WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side ran out 2-0 winners against Brentford on Tuesday afternoon
13.03.2012
West Ham United's Development squad beat a tough Brentford side 2-0 at
Griffin Park on Tuesday afternoon. Two first-half goals from Ravel Morrison
saw off Brentford in what was a competitive and challenging match that saw
chances at both ends. The hosts started the match the brighter with striker
Antonio German volleying against the bar inside the first 60 seconds, but it
didn't take long for West Ham to find their feet. The first goal of the
afternoon came after only four minutes as the fit-again Rob Hall went on a
mazy run from inside his own half before slipping a great ball through to
Morrison. The midfielder's first effort was blocked by Richard Lee in the
Brentford goal before he collected the rebound and slotted into an empty
net. The second after 25 minutes was all Morrison's own work. Callum Driver
won the ball in the middle and switched it to Morrison who beat centre-back
Aaron Pierre with a great piece of skill before striking a powerful 20-yard
right-footed drive past the stranded Lee.
At times in the first half, West Ham's passing play was a joy to watch and
they could have had more than two goals with Cristian Montano, making his
first start since returning from his loan spell at Notts County, and Seb
Lletget both forcing saves. The Bees came out for the second half determined
to fight their way back into the match and Emmanuel Oyeleke and Jake Reeves
both forced Sam Baxter into making stops.
However, the Hammers held on to what was a deserved victory with Development
Squad manager Ian Hendon praising his side's application. He said: "It was a
good all-round team performance. We played very well in the first half and
scored two good goals. We fell off the pace a bit at the start of the
second, but re-focused and saw out a good win."
West Ham United: Baxter, Driver, Wearen, Lee (Young, 29), Potts, Ruddock,
Lletget, Hall (Powell 78), Montano, Morrison (Fanimo, 78) Vose (Turgott, 66)
Subs not used: Hurley
Goals: Morrison (4), (23)
Brentford: Lee (Gounet, 46), Griffiths, Osbourne, Pierre (Mawson, 65),
Woodman, Forrester, Oyeleke, Reeves (Asamuah, 75), Blake (Kamau, 83), Weston
(Ekim, 8)
Subs not used: Stone
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"It's up to us to kick on"
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison inists West Ham United's promotion dreams are still very much
alive
13.03.2012
Jack Collison believes West Ham United are still in a great position to gain
promotion from the npower Championship. The Hammers' charge has been slowed
by three consecutive home draws in recent weeks, but the No10 insists the
Hammers still have their destiny in their own hands when it comes to
regaining their place in the Premier League. However, Collison admitted that
he and his team-mates would have to be more clinical in front of goal if
they are to make everyone's promotion dreams come true. The midfielder
missed a gilt-edged opportunity to snatch a victory in Saturday's 1-1 home
draw with Doncaster Rovers, and conceded that he could have settled nerves
had he converted his late chance. "We know as a group that we need to do
better in front of goal," he said. "It's not just one person but a whole
group thing. With my chance at the end, I should have got us the points
really which would have dug us out of a massive hole. "We're going to keep
working and keep improving and we can go on a nice little run and we can be
where we want to be. "We've got a really good squad and we have some really
good strikers. It's up to us as midfielders to create the opportunities for
the strikers to put them in the net. Hopefully we can put a little run
together and get the confidence going and that starts next week. "I think
it's important we concentrate on ourselves. It's still in our hands, which
is obviously what we want. If we can go on a run and pick up points home and
away, that will help. We've still got Reading to play at home. It's
certainly going to be very interesting. "It's great for the fans, if a
little bit frustrating. We're in a great position and it's up to us to kick
on now."
Alluding to Saturday's stalemate with Doncaster, Collison said he could not
explain why West Ham had lost their way after an outstanding start to the
game. A disallowed Ricardo Vaz Te goal and Carlton Cole shot against the
crossbar preceded Kevin Nolan's ninth-minute opener. From then on, however,
it was the visitors who took control of proceedings and equalised through
James Coppinger. Collison insisted the game should have been well won by the
time the Doncaster winger netted a scrappy goal with 17 minutes remaining.
"Obviously it was frustrating once again. We worked hard and should never
have been in a position to let them back in the game, to be honest. It's
happened and you've got to respect the point and move on as quickly as
possible because we've got another match this week. "We started very well,
which is a positive we've got to take. We've got to try to make sure we
start every game between now and the end of the season like that. It's up to
us to show the confidence in front of goal and to punish teams and finish
the game off. "Like I said, we should never have been in that position and
it's frustrating, but it's a point at the end of the day. "It's hard to put
your finger on it [why West Ham lost their momentum as the game went on]. If
we knew, we wouldn't have done it. We're on a good unbeaten run and it's up
to us to turn the one point into three points. We've got eleven games left
and we're in a great position and we really want to push on now. "We go out
there every time to do our best and to try and get the three points. Games
like last Saturday are a massive opportunity for us to get three points, but
it wasn't to be. We had an unbeaten week and took five points. It could have
been seven or nine, but we can't get too down because we've still got eleven
matches to play and we're in a great position."
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By George
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th March 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham youngster George Moncur has extended his stay with League Two club
AFC Wimbledon for a further month. The 18-year-old son of former Hammer John
Moncur has been been the Dons since the beginning of January and will remain
at Kingsmeadow until mid-April at the earliest. A delighted AFC boss Terry
Brown, who also re-signed Sunderland youngster Bily Knott this week told the
club's website at afcwimbledon.co.uk: "They are both very talented boys who
could play at a higher level. "What I like about them most is that they both
have a willingness to learn. They also have a lot of enthusiasm and put so
much hard work in. I am delighted to get them back as we have a lot of games
coming up during the next month."
Meanwhile Moncur welcomed the extended stay with Wimbledon, adding (via his
Twitter account): "Having a great loan at Wimbledon; happy to extend again.
Thanks for such great fans and support." Moncur has thus far made ten
appearances for AFC, who are 17th in League Two at time of writing.
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Salomon's key?
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th March 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Chelsea's Ivorian forward Salomon
Kalou. Kalou, who has spent the last five years at Stamford Bridge will
become a free agent this summer and, according to reports, has been offered
a contract by West Ham. However a deal is said to be far from near to
completion due to the 26-year-old's wage demands - whilst it is by no means
certain that he will not remain in West London and sign a contract extension
with the Blues prior to the summer. Kalou, who plays predominantly on the
left of a three-pronged attack - in a similar style to that employed by Sam
Allardyce - moved the Chelsea in 2006 for a fee in the region of £9million.
Prior to moving to England he played for local club Mimosas and Dutch side
Feyenoord.
Salomon Kalou: career stats
2002-03: ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast)
2003-06: Feyenoord (Netherlands) Pld 67 Gls 35
2004: SBV Excelsior (Netherlands, loan) Pld 11 Gls 4
2006-12: Chelsea Pld 150 Gls 36
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Ravel Morrison moves closer to West Ham debut after scoring double on return
for reserves
Goal.com
The talented youngster looks to be closing in on making his first-team debut
for Sam Allardyce's Championship side following his January switch from
Manchester United.
13 Mar 2012 18:25:00
By Shane Farrington
West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison netted both goals in a 2-0 win for the
club's reserves to move closer to making his full debut for the club
following his January switch from Manchester United. Both strikes came in
the first half of the Hammers' second-string's victory over Brentford
reserves and come on the back of the youngster's first involvement with the
first-team squad after he was an unused substitute in their 1-1 Championship
draw against Doncaster on Saturday. The talented 19-year-old had been
described as one of the most gifted players to emerge through the Old
Trafford youth ranks and made three League Cup appearances for the club.
However, he was frequently linked with a move away from the Red Devils and
subsequently joined the promotion-chasers for a fee that could rise to £1
million.
The teenager hit the headlines for the wrong reasons shortly after joining
the Hammers when the FA fined him £7,000 for a homophobic remark that he
posted on Twitter.
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Morrison in contention for Hammers debut after grabbing two goals in
reserves win
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 15:37, 13 March 2012 | UPDATED: 17:22, 13 March 2012
Daily Mail
Ravel Morrison put himself in the frame for his West Ham debut at Leeds on
Saturday with two goals for the Development Squad in a 2-0 win at Brentford.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who has a chequered off-the-field
history, joined the Hammers in January for a fee that could rise to
£1million. But Morrison has yet to make a competitive appearance for his new
club but was an unused substitute in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with
Doncaster. He hit the headlines for the wrong reasons again last month when
he was fined £7,000 by the FA in response to a homophobic remark made on
Twitter. Meanwhile, West Ham have agreed a loan for Portsmouth's goalkeeper
Stephen Henderson.
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