WHUFC.com
West Ham United have released a statement regarding the FA and Ravel
Morrison
08.02.2012
West Ham United are aware that the FA have written to Ravel Morrison asking
for his observations regarding comments on Twitter. Ravel and the club will
co-operate fully with the FA's request and have until Monday evening to
respond. There will be no further comment from West Ham United or Ravel at
this stage.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Montano returns to Magpies
WHUFC.com
Cristian Montano has re-joined Martin Allen's Notts County on loan until 11
March 2012
08.02.2012
Cristian Montano has re-joined Martin Allen's Notts County on loan until 11
March 2012. The West Ham United youngster enjoyed an outstanding spell with
the npower League One team earlier this term, scoring four times in 12 games
for the Magpies - just four of them starts. The Colombia-born forward
quickly struck up a rapport with the Meadow Lane faithful and both former
West Ham midfielder Allen and the club's supporters are known to be
delighted by his return to the club. Since returning to the Hammers in
October, the 20-year-old has also been loaned to npower League Two sides
Swindon Town and Dagenham and Redbridge, totalling four goals in 14 league
appearances. Weather permitting, Montano could make his second Magpies
'debut' against fellow West Ham loanees Peter Kurucz and Paul McCallum when
Notts County travel to Rochdale on Saturday.
Montano, Kurucz and McCallum are three of eight West Ham players currently
on loan at home and abroad. Pablo Barrera (Real Zaragoza) and Jordan Spence
(Bristol City) are on season-long deals, while Callum Driver (Burton
Albion), George Moncur (AFC Wimbledon) and Ahmed Adulla (Dagenham and
Redbridge) are out on short-term bases.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble is hoping to extend West Ham United's lead at the top of the
table
08.02.2012
Mark Noble produced one of the finest performances of his West Ham United
career in leading the Hammers to victory over Millwall on Saturday. The
long-serving midfielder took the game by the scruff of the neck following
the ninth-minute sending off of captain Kevin Nolan, producing an
outstanding all-round display to earn the Man of the Match award. Noble
completed a memorable afternoon after picking up the SBOBET January Player
of the Month award before kick-off and is now targeting back-to-back wins
over Peterborough United and Southampton as the Hammers seek to stretch
their lead at the top of the npower Championship.
The Millwall victory must have been one of the most gratifying in all your
time as a West Ham United player?
"After what happened early in the game, we obviously had to play for about
85 minutes without our captain and without one of our players. It was tough,
don't get me wrong. It was a tough game. "I thought the boys at the back
were brilliant, Tonks [James Tomkins] was brilliant and Coley up front was
fantastic. Julien on the wide right was brilliant and Jack Collison and then
Matty Taylor in the second half came on and filled in. "Everybody was at
their best and that's what we needed after going down to ten men. The energy
and the commitment the boys showed was fantastic and they should be proud of
themselves."
You appeared to make a conscious effort to lead by example. Would that be a
fair observation?
"After Nobby was sent-off, I could imagine how everyone felt putting their
heads down and thinking we had 90 per cent of the game to play with ten men.
I wanted to get on the ball, get the tempo up and get the crowd with us and
hopefully the boys fed off that. "Credit to us because we went in 1-0 up
with a great header from Coley and then we came out and we thoroughly
deserved what we got."
Winston Reid's winner was a spectacular strike. Were you a bit shocked by
the quality of his first-time finish?
"Reidy is technically a very good player. On the floor he can play and,
funnily enough, he has got some skills as well but obviously you don't see
them too much because I think the gaffer would kill him if he tried them!
"He's technically very good and when the ball dropped to him I was just over
the moon that he stuck it away."
You looked overjoyed at full-time, punching the air and jumping around the
pitch. That result must have meant a lot to you?
"It's not just because it was Millwall or anything like that. It wasn't
about that. We needed to bounce back from the Ipswich game, which was
nowhere near good enough by anyone's standards. "On Saturday, playing
against Millwall was a time to resurrect ourselves and become a team and
become men again. I thought we did that."
We play Peterborough United and Southampton in the space of four days. How
important is it that we turn our record of four wins in five league matches
to six victories out of seven?
"We've got Peterborough away and Southampton at home. Saying that, every
game is massive in this league. We went away to Ipswich the other day and
got thrashed but that's what happens. "This league is a tough league and if
you are not on 100 per cent on it energy-wise and as a team, there is every
chance you are going to get beaten. On Saturday, everyone was on it and
that's what we want."
Is it fair to say that if we played with the same intensity that we showed
against Millwall in every game, we would win more matches?
"It's hard to say that. When you've got ten men, I think everybody realises
that they have got to put that little bit extra in. Obviously, if you play
with that energy like we did, you will win more games than you lose and
that's what we have done. "We have not played the best in a lot of games but
we're ticking off the wins and that's all that matters. If we get promoted
in the summer, everyone will be over the moon."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Notts County sign Cristian Montano for second loan spell
BBC.co.uk
Notts County have signed West Ham striker Cristian Montano for a second loan
spell. Montano, who has signed a one-month deal, first joined the Magpies in
August and has since had loan spells at Swindon Town and Dagenham &
Redbridge. The 20-year-old scored four goals in 12 games for the Magpies,
but only four of those appearances were starts. Boss Martin Allen said: "I'm
delighted. It's good for the supporters, the team and a real boost for
everyone."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FA ask West Ham's Ravel Morrison about Twitter comments
BBC.co.uk
The Football Association has written to West Ham's Ravel Morrison over
recent comments made on Twitter. The FA has given the 18-year-old former
Manchester United midfielder until Monday to respond. A statement on the
West Ham website said : "We are aware the FA has written to Ravel asking
for his observations regarding comments on Twitter. "Ravel and the club will
co-operate with the FA's request and have until Monday evening to respond."
It continued: "There will be no further comment from West Ham United or
Ravel at this stage." Morrison arrived at Upton Park in January on a
three-and-a-half-year deal after moving through the youth ranks at Old
Trafford.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
He's here, he's there, he's every-flaming-where...
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Cristian Montano has returned to Notts County on loan - his FOURTH loan
spell of the current campaign. The 20-year-old Columbian forward was hotly
tipped to break through to West Ham's first team during the current campaign
but has instead spent the season on loan with Notts County (August to
October), Swindon Town (October to November) and Dagenham & Redbridge
(November to February). However Montano was on the move again today after it
was confirmed that he would be returning to League One club County for an
indefinite period of time. Magpies boss Martin 'Mad Dog' Allen, who played
for West Ham between 1989 and 1995 told the club's website: "I am delighted
that Cristiano has rejoined us. It's good for the supporters, good for the
team and a real boost for everyone involved with Notts County Football
Club."
Montano's original spell at Meadow Lane saw him net four goals in 12
appearances at the beginning of the current campaign. However he was
recalled to Upton Park in October to cover for injuries. Having failed to
make his first team debut, the youngster soon moved west to join another
former Hammer, Paolo Di Canio, at League Two Swindon Town - although he was
to make just four appearances at the County Ground after falling out with
the Italian who questioned his commitment levels.
After making a couple of appearances for Ian Hendon's development squad,
Montano was picked up by the Daggers for whom he made 10 appearances,
scoring three times in the process. Despite agreeing to extend his loan at
Victoria Park in mid-January, the surprise news of his return to Notts
County - for an indefinite period - was announced earlier today.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In the clear
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham United manager Harry Redknapp has been cleared of all
charges relating to tax evasion. The 64-year-old current manager of
Tottenham Hotspur was acquitted of all charges this lunchtime following a
two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. Milan Mandaric, the current owner
of Sheffield Wednesday who was charged alongside Redknapp was also cleared
of all charges by the jury which consisted of eight women and four men.
Redknapp has been charged with cheating the public purse with regards to
payments made by Mandaric to an offshore bank account in the name of
'Rosie47' - a combination of the name of one of Redknapp's dogs and the year
of his birth. Speaking outside the court, a freshly exonerated Redknapp
said: "I'm really just looking forward to getting home . It has been a
nightmare, I've got to be honest."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Statement on Morrison
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 8th February 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have issued a statement after new signing Ravel Morrison was
accused of making a homophobic comment via Twitter. The 19-year-old former
Manchester United youngster - who is yet to kick a ball in anger for his new
club - is understood to have referred to an unnamed individual as a
'faggot', after he was abused via the popular social network by the keyboard
warrior. As a result, a number of sources - many of whom will probably have
never heard of the player - have leapt to condemn Morrison for his comment,
which it has been assumed by those sources was a homophobic reference. This
afternoon West Ham released a statement confirming that they would be
speaking with the FA in due course. "West Ham United are aware that the FA
have written to Ravel Morrison asking for his observations regarding
comments on Twitter," it read. "Ravel and the club will co-operate fully
with the FA's request and have until Monday evening to respond. There will
be no further comment from West Ham United or Ravel at this stage."
Faggot: the many meanings
(sources: dictionary.reference.com, urbandictionary.com)
1. A contemptuous word for a woman
2. A bundle of iron bars
3. A bundle of something
4. A ball of chopped meat, traditional fayre in Wales and the Midlands
5. An offensive reference to a homosexual
6. A stupid person
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hess hints at signing Lee
Last Updated: February 8, 2012 3:06pm
SSN
Manager Andy Hessenthaler has hinted Gillingham could make West Ham trialist
Oliver Lee a permanent signing. The 20-year-old midfielder, who is the son
of former Newcastle and England midfielder Rob, is out of contract with the
Hammers this summer and has impressed Hessenthaler since arriving at
Priestfield on a trial basis.
He told Kent News: "The lad's got massive potential because of where he's
been and where he is. "West Ham have pretty much told him he won't be
offered a deal at the end of the season and I spoke to Ian (Hendon, West
Ham's development coach) and we've got an opportunity to have a look at him.
"He's comfortable on the ball and if he's anything like his dad we've got a
decent player on our hands. If it's right for us maybe we could do something
with him. "Sometimes it's not so much do we need a player like that, but is
it a good player you're letting go?"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Evans: Crawley star in demand
Last Updated: February 8, 2012 2:27pm
SSN
Crawley boss Steve Evans admits several top Championship clubs will be
trying to sign Tyrone Barnett in the summer. Striker Barnett scored twice in
the 4-2 win over Cheltenham on Tuesday night. Sanchez Watt, on loan from
Arsenal, also scored two goals to lift Crawley, who have lost only one of
their last 23 games in all competitions, above Cheltenham to the top of
League Two. Barnett, who now has 15 goals this season, rejected a £900,000
move to Blackpool during the January transfer window after failing to agree
personal terms. Crawley boss Steve Evans said: "I'm sure we'll get a few
more phone calls now. "We had West Ham here and Peterborough, a host of top
Championship clubs are interested, and his first goal was simply the best
I've seen. "If it had been scored in a Premier League match you would have
seen it replayed over and over. It was sensational." Luke Garbutt had given
Cheltenham an early lead but Watt and Barnett took over before Darryl
Duffygrabbed a late consolation.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Noble Shows his Quality, as Tomkins Also Demonstrates his Adaptability!
February 9th, 2012 - 2:59 am by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Mark Noble has been outstanding in recent matches. Against Millwall he
bossed the midfield, putting in excellent tackles and directing play. He
finally looks like the Mark Noble of 2006-07, who played such an influential
role in the 'great escape' from relegation. Hopefully, Noble has now
finally made the transition from promising youngster to senior professional.
Of course there will be those that will argue that Noble is merely shining
because he has found his level. The rationale being that Noble is not PL
class and has 'found his level' in Championship football. Well, I do not
think that is the case, but the critics will only be convinced when Noble
continues (hopefully with a promoted Hammers side) his excellent form in the
PL next season.
Personally, I have always suspected that Scott Parker's dominating presence
in West Ham's midfield tended to inhibit Noble. Whereas playing alongside
Kevin Nolan, he seems to have been actively encouraged to probe the
opposition get on the ball and dictate our forward play. Indeed, it is
interesting that some commentators, after Saturday's match, likened Noble's
all-action midfield display to Parker's dynamic perfoprmances in a claret
and blue shirt. It certainly needed a player to step up to the plate and
take responsibility, after Nolan's red card dismissal. With 80 minutes plus
still to play, there was the possibility that Millwall might make the extra
man count. Of course that possibility was extinguished with the advent of a
fine fighting performance, with an outstanding Mark Noble at its heart.
There is no doubt that Noble should now be appointed stand-in Captain during
the period of Nolan's suspension, he has earnt that honour.
As for Kevin Nolan's dismissal, it was a potentially a dangerous tackle,
although the actual contact with the Millwall player was minimal. However,
admittedly, it was a two footed challenge and, in the current climate, that
was sufficient to guarantee a red card. Players need to tackle and win
possession, but the modern professional has to make split second decisions
whether to make the challenge or not. Get it wrong and they share Nolan's
fate, but what kind of game would football become if tackling and physical
contact was eradicated? Not one that I would enjoy watching. Of course,
the correct way to do it was demonstrated by Noble, whose every tackle on
Saturday was perfectly timed.
The Millwall match was not distinguished by the quality of the refereeing.
The official got so many decisions wrong, not least the tendency to ignore
the wrestling holds put on Carlton Cole and, instead, award free kicks to
the Milwall tag-team masquerading as their centre back partnership. In many
ways, the muscular tactics of the Millwall centre backs was a compliment to
the power and quality of Cole's centre forward display, but it was also
incredibly harsh at times. Yet, the referee obviously saw nothing wrong
with Faubert's contact with the Millwall goal keeper, in the lead up to
Reid's superb winning strike. Ironic really, when you consider just how
protected goal keepers are these days and how 9 times out of 10 the 50/50
challenges are awarded the keeper's way. I also found Faubert's post-match
comment interesting that Sam Allardyce, at half-time, had told the forwards
to pressurize Forde. Allardyce obviously thought the Millwall keeper was
vulnerable when put under pressure and so it proved. Still, lets not look a
gift horse in the mouth, West Ham deserved the win and all promotion winning
sides enjoy some luck along the way.
As for Tomkins playing the anchor role, in front of the central defenders, I
thought he did a good job. And why not, he is mobile, can tackle and is
good at distributing the ball. Whilst, admittedly, I do prefer Tomkins in
central defence, his ability to play this role could give us increased
tactical options in future. I have always been interested in the system
whereby the midfield anchor drops back in to the defence to form a three at
the back, allowing the full-backs to push forward, when on the attack. You
may recall Gareth Southgate playing that role for Terry Venables during his
stint as England coach in the mid-1990s. James Tomkins is an outstanding
young centre-half and very much the future of our club. Demonstrating this
type of adaptability will only add further to his already growing
reputation.
As for Jack Collison, again, there are those who are ready to write him off
as a PL quality player. There is no doubt that Collison has not quite
recaptured his prior form, since returning from his recent lengthy injury
absence, but he will get there. Collison shows flashes of his ability and
you cannot fault his application and work rate. I feel that it is simply a
matter of him playing his way back to form. We just need to have patience
and faith in his ability. Indeed, with Nolan's pending three match
suspension, there is a case for playing Collison in a central midfield slot,
alongside Mark Noble, rather than out on the left or right flank.
Obviously, the likes of Lansbury and Diop will come into contention as well,
but a Noble-Collison partnership could facilitate playing Julien Faubert or
Ricardo Vaz Te on the right and Matt Taylor on the left flank. Perhaps, it
might even tempt Sam Allardyce to partner Cole with Maynard or Baldock up
front, against Peterborought? Maybe, but I would not bet on it! We are far
more likely to see a 4-5-1, come 4-3-3, depending on how you view the
formation, at London Road.
However, I do hope that Sam Allardyce plays a more attacking formation
against Southampton, the following Tuesday evening. This is a crunch match
and we need to attack and take the three points. I believe that we made the
mistake of trying to stifle Southamption in the corresponding fixture,
earlier in the seasaon, and merely succeeded in handing them the initiative.
We never recovered and were lucky to only concede the two goals. The
alternative view is that we should play it tight and hit Saints on the
counter-attack. Indeed, one could argue that the Saints match is one of
those that it is more important that we do not lose. Yet, there are clear
signs that Southampton's 'wheels have finally started to come off,' not
least the defeat to Leicester City and the surprise reverse to Millwall in
the FA Cup. In the circumstances the best policy might well be to attack
the Saints, grab a decisive victory under the lights at Upton Park and
finally start negating the tendency, so far this season, to perform poorly
in mid-week fixtures.
It seems that the West Ham management are reaching conclusions with regard
to some of our younger players, with it being reported that the likes of
Matt Fry, Oliver Lee and Jordan Brown are not being given new deals. Whilst
it is disappointing, it is clear that a decision needed to be made on some
of these players. It benefits neither the club nor the players concerned to
stagnate in the reserves, long term, if they are never going to make the
step up. Of course, there is always the possibility that a player is a late
developers or the club just get it wrong, a la Ray Houghton. But if it is
the sound judgement of the coaches that some young prospects are not going
to be of sufficient quality, then I am reminded of Sir Bobby Robson's
observation that if a top level club holds on to lower league quality
youngsters, then it is likely that the club, itself, will eventually become
lower league! It is harsh, but that is the way that it is I am afraid. I
am truly disappointed for Fry, Lee and Brown and I wish them well in their
future fotballing careers. But the imperative may be to clear the way for
other emerging talent like Potts, Moncur, Hall, Voce, et al. Three other
younger players whose fate may be decided this summer are Spence, Montano
and Nouble. My view is that Montano has real potential and both Spence and
Nouble should be given more time. We will have to wait and see what
happens?
Finally, farewell Capello, so who is favourite to succeed him? Will they go
for a caretaker to see England through the Euro-Championship finals or make
a permanent appointment? I guess it all depends who is available at this
particular juncture? Are there any candidates likely to emerge from left
field? The next month or two should be very interesting in terms of these
and other related issues!
SJ. Chandos.
ps. I said that the England situation was likely to become interesting and
the early speculation in the press is that a caretaker combination of Stuart
Pearce and Trevor Brooking will be appointed by the FA, to take charge of
the England Squad, for the forthcoming friendly against Holland. Could it
then emerge as the caretaker arrangement to take us through this Summer's
Euro-Championship Finals? An intriguing prospect!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Morrison told to explain homophobic tweet to West Ham staff
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
Last updated at 11:07 PM on 8th February 2012
Daily Mail
Ravel Morrison will be hauled in front of senior West Ham staff on Thursday
to explain the homophobic comments he made on Twitter. Morrison had a day
off on Wednesday so will be asked to explain his comments to non-football
personnel, including club secretary Andrew Pincher, on Thursday. The FA have
written to the 19-year-old, who has yet to play for West Ham following his
£650,000 move from Manchester United, asking for his 'observations' on the
matter. Morrison has until Monday to respond. The midfielder has deleted
the offending tweet, but still faces an FA charge. The FA's guidelines on
social networking, published earlier this year, state: 'Any comments which
are deemed improper, bring the game into disrepute, or are threatening,
abusive, indecent or insulting may lead to disciplinary action.
'Comments which are personal in nature or could be construed as offensive,
use foul language or contain direct or indirect threats aimed at other
participants are likely to be considered improper.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lawyers tried to fight charges by referring to case of 1966 World Cup winner
Bobby Moore's tax-free payments
Telegraph.co.uk
By Tom Cary12:12AM GMT 09 Feb 2012
Lawyers for Harry Redknapp and Milan Mandaric tried to have the tax evasion
charges filed against them thrown out by using a legal precedent from a 1972
case involving Redknapp's former West Ham team-mate and England's 1966 World
Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. In legal arguments during the trial, in
which Redknapp was subsequently acquitted, lawyers for the defence referred
back to a successful appeal made by Moore and Geoff Hurst against tax
imposed by the Inland Revenue on £1,000 bonuses paid by the Football
Association to each member of England's World Cup-winning squad. The judge
in the case, Mr Justice Brightman, decided that the £1,000 payments had the
"quality of a testimonial or accolade rather than the quality of
remuneration for services rendered". That, he said, made them tax free. Mr
Justice Brightman also ruled that prizes amounting to £750 for Moore and
£250 for Hurst, given by Radox Bath Salts to the tournament's best players,
should be tax free.
Lawyers for Redknapp, who also played alongside Moore for the Seattle
Sounders in the 1970s, before a spell as his assistant at Oxford City,
argued that payments made by former Portsmouth chairman Mandaric to
Redknapp's Rosie47 account in Monaco between 2002 and 2004 should likewise
be viewed as "gifts" that were "not linked to quality of services".
Judge Anthony Leonard QC said it was a "matter for the jury" to decide
whether the payments were taxable.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
