Up The Hammers – Latest West Ham United FC News

Louis van Gaal struggles for fluidity, Muhamed Besic gives Everton hope, Alan Pardew praises fans and Leicester’s patience with Nigel Pearson is rewarded “The struggle for fluidity” may sound like a PhD thesis but is actually the quality that continues to elude Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United, as was again illustrated in the disjointed fashion they went down 1-0 to Southampton on Sunday. For this 21st outing of each team’s Premier …

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• Bafétimi earmarked for striking role when Wilfried Bony leaves • West Ham send warning to Everton before FA Cup replay West Ham United will field their strongest available team in Tuesday’s FA Cup replay which condemns out-of-sorts Everton to ordeal by the human wrecking ball that is Andy Carroll. Sam Allardyce and his increasingly happy Hammers believe they can win the Cup and are confident of progress at home where …

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Andy Carroll has scored only four goals this season – three of them against Swansea. The former England centre forward struck twice in the corresponding fixture at Upton Park five weeks ago and plundered the Welsh club’s defence again for what looked like a high-class matchwinner until Mark Noble’s late equaliser into his own net. It was a tale of two of the most powerfully destructive strikers in the Premier League. Carroll is back to something…

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Swansea begin life without top-scorer Wilfried Bony, as Africa Cup of Nations duty and a £30m move to Manchester City beckon. The Ivorian leaves a gaping hole in the Welsh side that most teams would find difficult to fill. All eyes turn to Bafétimbi Gomis and whether he can fill Bony’s considerable boots. West Ham are aiming to return to winning ways after a three game winless run. Yemi Abiade Kick-

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‘I am supposed to be happy, but I am uncomfortable now West Ham are playing good football and challenging for Europe, supporters are in their element when they are moaning’ • Romelu Lukaku saves Everton against West Ham A strange thing happened this week. Usually when I say I support West Ham United, people smile sympathetically, pat me on the back and tell me with forced cheeriness to keep my chin up. Then they look away, unable to meet …

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• Sam Allardyce blamed injury on medical ‘mishap’ • Alex Song retires from international duty • David Sullivan’s son sorry for Twitter rant at West Ham players The West Ham striker Diafra Sakho will not play in the Africa Cup of Nations because of the back problem Sam Allardyce believes was aggravated by mistreatment by Senegal’s team doctors in November. Sakho did not travel with the Senegal squad to Morocco on Wednesday, where they will finalise…

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Striker Romelu Lukaku is praised by Everton manager Roberto Martínez after scoring a last-minute goal to draw 1-1 against West Ham in the third round of the FA Cup on Tuesday. West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is unhappy with the outcome, saying that he would prefer not to have a replay, which takes place on Tuesday Continue reading…

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• Son of West Ham co-owner criticised players online • David Sullivan Jr blames a ‘moment of madness’ • 17-year-old says: ‘I’m old enough to know better’ • Match report: Everton 1-1 West Ham The son of West Ham’s co-owner David Sullivan has issued an apology for a “moment of madness” after criticising players Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll on social media. David Sullivan Jr posted several messages on…

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• Retirement from international football takes immediate effect • Song’s decision greeted with relief at West Ham • Alex Song left out of Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations squad West Ham’s Alex Song has announced his immediate retirement from international football. The 27-year-old Cameroon midfielder has 47 caps but has not played for his country since being sent off against Croatia in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup, and was left out of the national…

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Roberto Martínez gambled the house, or Everton’s transfer kitty at least, on Romelu Lukaku in the summer and the £28m striker repaid his under-pressure manager with a precious 90th minute equaliser to deny West Ham United victory at Goodison Park. Everton were on the brink of an eighth defeat in ten matches when their record signing struck to give Martínez much-needed relief. His Everton side had fought and created, and gave lie to…

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FA Cup third-round updates from the 7.45pm GMT kick-off at Goodison Park Live scoreboard! Follow all of the night’s games as they happen And email gregg.bakowski@theguardian.com or tweet @GreggBakowski 7.45pm GMT Everton’s lineup, with four at the back, seems much more solid to me. Expect both to play lone forwards, with Lukaku leading the line for Everton and Valencia doing that job for West Ham. 7.42pm GMT Goodison Park looks about 75% full as the teams emerge to…

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• West Ham forward could make debut against Burnley • Zárate: I am happy – I need this to show what I can do The West Ham forward Mauro Zárate has completed his loan move to Queens Park Rangers for the rest of the season. The 27-year-old Argentinian will go straight into contention for the league trip to Burnley on Saturday. Continue reading…

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Sam Allardyce, the manager of West Ham United, looks ahead to his team’s match against Everton on Tuesday in the third round of the FA Cup. Allardyce says this round of the tournament is his priority, comparing it with his situation last year. The manager also comments on defender Winston Reid’s position with the club as the New Zealand defender’s contract comes up for renewal Continue reading…

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• ’It’s highly unlikely that Winston is going to sign for us,’ says Allardyce • Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with central defender • ‘Mauro Zárate not good enough for West Ham’ Sam Allardyce has given the strongest indication yet that Winston Reid is set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. The defender, who has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs – including Arsenal and Liverpool …

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Marvel at the Tony Pulis effect. Although the presence of the Premier League’s leading troubleshooter in the stands at Upton Park was not quite enough to lift his new side to an unlikely victory over West Ham United, this was an encouraging first step in the right direction for West Bromwich Albion, who can take great heart from a performance that suggested they are more than capable of staying up. West Brom will be disappointed that they were unable to summon …

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• Pulis to meet West Brom players before West Ham match • First game in charge will be FA Cup tie on Saturday • Survival instincts made Pulis the obvious choice Tony Pulis is to be appointed as the West Bromwich Albion head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract and will meet the players he hopes to lead to Premier League safety before Thursday’s game at West Ham. He will be announced as …

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West Bromwich Albion will travel to Upton Park without a manager after Alan Irvine was put out of his misery on Monday night, although Sam Allardyce has warned his West Ham United side not to use that as an excuse to become complacent. It is a big game for West Ham. Successive defeats against Arsenal and Chelsea saw them drop out of the top four and they will be desperate to get back on…

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West Bromwich Albion’s assistant head coach, Rob Kelly, discusses the departure of Alan Irvine as the team prepares for trip to West Ham on Thursday. Kelly says the team is disappointed that Irvine has gone and discusses the Baggies’ prospects against Sam Allardyce’s West Ham Continue reading…

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Only Yaya Touré comes close to the Spaniard on passes made but Burnley have the sprint specialist and maybe Manchester United’s defence is not so bad • Click here to see the data for the midway point of the season • Interactive chart after 19 games Are you sitting down? Good, then you are in the perfection position to digest the shocking news that with the first half of the season behind us Cesc Fàbregas has …

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• QPR want Argentinian striker on loan until end of the season • Allardyce: he hasn’t played well enough to feature as much as he’d like • Zárate: I now have chance to play for coach who has faith in me Sam Allardyce has defended himself against claims he overlooked Mauro Zárate for personal reasons and explained his decision to allow the striker to join Queens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the season…

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• Argentinian striker frustrated at lack of first-team action • ‘I now have the chance to play for a coach who has faith in me’ • West Ham announce record profits of more than £10m Sam Allardyce has confirmed that Mauro Zárate is set to move to Queens Park Rangers on loan from West Ham United until the end of season. Zárate, who was having a medical at QPR on Tuesday, …

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• David Sullivan says he is ‘satisfied with achievements’ • Match report: West Ham 1-2 Arsenal West Ham have recorded pre-tax profits of over £10m and the joint-chairman David Sullivan has said he is “satisfied with the achievements” the club have made. West Ham are sixth in the Premier League heading into the new year, only two points off a Champions League qualifying position. Continue reading…

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Arsène Wenger and Sam Allardyce give their reactions after Arsenal beat West Ham United 2-1 at at Upton Park on Sunday. Arsène Wenger says Arsenal deserved to win. West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, says the loss is a blow. He says West Ham midfielder Alex Song’s disallowed goal should not have been ruled out Continue reading…

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We round up our favourite pictures from the latest round of matches in the English top flight Continue reading…

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This was a result to suggest normal service is being resumed in the clutter below the title race. Arsenal may be patched up and makeshift, a team depleted by injuries to key personnel, but they are inching inexorably back towards familiar territory. West Ham had been a refreshing and worthy presence in the top five up to now but they have been usurped. Only goal difference is keeping Arsène Wenger’s team out of the Champions League places. That can be addressed on…

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Latest updates from the 3pm kick-offs Email niall.mcveigh.casual@theguardian.com . Tweet @niallmcveigh Follow Southampton v Chelsea here Get all the latest live scores here 1.06pm GMT Niall will be here shortly with all the team news and build up before the 3pm matches in the Premier League. In the meantime, here’s the latest injury news. Continue reading…

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