WHUFC.com
Danny Potts was delighted to make his maiden appearance in the first-team
squad
08.11.2011
Last Friday morning, Danny Potts woke up expecting to prepare for the
following day's FA Premier Academy League fixture against Chelsea. He had
just jumped out of the shower when the phone rang and the 17-year-old
defender was told his plans had changed - depending on the fitness of Joey
O'Brien, he could be travelling with the first-team squad for their npower
Championship match at Hull City. As it turned out, O'Brien's tight hamstring
prevented him from taking part, giving Potts the opportunity to not just
travel to Hull, but to sit on the bench as one of the substitutes. "It was
unbelievable," he told West Ham TV. "The only thing in my mind was playing
for the youth team against Chelsea. Then, on Friday morning, I got a call to
tell me to bring my passport and an overnight bag because I was travelling.
"I got to the training ground and I didn't quite know about Joey O'Brien's
fitness and whether or not he was going to travel. Then I found out he
wasn't travelling and I was going to be on the bench. "It was the first time
I have been in the first-team squad and I'm still at a very young age. It's
my target to be in the first team so just to run out on to the pitch to
warm-up was unreal. "I've been on the bench and now I want to be playing. To
be part of it was good but now I want to get on to the pitch, even if it's
just for a matter of minutes. Hopefully if I keep doing what I'm doing, that
will come."
For Potts, his involvement was made all the more special considering it is
less than two years since he was given the all clear following a successful
fight against leukaemia. Having shown great courage and strength to overcome
the blood cancer, the teenager is setting his sights on a pair of new
targets - a professional contract and a first-team debut. "Back then,
football was the least of my worries. To think that not even two years on
from my illness to be here is unbelievable. At that time, there was only one
thing that was important and that was getting back to proper health."
"That pro contract is obviously my main aim and being at Hull has put me in
good stead and I just want to push on, really. If it comes to it, I'll go
out on loan, but I want to be playing for West Ham. "If that means going out
on loan to get experience, then fair enough, but my main target is to play
for West Ham's first team."
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Gillingham XI 2-2 West Ham United XI FT
WHUFC.com
Goals from Brian Montenegro and Danny Potts secure a draw at the Priestfield
Stadium
08.11.2011
GILLINGHAM XI v WEST HAM UNITED XI
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD MATCH
TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 1PM
Final score - Gillingham XI 2-2 West Ham United XI
94 mins - Gillingham kick-off and the final whistle is blown almost
immediately. Just to let you know, the Development Squad will return to
action next Tuesday evening at Whyteleafe FC. Kick-off is at 7.45pm, so
please go along and support both the Hammers and the non-league club.
93 mins - GOAL! How about that! Lee curls over a superb free-kick and the
trialist wins it. Hawkes makes a fantastic reaction save to parry the ball,
but Potts reacts quickest and slams the ball home from six yards. Cue wild
celebrations! What a few days it has been for Potts!
92 mins - The trialist is fouled about 45 yards from the home goal. A last
chance for the Hammers...
91 mins - West Ham win a free-kick on halfway. Potts launches it into the
box but the goalkeeper is again in the right place to make a catch. Two
minutes more, says the referee.
90 mins - Into the final minute and Fanimo streaks away from two defenders
down the left touchline. He crosses, but it's too close to Hawkes and the
goalkeeper makes the catch.
89 mins - Montano gets forward down the right, but a combination of two
defenders head the ball clear.
87 mins - At present Gillingham look the more likely scorers. A cross from
the right is headed behind for a corner by Young. The ball drops to Hare,
who swings his right foot at the ball but it flies over.
86 mins - Payne shoots from about 30 yards, but his effort flies harmlessly
over the top.
83 mins - Hare is on for right-back Evans. Not long to go and West Ham need
to find an equaliser from somewhere.
81 mins - Some more substitutes... Driver and Moncur come off and Chambers
and Fanimo are on. For Gillingham, Hessenthaler replaces Montrose.
80 mins - Gllingham bring on Dack for Brown. West Ham win a corner through
Turgott. Before it is taken, I should tell you that Sebastian Lletget is in
Germany at a United States Under-23 training camp. The corner is taken by
Lee but the trialist heads wide of the far post.
79 mins - A cross comes in from the right and Young heads it goalwards.
Larkins is strong and makes the catch high above his head.
77 mins - Hendon replaces Wearen with a trialist.
75 mins - The corner is headed down and Payne is there in front of Larkins.
He flicks the ball, but the goalkeeper makes a great save to divert the ball
around the post. The second corner is too deep and is cleared.
74 mins - Gillingham break and a harmless through ball is helped into the
path of Brown by Young. The winger looks up and shoots. It's going wide, but
Larkins isn't to know and fingertips the ball out for a corner.
74 mins - Turgott crosses from Montano's lay-off and Haysman dives to head
the ball behind for a corner. Lee takes the corner short to Montano, whose
cross is blocked...
72 mins - Gillingham replace Evans and Oli with Brunt and Haysman for the
final 20 minutes or so.
69 mins - West Ham have numbers forward again. Montenegro lays the ball off
to Moncur, who hits it first-time across the face of the penalty area to
Montano. He controls on his thigh and ignores Lee's calls for a pass before
volleying wide of the left-hand post.
67 mins - King hurts himself making a clearance. I think he has jarred his
knee by catching his boot in the turf. He recovers quickly though and clears
the ball for a throw the next time West Ham attack.
65 mins - Montano gets free down the right. His cross is headed clear to
Moncur, who takes a touch but slams his shot over the top from 22 yards. He
yells in frustration. That was a decent chance. Hendon tells him he has to
hit the target from that range.
64 mins - The game has got really stretched. The ball is pinging from one
end to the other, I'm sure we'll see more goals.
61 mins - GOAL! And now they lead... Oli gets goalside of the defence and
lifts a cute finish over substitute goalkeeper Larkins. The ball settles in
the net and Gillingham are ahead. West Ham respond by bringing on Turgott
for Vose.
60 mins - Payne is almost in again, but Potts gets across to make a vital
slide tackle for a throw. Gillingham are like a different side since the
break, and especially since their goal. It's an amazing thing, is
confidence.
59 mins - Oooh! Montano controls well on his chest and looks to have gone in
behind Essam, but the tall centre-back sticks out a long leg to make a vital
and fine tackle just inside the home penalty area.
58 mins - Gillingham work the free-kick well to Stefan Payne, but his drive
is too high and thuds into the blue seats behind the goal.
57 mins - West Ham are rocking a bit here. Gillingham win the ball back and
break again. Montrose has it inside the Hammers box, but despite some neat
skill, he cannot get a shot away. Wearen clears, but only as far as Rance,
who is fouled by Moncur.
54 mins - GOAL! Gillingham are level courtesy of a quick break. Lee loses
the ball inside the Gills half and a long pass down the right edge of the
box finds Oli. He beats Potts to it and crosses for Stefan Payne, who slides
the ball in from close-range.
52 mins - Another flashpoint as Payne slides in on Montano. Wearen takes
exception and Payne takes exception to the Irishman's reaction. A talking-to
for both players from the referee. West Ham have another free-kick.
51 mins - I'm not sure exactly what started that, but Montrose is on the
floor rolling around and the Gillingham players are surrounding Lee. After a
bit of handbags, West Ham have a free-kick and Montrose is back on the
pitch.
50 mins - That's Gillingham's first shot in a while. Left-back Carter gets
forward but screws his shot wide of the left-hand post.
49 mins - West Ham pass up a golden opportinity to score a second goal.
Montano has two players to aim for inside the box, but just one defender to
miss. His cross is wayward and King heads clear. A second opportunity nearly
falls to the No11 but he is offside.
48 mins - Young is involved, launching a long pass forward for Vose to
chase. It is to the left of the winger and bounces through to Hawkes.
46 mins - The Hammers get the second half underway.
OK, we're nearly ready to get back underway. Gillingham have changed
goalkeepers, with Hawkes replacing Gazzaniga between the sticks. West Ham
have Jake Young on for Demel and have replaced Kurucz with Larkins.
Just to let you know before the second half starts, that the FA Youth Cup
third-round draw will be made on Friday at 1pm. Keep an eye on whufc.com and
the club's twitter feed for the latest news about West Ham's opponents.
Half-time score - Gillingham XI 0-1 West Ham United XI
46 mins - Montano wins a free-kick. The ball is taken short to the
Colombian, but his shot is charged down and the half-time whistle is blown.
45 mins - The action has dried up a bit in the last 20 minutes, but West Ham
are still the better side and a rightfully ahead.
42 mins - Great turn from Montano and he is away and running at the last
line of the Gills defence. He looks to be fouled, but nothing is given and
is then penalised for catching Essam.
40 mins - West Ham win a few throw-ins deep in the Gillingham half, but they
come to nothing. Gillingham break but Demel is there with a strong sliding
challenge on Payne. No signs of any injury there!
36 mins - No joy from this corner as Potts sees his shot blocked and
Gillingham scramble the ball clear again.
35 mins - The corner is taken short by Vose, but the cross to the far post
towards Demel is headed away. West Ham quickly regain possession and Wearen
picks out Vose with a fine pass. He runs at Evans before cutting inside and
curling a low shot that looks destined for the far corner until Gazzaniga
gets a hand to the ball. Another corner...
34 mins - Much better. West Ham keep the ball for about 60 seconds before
Montano latches on to Montenegro's square ball but his shot his blocked. The
ball breaks to Lee, who shoots powerfully from the edge of the penalty area,
but it's blocked behind.
33 mins - To be fair to Gillingham, they've stuck to their task and are back
in the game. The Hammers just need to simplify things and keep possession
and they will create more chances.
31 mins - Gillingham win a couple of corners in quick succession. Carter's
second delivery is far too long and Montrose can only concede a goal kick.
29 mins - The physio has been on to tend to Gillingham right-back Evans, but
the game is now underway again. Driver and Vose combine well down the right
flank, but Montenegro's attempted pass for Montano inside the box is cut
out.
25 mins - Beautiful feet from Lee, whose drag-back loses Payne in midfield.
Lee tries to pick out Montenegro with a 40-yard pass, but it's about a yard
too strong and the ball skips through to Gazzaniga.
23 mins - West Ham are completely in control here. Gillingham are really
struggling to get the ball out of their own half or to keep it for any
length of time. Hendon is urging his players to go forward and put pressure
on their young opponents.
21 mins - Another chance. Wearen plays a superb pass through the midfield to
Lee, who turns, looks up and feeds the ball into the path of Montano. He
takes a touch before shooting left-footed from 18 yards. Gazzaniga blocks
before grabbing the loose ball.
20 mins - Gillingham clear but not for long. Montenegro wins a fifth corner
in the space of about three minutes, but Vose's delivery is low and cleared
on the edge of the penalty area. Real pressure from West Ham.
19 mins - Gillingham clear two corners behind. The third nearly curls in at
the far post but is cleared. Demel picks up possession wide on the right and
wins a fourth flag-kick. Vose drives the ball across and Montrose almost
heads into his own net.
17 mins - Potts has looked so assured so far alongside Demel at the heart of
the West Ham back four. He prompts another attack down the right that sees
Vose cut inside and feed Moncur. The ball is rolled across the edge of the
'D' and Moncur strikes first-time. Gazzaniga flies to his right to push the
ball around the post. That was bound for the top corner.
15 mins - To be fair, West Ham have been well on top for the vast majority
of the game so far and deservedly lead. They are working ever so hard to win
the ball back from their hosts.
13 mins - GOAL! Montenegro's clever flick to Montano leads Essam to head
behind for a corner. Vose curls the ball into the near post and the
Paraguayan flicks a superb header that Gazzaniga can only palm on to the
inside of the far post and into the net.
12 mins - Kurucz is called into action for the first time as Brown controls
and shoots right-footed. The Hungarian is in the right place to make the
catch in front of his face. West Ham break forward...
10 mins - Moncur finds the run of Montenegro down the inside-left channel.
He cuts inside and Moncur passes to Driver, but the full-back's touch lets
him down and he ends up conceding a goal kick as the ball thuds off his
shin.
8 mins - Beautiful football from back to front from the Hammers. Kurucz
passes out to Potts, who plays through the midfield before Montenegro's
flick sends Montano away. He switches wide right to Driver, whose deep cross
is headed behind by Brown. The corner comes over and Wearen challenges the
goalkeeper, who flaps at the ball. Luckily for Gillingham, it squirms just
wide for a goal kick.
6 mins - Gillingham threaten for the first time, but Potts stands firm not
once but twice to block efforts from Montrose. Finally, the ball skips up
and the defender heads clear from the edge of his box. Good stuff from the
young man.
4 mins - West Ham should lead. Montrose gives the ball away in midfield and
West Ham have four men forward to just three defenders. Montano crosses for
Lee, who takes a touch but sees his shot saved by Gazzaniga. The ball breaks
to Montano, who cuts inside but sees his shot skid wide.
3 mins - Driver gets forward and wins a corner. Vose takes it short to
Moncur, but his low cross is cut out. West Ham win the ball back and Montano
gets free down the left. He crosses, but the ball is behind Montenegro.
Gillingham scramble it clear again.
1 min - A long ball forward catches Oli offside and allows West Ham to build
with some patient passing inside their own half. Most of the outfield
players get a touch, which is always welcome early in any game.
1.03pm - Gillingham kick-off shooting from left to right...
1.02pm - We'll kick-off slightly late here. Lee and King shake hands before
breaking away to their positions. Gillingham will get us underway shortly.
12.59pm - Here come Gillingham in their change kit of all black. I am told
their whole team is made up of first-year professionals, while the bench is
filled by a mixture of young professionals and trainees. The match officials
are last to appear complete with very fetching luminous yellow shirts.
12.55pm - The Hammers are back out on the pitch ahead of kick-off. No sign
yet of the home side, but I'm sure it won't be long. There are plenty of
scouts here this afternoon, so I'm sure the young West Ham players will be
keen to impress if they want to secure a loan move before the end of the
month.
Good afternoon and welcome to a chilly and misty MEMS Priestfield Stadium,
the home of League Two promotion-chasers Gillingham, for this afternoon's
Development Squad fixture. Ian Hendon, of course, was assistant manager here
until he moved to West Ham United in the summer.
The big news from Kent is the return of Ivory Coast defender Guy Demel, who
has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury at Tottenham
Hotspur on 12 September. Demel will lineup at centre-back and is expected to
complete 45 minutes as he continues down the comeback trail. The only other
player with first-team experience in Hendon's starting XI is goalkeeper
Peter Kurucz, but Jordan Brown, Olly Lee and Cristian Montano have all been
out on loan at Football League clubs this season. Dom Vose has also been on
loan at Blue Square Premier side Braintree Town in recent weeks.
Lee will captain the Hammers, who will employ a 4-3-3 formation. Kurucz will
play behind a defence of Callum Driver, Demel, Dan Potts and Brown, while
the midfield will be anchored by Eoin Wearen behind Lee and George Moncur.
Montano and Vose will support striker Brian Montenegro.
Gillingham XI: Gazzaniga, Evans, Carter, Rance, King, Essam, Montrose,
Payne, Brown, Oli, Payne
Subs: Hawkes, Brunt, J.Hessenthaler, Dack, Haysman, Hare
West Ham United XI: Kurucz, Driver, Demel, Potts, Brown, Wearen, Moncur,
Lee, Montano, Vose, Montenegro
Subs: Larkins, Chambers, Young, Fanimo, Turgott, Trialist
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West Ham's Cristian Montano in early Swindon Town exit
Page last updated at 17:07 GMT, Tuesday, 8 November 2011
BBC.co.uyk
Swindon Town loanee Cristian Montano has returned to parent club West Ham
earlier than scheduled. The 19-year-old joined the Robins on a month-long
deal on 13 October and scored once in four appearances. He was dropped for
the win over Port Vale on Saturday, and last week boss Paolo di Canio said
he was unsure about offering Montano an extended stay. The Colombian
confirmed his exit on Twitter on Tuesday: "Back home. Played for the
Hammers."
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Top of the Potts
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 8th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
Danny Potts completed a tremedous week by notching a last-gasp equaliser for
the development squad at Gillingham this afternoon. Danny, the son of former
Hammer Steve was called up to the first team squad for the first time at the
KC Stadium last weekend, as Sam Allardyce's team ran out 2-0 winners. And
this afternoon the 17-year-old popped up deep into time added on at the end
of a friendly against Gillingham to snatch a deserved draw for his team and
coach Ian Hendon, against the club from whom the coach was poached during
the summer. The Hammers took the lead just ahead of the quarter-hour mark
when loanee Brian Montenegro nodded home a Dominic Vose corner. The game
remained at 1-0 until the half time break, with the Hammers in good spirit
and form.
However two second half goals from the Gills within seven minutes turned the
game in favour of the home side. The Kent side pulled level just nine
minutes after the restart when Payne scored from close range after a quick
break. They then took the lead on the hour mark through Oli, who cooly
lobbed approaching Hammers 'keeper Jake Larkin. That's how it looked like
staying until 17-year-old Potts was first to react to a loose ball in the
Gillingham six-yard box following a West Ham free kick which the youngster
duly smahed home.
Although Ian Hendon's side was compiled primarily of Academy youngsters, Guy
Demel - yet to make his first team debut despite signing for the club in
August - and the returning Cristian Montano also featured, as did a
mysterious, unnamed triallist.
West Ham Utd XI: Kurucz (Larkins), Driver (Chambers), Demel (Young), Potts,
Brown, Wearen (Trialist), Moncur (Fanimo), Lee, Montano, Vose (Turgott),
Montenegro.
Gillingham XI: Gazzaniga (Hawkes), Evans (Hare), Carter, Rance, King, Essam
(Brunt), Montrose (Hessenthaler), Payne, Brown (Dack), Oli (Haysman), Payne.
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Montano returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 8th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
Cristian Montano has returned to West Ham after an unsuccessful spell on
loan with Paolo Di Canio's Swindon. The Columbian wide player, who enjoyed a
spell on loan at Notts County at the beginning of the season teamed up with
the League Two side and the former Italian striker last month, after ending
his stay at Meadow Lane. However Montano has returned to West Ham a week
earlier than originally planned after being let go by Di Canio, who last
weekend questioned the 19-year-old's commitment and desire to play for his
club. Montano, who was born in Columbia but moved to London as a child with
his family (and therefore holds dual-nationality) is yet to make his first
team debut for West Ham. However he has been included in the development
team that is currently facing Gillingham in Kent this afternoon. We'll have
full details on how that game went later in the day.
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Spurs still under investigation
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 8th November 2011
By: Staff Writer
Police have confirmed that they are continuing to investigate claims that
Tottenham used illegal surveillance methods in order to spy on OPLC and West
Ham United staff. Both West Ham and the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC)
recently made complaints to Police regarding Tottenham's alleged use of
private investigators to obtain personal material. Today, the Police
confirmed that their investigations are continuing, with a spokesman for
Scotland Yard stating: "We can confirm that West Ham Football Club and the
Olympic Park Legacy Company have made allegations to the Metropolitan police
service in respect of the unlawful obtaining of personal information. "These
allegations have been assessed and an investigation has now commenced by
officers from the economic and specialist crime command."
Meanwhile OPLC chairman Baroness Margaret Ford launched a scathing attack on
Tottenham when questioned over the allegations. "The thing that I have
learned in the last 12 months is that there has been all kinds of
behaviour," she blasted. "There has been legal challenges and people have
stood behind it anonymously – all kinds of things have happened. "My board
were put under surveillance by Tottenham Hotspur and the chairman of
Tottenham Hotspur felt confident enough to say that in the Sunday Times
several months ago that all 14 members of my board were put under
surveillance. "The Metropolitan police are now conducting an investigation
into that surveillance. There has been all kinds of behaviour here that I
could not have anticipated which, believe me, has not been pleasant in the
last 12 months."
Despite the evidence to the contrary, Tottenham continue to insist they they
have done no wrong. However that failed to stop Baroness Ford, speaking
about the Olympic Stadium and the hunt for a new tenant, launching into a
second attack on the north London club today. "I am expecting the unexpected
because that is what the last 12 months has taught me," she said. "If people
want then to be vexatious, frivolous and vindictive or whatever they want –
they will do that."
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Spurs deny 'spy' claims
Police investigate allegations that Tottenham ordered surveillance
Last Updated: November 8, 2011 7:05pm
SSN
Tottenham have released a statement hitting back at allegations they ordered
surveillance of all 14 members of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC)
board during their unsuccessful battle for the Olympic Stadium, following
the arrest of a man on suspicion of fraud offences. OPLC chairman Baroness
Ford told the London Assembly on Tuesday that the Metropolitan Police were
now conducting an investigation into that surveillance. The bitterness of
the battle for the Olympic Stadium was publicly laid bare as Ford, head of
the body in charge of securing a viable economic future for the home of the
London 2012 Games, said: "The thing that I have learned in the last 12
months is that there has been all kinds of behaviour. "There has been legal
challenges and people have stood behind it anonymously - all kinds of things
have happened. "My board were put under surveillance by Tottenham Hotspur
and the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur felt confident enough to say that in
the Sunday Times several months ago that all 14 members of my board were put
under surveillance. "The Metropolitan Police are now conducting an
investigation into that surveillance. "There has been all kinds of behaviour
here that I could not have anticipated which, believe me, has not been
pleasant in the last 12 months."
Tottenham were quick to deny the claims in a statement released by law firm
Russell Cooke. The statement read: "The club did not undertake, instruct or
engage any party to conduct surveillance on any member of the OPLC Committee
and we consider the making of this baseless accusation to be wholly
inappropriate and irresponsible. "We totally reject the accusation in the
strongest possible terms."
Vindictive
A deal with West Ham and Newham Council to use the stadium in Stratford,
east London, after the 2012 Games collapsed last month amid legal
challenges, with the Government announcing that the stadium would remain in
public ownership. Tottenham had already lost out to West Ham in the race to
become the OPLC's first choice to move into the stadium after the Games.
Legal challenges by Tottenham and Leyton Orient, plus an anonymous complaint
to the European Commission, had led to fears that court action could drag on
for years while the stadium remained empty. A new tender process is being
launched by the OPLC and the showpiece venue, complete with an athletics
track, will now remain in public ownership and be rented out to an anchor
tenant. Baroness Ford told the London Assembly's Economy, Culture and Sport
(ECS) Committee: "I am expecting the unexpected because that is what the
last 12 months has taught me. "Our job now is to narrow as far as we
possibly can the scope now for legitimate legal challenge in this next
process - that is all that we can do. "If people want then to be vexatious,
frivolous and vindictive or whatever they want - they will do that."
Investigation
ECS committee chairman Dee Doocey said: "I personally find it appalling, and
I am sure I speak for the rest of the committee, at the very idea of your
board being put under surveillance is reprehensible. "It almost beggars
belief that this thing can happen. The idea that any board can be put under
surveillance is absolutely disgraceful." Scotland Yard later confirmed that
the investigation into the surveillance claims are 'very much active', with
a 29-year-old man arrested. A spokesman said: "We can confirm that West Ham
Football Club and the Olympic Park Legacy Company have made allegations to
the Metropolitan Police Service in respect of the unlawful obtaining of
personal information. "These allegations have been assessed and an
investigation has now commenced by officers from the Economic and Specialist
Crime Command."
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Some slack and less stick please
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 8th November 2011
By: Paul Walker
I never thought it would come to this, but I find myself saying that we
really really do need to cut Big Sam some slack and get off the backs of our
team.
This division is so tough, so erratic, so unpredictable, that it is
difficult to make snap judgements over just a couple of games, it's best to
wait for sensible periods of matches to pass before making assessments.
So I have bitten my tongue a few times recently. After the Southampton and
Bristol City games to be more accurate. It's so easy to launch into manager
and players after disappointments, such is the nervous tensions and
frustrations that come with being an Irons fan these past few years - in
fact all the 53 years I've been coming to the Boleyn if I am honest!
Now I find myself calling for understanding and support for Big Sam (I know,
not really what I expected to be saying) after a third of the season has
passed.
I've always respected Sam Allardyce's ability and knowledge as a manager of
great experience. But not always liked much the way he goes about things
some times, as I might have explained in the past.
I recall a good friend of mine, BBC's Alan Green, saying on air once that he
would not pay to watch Sam's Bolton. Big Sam did not take it well. He
doesn't take criticism well.
But he gets results, organises a side well, can make telling changes and
will not stand for anyone not pulling their weight. And that is what is
needed ahead of anything else in this division. The outstanding away wins at
Brighton and now Hull underline that.
So to be second in the table and on course for his pre-season targets at
this stage is a pretty decent achievement considering the whole-sale
rebuilding of a dysfunctional squad that had been needed since last season's
relegation debacle.
But 31 points from 16 games and 28 goals coming from 13 different players
sees us in second spot. The gap between us and seventh placed Leeds is a
healthy six points and it has all been achieved despite an injury crisis
that has seen us regularly without half a team.
Anyone who thought this season was going to a breeze, with us being allowed
to play pretty, passing football while cruising to the top of the table was
living in cloud cuckoo land.
We've lost the sort of Premier League quality that is needed to play like
that. We've had to make up for the loss of quality with effort, experience,
hard work and team spirit. It was never going to be pretty.
Which makes me wish the support at the Boleyn is not so quick to be
critical. You can feel the tension, hear the abuse and cut the frustration
with a knife at times. None of that helps the side.
Maybe I notice it more even this season because the lads I watch the games
with have been joined, unfortunately, next to us by a thick, fat, bald,
tattooed muppet who does nothing else but hurl abuse at the team.
His one song is that annoying, self-depreciating "How sh*t must you be,
we're winning at home". Trouble is he thinks every word he utters is comic
genius, and his depressing attitude spreads to others around us.
If Anton Ferdinand felt he was badly abused at Loftus Road recently, God
knows what he would make of the flow of racist nonsense that flows from the
mouth of this clown.
The general abuse of our own players spreads like a plague. He seems to hate
everyone, Mark Noble being his constant target. The fact that Noble is
playing out of his skin for the team, never hiding when things go wrong and
running himself into the ground clearly escapes him.
I mention this only to underline the need for the home support to be a touch
more understanding of what is going on in front of them.
Our away support, in their marvellous numbers, is a different animal. We are
filling the coffers of this division. Over 4,000 regularly now are
travelling, and their attitude to the team is very different. There is a
bond between fans and players on the road, the away support feels that we
are flag bearers, all in this together and we'll get out of this godforsaken
division together.
There will be well over 6,000 fans at Coventry for our next match. I really
am hoping I enjoy the day better that the trip to St.Mary's, and then the
long drive home after the bitter frustration of the Bristol City game.
Big Sam was clearly annoyed enough with the crowd after that one to say,
"what more do West Ham fans want" in a radio interview I listened to on the
M1. He then felt the need to release the full statistics of the game to
prove a point be felt was not getting across.
He doesn't need to do that, and he doesn't need to keep telling everyone
he's been a manager for 20 years and knows best. But he also deserves praise
for the way this squad has been turned around into a fighting unit.
At Southampton we did not play well and still should still have won.
Watching us play Sam's tactics badly just rubbed it in. But the noise and
support never wavered. I left the ground very upset because Southampton are
not a great team.
They celebrated their win as if they'd won the Champions League. They are
organised, settled and have an excellent new stadium and solid support
behind them.
Ipswich are the only team I have seen outplay us this season, but they are
not consistent enough. But even though, in my view, we have not hit top form
yet this season, we are grinding out results, sticking to the game plan and
working as a team. The current run of 13 points from 18 is praiseworthy
considering the constant injury problems.
Yes, there is a lack of creativity, the ability to unlock a defence. But
having lost Scott Parker, that was always going to be the case. Big Sam
brought in David Bentley and Henri Lansbury on deadline to at least try to
address that problem, and both are sidelined.
Matt Taylor, an outstanding acquisition, has likewise missed matches as has
Joey O'Brien and we haven't even seen Guy Demel yet.
But Sam's side have coped with the disruptions. He talked of 80-90 points
and 60 odd goals this season as promotion targets, and we are on course for
that.
The average points for a second placed promotion place these last ten years
has been 86, with an average of 71 goals.
Last season Norwich went up in second spot with 84 points and 83 goals.
Previously the recent totals have been West Brom 91/89; Birmingham 83/54;
Stoke 79/69; Leicester 92/77; WBA 86/64; Wigan 87/79; Sheffield Utd 90/76;
Birmingham 86/67; WBA 89/61.
On several occasions the gap between second and third has been quite large,
as much as ten points sometimes, so Big Sam would no doubt argue that we
might not need 86 points this time around.
But knowing us, the team that were relegated from the top flight with the
highest-ever points tally recently, we need to be sure. If the final 30
games sees us taking 55 points with 43 more goals, that should see us
promoted.
The Football League Show's Steve Claridge, that ex-Millwall expert, reckoned
that West Ham had disappointed him most in the Championship this season, but
we had found a way to win matches.
He actually made a sound point, while seemingly also expecting us to play
classy football. But you don't get out of this division expecting to play
fancy football, the so-called West Ham way. You get out by matching the
ferocity and pace of the division, and by working your guts out.
We are a third of the way there. Let's all keep our nerve, keep the faith,
get off a few backs and go up together. No team plays well when they keep
getting stick.
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'Bobby Moore must be turning in his grave' -
Ian Wright slams FA over inclusion of Chelsea's John Terry in England squad
8 Nov 2011 13:50:00
By Kavan Young
Goal.com
Former England international Ian Wright has slammed the FA after John Terry
was included in Fabio Capello's squad to play Spain and Sweden. The
ex-Arsenal striker believes the Chelsea captain should have been left out
until the outcome of the investigation over his alleged racist remarks
towards QPR's Anton Ferdinand. He wrote in his column for The Sun: "This
whole situation stinks. We have a young squad looking forward to what should
be a showpiece international but, instead, we are an embarrassment. "In
England, it just seems we find ourselves in one nasty situation after
another. The great Bobby Moore must be turning in his grave." Capello has
confirmed that Terry will miss Saturday's friendly against Spain because he
wants to weigh up alternative options in his squad. Wright added: "The FA
have made a total mess of this. "I understand the fact you're innocent until
proven guilty but that doesn't mean the captain of our country's football
team should be involved in two friendlies while being investigated over
allegations of making racist remarks. "This is a joke. It's embarrassing
that he is involved but blatantly being shielded from any media attention by
not starting either game. So why not leave him out in the first place? "It
seems to me that no one at the FA has the balls to stand up to Terry and
say, 'You may want to play but it would be better in the current climate if
you stayed at home'."
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Guy Demel starts for West Ham United in Gillingham draw
5:20pm Tuesday 8th November 2011
Guardian Series
West Ham defender Guy Demel made his first appearance since September in the
development side's 2-2 draw at Gillingham today. The Ivory Coast
international played his first game since September, following a hamstring
injury, in the Hammers' draw. Paraguay striker Brian Montenegro opened the
scoring for the Irons with a 13th minute header. Gillingham turned the game
around with two goals but the Hammers grabbed a 93rd minute equaliser
through Dan Potts.
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West Ham United sell out allocation for Reading match
5:52pm Tuesday 8th November 2011
Guardian Series
West Ham have confirmed they have sold out their away allocation for the
Reading match next month. The Hammers will take 4,222 fans to their
Championship rivals on Saturday, December 10. West Ham announced yesterday
that they have sold more than 6,000 tickets for the trip to Coventry City
later this month.
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Spurs accused of spying as police make arrest
ROBIN SCOTT-ELLIOT WEDNESDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2011
The Independent
Police yesterday made an arrest as part of an investigation into allegations
that Tottenham Hotspur used private investigators to spy on board members of
the Olympic Park Legacy Company who were to decide the post-Games future of
the 2012 stadium.
Earlier this year West Ham United were chosen ahead of Tottenham as the
tenants for the stadium in Stratford but that deal collapsed last month in
the face of legal challenges by Spurs and Leyton Orient and an anonymous
complaint to the European Commission. The latest twist in an increasingly
bitter saga emerged yesterday when first Baroness Ford, chair of the OPLC,
accused Spurs of putting all 14 board members under surveillance and then
hours later the Metropolitan Police arrested a 29-year-old man in Sussex in
connection with the claims.
Tottenham have vigorously denied Ford's claims, which were made when she
appeared before the London Assembly yesterday to answer questions over the
collapse of the West Ham deal.
Ford told the Assembly: "The thing that I have learned in the last 12 months
is that there has been all kinds of behaviour. There has been legal
challenges and people have stood behind it anonymously – all kinds of things
have happened.
"All 14 members of my board were placed under surveillance by Tottenham
Hotspur... the chairman of Tottenham and the Metropolitan Police are
investigating that."
Tottenham's statement, issued via the north London club's lawyers, said:
"The club did not undertake, instruct or engage any party to conduct
surveillance on any member of the OPLC committee and we consider the making
of this baseless accusation to be wholly inappropriate and irresponsible."
The police operation is being carried out by the Metropolitan Police's
Economic and Specialist Crime Command unit, who are also looking into
complaints by Karren Brady, West Ham's vice-chair, that her phone records
had been illegally obtained. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police
said: "A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Sussex on suspicion of fraud
offences and has been detained at a Sussex police station."
The tender process for the publicly-funded stadium, constructed at a cost of
£500m, is being re-run. West Ham remain firm favourites to move into a
ground that will be reduced from 80,000 to 60,000, but as anchor tenants
with the OPLC, or some other public body, remaining as landlords.
Ford said: "Our job now is to narrow as far as we possibly can the scope now
for legitimate legal challenge in this next process – that is all that we
can do. If people want then to be vexatious, frivolous and vindictive or
whatever they want – they will do that."
The government and Mayor of London have insisted the running track remains,
which effectively ends Tottenham's interest.
Spurs are currently deciding whether to press ahead with developing White
Hart Lane and its surrounds and have been offered financial assistance by
the Mayor to do so.
The future of the stadium may become even more muddied if London fails to
win the rights to host the 2017 World Athletic Championships. The IAAF,
athletics' governing body, will decide between London and Doha in Monaco on
Friday.
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