WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector is relishing the opportunity of facing two familiar faces
at Manchester City on Monday
24.09.2009
Jonathan Spector is looking forward to locking horns with two familiar faces
at Manchester City next Monday. The United States defender could face
ex-West Ham United team-mates Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy in the live
ESPN-televised fixture at Eastlands. With Emmanuel Adebayor suspended and
both Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz out injured, Bellamy and Tevez have led
the City line in recent weeks. Bellamy scored twice in the thrilling 4-3
Barclays Premier League defeat by Manchester United on Sunday, while Tevez
set-up City's other goal for Gareth Barry. As such, Spector, who played a
full 120 minutes in Wednesday's Carling Cup extra-time loss at Bolton
Wanderers, believes the lively pair could cause problems for Gianfranco
Zola's side. However, he also believes the visitors will have their own
chances to shine. "Obviously, they are both very good players, and City have
a very good attacking side. At the same time, with the numbers they send
forward, I'm sure that we can find a weakness when we counter-attack, which
we do very well. "I think it'll be a good game and a good test for us."
Spector, who began his professional career at City's great cross-city rivals
as an 18-year-old, believes West Ham can rise to the challenge of taking on
the Citizens, whose defeat by United was their only reverse in seven
matches so far this season. While the Hammers are on a four-match winless
run of their own, the 23-year-old insists it will not be long before they
return to winning ways. "It's been a bit strange, because there have been
times when we've played some really good football and it hasn't gone our
way. At other times, we've struggled a little bit to play. We just need to
find some consistency and to continue to play our football. "We've certainly
got the players with the ability to do well. We've proved that last season
and, at times, this year. I know the manager has instilled a confidence in
us and the way that we should play. It's up to us to do what he wants.
"We need to start picking up some more points. We've been unlucky at times,
but we're certainly on the right track, though."
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Calling all junior Hammers
WHUFC.com
Youth Academy members still have time to apply for a free match ticket for
the home game with Fulham
23.09.2009
Hammers fans under the age of 16 are reminded that the next home fixture
with Fulham on Sunday 4 October is the first of this season's three Youth
Academy members matches. This means that existing Youth Academy members can
apply to watch the match for free, while those yet to join are still able to
enrol and apply for their complimentary match ticket. Youth Academy
membership has now also been reduced to just £20 for the rest of the season.
This represents excellent value, with young fans who join receiving an
exclusive welcome pack, reduced ticket prices plus the chance to apply for a
free ticket to the home games against Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.
To join, or for more information on Youth Academy or any other of the club's
official membership packages telephone 0871 222 2700 or click here for
online booking. Please note calls to 0871 numbers cost 10p per minute plus
network extras.
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Zola credits Cole transformation
Hammers boss refuses to take plaudits for striker's improvement
Last updated: 24th September 2009
SSN
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola insists he should not receive the credit
for Carlton Cole's transformation. Former Chelsea striker Cole has only
started to live up to his potential since Zola's arrival at West Ham. The
25-year-old has become a feared forward in the Premier League and has broken
into Fabio Capello's England squad. Zola is adamant that the player deserves
all the praise for developing, and insists he, as manager, should not
receive the attention. The Italian said: "Carlton is very humble and
sometimes he's too quiet. He just needed to realise how good he was -
perhaps he didn't know. "He didn't realise what he was capable of and so we
try to speak to him every week showing what he was doing and what he was
good at. "We try to look after him in every aspect of his game and his
mental approach. People try to give me credit but actually it's all down to
him."
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West Ham and Millwall prepare to answer FA charge
Gary Jacob
The Times
West Ham United and Millwall are expected to be charged today with failing
to control their fans during the Carling Cup second-round match at Upton
Park last month, when a Millwall season ticket-holder was stabbed and 13
people arrested. The clubs have been in discussions with the FA about the
events that led to fans rioting outside the ground, invading the pitch and
throwing objects at each other. The FA could warn or heavily fine both clubs
if they are charged and found guilty. West Ham face the threat of being
forced to play a game behind closed doors if they cannot prove that they
made adequate security arrangements for the match, which they won 3-1 after
extra time. The FA has also looked into claims that Carlton Cole, the West
Ham forward, and Jason Price, his Millwall counterpart, suffered racial
abuse. West Ham, who were knocked out of the competition by Bolton Wanderers
after extra time on Tuesday, have banned ten fans for life from Upton Park,
with the prospect of more to follow if the club can identify those who ran
on to the pitch during three pitch invasions. West Ham have received
information from their supporters after photos were published on their
website and in a match programme. The police took the unusual measure of
interviewing West Ham fans before the side's 3-2 defeat by Liverpool on
Saturday, after studying footage from CCTV cameras. They are expected to
publish more photos of alleged culprits in due course. Millwall have been
trying to identify the fans who caused damage to about 200 away seats and a
toilet. The Coca-Cola League One club have submitted three reports about
their observations to the FA. They were unhappy about not being consulted
over the security arrangements and the decision by the police to limit
tickets for away fans. Others have criticised the perceived slow response of
the stewards and police when skirmishes broke out.
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Looking back: Manchester City
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th September 2009
By: Staff Writer
Join KUMB.com for a new regular feature as we take a look back at a game
from days gone by against our forthcoming opponents.
Gianfranco Zola faces an arduous task when he takes his West Ham team - who
have now lost three on the bounce - to high-flying Manchester City on Monday
evening. The Citizens, beaten in controversial circumstances in the
Manchester derby last weekend will no doubt be keen to make amends for their
4-3 defeat.
Of course City are now considered to be one the richest football clubs in
the world following the 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group. But it
wasn't always that way, as our look back to a Division One fixture from the
early 1970s reveals...
West Ham Utd v Manchester City
Football League Division One
Saturday 17th March 1973
Programme: 5p
Hammers Editorial
The Editorial that greeted readers of the Manchester City programme - the
40th programme produced by Helliar & Sons in the 1972/73 season - revealed
how proposals to extend relegation from and promotion to Division One to
four teams had been mooted by league bigwigs.
"A concensus of opinion indicates that this has improved prospects of being
passed, although it required a three-quarters majority," read the Editorial.
"It is certain however that if the amendment goes through then the old adage
that '36 points keeps you in the First Division' will probably be outdated,
and that the current relegation worries' among the bottom nine clubs or so
could well extend to those immediately above them."
This of course was back in the days when top flight teams played 42 league
games per season, with two points for a win.
Elsewhere it is noted that the Football Association have confirmed that the
1973/74 season will not begin until 1st September - three weeks later than
usual. One reason given for this is low 'early season gates', due to
'alternative attractions' (your guess is as good as mine although one
suspects this refers to the growing abundance of cheap foreign summer
holidays at the time).
Top flight football in August began in 1919 with the end of the First World
War and a return to full league programmes. Prior to that, the season had
began in either October (1882-1885) or September (1885-1919). These days of
course, the Premier League generally begins on the second weekend of August
- despite its member clubs playing 38 league games per season instead of 42.
Other News
In the days before email and the web were available in every home it was
often the case that new signings were announced in the match day programme.
Three such names that signed prior to this fixture were goalkeeper Mervyn
Day (first pro contract), Ted MacDougall (Man Utd) and Bertie Lutton
(Brighton).
Lutton initially joined the Hammers on a month's loan with view to a
permanent £12,000 deal (later completed). He went on to become only the
second Irish player to be capped whilst at West Ham (Alex McCartney being
the first nearly 70 years earlier). Day went on to become an FA Cup-winning
first-choice goalkeeper and many years later, Alan Curbishley's deputy
manager. MacDougall was sent packing just months after moving to East London
following an infamous punch-up with Billy Bonds.
* John McDowell and Tommy Taylor both received congratulations for their
appearance in the England under-23's 1-0 win over Czechoslavakia at Villa
Park. It was the fourth time both McDowell and Taylor had featured for the
now defunct under 23 team.
* West Ham's match day programme was voted third best Division One programme
(behind Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion) by the British Programme Club.
It was voted joint best in the 5p category along with Chelsea.
What the Papers Said
In reference to West Ham's goalless draw at Bramall Lane a week before ...
"The only memorable moments in a forgettable game were Alan Woodward's
double penalty-miss, or, if you like, Bobby Ferguson's double penalty-save"
- Keith Macklin, Sunday People
"This was a tedious affair with clean-cut chances as rare as moments of pure
football" -Henry Bevington, Daily Telegraph
"West Ham had nothing to worry about, and worried about nothing" - Bill
Mallinson, Daily Mail
About our Visitors
City went into this game in 12th spot with the Hammers three places above
them (Division One consisting then of 22 teams) having just been dumped out
of the FA Cup by eventual winners Sunderland. An up and down season had seen
the Blues grab notable wins over Derby (4-0) and Man Utd (3-0) whilst a
seven goal thriller at Maine Road had seen them beat West Ham by the odd
goal in the corresponding fixture. However some demoralising defeats on
their travels - 4-1 at Birmingham and 5-1 hidings at both Stoke and Wolves -
had left them firmly entrenched in mid-table.
Three to Fear
1. Rodney Marsh: talented midfielder who learned his trade at Fulham before
becoming a cult hero at Queens Park Rangers. Joined City in a £200,000
switch during the 1971/72 season.
2. Franny Lee: one of the first professional footballers to be accused of
diving on a regular basis, Lee scored over 200 goals in a career in which he
won League titles with botrh City and Derby, who he was to join in 1974.
Spent seven years at Maine Road.
3. Joe Corrigan: a former England keeper, Corrigan spent 16 years as a
player with City. He will however be most fondly remembered by Hammers fans
for conceding a wonder goal by Ronnie Boyce three years before this fixture
(Boyce sending a Corrigan goal kick straight back over the 'keeper's head
from the halfway line).
Line Ups
West Ham Utd: Ferguson, McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, Moore (c), Best,
Lock, MacDougall, Brooking, Robson (sub: Holland).
Manchester City: Corrigan, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Jeffries,
Summerbee, Bell (c), Whelan, Lee, Oakes (sub: Carrodus).
Referee
Ronald Charles Crabb: our man in black is described as a former Royal Marine
who became a fully qualified league referee in 1970. Crabb, a serving prison
officer from Exeter previously officiated a West Ham fixture in 1971
(Sheffield Utd). Amusingly perhaps, one of his two assistants was named
A.C.Lines.
The Game
Following a goalless first half new signing Ted McDowell notched his first
goal since Christmas on the hour mark to put the Hammers ahead. Seven
minutes later the lead was doubled by 'Pop' Robson who converted from close
range after some excellent work by substitute Patsy Holland.
City gave themselves a fighing chance of grabbing a late point when they
reduced the deficit five minutes from time; Mike Doyle converting a Frank
Carrodus cross. However the Blues were to go home disappointed as the
Hammers grabbed their first win (and goals) in four games - a vicotry that
lifted Ron Greenwood's side into seventh spot.
Final Score
West Ham United 2 Manchester City 1 (Attendance: 29,370)
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Sweet FA
West Ham Till I Die
Driving to the station this morning, I could hardly believe my ears. Did you
know that the taxpayer is forking out £40 million a year to football? Me
neither. It's channelled through the FA and the Football Foundation to pay
for initiatives in grassroots football. The government is threatening the
withhold it unless the three football organisations (FA, Football League and
the Premier League) overcome their mutual hostility and start to work
together.
I question why the taxpayer is providing any money in the first place. Why
not instead impose a levy of £2 million a year on any club in the Premier
League. That's the equivalent of the annual wages of one Premier League
player.
So, another £40 million off public borrowing. Maybe a pinprick, but you know
what they say about a lot of little pinpricks…
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