Daily WHUFC News: 02/17/09

Tuesday, February 17

Daily WHUFC News - 17th February 2009

Lee salvages late point
WHUFC.com
Oliver Lee helped West Ham United's Under-18s make it six matches unbeaten
with a 1-1 draw at Norwich City
16.02.2009

West Ham United's Under-18s made it six Barclays Premier Academy League
matches without defeat with a 1-1 draw against Norwich City at Colney.

The Canaries took the lead against the run of play with just five minutes
remaining, only for Oliver Lee to salvage a point for the Hammers with a
neat 88th-minute finish. Academy director Tony Carr was disappointed that
his players had not secured the victory that their performance had deserved,
but happy to see his team extend their long unbeaten run.

"I felt we were the better team throughout the 90 minutes but obviously we
didn't convert that superiority into goals and it almost rebounded on us
when they scored in the 85th-minute. In the end, we're not necessarily
grateful for a draw but we dug it out of a game that we should have won
fairly comfortably.

"We missed good chances either because we delayed a pass or delayed a shot
or made bad errors of judgement in vital positions and in the end it cost
us. It's certainly a game we will look back on and think we should have won.

"We were either passing when we should have been shooting or vice-versa and
also missed a couple of good opportunities - one where they cleared it off
the line and another when their goalkeeper made a fantastic save. Balint
Bajner also had a great headed opportunity that he directed straight at the
goalkeeper. They weren't all clear-cut chances but just opportunities where
we didn't take the right decisions."

It looked like the home side were on their way to victory when they scored
through an untidy, controversial Nick Davey effort late on. Again, Carr said
the Hammers had been their own worst enemies in gifting their hosts the
lead.

"Josh Payne, who was playing his first game for us in a long time due to his
loan spell at Cheltenham Town and a knee injury, gave the ball away in our
own half. Anthony Edgar got possession for us and then gave it back to them
again. They took advantage and scrambled the ball in. Our defenders claimed
it had not crossed the line, but the linesman gave it so it was a goal.

"Thankfully, we got an opportunity and got our equaliser. Anthony came in on
his right foot from the left and chipped the ball up to the far post. Josh
laid it back square and Oliver Lee, with his back to goal, managed to swivel
and back-heel it past the Norwich goalkeeper from very close-range to earn
us a point. That gave us a draw, which was thoroughly deserved, but we're
all disappointed we didn't win it to be honest."

As well as the return of Payne, Saturday's match also saw highly-rated
Spanish defender Sergio Sanchez, a regular in the Under-16 side, make his
bow for the Under-18s. West Ham will return to action with a trip to league
leaders Arsenal on Saturday. Carr's youngsters will be keen to avenge the
2-1 loss they suffered to the Gunners at Little Heath on 27 September.

West Ham United: Loveday, Barrett, Fry, McNaughton, Sanchez, Kearns, Payne,
Lee, Grasser (Okus 78), Bajner (Subuola 76), Abdulla (Edgar 75)
Sub not used: Cowler

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West Ham defender ready to snub Man City and Tottenham
Upton Park loos as the only option for Australian international
SOCCERVOICE.COM, 16.02.2009

West Ham defender Lucas Neill looks likely to sign a new and improved
contract with West Ham. This is the latest news according to English
newspaper Daily Star. Neill has been linked with both Man City and Tottenham
and it looked almost certain that the former Blackburn defender would be on
his way out. Gianfranco Zola has managed to pin point the most important
players at the club and also added some very exciting new faces. Zola sold
a lot of players during the January transfer window, but they cannot be
described as natural first teamers. West Ham midfielder Scott Parker,
forward Carlton Cole and England defender Matt Upson are other players that
most certainly will be part of Zola's team plans for future seasons.

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Hammers keen on Shelvey
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 16 February 2009 - 7:37 PM
Sport.co.uk

West Ham want to sign Charlton's teenage prodigy Jonjo Shelvey. The
16-year-old has won rave reviews since breaking into the first team at The
Valley with several Premier League clubs monitoring the midfielder's
progress. Shelvey became the club's youngest ever goalscorer when he netted
in the FA Cup third round clash against Norwich City last month. Despite
having only made nine appearances this season, Shelvey has already attracted
the attention of Newcastle and Middlesbrough. But the Hammers look set to
win the race with the player expected to move to Upton Park at the end of
the season.

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Walker wants Us stay
On-loan goalkeeper keen to extend loan move
SSN
Last updated: 16th February 2009

West Ham goalkeeper Jimmy Walker is eager to extend his loan stay at
Colchester until the end of the season after recent negotiations were
thwarted by bad weather. The shot-stopper is in the final month of his loan
spell and would have penned a deal until the summer were it not for snowy
conditions last week. Walker has been a key figure for the Us since his move
and he is still desperate to get a longer deal finalised. He told
Colchester's official website: "I was more than happy to sign but because of
the weather I couldn't get in, I tried to do it on my fax but my technical
knowledge is not very good and I thought it had all gone through. "I'm not
sure what's happening to be honest, but as far as I am concerned I am happy
to stay for the rest of the season. "I am just hoping they can sort it out
and I can stay until the end of the season because I think we have started
something really good here."

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Turn your jeers to cheers: West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola appeals to fans to
lay-off injured midfielder Luis Boa Morte
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 3:28 AM on 17th February 2009
Daily Mail

Gianfranco Zola has appealed to the West Ham boo-boys to lay off Luis Boa
Morte, warning the negative reaction is affecting his game. Not too many
West Ham supporters were sorry to see the back of Boa Morte - who turned
down a move to Hull in January - when he limped out of Saturday's FA Cup
draw with Middlesbrough with a groin injury that will keep him out for a
month. But Zola said: 'I don't understand the boos. He does not deserve it.'
Striker Carlton Cole will be out for two weeks with the ankle injury he
sustained against Boro.

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Zola : Lay off Boos for Boa
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: Today

GIANFRANCO ZOLA has backed Luis Boa Morte to beat the West Ham hate mob
which is making the winger's life a misery. The Hammers boss has been
stunned at the stick Boa Morte has taken this season and he wants fans to
get off his back. Boa Morte was jeered off when he was subbed in Saturday's
FA Cup draw against Middlesbrough. But Zola said: "I just don't understand
the boos from the fans for him. He has been fantastic for us and every time
he has played he has done a proper job for the team. "In the dressing room
he has been great, too. "Every manager wants a player like him in their
squad. He does not deserve the treatment he is getting right now and, of
course, it affects him - it would affect anybody." Boa Morte turned down a
move to Hull last month. Zola added: "Luis wanted to prove he can be useful
rather than leave. He has my utmost respect."