WHUFC.com
All the early team news and important travel information ahead of Sunday's
season climax
20.05.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v SUNDERLAND
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 22 MAY 2011
KICK-OFF: 4PM
Introduction
• West Ham United complete their Barclays Premier League season with the
visit of Sunderland to the Boleyn Ground. The already-relegated Hammers will
be eager to end the 2010/11 campaign on a high by recording their sixth home
league win of the season. However, three points will not be enough to take
them off the bottom of the table.
• West Ham will be managed by caretaker boss Kevin Keen following the
departure of Avram Grant. Keen takes temporary charge for the third time,
having done so previously in December 2006 and in September 2008, when he
took the team for their 3-2 Premier League defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
• Sunderland go into Sunday's fixture in 14th place, having collected 44
points from 37 games. However, a victory, combined with results elsewhere
going their way, could still see the Black Cats end the season in the top
half of the table.
• Sunday's fixture represents the third meeting between the two sides this
season. The Hammers were 2-1 winners at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday 21
September in the Carling Cup third round - Victor Obinna and Frederic
Piquionne finding the target, while Sunderland secured a 1-0 home win in the
reverse league match on 3 December 2010.
• Sunderland have not lost on any of their three previous visits to London
this season, winning 3-0 at Chelsea and drawing at Arsenal, Fulham and
Tottenham Hotspur.
• The Hammers' biggest ever win over Sunderland came in the shape of an 8-0
success at the Boleyn Ground on 19 October 1968. Geoff Hurst scored six
goals - including a hat-trick in each half - while Bobby Moore and a young
Trevor Brooking added one apiece.
• Sunderland's biggest ever win over West Ham came on 5 March 1977, when the
Black Cats romped to a 6-0 victory over the Londoners. Their best
performance in east London was a 3-0 triumph on 25 April 1931.
Last time out
Sunday 15 May 2011
Barclays Premier League
Wigan Athletic 3-2 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Spence, Bridge, Spector (Parker
60), Collison (Keane 83), Hitzlsperger, Ba, Hines, Piquionne (Cole 74)
Subs not used: Boffin, Upson, Da Costa, Sears
Goals: Ba 12, 26
Saturday 14 May 2011
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Mensah (Laing 87), Onuoha, Zenden,
Malbranque (Noble 70), Henderson (Lynch 76), Riveros, Colback, Elmohamady,
Sessegnon
Subs not used: Carson, Adams, Cook, Knott
Goals: Sessegnon 34
Last meeting
West Ham United travelled to the Stadium of Light for the second time this
season on Sunday 5 December, only for Sunderland to run out 1-0 winners in a
match broadcast live on Sky Sports. England midfielder Jordan Henderson
settled matters, scoring the only goal of the game eleven minutes before
half-time. Victor Obinna hit the post in the second half, but the Hammers
were unable to fashion an equaliser.
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Richardson, Mensah, Onuoha,
Ferdinand,Cattermole, Henderson (Elmohamady 86), Bent (Malbranque 75),
Welbeck, Gyan (Zenden 90)
Subs not used: Mignolet, Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros
West Ham United: Green, Ben-Haim (Faubert 83), Gabbidon, Tomkins, Upson,
Spector, Dyer (Piquionne 69), Parker, Boa Morte (Hines 69), Cole, Obinna
Subs not used: Stech, Reid, Barrera, Piquionne
Last six meetings
(Premier League unless stated)
5 December 2010 - Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United
21 September 2010 - Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United (Carling Cup third round)
10 April 2010 - West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland
31 October 2009 - Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United
4 April 2009 - West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
23 November 2008 - Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United
• Sunday's game marks the 82nd time West Ham and Sunderland have faced one
another in competitive fixtures. West Ham have won 32, Sunderland 29 and
there have been 20 draws. In league meetings, the Hammers have won 26,
Sunderland 27 and there have been 18 drawn matches.
Overall record v Sunderland (all competitions) W 32 D 20 L 29
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Sunderland
2009/10 Premier League 13th (44 points)
2008/09 Premier League 16th (36 points)
2007/08 Premier League 15th (39 points)
2006/07 Championship 1st (88 points - promoted to Premier League)
2005/06 Premier League 20th (15 points - relegated to the Championship)
2004/05 Championship 1st (94 points - promoted to Premier League)
2003/04 Championship 3rd (79 points)
2002/03 Premier League 20th (19 points)
2001/02 Premier League 17th (40 points)
2000/01 Premier League 7th (57 points)
Referee
• The match referee will be Anthony Taylor, who will be taking charge of a
West Ham United fixture for the first time.
• Taylor is in his first season on the Select Group of referees appointed to
control Barclays Premier League fixtures.
• The Greater Manchester-born official started refereeing in the Northern
Premier League in 2002 before being appointed to the Football League list at
the start of the 2006/07 season, refereeing his match between Wrexham and
Peterborough United in League Two on 12 August 2006.
• Taylor's first Premier League appointment was the 3 February 2010
encounter between Fulham and former West Ham United manager Avram Grant's
Portsmouth, with the Cottagers winning 1-0.
• While he has yet to take charge of a West Ham United fixture, Taylor has
refereed two Sunderland matches this season - the 2-2 opening-day draw with
Birmingham City at the Stadium of Light and the goalless draw with Arsenal
at the Emirates on 5 March.
• When asked in an interview what his favourite match that he has refereed
was, he named British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division side
Chasetown's victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup second round in December
2007.
West Ham United
• West Ham United's leading Barclays Premier League scorer this season is
Demba Ba with seven goals.
• Frederic Piquionne has created five goals for his team-mates in the league
this term, one more than both Carlton Cole and Thomas Hitzlsperger.
• Robert Green has made a team-high 36 Barclays Premier League appearances
this season, while Cole has appeared 35 times and Piquionne 33.
• Danny Gabbidon has the quickest card in the division this season, earning
a caution just 1min and 25 seconds into the Fulham home game.
• Scott Parker has been booked eight times in the league this season, while
Luis Boa Morte has been shown a yellow card on seven occasions.
Sunderland
• Sunderland's leading Barclays Premier League scorer is Asamoah Gyan with
ten goals. The injured Danny Welbeck has six league strikes to his name.
Gyan has also chalked-up a team-high five assists.
• Jordan Henderson has made a club-leading 36 league appearances this
season, while Ahmed Elmohamady has appeared 35 times, Steed Malbranque 34
and Phil Bardsley 33.
• Lee Cattermole is one of only five players to be sent-off twice in the
Barclays Premier League this season. The midfielder has also been shown a
team-high ten yellow cards - one more than Kieran Richardson. Cattermole was
also red-carded against West Ham United while playing for Wigan Athletic in
March 2009.
Team news
West Ham United
• Caretaker manager Kevin Keen has promised to pick a side who 'will go out
and try their hardest for West Ham'. As well as established internationals,
the former Hammers winger could call on a number of the club's homegrown
players for the final match of the season, with the likes of Jordan Spence,
James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Freddie Sears, Zavon Hines and Dylan Tombides
all hoping to feature.
• Hammer of the Year Scott Parker could return to the starting XI after
making a substitute appearance at Wigan Athletic last weekend.
• Robbie Keane and Wayne Bridge will end respective their loan spells from
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City following Sunday's game.
• Mark Noble will hope to feature following hernia surgery, while Junior
Stanislas is back in action after recovering from a similar problem.
• Gary O'Neil is definitely out of Sunday's game and is not expected to
return until 2012 after suffering a serious ankle injury against Aston Villa
last month.
Sunderland
• Sunderland could welcome Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan back following a
hamstring injury.
• Midfielder David Meyler, centre-backs Titus Bramble and Michael Turner,
goalkeeper Craig Gordon and striker Fraizer Campbell are all definitely out
with knee problems.
• Midfielder Lee Cattermole has a back injury and is out, as are hamstring
injury victims Anton Ferdinand and Danny Welbeck.
• England midfielder Kieran Richardson has a shin problem and is also
sidelined.
Old boys
• Anton Ferdinand began his career at West Ham's famed Academy, making 163
appearances and scoring five goals for the Hammers before joining Sunderland
in August 2008.
• Midfielder Kieran Richardson began his career at West Ham, but failed to
make a first team appearance before joining Manchester United in 2002. The
24-year-old joined Sunderland in July 2007.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Dick Bell,
Gary Breen, Clive Clarke, Keith Coleman, Ernest England, John Foreman, Harry
Forster, Jack Foster, Harry Hooper, Don Hutchison, George McCartney, Mick
McGiven, Andy Melville, Billy Moore, Bryan 'Pop' Robson and Dave
Swindlehurst.
Travel information
A number of London Underground lines will be affected by engineering works
this Sunday. For full details, visit the TfL website by clicking here.
• Circle line - No service between Moorgate and Hammersmith via King's Cross
St Pancras.
• District line - No service between Barking and Tower Hill westbound and
Tower Hill and Upney eastbound.
• Hammersmith & City line - No service between King's Cross St Pancras and
Barking. Replacement buses will operate.
• Metropolitan line - No service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate.
• DLR - No service between Westferry and Beckton/London City Airport.
Replacement buses will operate.
• c2c - Due to West Ham resignalling work taking place, c2c services will be
diverted to run to/from Liverpool Street station, calling at Stratford.
Fenchurch Street, Limehouse and West Ham stations will have no c2c services.
For more details, click here.
General information
• For ticket information, click here.
• Sunday's forecast in east London is for heavy rain showers, with
temperatures peaking around the 18C mark.
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Keen on Sunderland
WHUFC.com
The caretaker manager has spoken to the press ahead of Sunday's visit of the
Black Cats
20.05.2011
Kevin Keen has spoken to the media ahead of West Ham United's final Barclays
Premier League fixture of the 2010/11 season against Sunderland. The
caretaker manager discussed his intention that the Hammers could finish a
disappointing campaign on a high, his message to supporters, his hopes for
the future and Avram Grant's departure.
Kevin Keen on Sunday's visit of Sunderland…
"I think that's the only way we can look at it - we've got a game on Sunday
that we want to win for the supporters we owe so much to for their support
this season. My focus has been on making the players aware of that and
steeling them for the battle against Sunderland. "It has been a difficult
week, there's no doubt about that, with what happened last week at Wigan and
then all the media coverage about the minor incident at our club dinner,
which really absolutely nothing and the players were exemplary. "I've got
the players up and there are certainly a lot of young players chomping at
the bit waiting to play. It's going to be an interesting game and I hope the
supporters will turn up. It's Kids for a Quid so it should be good."
Kevin Keen on team selection…
"It'll be a West Ham side - players who want to play for the claret and blue
shirt, who show a real desire to play for that shirt and a flair and ability
with a football that this club deserves. "I think I've seen this week that
those who have a great chance of being here next season have perhaps trained
a little bit more enthusiastically than those who have a chance of not being
here next season. I think you'll find the majority of the team will be those
who will be appearing next year for us."
Kevin Keen on his message to players this week…
"I came in this week with everyone down, dejected and disappointed, but
those supporters have been phenomenal. The support at home has been behind
us all the time and they've been dying for us to get the results we needed.
"I think the players and the staff owe it to the supporters to go out there
and end the season with a victory."
Kevin Keen on his message to the supporters…
"The last game is a difficult one for me, because some supporters will want
to come and vent their feelings because it's been a disappointing year. I'm
not going to be able to stop them doing that but I'm hoping the majority
come and get behind the team. "I'm desperate for us to give them a good
performance. I'm trying my hardest to make sure the players motivated and
picking a team that I want to go out, give their best, and play in a manner
that West Ham United deserves and go out with a bit of a bang. "That's what
I want for this Sunday."
Kevin Keen on the club rediscovering its traditions…
"I think it was said West Ham used to be everyone's second or
third-favourite team. That was down to us having three players in the World
Cup-winning team who made a massive contribution to the country. It was also
down to the way we conducted ourselves, the way we played football and all
those sorts of things. "So many things have happened since I came back to
the club. I think it's time just to go back to our family traditions, to get
back to the ethos and philosophy that made our football club great. "I'd
love us to keep hold of our young players that we've got at the moment -
Junior Stanislas, Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Freddie Sears, James Tomkins,
Jordan Spence and Zavon Hines - because I know they'd all run through walls
for this football club. "We need to keep hold of those lads, get the family
tradition back to this club and take it forward going into the Olympic
Stadium. That's my goal for this football club. "This relegation has gone
and it's an opportunity for us to regain all the stuff that people loved
about West Ham United."
Kevin Keen on the End of Season Gala Dinner…
"First of all, I could say that we got relegated on the Sunday and the club
dinner was on the Monday. I don't think you'd find too many London clubs
with the support we had. Every single table was sold in the Great Room at
the Grosvenor. The players all turned out and their behaviour was exemplary.
"There was a minor scuffle after a lad who was a little bit drunk got caught
up in a little bit of banter and that was about it really. After about 30
seconds it was over and the dinner carried on.
"For me, the players' behaviour, especially after the disappointment of the
day before, was outstanding. "I was actually over the other side of the room
talking to Thomas Hitzlsperger at the time because the players were
two-to-a-table. Apparently there was something said. I've spoken to Demba Ba
and I'm not sure he understood everything that was said, but it's gone. "I
want to focus on Sunday, on trying to get West Ham a win and repaying the
supporters who have backed us to the bitter end this season.Last week up at
Wigan, we had 4,500 there and they were unbelievable for the whole match and
it's just a real disappointment from our side, the staff, that we've not
been able to give them what they deserve this year."
Kevin Keen on Avram Grant's departure…
"Whenever a manager leaves, it's disappointing. After the game last week,
you could see how humble and disappointed Avram was that things hadn't gone
his way. He took some of the blame, but as far as I'm concerned we as a
staff and the players have underperformed and it hasn't been a good season
for us - there's no denying that because we're bottom of the league. "We've
got to put it behind us. I've done my two days' mourning and I've now got
the job this week of repaying those supporters and taking the club forward.
"As far as I'm concerned, the first game of next season is on Sunday."
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West Ham v Sunderland
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Sunday, 22 May Kick-off: 1600 BST Coverage: Watch
highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio;
text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
West Ham first-team coach Kevin Keen will take charge of Sunday's game
following Avram Grant's departure. The Hammers will assess Scott Parker,
who did not appear fully fit when he made his return from an Achilles injury
as a substitute at Wigan last weekend.
Sunderland could welcome back striker Asamoah Gyan, who is back in training
following a hamstring problem. Defender Anton Ferdinand could also make his
comeback from injury at Upton Park.
West Ham
Doubtful: Parker (Achilles), Stanislas (match fitness), Upson (leg)
Injured: Dyer (hamstring), Kurucz (knee), Noble (stomach), O'Neil (ankle)
Sunderland
Doubtful: Ferdinand & Gyan (both hamstring)
Injured: Bramble, Campbell, Gordon, Meyler & Turner (all knee), Cattermole
(back), Richardson (calf), Welbeck (hamstring)
PREVIEW BY MOTD COMMENTATOR JOHN RODER
So where do West Ham go from here? Who is going to sign up as their next
manager? Plenty of questions, but not much in the way of answers in a
troubled week for the Hammers. It will be very interesting being at Upton
Park for the last match of the season - there's no getting away from the
fact that this game will mark the final appearance in claret and blue for
quite a few players. Sunderland assured their Premier League future several
weeks back, but the effect of Darren Bent's departure to Aston Villa is
clear for all to see. His last appearance for the Black Cats was against
Newcastle in mid-January. After the 1-1 draw that day Sunderland had 34
points; in the 14 matches since then they've taken just 10 points. Yet
despite that run, Sunderland need only a draw to register their best Premier
League points total for 10 years.
PREMIER LEAGUE BOTTOM SIX
Continue reading the main story
Blackburn P 37 GD -14 Pts 40
Wolves P 37 GD -19 Pts 40
Birmingham P 37 GD -20 Pts 39
Blackpool P 37 GD -21 Pts 39
Wigan P 37 GD -22 Pts 39
West Ham P 37 GD -24 Pts 33
Kevin Keen will be in charge of West Ham, and he has said this week that he
wants to be considered for the managerial vacancy. The last time I was at
Upton Park was the Hammers' most recent victory, over Stoke in early March.
Since then they have claimed only two points from a possible 24. However,
Sunderland have conceded 32 goals in their last 13 matches, so it would be a
surprise if this match ends 0-0.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The Hammers have won their last six Premier League games against Sunderland
at Upton Park. It is over a decade since the Black Cats' last top-flight win
at West Ham - Stanislav Varga and Don Hutchison scored in a 2-0 victory on
13 January 2001.
West Ham
The Hammers have taken two points from a possible 24. West Ham's collapse at
Wigan was the first time they had failed to win a Premier League away game
in which they led 2-0 at half-time. If this season's Premier League matches
ended at half-time, the Hammers would be safe in 15th place with 42 points.
Sunderland
The Black Cats need a draw to register their biggest top-flight points total
for 10 years. They have dropped 23 points from winning positions this season
- only Aston Villa (26 points) have fared worse. Sunderland have conceded 32
goals in their last 13 matches.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
West Ham
Cole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league)
Sunderland
Gyan: 11 goals (10 league); Welbeck: 6 goals (6 league)
NB. Darren Bent scored 11 goals (8 league) for Sunderland before joining
Aston Villa.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistant referees: Simon Long & Ceri Richards
Fourth official: Andy D'Urso
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
West Ham (L2-3 v Wigan, a): Green, Spence, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Bridge,
Spector (Parker 60), Hitzlsperger, Collison (Keane 83), Piquionne (Cole 74),
Ba, Hines. Subs not used: Boffin, Upson, Sears, Da Costa.
Sunderland (L1-3 v Wolves, h): Mignolet, Elmohamady, Onuoha, Mensah (Laing
87), Bardsley, Colback, Henderson (Lynch 76), Riveros, Zenden, Malbranque
(Noble 70), Sessegnon. Subs not used: Carson, Cook, Knott, Adams.
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Swindon Town confirm Paolo di Canio as new manager
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 16:13 GMT, Friday, 20 May 2011 17:13 UK
Paolo di Canio has been named as the new manager of Swindon Town. The
controversial former West Ham striker has agreed terms on a two-year deal
and is expected to arrive at the County Ground on Monday. Di Canio, 42, was
one of eight candidates interviewed for the position by Swindon chairman
Jeremy Wray.
"We were very lucky we had a strong shortlist and the board were unanimous
that this was the way to go," Wray told BBC Wiltshire. It is the Italian's
first coaching job in England since he retired from playing in 2008 and but
Wray does not view it as a gamble. "From my point of view you go with the
best in whatever you can find," he said. "I'm far happier to go with someone
who has shown those talents as a player and believe he has the capability to
carry it through as a manager. "For me that is a much stronger thing than
maybe people who we may have tried and not succeeded."
Di Canio follows Paul Hart as the club's permanent manager, after the former
Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth boss left last month following Swindon's
relegation from League One. Former player Paul Bodin was in charge for
Swindon's final two games of the season. Other contenders for the Swindon
role were former Germany and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann,
ex-Scotland boss George Burley and former Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope,
among others. Di Canio scored 48 goals in 118 appearances for West Ham after
joining the London club for £1.7m from Sheffield Wednesday in 1999. He began
his career at Lazio, and also played for Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan, Celtic
and Charlton. As a player he regularly attracted headlines. Playing for
Sheffield Wednesday in 1998, he pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground
after being sent off and was banned for 11 matches. His volleyed goal
against Wimbledon for West Ham in March 2000 was named BBC Goal of the
Season, and in 2001 he won the Fifa Fair Play Award for catching the ball to
ensure the injured Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard could receive prompt
treatment. After returning to Lazio, he was pictured making a raised-arm
fascist salute to a group of the club's supporters, and claimed to be "a
fascist, not a racist".
Di Canio was linked with the vacant manager's role at West Ham following
Avram Grant's dismissal after the club's relegation to the Championship but
co-owner David Sullivan ruled out an approach because of the Italian's lack
of managerial experience. "The problem with Paolo is, although the fans
would love it, I am being realistic and he has no experience whatsoever
being a manager," said Sullivan. "If you look at first-season managers the
failure rate is enormous."
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Pre-season friendly confirmed
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham will face neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road in a
pre-season friendly on Tuesday, 26th July. The Irons will make the short
trip to Dagenham for one of their final pre-season appointments, with the
2011/12 Championship season kicking off in earnest little more than a week
later (6th August).
With both clubs facing up to the reality of being relegated form their
respective leagues last season - West Ham from the Premier League and the
Daggers from League One - both teams are likely to to feature a number of
new signings.
West Ham United: confirmed pre-season dates
Mon, 11 July: BSC Young Boys (n)
Weds, 13 July: FC Basel (n)
Tues, 26 July: Dagenham & Redbridge (a)
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West Ham United V Sunderland - Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2011
By: Preview Percy
It's been a long tiring season for all of us. None more so than Preview
Percy but there again he was old and knackered at the start of it all
anyway. Before we say goodnight to the old so and so and pack him and his
tartan blanket off to Eastbourne for the summer here's his last effort of
the season....
Sunderland at home. 4pm Sunday. No tubes, naturally, although in my copy of
the free Metro newspaper on Friday, Transport For London told West Ham
match-goers that "the impact on their journeys has been minimised as much as
possible". That's alright then, because I'd hate to see how bad they could
have made things had they really been trying to do so.
Let's face it, after last week you don't really care where Sunderland are in
the league or what their current form is – I certainly don't. However, since
this is the last game of the season and the editors won't be back to visit
me at the Mike Dean Home For The Feeble Minded until August, I'll have to
write something as their next delivery of Werther's Originals is going to
have to last at least 3 months. So, for what it's worth, they currently lie
in 14th place on 44 points having won 2 (4-2 at home to Wigan and 2-1 away
at Bolton) and lost 4 (2-3 at West Brom, 0-2 at Birmingham, 0-3 at home to
Fulham and 1-3 at home to Wolves).
Are you still reading this? Ok Well they've been fighting a bit of an injury
list which has meant that the likes of Asamoah Gyan and Man Utd loanee Danny
Welbeck have been missing up front. Both have hamstring problems, whilst
potential replacement Frazier Campbell is on the long term absentee list
with an anterior cruciate ligament injury that is a recurrence of the same
problem that has kept him out of contention for much of the season. Gyan did
resume training this week and the Ghanaian may therefore play some part in
the match. I have a soft spot for him – his penalty miss against Uruguay in
the World Cup went a long way to netting me £150 in the Old Folk's Home
sweep.
As a result of the lack of available forwards they've been starting winger
Ahmed Elmohamady - who, if he isn't known as Elmo amongst his team mates,
damn well ought to be – up front. He's acted as the target figure alongside
Benin midfielder Stephane Sessegnon, a £6m arrival from Paris St Germain.
Sessegnon left PSG under something of a cloud. Having been stuck on the
bench/racing car seats/whatever it is they use in France for much of the
season he finally had a major bust up with the PSG boss Antoine Kombuare
just before Christmas, claiming the manager had insulted him. My French is a
bit rusty after all these years but the gist of the argument appears to have
been Sessegnon's allegation that the boss referred to him as a "jouer de
merde" in a discussion. The boss remembers the discussion getting a bit
heated but not the actual insults. The article then went on to enquire as to
the location of the pen belonging to someone's aunt, though that may just
have been the point at where my schoolboy French skills reached the limit of
my ignorance. Think of it as a Franco-Benin version of Kinnear v N'Zogbia
and you probably won't be far out.
They've got injuries at both ends of the pitch. Once their first choice
custodian, Craig Gordon is out for the duration as an injury hit season has
concluded with an op on an anterior cruciate ligament injury. It seems they
like to have certain injuries in twos up there. Gordon's replacement has
been Belgian cap Simon Mignolet who has yo-yoed in and out of the side as
Bruce struggled to decide which of his 'keepers should be no.1. Rock,
scissor, paper was the accepted method back when I used to play but I expect
these Premiership bosses are too good for that sort of thing.
One player who won't be featuring is Argentinian defender Marcos Angeleri.
Manager Bruce has selected Angeleri but three times this season, much of
which he has spent in treatment for an injury picked up in pre-season.
Angeleri claimed that there was more to his non-selection commenting: "I
think he doesn't like me because I'm not English". Strangely enough these
were the same words uttered by Villa boss Gerrard Houllier after the
protracted transfer of Darren Bent back in January.This prompted Bruce to
angrily deny that he was in any way racist, no doubt adding for good measure
that some of his best friends come from outside the North-East.
There are two ex-Hammers in the squad. Kieron Richardson went to school just
around the corner from the Old Folks Home where I am typing this right now.
Richardson was a trainee at the academy for a while until being poached by
Man Utd. He has a calf/shin injury that will keep him away from playing
until next season.
More familiar to those present will be Anton Ferdinand, whose partnership
with Elliot Ward in the season we last got promoted is fondly remembered in
these parts. Or at least it would be if I could remember anything. Ferdinand
is also recovering from a hamstring problem (there was obviously a special
offer on hamstrings at the local Injury Superstore) but is said to be close
to a return. If he doesn't play you'll probably see him about the place
somewhere if he doesn't get lost.
Oh, you're still here. I suppose you want me to come up with a few lines
about us. Oh well if you insist. Obviously the main topic of conversation in
our local (The Swan and Super-injunction – coaches by appointment only) has
been regarding the identity of the new manager, what with Avram Grant's
services having been dispensed with before the players made the changing
room last weekend. The list of candidates is not that inspiring and the fact
that someone like Allardyce is even being mentioned in the same breath as
the vacancy worries the hell out of me. Allardyce is fond of reminding us
that he could manage Real Madrid so frankly I don't see why we should be the
ones to stand in his way. It's not just the type of football that his teams
play (though frankly that would worry me enough) it's just, well, him.
Neil Warnock is another I'd rather see elsewhere. Let's not forget that this
is someone who has spent the last four years using the club as a diversion
from the fact that he simply isn't good enough to manage in the top flight.
I suppose Wally Downs might welcome the opportunity to flatten him once and
for all though. Perhaps Warnock could take over from Harry up the road
whilst he's away for a while not getting a tan as a guest of Her Majesty
(gawd bless 'er).
If fit this will almost certainly be Scott Parker's swansong. The 3-time
Hammer Of The Year will go with the good wishes of everyone about the club,
having on occasion seemingly been the only thing keeping us afloat at times
this season. Let us not forget that Parker put in some of his best
performances for us at a time when his father was seriously ill. For me one
of the saddest things of all this season was that Mr Parker senior was not
about to see his son pick up the Footballer of the Year award.
If you've bothered to read this far without losing the will to live well
done – you're doing better than me. Parker is of course a bit of a doubt
thanks to the Achilles problem that has plagued him of late. Given that
there is nothing on the game it'd be nice to see him substituted with ten to
play so that he can get a decent send-off I suppose. Otherwise, the usual
injuries will keep the usual players out – Noble (Groin), O'Neill (Ankle),
Dyer (Acne) will all be missing. Ba will however be available for selection
having had sufficient time to recover from signing his name – though
Hitzlsperger's condition is not known.
Last week, well we blew it didn't we - though not without some assistance
from the worst referee in the world. Dean has cost us so many matches over
the years that the only surprise was that he waited as long as he did before
getting involved last week. His decision that James Tomkins was culpable
when N'Zogbia hauled him over was as predictable as the goal which resulted.
I noted last week that that Man Utd always seem to avoid this idiot so it
comes as no surprise that they have him this week in a match that matters
not one jot to them. Very suspicious that. I just hope for Blackpool's sake
that they get a fair rub of the green with him this weekend.
I haven't a clue who we'll start with this week. The side will be picked by
Kevin Keen who, in between telling anyone who will listen that he wants the
job full time if someone will give him a box to stand on, has commented that
he will be picking players willing to "run through brick walls for West
Ham". This isn't much help. I suspect that many footballers would run into a
brick wall if you told them that it was a revolutionary new training
technique or that there was a former Big Brother contestant on the other
side of it. Me? I'd prefer the type of player intelligent enough to find
their way past the brick wall without risking the serious injury that would
inevitably result from trying to demolish the thing using only their
forehead.
Prediction? Do I have to? Oh well, what the heck. They're not in the best of
form. We've got nothing to play for or lose. Let's go for a 2-1 win for us
as we put this whole sorry mess of a season finally to bed.
Enjoy the game – and have a good summer.
(Can I go now?)
Last season Won 1-0 Ilan's 50th minute bundle home was the only goal of the
game. Bruce was left fuming as ref Jones refused to let his side take a
quick free kick as half the home side were off the pitch celebrating a
wrongly-disallowed goal.
Referee: Anthony Taylor – a new one on me. Mainly to be seen in the
Championship, although he has taken about a dozen Premier League games this
season none of them have involved us. Booked two players in the J-League
match between Hiroshima and Kyoto San back in July. Hiroshima won 3-0. I bet
you don't get that level of information in this weekend's programme.
Danger Man: Asamoah Gyan – if fit he'll be the striker to watch. Jordan
Henderson is something of a favourite amongst the Mackems as well.
Daft fact of the week: Amongst Marcos Angeli's knicknames at school were
"Cascarita" meaning "Eggshell" and "Gordo" meaning "Fat Guy". The concept of
Humpty Dumpty hasn't quite reached Argentina then.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Sunderland preview
Hammers will try and lift the despair around their fans with a win
By Soriebah Kajue Last updated: 20th May 2011
SSN
Form guide:
West Ham: LLLLDL
Sunderland: LLWLWL
Injuries:
West Ham: Gary O'Neil, Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas
Sunderland: Gyan, Welbeck, Campbell, Bramble, Gordon, Richardson, Meyler
Sky Bet odds: West Ham Evens Draw 12/5 Sunderland 11/4
Jamie Redknapp's Tip: Jamie's backing Sunderland with a +0.5 goal handicap
at 4/5
Opta stat: Sunderland have lost 27 of their last 37 Premier League games in
London, winning only three of them.
Relegated West Ham will try and salvage some pride as they take on
Sunderland in their final home game. The defeat against Wigan last week
condemned the Hammers to the Championship and led to the immediate dismissal
of manager Avram Grant. Kevin Keen has been appointed caretaker manager for
the final game of the season and there are indications that he would like to
the post on a full-time basis. Numerous departures will be expected from
Upton Park this summer, while at Sunderlandmanager Steve Bruce hopes owner
Ellis Short continues to back him the transfer market over the summer. The
American owner has spent over £55million since taking control of the club
but the raft of injuries has highlighted the limitations of their squad.
Sunderland's crippling injury list saw them tumble from as high as sixth in
February down to 14th in the league. Should the Black Cats get an away win
and results elsewhere go their way they still have an outside chance of
finishing in the top 10.
Team news
Keen has intimated he may give West Ham fans a glimpse of the future by
fielding a young team as they look to blood some youngsters ahead of next
season. A win could help to strengthen Keen's claims for the job and Academy
graduates Zavon Hines, Freddie Sears and Jack Collison are all set to be
included. The Hammers have no fresh injury worries ahead of this game as
Gary O'Neil remains a long-term absentee after undergoing ankle surgery.
Mark Noble and Junior Stanislas look like missing out with hernia injuries.
Bruce still has a host of players unavailable due to injury: Fraizer
Campbell (knee), Craig Gordon (knee), Lee Cattermole (back), Titus Bramble
(knee), Michael Turner (knee), David Meyler (knee), and Danny Welbeck
(hamstring). Marcos Angeleri has returned to Argentina to consult a
specialist over a persistent knee problem.
Asamoah Gyan and Anton Ferdinand have both returned to training after injury
and Bruce may be tempted to use Ferdinand due to his lack of defensive
options.
Possible starting XIs
West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, Bridge, Spector, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Parker,
Hitzlsperger, Cole, Ba, Sears.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Elmohamady, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson,
Colback, Mensah, Malbranque, Zenden, Sessegnon.
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Harry hints at Parker move
Redknapp wants to add strong characters and admires Parker
Last Updated: May 20, 2011 11:24pm
SSN
Harry Redknapp has praised Scott Parker's leadership qualities as he hunts
for strong characters with Premier League experience. Parker has been one of
the few players to come through West Ham's dreadful season with his head
held high after a series of battling performances that saw him win back his
place in the England squad and pick up the Football Writers' Association
(FWA) Player of the Year award. The 30-year-old seems certain to leave Upton
Park after the club's relegation was confirmed last week, with the Londoners
ready to listen to offers for the player. Redknapp failed in a summer bid to
sign Parker last year and he has never hidden his admiration for the
combative midfielder. "Scott is a quiet boy but he is a leader because on
the pitch he leads by example. I'm not just saying necessarily Scott but we
need to find one or two that are that type if we can. "
The Tottenham manager is already starting to think about the type of player
he wants to recruit this summer, and has targeted a couple of authoritative
figures.
He would also prefer to sign a proven British or Premier League player
rather than look abroad, acknowledging that Parker fits the bill. "We lack
one or two strong characters," said Redknapp. "It's important that you have
one or two leaders. I'd rather find players in this country that can do the
job, rather than hope they can do it, if I can. "Scott is a quiet boy but he
is a leader because on the pitch he leads by example. I'm not just saying
necessarily Scott but we need to find one or two that are that type if we
can."
Redknapp admits that Parker's performances have not gone unnoticed by other
top clubs in the league and thinks he could face strong competition for the
midfielder if he decides to lodge a bid. "He is footballer of the year,"
said Redknapp. "There will be a lot of big clubs interested in him.
Liverpool and Arsenal are, I hear. "When you look at the people who have won
that FWA award it's amazing. He will not be going somewhere like he did at
Chelseaand play a little bit here and there. He will want to go somewhere
and be the main player."
Manchester City's Shay Given and Emmanuel Adebayor have both been mentioned
as potential targets, but Redknapp doubts Roberto Mancini's men would sell
to Spurs. "We wouldn't get Shay Given from Man City, they don't seem to want
to deal with us," Redknapp added. "We have tried before to get their
players. I tried to sign Craig Bellamy but they wouldn't let him come here.
"I like Shay Given but I don't know if he's fit either. He has had a bit of
a shoulder problem. It has come out a couple of times, so we will have to
wait and see. "Adebayor would be difficult. I don't know if it's true but
they were talking about him earning £170k a week."
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Gold promises thorough search
West Ham co-owner determined to appoint right man
Last Updated: May 20, 2011 8:24pm
SSN
David Gold has insisted no stone will be left unturned as West Ham strive to
ensure they appoint the right manager as Avram Grant's successor. Grant was
sacked on Sunday after a dramatic defeat to Wigan confirmed the Hammers'
relegation to the Championship. Gold and co-owner David Sullivan are looking
to bring in a replacement as quickly as possible so that the new man has
time to start preparing for next season. However, Gold has promised a
methodical approach in his determination to hand the reins to a manager who
can revive West Ham's fortunes. "We want to do it as fast as we can but we
must do it in a sensible way so that we are absolutely sure that we haven't
missed an opportunity or there is no stone that hasn't been turned. "
"We will be looking at CVs and we will be talking to people," he told Sky
Sports News. "We want to do it as fast as we can but we must do it in a
sensible way so that we are absolutely sure that we haven't missed an
opportunity or there is no stone that hasn't been turned. "We have to take
every possible opportunity to make sure we pick the right person because
this is a very important appointment."
Keen hope
Caretaker manager Kevin Keen, meanwhile, who will take charge for the final
game of the Premier League campaign against Sunderland, has reiterated his
desire to land the role on a permanent basis. "I'm West Ham through and
through," said Keen. "I was here nine years as a player and this is my ninth
season back coaching.
"Anyone who has that connection with the club would love to be given the
opportunity. "But that decision is for the owners and they have a great deal
of experience and they will pick the right man for the football club. "Of
course if the opportunity was given to me it would be a great honour and I
would love to do it."
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Kovac hammers Grant influence
Hammers defender launches scathing attack on former manager's style
By Vasek Kadlec & Mike Barton. Last Updated: May 20, 2011 5:17pm
SSN
West Ham defender Radoslav Kovac has criticised Avram Grant for his poor
management of the club that saw them relegated from the Premier League.
Grant was sacked after one season in charge of the Hammers on Sunday
following their 3-2 loss at Wigan, a result that proved to be the final
straw for owners David Gold and David Sullivan. Former Czech international
Kovac joined the club in January 2009 whilst Gianfranco Zola was manager,
but saw his chances become more limited under Grant. Kovac lambasted the
decisions to sign top quality players but not use them, feeling Grant's
running of the team had been poor and, in consequence, there was a 'horrific
atmosphere' created in the dressing room. "It's a catastrophe and a disgrace
that we have been relegated. We had a team capable of finishing in the top
ten," he told Pravo. "Obinna, Piquionne, Carlton Cole, Robbie Keane, Demba
Ba - all absolutely top-class players, aces. Avram Grant is the man to
blame. "People will think that we are just throwing responsibility and all
the dirt on him, but nobody understands why the club didn't sack him already
in the winter.
Horrific atmosphere
"Even so (by sacking Grant now) everyone has been relieved. Our fans hated
him and there was a horrific atmosphere within the dressing room. "He spent
£40million on players who should have fitted into his ideas. But then they
were not playing anyway. He was not honest. "Before the season I had a great
offer from Stoke City and he told me he would not release me as he counted
on my services. But I wasn't playing often. The same scenario happened again
in the winter. "Not to mention his tactical decisions. The score was even in
some games or we were leading by an odd goal and he replaced a forward with
another one. He was not able to react precisely to how a game developed."
The 31-year-old looks certain to quit the club this summer, with the player
citing that he did not want to stay on due to a lack of first-team
opportunities. "At the moment I am very disappointed and frustrated," he
added. "It has been the worst season in my career. Had I played regularly, I
would have stayed to fight for back-to-back promotion. "But this way, I'm
not the main man to be blamed, that's why I don't want to stay on."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Keen: My flops face flak attack
By PAUL JIGGINS
Published: Today
The Sun
KEVIN KEEN admits West Ham have been 's**t' this season and has warned the
club's flops they face a hostile reception from their own fans tomorrow.
First-team coach Keen will be in charge of the relegated Hammers as they end
a dire season at home to Sunderland. He said: "I think there may be a small
element of the crowd who might want to vent their anger. But we've had a
s**t season, haven't we? "If you can't go to West Ham, pay your money and
shout, as they used to in my day, 'Keen, why don't you try harder you effing
little whatever', then something's wrong. "It's part of football and we must
be big enough and strong enough to deal with it.
"I'm sure the majority of fans, with the side I'm picking, will get right
behind us and help us win."
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Harry has Scott eye on Parker
By CARL LONG
Published: Today
The Sun
HARRY REDKNAPP wants Scott Parker to boss Tottenham's midfield. But the
Spurs boss admits he is facing fierce competition from Liverpool and Arsenal
for the West Ham star. Footballer of the Year Parker hopes to be fit for the
relegated Hammers' final game against Sunderland tomorrow. And as Redknapp
prepares to sit down with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy next week to look at
transfer targets, the England midfielder is high on his list. Having had a
£6million offer turned down in January, Redknapp is determined to get his
man this summer. He said: "Yes, he is a good player, a top player - but
there is a lot of interest. "We'll wait and see. I hear that Arsenal and
Liverpool are in for him. They are top clubs so it will be hard." Redknapp
knows that players with Parker's strength of character are hard to find. The
midfielder has been outstanding for the relegated Hammers despite their
woeful season and put in a star-man performance against Spurs just hours
after his father died. Redknapp added: "I think he is a quiet boy but on the
pitch he leads by example. "We lack one or two strong characters and
experienced leaders that will make us better. "I'm not just saying
necessarily Scott but we need to find one or two that are that type. It's
not easy to find them, though. "Those players aren't around any more. They
are a dying breed, the likes of Jamie Carragher and John Terry."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham will play next season's Championship side against Sunderland, hints
Keen
Published 15:26 20/05/11 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
West Ham caretaker boss Kevin Keen will treat Sunday's match with Sunderland
as "the first game of next season" - and send out players who will be
available in the Championship. Player of the Season Scott Parker, who is set
to leave the exodus this summer, is struggling to be fit. But Keen hinted
England defender Matthew Upson, who is out of contract, will not make his
farewell appearance at Upton Park. Keen must also decide whether to play his
three on-loan stars - Wayne Bridge, Robbie Keane and Victor Obinna. The West
Ham boss, who took over following the sacking of Avram Grant on Sunday,
said: "There is no denying that we're bottom of the league and we've
underperformed. But as far as I'm concerned the first game of next season is
on Sunday. It will be a West Ham side. That's what I want. Players going out
there who will play for the claret and blue shirt, show real desire to play
for that shirt and hopefully show flair and ability that this club deserves.
"I've seen this week that those with a great chance of being here next
season have perhaps trained a little bit more enthusiastically than those
who have a chance of not being here. The majority of the team will be those
appearing next year for us."
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Hammers to name home-grown side while Gyan back in contention for Black Cats
Published 15:35 20/05/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham caretaker manager Kevin Keen will include a strong home-grown
contingent for the final game of the Barclays Premier League season. Zavon
Hines, Jordan Spence, Freddie Sears, Junior Stanislas, James Tomkins and
Jack Collison are all likely to feature for the relegated Hammers at home to
Sunderland while Keen said some of those set to leave in the summer will be
left out. They will be without Mark Noble (hernia) and Gary O'Neil (ankle)
while player of the year Scott Parker has been hampered by an Achilles
problem in recent weeks. Sunderland are set to have a striker available
after Asamoah Gyan returned to training. The Ghana international is battling
back after a hamstring problem, while defender Anton Ferdinand is also back
in training and both could make the squad to face the already-relegated
Hammers. Craig Gordon, Titus Bramble, Michael Turner, David Meyler, Fraizer
Campbell and Marcos Angeleri are all out with knee injuries, while Kieran
Richardson (fractured fibula), Lee Cattermole (back) and Danny Welbeck
(hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
West Ham provisional squad: Green, Jacobsen, Tomkins, Upson, Hitzlsperger,
Piquionne, Spector, Ba, Cole, Boffin, Reid, Da Costa, Boa Morte, Collison,
Keane, Spence, Bridge, Parker, Stanislas, Hines, Sears.
Sunderland provisional squad: Mignolet, Carson, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand,
Bardsley, Riveros, Henderson, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Sessegnon, Zenden,
Colback, Gyan, Noble, Knott, Adams, Lynch, Laing.
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One good Carr beats two old bangers
KUMB,com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2011
By: Brian Evans
Crunch time.
Our club, once famous for appointing managers for the long term is now
seeking to appoint its third manager in 13 months. How did it come to this?
Where did it all go wrong? Not in a George Best laying on a bed in a posh
hotel with Miss World kind of way, but how has our club allowed itself to
join the managerial merry-go-round like almost every other club in the land?
The current search goes way beyond identifying a candidate to recruit,
select, organise and motivate a group of players. It enters the realms of a
battle for the soul of our club. Traditional values of playing the game
properly, in a sporting sense with good technical ability, being weighed up
against the financial imperatives of a rapid return to the Premier League
money train – where to be excluded for more than a year or two can have
disastrous consequences.
The two though are not mutually exclusive. It is possible, contrary to
popular opinion, to play your way out of the nPower league, because there
really is nothing new in football. Training techniques may evolve, technical
analysis with coaching tools such as Prozone may help, but the game is still
about players being able to perform skilful tasks at pace better than their
opponent. The ability to trap the ball, dribble, control the ball with your
head up looking for your team mate, use either foot to a decent standard,
create space by having a good first touch and pass .These are the basic
building blocks players learn at a young age onto which tactics and
positional sense are bolted as they learn the game.
Now some managers work hard at organising their teams – Sam Allerdyce is one
such manager. Sam, schooled in the George Graham 'drill them until they can
do it in their sleep' method will ensure every player knows exactly where he
should be at any point in time: when his side is in possession, when the
opposition is in possession and crucially who does what at the point
possession is lost.
George Graham used to keep his defenders back for extra training daily,
walking around with the ball and telling England Internationals exactly
where they should be stood. Three hour sessions of mind numbing boredom –
but you didn't get 1-0 to the Arsenal by just turning up two minutes before
kick off on a Saturday. For those that ask the question 'what do they do all
week?', well, there's your answer. Similarly, Allerdyce undertakes routines
and with the help of Prozone will coach from a fact-based perspective,
putting huge store in the facts, giving solid feedback to players on how far
and fast they were running at specific periods of a game.
Other managers are scarcely seen on the training ground, preferring to leave
that to coaches and focussing purely upon selecting a side, determining and
communicating specific tactics to the players in order to beat a given
opponent. Martin O'Neil is an advocate of that approach, believing his role
is to motivate first and foremost. Having learned his trade from the master
motivator Brian Clough it's no surprise that it is his preferred area of
expertise.
Do as he says and win lose or draw you'll probably be picked the following
week. Don't do exactly as he says and you can expect a long spell in the
reserves; praise is fulsome, but punishment absolute.
All three of these managers are pragmatists. For them a job involves getting
the players to do theirs and happily set their stall out to win at all
costs. The beautiful game comes way down the list of what is important: it's
not that they are incapable of sending out sides to play attractive football
- because all three have at some point - it's just an instinct subjugated to
the need to accrue points week in week out.
Winning ugly? Why not, after all how many of us get to see a side with
Lampard, Carrick and Cole every week?
Manchester United may well have had Charlton, Best and Law in the 1960s and
in the modern era, Giggs, Beckham and Scholes, but their trophy cabinet
these days is being filled by players who learnt their trade at a different
school. Chelsea Football Club too had one or two decent players in the '60s
and '70s, but really hit pay dirt in terms of stuffing their trophy cabinet
when they bought the best young players around.
Glen Johnson, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard Jnr all learned their trade at a
different school - as did the current Chelsea skipper, John Terry.
The sheer consistency of top drawer players that graduate from the West Ham
Academy is what sets it apart from others. Consider, if you will, you wanted
to select an England side from players currently earning their living
playing in the top two divisions.
Bywater, Konchesky, Ferdinand (R), Terry, Johnson, Carrick, Cole, Lampard,
Richardson, Defoe, Zamora. On the bench - Noble, Ferdinand(A), Tomkins and
Ridgewell.
Ten full internationals already and a few more that could still get a call
up – from one academy, in one era. Astonishing.
Now, that side may not win you a World Cup (we've already done our bit for
Queen and country in that regard) but it wouldn't see itself outplayed by
San Marino. Other countries have benefitted with players such as Ray
Houghton, Matt Holland, Richard Garcia and Jack Collison all graduating
through West Ham United's Academy and going on to represent their country
with distinction.
Has any other academy, with the possible exception of Barcelona produced
such a rich crop of talented players in one era? That, by the way, is a
serious question.
Could Sam Allardyce, Martin O'Neill, Alan Curbishley (himself an academy
product) or any other of those managers currently being linked with our
vacancy present a CV with those names as references as to their coaching
ability? Of those three, only one has any trophies in his managerial
cabinet, the other two gaining their reputations for keeping unfashionable
clubs in the top flight on shoestring budgets.
Some may trot out the tired old line that all managers can coach but not all
coaches can manage, but does anyone seriously believe someone who has
produced sufficient talent to field a full England team would be incapable
of doing the job? Frequently the question is asked about how managers
motivate millionaire footballers; at least Tony Carr could look them in the
eye and say he knew them when they couldn't afford a bike.
How many other managers could reel off such an illustrious list of former
players when pointing out to potential new signings, stars who have
benefitted from his management? Show me your medals Guv? How many do you
want son?
With our likely first team next season almost certain to be made up of the
likes of Fred Sears, James Tomkins, Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Jordan
Spence, Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines, who better to manage them than the
man who taught them their trade ? Supplement that lot with a couple of
hardened pros - who knows , maybe one or two former players may seek to come
back as experienced wise heads - and we'd be on our way.
More than that though, by going with Tony Carr, the club would be seeking to
reconnect with its roots and values. A strong message would be sent out to
supporters by the owners that they understand we want more than mere
survival in the top flight. We want proper football, played by lads we can
identify with, who may have gone to the school we once did, managed by a man
who has earned the right to be given his chance.
When the position became available my initial instinct was to rule Carr out,
not because he couldn't do it, but more because he will eventually have to
suffer the wrath of the fans - so I plumped for Lee Clark as an up and
coming candidate. I've changed my mind.
Why would he feel the wrath of the fans? Why would he not succeed? Why would
he not be every bit as successful managing the first team as the youth team?
The club's choice is clear: buy an old banger with miles on the clock - it
would get us about for sure, but we would never be comfy in it - or go for a
brand new top of the range Carr, luxury motoring, built with top quality
components.
The outstanding candidate is already on the club payroll. Do yourselves a
favour, Mr Sullivan and Mr Gold. You may have a Rolls Royce each but the
club has a better Carr than either of you.
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West Ham winger Barrera and Celtic's Juarez targeted by Club America
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:59 PM on 20th May 2011
Daily Mail
Mexico's Club America are keen to sign West Ham winger Pablo Barrera and
Celtic winger Efrain Juarez after the players' disappointing debut seasons
in British football. Cash-strapped West Ham will listen to offers for
23-year-old Barrera, who has started six Premier League games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
EXCLUSIVE: West Ham caretaker boss Kevin gives the nod to starlet Tombides
By SAMI MOKBEL
Last updated at 11:02 PM on 20th May 2011
Daily Mail
Relegated West Ham will begin their rebuilding plans by handing hot prospect
Dylan Tombides his first taste of first-team football. The 17-year-old -
dubbed the new Harry Kewell in his native Australia - is set to be handed a
place on the bench for tomorrow's visit of Sunderland. Tombides, who is a
left-footed forward, has made a major impression for the Hammers reserve
side this season, which helped him win the club' s academy player of the
year award. Meanwhile, caretaker boss Kevin Keen has warned his
underachieving players that they could be in for a rough ride from
disgruntled fans at Upton Park. He said: 'There may be a small element who
will give the players a hard time - but God we have had a s*** season,
haven't we? 'That is part of football I am afraid and you need to be big
enough and strong enough to deal with it. 'I am sure the majority, with the
team I am picking, will be behind us and want us to get a win.'
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Get me Parker! West Ham midfielder is the top target for Spurs boss Redknapp
By SAMI MOKBEL and MATT LAWTON
Last updated at 5:17 AM on 21st May 2011
Daily Mail
Harry Redknapp will hold talks with chairman Daniel Levy over Tottenham's
summer transfer plans next week - and a move for Footballer of the Year
Scott Parker will be top of his agenda. Redknapp confirmed he wants to bring
the West Ham midfielder to White Hart Lane but knows he faces competition
from Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Spurs manager also revealed that he watched Lille's highly rated forward
Eden Hazard this week, while Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor and Pablo
Osvaldo have all been mentioned as possible targets to spearhead the attempt
to get back into the top four.
His list includes goalkeepers Maarten Stekelenburg, Ben Foster and Shay
Given, who have all been considered as replacements for the error-prone
Heurelho Gomes. Redknapp said: 'I'm sure people are going to be interested
in Scott. I know a couple of other clubs are interested, big clubs, but
we'll wait and see. 'Which clubs? Arsenal and Liverpool. I think they're big
clubs in for him, so it will be hard.' The future of Jermain Defoe could be
a hot topic when Redknapp sits down with Levy.
The Spurs boss, whose team host Birmingham tomorrow, blasted Defoe yesterday
after the England striker again spoke publicly about his frustration at the
lack of first-team football. 'He hasn't played much this year because he
hasn't played well enough to play regularly,' said Redknapp. 'No-one has
more faith in him than me. I signed him at West Ham as a kid, then at
Portsmouth and brought him back to Tottenham. 'He's a fantastic player in my
opinion but his form this year has not been anywhere near where it's been in
the past.' Sportsmail can also reveal Tottenham have moved to sign Porto
forward Falcao as they fear Manchester United may try to poach Luka Modric
this summer.
Modric has been in dazzling form all year and Sir Alex Ferguson is known to
be an admirer. The United boss picked the Croat as his choice for Player of
the Year.
But Redknapp knows he will have to sell players before he can spend, with
Sebastien Bassong, Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate, David Bentley, Niko
Kranjcar, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane candidates to move on.
Redknapp confirmed: 'Probably half a dozen will leave. They're all good
players and no problem, but they want to play.'
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Backing Avram Grant was the West Ham board's big mistake...
By DES KELLY
Last updated at 4:44 AM on 21st May 2011
Daily Mail
They gave him a brand new office you know. It had a desk, a chair, some
different coloured biros and a fancy laptop gizmo that worked out how far
his players had run and how much Kentucky Fried Chicken Benni McCarthy had
eaten. Even then, Avram Grant couldn't hack it. West Ham handed him all the
paper clips his heart desired, yet he was still unable to save the club.
Relegation was his fault entirely. That's the line chief executive Karren
Brady was peddling in her unique take on events this week. Her verdict could
essentially be summed up as one long denial. Of everything. Pleased as
punch: Karren Brady absolved her and her colleagues this week of any blame
for West Ham's relegation Having read her account I could only feel relieved
Brady's attempt to write history is confined to West Ham. If she had been
asked to review something more significant, like the assassination of John F
Kennedy for instance, she may have blamed JFK for putting his head in the
way of the bullet.
Stung by accusations that the Hammers were 'the worst-run club', Brady
declared everyone in a position of authority at the Boleyn Ground should be
exonerated from blame, except the hapless Grant. She claimed: 'Avram's
personal needs were met: a driver, a new office and an upgraded, expensive
analysis system. He was given every chance, but was sadly unable to
deliver.' Let us leave aside the rather unsettling reference to Grant's
'personal needs', since past reports suggest they might involve a good
rub-down at a massage parlour and that is not an image to dwell upon unless
you intend to keep the lights on for the rest of your life. Instead, we will
concentrate on the merits of the blame-shifting exercise currently underway.
For although managers are often cast as the patsy, sometimes it is the
people that put them there who should be called to account. Without straying
too far into territory more familiar to David Gold and David Sullivan, the
Hammers board is currently in more denial than a teenage boy caught by their
mother with a top-shelf magazine. Seriously, who cares whether Brady and Co
gave Grant an office? The fundamental problem was they gave him a job! Three
supposedly streetwise business operators handed the club they had poured
their money into over to a gloomy Gollum of a boss who was always likely to
guide them down the plughole. I am not speaking with the benefit of
hindsight here. At the start of the season I predicted West Ham would be
relegated. In August, when most were sure they had a squad more than
capable of staying up, I warned: 'West Ham will suffer the consequences of
appointing a manager who bows to the bungling interference of the owners.'
And so it came to pass. This is a club hierarchy that loves to say who
should and shouldn't be bought, allowing their favourite agent to pull the
strings, only to squeal the Press when the whole enterprise goes boobs up.
We hear tales of one boardroom figure entering the dressing room to tell
players how to defeat Stoke and there are reports of how a busy agent boasts
he has effectively replaced the sacked chief scout. West Ham's triumvirate
handed Grant (left) the manager's job because he was malleable. He didn't
mind agents going direct to members of the board, he kept quiet when
know-it-alls stuck an oar in on tactics. 'We don't hide our success as
businessmen, or that we came from humble beginnings,' said Brady, with a
distinct lack of anything that could be described as humble. But they seem
to have been doing a good job of hiding that success as businessmen of late.
Brady took particular exception to descriptions of the Hammers' £275-a-head,
end-of-season bash. She insisted it was 'certainly not a party' at all, but
a 'Gala Evening', which sounded very highfalutin, la-de-dah Gunner Graham.
So I looked up the definition of the word gala. It said: 'A festive
occasion, especially a lavish social event or celebration. Characterised by
sumptuous social pleasure, as in "the gala life of the very rich".' So I
think we can say it was a party then, albeit an ill-timed and miserable one.
Brady was not the only boardroom figure talking, however. Gold was
interviewed as soon as Sky could dispatch a camera to his house and claimed
he always found everything was 'very professional' at the training ground.
This contrasted somewhat with the view of Lee Dixon, a fine player and a
pundit who knows what he's talking about. When he visited training he used a
different word. 'Shambles'. There may have been more of the customary stuff
from Gold about those 'humble beginnings', but I confess I wasn't listening
because I was too busy wondering why his helicopter wasn't in the back of
the shot like it usually is.
Sullivan, the last of the three amigos, offered his alibis to another
tabloid and, to be fair, he did say Grant's appointment was 'a bad selection
by the board'. But then he added: 'I confidently predict that this time next
year, we'll all be millionaires!' Apologies, what he actually said was: 'I
confidently predict that this time next year, we'll be back in the Premier
League,' but for some reason I couldn't get Del Boy's version out of my
head. There is little evidence to suggest West Ham's hope of making an
immediate return to the top flight is any more likely to succeed than one of
the Trotters' money-making schemes.
A surprising 73 per cent of relegated clubs fail to return to the Premier
League at the first attempt, despite the parachute payments that cushion
their fall. At least whoever takes on the job knows what to expect:
meddling, muddling and moaning from a hierarchy very keen to maintain their
profile, whatever happens. That was how news that Martin O'Neill had been
offered and eventually rejected the job at the turn of the year became
public knowledge. From then on, Grant was dead in the water (or perhaps
'more dead', baring in mind his usual demeanour). He became so detached he
left the coaching staff to run the show, ignored the details and merely
waited for the sack. By the end, that brand new office Grant had been given
became a handy sanctuary for an occasional nap. Worse still, Sullivan, Gold
and Brady let him snooze West Ham all the way into the Championship.
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Swindon announce 'infectious' Di Canio as their new manager
By Jack Pitt-Brooke
Saturday, 21 May 2011
The Independent
Paolo Di Canio has been appointed the new manager of League Two side Swindon
Town. The Italian, who played much of his career in Britain, will be
formally confirmed and unveiled on Monday. It will be his first coaching
job. Swindon's interim chairman, Jeremy Wray, said he was "delighted" to
announce Di Canio as the full-time successor to Paul Hart, who was dismissed
after less than two months in the role. Neither Hart, nor his caretaker
successor Paul Bodin, could save Swindon from relegation to the fourth tier
for next season. They finished bottom of League One this season, and Di
Canio is now tasked with ensuring their stay in League Two is as brief as
possible. "I'm delighted that we're finally able to announce it, and I can't
wait for Paolo to get here and get started," Wray said. "When you see the
man's passion and love for the game, you will see why he stood out above the
other candidates – he's infectious. He's already shown such pride and
attention to detail, and it's an exciting time for Swindon Town."
The Italian retired from playing in 2008, after a spell with Roman
lower-league team Atletico Roma. Since then he has qualified for his
coaching badges and said this week how keen he would be to fill the vacant
managerial role at his former club West Ham United. "This team has always
been in my heart," he said. "I would give everything for West Ham. I even
have a Hammers tattoo." His lack of coaching experience was the reason he
did not get the West Ham job, according to the club's co-owner David
Sullivan. "The problem with Paolo is, although the fans would love it, I am
being realistic and he has no experience whatsoever being a manager,"
Sullivan said last week. "If you look at first-season managers the failure
rate is enormous. If he had done a season anywhere and was, say, top of
Serie B in Italy with a team, I would take the chance. My heart would say
Paolo and the fans would say Paolo – but with someone who's a complete
novice as a manager, with no experience, you just can't go with it."
West Ham was where Di Canio enjoyed the longest stay of his playing career.
He played at the Boleyn Ground from January 1999 to the summer of 2003,
scoring 57 goals. He had previously had trophy-winning spells at Juventus
and Milan, and also played for Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton
Athletic. At the top level, he started and ended his career at Lazio, where
he muddied his reputation with a fascist salute to supporters in 2005.
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England management to ask West Ham's Robert Green whether he will continue
international retirement
By Jason Burt 10:56PM BST 20 May 2011
The England management will contact goalkeeper Robert Green over the weekend
to ask whether he has changed his mind about quitting international
football.
Green informed Fabio Capello after the recent friendly against Ghana — in
which he did not play — that he did not want to be included in future
squads. The 31-year-old West Ham United player was asked to reconsider his
decision, which was not related to Ben Foster's announcement that he was
taking a break from international duty. Nevertheless it leaves Capello short
of goalkeepers for the Euro 2012 qualifier at home to Switzerland on June 4.
It means that if Green does not change his mind then Fulham reserve David
Stockdale and West Bromwich Albion's Scott Carson will be selected as
understudies to Joe Hart. Stockdale, 25, has been given some opportunities
this season because of injuries to Mark Schwarzer and then his involvement
in the Asian Cup but he is not first choice at his club although he has
impressed Capello, who included him in the squad for the February friendly
against Denmark. Carson, who blundered for England in the Euro 2008
qualifier at home to Croatia in a defeat which cost Steve McClaren his job,
has endured a difficult campaign at West Brom, where his future is in doubt.
Capello has also lost Paul Robinson, who decided to quit England duty last
year. With Green, matters are complicated because his wife gave birth
earlier this week and the England management have been reluctant to disturb
him although there has been some contact. It is expected he will be spoken
to on Saturday, ahead of West Ham's final league game of the season on
Sunday, with Capello due to announce his squad on Monday. However, it is
thought unlikely Green will change his mind.
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WEST HAM COULD BE JUST THE JOB BLUES BOSS IS READY TO WALK
Alex McLeish, left, and David Gold could be reunited at West Ham
Friday May 20,2011
By Matt Law
Daily Express
ALEX McLEISH will consider his future as Birmingham manager after Sunday's
relegation tussle against Tottenham. And the uncertainty surrounding McLeish
is being watched carefully by West Ham as they continue to weigh up
potential successors to Avram Grant. Despite winning their first trophy in
48 years by lifting the Carling Cup in February, Birmingham could be
relegated in this Sunday's five-way showdown. McLeish fears he may be sacked
if Birmingham go down to the Championship, but he could decide it is time to
walk away if the club hold on to their Premier League status. It is
understood McLeish has already been made aware he will have to operate on a
shoestring budget again this summer and could be forced to sell one of the
club's star names, goalkeeper Ben Foster or central defender Roger Johnson.
West Ham have been made aware of the problems at St Andrew's, but would face
competition for the services of McLeish if he leaves Birmingham. Hammers
co-owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, and vice-chairman Karren Brady
were responsible for appointing McLeish as Birmingham's manager in 2007.
Despite the fact McLeish clashed with the former Blues owners over their
involvement in transfers, he maintains a good relationship with them.
Earlier this season Gold said: "I have always felt he is one of the best
managers I have ever worked with. Alex has impressed me and I pay tribute to
what he has done for Birmingham."
The West Ham board fear former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will turn
them down a second time, while Norwich manager Paul Lambert is also being
eyed by Premier League clubs and Sam Allardyce will assess his options. Dave
Jones's position at Cardiff is being monitored. Former West Ham player Chris
Hughton remains a strong candidate and wants the job, while caretaker Kevin
Keen has confirmed he would like to be given the post on a full-time basis.
"I'd love to be given the job," said Keen. "I look at what Brian McDermott
has done with Reading, someone who is very loyal, very hard working, very
humble. And maybe it's time for West Ham to go for someone like that. "I've
spoken to Karren Brady and David Gold briefly and they have promised me they
will seek my opinion. "I feel really strongly the next manager should be
someone with a West Ham background who understands the club."
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ROBERT GREEN SET FOR ENGLAND D-DAY
Daily Express
Saturday May 21,2011
By Paul Joyce
ENGLAND want clarification from Robert Green on whether he wants to follow
Ben Foster in turning his back on the national team. Manager Fabio Capello
names his squad on Monday for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland
and will sound out West Ham goalkeeper Green before then. Birmingham's
Foster is taking a sabbatical from internationals and Green has indicated he
does not want to be considered again. If he sticks to his plan, Fulham's
David Stockdale and Scott Carson of West Brom will understudy Joe Hart
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BOUNCE STRAIGHT BACK OR YOU'LL BE WEST HAMMERED
Daily Star
21st May 2011 By Paul Merson
MANAGING West Ham seems to be the job that no one wants. For me, West Ham is
a proper club. Great support. Always packed. But the way it's going, David
Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady might as well do the manager's job.
They run the club anyway at the moment! They need someone experienced enough
to go in and say: "Get lost, I'm the manager. Let me do my job." They need a
strong character like a Sam Allardyce or Neil Warnock. But they won't get
one, will they? And if they don't go for that sort of person they might as
well do it themselves. West Ham should never have gone down with the
players they had. That is bordering on an absolute joke. But they will have
to get out of that league next year or they are in serious trouble. I mean,
they could be playing at the Olympic Stadium and there will be no one there!
Gold and Sullivan don't even own the whole club. They should go and buy the
rest of it. They've put their money where their mouth is but they've got to
be gamblers now. Parachute payments don't last forever. They've got to take
a big gamble and go for it next year. They have to spend money, get some big
players in and go up. If they don't they are in serious trouble. Everyone
will want to beat West Ham next year. They need good players. It's a
nightmare for them. But they can't blame poor old Avram Grant. They went
with him. He was probably cheap and cheerful, but look what's happened. If
they do that in the Championship they won't get out of it
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