The Nation Newspaper

Tag: West Ham

  • West Ham set to appoint Lopetegui to replace Moyes

    West Ham set to appoint Lopetegui to replace Moyes

    West Ham are set to appoint Julen Lopetegui as their new manager later this week.

    The former Spain and Real Madrid coach was identified as the Hammers’ first choice to replace outgoing boss David Moyes and, earlier this month, agreed to take up the role.

    Now the Premier League season is over, Lopetegui’s contract will be signed, allowing him to take over for the start of pre-season, which includes a two-week trip to the United States for matches against Crystal Palace and Wolves.

    Read Also: Moyes to leave West Ham at end of the season

    Ironically, Lopetegui spent the second half of the 2022-23 season with Wolves, guiding the club to safety. However, he left on the eve of the new campaign after issues over transfer funding failed to be resolved.

    Moyes revealed after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City that he has already received job offers but is likely to spend some time with his family after getting only three weeks off last summer.

    The Scot has agreed media commitments with BBC Sport and Talksport at this summer’s European Championships.

    Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 before moving to Wolves two years later.

    BBCsports

  • Moyes to leave West Ham at end of the season

    Moyes to leave West Ham at end of the season

    West Ham manager David Moyes will leave “by mutual consent” when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club has said .

    The announcement of Moyes’s impending exit came just a day after the Hammers suffered an embarrassing 5-0 loss to London rivals Chelsea.

     “West Ham United can confirm David Moyes will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of the 2023⁄24 season, when his contract expires,” said a club statement.

    Monday’s announcement came amid media speculation that former Real Madrid, Wolves and Spain manager Julen Lopetegui had agreed a deal to replace Moyes, in his second spell as West Ham manager, after the end of the current campaign.

    The Chelsea defeat was the second successive away game where West Ham conceded five goals following their loss at Crystal Palace, another London club.

    And it added to the pressure on Moyes that had been mounting all season, with West Ham fans criticising him throughout the campaign for perceived negative tactics.

    West Ham are currently ninth in the table, a huge 18 points adrift of the top four.

    Moyes, however, guided West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season – the club’s first major honour since they won the 1980 FA Cup.

    But they were knocked out of the Europa League last month following a quarter-final loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

     “I have enjoyed four-and-a-half brilliant years at West Ham, and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned back in 2019,” Moyes told the club’s website. “When I joined West Ham for a second time, the club was one place above the relegation zone, and it has been a terrific journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe.”

    The 61-year-old Scot, a former manager of both Everton and Manchester United, added: “After leading the club (West Ham) to safety, we guided the team to finishes of sixth and seventh in the Premier League, and I was delighted when we won the Europa Conference League title last June – the club’s first major trophy in 43 years.

    Read Also: EPL: Lopetegui agrees to become West Ham manager

     “I would like to thank all the players for their support, and all the success they have achieved, over the last four-and-a-half years.”

    West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan paid tribute to Moyes by saying: “On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, I would like to offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to David for the contribution he has made to the football club during his time as manager.

     “David has been responsible for a period of great progress and success in our history, and we are extremely grateful for all of his hard work, commitment and dedication to the role,” added Sullivan, who hailed Moyes as an “absolute professional”.

    Sullivan said making the announcement with two games left to play in the league season “allows David to get the send-off he deserves from the West Ham supporters and for us all to show our appreciation to him at our final home fixture of the season against Luton Town on Saturday”.

    Lopetegui could now be set to succeed Moyes at the London Stadium.

    The Spaniard guided Wolves to Premier League safety last season, but left the Midlands club after nine months on the eve of the new campaign in August.

    The former Porto and Sevilla manager helped lift Wolves from the bottom of the table to a 13th-place finish during his time in charge at Molineux.

  • EPL: Lopetegui agrees to become West Ham manager

    EPL: Lopetegui agrees to become West Ham manager

    Julen Lopetegui has agreed a deal to become West Ham manager at the end of the season.

    Nothing has been signed yet but the 57-year-old is close to making a return to management following his departure from Wolves in August last year.

    Current Hammers boss David Moyes has come under increasing pressure after a poor run of results that has seen his side win one win of their past nine Premier League games and exit the Europa League in the quarter-finals.

    West Ham were thrashed 5-0 by Chelsea on Sunday to leave them ninth in the table.

    Moyes, who is out of contract in the summer, has repeatedly fended off questions about his future at the club, saying talks will not take place until after their final game at Manchester City on 19 May.

    Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui has been linked with numerous jobs since and is thought to be keen on returning to the Premier League after guiding Wolves to safety last term, having joined them when they were bottom of the table.

    Read Also: EPL: Draw at West Ham dents Liverpool title hopes

    He won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020 before moving to Molineux two years later.

    Wolves finished 13th under Lopetegui last season but he had become frustrated by the club’s financial situation before resigning.

    Moyes, meanwhile, presided over three successive European campaigns for the first time in the club’s history and last June ended the Hammers’ 43-year wait for a trophy with a last-minute victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

    But many fans are critical of what they view as Moyes’ negative tactics.

    BBC

  • EPL: West Ham beat struggling Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park

    EPL: West Ham beat struggling Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park

    Tomas Soucek struck a stylish half-volley as West Ham scored twice in injury time to clinch a dramatic win at Everton.

    The Blues had taken the lead when Beto – who had seen a first-half penalty saved – headed in at the back post shortly after half-time.

    Read Also: EPL: Late Axel Disasi goal earns Chelsea 2-2 draw with Brentford

    Kurt Zouma equalised for the Hammers with a header from a corner.

    The game looked set to end in a draw but Soucek scored a stunning goal with his instep in added time before Edson Alvarez struck right at the end.

    BBC Sport

  • EPL: Brentford come from behind to see off West Ham

    EPL: Brentford come from behind to see off West Ham

    Defender Nathan Collins scored his first goal for Brentford to seal a comeback victory over West Ham in a highly entertaining encounter at Gtech Community Stadium.

    Goals flowed on a cold and wet afternoon in west London and Neal Maupay put the hosts in front early on, volleying beyond Alphonse Areola after West Ham failed to clear their lines.

    The Irons, though, hit back with two quickfire goals through Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen to go in at half-time with the advantage.

    Read Also: EPL: Brentford punish wasteful Chelsea

    Brentford came out with intent after the restart and were able to turn the game on its head once again. An own goal from West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos levelled the score, before Collins rose highest to meet Mathias Jensen’s cross for the winner.

    The victory is Brentford’s third in succession and moves them up one place to ninth, while West Ham drop to 11th without a win in their past four Premier League games.

  • Pogba penalties seal victory for Manchester United over West Ham

    Two penalties from Paul Pogba earned Manchester United a 2-1 win over West Ham at Old Trafford as they moved up to fifth, within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea.

    Pogba converted in the first half after Robert Snodgrass was adjudged to have fouled Juan Mata and after Felipe Anderson equalised early in the second, struck again after a foul on Anthony Martial.

    United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rested Victor Lindelof, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay ahead of next week’s Champions League game at Barcelona while Marko Arnautovic did not even make the bench for West Ham.

    Fred had a shot from outside the area blocked after the ball fell to him from a Mata corner, and Declan Rice cut out a Martial pass as United tried to work the ball into the box.

    After 10 minutes, West Ham had the ball in the net when Anderson hooked home amid defensive confusion, only for United to be reprieved by a tight offside call.

    But after 19 minutes Pogba who put United ahead from the spot after Snodgrass challenged Mata just inside the area.

    Lanzini saw a free kick deflected over after Pogba was penalised for a high foot 25 yards out, and Anderson’s flick-on went across goal with no teammate able to get a touch.

    Romelu Lukaku set up a chance for Pogba, whose strike was blocked, and he was again involved when he found Dalot, whose attempt was wayward.

    With the first half entering its final 10 minutes, Mata’s cross was steered over by Martial from a difficult angle and then Chris Smalling’s header from a Mata corner was too high.

    But West Ham needed only four minutes of the second half to level, Lanzini producing an excellent cross for Anderson to steer past De Gea from close range.

    The visitors were growing in confidence, Pablo Zabaleta trying his luck with a shot from outside the area that was held by De Gea.

    Solskjaer made an early change as he looked to refresh his side, Rashford on for Mata, and Rashford almost made an instant impact when his angled strike was stopped by Lukasz Fabianski.

    Lanzini suffered an injury and was unable to continue, Grady Diangana replacing him and then Rashford headed over from close range when he should have scored.

    Marcos Rojo tried his luck from 25 yards, Fabianski saving, and at the other end Rojo blocked a fierce Rice effort.

    Former United player Javier Hernandez made way for Michael Antonio after 72 minutes and Solskjaer made a double change, Mason Greenwood on for Lukaku and Andreas Pereira replacing Rojo.

    Moments after West Ham had introduced Ryan Fredericks for Zabaleta, Antonio smashed a fine strike against the crossbar from the edge of the box with De Gea well beaten, and the United keeper then conjured a stunning save from the same player’s header.

    And the Hammers were left to rue those moments when United were awarded their second penalty, Fredericks fouling Martial and Pogba stepping up to convert again for the game’s decisive moment.

  • West Ham sign striker Perez from Arsenal

    West Ham United has signed striker Lucas Perez from Arsenal on a three-year contract, both English Premier League clubs confirmed on Thursday.

    The 29-year-old is West Ham’s seventh signing of the close season.

    Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but local media said West Ham had paid about 4 million pounds for the Spaniard.

    Perez joined Arsenal in August 2016 from Deportivo la Coruna but started just two Premier League games for the London club, making another nine appearances off the bench.

    He was later loaned back to the Spanish side the following season.

    “I’m very happy to be here at such an historic club,” he said in a statement on West Ham’s website.

    “I’m very excited, as West Ham are giving me the chance to stay in the Premier League and I’m very happy to be part of this new project.”

    West Ham director of football Mario Husillos said Perez’s arrival would increase new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s options upfront.

    This is in view of the fact that Andy Carroll is set to miss West Ham’s season opener at Liverpool on Sunday due to injury.

    Read Also: Ronaldo’s son strikes a very familiar pose

    “His style is different from the other strikers we have available to us, and that gives the manager more options for our attacking play,” Husillos said.

    “Lucas also has experience of the Premier League with Arsenal, and is familiar with life here in London, which of course means that he will take less time to adapt and be ready.”

    The English transfer window closes at 1600 GMT (05:00 p.m. BST) on Thursday.

  • Evra rocks West Ham move with Marvin Gaye hit

    Evra rocks West Ham move with Marvin Gaye hit

     

    West Ham signed former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra last week

    When Patrice Evra received the phone call confirming he was to join West Ham, many wouldn’t have guessed he received the news from a red phone box.

    The French defender has joined the Hammers after becoming a free agent due to his axing by Marseille three months ago.

    And the 36-year-old could barely contain his excitement at returning to the Premier League after a three-and-a-half-year absence, as he danced in the streets of London – Bedford Row to be precise.

    In a video posted on Instagram, Evra reenacted the moment he got the call to confirm his imminent move to the London Stadium, but rather than answering his phone as most deals are done these days, he preferred to use a nearby phone box.

    Letting out a joyful laugh as he speaks, Evra says: ‘I love this game. This is great news, great news.’

    From then on, it was ‘the Patrice Evra show’ as he lets out his happiness to the tune of Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up.

    The defender pranced around the streets of London in his white jeans and pink boot combo – and in all fairness even puts on a display that the man Gaye himself would be proud of.

    Evra’s excitement though, was not reciprocated by the ‘grumpy’ passers-by. One of whom he calls out for ‘ignoring his happiness’.

    He wrote: ‘When I receive @WestHam’s call… That was my feeling knowing I’m also back to the Premier League.

    Why the guys with the mountain bags pretending to ignore my happiness… he must be grumpy. I love this game.’

    As well as being back in the Premier League, Evra will also be pleased to be as far away from the French media as possible after he was axed by Marseille in dramatic fashion.

    The defender aimed a kung-fu kick at an abusive fan, reminiscent of Eric Cantona’s famous boot, during a Europa Leaguegame which earned him an £8,000 fine and a ban from UEFA European competitions.

    The ban, though, luckily for Evra has not stretched to the English top flight, and he could feature against his old club Manchester United next month.

  • Moyes: I can manage any club in the world!

    Moyes: I can manage any club in the world!

     

    David Moyes believes he is capable of managing any club in world football.

    The Scot has overseen two wins and a draw in West Ham’s last three league games to lead the club away from the Premier League’s relegation zone.

    Prior to taking over at London Stadium, Moyes could not prevent Sunderland from being relegated to the Championship last season, while he lasted less than a year at both Real Sociedad and Manchester United, where he succeeded managerial great Alex Ferguson.

    Despite three failures in a row, Moyes backed himself to be a success at West Ham, who face Arsenal in an EFL Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.

    “I have to come here and show I can do it,” Moyes said. “If you’re any player, you have to come and show what you can do.

    “Your reputation doesn’t stand for anything. You have to come and try to get up and show you’re capable of doing the job.

    “I think I’m capable of doing the job at any club in the world, so I’m sure I can do it at West Ham.”

    Manuel Lanzini will be banned for the EFL Cup tie – unless West Ham successfully appeal – after he was given a two-match suspension for diving in Saturday’s Premier League win at Stoke City.

    But Moyes defended the Argentine forward against accusations he deceived referee Graham Scott by going to ground under a challenge from Erik Pieters.

    “I am a bit surprised because the incident, the referee was 10 yards from the ball, nothing blocking him, it was clear to see the defender goes for the ball and doesn’t get it,” Moyes told reporters.

    “From my point of view, they have gone against the referee if that is the case. I think whoever the panel were, the [television programme] Goals On Sunday panel said it was a definite pen and nothing to talk about. It was a really tough call, very hard call to make, but on the day the ref gave the penalty.

    “I find it strange that there are three people on Sunday that all say it was a penalty yet today we find there are three people who say it is not. I think to be as clear as that, it is very difficult.

    “After his performance on Saturday, the only thing I said to him was how well he played. He made the first goal, created the other two, it was a brilliant performance, so there was nothing that we had to say to him after the game.

    “Let me be clear, I am the first one who will say ‘let’s get rid of diving and let’s make sure it’s not in the game’ – so that’s why I am annoyed at this one because I don’t think anyone can be definitely sure that it was.”

     

     

  • Journey man Moyes steps in as West Ham boss

    Journey man Moyes steps in as West Ham boss

     

    West Ham have appointed David Moyes as their new manager after sacking Slaven Bilic on Monday.

    Bilic had been under pressure for a while following an underwhelming start to the season, having received significant backing in the transfer market.

    The Croatian’s final game in charge was Saturday’s 4-1 hammering by Liverpool, a result that leaves the club in the relegation zone.

    Moyes – thought to be on a contract until the end of the season – is the man who has been tasked with getting West Ham out of their predicament, though his appointment has been met by a mixed response.

    The Scot publicly confirmed his interest in the job during a television appearance at the weekend, prompting some West Ham fans to air their disappointment at the prospect of him taking over.

    West Ham United can confirm the appointment of David Moyes as the Club’s manager. pic.twitter.com/AIOWnHWn27

    He said: “I’m really looking forward to the meeting the supporters, being in the stadium with them.

    “I’m looking forward to seeing them getting right behind the team and my team also. We need the support, we need everybody with us.

    “It’s a big job we have in hand now but I’m sure with everybody together, we can get the right results between now and the end of the season.”

    This is Moyes’ first job in football since resigning from his post at Sunderland in May, having overseen the Black Cats’ relegation to the Championship.

    Moyes also had unsuccessful spells in charge of Manchester United and Real Sociedad following an 11-year stint with Everton.

    He will now have the best part of two weeks to prepare West Ham for his first match in charge, with a trip to Watford up next after the international break – Moyes’ 500th Premier League fixture.

    West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan explained: “We need somebody with experience, knowledge of the Premier League and the players in it, and we believe David is the right man to turn things around and get the best out of the players at the club.

    “He is highly regarded and respected within the game, and will bring fresh ideas, organisation and enthusiasm.

    “He proved with Everton that he has great qualities and we feel that West Ham United is a club that will give David the platform to display those qualities again.”