West Ham U18s' fall at home to Swansea City
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s' suffered another disappointing result on Saturday with
a 2-1 home loss to Swansea City. A headed effort from a corner and a
well-placed through ball and finish saw the Hammers go two goals down inside
13 minutes. Rosaire Longelo got West Ham back into the contest midway
through the first period with a long-range strike. But despite being the
better team in the second period the Hammers were unable to find the crucial
equalising goal against the Swans, who also saw a penalty saved late in the
game. The loss leaves the U18s without a win this season, although captain
Ben Wells was happy to see an improved performance from the side. Wells
said: "Mistakes let us down early on. After the first 20 minutes, we
dominated the game. I thought the team did really well and worked hard.
"We started passing the ball around well and made it hard for them to make
any opportunities. It was just the end product that let us down but it was
a much better performance than our last game. "We can take a good
performance out of this game. Everyone put their hearts into it. We want the
results but it's also about development. We will learn from this."
The away side took less than quarter of an hour to take a 2-0 lead at Little
Heath with Brandon Cooper heading home on four minutes while Matthew Roberts
beat the offside trap to net just nine minutes later. Steve Potts's side
halved the deficit with an excellent strike from 20 yards by Longelo, which
found the goal despite the Swansea goalkeeper getting a hand to it. Korrey
Henry was a threat up front with the No9's power causing a number of issues
for the south Wales side, while Connor Coventry also saw an effort saved. It
seemed Longelo's finish spurred West Ham into life and the home side were
the better team throughout the second period, controlling possession and the
majority of the play.
Some lovely football saw Henry come agonisingly close to heading in West
Ham's second while Jeremy Ngakia saw a shot go over the bar. Swansea had the
chance to secure their win with a late penalty, but Rihards Matrevic
comfortably saved the weak effort. Ultimately, despite a strong showing.
West Ham failed to get a second finish which allowed Swansea to leave Little
Heath with the three points.
West Ham United: Matrevic; Johnson (Caiger 46'), Mings, Wells, Hannam;
Watson (E Longelo '), Coventry, R Longelo, Bernardo, Ngakia (Diallo 83');
Henry
Goals: R Longelo 26'
Swansea City: Lang; Lewis, Cabango, B Cooper, Blake; Price (Williams 90+3'),
De Boer, Jones-Thomas (Hazell 53'), O Cooper, Fox (Gudjohnsen 62'); Roberts
Goals: B Cooper 4', Roberts 13'
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West Ham back at London Stadium ahead of Huddersfield clash
WHUFC.com
West Ham United returned home to London Stadium as the squad stepped up
preparations for Monday's Premier League visit of Huddersfield Town. Manager
Slaven Bilic put his players – including the returning Andy Carroll and
Winston Reid – through their paces under sunny east London skies on Saturday
morning.
And with a second session planned on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Sunday
afternoon, the Hammers will be feeling right at home when they step out to
face the Terriers in front of a sell-out 57,000 crowd worldwide television
audience. "It's going to be nice to be out here in front of our fans," said
Reid, who scored a memorable last-gasp winner against Sunderland at London
Stadium last season. "We obviously haven't been at home in the first few
rounds, so it's going to be especially nice to return home. "Our home form
is going to be important and we want to do much better here than we did last
year. We will go into Monday's game well-prepared and hopefully we'll have a
good game and get the win we need. "I think the way we finished last year at
home was acceptable, but we want to build on moments like beating Spurs and
we can do that by getting a win here. We know having the fans behind us is
massive and we really need them on Monday night."
Michail Antonio scored West Ham's first-ever Premier League goal at London
Stadium eleven months ago, when he headed the Hammers to victory over AFC
Bournemouth. The No30 is set to start on Monday evening and is eyeing
another landmark goal as he and his teammates return to action on home turf.
"It's nice to be back on our home pitch," he confirmed. "We have had a
couple of tough away matches, so it's good to be home and hopefully we can
do well for the fans.
"It would definitely be nice to get the first goal of the season again,
especially as I've not got one this season yet, so it'd be nice to get one
in our first game at home. "The fans always bring it, so 'Come on you
Irons!'."
*Standard Tickets for West Ham United's Premier League home opener with
Huddersfield Town on Monday 11 September at 8pm are available now via the
Ticket Exchange.
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OPPOSITION Q&A: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
By Jeff Gayle 9 Sep 2017 at 17:00
WTID
After our pointless start to the season West Ham at last have a home fixture
on Monday night against Premier League new boys Huddersfield Town who we
last played at home in the league in 1972. We won that game 3-0 with a brace
from Clyde Best and one from 'Pop' Robson. So far this season they have had
two wins and incredibly have yet to concede a goal. This may not be the easy
3 point win that we might have presumed would be ours before the season
started. Ahead of the game I spoke to John McNamara from Huddersfield fan
site "terrierblog.co.uk":https://www.terrierblog.co.uk/ to ask for his
opinions on Huddersfield and Monday night's game.
First off, congratulations on reaching the Premier League, at this stage
last season did you realistically think you would be getting promoted?
Absolutely not. When we beat Newcastle away in the second game of the
season, after several pints I tentatively suggested to my friends that we
might get promoted. I was shot down in flames and kept my faint hopes/pipe
dream to myself until around February when it looked like we might actually
be serious contenders.
I don't suppose there can be many of your fans alive who will remember your
three consecutive league titles, and your FA Cup win, so you must be loving
it, being 'top dogs' in Yorkshire again, lording it over the likes of 'Dirty
Leeds'.
I've only ever met one person who remembers the league titles, although I
suspect he may have been exaggerating a bit! It's brilliant to be the best
team in Yorkshire, especially when we've had to endure the taunts of Leeds
and Sheffield Wednesday fans for so long. I've grown tired of hearing about
Chris Waddle and
Lucas Radebe, we're the number ones now and we're not trading on past
glories.
What's the biggest difference between the Championship and the Premier
League?
I'd say the ingenuity of attacks. In the Championship goals become almost
predictable, a plethora of corners, throw-ins and long balls eventually lead
to a chance or a goal. In the Premier League teams have the ability to get
in behind your defence in the blink of an eye, no matter how well your
defence was set.
You've had a great start to the season, but what position do you think
Huddersfield Town will finish come next May?
In a pre-season blog I predicted we'd finish 16th, and I'll stick by that.
We will surprise teams this season and we're nowhere near the relegation
certainties that some pundits say we are. I don't expect us to carry on this
fantastic form but I do think we'll get enough points to survive.
Your start is in direct contrast to ours: where do you think West Ham will
end the season?
I had you as 11th in the aforementioned prediction, however I think I
plumped for that because I like Slaven Bilic and I want to see him to do
well. Now I think your position will ultimately depend on which manager you
choose to go for after Bilic is shown the door. If he stays I think you
could well finish 14th/15th.
Which three teams do you think will suffer relegation and who will lift the
title this season?
Brighton definitely, I don't think Hughton is tactically up to the task of
the Premier League, I also see Swansea's luck running out this term and I
fear for Palace. I don't trust their chairman to pick the right manager when
he inevitably grows tired of De Boer. For the league, United are looking
ominously well-drilled and Mourinho seems determined.
Dave Wagner seems to be doing a great job as your manager, tell us a bit
about him, and how do the fans view him?
David Wagner was appointed completely from left-field. He's the former
Dortmund reserve team coach and he's equally as entertaining as Jurgen
Klopp. Wagner has helped to create an identity at the club which was sadly
lacking when he joined, he's also developed a real bond between the players
and the fans, which is refreshing to see. In short, he's a God and a legend,
we love him!
Happy with your transfer window dealings? Are there any areas that you think
still need improving?
Very happy. There's always areas that could do with improving though and I'd
have liked to see one more striker to come in and provide cover since Nahki
Wells left for Burnley.
If you could have any current West Ham player in your first team who would
you choose and why?
Michail Antonio. Whilst I don't think he's your best player I think he'd be
the best suited to our style, he's full-on, physical and aggressive, and
that would suit us down to the ground!
Which Huddersfield player(s) will be key to your hopes this season?
The two most important players in my opinion are centre-back Schindler and
central midfielder Mooy, they're the spine of our team. Schindler is
imperious at the back and a real leader and Mooy dictates our play and is
capable of moments of magic.
How do you expect Huddersfield to setup against West Ham on Saturday/
Team/formation prediction?
We'll play 4-2-3-1 and I'm almost certain our team will look like this;
Lossl
Smith-Schindler-Zanka-Lowe
Mooy-Billing
Ince-Palmer-Kachunga
Mounie
Prediction for score?
I believe that our aggressive pressing will worry your defence and
capitalise on any lack of confidence. I can see us taking a first-half lead
and losing it in the second. I'll go for 2-2.
Thanks for that John, however Slaven will surely have got the boys up for
this one, and for my first visit to the London Stadium of the season I think
I'll be watching a home win. 2 – 1 to the Hammers – Come on you Irons!
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Bilic disheartened by failed pursuits of Carvalho and Gomes
442.com
Slaven Bilic spoke openly of his disappointment after West Ham failed to
sign William Carvalho and Andre Gomes. West Ham's inability to sign either
William Carvalho or Andre Gomes before the transfer window closed has left
manager Slaven Bilic frustrated with what he deems to be a squad lacking
depth. The two Portugal international midfielders looked set to seal late
switches to the Premier League, with Bilic revealing that much of West Ham's
previous business was done with Carvalho and Gomes in mind. But neither
joined West Ham in the end, with their pursuit of Carvalho ultimately
straining the club's relationship with Sporting CP, while Gomes has been
left to fight for his place at Barcelona. And Bilic believes that West Ham's
failure to get either has left him very short of options in midfield. "I
think with Carvalho it was a money issue," Bilic told Sky Sports. "I really
wanted the player and it really looked like it was going to happen.
"I thought until the last minute that he was going to come. Why am I
disappointed? I'm disappointed because we've been looking at that position
for two years.
"For that crucial position, for us he was ideal and it didn't happen. One of
the reasons we were offloading so many players was to raise the funds to get
the budget for him and then when it didn't happen you are frustrated. "For
me, if we tried everything that's all we could have done. I wanted Carvalho.
We all did. We are a bit thin and I took that risk deliberately. "It wasn't
only Carvalho, it was also Andre Gomes, who also looked done. It's a
question of injuries now. If we stay away from injuries we have enough
players - and now, to be fair, we don't have many injuries so we are okay in
every department."
West Ham's struggles in the transfer market have only increased the scrutiny
on the club and Bilic is said to be under pressure internally after three
successive defeats to start the season. However, he is adamant that his
relationship with chairman David Sullivan is as good as it always has been.
"The fact is I have my relationships with the chairman for two-and-a-half
years almost now and it's been good since the first day of that season," the
Croatian added. "We don't talk a lot, but we are in contact and communicate
through emails. Usually we talk after every game. "He [Sullivan] is very
polite because he leaves you the day after the game and then you talk a
couple of days after. Maybe that's because he wants to gather more
information? "It's fine. It was always polite, always decent. When I don't
like something I tell him straight and it's been fine so far, to be fair."
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Where Are They Now? Nolberto Solano
MoorethanJustaClub
POSTED BY: LUKE GLANVILLE 09/09/2017
Every Hammer will surely remember the charismatic Peruvian Nolberto Solano
and his memorable spell during the otherwise easily forgotten 2007/2008
season.
But, how did he become such a popular figure with The Claret & Blue Army?
How did his journeyman career see him arrive for a twilight spell in East
London? And where is he now?
"Nobby" Solano was born in the Peruvian Province of Callao in 1974, starting
his career with the little-known Peru First Division Side Sporting Cristal.
But, it wouldn't be long before one of Peru's most recognizable clubs in the
form of Deportivo Municipal came calling.
However, things didn't work out with La Academia and Solano would quickly
return to his roots with Sporting, where he would stay until a huge move in
1997.
Boca Juniors, commonly known as "The Barcelona of South America", had been
scouting the youngster for some time and decided to move for him in 2002.
The club has come to be a player channel to Europe and more specifically the
Premier League, making it hardly surprising when Kenny Dalglish's Newcastle
United signed the star for around £2 Million just months later.
Nevertheless, Solano left Argentina with a very handy reputation, after
being described by Diego Maradona is "The Little Maestro".
Successful spells with The Toon and Aston Villa would follow as he became
not only the first Peruvian to play in the Premier League, but also the
first to appear in an FA Cup Final.
Upon his return to The Magpies in 2005, the then 29-year-old announced that
he would be quitting his national team after a dispute with manager Freddy
Ternero. He would return a year later but eventually retired in 2009 after
Peru failed to reach the 2010 World Cup.
Having once again lit up the North East with his flair and versatile, the
dead ball specialist expressed his desire to move South in 2007, citing
family reasons as the main contributing factor to the decision.
Our then boss Alan Curbishley was in luck and he got his man during that
summer on a free transfer.
Although his powers were inevitably fading, "Nobby" still managed to conjure
up his fair share of magic in East London, none better than his first
Hammers goal, however.
In an incredible 0-5 rout at Pride Park against a soon to be relegated Derby
County side, the winger curled in an outstanding 69th-minute free-kick to
round off our victory and open his Claret & Blue account.
Three more notches in a West Ham shirt would follow for Solano before the
end of the season, including a contentious late winner at Craven Cottage.
In his final game at Upton Park, the paceman waved goodbye to the Premier
League in some style as he placed yet another trademark free-kick into the
top corner against his former club, Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa.
Following the conclusion of that campaign in May 2008, Solano's contract was
not renewed in E13 and he made the bizarre move AE Larissa in the Greek
League. In 2009, the attacking winger returned to Peru for a brief but
significant tenure with Universitario De Deportes.
Return spells with Nigel Pearson at both Leicester City and Hull City saw
the flare player through to his final club, Hartlepool United.
Scoring two League One goals in his final professional season deep into his
30's, Solano jumped straight into management after being told he was no
longer needed at Victoria Park.
His first assignment was with North East based Non-League side Newcastle
Benfield, which was prior to a double spell back in his native land of Peru
as a coach.
Having left his role of first-team coach with Canada's Internacional De
Toronto, Solano's career took a very different and unexpected turn.
The once highly decorated player took a break from the game to focus on
other business ventures, including his accomplished trumpet career and
setting up his own salsa band.
However, nowadays after a return to the Peru football set-up, Solano is
proudly the assistant manager of his birth nation and one step closer to his
promise of guiding Peru to a World Cup as a manager.
So, with the Coaching Career of one of the most popular figures in not just
the Premier League, world football, finally taking off. Will we ever see
Nolberto Solano back in familiar Claret & Blue as manager at The London
Stadium?
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Biker jailed for trying to rob West Ham ace Andy Carroll of his £22,000
watch 'threatens to send gang to break his legs'
Jack O'Brien was jailed for 11 years for trying to steal Andy Carroll's
wristwatch
O'Brien and a fellow gang member followed the footballer from training
Angered by his sentence, O'Brien has told fellow prisoners he wants revenge
He has claimed he knows a biker gang willing to attack the West Ham player
By Darren Boyle for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 12:59, 9 September 2017 | UPDATED: 16:40, 9 September 2017
A biker jailed for 11 years for trying to rob Andy Carroll's £22,000
wristwatch has threatened to send a gang of thugs after the West Ham striker
to break his legs.
Jack O'Brien, 22, attempted to rob the player as he drove his Jeep Wrangler
through Hainault, north-east London after leaving West Ham's training
ground. The career criminal has reportedly ordered a revenge attack on
Carroll after receiving his long jail term.
According to The Sun, O'Brien has told fellow fellow prisoners inside
Chelmsford Prison in Essex that he wants revenge. A source told the paper:
'He's been telling everyone he's going to have a biker gang go to Carroll's
house and break his legs. 'He has got a phone so he can speak to people on
the outside.' O'Brien was found guilty of attempted robbery following a
trial at Basildon Crown Court. In a victim impact statement Carroll, who
believed the defendant had a gun, said he 'feared for his life' and now
travels to and from training with security guards. O'Brien, of Navarre
Gardens, Romford, east London, was given a sentence of 11 years and three
months for the attempted robbery on November 2 and a previous 'campaign of
burglaries'.
Judge John Lodge told him: 'I have no doubt at all in saying that by reason
of the planning of that sophisticated offence, the length of time that you
pursued that vehicle, and that you were again using your motorcycle
equipment as a disguise, you are at the very top of the bracket of
culpability.' O'Brien, who changed into an olive green turtleneck jumper
between the verdict and sentencing, yelled 'I never done it' as he was led
down from the dock. The defendant was found hiding below a mattress at a
property in Dagenham, east London, when police went to arrest him 10 days
after the botched robbery. The 6ft 4in striker told the court the motorcycle
driver approached his camouflage green vehicle and said: 'Nice watch.' As he
went to drive off, the man said: 'Give me your watch.' Carroll told the
court he then did a U-turn, but was pursued by two motorbike drivers.
The judge said: 'I have no doubt that you targeted Mr Carroll, hoping to
taking his watch from him. You anticipated that he would give up his watch
and he did not. But you didn't give up – you gave pursuit to his vehicle.
'You have heard from the 999 telephone call he was in some fear because by
that stage you were purporting to threaten him with a gun and he had no idea
if it was an imitation gun, an actual gun or whether you were just
pretending.' He was sentenced to five years and three months for five other
burglaries, three attempted burglaries and handling stolen goods between
September and November 2016, which he previously admitted. For the attempt
on Carroll, he was sentenced to an additional six years. Referring to the
footballer's victim impact statement Simon Gladwell, prosecuting, told the
court: 'Obviously we heard this in evidence, he says that he feared for his
life, that he honestly believed he had a gun and talks about how he now has
two security guards to pick him up from training.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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