Antonio out for the season
It has been confirmed this week by Slaven Bilic that our top goal-scorer Michail Antonio will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. The Croat confirmed the sombre news in his pre-Sunderland press conference, Bilic had this to say about the matter “For Antonio it is a significant injury so he is out for the rest of the season”. It is without a doubt that we will sorely miss the contribution of Antonio in our remaining fixtures and it was definitely felt in our first game without him as Sunderland rescued a late draw against us yesterday, in the North East. The 27 year old has a prolific nine goals in the League this season and with Lanzini and Carroll on seven goals each this term. Will the Englishman be caught and fail to become our top goal scorer for the 2016/17 season?
Bilic hints at Calleri permanent deal
Our Croatian boss Slaven Bilic has hinted that a permanent deal could be on the cards for on-loan Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri. Bilic was asked about the 23-year-old’s future at the club, amid growing speculation and said:”We’re going to see. All I can say is that he is a top professional”. Calleri has struggled for game time this season under Bilic and has been largely regarded as a flop, due to his missed chances in the limited game time he has received. The Argentina Olympic star’s only West Ham goal so far came in the dying embers of our 1-3 win at the Riverside Stadium. However, Calleri has showed a few signs of promise and could still have a successful future at the London Stadium.
Upton Park demolition nearly complete
The demolition of the Boleyn ground is nearing completion, just under a year after we left our famous old ground. We enjoyed so many happy memories at Upton Park, but it is now a bare and gloomy construction site with just one stand, the West stand, remaining. The site will now be turned into state of the art flats, as fans begin to realise that now there definitely isn’t any turning back.
Transfer gossip: Hammers eye defensive trio
It has been reported this week in the Daily Mail that we are interested in a summer move for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. England’s number 1 had been the regular first team keeper in the Blue side of Manchester for a number of years, but when Pep Guardiola showed up last summer Hart was loaned out to Italian side Torino as City purchased former Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo. When the shot-stopper returns to Manchester, City are reportedly looking to sell him for £15 million. So could the world renowned shot stopper be the solution to our problems between the sticks?
It has been rumoured by the Mirror that we are eyeing a possible summer move for Dynamo Kiev centre-back Domagoj Vida. The Croatian international has impressed this season in the Russian League. However, Sunderland and Everton are also in the frame to sign the former Bayer Leverkusen man, so Slaven Bilic could face some competition if he is to sign his fellow statesman.
It has also been reported this week in the Mirror that we are keeping close tabs on Arsenal defender Calum Chambers. The 22-year-old who burst onto the scene with the Gunners in 2014 following a move from the Saints, has impressed on-loan at Middleborough this season, however Arsene Wenger is still keen on selling the youngster in the summer. Arsenal are said to be setting a £10 million price tag on the fullback, but with the Toffees and Newcastle also interested, we may face a bidding war for the former Southampton man. So could the bright youngster be the answer to our right back woes?
OTD-2011
On this day in 2011 we were beaten 1-2 by Aston Villa on our way to Premier League relegation under Avram Grant. Robbie Keane opened the scoring for us on two minutes, before a Darren Bent equaliser and a late Agbonlahor winner broke our hearts on a pivotal afternoon at the Boleyn ground. The loss would prove to be costly as we were relegated with one game to spare, eventually finishing rock bottom of the 2010/11 Premier League table.