[Brentford All You Need To Know]
West Ham United v Brentford – All You Need To Know
West Ham United v Brentford
Premier League, London Stadium, Friday 30 December 2022, 7.45pm GMT
West Ham United take to the pitch for the final time of 2022 on Friday night when they welcome Brentford for a London Stadium derby duel. A year which brought a UEFA Europa League semi-final, unforgettable victories over Sevilla and Lyon, a second successive European qualification through league position and countless memories comes to a conclusion against the Bees – with David Moyes’ men eyeing a victory which could lift them into mid-table. The Hammers returned from the FIFA World Cup break with a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on Boxing Day, in a game which the two halves provided contrasting outcomes. Former Bee Saïd Benrahma’s first-half penalty had given the visitors the lead against the table-toppers, only for Mikel Arteta’s men to come roaring back after the interval with goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nektiah. The result left West Ham 16th in the table with 14 points from 16 games – six points and six places below Friday’s opponents. Thomas Frank’s side arrive in east London with a record of four wins, four defeats and eight draws, with their first game back ending all-square at 2-2 against Tottenham Hotspur, also on Boxing Day.
Tickets…
Tickets for this sold out game are available on the Ticket Exchange, with Season Ticket Holders who cannot attend this fixture relisting their seats for other supporters to buy. Click here to check availability or relist.
Travel…
On the London Underground network, the Central and Jubilee lines are set to serve Stratford as normal on Friday.
However, supporters who use the Elizabeth line should note that there is no service between Whitechapel and Shenfield. Replacement buses will operate.
On National Rail, there are no services between Ingatestone and London Liverpool Street due to engineering works. Replacement buses will run from Ingatestone to Newbury Park to connect with the Central line.
Southeastern services from Kent to Stratford International are planned to run as usual.
Click here for the latest from Transport for London and here for National Rail.
[Brentford all you need to know fact 1]
How to Follow…
Friday’s game will not broadcast live on television in the UK, but will be shown across the world by the Premier League’s international broadcast partners.
You can listen to commentary in the UK on talkSPORT, BBC Radio London 94.9FM and on whufc.com and our official app.
If you live outside the UK, for details of listings in your territory, click here for full Premier League broadcast listings.
You can also follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app and across our social media channels. We will also have highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle.
Team News…
The Hammers were without Gianluca Scamacca and Nayef Aguerd for the Boxing Day trip to Arsenal and David Moyes will continue to monitor their fitness ahead of the visit of the Bees.
Kurt Zouma (knee) and Maxwel Cornet (calf) have also been absent in recent weeks.
For Brentford, midfielders Frank Onyeka (thigh) and Shandon Baptiste (groin), defenders Kristoffer Ajer (knee) and Aaron Hickey (ankle), and goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha (ankle) all sat out the draw with Tottenham due to injury.
The Opposition…
Brentford have made light work of the jump to the Premier League over the past year and a half, but the Bees’ impressive top-flight return after a 64-year absence was just the continuation of an impressive rise that began just ten years ago.
When you take a step back and realise promotion from EFL League One came just under a decade ago, their rise through the English football pyramid has been nothing short of remarkable. The club followed promotion under Mark Warburton in 2013 with seven Championship campaigns, where the Bees never finished lower than eleventh.
And, having narrowly missed out in the previous season via a Play-off final defeat by Fulham in 2020, Brentford were promoted to the top flight a year later. A Wembley win over Swansea City fired them to the Premier League for the first time and they have hardly looked back since.
Last season, a 13th-placed finish – with 13 wins – saw Brentford impress many in their debut Premier League campaign. And halfway through the 2022/23 season, it has been more of the same, as the Bees sat tenth ahead of the mid-season break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They had also beaten both Manchester sides by an aggregate score of 6-1 before the turn of the year.
[Brentford all you need to know fact 2]
Still, the Bees’ success on the field tells half the story of the revolutionary work that has taken place in west London over the past decade. While in the Championship, Brentford became one of the first sides to use data as their main tool for player recruitment and scouting. What followed, though, was even more radical– the club closing its Academy and setting up a B Team.
Instead of an Academy, Brentford has invested in a vast scouting network. Rather than look at wins and losses the club has embraced Key Performance Metrics (KPMs) to determine player and club performance. By using this method, Brentford have been able to scout players who were undervalued in terms of their price point when purchased. In effect, spotting talent before anyone else did.
They then took a gamble, and if the player performed, the Bees raked in the profits as their value rocketed. If they didn’t, the loss was minimal.
The results have followed too. Brentford made an estimated £100m from the sales of stars Saïd Benrahma, Ollie Watkins and Neil Maupay. Ivan Toney, then 2020 EFL League One Player of the Year, was brought for around £10m. You would have to say he is worth a fair bit more than that in today’s market.
Of course, there is a real importance to such financial success off the field. Profits from players are key for clubs such as Brentford to retain a competitive squad that can hold its own in the top-flight. And since their arrival in the Premier League, the Bees, under Thomas Frank, have shown they can compete too.
But West Ham United know this well. Last season, the Bees won the first two Premier League meetings between the sides – 2-1 in east London and 2-0 at their new Community Stadium. It is a run David Moyes and company will seek to end at London Stadium on Friday.
Talking Tactics…
When looking at how to deal with Brentford there is no doubt that opposition clubs focus on how to stop Ivan Toney.
If there was any doubting the Bees’ forward’s quality, then a trip to the Etihad Stadium in the final match before the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals confirmed what most already knew.
In a 2-1 win at Manchester City, Toney was at his clinical best, striking a brace in a deserved win over the champions. It was brave showing from the striker, although that word could largely be applied to Brentford’s approach since promotion to the top-tier in 2021.
Under Thomas Frank, Brentford have been aggressive. They press with relentless intensity, while their fluidity with a back-three (3-5-2) – or now more commonly a back-four (4-3-3) – allows players the cover and confidence to commit to such a forward-thinking press. At points, they will hound their opponent, win the ball high up the pitch, and then score from successful transitions.
In particular, this gameplan was masterfully executed against Manchester United, where Brentford’s press caught the Red Devils cold, and resulted in a 4-0 win – a result that was arguably their finest in the Premier League, until they made the trip to the Etihad Stadium in November.
That transitional quality aside, the quality on the ball from goalkeeper David Raya means Brentford are able to build from the back comfortably. They can also catch sides out with a quicker more direct pass from the man between the sticks. Such different lines of attack – whether in possession or in transition – mean it is difficult to stop Brentford in one-way. While many thought it might be a case of second-season syndrome for the west Londoners, victories over Manchester United and Manchester City show the Bees remain in fine health.
[Brentford all you need to know fact 3]
Previous Meetings…
Friday’s game will be just the third Premier League fixture between the two clubs, with Brentford having won home and away against the Hammers in their debut Premier League campaign last term.
Prior to that, the most-recent meetings came back in the 1992/93 season, when both clubs were in the old First Division (now the Championship).
West Ham were promoted that season, having drawn 0-0 at Brentford’s old Griffin Park stadium before thrashing the Bees 4-0 at the Boleyn Ground, where Martin Allen, Peter Butler, Trevor Morley and Kevin Keen got the goals for Billy Bonds’ Hammers.
Our first-ever meeting came all the way back on 11 September 1897, when Thames Ironworks FC, as we were then known, won a London League fixture 1-0 at the Memorial Grounds, with Scotsman Jimmy Reid getting the only goal of the game in front of 1,000 spectators.
Match Officials…
Referee: Darren England
Assistant Referees: James Mainwaring and Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: David Coote
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Simon Long
Friday’s referee is 37-year-old Yorkshireman Darren England.
Born in Doncaster, England worked in Barnsley FC’s community department as a football development officer before becoming a referee in 2012.
He was promoted to the National List of EFL referees in 2015, having previously assisted, before being added to the Select Group 2 of Championship and Premier League match officials in 2017.
England also took charge of the EFL League Two Play-Off final between Blackpool and Exeter City in May 2017.
He was promoted again to Select Group 1 for the Premier League at the start of the 2020/21 season, and this will be his fourth West Ham game as the man in the middle.
His last Hammers appointment came nearly a year to the day, as David Moyes’ men kicked off 2022 with a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace.
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Team News: Moyes offers Scamacca and Aguerd update
David Moyes has indicated Gianluca Scamacca and Nayef Aguerd are nearing a return to action for West Ham United. Both Scamacca and Aguerd were absent from the Hammers’ matchday squad away to Arsenal on Boxing Day, with the Italy striker missing out due to ankle injury and the Morocco defender suffering with a virus. With the Irons set for a final Premier League match of 2022 at London Stadium against Brentford on Friday, the manager has offered an update on the two respective summer signings, confirming both Scamacca and Aguerd have been back training.
“Gianluca has done a little bit of training, so we’ll see how he is and monitor him,” Moyes told his pre-match press conference. “He is probably lacking a little bit of match fitness, which would be my biggest worry, but he has done a bit of training so hopefully he will be okay. “Nayef is still coming back from illness, which we are trying to get him over. He’s had a few days training, which is helping him, but he has lost a bit of weight from the World Cup so we’re trying to build him back up. “If I can get Nayef involved I will, but I’ll make a decision tomorrow. But, if you’re asking me if he’s ready, I don’t believe he’s quite ready yet.”
Injury issues, particularly among the team’s centre-backs, have plagued the Hammers since the very start of the season and Moyes admitted the side is feeling the effects of consistent setbacks for different players. Moyes continued: “I think Aguerd getting injured in pre-season was a huge miss for us. I think we played the first four games of the season with only one centre-back. We also had a problem with Craig Dawson. He was very important for us last season, but he was out at the start of the season with a thigh strain. So that impacted on us a bit. “The new players who came in, we’d have liked them a bit earlier, but we’re happy we got them in. Overall, the injuries we had at the start of the season have played their part.”
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Moyes: Three years in charge, building the Club, Brentford and January business
David Moyes is targeting a successful end to 2022 when West Ham United host Brentford in the Premier League on Friday evening.
The Hammers reach the climax of a memorable calendar year in which the team qualified for European football through their league position for the second consecutive season and reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals seeking to rediscover that level of form and consistency. Moyes, who was appointed as West Ham manager for a second time exactly three years ago and has since overseen back-to-back top-seven finishes and a 45.5% win ratio in his 166 matches in charge, knows performance levels and results must improve.
I think the idea when we came in was to try and build the Club up again, and then get us back in a good position.
We certainly did that very quickly, maybe quicker than then we all expected. But once you get there, then you want to hang on to it as long as you can. So, we took over in not a particular good position when we came into the job, but I’ve got to say that the last two or three years, it’s been very good. Actually, it’s not easy to be in a job for three years in the Premier League as it doesn’t sometimes give you that chance, so I’m really pleased I’ve had time to work with the players and I think we’ve shown what we can do.
I think that we’ve introduced quite a few new players and we’ve tried to bed them in from a team which was relatively steady over a few years, so I still see that has been probably the major thing.
And also, you can’t keep the same team all the time that long. You have to look to move on and we attempted to do that in the summer as well, so we are giving those players a chance to show exactly what they can do.
It doesn’t matter who you’ve got because they’re all crucial, as every game in the Premier League really matters because most people are either fighting for Europe, fighting at the bottom of the league, or fighting to try and get higher up in the league position.
So, I think all the games are really important, whether you’re playing teams who are not quite as high up in the league or whether you’re playing against the top teams. I think the competitive nature of the Premier League means that there are no easy games so from that point of view, every game you get in the Premier League is really tough. We’ve recently been much more used to being at the top half of the league, so we don’t enjoy the position we’re in and we recognise that we have to win a few games and get out of it.
I’ve got great support from David Sullivan so, at the moment, I’d say your sources [who claim I am close to departing] are not correct.
But I’m not daft. I know you’re always under pressure as a football manager. There may be one or two [for whom that is not the case], but most of the managers in some way, if you lose a few games, then you’re always going to be under a bit of pressure. You can say that [I deserve time to improve things], but I wouldn’t. It’s not for me to say that. I think it’s for other people to say that, if that’s the case. You’ve got to come in and try and raise expectations wherever you go. I think we’ve done that. We’ve had some really, really good, good seasons in the last two years, and probably done a lot better so we’re just disappointed we’ve not done as well at the moment. But we plan to do a lot better and we’re working towards that.
We’ll go about the game [against Brentford] in the way we have done for a long period.
We’ll do everything we can to when, we’ll try and attack them the best we can, we’ll try and defend well when we’re put under pressure, so we’ll try and do all the things which are required to get a result.
I think Thomas Frank has done a really good job and I think Brentford, have done a really good job because I think they knocked in the door for about three years in a row in the Play-Offs but didn’t quite make it.
They’ve got themselves in the Premier League and they’re doing a really good job with the development. The model they’ve got is different from many clubs, but it’s a good one. I think they’re doing an awful lot of good things at Bradford, so they need a lot of credit for that.
We’ve said recently that we probably don’t think we’ll be doing an awful lot of business in January, but that could change.
But, at the moment, I don’t see us doing an awful lot of business. I think if players left, we’d look to replace them if that was the case, but at the minute I’ve not got any indication of that, so we’ll see how it goes. There will be no chance Declan Rice leaves in this window.
I’ve certainly not set a New Year’s resolution yet, but I think there was a lot of 2022 that was really good for us.
We’ve probably not started the start of this 2022/23 season in the form as good as we’ve have liked, but generally 2022 was very good for us. And you know, we were competing in and we were in big competitions right up until the latter stages so, from that point of view, we’d have to be pleased with it.
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West Ham United’s in-form winger Saïd Benrahma on scoring, creating and sharing goals
West Ham United supporters love a maverick. From Alan Devonshire, Ian Bishop and Paolo Di Canio to Alessandro Diamanti, Dimitri Payet and Marko Arnautović, the Claret and Blue Army have always enjoyed players who do the unpredictable, get them out of their seats, excite and entertain. The latest Hammer to fit that profile is Saïd Benrahma, an Algerian winger with magic in his boots. Two-footed, with a low centre of gravity, the ability to score or create a goal at almost any time, Benrahma is the sort of player the London Stadium faithful willingly pay their money to watch perform. And in the first half of this season, perform is what Benrahma has done more often than most, providing moments of real brightness amid the relative gloom of a disappointing Premier League campaign to date, and moments of inspiration during the Irons’ perfect run in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Having returned to in the summer fit and strong – he led the way in interval training at the pre-season training camp in France – the 27-year-old scored in victories over AFC Bournemouth, Viborg FF and RSC Anderlecht, and provided an important assist for Declan Rice to grab a draw at Southampton. Consistency and confidence have come hand in hand for the winger, who has seen his performances improve in correlation with his game-time, much to the delight of his adoring fans. Going into the mid-season break for the FIFA World Cup finals, the No22 was West Ham’s outstanding player, providing a constant threat down the left flank, from where he has set off on a team-high 59 dribbles, despite only starting eight of the team’s 16 Premier League matches.
While both the player himself and his manager David Moyes would like for his end product to be even more decisive, recent signs point to Benrahma taking his game to a higher level, with goals in the mid-season matches against Cambridge United and Udinese putting him in a positive frame of mind ahead of the resumption of the Premier League campaign, which he marked with another goal at Arsenal on Boxing Day.
Following that game, West Ham welcome Benrahma’s former club Brentford to London Stadium on Friday evening. The former Bee buzzed under the guidance of Brentford head coach Thomas Frank and playing alongside the likes of Bryan Mbuemo and Ivan Toney, providing 57 direct goal involvements in 94 appearances across two-plus seasons. This evening, though, his focus will be on upsetting his former colleagues and helping his current team earn a win that will end a rollercoaster year on a high and raise his own rising confidence still further…
I’m really excited. It’s the Premier League. It’s been a month since we last played, so I can’t wait to get back.
It’s a big game coming up against Brentford, so I’m super excited. I’m trying to give the best version of myself, working on getting my level back… to recover my confidence and to play a bit more freely. I’m feeling good and I hope to continue this momentum and bring more wins for the team and help the team get back to the top.
When I came back in the summer, I was determined.
I know what I am capable of. As you said, I was in good physical shape. I think that played a role. I worked well this summer… But I think that this year, my good form is not so much a physical thing, but it’s more because I’ve regained my self-confidence and I’m trying to be as free as possible on the field. I think that’s what’s helped me.
My good form is all about confidence, and I feel good.
I also have the impression that the players trust me, a bit more than before. So now I try to play my own style of football as it comes, without worrying about it. I’m regaining my confidence and I hope that will continue because I know I can do a lot of things. I’m trying to work as much as possible in training on my own game to regain this confidence and this style of football that makes me who I am. I’m 100 per cent sure that if I have the necessary confidence – it’s true that football is not only about confidence – but I know that if I have total freedom, I can do a lot of things and go very far. So, I try to work on that. Of course, it’s easy to say these things, but doing them is harder. I think that with self-confidence, love and affection, I think I can do many, many things.
I recently passed 100 matches for West Ham and those 100 matches went by quickly. I’m very happy with the fans, with the Club.
Frankly, I’m happy here, because they give me a lot of love, especially the supporters. And that’s what makes me feel good, because I can see it, when the supporters believe in me. They love me a lot and that motivates me. When I arrive at the stadium, they shout my name, these little things help my confide. I see the supporters backing me, they believe in me. So, I try to give it back on the field and to improve more and more.
I know that the supporters enjoy to see a little of my personal life on Instagram, so I try to share it, when it’s the right time.
It’s actually my best friend who manages my image on Instagram. I like it a lot, but it’s more my best mate who manages it. I like to share my life with the people who love me, but without going over the top, because not what it’s all about. What I try to show them is my ‘style’ and my football. I get a lot of messages so I try to share stuff with the people who follow me as much as I can. Sometimes, I don’t feel like posting, I try to be more focused. But then, it’s more my best mate who’s in charge, who’s telling me ‘Here, we need some content’, like when I was on holiday last summer. So, I try to do that as much as I can… It’s something I’m passionate about. I like it.
Like every football fan, I watched the World Cup finals.
I believe it has been the best World Cup ever. Yes, it’s true I would’ve loved to have played it. I would’ve loved to have played it with Algeria, but that’s destiny I guess… Either way, there were some brilliant matches. I was very impressed. I would’ve loved any African team to have gone all the way. I’m very happy, whether it be Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Ghana… In the Maghreb and in Africa, we’re very happy with Morocco; they’ve had an incredible run, they’ve taken out all the big teams. They reached the semi-finals, which is incredible. I’m happy for them because they did an incredible job; they did everything. I’m pleasantly surprised by their spirit and their style of play. I have friends with Morocco, including Nayef Aguerd, of course, so I’m also very happy for them.
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Financial results for 2021/22 announced
WH Holding Ltd has today announced its financial results for the year ending 31 May 2022.
Across the 2021/22 season, the Club reports a net profit before tax of £12.3million, a notable improvement of £39.2m from the loss of £26.9m in 2020/21.
This profit was driven by a successful 2021/22 campaign on the pitch, as David Moyes’s team finished seventh in the Premier League, securing back-to-back European qualification for the first time in the Club’s 127-year history, and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.
In addition, the acquisition of a new investor – 1890s a.s holdings, led by Daniel Křetínský, who the Club were pleased to welcome as Joint-Chairman in November 2021, alongside David Sullivan and David Gold – added further strength and expertise to the Club’s capital structure and enabled funds generated through the continued growth in income across all core revenue streams to be directed into key areas of focus, building on the positive progress made at West Ham United in recent years.
Turnover was £252.7m, up £60.0m on last year, driven by improved matchday, commercial and retail income thanks to the return of our incredible supporters following the COVID-19 pandemic year, a year that demonstrated football simply is nothing without fans, as well as the Club’s memorable run to the Europa League semi-final. The Club’s net debt, including cash, fell by £130.0m, leaving it in a robust and healthy position with net assets of £40.9m, including cash of £96.5m at year end.
The Club’s shareholders take no dividend or salary and therefore the injection of £125.0m of new equity into the Club, utilised to pay down debt, has enabled a higher profit which will continue be re-invested into the Club. That new investment has since supported the substantial changes to the playing squad in the 2022 summer transfer window, which included the Club record signing of Brazil international star Lucas Paquetá and several more established international players joining the Hammers ahead of a second successive season in European competition.
Joint-Chairman and largest shareholder David Sullivan said: “It remains a privilege and honour to be custodians of this great football club.
“The 2021/22 season is widely regarded as one of the most successful in West Ham United’s 127-year history, as we secured a second consecutive top-seven finish in the highest division of English football for the first time ever and reached the semi-finals of a major European competition.
“The fact that we were able to enjoy the experience with our loyal supporters back at London Stadium and following the team across land and sea, after the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a source of great pride and satisfaction.
“It is testament to the hard work of our players, management and staff, and the loyalty and dedication of our supporters, that we have been able to make such positive progress in recent seasons. That progress was important in helping us to attract major new investment last year, and I am proud that the football club is now in a healthy position – particularly considering the global difficulties caused by the pandemic.
“The financial performance in 2021/22 also enabled significant investment across all of our squads but, particularly, the men’s first team playing squad, as part of our long-term strategy to ensure that West Ham United continue to be one of the leading clubs in the Premier League, on and off the pitch.”
Click here to view the full financial results for year ending 31 May 2022.
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Huge London Stadium crowds receive Moyes support
West Ham United manager David Moyes has praised the Claret and Blue Army for the incredible support given to the team in 2022. The Hammers have been roared on by the fifth-highest average attendance in world football this season, with 62,449 fans heading to London Stadium for each of the Club’s eight home Premier League matches – and another capacity crowd expected for Friday’s year-ending derby with Brentford. West Ham’s average home attendance this season has been larger than Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United, as well as the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Marseille, Celtic, Rangers, Benfica and Ajax. Only Manchester United, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have registered higher numbers in 2022/23. In total, 499,590 fans have attended the Irons’ eight home games. Only Manchester United have drawn more people to their stadium and registered a higher average home attendance for Premier League matches this term than the east Londoners. West Ham have drawn a further 119,683 fans to four UEFA Europa Conference League group-stage matches this season, with the Club’s average home attendance of 29,921 ranking behind only German club 1. FC Köln.
We’ve had some incredible nights in the stadium, whether it be in Europe last year or even this year, we’ve had some great, great results
David Moyes
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the visit of Brentford to London Stadium, Moyes praised the fans for their loyalty and the role they have played in driving the team to consecutive top-seven Premier League finishes and European qualification and last season’s UEFA Europa League semi-finals. And the manager said that support will also be important as he and the players seek to improve results and rise up the Premier League table. “The home crowd are vital, no matter where you are,” he said. “When you look at the clubs in the Premier League and the support they have, that home support is huge, so we’ve had that as well. “We’ve got a stadium where we can hold big numbers, over 60,000 now. We’ve done our best in the last two years to get it filled more often than not, and we’ve got much closer to that than probably it’s ever been done before.
“We’ve had some incredible nights in the stadium, whether it be in Europe last year or even this year, we’ve had some great, great results. We’ve had some big wins as well, Premier League wins in the stadium, so that in itself goes to bring more people in. “I’ve been really keen to bring in new young West Ham supporters. I think we’ve got a lot of good players here who a lot of the young fans can look up to and the East End of London is a big West Ham area, so hopefully we can keep driving them and getting them to the stadium. “And again, you have to praise the Club. They’ve also made tickets affordable for a lot of people to get to games, so a lot of credit has to go to the Club for that.” West Ham United would like to thank every supporter for their loyal support and look forward to welcoming fans back to London Stadium in 2023.
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Gideon Kodua pens first professional contract
West Ham United is delighted to announce that Gideon Kodua has agreed professional terms with the Club. Kodua put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract with the Hammers at the Club’s iconic Chadwell Heath training ground and becomes the third Academy talent to agree professional terms in recent weeks, following Callum Marshall and Ollie Scarles. The 18-year-old has scored seven goals in eleven appearances for the U18s so far this season and made his debut for the U21s in October, featuring four times for the development side in all competitions. “I’m excited and proud to sign my first professional deal with West Ham United, and I’m really eager to see what the future holds for me now.” Kodua told whufc.com.
I’m excited and proud to sign my first professional deal with West Ham United, and I’m really eager to see what the future holds for me now.
Gideon Kodua
“My time with West Ham United has gone amazing so far and I think, in a way, I’ve shocked myself. But also, in a way, I’ve proven to myself that if I work hard then anything is possible. I’ve kept my head down and worked hard with the coaches here, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far. “This season has been amazing. Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well. The boys in the U18s and I have all created a real bond and we have a real team spirit on the pitch. For me, personally, it’s going so well and I’m really enjoying the season so far.”
Interim Academy Manager Kenny Brown is delighted that Kodua has agreed his first professional deal with the Club. Brown said: “We are delighted to agree professional terms with Gideon. His hard work, application, professionalism and consistency for our senior Academy teams are each worthy of individual mention, and it has been a delight to see him continue to develop. “Everyone in the Academy is now eager to see Gideon continue his progression and we all wish him the very best for the remainder of the season and beyond.”
[Gideon Kodua with Kenny Brown as he signs his professional deal]
Kodua joined the Academy of Football when he signed for West Ham United in 2017, after being scouted playing for Newham District. The versatile attacker made his debut for the U21s in April 2021, featuring in a 4-1 win over Reading, before establishing himself in the side throughout the 2021/22 campaign. Kodua would make 28 appearances for the team last season, scoring 13 goals. The teenager’s fine form continued into the 2022/23 season, with Kodua regularly finding the net for Kevin Keen’s young Irons. Kodua’s efforts earned him his U21s debut in the Premier League International Cup, against PSV, before further appearances against Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur in Premier 2 and Cheltenham Town in the Papa Johns Trophy followed. Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Gideon on his professional deal and wish him every success for his career in Claret and Blue.
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Kodua: I’ve proven to myself that anything is possible
Gideon Kodua could not contain his delight at agreeing professional terms with West Ham United. The 18-year-old has become the third Academy graduate in recent weeks to sign his first professional deal with the Club, continuing a superb 2022/23 season for the young forward. Kodua has been in fine form this campaign for the U18s, and the striker feels the professional deal is proof that his hard work has paid off. “I’m excited and proud to sign this professional deal with West Ham United, and I’m really eager to see what the future holds for me now,” he told whufc.com. “My time with West Ham United has gone amazing so far and I think, in a way, I’ve shocked myself. But also, in a way, I’ve proven to myself that if I work hard then anything is possible. I’ve kept my head down and worked hard with the coaches here, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far.
Kodua was joined by his three brothers and cousin for his contract signing and the teenager was full of gratitude for his family, who have taken him to and from training as he carved his path into professional football. “My family have helped me throughout my whole journey. Not just at West Ham – before West Ham as well. They’ve done so much for me. “They did those late night lifts and drives, when you get back in the early hours and then they’ve got to get up early too. I know they’ve done it because they love me and want to see me succeed, so I’m so grateful to them. I can’t even really say ‘thank you’ because I know it’s not even close to enough to repaying them.”
Kodua’s outstanding season so far has seen the attacker net seven goals in eleven U18s matches, and the team’s newest professional says the team spirit in the camp is a big factor in the side’s push to win the Premier League U18s South title.
The boys in the U18s have all created a real bond and we have a real team spirit on the pitch.
Gideon Kodua
“This season has been amazing. Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well. The boys in the U18s have all created a real bond and we have a real team spirit on the pitch. For me, personally, it’s going so well and I’m really enjoying the season so far.
“Our U18s team is like a family, and we’re all brothers. We come in every day and do silly things to make each other laugh, and that is how we’ve bonded with each other. We’re very playful but we all work so hard for each other on the pitch too.”
The attacker’s efforts saw Kodua make his U21s debut in the Premier League International Cup defeat to PSV in October, followed by a Premier League 2 debut a week later.
With four appearances in the development side to his name so far, Kodua is targeting even more.
He continued: “I found the step up to the U21s really tough at first. I remember training them when I was a first year and the tempo was much faster, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it. “I had to train myself to think faster and play at a quicker pace. But I think, this season, I’ve got the hang of it a bit. I like to think I can get to that tempo quickly now.”
Having seen fellow young pros Ollie Scarles and Divin Mubama earn their respective first team debuts this campaign, Kodua has set himself the ambition of following his teammates in earning an opportunity in David Moyes’ senior side. He added: “I really want to win the U18s league with this team. We’ve worked too hard to not win it. We came so close last season and, if we do win it, it would be absolutely amazing. “We all want to win trophies, like the FA Youth Cup. And, of course, everyone is targeting that senior team debut. We’ve seen it’s possible this season and that’s the aim. I’m proud of Ollie and Divin for doing it but it’s also motivating me to try and do it myself.”
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Loan Watch: Five Hammers feature in festive fixtures
The festive fixture schedule has brought about a regular stream of football across England and Europe, with five West Ham United loanees featuring in matches in the last few days. Of the involved Irons, only one tasted victory as Mipo Odubeko and Port Vale claimed a 1-0 victory at home to Morecambe. A close EFL League One fixture was settled by a solitary finish, with Gavin Massey striking on 40 minutes, finishing coolly from 20 yards. Odubeko was introduced on 70 minutes in place of defender Lewis Cass, and helped the home side see out the win and claim the three points. Port Vale are now up to ninth in League One and sit just three points outside the play-off places. Two Hammers made starts for their respective loan clubs but were unable to avoid defeat.
Manny Longelo was once again named in Birmingham City’s starting XI but was unable to help the Blues stop Burnley, with the EFL Championship league leaders claiming a 3-0 win. Despite a resolute showing by Longelo and his teammates, the Clarets took the lead inside the first minute through Anass Zaroury, before Connor Roberts added a second before half-time. Nathan Tella added a third late on for the hosts, handing Birmingham their heaviest defeat of the season. Longelo, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Tuesday 27 December, has now made 13 appearances in the Championship this season.
Elsewhere, Jacob Knightbridge once again featured in goal for Harrow Borough as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Met Police. Despite dominating possession Harrow were unable to craft goalscoring opportunities, while defensive lapses allowed the visitors in to score twice. Knightbridge, who had been called into action twice to deny certain goals in the first half, could do little to stop Fabio Sole from hammering in a low effort from a set-play. As Harrow pressed for a leveller, the visitors countered on 79 minutes to net a second with Herson Alves emphatically striking at the near post.
Finally, two other West Ham loanees made appearances from the bench for their respective clubs.
Arthur Masuaku came on as a substitute for Besiktas in their Christmas Day draw with Gaziantep, with Besiktas requiring a late finish from striker Wout Weghorst to claim a share of the points after Joao Figueiredo’s finish on 71 minutes for the home side.
Armstrong Okoflex also came on as a substitute for Swansea City as the Swans fell to a 2-1 defeat to Reading in the EFL Championship. Former Hammers striker Andy Carroll and Tom Ince had put the Royals in control, with Liam Cullen netting for the visitors.
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Rice: I am sure the tables will turn
Declan Rice insists ‘the tables will turn’ and West Ham United will start winning Premier League football matches again in the near future. The Irons have found positive results hard to come by this season after two campaigns in which they won 46% of their top-flight matches on the way to consecutive sixth and seventh-place finishes. So far in 2022/23, 16 games have brought just four victories and 13 goals scored, leaving the Hammers 16th in the table and with ground to make up if they are to challenge for a top-half finish for a third straight year. Talking of years, 2022 ends with the visit of Brentford to London Stadium on Friday evening. Captain Rice knows a derby victory over the Bees would not only send the squad into 2023 with renewed confidence, but also give the Claret and Blue Army a welcome New Year’s present.
It’s down to me as captain to keep everyone going and keep pushing everyone
Declan Rice
“We know where we are in the league and that’s nearer to the bottom end at the minute, but I am sure the tables will turn, and we’ll push ourselves back up the table,” said the skipper. “It’s a bump in the road that we need to get over, and we’ve got to remain positive and we believe we can beat Brentford. “Every team has a period where results don’t go your way, and it’s down to me as captain to keep everyone going and keep pushing everyone. I’ll personally always give 100 per cent out on the pitch to make things happen and get results, and so will the other lads as well.
“There is no way we’re down and out. There are so many games to go and we’re still positive and believe we have got a good team, and we have top players, but we need to stop talking about it and start showing it. With the players we’ve got and signings we’ve made, it’s down to us to show our quality at both ends of the pitch.”
While West Ham have remained sound defensively, conceding just 20 goals in 16 matches, goalscoring has proved more problematic, and Rice knows the final third is an area he and his teammates must improve in if they are to get back to winning ways on a consistent basis. “There have been games in which we’ve played well and not got the results,” he observed. “We have created chances in games, but just not put the ball in the back of the net and in the Premier League, that’s the main thing. “As we come to the end of the year, there is no time to look back. Instead, we have got to concentrate 100 per cent on the present, because we know we are in a position where we need to perform and pick up points in the Premier League, starting against Brentford on Friday night.”
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‘Your sources are NOT correct’: David Moyes hits back at questions from Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill about facing the sack at West Ham – and says he has ‘great support’ from the owners
* West Ham will face Brentford in their Premier League clash on Friday evening
* David Moyes denied claims his job could be under threat if they lose to Brentford
* They are sitting one point above the relegation zone after losing four on the trot * Moyes has said he has ‘great support’ from West Ham’s owner David Sullivan
By CHARLOTTE DALY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:12, 29 December 2022 | UPDATED: 16:01, 29 December 2022
David Moyes has denied claims his job could be under threat if West Ham fail to beat Brentford on Friday night. West Ham are currently sitting one point above the relegation zone after losing their fourth consecutive game against Arsenal on Boxing Day. Therefore, the pressure is on to perform against Brentford. However, Moyes has played down claims his job could be on the line. Instead, he told reporters about the ‘great support’ he had received from West Ham’s majority shareholder David Sullivan. Speaking at West Ham’s pre-match press conference, Moyes said: ‘We’ve recently been much more used to being in the top half of the table so we do not enjoy the position we are in. We recognise we have to win a few games to get out of it.’ He added: ‘I’ve got great support from David Sullivan so at the moment I would say that’s not correct. But I’m not daft. If you lose a few games, most managers will be under pressure.’ When asked whether he deserved more time and respect from the West Ham heirachy, Moyes said: ‘You can say that, that’s not for me to say that, that’s for other people to say that if that’s the case. ‘You’ve got to come in here and try to raise expectations wherever you go, I think we’ve done that. We’ve had some really good seasons in the last two years, probably done a lot better. ‘We’re just disappointed we’ve not done as well at the moment, but we plan to do a lot better and we’re working towards that.’ Looking ahead to the game on Friday night, Moyes hinted Gianluca Scamacca could return to the squad and revealed how Nayef Aguerd was ‘coming back from illness’. He said: ‘Gianluca has done a little bit of training, so we will see how he is. Probably lacking a bit of match practice and match fitness, that would be my biggest worry but he’s done a bit of training so hopefully he will be okay. ‘Nayef is still sort of coming back from illness which we’re still trying to get him over. He’s had a few days training which has helped but obviously he’s lost a bit of weight from the World Cup, so we’re trying to build him back up. ‘If I can get him involved, I will. I will make a decision tomorrow but if you’re asking me is he ready, I don’t believe he’s quite ready yet, no.’ Moyes went on to discuss the January transfer market. He said: ‘We’ve said we’re probably not going to do much but that could change. There will be no chance Declan Rice leaves in this window.’ Moyes also touched on his respect for Brentford and boss Thomas Frank. He said: ‘They have done a great job. The model they’ve got is very different from other clubs. We will try and do all of things we normally do to try and win.’
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