WHUFC.com
15.09.2009
West Ham United reserves v Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves
Barclays Premier Reserve League South
Woodside Park, Bishop's Stortford
Tuesday 15 September
Kick-off: 7pm
FT West Ham United reserves 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves
94 mins - Malone fires a cross high and wide of the far post. Kurucz gathers
the ball and fires it upfield and referee Yeo blows for full-time. That is a
very decent point for West Ham, who were up against a much more experienced
side in Wolves in front of a crowd of 271 at Woodside Park.
93 mins - West Ham win a free-kick deep inside their own half. Surely they
have done enough to earn a draw now?
91 mins - We're into the first of three added minutes and West Ham are going
forward through Payne, but he is just edged out by Malone.
90 mins - Close! Hemmings skips clear and drives a low shot against the base
of Kurucz's post before West Ham scramble the ball clear. Wolves are
finishing really strongly here. Can West Ham hang on for the point their
second half performance deserves?
88 mins - Super defending from Da Costa prevents Hemmings from giving Wolves
the lead. The substitute was unmarked just six yards from goal, but the
Portugal U21 man flung himself in front of the shot. Seconds later, Payne is
booked for a late tackle in the midfield.
87 mins - Dyer's youngsters have done really well since the break. Wolves
looked odds-on to win this game during the first half, but the hosts have
more than held their own in the second period. The manager will be pleased
with their application. Nouble does well, picking up a long ball and turning
before trying to find Kearns, but Ikeme is out to gather.
85 mins - West Ham win a free-kick wide on the left and send nine men
forward, only for Edgar's set piece to hit the first defender. Not the best
delivery, that.
84 mins - Oh dear! Substitute Hemmings gets into a shooting position but
completely scuffs the ball and Kurucz pounces on it. The goalkeeper has been
in good, strong form this evening.
82 mins - Eoin Wearen is battling well in midfield. The 16-year-old already
has a real physical presence and is giving as good as he is getting.
80 mins - Decent effort from long-range from Edgar, who picked up a pass
from Daprela before shooting from 25 yards into the midriff of Ikeme.
76 mins - Close from Mendez-Laing, who cut in from the right and fired a low
shot just past the far post. Both sets of players thought the shot had been
deflected and lined up for a corner, only for referee Yeo to award a goal
kick.
74 mins - Nouble has a golden chance to give West Ham the lead, racing
through the middle of the Wolves defence, but his shot is too close to Ikeme
and the goalkeeper scrambles the ball to safety.
72 mins - A third change for the visitors. Ashley Hemmings replaces Vokes.
For West Ham, Dyer brings on Eoin Wearen, the Republic of Ireland youth
international, for Olly Lee. Will Wearen be able to impress against the
former Ireland senior manager McCarthy?
71 mins - Wolves continue to look the more likely scorers, but they are not
creating clear goalscoring opportunities. Jones whips in a low corner and
the Hammers clear again.
68 mins - No sign of any chances, or changes, for the Hammers. Having said
that, they look secure at the defensive end, and a goalless draw would be a
very respectable result against a high-calibre Wolves side.
65 mins - Castillo wins a corner, but before it is taken, the South American
is replaced by substitute David Davis.
64 mins - Risky play from Kurucz, who takes a backpass from Payne and skips
round Spray before clearing his lines. Maybe the Hungarian was bored? He
certainly hasn't had much to do since half-time.
62 mins - Super interplay down the left from Malone and Surman before the
latter crosses. Vokes rises unmarked and seems to handle the ball past the
far post. The referee takes no action and awards a goal kick. Strange...
60 mins - This game is still devoid of clear-cut chances. Wolves are going
to make another change in a few moments.
58 mins - Wolves make their first substitution, bringing on Nathaniel
Mendez-Laing replaces Kightly, who has enjoyed a decent return from a
long-term leg injury.
56 mins - Vokes has a shooting chance, but Kurucz does well to force him
wide. He chips the ball to the far post, where Surman wins a corner off
Ferrari. Kightly delivers, and Jones is penalised for a foul before heading
over the top.
54 mins - Fabulous play from Daprela, who buccaneers past two challeneges
into the Wolves box before seeing his shot deflected inches wide of the
post. West Ham have a corner, which Da Costa heads on to the roof of the
net.
52 mins - This is defintely better from the home side, but they have still
yet to test Ikeme with a shot on target. At least there are signs of better
things to come, though. Wolves seem to have lost their fluency.
48 mins - Edgar rolls the ball to Quashie, who smashes a low shot into the
wall. It loops up, but Daprela cannot get his boot to it and Ikeme gathers.
West Ham have created more in three minutes than they did in the opening 45.
47 mins - A fine pass from Quashie finds Lee on the edge of the Wolves
penalty area, but his shot is blocked behind for a corner. Wolves head
clear, but a handball gives the Hammers a shooting chance from a free-kick
25 yards out.
No changes for West Ham at the break, nor Wolves for that matter. Both sides
are back out on the pitch and Nouble will get us underway.
Half-time - West Ham United reserves 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves
47 mins - Referee Yeo blows his whistle and that's half-time.
44 mins - Fantastic play from Kightly, who cuts inside Daprela and whips the
ball in with his unfavoured left foot and finds the head of Vokes, who can
only plant his head back past both Kurucz and the near post. He should have
done far better there. We're going to have one minute of added-time.
42 mins - Lucky! Castillo skips away from Josh Payne and lays the ball out
to the left flank. There, Malone takes a touch and curls the ball in for
Vokes, who slides and diverts the ball goalwards. Fortunately , the effort
has no pace on it and Kurucz is able to gather easily.
41 mins - Good football again by Wolves. Little finds Vokes, who holds off
N'Gala to lay the ball off to Surman. The England Under-21 midfielder takes
a touch before curling a shot wide with his left foot.
39 mins - Castillo lets fly from fully 30 yards, but it was never
threatening the target.
37 mins - Finally, eight minutes before half-time, West Ham fashion a
half-chance through the enterprising Ferrari, who breaks on to a pass from
Edgar. He is challenged and the ball nearly falls to Nouble, but Wolves
scramble the ball clear.
35 mins - The lack of width is hurting the Hammers here. Every time they try
to build an attack, it becomes stifled in the crowded central third of the
pitch. Daprela and Ferrari are doing their best to get forward, but they're
not having a huge amount of joy so far. On the plus-side, Kurucz and his
defenders are looking solid, despite being put under a lot of pressure.
33 mins - Wolves win a free-kick on the left flank just outside the box.
Kightly goes across to take and whips the ball in, but it is too high for
Batth at the far post.
31 mins - I can report that the live text alerts were nearly ended by a
Wolves clearance that came within inches of wiping out my laptop.
Thankfully, the wall to my left saved the day, just.
30 mins - West Ham just cannot get any rhythm in their play. Nouble attempts
to break clear down the right and play in the rampaging Daprela, but his
pass is cut out and Wolves go back on the offensive.
26 mins - Wolves win yet another corner as Da Costa puts the ball behind.
Kightly takes and the ball flicks the head of Batth before flying out for a
goal kick.
25 mins - Wolves pass up another decent chance to work Kurucz. Kightly
teases Lee before laying the ball back for Little to cross. The ball hits
Ferrari and drops to Jones, who can only shank his shot into the ground,
allowing N'Gala to clear.
23 mins - Not much is happening to be totally honest. Wolves still hold the
balance of power on the pitch. Nigel Quashie has the physio on. It looks
like he has a leg injury as he was sitting on the turf before wandering to
the touchline.
22 mins - Wolves' left-back Scott Malone spent a period on loan at Hungarian
side Ujpest FC. There, one of his team-mates was former West Ham midfielder
Tony Stokes, who has since joined Ujpest on a permanent contract. According
to a story on the Wolves website, the pair would spend their afternoons
drinking coffee together with their team-mates at a large shopping centre.
20 mins - West Ham lack a bit of width to their play. Kearns is supporting
Edgar and Nouble from a central position, with Lee and Payne also narrow
alongside Quashie. As a result, the home side are struggling to get in
behind Wolves. Maybe manager Dyer will change the shape of his team if they
cannot make a breakthrough soon?
19 mins - In some ways, tonight's game sums up the unpredictability of
reserve-team football. Last week, with the likes of Valon Behrami and
Alessandro Diamanti at Dyer's disposal, West Ham completely outplayed
Birmingham. Tonight, it is Wolves with the experienced first-team performers
in Kightly, Vokes, Jones and Castillo, and their class is telling so far.
The Hammers are holding their own, though, and Peter Kurucz has not had a
serious save to make so far.
16 mins - Nouble is having trouble holding the ball up against the powerful
Batth.
14 mins - Fine play from right-back Little, who wins a header from Ferrari's
crossfield pass before swapping passes with Batth and racing clear down the
right. He has a great chance to cross to the unmarked Spray, but over-hits
his pass and the Hammers clear.
11 mins - Daprela concedes yet another corner after Surman's cross was
allowed to drift across the six-yard box. Jones curls the ball over the top
of everyone and out for a goal kick.
9 mins - Wolves come close again. Kightly finds Vokes, who turns N'Gala with
ease and clips the ball into the six-yard box. Surman looks odds-on to score
before Ferrari slides in to clear the ball over the crossbar. From the
resulting corner, West Ham head clear and Kearns looks to launch a
counter-attack, only to be hauled back by Surman, who is booked.
8 mins - Wolves are looking dangerous here. Kightly nips past N'Gala and
crosses low towards Spray. Da Costa slides in and slices the ball high into
the air. Kurucz comes out and claims well above the head of the Wolves
striker.
6 mins - It's been all Wolves so far. West Ham are struggling to keep
possession of the ball, until Anthony Edgar nearly breaks clear, only to be
denied by the outstretched leg of Ronald Zubar.
4 mins - Mark Little puts a dangerous cross into the West Ham penalty area,
which Da Costa does well to clear for a corner with a brave header. David
Jones' initial corner is deflected out for another flag-kick. Jones crosses
again and Kurucz punches well clear of his area.
3 mins - Nigel Quashie sets Daprela clear with a beautiful pass down the
inside-left channel, only for the Swiss to be flagged for offside. That was
a close-call.
2 mins - The first chance falls to James Spray, who plays a neat one-two
with Kightly 20 yards from goal but can only drag his right-foot shot well
wide of the post.
7pm - Wolves get us underway...
6.59pm - More than 50 scouts have turned out tonight to do a bit
talent-spotting. Among the interested parties is Wolves manager Mick
McCarthy.
6.57pm - Here come the two teams, led by referee Mr Yeo. This promises to be
a good game. Wolves will be desperate to earn a win after losing their first
two matches, while West Ham will be eager to build on last week's thumping
win over Birmingham at the Boleyn Ground.
6.50pm - It is a grey evening here at Woodside Park. While London has been
suffering a deluge all day long, it looks like Bishop's Stortford has
largely escaped the rain. However, the heavens opened at about 6pm and it's
now a dank and very wet scene here. Luckily, the playing surface is in
immaculate condition, so we should be in for a fast-paced game on a green
and zippy pitch.
Alex Dyer has a named a side combining youth and experience as his West Ham
United reserves seek to build on last week's 6-0 victory over Birmingham
City with the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers to Bishop's Stortford.
On what is a miserable night on the Essex/Herts border, Bondz N'Gala will
skipper the Hammers. Scotland midfielder Nigel Quashie will anchor the
midfield, with Manuel Da Costa partnering N'Gala at the heart of the
defence.
Up front, Frank Nouble will lead the line, supported by Anthony Edgar and
Northern Ireland youth international Danny Kearns.
For Wolves, England Under-21 winger Michael Kightly is to make his
long-awaited comeback from injury, while new signing Segundo Castillo is
also named in the midfield. Sam Vokes, a Wales international colleague of
Jack Collison and Danny Gabbison, will play up front.
West Ham United reserves: Kurucz, Ferrari, N'Gala, Da Costa, Daprela, Payne,
Quashie, Lee (Wearen 72), Kearns, Edgar, Nouble
Subs: Street, Eyjolfsson, Grasser, Moncur
Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves: Ikeme, Little, Batth, Zubar, Malone,
Castillo (Davis 65), Kightly (Mendez-Laing 58), Jones, Surman, Vokes
(Hemmings 72), Spray
Subs: Metcalf, Rooney
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Hammers hold Wolves
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's young reserve team picked up a hard-fought goalless draw with
Wolves on Tuesday
15.09.2009
West Ham United played out a creditable goalless Barclays Premier Reserve
League South draw with an experienced Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday
evening. In a game of few chances played in almost incessant, driving rain,
a young West Ham team held their own against an experienced Wolves side at
Bishop's Stortford. With their opponents able to call upon the likes of
England Under-21 winger Michael Kightly, returning from a long-term leg
injury, Wales striker Sam Vokes and Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo, it
was always likely to be a difficult task for Dyer's men. However, it was one
they stuck to manfully. The first half was largely dominated by the
visitors, who should have taken the lead through Vokes, an international
colleague of Jack Collison and Danny Gabbidon, but the forward could only
head Kightly's inch-perfect left-foot cross wide of Peter Kurucz's goal.
Aside from that opportunity, Wolves were unable to turn their possession and
territorial superiority into goals, with captain Bondz N'Gala, his central
defensive partner Manuel Da Costa and right-back Davide Ferrari all making
decisive interceptions inside their own penalty area. Behind them, Kurucz
was largely untroubled, but when he was called upon, the Hungary U21 stopper
dealt with everything that came near to his goal competently.
Having seen off Wolves' threat in the opening 45 minutes, West Ham started
the second period with a renewed urgency and could have taken the lead soon
afterwards through the impressive Fabio Daprela. The Switzerland U19
left-back got past two challenges before seeing his shot deflected narrowly
wide nine minutes after the interval. With Wolves running out of ideas, the
Hammers slowly grew in confidence, creating their best chance of the night
through Frank Nouble 16 minutes from time. The 17-year-old burst through the
centre of the Wolves defence, only to see his shot saved by Carl Ikeme. Two
minutes later, Wolves substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing came even closer,
cutting inside from the right wing before firing a shot just wide of the far
post. West Ham continued to press for a late winner, with Edgar stinging
Ikeme's palms with a powerful 80th-minute shot from distance. With just
moments remaining, substitute Ashley Hemmings looked as if won it for the
visitors on two separate occasions. First, he was denied by a miraculous
block from Da Costa, then he fired a low shot against the base of Kurucz's
far post. In truth, however, neither side deserved to lose on what was a
grey, chilly and miserable night at Woodside Park. Manager Dyer will be
delighted to have seen his young team pick up a second successive clean
sheet ahead of their trip to the south coast to face Portsmouth on Tuesday
29 September.
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ZOLA QUALIFIED TO MEAN BUSINESS
Daily Express
Wednesday September 16,2009
By Matthew Dunn Have your say(0)
GIANFRANCO ZOLA, barely a year into the job at West Ham, will be one of the
keynote speakers at a groundbreaking conference at the Emirates Stadium next
week in which the League Managers Association will be putting their members'
expertise to the wider business community. Arsene Wenger and David Moyes are
the other Premier League managers involved in the £373-a-head event but
Zola's participation is particularly interesting since, according to UEFA,
he is not qualified enough to manage in Europe – let alone tell people how
to manage in the business world. LMA chief executive Richard Bevan claims
Zola's lack of the most senior UEFA licence is not an issue, as he is
studying towards it – a far cry from previous regimes where there was always
much hand-wringing when a manager was appointed without the desired
qualifications. The announcement yesterday of Barclays and the Premier
League becoming event partners of the LMA for all their forthcoming "dos" is
another sign the group is being dragged into the 21st century by former ECB
chief Bevan . However, in raising the profile with such a small team, some
matters – such as sales – have been overlooked. According to Bevan, only 250
tickets have been sold for a 400-capacity event on Thursday.
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Non League Grays Atheltic keep up West Ham connection as chairman John
Moncur appoints former Hammer Julian Dicks as new boss
Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 11:15 PM on 15th September 2009
Former West Ham and Liverpool defender Julian Dicks has been appointed
manager of Grays Athletic by his former Upton Park team-mate John Moncur.
The new Grays chairman Moncur installed Dicks as the Blue Square Premier
club's 14th manager in three years. The 41-year-old is relatively
inexperienced in management, having spent just five months in charge of
Eastern Counties side Wivenhoe Town earlier this year before leaving by
mutual consent at the end of the season. The former hard man full-back,
whose one-time nickname was The Terminator, takes charge in time for
Saturday's home game against Altrincham. The Non League club, 22nd in the
table having mustered just six points fromn their opening nine games, are
set to officially unveil Dicks at a press conference on Wednesday.
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Zola grateful to Duxbury
16 September 2009 | 05:17 - PA Sport
Worldgame.sbs.com
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has celebrated a year in the job by thanking
chief executive Scott Duxbury for helping keep his best players at Upton
Park. Zola may have lost Craig Bellamy to Manchester City but England trio
Matthew Upson, Robert Green and Carlton Cole are still Hammers players, as
is Scott Parker, despite the backdrop of financial uncertainty at the club.
After finishing ninth in the Premier League last season, Zola is pleased
with his first year and wants to build on it. "It's been very good and is an
achievement, but I want to share it with the club," he said. "(Technical
director) Gianluca Nani and Scott Duxbury have been brilliant. They believed
in the project and never gave up on the idea of keeping the best players and
actually trying to improve the team. "That has been really good and I
appreciate that. I was lucky because I had fantastic people on my side.
(First-team coach) Steve Clarke has been massive in this way, and also
(first-team coach) Kevin Keen and (fitness coach) Antonio Pintus. They
helped me a lot and we have built up a fantastic management team."
Meanwhile, Danny Gabbidon, who made his first Premier League start in 21
months during the defeat at Wigan last weekend, said: "It just felt great to
be out there again. It was a tough game and I enjoyed every minute of it.
"It's been a while since I've played full-back in the Premier League, and
obviously I was disappointed with the result, but it was nice to get a game
under my belt."
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West Ham to open academy in Nigeria/ Africa
IMScouting.com
16/09/2009
The Sun report today that "West Ham are set to open an academy in Minna,
Nigeria." The daily tabloid add: "The project has received the green light
and will give them first option on Nigeria's talent." The Premier League
club have yet to announce this officially and the news could come under
scrutiny following FIFA's decision to ban Chelsea from signing players until
2011 over Gael Kakuta's transfer from Lens. There are currently nine
Nigerian players appearing in the Premier League, the most famous of which
are John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton) and Nwankwo Kanu
(Portsmouth).
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Hammers in Africa?
West Ham Till I Die
Today's Sun is reporting that West Ham are planning to establish an African
Academy in Minna, Nigeria. It certainly makes sense considering the top
class footballing talent produced in recent years by the African nations.
If it is true, it will undoubtedly be an exciting youth development scheme.
However, it's probably best to await confirmation from official club
sources before we start dreaming of a future production line of young
Essiens, Foes, Drogbas and Weahs arriving to supplement our first team
squad.
Nice thought though is it not?
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Diamanti – A New Hammers Cult Hero?
West Ham Till I Die
Following his impressive performance in the reserves, Diamanti's debut
against Wigan gave us a tantalising fore taste of what the player could
contribute this season. When he came on, his technique, vision and ability
to produce outstanding long range strikes were clearly demonstrated. The
whole West Ham forward line showed far greater cohesion and threat with
Diamanti intelligently pulling the strings behind Cole and Hines.
Two particular peices of Diamanti skill stood out, the long range drive from
out on the right wing that hit the bar and a beautiful peice of skill on the
left hand side of the box to control, turn and put a stunning cross in to
the box that caught both Wigan and (unfortunately) West Ham players napping!
With Diamanti in the team, the likes of Jimenez, Stanislaus, Dyer and Hines
need to use their pace and ability to run at defenders and tempt them into
hasty challenges. Any resultant free kicks are likely to create major
scoring opportunities for a player with his skill in dead ball situations.
It could prove a major new weapon in the Hammers armoury this season.
Hammers fans love their cult heroes and they tend to fall in to one of two
categories, the dynamos such as Bonds and Dicks and the artists like
Brooking and Di Canio. The comparisons with Di Canio are obvious and have
already been made. Diamanti is a player that the fans are going to respond
to, a player to saviour and get the pulse racing; one that can win matches
with a piece of brilliance and add a whole new dimension to our forward
play.
Admittedly, it's early days, but the signs are promising that Hammers fans
will soon have a new cult hero. Lets hope so, because we are never happier
than when we have a true artist weaving their magic in the claret and blue!
SJ Chandos
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I Bring Glad Tidings
West Ham Till I Die
In my constant quest to satiate ravenous appetites for more news and comment
on this blog, I have decided to appoint a co-editor. Cue the drum roll…
I am delighted to tell you all that S J Chandos has agreed to take on the
role. Those of you who comment on the blog will know what an excellent
writer he is – full of insight and sensible interpretation.
He will be posting four or five times a week (possibly more when the mood
takes him). We'll obviously try not to overlap. I'll continue to do the
match related stuff, the odd interview and some comment, and Mr C will do,
well, you'll soon see!
I am really pleased by this development, as I think it will add immensely to
the appeal of the site. I'm also in discussions with another regular reader
about a further expansion of the site. More as we get it, as they say in TV
land.
By the way, I'm the presenter's friend on the Richard Bacon Show on 5 Live
tomorrow night (Wed) from 11pm to 1am if you want to listen. I usually
manage to get a West Ham reference in somewhere!
And now we wait with baited breath for SJ Chandos's first post!
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Julian Dicks Joins Grays Athletic
West Ham Till I Die
It has been reported that Julian Dicks has been appointed manager of Gray
Athletic and that a formal press conference will be held tomorrow. Julian
takes a step up a rung of the greasy managerial ladder!
Good luck to him, lets hope he does really well and goes on to greater
things as a football manager.
SJ Chandos
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Dicks becomes new Grays manager
BBC.co.uk
Former West Ham and Liverpool defender Julian Dicks has been appointed as
the new boss of Blue Square Premier strugglers Grays Athletic. His
appointment looks to have ended the tenure of Gary Phillips, who was left in
limbo when Grays opted to interview possible replacements. Dicks, 41,
became a club legend in his two five-year stints with the Hammers. He quit
playing in 2001, and his only previous managerial experience came at Eastern
Counties League side Wivenhoe. He left the Essex club in June after a
six-month spell in charge following a dispute over its future. Grays are
currently 22nd in the Blue Square Premier, with just one win from their
first nine games.
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