WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola has paid tribute once again to the youthful promise and
strength in depth at his disposal
06.04.2009
"It was a project and when I spoke to you first time probably some did not
believe it but to see things come together like this is such an unbelievable
satisfaction for me, for Steve Clarke, Kevin Keen, Antonio Pintus and Ludo
Miklosko - and also the club who have put so much faith in what we are
doing."
So said Gianfranco Zola to the press as he reflected further on the weekend
win against Sunderland and he will return to work before Saturday's derby
date at Tottenham Hotspur with renewed confidence.
The manager claimed the emergence of talent like Junior Stanislas and the
spirit in his squad, intentionally honed and toned in January, was a
vindication of the club's policy he had been talking about since the day he
arrived. Saturday's 2-0 triumph thanks to strikes from Stanislas and James
Tomkins has left West Ham United in pole position for seventh and
contemplating European endeavours - although seven hard games still await.
"It's working," he said. "Yes, but tell me if this is something I didn't say
at the beginning. I said the idea was to create this kind of situation. It's
working very well and I am very glad and pleased. It's unbelievable and it's
great after the difficulties we have had and this gives us even more
confidence for the future."
Zola said English talent would always be a cornerstone - witness the debuts
given to Stanislas and Josh Payne in the last month - but the scope is far
and wide. "I like to look for young players. We can bring some good ones
from abroad but the idea was also to develop the players we have here. So
far it is working well and we have to work even harder on this.
"It is fantastic when you see young players coming from the youth team into
the first team and they do well, do their jobs and score also. It's great,
not just for me and the club but for the atmosphere, for the supporters and
that's what we want to do. We need to 'feed it' and that's the job we need
to do for the next few years."
There was also special praise for James Tomkins, the 20-year-old England
youth international who held off the worthy challenge of James Collins to
line up alongside Matthew Upson. Zola believed Tomkins was a "very promising
young player" who could prove one of English football's most important
prospects in the years to come.
He added: "The tradition at this club is to produce very good players and
that's the reason why I believe the club appointed me as they know I like
working this way and so they want to carry on doing this. The club has done
very well. I'm looking forward to improving in every situation possible.
While youngsters are staking their claim, the manager was hopeful he could
have one or two back in contention for the trip to Tottenham - although the
concussion suffered by Jonathan Spector could keep him out in the short
term. "Hopefully Radoslav Kovac will be ready and hopefully it will be the
same for Scott Parker. They are important players for me. If they are back
it will make a difference."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Young Lions learn fate
WHUFC.com
The contingent involved with England Under-20s have learned their opponents
at the finals
05.04.2009
James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears could be lining up against
Uruguay, Ghana and Uzbekistan at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt this
September.
The England Under-20 internationals are all in contention for the Young
Lions squad, having appeared in the most recent friendly - a 2-0 defeat of
fellow finalists Italy last week. FIFA conducted the draw for the 24-nation
tournament on Sunday night at the impressive Luxor Temple on the banks of
the River Nile.
England, who are managed by Brian Eastick, will begin against Uruguay on
Saturday 26 September in Ismailia before taking on Ghana at the same stadium
three days later. The group campaign will conclude against Uzbekistan in
Suez on Friday 2 October.
West Ham United could also be represented by Savio (Germany) and Balint
Bajner (Hungary) with the former on international duty with his country last
week. The FIFA U20 World Cup is the world governing body's most prestigious
tournament after the FIFA World Cup and has been graced by the likes of
Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero in recent editions.
Full draw
Group A - Egypt, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay, Italy
Group B - Nigeria, Venezuela, Spain, Tahiti
Group C - United States, Germany, Cameroon, Korean Republic
Group D - Ghana, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, England
Group E - Brazil, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Australia
Group F - United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Honduras, Hungary
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
West Ham United hold off the challenge of Sunderland to rise to seventh in
the Premier League table
04.04.2009
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 4 April
3pm
Referee: Mike Jones
Full-time - West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
99 min - We're into the ninth minute of added-time and the final whistle is
blown by referee Jones. A fine result for West Ham and a great day for both
Stanislas and Tomkins only tempered by the nasty-looking injury suffered by
Spector. West Ham are up to seventh in the table, while Sunderland drop down
to 17th behind Stoke City and Portsmouth.
97 min - Ilunga is booked for bringing down Cisse on the left touchline as
Sunderland broke down the left. Richardson's free-kick falls to Leadbitter,
but his shot is cleared off the line by Collins. West Ham break downfield
and Boa Morte wins another corner.
96 min - Dyer runs at the Sunderland defence and wins another corner. Noble
is in no rush to take it, and who can blame him. Tristan actually tricks
himself out of possession with a neat drop of the shoulder!
94 min - Ferdinand flings himself in front of Lopez's shot. Otherwise, the
Uruguayan could have become the third Hammer to open his account for the
club this afternoon. West Ham win another corner, but it comes to nothing.
92 min - Bolton are 4-1 up against Middlesbrough now, while Chelsea are 2-0
up at Newcastle. Back here, Cisse fires a shot wide before Richardson shoots
straight at Green. Sunderland have given this a bit of a go late-on, but
they've not really looked like beating the West Ham goalkeeper.
90 min - Sumptuous stuff from Tristan, who jinks in from the left touchline
before curling a lovely shot that lands on the top of Gordon's net with the
goalkeeper beaten. Unlucky! Stanislas is replaced by Lopez. Meanwhile, there
are going to be EIGHT extra minutes!
89 min - Edwards lets fly from 30 yards, but his effort is straight at
Green. Walter Lopez is waiting to enter the fray.
88 min - Sunderland force two corners in quick succession, but they come to
nothing.
87 min - Jones hacks a left-foot shot into the visiting supporters. That
sums up Sunderland's day.
85 min - Apologies if you bet on either of the claret and blue-clad horses
in the Grand National - neither was placed in the top-four.
83 min - Super play from West Ham sees Stanislas find Boa Morte thanks to
Tristan's fine dummy. The Portuguese forward's shot is half-blocked and
falls to Dyer, but Gordon makes a good save to push the ball out for a
corner.
81 min - Dyer is on for Di Michele.
80 min - Sunderland threaten twice in the space of 20 seconds. First,
Collins blocks Whitehead's overhead kick, then Green comes out well to paw
aside the same player's cross with Jones lurking.
78 min - Tomkins has been fantastic again this afternoon. His composure is
something to behold. Bardsley looks Sunderland's most likely scorer,
bizarrely, working Green with another well-struck shot that the England
goalkeeper spills before gathering at the second attempt. Dyer is on the
touchline!
75 min - Sunderland make a second change, with Carlos Edwards replacing
Malbranque. There is a strange hush at the Boleyn Ground. Dyer, Lopez and
Sears are warming up on the touchline.
74 min - West Ham need to keep their focus here. They are on course for
three important points that would lift them back into seventh-place and
within range of Everton.
72 min - After a lengthy stoppage, Spector is taken off the field on a
stretcher. Boa Morte helpfully carries the physio's bag to the touchline.
Collins is on, with Tomkins going to right-back. We're going to have at
least six added minutes, I would estimate.
70 min - West Ham's players are gathered around Spector. Meanwhile, Collins
and manager Zola wait on the touchline.
68 min - It looks like we could have a lengthy stoppage here while Spector
receives attention. That is a real shame for the defender. He has only
recently battled back after six months out with a hip problem.
66 min - Spector lands very heavily after challenging for a high ball with
Ben Haim. That looked a bit nasty. The paramedics are on already. James
Collins is stripped off and ready to take the American's place.
65 min - Whitehead rolls a free-kick to Cisse, but Green keeps his eye on
the ball and gathers it via two deflections.
64 min - The Alan Shearer effect is not working just yet. Chelsea are a goal
up at Newcastle United. Tomkins is harshly adjudged to have brought down
Richardson 30 yards from goal.
63 min - Green is still concentrating, despite his lack of involvement,
coming out smartly twice in the space of 30 seconds to deal with crosses
into his penalty area.
62 min - West Ham win another corner and Tomkins comes close to doubling his
tally with a powerful header that Gordon can only bat to safety. The loose
ball breaks to Stanislas, who forces the goalkeeper into a low, diving save.
60 min - Ben Haim is penalised for possibly the most blatant handball in the
history of the beautiful game. West Ham are handed (get it!) a free-kick 25
yards from goal. Stanislas is a mean striker of a dead ball and he
immediately shows an interest. He'll have to wait, though, as Leadbitter is
down for treatment to a back problem. Mark Noble eventually takes and Upson
forces a smart save from Gordon.
59 min - Arsenal and Stoke are both 2-0 up.
55 min - Sunderland attempt to work their way back into the game, but
Spector makes a super challenge to thwart Richardson. Tomkins is the sixth
Academy graduate to score for the Hammers this season, following Stanislas,
Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines. Jones is on for Daryl
Murphy.
52 min - GOAL! The strikers combine superbly, with Di Michele laying an
inch-perfect path to Tristan. His first-time shot is parried behind by
Gordon. Noble takes the resulting corner and Tomkins powers a header past
the Scotland goalkeeper from eight yards. The England Under-20 man
celebrates in style in front of the Bobby Moore Stand.
50 min - The attendance is announced as 34,761 - a near full-house! Di
Michele celebrates that fact by going on a mazy run before curling a shot
past Gordon's far post. Kenwyne Jones is getting ready to come on for
Sunderland. He scored in the respective fixture last season.
49 min - Bardsley has the first chance of the second half, skipping past
Noble's sliding challenge before forcing Green to parry his rasping shot
behind for a corner, which is cleared.
46 min - We're off and running again.
West Ham are the first of the two teams to re-emerge after the half-time
break, closely followed by Sunderland.
46 min - The half-time whistle goes.
45 min - West Ham are looking confident now. Another sweeping move ends with
Di Michele seeing his shot deflected wide for a corner. West Ham keep
possession and the move ends with Noble crossing and forcing Bardsley to
head over his own crossbar. That really was a superb goal, you know, with Di
Michele also playing a starring role as the Hammers broke from one end to
the other at great speed. There will be one added minute.
42 min - GOAL! Upson plays Cisse onside and the Frenchman nearly takes
advantage, firing a rising shot across Green's goal that the England
goalkeeper can only tip behind for a corner. Richardson takes, Collins heads
the ball into the arms of Green. West Ham break at lightning speed, with
Boa Morte skipping over a challenge before steadying himself and rolling the
ball across the face of the six-yard box where Stanislas is on hand to
sidefoot the ball into the net!
39 min - Middlesbrough have equalised at Bolton.
38 min - Ilunga loses the ball to Cisse, who outstrips Upson but cannot get
past Tomkins.
36 min - Danger for West Ham. Noble brings down Tal Ben Haim no more than a
yard outside the home penalty area. Richardson and Leadbitter stand over the
set piece, Richardson crosses, but the ball is too high for everybody and
floats out for a goal-kick. Walter Lopez, Freddie Sears and Josh Payne
trundle out for a warm-up. The trio are showcasing the full range of
training kit. Lopez has opted for shorts only, Sears for the tracksuit
bottoms tucked into his socks and Payne for the all-tracksuit look. On the
pitch, Neill loses his boot in a tackle. It's all happening!!
35 min - Zola gives the fans sat in the Centenary Stand a wave, answering
the supporters' song.
33 min - Sunderland hit back, but Leadbitter's low shot is easily gathered
by Green.
32 min - Close! Di Michele lifts a lovely passinto the path of the
on-rushing Ilunga, but the ball just won't sit down for the DR Congo star
and his volley flies well wide. That was a good chance, beautifully crafted
by the on-loan Torino man.
30 min - Sunderland are playing the better football but West Ham are keeping
their opponents at arm's length so far. Meanwhile, James Collins, Savio and
Kieron Dyer are sent out to warm-up by Zola, earning a warm round of
applause from the home fans.
27 min - Tristan finds Stanislas with a fine cross-field pass. The winger
cuts inside Bardsley but his low shot deflects behind for a goal kick off
the shins of Di Michele.
26 min - The two teams are cancelling themselves out a bit here, with both
managers naming five-man midfields there is not a huge amount of space to be
had.
24 min - Boa Morte is booked for a challenge on Whitehead. That is his
fourth yellow card of the season.
22 min - A chance for the Hammers. Noble finds Spector on the right wing. He
feeds Neill who, in turn, finds Di Michele. The Italian controls and turns
before smashing a left-foot shot that fizzes past Gordon's post.
21 min - Tomkins is looking very assured again alongside Upson. He has been
earning rave reviews for this performances for both West Ham and England's
Under-20 side.
19 min - Steed Malbranque has more assists than anyone else in the Premier
League, but he looks to score for himself this time, ghosting past Noble
before curling a left-foot shot past Green's post.
17 min - Boa Morte is running round as if his life depended on it, earning a
hearty cheer from the home supporters as he puts in a challenge on Danny
Collins. Sunderland break, though, and win a corner. Richardson crosses, but
it comes to nothing as the England man is caught offside.
15 min - It's all gone a bit quiet here, but elsewhere the goals are flying
in. Stoke are 1-0 up at West Brom, Arsenal lead Manchester City and Bolton
have gone a goal up against Middlesbrough.
13 min - A neat passing move involving Spector, Noble and Boa Morte ends
with the American going down under the challenge of Daryl Murphy. Nothing is
given by replacement referee Mike Jones, however.
10 min - Leadbitter goes close again, playing a neat one-two with Cisse
before forcing Green into a plunging save. The ball rebounds into the middle
of the penalty area before being hacked to safety. West Ham need to keep
possession of the ball and relieve a bit of this pressure.
8 min - Sunderland are working up a bit of a head of steam here. Grant
Leadbitter lets fly from about 30 yards, but the ball goes narrowly wide of
Robert Green's right-hand post. That was fairly close.
5 min - On the subject of formations, Sunderland are playing with a 4-5-1
shape. Djibril Cisse is up front on his own.
4 min - Sunderland venture forward for the first time, winning a right-wing
corner. Kieran Richardson tries to take the kick short but boots the corner
flag out of the ground! He retakes and the ball is cleared for a throw-in.
2 min - Diego Tristan and David Di Michele combine before Stanislas wins
another corner. Noble crosses and Craig Gordon punches the ball clear. Great
start from the home side here. Formation-wise, Lucas Neill is playing in
front of a back-four of Spector, Tomkins, Upson and Ilunga, with Stanislas
on the left and Boa Morte on the right.
1 min - Stanislas starts well, running strongly down the left flank before
Herita Ilunga forces a corner. Mark Noble crosses and James Tomkins glances
a header wide of the far post.
3pm - West Ham kick-off.
2.59pm - Junior Stanislas gets a nice ovation from the crowd as his name is
read out. This is a big chance for the England Under-20 man to shine. He has
been in superb form in recent weeks, scoring a hat-trick in a reserve
friendly at Chelsea eight days ago.
2.57pm - 'Bubbles' rings round the Boleyn Ground as the two teams stroll out
into the sunshine. Sunderland have brought a large away following, so the
atmosphere should be a good one.
2.55pm - The ballboys are heading off around the pitch and the Premier
League banner has been unveiled. All that can mean only one thing - kick-off
is fast approaching.
2.50pm - I'm sure the Grand National used to be run at 3.50pm so that
football supporters could watch the big race at half-time. The tape goes up
at 4.15pm this afternoon. Speaking of betting, West Ham are 23/20 favourites
to win this afternoon. Sunderland are 5/2 outsiders, while the draw is 11/5.
2.47pm - West Ham's players head for the home dressing room for their final
instructions from manager Zola and first-team coaches Steve Clarke and Kevin
Keen. James Tomkins and James Collins the the last to leave the pitch.
Sunderland's players, meanwhile, are still doing shuttle runs in front of
their own supporters.
2.43pm - For those fans who like a punt, there are two horses running in
this afternoon's Grand National in claret and blue colours. You can get 50/1
on Silver Birch and 100/1 on Ollie Magern. Healthy returns to be had if
either of them can spring a surprise at Aintree! Back at the Boleyn Ground,
West Ham's players are engaging themselves in a bit of shooting practice
against goalkeeper Peter Kurucz.
2.40pm - A cheer rings round the Boleyn Ground as the final whistle goes at
Ewood Park. A win this afternoon would take West Ham six points clear of
Tottenham. Meanwhile, the two teams are warming up in the April sunshine
here in east London, with just a few wispy clouds in the sky.
2.35pm - Blackburn have scored in the 89th minute through Andre Ooijer!
2.30pm - A host of Hammers legends are at the Boleyn Ground for today's
game. 1975 FA Cup final hero Alan Taylor and 1964 FA Cup and 1965 European
Cup Winners Cup winner Ken Brown are both in attendance. Good news for West
Ham from Ewood Park, where Blackburn Rovers have equalised against ten-man
Tottenham Hotspur through Benni McCarthy. Should Spurs fail to win, they
will remain behind the Hammers in the table.
2.25pm - West Ham have not lost in their last four Premier League matches,
while Sunderland have not tasted victory in their previous five. The Hammers
are looking to complete their third league double of the season, having won
1-0 at the Stadium of Light on 23 November.
Team News
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has made two changes to the side
that drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago, with Junior Stanislas
being handed a full debut for the Hammers.
Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac have failed to shake off knee and thigh
injuries respectively. England Under-20 winger Stanislas has come into the
team alongside fit-again Matthew Upson, who returns after missing the
Blackburn game with a calf problem.
Stanislas will play on the left wing in an attacking formation, with Luis
Boa Morte on the left and David Di Michele slotting in behind Diego Tristan.
Former Hammers Anton Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson are in the Sunderland
lineup, but George McCartney is out with a thigh injury. On-loan Calum
Davenport is not eligible to feature under Premier League rules.
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Illunga, Stanislas, Spector,
Noble, Boa Morte, Di MIchele, Tristan
Subs: Lastuvka, Lopez, J.Collins, Payne, Dyer, Savio, Sears
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, D.Collins, Ferdinand, Ben Haim, Malbranque,
Richardson, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Murphy, Cisse
Subs: Fulop, Nosworthy, McShane, Reid, Edwards, Jones, Healy
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Youngsters see off Sunderland
WHUFC.com
Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins both score their first goals for West Ham
United in a 2-0 victory
04.04.2009
Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins both scored their first goals for West
Ham United as the Hammers swept aside Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground to
rise to seventh in the Premier League table.
Stanislas opened the scoring with a simple tap-in just before half-time
before Tomkins - who celebrated his 20th birthday last Sunday - added a
second by powering home a header seven minutes after the re-start. The pair
became the fifth and sixth Academy graduates to net for the Hammers this
season, following Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Kyel Reid and Zavon Hines.
Gianfranco Zola made two changes to the starting lineup from the 1-1 draw
with Blackburn Rovers. Stanislas came into midfield for his full first-team
debut and Matthew Upson returned at centre-half. The two players to miss out
were the two central midfielders from Ewood Park. Scott Parker had not quite
recovered from the groin strain while Radoslav Kovac injured his thigh in
training in the week. Captain Lucas Neill moved into a defensive midfield
role, with Jonathan Spector at right-back.
The home side started brightly and from the first of two corners in the
opening two minutes, Tomkins headed Mark Noble's delicious delivery inches
wide.
Leadbitter registered Sunderland's first effort by flashing a shot just
wide. Seconds later, he came even closer when he exchanged passes with
Djibril Cisse before stinging the hands of Robert Green just inside the
penalty area.
The opening half ebbed and flowed and after several half-chances for both
sides - and a booking for Luis Boa Morte for a late challenge - proceedings
sprang to life in the final few minutes of the period.
First, Noble brought down Tal Ben Haim right on the edge of the area, but
luckily Kieron Richardson's centre evaded everyone. Green then tipped a
25-yard Cisse effort around the post before the action switched to the other
end of the pitch with dramatic results.
Just two minutes before the break, Stanislas marked his debut in the most
perfect of ways. Di Michele and Tristan combined to find Boa Morte, who
eluded a challenge and drove into the Sunderland penalty area. The
Portuguese winger took a touch, looked up and picked out the 19-year-old
perfectly and he duly slotted home to cue wild celebrations.
The Hammers were not finished yet, though, as a Di Michele shot was
deflected wide and then, seconds later, good work on the right from Noble
saw his cross headed over by Phil Bardsley just as Diego Tristan was poised
to finish. The half-time whistle sounded with the Hammers on a high.
Sunderland sought to seize the initiative after the break, with Phil
Bardsley skipping past Noble's sliding challenge before forcing Green into a
full-stretch save with a rasping drive.
Having survived the visitors' early pressure, the hosts doubled their
advantage through another maiden strike. This time it was Tomkins who broke
his duck in a claret and blue shirt. Di Michele fed Tristan and his shot was
tipped behind by Craig Gordon. However, the Scottish international could do
nothing seconds later as the England Under-20 defender rose highest to power
Noble's corner into the bottom corner of the net from eight yards. It was
his first goal since netting twice for England's Under-19 side in March
2008.
On the hour-mark, Ben Haim handled in the most blatant of manners 30 yards
from goal on the right-hand side. Noble swung the set-piece in and Upson
forced a spectacular save from Gordon. The Sunderland No1 was called into
action again shortly after as Tomkins looked to double his personal tally
with a near carbon copy of his first. This time, however, Gordon was able to
at least palm the ball to safety.
The only downside on an otherwise near-perfect afternoon came when Spector
was stretchered off after landing heavily after jumping for a high ball with
Ben Haim and landing heavily. The American received six minutes of treatment
before being helped from the pitch. His exit forced yet another re-shuffle
for Zola, who brought on James Collins and switched Tomkins to right-back.
The changes made no difference to the final scoreline, however, as
Sunderland failed to find a way past England man Green. Richardson and
substitute Carlos Edwards both tested the goalkeeper and, even when he was
beaten, substitute Collins was on the line to clear Leadbitter's goalbound
shot to safety.
With a minute left on the clock Tristan jinked inside from the left
touchline before curling a delicious chip over Gordon from 25 yards, only
for the ball to land on top of the net rather than in it.
Stanislas earned a hearty ovation from the vast majority of the 34, 761
inside the Boleyn Ground as he was replaced late on by Walter Lopez. It was
an ovation the Kidbroke-born winger had thoroughly earned.
The Hammers survived the eight minutes of added-time relatively comfortably,
but Ilunga was booked for a late challenge on Cisse to earn his third yellow
card of the season. It did not matter, however, as Zola's men secured a
victory that strengthens their claims for a place in next season's UEFA
Europa League ahead of next weekend's trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola hails 'best' victory
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola said the all round performance in the win over Sunderland
was the high point of his reign
04.04.2009
Gianfranco Zola has described the 2-0 win against Sunderland as the best
victory since he arrived at the club.
After losing Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac in the run-up to the game, Zola
was forced to switch Lucas Neill into central midfield and bring in Junior
Stanislas for his first start. The gamble paid off as his team responded
with a composed and passionate display to move win three points clear in the
race for seventh place, ahead of Wigan's meeting with Everton on Sunday.
"Considering all the difficulties before this match - with it being an
international break and I've had two players - Jonathan and Lucas Neill -
that didn't train and only came back yesterday. So with other players away
and so many injuries I can say that this has been the best victory of all,"
he said.
The 19-year-old Stanislas responded by opening the scoring two minutes
before half-time before fellow Academy graduate James Tomkins - who got the
nod ahead of the fit-again James Collins - ensured the win with a thumping
header in the 52nd minute. The performance of the pair was central to a
fifth game unbeaten for Zola's side, but there were consistent displays
throughout the side.
"It's good to see the young players like Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins
doing so well. It's good because we need new strength and new injuries and
they can help us achieve what we want to achieve.
"I was very impressed [with the youngsters]. Tomkins I knew, he has been
playing for a while and I had no problems with him. Junior was a surprise as
I knew about his qualities and technical skills and qualities. I didn't know
about his mental strength. Today it was tough, he looked like he was a
veteran so it was a good point for him and a good point for me also.
Neill took to his new role in the centre of the park - which was Zola's
decision on the day of the game - with the professionalism one might expect
from a West Ham and Australia captain. His performance certainly came as no
surprise to his manager.
"He is a very intelligent player. I've played him right-back, left-back and
I've played him centre-back and he's always done a good job. He's
intelligent and has got good technical abilities so I was confident he would
do a good job - it came off the cuff and was such a pleasant thing.
"When you have such fantastic team spirit, when a player comes in it is very
easy for them to do the job. I can tell you that Luis Boa Morte was amazing,
running and chasing with real quality. When you have these conditions it is
easy to do the job."
Zola also had further good news on the condition of Jonathan Spector, who
caused some concern after requiring lengthy treatment on the Boleyn Ground
turf after landing awkwardly when challenging for a high ball. The US
defender went to hospital and was due to be kept under observation over the
weekend.
"He has got concussion. He lost a little a bit of consciousness and he lost
his short-term memory. He is fine and they are confident it is not going to
be a big problem. He couldn't remember much of it but he was fine. He
doesn't remember me which is a good thing! But he is OK and shouldn't be too
bad."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Boa happy to assist
WHUFC.com
Luis Boa Morte was happy to help Junior Stanislas score his first goal in a
West Ham United shirt
04.04.2009
Luis Boa Morte was wearing a broad smile after helping West Ham United to
see off the challenge of Sunderland.
The Portuguese international produced an all-action display in an
unaccustomed right-wing role, working hard for his team and also setting up
Junior Stanislas for the Academy graduate's first goal for the club.
Boa Morte's inch-perfect past was slotted past Craig Gordon by the England
Under-20 winger to give the Hammers a 1-0 advantage shortly before
half-time. Seven minutes after the break, James Tomkins powered a header
into the net from Mark Noble's corner to round-off a superb afternoon's work
at the Boleyn Ground.
"It was definitely a good result," said Boa Morte, who also had a hand in
Mark Noble's opening goal in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight
ago. "We worked hard and we got the three points. To be fair, Sunderland
played better than we expected them to be but we got on top and it was a
deserved win for us.
"I got stuck in. If the gaffer sends me on to the pitch then the effort has
to be there both attacking and defending. I just tried my hardest and to
come off the pitch with a smile was very important."
Boa Morte was pleased with his assist, having held on to the ball just long
enough to wait for Stanislas to burst into the Sunderland penalty area. The
goal rounded off a slick four-man move that also involved David Di Michele
and Diego Tristan.
"I think football needs to be a thinking game. I could have smashed it
across and he could saved it but I read the game and Junior understood my
eye contact and he knew where the ball would be landing, but it was like a
slow-motion pass!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green a Reading Star
WHUFC.com
England goalkeeper Robert Green has lent his backing to a major Premier
League initiative
04.04.2009
Robert Green has pledged his support to the Premier League Reading Stars
project by revealing his favourite read.
One of 20 Barclays Premier League players helping to kick off the seventh
season of Premier League Reading Stars, Green chose Homer's The Iliad as his
book of choice. The popular initiative aims to inspire families to pick up a
book and read more often and is run by the Premier League, the National
Literacy Trust and the Football Foundation.
The project has a simple central premise. Each season the Barclays Premier
League clubs nominate a player as their 'Reading Star'. The player selects
their favourite children's or adult's book to create a twenty-strong book
list. All clubs have adopted at least one library, who receive free copies
of all the recommended titles. Families who take part in sessions at the
library have the chance to meet their Reading Star and a local author, as
well as getting involved in a series of football-based literacy events
throughout the initiative.
Green said: "Reading is such a big part of all our lives, everyone should
try to make a bit of time each day to read more. You should never be scared
of a book either, reading classics like The Iliad might seem daunting, but
if you take your time, they really are interesting to read and you gain such
a lot from trying them."
A study launched today by the National Literacy Trust has also revealed that
other than family members, sports people are the most likely role models for
young people, and the most likely public figures to inspire reading.
Sir Dave Richards, Chairman of the Premier League said: "With Premier League
Reading Stars, we hope to be able to use footballers' favourite book choices
as a way of inspiring families to read together. It gives players the
opportunity to act as positive role models and shows that by using the power
of football we can successfully change people's attitudes to reading."
Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, said: "Football
is such a huge cultural influence in this country, and many people aspire to
be like footballers. Sports people have be shown to be powerful public role
models, particularly as a way to engaged those who wouldn't normally be
interested in reading.
"Where we can harness the power of footballers to act as Reading Stars, we
can reach out to young people and their families, and change attitudes. To
engage people with reading, as with many things, it's best to start with
what you love. For so many, that means starting with football."
The PLRS scheme has been developed as part of a partnership between the
National Literacy Trust, Football Foundation and the Premier League, and
will be supported by a series of family reading groups at libraries across
the country. Funding is provided by the Premier League, Football Foundation
and Arts Council England.
Fifa 09
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Free shirt printing
WHUFC.com
All home and away replica shirts now come with free name and number printing
03.04.2009
Fans can now show their support for their favourite player for nothing with
free shirt printing on all replica shirts.
The offer for free name and number printing is available on all home and
away mens, ladies and kids shirts and is available in both the Stadium and
Lakeside club stores as well as the online Megastore.
For more information click here.
Please also see below for the Easter opening hours of the club stores over
the Easter period.
Stadium Lakeside
Friday April 10 10-4 10-6
Saturday April 11 9.30-5 9-9
Sunday April 12 Closed Closed
Monday April 13 Closed 10-6
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 2-0 Sunderland
By Owen Phillips
BBC.co.uk
Youth team products Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins grabbed a goal each
as West Ham eased past Sunderland to boost their hopes of a place in Europe.
Stanislas sidefooted the opener from Luis Boa Morte's cross after a superb
move started by keeper Robert Green. Tomkins made it 2-0 after the break
when his powerful header from Mark Noble's corner crept past Craig Gordon.
Sunderland started well but offered little goal threat apart from three fine
efforts from Grant Leadbitter. The Black Cats, chasing a first away win in
seven games and a first away goal in four, looked the sharper of the two
sides early on. Leadbitter twice went close, first sending a rasping shot
inches wide from 20 yards and then seeing his fierce left-foot drive beaten
away by Green. The Hammers seemed to be missing the bite and drive of the
injured Scott Parker in midfield and Sunderland were finding it easy to
create space in midfield with some neat passing and interplay. Steed
Malbranque shot wide after evading a couple of challenges on the edge of the
box and the pace of Djibril Cisse was also posing problems. But the
Londoners started to settle and began to look lively in attack - largely
thanks to the twinkle-toed Italian David Di Michele. Herita Ilunga was the
first to profit and poked an effort wide after a terrific through-ball by Di
Michele. Junior Stanislas was a constant threat and Boa Morte's pace was
also to the fore. And the pair combined for a wonderful Hammers goal just
before the break which all began with some quick thinking from keeper Green
and inevitably involved Di Michele. England international Green's smart
throw found Boa Morte on the left and the full-back flicked the ball wide to
Diego Tristan. The Spaniard turned the ball down the flank to Di Michele
and the Italian did superbly to find Boa Morte, who had continued his run.
The winger laid the ball across the six-yard box for Stanislas, who could
not miss.
With their confidence now visibly lifted the home side upped their game and
eight minutes after the restart Tomkins doubled their lead. The centre-half
rose highest and his towering header from Noble's corner beat the recalled
Gordon in the Sunderland goal. Tomkins then almost scored a carbon-copy
third but this time Gordon was able to turn his header away and then save
the follow-up from Matthew Upson. The only blow to West Ham came midway
through the second half when Jonathon Spector was taken off on a stretcher
after falling awkwardly following an aerial collision. Spector lost
consciousness and play was delayed by six minutes before he left the pitch.
Sunderland did press in the final 10 minutes and Leadbitter was once again
denied when his effort was cleared off the line by James Collins. But
Gianfranco Zola's side still created the better chances and Boa Morte could
have added a third but his shot was blocked. Substitute Kieron Dyer also had
an effort deflected wide, and Tristan saw a wonderful dinked effort go just
over the bar after a jinking run.
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola: "It's amazing to see our young players doing
so well. We need their energy and strength. "We will need them to help us
achieve our goals. When you have a great team spirit it's easy for whoever
comes in to do a good job. "Junior has been a surprise. I knew about his
technical skills but I didn't know about his mental strength."
Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia: We started well and had a couple of
chances but conceded from our corner and made it very difficult for
ourselves. "In the second half we conceded from their corner - defensively
it was a very bad goal. "West Ham are a good team, they keep the ball well,
and made it difficult. At 2-0 was the game was dead for us. "We have to do a
little bit better than we did here."
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Noble, Spector (Collins 73),
Stanislas (Lopez 90), Boa Morte, Di Michele (Dyer 81), Tristan.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Nsereko, Sears, Payne.
Booked: Ilunga.
Goals: Stanislas 42, Tomkins 53.
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Ben-Haim, Collins, Malbranque
(Edwards 75), Whitehead, Richardson, Leadbitter, Cisse, Murphy (Jones 54).
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Nosworthy, Reid, Healy, McShane.
Booked: Whitehead.
Att: 34,761.
Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Sunderland's Craig Gordon 8.27 (on
90 minutes).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Utd 2 Sunderland 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 4th April 2009
By: Staff Writer
It was 2-0 to the Academy at the Boleyn this afternoon as goals from Junior
Stanislas and James Tomkins sent the Hammers back into seventh spot in the
Premier League.
Stanislas - who opened the scoring three minutes before the break - and
Tomkins - who added the second decisive goal eight minutes into the second
half - both recorded their first ever senior goals for the club on a sunny
afternoon in East London.
Stanislas, like Tomkins was of course only offered the opportunity to shine
as a result of United's chronic injury problem, which worsened prior to the
start of today's game with the loss of Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac.
But that was to prove no problem to Gianfranco Zola's side who, despite
featuring only FOUR players guaranteed a first team spot (Rob Green, Matthew
Upson, Lucas Neill and Herita Ilunga) were simply to much for an admittedly
awful Sunderland side who are now facing the very real threat of relegation
given their remaining fixture list.
Tomkins was rewarded for his recent good form by retaining his first team
spot despite the return to fitness of James Collins, himself a collosus in
the centre of defence prior to his recent injury. In the end it proved to be
an inspired decision by Zola, for the 20-year-old could have recorded a
hat-trick - although he will no doubt be more than happy with the one strike
he registered that put the Hammers out of reach.
The Hammers, still in the hunt for a Europa League spot next season could
have taken the lead inside the opening minute - however Tomkins, criminally
left unmarked could only nod a Mark Noble corner wide of the post. Seven
minutes later Rob Green had to be at his best to deny Grant Leadbitter whose
25-yard drive brought out a fingertip save from the England stopper. It was
to prove a frustrating afternoon for the former England under-21 who was the
most likely to make anything happen for the visitors.
David Di Michele, without a goal since January 28th saw two good first half
chances go begging; his first, a fierce volley from outside the box flew
narrowly wide of Craig Gordon's near post whilst he went even closer in the
final minute of the half with a curling effort from close range. Despite
failing to register once again it was a good afternoon for the Italian whose
clever touches and keen vision drew several rounds of appreciative applause
from the home crowd.
But today was all about the future rather than the past and Junior Stanislas
announced his arrival in the Premier League when he completed a superb
counter attack three minutes ahead of the break to open the scoring. The
19-year-old will no doubt be hugely grateful to Luis Boa Morte after the
Portuguese midfielder set it up on a plate for him with a superb weighted
pass, but it was a great team goal nonetheless - all started by the vision
of Rob Green, whose long throw started the move.
With Sunderland still reeling from that particular blow the Hammers made the
most of the visitor's disarray just eight minutes after the restart when
Tomkins made amends for his earlier miss with a firm header from an almost
identical situation. The fact that it was Anton Ferdinand who Tomkins
outfoxed on both occasions will not have gone unnoticed, especially by those
who made the decision to sell him at the start of the season.
Thereafter the game rather petered out; with the points in the bag the
Hammers were happy to contain Sunderland whilst the visitors rarely
suggested that they were ever likely to threaten United's two goal
advantage. Although a number of efforts were registered in the final stages
neither keeper was seriously threatened meaning a fourth clean sheet in five
for Green, who can only have enhanced his England credentials today.
Unfortunately the win was marred by yet another dangerous injury, this time
to the unfortunate Jon Spector who until that point had been playing well in
the heart of West Ham's midfield. A full blooded (fair) challenge with Tal
Ben-Haim left the American concussed, and it was some seven minutes later
that he was finally stretchered off the field having received oxygen whilst
lying stricken.
So assuming he can still raise a side, Gianfranco Zola is likely see his
team tested to the limit by the short trip to Tottenham next weekend. With
Spurs now six points behind the Hammers following defeat at Blackburn today
it is a game they cannot afford to lose if they are to have any chance of
leapfrogging the Hammers.
As it stands United are now just four points behind sixth-placed Everton who
host Wigan - another challenger for seventh spot - tomorrow afternoon.
West Ham Utd 2 Sunderland 0: Match Stats
West Ham Utd: Green, Neill, Ilunga, Tomkins, Upson, Noble, Spector (Collins
73), Stanislas (Lopez 90+1), Boa Morte, Di Michele (Dyer 81), Tristan.
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Payne, Savio, Sears.
Booked: Ilunga (90+7).
Efforts on goal: 14 (1, 22, 27, 42*, 44; 50, 52, 53*, 61, 62, 62, 82, 90,
90+4).
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Ben-Haim, Collins, Ferdinand, Leadbitter,
Whitehead, Malbranque (Edwards 75), Richardson, Cisse, Murphy (Jones 54).
Subs not used: Fulop, Nosworthy, Reid, McShane, Healy.
Booked: Whitehead (24).
Efforts on goal: 13 (8, 19, 32, 38, 41; 48, 64, 78, 87, 89, 90+2, 90+2,
90+7).
Referee: M.Jones (7).
Attendance: tbc.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Young Hammers seal points
Stanislas and Tomkins ensure all three points for West Ham
By Jamie Casey Last updated: 4th April 2009
SSN
Man of the match - James Tomkins. The young big defender took his goal
really well but was equally effective in stopping Sunderland at the other
end.
Moment of the match - A head injury to Jonathan Spector threatened to put a
dampener on proceedings, racking up 8 minutes injury time which almost
killed the game's flow.
Goal of the match - Junior Stanislas' opener was a simple tap-in but the
move began from keeper Green and Di Michele created the space for Boa Morte
to set up the youngster on his debut.
Save of the match - Green's save from a thumping Phil Bardsley effort early
in the second half kept his side ahead just before the second goal.
Talking point - Can West Ham make a late push for a European spot? Can
Sunderland find the points to stay ahead of neighbours Newcastle?
West Ham have moved up to seventh in the Premier League after a comfortable
2-0 victory over struggling Sunderland at Upton Park. The Black Cats now lie
in 17th position in a disastrous day for their battle against relegation.
Following wins for Blackburn and Stoke, plus Portsmouth's draw at Hull,
Sunderland have dropped three places in the space of an afternoon.
Sunderland started brightly with two efforts from Grant Leadbitter going
close. But the home side took the lead on 43 minutes thanks to debutant
Junior Stanislas slotting home the opener from six yards from Luis Boa
Morte's pull back. It proved to be a big day for West Ham's kids as
20-year-old academy product James Tomkins headed the Hammers into a two goal
lead on 53 minutes. He rose well to send a towering header beyond Craig
Gordon from Mark Noble's corner.
The game was delayed for eight minutes in the second half when West Ham
midfielder Jonathan Spector suffered a head injury and was forced to leave
the field by stretcher. The added injury time was not enough to save
Sunderland however, as their lacklustre second half performance was punished
by the home side. West Ham have always been proud of nurturing talent, back
from the 1960s when they provided England with the players to win the World
Cup. Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Glen Johnson are among the
current England players who started at the club, and Zola has always said
there would be more to come. Tomkins has been highly regarded for a while
and Stanislas is now the next in the limelight. Victory moved West Ham back
up to seventh in the table - which should be enough for continental football
- and it leaves Ricky Sbragia's men in deep relegation trouble. While West
Ham went into the match with thoughts on the Europa League on the back of
five Barclays Premier League matches without defeat, the visitors had not
won in five and were hovering above the drop zone. The signs were not good
for Sbragia's men when Kieran Richardson, back from suspension, kicked the
corner flag rather than the ball when he attempted to take an early
set-piece. Despite that comedy moment, Sunderland did nearly take the lead
when Leadbitter was sent through by Djibril's Cisse's flick but Robert Green
blocked the finish. Zola's men offered a threat through David di Michele,
who controlled a ball with his shoulder before turning and firing a volley
just wide. Di Michele, just after the half-hour mark, then scooped the ball
over the Sunderland defence but Herita Ilunga looked every inch the
full-back he is with his sliced finish.
It was no surprise that Di Michele played a part in the opener, two minutes
before the break. The 33-year-old Italian helped the ball down the line for
Boa Morte to race into the area, and he provided a perfectly weighted pass
just beyond centre-back Danny Collins. Stanislas tapped in and wheeled away
to celebrate his first senior goal for the club. It was cruel on Sunderland,
who were on the attack seconds before the goal. Green had turned away
Cisse's powerful drive - which was going wide in any case - and West Ham
launched their counter-attack from the resulting corner, catching out Anton
Ferdinand and his team-mates. Ferdinand, who left West Ham at the start of
the season, was given a warm reception from home fans on his return but his
task in the second half was to dent his former club's European hopes and get
his new team back on level terms. Phil Bardsley forced Green just after the
restart with a near-post drive - but the visitors found themselves two goals
behind in the 53rd minute. Diego Tristan's effort was tipped away for a
corner and Noble's set-piece was headed home by Tomkins, who had got in
front of Ferdinand to net his first for the club. It could have got worse
for the visitors but Gordon made three saves in less than a minute. The
first was from Matthew Upson's back-post header, then from Tomkins again
when he met the resulting corner. The rebound eventually fell for Stanislas
and the Scotland goalkeeper was down sharply to block his drive. Spector was
carried off on a stretcher after an aerial challenge, with James Collins
coming on for his first club appearance since February. Spector's injury
looked serious and caused a lengthy delay - but West Ham's concentration was
not affected. Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones, on as a substitute, came
close but could not get his side back in the game.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Appiah coy on Hammers link
Upton Park scouts believed to have visited recent international
By Giscard Gourizro Last updated: 4th April 2009
SSN
Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has told skysports.com that he expects to be
playing for a high-profile club next season, as speculation of a move to
West Ham mounts.
The 28-year-old midfielder is currently without a club following his release
from Fenerbahce in 2008, and has since been heavily linked with West Ham,
Arsenal and Tottenham. Fitness concerns are believed to have warded
potential suitors off signing Appiah so far, but with reports in the media
suggesting that the Hammers may have rekindled interest in the former
Juventus man, Appiah may yet be a Premier League player next season. "I am
calm," Appiah told skysports.com when asked about a potential move to Upton
Park. "With God's help I will be able to play for a big team soon, in a very
good league."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Neill and Cahill caught up in secret club deal
SMH Last updated 13:37 05/04/2009 Share Print Text Size Relevant offers
Socceroos Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill face an "arranged marriage" under a
secret plan to merge rival A-League expansion teams and form a regional
superclub.
The Sun-Herald can reveal Football Federation Australia is determined to
launch a team in western Sydney and, while impressed with some financial
aspects of the Wollongong-based South Coast Football Club's bid, sees the
franchise as a non-starter because the region does not have a suitable
stadium.
A group fronted by Neill is favoured by the FFA to launch a western Sydney
team. Meanwhile, Cahill is associated with South Coast FC through plans to
link the proposed club with youth academies endorsed by the Premier League
star.
Although Wollongong's WIN Stadium does not meet A-League standards, and
there are questions about the depth of its supporter base, sources say South
Coast's ace is its link to a mystery cashed-up investor. The secret plan
aims to unite Neill and Cahill behind a regional club backed with the
investor's money, playing league matches at different locations across NSW.
The plan has been confirmed by four independent sources. However, no one
associated with either bid, nor the FFA, will talk about the proposal
publicly or admit to being the originator of the idea. South Coast officials
expressed surprise at the proposal, even though one of its leading advisers
questioned the viability of two new A-League teams in NSW in the current
economic climate. "We do not know anything about this and therefore have no
comment to make," a spokesman for South Coast's bid wrote in an email.
But David Flaskas, manager of swimming legend Ian Thorpe and an adviser to
several A-League clubs as well as the South Coast FC bid, endorsed the idea.
"The competition will not sustain Sydney FC trying to reinvent itself,
Central Coast's ambition, a new west Sydney franchise and a new Wollongong
franchise," Flaskas said. "So what do you do? If they grant a licence to
either western Sydney or South Coast, what does that mean for the other?"
FFA is understood to be encouraging dialogue between the rival groups
although chief executive Ben Buckley would not be drawn on the plan. He
confirmed, however, that the FFA was talking to "a number of interested
parties, including western Sydney, Wollongong, South Coast, Canberra and
Tasmania". "Our approach to expansion of the A-League is to be prudent and
planned," he said. "Any new team has to be the right fit for the A-League as
well as be a team which is part of the local community. We are not planning
to have a decision on this until at least the end of June."
Paddy Dominguez, who leads the western Sydney bid alongside Neill, said his
group was on track to present its final documents to FFA within the next few
weeks."FFA has not officially spoken to us about a merger but if they force
us to look at the issue we would have to look at it," Dominguez said. "My
understanding is that the FFA is fully aware of western Sydney's potential
and it would dilute that if we had to go all the way to Wollongong. "We
would certainly honour FFA's wishes and look at all possibilities but we are
finalising our bid. We are not opposed to anything the FFA would put to us.
We would just have to see if it makes sense."
Research undertaken by Neill's western Sydney bid has pinpointed Parramatta
Stadium as a preferred location for a new team's home ground. Sources say
A-League regional demarcation lines rule that Sydney FC can claim the city's
east and south to Sutherland while western Sydney can claim a corridor from
Parramatta to Penrith,
One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said South Coast FC's only
chance to be involved in the A-League would come from backing a regional
team. "I don't think Wollongong has a hope in Hades of getting up because of
the lack of a stadium and the FFA are very vocal in their ambition for
Western Sydney," the source said. "But both bids needs to get the cash
before they start worrying about politics."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Sunderland Report
Vinny - Sun Apr 5 2009
West Ham Online
West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0
West Ham remain unbeaten in five games as two academy products Junior
Stanislas and James Tomkins both scored to keep us in the hunt for a
European place. Our squad was depleted and we had to dig deep to even put
out a half decent team but the players can be proud of their performance as
Sunderland failed to get into the game and hurt us. Defensively we were
excellent and we picked up out fourth clean sheet in the last five games.
This is a wonderful achievement considering how we were at the start of the
season and just shows how far we have come under Gianfranco Zola.
To see two youngsters getting the goals made this a really special occasion
and continued to show the rest of the league how to produce excellent young
players who are ready for Premiership action. Zola was forced to make a
number of changes to both personnel and formation as injuries continue to
mount up. We started with a five man defence which saw the return of Matthew
Upson who replaced Scott Parker. Jonathan Spector was at right back with
Lucas Neill, Upson and James Tomkins made up the middle three. Neill was a
little more advanced so you could argue that he was playing in centre
midfield but due to how deep he was I looked at him more as a another
defender.
In midfield we had Boa Morte on the right wing and Junior Stanislas on the
left. Radoslav Kovac was the man who made way for Stanislas as the Czech
midfielder was also injured. Up front, Carlton Cole was still out and will
be for the majority of the remaining fixtures so Diego Tristan and David Di
Michele were the front two. In the Sunderland line up was West Ham youth
product Anton Ferdinand. I had wondered what type of reception he would
receive but the fans were very receptive and gave him a good applause which
I think is deserved.
We started really well and the opening few minutes saw us go at Sunderland
from the off. We won a couple of corners and Noble found James Tomkins who
head just over the bar. Sunderland settled and began to look the better side
as they were more comfortable on the ball and it was clear that the counter
attack was again our main game plan. As the visitors began to play some neat
football the first chance of the game fell their way as Grant Leadbitter was
played in but his shot was firmly saved by Robert Green.
A few moments later Green was again called into action as Cisse broke the
offside trap over on the left hand side. He had no support so took a shot
from around 20 yards out which was tipped away by Green. Replays showed that
the shot was going well wide although Green could not have known this. At
the other end there was little to report on but Di Michele did see a smart
long range effort go just wide.
At this stage of the game I felt there was a little tension around the
ground as the last home game against West Brom still fresh in people's mind.
I cannot deny, I wasn't very confident going into this game as I felt the
amount of injuries would finally take its toll. In fact I was happy just to
stay at 0-0 and keep ourselves in the game as long as we could, but the
longer the game progressed the better we became.
Although a goal did not look like coming, two minutes before half time we
took the lead with yet another beautiful goal which started with Robert
Green. The throw from Green found Boa Morte who burst forward and played the
ball to Tristan who in turn found Di Michele. The Italian instinctively
flicked the ball over the defender and back to the on running Boa Morte who
got into the area and played a superbly weighted square pass for Junior
Stanislas to tap in for a goal on his full debut. The big screens saw Trevor
Brooking looking on as Stanislas scored just like he did when Freddie Sears
scored his debut goal last season.
We nearly doubled our lead just before the half time whistle when another
nice move saw Di Michele get into the area and hit a shot which was
deflected just wide. It was a really good finish to a mundane half which did
not have many chances but to end it on a high gave us the platform to go on
in the second period and further our lead.
Sunderland will have been very disappointed with their second half
performance which was pretty dire. Considering that they had shown some
bright passing moves in the first half I thought they would come out and
really give it a go but we found a lot more time on the ball during the
second half and they made it easy for us. The visitors had an excellent turn
out from their support and one of the best in terms of numbers I have seen
this season. Considering the length of journey I was impressed by the
numbers who had made the trip. It did not take us long to double our lead as
a shot from Diego Tristan was knocked away for a corner by Craig Gordon. The
corner was swung in by Noble and it found the head of James Tomkins whose
header was too powerful for Gordon to keep out and it gave Tomkins his first
goal for the club.
We took control of the game from then on and although we didn't have an
abundance of clear cut chances we still seemed to be the only team in the
game. A blatant handball from Ben Haim saw a free kick swung in by Noble for
Matthew Upson to meet the ball with a strong header but his goal bound shot
was tipped around the post by Gordon. Tomkins almost scored his second goal
as another corner was met by the defender but Gordon somehow kept the
powerful header out. With the half going well the only blip was when
Jonathan Spector went up for a challenged and landed awkwardly which saw him
receive around six minutes of treatment before being stretched off. James
Collins came on and went into the centre of defence with James Tomkins (and
not Lucas Neill) going to right back. This change did not effect us and
although Sunderland looked to put pressure on us I felt that if anyone was
going to score again it would have been us.
Kieron Dyer came on for David Di Michele and again looked lively, but the
final quarter of the game were easy for us to see out as we recorded our
third win in the last five games. This was a very important victory given
the fixtures we have coming up over the next few weeks. Gianfranco Zola
stated that we would need four victories to guarantee a European place we
are still in a position to attain this goal.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
A few solid saves in both halves and was excellent in the air when punching
or catching the ball. Overall it was a solid display and another clean
sheet.
Jonathan Spector
A much better display than his last performance at Blackburn. I thought that
there would be a real test up against Kieron Richardson but this never
transpired and up until his unfortunate injury he put in a good performance.
Lucas Neill
He has been criticised a lot by supporters but you cannot deny that his form
over the last few months has been excellent. He was again on top of his game
and put in a excellent performance.
Matthew Upson
Kept things together at the back with a good performance where he was
dominant in the air.
James Tomkins
Had Cisse in his pocket for most of the game and like Upson was dominant in
the air. Had three chances from corners and scored one of them which was his
first for the club.
Herita Ilunga
It's the same review of Ilunga as most weeks in that he was again excellent.
Strong in the tackle, good going forward, just another great performance
from a player who we must sign in the summer.
Junior Stanislas
A very confident debut. He looks as though he has a lot of skill about him
and was quite happy to get stuck in when going shoulder to shoulder with an
opposition player. What has obviously helped Stanislas is that he has been
out on loan at Southend United in League 1 which has given him that physical
edge. Took his goal well and we may be seeing a lot more of him from now
until the end of the season.
Mark Noble
Is regaining his form and I think over the last four games he has been one
of our best players. With all these injuries we need players like Noble to
step up and he showed again that he is technically an excellent footballer.
Luis Boa Morte
I'd be inclined to give him the man of the match award simply because of the
amount of work he did during the 90 minutes. He worked his bollocks off, got
stuck in, made some good tackles and some necessary fouls. His assist for
Stanislas was perfectly weighted but he deserves credit for the build up to
that goal where he ran the length of the pitch.
David Di Michele
A typical frustrating performance in that he sometimes cannot pass it two
yards to a player but then will come out with some piece of excellent skill
which makes things happen. His flick through to Boa Morte for the first goal
was sublime and his pass through to Tristan (which led to the corner which
we scored from) in the second half was again outstanding vision.
Diego Tristan
He looks exactly what he is. A 33 year former footballer.
Subs Used
James Collins (on for Spector 73 mins)
Slotted into the defence with ease.
Kieron Dyer (on for Di Michele 81)
Not on for too long but still put in a lively performance. I would think we
will be seeing him in the starting line up soon (although we have been
saying that for a long time).
Walter Lopez (on for Stanislas 90 mins)
I think this change was so that Stanislas could get a standing ovation from
the crowd. Lopez hardly saw the ball.
Subs Not Used : Lastuvka, Nsereko, Sears, Payne.
Overall
Zola's tactics were spot on and although we had many injuries the team
selection was what won us this game. With the lack of attacking options he
started with two very attacking wingers in Stanislas and Boa Morte. Although
we had many injuries in the centre of midfield the option to play Lucas
Neill in a more central role effectively gave us five defenders which really
helped us in combating any threat of pace Sunderland had.
Players like Cisse love to get in behind the defence but with so many
defenders they could not do this and our second half performance from a
defensive point of view was really first class and I can only reiterate how
far we have come as a defensive unit under Gianfranco Zola.
Unbeaten in five, three wins in the process, four clean sheets - We are
still a really in form team and have lost only two league games since
December (one of those being to Manchester United).
Next up is Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane. It's been a long time (too
long) since we did these on their own patch and although our squad is
depleted and we have few striking options, I'm much more confident going
there than I was last season.
It will be very difficult but this brand of football that Zola has us
playing can score goals out of nothing, and beating them is something we can
go there and do.
Franco's Feelings
"Considering all the difficulties before this match - with it being an
international break and I've had two players - Jonathan and Lucas Neill -
that didn't train and only came back yesterday. So with other players away
and so many injuries I can say that this has been the best victory of all,"
"It's good to see the young players like Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins
doing so well. It's good because we need new strength and new injuries and
they can help us achieve what we want to achieve.
"I was very impressed [with the youngsters]. Tomkins I knew, he has been
playing for a while and I had no problems with him. Junior was a surprise as
I knew about his qualities and technical skills and qualities. I didn't know
about his mental strength. Today it was tough, he looked like he was a
veteran so it was a good point for him and a good point for me also.
[On Spector] "He has got concussion. He lost a little a bit of consciousness
and he lost his short-term memory. He is fine and they are confident it is
not going to be a big problem. He couldn't remember much of it but he was
fine. He doesn't remember me which is a good thing! But he is OK and
shouldn't be too bad
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham defender 'fine' after concussion
3:37pm Sunday 5th April 2009
Guardian Series
WEST HAM boss Gianfranco Zola insists defender Jonthan Spector 'will be
fine' after suffering a concussion against Sunderland on Saturday. The
American was knocked unconscious when challenging for a header during the
Hammers' 2-0 win and received six minutes of treatment before he was
stretchered off and taken to hospital. But Zola insists the injury 'is not a
big problem.' "I think he has got a concussion. He lost consciousness for a
little bit and he's lost a bit of his short-term memory, but he was fine and
we are very confident that it is not going to be a big problem," said Zola
after the game. "He has gone to hospital and we are waiting for more news,
but the last I heard is that he was fine. He couldn't remember much of it
which is normal when you have a concussion, but he was laughing." He joked:
"He doesn't remember me which is a good thing, but he is okay, he shouldn't
be too bad."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Luis Boa Morte Used Mind Power In West Ham's Win Over Sunderland
The former Portuguese international is happy to graft in whatever position
he is selecetd to help the team...
5 Apr 2009 18:30:43
Goial.com
West Ham United winger Luis Bo Morte played in an unfamilar position on the
right wing yesterday but still played a crucial role in the Hammers first
goal of their 2-0 win, putting youngster Junior Stanislas through just
before half-time with a perfectly judged pass. "It was definitely a good
result," Boa Morte told West Ham's official website.
"We worked hard and we got the three points. To be fair, Sunderland played
better than we expected them to, but we got on top and it was a deserved win
for us. "I got stuck in," he added. "If the gaffer sends me on to the pitch,
then the effort has to be there, both attacking and defending. I just tried
my hardest and to come off the pitch with a smile was very important."
Another youngster, defender James Tomkins, netted the Irons' second from a
Mark Noble corner. Boa Morte was also keen to point out that his assist was
a perfect example of the way he enjoys taking a more cerebral approach to
the game than many other players in England. "I think football needs to be a
thinking game," he explained. "I could have smashed it across and he could
saved it," revealed the Portuguese. "But I read the game and Junior
understood my eye contact and he knew where the ball would be landing, but
it was like a slow-motion pass!"
West Ham now sit in seventh place in the Premier League table with 44
points.
Zack Wilson, Goal.com
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola shows faith in West Ham youngsters, and earns it too
West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0
Alyson Rudd at Upton Park
The Times
This was the most significant result of West Ham United's season. It marked
the moment that the club's supporters recognised that a diminutive Italian
who played for Chelsea not only says the right things but means them.
Gianfranco Zola is not the gloating sort but the West Ham manager must have
been tempted to thumb his nose. He said, when appointed, that he respected
the club's traditions and academy successes. Against Sunderland he
demonstrated that he had meant every word by trusting youngsters who have
come through the junior ranks at Upton Park.
"Tell me if this is something I didn't say at the beginning," Zola said. "I
said the idea was to create this kind of situation. It's working very well
and I am very pleased. It was a project and when I spoke to you first time
probably some did not believe it, but to see things come together is such an
unbelievable satisfaction."
Junior Stanislas, 19, has been with West Ham since the age of 11. The
attacking midfield player scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in a
reserve-team game two weeks ago, made his first start for the senior side on
Saturday and gave his team the lead.
James Tomkins, who has been at the club since he was 8, scored West Ham's
second goal. The centre half made his debut a year ago and although he has
just turned 20, has already suffered various serious injuries and been sent
out on loan. "You get your chance here," Tomkins said.
"There is no use having a nice academy if your first team is not doing very
well," Ricky Sbragia, the Sunderland manager, said. On the other hand, if
his experienced players keep on producing such poor displays, Sbragia might
have nothing to lose by following Zola's example.
"The one thing I don't want to do is be the manager who took Sunderland
down," Sbragia said. In that case he needs, perhaps, to take some risks.
West Ham United (4-4-1-1): R Green 6 – J Spector 5 (sub: J Collins, 73min),
J Tomkins 7, M Upson 6, H Ilunga 5 – L Boa Morte 6, L Neill 6, M Noble 7, J
Stanislas 6 (sub: W López, 90) – D Di Michele 6 (sub: K Dyer, 81) – D
Tristán 5. Substitutes not used: J Lastuvka, Savio, F Sears, J Payne.
Booked: Ilunga. Next: Tottenham Hotspur (a).
Sunderland (4-4-1-1): C Gordon 6 – P Bardsley 6, A Ferdinand 4, D Collins 5,
T Ben-Haim 5 – S Malbranque 5 (sub: C Edwards, 75), G Leadbitter 5, D
Whitehead 5, D Murphy 5 (sub: K Jones, 54 5) – K Richardson 5 – D Cissé 6.
Substitutes not used: M Fulop, N Nosworthy, A Reid, D Healy, P McShane.
Booked: Whitehead. Next: Manchester United (h).
Referee M Jones Attendance 34,761
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
JUNIOR COMES OF AGE AS ZOLA GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE
Daily Express
Monday April 6,2009
By Nigel Clarke Have your say(0)
THE sound of grinding machinery coming out of Upton Park is that of the
academy conveyer belt clanking into life again. Junior Stanislas is the
latest, the ninth Hammers youngster to force his way into Gianfranco Zola's
first-team squad this season. The accompanying noises of creaking and
groaning, however, is the relegation trapdoor opening beneath Sunderland's
feet. One place above the bottom three, they need to start winning, but next
up is Manchester United on Saturday. It was Stanislas and another youngster,
centre-half James Tomkins, who scored the goals that leaves Ricky Sbragia
contemplating a return to the Championship and with his P45 in the post.
This was the kind of game Sunderland should have taken something from if
they are to stay up. Instead, West Ham's much-changed side won easily.
Stanislas said: "I only knew I was playing three hours before kick-off. And
I was so excited I was singing 'Bubbles' in the tunnel. "Scoring on my full
debut was something I had only ever dreamed about, I had rung my mates when
I knew I was in and got them some tickets." His goal ended a beautifully
constructed move that involved Rob Green, Luis Boa Morte, Diego Tristan and
David Di Michele before Boa Morte, West Ham's best player, teed it up for
Stanislas. West Ham's second was a Tomkins header that left Sbragia saying:
"That was down to Anton Ferdinand. He didn't pick up his man. "I don't want
to be the man who takes Sunderland down, and it would be a crying shame if
we did get relegated. I've had no regrets at taking the job, but I am
disappointed we defended so poorly. "It's why I didn't go for it, it might
have meant us losing by five or six, so we wanted to keep the score down.
"At half-time we said that we had to make certain everyone did their own job
before trying to do other people's. Then we get punished, but we have
matches left against Hull and West Brom and badly need to get some wins
behind us." Sunderland were awful, and captain Dean Whitehead said: "We
thought West Ham were there for the taking, but the killer blow was the
second goal right after half-time, it was a free header in the box and
disappointing for us. "We have always had fighting spirit in abundance but
now we have a big battle on our hands."
It is difficult to see where Sunderland are going to get points from. As
Sbragia said: "I don't think the players cheated me, it's just the team have
to do better." For Zola his new youth plan is beginning to bear fruit, and
he said: "At first it was just a project but now it is encouraging to see it
coming together. "We have had some difficult months but I was very pleased
with the contribution the young players made. "I have always been aware of
the traditions of this club. Junior has quality, skill and mental strength –
now he has to keep his composure and his feet on the ground. If he can do
that he has the ingredients to be a very important player. But he has to be
very focused."
WEST HAM (4-4-2): Green 7; Spector 6 (Collins 73, 6), Upson 7, Tomkins 7,
Ilunga 6; Boa Morte 8, Noble 7, Neill 7, Stanislas 7 (Lopez 90); Tristan, 7,
Di Michele 7 (Dyer 81, 6). Booked: Ilunga. Goals: Stanislas 42, Tomkins 53.
SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Gordon 7; Bardsley 6, Collins 6, Ferdinand 5, Ben Haim
6; Malbranque 4 (Edwards 75, 6), Whitehead 6, Richardson 5, Leadbitter 6,
Murphy 5 (Jones 54, 6); Cisse 6. Booked: Whitehead.
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'Bubbly' Stanislas calls tune for West Ham
West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0
By James Wrigley
Monday, 6 April 2009
Independent.co.uk
Gianfranco Zola's claret-and- blue-print is coming to fruition.
Shortly after he took over the manager's job in September, the Italian vowed
to trim West Ham's squad, focus on developing young players and get the team
passing the ball, or as Zola put it after Saturday's home-grown victory,
"keep it on the carpet". All three criteria were met against a poor
Sunderland. Injuries limited Zola's choices but his side recovered from a
shaky start to produce some eye-catching football, capped by match-winning
contributions from another pair of graduates from the club's academy.
The midfielder Junior Stanislas, 19, opened the scoring on his full debut
with a simple tap-in from Luis Boa Morte's pinpoint cross in the first half
and centre-half James Tomkins, just turned 20, scored his first for the club
eight minutes after the restart with a thumping header from Mark Noble's
corner. There could have been more, with Noble, Diego Tristan and David Di
Michele pulling the strings, but Phil Bardsley cleared a Stanislas effort
off the line and Craig Gordon produced fingertip saves to keep out Matthew
Upson and Tomkins after the break.
The assured Tomkins came through last season, but Zola decided to pick
Stanislas based on his maturity in a recent game against Chelsea reserves,
when he scored a hat-trick. "Chelsea had five senior players in the team and
he scored three goals but it wasn't the goals it was the personality and the
quality he took on the pitch that convinced me I was going to play him,"
Zola said.
Stanislas said: "I had some butterflies in my stomach but not any nerves.
I've been dreaming about it for years now. I was singing 'Bubbles' [the West
Ham anthem] as I waited in the tunnel."
Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia's bubble has long burst. Two points from
their last six is relegation form. Asked if it had been wise to take over
from Roy Keane, he said: "The players are still good, I am still getting
their all."
Goals: Stanislas (42) 1-0; Tomkins (53) 2-0.
West Ham United (4-1-4-1): Green; Spector (J Collins, 73), Tomkins, Upson,
Ilunga; Neill; Boa Morte, Noble, Di Michele (Dyer, 81), Stanislas (Lopez,
90); Tristan. Substitutes not used: Lastuvka (gk), Savio, Sears, Payne.
Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Gordon; Bardsley, Ferdinand, D Collins, Ben Haim;
Malbranque (Edwards, 75), Leadbitter, Whitehead, Murphy (Jones, 54);
Richardson; Cissé. Substitutes not used: Fulop (gk), Nosworthy, Reid, Healy,
McShane.
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).
Booked: West Ham Ilunga; Sunderland Whitehead.
Man of the match: Di Michele.
Attendance: 34,761.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SBRAGIA ANGER AT ANTON GIFT
The Mirror
Neil Mcleman 6/04/2009
Ricky Sbragia branded his defence a charity and blamed Anton Ferdinand on
his return to Upton Park. Sunderland were trailing to a Junior Stanislas
goal when James Tomkins lost former Hammers defender Ferdinand to head in
West Ham's second. "Both the goals we conceded were poor," said Black Cats
boss Sbragia. "For the second Anton left his marker and they punished us for
it. It was charity a little bit today."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
STAN & DELIVER
The Mirror
Neil Mcleman 6/04/2009
Zola finds a new star in the East End as his secondstring sizzle. Junior
Stanislas joined the West Ham chorus of 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' while
waiting in the tunnel to make his debut at Upton Park. But by the end of the
England Under-20 winger's rhapsody in claret and blue, he left the field
with the crowd singing his name. Manager Gianfranco Zola described this
"totally unexpected" win as "the best" since arriving at the club because he
was missing so many first-team regulars. Yet instead of a struggle in the
spring sunshine, the secondbiggest attendance at the Boleyn Ground this
season enjoyed a squad containing six home-grown players coast to three
points against Sunderland. Centre-back James Tomkins scored his first goal
for the club and Mark Noble made merry in midfield. But the buzz created
around the stadium every time 19-year-old Stanislas got on the ball showed a
new star has been born in the east end. The winger from Kidbrooke in south
London was told he was starting his first game only a couple of hours before
the kick-off and had to get straight on the phone to get his friends to the
match on time. And after rounding off a superb West Ham counterattack for
the first goal - Luis Boa Morte picked up the ball from keeper Robert Green
and then got into the Sunderland box to cross for Stanislas after 43 minutes
- he slid over to the stands to celebrate with his teenage pals. His perfect
day was rounded off by going home and watching himself on Match Of The Day.
Stanislas, who made his firstteam debut as a sub at West Brom a fortnight
ago, said: "I was singing Bubbles as I waited in the tunnel with the rest of
the team. "I wasn't really that nervous. I had some butterflies in my
stomach but not any nerves. As soon as you step onto the pitch you have to
be your own man, to play your own game, and to do what you are good at.
"And it was a great feeling to score and hear the crowd cheering. I've been
dreaming about if for years now so for me to start in the Premier League and
score is amazing.
I couldn't have asked for a better start." His England Under-20 teammate
Tomkins shrugged off the challenge of his West Ham predecessor Anton
Ferdinand to head home a Noble corner after 53 minutes for his first goal
for the club. "Coming from the youth team and being here since I was eight,
it was massive for me to score," said the 20-year-old. The only sour note
for Zola was the news that Jonathan Spector had to be detained overnight in
hospital with concussion after his second-half collision with Tal Ben Haim.
Zola had watched Stanislas and Tomkins along with Freddie Sears play for
England U-nder-20s against Italy last week. But the Hammers boss said the
winger's performance in a reserve game against Chelsea last weekend won him
over. "They had five senior players in the team and he scored three goals,"
said the Italian. "But it wasn't the three goals, it was the personality and
the quality he took on the pitch that convinced me I was going to play him.
"Now it's up to him. He has just played one game so he has to keep composure
and keep his feet on the ground. If he does that he has the qualities to
become a very important player." The youth and energy in the West Ham team
compensated for strikers David Di Michele and Diego Tristan - the oldest
pair seen up front in the East End since Peggy Mitchell's wedding. But Zola
knows where the future lies. "It is fantastic when you see young players
from the youth team come into the first team and they do well. That is the
tradition of this club."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins join glittering cast of local West Ham
talent
The home-grown core of West Ham teams has a long and noble tradition.
Telegraph
By Oliver Brown
Last Updated: 8:46PM BST 05 Apr 2009
Ever since the club provided the beating heart of England's World Cup
winners in 1966 their influence upon the national side has been profound, as
the presence of such alumni as Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand in Fabio
Capello's reckoning still testifies.
After this emphatic dispatching of Sunderland, engineered by two players
raised within 10 miles of Upton Park, the names of Junior Stanislas and
James Tomkins can tentatively be added to that roster.
Wayne Rooney central to Fabio Capello?s visionFor 12 months West Ham have
been caricatured as the prime subjects of foreign meddling: the Icelandic
ownership, the appointment of an Italian sporting director in Gianluca Nani,
even the preference for Gianfranco Zola as manager above respectable
domestic candidates. But Stanislas and Tomkins, who both scored their first
senior goals, form a compelling counter-argument by virtue of their
background, which could not be any more claret-and-blue had they been
plucked straight from Green Street.
Where Stanislas, at 19, is a product of Kidbrooke, just across the river
from E13, Tomkins is Basildon born and bred. In short, West Ham hardly had
to search far to find them, even if the tentacles of Nani's elaborate
scouting network extends to obscure foreign outposts including Serie B club
Brescia, from where the club brought Savio Nsereko, a tellingly unused
substitute here. The contributions of the youngsters were timely, too, the
injuries to Carlton Cole and Scott Parker demanding that less starry names
prove their worth.
For Zola this illustration of the depth in his squad was far more gratifying
than the immediate effect of West Ham's win, which sustained their unlikely
pursuit of a place in next season's Europa League by cementing them in
seventh. "This has been a project," he said. "To see the team coming
together like this brings an unbelievable satisfaction for myself, for
[assistant manager] Steve Clarke. The club have shown great faith in what we
are doing. The idea was to develop players in this country and so far it is
working."
The role of Tony Carr, the West Ham academy director who has overseen all
youth development from Ferdinand to Stanislas, equally deserves mention, for
it is as much to a trust in local talent as to an exuberantly attacking
playing style that Zola owes his remarkable popularity. Cameo appearances by
Freddie Sears, who hails from Hornchurch, have attracted some of the
greatest excitement at Upton Park even before the two latest scorers created
competition.
Ricky Sbragia, the Sunderland manager, could only look on with envy. One of
the club's major acquisitions from West Ham, centre-back Anton Ferdinand,
was guilty of an elementary lapse when he allowed Tomkins to steal in for
the second goal, an unmarked header. Allied to this was the inescapable
contrast with Sunderland's spending of £35 million since their promotion two
seasons ago on building a side the expensive, extraneous way. Ironically
they are today the ones in a tailspin towards relegation, three points above
the bottom three.
"I'm still getting the response from the players," insisted Sbragia, a
surprise appointment after he assumed caretaker duties from Roy Keane. "I
just don't want to be the manager who takes Sunderland down." Three away
wins for Sunderland represents relegation form but there is little solace to
be found at home in five days' time: Manchester United will be in town.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tomkins: Kids get their chance at West Ham
06.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
James Tomkins has thanked West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola for
backing the club's young players. Junior Stanislas, 19, marked his first
start with a goal against Sunderland, with Tomkins adding the second to keep
Zola's men in the hunt for a place in the Europa League. "We've had a lot of
vital players who have been injured so it is a chance for youngsters to
impress," Tomkins said. "There are more coming through, Josh (Payne) and
Junior, there are a lot of good youngsters here and good backroom staff that
are helping us through. "You can see the challenge from the players that
have come through at the club, these massive players like Cole and
Ferdinand. They are brilliant players and Tony Carr has a lot to do with it.
"You get your chance here which is brilliant."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I was singing with West Ham fans before debut - Stanislas
06.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Junior Stanislas was delighted to score on his full debut for West Ham in
Saturday's victory over Sunderland. When he tapped in the opening goal he
celebrated by pointing to his mates in the crowd. "The manager just said to
me to clear my mind and go out and play my normal game," the youngster said.
"Gianfranco and Clarkey (Steve Clarke) have come in and got the boys playing
well, they've put a lot of confidence back into the squad so it's looking
good." Zola had seen Stanislas score a hat-trick against Chelsea in the
reserves and also play for England Under-20s ahead of the Sunderland clash.
With Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac injured, Stanislas'
call-up was such a rush that he found himself singing West Ham's famous "I'm
Forever Blowing Bubbles" song as he was about to play. "I was singing
Bubbles as I waited in the tunnel with the rest of the team," he said.
Stanislas grew up in Kidbrooke, not far from where Ferdinand grew up. He
added: "I'm not sure what it is about south London but I can tell you there
is a lot of talent coming off the streets. "It was a great debut but the
boys here will keep my feet on the ground, they won't let me enjoy it too
much - trust me!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Boa Morte pleased with West Ham chance
06.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
Luis Boa Morte was pleased with his performance in West Ham United's victory
over Sunderland on Saturday. "I got stuck in. If the gaffer sends me on to
the pitch then the effort has to be there both attacking and defending. I
just tried my hardest and to come off the pitch with a smile was very
important," the winger told whufc.com. Boa Morte created Junior Stanislas's
goal and added: "I think football needs to be a thinking game. I could have
smashed it across and he could saved it but I read the game and Junior
understood my eye contact and he knew where the ball would be landing, but
it was like a slow-motion pass!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola tribute to West Ham coaching staff after kids shine
06.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
After seeing so many of his young players influence victory over Sunderland,
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has paid tribute to his coaching staff.
He told whufc.com: "It was a project and when I spoke to you first time
probably some did not believe it but to see things come together like this
is such an unbelievable satisfaction for me, for Steve Clarke, Kevin Keen,
Antonio Pintus and Ludo Miklosko - and also the club who have put so much
faith in what we are doing. "It's working," he said. "Yes, but tell me if
this is something I didn't say at the beginning. I said the idea was to
create this kind of situation. It's working very well and I am very glad and
pleased. It's unbelievable and it's great after the difficulties we have had
and this gives us even more confidence for the future."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Zola determined to have local, English core
06.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola says his team will maintain an English
core - and hopes to build that with young players coming through the Hammers
system.
After victory over Sunderland, where local lads James Tomkins and Junior
Stanislas were both on target, Zola told whufc.com: "I like to look for
young players. We can bring some good ones from abroad but the idea was also
to develop the players we have here. So far it is working well and we have
to work even harder on this.
"It is fantastic when you see young players coming from the youth team into
the first team and they do well, do their jobs and score also. It's great,
not just for me and the club but for the atmosphere, for the supporters and
that's what we want to do. We need to 'feed it' and that's the job we need
to do for the next few years.
"The tradition at this club is to produce very good players and that's the
reason why I believe the club appointed me as they know I like working this
way and so they want to carry on doing this. The club has done very well.
I'm looking forward to improving in every situation possible."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Real Madrid to send Faubert back to West Ham
05.04.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United will have to take back Julien Faubert in the summer. Faubert
looks certain to return to West Ham after he was left out of Real Madrid's
squad despite injuries to TWO other wingers. The French flop has played less
than an hour's football since his transfer window loan switch and Real will
now definitely send him back to Upton Park in the summer.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Please donate to my run for charity
http://www.justgiving.com/peter-robinson
http://www.justgiving.com/peter-robinson1
Thank You so much to those who have already contributed
Posts
