The Debate show about the club having to do sensible business deals, citing disdain at the likes of Manchester City for being able to just splash the cash on anyone and everyone. The reality is though, in order for this club to go to the next level, we need further investment. We simply do not have owners that have the finances to compete with the now top seven clubs and as a result our stagnating, with the hope of finishing 8th at best. To have an outgoing expenditure lower than Watford and Leicester and barely above Brighton and Huddersfield is a sad indictment on the ambition that we have shown. Man City and Chelsea have proven that the only way you become a big team is by financial wealth. With Everton, now securing a takeover, it going to become even harder for us to progress and I am left envious at them with the transfer business they have done in compared to ours. Make no mistake about this is just the start of something great for that club and my fear is we're getting left behind. Now I'm not suggesting we need to riot and force them to sell the club, but I hope sooner rather than later, that the owners accept they cannot take the club any further forward and we attract a huge takeover opportunity that will give us what us fans deserve which is success.
The Manager Situation
Like all West Ham fans I am extremely disappointed with the start of the campaign. The Manchester United game was always going to be an extremely difficult game. They have brought very well in their quest to get back to the top and we had key personnel missing through injury. When you play against the top six sides, you've got to be at your best and they've got to be below bar in order to get a result. Unfortunately, after Obiang's mistake we fell apart. The Southampton game, Slaven rightly made changes and frustratingly the players that came in, didn't take their chance with fundamentally bad mistakes costing us goals once again. Even with that we showed great character and had it not been for poor officiating, we would have got the point our 2nd half performance deserved. The Newcastle game, we were just simply outclassed but fans need to realise that West Ham throughout our history have often produced dreadful performances, so it's nothing new. As a result however, a lot of pressure is now at Slaven Bilic's door, with a vocal minority now demanding he be sacked, with the belief he is a huge issue in this club going forward.
Now, I am a huge Slaven Bilic fan, he was my number one choice to replace Sam Allardyce, due to his connection with the club and also because you could tell he's well liked by his players which is important to any clubs long-term success. Now two seasons on and a lot of criticism is being labelled at his tactics, playing players out of position and training methods. This has left me slightly disillusioned. In my opinion West Ham, really is a difficult club to manage. It is almost as bad as managing England. You have fans that think our team is better than it actually is and a chairman that is far too involved with the transfer business. However, I can acknowledge and accept that Slaven has made a great deal of mistakes over the past season in particular. I agree that not sorting out the right back position until this summer has caused major problems and has been completely exploited by the opposition, but hopefully now Zabaleta has signed, things will improve.
The criticism of style of play, again in my opinion, I feel it's harsh. He's no doubt tried to implement a far more expansive style of football since taking over. However, it's pretty apparent that losing Dimitri Payet has had a major impact on the teams confidence and belief in the style of football that the manager wants to play. The efficiency of passing the ball has dropped significantly and now certain limitations of players is being shown on a regular basis, hence why we concede a great deal of goals from individual mistakes. This again is why I desperately wanted us to sign William Carvalho, as he has strength and composure in abundance.
The training methods, have well documented in the media with criticism over its intensity. Personally, I do take that with a pinch of salt to some degree. It came off the back of Slaven's own comments after the Arsenal game last season, when he openly and honestly criticised the players. However anyone with a bit of nous would know it was to get a reaction of out his players which he did. Slaven is also faced with a great deal of injury problems to his team on a regular basis and I remember in the first season, it was believed he was training the players too hard, with double sessions and that was causing injuries. He has openly said previously that it is a catch-22 situation with training because he fears a lot of key personnel getting injured, so he is merely trying to find a middle ground. It has been mentioned before about the facilities at previously Chadwell Heath and now Rush Green not being up to scratch in comparison to the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham. For me, I think we missed a great opportunity to build a training complex around the London Stadium, where we could have had our first team and youth teams under one roof, but again is something that would cost a great deal of money that the owners simply don't have. However, hopefully with the appointment of Gary Lewin, we will see some sort of improvement in keeping players off the treatment table, which therefore can increase the intensity of training.
I know we find ourselves in a dire situation at present and I know they'll still be fans that want Slaven Bilic gone and replaced with ideally Rafa Benitez, but it's far too early in the season to be making such a rash decision. Common sense says, see where we are after 10 games and ultimately it's a results business so should things not pick up, the manager as always bites the bullet. My personal opinion though is that with the current personnel available, even the likes of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, wouldn't be able to break the top six and until either a takeover occurs or investment comes on board, it is a pointless change anyway. I genuinely do believe Slav and the players will turn things around this season, starting with finally our first home game of the season against Huddersfield. It's vital we get behind the team a week on Monday!
Come on you Irons!
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Manuel Lanzini blow adds to West Ham woes as Slaven Bilic faces injury crisis
KEN DYER
ES Sport
Under-pressure West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is facing an injury crisis ahead of Monday night's crucial Premier League clash against Huddersfield. The Hammers boss, whose team have yet to pick up a point after three matches, saw playmaker Manuel Lanzini pull out of Argentina's squad for last night's World Cup clash against Venezuela with a recurrence of the knee injury that affected his pre-season. Midfielder Edimilson Fernandes, who has featured in all three League matches so far, sprained an ankle playing for Switzerland Under-21s, while striker Andre Ayew injured a thigh with Ghana. In addition to the injured trio, summer signing Marko Arnautovic will be missing as he completes his three-match ban after being sent off against Southampton. The beleaguered Bilic has been plagued by a long injury list for some months but was finally looking forward to fielding almost his first-choice starting line-up against a Huddersfield side that have yet to concede a League goal. Despite the latest blow to Bilic, there was better news over injury-plagued striker Andy Carroll, who is expected to be fit to play, probably from the bench, while New Zealand captain Winston Reid should have recovered from a calf strain in time to face the top-flight newcomers.
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West Ham's Joe Hart ready for 'fight' to remain England's No.1 goalkeeper
SIMON JOHNSON
ES Sport
West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart is determined to retain his place as England's No.1 ahead of the 2018 World Cup. Hart, who is on loan from Manchester City, is coming under increasing pressure from Jack Butland, Tom Heaton and Jordan Pickford, while Fraser Forster is also still in contention. The 30-year-old started both of England's World Cup qualifiers - against Malta and Slovakia - but manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Hart's position was under threat. Hart faced criticism for the manner of Slovakia's opening goal on Monday night before the Three Lions fought back to win 2-1 at Wembley, with Stanislav Lobotka slipping a deft volley underneath the keeper's armpit from close range. But Hart, who has won 73 caps, says the challenge of retaining the No.1 kersey is inspiring rather than intimidating him. "I'm representing my country and, as long as I'm fit and ready, I'm going to fight to play for my country," he said. "There are five keepers playing in the Premier League, people who are more than good enough to wear the No1 jersey. I'm not stupid, I know that. But it's a great buzz to be around these keepers and be around this competition. "I can't speak highly enough of how Jack and Tom were during the time with England and Jordan (who had to pull out with injury). "All those three names are good enough to play. But they put aside their disappointment that they weren't playing and we pulled together as a group. "When the whistle starts for every England game, it is a big moment for me. Whether I play or don't play, I will be trying my best for England."
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Payet 'legend' t-shirts on sale
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th September 2017
By: Staff Writer
T-shirts depicting Dimitri Payet as a club legend are on sale in West Ham's web store. Payet, who effectively went on strike before engineering a return to Marseille back in January is one of four Hammers referred to on the legends item, which is for sale as part of a '2 for £20' offer in West Ham's online shop.
Trevor Brooking (600+ appearances), Bobby Moore (550+) and Paolo Di Canio (150+) are the three bona fide legends whose names are unfortunately and inexplicably linked to the Gallic grizzler on the shirt, which is now only available in women's size having disappeared from the men's pages earlier today.
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Seek proof, says Carvalho
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 6th September 2017
By: Staff Writer
Sporting President Bruno de Carvalho has urged David Sullivan to provide evidence of West Ham's bid for William Carvalho. The 45-year-old, speaking on Sporting TV challenged Hammers fans to force Sullivan to provide documentary proof of a purported bid - which Sporting say failed to materialise, despite the West Ham co-owner's insistence. And the outspoken Carvalho was in no mood to tone down the belligerent rhetoric started by fellow director Nuno Saraiva, who called Sullivan a "liar" following West Ham's claims that they were offered the player on transfer deadline day. "Where is it? The proof?" Carvalho blasted. "These messengers, these offended virgins, the president of West Ham - we must tell the truth!"
President Carvalho also claimed that the player's father, who doubles as his agent insisted that he received no proposal from West Ham in transfer deadline day.
Sullivan had previously claimed, in a statement posted on whufc.com, that "Sporting Lisbon made contact [on deadline day] to accept the original offer, but unfortunately it was just too late in the day."
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West Ham vs Huddersfield: Premier League prediction, team news, line-ups, start time, live, TV, head to head, odds
ES Sport
Slaven Bilic is under huge pressure to turn things around as West Ham host Huddersfield Town on Monday night. Bilic's future is in doubt following the Hammers' poor start to the new Premier League season, with three consecutive away defeats leaving the club rooted to the foot of the table. Roberto Mancini has emerged as a front runner to replace Bilic should results not improve, and David Wagner's unbeaten Terriers are perfectly placed to inflict more misery in east London.
The match is also West Ham's first at home this season after the London Stadium was re-configured following the World Athletics Championships, and Bilic needs a result to avoid more speculation.
Start time
West Ham host Huddersfield Town at the London Stadium on Monday, September 11, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST.
TV and live online coverage
The game will be televised in the UK on the Sky Sports Main Events and Premier League channels, with coverage from 19:00 BST. Alternatively, follow the action with Standard Sport's live blog.
Team news
Bilic is facing an injury crisis after Manuel Lanzini pulled out of Argentina's squad for Monday's World Cup clash against Venezuela with a recurrence of the knee injury that affected his pre-season.
Midfielder Edimilson Fernandes, who has featured in all three League matches so far, sprained an ankle playing for Switzerland Under-21s, while striker Andre Ayew injured a thigh with Ghana.
Neither are expected to have recovered in time to make Bilic's squad. In addition to the injured trio, summer signing Marko Arnautovic will be missing as he completes his three-match ban after being sent off against Southampton.
There was better news over injury-plagued striker Andy Carroll, who is expected to be fit to play - probably from the bench - while New Zealand captain Winston Reid should have recovered from a calf strain in time to face the top-flight newcomers.
Predicted West Ham XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Antonio, Rice, Noble, Kouyate, Cresswell, Hernandez, Carroll
Predicted Huddersfield XI: Lossl, Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Lowe, Mooy, Billing, Kachunga, Ince, Van Le Parra, Mounie
Prediction
Bettings odds (via 888Sport)
West Ham to win: 41/50
Draw: 13/5
Huddersfield to win: 18/5
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EMAILS CONFIRM WEST HAM MADE CARVALHO OFFER
DANIEL EMERY @DanielEmeryRS
ReadWestHam
Sky Sports have released two emails that appear to confirm that West Ham made offers for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho. The emails appear to show that West Ham chairman David Sullivan did send an offer to Sporting, which was valued at £23m – in three instalments. The email also shows that West Ham offered a 10% clause in the contract allowing Sporting to profit if West Ham ever decided to sell him in the future. This all comes after Sporting claimed Sullivan was lying when he released a statement claiming Sporting had accepted an offer. Sullivan said on the West Ham website that Sporting had accepted an offer on deadline day but there was not enough time to complete a deal. Sporting then hit back, claiming that West Ham did not make an offer for the midfielder – with their sporting director calling David Gold and David Sullivan "the Dildo brothers".
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West Ham lightyears away from David Sullivan's blueprint set out in first interview
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United are a million miles from where their under fire owners envisioned them being this season. "The imbalance in the squad and the crazy wages the Icelandics were paying that brought the club to its knees." "We believe in our managers and give them the time and support they need." "We have a seven-year plan to get them into the Champions League." "Over the next seven years we will spend a lot of money."
Those were just some of the bold statements made by David Sullivan when he and fellow co-owner David Gold completed their takeover of West Ham in January 2010. That interview - as reported at the time by the Guardian - gave West Ham fans new hope after the doomed Icelandic regime. But now seven years on West Ham are in complete disarray at the bottom of the Premier League with no points and a minus eight goal difference. It is still early days in the new season but the stark reality is West Ham look a million miles from the Champions League side Sullivan pledged they would be by now. And much of that is down to the board failing to deliver the big money signings promised when the club left their Boleyn Ground home of 112 years for the former Olympic Stadium last summer.
A net spend of just £10million in the transfer market this summer has given rise to a groundswell of anger and vitriol from supporters who plan protests at their first home game of the season against Huddersfield on Monday night. The owners had done a good job of stabilising West Ham of that there is no doubt.
But they are equally guilty of destabilising them with broken promises over the move to the London Stadium, lack of net investment and their very public way of doing business. "We are deeply and passionately involved in West Ham. It is where I have wanted to be for 20 years," Sullivan told BBC Five Live back in 2010, as reported by the Guardian. That was two years before the London Olympics and it was clear then the stadium was at the forefront of the owners' future plans.
"It is the natural home for West Ham," he added. "We hope to persuade the government to let us move into the new Olympic Stadium and I believe the people of east London would support that move."
A general view during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on May 5, 2017 in Stratford, England.
Support it they did, selling out 52,000 season tickets in each of the first two seasons. But West Ham fans do not take kindly to being taken for granted.
And a brief flirtation with the Champions League places in Bilic's first season in charge is the closest they are likely to get to the Champions League anytime soon.
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Will West Ham struggles make Marko Arnautovic regret snubbing Everton opportunity?
HITC
Danny Owen
West Ham won the race to sign Marko Arnautovic from Stoke City this summer - 12 months after he turned down Everton. Everton fans could be forgiven for laughing spitefully from afar as Marko Arnautovic's West Ham career got off to the worst possible start. An anonymous showing in the opening weekend's 4-0 battering at Manchester United was followed up by a disastrous trip to Southampton, in which the player once labelled 'unmanageable' by Jose Mourinho (The National) during their time at Inter Milan managed to get himself sent off after 33 minutes for a stupid elbow on Saints defender Jack Stephens. It's fair to say West Ham are yet to see a return in their club-record £23 million investment, as reported by The Standard. Yet, Arnautovic too could be forgiven for wondering what he's let himself in for. West Ham have lost each of their opening three Premier League games, their big-name signings look past their best, the future of manager Slaven Bilic is under more pressure than ever and the relationship between fans and owners remains strained. Meanwhile, Everton, the club Arnautovic admitted to snubbing in 2016 despite personal pleas from Toffees boss Ronald Koeman (The Sun), are embarking upon the most exciting era in the club's recent history. They spent more money than ever before in the transfer window, bringing in proven Premier League talent in Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson not to mention youngsters with vast potential a la Sandro Ramirez, Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen and Michael Keane. While The Hammers look set for another season of mid-table struggle at best, Everton are better placed than ever to challenge for a European place. You wonder whether Arnautovic would be a little more receptive to Koeman's pleas if he could turn back the clock.
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Kouyate & Sakho included - how West Ham could line up against Huddersfield without Lanzini & Ayew
The Hammers have more injury problems ahead of their return to action
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
16:00, 6 SEP 2017
Beleaguered Slaven Bilic had been looking forward to having a fully fit squad for West Ham to bring to the London Stadium on Monday for the visit of Huddersfield but that's unlikely to be the case. Injured trio Edimilson Fernandes, Andre Ayew and Manuel Lanzini are all unlikely to feature as the Premier League returns to Stratford, while Marko Arnautovic is suspended. There is some good news though as Andy Carroll could take a place on the bench after another long injury lay-off, while Winston Reid is also pushing for inclusion after recovering from a calf problem he picked up in the warm-up down at Southampton. With two attack minded players seemingly ruled out of Monday's visit of the Terriers, Bilic will have to delve deep into his reserves to make up the numbers with his thin squad already stretched. It's a chance for Diafra Sakho to prove himself after his meeting with Bilic following the striker going AWOL on the final day of the transfer window as he pushed a move through to Rennes which never materialised. Michail Antonio also continues his comeback from injury but there is no place for Declan Rice, who makes way for Cheikhou Kouyate after the Senegalese midfielder completed 90 minutes for country in midweek.
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West Ham refuse to be drawn into war of words with Sporting CP after 'dildo brothers' slur
Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho urged West Ham fans to call David Sullivan and his brother 'the Dildo Brothers' as the debate over William Carvalho rumbles on
The Independent Sport
West Ham United have refused to be drawn further into the escalating war of words with Sporting CP after their president, Bruno de Carvalho, referred to the Hammers' owners as the 'Dildo Brothers'. West Ham and Sporting have been in dispute over whether West Ham submitted a formal transfer bid for Portuguese midfielder William Carvalho before the end of the transfer window. Co-owner David Sullivan said that West Ham did lodge a bid - comments later described by Sporting director Nuno Saraiva as "intellectual pornography" better suited to "the set of an adult film". West Ham have already said that they will take legal action, with David Sullivan Junior describing those comments as "nonsense" and "serious libel". But Sporting president Carvalho raised the stakes yesterday, urging West Ham fans to "call David Sullivan and his brother 'the Dildo Brothers'", in pursuit of the truth about the Carvalho bid. West Ham later confirmed to The Independent they would be making no further comment at this time.
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Andy Carroll will be on the bench for West Ham against Huddersfield as striker provides Slaven Bilic a boost
West Ham's head of medical services Gary Lewin said the England striker will be back on bench to face Huddersfield on Monday night
The Mirror
BYNEIL MCLEMAN
15:07, 6 SEP 2017UPDATED15:14, 6 SEP 2017
Slaven Bilic has been given a needed boost with Andy Carroll ready to return for West Ham's first home game of the season. The Croatian manager is under growing pressure after losing the first three Premier League games of the season – all away from the London Stadium . Carroll has been out since April with a groin strain – and last week gave court evidence after an attempted armed robbery against him. And head of medical services Gary Lewin said the England striker will be back on bench to face Huddersfield on Monday night. "He has been training for just over two weeks and with the international break it will be even more by the time we get to Huddersfield, so he will be ready to start playing," said the former England physio. "When he does come back, it will be a gradual thing, you can't just throw him in at the deep end. We did it with Diafra Sakho, he played for 20 minutes, then half an hour and then an hour. "Andy will be the same, if we don't do that then he will break down."
Former Manchester City boss Mancini, who is now at Zenit St Petersburg, is joint favourite to replace Bilic along with former target Rafa Benitez. Former Hammers defender Danny Gabbidon said: "I look at Slaven at the moment and he looks a shadow of his former self. "From what I hear Slaven had pretty much thrown the towel in with the words he spoke in the dressing room to the players after the Newcastle defeat. He really is on borrowed time now."
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Bilic should give Toni Martinez his West Ham debut in EFL Cup clash against Bolton
HITC
Vincent Ralph
The West Ham United youngster is the real deal and deserves a chance to prove that. West Ham United fans have been keen to see Spanish striker Toni Martinez in action for the first-team for quite some time, and this month could finally see the 20-year-old make his senior bow. The Hammers take on Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the EFL Cup on 19 September and West Ham boss Slaven Bilic would be wise to throw Martinez into the starting line-up and see what he can do.
After all, the youngster wasted little time impressing for West Ham's under-23 side following his arrival from Valencia, scoring 16 goals in just 17 matches.
A loan spell at Oxford United last time out also proved his worth, with Martinez scoring three goals and providing two assists, including FA Cup strikes against both Newcastle United and Middlesbrough. While West Ham now have additional goal-scoring options in the form of Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic, the EFL Cup gives Bilic the perfect chance to blood his youngsters.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic is seen during the Premier League match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor on May 21, 2017 in Burnley, England. It has been a long time coming, with the Hammers possessing some of the best academy players in the country, and now should be the time that Bilic finally puts his trust in them. Martinez has all the attributes to excel long-term at the London Stadium, yet as with so many of the club's prospects, he is only going to develop if he gets game time in the years ahead. Now is the time for his debut and it will be interesting to see just how many of West Ham's next generation get the nod later this month.
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Fernandes and Lanzini injuries stretching West Ham to breaking point
HITC
Tom Seymour
The Huddersfield match this weekend is a must win for West Ham but they may have to do it without the injured Edimilson Fernandes and Manuel Lanzini. As if Slaven Bilic didn't have enough to contend with ahead of the Premier League clash against Huddersfield Town this weekend, the West Ham United manager now also has a selection headache. That is because football.london reports that both Edimilson Fernandes and Manuel Lanzini are major doubts for the game against the Terriers with ankle and knee injuries respectively. It is believed that Fernandes' issue is a sprain, although currently it is not known how severe it is, while Lanzini pulled out of Argentina's latest squad with a knee problem. With Winston Reid already out, Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew also doubts and Marko Arnautovic serving the second match of his three-game suspension, Bilic's options are being stretched to breaking point. Central midfield is becoming a major issue with Fernandes and Lanzini both now expected to be absent, with captain Mark Noble, youngster Declan Rice, Pedro Obiang and Cheikhou Kouyate having all been used there at some point this season - all to little or no effect with the Hammers having fallen to three defeats.
It makes the East London club's inability to complete a deal for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho, as outlined by Sky Sports, now seem all the more costly as Bilic struggles to find a solution in the middle. It feels like anything but a victory against Huddersfield at the London Stadium will cost the Croatian his job, but first he needs to work out who is playing and where.
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West Ham news: Co-owners Sullivan & Gold called "Dildo Brothers" by Sporting Lisbon chief
WEST HAM fans have been told to seek the truth from the "Dildo Brothers" about the failed transfer of William Carvalho.
By UCHE AMAKO
PUBLISHED: 13:25, Wed, Sep 6, 2017 | UPDATED: 13:26, Wed, Sep 6, 2017
Express.co.uk
The Hammers were strongly linked with a move for the Portuguese midfielder, who has been a transfer target for Arsenal in the past. But the deal failed to materialise and West Ham co-owner David Sullivan was called a "liar" and a "parasite" by Sporting director Nuno Saraiva for claiming it failed because they did not have time for a medical And Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho has now given his opinion on the situation and set a challenge to Hammers fans.
Carvalho, speaking to Sporting TV in Portugal, said: "Where is it? Proof? Now, approaches, for sure. "I've had them for almost the whole squad: West Ham supporters call Mr. David Sullivan and his brother, the Dildo Brothers… "These messengers, these offended virgins, the president of West Ham… We must tell the truth!"
Despite missing out on Carvalho, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Renato Sanches, Sullivan insisted recently manager Slaven Bilic was happy with their transfer business.
"Grzegorz Krychowiak and Renato Sanches were both offered to the manager before their switches elsewhere, but he told us that he is happy with the squad he has," Sullivan said. "As a Board we are behind Slaven, and he believes he has the tools to turn around our form and rectify our disappointing start to the season."
Sullivan is already set to launch legal proceedings against Sporting Lisbon after been branded a liar and a parasite. Saraiva said: "David Sullivan lies. At Sporting Clube de Portugal, as has already been said by its president, no proposal has been made for the player William Carvalho. The football industry is not the set of an adult film in which all obscenities are allowed. So the boss of a club demands a lot more than this intellectual pornography. "Mr David Sullivan has a duty to prove what he says. That is why Sporting Clube de Portugal challenges him to publicly show the proposals he claims to have been made as well as the evidence that Sporting CP received them. "One thing is certain: Sporting CP, as has already been said, does not cut the legs off its players. But we have nothing to do with the performance of entrepreneurs or relatives who live at the expense of players and who are offering them to clubs as if they were cheap supermarket merchandise.
"It creates regrettable situations that have already forced the sporting club of Portugal to take drastic measures to defend itself from these characters who parasitise the lives of some players."
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Why a return to home comforts could be exactly what West Ham need to kick-start their sorry season
The hammers currently sit bottom of the Premier League, but haven't had a home fixture yet
Football London
COMMENTS
BYADAM JONES
07:00, 6 SEP 2017
Let's not lie to ourselves - West Ham's start to the Premier League season thus far has been pretty dismal. The Hammers don't have a bottom-of-the-league squad, but that's exactly where they find themselves after three matches of the campaign - and that's not good enough. There's a lot of fingers to be pointed whenever a side is in a poor run of form, and this situation is absolutely no different, as many will already be aware. The board, Slaven Bilic, a poor transfer window - they've all been blamed recently by West Ham fans desperate to see their side perform and get results on the pitch. That's all they're asking.
However, it must be remembered that the Hammers haven't yet played at home thanks to the IAAF World Athletics Championships being hosted at the London Stadium at the end of the summer. And a return to home comforts could be exactly what West Ham as a club need right now. For the fans, for some of the fans at least, it will be a chance to get their strong feelings off their chest directly in front of the players - with protests planned by some of the most disheartened of supporters in the fanbase. Each to their own, and if those fans want to protest they have a right to - but regardless the vast majority inside the stadium won't be.
But, even so, there will be an immense pressure on these West Ham players to put in a performance in front of their home fans for the first time this season - at the very least to put in a hard day's work. Against a newly-promoted Huddersfield side the Hammers support won't be accepting anything less than a win at home, despite the visitors having a strong start to their first campaign in the Premier League. The West Ham players will either crumble under that pressure - or galvanise themselves to put in a performance akin to something the quality of the squad shows they should be producing. The players have a chance to prove to the rest of the league why they should be competing much higher up the table, a chance to prove to the fans why they were so excited about this season earlier in the transfer window. Playing at home again should be exactly what's needed to see what this squad of players, and the manager in fact, are really made of.
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West Ham legend Alvin Martin issues impassioned rallying cry ahead of crucial Huddersfield clash
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United are at rock bottom and in need of some inspiration ahead of their crucial clash against Huddersfield. The Hammers are propping up the Premier League table after defeat in each of their opening three games. No points, a minus eight goal difference and a lack of signings before the transfer window slammed shut has left everyone connected with the club feeling frustrated. According to reports Slaven Bilic's job is on the line and supporters are planning protests against co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold at their first home game of the season against Huddersfield on Monday night. The unrest could play straight into the plucky Terriers' hands. But Hammers legend Alvin Martin has issued a rallying cry to the club's supporters ahead of the crucial match. "Calling West Ham fans, Monday 8pm our season starts, create the atmosphere and then leave it to them, Slaven/team come on let's do it together," Martin said on Twitter. "It's OUR club no individual will be bigger (Payet) we all want the same! So let's all pull in same direction, kick arse. "It's early to judge (the team's defending), not going to single out individuals not to late to correct and push on, problems can be solved Slaven can sort. "I'm not cheerleading just trying to bring perspective to the proceedings, early but not too late? And I feel a bit of COME ON."
alvin martin @alvinmartin58
Calling WHUFC fans ,Monday 8pm our season starts,,create the atmosphere & then leave it to them,,,Slaven/Team Come on let's do it together ⚒ 8:25 PM - Sep 5, 2017
14 14 Replies 58 58 Retweets 172 172 likes
alvin martin @alvinmartin58
Ok get that ,,but it's OUR club no individual will be bigger (Payet) we all want the same !
So let's all pull in same direction,,kick arse ⚒ https://twitter.com/thedman77/status/905150276415479810 …
8:57 PM - Sep 5, 2017
4 4 Replies 4 4 Retweets 35 35 likes
alvin martin @alvinmartin58
It's early to judge mate,,not going to single out individuals not to late to correct & push on ,,problems can be solved Slavin can sort ! https://twitter.com/drwatts1962/status/905162288101031938 …
9:22 PM - Sep 5, 2017
6 6 Replies Retweets 12 12 likes
alvin martin @alvinmartin58
Mick I'm not cheerleading just trying to bring perspective to the proceedings,,early but not too late? & I feel a bit of COME ON ⚒⚒⚒ https://twitter.com/michael40301481/status/905164108303097856 …
9:26 PM - Sep 5, 2017
6 6 Replies 1 1 Retweet 15 15 likes
Bilic should have close to a fully fit squad to choose from although Marko Arnautovic is suspended and Andre Ayew has been injured on international duty.
Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini should be fit while Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate will be stronger after getting another two weeks of training under their belts. Reports claim defeat to Huddersfield could be the final straw for Bilic.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, September 7
Wednesday, September 6
Daily WHUFC News - 6th September 2017
Hammer Hart 'so excited' by prospect of going to third World Cup
WHUFC.com
Joe Hart may have been capped 73 times by England, but the West Ham United
goalkeeper can still hardly contain his excitement about the prospect of
representing his country at another major tournament. The Hammers stopper
helped the Three Lions to a vital 2-1 FIFA World Cup European Group F
qualifying win over Slovakia at Wembley on Wednesday evening, a victory
which takes England within two points of a place at Russia 2018. Having also
beaten Malta 4-0 on Friday with a performance that saw Gareth Southgate's
team come in for criticism in some quarters, Hart was asked to reflect on
the two qualifiers and the pressures associated with trying to win the
nation's first major trophy in more than 50 years. "Monday's win was
important because we want to qualify for Russia, that's why it was
important," Hart told whufc.com at Wembley. "Friday was always going to be a
night where if we didn't play to blow them away, we were always going to get
some sort of comments. "A Friday in Malta is an enjoyable place to be, so
I'm sure people's frustrations were going to come out, but it would have
been the same if it was the other way around. If we'd been 4-0 up at
half-time then I think the support would have been amazing and it would have
been a carnival atmosphere. "That's the beauty of being in the England team.
They expect a lot of us and we expect a lot of ourselves. We're really
pleased and proud with how we stayed cool and calm in that game, as we also
did when we went 1-0 down on Monday night. "We fully deserved to win the
match and we fully deserve to be top of the group."
Hart has been to the last four major finals with England – the 2010 and 2014
World Cups and Euro 2012 and 2016 – but a combination of personal and
collective ill-fortune mean he is eager to paint more positive memories
should England reach Russia, as expected. The 30-year-old is experienced
enough to know England will be subject to weighty expectations when they
travel to the World Cup, but he is determined to fulfil them by helping his
country to enjoy a successful tournament. "We're relevant and if we weren't
relevant then people wouldn't have an opinion," he said. "We remain focused
and excited and I can only speak for myself and say I am so excited to
qualify for this World Cup. "It's a dream to play in these competitions and
I can't lie, it's not been good for me in tournament football and I want to
make a difference while I still can. We're not on this footballing world for
that long and opportunities come and go, so you've got to take them. "I've
come out of every tournament wishing I had the answer and trying to put my
finger on it, but hopefully we'll have done very well next summer and I'll
then be able to know why the others weren't so good."
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Cullen ready to skipper Ireland U21s in key clash
WHUFC.com
Josh Cullen will lead a Hammers midfield pairing when his Republic of
Ireland U21 side head to Azerbaijan for their second qualifying game for the
2019 UEFA U21 Championships on Tuesday afternoon. The Academy star,
currently on loan at Championship side Bolton Wanderers, will captain Noel
King's Ireland side in Azerbaijan, with fellow Hammer Declan Rice set to
make his debut at this age group alongside him. Cullen already has eight
caps for the U21s to his name and has been promoted to captain for this
campaign, as Ireland look to qualify for a European Championship finals for
the first time. Their campaign got off to the perfect start in March when
they defeated Kosovo 1-0 in Dublin and victory in the 4pm kick-off in Baku
could take the Irish top of Group 5, which also includes the likes of
Germany and Norway. Rice has impressed greatly in the Hammers' first team at
the start of this season and now steps up after earning six caps at U19
level.
Cullen is looking forward to stepping out alongside his club mate, saying:
"Declan could be a key player for us in this campaign. "He's been in
training with the senior squad but is focused on helping our squad get
results in this campaign to try qualify for the finals."
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From Slaven Bilic row to Aston Villa: The West Ham verdict on Robert
Snodgrass
Snodgrass has joined AVFC on loan until the end of the season
Birmingham Mail
COMMENTS
BYSAM INKERSOLEMAT KENDRICK
Robert Snodgrass is set for his Aston Villa debut this weekend after
arriving on a season-long loan from West Ham United. Snodgrass is expected
to start in Saturday's Championship match against Brentford at Villa Park.
We caught up with Hammers expert Sam Inkersole from football.london for a
lowdown on the 29-year-old Scottish international.
1) How excited were West Ham fans when he signed?
Very much so. We had all seen his performances for Hull and the Hammers
faithful - and me - thought they were actually getting a bargain for what
would eventually be £10.2m considering how good a start to the season he
had. We all just kind of expected him to continue on his merry way in east
London as he did on Humberside but in reality, it was horrendous.
2) Were Dimitri Payet's boots too big for him to fill?
It was ridiculous for anyone to think that Snodgrass was a Payet
replacement, even though many fans saw that as the case. Payet, a mercurial
but stroppy talent, had flounced back to Marseille but the slack should have
picked up by Manuel Lanzini in the short term, but it wasn't the case as
Snodgrass was given that role - wrongly. Eventually Slaven Bilic saw it was
Lanzini's role and that meant limited chances for Snodgrass and playing on
the wing when he did get a game, it's just not a good fit.
3) What do you make of the apparent friction between Snodgrass and Bilic?
A surprise and not a surprise at the same time. It's surprising in that
someone has actually spoken out about Bilic, something we haven't seen over
the dismal past 12 months or so. Someone was going to do it eventually and
now it has happens. Where it isn't a surprise is that Bilic methods have
been called into question by the likes of Reece Oxford, Simone Zaza,
Cheikhou Kouyate, former striker Enner Valencia, and also the terrible
Hammers injury record that speaks volumes.
4) How have West Ham fans reacted to Snodgrass going out on loan?
Honestly - they couldn't care less. Some fans will say he's not been given a
fair crack at the whip, which he wasn't. But the majority will also,
rightly, point to the 18 appearances he had for the Hammers were he did
barely anything positive of note. Most couldn't wait to get rid of him,
which is a shame.
5) He has three years left on his West Ham contract - do you think he will
play for them again?
Given that he thinks there is a "long-term plan" with Steve Bruce then you'd
think he sees his future at Villa Park. But, if he tears it up in the
Championship but Villa don't get promoted, will he stay and drop down a
league? I'm not so sure. If Bilic isn't the manager next season - and it's
pretty much nailed on that he won't be - the new manager might see something
in the Scotsman. But if you put gun to my head? I'd say we won't see him at
the London Stadium again.
6) Finally, what kind of player are Villa getting? What are his strengths
and weaknesses?
Strengths
He is a great option to play off the front man and not on the wing where he
spent the majority of his time at the Hammers.
He does have an excellent range of passing and his set pieces were supposed
to be good, but they weren't here. Maybe he can find them again at Villa
because we really didn't see him display many strengths here.
Weaknesses
Tracking back, don't even think about that happening, and his tackling is
pretty poor. He didn't show anywhere near good enough finishing and often
ran down blind-alleys and not really going anywhere, probably down to a lack
of confidence.
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Bilic's decision to stick with Mark Noble and ignore Renato Sanches speaks
volumes
HITC
Vincent Ralph
The West Ham United boss allegedly turned down a loan move for Renato
Sanches, who ultimately swapped Bayern Munich for Swansea City. West Ham
United fans would have been forgiven for double-taking when they read
comments from their joint-chairman about potential summer transfers earlier
this month.
In an article published on the Hammers' official website, David Sullivan
confirmed the club had been offered the chance to sign both Grzegorz
Krychowiak and Renato Sanches, only for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic to say
no and watch them join West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City respectively.
The decision to snub Sanches is particularly bizarre given the faltering
influence of skipper Mark Noble, who many West Ham fans feel should have
been hooked from the starting line-up long ago. Noble's impact has been on
the wane since last season and there is no doubt Sanches would have been a
considerable upgrade. The fact that Bilic felt he had enough quality in that
area of the field speaks volumes and perhaps hints that his time at the club
is coming to an end if he is really that out of touch. After all, the
20-year-old Portuguese international is an outstanding talent who - if he
plays to his full potential - will put Noble in the shade despite his
inexperience of English football.
There are few players more loyal to their club than Noble is to West Ham,
but loyalty is not enough when your performances do not justify your
continued selection. Bilic should have snapped Bayern's hand off for
Sanches, even if it was only for a year. He should have identified a clear
area of weakness in West Ham's starting XI and solved it with a bargain
deal. Instead he watched Sanches move to a top flight rival and you can rest
assured that decision will come back to bite him given his lack of
alternatives for an under-performing skipper.
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West Ham free agent and injury news latest as Fernandes and Ayew look set to
miss Huddersfield
Catch up with all the latest West Ham news with our Hammers writer
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
20:00, 5 SEP 2017
West Ham have suffered a potential double-injury blow ahead of the return to
Premier League action against Huddersfield Town on Monday night in E20.
Both of them are in midfield too as Andre Ayew has picked up a thigh problem
away on international duty, while Edimilson Fernandes has been sent for
scans on a possible sprained ankle, with both now major doubts for the
Terriers match. For a squad struggling with light numbers as it is, this is
a big blow to Slaven Bilic as he tries to retrieve the wreckage that has
been West Ham's season so far as they sit bottom of the Premier League table
with three games played. Bacary Sagna's name has been mentioned, as has
ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley, both of whom are on the market.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Edimilson Fernandes suffers suspected sprained ankle as West Ham squad gets
stretched
With the Hammers squad thin on the ground, this is not good news
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
14:26, 5 SEP 2017
Football.London understand Edimilson Fernandes has been sent for a scan on
what is a suspected sprained ankle as the Hammers squad gets stretched to
breaking point. The Swiss midfielder looks set for a stint on the sidelines
following the problem, with the club now awaiting results on the scan but
we're told it is "looks like" the ankle is sprained, we don't yet know how
severely. Fernandes had featured in all three Premier League games so far
this season but had struggled to find any sort of form as the Hammers
slumped to three straight defeats. With West Ham already having a pretty
thin squad as it is, this latest injury setback will not be music to the
ears of Slaven Bilic, who is already suffering availability issues ahead of
the Premier League clash with Huddersfield next Monday. Andre Ayew has
picked up a thigh injury while on international duty with Ghana and isn't
going to feature in their World Cup qualifier this week and is therefore a
doubt for the Huddersfield game, while the Hammers are also sweating on the
fitness of Manuel Lanzini after he pulled out of the Argentina squad with a
knee issue.
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New development at West Ham managerial situation could have implications for
Newcastle Rafa Benitez
MILES STARFORTH
Email Published: 13:12 Tuesday
05 September 2017
Shields Gazette
Roberto Mancini is the "front-runner" to replace under-pressure Slaven Bilic
at West Ham United, according to a report. Newcastle United manager Rafa
Benitez is the favourite with one bookmaker to succeed Bilic at the Premier
League club. Benitez is unhappy at the summer transfer business at St
James's Park. However, Benitez will not resign, and United owner Mike Ashley
will not sack the 57-year-old. And the only way Benitez could conceivably
leave Newcastle this season would be if another club paid his multi-million
pound release clause – and he agreed to the move. Bilic's predicament has
led to speculation that West Ham could move for Benitez, who came close to
taking over at the club two years ago before joining Real Madrid. However,
the Evening Standard today claim that Mancini is being lined up for the role
should Bilic – who was presided over three league defeats this season – be
dismissed. West Ham have never previously paid compensation for a manager.
Mancini is manager of Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. Meanwhile,
Benitez is preparing his Newcastle team for Sunday's game against Swansea
City at the Liberty Stadium.
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West Ham are wasting their time taking legal action against Sporting Lisbon
by Amanda Paula34 minutes agoFollow @antillescap
GreeenStreetHammers
After a poor transfer window, West Ham should have shameful to have failure
instead of starting a process against the Portuguese club. We all know that
the midfielder William Carvalho was one of West Ham's targets. However, what
seemed a done deal, was shown to be another failure in this summer. Much to
the annoyance of fans of the club. Without him and other names, we finished
the market a little disappointed. I must say this was a huge disaster given
the lack of strength in our midfield. This was made worse after an official
statement by Dave Sullivan on West Ham's website on Friday. "It is no secret
that we made a club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho but
unfortunately that offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago. "Late last
night Sporting Lisbon made contact to accept the original offer, but
unfortunately it was just too late in the day, and we simply did not have
enough time to put the player through a medical.
Nevertheless, this declaration made by the Hammers owners did not sound too
good in Lisbon. One day after, Sporting Lisbon's sports director immediately
reported the statement on his Facebook post. David Sullivan lies. At
Sporting, as has already been said by our president, no proposal has been
made for the player William Carvalho. "The football industry is not the set
of an adult film in which all obscenities are allowed.So the boss of a club
demands a lot more than this intellectual pornography. "Mr David Sullivan
has a duty to prove what he says. That is why Sporting challenges him to
publicly show the proposals he claims to have made as well as the evidence
that Sporting received them. To reinforce a ridiculous situation David
Sullivan's son, posted a message affirming the stance against Sporting.
DAVE SULLIVAN JNR @DaveSulley
West Ham are commencing legal proceedings against the communications
director of sporting Lisbon as a written offer for the player was made
4:50 PM - Sep 3, 2017
428 428 Replies 175 175 Retweets 318 318 likes
DAVE SULLIVAN JNR @DaveSulley
To Bruno de Carvalho the president of sporting Lisbon. To say we never made
an offer is nonsense and serious libel
4:50 PM - Sep 3, 2017 · Marbella, Spain
337 337 Replies 99 99 Retweets 200 200 likes
I am not defending the Portuguese side, but what what Dave Sullivan has done
in our club is simply ridiculous. With two consecutive seasons with some of
the worst transfers and bad results, he has just put his foot in it. In
addition, why he decided to start a fight against another club? This is
insane, we do not need this, what we need is to win the next matches and
push to not be relegated. The focus should be on the squad we have, but
right now it's all over the place. The board are not helping a bad season
turn around at all.
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Kevin Friend appointed to referee Huddersfield Town's match against West Ham
The Leicester-based referee will take charge of the Monday night match
Theexaminer.co.uk
BYRORY BENSON
12:36, 5 SEP 2017
Huddersfield Town's match against West Ham next Monday will be taken charge
of by referee Kevin Friend. The official has taken charge of 158 Premier
League matches in his 32-year career as a referee, having started out at the
age of 14 in his home county of Leicestershire. His first top flight outing
came in 2009, when he oversaw Wolves' 2-1 victory over Fulham. He dished out
two yellow cards in that fixture and has gone on to show 585 more in his
Premier league career - brandishing 20 red cards as well - including one to
West Ham's Mark Noble in 2015.
Friend has taken charge of four Huddersfield Town matches in his career,
officiating three League One matches - a 1-1 draw against Oldham, a 1-0 loss
to Sheffield United and a 2-2 draw against Leeds United. The 46-year-old
also took charge as Town beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road in the Championship
in 2013.
Friend has overseen 12 West Ham matches, with the Hammers coming out on top
in seven, drawing one and losing four. The referee has also taken charge of
one major final in his career - the 2013 League Cup final in which Swansea
beat Bradford City by five goals to nil.
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Get Lanzini fit, reintegrate Sakho and find a partner for Reid - West Ham's
to do list after transfer window
There is plenty of work to be done at the London Stadium from now on
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
13:08, 5 SEP 2017
With the transfer window now closed, West Ham can turn their attention back
to football on the field and try to sort out the mess that was the
pre-international break start of the campaign. Slaven Bilic will have taken
stock of what he has seen over the past few weeks - and also have to sort
out the mess that has been flung upon the club in the past seven days and
now has the chance to work things out. There is plenty, plenty and plenty
more issues to be sorted but what are the most pressing priorities? Here's a
few things Bilic could really do with sorting out.
Re-integrate Diafra Sakho into the team
That whole story on Transfer Deadline Day was so "West Ham" it was scarcely
believable but if Sakho is reportedly now playing for a new contract in
January then the Senegal striker needs to be re-integrated back into the
team. He is the ideal partner for Javier Hernandez so if Bilic is going to
start him, there is no time like the present as in Sakho's eyes at east, he
is fit and ready to go. He's quite a divisive character but on his day can
be a real asset to the team and if he is now fit, Billic - whatever
differences the two have - needs to bring Sakho back in.
Find a central defensive partner for Winston Reid
We don't know if the Kiwi is going to be fit after picking up that injury in
the warm-up at Southampton but it is hoped he will be. If not, it'll be four
games with four different central defensive partners. Reid is clearly the
cog that holds the West Ham central defence together and it's finding a
partner for him between the candidates of Jose Fonte, Angelo Ogbonna, James
Collins, or two of those three in a three-man defence. Whatever it is going
to be, Bilic needs to stick with it once he has decided which way to go.
Don't rush Lanzini back but get him fit
West Ham need their Jewel back as soon as they can but it is important not
to rush him back if he has indeed suffered a recurrence of his knee injury.
The Hammers desperately lack a creative spark without Lanzini in the side
but they can't go through the scenario they had with Michail Antonio last
season when they rushed him back for the Arsenal game, then he tore his
hamstring again and that was him done for the season. It sounds as if
Lanzini won't be fit for Huddersfield so that at least gives the club extra
time to make sure he's around for the Spurs game at home, maybe not risk him
at West Brom the week after next.
When Arnautovic returns, play him up front with Hernandez or play another
striker?
When Marko Arnautovic returns from his three-match ban for the trip to West
Brom next week, Bilic needs to decide if he is gong to continue to employ
him as a wide man or play him with Chicharto to offer the Mexican some much
needed support. If not, Arnautovic would likely come into the team and Andre
Ayew be dropped, allowing Diafra Sakho/Andy Carroll to partner Hernandez,
who clearly need someone up with him to help out. Arnautovic owes West Ham
big time after his shoddy sending off at St Mary's and will certainly look
to make up for lost time.
This is all dependant on one thing though... Slaven Bilic still being in
charge of West Ham United. Lose to Huddersfield on Monday night, then who
knows...
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Under-fire West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has "thrown the towel in" claims
former Iron Danny Gabbidon
The struggling Hammers are rock-bottom of the Premier League table following
three straight defeats
The Mirror
BYNEIL MCLEMAN
11:50, 5 SEP 2017
Former West Ham star Danny Gabbidon has claimed Slaven Bilic "looks a shadow
of his former self" and had "pretty much thrown the towel in" after the
defeat at Newcastle. And he claimed the Hammers manager's transfer dealings
with co-owner David Sullivan are "a recipe for disaster". The former Croatia
is under mounting pressure after losing the first three Premier League
matches of the season. And Sullivan issued a weekend statement insisting the
board had signed "the top four players" on Bilic's summer wishlist and
claimed the manager turned down the chance to sign Grzegorz Krychowiak and
Renato Sanches on loan. Former Manchester City boss Mancini, who is now at
Zenit St Petersburg, is second favourite for the East End job behind former
target Rafa Benitez. West Ham play their first home game of the season
against Huddersfield on Monday. And ex-Wales defender Gabbidon, who played
for six years at Upton Park, told The West Ham Way website: "I look at
Slaven at the moment and he looks a shadow of his former self. "His body
language is that of man who looks tired, who doesn't have the answers
anymore, which is sad to see. His personality is his biggest strength but in
football management that can also be your biggest weakness. "Slaven looks
to me like he's lost his way and forgotten some of the things that made him
such a good manager in that first season in charge. "In fairness he's had a
lot to deal with in his short time at the club and it would be
understandable if some of the recent off field issues had contributed to him
losing a bit of focus and almost taken his mind away from what he's really
there to do - manage the team and get results. "From what I hear Slaven had
pretty much thrown the towel in with the words he spoke in the dressing room
to the players after the Newcastle defeat and this might possibly be just a
stay of execution but if I was in his shoes right now I would be thinking:
'I need to get back to basics meaning laying down the law in the dressing
room and getting things right tactically on the pitch'. "I hope that Slaven
Bilic is given a bit more time to turn things around and I hope he's used
this international break to take a good look at himself and say what am I
doing wrong? "And how can I make things better before it's too late. He
really is on borrowed time now."
Bilic made the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho a
priority in the final days of the window but the deal was not done. "It's
fairly obvious that all is not well between the two parties," Gabbidon
added. "Relationships seem to be at breaking point, comments about each
other publicly, an obvious lack of trust and support it almost doesn't feel
like the start of a season, much more like the end! "What you can't have is
owners who are signings players and then the manager who also wants his own
players or is refusing players that are offered to him. It's just a recipe
for disaster which has been clear for all to see."
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Dimitri Payet knows 'how to be a d***head' following controversial spell at
West Ham: 'When I want to p**s everyone off, I do it'
Dimitri Payet moved from West Ham to Marseille for £25million back in
January
The Frenchman lit up the Premier League in his first season but forced a
transfer
The 30-year-old admits he is difficult to manage and knows how to push
buttons
He conceded Slaven Bilic found out about his character traits the hard way
By Glen Williams For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 11:09, 5 September 2017 | UPDATED: 11:38, 5 September 2017
Dimitri Payet has admitted he is a difficult player to manage and 'knows how
to be a d****head' while reflecting on his unceremonious exit from West Ham.
The Frenchman shone during his debut season in east London, scoring 12 goals
and setting up 15 to drive the Hammers to a seventh-place finish — equalling
their highest league position since the 1998-99 season. But Payet's second
season, following West Ham's move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, was
blighted by his desire to seek a move away. The France international, a
former fan favourite in east London, finally sealed a move back to Ligue 1
just 18 months after touching down in England, joining Marseille for
£25million in January. And the 30-year-old has conceded he is a big
personality to manage, telling So Foot: 'I know how to be a d***head. It's
one of my specialities. It's a little game. When I want to p**s everyone
off, I do it. 'My managers understood that when I sulk, they talk to me.
It's a way for me to be heard. Those who know me play along, and, in the
end, it goes well. 'I left [West Ham] for many reasons, but the main one was
about football. 'West Ham's objectives weren't the same as the last season,
and I felt in danger for my football and my chances with the national team.
I had a choice to make.'
The France international admitted Slaven Bilic had a difficult time keeping
Payet's petulance under control during his stay at West Ham. And although he
said Bilic managed him 'like a father', the Croat was not enough to keep
Payet in the Premier League. '[Bilic and I] spoke every day,' Payet added.
'He quickly understood how I worked. You saw that straight away in how
quickly I adapted.' But, ultimately, Payet left for pastures new and has
made a flying return to Ligue 1 — scoring 20 goals in 33 games in all
competitions for the south coast club.
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The two West Ham youngsters ready to turn around the dreadful start to the
season
Youthful exuberance is no bad thing and Slaven Bilic should stick with for
the forseeable
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
09:35, 5 SEP 2017UPDATED10:02, 5 SEP 2017
Now that the international break is nearly over, it's time to focus once
again on the Premier League and for West Ham, rescuing their dismal start to
the season.
Three defeats from three games have left the Hammers rock bottom of the
table, with only goal difference separating them from Crystal Palace. They
could be even further adrift by the time Slaven Bilic's men eventually take
to the London Stadium pitch for the first time this season - next Monday
night against Huddersfield. With many players under performing and Marko
Arnautovic suspended, added to the Hammers already poor start, there are a
couple of places that should be up for grabs in the starting eleven if Bili
chooses not to stick with some underwhelming stars - and they are both
youngsters. Both are already familiar to West Ham fans anyway but their
injection of youthful exuberance, playing without fear and being an unknown
entity could be the key to helping turn things around in east London.
Nathan Holland
The winger can play on either side of the pitch and really impressed in
pre-season but has not been involved yet in the Premier League matchday
squads - that needs to change. With Michail Antonio on one wing and Holland
on the other, this team has pace and width to it. Andre Ayew consistently
goes in field from his position leaving the Hammers attacking threat very
narrow indeed. Holland has been in excellent form for the U23s as well and
while he might look mall ad lightweight, he is deceptively strong and his
low centre of gravity causes havoc for defenders. He will be eager, keen and
ready to go and would be an interesting wildcard pick for the Huddersfield
game.
Declan Rice
Yes, he has started two of the three previous matches but Bilic has to stick
with the teenager after his ill-judged substitution at Newcastle. Rice gives
the fans something to cheer about as well as he has come through the
academy. Plus, with hopefully the return of Cheikhou Kouyate, Rice is a much
better fit with the Senegal star than the under-performing Mark Noble. The
teenager is a hugely talented player and after subbing him off - wrongly -
against Newcastle, Bilic owes the kid another start. It's a great chance for
him to get his confidence back immediately in what, on paper, will look a
much stronger midfield with Kouyate in there. Rice himself will be eager to
prove the mistake he made- giving the ball away in the lead up to Joselu's
opener at Newcastle - was just a one-off as well and should be given the
chance to prove that.
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GUTTED, FUMING AND AMAZED
By Tony Hanna 5 Sep 2017 at 08:00
WTID
Last week was not a great week for West Ham. A week littered with off field
problems that proved just how much turmoil there is at the club at present
and raised more questions about our current ambitions. To be fair the owners
delivered on a right back and a proven goal scorer earlier in this transfer
window and that was what most fans wanted. But, to be honest I was
absolutely gutted when we failed to sign William Carvalho. Despite all the
smoke and mirrors, this was one player that Bilic wanted and the owners
failed him. Not many top quality players will come to West Ham as we can't
offer them Champions League football. Here was a player, already playing CL
football, and he wanted to join West Ham. Nearly all the teams that play us
know they can stop us playing out of the back by using the high press. We
end up hoofing the ball up field to Andy Carroll – oh wait, he isn't there
is he? Carvalho is just the quality ball playing defensive midfielder we
needed- and how. I can only imagine that our owners have already printed
Bilics P45 and are just waiting a few more games so that they can appoint
their dream manager, Rafa Benitez, on the promise he has 40m to spend in the
January window?
It is well documented now that we were hours away from appointing Benitez in
the summer of 2015, but Real Madrid came knocking and everyone understood
why he had to choose the Spanish giants. What is probably not as well known,
and this is information given to me at the time, we were actually in talks
with Rafa at a different point of time, many months before – during Sam's
reign. He chose not to come. Perhaps the time was not right then as well?
But it is now looming large that it may be 3rd time lucky – depending on
what your view of a Benitez managed West Ham may look like? Personally, I
still hope Slav can turn our season around but it is more in hope than
expectation.
Then of course there was the Sakho incident. Trying to force a move
"Odemwingie" style. I was gutted about Carvalho, but I was fuming about
Sakho. This for me was a new low in how today's players can show so little
respect to their club and its fans. When it happens to West Ham, us, it hits
a raw nerve. The player has hardly played in a year, yet the club have
picked up the bill. His goal (non) celebration against Cheltenham told it
all really. He doesn't want to be at West Ham and it shows. So why did we
not accept any offers for him? We could have used the money to clinch the
Carvalho deal. Payet didn't want to play for us either and we accepted a
"measly" 25m for him on the basis it would make for a toxic atmosphere
around the club if we kept him. Why didn't we force him (Payet) to stay too?
Or more pertinently, why didn't we just sell Sakho as well and keep up the
tradition of ridding ourselves of players who don't want to play for West
Ham? It is not like this was his first dummy spit or indiscretion.
If all that was not bad enough we then had Robert Snodgrass taking a pop at
Bilic following his loan move to Aston Villa. No need to go into the full
transcript here as I am sure you have all read it or got the drift. The very
unimpressive Snodgrass was played out of position apparently? "The manager
didn't know my best position when I signed, despite paying 10m quid for me?"
Well, Snoddy should add short term memory loss to his list of failings
because I can remember plenty of times he was played in his preferred
position, and he was still pretty awful then too! Despite all the complaints
though, one thing that the player did say really got me questioning my
thinking regarding Bilic's pre-game tactics. Snodgrass said: "I was coming
on against City and he (Bilic) said "Where do you want to play, on the left
or right?"
The questions I would be asking here are not only how much thought went into
the signing of a 10m pound player but how much thought went into the match
day tactics? Now I would have thought that any PL managers preparation would
have entailed studying our own players strengths and weaknesses as well as
our opponents? Perhaps coming up with a game plan to match? Certainly not
"left or right son?" Snodgrass was introduced into that game in the 64th
minute to replace Obiang, but his true replacement in a double change was
Feghouli. Any preference that Snodgrass may have given Bilic at that time
will have influenced where Antonio played for the rest of the game! Really?
To be honest I am amazed by this revelation. Now, I know we were 3-0 down at
the time, but this smacks of Hackney Marshes not the Olympic Stadium. I
realise wide players can and do swap during games but I wonder if this
example further shows that too many things are far too relaxed at West Ham?
In recent games it looks as though we have been sending eleven players out
onto the pitch to just get on with it best they can. Perhaps we should not
be surprised that what we are sowing at present is actually what we are
reaping?
We as fans always look forward to the start of any new season. It is a time
where we can start with a clean slate and with the optimism that new players
will gel us into a better team. But just three away games into this new
season and we are bottom of the table and filling the tabloids with bad
press. This weekend's game against Huddersfield is massive. It wouldn't
matter who we are playing, a win will go a long way to turning a toxic mood
into something a whole lot better. It won't completely alleviate all of our
problems but it will be a start. According to reports Bilic has a full squad
to choose from, barring the suspended Arnautovic. There will be a few
players that may still be a bit ring rusty but I can't remember us having so
many of our best players available at the same time? If we don't win on
Monday night the least the fans expect to see is some cohesiveness back in
our play and a very determined effort. Huddersfield are yet to concede a
goal this Premier League season and it will not be easy.
As Hamburg Hammer quite rightly wrote in his Monday column – "The owners,
just like the manager and players, are merely temporary features of West
Ham, custodians on borrowed time. Our fans will still be there, long after
Gold, Sullivan and Brady have packed it in, sold up and moved on to pastures
new." He is spot on the money there. I have been supporting this club for
over 50 years and many of them have been littered with poor signings, poor
managers and a plethora of disappointing seasons. I feel for our younger
supporters who have seen us win nothing of note. At least my generation saw
us win some Cups. What other club could at best finish 8th in the league
with three World Cup winners in it? What other club could play in the 2nd
tier of English football with the likes of Brooking, Devonshire, Bonds,
Martin, Lampard, Parkes and Stewart in their side? What other club could
squander the talents of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Michael
Carrick all before their prime? Yet each new season we lock ourselves in for
another ride despite the likelihood of further disappointment. Each bad
season seems worse than the last bad season but perhaps memories are short?
We all live this ride together. I have never met a person yet who told me "I
used to support West Ham." Let's just hope next week is better than last
week!
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Slavisa Jokanovic could be perfect for West Ham after Fulham success
HITC
Tom Seymour
If Slaven Bilic is sacked by West Ham then there is every reason to believe
Slavisa Jokanovic could be a real success if poached from Fulham. Ahead of
the 2016/17 Championship season Fulham were being tipped by some to be
relegated, having only avoided the drop by two places the previous season
after manager Slavisa Jokanovic took over in December. They certainly
weren't considered among the promotion favourites, yet a fast-paced and
attacking style under Jokanovic (the Cottagers were joint topscorers in the
division with champions Newcastle United and Norwich City with 85 goals) saw
them finish sixth, eventually eliminated from the playoffs over two
semi-final legs against Reading. This impressive feat saw the Serb catch
many an eye, particularly at West Ham United, who have been long-term
admirers of the 49-year-old and according to the Express are considering him
as a replacement for current boss Slaven Bilic - whose own position is under
threat after losing all three of the Hammers' Premier League matches to date
in 2017/18. Jokanovic may not have managed in the English top flight as yet,
but does have significant experience in the country having also guided
Watford to promotion in 2015 and there is every reason to think he could be
a success at the London Stadium. Not least because the former Yugoslavia
international would be backed by a board who according to the Telegraph were
the tenth biggest spenders in the division this summer, just behind
Leicester City on £48.7m worth of outgoings on the likes of Marko
Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and Joe Hart.
Quite a change from what Jokanovic has experienced at Craven Cottage in
recent times, with him complaining in a press conference back in May that;
"my role is completely ignored in recruitment this year." And this was
before the West London club sold Sone Aluko to the Royals against his
wishes, as reported by the Daily Mail. It seems that every day is a battle
for Jokanovic currently and while his side's start this term has been solid
but unremarkable with six points from five league matches and just the one
defeat, his achievements against the odds last campaign cannot be forgotten.
Bilic's position has been shaky for over a year now and if the West Ham
board are to sack the Croatian, then perhaps Jokanovic finally deserves his
chance in the big time where his attacking style could be facilitated by
some real talent that look lost at the moment under the current regime.
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Exciting Hammers duo out to impress in U-21 midfield
The Irish Independent
John Fallon
September 5 2017 2:30 AM
0
As Ireland's senior midfielders face another test tonight from Serbia, two
potential contenders for future slots from West Ham will be auditioning in
the Under-21s against Azerbaijan (3.0, Irish time).
Josh Cullen, promoted to captain by manager Noel King for this campaign,
will be joined in the engine-room for the first time on international duty
by his Hammers colleague Declan Rice.
Their composure will be needed as the Irish look to build upon their win
over Kosovo in the opening 2019 European Championship qualifier in March.
Baku in September presents similar humidity challenges to those apparent for
the senior squad in Tbilisi last weekend and ball retention will be vital.
Both London-born, Cullen was first to grab the attention of Slaven Bilic two
years ago, earning four first-team outings before being sent on loan to
Bradford City in February 2016.
That's where the 21-year-old remained until last May when the adventure
culminated with a League One play-off defeat to Millwall.
Phil Parkinson, his former boss at Bradford, has now taken Cullen on loan to
newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers in the Championship.
Rice, another playmaker to declare for Ireland through the grandparent rule,
has been kept at the London Stadium by the Croatian and started all three of
their Premier League games up to the international break.
Martin O'Neill also liked the look of the 18-year-old, fast-tracking him
into the senior squad's training camp in Cork in May 24 hours after being
granted his top-flight bow by Bilic.
Instead of retaining Rice for the current double-header of World Cup
qualifiers, however, O'Neill allowed the teen to boost King's prospects of
racking up six points from their opening two fixtures in the pool.
Far tougher assignments are in store next year when the Irish face reigning
champions Germany, yet the priority for now is surviving the 5000km trek
east.
"Declan could be a key player for us in this campaign," predicted Cullen.
"He's been in training with the senior squad but is focused on helping our
squad get results in this campaign to try qualify for the finals.
"Declan knows that he's not fully there yet in his career but is doing well
so far for our club. He played a few years younger than me at West Ham and,
although he wasn't the standout player in terms of ability, Declan had a
brilliant drive and determination.
"For myself, the aim is to keep getting experience in the Championship."
Ireland (probable): K O'Hara (Manchester United); D Kane (Huddersfield
Town), R Sweeney (Bristol Rovers), S Donnellan (West Brom), C Whelan
(Liverpool); D Rice (West Ham), J Cullen (Bolton Wanderers); C Ronan
(Wolves), R Manning (QPR), R Greco-Cox (QPR); R Curtis (Derry City).
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West Ham linked with move for former Man City and Arsenal free agent
Bacary Sagna is reportedly wanted by the Hammers
Football London
BYOLIVER HARBORD
06:30, 5 SEP 2017
West Ham have been linked with a move for former Manchester City and Arsenal
right back Bacary Sagna to add to their squad. Despite the transfer window
having been officially closed, the French international is currently without
a club and is a free agent so can move to a Premier League club. The
34-year-old has been touted to a few moves from around England at the
moment, and the Hammers have been reportedly one of the clubs that could
well make a deal for him.
Crystal Palace and Watford have also been linked with the FA Cup winner,
however it may seem like a strange choice if Slaven Bilic was to go for
another right back. The Hammers brought in Pablo Zabaleta after he was
released by City, while Sam Byram is also very much in the frame. Bilic
certainly needs something to turn around quickly, however, with three
defeats from three putting his side firmly planted at the bottom of the
Premier League table.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Joe Hart may have been capped 73 times by England, but the West Ham United
goalkeeper can still hardly contain his excitement about the prospect of
representing his country at another major tournament. The Hammers stopper
helped the Three Lions to a vital 2-1 FIFA World Cup European Group F
qualifying win over Slovakia at Wembley on Wednesday evening, a victory
which takes England within two points of a place at Russia 2018. Having also
beaten Malta 4-0 on Friday with a performance that saw Gareth Southgate's
team come in for criticism in some quarters, Hart was asked to reflect on
the two qualifiers and the pressures associated with trying to win the
nation's first major trophy in more than 50 years. "Monday's win was
important because we want to qualify for Russia, that's why it was
important," Hart told whufc.com at Wembley. "Friday was always going to be a
night where if we didn't play to blow them away, we were always going to get
some sort of comments. "A Friday in Malta is an enjoyable place to be, so
I'm sure people's frustrations were going to come out, but it would have
been the same if it was the other way around. If we'd been 4-0 up at
half-time then I think the support would have been amazing and it would have
been a carnival atmosphere. "That's the beauty of being in the England team.
They expect a lot of us and we expect a lot of ourselves. We're really
pleased and proud with how we stayed cool and calm in that game, as we also
did when we went 1-0 down on Monday night. "We fully deserved to win the
match and we fully deserve to be top of the group."
Hart has been to the last four major finals with England – the 2010 and 2014
World Cups and Euro 2012 and 2016 – but a combination of personal and
collective ill-fortune mean he is eager to paint more positive memories
should England reach Russia, as expected. The 30-year-old is experienced
enough to know England will be subject to weighty expectations when they
travel to the World Cup, but he is determined to fulfil them by helping his
country to enjoy a successful tournament. "We're relevant and if we weren't
relevant then people wouldn't have an opinion," he said. "We remain focused
and excited and I can only speak for myself and say I am so excited to
qualify for this World Cup. "It's a dream to play in these competitions and
I can't lie, it's not been good for me in tournament football and I want to
make a difference while I still can. We're not on this footballing world for
that long and opportunities come and go, so you've got to take them. "I've
come out of every tournament wishing I had the answer and trying to put my
finger on it, but hopefully we'll have done very well next summer and I'll
then be able to know why the others weren't so good."
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Cullen ready to skipper Ireland U21s in key clash
WHUFC.com
Josh Cullen will lead a Hammers midfield pairing when his Republic of
Ireland U21 side head to Azerbaijan for their second qualifying game for the
2019 UEFA U21 Championships on Tuesday afternoon. The Academy star,
currently on loan at Championship side Bolton Wanderers, will captain Noel
King's Ireland side in Azerbaijan, with fellow Hammer Declan Rice set to
make his debut at this age group alongside him. Cullen already has eight
caps for the U21s to his name and has been promoted to captain for this
campaign, as Ireland look to qualify for a European Championship finals for
the first time. Their campaign got off to the perfect start in March when
they defeated Kosovo 1-0 in Dublin and victory in the 4pm kick-off in Baku
could take the Irish top of Group 5, which also includes the likes of
Germany and Norway. Rice has impressed greatly in the Hammers' first team at
the start of this season and now steps up after earning six caps at U19
level.
Cullen is looking forward to stepping out alongside his club mate, saying:
"Declan could be a key player for us in this campaign. "He's been in
training with the senior squad but is focused on helping our squad get
results in this campaign to try qualify for the finals."
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From Slaven Bilic row to Aston Villa: The West Ham verdict on Robert
Snodgrass
Snodgrass has joined AVFC on loan until the end of the season
Birmingham Mail
COMMENTS
BYSAM INKERSOLEMAT KENDRICK
Robert Snodgrass is set for his Aston Villa debut this weekend after
arriving on a season-long loan from West Ham United. Snodgrass is expected
to start in Saturday's Championship match against Brentford at Villa Park.
We caught up with Hammers expert Sam Inkersole from football.london for a
lowdown on the 29-year-old Scottish international.
1) How excited were West Ham fans when he signed?
Very much so. We had all seen his performances for Hull and the Hammers
faithful - and me - thought they were actually getting a bargain for what
would eventually be £10.2m considering how good a start to the season he
had. We all just kind of expected him to continue on his merry way in east
London as he did on Humberside but in reality, it was horrendous.
2) Were Dimitri Payet's boots too big for him to fill?
It was ridiculous for anyone to think that Snodgrass was a Payet
replacement, even though many fans saw that as the case. Payet, a mercurial
but stroppy talent, had flounced back to Marseille but the slack should have
picked up by Manuel Lanzini in the short term, but it wasn't the case as
Snodgrass was given that role - wrongly. Eventually Slaven Bilic saw it was
Lanzini's role and that meant limited chances for Snodgrass and playing on
the wing when he did get a game, it's just not a good fit.
3) What do you make of the apparent friction between Snodgrass and Bilic?
A surprise and not a surprise at the same time. It's surprising in that
someone has actually spoken out about Bilic, something we haven't seen over
the dismal past 12 months or so. Someone was going to do it eventually and
now it has happens. Where it isn't a surprise is that Bilic methods have
been called into question by the likes of Reece Oxford, Simone Zaza,
Cheikhou Kouyate, former striker Enner Valencia, and also the terrible
Hammers injury record that speaks volumes.
4) How have West Ham fans reacted to Snodgrass going out on loan?
Honestly - they couldn't care less. Some fans will say he's not been given a
fair crack at the whip, which he wasn't. But the majority will also,
rightly, point to the 18 appearances he had for the Hammers were he did
barely anything positive of note. Most couldn't wait to get rid of him,
which is a shame.
5) He has three years left on his West Ham contract - do you think he will
play for them again?
Given that he thinks there is a "long-term plan" with Steve Bruce then you'd
think he sees his future at Villa Park. But, if he tears it up in the
Championship but Villa don't get promoted, will he stay and drop down a
league? I'm not so sure. If Bilic isn't the manager next season - and it's
pretty much nailed on that he won't be - the new manager might see something
in the Scotsman. But if you put gun to my head? I'd say we won't see him at
the London Stadium again.
6) Finally, what kind of player are Villa getting? What are his strengths
and weaknesses?
Strengths
He is a great option to play off the front man and not on the wing where he
spent the majority of his time at the Hammers.
He does have an excellent range of passing and his set pieces were supposed
to be good, but they weren't here. Maybe he can find them again at Villa
because we really didn't see him display many strengths here.
Weaknesses
Tracking back, don't even think about that happening, and his tackling is
pretty poor. He didn't show anywhere near good enough finishing and often
ran down blind-alleys and not really going anywhere, probably down to a lack
of confidence.
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Bilic's decision to stick with Mark Noble and ignore Renato Sanches speaks
volumes
HITC
Vincent Ralph
The West Ham United boss allegedly turned down a loan move for Renato
Sanches, who ultimately swapped Bayern Munich for Swansea City. West Ham
United fans would have been forgiven for double-taking when they read
comments from their joint-chairman about potential summer transfers earlier
this month.
In an article published on the Hammers' official website, David Sullivan
confirmed the club had been offered the chance to sign both Grzegorz
Krychowiak and Renato Sanches, only for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic to say
no and watch them join West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City respectively.
The decision to snub Sanches is particularly bizarre given the faltering
influence of skipper Mark Noble, who many West Ham fans feel should have
been hooked from the starting line-up long ago. Noble's impact has been on
the wane since last season and there is no doubt Sanches would have been a
considerable upgrade. The fact that Bilic felt he had enough quality in that
area of the field speaks volumes and perhaps hints that his time at the club
is coming to an end if he is really that out of touch. After all, the
20-year-old Portuguese international is an outstanding talent who - if he
plays to his full potential - will put Noble in the shade despite his
inexperience of English football.
There are few players more loyal to their club than Noble is to West Ham,
but loyalty is not enough when your performances do not justify your
continued selection. Bilic should have snapped Bayern's hand off for
Sanches, even if it was only for a year. He should have identified a clear
area of weakness in West Ham's starting XI and solved it with a bargain
deal. Instead he watched Sanches move to a top flight rival and you can rest
assured that decision will come back to bite him given his lack of
alternatives for an under-performing skipper.
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West Ham free agent and injury news latest as Fernandes and Ayew look set to
miss Huddersfield
Catch up with all the latest West Ham news with our Hammers writer
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
20:00, 5 SEP 2017
West Ham have suffered a potential double-injury blow ahead of the return to
Premier League action against Huddersfield Town on Monday night in E20.
Both of them are in midfield too as Andre Ayew has picked up a thigh problem
away on international duty, while Edimilson Fernandes has been sent for
scans on a possible sprained ankle, with both now major doubts for the
Terriers match. For a squad struggling with light numbers as it is, this is
a big blow to Slaven Bilic as he tries to retrieve the wreckage that has
been West Ham's season so far as they sit bottom of the Premier League table
with three games played. Bacary Sagna's name has been mentioned, as has
ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley, both of whom are on the market.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Edimilson Fernandes suffers suspected sprained ankle as West Ham squad gets
stretched
With the Hammers squad thin on the ground, this is not good news
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
14:26, 5 SEP 2017
Football.London understand Edimilson Fernandes has been sent for a scan on
what is a suspected sprained ankle as the Hammers squad gets stretched to
breaking point. The Swiss midfielder looks set for a stint on the sidelines
following the problem, with the club now awaiting results on the scan but
we're told it is "looks like" the ankle is sprained, we don't yet know how
severely. Fernandes had featured in all three Premier League games so far
this season but had struggled to find any sort of form as the Hammers
slumped to three straight defeats. With West Ham already having a pretty
thin squad as it is, this latest injury setback will not be music to the
ears of Slaven Bilic, who is already suffering availability issues ahead of
the Premier League clash with Huddersfield next Monday. Andre Ayew has
picked up a thigh injury while on international duty with Ghana and isn't
going to feature in their World Cup qualifier this week and is therefore a
doubt for the Huddersfield game, while the Hammers are also sweating on the
fitness of Manuel Lanzini after he pulled out of the Argentina squad with a
knee issue.
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New development at West Ham managerial situation could have implications for
Newcastle Rafa Benitez
MILES STARFORTH
Email Published: 13:12 Tuesday
05 September 2017
Shields Gazette
Roberto Mancini is the "front-runner" to replace under-pressure Slaven Bilic
at West Ham United, according to a report. Newcastle United manager Rafa
Benitez is the favourite with one bookmaker to succeed Bilic at the Premier
League club. Benitez is unhappy at the summer transfer business at St
James's Park. However, Benitez will not resign, and United owner Mike Ashley
will not sack the 57-year-old. And the only way Benitez could conceivably
leave Newcastle this season would be if another club paid his multi-million
pound release clause – and he agreed to the move. Bilic's predicament has
led to speculation that West Ham could move for Benitez, who came close to
taking over at the club two years ago before joining Real Madrid. However,
the Evening Standard today claim that Mancini is being lined up for the role
should Bilic – who was presided over three league defeats this season – be
dismissed. West Ham have never previously paid compensation for a manager.
Mancini is manager of Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. Meanwhile,
Benitez is preparing his Newcastle team for Sunday's game against Swansea
City at the Liberty Stadium.
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West Ham are wasting their time taking legal action against Sporting Lisbon
by Amanda Paula34 minutes agoFollow @antillescap
GreeenStreetHammers
After a poor transfer window, West Ham should have shameful to have failure
instead of starting a process against the Portuguese club. We all know that
the midfielder William Carvalho was one of West Ham's targets. However, what
seemed a done deal, was shown to be another failure in this summer. Much to
the annoyance of fans of the club. Without him and other names, we finished
the market a little disappointed. I must say this was a huge disaster given
the lack of strength in our midfield. This was made worse after an official
statement by Dave Sullivan on West Ham's website on Friday. "It is no secret
that we made a club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho but
unfortunately that offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago. "Late last
night Sporting Lisbon made contact to accept the original offer, but
unfortunately it was just too late in the day, and we simply did not have
enough time to put the player through a medical.
Nevertheless, this declaration made by the Hammers owners did not sound too
good in Lisbon. One day after, Sporting Lisbon's sports director immediately
reported the statement on his Facebook post. David Sullivan lies. At
Sporting, as has already been said by our president, no proposal has been
made for the player William Carvalho. "The football industry is not the set
of an adult film in which all obscenities are allowed.So the boss of a club
demands a lot more than this intellectual pornography. "Mr David Sullivan
has a duty to prove what he says. That is why Sporting challenges him to
publicly show the proposals he claims to have made as well as the evidence
that Sporting received them. To reinforce a ridiculous situation David
Sullivan's son, posted a message affirming the stance against Sporting.
DAVE SULLIVAN JNR @DaveSulley
West Ham are commencing legal proceedings against the communications
director of sporting Lisbon as a written offer for the player was made
4:50 PM - Sep 3, 2017
428 428 Replies 175 175 Retweets 318 318 likes
DAVE SULLIVAN JNR @DaveSulley
To Bruno de Carvalho the president of sporting Lisbon. To say we never made
an offer is nonsense and serious libel
4:50 PM - Sep 3, 2017 · Marbella, Spain
337 337 Replies 99 99 Retweets 200 200 likes
I am not defending the Portuguese side, but what what Dave Sullivan has done
in our club is simply ridiculous. With two consecutive seasons with some of
the worst transfers and bad results, he has just put his foot in it. In
addition, why he decided to start a fight against another club? This is
insane, we do not need this, what we need is to win the next matches and
push to not be relegated. The focus should be on the squad we have, but
right now it's all over the place. The board are not helping a bad season
turn around at all.
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Kevin Friend appointed to referee Huddersfield Town's match against West Ham
The Leicester-based referee will take charge of the Monday night match
Theexaminer.co.uk
BYRORY BENSON
12:36, 5 SEP 2017
Huddersfield Town's match against West Ham next Monday will be taken charge
of by referee Kevin Friend. The official has taken charge of 158 Premier
League matches in his 32-year career as a referee, having started out at the
age of 14 in his home county of Leicestershire. His first top flight outing
came in 2009, when he oversaw Wolves' 2-1 victory over Fulham. He dished out
two yellow cards in that fixture and has gone on to show 585 more in his
Premier league career - brandishing 20 red cards as well - including one to
West Ham's Mark Noble in 2015.
Friend has taken charge of four Huddersfield Town matches in his career,
officiating three League One matches - a 1-1 draw against Oldham, a 1-0 loss
to Sheffield United and a 2-2 draw against Leeds United. The 46-year-old
also took charge as Town beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road in the Championship
in 2013.
Friend has overseen 12 West Ham matches, with the Hammers coming out on top
in seven, drawing one and losing four. The referee has also taken charge of
one major final in his career - the 2013 League Cup final in which Swansea
beat Bradford City by five goals to nil.
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Get Lanzini fit, reintegrate Sakho and find a partner for Reid - West Ham's
to do list after transfer window
There is plenty of work to be done at the London Stadium from now on
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
13:08, 5 SEP 2017
With the transfer window now closed, West Ham can turn their attention back
to football on the field and try to sort out the mess that was the
pre-international break start of the campaign. Slaven Bilic will have taken
stock of what he has seen over the past few weeks - and also have to sort
out the mess that has been flung upon the club in the past seven days and
now has the chance to work things out. There is plenty, plenty and plenty
more issues to be sorted but what are the most pressing priorities? Here's a
few things Bilic could really do with sorting out.
Re-integrate Diafra Sakho into the team
That whole story on Transfer Deadline Day was so "West Ham" it was scarcely
believable but if Sakho is reportedly now playing for a new contract in
January then the Senegal striker needs to be re-integrated back into the
team. He is the ideal partner for Javier Hernandez so if Bilic is going to
start him, there is no time like the present as in Sakho's eyes at east, he
is fit and ready to go. He's quite a divisive character but on his day can
be a real asset to the team and if he is now fit, Billic - whatever
differences the two have - needs to bring Sakho back in.
Find a central defensive partner for Winston Reid
We don't know if the Kiwi is going to be fit after picking up that injury in
the warm-up at Southampton but it is hoped he will be. If not, it'll be four
games with four different central defensive partners. Reid is clearly the
cog that holds the West Ham central defence together and it's finding a
partner for him between the candidates of Jose Fonte, Angelo Ogbonna, James
Collins, or two of those three in a three-man defence. Whatever it is going
to be, Bilic needs to stick with it once he has decided which way to go.
Don't rush Lanzini back but get him fit
West Ham need their Jewel back as soon as they can but it is important not
to rush him back if he has indeed suffered a recurrence of his knee injury.
The Hammers desperately lack a creative spark without Lanzini in the side
but they can't go through the scenario they had with Michail Antonio last
season when they rushed him back for the Arsenal game, then he tore his
hamstring again and that was him done for the season. It sounds as if
Lanzini won't be fit for Huddersfield so that at least gives the club extra
time to make sure he's around for the Spurs game at home, maybe not risk him
at West Brom the week after next.
When Arnautovic returns, play him up front with Hernandez or play another
striker?
When Marko Arnautovic returns from his three-match ban for the trip to West
Brom next week, Bilic needs to decide if he is gong to continue to employ
him as a wide man or play him with Chicharto to offer the Mexican some much
needed support. If not, Arnautovic would likely come into the team and Andre
Ayew be dropped, allowing Diafra Sakho/Andy Carroll to partner Hernandez,
who clearly need someone up with him to help out. Arnautovic owes West Ham
big time after his shoddy sending off at St Mary's and will certainly look
to make up for lost time.
This is all dependant on one thing though... Slaven Bilic still being in
charge of West Ham United. Lose to Huddersfield on Monday night, then who
knows...
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Under-fire West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has "thrown the towel in" claims
former Iron Danny Gabbidon
The struggling Hammers are rock-bottom of the Premier League table following
three straight defeats
The Mirror
BYNEIL MCLEMAN
11:50, 5 SEP 2017
Former West Ham star Danny Gabbidon has claimed Slaven Bilic "looks a shadow
of his former self" and had "pretty much thrown the towel in" after the
defeat at Newcastle. And he claimed the Hammers manager's transfer dealings
with co-owner David Sullivan are "a recipe for disaster". The former Croatia
is under mounting pressure after losing the first three Premier League
matches of the season. And Sullivan issued a weekend statement insisting the
board had signed "the top four players" on Bilic's summer wishlist and
claimed the manager turned down the chance to sign Grzegorz Krychowiak and
Renato Sanches on loan. Former Manchester City boss Mancini, who is now at
Zenit St Petersburg, is second favourite for the East End job behind former
target Rafa Benitez. West Ham play their first home game of the season
against Huddersfield on Monday. And ex-Wales defender Gabbidon, who played
for six years at Upton Park, told The West Ham Way website: "I look at
Slaven at the moment and he looks a shadow of his former self. "His body
language is that of man who looks tired, who doesn't have the answers
anymore, which is sad to see. His personality is his biggest strength but in
football management that can also be your biggest weakness. "Slaven looks
to me like he's lost his way and forgotten some of the things that made him
such a good manager in that first season in charge. "In fairness he's had a
lot to deal with in his short time at the club and it would be
understandable if some of the recent off field issues had contributed to him
losing a bit of focus and almost taken his mind away from what he's really
there to do - manage the team and get results. "From what I hear Slaven had
pretty much thrown the towel in with the words he spoke in the dressing room
to the players after the Newcastle defeat and this might possibly be just a
stay of execution but if I was in his shoes right now I would be thinking:
'I need to get back to basics meaning laying down the law in the dressing
room and getting things right tactically on the pitch'. "I hope that Slaven
Bilic is given a bit more time to turn things around and I hope he's used
this international break to take a good look at himself and say what am I
doing wrong? "And how can I make things better before it's too late. He
really is on borrowed time now."
Bilic made the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho a
priority in the final days of the window but the deal was not done. "It's
fairly obvious that all is not well between the two parties," Gabbidon
added. "Relationships seem to be at breaking point, comments about each
other publicly, an obvious lack of trust and support it almost doesn't feel
like the start of a season, much more like the end! "What you can't have is
owners who are signings players and then the manager who also wants his own
players or is refusing players that are offered to him. It's just a recipe
for disaster which has been clear for all to see."
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Dimitri Payet knows 'how to be a d***head' following controversial spell at
West Ham: 'When I want to p**s everyone off, I do it'
Dimitri Payet moved from West Ham to Marseille for £25million back in
January
The Frenchman lit up the Premier League in his first season but forced a
transfer
The 30-year-old admits he is difficult to manage and knows how to push
buttons
He conceded Slaven Bilic found out about his character traits the hard way
By Glen Williams For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 11:09, 5 September 2017 | UPDATED: 11:38, 5 September 2017
Dimitri Payet has admitted he is a difficult player to manage and 'knows how
to be a d****head' while reflecting on his unceremonious exit from West Ham.
The Frenchman shone during his debut season in east London, scoring 12 goals
and setting up 15 to drive the Hammers to a seventh-place finish — equalling
their highest league position since the 1998-99 season. But Payet's second
season, following West Ham's move from Upton Park to the London Stadium, was
blighted by his desire to seek a move away. The France international, a
former fan favourite in east London, finally sealed a move back to Ligue 1
just 18 months after touching down in England, joining Marseille for
£25million in January. And the 30-year-old has conceded he is a big
personality to manage, telling So Foot: 'I know how to be a d***head. It's
one of my specialities. It's a little game. When I want to p**s everyone
off, I do it. 'My managers understood that when I sulk, they talk to me.
It's a way for me to be heard. Those who know me play along, and, in the
end, it goes well. 'I left [West Ham] for many reasons, but the main one was
about football. 'West Ham's objectives weren't the same as the last season,
and I felt in danger for my football and my chances with the national team.
I had a choice to make.'
The France international admitted Slaven Bilic had a difficult time keeping
Payet's petulance under control during his stay at West Ham. And although he
said Bilic managed him 'like a father', the Croat was not enough to keep
Payet in the Premier League. '[Bilic and I] spoke every day,' Payet added.
'He quickly understood how I worked. You saw that straight away in how
quickly I adapted.' But, ultimately, Payet left for pastures new and has
made a flying return to Ligue 1 — scoring 20 goals in 33 games in all
competitions for the south coast club.
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The two West Ham youngsters ready to turn around the dreadful start to the
season
Youthful exuberance is no bad thing and Slaven Bilic should stick with for
the forseeable
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
09:35, 5 SEP 2017UPDATED10:02, 5 SEP 2017
Now that the international break is nearly over, it's time to focus once
again on the Premier League and for West Ham, rescuing their dismal start to
the season.
Three defeats from three games have left the Hammers rock bottom of the
table, with only goal difference separating them from Crystal Palace. They
could be even further adrift by the time Slaven Bilic's men eventually take
to the London Stadium pitch for the first time this season - next Monday
night against Huddersfield. With many players under performing and Marko
Arnautovic suspended, added to the Hammers already poor start, there are a
couple of places that should be up for grabs in the starting eleven if Bili
chooses not to stick with some underwhelming stars - and they are both
youngsters. Both are already familiar to West Ham fans anyway but their
injection of youthful exuberance, playing without fear and being an unknown
entity could be the key to helping turn things around in east London.
Nathan Holland
The winger can play on either side of the pitch and really impressed in
pre-season but has not been involved yet in the Premier League matchday
squads - that needs to change. With Michail Antonio on one wing and Holland
on the other, this team has pace and width to it. Andre Ayew consistently
goes in field from his position leaving the Hammers attacking threat very
narrow indeed. Holland has been in excellent form for the U23s as well and
while he might look mall ad lightweight, he is deceptively strong and his
low centre of gravity causes havoc for defenders. He will be eager, keen and
ready to go and would be an interesting wildcard pick for the Huddersfield
game.
Declan Rice
Yes, he has started two of the three previous matches but Bilic has to stick
with the teenager after his ill-judged substitution at Newcastle. Rice gives
the fans something to cheer about as well as he has come through the
academy. Plus, with hopefully the return of Cheikhou Kouyate, Rice is a much
better fit with the Senegal star than the under-performing Mark Noble. The
teenager is a hugely talented player and after subbing him off - wrongly -
against Newcastle, Bilic owes the kid another start. It's a great chance for
him to get his confidence back immediately in what, on paper, will look a
much stronger midfield with Kouyate in there. Rice himself will be eager to
prove the mistake he made- giving the ball away in the lead up to Joselu's
opener at Newcastle - was just a one-off as well and should be given the
chance to prove that.
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GUTTED, FUMING AND AMAZED
By Tony Hanna 5 Sep 2017 at 08:00
WTID
Last week was not a great week for West Ham. A week littered with off field
problems that proved just how much turmoil there is at the club at present
and raised more questions about our current ambitions. To be fair the owners
delivered on a right back and a proven goal scorer earlier in this transfer
window and that was what most fans wanted. But, to be honest I was
absolutely gutted when we failed to sign William Carvalho. Despite all the
smoke and mirrors, this was one player that Bilic wanted and the owners
failed him. Not many top quality players will come to West Ham as we can't
offer them Champions League football. Here was a player, already playing CL
football, and he wanted to join West Ham. Nearly all the teams that play us
know they can stop us playing out of the back by using the high press. We
end up hoofing the ball up field to Andy Carroll – oh wait, he isn't there
is he? Carvalho is just the quality ball playing defensive midfielder we
needed- and how. I can only imagine that our owners have already printed
Bilics P45 and are just waiting a few more games so that they can appoint
their dream manager, Rafa Benitez, on the promise he has 40m to spend in the
January window?
It is well documented now that we were hours away from appointing Benitez in
the summer of 2015, but Real Madrid came knocking and everyone understood
why he had to choose the Spanish giants. What is probably not as well known,
and this is information given to me at the time, we were actually in talks
with Rafa at a different point of time, many months before – during Sam's
reign. He chose not to come. Perhaps the time was not right then as well?
But it is now looming large that it may be 3rd time lucky – depending on
what your view of a Benitez managed West Ham may look like? Personally, I
still hope Slav can turn our season around but it is more in hope than
expectation.
Then of course there was the Sakho incident. Trying to force a move
"Odemwingie" style. I was gutted about Carvalho, but I was fuming about
Sakho. This for me was a new low in how today's players can show so little
respect to their club and its fans. When it happens to West Ham, us, it hits
a raw nerve. The player has hardly played in a year, yet the club have
picked up the bill. His goal (non) celebration against Cheltenham told it
all really. He doesn't want to be at West Ham and it shows. So why did we
not accept any offers for him? We could have used the money to clinch the
Carvalho deal. Payet didn't want to play for us either and we accepted a
"measly" 25m for him on the basis it would make for a toxic atmosphere
around the club if we kept him. Why didn't we force him (Payet) to stay too?
Or more pertinently, why didn't we just sell Sakho as well and keep up the
tradition of ridding ourselves of players who don't want to play for West
Ham? It is not like this was his first dummy spit or indiscretion.
If all that was not bad enough we then had Robert Snodgrass taking a pop at
Bilic following his loan move to Aston Villa. No need to go into the full
transcript here as I am sure you have all read it or got the drift. The very
unimpressive Snodgrass was played out of position apparently? "The manager
didn't know my best position when I signed, despite paying 10m quid for me?"
Well, Snoddy should add short term memory loss to his list of failings
because I can remember plenty of times he was played in his preferred
position, and he was still pretty awful then too! Despite all the complaints
though, one thing that the player did say really got me questioning my
thinking regarding Bilic's pre-game tactics. Snodgrass said: "I was coming
on against City and he (Bilic) said "Where do you want to play, on the left
or right?"
The questions I would be asking here are not only how much thought went into
the signing of a 10m pound player but how much thought went into the match
day tactics? Now I would have thought that any PL managers preparation would
have entailed studying our own players strengths and weaknesses as well as
our opponents? Perhaps coming up with a game plan to match? Certainly not
"left or right son?" Snodgrass was introduced into that game in the 64th
minute to replace Obiang, but his true replacement in a double change was
Feghouli. Any preference that Snodgrass may have given Bilic at that time
will have influenced where Antonio played for the rest of the game! Really?
To be honest I am amazed by this revelation. Now, I know we were 3-0 down at
the time, but this smacks of Hackney Marshes not the Olympic Stadium. I
realise wide players can and do swap during games but I wonder if this
example further shows that too many things are far too relaxed at West Ham?
In recent games it looks as though we have been sending eleven players out
onto the pitch to just get on with it best they can. Perhaps we should not
be surprised that what we are sowing at present is actually what we are
reaping?
We as fans always look forward to the start of any new season. It is a time
where we can start with a clean slate and with the optimism that new players
will gel us into a better team. But just three away games into this new
season and we are bottom of the table and filling the tabloids with bad
press. This weekend's game against Huddersfield is massive. It wouldn't
matter who we are playing, a win will go a long way to turning a toxic mood
into something a whole lot better. It won't completely alleviate all of our
problems but it will be a start. According to reports Bilic has a full squad
to choose from, barring the suspended Arnautovic. There will be a few
players that may still be a bit ring rusty but I can't remember us having so
many of our best players available at the same time? If we don't win on
Monday night the least the fans expect to see is some cohesiveness back in
our play and a very determined effort. Huddersfield are yet to concede a
goal this Premier League season and it will not be easy.
As Hamburg Hammer quite rightly wrote in his Monday column – "The owners,
just like the manager and players, are merely temporary features of West
Ham, custodians on borrowed time. Our fans will still be there, long after
Gold, Sullivan and Brady have packed it in, sold up and moved on to pastures
new." He is spot on the money there. I have been supporting this club for
over 50 years and many of them have been littered with poor signings, poor
managers and a plethora of disappointing seasons. I feel for our younger
supporters who have seen us win nothing of note. At least my generation saw
us win some Cups. What other club could at best finish 8th in the league
with three World Cup winners in it? What other club could play in the 2nd
tier of English football with the likes of Brooking, Devonshire, Bonds,
Martin, Lampard, Parkes and Stewart in their side? What other club could
squander the talents of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Michael
Carrick all before their prime? Yet each new season we lock ourselves in for
another ride despite the likelihood of further disappointment. Each bad
season seems worse than the last bad season but perhaps memories are short?
We all live this ride together. I have never met a person yet who told me "I
used to support West Ham." Let's just hope next week is better than last
week!
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Slavisa Jokanovic could be perfect for West Ham after Fulham success
HITC
Tom Seymour
If Slaven Bilic is sacked by West Ham then there is every reason to believe
Slavisa Jokanovic could be a real success if poached from Fulham. Ahead of
the 2016/17 Championship season Fulham were being tipped by some to be
relegated, having only avoided the drop by two places the previous season
after manager Slavisa Jokanovic took over in December. They certainly
weren't considered among the promotion favourites, yet a fast-paced and
attacking style under Jokanovic (the Cottagers were joint topscorers in the
division with champions Newcastle United and Norwich City with 85 goals) saw
them finish sixth, eventually eliminated from the playoffs over two
semi-final legs against Reading. This impressive feat saw the Serb catch
many an eye, particularly at West Ham United, who have been long-term
admirers of the 49-year-old and according to the Express are considering him
as a replacement for current boss Slaven Bilic - whose own position is under
threat after losing all three of the Hammers' Premier League matches to date
in 2017/18. Jokanovic may not have managed in the English top flight as yet,
but does have significant experience in the country having also guided
Watford to promotion in 2015 and there is every reason to think he could be
a success at the London Stadium. Not least because the former Yugoslavia
international would be backed by a board who according to the Telegraph were
the tenth biggest spenders in the division this summer, just behind
Leicester City on £48.7m worth of outgoings on the likes of Marko
Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and Joe Hart.
Quite a change from what Jokanovic has experienced at Craven Cottage in
recent times, with him complaining in a press conference back in May that;
"my role is completely ignored in recruitment this year." And this was
before the West London club sold Sone Aluko to the Royals against his
wishes, as reported by the Daily Mail. It seems that every day is a battle
for Jokanovic currently and while his side's start this term has been solid
but unremarkable with six points from five league matches and just the one
defeat, his achievements against the odds last campaign cannot be forgotten.
Bilic's position has been shaky for over a year now and if the West Ham
board are to sack the Croatian, then perhaps Jokanovic finally deserves his
chance in the big time where his attacking style could be facilitated by
some real talent that look lost at the moment under the current regime.
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Exciting Hammers duo out to impress in U-21 midfield
The Irish Independent
John Fallon
September 5 2017 2:30 AM
0
As Ireland's senior midfielders face another test tonight from Serbia, two
potential contenders for future slots from West Ham will be auditioning in
the Under-21s against Azerbaijan (3.0, Irish time).
Josh Cullen, promoted to captain by manager Noel King for this campaign,
will be joined in the engine-room for the first time on international duty
by his Hammers colleague Declan Rice.
Their composure will be needed as the Irish look to build upon their win
over Kosovo in the opening 2019 European Championship qualifier in March.
Baku in September presents similar humidity challenges to those apparent for
the senior squad in Tbilisi last weekend and ball retention will be vital.
Both London-born, Cullen was first to grab the attention of Slaven Bilic two
years ago, earning four first-team outings before being sent on loan to
Bradford City in February 2016.
That's where the 21-year-old remained until last May when the adventure
culminated with a League One play-off defeat to Millwall.
Phil Parkinson, his former boss at Bradford, has now taken Cullen on loan to
newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers in the Championship.
Rice, another playmaker to declare for Ireland through the grandparent rule,
has been kept at the London Stadium by the Croatian and started all three of
their Premier League games up to the international break.
Martin O'Neill also liked the look of the 18-year-old, fast-tracking him
into the senior squad's training camp in Cork in May 24 hours after being
granted his top-flight bow by Bilic.
Instead of retaining Rice for the current double-header of World Cup
qualifiers, however, O'Neill allowed the teen to boost King's prospects of
racking up six points from their opening two fixtures in the pool.
Far tougher assignments are in store next year when the Irish face reigning
champions Germany, yet the priority for now is surviving the 5000km trek
east.
"Declan could be a key player for us in this campaign," predicted Cullen.
"He's been in training with the senior squad but is focused on helping our
squad get results in this campaign to try qualify for the finals.
"Declan knows that he's not fully there yet in his career but is doing well
so far for our club. He played a few years younger than me at West Ham and,
although he wasn't the standout player in terms of ability, Declan had a
brilliant drive and determination.
"For myself, the aim is to keep getting experience in the Championship."
Ireland (probable): K O'Hara (Manchester United); D Kane (Huddersfield
Town), R Sweeney (Bristol Rovers), S Donnellan (West Brom), C Whelan
(Liverpool); D Rice (West Ham), J Cullen (Bolton Wanderers); C Ronan
(Wolves), R Manning (QPR), R Greco-Cox (QPR); R Curtis (Derry City).
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West Ham linked with move for former Man City and Arsenal free agent
Bacary Sagna is reportedly wanted by the Hammers
Football London
BYOLIVER HARBORD
06:30, 5 SEP 2017
West Ham have been linked with a move for former Manchester City and Arsenal
right back Bacary Sagna to add to their squad. Despite the transfer window
having been officially closed, the French international is currently without
a club and is a free agent so can move to a Premier League club. The
34-year-old has been touted to a few moves from around England at the
moment, and the Hammers have been reportedly one of the clubs that could
well make a deal for him.
Crystal Palace and Watford have also been linked with the FA Cup winner,
however it may seem like a strange choice if Slaven Bilic was to go for
another right back. The Hammers brought in Pablo Zabaleta after he was
released by City, while Sam Byram is also very much in the frame. Bilic
certainly needs something to turn around quickly, however, with three
defeats from three putting his side firmly planted at the bottom of the
Premier League table.
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