WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock said his U18s had shown great spirit and resilience to earn
their FA Youth Cup success
08.12.2011
West Ham United U18s coach Nick Haycock had plenty of reasons to hail his
side's 3-2 FA Youth Cup third-round victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Not
only did the Hammers beat a Wolves side which had won its previous seven
matches, but they did so by overcoming the disappointment of twice
squandering the lead at Molineux. In addition, Haycock was delighted for
match-winner Kenzer Lee, who netted seven minutes from time to banish the
memory of two years ravaged by illness and injury. Finally, the success was
dedicated to Academy striker Dylan Tombides, who is currently undergoing
treatment after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer. "It
was a great advert for youth football. If I'm being honest it could have
gone either way because there were chances at both ends," admitted Haycock,
whose team twice went ahead through Elliot Lee, only to concede equalisers
to their in-form hosts. "There was a tempo to the game and two sides evenly
matched playing 4-4-2 systems. I thought we had the first 20 minutes after
our early goal settled us quicker than it did them. They got back into the
game and we found them hard to handle up until half-time, which we needed
more than they did. "In the second half, we came out and got a great goal
through Elliot from a great cross by Matthias Fanimo. They got a second
equaliser but I was always confident we'd catch them on the break. Going
into the final stages, both teams have hit the post and you're thinking
there is a winning goal there somewhere. Fortunately it fell to us. "I
thought the resilience of the team shone through. We've been saying that we
know we can play but, when the going gets tough in cup competitions, we've
got to be able to dig in and grind results out. In the FA Youth Cup, it's
all about winning. "Obviously we're looking to develop players for the first
team, but there is no better stage to do that on than Molineux in an FA
Youth Cup tie. All the boys did themselves credit."
While the two Lees dominated the headlines, Haycock said every single member
of his side deserved praise for their performance on a cold night in the
Midlands.
"Elliot Lee held the line well, Rob Hall interchanged very well, Taylor
Miles in the middle of the park put in a terrific performance for a
first-year scholar, Jack Powell in the second half came into the game and
showed what ability he has got. If he could add that grit and determination
to his game as well, you're looking at another good player there. "The back
four stood firm. A team is always going to create chances against you, but I
always felt we had the quality in the final third to hurt them as well.
Ultimately, it came down to the front lines for both teams. Both back lines
had a heck of a lot to do. "Our keeper Jake Larkins did well, too. He's made
some commanding claims from crosses and set pieces and took a lot of
pressure off the back line. "The boys are a good group to work with and I
thought the spirit of the group shone through. They have done the club proud
and individually have done themselves no harm at all in front of the Neil
McDonald, who it was fantastic to see come down to the dressing room and
have some words with the boys. "Between Macca and the gaffer, that's the
spirit they have brought to the club this season. There is a spirit back in
the club and the boys have taken it on from the first team and it's onwards
and upwards through the competition, hopefully."
While Elliot Lee has hit the net regularly this season, the winning goal was
netted by the unlikely figure of namesake Kenzer, who powered a shot into
the net after Wolves failed to clear an 83rd-minute corner. The centre-back
also produced a strong defensive display against a Wolves team brimming with
attacking talent.
The goal and performance came at the end of two seasons during which the
teenager has featured sporadically due to illness and injury. "Kenzer has
had a bit of a rough ride of it. Our physio Jon Urwin has looked after him
well. He will know he should have done better with an earlier chance with a
far-post header from a corner, but he's had the resilience to go back up
there and he has scored the winner. "He is a local boy and an honest,
hard-working young player who is a pleasure to work with. If you had eleven
Kenzers in your team, you'd be delighted."
Finally, the win will have boosted the spirits of Tombides, who has been
unable to play this season due to his ongoing treatment. The whole squad
wore t-shirts emblazoned with the words 'Get well soon Dyl' during their
pre-match warm-up - an illustration of how highly the Australia U17
international is thought off at Little Heath. "The boys made a great gesture
by wearing the shirts in the warm-up. It was all down to the players,"
Haycock confirmed. "Knowing Dylan, he is a winner and he'll have wanted the
lads to win and not just wear the t-shirts on his behalf. Typical of him, he
sent a text before the game to the coaching staff and the players.
"We've had a win tonight but it's irrelevant really because the most
important thing for us is to see Dylan in a West Ham shirt sooner rather
than later."
*The FA Youth Cup fourth-round draw will be made at around 1pm on Friday 16
December. Full details will be posted on whufc.com and on the club's
official twitter feed.
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Courageous Kenzer
WHUFC.com
Kenzer Lee put two years of frustration behind him by becoming an FA Youth
Cup match-winner
08.12.2011
Kenzer Lee has hailed scoring the winner in Wednesday's 3-2 FA Youth Cup
third-round victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers as the 'best feeling ever'.
The centre-back has missed nearly all of the previous two seasons with a
combination of illness and injury, but has returned to form and fitness to
become an important figure for the U18s this term. The second-year scholar
knows he has to continue performing if he is to earn a professional contract
and did his hopes no harm by producing a stirring display at Molineux -
capped by a clinical 83rd-minute winner. "I was so shocked when I scored,"
he said. "It was unbelievable - the best feeling ever! In all the time I've
played for West Ham I've never felt like I did when I scored that winning
goal. "Pottsy and Jake Young jumped up for the header and one of them has
flicked it on - I'm not sure which one. The ball has come down and there has
been a bit of a scruff and it's just fallen on my left foot and I've just
hit it and hoped!
"It was going in but it has deflected off one of their defender's shins and
gone into the goal."
Lee's goal should have arrived eariler, with the centre-back passing up two
presentable headed opportunities before making it third-time lucky late on.
The 18-year-old is hoping his big FA Youth Cup night will serve as a portent
of more positive experiences to come in the future. "I should have scored a
couple of goals, really, because I had a couple of headers that I put wide
of the post. It was a great feeling to know my goal won us the game. "I
can't remember the last time I scored, to be honest. I didn't really play
last season because I had a lot of injuries and the season before that I was
out with illness - they never actually worked out what it was but I had an
infection in my lungs and I couldn't even run. "I got my scholarship from
playing in the last couple of games as an Under-16 but then I got lots of
injuries and missed most of my first year of my scholarship as well. "A
couple of years ago I wasn't even sure I would get a scholarship so to be
here now and score that goal was unreal. Because I missed my first year I've
only got this season to get my pro contract - every game is a trial and I
can't afford to have a bad game. "I like pressure because it makes me play
pressure and concentrate harder on my game."
Luckily for Lee, virtually his whole family were in attendance to witness
his big moment - thanks to the parents of winger Blair Turgott, who
organised a coach to carry family members from London to the Midlands. The
Lees will be out in force for the fourth round, wherever that tie is played.
"My whole family were there - three sisters, two brothers, my Mum, Dad and
uncle! They got on a coach organised by Blair's parents. "I don't care who
we get in the next round, but we'll need two coaches to get everyone there
to watch it!"
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O'Neil happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Gary O'Neil was both pleased and relieved to return to action after
seven-and-a-half months out
08.12.2011
Gary O'Neil admitted to feeling a little sore, but could not hide his
happiness at returning to action after seven-and-a-half months on the
sidelines. The No32 was hurt in West Ham United's Premier League home defeat
by Aston Villa on 16 April this year, suffering a severe ankle ligament
injury that at one stage put his playing career in jeopardy. However, thanks
to a combination of top-class treatment and sheer hard work, O'Neil was able
to make a successful return in Tuesday's 3-0 development-squad victory over
Brentford at the Boleyn Ground. "It was great - really good to be back," the
28-year-old told West Ham TV. "It was a little bit nerve-wracking because
training is one thing and going out and playing against opposition who don't
know or care that you've been injured is different from playing against
people who know you've been injured and take it easy. It's been a long time,
so I'm really pleased. "It was a relief to be playing again. A few months in
I wasn't sure whether I would play again so it's been really good. The
physio has been great. The ankle is still going to take some time to get it
where I need it. "We've still not achieved what we want to achieve which is
to get me back to where I was before the injury but we're definitely getting
closer. It was a big step and I'll go home happy."
O'Neil admitted the long rehabilitation had been tough to take at first, but
had got progressively easier as his return date got closer and closer. The
midfielder revealed how he had to maintain great discipline to ensure his
recovery would be as speedy as possible. "It's been hard. I've never had a
long-term injury before, just a few months off here and there. I had to have
it up above my hip 55 minutes of ever hour for the first two-and-a-half
months - I was only allowed to put it down for five minutes to go to the
toilet or to make a cup of tea! "The key was getting that bit right. I
really made sure I did what I was told to start with. The surgeon did a
really good job and the ankle looks pretty good now. "It's just a case of
getting it strong enough and getting rid of the aches and pains and getting
it ready for the real important stuff for the first team."
While he will no doubt have impressed watching manager Sam Allardyce during
a lively 45-minute run out against the Bees - capped by an assist for the
Hammers' third goal - O'Neil is not putting any pressure on himself to make
a first-team debut sooner than is sensible. "It was a really positive game
for me. The physios told me to enjoy being out there in my first game back,
but I wanted to do it properly. It seems like a long time ago, but I wanted
to get it as close to how I used to play as I could get it. It's not there
yet, but there were some signs. "I got about as well as I could and I hit a
decent shot. I'm sure it's going to come over the next few months. "We
haven't set any targets. It depends how the ankle reacts to what we're
doing. Every step puts another question mark as to whether the ankle will
let me do things straight away. Today was a big step and we'll see how it
reacts over the next couple of days. "There is another game next week that
hopefully I can get involved in again."
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McNaughton loan extended
WHUFC.com
Callum McNaughton's youth loan spell at AFC Wimbledon has been extended
until 4 January 2012
08.12.2011
Callum McNaughton has had his youth loan spell at League Two club AFC
Wimbledon extended until 4 January 2012. The centre-back initially joined
the Dons on 9 September, having made his West Ham United debut in the
Carling Cup defeat by Aldershot Town the previous month. Incidentally, the
20-year-old's AFC Wimbledon debut came in a 1-1 League Two draw against the
Shots. Since then, McNaughton has gone on to make 12 league and two
Johnstone's Paint Trophy appearances for Terry Burton's side. McNaughton's
next appearance could come in Saturday's home fixture against Accrington
Stanley at Kingsmeadow.
The Bishop's Stortford-born player is one of eight West Ham players
currently out on loan. The other seven are Herita Ilunga (Doncaster Rovers),
Frank Nouble (Gillingham), Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), and Rob Hall
(Oxford United), and season-loan loanees Jordan Spence (Bristol City) and
Pablo Barrera (Real Zaragoza).
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AFC Wimbledon extend Callum McNaughton loan agreement
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 15:19 GMT, Thursday, 8 December 2011
AFC Wimbledon have extended the loan of West Ham centre-back Callum
McNaughton until the new year. The 20-year-old has been with the club since
September and has so far made 14 appearances for Terry Burton's side.
McNaughton has played just once for his parent club, and was sent off in
August's 2-1 Carling Cup defeat by League Two Aldershot. He is one of eight
West Ham players currently out on loan and will now remain at Kingsmeadow
until 4 January.
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O'Neil - I thought it was over
West Ham winger admits ankle will take a while to fully recover
Last Updated: December 8, 2011 10:40am
SSN
West Ham winger Gary O'Neil has declared that he was worried about not being
able to play professional football again. The right-sided midfielder played
his first game since April on Tuesday in a development squad match against
Brentford after recovering from ankle ligament damage he sustained against
Aston Villa. The ex-Middlesbrough player appeared for 45 minutes against the
Bees and he has admitted that his ankle is going to take a while to fully
heal. "It was nerve-wracking. Training is one thing and going out and
playing against opposition who don't know or care that you've been injured
is different from playing against people who know you've been injured and
take it easy," said O'Neil to The Sun
Big step
"A few months in I wasn't sure whether I would play again so it's been
really good. The ankle is still going to take some time to get it where I
need it. It's been hard. I've never had a long-term injury before. "I had to
have my ankle up above my hip for 55 minutes of every hour for the first
two-and-a-half months - I was only allowed to put it down to go to the
toilet or make a cup of tea. "We've still not achieved what we want to
achieve which is to get me back to where I was before the injury but we're
definitely getting closer. It was a big step and I'll go home happy." O'Neil
could be appearing in the first-team by next month and he is keen to get
back into action, adding: "It's just a case of getting it strong enough and
getting rid of the aches and pains. "There is another game next week that
hopefully I can get involved in."
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Sears & Nouble to Leave in January?
December 8th, 2011 - 1:30 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
Adzman, whose tweets on the internal machinations usually have a great
degree of accuracy, has tweeted this morning that Freddie Sears will be
allowed to leave the club in January and that that Frank Nouble's agent is
looking for a new club for him seeing as he has been overtaken by other
younger players like Robert Hall and Elliot Lee.
While it is true Freddie Sears hasn't achieved what we all hoped he would
after that debut goal at Blackburn, he has often looked a tidy player when
playing on the right of midfield. And Nouble has always impressed on the
rare occasions he has played. But in the end, Sam Allardyce is likely to be
fairly ruthless with fringe players, as he showed in the summer with Hines
and Stanislas.
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West Ham midfielder could return for Reading clash
London 24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Thursday, December 8, 2011
9:45 AM
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has been handed an injury boost this week, with
the return of midfielder Henri Lansbury. The on-loan Arsenal youngster was
meant to be out of action until Christmas with a knee problem, but it is
understood that he has been training with the first team for the past couple
of weeks and could even make the bench for Saturday's trip to Reading.
Lansbury played just over an hour for the development squad side on Tuesday
in their 3-0 win against Brentford, while Gary O'Neil also made his comeback
from an ankle injury, featuring in the second half. "Henri has been training
really well and his quality is there for all to see," said development squad
boss Ian Hendon. "As soon as he is back ready and fit, which I think he is
now, it will be a bonus for the gaffer come Saturday afternoons." Lansbury
had been out of action since the Hammers' 1-0 defeat at Southampton in
October. Prior to that defeat, Lansbury had featured in five West Ham games,
scoring on his debut in the 4-3 victory at home to Portsmouth back in
September.
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Why the Hammers could struggle in their Royals appointment
Bwinbetting.com
A draw looks to be the best option at football betting odds of 11/5 as
Reading will be a tough nut for Sam Allardyce's men to crack. West Ham may
have the best away record in the Championship, but Reading will provide
stern opposition at the Madejski on Saturday. It's been a case of so far so
good for Sam Allardyce at his new surroundings of the Boleyn Ground this
season. The Hammers' quest for an immediate return to the Premier League
sees them sat second in the table, just two points behind leaders
Southampton. Although the Londoners came unstuck at home to Burnley last
Saturday, they are a different beast on the road, winning seven of their
first ten matches this season and conceding just five. They are priced at
33/20 by bwin to continue that form with a win at Reading on Saturday, but
their recent record at the Madejski is poor – of the four league meetings
between the two sides to date, Reading have won three to West Ham's one.
Reading, for their part, have proven to be one of the league's most
inconsistent sides this season, as they continue to suffer a play-off
hangover and struggle with the loss of top scorer Shane Long. The Royals are
slight favourites at 31/20, though their record over the last nine matches
reads three wins, three draws and three defeats.
The clever money could be on a draw at 11/5. The Royals held Southampton to
a 1-1 draw back in October and they are a stronger team then their current
11th position suggests. New customers using their free £25 bet for joining
bwin.com on this selection could pick up £80 if a stalemate does indeed
occur at the Madejski.
If you're looking for more value, then the double result market might
interest you, particularly the Hammers leading at half-time and a draw at
full-time at a price of 25/2. West Ham have been equally prolific in away
games this season, netting nine in each half, but the Royals have scored 12
of their 13 home goals in the second period of games.
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Irons Insight: I'm dreading and anticipating West Ham's trip to Reading
London 24
Matt Porter, London24's West Ham blogger
Thursday, December 8, 2011
1:06 PM
It is with a mix of dread and anticipation that I contemplate this
Saturday's trip to Reading. It's a place that I associate with mud, rain and
wellies rather than football.
Back on the August bank holiday weekend I had a wonderful walking tour of
the town centre in the pouring rain as I desperately trudged around trying
to find somewhere that was showing the Nottingham Forest away game on TV. I
think that was the moment relegation hit home for me – almost every pub I
tried was showing Spurs v Man City on the other channel instead. That day
took a turn for the better as I stumbled into a Walkabout – stinking wellies
still on my feet – just as Forest's skipper scored a belting own goal to set
Big Sam's men on the way to a dominant 4-1 win. The Irons haven't looked
back since then in terms of their away form. Allardyce has cracked the
formula for playing on the road, but Saturday's defeat to Burnley shows that
he's still trying to work out how to be similarly successful at the Boleyn.
Still, it makes no difference where we pick the points up from – 40 points
from 20 games is promotion form and it will be all smiles come April if the
team maintains it. The only worrying element of the Burnley game was the
nature of the two goals we conceded. Considering the Allardyce philosophy
and the generally solid defensive unit he has constructed, it was surprising
to see the visitors pop up with two unchallenged headers to ensure they
headed back to Lancashire with all three points. For us nostalgia fans it
was a wonderful reminder of West Ham teams through the years.
Even so, things would have to get a whole lot worse on Saturday for us to
see a recreation of the first thing that pops into my head when I think of
Reading away at the Madejski Stadium. I didn't have the pleasure of being in
the crowd on New Year's Day 2007 when Alan Curbishley's hapless team
succumbed to a humiliating 6-0 defeat, although the typical good humour with
which the travelling Hammers dealt with the situation makes me wish I had
been.
I'd like to think Gallows humour won't be necessary this time round. Fingers
crossed!
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Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill linked with West Ham United striker Carlton
Cole
3:36pm Thursday 8th December 2011 in News
Guardian Series
New Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is reportedly keen on signing West Ham
striker Carlton Cole. O'Neill has taken over the struggling Premier League
club and one of his first aims is to improve their attack as they have
lacked goals this season. Cole has been a real threat for the Hammers this
season scoring seven times as they have climbed up to second in the
Championship.
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