WHUFC.com
West Ham United skipper Matthew Upson is fit and fighting for Barclays
Premier League survival
01.03.2011
If West Ham United are to stay in the Barclays Premier League, they are
going to need to beat teams above them in the table. Thanks, in part, to a
truly outstanding performance from captain Matthew Upson, the Hammers did
just that in defeating Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday. The England centre-back was
imperious, all but nullifying the threat of £23m Luis Suarez with a strong,
confident and physically-imposing of top-class defensive play. Alongside
Upson, England Under-21 international James Tomkins was equally impressive
as West Ham earned a vital three points in their battle against relegation.
"We had a good, solid game," he said. "We had a good understanding and
worked off each other well. I thought in the first half we really did press
them well and didn't give them opportunities to create too much space. "If
you look at our fixtures, we're going to have to beat team that people don't
expect us to beat. We're running out of teams to play who are in and around
us. Our points have got to come from elsewhere and we've achieved three of
them."
The captain showed great strength and anticipation to deal with the threat
of Suarez, winning countless headers and making a series of important
interceptions. Upson was incorrectly ruled out for the remainder of the
season in some erroneous reports last week and returned from two weeks out
with a performance full of authority and inspiration. "I surprised myself as
I was meant to be out for the season! I don't know where that report came
from but it was a bit premature, whoever got hold of that and decided to
print it. "I haven't wanted to say anything about it because there is
nothing better than putting yourself out on the pitch and playing 90 minutes
and putting it to bed, so I'm pleased about that. "I trained for a couple of
days. I've done quite a bit of rehabilitation work and it's still a little
bit sore and it needs a bit of clearing up, but I'm pleased with it. "It's a
recurrence of an old thing. It's not really an injury as such. It's more of
a niggle and it's causing tension in my achilles so it'll be fine. It's not
a problem."
Upson was particularly strong during a 20-minute period midway through the
second half when Liverpool pushed hard to force their way back into the
match. With West Ham struggling to retain possession the same way they did
during a dominant first-half display, the Reds came on strong, only to find
Upson in no mood to give ground. "I spoke about it at half-time and I really
wanted us to come out in the second half, get hold of the ball and take the
game to Liverpool again - it's our best form of defence. "I didn't want us
to sit off and all of a sudden we're inviting pressure and defending the
edge of our box as that's when things happen - balls drop down in areas you
can't do anything about. "I felt we ran out of a little bit of steam and
didn't quite retain possession as well as we did in the first half and ended
up playing a little bit deep and couldn't get out. I think that's why we
spent 20 to 25 minutes defending our box."
Having overcome the challenge of Liverpool, Upson and his colleagues will
need to re-group and prepare for Stoke City this coming Saturday. The
Potters are famed for their direct approach and aerial barrage from
throw-ins and set-plays, but the No15 is confident West Ham can cope with
everything that is thrown - and kicked - at them. "Stoke is a very different
challenge. It'll be a lot of aerial competition so we'll have to be ready
for that - a lot of second balls and scruffy work. It'll be equally as
difficult but just as important. "It's as tight as ever. If you look at the
bottom four at the moment - the four Ws - and you'd say one of those is
going to stay up this season. Other teams could get dragged in but I think
if we can get back-to-back victories and get a win next week it would be a
huge boost for us."
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Lomas returns
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers skipper Steve Lomas has been appointed as reserve-team
manager
28.02.2011
West Ham United are delighted to announce the appointment of former Hammers
captain Steve Lomas as the club's new reserve-team manager. The 37-year-old
spent eight-and-a-half seasons in the West Ham midfield, making 227
appearances and scoring 13 goals. Lomas also earned 45 caps for Northern
Ireland, scoring three times. After retiring from the game in January 2008,
the popular player took up a short-term coaching role within Norwich City's
Academy before managing United Counties League Premier Division side St
Neots Town, where he worked alongside former Hammers team-mate Michael
Hughes. Lomas has been apppointed following the departure of Alex Dyer, who
has taken the role of assistant manager at Charlton Athletic. With nine
Barclays Premier League fixtures still to play, the new boss is looking
forward to the challenge. "I start work against Arsenal and there are a lot
of first-team players involved which is good. As reserve-team manager, I'll
act as that little buffer etween the young players coming up and obviously
the first teamers coming down. I think the role is also to help the young
professionals along the way."
"I love football so, for me, this job is fantastic. When you're in any job,
you moan about it, but when you're out of it you're desperate to get back
into it.
"Football is in my blood. I've been involved in football for all my life and
it's the only thing I've ever known so it's fantastic for me to come back to
such a great club. I had eight-and-a-half years here that I thoroughly
enjoyed, so to come back and help the young boys to kick-on and make the
first team then that'll be great. "We've got some really good games coming
up, some really good tests - we've got Manchester United away, Sunderland
away and of course Arsenal at home on Tuesday. I'm really excited and really
looking forward to it."
Lomas will take a West Ham squad containing plenty of experience, with the
likes of Radoslav Kovac, Winston Reid, Luis Boa Morte, Pablo Barrera, Julien
Faubert, Zavon Hines and Herita Ilunga all set to be included against the
Gunners. West Ham welcome Arsenal to Bishop's Stortford FC's Woodside Park
full of confidence following a comfortable 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton
Wanderers at the same venue last week.
Kick-off is at 7pm. Admission for season ticket holders is free. Non-season
ticket holder prices are £3 for Adults and £2 for Under-16s. Fans should
note that there is also extensive free car parking available at Woodside
Park.
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Breathtaking Ba
WHUFC.com
Demba Ba is pumped up for the challenges to come after netting yet another
West Ham United goal
28.02.2011
Goals win football matches, and Demba Ba scores goals. Following that logic,
West Ham United have a great opportunity to win enough games between now and
the end of the season to secure their Barclays Premier League status. Ba
netted his third goal in three league appearances - and third in two starts
- to help the Hammers pull off a significant 3-1 home win over Liverpool on
Sunday. The Reds arrived at the Boleyn Ground on something of a roll under
recently-appointed manager Kenny Dalglish, having gone eight matches
unbeaten in all competitions and conceded just three goals in the same
period. With Ba acting as the fulcrum of West Ham's attack in a 4-3-3
formation, the hosts all but nullified their in-form opponents, while
creating a succession of goal-scoring chances themselves against a
previously-miserly Liverpool defence. The 25-year-old's pace, movement and
ability to hold the ball up and create space for himself and his team-mates
pulled centre-backs Martin Skrtel, Jamie Carragher and Danny Wilson all over
the park. Ba crowned a towering individual performance with a fine diving
header on the stroke of half-time, doubling West Ham's lead to 2-0 and
giving his team welcome breathing space. "We were really good. We are very
happy with the result and the way we played was fantastic," he told West Ham
TV. "We are just working hard and we know that if we want to win, then we
have to score goals. That's what we're doing well at the moment and we need
to keep working hard to maintain those kind of performances like we did on
Sunday."
The No21 was just one of a team-full of heroes in claret and blue - with the
impressive displays too numerous to list here. Having pulled off just their
second win of the season over a club in the top six of the table, Ba and his
colleagues are targeting more victories over supposedly superior opposition.
With Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City all
still to play, the Senegal striker knows the Hammers will need to upset the
odds again if they are to do just that. "It was an important result [for our
confidence] because even if Liverpool didn't play that well on Sunday, it
was still Liverpool. After we saw the results that other teams achieved on
Saturday, it was a very important three points."
Before facing the quartet of UEFA Champions League challengers, however,
West Ham go into Saturday's home meeting with Stoke City targeting
back-to-back Barclays Premier League wins for the first time this season.
With Ba firing on all cylinders, that target is well within the Hammers'
grasp. "We still have to work hard this week and will be waiting to get
another win and three more points."
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Scott shoulders the burden
WHUFC.com
Hammer of the Year and England midfielder Scott Parker underlined his class
against Liverpool
28.02.2011
Scott Parker may have stolen the show again with a superb performance in the
3-1 defeat of Liverpool but the No8 was as modest as ever when asked to
reflect. The Hammers talisman got the ball rolling with a fantastic finish
midway through the first half, but it was testament to his will to win that
he was even on the pitch in the first place for what he described as "our
best performance of the season, definitely".
Parker needed an injection in a shoulder problem to play after a fall in
training, although maintained his position was never in doubt. "It's all
right. It's not too bad. I got a bit of treatment on it and I got through
the game, so it was fine. "It was a great build-up and has come to me on the
outside of my foot," he said of his first-time goal that caught Pepe Reina
by surprise and clipped the post before nestling in the net. "I didn't have
any other option but to do that. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't,
but it crept in."
Cue wild celebrations, with Parker letting out a roar before planting a kiss
on a Sky pitchside camera. It was an unbridled moment of joy that summed up
the relief around the ground, which was furthered when Demba Ba headed a
second just before half-time and Carlton Cole wrapped things up off the
bench in the dying moments. It was a great day all round. "We came out and
we were solid first half and we put them under pressure. We obviously
deserved our 2-0 lead. In the second half, they nicked a goal and full
credit to us. "Every time this season when teams do get a goal back, we
stutter a little bit. But obviously we stayed strong and I think it's a
massive relief we got three points."
Parker will be raring to go again next Saturday when Stoke City arrive at
the Boleyn and he is determined to help the team achieve back to back
top-flight wins for the first time this season. "As crazy as it sounds and
the position we're in, as quickly as we're celebrating the three points,
we're looking at next week and thinking, 'If only we can win next week'.
"Back-to-back wins would be crucial. If we can put back-to-back wins
together, it'll be massive. Obviously we're buzzing regarding winning. But
as quickly as we're buzzing, we're looking at Stoke. "It's looking good.
We've got ten games left and they're massive for us. If we can go and win a
few of them then hopefully we can give ourselves a chance. We have certainly
given ourselves a chance of staying up."
Parker said coping with Liverpool cutting the deficit for the final six
minutes and then finding a crucial third showed real progress. "That was a
massive positive for us because our season has been like that - we've let in
a goal and it gets a bit tense because of where we are in the league. We
held out this time and it's a massive three points. We need to push on now.
"We've been playing some nice stuff and every one of us believes we
shouldn't be where we are in the league. But the position doesn't lie. We
haven't performed at times. Hopefully we can push on in the final bit of the
season and get us out of the mess we have put ourselves in."
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Lomas lands reserves post
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Steve Lomas has been named as new reserve team manager of West Ham United.
Lomas, who played for West Ham United between 1997 and 2005 and was the
club's longest-serving player for some time was confirmed as replacement for
the recently-departed Alex Dyer this afternoon. Still only 37, the former
Northern Irish international has spent the last two years learning his trade
as a coach - and is naturally delighted to have been offered the role at
West Ham. "I love football so, for me, this job is fantastic," Lomas told
whufc.com. "When you're in any job, you moan about it, but when you're out
of it you're desperate to get back into it. "Football is in my blood. I've
been involved in football all my life, it's the only thing I've ever known
so it's fantastic for me to come back to such a great club. I had
eight-and-a-half years here that I thoroughly enjoyed, so to come back and
help the young boys to kick-on and make the first team will be great. I'm
really excited and really looking forward to it."
Former club captain Julian Dicks, who was also in the running to replace
Dyer is not thought to have been offered a post.
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Dalglish on... West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Legendary Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish offers an honest assessment of his
side's 3-1 defeat at the Boleyn...
Kenny: can you give us your assessment of that?
Obviously I'm a wee bit disappointed with the way we played. We started
quite comfortable at the beginning but they got the goal and it gave them
something to hold on to, something to believe in. There was nothing really
that West Ham did that surprised us because they're fighting for survival at
the worng end of the table. I think that after they scored the got a lot of
belief in themselves. But we never played as well as we're capable of, we
never passed it as well as we can pass it and we never took the
opportunities that were coming our way.
They went two up just before half time, second half they looked as if they
might get a third one. Then for the last twenty, twenty five minutes we
started to play a wee bit like we can play. We got the goal quite near the
end and I thought maybe we'd steal a point - but Carlton Cole went down the
other end and scored.
There's things going on in the game where you say... there's a couple of
shouts for a penalty and there was just maybe a break of the ball in the box
but there's things that were outside our control that we can't manage. But
we'll be in on Tuesday morning, we'll try and correct the mistakes we made
there today. That's all we can do. I don't know whether it was the aftermath
for some of the boys that were involved on Thursday night because that was a
tough game. We just didn't seem as good as we have been.
Is that as flat as you have been since you came in?
We still got a few opportunities up and around their box. But it's not just
losing the game that gives you the disappointment, it's the way we played as
well. I thin kwe'll be disappointed in the way we played. I'm not trying to
take away any credit whatsoever from West Ham but we only concern ourselves
with us.
What's the early assessment on [Martin] Kelly?
Hamstring, he pulled a hamstring. Raul [Meireles] got a knock but obviously
Martin is more serious.
Did the reshuffle have an effect on you, your shape?
We lost a goal just before half time when Martin had gone off. But we might
have lost a goal if he hadn't have gone off; we don't know, do we. But i
think getting the goal just before half time was a great lift for them as
well.
Do you think Martin is a doubt for next Sunday?
I think with a hamstring he might be struggling, yeah... Raul we don't know.
But I wouldn't take that as given that Martin Kelly's out, I wouldn't know -
but I would have thought that with a hamstring it would be a little bit
longer than a week.
Does Andy Carroll have a chance for Sunday?
We're just analysing Andy every day. He's got ahead of schedule - not well
ahead, but he's better than bang on schedule. We've never pencilled in a
date when Andy was going to play. If Andy's ok, then as soon as he is ok
we'll get him involved but whether it's going to be next week or the week
after that we'll just have to wait and see. There's been nothing that's
happened since he's came in that has had an adverse affect on his progress.
Was he ever a consideration for this game?
For this game? No. Who said that?
You were saying that he's ahead of schedule?
But we never had him in mind for this game, no.
Becasue your form had turned around so well you were looking at the
Champions League spots. Is this a reality check? Is it still something to
aim for?
I don't know what you call it, I just know that it's much more enjoyable
when you sit here having won a game! Not like it is when you've lost and I
should think the players feel exactly the same. They've done fantastic up to
here and I suppose it was always going to be sometime when you lost a game.
Unfortunately it was today, but I think the credit the boys have had,
they've fully deserved - and I think they would be honest and stand up and
say today, they probably got what they deserved - and that was nothing (from
the game).
There was a report on one of the Sundays that you've been offered a two-year
contract. Is there any truth in that?
From whom?
From the club?
Oh. Obviously not! [laughs] I thought the wife was putting me under contract
again!
We've said often enough if there's any news to be told then we'll tell you.
Nobody needs to try and take flyers at it, we're not trying to hide
anything. I said when I came in exactly what I will say now: I'm happy to be
here, I'll do what I want to do for the club that means an awful lot to us.
But if there's any news to be told - on my behalf or anybody else's - we'll
tell you. There's never been a discussion other than the first one so I
don't know where they got that from.
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Ba continues to help the fight
Senegal striker thinks confidence is high after Liverpool win
Last updated: 28th February 2011
SSN
West Ham striker Demba Ba is pleased to be reaping the rewards for his hard
work as he continues to help the club's fight against relegation. The
Senegal international scored his third goal in four appearances for Avram
Grant's side as he contributed to Sunday's 3-1 win over Liverpool. Ba netted
his club's second goal with a well-taken header and the resulting three
points lifted West Ham to 18th position in the Premier League. Only goal
difference has kept Grant's team in the drop zone and their January signing
will continue to give 100 per cent in the scrap for survival. "I train hard
and try to get the best out of myself. That's why I came here to West Ham,"
Ba said in The Sun.
Important
West Ham were deserved winners as they inflicted a first defeat on Kenny
Dalglish's Liverpool since mid-January. Ba said: "We are very happy.
Liverpool are not a team that give away points and we had a good game. "If
you look at the league table it says three points but for the confidence it
is a very good win. "All the games are very important, like the Liverpool
game. "So we are going to focus on the next training session and the Stoke
match on Saturday and work hard to get three points next week. "I haven't
been here the whole season but from what I've seen we're playing well."
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Upson calms injury fears
West Ham skipper staying quiet on future
Last updated: 28th February 2011
SSN
Matthew Upson has declared himself fit to lead West Ham's survival mission
after seeking a second opinion over his Achilles injury, but is staying
quiet on his future beyond the end of the season. The defender was told by
one medic earlier this month that he would not play again this term, but he
returned to captain the Hammers in their 3-1 victory over Liverpool on
Sunday. Upson admits there has been a lot of confusion but, while he still
has not completely overcome the problem, he is happy enough to play on.
"There was a bit of cloudiness on the diagnosis, which was the problem and
probably why it came out that I was out, because it was one verdict," he
said. "I've had a couple of people look at it - it's been a confusing couple
of weeks - but I feel confident about it now and can play 90 minutes." He
added: "It is still a problem I need to sort out. "It's getting a lot
better, so I'm hopeful in the next few weeks I'll clear it up."
Upson recognises just how crucial the win against Liverpool was after
relegation rivals Wolves beat Blackpool on Saturday, while West Ham also
have a tricky set of upcoming fixtures. He said: "We are running out of
teams to play in and around us. We need three points against a team like
Liverpool to stay up. "You always look around you to see where people are
but we have to focus on ourselves. Only three points will do for us at the
moment. "We can nick a draw here and there but we need three-point games
and, if we do that, we will give ourselves every chance."
Happy
Upson's contract expires in the summer and it remains to be seen whether he
will remain at Upton Park. The 31-year-old has refused to be drawn on his
long-term future but insists he is happy with the club. "After a game, you
are emotional and you have an emotional feeling about how things are," he
said.
"I enjoy playing here and always have. The last four years have been
brilliant. "All I can say is that I enjoy my football and what happens next
year will happen. We'll have to wait and see."
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Jacobsen hails Hammers win
West Ham stopper labels victory one of their best
Last updated: 28th February 2011
SSN
West Ham defender Lars Jacobsen believes the club's 3-1 win over Liverpool
was one of their performances of the season. The Hammers moved level on 28
points with West Brom and Wolves on Sunday by brushing aside Kenny
Dalglish's troops at Upton Park. Scott Parker and Demba Ba opened up a 2-0
lead before substitute Carlton Cole made sure of the points late on after
Glen Johnson pulled one back against his former club. Things could barely be
tighter at the bottom courtesy of West Ham's success and ex-Blackburn and
Everton man Jacobsen thinks Avram Grant's side played some 'brilliant'
football.
Performance
The Dane commented: "I think it's one of the top performances, no doubt
about that. "I think it was a fully deserved victory. I know the last 20-25
minutes, we were a little bit on the heels. "I think it's normal in our
situation. You get a little bit scared of conceding goals. "But I think in
the main part of the game, we played brilliant football, we created chances
and we defended well. "Obviously, the three points were very important - we
all know about that. "But, mentally, beating Liverpool is tremendous and
hopefully it can give us a lot going into the next couple of games. "It's
not enough to win. We need to win some more games and hopefully it can help
us, this victory."
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Lomas makes West Ham return
Former skipper back at Upton Park as reserves' boss
Last updated: 28th February 2011
SSN
West Ham have appointed former captain Steve Lomas as their new reserve-team
manager. The Hammers were looking to fill the role after Alex Dyer left to
become assistant manager at Charlton and have welcomed Lomas back to Upton
Park. The 37-year-old came through the ranks at Manchester City before
signing for the Hammers in March 1997. Capped 45 times by Northern Ireland
between 1994 and 2003, Lomas made 227 appearances for West Ham before
leaving for QPR in 2005. He finished his playing career at Gillingham in
January 2008 and had a coaching role in Norwich's academy before enjoying a
successful spell as manager of United Counties League side St Neots Town in
Cambridgeshire. Lomas' first game in charge will be the home game against
Arsenal at Bishop's Stortford FC on Tuesday night. "I start work against
Arsenal and there are a lot of first-team players involved, which is good,"
he told the club's official website. "As reserve-team manager, I'll act as
that little buffer between the young players coming up and the first-teamers
coming down.
Fantastic
"It's fantastic for me to come back to such a great club," Lomas added. "I
had eight-and-a-half years here that I thoroughly enjoyed so to come back
and help the young boys kick on and make the first team, that'll be great."
Lomas' squad for the Arsenal game features the likes of Radoslav Kovac,
Winston Reid, Luis Boa Morte, Pablo Barrera, Julien Faubert, Zavon Hines and
Herita Ilunga.
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Parker plays down display
Hammers ace happy to play with injury
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 28th
February 2011
SSN
Scott Parker played down his heroic efforts after playing through the
pain-barrier to inspire West Ham United to their 3-1 win over Liverpool.
Parker was again the talisman behind the Hammers' play as they sealed a
hugely important win at Upton Park which takes them to within touching
distance of climbing out of the bottom three. Parker, though, was nearly not
involved after he fell onto his shoulder during training on Saturday, which
left him in severe pain and barely able to move. But after treatment and a
course of pain killing injections, he was able to play and he even opened
the scoring in the 3-1 success. "It's not too bad," he insisted when asked
about his injury. "I got a bit of treatment on it and I got through the
game, so it was fine. "It was just a little bit of a knock and that was it,
really. Anybody else would've done exactly the same. "We stayed strong and I
think it's a massive relief we got three points. "As quickly as we're
celebrating the three points, we're looking at next week and thinking, 'If
only we can win next week'. "If we can put back-to-back wins together, it'll
be massive for us."
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Hammers get FA snub over Ashton
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
FA CHIEFS are refusing to pay West Ham a penny in compensation in the battle
over Dean Ashton's early retirement. That is despite settling out of court
with the striker, who was forced to pack up because of an ankle injury
sustained while on England duty in 2006. West Ham are claiming around
£6.8million from the FA and say they are around £4m down after settling
Ashton's contract when he retired 16 months ago. An insider said: "People at
West Ham are confused why the FA seems to have admitted some liability in
the case of the player but seems to have ignored the club's case." Ashton,
27, was initially sidelined for a year and the FA paid his £1.2m wages. He
won an England cap in 2008 but was forced to retire a year later. The FA
declined to comment but West Ham are in talks with a top QC about taking the
matter further.
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West Ham captain Parker plays down injury scare
Published 11:23 28/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Scott Parker played down his latest heroics for West Ham this season,
despite being unable to walk 24 hours before inspiring them to arguably
their best performance of the campaign. Parker turned in another
man-of-the-match display in yesterday's 3-1 win over Liverpool, helping lift
the Hammers back off the foot of the Barclays Premier League. The
30-year-old's contribution was all the more remarkable as it came just three
hours after manager Avram Grant had resigned himself to being without his
talismanic midfielder, who fell on his shoulder during training on Saturday.
But Parker made light of an injury that initially left him unable to move
and required intensive treatment and a pain-killing injection in order for
him to be able to play. "It's not too bad," he said. "Got a bit of treatment
on it and I got through the game, so it was fine."
Grant lavished praise on Parker for his utter commitment to the Hammers'
relegation fight. But the player added: "It was just a little bit of a knock
and that was it, really. "Anybody else would've done exactly the same." The
former Chelsea midfielder was also modest about his latest man-of-the-match
gong, saying: "It's obviously going well for me personally."
Indeed, the only prize that interests Parker is Premier League survival and
yesterday's win was vital to that aim, with just 10 games remaining to
complete a great escape. He set them on their way to a richly-deserved
victory with a sublime opening goal before Demba Ba - fast becoming one of
the signings of the January transfer window - added a second. Glen Johnson
pulled a goal back to set up a nervy finish but Carlton Cole came off the
bench to wrap up the three points. "We stayed strong and I think it's a
massive relief we got three points," said Parker, who immediately turned his
attention to next week's game at Stoke. "As quickly as we're celebrating the
three points, we're looking at next week and thinking, 'If only we can win
next week'." "If we can put back-to-back wins together, it'll be massive for
us."
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The performance we have been waiting for
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 28th February 2011
By: Paul Walker
At last, West Ham produced the kind of display that could change a few minds
about what division we will be playing in next season.
I can't remember the last time I saw us beat Liverpool. Certainly not in the
30-odd years I have lived in the north west and travelled ever-hopefully to
see us get soundly beaten time after time at Anfield.
As for games at the Boleyn, it's also been a long wait considering I missed
the Mark Noble-inspired penalty victory of a couple of years back. My only
real memory of watching us play Liverpool in the east end was the last game
of the season 2-0 defeat that saw us relegated back in 1978.
So witnessing Sunday's outstanding display was just a bit special. And it is
what we have all been waiting for.
A compelling, professional, quality display from front to back for the whole
90-odd minutes. Not just the occasional spell of good play followed by the
rubbish we have been witnessing this season.
Not even the stunning three-goal comeback at West Brom, thanks mainly to a
half-time tirade from Scott Parker. The first 45 minutes at the Hawthorns
were just terrible.
We have needed our season to be energised by an all-action, high-tempo
display for a very long time. And to see us dismantle and out-play Liverpool
was a sheer joy. Parker, of course, was outstanding, playing with a shoulder
injury. Seeing as he has been carrying us all season, it's not surprising
his shoulders hurt.
Matthew Upson - I thought, according to the Daily Mail, that he was out for
the season - also produced one of his best displays of a worryingly
inconsistent season. Demba Ba is a animal of a player up front, Carlton Cole
scored his sixth goal in ten games - and fourth in three - while throughout
the side there were men playing for the shirt.
Because we have messed up against the likes of Birmingham, we now have to
beat sides who are in the top six. So battering Liverpool is a good way to
start, these were three points few expected we could manage and it now means
we must win a minimum of four of our final games.
So, as Parker has already rightly said. We must do this again and again,
starting at home to Stoke on Saturday, otherwise these heroics against a
poor, flat Liverpool side, will be wasted.
Of course, while all Sunday's excitement was going on, Birmingham were
winning the Carling Cup at Wembley. Bet Arsenal hadn't seen that one coming,
so up themselves as they are these days. They have become a patronising,
sneering bunch who don't think opponents should not be allowed to tackle
them.
So returning to the bar at Euston for the train back north, there was the
chance to watch the Brummies take the trophy on TV and realise that could
have been us at Wembley.
It provoked the debate as to what was more important, three points against
Liverpool or a glorious day out at Wembley. And here we have a generation
gap.
Fans of my era have been to Wembley, seen us win cups and a European trophy
and experienced the very best West Ham era. The younger brigade must be
getting a little sick of hearing about '64, '65, '66 and all that.
Certainly the younger generation in my family. My 31-year-old son is now
entrusted by his mum to take me to matches, make sure I don't drink too much
and to try not to lose me!
And he's doing it manfully while putting up with age-old stories of Moore,
Hurst, Peters and my real hero, Johnny Byrne.
And he'd rather have been at Wembley for a cup final. I realised that he has
never seen us win anything, apart from the play-off final. He's seen little
else but relegation battles, Championship football at times with the
occasional decent season.
It's this generation that deserve better. I've seen it all really - apart
from a title success, and that's never going to happen.
We nearly got to this season's Carling final, 12 minutes away I recall
before the Brummies exposed our defensive frailties. We'd even already sent
back our cup final ticket requests.
Now if we can just beat Stoke twice, to grab another vital league win and
then to survive what will be the expected aerial bombardment at the
Britannia stadium in a fortnight, we can at least have one trip to Wembley
this season for a semi-final.
My lad, I recall, had to sit in a pub in Cardiff with his uncle to watch the
2006 FA Cup final against Liverpool because they couldn't get a ticket. That
is the closest he's come to a cup final day out.
The club need to realise it is his generation who deserve some success to
repay their 30 years of loyalty. I still maintain the three points against
Liverpool were more important because the calamity of relegation,
financially, is too horrible to face.
But I too would like to be at Wembley with 40,000 other Irons fans again. I
suppose it is too much to ask for us to avoid the drop and play in a
show-piece game again. Fortune doesn't always have to be hiding.
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West Ham flop McCarthy set for Charlton loan deal
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 1:26 AM on 1st March 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham outcast Benni McCarthy is in talks over a loan deal to League One
promotion challengers Charlton Athletic. The South Africa striker has not
scored for West Ham since his £2.5million move from Blackburn in January
2010. The former Rovers forward has struggled with his weight since
arriving from Ewood Park and has been slapped with hefty fines by the east
London club for failing to meet targets over his fitness. And McCarthy -
who had a brief trial with Queens Park Rangers and then turned down
Sheffield Wednesday - is in line for a move to the Valley after he was
offered, by intermediaries, to Charlton manager Chris Powell. And
Sportsmail understands that if the 33-year-old can prove his fitness, the
south London club would be interested in taking him on loan.
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West Ham must be positive and have belief, says Thomas Hitzlsperger
Victory over Liverpool will instil confidence, says midfielder
'Relegation fight will go to the very last day'
Dominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 February 2011 22.30 GMT
Thomas Hitzlsperger is confident West Ham United's unexpected and impressive
victory over Liverpool will convince the team they can secure enough points
from a daunting run-in to achieve Premier League survival.
Sunday's eye-catching 3-1 success at Upton Park ended Liverpool's
eight-match unbeaten run and moved West Ham from the foot of the table,
providing a timely response to Wolverhampton Wanderers' resounding win over
Blackpool the previous day. Avram Grant's team must play Manchester United,
Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in their final 10 games and
the players should gain confidence from the manner in which they dismantled
sixth-placed Liverpool.
"The way we approach the games is important, being positive and believing we
can beat these teams," said Hitzlsperger, who was impressive alongside Scott
Parker in his second appearance for the club after a lengthy thigh injury.
"Liverpool are a very good side and had played well over the last few weeks
but we had the confidence we could beat them. It starts with work-rate,
closing them down, and we have to treat every game like this – it was not a
cup final but a very important game. It doesn't matter if we're playing
Manchester United or Stoke next week, they are all big games.
"It's pretty straightforward from now on in: we want to stay in the league.
We have been in the bottom three for most of the season and now there are
only 10 games left. It's hard enough as we know the teams we are going to
play against are very good and the next one against Stoke will be tough.
They are a different side with a different style of football but it's close
down there. There are so many that could still get relegated, so it will be
a fight to the very last day."
Only six points cover Everton in ninth place to Wigan Athletic in 20th in a
congested table, offering those currently below the cut-off genuine hope of
survival. West Ham's prospects appear to have been boosted by their boldness
in the January transfer window – the club's hierarchy strengthened
throughout by sanctioning the signings of Robbie Keane, Demba Ba, Gary
O'Neil and Wayne Bridge – and the team have now lost only once in their last
six games in all competitions and have an FA Cup quarter-final, also against
Stoke, to come.
There was encouragement to be taken, too, in Matthew Upson's ability to play
against Liverpool where it had been feared he might miss the rest of the
campaign with an achilles injury. "It is still a problem I need to sort out
but it's getting a lot better, so I'm hopeful in the next few weeks I'll
clear it up," said the England defender.
"There was a bit of cloudiness on the diagnoses, which was the problem and
probably why it came out that I was out, because it was one verdict. But it
isn't the case. I've had a couple of people look at it: it's been a
confusing couple of weeks but I feel confident about it now and can play 90
minutes. It will not require surgery.
"That win against Liverpool was a major part in our survival campaign. The
Wolves result had put us under pressure and, when you look at our fixtures,
we are going to have to get points against teams you would say we would not
beat. We are running out of teams to play in and around us.
We needed three points against a team like Liverpool to stay up. You always
look around you to see where people are but we have to focus on ourselves.
Only three points will do for us at the moment. We can nick a draw here and
there but we need three-point games and, if we do that, we will give
ourselves every chance.
"We have Stoke to come here on Saturday and you can't make games bigger than
they are. Mentally it affects players in a negative way if you do. You just
go into it as Stoke at home. We know what we'll do: it'll be a battle and a
totally different scenario to the Liverpool game. The game will be won or
lost in the air in both boxes and we have to be prepared for that."
West Ham have appointed their former captain Steve Lomas as reserve-team
manager, succeeding Alex Dyer who left to become Charlton's assistant
manager.
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Jacobsen: Defence holds the key to West Ham survival
By Ben Rumsby
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Independent.co.uk
West Ham suddenly cannot stop scoring but Lars Jacobsen admits their Premier
League survival hopes may now rest on preventing goals at the other end. On
Sunday Jacobsen helped the east London side keep their hopes of a great
escape alive as they produced arguably their best performance of the season
to beat Liverpool 3-1 and climb off the foot of the table.
They have now netted 11 goals in their last three games in all competitions,
with Carlton Cole and new loan signing Demba Ba scoring the lion's share.
However, they have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since New
Year's Day and went close to throwing away victory yesterday before Cole
came off the bench to thwart a late Liverpool rally.
"It seems like we're able to score now. We just need to keep a clean sheet,"
said right-back Jacobsen, whose mix-up with team-mate James Tomkins led to
the visitors' goal. "I thought he was going for it and, obviously, he
thought I was going for it. We can't allow that to happen again. It's just
bad."
As well as their strikers, the Hammers' midfielders have also been weighing
in with goals in recent games, Thomas Hitzlsperger scoring on his
long-awaited debut against Burnley and the talismanic Scott Parker finding
the net yesterday.
Jacobsen said: "I think we can score goals from a lot of positions on the
pitch and that certainly makes a difference. It's important to be a threat
from the midfield positions."
The late defensive wobble did not detract from one of West Ham's best
displays since Jacobsen joined the club last summer. The Dane said: "I think
it's one of the top performances, no doubt about that. I think it was a
fully deserved victory. I know the last 20 to 25 minutes, we were a little
bit on the heels. It's normal in our situation. You get a little bit scared
of conceding goals. But in the main part of the game, we played brilliant
football, we created chances and we defended well."
He added: "Obviously, the three points were very important – we all know
about that. But, mentally, beating Liverpool is tremendous and, hopefully,
it can give us a lot going into the next couple of games. It's not enough to
win. We need to win some more games and, hopefully, it can help us, this
victory."
Liverpool's defeat was their first major setback since Kenny Dalglish's
appointment sparked a mini revival. More bad news is expected today on
right-back Martin Kelly, who was forced off with what looked like a serious
hamstring injury. The England Under-21 international, who was due to undergo
a scan, told his club's official website: "I knew straight away I had
injured my hamstring. I took Scott Parker on down the right and when I took
my last touch I felt a pull in my hamstring and there was no way I could
carry on."
With reports suggesting a four-week absence, Kelly looks certain to miss
Sunday's game against Manchester United. He added: "We were all disappointed
with the result and our performance."
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Parker Enters the Pantheon, as Balance is Key to Resurgence and Redemption!
West Ham Till I Die
Scott Parker is a top class midfielder and a player that the club depends
upon. However, with Sunday's display against Liverpool, he has been
elevated to the Pantheon of West Ham's greatest warriors. His guts and
application in playing through the pain of a serious shoulder injury reminds
one of Bonds playing in the 1975 FA Cup Final with a serious foot injury or
carrying on swathed in bandages after a misplaced boot cut open his head!
It is also akin to the personal bravery of a less illustrious Hammer, Mick
McGiven, in insisting on playing on at Anfield in the early 1970s, even
though a a misplaced Liverpool boot had pushed his top teeth back at a right
angle.
To be honest I had dispaired that the guts and bravery of men like Bonds and
McGiven were a thing of the past, currently as out of fashion as loyalty,
honour, altruism and critical thinking! But in Scott Parker we see that
such qualities are not dead and where they exist, they shine like a beacon!
Scott Parker can go on to take his place alongside Bonds, I would not have
claimed that before, but after Sunday, he deserves the honour of the
comparison.
I see that the 'we can do it' tendency has had its hitherto meagre ranks
swollen by the post-match optimism of the Liverpool victory. And there is
no doubt that the club have done themselves a massive favour in taking the
three points. Now it is absolutely crucial that they do what they have
struggled to do this season, show the consistency to put together
back-to-back wins! In a strange sort of way, Stoke City may be even more of
a challenge than Liverpool, because the scousers play football and let
others do likewise, while Stoke City are exponents of a style of
'anti-football' with which we often struggle to cope.
However, the manner in which WBA dominated Stoke City in yesterday evening's
match is very encouraging. West Ham are a better footballing team than WBA
and we ar better equipped to outplay them. However, I feel that the contest
on Saturday will be as much about commitment, discipline and organisation,
as it is about skill. With teams like Stoke City, you need to meet their
physical challenge and then impose your superior playing ability. We did it
in the Carling Cup tie and we can do it again, as long as the attitude is
spot on going in to the match. Lets be focused and get the job done, no
more inconsistency!
Obviously, next Saturday is the key contest, the FA Cup quarter-final is a
nice bonus. We can go up there and get a result, but first things first,
lets get the three points at Upton Park. Who knows, if we can get a really
good result in the PL, that might give us the psychological ascendancy to
then overcome them in the FA Cup. However, to do it our Birmingham
City-Bolton complex must be overcome!
And with Tomkins and Upson standing up to be counted in central defence, and
the impressive combination of Hitzlsperger, Parker and Noble, in midfield,
we can do it. I cannot tell you how glad I was to see Upson back to partner
Tomkins. They are our best centre-back pairing by some distance and it is
important that they stay focused and fit. Similarly, the stability, quality
and assurance of Thomas Hitzlsperger, perfectly balances the drive and
enterprise of Parker and the passing ability of Mark Noble. They look a
really well balanced combination and, it is fairly safe to say, that if
Hitzlsperger had been fit this season we probably would not have struggled
in the way that we have!
Indeed, everyone rightly acknowledges the quality of Hitzlsperger and
Parker, but lets not under-estimate the contribution of the junior partner,
Mark Noble. His vision and passing ability adds crucial quality to the mix
and there is a tendency to under-estimate just how much creativity he brings
to the team. People talk about an alleged lack of pace, yet fail to
acknowledge just how much creativity flows through him! It is about time
that they lay off Noble and started appreciating the quality of his range of
passing. Indeed, his cultured right foot perfectly balances the quality of
Hitzlsperger's left.
It is not continental philosophy, nor rocket science, to know that good
teams are balanced. And in the full-back partnership of Jacobsen and
Bridge, the left feet of Upson and Hitzlsperger we have achieved balance.
That can only be improved with the return to fitness of Victor Obinna and
Jack Collison. Moreover, for the first time this season, we are not
continually playing people out of position nor trying to 'get by' with
square pegs in round holes. And it shows!
Similarly, successful clubs have strength in-depth and healthy competition
for places. If we survive, then the summer needs to see the departure of
the likes of Gabbidon and Boa Morte and a major restructuring of the squad
around our core of quality players and promising youngsters. We must ensure
good competition for places in all 11 positions, because as we have seen
recently, competition drives improved performance! Far too often, the West
Ham squad has been a stagnant pool of complacency and under-performance.
That must end! We must not flirt with relegation again in 2011-12, we must
push on to better things.
Yes, we can survive, but the team cannot rest or indulge itself in any way.
Down that road lies disaster. We must hope for some rare luck with player
fitness and maintain the impressive momentum of the Liverpool display! That
means both wanting the points more than Stoke City, in terms of attitude,
and than imposing our superior quality on them. In short, we need industry
as well as craft in a dialectical synthesis from which our PL status emerges
intact.
The Liverpools, Chelskis and Man Utds present one sort of major challenge,
the Stoke Citys, Boltons and Birmingham Citys another. We must meet both
head on. Indeed, it is interesting that Birmingham City only sit two points
above us now. Once their Carling Cup celebrations are done, they will start
looking nervously at the PL table and the prospect of a resurgent West Ham
on their shoulder. Would it not be a example of that irony that football so
often produces, if the sweetness of cup and PL victory over us, turns in to
the bitterness of relegation for Brum?
I do not tend to be vindictive towards other clubs, but that is one irony
that I would really enjoy!
SJ. Chandos.
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