WHUFC.com
Scott Parker will receive his Football Writers Association Footballer of the
Year award on Thursday
12.05.2011
The old saying goes that those who can't play football write about it. Those
that do write about it believe that Scott Parker has been the best player in
the Barclays Premier League this season. West Ham United's No8 will collect
his Football Writers Association Player of the Year award at a ceremony at
the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday evening. Naturally, the England
midfielder is looking forward to receiving a prestigious award that has been
presented to just one other Hammer - the great Bobby Moore. "I'm very, very
proud," said the 30-year-old. "I'm absolutely over the moon really. I am
just pleased that the writers have appreciated what I've been doing in the
last few years and especially this season. "Because we've been at the wrong
way of the table and struggling a little bit, I think that what probably
makes it quite nice - in a way, it hasn't been easy and I've been playing
some good stuff and that's been appreciated."
In typically modest fashion, Parker admitted that he is going to be humbled
by the experience of being recognised in front of the country's footballing
press and many of his fellow professionals. "It's really going to sink in
and probably going to be a bit humbling, but I am really looking forward to
it. I can't wait really."
While Parker was voted as the best player in the Barclays Premier League by
the journalists who watch him play every week, he was also recognised with a
nomination for the Professional Footballers Association Footballer of the
Year award by the players he faces week-in, week-out on the pitch. The
Hammers hero himself voted for Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale, while
he also had words of praise for two other London-based midfielders in Spurs
playmaker Luka Modric and Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere. "The one that
stands out in my head is Luka Modric. He is a class player, difficult to
play against. He is very tough. Jack Wilshere has done exceptionally well
and I saw that first hand away with England what a good player and how
mature he is. "If you ask me to name one midfielder, it would be Modric. He
has done very well. He is small with a low centre of gravity and is
technically very good. He has all the attributes which are hard to play
against, quick with a turn of pace."
On Thursday evening, however, all eyes will be on Parker - the Football
Writers Association Player of the Year for 2010/11.
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Specs eyeing strong finish
WHUFC.com
A positive Jonathan Spector will not give up the battle for Barclays Premier
League survival
12.05.2011
Jonathan Spector is targeting six points from six as West Ham United seek to
pull off perhaps the greatest escape in the club's history. As things stand,
the Hammers go into Sunday's Barclays Premier League fixture at relegation
rivals Wigan Athletic bottom of the table and four points adrift of
17th-place Wolverhampton Wanderers.
While their odds of survival are long - 1/9 with most bookmakers - the
United States international is still harbouring hope that the club can beat
the drop. To do so, however, Spector knows West Ham will have to perform
better in front of goal than they did during last Saturday's 1-1 home draw
with Blackburn Rovers and the defeats at Chelsea and Manchester City. "It
was a frustrating afternoon," he told West Ham TV. "In the last three games,
we have created so many chances but we haven't been able to put them away. I
think they had one chance in the first half but I can't remember too much
else that they created, so that's certainly not been the issue. It's just
been finishing. "We only gave up the one goal, but if we can keep a clean
sheet that'd be helpful as well going forward. We've got two games to get
six points. We've put ourselves in a position to get seven points from our
final three games and hopefully that'll be enough to see us stay up. "I
think when got the ball down and played quickly, we were able to open them
up. We were able to get behind them and create, but they're a tough team to
play against in terms of the style that they play. When we were able to get
the ball down, we were able to create the chances and did well."
A naturally positive character, Spector will give his all at the DW Stadium
- and in the final home game of the season against Sunderland on 22 May -
regardless of the club's perilous position. The 24-year-old pointed to the
Hammers' recent run of four wins in their previous five matches against the
Latics as reason for optimism ahead of Sunday's fixture. "We are certainly
frustrated and disappointed with the result but, at the same time, we know
we've got two games left and need to be positive and keep going. We're
certainly not going to give up until the very last minute of the very last
game. "Each time you go out, it's different, but hopefully our record
against Wigan will continue."
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EURO dream ends for Turgott
WHUFC.com
Blair Turgott's England lost out to Netherlands in the UEFA European U17
Championship semi-finals
12.05.2011
West Ham United midfielder Blair Turgott's hopes of winning the UEFA
European U17 Championship were ended as England lost out 1-0 to Netherlands
in the semi-finals. The Academy midfielder completed the full 80 minutes in
the Serbian city of Novi Sad, but was unable to inspire his country to
victory against the Dutch. Indeed, the final chance of the game fell to the
Hammers teenager, but he was unable to direct a difficult header on target.
Earlier, Netherlands had scored the only goal of the game through Arsenal
youngster Kyle Ebecilio. Defeat means Turgott will not get the opportunity
to emulate club-mate Robert Hall, who was part of the England squad that won
the same competition in Liechetenstein a year ago. However, the youngster
will be hoping to get another crack at success when England head to Mexico
for the FIFA U17 World Cup in June. The Young Lions reached the tournament
when they finished second in their group at the European Championship
finals. There, the 16-year-old could come up against Hammers Academy striker
Dylan Tombides, who is expected to be named in the Australia squad, and play
alongside England team-mate Matthias Fanimo, who missed the European
Championship finals through injury.
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Parker's pain
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th May 2011
By: Staff Writer
Scott Parker has admitted that West Ham's performance this season has 'hurt
me a lot'. Parker, the supporters' captain of choice confessed that United's
chances of avoiding relegation were now slim to none - but insisted that he
and his team mates would be going all out to take maximum points from their
final two fixtures of the season. "When the current owners took over it
looked as though there would be more stability, but then came this season
and the poor results on the pitch," he told the Evening Standard. "It's very
disappointing and it hurts me a lot. "It's not nice, it's stressful and
everything becomes much more difficult. It's not as enjoyable because you're
always looking at other teams' results. It's tiring in every sense, not just
physically but [also] mentally and emotionally. "I always believed we would
get out of it, that we would build something strong enough to climb up the
table. If you look at our squad now there is no way we should be where we
are. We are there because we've underperformed at times and been very
inconsistent. That's the reality. "I honestly thought, at the start of the
season, that we would comfortably hold our own and with the additions in
January I was sure we would be okay. In the end, perhaps it has been the
inconsistency of players' form which has been the telling factor."
Parker also revealed that despite his deep affection for the club and its
supporters, his own immediate future is uncertain. "A lot of West Ham fans
are struggling to understand why this squad are where they are and I share
their feelings," he continued. "I have the utmost respect for the fans.
"I'm winning awards because I'm playing the best football of my career. Why?
Because I feel wanted here and it feels like home. "[But] I'm like every
player, I want to be playing at the highest level I can and in the Premier
League. I don't know what the future holds for me but, for the moment, I'm
still keeping everything crossed that West Ham stay up."
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Ex-WHU v GOS XI
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th May 2011
By: Staff Writer
A West Ham XI consisting of former players is taking on a Great Ormond
Street XI at the Boleyn Ground next month in order to raise funds for
charity. Football events company Football For Fans have organised a special
match at the Boleyn on Monday, 6th June which will see a star-studded
Hammers line-up take on a team that will represent Great Ormond Street
Hospital Children's Charity. The West Ham side, managed by former striker
Tony Cottee will consist of the following players:
Allen McKnight; Kenny Brown; Nigel Winterburn; Keith Rowlands; Steve Potts;
Ian Pearce; Mark Ward; Rob Lee; Steve Lomas; Kevin Keen; Mark Robson; Paul
Allen; Geoff Pike; Don Hutchison; Stuart Slater.
Admission is £5 for adults (free for under 16s) and all of the evening's
profits will go to the charity. The game kicks off at 7:30pm.
For further details and to purchase tickets in advance please contact Kerry
on 07773 776941 (Monday to Friday only). For Hospitality Packages please
contact Jeff via e-mail jeff@footballforfans.co.uk or call 07941 877570.
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Parker unsure of future
Hammers midfielder not optimistic about chances of avoiding the drop
Last Updated: May 12, 2011 1:48pm
SSN
Scott Parker is unsure what his future holds after conceding West Ham
United's prospects of avoiding relegation are 'not looking good'. The
Hammers are bottom of the Premier League table with two games remaining and
face a six-pointer at relegation rivals Wigan Athletic on Sunday. Parker has
been the Hammers' stand-out performer this season, but fears the club will
be unable to stave off the threat of Championship football. "It's not
looking good. It's out of our hands a bit even if we win both our games,"
Parker, who will pick up the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the
Year award on Thursday evening, told the London Evening Standard. "I would
be lying if I said we had a good opportunity of surviving but there's still
a slight chance we can do something. "All we can do is win our final two
games and then see what happens. You never know."
Utmost respect
He added: "From the minute that I signed for West Ham I learned what a good
club they are, the history, the fan base. "It's very disappointing and it
hurts me a lot. I have the utmost respect for the fans. Yes, I'm winning
awards because I'm playing the best football of my career." "They're a
massive club and it's a great shame that, over the past few years, they have
been dogged by one problem after another. "When the current owners took over
it looked as though there would be more stability but then came this season
and the poor results on the pitch. "It's very disappointing and it hurts me
a lot. I have the utmost respect for the fans. Yes, I'm winning awards
because I'm playing the best football of my career. "Why? Because I feel
wanted here and it feels like home."
Parker has been with West Ham since 2007 and signed a new five-year contract
in the early weeks of the current season. However, the former Chelsea and
Newcastle midfielder's future is unclear after West Ham co-owner David Gold
revealed last week he would let the club's England internationals leave if
they are relegated. "I'm like every player, I want to be playing at the
highest level I can and in the Premier League," he said. "I don't know what
the future holds for me but, for the moment, I'm still keeping everything
crossed that West Ham stay up. Otherwise..."
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Parker can't give guarantees
Footballer of the Year talks about his future
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey.
Last Updated: May 12, 2011 10:41pm
SSN
Scott Parker has admitted to Sky Sports that he cannot give any guarantees
about his future. West Ham's midfield lynchpin was talking at the Football
Writers' Association dinner, where he was collecting their Footballer of the
Year award. Parker has had a sensational campaign, but West Ham are still
firmly embroiled in Premier League relegation trouble and could even be
relegated this weekend. Parker, who has been nursing an Achilles problem,
insists he is firmly focused on keeping West Ham up. "My main focus is
getting fit and trying to win the two remaining games, and fingers crossed
the other results go our way and we stay up," he told Sky Sports News.
"Obviously if we do go down things change, everything changes, but whatever
comes of that, comes of that. But my main focus is to try and win matches
for West Ham."
Parker has battled his way into the England picture this season and he
concedes that place would be hard to maintain in the Championship. "Not many
England players play in the Championship, so it would be in jeopardy," he
said. "But at this moment in time I cannot think about that, but if you ask
me the same question in two weeks' time when we know what position we are in
and whether we are down or not, then I could answer that better."
Guarantees
Parker conceded he could not give any 'guarantees' about his future, but he
insisted that nobody at the club could. "Obviously there are no guarantees,
that is just the way things are and even if you had the owners sat here,
they would be the same, so would every player in our squad," he said. "When
a team gets relegated everything changes - I am a part of it, and I think
everyone at the club is, but things change." Parker insisted he was looking
to be fit for the crucial weekend clash at Wigan. "I am hoping to be fit for
the weekend, I have picked up my training - the injury has come at a very
hard time and we have been struggling, and it has been difficult and
hopefully I can get out there and we can try and get the points."
Joy
Parker also spoke of his joy at landing the Footballer of the Year Award.
The England international - who started his career at Charlton before spells
with Chelsea and Newcastle ahead of joining the Irons in 2007 - was guest of
honour as he collected the prestigious accolade, which has been running
since 1948, at a gala dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel. Parker, 30, is
the first Hammer since England World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore in 1964
to receive the FWA award, and the midfielder admitted it was a moving
occasion. "It feels pretty amazing. When I first got the call to say I had
won the award, you can imagine all of the emotions into one, exciting and
shock," he said. "I am staggered I have won and am very, very proud. "This
is a massive thing, when you look back at the people who have won this award
in the past, especially someone like the great Bobby Moore, to think my name
will be alongside them is pretty special for me. At the end of the day, I am
in a team sport and ultimately I'm not doing it by myself. "I could change
all this for me to stay up and be involved in a successful team. "I would
not want to be involved in a team which went down, along with all the rest
of the squad, so hopefully we can get some results before the end of the
season and other results go our way, so we can get out it."
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Jack Collison: The Harbinger of Better Times!
May 13th, 2011 - 12:01 am by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Amid the gloom of the 1-1 home draw with Blackburn Rovers, there was one
isolated ray of sunshine! The return to first team duty of Jack Collison,
after over a year out with a knee injury. It was a sight to warm the hearts
of us long suffering supporters. Indeed, when he came on he looked as if he
had hardly been away, with his industry, skill and delightful touch.
The return of Jack Collison, was an harbinger of better times to come, the
clue to our resurgence. The odds suggest that we will be relegated this
season, barring an unlikely sequence of results going our way. Those
results could happen and West Ham must secure the two victories to ensure
that we are in a position to take advantage if lady luck belatedly smiles
upon us. But if the worst happens then the club cannot afford a prolonged
period of depression and/or vaciliiation. The circumstances require
immediate and proactive action to prepare for the 2011-12 season.
The opening move must be the appointment of a new manager and coaching
staff. We need to secure the right appointees to oversee the restructuring
of the present squad. We need to determine who is leaving and who is
prepared to stay to assist us to climb out of the Championship. The likes
of Upson, Bridge, Obinna and Keane need to be shown the door as quickly as
possible. They will not stay, they are either loanees or out of contract
and we must quickly move to clear the decks of these players. There also
needs to be a decision whether we should retain the likes of Boa Morte,
Kovac, Jacobson and Spector. They are players that could realistically do a
job in the Championship, the question is should they be retained
specifically for that purpose?
Next, the club must negotiate with our top players such as Green, Parker,
Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Cole and Ba to determine whether any will agree to
stay a further year to help us bounce back. We could probably get by
without Green, Hitzlsperger, Piquionne and Cole and use their sales to raise
important transfer monies. However, I would love to continue to have Parker
and Ba available, if not for next season, then for our return to the PL.
Perhaps we could look to loan both players out next season, so that we can
recall them in 2012-13. Not very likely? Perhaps, but surely it is an
option that needs to be explored? If the club are to sell them, we need get
the best possible transfer fees/deals. The vultures (i.e. Spurs, Chelsea,
Arsenal, etc) will try to exploit the club's relegation and get our best
players for a pittance. We must firmly resist that and, if necessary, be
prepared to pay 'hard ball' and keep players who do not have relegation
release clauses in their contracts. Alternatively, we could examine the
option of securing good quality loan and part-exchange deals as part of any
deals that we do sanction.
The club should get in to the transfer market early to secure any good
quality Bosman signings, PL veterans and line up deals for the best
Championship players. I would love to see us secure a player like Richard
Dunne, from Aston Villa, to play alongside Tomkins and bring leadership and
experience to our defence. Who knows, we could get him on the back of Aston
Villa's rumoured interest in signing Rob Green. That means setting up a
possible part-exchange deal with Villa. We also need to explore setting up
transfers for players likes Danny Graham of Watford, Shane Long of Reading
and Scott Sinclair of Swansea. They are players that are all proven at this
level, but more crucially, they also have the potential to step up to the
PL. A lot will depend upon whether their present clubs are promoted through
the play offs this season? If not then we need to try to use our transfer
revenue/parachute payments to offer fees that will persuade their clubs to
cash in on their prize assets. The added bonus of this strategy, of course,
is that not only will we be strengthening our squad, but also, equally
importantly, weakening he ranks of our competitors.
Finally, and most crucially, we must retain and promote first team
opportunities for our youngsters this coming season. An embargo must be
placed upon the sale of Stech, Tomkins, Spence, Fry, Brown, Eyjolfsson,
Noble, Collison, Stanislas, Nouble, Montano, Edgar, Hines, etc. These
players must step up to the plate and deliver next season. Arguably, some
of them have not quite made the progress anticipated of them (i.e. Nouble,
Hines and Stanislas) and this will be a perfect opportunity to test their
quality and take a definitive view on their future. Below them are a crop
of U-18s and U-17s of outstanding potential, such as Tombides, Hall, Lee,
Moncur, Naughton and Voce. We must protect these youth assets and encourage
them to force their way into the first team frame next season.
In a relegation scenerio, it is inevitable that there will be a turnover of
players in to and out of the squad. Some will go with deep regret, others
will go as part of a process of creating a squad with a much tougher,
winning mentality. Obviously, one would prefer to restructure the squad in
the PL, but we should not waste time lamenting our fall from the top tier.
We must, instead, focus firmly upon agreeing an effective plan to deliver
our return in just one season. Because the longer we languish in the second
tier, the greater the damage that will be inflicted upon the financial and
playing strength of the club. That's the stark reality of the situation.
More than anything, we must avoid the virtual decimation of the squad that
occurred after relegation in 2002-03. In particular, the younger players,
like Jack Collison, offer real hope and must be retained to both deliver our
Championship redemption and a successful return to the PL in 2012-13.
SJ. Chandos.
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How did Avram ever get the West Ham job?
STEVEN HOWARD - Chief sports writer
The Sun
Published: Today
WEST HAM have one last chance to wriggle out of the hangman's noose at Wigan
on Sunday. Few imagine they will. Rarely can a club have been in such a mess
from top to bottom. It's bad enough being more than £100million in debt and
managed by Avram Grant. But, with relegation, there will come a fire-sale
with even a player of the calibre of Scott Parker being offloaded for a sum
nowhere near his true value as other clubs take advantage of West Ham's
desperate state. In some ways, you sympathise for the owners as they
inherited the situation.
It wasn't Messrs Sullivan and Gold who put Kieron Dyer on £83,000 a week and
Matthew Upson on £50,000 a week. And that's basic. And they couldn't have
accounted for Thomas Hitzlsperger not playing his first league game until
the end of February. Then again, they did sign Michelin Man Benni McCarthy
on £38,000 a week. There have also been all the complications and
distractions of ensuring they won the bid for the Olympic Stadium. Yet if
they hadn't - and Spurs had moved in - we really could have seen the Hammers
fade and die. But the most staggering thing of all was the hiring of Grant.
On a four-year contract!
Gold talked about Grant having 'been there, done it, got the T-shirt'. The
only thing on his T-shirt was a big F. For Failure (just in case you thought
it stood for something else). Bathing in his success of masterminding
Portsmouth's relegation, he has gone on to fresh glory by winning more cup
games this season (eight) than league matches (seven). How did Sullivan and
Gold ever fall for this three-card trick? How on earth did they get suckered
into it by agents Pini Zahavi and Barry Silkman? Surely, they couldn't have
been so naive to sign him just because he was some sort of 'mate'? And yet
most people think that is the entire reason. And why, when it became
apparent Grant was once again hopelessly out of his depth, did they not
jettison him in January and bring in a Red Adair firefighter like, say, Sam
Allardyce?
Barring a miracle, they will have to start from scratch in the Championship.
Carlton Cole, Dyer, Upson, Freddie Piquionne, Lars Jacobsen, Victor Obinna,
Pablo Barrera and various others will all have to go. And, with them,
Parker, Wayne Bridge and Robbie Keane. Which leaves Jack Collison, Mark
Noble (more at home in the Championship), James Tomkins and some other
promising kids like Jordan Spence, Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines.
And the prospect of getting back into the Premier League in time for their
move to the dustbowl of the Olympic Stadium in 2014, a manoeuvre that will
entail another loan of £40m from Newham Council. The last time West Ham went
down it took them a couple of seasons to come back up - and in those days
they still had players like Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, David James,
Christian Dailly and Matt Etherington. The more you think about it, the
worse it gets.
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Green threatens to quit
By SHAUN CUSTIS
Published: Today
The Sun
ROBERT GREEN is thinking of quitting England. The news the West Ham keeper
is considering his international future comes after Ben Foster stepped down
to focus on his club career with Birmingham. And it will throw the England
goalkeeping situation into turmoil if Green packs in before the Euro 2012
qualifier with Switzerland on June 4. Green has not played for his country
since his terrible mistake against the USA in the opening game at the 2010
World Cup. His slip cost England victory and manager Fabio Capello has not
put any faith in him since. The Hammers stopper expected to play a part in
the recent friendly with Ghana but was left out. Following the match, Green,
31, had discussions with the England coaching staff and told them he was
quitting. They tried to talk him out of it but there have been no further
talks and no one in the Three Lions camp knows if Green will be available or
not. With Blackburn's Paul Robinson having also given up on England, there
is only West Brom's Scott Carson with any experience to back up No 1, Man
City's Joe Hart. However it is possible Foster's decision to take a
'sabbatical' may persuade Green to carry on.
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Parker: I may have to leave
Published: 12 May 2011
The Sun
SCOTT PARKER will do everything in his power to keep West Ham up — but
admits he is likely to be off should they fail. The England midfielder has
busted a gut this season while Avram Grant's side have struggled to prevent
the Premier League trapdoor opening beneath them. Parker, 30, was voted
Football Writers' Association player of the year, despite the club sitting
four points from safety with just two games remaining. Hammers co-owner
David Gold recently said he would not stand in the way of any England
internationals looking to leave in the summer. And while he is struggling to
entertain the thought of relegation, Parker is honest enough to say he would
want to remain playing in the top tier. He said: "I'm like every player, I
want to be playing at the highest level I can and in the Premier League. "I
don't know what the future holds for me but, for the moment, I'm still
keeping everything crossed that West Ham stay up. "It's not looking good.
It's out of our hands a bit even if we win both our games. "I would be lying
if I said we had a good opportunity of surviving but there's still a slight
chance we can do something. "All we can do is win our final two games and
then see what happens. You never know."
Should Parker have to leave the club, he admits it will be with a heavy
heart. The tough-tackler endured tricky spells at both Chelsea and Newcastle
but has made a home at Upton Park since joining in 2007. He said: "From the
minute that I signed for West Ham I learned what a good club they are, the
history, the fan base. "They're a massive club and it's a great shame that,
over the past few years, they have been dogged by one problem after another.
"When the current owners took over it looked as though there would be more
stability but then came this season and the poor results on the pitch. "It's
very disappointing and it hurts me a lot. I have the utmost respect for the
fans. Yes, I'm winning awards because I'm playing the best football of my
career. "Why? Because I feel wanted here and it feels like home."
Parker is hoping to feature at Wigan this weekend after struggling with an
Achilles problem. And he admits the team's fight against relegation, both
this season and last, has taken its toll. He added: "This is not something
which has just happened this season. Last year was similar, albeit we have a
better squad this time. "It's not nice, it's stressful and everything
becomes much more difficult. It's not as enjoyable because you're always
looking at other teams' results. "It's quite tiring really, in every sense,
not just physically but mentally and emotionally. I always believed we would
get out of it, that we would build something strong enough to climb up the
table. "I know a lot of West Ham fans are struggling to understand why this
squad are where they are and I share their feelings. "I honestly thought, at
the start of the season, that we would comfortably hold our own and with the
additions in January I was sure we would be okay. "If you look at our squad
now there is no way we should be where we are. We are there because we've
underperformed at times and been very inconsistent. That's the reality. "We
have chopped and changed the side due to injuries and out-of-form players —
it has never been consistent — that has been a disruption. "In the end,
perhaps it has been the inconsistency of players' form which has been the
telling factor."
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Scott Parker: I'll leave if West Ham are relegated from Premier League this
season
By Jeremy Wilson 11:00PM BST 12 May 2011
The Telegraph
Scott Parker has admitted that the West Ham United squad now likely to get
relegated are superior to the group of players who survived last season by
five points. With only two matches of the season remaining, West Ham are
four points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier League and could
be relegated on Sunday if they lose against Wigan. One positive for West Ham
United is the likely availability of Parker, who has returned to training
after missing four games with an Achilles injury. Parker was honoured on
Thursday night as the Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers'
Association, but admitted that his club now only have a slight chance of
remaining in the Premier League. "It's not looking good," he said. Parker
says he finds it difficult to comprehend how a squad with so many
internationals have been near the bottom throughout the season. "Last year
was similar, albeit we have a better squad this time," he said. "I know a
lot of West Ham fans are struggling to understand why this squad are where
they are and I share their feelings. "I honestly thought, at the start of
the season, that we would hold our own and with the additions in Jan I was
sure we would be OK. We are there because we've underperformed and been
inconsistent. That's the reality." Parker is almost certain to leave should
West Ham get relegated. "I'm like every player, I want to be playing at the
highest level I can and in the Premier League," he said.
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West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is on the verge of quitting England
Lack of opportunites: Robert Green (right) with Joe Hart and Ben Foster
Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Jason Burt 11:00PM BST 12 May 2011
The Telegraph
Robert Green is on the verge of quitting international football. The
31-year-old goalkeeper is understood to have become disillusioned at the
lack of opportunities he has had for England since last summer's World Cup
finals. Green's thinking is not linked to Ben Foster's decision, announced
on Wednesday and without consultation with England manager Fabio Capello,
that he would take an "indefinite break" from the national squad. Indeed
Foster's announcement may persuade Green to change his mind and continue
making himself available for selection. If not, Capello will be faced with a
severe shortage of goalkeepers. Green would become the third goalkeeper to
stand down from international duty during Capello's reign, after Paul
Robinson's decision to retire last year because he thought he should be
first choice.
Joe Hart is England's No 1 but Capello would be struggling to find suitable,
experienced goalkeepers for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifier at home to
Switzerland in just three weeks, should Green not change his mind. It is
understood that the West Ham goalkeeper's decision was prompted by his
disappointment that he did not play in last month's friendly against Ghana.
Hart played in that game, having also played the full 90 minutes a few days
earlier against Wales. Foster withdrew from the squad, leading to Green
stepping up to second choice, with Scott Carson also drafted in to complete
England's complement of goalkeepers. However, Hart was not substituted and
Green remained on the bench, just as he had done in Cardiff. It is not
unusual for experienced goalkeepers to stand down from international duty —
the Republic of Ireland suffered a similar problem a few years ago when Dean
Kiely grew weary of being Shay Given's understudy — and the nature of the
position means chances to play are limited. It is understood that Green held
talks with England coaching staff after the Ghana game and expressed his
intention to quit playing for his country, having earned nine caps in five
years. It is all the more frustrating for Green given how long he waited to
get his chance in the first place. For a while he even joked — and had it
embossed on his gloves — that he was "England's No 6" and he did appear to
have been overlooked by previous managers. Green made the point that the
Ghana game was a friendly and an opportunity for him to receive his first
cap since the horrific error he committed against the United States in last
summer's finals in South Africa. He has not played for his country since
that difficult evening although Capello maintained that Green still had an
international future. It is believed that Green was persuaded to reconsider
his decision. There have not been any talks with him since, partly because
the England management wanted to leave Green — who they rate highly as a
character as well as a player — to concentrate on his club football given
the relegation battle he finds himself in at West Ham.
There will be a discussion, it is hoped, before the announcement of the
squad to face Switzerland on May 23 and it would appear likely that, given
Foster's decision, Green will be persuaded to change his mind for now. It
may well be that Green was acting impulsively, given his disappointment at
not playing in the Ghana game, and that he will stay with the squad. The
player faced severe criticism after his mistake against the Americans, which
allowed Clint Dempsey to equalise, and which led to him losing his place in
the team to David James. Capello had waited until the eve of the World Cup
before confirming Green as his first choice with the manager then, after the
tournament, declaring that Hart would be England's future goalkeeper. Green
has also suffered injury problems this season and pulled out of a squad for
internationals last autumn because he required hip surgery. Capello's
attitude to players who threaten to retire has usually been to allow them to
make their decision and move on. However, given the kind of personality
Green is and, more pressingly, the dearth of goalkeepers available to him,
he will hope the player changes his mind. Foster stunned Capello with his
announcement, which was made on the Birmingham City website. The 28 year-old
has to undergo hand surgery recently and has grown increasingly frustrated
at the mounting injury problems he has faced and the toll they have taken on
his body. Like Green, he has also become disillusioned with what he feels as
a lack of chances to play given Hart's fine form and his age, 24. Capello
has selected David Stockdale for squads in the past, but he is not first
choice at Fulham, while there will be interest in John Ruddy now that
Norwich City are in the Premier League. From the under-21s, Frankie Fielding
and Scott Loach have also trained with the seniors. But the major concern
now, given Foster's decision and if Green does retire, will be the lack of
an experienced understudy to Hart. David James has said he is still
available but he will be 41 this year. Carson would seem the only
alternative.
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Parker 'humbled' at Player of the Year award but still focused on battle
against the drop
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:43 AM on 13th May 2011
Daily Mail
Scott Parker admitted he was 'humbled' to receive the 2011 Football Writers'
Association Footballer of the Year Award but insists his only focus is on
helping West Ham retain their Barclays Premier League status. In what was
one of the closest contests of recent seasons, Parker topped the poll of
journalists ahead of Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, who recently picked up
the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. Parker
becomes only the second Hammers player to collect the award since its
inception in 1948 and admitted he was shocked to be honoured. Unlike recent
winners, the midfielder's side are in a relegation dogfight rather than
competing for honours in the upper echelons of the top flight. And despite
signing a new five-year contract in September 2010, Parker's future is
unclear after West Ham co-owner David Gold revealed last week he would let
the club's England internationals leave if they are relegated.
Avram Grant's men lie four points adrift of safety with just two matches
left, but Parker remains positive and stresses he is fully focused on
helping the Hammers secure Premier League survival. 'You know obviously at
this moment in time I am in a position that West Ham as a football club
could still stay in the Premier League,' he said. 'It might sound like I am
trying to sound correct sitting here but that is honestly how I feel. 'At
the moment we can stay up. Obviously we are relying on a lot of other points
and I think if you ask me that question in two weeks time it will all be a
lot clearer. 'As I have said before, effectively when a team gets relegated
- which is a possibility for us - things get changed. "Not just the playing
staff, everything changes at a football club.'
The England international - who started his career at Charlton before having
spells with Chelsea and Newcastle ahead of joining the Irons in 2007 -
received the prestigious accolade at a gala dinner at the Lancaster London
Hotel this evening. Asked whether he was surprised to have won the award, he
said: 'I suppose I thought "how can that happen?" I am Scott Parker, West
Ham are in a relegation battle and I am winning the award." 'I soon got
told the last West Ham player to win the award was Bobby Moore and it was
very humbling for me. And I got told by a good friend of mine that when I
got there on the night, I would realise what an award it is. 'He was true to
his word. I am very humbled and I can't believe I won it.'
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Capello's goalkeeping crisis: Now Green wants to call time on England
By MATT LAWTON
Last updated at 11:44 PM on 12th May 2011
Daily Mail
Fabio Capello is facing a major goalkeeping crisis amid serious concerns
that Rob Green could be next to quit international football. The England
manager was stunned by the news that Ben Foster wants to take an indefinite
break from national team duty, even though he was beginning to establish
himself as No 2 to Joe Hart. Green is now considering permanent
international retirement and told Capello's staff as much after failing to
play any part in the friendly against Ghana in March. The England coaches
did attempt to mollify Green and there was an agreement to have a further
discussion before Capello names his squad on May 23 for next month's
European Championship qualifier against Switzerland. Right now, Capello
plans to let Green focus on West Ham's battle for Barclays Premier League
survival. But this is a major concern in a season when Blackburn's Paul
Robinson has announced his international retirement and David James, who
turned 40 last August, is considered too old for the role.
Clearly, Green is scarred by what has happened since his blunder against the
USA at the World Cup. He went into the tournament as Capello's first choice
but was dropped for the game that followed against Algeria, losing his place
to James, and has not played any part in an England game since. The absence
amounts to 11 matches and such was the West Ham player's disappointment when
he was not given a chance to redeem himself in the friendly against Ghana
that he decided enough was enough.
It also appears that Capello has no plans to clear the air with Rio
Ferdinand before England meet up for the qualifier against Switzerland. The
England manager has still not spoken to Ferdinand since stripping him of the
captaincy and reinstating John Terry. But the Italian continues to lay the
blame at Ferdinand's door, insisting he deliberately avoided Capello when
there had been a loose arrangement to meet in the Old Trafford directors'
area at the Champions League game against Marseille on March 15.
Ferdinand sees things rather differently. He was aggrieved that Capello did
not inform him of his plans before telling the media and he also felt such a
meeting should have been more formal and held in private; not a casual
arrangement to meet in full view of TV cameras. Capello has admitted he
could have handled the situation better, but it is not his style to concede
ground to his players and he will simply expect Ferdinand to report for
international duty once he has named his squad.
Green's England and West Ham colleague Scott Parker received his Footballer
of the Year trophy on Thursday night from the Football Writers' Association
at the Lancaster London Hotel.
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