Daily WHUFC News - 30th September 2013

Five-star show from U18s
WHUFC.com
Steve Potts' youngsters thrashed Liverpool 5-0 in the Barclays U18 Premier
League on Saturday
29.09.2013

West Ham United picked up their second Barclays U18 Premier League victory
of the season with an impressive 5-0 thrashing of Liverpool at Little Heath
on Saturday. First-half goals from Kieran Bywater (pictured), Jordan Brown
and Reece Burke set the Hammers on their way to three points, with both
Bywater and Brown netting again in the second half to secure a convincing
win. Hammers manager Steve Potts named a strong starting line-up which
included defenders Burke and Kyle Knoyle, who have been called up by England
U18s, and prolific attacking midfielder Bywater. It was Bywater who
continued his fantastic run in front of goal with the opener on eight
minutes, curling a direct free-kick into the top left-hand corner after Josh
Cullen had been fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Liverpool came back
strongly and were only denied an equaliser by the crossbar when Ryan Kent
smashed a 25-yard shot against the woodwork. Having escaped that let-off,
West Ham doubled their lead two minutes before half-time when Djair
Parfitt-Williams' deep cross found Brown in the box and he took the ball
down on his chest, took a touch to put it onto his favoured right foot and
buried it just inside the goalkeeper's near post. The Hammers added a third
in added-time before the break when Burke timed his header perfectly from
Lewis Page's corner to head past Andrew Firth. Into the second half and
Potts might have been slightly concerned after seeing his side draw against
Blackburn a fortnight ago at Little Heath after leading 3-1, but this game
was a completely different story.

Just two minutes of the second half had passed when former Arsenal youngster
Brown was released through the Liverpool defence by Cullen and, after
looking up to see where the goalkeeper was positioned, he confidently placed
the ball past the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. The hosts were
on top form in this match and made the most of their visitors having a bad
day at the office. The Hammers could have grabbed a fifth on two occasions
in the space of two minutes when Amos Nasha narrowly missed the target with
his volleyed effort before Parfitt-Williams flicked Brown's cross over the
crossbar. The fifth goal did arrive, albeit in bizarre circumstances,
shortly after the hour-mark. Bywater found himself free down on the right
wing and, after looking up, he crossed and caught out Firth as the ball flew
past the Reds goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The result gave the
Hammers their first victory since the opening-day 2-1 home win over
Manchester United.

West Ham return to action at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday 5 October at
12noon.

U18s: Howes, Knoyle (Amoo), Burke (Onariase), Harney, Page, Nasha, Makasi
(Mavila), Cullen, Bywater, Parfitt-Williams, Brown
Subs not used: Nemrava, Martins

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Fit-again Kelley going for goals
WHUFC.com
Kelley Blanchflower is over a serious collarbone injury and ready to score
goals galore for West Ham United
28.09.2013

With West Ham United Ladies' season now a month old, new manager Mark
Saunderson is getting closer to finalising his strongest starting XI. One of
the first-team regulars who has started the season well is Kelley
Blanchflower, who first started playing football as a young girl.
Blanchflower has scored twice in four games so far and is hoping to be in
the starting XI for Sunday's FA Women's Premier League Southern Division
trip to Brighton and Hove Albion. "I started playing when I moved house
around the age of eight," the forward confirmed. "There was a playing field
out the front of my house and all the local boys who lived in the area
regularly played there. I guess having a slightly younger brother also
influenced me to go out and join in too. "I had always dreamed of playing at
the highest level I could. After the first few years of my career, I had
already had a taste of what playing a high standard for football is like and
how I needed to be playing at a higher level to continue developing as a
footballer and challenging myself."

The first club that the former Arsenal Academy player joined was March Town
Rangers, a local seven- a-side team. "The club got put together while I was
at secondary school. The school's football team that I was in decided that
we enjoyed playing football so much that we wanted to set up a proper team
to play during the weekends. "One of the girl's Dads offered to become
manager and everyone contributed financially. Eventually we managed to start
up the magnificent March Town Rangers."

The first step into a proper women's football set up was when Blanchflower
joined Cambridge United's Centre of Excellence. "As much as I enjoyed
playing with all my friends, I relished at the thought of playing at a
higher standard and challenging myself, like anyone surely would. "It felt
like a big step at the time, having only played football properly for just
over one season. I didn't really know what to expect and, at times, I did
question whether I was good enough.
"I had heard of the Cambridge United Centre Of Excellence set up in the past
and not pursued it,so I was not going to let an opportunity like that pass
again."

After leaving Cambridge, an opportunity of a lifetime came round for Arsenal
supporter Blanchflower. "When I was 16, I was at an age where I had come to
the end of the Cambridge United Centre of Excellence and school, meaning I
had to move on from both. "I wanted to carry on playing football whilst I
studied at college so I found out about the courses which ran alongside
Academy football mid-week. I applied and trialled at many places, including
Arsenal. "Unbelievably I was one of four successful girls who managed to be
offered a place at Arsenal Academy and study at Oaklands College, which
meant living away from home, but it was the opportunity of a lifetime."

Unfortunately for the young Arsenal fan, she was released from the club when
her college education ended. However, a move to West Ham was on the
horizon. "Due to the fact that the Arsenal Academy is run alongside studying
at Oaklands College, you are only there for the time period whilst learning.
"With there being such a turnover of girls each year, nearly half the squad
leaves, either for the first team, out on loan to another club or released,
and a new year group is bought in. "Unfortunately for me, I was part of the
group that got released. At the time, my Dad knew Kate [Da Costa], a coach
at West Ham Ladies, who managed to arrange a trial for me. "I only completed
a trial at West Ham and decided I didn't want to trial anywhere else. The
girls are brilliant and the football was a very high standard. Also, the
club is located in a good position for me so I don't have to travel too far
from university to get to training and matches. "It just seemed to fit
perfectly really!"

Once she had signed up for the West Ham Ladies, Blanchflower immediately
felt at home. "I felt my first season went really well. I was so pleased
with the spirit of the team and how nicely they welcomed me in. I had made
some great new friends. "It probably started better than I could have
imagined really because I was scoring regularly and creating a good
relationship with the people I play with. "I wasn't in my best goalscoring
form at Arsenal but I came to West Ham and didn't worry about a thing and
scoring goals became second nature. "As far as first seasons go at a new
team for footballers, I'm grateful how well mine went and I wouldn't go back
and change a thing."

Back in September 2012, the 20-year-old striker's season and career was put
on hold when she fell awkwardly during a league fixture at Queens Park
Rangers and fractured her collarbone. "At the time, it affected me greatly.
It's not until you get seriously injured you realise how emotionally
attached to the team you become. "Physically it affected my every move for
four months; I was unable to use my arm for at least a month after my
operation. It was much more serious than first anticipated which played on
my mind a lot. "It affected me feeling part of the team because I felt that
I was missing out with new players coming in and that feeling of being
neglected crept in due to the fact I was unable to even get to training and
receive any physio. "It's definitely developed me as a player now, I feel I
have grown and matured and am able to cope with life stresses better. Having
never been seriously injured before it was certainly a unique experience."

The injury is now behind Blanchflower and she is back in the first team and
enjoying her football again. "My main priority is to stay fit for the whole
season, I keep picking up some niggles and I'm trying my best to rest and be
available every week. "My main target is to improve my performance because I
want to make a difference to the team and of course score goals. I'm yet to
think of a specific number but I'm aiming high! I want to be at the top!"

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Sam Allardyce says West Ham's best may not be enough in next two games
Last Updated: September 29, 2013 3:10pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce has admitted that even West Ham's best performance in their
next two games may still not be enough to avoid defeat. The Hammers have not
won in the league since the 2-0 victory over Cardiff on the opening day of
the season. Allardyce had been banking on Hull for three points but his side
suffered a narrow defeat at the KC Stadium. Things are unlikely to get
easier any time soon, with a trip to Tottenham and a home clash with
Manchester City coming up either side of the international break. And
Allardyce has already accepted that even full-power performances from his
side may not be enough to take anything from that big-hitting pair. "It's
worrying, yes. We haven't got anything out of the game when we needed to get
something," said Allardyce after Saturday's 1-0 loss. "You're always trying
to stay ahead of points per game and now we're falling behind. "We have
played six games for five points and have two big games against Tottenham
and Manchester City coming up, but none bigger than this one, as I told the
players. "The next two are not as big as this was which was one where, if we
play well, we can get something out of. We played well but didn't finish
properly. "We can play at our very, very best in the next two and get
beaten. But we have to take it on the chin and try and get something from
the next two games."

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WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF RUSH GREEN?
By Sean Whetstone 29 Sep 2013 at 12:44
West Ham Till I Die

West Ham purchased their current training ground, Chadwell Heath in 1995,
the story goes that a West Ham director was embarrassed by the poor the
conditions Ham were training at time which led the board to purchase and
move to Chadwell Heath.Chadwell Heath is under 10 acres in size having two
full size grass pitches & one all weather artificial pitch with flood
lights. It also has a large indoor facility which resembles a large
warehouse with various outbuildings.

There is an urban myth that the state of Chadwell Heath pitches are the
cause of many of our players injuries and I understand West Ham carried out
an investigation in the past to find out whether there was any truth in
this. As if to prove the point West Ham released an article and pictures on
WHUFC.com last year about the Chadwell Heath pitches being dug up re-leveled
with sand & re-seeded.

However the fact remains whatever the truth is on the pitches the site is
too small with limited building facilities for the modern game.

In February 2009, West Ham entered into an option agreement to purchase the
freehold interest in the 29 acre Rush Green Ford Sports Ground from the Ford
Motor Company. In September the same year, they completed the acquisition of
the property for a sum of £1.4 million. The original plan was built a new
state of the art training facility and in November 2009 West Ham submitted a
planning permission application to Havering Council. The Rush Green site is
close to Romford and just two miles from our current facilities at Chadwell
Heath.The training ground has a stadium pitch and three training pitches.

David Sullivan said of Rush Green when he officially opened the stadium last
year: "I wanted to come down here to see the facilities and what is
happening here, I have to say they're doing a wonderful job.Our reserves
will be playing here next season so for anybody wishing to watch them it
will be an easier trip than Bishops Stortford. We're now located in our
heartland of Romford and it's a lovely little place. Hopefully this could
become our new training ground one day"

The question remains when and if this training ground will ever be properly
re-developed into a world class training facility worthy of our world class
Academy. Our debt problems and getting the Olympic Stadium has been our
number one priority but now the clock is finally ticking down to 2016 we
need a training facility to rival our 54,000 Olympic stadium.

Just like 1955, we have been left behind by our London Premier league rivals
and should feel embarrassed again. Spurs built a new training centre at
their 77 Acre Bulls Cross site at a net cost of £30m. They have 15 grass
pitches across the site including four dedicated solely for First Team
Training and one and a half artificial outdoor pitches with floodlighting.
It also has a pool and hydrotherapy complex, altitude room, large-scale
gymnasium and specialist sports rehabilitation suites

The Arsenal Training Centre covers an area of 143 acres with ten full-size
pitches which was build in 1999. Chelsea Cobham training centre in Surrey is
based on a 140 acre site and houses all of the club's football activities,
from the first team to the academy, reserve and women's teams. It features
"the latest in training, rehabilitation, medical, pitch and media technology
and includes 30 football pitches (three with undersoil heating and six to
Premier League standard), an indoor artificial pitch, a media centre, a
medical centre, gyms, cold immersion pools, a sauna, a steam room, a
HydroWorx pool and a 56 ft hydrotherapy pool.

With our owners ambitions for the Olympic Stadium we also need similar
ambitions for a new training facility to rival what Spurs, Chelsea and
Arsenal have already done. The question is whether Rush Green at 29 acres is
big enough?

Maybe we should be looking for a 150 acre site in the Essex countryside and
invest £31m to make it the best premier league training and academy
facilities around London.

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Hull's Abdoulaye Faye enjoys Sam sort of revenge with win over Allardyce and
West Ham
29 Sep 2013 22:30
The Mirror

Abdoulaye Faye could have been forgiven for thinking he had seen the last of
his old boss Sam Allardyce. The Senegalese defender packed his bags when Big
Sam told him he was no longer wanted after West Ham's ­Championship play-off
final win over Blackpool two years ago. It was a bitter pill to swallow for
the 35-year-old, but Faye had the last laugh on Saturday - helping his
current club Hull to victory over Allardyce's goal-shy Hammers in his first
league start of the season. And despite being bombed out by Allardyce, who
he also played for at Bolton and Newcastle, Faye says it was his former boss
who actually helped him return to the big time. "I have had a good
relationship with Sam, I did my best for West Ham," he said. "But when they
went up, he said, 'We don't want you'. I was very disappointed to leave
because I played very well and in a lot of games too, but in the last few
games he took me out. I don't know why. "After the season, he explained he
wanted to use younger players. Steve Bruce asked Sam what he thought of me
and Sam told him I was good. He said I would help them get promoted, so
Steve said he wanted me. "When I came to Hull, the objective was to go up. I
believe in myself all the time. Any time they need me, I am here to do my
job. "I have a lot of friends at West Ham, who I was happy to see. We won
and kept a clean sheet. I'm very happy and proud. "In my head, I don't feel
35. I have to work hard to keep fit, but I don't drink or go out and I watch
what I eat. You have to pay attention to everything you do to have a great
career. "I'm here to help the young players. I've played so many times in
the Premier League. I know how to do it."

The only goal of the game came in the 12th minute when Hull winger Robbie
Brady went down under the slightest of pushes from Joey O'Brien and referee
Kevin Friend pointed to the spot. Brady made no mistake, sending Jussi
Jaaskelainen the wrong way. The visitors felt aggrieved, with Allardyce
later claiming it was 'simulation' by Brady. If that was hard to take, they
were even more incensed in the second half when Friend waved away their own
appeals for a penalty, this time for a handball by Jake Livermore. The
result may not have been too much of a shock. Hull are unbeaten at home so
far, while West Ham are yet to find the net on their travels and have only
scored four times in six games. With Andy Carroll still out injured, the
lack of a serious goal threat was again evident. Allardyce admitted they are
missing him. He said: "It happens, people get injured and you have to try to
ride your way through the time when he's not with you. "In performance
terms, we have done all right, but in points terms we have not rode our way
through it."

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Lack of friends in the north means a pointless trip to Hull and back for
West Ham
Sunday 29 Sep 2013 1:45 pm
Metro.co.uk

With friends like this, who needs enemies? Referee Kevin Friend was the most
significant man on the pitch on Saturday afternoon as he gave Hull an
extremely soft penalty and denied West Ham a blatant one to extend the
Hammers' poor Premier League run. And with Tottenham away and Manchester
City at home to come in the next month, it may continue for some time yet.
One point and two goals from three Premier League games in September –
against Southampton, Everton and Hull – is a cause for concern, but West Ham
can have good reason to feel hard done by after this 1-0 defeat. Hull's
penalty early on was as soft as they come, striker Robbie Brady having
barely touched the ground from his connection with Joey O'Brien before
beginning his spot-kick protestations. Contact? Yes. Penalty? Never. Sadly
that was not how the referee saw it, however, and Hull went ahead. The
Tigers showed enough attacking intent to deserve their half-time lead –
Curtis Davies and Ahmed Elmohamady both going close with headers- but it
was the way that they got that advantage that rankled with the visitors.

James Tomkins' header cleared off the line by Elmohamady showed the visitors
did pose some threat, although with increasingly tedious predictability, it
was not coming from the team's supposed attackers. West Ham dominated
possession and had more shots on goal but having failed to score away from
home this season and with no-one up front capable of converting them, they
were always going to need a helping hand to get anything out of this game.
Having done them no favours with his first penalty decision, Mr Friend
compounded his error with the second, when he failed to see Jake Livermore's
clear block on Ricardo Vaz Te's cross. With that, any chance of a comeback
was gone.

West Ham cannot heap all the blame on the referee – having had the upper
hand in terms of possession and shots, they certainly had their chances, and
Hull saw shots cleared off the line and against the woodwork, but two wrong
calls by the referee settled the outcome of the game. If September has been
annoying, then October looks like it could be painful for West Ham. Five
points from six games at the end of this month is a worry, but looking at
the fixtures, it could easily be five from nine by the end of next month.
And then what has so far been an austerity autumn could turn into a bleak
midwinter.

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Hull boss Steve Bruce backs Robbie Brady after Sam Allardyce's dive claim
Sunday 29 Sep 2013 1:47 pm
Metro.co.uk

Hull boss Steve Bruce claims he would discipline any of his players who he
believed had dived for a penalty and has rejected Sam Allardyce's claims
Robbie Brady conned the referee to win the decisive spot-kick in Saturday's
win over West Ham. Allardyce reckoned Brady was guilty of play-acting when
he won a 12th-minute decision when he came together with Joey O'Brien. The
Irishman was quickly up to convert the penalty, which was enough to secure
three points, leaving Allardyce frustrated, although Bruce defended the
midfielder's integrity. 'I'm not going to encourage anyone to cheat and
neither is Sam,' Bruce said.
'Over the years we've built reputations of teams being honest and I'm not
going to condone that. 'There was contact, how big or not I don't know. 'I'm
not going to pull the wool over anyone's eyes, certainly if I caught any of
my players trying to cheat – and that's what it is, let's not beat around
the bush – I would punish them. But it looks to me as though there was
contact.'

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