Wednesday, October 20

Daily WHUFC News - 20th October 2010

Saturday at the Hammers for £15
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant's men are flying at the moment and season ticket holders can
take advantage of a great ticket rate
19.10.2010

West Ham United are bidding to go six games unbeaten for the first time
since January 2009 on Saturday evening - and you could be there for just
£15.
Season ticket holders are able to take advantage of a superb promotion for
the visit of Newcastle United, with the club giving them an exclusive chance
to buy up to three additional tickets for friends and family at the reduced
rate of £15 each.

Should any season ticket holders be wishing to sit with their relatives or
mates on this occasion, the Ticket Office will make attempts to relocate
them as a one-off. This innovative offer is first come, first served and is
subject to availability - with a maximum of 3,000 tickets available on this
basis. TIckets are selling fast across the board, so anyone interested in
being at the Boleyn should move fast or face disappointment

With Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer looking to get one over their old
employers, who have been in fine form on their travels since their return to
the Barclays Premier League, and Avram Grant having seen his men show
tremendous form of late, expectation is high for what promises to be a
thrilling night under the lights

Youth Academy members can also exclusively take advantage of the Kids for a
Quid promotion on this fixture, with child tickets available for just £1.
That's not all, with the club slashing all ticket prices for the Carling Cup
last-16 tie against Stoke City a week today on Wednesday 27 October.
Season ticket holders can buy seats for £15 for adults and £5 for kids,
while everyone else can snap up tickets for £20 for adults and £10 for kids.

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Sears shines on debut
WHUFC.com
The club's two young loan forwards were both in action on Tuesday evening to
good effect
19.10.2010

Freddie Sears had a debut to remember as Scunthorpe United won a five-goal
thriller while Swansea City's Frank Nouble also played his part in a
successful night. The two young Hammers strikers are earning valuable
experience out on loan and were involved on a busy night of nPower
Championship action. Sears lined up for Scunthorpe in the 3-2 triumph at
Preston North End and Nouble came off the bench to help Swansea earn a
goalless draw against leaders Queen's Park Rangers.

Sears put pen to paper on a month loan at Glanford Park in the morning
before meeting his new team-mates for the first time. Wearing No10, he was
impressive throughout and, with the scores tied at two-apiece, fired in a
shot that crashed against the post and rebounded for Martyn Woolford to hit
the winner. The 20-year-old was electric all night, running at the Preston
defence time and time again to have the home side on the back foot. The
decisive goal came as he burst through, beat the keeper and sent in a
crashing shot that he was unlucky to see smash against the woodwork.

Nouble is in the middle of a three-month loan at Swansea and came off the
bench in the 65th minute in the hope of earning all three points at the
Liberty Stadium. Still only 18, he has helped the Welsh side to move into
the play-off positions with some effective displays.

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Scunthorpe sign West Ham striker Freddie Sears on loan
BBC.co.uk

Scunthorpe have signed West Ham striker Freddie Sears on a one-month loan
deal. The 20-year-old, who had spells on loan at Crystal Palace and Coventry
last season, has joined in time for the trip to Preston on Tuesday evening.
Iron boss Ian Baraclough said: "He's a lad who first came to our attention a
few years ago when he burst on to the scene with West Ham. "We were
presented with the chance to bring him in and we're delighted to have him on
board."

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Any old Iron
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th October 2010
By: Staff Writer

Freddie Sears has joined Scunthorpe on a month-loan loan. The young Hammers
striker - who has failed to score for the first team since marking his debut
with the winning goal against Blackburn in March 2008 - has joined the
Championship club on loan until mid-November. Iron boss Ian Baraclough
welcomed the arrival of the 20-year-old, telling his club's website: "We
were presented with the chance to bring him in and we're delighted to have
him on board. This year he has looked stronger and quicker than ever, and
has been firing for their reserves. "He's certainly a player who will
enhance our squad and hopefully he will help the lads up front by chipping
in with a couple of goals. Hopefully he'll enjoy playing his football up
here. He will go straight into the squad for Preston on Tuesday, and while I
can't say whether he'll start or not he will certainly be in and around
there."

Sears - who has also featured for Crystal Palace and Coventry in the
Championship during the past 12 months - became an instant success at the
Boleyn when stealing the headlines on that crisp March day more than two
years ago. However since then he has made 32 appearances in all competitions
for West Ham without scoring - whilst 19 games for Palace and 10 for
Coventry similarly failed to provide any goals.

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Sears seals Iron loan
Young forward moves to Scunthorpe in one-month deal
Last updated: 19th October 2010
SSN

West Ham youngster Freddie Sears has completed a one-month loan switch to
Scunthorpe United. The 20-year-old forward has found first-team
opportunities hard to come by at Upton Park under Avram Grant, and has opted
to move to the Championship club to get some playing time under his belt.
Sears, a product of the Hammers youth academy, had spells on loan at Crystal
Palaceand Coventry City last season, although he failed to score for either
the Eagles or the Sky Blues. He now has the chance to impress at Glanford
Park, and admits he did not have to think twice about making the switch. "It
feels good to be here. I got a phone call on Sunday night saying that
Scunthorpe wanted to take me," he told the club's official website. "As soon
as I heard they were interested I wanted to come down and get going really.
"The Championship is a good league to be in, I'm just looking forward to
starting my time with Scunthorpe."

Preston debut

Sears could make his debut for the Iron against Preston at Deepdale on
Tuesday, and he is eager to get going. "I spoke to the manager on Monday and
he said he wants to involve me at Preston, so I don't know whether I'll be
in the team or not," he added. "It will be a quick debut but it will be good
to start playing football really."

Ian Baraclough's men go to North End on the back of a six-match winless
streak and the Scunthorpe boss is hoping Sears can help turn around their
recent slump. "He's a lad who first came to our attention a few years ago
when he burst on to the scene with West Ham," Baraclough said. "We were
presented with the chance to bring him in and we're delighted to have him on
board. He's come through the ranks and scored a goal on his debut for West
Ham."

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West Ham ready to rekindle interest in Arsenal legend
TalkSport
By Declan Taylor
Tuesday, October 19

WEST HAM are set to reignite their interest in Robert Pires. Pires, 36, has
been a free agent since his contract at La Liga side Villarreal expired in
the summer. And the former Arsenal star has been keeping in shape by taking
part in Gunners' first-team training at their London Colney base. Pires was
reportedly a target for West Ham under the management of Gianfranco Zola
last season, and it is understood that new manager Avram Grant could be
ready to take a chance on the veteran midfielder who is free to sign at any
stage. The former France international, who spent six years at Arsenal and
was part of the unbeaten team of 2003-04, is keen to stay in London. Arsenal
manager Arsene Wenger recently said that Pires has been "sparkling" during
his recent training sessions and the midfielder is said to have impressed
everyone with his sharpness and deadly finishing. Pires made his name at
Arsenal on the left flank but can also operate in central midfield or as a
second striker. And, after being hit by the news that summer signing Thomas
Hitzlsperger is set for another four months on the sidelines with a thigh
injury, Grant could be tempted to swoop for midfield reinforcements when the
window opens in January.

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Arsenal 4-1 Reserves FT
Ahmed Abdulla was on target but it was a disappointing day for the Hammers
at London Colney
19.10.2010
WHUFC.com

Arsenal reserves v West Ham United reserves
Barclays Premier Reserve League
London Colney training ground
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Kick-off: 2pm

Final score - Arsenal reserves 4-1 West Ham United reserves

90min - There goes the final whistle. A disappointing days for the reserves
but Alex Dyer will know his men are capable of better, having previously won
their first three games without conceding.
90min - Arsenal are just playing keep-ball. Think we have seen the last of
the action. Still the rain comes down...
90min - We are playing two minutes of added time.
89min - GOAL! - Former Arsenal schoolboy Abdulla sends the keeper the wrong
way with a shot into the corner.
88min - Penalty to West Ham. Subuola is foulded by Nordtveit.
88min - Faubert is shown a straight red card. He chased a long ball down and
clashed with a defender.
88min - Arsenal have looked good today. They have made the most of the slick
surface and zipped the ball around well. Dyer will know his team can do
better, as they have shown with away wins at Everton and Liverpool.
87min - Emmanuel-Thomas goes forward again. Tomkins steps in to nick the
ball away and avert the danger.
86min - GOAL! - Emmanuel-Thomas completes his hat-trick. He picks the ball
30 yards out and rifles an unstoppable left-foot shot just inside the post.
Stech dived full length but couldn't get there.
85min - This is going to be only the reserves second defeat in eleven
matches this season. Faubert brings the ball forward, beats a defender and
has a left-foot shot at the goal from 20 yards. Shea holds on to it well.
84min - Emmanuel-Thomas threads the ball through to Afobe on another attack
but it comes to nothing. One of the positives this second half has been
Subuola's showing off the bench. He can be pleased with his efforts.
83min - GOAL! - Emmanuel-Thomas runs up to take the penalty and sends Stech
the wrong way. 3-0.
83min - Eastman flicks the ball to Murphy, and he goes down under a
challenge from Tomkins. The referee points to the spot.
82min - Paul Groves is still out there on the halfway line watching the
action, with no umbrella I can add.
81min - Arsenal are making a third substitution. Vela is going off to be
replaced by Henderson. Not surprisingly, given the sleet that is now
chucking it down, the Mexico striker goes straight back to the dressing
room.
80min - McCarthy breaks clear. He finds Subuola, who gets after the ball
only for Hoyte to clear away.
78min - You wouldn't think it is mid-afternoon judging by the dark sky. The
weather is pretty grim and summer seems a long time ago. The referee takes a
tumble.
76mins - Lansbury and Vela play a one-two, but Stech is alert to the danger
and hacks the ball clear.
74mins - Vela takes a corner, he finds Lansbury but he slices wide.
73 mins - It's now officially pouring with rain.
71 mins - Into the final 20 minutes and no sign of the West Ham comeback
just yet...
67 mins - Arsenal make another substitution, replacing Sunu with Murphy.
Moments later, Vela curls another shot well high and wide of Stech's goal.
66 mins - It is like the bleak mid-winter here at present. It is dark, cold
and just about to tip it down. On the pitch, meanwhile, Wearen and Abdulla
are making their presence felt with some sharp tackles.
64 mins - Vela shoots left-footed from about 20 yards, but the netting his
effort finds is the one behind the goal rather than the one being defended
by Stech. Arsenal make their first change, with Aneke being replaced by
Benik Afobe.
63 mins - Judging by the blackness of the sky, it's going to absolutely
chuck it down in about two minutes, so please bear with me...
61 mins - A third change for West Ham, with Jordan Brown replacing Valim.
Here comes the rain again...!
59 mins - Emmanuel-Thomas finds Vela wide on the left. The Mexican is
fouled, but when the free-kick is delivered by Emmanuel-Thomas, it is
Tomkins who rises highest to head powerfully clear.
56 mins - Lee gets to the byline before driving in a low cross towards
McCarthy, but it is cut out. Seconds later, West Ham win another free-kick
near the Arsenal box. It is taken short to Faubert, whose cross is claimed
by Shea.
55 mins - The Gunners are threatening to wrap this game up as Sunu attacks
and the Hammers somehow scramble the ball behind for a corner. The cross
comes in and is headed up into the air before Stech claims. West Ham break
and Subuola runs at the Gunners defence, but is crowded out before he can
get his shot away.
54 mins - Emmanuel-Thomas is having a good game here. He beats one defender
before being fouled by Tomkins. Vela and Lansbury pretend to make a mess of
the set piece before the latter rolls the bal swuad for Aneke, who takes a
touch and curls a delightful shot that clips the crossbar on the way over
the top.
53 mins - Spence gets a bang in the back and West Ham have a free-kick wide
on the left level with the Arsenal box. Abdulla crosses, but it's cut out at
the near post and Arsenal clear.
51 mins - A second change from Dyer, who replaces Stanislas with Eoin
Wearen.
49 mins - GOAL! Emmanuel-Thomas is a real one to watch for the future,
that's for sure. The No7 cuts in from the right-hand side, beats two
defenders and calmly slots the ball past Stech to double Arsenal's lead.
Very impressive from the big man.
48 mins - West Ham have made a change at the break, with Daniel Subuola on
for Montano. No change in formation, though. Lee intercepts the ball about
30 yards out before shooting, but his effort flies over the top. Arsenal
come forward from the goal kick and Sunu shoots from distance, forcing Stech
to tip over.
47 mins - Stech is called into action early in the second period, but his
handling is secure as he catches a shot in front of his face.
46 mins - McCarthy and Stanislas get the second half up and running. Can the
Hammers hit back and maintain their 100 per cent start to the season? As we
re-start, the sun comes out again.
The two teams emerge from the dressing room to be met with a deluge from the
skies. The rain is coming down hard, but I think it will blow over quickly
enough. West Ham will get us back under way shortly.

Half-time score - Arsenal reserves 1-0 West Ham United

46 mins - Into added time and McCarthy gets clear down the left touchline
before crossing towards Montano. The Academy graduate can only divert his
effort well over the top. Seconds later, the whistle goes for half time.
44 mins - GOAL! To be fair, that had been coming in the last couple of
minutes. Arsenal knocked the ball around patiently, waiting for a chance to
pounce. Vela dropped deep before finding Emmanuel-Thomas wide on the right
with a delightful pass. The big winger powered past his marker before
crossing low. Stech tried to cut out the ball, but could only divert it into
the path of Aneke, who heads in from a couple of yards out.
41 mins - Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still is here now. It's a
gallery of familiar faces along the touchline. I wonder who he is looking at
as a potential loanee?
39 mins - Half time is rapidly approaching and there isn't much going on at
present. Arsenal are playing some nice, neat football as you might expect,
but they're not creating much at present. Stech's two saves aside, he's not
had a lot to do.
36 mins - The boss has arrived just in time to see Spector make an
inch-perfect tackle to stop Vela in his tracks on the edge of the penalty
area. If he'd got that wrong, he could have been in a lot of trouble. He
didn't, though, and West Ham clear.
35 mins - Hammers manager Avram Grant has arrived after taking first-team
training at Chadwell Heath this morning. He joins Zeljko Petrovic, Paul
Groves, Kevin Keen and David Coles on the touchline.
33 mins - Good spell of possession for the visitors, who keep the ball well
before Lee spots the rampaging Faubert down the right flank. The Frenchman
controls before whipping over a cross, but Shea is there to collect. The
Hammers are communicating well out there, working hard to keep Arsenal at
bay.
28 mins - Good stuff. Lee finds Abulla, who skips past his marker and runs
at the Arsenal defence. He draws the defenders before feeding Montano. The
Colombian cuts on to his left foot and sends in a rising shot that Shea can
only help over the crossbar. The corner is delivered by Stanislas, but the
referee spots an infringement and Arsenal have a free-kick.
26 mins - Arsenal have a free-kick wide on their left. Vela curls the ball
in and Tomkins can only head the ball behind for a corner. Lansbury takes it
right-footed and over-hits his cross. The ball flies all the way across and
out for a goal kick.
24 mins - That was a close call! Strapping No7 Emmanuel-Thomas streaks
through, riding a challenge from Spence before sliding his left-foot shot a
couple of yards wide of the right-hand post. Stech could only stand and
watch.
22 mins - Close to an opening for McCarthy. Spence brought the ball forward
before playing a neat one-two with Abdulla and chipping the ball over the
top for McCarthy to chase. Hoyte and Shea also got involved and the Arsenal
pair inadvertantly tackle each other outside the Gunners box. Unfortunately,
the ball does not drop to a Hammers player and Arsenal clear.
21 mins - Aside from the rumble of traffic on the M25, it's been a quiet
start to the game for the Hammers. Home keeper Shea hasn't had much to do.
More positively, the Hammers still haven't conceded a goal in the reserve
league this term - it's now 291 minutes and counting...
18 mins - Nice one-touch stuff from West Ham sees them ping the ball around
in midfield before Montano gets clear down the right. He tries to cut inside
Meade, but the left-back keeps his eyes on the ball and snuffs out the
danger.
17 mins - Abdulla and Lee combine before McCarthy tries to play Stanislas in
down the middle, but again the pass is slightly too strong and Shea picks
the ball up.
16 mins - Lee gives the ball away in midfield, allowing Vela to run at the
West Ham defence. He shoots left-footed and Stech dives low to his left to
help the ball around the post. From the corner, Arsenal captain Miquel gets
his head to the ball at the back post, but it's too high and flies
harmlessly behind.
14 mins - Faubert bursts down the right before sending in a
dangerous-looking cross towards Stanislas and McCarthy. Defender Hoyte is
there to block and then hack clear amid shouts for handball by the Hammers
players. Nothing is given.
13 mins - Former Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur manager David Pleat is
among the small crowd watching here at London Colney. Well, he's not
watching at present, as he has his back to the game and is deep in
conversation.
11 mins - Faubert is playing at right-back, with Spector and Tomkins in the
middle. Further forward, McCarthy is central, with Stanislas wide left and
Montano wide right.
9 mins - Lee does well to beat Lansbury in a tackle before trying to thread
a through-ball for Stanislas, but it's just too strong and Shea is out to
smother. The rain has stopped, thank goodness...
8 mins - Brilliant from Stech again. Lansbury breaks through into the middle
of the penalty area before stabbing the ball goalwards, but Stech sticks out
his big left leg to block. The goalkeeper shouts at his defenders to get
tighter to their men in future.
7 mins - Good hold-up play from Montano sees him find Lee, who feeds
Stanislas. The midfielder plays the ball wide left to McCarthy, who tries to
cut inside Nordtveit, but the right-back is strong and clears.
5 mins - Sunu gets to the byline and crosses low, but Spector is there to
stab the ball clear.
3 mins - A first chance for the Hammers as Montano breaks into the box. He
beats one defender before a strong block tackle from opposite No11 Sunu
brings an end to the youngster's run.
1 min - Arsenal kick-off kicking from right to left as I look at it. The
Gunners break straight from the start but West Ham clear to Montano. He
loses possession wide on the right and Sunu finds Lansbury on the right side
of the box. He shoots powerfully, but Stech makes a fine save to tip the
ball over. He then claims the resulting corner.

2.01pm - We're off and running...

1.55pm - You join us here just as the heavens open and the rain comes down
on Arsenal's London Colney training complex. With no shelter, keeping up the
live text updates and keeping the laptop dry could prove to be major
challenges. I'll do my best, though! Both teams have returned to their
dressing rooms for their final preparations, but they'll be back soon for
kick-off.
Good afternoon and welcome to Arsenal's London Colney training complex for
today's Barclays Premier Reserve League fixture.
Alex Dyer's second string have been literally unbeatable in recent weeks,
starting the 2010/11 campaign with three consecutive victories without
conceding a single goal. Everton and Liverpool have both been defeated 1-0
away from home, while Wigan Athletic were beaten 2-0 at Thurrock FC's Ship
Lane ground on 28 September.
Dyer again has a strong, experienced squad at his disposal, with full
internationals Jonathan Spector, Julien Faubert and Benni McCarthy all in
the starting XI. Marek Stech, James Tomkins, captain Jordan Spence and
Junior Stanislas all have plenty of first-team experience under their belts
too.
McCarthy has looked sharp in recent reserve-team outings as he continues his
return to full match-fitness, scoring in the wins over Wigan and Liverpool.
Stanislas, meanwhile, was on target at Everton and against Wigan.
With Arsenal in UEFA Champions League action at home to Shakhtar Donetsk
this evening, Gunners reserve-team coach Neil Banfield has fielded a very
youthful side. However, Mexico international Carlos Vela starts for the
hosts.
West Ham are not only seeking their fourth straight win to start the new
season, but also their third consecutive reserve league victory at Arsenal,
having defeated the Gunners on their own patch in each of the last two
campaigns.

Arsenal reserves: Shea, Nordtveit, Meade, Hoyte, Miquel, Eastmond,
Emmanuel-Thomas, Lansbury, Sunu (Murphy 67), Vela, Aneke (Afobe 63)
Subs: Randall, Martinez, Henderson

West Ham United reserves: Stech, Spector, Spence, Tomkins, Valim (Brown 61),
Faubert, Lee, Abdulla, Stanislas (Wearen 51), Montano (Subuola 46), McCarthy
Subs not used: Wootton, Eyjolfsson

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WEST HAM'S GURU COULD SORT OUT THIS CURRENT MESS
Date: 19th October 2010 at 5:05 pm | Written by James Atkinson
FootballFancast.com

In the wake of a dismal World Cup for England, sights were immediately set
to the future after the supposed 'Golden Generation' had all but eroded and
embedded themselves firmly in the footballing annals for England, with many
proving to be mere iron pyrite for the national team.

However, the future is blurry to say the least for England, with some
promise and good intentions, some discouraging signs and a lot of rudderless
talent hoping they don't slip the net. With the FA and Premier League
looking towards the future of the national team with recent changes in squad
rules, perhaps it is time they brought someone in to tie all the loose ends
together and create an English production line, and in my opinion, they need
look no further than Tony Carr.

With nearly 40 years experience in youth coaching at 'The Academy of
Football' at West Ham, Carr has become one of the most successful and
influential youth coaches in the country, not only creating an estimated
£80m in transfer revenue for the club, but nurturing these players into
international footballers. In Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Glen
Johnson, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick and John Terry, Carr has a
'Magnificent Seven' to his name which regularly attain spots in the English
national team, and with many more having played at youth levels for their
country, it is no wonder so many turned out to honour him in May at a
testimonial match held at Upton Park.

The fact that so many did come to show their appreciation reveals the
gravity of the man within football and emphasises the respect he commands
from all quarters of the game. In Sir Trevor Brooking the FA also have a
perfect liaison with Carr with both having been involved at West Ham for
most of their lives. Carr would also not necessarily have to be as hands on
as he is at West Ham, perhaps advising the FA on youth development in a
consultancy role, overseeing and delegating rather than actively coaching.

With the new squad rules taking effect this season, the FA has taken the
first tentative steps towards a future which doesn't include England being
cast into the international wilderness. But with some English-based foreign
players being counted as 'Home-Grown' we can only hope there is more to come
from the FA. That said, the performance of the England Under-17s in
Liechtenstein, where they lifted the European Championship trophy earlier
this year, shows it is not all doom and gloom for the national team and
there are promising youngsters in the pipeline.

But if the likes of Ipswich Town's Connor Wickham are to grace the future
national team and not the pages of 'Whatever Happened To…' articles, then
there needs to be an experienced man overseeing national youth development,
and there is no better candidate than Tony Carr.

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West Ham captain Matthew Upson set for Newcastle return
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 2:17 AM on 20th October 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham captain Matthew Upson has returned to training after injury and
will be fit to face Newcastle at Upton Park on Saturday. Upson, 31, missed
the 1-1 draw at Wolves last weekend with a neck problem that manager Avram
Grant was hoping would not be long-term. West Ham are unbeaten in five
games.

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West Ham lead Celtic and Wigan in chase for former Bayern Munich 'keeper
Michael Rensing
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:17 AM on 20th October 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham, Wigan and Celtic are among a clutch of clubs interested in former
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Michael Rensing. The 26-year-old is a free agent
after leaving in the summer and splitting with his agent. He has had offers
from Germany and Italy but wants to play in England.

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