Swansea City match preview
WHUFC.com
All the need-to-know information ahead of Sunday's match against Swansea
City
25.10.2013
SWANSEA CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 4PM
REFEREE: PHIL DOWD
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Introduction
· West Ham United travel to the Liberty Stadium on Sunday looking to make it
two consecutive away wins in the Barclays Premier League.
· A 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on 6 October was the
club's last away outing and their first win on their travels this season.
· In their last match the Hammers suffered a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City
at the Boleyn Ground.
· The Hammers have conceded only once away from home this season with that
goal coming via Robbie Brady, who converted a penalty in a 1-0 defeat at the
KC Stadium.
· The players will sport t-shirts celebrating the 150th anniversary of the
FA during the pre-match warm-up.
· In this fixture last year Swansea ran out 3-0 winners at the Liberty
Stadium in Michael Laudrup's second game in charge.
· The Dane has steered his team to tenth place after eight league games,
five places above the Hammers although a West Ham win will see them overtake
the Swans.
· Last time out Swansea recorded a 4-0 home win over Sunderland to record
their first home win of the season.
· The Swans have been inconsistent so far and from their last four games
have two wins and a pair of defeats.
Team news
Swansea City
· Full-back Ben Davies and captain Ashley Williams will miss the game with
ankle injuries.
· Pablo Hernandez may well return after missing the last nine games.
West Ham United
· Alou Diarra, Stephen Henderson and Andy Carroll are definitely out whilst
James Collins may be fit enough to return having missed the Manchester City
game.
· Jack Collison (Bournemouth), Elliot Lee (Colchester), Paul McCallum
(Torquay) and Jordan Spence (MK Dons) are all out on loan.
Background
· West Ham United and Swansea City have met 55 times over a period of 90
years, the Hammers have won 26, Swansea have won 17 and 12 have ended in a
draw.
· The first meeting between the two sides came on 7 January 1922 in the FA
Cup and ended in a 0-0 draw. The replay on 11 January also ended 0-0, and
the two sides met for the third time in nine days on 16 January when Swansea
won 1-0 to progress.
· Joe Cole made his first West Ham debut as a substitute in the 1-1 FA Cup
third-round draw against Swansea City on 2 January 1999.
· The highest scoring game between the two produced nine goals with Swansea
edging it 5-4 at Vetch Field on 2 March 1935.
Last time out
Swansea City 1-1 Kuban Krasnador
UEFA Europa League
24 October 2013
Swansea City: Tremmel, Tiendalli (Rangel), Taylor, Canas, Chico, Amat, Dyer
(Lamah), Shelvey, Bony (Alvaro), Michu, Pozuelo
Subs not used: Vorm, Britton, Monk, De Guzman
Goals: Michu 68
West Ham United 1-3 Manchester City
Barclays Premier League
19 October 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel (O'Brien 65), Reid, Tomkins, Rat, Nolan
(Petric 83), Noble, Morrison, Diame, Downing, Vaz Te (Jarvis 65)
Subs not used: Adrian, Taylor, C Cole, J Cole
Goals: Vaz Te 58
Previous meeting
Andy Carroll inspired West Ham to victory over Swansea City on his return to
the starting line-up. The big striker netted the only goal of the game after
77 minutes to delight the home crowd and move the Hammers up to eleventh
place.
West Ham United 1-0 Swansea City
Barclays Premier League
2 February 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Taylor, Noble, Diame
(O'Neil), Vaz Te, Nolan (Pogatetz), Jarvis (J Cole), Carroll
Subs not used: Spiegel, C Cole, Collison, Chamakh
Goals: Carroll 77
Swansea City: Tremmel, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies, De Guzman, Britton
(Moore), Ki, Hernandez, Michu, Routledge (Dyer)
Subs not used: Cornell, Lamah, Monk, Schecter, Tiendalli,
Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
2 February 2013 West Ham United 1-0 Swansea City
25 August 2012 Swansea City 3-0 West Ham United
13 January 1999 Swansea City 1-0 West Ham United (FA Cup Third Round Replay)
02 January 1999 West Ham United 1-1 Swansea City (FA Cup Third Round)
07 October 1985 Swansea City 2-3 West Ham United (League Cup Second Round
Second Leg)
24 September 1985 West Ham United 3-0 Swansea City (League Cup Second Round
First Leg)
Overall record v Swansea City (all competitions) W 26 D 12 L 17
Ten-year record
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th (46 points)
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Swansea City
2012/13 Premier League 9th (46 points)
2011/12 Premier League 11th (47 points)
2010/11 Championship 3rd (80 points)
2009/10 Championship 7th (69 points)
2008/09 Championship 8th (68 points)
2007/08 League One 1st (92 points)
2006/07 League One 7th (72 points)
2005/06 League One 6th (71 points)
2004/05 League Two 3rd (80 points)
2003/04 League Two 10th (59 points)
2002/03 League Two 21st (49 points)
Referee
· The referee for Sunday's game will be Phil Dowd.
· Dowd has already taken charge of the Hammers this season, presiding over a
0-0 draw when West Ham played Newcastle at St James Park.
· Dowd is in his 13h season as a Select Group official, having initially
been promoted to the Barclays Premier League list of referees in 2001.
· Dowd began refereeing in local leagues in 1984, officiating in the
Staffordshire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance. He was appointed
to the Football League list of assistant referees in 1992, before joining
the League's full list of referees in 1997, aged 34.
· The 49-year-old is commonly considered to be one of England's best match
officials, an opinion backed by his appointments as the referee for the 2012
FA Cup and 2010 Football League Cup finals.
· Previously, Dowd was the fourth official at the 2006 FA Cup final between
West Ham United and Liverpool at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
· The man in the middle will be assisted by Richard West and Marc Perry, and
his fourth official will be Roger East.
General information
· Tickets for this fixture are now sold out.
·The weather forecast for Sunday afternoon is cloudy with a maximum
temperature of 14C.
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Big Sam on: Swansea City
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce attended his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's trip
to Wales
25.10.2013
Sam Allardyce has faced the media ahead of Sunday's trip to the Liberty
Stadium to face Swansea City in the Barclays Premier League. The West Ham
United manager was quizzed on the latest team news, Mark Noble's chances of
an England call-up and Sir Alex Ferguson's book.
Morning Sam, what's the team news ahead of Sunday's game?
SA: "Our injury news is not too bad. We've got no new injuries from what we
had last week. We've still got Alou Diarra, James Collins and George
McCartney out with injury and of course Andy Carroll who everyone knows is
our long term injury. We could do with those players back as quickly as we
can as we're a little light on numbers. Jack Collison will come back from a
loan at the end of this weekend to join back with us after a few very
valuable first team games at Bournemouth as we've got a heavy week. We've
got games Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday so we've got a big week ahead of us.
The players that are available are in good spirits but we could do with the
other players being back fit as quick as possible."
How's Andy Carroll coming along? Reports are surfacing that he's finished
his treatment in Belgium - is that right?
SA: "No, it's not true as he's still got a while to go yet. We'd hope that
he'd be back with us in the next two to three weeks and hopefully that would
be a shout that he could start full training when he does come back. It's
always been a week-by-week assessment, we send one of our physiotherapists
out there every week to monitor his progress on a weekly basis."
How's his morale, as I'm sure it must be a difficult period for him?
SA: "He's frustrated of course. I think he's desperate to play football
again which is what he loves doing most of all. And of course we'll be only
too pleased to get him back in amongst the squad when we get the chance.
Carlton Cole played another game in the Under-21s which they won again last
Monday. Our Under-21s are top of the league which is great news from the
younger end of the football club developing and we've let a few of the
younger players go out on loan this week on the basis of their performances
in the Under-21s. Things are alright apart from we haven't got as many
points on the board as we should have."
You've been persisting without and out-and-out striker, are you likely to
continue that on Sunday?
SA: "I wouldn't say I've persisted because it's only been two games out of
eight. It worked very, very well in the first game and didn't work quite so
well in the second so it'll be our choice in the next two days on whether we
do change the system we play or we don't."
Do you think Carlton Cole is ready to be involved?
SA: "He's ready to be involved in the squad but I don't think he's ready to
start from a match fitness point of view. Carlton's experience, if needed
off the subs bench, could be invaluable at the moment so he'll be in the
squad for Sunday."
Sir Alex Ferguson's book has been in the news as well this week, were you
featured in it originally?
SA: "Yes, I think I got left out! I'm looking forward to getting my free
copy as he said he forgot to put me in it so I'm looking forward to reading
it when it comes out. I'll be trotting down to the launch on 1 November to
see him more than anything else."
Swansea played in the Europa League last night, might that aid you on
Sunday?
SA: "There's a chance it can there's no doubt about that. Having experienced
the same situation myself when I was at Bolton the most difficult game to
win was always the one after we'd played in Europe. He did make a lot of
changes, six changes to the side that beat Sunderland so we'll have to wait
and see.
"If there is any advantage we might be able to take with a few of their
players having a bit of fatigue then hopefully we can capitalise on that.
It's really about our players going and playing as well as they know they
can and that's line has been set by the performance at Tottenham and I'll be
looking for the players to achieve that at Swansea. If we can achieve that
type of performance then we'll give them a hell of a game."
Swansea haven't had a great home record up until they beat Sunderland 4-0 in
their last match. Do you focus on their last game or consider that they're
relatively weak at home?
SA: "Well I think prior to the Sunderland game I would have talked to the
players about any nervous frailties they might have suffered because of the
time they have gone without winning at home. I suppose it sounds a lot
longer than it really was, because there was a break when this record was
calculated from last season into this season. They'll have taken a lot of
confidence from the fact they ended up breaking down Sunderland and getting
four goals so that fear might now have left them. "It's always a difficult
game. They've had a terrific amount of progress over a few years and haven't
looked back for many, many years and they have some really good players.
Michael [Laudrup] will be expecting them to try and turn home games into
another victory and our format is to go and play like we did against
Tottenham and see if we can win the game. Certainly we need to get some
points out of it because we're way down on the points total I expected after
the first eight games. It's a big game for us to make sure we play our best
and get some points out of."
How much better were you hoping to have done by this stage of the season?
SA: "Well I couldn't knock the performances too much but I think we're about
four points short of what we should have achieved. My huge concern is the
fact that we've lost three home games on the trot, that never happened last
season, we only lost four all season at home. That's my biggest worry, our
away performances have been very good but our results haven't matched the
performances. We should of beat Newcastle, we certainly shouldn't have lost
against Hull City we had a good draw at Southampton and a great win against
Tottenham. We've got to make sure we give our all in the Premier League
because we're a 100 per cent team and we need to play at 100 per cent to win
a game of football in the Premier League."
Is it as simple as taking the opportunity of having more shots on target as
you only had two against Manchester City?
SA: "There's no doubt about that. We had 17 attempts and only two on target
and that tells you the story of our incapacity to turn opportunities,
certainly at the end, to put the goalkeeper under pressure. It's well
documented that Joe Hart has recently made a few errors that he doesn't
normally make and my message to the players was try and test him as much as
we possibly can. You can only do that with your attempts being on target and
that may cause the goalkeeper to make a mistake again but we didn't do that
sufficiently enough."
Mark Noble has said this week that he believes he has the ability and the
maturity to play for England, do you agree with that?
SA: "Yes, I don't disagree with that. He's got to continue to perform at a
consistent level and of course between now and next summer his performances
will have to be consistently of the highest quality to attract the attention
of Roy Hodgson. If he thinks he can do that then he's put a huge amount of
pressure on himself to make sure he performs at his highest level which has
always been very good for us."
In general do you think West Ham players are overlooked when it comes to
England selection?
SA: "No I don't. If we had 12 points now instead of eight those players
would be talked about an awful lot more. At the end of the day people talk
about performances and how to play the game of football but ultimately if
you achieve the results at the end of those performances that's where the
attention comes from. If you don't get the points that's when the
performances are quickly and easily forgotten. In the end performances have
to produce results which produces attention in the right way and it gets
people looking to come and watch your players do what they're doing,
certainly at international level."
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid on clocking up the air miles, Swansea City and New Zealand's
FIFA World Cup Play-Off
25.10.2013
Hello everyone,
I've had a busy few weeks with West Ham United and New Zealand. I've got
used to all the travelling with my national team now, as I've been away a
lot of times. It can be physically and mentally demanding spending hours at
airports and on planes, but it is all part of the job of being a national
team player and, in my case, captain. Obviously it would be best for the
Club if I stayed here and it is tough, but you have to go away and come back
and be professional and I've got no excuses for my performance against
Manchester City because I was OK.
During the international break, we played a training match in Los Angeles,
then travelled to Trinidad and Tobago for a friendly international. While we
were there, we found out we would be playing Mexico next month in a
two-legged Intercontinental Play-Off, with the winners going to next year's
World Cup.
It's going to be difficult against Mexico because they've been to a lot of
World Cups and we have only been to two, so it's not going to be easy. We're
going to go there for the first leg and hopefully we can get a result, then
take them back to New Zealand and do the business there.
Obviously Mexico will not be the same as they were before, but they are
still going to be a good side and we're going to have to be up for it, give
110 per cent and see how far it takes us. We play them at the Azteca
Stadium, which is going to be good and exciting to play there, but the most
important thing is for us to get to the World Cup. We play the first leg
away from home, but we'll have to wait and see if that's an advantage.
Either way, it's going to be tough. My travel itinerary is pretty
interesting! I fly from London to Los Angeles, then Los Angeles to Mexico
City, back to Los Angeles, then to Auckland for the second leg in
Wellington. On the way back, it's the reverse, flying from Auckland to Los
Angeles and then on to London. I'll definitely get some Air Miles for all
that!
Before that, we go to Swansea City on Sunday and they have got a good team
and finished well last year. We've got to do better than we did against
Manchester City and up our levels.
Looking back at last weekend, at the end of the day Manchester City were a
better side than we were and we didn't play up to the same level as we did
at Tottenham. They were simply better than us. Every away game is tough but,
to be fair, I think the boys have done well away from home this season and
if we can keep those sort of performances up, we can take something away
from Swansea. It will be tough, though, because they're a good side. Swansea
did really well to win the Capital One Cup last season and qualify for
Europe, so credit to them. For us, we want to climb the league because our
start hasn't been the best. Hopefully we can kick on in the next couple of
games.
Swansea's manager Michael Laudrup is a legend back in Denmark, where I grew
up. He's the biggest player they have ever had and he played for a lot of
big clubs - Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax - and did well for the
national team as well, particularly at the 1986 World Cup. He is always
going to be a legend and there are a lot of Danes who follow Swansea because
of him. I never tried to be him in the school playground, though, as I
always stayed at the back as a defender!
I wish a safe and successful journey to the Hammers fans travelling to
Swansea on Sunday and hope all of you have a great weekend.
Come on you Irons!
Reidy
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U18 duo ready for Teesside trip
WHUFC.com
Kieran Bywater and Kyle Knoyle are hoping the Under-18s can continue their
winning run on Saturday
25.10.2013
West Ham United make the long journey up to Middlesbrough this weekend
looking to extend their Barclays U18 Premier League winning run to five
games.
Steve Potts' side have won four consecutive games to shake off a slow start
to the season which saw them win just once in their opening six matches.
Ten goals in ten games from Kieran Bywater have played a major role in
reversing the team's fortunes and the midfielder cannot quite believe his
rich vein of scoring form.
Bywater told West Ham TV: "I would have taken the ten goals at the start of
the season for the whole season! "Obviously I have to keep working hard and
keep helping the team. The goals aren't just all my own work obviously all
the other players have been setting up goals. "I've just been fortunate
enough to get a few good goals myself."
While the captain's run of six goals in his last four games has stolen the
headlines other players in the squad have received recognition of a
different kind.
Right-back Kyle Knoyle represented England U18s earlier this month when he
played the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 friendly win over Hungary. Knoyle was
joined in the squad by Hammers centre-back Reece Burke and he was
justifiably pleased with his selection. "It was an honour to represent
England and hopefully I can get some more caps. The experience itself was a
once in a lifetime opportunity."
With both players seemingly thriving under the guidance of Steve Potts, Mark
Phillips and Tony Carr, the team is going from strength to strength. While
four wins on the bounce have kick-started their season, both players feel as
though they were not getting the results their performances deserved during
their first few games. "We lost 1-0 to Sunderland and we played some great
football and should have come away with a result" explained Knoyle. "From
there we've kept going from the Liverpool game [which we won 5-0] and just
kept cracking on. There's a great atmosphere at the moment and everyone's
really pleased.
"We thought we should be getting the results but now that they've been
coming we just need to crack on from here and keep the atmosphere as it is."
Bywater echoed the thoughts of his team-mate and is hopeful the team will
return to east London with three points from their trip to Teesside. He
said: "We were unfortunate with some of the games at the beginning of the
season. "The performances were there but maybe it was just the finishing or
a little bit of class missing that we didn't quite have but it's clicked in
recent weeks. "We've got four wins on the bounce and hopefully we can make
it five on the weekend."
*West Ham TV will show exclusive highlights from Saturday's Barclays U18
Premier League trip to Middlesbrough on Monday.
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Swansea v West Ham
KO 16:00
25 October 2013
Last updated at 14:50
By Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Liberty Stadium Date: Sunday, 27 October
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup must decide whether to play Ashley Williams,
who has missed the last five weeks with an ankle injury. Pablo Hernadez
finally looks set to play after a hamstring problem but Ben Davies (ankle)
is out.
West Ham could be unchanged from the side that was beaten by Manchester City
last weekend. Carlton Cole is not yet match fit, while Andy Carroll, James
Collins, Alou Diarra and George McCartney remain out.
MATCH PREVIEW
With just five league wins between them this fixture offers an opportunity
for both sides to claim a significant victory. For Swansea it would be
back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in 2013, while having
lost four of their last six, it would be a welcome return to winning ways
for West Ham. Swansea's 4-0 win over Sunderland last weekend was their first
home Premier League win in nine attempts. They have remained unbeaten and
indeed impressed in their Europa League campaign yet it could be argued it
is affecting domestic matters. "The problem for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce
is getting his team to pose a goal threat. They were superb in their win
over Tottenham but were lacking up front in their defeat by Manchester City
last time out."
Ever since their arrival in the top flight, the Liberty Stadium has been a
destination where any team has had to play well to get a result, and Michael
Laudrup will know that reputation and foundation has to remain in place to
get close to last season's ninth-placed league position. The four goals
against Sunderland were a lift too, having scored only six in the previous
seven league matches as record signing Wilfred Bony and Michu still work on
their understanding.
Either man would be welcomed by Sam Allardyce at the moment in the continued
absence of Andy Carroll. The progress on his record signing's fitness must
be top of the West Ham manager's weekly questions.
So far this season Maiga, Vaz Te and Petric have tried unsuccessfully to
fill the void, with the return of Carlton Cole an added option. It makes the
3-0 win at Tottenham in their last away game an even more outstanding
result. I watched them previously in defeat at Hull, where they were
unlucky, but had they been more clinical in front of goal could have been
out of sight. The consistent emergence of Ravel Morrison has been a huge
positive, as has the recent return to fitness of Stewart Downing. Swansea
face their third game in eight days and if the Hammers can rediscover that
White Hart Lane formula they will move above the Swans in the table.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Swansea beat West Ham 3-0 in their first home game of last season with Michu
scoring his first goal at the Liberty Stadium.
The Hammers have only won four of their 22 league trips to Swansea (D4,
L14).
This fixture has traditionally produced goals; an average of 3.5 goals per
game have been scored across the previous 44 league meetings.
Swansea
Swansea are looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time
since December last year.
All three league wins by Michael Laudrup's side this season have come when
they have kept clean sheets.
There have been more goals scored at the Liberty Stadium this season (16)
than at any other Premier League ground.
The Swans have drawn only once this season - only games involving Palace
(none) have resulted in fewer draws.
West Ham
West Ham are looking to win successive away matches in the Premier League
for the first time since December 2007.
The Hammers have conceded just one away goal in four league matches -Robbie
Brady's controversial penalty at Hull.
Sam Allardyce's side are six points down on this stage of last season when
they had 14 points from their opening eight games.
West Ham have the worst shooting accuracy in the Premier League this season
(29.6%).
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West Ham's Andy Carroll back training in 'two to three weeks'
BBC.co.uk
Sam Allardyce says West Ham striker Andy Carroll could be back training
within a fortnight. The 24-year-old has yet to feature for the Hammers this
season because of a heel injury, which has required treatment both in Europe
and the USA. "We hope he'll be back with us in the next two to three weeks,"
said the West Ham manager. "Hopefully that would be a shout that he could
start full training when he does come back."
Allardyce added: "He is frustrated of course and is desperate to be playing
football again. It's what he loves doing most. I will only be too pleased to
get him back in the squad." The England international, who picked up the
injury during the final game of last season, started 22 Premier League games
for the Hammers during the 2012-13 campaign, while on loan from Liverpool,
scoring seven times. He sealed a £15m permanent move from the Reds during
the summer.
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Swansea take on West Ham at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday
Last Updated: October 25, 2013 1:26pm
SSN
West Ham travel to Swansea on Sunday looking for a win to leapfrog their
opponents in the Premier League table. Sam Allardyce's side currently sit in
15th in the table with eight points from their opening eight league games.
The Hammers go into the game on the back of a 3-1 home defeat by Manchester
City last time but will take confidence from their last match on the road -
a 3-0 win at previously unbeaten Tottenham. But it will be tough against a
Swans side who are unbeaten in three games in all competitions at home. That
run began with a 1-0 win over St Gallen in the Europa League and Michael
Laudrup's side followed up with a 4-0 thrashing of Sunderland in the Premier
League and Thursday's last-gasp 1-1 Europa League draw against Kuban
Krasnodar. The Swans climbed to 11th in the table with the mauling of the
Black Cats - with ten points from their opening eight games - and Laudrup
will be eyeing another three points at home.
Paul Merson's prediction
West Ham have had an up-and-down period. They had a great win at Tottenham,
but got beat by Man City and I think Swansea will win on Sunday. They may be
a little light at the back if Ashley Williams and Ben Davies are out, but
Sam Allardyce doesn't really play with forwards so that might not be much of
a problem. It's got to be a home win this one.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
Swansea Badge Swansea
Last 6
Kuban (h)1-1
Sunderland (h)4-0
Southampton (a)2-0
St Gallen (h)1-0
Arsenal (h)1-2
3-1
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup must decide whether to risk Ashley Williams in
Sunday's clash with West Ham. The Wales defender has been sidelined for
almost five weeks due to an ankle ligament problem, but took part in
training earlier this week with Laudrup hoping to give his captain some
match action before the south Wales derby against Cardiff. Left-back Ben
Davies remains out until after the international break with a badly sprained
ankle. But on a more positive note, Pablo Hernandez could finally get back
on the pitch after a hamstring problem.
West Ham Badge West Ham
Last 6
Man City (h)1-3
Tottenham (a)0-3
Hull City (a)1-0
Cardiff (h)3-2
Everton (h)2-3
Southampton (a)0-0
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed the club have got no new injuries
from last week. He said: "We've still got Alou Diarra, James Collins and
George McCartney out with injury and of course Andy Carroll who everyone
knows is our long-term injury. "We could do with those players back as
quickly as we can as we're a little light on numbers." To bolster numbers
going forward, Jack Collison will come back from a loan spell at Bournemouth
at the end of this weekend.
Opta Facts
Swansea City will be looking to win successive Barclays Premier League games
for the first time since December 1st 2012.
West Ham have not won back-to-back Barclays Premier League away games since
December 2007
The last three competitive meetings between Swansea and West Ham have seen
the home side win whilst keeping a clean sheet
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Rumours of Andy Carroll's immninent return not true according to Sam
Allardyce
Last Updated: October 25, 2013 5:48pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce has played down reports Andy Carroll could be back in his West
Ham plans as early as next week. The England striker is yet to feature for
the Hammers this season after suffering a problem with his foot which has
needed treatment from some of the top specialists Europe and the United
States can offer. Reports suggested Carroll could return to training after
their clash with Swansea on Sunday but Allardyce was quick to quash any
rumours. "The stories that Andy Carroll is returning to us this week are not
true," the West Ham boss said. "There is still a while to go there. He'll be
back we hope in the next two to three weeks. Hopefully he can start full
training when he does come back. It's always been a week-by-week assessment.
"He is frustrated of course and is desperate to be playing football again,
it's what he loves doing most. I will only be too pleased to get him back in
the squad."
West Ham's other forwards have struggled for goals in Carroll's absence and
Allardyce played without a recognised striker in their last two games, a 3-0
win over Spurs and a 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester City. "It's worked
very well in the first game, not so well in second," he said. "It will be
our choice in the next few days about whether we change the system. "Carlton
Cole played another under-21 game last Monday. Our under-21s are top of the
league, that's great news from the younger end. "I don't think Cole is ready
to start from a match fitness point of view but his experience from the
bench is invaluable at the moment."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup respects Sam Allardyce's style of play ahead of
Hammers clash
25 Oct 2013 22:30
The Mirror
Michael Laudrup has revealed his admiration for the way Sam Allardyce sticks
to his his principles in the cut-throat industry of management. West Ham
boss Allardyce is often associated with a direct style of play. But stylish
Laudrup believes the Hammers boss deserves respect for his beliefs on the
game. Laudrup said: "I like managers and teams who are very clear about what
they want. I always respect that. There is not one truth in football. "But
there are some managers who say one thing and do another. Sam Allardyce is
very honest about what he wants and what he asks from his players. "You can
see what he wants and they are a strong, physical side." Swansea face West
Ham for the club's third home game in a week and aim to be unbeaten
following a win over Sunderland and a midweek Europa League draw against
Russian outfit Kuban Krasnodar. But Laudrup is wary of the Londoners on the
road following their previous away-day success at Tottenham. He added: "We
want a positive result on Sunday as West Ham are in 'our league' and we're
at home. It is a big chance to get points if we can. "But it will be a tough
one. They are strong and they showed that in the last game they played away
at Tottenham."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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Saturday, October 26
Friday, October 25
Daily WHUFC News - 25th October 2013
Noble enjoying central role
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble has relished his important role at the hub of West Ham United's 4-6-0 formation
24.10.2013
Mark Noble is enjoying his central role in West Ham United's Barclays Premier League season. The No16 has been deployed as a deep-lying midfielder in Sam Allardyce's new 4-6-0 formation, helping the Hammers to halt the opposition and launch dangerous counter-attacks. The system appears to have got the best out of Noble, who was outstanding in the 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur and voted Man of the Match in Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Manchester City. "I am over the moon really with the way things are going for me," he told West Ham TV. "I just love going out there and playing. "Obviously it is always a little bit special against the top teams because you want to show how good you are and compete and I feel like I have been doing that and I am just enjoying playing football at the minute."
Unfortunately, despite Noble's best efforts, West Ham have lost their last three home league matches and need to make up those points on their travels - starting at Swansea City on Sunday. The Swans host Russian Premier League side Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday evening and the Hammers will hope their UEFA Europa League exploits leave them vulnerable - just as Spurs appeared following a mid-week trip to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala a three weekends ago. "Yes [our home form hasn't been great], but hopefully we can now win a few more away games and even it out like that," said the Canning Town native.
"We lost against Everton, I got sent-off and [Leighton] Baines put two into the top corner and that doesn't happen every week, against Stoke we were poor but probably should have got a point, but [Jermaine] Pennant bends one in the top corner. "We came off the back off a great result against Spurs and though we lost to City, we can still go into the Swansea game confident. We have been playing well in all the games this season apart from Stoke where we wasn't good.
"We are going to go in all week and train like we always do. We have got a great bunch of lads who enjoy each other's company and we will all work hard for each other and try to get three points on Sunday."
Looking further into the future, Noble was also asked about his own international ambitions. With journalists, pundits and supporters already picking their England squads for 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, the likes of Ravel Morrison and Andy Carroll have seen their names crop up. However, former England U21 captain Noble is still hopeful he can make a case for his own inclusion in Roy Hodgson's 23-man group. "I'm not going around shouting that I should be in the squad and all that because I am not that sort of person," he said. "I have obviously played in the Premier League week-in, week-out, since I was about 19 and played at a good level. If it happens, it happens, but I am just going to keep on enjoying my football, getting on the ball, enjoying passing and creating stuff and if it happens, it happens."
"I believe I am good enough. I have seen the players we have had here who have been in the England set-up and I believe that if I made that step up, I would be able to mentally and physically cope with it."
Mark Noble
Mark Noble has been a consistent performer for West Ham United this season and it came as little surprise to see the 26-year-old awarded a WhoScored.com rating of 8 in the weekend meeting with Manchester City. That figure was the highest for the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground, Noble has started every Premier League game for Sam Allardyce's side this season and continues to provide the passionate displays that supporters have grown to expect. In the heart of the midfield, Noble was charged with breaking up the play and disrupting the rhythm of the City attack, evidenced in that he made the most tackles (5) in the encounter. This facet of his game is what he is known for, further reinforced in his statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'tackling'.
Only Mohamed Diamé (25) has made more tackles for the Hammers over the course of the season than Noble (21), who is performing in a deep-lying midfield role, securing an average WhoScored.com rating of 7.33 after eight games; only Winston Reid (7.48) has scored higher of every West Ham player thus far.
His reading of the game is also what stands him in high stead for the club and this aspect was noticeable at the weekend, making four interceptions in the encounter; only Reid and Diamé (5) made more than the tough tackling midfielder. Tasked with stifling the City midfield, Noble clearly performed in the middle of the park as his defensive stats suggest, while looking to drive the team on having completed four successful dribbles.
As the season wears on, Noble will be crucial to the Hammers building on their tenth-place finish from last season. His defensive ability will allow the more attack-minded players in the West Ham squad to push on and hurt the opposition, much like they did in the 3-0 win at Tottenham earlier this month.
WhoScored.com is a website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Follow @WhoScored on Twitter.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spence loaned to MK Dons
WHUFC.com
Jordan Spence has joined Sky Bet League One side MK Dons on loan until Saturday 23 November
24.10.2013
Jordan Spence has joined Sky Bet League One side Milton Keynes Dons on a month-long emergency loan. The West Ham United defender will remain with Karl Robinson's Play-Off challengers until Saturday 23 November. Spence, 23, recently returned from a loan spell at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, where he made four league appearances. The versatile right-back or centre-back could make his MK Dons debut at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, with the visitors hoping to improve on a run of three defeats in their last four league matches. Spence could also feature in home games against Walsall and Bradford City and an away fixture at Oldham Athletic, where he could face fellow Academy graduate and Latics forward Cristian Montano. The defender will join former Hammers winger Luke Chadwick in the squad at MK Dons, where the first-choice goalkeeper is David Martin, son of West Ham great Alvin Martin. The one-time Chigwell School pupil has totalled 68 first-team appearances for West Ham, Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe United and Bristol City, including ten for the Hammers. Spence is one of several West Ham players out on loan alongside Jack Collison and Stephen Henderson (both AFC Bournemouth), Elliot Lee (Colchester United) and Paul McCallum (Torquay United).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Local doctor a cheap ticket recipient
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th October 2013
By: Staff Writer
It has been revealed that at least one of the local residents to benefit from West Ham United's £5 ticket offer was a full-time doctor.
The Club came under fire earlier this week after it was confirmed they had distributed several hundred cheap tickets to local community groups, despite thousands of long-term supporters having been priced out of attending in recent seasons.
However that mild annoyance turned to anger for some after it was revealed that several of those to receive the cheap tickets were fully employed adults - few, if any of whom support West Ham United.
One such beneficiary was a local doctor known only as Aamir, who was visiting the Boleyn Ground for the first time ever last weekend. "I share the fans' frustration [about ticket pricing]," he said. "I did not ask for tickets at that reduced rate, it simply was too good to turn down.
"I am sorry that I only paid £5 [for a ticket], and many did not.
"I would love to sit down, have a civil chat, and explain that I was there to support West Ham and did not expect any favours because I am Muslim. Dialogue is important. I hope it brings understanding."
West Ham United are understood to be reviewing their ticketing policy in the wake of Saturday evening's problems. The Club have already committed to give away up to 100,000 tickets per season to local residents when moving to the Olympic Stadium in 2016.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oops! Redknapp Q&A goes wrong
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th October 2013
By: Staff Writer
A live Twitter Q&A by Harry Redknapp went catastrophically wrong as the QPR manager was forced to faced a barrage of criticism on the social network.
Twitter users were asked to submit questions to Redknapp using the #askharry hashtag this afternoon. However there were red faces all round as instead of being flooded by questions on the Championship club, Rangers' Twitter team were largely inundated instead with comments criticising the former West Ham boss.
Whilst some were witty - as in the punter who asked Redknapp: "How crushing is it to know that Hodgson got the England job as he was the younger, more photogenic candidate?" - others referred to Redknapp's recent acquittal from his tax trial, such as the wag who asked: "Please can you help train my dog? I can't get him to sit, or beg, yet you got yours to open an off-shore bank account."
Meanwhile many more criticised Redknapp over his recently-published comments on Billy Bonds, which the West Ham legend dismissed as "nonsense" in an exclusive KUMB.com podcast earlier his week.
Read on to see the best - and the worst of the #askharry entries... To view the latest entries, which are still coming in, visit Twitter.
Whose idea was it to #AskHarry?
PK @khakipillowslip: How does your dog remember it's PIN?
Paul Taylor @nottmtails: I've dropped a load of pins. I don't want to tread on them. Can I ask about tacks avoidance?
Paul Browne @Brownosleftfoot: Have you ever told the truth? Even once?
Mike Oxbig @oxbig80: Would you ever sign someone who was none of the following: T'riffic lad; top, top player; real family man; a fantastic professional?
Disco Stu 68 @Discostu68: Do you think Pompey will ever get out of the mess they've been in since you left?
cheese mouse @_cheesemouse_: Is it coincidence the building you owned in Southsea burnt down after you were denied planning permission to turn it into luxury flats?
Peter Rainey @Raineyballs: How can you relegate three different clubs from the Premier League and still be classed as a good manager?
Christopher Dalton @CDalton2012: Was this Q&A session a better or worse idea than paying 12million for Chris Samba?
Alex J Beekmeyer @Alexjbeekmeyer: Can you explain the difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance?
©@®L @pSyLOnsBoy: Is it true you've done more damage on the south coast than Hitler ever could?
Andy @dddyhx: My mate constantly refers to you as a "Wheeler Dealer". What does he mean by that?
Jon Giles @JonnyGilesFav: Have you sacked your public relations officer yet?
On Billy Bonds
upthehammers @reid7919: Why did you stab Billy Bonds in the back? #BackStabber
Allan Van Leer ⚒ @vanman0: How does it feel to be publicly bitch slapped by West Ham legend & ex-mate Billy Bonds?
Charlie @CharlieSteelWHU: Are you scared that one day Billy Bonds is gonna turn up to your gaff and just give you the one bang?
Michael @SantoDomingos86: Are you gonna set your dogs on to Billy Bonds?
Chris Jose @CJv3: I need a good instrument to cut a steak. Can you recommend a good knife, like, where did you buy the one you stabbed Bonzo with?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble targets England World Cup squad
Last Updated: October 24, 2013 2:57pm
SSN
West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble believes he can break into Roy Hodgson's England World Cup squad. Noble, who captained the Under-21 side, has yet to win a senior cap but is refusing to give up hope of gatecrashing Hodgson's party for next summer's finals in Brazil. The 26-year-old has been a consistent performer for West Ham and he believes he could make the step up for England if he got a call. "I believe I am good enough," Noble told the London Evening Standard. "I have seen the players we have had here who have been in the England set-up and I believe that if I made that step up, I would be able to mentally and physically cope with it. "I'm not going around shouting that I should be in the squad and all that because I am not that sort of person. "I have obviously played in the Premier League week in, week out, since I was about 19 and played at a good level. "If it happens, it happens, but I am just going to keep on enjoying my football, getting on the ball, enjoying passing and creating stuff and if it happens, it happens."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WEST HAM COMMUNITY DISCOUNT TICKET OFFER
By Sean Whetstone 24 Oct 2013 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
There has been much coverage of the discounted local community tickets at the West ham v Man City match last.It has also brought some unwelcome press in the Daily Express, Star and Mail.
I understand there is much mis-information on this subject.
The first thing to explain is this discounting of tickets for the local community is nothing new for West Ham. The discounted community trust offer started at Wigan home match last season and was featured on BBC Match of the Day. I understand around 400 tickets were discounted during that first match.
There was another community discount ticket offer at the Stoke home match for another 80 people from one particular community project.
There have been allegations that between 2,000 and 2,500 discounted tickets were sold. I understand the true number to be around 1,500.
West Ham say they have nothing to hide and are proud of their close links the Community. The West Ham United Community Sports Trust website clearly states that affordable match day tickets are available for pupils in Schools in East London and Essex are priced at £5, Tickets for Junior Football clubs with accompanying parents are available for £5 for the child with the adult going free of charge and Tickets for Troops can bought tickets for £10 www.community.whufc.com/
Possibly the biggest difference for this match was it was category A match and every previous community related match had been category B.
I understand the community partners can request discounted tickets for any match. It just so happens there were tickets left for the Man City match and the decision was made to extend this offer to the Man City category A game as the match was unlikely to sell out. This fact appears to have been confirmed by Jack Sullivan when he tweeted "The 5 pound ticket were [Sic] a one off to the local community to fill empty seats for a TV game"
Stories that locals were given free tickets or that 2,500 tickets were given to Newham council to distribute are wide of the mark.
The main community partners for this match were: Premier League Kicks, Premier League 4 Sport and the Tower Hamlets' Stifford Centre
West Ham confirmed on Monday in a WHUFC.com article that "As per the terms of the contracts with said partners, the tickets were offered at a discounted rate, but absolutely no tickets were provided free of charge and fans from all locations, background, race and religion were included"
Although the media have highlighted a facebook video of a small number of members of the local community praying just before half time I understand no complaints of racism or harassment was made to the club by these local community members. The media seem to going for sensational headlines without any real substance.
I am sure the club has learnt from this experience and need to be much more transparent and up front about these community offers to dispel any ill feeling from season ticket holders/supporters and negative headlines.
There were also reports that members of the local community celebrated Man City goals. I was sitting in the Sir Trevor Brooking lower close to where these tickets were situated and didn't see that happening. I also know no-one else who did. Many of the local community who came to West ham for the first time were wearing West Ham tops so that accusation doesn't hold much water for me.
Many of us live and/or work in one of most of the diverse City's in the world and we are one West Ham Family.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble has relished his important role at the hub of West Ham United's 4-6-0 formation
24.10.2013
Mark Noble is enjoying his central role in West Ham United's Barclays Premier League season. The No16 has been deployed as a deep-lying midfielder in Sam Allardyce's new 4-6-0 formation, helping the Hammers to halt the opposition and launch dangerous counter-attacks. The system appears to have got the best out of Noble, who was outstanding in the 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur and voted Man of the Match in Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Manchester City. "I am over the moon really with the way things are going for me," he told West Ham TV. "I just love going out there and playing. "Obviously it is always a little bit special against the top teams because you want to show how good you are and compete and I feel like I have been doing that and I am just enjoying playing football at the minute."
Unfortunately, despite Noble's best efforts, West Ham have lost their last three home league matches and need to make up those points on their travels - starting at Swansea City on Sunday. The Swans host Russian Premier League side Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday evening and the Hammers will hope their UEFA Europa League exploits leave them vulnerable - just as Spurs appeared following a mid-week trip to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala a three weekends ago. "Yes [our home form hasn't been great], but hopefully we can now win a few more away games and even it out like that," said the Canning Town native.
"We lost against Everton, I got sent-off and [Leighton] Baines put two into the top corner and that doesn't happen every week, against Stoke we were poor but probably should have got a point, but [Jermaine] Pennant bends one in the top corner. "We came off the back off a great result against Spurs and though we lost to City, we can still go into the Swansea game confident. We have been playing well in all the games this season apart from Stoke where we wasn't good.
"We are going to go in all week and train like we always do. We have got a great bunch of lads who enjoy each other's company and we will all work hard for each other and try to get three points on Sunday."
Looking further into the future, Noble was also asked about his own international ambitions. With journalists, pundits and supporters already picking their England squads for 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, the likes of Ravel Morrison and Andy Carroll have seen their names crop up. However, former England U21 captain Noble is still hopeful he can make a case for his own inclusion in Roy Hodgson's 23-man group. "I'm not going around shouting that I should be in the squad and all that because I am not that sort of person," he said. "I have obviously played in the Premier League week-in, week-out, since I was about 19 and played at a good level. If it happens, it happens, but I am just going to keep on enjoying my football, getting on the ball, enjoying passing and creating stuff and if it happens, it happens."
"I believe I am good enough. I have seen the players we have had here who have been in the England set-up and I believe that if I made that step up, I would be able to mentally and physically cope with it."
Mark Noble
Mark Noble has been a consistent performer for West Ham United this season and it came as little surprise to see the 26-year-old awarded a WhoScored.com rating of 8 in the weekend meeting with Manchester City. That figure was the highest for the Hammers at the Boleyn Ground, Noble has started every Premier League game for Sam Allardyce's side this season and continues to provide the passionate displays that supporters have grown to expect. In the heart of the midfield, Noble was charged with breaking up the play and disrupting the rhythm of the City attack, evidenced in that he made the most tackles (5) in the encounter. This facet of his game is what he is known for, further reinforced in his statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'tackling'.
Only Mohamed Diamé (25) has made more tackles for the Hammers over the course of the season than Noble (21), who is performing in a deep-lying midfield role, securing an average WhoScored.com rating of 7.33 after eight games; only Winston Reid (7.48) has scored higher of every West Ham player thus far.
His reading of the game is also what stands him in high stead for the club and this aspect was noticeable at the weekend, making four interceptions in the encounter; only Reid and Diamé (5) made more than the tough tackling midfielder. Tasked with stifling the City midfield, Noble clearly performed in the middle of the park as his defensive stats suggest, while looking to drive the team on having completed four successful dribbles.
As the season wears on, Noble will be crucial to the Hammers building on their tenth-place finish from last season. His defensive ability will allow the more attack-minded players in the West Ham squad to push on and hurt the opposition, much like they did in the 3-0 win at Tottenham earlier this month.
WhoScored.com is a website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Follow @WhoScored on Twitter.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spence loaned to MK Dons
WHUFC.com
Jordan Spence has joined Sky Bet League One side MK Dons on loan until Saturday 23 November
24.10.2013
Jordan Spence has joined Sky Bet League One side Milton Keynes Dons on a month-long emergency loan. The West Ham United defender will remain with Karl Robinson's Play-Off challengers until Saturday 23 November. Spence, 23, recently returned from a loan spell at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, where he made four league appearances. The versatile right-back or centre-back could make his MK Dons debut at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, with the visitors hoping to improve on a run of three defeats in their last four league matches. Spence could also feature in home games against Walsall and Bradford City and an away fixture at Oldham Athletic, where he could face fellow Academy graduate and Latics forward Cristian Montano. The defender will join former Hammers winger Luke Chadwick in the squad at MK Dons, where the first-choice goalkeeper is David Martin, son of West Ham great Alvin Martin. The one-time Chigwell School pupil has totalled 68 first-team appearances for West Ham, Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe United and Bristol City, including ten for the Hammers. Spence is one of several West Ham players out on loan alongside Jack Collison and Stephen Henderson (both AFC Bournemouth), Elliot Lee (Colchester United) and Paul McCallum (Torquay United).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Local doctor a cheap ticket recipient
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th October 2013
By: Staff Writer
It has been revealed that at least one of the local residents to benefit from West Ham United's £5 ticket offer was a full-time doctor.
The Club came under fire earlier this week after it was confirmed they had distributed several hundred cheap tickets to local community groups, despite thousands of long-term supporters having been priced out of attending in recent seasons.
However that mild annoyance turned to anger for some after it was revealed that several of those to receive the cheap tickets were fully employed adults - few, if any of whom support West Ham United.
One such beneficiary was a local doctor known only as Aamir, who was visiting the Boleyn Ground for the first time ever last weekend. "I share the fans' frustration [about ticket pricing]," he said. "I did not ask for tickets at that reduced rate, it simply was too good to turn down.
"I am sorry that I only paid £5 [for a ticket], and many did not.
"I would love to sit down, have a civil chat, and explain that I was there to support West Ham and did not expect any favours because I am Muslim. Dialogue is important. I hope it brings understanding."
West Ham United are understood to be reviewing their ticketing policy in the wake of Saturday evening's problems. The Club have already committed to give away up to 100,000 tickets per season to local residents when moving to the Olympic Stadium in 2016.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oops! Redknapp Q&A goes wrong
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th October 2013
By: Staff Writer
A live Twitter Q&A by Harry Redknapp went catastrophically wrong as the QPR manager was forced to faced a barrage of criticism on the social network.
Twitter users were asked to submit questions to Redknapp using the #askharry hashtag this afternoon. However there were red faces all round as instead of being flooded by questions on the Championship club, Rangers' Twitter team were largely inundated instead with comments criticising the former West Ham boss.
Whilst some were witty - as in the punter who asked Redknapp: "How crushing is it to know that Hodgson got the England job as he was the younger, more photogenic candidate?" - others referred to Redknapp's recent acquittal from his tax trial, such as the wag who asked: "Please can you help train my dog? I can't get him to sit, or beg, yet you got yours to open an off-shore bank account."
Meanwhile many more criticised Redknapp over his recently-published comments on Billy Bonds, which the West Ham legend dismissed as "nonsense" in an exclusive KUMB.com podcast earlier his week.
Read on to see the best - and the worst of the #askharry entries... To view the latest entries, which are still coming in, visit Twitter.
Whose idea was it to #AskHarry?
PK @khakipillowslip: How does your dog remember it's PIN?
Paul Taylor @nottmtails: I've dropped a load of pins. I don't want to tread on them. Can I ask about tacks avoidance?
Paul Browne @Brownosleftfoot: Have you ever told the truth? Even once?
Mike Oxbig @oxbig80: Would you ever sign someone who was none of the following: T'riffic lad; top, top player; real family man; a fantastic professional?
Disco Stu 68 @Discostu68: Do you think Pompey will ever get out of the mess they've been in since you left?
cheese mouse @_cheesemouse_: Is it coincidence the building you owned in Southsea burnt down after you were denied planning permission to turn it into luxury flats?
Peter Rainey @Raineyballs: How can you relegate three different clubs from the Premier League and still be classed as a good manager?
Christopher Dalton @CDalton2012: Was this Q&A session a better or worse idea than paying 12million for Chris Samba?
Alex J Beekmeyer @Alexjbeekmeyer: Can you explain the difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance?
©@®L @pSyLOnsBoy: Is it true you've done more damage on the south coast than Hitler ever could?
Andy @dddyhx: My mate constantly refers to you as a "Wheeler Dealer". What does he mean by that?
Jon Giles @JonnyGilesFav: Have you sacked your public relations officer yet?
On Billy Bonds
upthehammers @reid7919: Why did you stab Billy Bonds in the back? #BackStabber
Allan Van Leer ⚒ @vanman0: How does it feel to be publicly bitch slapped by West Ham legend & ex-mate Billy Bonds?
Charlie @CharlieSteelWHU: Are you scared that one day Billy Bonds is gonna turn up to your gaff and just give you the one bang?
Michael @SantoDomingos86: Are you gonna set your dogs on to Billy Bonds?
Chris Jose @CJv3: I need a good instrument to cut a steak. Can you recommend a good knife, like, where did you buy the one you stabbed Bonzo with?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble targets England World Cup squad
Last Updated: October 24, 2013 2:57pm
SSN
West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble believes he can break into Roy Hodgson's England World Cup squad. Noble, who captained the Under-21 side, has yet to win a senior cap but is refusing to give up hope of gatecrashing Hodgson's party for next summer's finals in Brazil. The 26-year-old has been a consistent performer for West Ham and he believes he could make the step up for England if he got a call. "I believe I am good enough," Noble told the London Evening Standard. "I have seen the players we have had here who have been in the England set-up and I believe that if I made that step up, I would be able to mentally and physically cope with it. "I'm not going around shouting that I should be in the squad and all that because I am not that sort of person. "I have obviously played in the Premier League week in, week out, since I was about 19 and played at a good level. "If it happens, it happens, but I am just going to keep on enjoying my football, getting on the ball, enjoying passing and creating stuff and if it happens, it happens."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WEST HAM COMMUNITY DISCOUNT TICKET OFFER
By Sean Whetstone 24 Oct 2013 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
There has been much coverage of the discounted local community tickets at the West ham v Man City match last.It has also brought some unwelcome press in the Daily Express, Star and Mail.
I understand there is much mis-information on this subject.
The first thing to explain is this discounting of tickets for the local community is nothing new for West Ham. The discounted community trust offer started at Wigan home match last season and was featured on BBC Match of the Day. I understand around 400 tickets were discounted during that first match.
There was another community discount ticket offer at the Stoke home match for another 80 people from one particular community project.
There have been allegations that between 2,000 and 2,500 discounted tickets were sold. I understand the true number to be around 1,500.
West Ham say they have nothing to hide and are proud of their close links the Community. The West Ham United Community Sports Trust website clearly states that affordable match day tickets are available for pupils in Schools in East London and Essex are priced at £5, Tickets for Junior Football clubs with accompanying parents are available for £5 for the child with the adult going free of charge and Tickets for Troops can bought tickets for £10 www.community.whufc.com/
Possibly the biggest difference for this match was it was category A match and every previous community related match had been category B.
I understand the community partners can request discounted tickets for any match. It just so happens there were tickets left for the Man City match and the decision was made to extend this offer to the Man City category A game as the match was unlikely to sell out. This fact appears to have been confirmed by Jack Sullivan when he tweeted "The 5 pound ticket were [Sic] a one off to the local community to fill empty seats for a TV game"
Stories that locals were given free tickets or that 2,500 tickets were given to Newham council to distribute are wide of the mark.
The main community partners for this match were: Premier League Kicks, Premier League 4 Sport and the Tower Hamlets' Stifford Centre
West Ham confirmed on Monday in a WHUFC.com article that "As per the terms of the contracts with said partners, the tickets were offered at a discounted rate, but absolutely no tickets were provided free of charge and fans from all locations, background, race and religion were included"
Although the media have highlighted a facebook video of a small number of members of the local community praying just before half time I understand no complaints of racism or harassment was made to the club by these local community members. The media seem to going for sensational headlines without any real substance.
I am sure the club has learnt from this experience and need to be much more transparent and up front about these community offers to dispel any ill feeling from season ticket holders/supporters and negative headlines.
There were also reports that members of the local community celebrated Man City goals. I was sitting in the Sir Trevor Brooking lower close to where these tickets were situated and didn't see that happening. I also know no-one else who did. Many of the local community who came to West ham for the first time were wearing West Ham tops so that accusation doesn't hold much water for me.
Many of us live and/or work in one of most of the diverse City's in the world and we are one West Ham Family.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 24
Daily WHUFC News - 24th October 2013
Loanee round-up
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee and Paul McCallum made debuts for their respective loan clubs on
Tuesday evening
23.10.2013
Young West Ham United forwards Elliot Lee and Paul McCallum made debuts for
their respective loan clubs on Tuesday evening. Lee, 18, played for 73
minutes for Colchester United in their 1-1 Sky Bet League One draw at
Shrewsbury Town, having joined the Essex club on a month's loan earlier in
the day.
It took just eight minutes for Lee to show his threat in front of goal, but
his first effort in Colchester colours flew wide of the post. Former West
Ham team-mate Freddie Sears also went close for the U's before being forced
off with a hamstring injury. After half-time, Lee continued to show his
promise by seeing one shot flash wide, another deflected for a corner and a
third blocked. The teenager was replaced with 17 minutes to go by Jeffrey
Monakana. Colchester fell behind to a Cristian Lopez header on four minutes
but secured a draw through Marcus Bean's low shot just before half-time. Lee
is hoping to have another chance to impress when Colchester welcome
second-place Peterborough United to the Weston Homes Community Stadium on
Saturday. "I'm really looking forward to the challenges ahead and I hope I
can help Colchester with a few goals," said Lee. "It's really good and I'm
really excited about this loan spell.
"The Barclays U21 Premier League is a great league, but you're not getting
challenged at your physical peak [because you are playing against a majority
of younger players], so I hope I can really challenge myself and score some
goals like I have done for the Under-21s. "Playing in the U21s is like
playing with my mates, but this means I've got to meet some new people now,
get on and play well with them and hopefully get some points on the board. I
was buzzing to see Searsy again because he is friends with both myself and
my brother [Olly], so hopefully we can play well together."
Elsewhere, McCallum pulled on a Torquay United shirt for the first time in
their 2-0 Sky Bet League Two defeat at Burton Albion, having signed for the
Gulls on a month's loan earlier in the day. The 20-year-old started the game
on the bench, but was called upon five minutes before half-time when Billy
Bodin was forced off with an injury. The Hammers loanee came close to
marking his debut with the game's opening goal, only to be denied by an
outstanding save by Brewers goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Burton took
advantage and won the game through goals from Jimmy Phillips and Adam McGurk
in the final 20 minutes. Defeat left Torquay 22nd in the table ahead of
Saturday's home game with Portsmouth, where McCallum could come up against
former Hammers centre-back Bondz N'Gala.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole eager for first team chance
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole is looking forward to first team involvement after playing for
the Development Squad
23.10.2013
Carlton Cole is eager to return to first team action with West Ham United
after getting some vital minutes under his belt for the Club's Development
Squad.
The striker who began his second spell with the Hammers was substituted in
the final moments of a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Barclays
Under-21 Premier League on Monday evening. Cole is working hard to regain
match fitness and is hopeful he will soon be appearing for Sam Allardyce's
side once again. He told West Ham TV: "I want to get back into the thick of
things now. I had a taste of the bench on Saturday against Manchester City
and I just wanted to get on so much. "The manager felt it was best not to
throw me in at the deep end so fast, to try and get this game under my belt
and be available for selection in the other first team games."
Big Sam hinted after Saturday's defeat to Manchester City that Cole and
fellow striker Mladen Petric may well be given a chance with Sunday's trip
to Swansea City followed by a Capital One Cup clash at Burnley two days
later. With that in mind, the big forward was sent with Nick Haycock's team
to give the No24 some more playing time ahead of any potential first team
involvement. "Obviously I've come in and played with the young boys who are
developing into Premier League players. I've just wanted to act as a good
influence upon them and at the same time get some minutes under my belt,
which the manager has asked me to do. "I need the minutes under my belt and
I've now played two 90 minutes so, hopefully, I can convince the manager to
get me in the squad, coming on as a sub or even starting a game sometime
soon. Conditions for Cole's first match with the Under-21s were far from
ideal as torrential rain provided a boggy surface and would occasionally
affect the run of the ball. The Hammers coped with the conditions better
than their opponents however and were rewarded with goals from Kieran
Sadlier and Dan Potts. The striker admitted conditions were not ideal but
was pleased with how the team coped with the situation. He said: "It was
difficult for both teams and we had no excuses as both teams had the same
conditions and it came down to who could handle them better. We came in and
dominated the whole game and dealt with the conditions how we were supposed
to."
Cole was also impressed by the talent amongst the Club's youth ranks and
believes they are in good hands. "There are some brilliant, very promising
players. In all positions they're very solid, strong and hopefully they can
go on to be good players for the Club. "That's the main aim, to develop them
in these conditions and Nick's doing a brilliant job with that. The players
just have to listen to him, trust him and he'll make sure they come
through."
After being aided in his quest for match fitness with a strong performance
for the Development Squad, Cole is now keen to make his mark for West Ham
once again. "It looked like I was leaving and now I'm back, so hopefully I
can make a good impression in my time here."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Players turn out for Fans' Forum
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Gold was joined by three first-team players at the
Club's Disabled Supporters' Forum
23.10.2013
Joint-Chairman David Gold, Stewart Downing, Jussi Jaaskelainen and James
Collins all took part in an entertaining disabled fans' forum at the Boleyn
Ground on Tuesday evening. The Club's loyal supporters were invited to the
special night at the home of the Hammers, where they had the opportunity to
quiz the Joint-Chairman and the first-team stars. Jaaskelainen and Downing,
together with Mr Gold, were involved in a lively question and answer
session, where the fans in attendance asked the pair a range of questions,
from matters on the pitch to the prospective move to Stratford. The trio
amused supporters with all manner of anecdotes, before posing for photos and
signing autographs. Guests were also treated to an Olympic Stadium
presentation from Marketing Director Tara Warren, outlining how they will be
catered for at the Hammers' new home as of 2016. West Ham stopper
Jaaskelainen thoroughly enjoyed his evening spent with the Hammers faithful,
insisting that occasions such as these are opportunities to reward the fans'
exceptional support of the Club.
"It was good to be here to interact with our fans, answer their questions
and hear their opinions on lots of issues," Jaaskelainen told West Ham TV.
"They are a passionate set of fans and they love their Club. "We know how
great their support is for us and in return it is great for us, as players,
to meet with them like this. It is nice to get the chance to let them know
we appreciate their support and I hope they got the same amount of enjoyment
from the event as we did."
Meanwhile, the event was certainly well received by the supporters in
attendance, as they made the most of the opportunity to rub shoulders with
Mr Gold and the players. "It's good, it's great that we can get involved
and have things like this. Come up to the Club, meet the players and David
Gold," said Zak Patmore.
"It feels different, of course, [meeting the players in person]. It's weird
seeing them on TV and then coming here. But it's nice to be invited here and
to talk to them. Those sentiments were echoed by fellow life-long Hammer
Bernie Munro. He said: "My highlight of the evening was obviously meeting
the players and listening to the questions put forward. "There were lots of
funny parts, they had a laugh and a joke, and all that, which was good."
It was a similar story for Hammers winger Stewart Downing, who continues to
be impressed by the Club's supporters since his summer switch from
Liverpool.
"Since I arrived at the Club, they have been brilliant," Downing explained.
"On Saturday, even though we lost, they still gave us a cheer when the game
finished, as they saw that we had given 100 per cent to try and win the
game. "We have an away trip to Swansea this Sunday and we know the support
will follow us and they will be there in big numbers to get behind us.
Events like these bring the Club, us as players and the fans closer together
and that can only be a good thing."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview - James Tomkins
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins says West Ham United can bounce back strongly at Swansea City
on Sunday
23.10.2013
West Ham United defender James Tomkins refused to be downcast after
Saturday's defeat by Manchester City. The Hammers were beaten 3-1 by Manuel
Pellegrini's men as they went down to a third home loss in a row, but the
centre-back said the performance pointed to brighter results ahead. West Ham
travel to Swansea City next with a point to prove, having suffered an
early-season defeat there last season, and Tomkins is keen to play his part.
James, Saturday was a tough game against a good side, wasn't it?
JT: "It was. They've got quality throughout their side and going 2-0 down
made it tough. It's not a case of doom and gloom, though, and we're looking
forward to trying to get back on track at Swansea.
At 2-1, it looked like you might get back in the game?
JT: "Exactly. We got the goal, the crowd got behind us but there was the
risk that as we were pushing for the second goal we might leave ourselves
open at the back. That's what happened and they punished us. But it could
have been a different scoreline and we were disappointed to lose."
Was it difficult against the movement of the Manchester City strikers -
they're so quick to get into that space, aren't they?
JT: "They've got clever players with good movement and that's why they cost
the money that they do. From our point of view we'll look at it and it's a
good learning curve to play against a team like that, and we'll take from it
what we can."
We certainly weren't outclassed by them on Saturday...
JT: "There were periods of the game in which we were very much on top. We
started a bit slowly, but had a good period in the second half and there
were some good points to take. We didn't get completely outplayed and maybe
3-1 flattered them a little bit. There's nothing to get down about."
On a personal note, you must be delighted to be back starting for West Ham?
JT: "Of course. It can be frustrating at times when you're sitting on the
bench, but I'm growing in confidence with this run of games that I'm
getting. I love playing for West Ham and hopefully I can help us bounce back
at Swansea."
The manager said that you played so well against Cardiff City in the Capital
One Cup, that he had to keep you in the team for the league games, and that
win at Tottenham was magnificent for West Ham...
JT: "It was a while back now when you think about it, but that will
obviously stay in the memory for a while. We wanted to build on that against
Manchester City. That wasn't to be, but there's always Swansea on Sunday."
It didn't go so well for us there last season in our first away game, when
we lost 3-0, but do you feel there are possibilities there to get something
this time around?
JT: "Definitely. We proved against Spurs that we're always confident going
into any game and that we can get a result anywhere. The Premier League is a
funny league this season. There have been a lot of unexpected scores and on
our day we can beat anybody. Swansea are good technically, but if we can
play how we can, then we can get a result."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE KEVIN NOLAN PROBLEM
By Tony Hanna 23 Oct 2013 at 07:57
West Ham Till I Die
Depending on what you read, Andy Carroll will be back in the first team
within one or two months. With Andy back in the side it will give Big Sam a
selection headache that he won't mind having. Two wingers in Jarvis and
Downing knocking the ball into the area with sharp crosses and a certain Mr
Nolan ready for any scraps that big Andy will provide. All sounds good,
after all, that is why Big Sam bought Downing in the pre-season instead of a
proper back up for the injured Carroll. Now, we don't need to be Einstein to
work out from this scenario that this leaves just two other midfield spots
to be filled unless Sam changes to a highly unlikely three at the back.
Recent form suggests Noble can't be dropped and the power Diame brings to
the side makes dropping him highly improbable as well. But then we have
Ravel and Joe Cole amongst others to consider as well? Now I am sure
injuries and suspensions will at times make Sam's team selection fairly
straight forward, and at least having all players to choose from will allow
him to pick a side to "suit" the opposition or rotate the squad. The past
two games against top drawer teams have seen West Ham play a passing game
with a 4-6-0 formation. Flooding the midfield and using alternate players
from the six to break forward has worked at Spurs but failed at home to
City. One fact that is hard to ignore is that in both games we only secured
around 40% of the possession despite having six midfield players. In other
words we allowed the opposition in both cases to come at us as we tried to
hit them on the break or via a set piece.
In both these games, our captain Kevin Nolan was found wanting in terms of
speed and stamina. Playing off a striker is much more to his liking and with
Andy back he will probably be allowed to do this. However, as we have seen
before, when Sam plays this formation our midfield gets over run far too
often. Kevin just does not have the motor to help the midfield out
efficiently and stay close to Andy when required. We do however, have a
player who can do both and to much greater affect. Ravel. His work rate is
outstanding and he can get forward and score goals. He also adds another
dimension to West Ham's play with his speed and dribbling as we saw at
Spurs. Whilst Nolan top scored with ten last season, three of them came in
the last game of the season against already relegated Reading. Morrison has
already scored four goals with thus far limited games.
If you read about Ravel's rise, at least some part of the players turn
around from problem boy to hero boy can be attributed to Kevin Nolan. The
man has also played a huge part in turning around West Ham's dressing room
since the murky days of Avram Grant. You rarely see West Ham going down
without a fight nowadays and Sam attributes much of this to Nolan's presence
both on and off the field. However, it is not just this season that our
captains on field performances have not measured up. Until the Reading game
last season, his form had been poor since the start of the year. So far Sam
has not even looked like dropping Nolan but will Andy's return force his arm
- or will it cement Nolan's place in the side even further?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee and Paul McCallum made debuts for their respective loan clubs on
Tuesday evening
23.10.2013
Young West Ham United forwards Elliot Lee and Paul McCallum made debuts for
their respective loan clubs on Tuesday evening. Lee, 18, played for 73
minutes for Colchester United in their 1-1 Sky Bet League One draw at
Shrewsbury Town, having joined the Essex club on a month's loan earlier in
the day.
It took just eight minutes for Lee to show his threat in front of goal, but
his first effort in Colchester colours flew wide of the post. Former West
Ham team-mate Freddie Sears also went close for the U's before being forced
off with a hamstring injury. After half-time, Lee continued to show his
promise by seeing one shot flash wide, another deflected for a corner and a
third blocked. The teenager was replaced with 17 minutes to go by Jeffrey
Monakana. Colchester fell behind to a Cristian Lopez header on four minutes
but secured a draw through Marcus Bean's low shot just before half-time. Lee
is hoping to have another chance to impress when Colchester welcome
second-place Peterborough United to the Weston Homes Community Stadium on
Saturday. "I'm really looking forward to the challenges ahead and I hope I
can help Colchester with a few goals," said Lee. "It's really good and I'm
really excited about this loan spell.
"The Barclays U21 Premier League is a great league, but you're not getting
challenged at your physical peak [because you are playing against a majority
of younger players], so I hope I can really challenge myself and score some
goals like I have done for the Under-21s. "Playing in the U21s is like
playing with my mates, but this means I've got to meet some new people now,
get on and play well with them and hopefully get some points on the board. I
was buzzing to see Searsy again because he is friends with both myself and
my brother [Olly], so hopefully we can play well together."
Elsewhere, McCallum pulled on a Torquay United shirt for the first time in
their 2-0 Sky Bet League Two defeat at Burton Albion, having signed for the
Gulls on a month's loan earlier in the day. The 20-year-old started the game
on the bench, but was called upon five minutes before half-time when Billy
Bodin was forced off with an injury. The Hammers loanee came close to
marking his debut with the game's opening goal, only to be denied by an
outstanding save by Brewers goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Burton took
advantage and won the game through goals from Jimmy Phillips and Adam McGurk
in the final 20 minutes. Defeat left Torquay 22nd in the table ahead of
Saturday's home game with Portsmouth, where McCallum could come up against
former Hammers centre-back Bondz N'Gala.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cole eager for first team chance
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole is looking forward to first team involvement after playing for
the Development Squad
23.10.2013
Carlton Cole is eager to return to first team action with West Ham United
after getting some vital minutes under his belt for the Club's Development
Squad.
The striker who began his second spell with the Hammers was substituted in
the final moments of a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Barclays
Under-21 Premier League on Monday evening. Cole is working hard to regain
match fitness and is hopeful he will soon be appearing for Sam Allardyce's
side once again. He told West Ham TV: "I want to get back into the thick of
things now. I had a taste of the bench on Saturday against Manchester City
and I just wanted to get on so much. "The manager felt it was best not to
throw me in at the deep end so fast, to try and get this game under my belt
and be available for selection in the other first team games."
Big Sam hinted after Saturday's defeat to Manchester City that Cole and
fellow striker Mladen Petric may well be given a chance with Sunday's trip
to Swansea City followed by a Capital One Cup clash at Burnley two days
later. With that in mind, the big forward was sent with Nick Haycock's team
to give the No24 some more playing time ahead of any potential first team
involvement. "Obviously I've come in and played with the young boys who are
developing into Premier League players. I've just wanted to act as a good
influence upon them and at the same time get some minutes under my belt,
which the manager has asked me to do. "I need the minutes under my belt and
I've now played two 90 minutes so, hopefully, I can convince the manager to
get me in the squad, coming on as a sub or even starting a game sometime
soon. Conditions for Cole's first match with the Under-21s were far from
ideal as torrential rain provided a boggy surface and would occasionally
affect the run of the ball. The Hammers coped with the conditions better
than their opponents however and were rewarded with goals from Kieran
Sadlier and Dan Potts. The striker admitted conditions were not ideal but
was pleased with how the team coped with the situation. He said: "It was
difficult for both teams and we had no excuses as both teams had the same
conditions and it came down to who could handle them better. We came in and
dominated the whole game and dealt with the conditions how we were supposed
to."
Cole was also impressed by the talent amongst the Club's youth ranks and
believes they are in good hands. "There are some brilliant, very promising
players. In all positions they're very solid, strong and hopefully they can
go on to be good players for the Club. "That's the main aim, to develop them
in these conditions and Nick's doing a brilliant job with that. The players
just have to listen to him, trust him and he'll make sure they come
through."
After being aided in his quest for match fitness with a strong performance
for the Development Squad, Cole is now keen to make his mark for West Ham
once again. "It looked like I was leaving and now I'm back, so hopefully I
can make a good impression in my time here."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Players turn out for Fans' Forum
WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Gold was joined by three first-team players at the
Club's Disabled Supporters' Forum
23.10.2013
Joint-Chairman David Gold, Stewart Downing, Jussi Jaaskelainen and James
Collins all took part in an entertaining disabled fans' forum at the Boleyn
Ground on Tuesday evening. The Club's loyal supporters were invited to the
special night at the home of the Hammers, where they had the opportunity to
quiz the Joint-Chairman and the first-team stars. Jaaskelainen and Downing,
together with Mr Gold, were involved in a lively question and answer
session, where the fans in attendance asked the pair a range of questions,
from matters on the pitch to the prospective move to Stratford. The trio
amused supporters with all manner of anecdotes, before posing for photos and
signing autographs. Guests were also treated to an Olympic Stadium
presentation from Marketing Director Tara Warren, outlining how they will be
catered for at the Hammers' new home as of 2016. West Ham stopper
Jaaskelainen thoroughly enjoyed his evening spent with the Hammers faithful,
insisting that occasions such as these are opportunities to reward the fans'
exceptional support of the Club.
"It was good to be here to interact with our fans, answer their questions
and hear their opinions on lots of issues," Jaaskelainen told West Ham TV.
"They are a passionate set of fans and they love their Club. "We know how
great their support is for us and in return it is great for us, as players,
to meet with them like this. It is nice to get the chance to let them know
we appreciate their support and I hope they got the same amount of enjoyment
from the event as we did."
Meanwhile, the event was certainly well received by the supporters in
attendance, as they made the most of the opportunity to rub shoulders with
Mr Gold and the players. "It's good, it's great that we can get involved
and have things like this. Come up to the Club, meet the players and David
Gold," said Zak Patmore.
"It feels different, of course, [meeting the players in person]. It's weird
seeing them on TV and then coming here. But it's nice to be invited here and
to talk to them. Those sentiments were echoed by fellow life-long Hammer
Bernie Munro. He said: "My highlight of the evening was obviously meeting
the players and listening to the questions put forward. "There were lots of
funny parts, they had a laugh and a joke, and all that, which was good."
It was a similar story for Hammers winger Stewart Downing, who continues to
be impressed by the Club's supporters since his summer switch from
Liverpool.
"Since I arrived at the Club, they have been brilliant," Downing explained.
"On Saturday, even though we lost, they still gave us a cheer when the game
finished, as they saw that we had given 100 per cent to try and win the
game. "We have an away trip to Swansea this Sunday and we know the support
will follow us and they will be there in big numbers to get behind us.
Events like these bring the Club, us as players and the fans closer together
and that can only be a good thing."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview - James Tomkins
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins says West Ham United can bounce back strongly at Swansea City
on Sunday
23.10.2013
West Ham United defender James Tomkins refused to be downcast after
Saturday's defeat by Manchester City. The Hammers were beaten 3-1 by Manuel
Pellegrini's men as they went down to a third home loss in a row, but the
centre-back said the performance pointed to brighter results ahead. West Ham
travel to Swansea City next with a point to prove, having suffered an
early-season defeat there last season, and Tomkins is keen to play his part.
James, Saturday was a tough game against a good side, wasn't it?
JT: "It was. They've got quality throughout their side and going 2-0 down
made it tough. It's not a case of doom and gloom, though, and we're looking
forward to trying to get back on track at Swansea.
At 2-1, it looked like you might get back in the game?
JT: "Exactly. We got the goal, the crowd got behind us but there was the
risk that as we were pushing for the second goal we might leave ourselves
open at the back. That's what happened and they punished us. But it could
have been a different scoreline and we were disappointed to lose."
Was it difficult against the movement of the Manchester City strikers -
they're so quick to get into that space, aren't they?
JT: "They've got clever players with good movement and that's why they cost
the money that they do. From our point of view we'll look at it and it's a
good learning curve to play against a team like that, and we'll take from it
what we can."
We certainly weren't outclassed by them on Saturday...
JT: "There were periods of the game in which we were very much on top. We
started a bit slowly, but had a good period in the second half and there
were some good points to take. We didn't get completely outplayed and maybe
3-1 flattered them a little bit. There's nothing to get down about."
On a personal note, you must be delighted to be back starting for West Ham?
JT: "Of course. It can be frustrating at times when you're sitting on the
bench, but I'm growing in confidence with this run of games that I'm
getting. I love playing for West Ham and hopefully I can help us bounce back
at Swansea."
The manager said that you played so well against Cardiff City in the Capital
One Cup, that he had to keep you in the team for the league games, and that
win at Tottenham was magnificent for West Ham...
JT: "It was a while back now when you think about it, but that will
obviously stay in the memory for a while. We wanted to build on that against
Manchester City. That wasn't to be, but there's always Swansea on Sunday."
It didn't go so well for us there last season in our first away game, when
we lost 3-0, but do you feel there are possibilities there to get something
this time around?
JT: "Definitely. We proved against Spurs that we're always confident going
into any game and that we can get a result anywhere. The Premier League is a
funny league this season. There have been a lot of unexpected scores and on
our day we can beat anybody. Swansea are good technically, but if we can
play how we can, then we can get a result."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE KEVIN NOLAN PROBLEM
By Tony Hanna 23 Oct 2013 at 07:57
West Ham Till I Die
Depending on what you read, Andy Carroll will be back in the first team
within one or two months. With Andy back in the side it will give Big Sam a
selection headache that he won't mind having. Two wingers in Jarvis and
Downing knocking the ball into the area with sharp crosses and a certain Mr
Nolan ready for any scraps that big Andy will provide. All sounds good,
after all, that is why Big Sam bought Downing in the pre-season instead of a
proper back up for the injured Carroll. Now, we don't need to be Einstein to
work out from this scenario that this leaves just two other midfield spots
to be filled unless Sam changes to a highly unlikely three at the back.
Recent form suggests Noble can't be dropped and the power Diame brings to
the side makes dropping him highly improbable as well. But then we have
Ravel and Joe Cole amongst others to consider as well? Now I am sure
injuries and suspensions will at times make Sam's team selection fairly
straight forward, and at least having all players to choose from will allow
him to pick a side to "suit" the opposition or rotate the squad. The past
two games against top drawer teams have seen West Ham play a passing game
with a 4-6-0 formation. Flooding the midfield and using alternate players
from the six to break forward has worked at Spurs but failed at home to
City. One fact that is hard to ignore is that in both games we only secured
around 40% of the possession despite having six midfield players. In other
words we allowed the opposition in both cases to come at us as we tried to
hit them on the break or via a set piece.
In both these games, our captain Kevin Nolan was found wanting in terms of
speed and stamina. Playing off a striker is much more to his liking and with
Andy back he will probably be allowed to do this. However, as we have seen
before, when Sam plays this formation our midfield gets over run far too
often. Kevin just does not have the motor to help the midfield out
efficiently and stay close to Andy when required. We do however, have a
player who can do both and to much greater affect. Ravel. His work rate is
outstanding and he can get forward and score goals. He also adds another
dimension to West Ham's play with his speed and dribbling as we saw at
Spurs. Whilst Nolan top scored with ten last season, three of them came in
the last game of the season against already relegated Reading. Morrison has
already scored four goals with thus far limited games.
If you read about Ravel's rise, at least some part of the players turn
around from problem boy to hero boy can be attributed to Kevin Nolan. The
man has also played a huge part in turning around West Ham's dressing room
since the murky days of Avram Grant. You rarely see West Ham going down
without a fight nowadays and Sam attributes much of this to Nolan's presence
both on and off the field. However, it is not just this season that our
captains on field performances have not measured up. Until the Reading game
last season, his form had been poor since the start of the year. So far Sam
has not even looked like dropping Nolan but will Andy's return force his arm
- or will it cement Nolan's place in the side even further?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 23
Daily WHUFC News - 23rd October 2013
AC on the mend
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was back at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday to cheer on his West
Ham United team-mates
22.10.2013
Andy Carroll was back at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday to cheer on his West
Ham United team-mates. The England centre-forward has been working hard to
regain his fitness at the Move to Cure clinic in Belgium, after suffering a
serious plantar fascia injury on the final day of last season. Having
watched the Hammers lose out 3-1 to Manchester City in their most recent
Barclays Premier League fixture, Carroll told West Ham TV he has even more
motivation to return to action. "I thought we played well and there were a
few balls coming into the box that I thought I could get on the end of if
I'd been playing," he confirmed. "We did get a few balls in the box and I
think the lads were disappointed not to get on the end of a couple of them.
Stewie [Downing] put some great balls in. "We played well but it wasn't to
be and obviously I'd like to have been out there getting my head on the end
of them."
While Carroll would love to be out there terrorising defenders, for now he
has to make do with the friendlier confines of the Move to Cure clinic in
Antwerp, where he is working on his fitness on a daily basis with
world-renowned therapist Lieven Maesschalck and his team. As a photo gallery
and video published last week illustrated, the 24-year-old is slowly but
surely working his way towards a return to competitive action. "I'm doing
well over in Belgium and I'm enjoying working out there with Lieven and it's
going great," he confirmed. "I am working hard every day and if I keep doing
that then it shouldn't be too much longer. "I've kicked on a bit from when I
first went over there [three weeks ago]. I was in a boot and on crutches but
it's obviously feeling a lot better and I'm starting to do heavier work,
rather than just balancing. I'm starting to use weights and squatting a bit
more, which is putting more pressure on my foot, which is a positive.
"Lieven has done a lot of things and had good things said about him, so it's
brilliant for me to be working with someone like that. Hopefully, he can do
with me the same as he has done with everyone else."
The father-of-two has had little free time to himself in between his
gruelling sessions at Move to Cure, but the No9 has found time to entertain
his children and hone his FIFA14 skills. "I went to the cinema and I was the
only one in there, which was nice because I had the place to myself! I also
had my kids over there and took them to the zoo and to the theme park, so
that was all right, but other than that I'm just sitting and playing with my
Xbox. I'm good at FIFA14 now, but my thumbs are a bit sore!"
While a date for his return has yet to be pencilled in, Carroll has
ambitions on forcing his way into Roy Hodgson's thoughts ahead of England's
appearance at next summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Respected Daily
Telegraph journalist Henry Winter named both Carroll and Ravel Morrison in
his 23-man squad, much to the striker's delight. "I didn't know that he had
done that [about Winter], but I like to hear it," he added. "I've just got
to get back and play for West Ham and score some goals and force myself back
into the England squad. "For now, I'm back off to Belgium and it all starts
again for another week."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Development Squad march on
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock was forced into last minute changes ahead of a 2-0 win for the
Development Squad
22.10.2013
Nick Haycock's Development Squad reclaimed top spot in the Barclays Under-21
Premier League after an eventful trip to the Midlands ended with a 2-0 win
over Wolverhampton Wanderers. A goal after just six minutes from Kieran
Sadlier set the Hammers on their way in the pouring rain before Dan Potts
turned in a corner midway through the second half to seal another impressive
win. Sadlier grabbed the opener but would have found himself amongst the
substitutes were it not for the withdrawal of striker Elliot Lee. The change
didn't serve to disrupt the team though as Haycock explained to West Ham TV:
"In view of what happened before the game I was wondering what else people
could throw at me. "I got a few phone calls tonight and one or two will be
going out on loan this week so I pulled one or two out the team at the last
minute and we had to show the strength of the squad tonight. "Then Callum
Driver goes down in the first minute and we thought he'd dislocated his
shoulder. So we thought to ourselves then what else was going to happen?"
The win also owed much to goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel, who produced a
magnificent save from Jamie O'Hara's penalty minutes before half-time to
keep the score at 1-0, and earn praise from his coach. "I thought he was
excellent today, he's a top, top young man and he's got a great future in
the game," Haycock added. "I'll be surprised if one or two of these scouts
don't have a look at him because of his presence and his professionalism
through the week. He's a great character to have around the dressing room.
"Rapha's handling was superb and obviously he's made a great penalty save
which kept the game 1-0 at half-time and had it been 1-1 it might have been
a different story because they were definitely up for it tonight playing
against the top of the league."
The win made it four wins from four away games for the team who coped better
on a soaked surface to overcome Wolves. Another three points took them back
to top of the league and Haycock is happy that player development is
coinciding with good results for the Hammers. He said: "Developing a winning
team is a good habit to get into. "You'll hear me from the sidelines where
I'm quite an aggressive person and I demand that from my players and I think
that should run through the football club. "Sometimes Academy football can
be too nice. Yes, it's about development but it's [also about] developing a
style of play to win football matches."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McCallum loaned to Gulls
WHUFC.com
Paul McCallum has joined League Two club Torquay United on loan until
Saturday 23 November
22.10.2013
West Ham United centre-forward Paul McCallum has joined Sky Bet League Two
club Torquay United on loan until Saturday 23 November. The 20-year-old will
hope to boost the Gulls, who sit 22nd in the table, just one point and one
place above the relegation zone. McCallum enjoyed a fine pre-season that saw
him score in the first-team's 6-2 victory at Cork City and make further
appearances against Boreham Wood and AFC Bournemouth. The former Dulwich
Hamlet youngster also scored four times in five pre-season matches for the
Development Squad and has featured three times for the Barclays U21 Premier
League leaders. McCallum enjoyed two loan spells with League Two clubs last
season, scoring seven goals in 18 matches combined for AFC Wimbledon and
Aldershot Town. The forward will look to assist a Torquay attack that has
scored 13 goals in 12 league matches so far. The Streatham-born player
becomes the fourth West Ham player out on loan at present, joining AFC
Bournemouth pair Stephen Henderson and Jack Collison, and fellow Development
Squad forward Elliot Lee at Colchester United.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliott Lee: West Ham youngster joins Colchester United on loan
BBC.co.uk
Colchester United have signed West Ham striker Elliott Lee on an initial
month's youth loan. The 18-year-old has scored five times in six Premier
League Under-21 games for the Hammers this season. And he also made his
first-team debut when he came on as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat by
Stoke City in August. He is available for Tuesday's game at Shrewsbury and
his loan period at the U's will run until the match against Preston on 23
November.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliot's an Essex boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd October 2013
By: Staff Writer
Hammers forward Elliot Lee has joined Colchester United on a month's loan.
The highly-rated young striker completed a move to the League One club this
morning and is set to go straight into the side to face Shrewsbury later
this evening. 18-year-old Lee, the son of former Hammer Rob, made his first
team debut for West Ham in the 1-0 home defeat against Stoke back in August
as an 88th minute substitute for Mo Diame. He has also been in scintillating
form for the Under 21s, scoring five times in just six appearances.
Elliot Lee: the games ahead
Tues, 22 Oct: Shrewsbury v Colchester (League One)
Sat, 26th Oct: Colchester v Peterborough (League One)
Sat, 2nd Nov: Rotherham v Colchester (League One)
Sat, 16th Nov: Colchester v Swindon (League One)
Sat, 23rd Nov: Preston v Colchester (League One)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U's land Hammers teenager
Last Updated: October 22, 2013 11:50am
SSN
Colchester have completed the signing of West Ham teenager Elliot Lee on a
youth loan deal. The 18-year-old will remain with the U's until after their
clash with Preston on November 23. He is expected to be involved on Tuesday
night as Joe Dunne's men face Shrewsbury in League One. Lee has scored five
times in six games for the Hammers' under-21 side this campaign and made his
Barclays Premier League bow as a substitute during the club's defeat to
Stoke in August. The Durham-born forward made his first-team debut in last
season's FA Cup third-round replay defeat to Manchester United.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
yan Allsop praises the impact Stephen Henderson had at Bournemouth
Last Updated: October 22, 2013 8:49pm
SSN
Bournemouth goalkeeper Ryan Allsop has praised the impact West Ham loanee
Stephen Henderson had on the Cherries before he returned to Upton Park for
treatment on a shoulder injury. Allsop replaced Henderson in the early
stages of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest after the Irishman
clashed with Simon Cox, dislocating his shoulder in the process. The former
Bristol City keeper could be sidelined for up to six months and Allsop is
confident he can help the team in Henderson's absence. "Stephen was good to
have in and around the place," Allsop told the club's official website. "He
was good in training and I like to think I pick up little things off
everyone I work with. You can always learn off everyone. "He was away for a
week on international duty, which was brilliant for him, but when he was
around the place he was really good to work with. "It was a shock. I didn't
expect the injury to happen but my job was to prepare in the right way and
expect the worst to happen. "You have to prepare for everything; no one
expects that sort of thing to happen but I have to be ready for anything and
to come on and do my job." "It has been tough, getting sent off at Leeds,
being banned for the Millwall game and then seeing Stephen coming in. But I
just had to work hard, train as I always do and challenge Stephen for his
place. "It's unfortunate for him that he's picked up the injury as he has
done, but I have to work hard and go in with the right attitude and do
everything I've been doing. "It's up to the gaffer to pick the team but I
have to get my head down and keep working hard, and hopefully I can keep
improving and do well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gulls snap up Hammers youngster
Last Updated: October 22, 2013 6:57pm
SSN
Torquay have completed the signing of West Ham forward Paul McCallum on a
one-month loan deal. The 20-year-old has yet to feature for the Hammers so
far this campaign and heads to Plainmoor in search of first-team football.
During loan spells at Aldershot and AFC Wimbledon last season McCallum
netted seven goals in 18 appearances and Gulls boss Alan Knill, whose side
have lost five of their last seven games, is looking for the young forward
to boost his misfiring side. "We hope he is the missing jigsaw piece and you
don't have to be a football genius to know we're missing a little bit at the
top end of the pitch," Knill told the club's official website. "Paul is
something different. He scored goals last year for Aldershot and Wimbledon,
and actually scored here for Wimbledon, and we're very thankful to West Ham
for letting him out. "He's been injured and now his fitness is good, but
just needs games. He is a physical presence and an alternative option
because you can't always pass it a round people in the box. "On Saturday
against Mansfield, we put a lot of good balls into the box but it was quite
difficult for our players to get on the end of it, so a bit more size always
helps."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll was back at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday to cheer on his West
Ham United team-mates
22.10.2013
Andy Carroll was back at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday to cheer on his West
Ham United team-mates. The England centre-forward has been working hard to
regain his fitness at the Move to Cure clinic in Belgium, after suffering a
serious plantar fascia injury on the final day of last season. Having
watched the Hammers lose out 3-1 to Manchester City in their most recent
Barclays Premier League fixture, Carroll told West Ham TV he has even more
motivation to return to action. "I thought we played well and there were a
few balls coming into the box that I thought I could get on the end of if
I'd been playing," he confirmed. "We did get a few balls in the box and I
think the lads were disappointed not to get on the end of a couple of them.
Stewie [Downing] put some great balls in. "We played well but it wasn't to
be and obviously I'd like to have been out there getting my head on the end
of them."
While Carroll would love to be out there terrorising defenders, for now he
has to make do with the friendlier confines of the Move to Cure clinic in
Antwerp, where he is working on his fitness on a daily basis with
world-renowned therapist Lieven Maesschalck and his team. As a photo gallery
and video published last week illustrated, the 24-year-old is slowly but
surely working his way towards a return to competitive action. "I'm doing
well over in Belgium and I'm enjoying working out there with Lieven and it's
going great," he confirmed. "I am working hard every day and if I keep doing
that then it shouldn't be too much longer. "I've kicked on a bit from when I
first went over there [three weeks ago]. I was in a boot and on crutches but
it's obviously feeling a lot better and I'm starting to do heavier work,
rather than just balancing. I'm starting to use weights and squatting a bit
more, which is putting more pressure on my foot, which is a positive.
"Lieven has done a lot of things and had good things said about him, so it's
brilliant for me to be working with someone like that. Hopefully, he can do
with me the same as he has done with everyone else."
The father-of-two has had little free time to himself in between his
gruelling sessions at Move to Cure, but the No9 has found time to entertain
his children and hone his FIFA14 skills. "I went to the cinema and I was the
only one in there, which was nice because I had the place to myself! I also
had my kids over there and took them to the zoo and to the theme park, so
that was all right, but other than that I'm just sitting and playing with my
Xbox. I'm good at FIFA14 now, but my thumbs are a bit sore!"
While a date for his return has yet to be pencilled in, Carroll has
ambitions on forcing his way into Roy Hodgson's thoughts ahead of England's
appearance at next summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Respected Daily
Telegraph journalist Henry Winter named both Carroll and Ravel Morrison in
his 23-man squad, much to the striker's delight. "I didn't know that he had
done that [about Winter], but I like to hear it," he added. "I've just got
to get back and play for West Ham and score some goals and force myself back
into the England squad. "For now, I'm back off to Belgium and it all starts
again for another week."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Development Squad march on
WHUFC.com
Nick Haycock was forced into last minute changes ahead of a 2-0 win for the
Development Squad
22.10.2013
Nick Haycock's Development Squad reclaimed top spot in the Barclays Under-21
Premier League after an eventful trip to the Midlands ended with a 2-0 win
over Wolverhampton Wanderers. A goal after just six minutes from Kieran
Sadlier set the Hammers on their way in the pouring rain before Dan Potts
turned in a corner midway through the second half to seal another impressive
win. Sadlier grabbed the opener but would have found himself amongst the
substitutes were it not for the withdrawal of striker Elliot Lee. The change
didn't serve to disrupt the team though as Haycock explained to West Ham TV:
"In view of what happened before the game I was wondering what else people
could throw at me. "I got a few phone calls tonight and one or two will be
going out on loan this week so I pulled one or two out the team at the last
minute and we had to show the strength of the squad tonight. "Then Callum
Driver goes down in the first minute and we thought he'd dislocated his
shoulder. So we thought to ourselves then what else was going to happen?"
The win also owed much to goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel, who produced a
magnificent save from Jamie O'Hara's penalty minutes before half-time to
keep the score at 1-0, and earn praise from his coach. "I thought he was
excellent today, he's a top, top young man and he's got a great future in
the game," Haycock added. "I'll be surprised if one or two of these scouts
don't have a look at him because of his presence and his professionalism
through the week. He's a great character to have around the dressing room.
"Rapha's handling was superb and obviously he's made a great penalty save
which kept the game 1-0 at half-time and had it been 1-1 it might have been
a different story because they were definitely up for it tonight playing
against the top of the league."
The win made it four wins from four away games for the team who coped better
on a soaked surface to overcome Wolves. Another three points took them back
to top of the league and Haycock is happy that player development is
coinciding with good results for the Hammers. He said: "Developing a winning
team is a good habit to get into. "You'll hear me from the sidelines where
I'm quite an aggressive person and I demand that from my players and I think
that should run through the football club. "Sometimes Academy football can
be too nice. Yes, it's about development but it's [also about] developing a
style of play to win football matches."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McCallum loaned to Gulls
WHUFC.com
Paul McCallum has joined League Two club Torquay United on loan until
Saturday 23 November
22.10.2013
West Ham United centre-forward Paul McCallum has joined Sky Bet League Two
club Torquay United on loan until Saturday 23 November. The 20-year-old will
hope to boost the Gulls, who sit 22nd in the table, just one point and one
place above the relegation zone. McCallum enjoyed a fine pre-season that saw
him score in the first-team's 6-2 victory at Cork City and make further
appearances against Boreham Wood and AFC Bournemouth. The former Dulwich
Hamlet youngster also scored four times in five pre-season matches for the
Development Squad and has featured three times for the Barclays U21 Premier
League leaders. McCallum enjoyed two loan spells with League Two clubs last
season, scoring seven goals in 18 matches combined for AFC Wimbledon and
Aldershot Town. The forward will look to assist a Torquay attack that has
scored 13 goals in 12 league matches so far. The Streatham-born player
becomes the fourth West Ham player out on loan at present, joining AFC
Bournemouth pair Stephen Henderson and Jack Collison, and fellow Development
Squad forward Elliot Lee at Colchester United.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliott Lee: West Ham youngster joins Colchester United on loan
BBC.co.uk
Colchester United have signed West Ham striker Elliott Lee on an initial
month's youth loan. The 18-year-old has scored five times in six Premier
League Under-21 games for the Hammers this season. And he also made his
first-team debut when he came on as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat by
Stoke City in August. He is available for Tuesday's game at Shrewsbury and
his loan period at the U's will run until the match against Preston on 23
November.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Elliot's an Essex boy
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd October 2013
By: Staff Writer
Hammers forward Elliot Lee has joined Colchester United on a month's loan.
The highly-rated young striker completed a move to the League One club this
morning and is set to go straight into the side to face Shrewsbury later
this evening. 18-year-old Lee, the son of former Hammer Rob, made his first
team debut for West Ham in the 1-0 home defeat against Stoke back in August
as an 88th minute substitute for Mo Diame. He has also been in scintillating
form for the Under 21s, scoring five times in just six appearances.
Elliot Lee: the games ahead
Tues, 22 Oct: Shrewsbury v Colchester (League One)
Sat, 26th Oct: Colchester v Peterborough (League One)
Sat, 2nd Nov: Rotherham v Colchester (League One)
Sat, 16th Nov: Colchester v Swindon (League One)
Sat, 23rd Nov: Preston v Colchester (League One)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
U's land Hammers teenager
Last Updated: October 22, 2013 11:50am
SSN
Colchester have completed the signing of West Ham teenager Elliot Lee on a
youth loan deal. The 18-year-old will remain with the U's until after their
clash with Preston on November 23. He is expected to be involved on Tuesday
night as Joe Dunne's men face Shrewsbury in League One. Lee has scored five
times in six games for the Hammers' under-21 side this campaign and made his
Barclays Premier League bow as a substitute during the club's defeat to
Stoke in August. The Durham-born forward made his first-team debut in last
season's FA Cup third-round replay defeat to Manchester United.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
yan Allsop praises the impact Stephen Henderson had at Bournemouth
Last Updated: October 22, 2013 8:49pm
SSN
Bournemouth goalkeeper Ryan Allsop has praised the impact West Ham loanee
Stephen Henderson had on the Cherries before he returned to Upton Park for
treatment on a shoulder injury. Allsop replaced Henderson in the early
stages of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest after the Irishman
clashed with Simon Cox, dislocating his shoulder in the process. The former
Bristol City keeper could be sidelined for up to six months and Allsop is
confident he can help the team in Henderson's absence. "Stephen was good to
have in and around the place," Allsop told the club's official website. "He
was good in training and I like to think I pick up little things off
everyone I work with. You can always learn off everyone. "He was away for a
week on international duty, which was brilliant for him, but when he was
around the place he was really good to work with. "It was a shock. I didn't
expect the injury to happen but my job was to prepare in the right way and
expect the worst to happen. "You have to prepare for everything; no one
expects that sort of thing to happen but I have to be ready for anything and
to come on and do my job." "It has been tough, getting sent off at Leeds,
being banned for the Millwall game and then seeing Stephen coming in. But I
just had to work hard, train as I always do and challenge Stephen for his
place. "It's unfortunate for him that he's picked up the injury as he has
done, but I have to work hard and go in with the right attitude and do
everything I've been doing. "It's up to the gaffer to pick the team but I
have to get my head down and keep working hard, and hopefully I can keep
improving and do well."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gulls snap up Hammers youngster
Last Updated: October 22, 2013 6:57pm
SSN
Torquay have completed the signing of West Ham forward Paul McCallum on a
one-month loan deal. The 20-year-old has yet to feature for the Hammers so
far this campaign and heads to Plainmoor in search of first-team football.
During loan spells at Aldershot and AFC Wimbledon last season McCallum
netted seven goals in 18 appearances and Gulls boss Alan Knill, whose side
have lost five of their last seven games, is looking for the young forward
to boost his misfiring side. "We hope he is the missing jigsaw piece and you
don't have to be a football genius to know we're missing a little bit at the
top end of the pitch," Knill told the club's official website. "Paul is
something different. He scored goals last year for Aldershot and Wimbledon,
and actually scored here for Wimbledon, and we're very thankful to West Ham
for letting him out. "He's been injured and now his fitness is good, but
just needs games. He is a physical presence and an alternative option
because you can't always pass it a round people in the box. "On Saturday
against Mansfield, we put a lot of good balls into the box but it was quite
difficult for our players to get on the end of it, so a bit more size always
helps."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 22
Daily WHUFC News - 22nd October 2013
Potts delighted as winning run continues
WHUFC.com
Under-18s boss Steve Potts was pleased to see his team come through a stern
test against Norwich
21.10.2013
Under-18s manager Steve Potts felt his team deserved the points after
beating Norwich City U18 2-0 at Little Heath on Saturday morning. The
Hammers were made to work hard for the opening 70 minutes, before young
Portuguese striker Marcio Martins capped a rare start with a well taken
goal. Kieran Bywater then grabbed his tenth goal in as many games from the
penalty spot in the final minute. After a true footballing battle against
Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend, Potts knew that Norwich would test
his squad in a completely different way and his team stepped up to the
challenge and got their rewards. "I said to the boys straight after the game
that Norwich bought a completely different test for us compared to the
Tottenham game, but they did really well," said Potts. "Norwich had a game
plan and they were solid, which made it hard for us. "At Tottenham, it was a
free-flowing game that was all about the football, whereas against Norwich
we had to change and mix up our game a little. I think we were definitely
the better team and deserved to win."
Going into the match, the Hammers boss made several changes to the winning
starting eleven against Tottenham in an attempt to rotate the team.
"I just wanted to give some of the other boys a chance and rotate the team,"
he continued. "Marcio came into the side and worked really hard up front and
deservedly capped it with a well taken goal so that was very pleasing. "Ben
Marlow has not long been back from injury and after playing a whole game at
Spurs and a full week's training, he was a little stiff so we decided to
take him off late in the second half, put Josh Cullen in Ben's position and
throw Jerry [Amoo] in. Jerry has the pace to cause problems and did really
well to win the penalty at the end."
Saturday's result took the Hammers' recent winning streak to four games, but
Potts isn't getting carried away and wants his team to continue
concentrating on their performances to give Development Squad manager Nick
Haycock selection problems. "I don't think our recent run changes our
targets for the season at all because I just want the lads to concentrate on
their performance every single week," he added. "Throughout this season, I
have been impressed with the team so they just have to keep it going and the
results will continue to come. "Nick has got the Development Squad going
really well this season and they are raising the bar for us at the moment,
so I am hoping to get some of my boys into that squad."
Back when Potts was a player at West Ham, he recalled seeing a young Mark
Noble performing at a high standard in the Hammers Academy and believes his
players need to look no further that the current first teamer for
inspiration. "If the boys don't want to push on to the next level then there
isn't much point them trying to make a career out of football. The
Development Squad is the next step that they should be looking to then even
onto the first team after that. "I still remember seeing Mark Noble here at
the same age as these lads are now and I think there is no greater example
for the boys to follow than what Mark has done. "They have all made their
starts, so now they have to be looking to push on."
One player looking to take that next step is Under-18s captain Kieran
Bywater, who netted an injury time spot kick on Saturday to take his tally
to ten goals for the season. He is delighted with the way the team is
performing, and as an individual, he hopes to earn his space in Nick
Haycock's Development Squad by the end of the season. He explained:
"Everyone worked hard and the whole team is really happy to win our fourth
game in a row. I'm really happy to get my tenth goal for the season, but
goals are a bonus and everyone played really well and deserved to win.
"Obviously everyone is aiming to play well as a squad every week in the
Under-18s, but as an individual, you're always looking to improve and push
towards the Development Squad. "Last season I played a few games in the
Development Squad and that's where I'm looking at getting to again.
Hopefully by the end of the season I may feature a few times for them."
The Under-18s travel north for their next Barclays U18 Premier League
fixture when they face Middlesbrough on Saturday 26 October.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers' community spirit
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Community Sports Trust's outreach programme continues to
prove successful
21.10.2013
West Ham United Community Sports Trust's long-established outreach programme
is proving hugely successful. The Trust has partnered with a number of
leading groups and programmes throughout east London to support campaigns
that tackle anti-social behaviour, promote inclusion and inspire
participation through access to elite sport. As part of that long-term and
multi-faceted commitment to prominent community groups, the Trust has the
provision to offer West Ham United tickets at a discounted rate, to enable
individuals allied to those schemes to see top-level football in person.
Flagship inclusion programme Premier League Kicks, Premier League 4 Sport
and Tower Hamlets' Stifford Centre were each invited to take up the offer
for the visit of Manchester City as part of the wider commitment to making
football more accessible to all. This comprises just one element of
long-standing relationships with these initiatives and only participants
were eligible for the discounted tickets. As per the terms of the contracts
with said partners, the tickets were offered at a discounted rate, but
absolutely no tickets were provided free of charge and fans from all
locations, background, race and religion were included.
Stifford Centre manager Salman Alam explained: "This is extremely important
and useful for us to be able to reach out to our members. The partnership
with the Club gives us access that we would not normally be able to offer to
our local community. Football is a powerful tool and we use this to further
engage and inspire our young people and adult members."
Head of West Ham United Community Sports Trust. Joe Lyons, said: "I am
delighted with the success of our community outreach programme and it is
fantastic that West Ham United are leading the way in supporting programmes
that tackle anti-social behaviour and the other issues that affect our
Borough and beyond.
"Our focus is on engaging with our community and making football more
accessible to all and we want everyone from the local area to feel included
at the Club. We are rightly proud of the positive feedback we've received
from the campaign, which is essential for the Club to remain at the heart of
the community. I look forward to welcoming more groups at the selected games
throughout the season."
In addition to this key partnership agreement with Stifford, the Trust has
also joined forces with the Bangladesh Football Association UK. Together, an
agreement has been put in place to sustain a football strategy in Tower
Hamlets, one that comprises of establishing a West Ham United programme of
Bengali and Asian coaching education. This scheme, however, extends far
beyond traditional sport, by harnessing the power of football to engage
individuals through education and employment. Similarly, West Ham United
have relationships with numerous local schools and clubs, as they have done
for many years, that rewards their fantastic support with admission to
certain home fixtures.
Elsewhere, the Premier League Kicks programme continues to thrive, with
their work having proven most successful through the combination of coaching
and access to elite sport. Therefore, the Trust offers sports sessions
across a number of venues across east London at no cost to participants,
alongside the provision for match-day experiences for the young people and
their families at selected games throughout the season. Such schemes are
commonplace among other Premier League clubs and West Ham United are proud
of their work in this area and the outstanding results it produces.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wolves 0-2 Development Squad FT
WHUFC.com
Kieran Sadlier and Dan Potts scored the goals as West Ham United's U21s beat
Wolves on Monday
21.10.2013
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
BARCLAYS UNDER-21 PREMIER LEAGUE
NEW BUCKS HEAD STADIUM
MONDAY 21 OCTOBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 7PM
90 mins: It's all over here at AFC Telford and West Ham United have
triumphed 2-0. Apologies for the technical problems in the final 20 minutes
of the game, we'll have fuller updates on whufc.com shortly.
68 mins: Driver heads forward and it looks for a second as though Lletget
could be in. The keeper is smartly off his line though to smother the ball.
66 mins GOAL: From the resulting corner Potts is able to turn it home! Not
sure where it hit him but i'm sure that's the last of his worries!
65 mins: Potts brings the ball out of defence and with no one in a hurry to
close him down he decides to strike. His shot looks to be going over before
a deflection takes it for a corner.
63 mins: In the absence of Moncur, Sadlier steps up to stirke and just
misses the target with a bullet of a strike.
62 mins: Excellent piece of skill from Cole as he turns away from three
defenders before being hacked down and winning a free-kick on the edge of
the box.
60 mins: Indeed he can't continue and Reid is replaced by Ibrahim Keita.
59 mins: A good spell of possession yields nothing for the Hammers and on
the resulting counter attack the Wolves No9 looks to have pulled a muscle as
he chased down the ball.
57 mins: Spiegel's long clearance has Tombides racing through, the striker
checks back and strikes but his curling effort is just wide.
55 mins: Driver is having a battle on the left side with a pacy winger. This
time he wins the battle and a free-kick to boot.
53 mins: The home side are up in arms screaming for another penalty as Potts
looks as though he took down Reid in the box. Lucky escape.
50 mins: First change of the night for West Ham with Danny Whitehead
replacing George Moncur.
49 mins: It's been a slow start to the half by the visitors with Wolves
clearly keen to impress themselves upon the game more in the second half.
47 mins: Wolves are on the attack straight away and work the ball well
before Whittall strikes. Luckily for the Hammers Ruddock throws himself in
the way of the shot.
46 mins: The Hammers kick us off for the second half looking to secure the
win that would send them back to the top of the league.
Half-time: The corner comes to nothing and the referee ends the first half!
A good showing in atrocious conditions by the young Hammers so far and they
have the lead thanks to a Kieran Sadlier goal after just six minutes. The
left winger turned home a Moncur cross to give his side the perfect start.
Spiegel then came to the visitors rescue with a top class save from an
O'Hara penalty on 29 minutes. The big man got down well to his left to keep
out a good strike. So far, so good.
45+2 mins: An outrageous piece of skill from Tombides sees him pluck the
ball from the heavens and turn to run all in one motion. His skill earns the
Hammers a corner with just seconds remaining.
45 mins: And defend they do as Whittall tries his luck from range.
Fortunately for Spiegel it slams the hoarding just to the left of the goal.
44 mins: The ball boy managed to dodge the wayward shot and now with just a
minute until half-time the Hammers are content to defend.
43 mins: The former Tottenham man does strike it but his shot forces a ball
boy high up in the stand into evasive action as it flies toward him.
42 mins: Sadlier concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position with O'Hara on
the field.
40 mins: Cole nods down and releases Turgott who breaks into the box and
fires his shot just wide of the post.
38 mins: Turgott comes sliding back to try and help clear but insted sends
the ball towards his own goal. Spiegel is there again however and able to
clear.
36 mins: The rain is coming down hard and fast again making it even trickier
to keep control of the ball which so far both teams have managed well.
34 mins: Moncur and Turgott combine to win a corner. The ball in is good but
well cleared and allows the hosts to counter. They go down the right and
deliver a ball in but Turgott is back defending and able to clear.
32 mins: Cole has his first chance of the game as the ball is delivered into
the box but he can only stab it into the ground and watch it trickle wide.
29 mins: Wolves have a chance to equalise from the spot after Driver trips
his winger. O'Hara steps up and thunders it left but Spiegel produces a
magnificent one-handed save to deny him!
28 mins: It's taken short and allows Moncur to hit one, it's hard and low
but the keeper is able to deal with it easily enough.
27 mins: Tombides is set free down the right by a Turgott flick and his
cross is deflected out for a corner.
25 mins: Spiegel is snappy off his line to thwart Reid who's running in
behindand able to win a throw in the process.
24 mins: Turgott again has the chance to run and does so before firing low
across the box but no one is there to meet it.
23 mins: Potts throws himself in the way of a Jakobsson shot to keep the
Hammers ahead. Great defending.
21 mins: Moncur is looking on his game today and when that's the case it
usually spells trouble for his opponents.
20 mins: The rain has finally halted! And it may just prove to be a blessing
as this pitch couldn't take much more.
18 mins: Ruddock shepards the ball out for what he thinks will be a
goal-kick but the linesman has different ideas. From the resulting corner
O'Hara finds Whittall who heads straight at Spiegel.
16 mins: Conditions have made it hard going in the early stages althouh the
away side have coped better and could have been two up with Sadlier again
involved. The left winger can't put his header on target this time after a
chipped cross from Turgott.
14 mins: Carlton Cole looks to be enjoying himself in a West Ham shirt and
has already looked dangerous whilst also letting the keeper know of his
presence with a late challenge.
12 mins: Cranston fires in a shot at the near post and Spiegel puts it
behind from the corner. Turgott then clears off the line after a scramble in
the box, his clearance releases Moncur who is able to burst into the Wolves
half and set-up Tombides who can only sky the ball over the bar.
10 mins: The pitch does Moncur no favours as Sadlier looks to put him in
behind the Wolves defence. He would be clear but for the roll of the ball
which holds in the damp surface.
8 mins: The home side have responded well to going behind and forced Spiegel
into his first save of the evening. O'Hara strikes a right footed curler but
the keeper is equal to it.
6 mins GOAL: Sadlier has got the Hammers off to an absolute flyer! Moncur
breaks into the box and feeds Sadlier who fires home first time to score.
What a start!
5 mins: Turgott gets his first touches down the right side and decides to
cross from deep. The ball in is easy for the defenders to clear however.
3 mins: Driver is back on his feet and looks like he may be able to
continue. Good news for the visitors.
1 min: Callum Driver is on the ground and in need of medical attention after
making a committed challenge on the right midfielder.
Kick-off: Wolves kick us off as the rain continues to fall in the midlands.
6:57 pm: The players have emerged from the tunnel and now undertake the
pre-match formalities before we get this one underway.
6:52 pm: The players are in their respective changing rooms gearing up for
the game as some dance music gets the couple of hundred people in the ground
fired up for the match.
6:45 pm: The rain has eased up slightly as the teams prepare to head to
shelter for their final match preperations. There are plenty of scouts in
attendance keen to cast their eye's over the talent on show.
6:30 pm: Half an hour to go until kick-off and the Hammers are ramping up
their warm-up amidst a back drop of heavy rain which is already having an
affect on the roll of the ball on a very soggy surface. On the up side there
is a lovely waft of chips floating across the ground as the fans drift in.
6:05 pm: The team news is in. A strong line-up for the Hammers tonight as
they look to hand crucial game time to the forward pair of Carlton Cole and
Mladen Petric. Just under an hour to kick off but some pretty dreadful
country music can already be heard ringing out around the New Bucks Head
Stadium.
The Development Squad resume Barclays Under-21 Premier League action tonight
as they travel up to the home of AFC Telford to take on Wolverhampton
Wanderers. The young Hammers have kept themselves busy during the
international break with games against Conference National opposition in the
shape of Luton Town and Cambridge United as they geared up for this clash.
Nick Haycock's side are top of the league having won five of their opening
seven matches suffering only one defeat whilst their opponents occupy eighth
place in the table with three wins, three defeats and one draw to show from
their league matches thus far.
There are some big names on show tonight with a couple of familiar faces on
show for the Hammers. The Wolves backline should be in for a busy night with
Mladen Petirc and Carlton Cole both stepping up their quest for match
fitness with some valuable game time here tonight. The home side will be
looking towards the talents of former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara who
has found himself surplus to requirements of Kenny Jackett's first team.
West Ham United: Spiegel, Chambers, Driver, Potts, Ruddock, Lletget,
Turgott, Moncur, Tombides, Sadlier, Cole
Subs: Fanimo, Baxter, Petric, Whitehead, Lee
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Flatt, Kostrna, Ihiekwe, Tank, Cranston, Bancessi,
Whittall, Jakobsson, Parry, O'Hara, Reid
Subs: Dutton, Kellerman, Keita, Iorfa, Carter, Erdei
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Downing encouraged by second half
WHUFC.com
Hammers winger Stewart Downing took heart from the second half of Saturday's
game against Man City
21.10.2013
Stewart Downing felt that West Ham United could have got something out of
their clash with Manchester City on Saturday, had they performed in the
first half as they did in the second. The Hammers trailed to Sergio Aguero's
16th-minute strike at the break, and only really came to life after the
forward had doubled both his and City's tally six minutes after the restart.
Ricardo Vaz Te's overhead kick kept the game alive and it was not until ten
minutes from time that David Silva made the game safe for Manuel
Pellegrini's me n and Downing was encouraged by the second half performance.
"First and foremost, Man City are a top team," he said. "I thought that in
the first half we maybe showed them a little too much respect, although you
could see in the goal the quality that they have.
"In the second half, we probably left it a bit late, but after the second
goal we started to play and believe in ourselves. That's what will frustrate
the mananger and the players, that we left it too late on Saturday. "We got
plenty of balls into the box in the second half, got a good goal back and I
thought we had the momentum. But then Man City hit us on the break and
scored a quality goal to wrap it up."
Aguero had a hand in all three goals, scoring the first two before laying on
the third for David Silva and Downing thought the attacking pair made the
difference for the visitors. He added: "Aguero is certainly a top player.
Silva was very good too and you can go throughout the team, they're strong.
Look at the bench and the players they can bring on. "We held our own in the
second half and could maybe have got a draw out of it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bonds: Redknapp was 'disrespectful'
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 21st October 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United legend Billy Bonds MBE has broken a 19-year silence to
express his disappointment at comments made by Harry Redknapp in his new
autobiography.
Bonds, West Ham's record appearance holder - and a man who remains revered
by Hammers supporters - decided to set the record straight after Redknapp
accused his former best friend of being "a man out of time" and of
overseeing "a shambles" during his spell as manager of West Ham in the early
1990s.
West Ham's seventh full-time manager, who was in the post from 1990 to 1994
has never before spoken to the media about Redknapp, who many believe
undermined him in order to secure the managerial position.
But in an exclusive interview with KUMB.com - which you may hear in its
entirely from tomorrow morning - Bonds finally reveals what he truly thinks
about his former best friend and his new book.
"For him to come out with what he said was disrespectful to the players and
one or two of the staff who were over there," Bonds told KUMB.com. "I think
he's been very liberal with the truth - but that's much as I expected
really.
"I haven't spoken to him for 20 years; I find it quite pathetic that he
comes out with stuff [like that] really, to be quite honest with you."
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'Keeper set for six-month layoff
KUM<B.com
Filed: Monday, 21st October 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Stephen Henderson will be out of action until Spring 2014
after dislocating a shoulder at the weekend. 25-year-old Henderson, who is
currently on loan at Championship side Bournemouth was substituted after
just 13 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest after colliding
with Forest forward Simon Cox. "When I ran on to the pitch, I knew straight
away it was his shoulder and he was in agony," Cherries physio Steve Hard
told the Daily Echo. "Andrew Balderston, the Nottingham Forest physio, came
on and helped me give him gas and air to get him settled. "We couldn't put
him on a stretcher until he had had some pain relief. The paramedics
supported us and it was a good team effort. Everybody worked together to
help put Stephen at ease. "
Henderson, who made just two appearances for Bournemouth is now set to
return to West Ham where he will recive treatment for the injury - and
possibly surgery too. Talking about the incident, Cherries boss Eddie Howe
said: "Our thoughts are with Stephen. It is a real shame because he has had
to be patient and wait for his chance to come out on loan and get some
football. "He did really well for us against Millwall, so it is a big blow
for him and us." Henderson joined West Ham from Portsmouth in March 2012 for
a nominal fee, but since then has made just two appearances - both in the
League Cup - for Sam Allardyce's first team.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce waiting on Andy Carroll's return
Last Updated: October 21, 2013 10:18am
SSN
Sam Allardyce is hoping for an update on Andy Carroll's fitness after a
frustrating start to the season for West Ham United in front of goal.
Carroll has yet to play for the Hammers this term due to a heel injury after
sealing a permanent transfer from Liverpool to Upton Park in the summer.
Allardyce has struggled to replace Carroll and was forced to go into the
game against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break without a
recognised striker. West Ham managed to come away from White Hart Lane with
a surprise 3-0 victory but they lacked an attacking threat in Saturday's 3-1
defeat by Manchester City as Ricardo Vaz Te's goal was one of only two shots
on target. A return date for Carroll has yet to be given but Allardyce
understands he is making good progress and is waiting for further news this
week. "I will be speaking to the specialist on Monday to see whether he can
give us at least a date when he thinks he will be able to come back to us,"
said Allardyce. "He is still improving week by week and is probably due back
with us I would hope. It is very important we get him back as quickly as we
can as I don't want to be continuing to play with no front man."
Allardyce added: "Having got strikers who were not scoring was the only
reason we played that system against Tottenham. "Andy won't play in it. We
bought him to be our leader of the front line. Once he gets fit and up and
running, he will not only score goals but he will create opportunities for
lots of other players to score goals."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stephen Henderson could miss six months with dislocated shoulder
Last Updated: October 21, 2013 12:06pm
SSN
Bournemouth's on-loan keeper Stephen Henderson could miss most of the rest
of the season after dislocating his shoulder in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham
Forest on Saturday. Henderson, on loan at the Sky Bet Championship club from
West Ham, was stretchered off inside the opening 10 minutes after an
accidental collision w ith Forest striker Simon Cox. The Irishman was taken
to hospital where a fracture was ruled out by X-rays, but he may still need
surgery and could miss up to six months - he has returned to Upton Park for
further treatment. Cherries physio Steve Hard paid tribute to the medical
staff who aided Henderson in the immediate aftermath of the incident. "When
I ran on to the pitch, I knew straight away it was his shoulder and he was
in agony," Hard told the Daily Echo. "We have a signal we give to the dugout
when we know it is serious and that means I need back up. Andrew Balderston,
the Nottingham Forest physio, came on and helped me give him gas and air to
get him settled. We couldn't put him on a stretcher until he had had some
pain relief. "The paramedics supported us and it was a good team effort.
Everybody worked together to help put Stephen at ease. "I thought the
situation was dealt with very well and, under the circumstances, everything
ran smoothly. I would like to thank everybody who helped."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Billy Bonds says 'pathetic' Harry Redknapp has been 'very liberal with the
truth' over their West Ham feud
21 Oct 2013 16:46
The Mirror
Billy Bonds has branded Harry Redknapp "pathetic" and "liberal with the
truth" after reigniting their 20-year-old feud. Former West Ham boss and
fans' idol Bonds has not spoken to Redknapp for almost two decades after he
claimed 'Arry had stabbed him in the back. Bonds left the Upton Park club,
after 27 years as a player and manager, in 1994 when Redknapp - who had been
his assistant - took charge of the first team. In his autobiography,
serialised earlier this month Redknapp claimed he was offered Bonds' job
after being approached to return to his old club Bournemouth as boss.
According to Redknapp, Bonds was offered a role as the West Ham director of
football but walked out - and they have not spoken since. But after waiting
20 years to speak his mind, the Hammers legend has broken his silence on
their troubled relationship. Redknapp's memoirs accused 'Bonzo', now 67, of
being a "man out of time" and presiding over a "shambles" - but the QPR
manager will be stung by his former best mate's response. Bonds said: "For
him to come out with what he said was disrespectful to the players and one
or two of the staff who were there. He has been very liberal with the truth
but that's much as I expected. "I haven't spoken to him for 20 years. I find
it quite pathetic that he comes out with stuff like that really."
Such bitterness - in an interview on Hammers fans website Knees Up Mother
Brown (www.kumb.com) - will shatter Redknapp's hopes of patching up their
friendship. Redknapp's book has already put him at odds with players, past
and present, over his recollection of events. 'Arry claimed several senior
England players including Steve Gerrard sent him text messages backing him
to take over as Three Lions coach. Gerrard denies sending Redknapp such a
text. And former Hammers skipper Julian Dicks has also rejected Redknapp's
version of his timekeeping and conforming to dress code.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Under-18s boss Steve Potts was pleased to see his team come through a stern
test against Norwich
21.10.2013
Under-18s manager Steve Potts felt his team deserved the points after
beating Norwich City U18 2-0 at Little Heath on Saturday morning. The
Hammers were made to work hard for the opening 70 minutes, before young
Portuguese striker Marcio Martins capped a rare start with a well taken
goal. Kieran Bywater then grabbed his tenth goal in as many games from the
penalty spot in the final minute. After a true footballing battle against
Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend, Potts knew that Norwich would test
his squad in a completely different way and his team stepped up to the
challenge and got their rewards. "I said to the boys straight after the game
that Norwich bought a completely different test for us compared to the
Tottenham game, but they did really well," said Potts. "Norwich had a game
plan and they were solid, which made it hard for us. "At Tottenham, it was a
free-flowing game that was all about the football, whereas against Norwich
we had to change and mix up our game a little. I think we were definitely
the better team and deserved to win."
Going into the match, the Hammers boss made several changes to the winning
starting eleven against Tottenham in an attempt to rotate the team.
"I just wanted to give some of the other boys a chance and rotate the team,"
he continued. "Marcio came into the side and worked really hard up front and
deservedly capped it with a well taken goal so that was very pleasing. "Ben
Marlow has not long been back from injury and after playing a whole game at
Spurs and a full week's training, he was a little stiff so we decided to
take him off late in the second half, put Josh Cullen in Ben's position and
throw Jerry [Amoo] in. Jerry has the pace to cause problems and did really
well to win the penalty at the end."
Saturday's result took the Hammers' recent winning streak to four games, but
Potts isn't getting carried away and wants his team to continue
concentrating on their performances to give Development Squad manager Nick
Haycock selection problems. "I don't think our recent run changes our
targets for the season at all because I just want the lads to concentrate on
their performance every single week," he added. "Throughout this season, I
have been impressed with the team so they just have to keep it going and the
results will continue to come. "Nick has got the Development Squad going
really well this season and they are raising the bar for us at the moment,
so I am hoping to get some of my boys into that squad."
Back when Potts was a player at West Ham, he recalled seeing a young Mark
Noble performing at a high standard in the Hammers Academy and believes his
players need to look no further that the current first teamer for
inspiration. "If the boys don't want to push on to the next level then there
isn't much point them trying to make a career out of football. The
Development Squad is the next step that they should be looking to then even
onto the first team after that. "I still remember seeing Mark Noble here at
the same age as these lads are now and I think there is no greater example
for the boys to follow than what Mark has done. "They have all made their
starts, so now they have to be looking to push on."
One player looking to take that next step is Under-18s captain Kieran
Bywater, who netted an injury time spot kick on Saturday to take his tally
to ten goals for the season. He is delighted with the way the team is
performing, and as an individual, he hopes to earn his space in Nick
Haycock's Development Squad by the end of the season. He explained:
"Everyone worked hard and the whole team is really happy to win our fourth
game in a row. I'm really happy to get my tenth goal for the season, but
goals are a bonus and everyone played really well and deserved to win.
"Obviously everyone is aiming to play well as a squad every week in the
Under-18s, but as an individual, you're always looking to improve and push
towards the Development Squad. "Last season I played a few games in the
Development Squad and that's where I'm looking at getting to again.
Hopefully by the end of the season I may feature a few times for them."
The Under-18s travel north for their next Barclays U18 Premier League
fixture when they face Middlesbrough on Saturday 26 October.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers' community spirit
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Community Sports Trust's outreach programme continues to
prove successful
21.10.2013
West Ham United Community Sports Trust's long-established outreach programme
is proving hugely successful. The Trust has partnered with a number of
leading groups and programmes throughout east London to support campaigns
that tackle anti-social behaviour, promote inclusion and inspire
participation through access to elite sport. As part of that long-term and
multi-faceted commitment to prominent community groups, the Trust has the
provision to offer West Ham United tickets at a discounted rate, to enable
individuals allied to those schemes to see top-level football in person.
Flagship inclusion programme Premier League Kicks, Premier League 4 Sport
and Tower Hamlets' Stifford Centre were each invited to take up the offer
for the visit of Manchester City as part of the wider commitment to making
football more accessible to all. This comprises just one element of
long-standing relationships with these initiatives and only participants
were eligible for the discounted tickets. As per the terms of the contracts
with said partners, the tickets were offered at a discounted rate, but
absolutely no tickets were provided free of charge and fans from all
locations, background, race and religion were included.
Stifford Centre manager Salman Alam explained: "This is extremely important
and useful for us to be able to reach out to our members. The partnership
with the Club gives us access that we would not normally be able to offer to
our local community. Football is a powerful tool and we use this to further
engage and inspire our young people and adult members."
Head of West Ham United Community Sports Trust. Joe Lyons, said: "I am
delighted with the success of our community outreach programme and it is
fantastic that West Ham United are leading the way in supporting programmes
that tackle anti-social behaviour and the other issues that affect our
Borough and beyond.
"Our focus is on engaging with our community and making football more
accessible to all and we want everyone from the local area to feel included
at the Club. We are rightly proud of the positive feedback we've received
from the campaign, which is essential for the Club to remain at the heart of
the community. I look forward to welcoming more groups at the selected games
throughout the season."
In addition to this key partnership agreement with Stifford, the Trust has
also joined forces with the Bangladesh Football Association UK. Together, an
agreement has been put in place to sustain a football strategy in Tower
Hamlets, one that comprises of establishing a West Ham United programme of
Bengali and Asian coaching education. This scheme, however, extends far
beyond traditional sport, by harnessing the power of football to engage
individuals through education and employment. Similarly, West Ham United
have relationships with numerous local schools and clubs, as they have done
for many years, that rewards their fantastic support with admission to
certain home fixtures.
Elsewhere, the Premier League Kicks programme continues to thrive, with
their work having proven most successful through the combination of coaching
and access to elite sport. Therefore, the Trust offers sports sessions
across a number of venues across east London at no cost to participants,
alongside the provision for match-day experiences for the young people and
their families at selected games throughout the season. Such schemes are
commonplace among other Premier League clubs and West Ham United are proud
of their work in this area and the outstanding results it produces.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wolves 0-2 Development Squad FT
WHUFC.com
Kieran Sadlier and Dan Potts scored the goals as West Ham United's U21s beat
Wolves on Monday
21.10.2013
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
BARCLAYS UNDER-21 PREMIER LEAGUE
NEW BUCKS HEAD STADIUM
MONDAY 21 OCTOBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 7PM
90 mins: It's all over here at AFC Telford and West Ham United have
triumphed 2-0. Apologies for the technical problems in the final 20 minutes
of the game, we'll have fuller updates on whufc.com shortly.
68 mins: Driver heads forward and it looks for a second as though Lletget
could be in. The keeper is smartly off his line though to smother the ball.
66 mins GOAL: From the resulting corner Potts is able to turn it home! Not
sure where it hit him but i'm sure that's the last of his worries!
65 mins: Potts brings the ball out of defence and with no one in a hurry to
close him down he decides to strike. His shot looks to be going over before
a deflection takes it for a corner.
63 mins: In the absence of Moncur, Sadlier steps up to stirke and just
misses the target with a bullet of a strike.
62 mins: Excellent piece of skill from Cole as he turns away from three
defenders before being hacked down and winning a free-kick on the edge of
the box.
60 mins: Indeed he can't continue and Reid is replaced by Ibrahim Keita.
59 mins: A good spell of possession yields nothing for the Hammers and on
the resulting counter attack the Wolves No9 looks to have pulled a muscle as
he chased down the ball.
57 mins: Spiegel's long clearance has Tombides racing through, the striker
checks back and strikes but his curling effort is just wide.
55 mins: Driver is having a battle on the left side with a pacy winger. This
time he wins the battle and a free-kick to boot.
53 mins: The home side are up in arms screaming for another penalty as Potts
looks as though he took down Reid in the box. Lucky escape.
50 mins: First change of the night for West Ham with Danny Whitehead
replacing George Moncur.
49 mins: It's been a slow start to the half by the visitors with Wolves
clearly keen to impress themselves upon the game more in the second half.
47 mins: Wolves are on the attack straight away and work the ball well
before Whittall strikes. Luckily for the Hammers Ruddock throws himself in
the way of the shot.
46 mins: The Hammers kick us off for the second half looking to secure the
win that would send them back to the top of the league.
Half-time: The corner comes to nothing and the referee ends the first half!
A good showing in atrocious conditions by the young Hammers so far and they
have the lead thanks to a Kieran Sadlier goal after just six minutes. The
left winger turned home a Moncur cross to give his side the perfect start.
Spiegel then came to the visitors rescue with a top class save from an
O'Hara penalty on 29 minutes. The big man got down well to his left to keep
out a good strike. So far, so good.
45+2 mins: An outrageous piece of skill from Tombides sees him pluck the
ball from the heavens and turn to run all in one motion. His skill earns the
Hammers a corner with just seconds remaining.
45 mins: And defend they do as Whittall tries his luck from range.
Fortunately for Spiegel it slams the hoarding just to the left of the goal.
44 mins: The ball boy managed to dodge the wayward shot and now with just a
minute until half-time the Hammers are content to defend.
43 mins: The former Tottenham man does strike it but his shot forces a ball
boy high up in the stand into evasive action as it flies toward him.
42 mins: Sadlier concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position with O'Hara on
the field.
40 mins: Cole nods down and releases Turgott who breaks into the box and
fires his shot just wide of the post.
38 mins: Turgott comes sliding back to try and help clear but insted sends
the ball towards his own goal. Spiegel is there again however and able to
clear.
36 mins: The rain is coming down hard and fast again making it even trickier
to keep control of the ball which so far both teams have managed well.
34 mins: Moncur and Turgott combine to win a corner. The ball in is good but
well cleared and allows the hosts to counter. They go down the right and
deliver a ball in but Turgott is back defending and able to clear.
32 mins: Cole has his first chance of the game as the ball is delivered into
the box but he can only stab it into the ground and watch it trickle wide.
29 mins: Wolves have a chance to equalise from the spot after Driver trips
his winger. O'Hara steps up and thunders it left but Spiegel produces a
magnificent one-handed save to deny him!
28 mins: It's taken short and allows Moncur to hit one, it's hard and low
but the keeper is able to deal with it easily enough.
27 mins: Tombides is set free down the right by a Turgott flick and his
cross is deflected out for a corner.
25 mins: Spiegel is snappy off his line to thwart Reid who's running in
behindand able to win a throw in the process.
24 mins: Turgott again has the chance to run and does so before firing low
across the box but no one is there to meet it.
23 mins: Potts throws himself in the way of a Jakobsson shot to keep the
Hammers ahead. Great defending.
21 mins: Moncur is looking on his game today and when that's the case it
usually spells trouble for his opponents.
20 mins: The rain has finally halted! And it may just prove to be a blessing
as this pitch couldn't take much more.
18 mins: Ruddock shepards the ball out for what he thinks will be a
goal-kick but the linesman has different ideas. From the resulting corner
O'Hara finds Whittall who heads straight at Spiegel.
16 mins: Conditions have made it hard going in the early stages althouh the
away side have coped better and could have been two up with Sadlier again
involved. The left winger can't put his header on target this time after a
chipped cross from Turgott.
14 mins: Carlton Cole looks to be enjoying himself in a West Ham shirt and
has already looked dangerous whilst also letting the keeper know of his
presence with a late challenge.
12 mins: Cranston fires in a shot at the near post and Spiegel puts it
behind from the corner. Turgott then clears off the line after a scramble in
the box, his clearance releases Moncur who is able to burst into the Wolves
half and set-up Tombides who can only sky the ball over the bar.
10 mins: The pitch does Moncur no favours as Sadlier looks to put him in
behind the Wolves defence. He would be clear but for the roll of the ball
which holds in the damp surface.
8 mins: The home side have responded well to going behind and forced Spiegel
into his first save of the evening. O'Hara strikes a right footed curler but
the keeper is equal to it.
6 mins GOAL: Sadlier has got the Hammers off to an absolute flyer! Moncur
breaks into the box and feeds Sadlier who fires home first time to score.
What a start!
5 mins: Turgott gets his first touches down the right side and decides to
cross from deep. The ball in is easy for the defenders to clear however.
3 mins: Driver is back on his feet and looks like he may be able to
continue. Good news for the visitors.
1 min: Callum Driver is on the ground and in need of medical attention after
making a committed challenge on the right midfielder.
Kick-off: Wolves kick us off as the rain continues to fall in the midlands.
6:57 pm: The players have emerged from the tunnel and now undertake the
pre-match formalities before we get this one underway.
6:52 pm: The players are in their respective changing rooms gearing up for
the game as some dance music gets the couple of hundred people in the ground
fired up for the match.
6:45 pm: The rain has eased up slightly as the teams prepare to head to
shelter for their final match preperations. There are plenty of scouts in
attendance keen to cast their eye's over the talent on show.
6:30 pm: Half an hour to go until kick-off and the Hammers are ramping up
their warm-up amidst a back drop of heavy rain which is already having an
affect on the roll of the ball on a very soggy surface. On the up side there
is a lovely waft of chips floating across the ground as the fans drift in.
6:05 pm: The team news is in. A strong line-up for the Hammers tonight as
they look to hand crucial game time to the forward pair of Carlton Cole and
Mladen Petric. Just under an hour to kick off but some pretty dreadful
country music can already be heard ringing out around the New Bucks Head
Stadium.
The Development Squad resume Barclays Under-21 Premier League action tonight
as they travel up to the home of AFC Telford to take on Wolverhampton
Wanderers. The young Hammers have kept themselves busy during the
international break with games against Conference National opposition in the
shape of Luton Town and Cambridge United as they geared up for this clash.
Nick Haycock's side are top of the league having won five of their opening
seven matches suffering only one defeat whilst their opponents occupy eighth
place in the table with three wins, three defeats and one draw to show from
their league matches thus far.
There are some big names on show tonight with a couple of familiar faces on
show for the Hammers. The Wolves backline should be in for a busy night with
Mladen Petirc and Carlton Cole both stepping up their quest for match
fitness with some valuable game time here tonight. The home side will be
looking towards the talents of former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara who
has found himself surplus to requirements of Kenny Jackett's first team.
West Ham United: Spiegel, Chambers, Driver, Potts, Ruddock, Lletget,
Turgott, Moncur, Tombides, Sadlier, Cole
Subs: Fanimo, Baxter, Petric, Whitehead, Lee
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Flatt, Kostrna, Ihiekwe, Tank, Cranston, Bancessi,
Whittall, Jakobsson, Parry, O'Hara, Reid
Subs: Dutton, Kellerman, Keita, Iorfa, Carter, Erdei
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Downing encouraged by second half
WHUFC.com
Hammers winger Stewart Downing took heart from the second half of Saturday's
game against Man City
21.10.2013
Stewart Downing felt that West Ham United could have got something out of
their clash with Manchester City on Saturday, had they performed in the
first half as they did in the second. The Hammers trailed to Sergio Aguero's
16th-minute strike at the break, and only really came to life after the
forward had doubled both his and City's tally six minutes after the restart.
Ricardo Vaz Te's overhead kick kept the game alive and it was not until ten
minutes from time that David Silva made the game safe for Manuel
Pellegrini's me n and Downing was encouraged by the second half performance.
"First and foremost, Man City are a top team," he said. "I thought that in
the first half we maybe showed them a little too much respect, although you
could see in the goal the quality that they have.
"In the second half, we probably left it a bit late, but after the second
goal we started to play and believe in ourselves. That's what will frustrate
the mananger and the players, that we left it too late on Saturday. "We got
plenty of balls into the box in the second half, got a good goal back and I
thought we had the momentum. But then Man City hit us on the break and
scored a quality goal to wrap it up."
Aguero had a hand in all three goals, scoring the first two before laying on
the third for David Silva and Downing thought the attacking pair made the
difference for the visitors. He added: "Aguero is certainly a top player.
Silva was very good too and you can go throughout the team, they're strong.
Look at the bench and the players they can bring on. "We held our own in the
second half and could maybe have got a draw out of it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bonds: Redknapp was 'disrespectful'
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 21st October 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United legend Billy Bonds MBE has broken a 19-year silence to
express his disappointment at comments made by Harry Redknapp in his new
autobiography.
Bonds, West Ham's record appearance holder - and a man who remains revered
by Hammers supporters - decided to set the record straight after Redknapp
accused his former best friend of being "a man out of time" and of
overseeing "a shambles" during his spell as manager of West Ham in the early
1990s.
West Ham's seventh full-time manager, who was in the post from 1990 to 1994
has never before spoken to the media about Redknapp, who many believe
undermined him in order to secure the managerial position.
But in an exclusive interview with KUMB.com - which you may hear in its
entirely from tomorrow morning - Bonds finally reveals what he truly thinks
about his former best friend and his new book.
"For him to come out with what he said was disrespectful to the players and
one or two of the staff who were over there," Bonds told KUMB.com. "I think
he's been very liberal with the truth - but that's much as I expected
really.
"I haven't spoken to him for 20 years; I find it quite pathetic that he
comes out with stuff [like that] really, to be quite honest with you."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'Keeper set for six-month layoff
KUM<B.com
Filed: Monday, 21st October 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Stephen Henderson will be out of action until Spring 2014
after dislocating a shoulder at the weekend. 25-year-old Henderson, who is
currently on loan at Championship side Bournemouth was substituted after
just 13 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest after colliding
with Forest forward Simon Cox. "When I ran on to the pitch, I knew straight
away it was his shoulder and he was in agony," Cherries physio Steve Hard
told the Daily Echo. "Andrew Balderston, the Nottingham Forest physio, came
on and helped me give him gas and air to get him settled. "We couldn't put
him on a stretcher until he had had some pain relief. The paramedics
supported us and it was a good team effort. Everybody worked together to
help put Stephen at ease. "
Henderson, who made just two appearances for Bournemouth is now set to
return to West Ham where he will recive treatment for the injury - and
possibly surgery too. Talking about the incident, Cherries boss Eddie Howe
said: "Our thoughts are with Stephen. It is a real shame because he has had
to be patient and wait for his chance to come out on loan and get some
football. "He did really well for us against Millwall, so it is a big blow
for him and us." Henderson joined West Ham from Portsmouth in March 2012 for
a nominal fee, but since then has made just two appearances - both in the
League Cup - for Sam Allardyce's first team.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce waiting on Andy Carroll's return
Last Updated: October 21, 2013 10:18am
SSN
Sam Allardyce is hoping for an update on Andy Carroll's fitness after a
frustrating start to the season for West Ham United in front of goal.
Carroll has yet to play for the Hammers this term due to a heel injury after
sealing a permanent transfer from Liverpool to Upton Park in the summer.
Allardyce has struggled to replace Carroll and was forced to go into the
game against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break without a
recognised striker. West Ham managed to come away from White Hart Lane with
a surprise 3-0 victory but they lacked an attacking threat in Saturday's 3-1
defeat by Manchester City as Ricardo Vaz Te's goal was one of only two shots
on target. A return date for Carroll has yet to be given but Allardyce
understands he is making good progress and is waiting for further news this
week. "I will be speaking to the specialist on Monday to see whether he can
give us at least a date when he thinks he will be able to come back to us,"
said Allardyce. "He is still improving week by week and is probably due back
with us I would hope. It is very important we get him back as quickly as we
can as I don't want to be continuing to play with no front man."
Allardyce added: "Having got strikers who were not scoring was the only
reason we played that system against Tottenham. "Andy won't play in it. We
bought him to be our leader of the front line. Once he gets fit and up and
running, he will not only score goals but he will create opportunities for
lots of other players to score goals."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stephen Henderson could miss six months with dislocated shoulder
Last Updated: October 21, 2013 12:06pm
SSN
Bournemouth's on-loan keeper Stephen Henderson could miss most of the rest
of the season after dislocating his shoulder in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham
Forest on Saturday. Henderson, on loan at the Sky Bet Championship club from
West Ham, was stretchered off inside the opening 10 minutes after an
accidental collision w ith Forest striker Simon Cox. The Irishman was taken
to hospital where a fracture was ruled out by X-rays, but he may still need
surgery and could miss up to six months - he has returned to Upton Park for
further treatment. Cherries physio Steve Hard paid tribute to the medical
staff who aided Henderson in the immediate aftermath of the incident. "When
I ran on to the pitch, I knew straight away it was his shoulder and he was
in agony," Hard told the Daily Echo. "We have a signal we give to the dugout
when we know it is serious and that means I need back up. Andrew Balderston,
the Nottingham Forest physio, came on and helped me give him gas and air to
get him settled. We couldn't put him on a stretcher until he had had some
pain relief. "The paramedics supported us and it was a good team effort.
Everybody worked together to help put Stephen at ease. "I thought the
situation was dealt with very well and, under the circumstances, everything
ran smoothly. I would like to thank everybody who helped."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Billy Bonds says 'pathetic' Harry Redknapp has been 'very liberal with the
truth' over their West Ham feud
21 Oct 2013 16:46
The Mirror
Billy Bonds has branded Harry Redknapp "pathetic" and "liberal with the
truth" after reigniting their 20-year-old feud. Former West Ham boss and
fans' idol Bonds has not spoken to Redknapp for almost two decades after he
claimed 'Arry had stabbed him in the back. Bonds left the Upton Park club,
after 27 years as a player and manager, in 1994 when Redknapp - who had been
his assistant - took charge of the first team. In his autobiography,
serialised earlier this month Redknapp claimed he was offered Bonds' job
after being approached to return to his old club Bournemouth as boss.
According to Redknapp, Bonds was offered a role as the West Ham director of
football but walked out - and they have not spoken since. But after waiting
20 years to speak his mind, the Hammers legend has broken his silence on
their troubled relationship. Redknapp's memoirs accused 'Bonzo', now 67, of
being a "man out of time" and presiding over a "shambles" - but the QPR
manager will be stung by his former best mate's response. Bonds said: "For
him to come out with what he said was disrespectful to the players and one
or two of the staff who were there. He has been very liberal with the truth
but that's much as I expected. "I haven't spoken to him for 20 years. I find
it quite pathetic that he comes out with stuff like that really."
Such bitterness - in an interview on Hammers fans website Knees Up Mother
Brown (www.kumb.com) - will shatter Redknapp's hopes of patching up their
friendship. Redknapp's book has already put him at odds with players, past
and present, over his recollection of events. 'Arry claimed several senior
England players including Steve Gerrard sent him text messages backing him
to take over as Three Lions coach. Gerrard denies sending Redknapp such a
text. And former Hammers skipper Julian Dicks has also rejected Redknapp's
version of his timekeeping and conforming to dress code.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, October 21
Daily WHUFC News - 21st October 2013
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is hopeful he will have more attacking options in the coming
weeks
20.10.2013
Sam Allardyce is hopeful his attacking options will be bolstered in the
coming weeks with the return to fitness of Carlton Cole. The striker, who
re-signed with the Club last week, is still some way short of full fitness
but was able to sit on the bench for Saturday's 3-1 defeat at home to
Manchester City. Cole has been training hard in his bid to regain match
fitness and Allardyce revealed the striker will be playing a part for the
Development Squad later today when they travel to AFC Telford's ground to
play Wolverhampton Wanderers. He said: "Carlton's had one game, we started
pre-season training on July 1 and spent seven-and-a-half weeks building up
to Cardiff, Carlton's been training with us for three weeks and played one
game behind closed doors. "In pre-season terms he's still four weeks off but
we have to bring that forward as quickly as we possibly can. He'll be
playing in the Under-21s on Monday to get another game. "He's fit now but
he's not match fit and he'll certainly come into the equation for when we
play Burnley because we play Swansea on Sunday and then Burnley on Tuesday."
Big Sam has employed a 4-6-0 formation to good effect in the last two
matches with his tactics yielding a 3-0 at White Hart Lane before putting
Manchester City under pressure for long periods of Saturday's game. Playing
without a front man has worked well in the past two fixtures but the manager
admits that a change of tactic is needed for the forthcoming matches amidst
praise for his players performance against Manuel Pellegrini's team. "I
don't want to continue playing without a front man," Allardyce said.
"Certainly not in games when it's more important to play with a front man.
"It suited us in the last two games but Man City spent £100 million this
summer, Tottenham spent the same, we spent around £20 million and I've got
five free transfers on the pitch and that's the difference at the end of the
day. "We tried our best, the players tried their best but today their best
wasn't good enough against that team and that quality."
Cole is not the only forward who Big Sam hopes will be available in the near
future with Mladen Petric likely to get an opportunity, while Andy Carroll
is recuperating and getting stronger with every passing week. The summer
signing has been a big miss for the Hammers this season and whilst there has
been no timescale put on his return, Allardyce is confident he will have a
big part to play when he does. "He's still in Belgium and improving week by
week," said the manager. "We hope to speak to the specialist on Monday and
hopefully he'll be able to give us a date of when he'll be back with us.
It's very important that we get him back as quick as we can. "Andy is the
main man we bought in the summer to be our leader on the front line, once he
gets fit and up and running again he will not only score goals but also
create opportunities for lots of other players to score goals."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Pellegrini on...West ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 20th October 2013
By: Staff Writer No. 2
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini shares his thoughts on his side's
first away win of the season...
Manuel, how happy are you at getting your first away win?
Very pleased. The most important thing today was to win the game. We
continued to play in the same was as for other away games. We knew if we
played the same as we did at Villa we would win away. That was the important
thing for me today, To get the win and to play the same way.
How important was it to get that win away today?
Very important! 1 from 9 is not a good average for us. Before we started the
game Chelsea, Arsenal & Everton won their games. We could have lost more
points playing away so three points is vey good important for us.
Aguero's performance was the catalyst for this evening...
Yes he's a top player. He makes an important difference. It was importat for
the team that he didn't play in the second game this week for Aregentina. He
was fresh and that was important.
How did you find it against West Ham's six in the middle this evening...
Well we knew West Ham would try to play in the same way as they did against
Tottenham..They played very well. I told the players to be patient and to
move the ball around until we found the space. We did it very well. West
Ham's goalkeeper was, I think, their best player. He made at least four or
five important saves.
To use that space you need someone like Silva. I thought he was magnificent.
There was nobody near him. He seemed to find that space.
Well he's another top player. He played very well. It is not easy for other
teams to mark Silva. He has the quality to lose that marker. He was another
player that was fresh. That was my first thought about the eleven that
started. To have the maximum amount who were fresh from the international
break.
When west ham got their goal back were you worried at all that nerves might
play a part?
Well of course it's difficult when it's 2-1 and you're playing away. West
Ham had that moment when they had a lot of possession. But when we got the
third goal – all finished.
You've got an important Champions League match coming up on an artificial
pitch. Are you concerned at all bearing in mind what happened in Hong Kong?
We don't know about the condition of the pitch. We hoe that because UEFA are
allowing the game to be played there it is a good pitch. We've just been
thinking about the game we played today. About West Ham. Tomorrow we'll
think about the Champions League.
You changed your whole back four today. Does that show that you won't be
afraid to make changes for the [Champions League] game?
[following a long pause for the interpreter] No today had nothing to do with
the Champions League match. It was as I said Micah Richards was fresh,
Garcia was fresh, Clichy was fresh – he didn't play in the second
international match for France. I'm sorry to repeat myself but that was the
most important reason.
It shows the depth you've got in the squad. That you can leave other players
on the bench.
[Further interpreter pause] Maybe. It's more important that I trust in the
players. At the beginning of the season I spoke with the owners and told
them that we needed a squad with two important players for each position. We
have a lot of matches and we need to have the same quality.
Thank you.
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West Ham lining up a bid for prolific Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason
20 Oct 2013 22:30
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is ready to shop at Iceland – and bid for
hot-shot striker Alfred Finnbogason. Allardyce sent his chief scout to watch
the prolific marksman notch again for Dutch side Heerenveen against Vitesse
Arnhem on Saturday. Finnbogason has now scored 11 times for his club this
season and has also helped Iceland to the World Cup play-off stage. The
highly-rated forward has been linked with several moves but the Hammers hope
to raise the funds to land him in January. Allardyce has been working
without a top-flight striker all season in the absence of Andy Carroll.
Finnbogason, who grew up in Scotland and has also interested Newcastle, fits
the bill perfectly.
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AFC Bournemouth: Henderson injury could spell premature end to Cherries loan
Daily Echo
6:00am Monday 21st October 2013 in Cherries News Photograph of the Author By
Neil Perrett
LUCKLESS Stephen Henderson looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines
after dislocating his shoulder during Cherries' clash at Nottingham Forest
on Saturday. The goalkeeper, just minutes into his second game of a
three-month loan spell with Cherries, sustained the injury during an
accidental collision with Forest's Simon Cox.
Cox followed in and caught the West Ham man on the left shoulder as the two
players challenged for a loose ball after Henderson had parried a shot from
Djamal Abdoun.
Medical staff from both dugouts immediately rushed to the visibly-distressed
stopper's aid and administered gas and air in an attempt to dull the pain
before he was stretchered off.
Henderson received further pain-killing medication in the treatment room at
the City Ground before he was taken by ambulance to the nearby Queen's
Medical Centre.
The 25-year-old Irishman had his shoulder put back in by doctors after an
X-ray had shown no fracture before Henderson was discharged.
He was then driven by Cherries physio Steve Hard to Cherwell Valley services
where Henderson's wife was waiting to take him back to their home in Essex.
Henderson will be assessed and treated by medical staff at Upton Park and
could be out for up to six months should he require surgery, which looks
increasingly likely.
In the event of Henderson not being fit to feature for Cherries before his
loan expires in January, the Dorset club would ask West Ham to officially
recall him.
Speaking to the Daily Echo last night, Cherries physio Hard said: "When I
ran on to the pitch, I knew straight away it was his shoulder and he was in
agony.
"We have a signal we give to the dugout when we know it is serious and that
means I need back up. Andrew Balderstone, the Nottingham Forest physio, came
on and helped me give him gas and air to get him settled. We couldn't put
him on a stretcher until he had had some pain relief.
"The paramedics supported us and it was a good team effort. Everybody
worked together to help put Stephen at ease. I thought the situation was
dealt with very well and everything ran smoothly, under the circumstances. I
would like to thank everybody who helped."
Asked about the incident during his post-match press conference, Cherries
boss Eddie Howe said: "It was a tough moment for us. If you lose your
goalkeeper early in a game away from home, it can rock you. Thankfully, we
dealt with it okay but our thoughts are with Stephen.
"It is a real shame because he has had to be patient and wait for his chance
to come out and get some football. He did really well for us against
Millwall so it is a big blow for him and us."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is hopeful he will have more attacking options in the coming
weeks
20.10.2013
Sam Allardyce is hopeful his attacking options will be bolstered in the
coming weeks with the return to fitness of Carlton Cole. The striker, who
re-signed with the Club last week, is still some way short of full fitness
but was able to sit on the bench for Saturday's 3-1 defeat at home to
Manchester City. Cole has been training hard in his bid to regain match
fitness and Allardyce revealed the striker will be playing a part for the
Development Squad later today when they travel to AFC Telford's ground to
play Wolverhampton Wanderers. He said: "Carlton's had one game, we started
pre-season training on July 1 and spent seven-and-a-half weeks building up
to Cardiff, Carlton's been training with us for three weeks and played one
game behind closed doors. "In pre-season terms he's still four weeks off but
we have to bring that forward as quickly as we possibly can. He'll be
playing in the Under-21s on Monday to get another game. "He's fit now but
he's not match fit and he'll certainly come into the equation for when we
play Burnley because we play Swansea on Sunday and then Burnley on Tuesday."
Big Sam has employed a 4-6-0 formation to good effect in the last two
matches with his tactics yielding a 3-0 at White Hart Lane before putting
Manchester City under pressure for long periods of Saturday's game. Playing
without a front man has worked well in the past two fixtures but the manager
admits that a change of tactic is needed for the forthcoming matches amidst
praise for his players performance against Manuel Pellegrini's team. "I
don't want to continue playing without a front man," Allardyce said.
"Certainly not in games when it's more important to play with a front man.
"It suited us in the last two games but Man City spent £100 million this
summer, Tottenham spent the same, we spent around £20 million and I've got
five free transfers on the pitch and that's the difference at the end of the
day. "We tried our best, the players tried their best but today their best
wasn't good enough against that team and that quality."
Cole is not the only forward who Big Sam hopes will be available in the near
future with Mladen Petric likely to get an opportunity, while Andy Carroll
is recuperating and getting stronger with every passing week. The summer
signing has been a big miss for the Hammers this season and whilst there has
been no timescale put on his return, Allardyce is confident he will have a
big part to play when he does. "He's still in Belgium and improving week by
week," said the manager. "We hope to speak to the specialist on Monday and
hopefully he'll be able to give us a date of when he'll be back with us.
It's very important that we get him back as quick as we can. "Andy is the
main man we bought in the summer to be our leader on the front line, once he
gets fit and up and running again he will not only score goals but also
create opportunities for lots of other players to score goals."
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Pellegrini on...West ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 20th October 2013
By: Staff Writer No. 2
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini shares his thoughts on his side's
first away win of the season...
Manuel, how happy are you at getting your first away win?
Very pleased. The most important thing today was to win the game. We
continued to play in the same was as for other away games. We knew if we
played the same as we did at Villa we would win away. That was the important
thing for me today, To get the win and to play the same way.
How important was it to get that win away today?
Very important! 1 from 9 is not a good average for us. Before we started the
game Chelsea, Arsenal & Everton won their games. We could have lost more
points playing away so three points is vey good important for us.
Aguero's performance was the catalyst for this evening...
Yes he's a top player. He makes an important difference. It was importat for
the team that he didn't play in the second game this week for Aregentina. He
was fresh and that was important.
How did you find it against West Ham's six in the middle this evening...
Well we knew West Ham would try to play in the same way as they did against
Tottenham..They played very well. I told the players to be patient and to
move the ball around until we found the space. We did it very well. West
Ham's goalkeeper was, I think, their best player. He made at least four or
five important saves.
To use that space you need someone like Silva. I thought he was magnificent.
There was nobody near him. He seemed to find that space.
Well he's another top player. He played very well. It is not easy for other
teams to mark Silva. He has the quality to lose that marker. He was another
player that was fresh. That was my first thought about the eleven that
started. To have the maximum amount who were fresh from the international
break.
When west ham got their goal back were you worried at all that nerves might
play a part?
Well of course it's difficult when it's 2-1 and you're playing away. West
Ham had that moment when they had a lot of possession. But when we got the
third goal – all finished.
You've got an important Champions League match coming up on an artificial
pitch. Are you concerned at all bearing in mind what happened in Hong Kong?
We don't know about the condition of the pitch. We hoe that because UEFA are
allowing the game to be played there it is a good pitch. We've just been
thinking about the game we played today. About West Ham. Tomorrow we'll
think about the Champions League.
You changed your whole back four today. Does that show that you won't be
afraid to make changes for the [Champions League] game?
[following a long pause for the interpreter] No today had nothing to do with
the Champions League match. It was as I said Micah Richards was fresh,
Garcia was fresh, Clichy was fresh – he didn't play in the second
international match for France. I'm sorry to repeat myself but that was the
most important reason.
It shows the depth you've got in the squad. That you can leave other players
on the bench.
[Further interpreter pause] Maybe. It's more important that I trust in the
players. At the beginning of the season I spoke with the owners and told
them that we needed a squad with two important players for each position. We
have a lot of matches and we need to have the same quality.
Thank you.
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West Ham lining up a bid for prolific Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason
20 Oct 2013 22:30
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is ready to shop at Iceland – and bid for
hot-shot striker Alfred Finnbogason. Allardyce sent his chief scout to watch
the prolific marksman notch again for Dutch side Heerenveen against Vitesse
Arnhem on Saturday. Finnbogason has now scored 11 times for his club this
season and has also helped Iceland to the World Cup play-off stage. The
highly-rated forward has been linked with several moves but the Hammers hope
to raise the funds to land him in January. Allardyce has been working
without a top-flight striker all season in the absence of Andy Carroll.
Finnbogason, who grew up in Scotland and has also interested Newcastle, fits
the bill perfectly.
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AFC Bournemouth: Henderson injury could spell premature end to Cherries loan
Daily Echo
6:00am Monday 21st October 2013 in Cherries News Photograph of the Author By
Neil Perrett
LUCKLESS Stephen Henderson looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines
after dislocating his shoulder during Cherries' clash at Nottingham Forest
on Saturday. The goalkeeper, just minutes into his second game of a
three-month loan spell with Cherries, sustained the injury during an
accidental collision with Forest's Simon Cox.
Cox followed in and caught the West Ham man on the left shoulder as the two
players challenged for a loose ball after Henderson had parried a shot from
Djamal Abdoun.
Medical staff from both dugouts immediately rushed to the visibly-distressed
stopper's aid and administered gas and air in an attempt to dull the pain
before he was stretchered off.
Henderson received further pain-killing medication in the treatment room at
the City Ground before he was taken by ambulance to the nearby Queen's
Medical Centre.
The 25-year-old Irishman had his shoulder put back in by doctors after an
X-ray had shown no fracture before Henderson was discharged.
He was then driven by Cherries physio Steve Hard to Cherwell Valley services
where Henderson's wife was waiting to take him back to their home in Essex.
Henderson will be assessed and treated by medical staff at Upton Park and
could be out for up to six months should he require surgery, which looks
increasingly likely.
In the event of Henderson not being fit to feature for Cherries before his
loan expires in January, the Dorset club would ask West Ham to officially
recall him.
Speaking to the Daily Echo last night, Cherries physio Hard said: "When I
ran on to the pitch, I knew straight away it was his shoulder and he was in
agony.
"We have a signal we give to the dugout when we know it is serious and that
means I need back up. Andrew Balderstone, the Nottingham Forest physio, came
on and helped me give him gas and air to get him settled. We couldn't put
him on a stretcher until he had had some pain relief.
"The paramedics supported us and it was a good team effort. Everybody
worked together to help put Stephen at ease. I thought the situation was
dealt with very well and everything ran smoothly, under the circumstances. I
would like to thank everybody who helped."
Asked about the incident during his post-match press conference, Cherries
boss Eddie Howe said: "It was a tough moment for us. If you lose your
goalkeeper early in a game away from home, it can rock you. Thankfully, we
dealt with it okay but our thoughts are with Stephen.
"It is a real shame because he has had to be patient and wait for his chance
to come out and get some football. He did really well for us against
Millwall so it is a big blow for him and us."
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