Co chairman David Sullivan urges lack lustre Hammers to improve
West Ham co owner David Sullivan has urged Slaven Bilic’s men to improve ahead of Saturdays Premier League clash with the Foxes. The West Ham born and bred joint chairman said “I am sure that Slaven and his backroom staff and the team were not happy with what happened (against Bournemouth) and will think about it a lot over the next few days”. Sullivan was speaking in his WHUFC.com weekly column. Slaven Bilic has received his fair share of criticism over recent weeks but it’s clear to see that he has the support of the board. Ever since Sullivan and his co chairman David Gold took over in January 2010 the club has gone a full circle from being relegated, to promotion, up into European football and now back to mid table but there is certainly no denying the fantastic job in stabilizing the club on off the pitch that the 2 Cockney businessmen have done. Traditionally Gold and Sullivan have always stuck with their managers whether it be Avram Grant whilst we were spiralling into the relegation trap, or Sam Allardyce as he came under fire from the fans for his style of football and of course Slaven Bilic earlier in the season and nothing should change in that regard.
Andy Carroll: “we were shocking”
West Ham striker Andy Carroll has criticised our level of performance in our defeat to the Cherries on Saturday afternoon. The English striker was talking to WHUFC TV post match three days ago and said “it was a terrible performance from us, it was shocking, and each player agreed in the dressing room after that we just weren’t at it”. It was clear to see that Carroll was not holding back in his critique of the way we played on Saturday. We managed to gift Bournemouth a number of chances and miss a catalogue of opportunities ourselves which angered fans and as we can gather the players also. Carroll has six goals in another injury plagued season in Claret and Blue and could not notch himself on Saturday, and could only watch top scorer Michail Antonio make it ten goals for the season with an exquisite left footed finish.
Lanzini takes goal of the month prize
Our Argentine play maker Manuel Lanzini has added to his recent superb form by winning the West Ham February goal of the month accolade for his strike against West Brom. It was the 87th minute when Lanzini picked up the ball outside the area and struck a sweet left footed shot that buried into Ben Foster’s left hand corner to put us into the lead, only for Gareth McAuley to head level very late on for the Baggies in that game. It isn’t the first time the Argentine has picked up the award, winning it last season for his wonder strike at Stamford Bridge.
Chris Jericho critiques Randolph
WWE superstar Chris Jericho has given our goalkeeper Darren Randolph a few tips after Randolph tried Jericho’s signature move the “walls of Jericho” on Michail Antonio last week in training. The American Wrestling star said “you got to clinch that in better mate”. In response to Randolph’s effort. It’s not the first time the worlds of West ham and WWE have combined, last year Wrestling star triple H came out as a Hammers fan.
Transfer gossip: Hammers hope to pounce for Defoe and Bilic looks to replace Carroll in the summer
It has been rumoured this week in Essex Live that we will yet again look to sign Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe in the summer transfer window. The English striker scored 29 goals in 93 appearances for us between 1999 and 2004 and in the recent January transfer window we came close to re-signing him. Defoe has continued his career revival at the helm of the Black Cats attack this season scoring 14 goals in 30 games this term , and it is rumoured we will be willing to pay £5-14m to secure his services for the second time at the end of the season. It has also has been reported in the Mirror this week that Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could yet move to us in the Summer after heavy speculation has linked him with us in the last few transfer windows . The Englishman is this time reportedly being set up by Bilic as a replacement for striker Andy Carroll who could be on his way out after receiving tempting offers from the Chinese Super League recently. The former most expensive English player in history has been attracting interest especially after recently scoring the “goal of the season” against Crystal Palace, but one thing is for certain if Carroll does depart he will need to be replaced by Bilic properly.