WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Tuesday night's Carling Cup
second-round date
24.08.2010
West Ham United v Oxford United
Carling Cup second round
Tuesday 24 August, 7.45pm
Referee: James Linington
Match coverage - WHUTV - live audio commentary and post-match action and
reaction, whufc.com - live text commentary
Introduction
• West Ham United begin their 2010/11 Carling Cup challenge with the visit
of League Two new boys Oxford United to the Boleyn Ground. It is the
cheapest home match for the Hammers in more than a decade with tickets at £5
for kids and £10 for adults.
• This evening's tie must be settled on the night. Should the scores be
level after 90 minutes, then 30 minutes of extra time will be played. Should
the scores remain level, a penalty shoot-out will be contested.
• The Hammers are aiming to kick-start their season after tasting defeat in
each of their opening two Barclays Premier League fixtures. An opening-day
defeat at Aston Villa (0-3) was followed by a disappointing home reverse
against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 21 August (1-3).
• Oxford United have contested three npower League Two matches this season
on their return to the Football League following a four-year absence.
• Tonight's meeting will be the first time West Ham and Oxford have faced
one another since 23 March 1993, when the Us scored a surprise 1-0 Division
One victory at the Manor Ground courtesy of Andy Melville's 85th-minute
winner. Melville would go on to play for West Ham, helping the club to gain
promotion to the Premier League in 2004/05.
• West Ham's biggest-ever win over Oxford United came in the same season -
1992/93 - when Clive Allen, Tim Breacker, Julian Dicks (two) and Trevor
Morley all scored in a 5-3 victory at the Boleyn Ground on 21 November 1992.
Melville scored for Oxford, while John Durnin and Jim Magilton were also on
target in the Division One fixture.
• All of Oxford's four victories over West Ham have been by a single-goal
margin - the most recent being the aforementioned success in March 1993.
• West Ham United have been giving their support to the England 2018
campaign by endorsing 'Back the Bid' week ahead of the FIFA Inspection
Team's arrival in England this week. The club helped raise the Bid profile
before Saturday's match against Bolton Wanderers as the England 2018 team
step up their campaign with a series of events and campaigns.
• The draw for the Carling Cup third round will take place on Saturday 28
August. The seven English clubs involved in European competition will enter
the tournament along with the 25 second-round winners. Third-round ties will
be contested in the week commencing Monday 20 September 2010.
• The 2010/11 Carling Cup final will be held at Wembley on Sunday 27
February 2011.
Team news
West Ham United
• West Ham United manager Avram Grant will again be without Thomas
Hitzlsperger after the 28-year-old picked up a thigh injury during Germany's
international friendly draw in Denmark earlier this month.
• Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Peter Kurucz has joined Jack Collison and
Zavon Hines on the long-term injured list after rupturing his anterior
cruciate ligament while playing for the reserve team against Ipswich Town on
14 August.
• It remains to be seen whether Matthew Upson will be fit enough to be
involved this evening following the facial injury he suffered playing
against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Upson was kicked in the face by Kevin
Davies and suffered a severe nose bleed, as well as damage to his lip.
• Tal Ben Haim and Manuel da Costa could be in contention for tonight's
game. Both have been training fully in an attempt to regain full
match-fitness.
Oxford United
• Oxford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood will miss this evening's match after
suffering an ankle injury in training. Teenager Nathan Silver was named as a
substitute for Saturday's goalless League Two draw at Wycombe Wanderers.
• Right-back Damian Batt also looks likely to miss tonight's game after
hobbling off with an ankle injury early in Saturday's league match.
• Midfielder Sam Deering could miss tonight's fixture after missing
Saturday's trip to Wycombe Wanderers. Reports suggested Deering was left out
after arriving late for the team meeting ahead of the visit to Adams Park.
Previous meetings
• The most recent meeting between the two sides was on 23 March 1993, when
9,506 supporters saw Andy Melville score the only goal of the Division One
game in a 1-0 Oxford United victory at the Manor Ground.
The lineups were:
Oxford United: Reece, Robinson, Ford, Lewis, Evans, Melville, Phillips,
Beauchamp, Narbett, Cusack, Durnin
West Ham United: Miklosko, Brown, Potts, Gale, Dicks, M.Allen, Holmes,
Butler, Keen (M.Robson), Speedie, Morley
• Tonight marks the 15th time West Ham and Oxford have faced one another in
competitive fixtures, and the third in the League Cup. West Ham have won
eight, Oxford four and there have been two draws. In this competition, each
side has tasted success once.
Overall record
v Oxford United (all competitions) W 8 D 2 L 4
Last time out
• West Ham United were beaten 3-1 on Saturday by Bolton Wanderers in the
Barclays Premier League. Carlton Cole saw his 33rd-minute penalty saved by
Jussi Jaaskelainen before Matthew Upson's 48th-minute own-goal put Bolton
ahead. Johan Elmander added a second before Mark Noble pulled a goal back
from the penalty spot with eleven minutes remaining. Elmander then settled
matters with a left-foot finish five minutes from the end.
21 August 2010
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Gabbidon, Upson (Reid 54), Ilunga, Barrera,
Parker, Noble, Dyer (McCarthy 77), Piquionne, Cole (Sears 86)
Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Kovac, Boa Morte
• Oxford United picked up an npower League Two point from their short trip
to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. The Us had by far the better of the game,
with Matt Green hitting the bar and Wycombe goalkeeper Nikki Bull producing
fine saves to deny both Green and captain James Constable.
21 August 2010
npower League Two
Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Oxford United
Oxford: Clarke, Batt (Purkiss 11), Tonkin, Wright, Worley, Bulman (Baker
65), Heslop, Hall, Constable, Midson, Green (Potter 81)
Subs not used: Silver, Creighton, Clist, Cole
West Ham United
• West Ham United are likely to name a strong starting XI for tonight's tie
as new manager Avram Grant seeks his first victory of the 2010/11 season.
• The Hammers have so far brought in five new players this summer - Germany
midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, Mexico winger Pablo Barrera, France forward
Frederic Piquionne, New Zealand defender Winston Reid and Israel defender
Tal Ben Haim, who has arrived on loan from Grant's former club Portsmouth.
• Grant managed Chelsea to the League Cup final in 2007/08. The Blues took
on Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, but despite taking the lead through Didier
Drogba, a Dimitar Berbatov penalty and Jonathan Woodgate header denied
Chelsea the trophy.
• West Ham have reached the Football League Cup final twice - in 1965/66 and
1980/81. The 1966 final was played over two legs, with the Hammers beating
West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground before being beaten 4-1 at The
Hawthorns. In 1981, West Ham drew 1-1 with Liverpool at Wembley before being
defeated 2-1 at Villa Park in the replay.
• West Ham jointly hold the records for the biggest home win and biggest
home score in League Cup history. Both records were achieved when the
Hammers defeat Bury 10-0 in the second round, second leg at the Boleyn
Ground on 25 October 1983. Tony Cottee scored four times, Trevor Brooking
and Alan Devonshire twice apiece and Alvin Martin and Ray Stewart - with a
penalty - once each. Liverpool also recorded a 10-0 win over Fulham at
Anfield on 23 September 1986.
• West Ham possess the ninth-best record in League Cup history. The Hammers
have contested 192 ties, winning 98, drawing 39 and losing 55. West Ham have
scored 358 goals and conceded 232 in those matches.
• Former West Ham striker Sir Geoff Hurst is the League Cup's all-time joint
record goalscorer with 49 goals - 43 of which were scored for West Ham and
six for Stoke City. Ian Rush has also scored 49 - 48 for Liverpool and one
for Newcastle United - in this competition.
Oxford United
• Oxford United returned to the Football League following a four-season
absence earlier this month. The Us were relegated from League Two in 2006,
but a 3-1 Conference National play-off final victory over York City at
Wembley in May saw the club regain their League status.
• Oxford brought in two new players following their promotion to the
Football League. Midfielder Simon Heslop was snapped up on a free transfer
from Barnsley, while forward Danny Philliskirk has arrived on loan from
Chelsea.
• The Us were originally elected to the Football League in 1962. The
greatest moment in the club's history came in 1985/96, when Oxford lifted
the Football League Cup at Wembley following a 3-0 victory over Queens Park
Rangers.
• Oxford have the 22nd best record in the history of the League Cup. The Us
have contested 153 ties, winning 68, drawing 36 and losing 49. Oxford have
scored 226 goals in those matches, conceding 192.
Ten-year League Cup records
West Ham United
2009/10 Third round (lost 1-3 after extra time at Bolton Wanderers)
2008/09 Third round (lost 0-1 at Watford)
2007/08 Quarter-final (lost 1-2 v Everton)
2006/07 Third round (lost 1-2 at Chesterfield)
2005/06 Third round (lost 0-1 at Bolton Wanderers)
2004/05 Third round (lost 0-1 at Chelsea)
2003/04 Third round (lost 0-1 after extra time at Tottenham Hotspur)
2002/03 Third round (lost 0-1 v Oldham Athletic)
2001/02 Second round (lost 6-5 on penalties following 0-0 draw at Reading)
2000/01 Fourth round (lost 1-2 v Sheffield Wednesday)
Oxford United
2009/10 Did not enter
2008/09 Did not enter
2007/08 Did not enter
2006/07 Did not enter
2005/06 First round (lost 0-1 at Gillingham)
2004/05 First round (lost 0-2 v Reading)
2003/04 Second round (lost 1-3 v Reading)
2002/03 Third round (lost 0-3 v Aston Villa)
2001/02 First round (lost 1-2 v Gillingham)
2000/01 First round (lost 3-2 on aggregate v Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Old boys
• Oxford United coach Andy Melville played 21 times for West Ham United
between January and September 2004. The former Wales centre-back also
enjoyed a successful three-season stay with Oxford between 1990 and 1993,
playing 159 times and scoring 15 goals.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Joey
Beauchamp, Ray Houghton and Emmanuel Omoyimni.
Officials
Referee - James Linington
Assistant referees - Mike George & Rob Whitton
Fourth official - Warren Atkin
• James Linington was appointed to the Select Group of assistant referees in
2006, but has yet to be promoted to the Select Group of referees who
officiate in the Barclays Premier League. For that reason, Linington will be
taking charge of a West Ham United first-team fixture for the first time in
his career this evening.
• After giving up playing at the age of 15, Linington moved into refereeing
and originally specialised in being an assistant referee through his career
in the professional game.
• After running the line in the 2006 League One play-off final at Cardiff's
Millennium Stadium, the official took charge of the 2010 League Two play-off
final between Dagenham & Redbridge and Rotherham United at Wembley in May
this year, having joined the National Group as a referee in 2008.
• Linington has already officiated once on live television this season,
taking charge of Charlton Athletic's 3-1 League One victory at Leyton Orient
on Friday 13 August.
• This evening, Linington will be assisted by Mike George and Rob Whitton.
Next up
• West Ham United travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to face Manchester
United in the Barclays Premier League. The fixture, which will be broadcast
live by ESPN, kicks-off at 5.30pm.
• Oxford United will return to League Two action by hosting Accrington
Stanley - the club they replaced in the Football League in 1962 - at the
Kassam Stadium, kick-off 3pm.
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Reid up for the cup
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid is targeting a Carling Cup victory to kick-start West Ham
United's season
23.08.2010
Winston Reid is eager to sample his first evening kick-off with West Ham
United in Tuesday night's Carling Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground. He may have
only been a West Ham United player for two weeks, but the New Zealand
international felt Saturday's Barclays Premier League defeat by Bolton
Wanderers as keenly as any of his team-mates. As such, he is looking to help
the Hammers bounce back with the visit of Oxford United. While Reid might
not know much about the League Two side, he is fully aware of the need for
the Hammers to score a morale-boosting win over the Us. "Of course it's most
important that we win. We have to go out to win all those cups because, you
never know, you might get to the end of the season and be in the final and
it's a chance to win a trophy, so of course we have to win that one."
On Saturday, the 22-year-old centre-back was forced into action from the
substitutes bench when Matthew Upson was injured scoring the own-goal that
paved the way for Bolton's 3-1 success. Reid produced an encouraging
display, looking comfortable in possession and strong both the air and the
tackle.
Afterwards, though, the summer signing from Danish club FC Midtjylland was
left feeling shattered by his side's second straight defeat following last
weekend's 3-0 reverse at Aston Villa. "I thought the fans were great. We
played decent in the first half but unfortunately the goals didn't come.
Bolton have scored a couple of times, but that's the way football goes
sometimes. "It obviously takes time but on Saturday I played in the position
that I think I am best in and I thought I did better than I did against
Villa. It was a little different game than it was against Villa. We had the
ball a lot more and were the ones making the pressure. "In the end it's hard
to say anything when they score three goals and you only score one. We
haven't had the best start to the season - two games and no points - but
it's a long season and we've got to take it game by game."
The quietly-spoken Reid caught the eye with his willingness to bring the
ball out of defence, while he also saw one goalbound volley blocked as West
Ham attempted an unlikely late comeback. "I think I'm pretty good with the
ball at my feet and can find some good solutions. I will try and prove my
worth to the team."
Following Tuesday's cup tie, West Ham go to Old Trafford to face Manchester
United in a fixture the Kiwi is looking forward to greatly - but only
because it is the next opportunity to gather three Barclays Premier League
points. "It would be a great venue to play at but the most important thing
is not the team we're playing against or the ground we're playing at, but
it's about getting points right now."
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West Ham v Oxford Utd
BBC.co.uk
Carling Cup second round
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 24 August Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio & highlights
on The League Cup Show
TEAM NEWS
Defender Winston Reid is likely to feature for West Ham.
Reid came on for the injured Matthew Upson at the weekend and could start
Tuesday's cup tie.
Oxford are likely to be without Damian Batt, who has an ankle knock, so
manager Chris Wilder is set to call on Ben Purkiss to fill in at right-back.
Striker Matthew Green, who like Batt limped off against Wycombe on Saturday,
is nursing a leg injury and his chances of playing are rated at 50-50.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• This is the 15th competitive meeting of these clubs. West Ham have won
eight of the previous matches and Oxford four, with two drawn.
• They last met in 1992/93, when both clubs were in the second tier. West
Ham won 5-3 at Upton Park, and Oxford won 1-0 at the Manor Ground.
• Oxford's only away victory over the Hammers was a 1-0 win in February
1987.
• They have met twice in the League Cup. In 1986 West Ham won a fourth-round
tie against the U's, who knocked them out four years later in the
third-round stage.
West Ham
• West Ham have made it to the third round in each of the last eight years,
but have only progressed beyond it once, when they reached the
quarter-finals in 2007/08.
• Chesterfield were the last lower division club to knock West Ham out of
the League Cup. They defeated them 2-1 in the third round in 2006.
Oxford
• Oxford's recent spell out of the League means they are competing in this
competition for the first time in five seasons, and have reached the second
round for the first time in seven.
• Chris Wilder's side were the highest scorers in the first round, thrashing
Bristol Rovers 6-1.
• A defeat for Oxford would be their 50th in the League Cup.
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Diamanti open to Brescia move
Serie A side hoping to finalise move for Hammers forward
By Simone Bargellini Last updated: 23rd August 2010
SSN
West Ham United attacker Alessandro Diamanti has confirmed he is open to the
idea of returning to Italy to join Brescia. Sky Sports revealed earlier on
Monday that Brescia had agreed a fee with West Ham and are now set to
negotiate personal terms with Diamanti. The 27-year-old sat out the Hammers'
3-1 defeat by Bolton Wanderers through injury on Saturday and is remaining
coy regarding a move to Brescia. However, Diamanti did state that, although
he does have other options, he is willing to discuss a return to Serie A.
"Me to Brescia? I cannot say anything," Diamanti told bresciaoggi.it. "I
didn't play against Bolton because I am injured a little bit. Now, I am a
West Ham player. "Going back to Italy? I have many possibilities. Brescia
wouldn't be an unwelcome solution."
Brescia president Luigi Corioni is hoping to finalise a deal for Diamanti
and believes a deal for the former Livorno forward would boost the club's
expectations for the coming season. Corioni told Sky Italia: "I never
believed I would buy Eder and Diamanti, but the first one is already ours
and it seems we can also take the second one. "Diamanti is very close to
Brescia, I would say he is 70-80 per cent ours. I hope I can close the deal
tomorrow and he will be ours outright. "If Diamanti arrives, our minimum
target can no longer be just survival, but something more." He also hinted
at an interest in Hammers full-back Fabio Daprela, adding: "West Ham ask so
much for Daprela, a young and strong left-back, but it is a feasible deal."
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Barrera - We will beat drop
Summer signing confident Hammers will come good
Last updated: 23rd August 2010
SSN
West Ham new boy Pablo Barrera is confident the club can recover from a slow
start and steer clear of trouble. The Hammers have endured a torrid opening
to the 2010/11 campaign, losing their first two Premier League fixtures.
They are one of just three clubs yet to put a point on the board, with Stoke
and Wigan having also stumbled out of the blocks. This was supposed to be
the season West Ham broke back into the top half of the table, having
finally established stability away from the field. However, the arrivals of
Avram Grant and co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are yet to have the
desired impact and the club must be wary of being cast adrift too soon.
Mexican winger Barrera, who moved to Upton Park over the summer, has full
faith in the Hammers' ability to clamber out of the bottom three and insists
there is no need to panic just yet. "West Ham have good players, so I
believe in the team," said the 23-year-old winger. "The scores don't reflect
what has happened on the pitch and I'm sure in the coming weeks we will be
better."
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Reid targets cup boost
Hammers defender looks to get season up and running
Last updated: 23rd August 2010
SSN
Winston Reid believes West Ham's Carling Cup clash with Oxford presents the
perfect opportunity to get their season up and running. The Hammers have
endured a miserable start to the Premier League season, suffering a 3-0
defeat at Aston Villa on the opening day before going down 3-1 at home to
Bolton.
Next on the agenda for Avram Grant's new-look side is a Boleyn Ground
meeting with League Two outfit Oxford in the second round of the Carling
Cup.
And defender Reid, who is one of Grant's summer recruits having impressed
for New Zealand during the World Cup in South Africa, knows progress is
imperative. "We haven't had the best start to the season - two games and no
points. It's most important that we win," said Reid, who moved to East
London from Danish club FC Midtjylland. We have to go out to win all those
cups because it's a chance to win a trophy."
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Hammers eye Inter star
Grant turns to Obinna
Last updated: 23rd August 2010
SSN
Skysports.com understands West Ham are in talks to sign Inter Milan striker
Victor Obinna. Hammers boss Avram Grant is desperate to bolster his
attacking options after seeing his side score just once in their first two
games. Grant has been frustrated in his attempts to bring in a new striker
with his bid to sign Felipe Caicedo from Manchester City on hold at the
moment. Obinna has now come onto West Ham's radar with Inter Milan willing
to loan out the Nigeria international. The 23-year-old came close to a move
to Everton two years ago only for work permit problems to scupper the deal.
Obinna is expected in London this week to hold talks with West Ham officials
over a possible switch to Upton Park.
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Cole hots up revenge bid
The Sun
Published: Today
OXFORD'S Mitchell Cole wants to pile more misery on West Ham tonight - to
repay them for axing him. The ex-academy star, 24, said: "It took time to
get over it. This is my chance to show what I can do." Defender Tal Ben Haim
is set to make his Hammers debut in the Carling Cup clash.
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Av wants £8m gam for Ham
The Sun
By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
Published: Today
WEST HAM have made an £8million bid for Lorient hitman Kevin Gameiro.
SunSport understands the French side have rejected the offer as they want
£11.5m and the Hammers are now considering a renewed bid. Gameiro, 23, is
one of the hottest strikers of Le Championnat. A regular for France's youth
teams and the Under-21 side, he is now expected to get his first senior
call-up next month from France boss Laurent Blanc. He bagged 17 league goals
last season and caught the eye of several major European clubs. Under-fire
Hammers boss Avram Grant is desperate to strengthen his squad after
back-to-back losses in their first two games this campaign. Gameiro has two
years left on his contract and Lorient are ready to let him go but are
driving a hard bargain.
Grant has at least been boosted with the news defender Matthew Upson will be
fit for Saturday's visit to Manchester United. He was forced off against
Bolton on Saturday after being kicked in the face by Kevin Davies.
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Right-back Where We Started From
Billy Blagg - Tue Aug 24 2010
West Ham Online
I love the way football plays with your emotions and sensibilities. Take a
bog standard 1-0 win, for example (assuming you can remember such a thing!);
There are 90 minutes plus stoppage time to put the ball into the net and it
counts exactly the same if the goal is scored in the first minute or the
last and, on paper at least, tells exactly the same story. But in the
stadium it's so different.
That first minute goal could herald a bit of early pressure and then a
frustrating afternoon searching for a second or an early break against the
run of the rest of the game in a backs-to-the-wall defensive fight that
could shred your nerves. On the other hand, a last minute counter could
indicate a lucky win or a well-deserved break for an afternoon of solid
pressure and missed chances.
Similarly, your emotions – relief, joy, frustration, pain – can all be
played out by the timing of the goal. Think of any win that has come about
as a result of a last minute goal and remember how that felt.
So it is with the league. A bad start always sticks with you no matter where
you finish. "If only we'd taken a point or two from the first four games' we
think as we look at the teams above us. But we've all seen how a good start
can lead to misplaced confidence – witness how many promoted sides fall away
in the second half of the season. It's an age old cliché admittedly but
sometimes you really do need to stand back and see the bigger picture. I
still find it hard to reconcile how I felt on the opening day of last season
when the Hammers got an immediate away win that wasn't reproduced again
during the whole campaign. On the other hand those three points made a
helluva lot of difference when it came down to the dogfight in May.
So I won't pretend I'm happy with the start West Ham have made this year but
I am prepared to keep the powder dry until I can see where it goes from
here. After all there are a many types of bad starts as there are 1-0 wins.
One indicates you've got problems and you never really recover – most of us
would have put a mortgage on Portsmouth last season before a ball had even
been kicked – but another gives the Manager a chance to iron out a few
issues and spot weaknesses that only new personnel can solve before
gradually turning it round. I'm banking on the latter at the moment.
Avram Grant's not everybody's cup of Earl Grey but those who complained
about Zola's lack of experience can hardly complain of Grant's pedigree.
Apart from anything else, aren't we running out of options?
What concerns me more about Saturday's result is the fact that the 3-1
defeat represents the seventh consecutive defeat we've had to suffer at the
hands of Bolton. I mean, that's SEVEN and BOLTON. "I wish it were a two-team
league" quipped amusing Bolton boss Owen Coyle after the game (What a shit
league that would be, eh?). How embarrassing. Even allowing for having a
bogey side that just doesn't make sense and if you want to blame Grant and
the two David's for Saturday then what are we going to do about last season
and the season before that and....
You can't even blame the players really. When we started on that run of
seven most of them weren't even playing for us. I mean the only constant
during that whole sequence of losses is us, the fans. So is it my fault or
yours? Well it may be both, because none of us have told the coaching staff
what we have all witnessed in those games; in short, Bolton bombard us with
high balls our defence cannot cope with.
What I simply can't get my head around is the fact that regardless of board,
manager or players, West Ham seems doomed to keep repeating the same
mistakes again and again like some type of Buddhist football club. The
argument against that is that eventually in Buddhism you're supposed to
correct your faults and attain Nirvana. We can't even beat bloody Bolton let
alone Nirvana.
Take the full-back position, for example. When Glenn Roeder took over from
Harry we all feared the worst. OK the worst did arrive eventually I know,
but don't forget before that, Roeder took us to a very-respectable 6th place
and who was the Hammer of the Year that season? One, Sebastian Schemmel who
turned in a gargantuan season at full-back. The following year, in one of
the greatest unsolved mysteries since Lord Lucan jumped on Shergar clutching
Joanna Southcott's box and disappeared, never to be seen again, into the
sunset (Google it!) Schemmel went missing and West Ham stumbled to the brink
of relegation before a young kid called Glen Johnson was called up from the
Academy and results started to turn. Too late, unfortunately, but there's no
doubt had Johnson been introduced earlier in the season, Bolton would be
playing Colchester by now.
The end of that season was so awful that most of us try to expunge it from
our memory but it's worth recalling that Johnson was snatched up before any
of the other 'Golden Generation' and that included Joe Cole.
Now take 2006 when Koncheskey and Scaloni formed a solid full-back defensive
unit. I mean, on paper, would you fancy our chances with Gabbidon and
Ferdinand now? Yet, but for the lack of one defensive boot into the stand by
the Argentinean, we would have won the FA cup that year.
It's not as if it's any great tactical revelation either. Full-backs can
close down wide players and stop crosses coming in. If the number of crosses
is cut-down, the central defenders can concentrate on marking the
centre-forwards and the keeper knows better when to come out or not.
Similarly, an attacking full-back can occupy a midfield player and create
space in the middle. I've not got a Coaching badge but when you get headers
like Elmander's on Saturday, they nearly always result from wide crosses
where the forward player is able to attack the ball. Football is a team game
and if one or two players are 'missing' (of sorts) then the rest of the side
suffers.
What is genuinely scary here is that you can virtually chart the rise and
fall of West Ham by the full-backs. Whenever we've had good full-backs we've
always done better while whenever we've struggled we haven't, and I'm not
just talking over since the turn of the century or even the start of the
Premier League, I'm talking decades here.
Seriously, get out your football books and chart our success and failures
and then correlate them with the players wearing No: 2 or 3 (showing my age
there, I know, but you get my drift).
This is nonsense. If Avram Grant can find one or, better, two full-backs
before Deadline Day then it will make all the difference to not only those
positions but also to virtually all the other areas of the team. Quite why
this hasn't been done yet – does the coaching squad really think Faubert,
Gabbidon, IIunga, Spector et al are the answer? – is a mystery. But it needs
to be sorted now. The jury is out on Grant and his team at the moment. The
best thing he can do is assemble a defence.
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West Ham miss out on Man City starlet after admin gaffe
Published 23:00 23/08/10 By Football Spy
The Mirror
Avram Grant is set to miss out on a bargain loan deal for Manchester City
starlet Felipe Caicedo because of an admin gaffe. The West Ham boss is
desperate to take the 21-year-old Ecuador international - bought for
£7.1million two seasons ago - on a season long loan as he remains convinced
Caicedo has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League. The striker had
agreed personal terms of £10,000-a-week, passed a medical and looked set to
complete the move with an option to seal a permanent move next summer for
just £1million. But Grant is also desperate to sign another right-back -
Genoa's Anthony Vanden Borre, whom he had at Portsmouth, on a season long
loan. And The West Ham boss has found he only allowed one of the two players
because he already has defender Tal Ben Haim on loan. Grant had believed
players from the Championship did not count as Premier League loans.
Manchester City are now keen to looking elsewhere to broker a deal as a
number of rival clubs have expressed an interest.
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Selling Diamanti
West Ham Till I Die
I seem to be one of the few West Ham fans who isn't up in arms at the
thought of selling Allesandro Diamanti. Yes he's a great set piece player
and has a great shot on him. Yes, he scored some goals last year, but
consistency is not exactly his middle name. OK, he's never been played in
his best position, but I am not sure any of us have a clue where that is.
He's a flash player. A player who displays flashes of pure brilliance, but
who too often flatters to deceive.
Sky Sports reports today that he is in Brescia, tieing up a deal. I am not
hopeful of us recouping the £6 million we paid Livorno for him, but we need
to free up funds in order to bring a couple more players in.
I'd have preferred to keep him, but if he have to sell someone, I am not
unhappy that it is him.
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A Time for Concentrated Minds (and Redoubled Efforts)!
West Ham Till I Die
The Bolton hoodoo strikes yet again! As each of the three Bolton goals hit
the back of the net on Saturday, my overwhelming feeling was of deja vu.
Well almost, at least this current West Ham side demonstrated some
enterprising forward play. Usually, the defeats against our 'nemesis' club
do not have any redeeming features!
Already the prophets of doom are postulating that the Oxford Utd cup tie
could be a potential upset! The club must ensure that we are spared that
humiliation. It is fairly clear that Grant's team need to use this match to
improve their effectiveness and cohesion as a unit. So, the majority of
Saturday's line up (certainly the midfield and attack) should start on
Tuesday evening. However, there remains room for experimentation at the
back. If Grant feels that they are ready for the opportunity, Stech might
be given a run out in goal and, perhaps even, Jordan Spence a start at
right-back. While Tal Ben Haim (if fit?) could replace Upson at
centre-back, partnering either Reid or Tomkins (if Da Costa is still
unfit?). At left-back, Daprela could also be a strong candidate for a
starting place?
After Saturday's result it is easy to lapse in to pessimism, but there were
some positive signs. Not least, the promising performances of Barrera and
Piquionne. Noble also looked very authoritative in midfield and combined
well with Parker. While Dyer completed 75 minutes and showed flashes of the
ability that he undoubtedly possesses. Also, finally, can Carlton Cole
really play that badly again this season? One hopes not!
On another day we might have finished off Bolton in the first 45 minutes.
But that still cannot obscure the team's weakness at the back. All three
Bolton goals were from balls/positions that could and should have been
successfully defended. It is at the back that we have the real problems and
it is there that solutions must be found. It is often said that all good
teams are built from the back. Admittedly we have added Winston Reid and
Tal Ben Haim to the squad, but are they the solution?
The Oxford Utd match is an opportunity to look at an alternative defensive
combination. At the same time, concentrated minds (and redoubled efforts)
are required at Upton Park to ensure that we get the right players in before
the end of the transfer window. We need a strong leader at the back to
organise us defensively (a la Lucas Neill) and a pacy striker with clinical
finishing. If we can get those two players in, and Hitzlsperger returns
quickly from injury, then we can recover from our poor start and progress
this season.
Equally, interesting will be who is leaving? The favourites at the moment
appear to be Diamanti and Behrami. Although there is always the possibility
that a deal for Upson could also be agreed out of left field? If Behrami
goes that probably means that Kovac will stay, to provide defensive midfield
cover, unless another similar type of player has been lined up as a
replacement?
There are reports that Sunderland are weighing up a c.£15m bid for Carlton
Cole. After Saturday's performance, many will feel that we should do the
deal. However, the essential question is who will replace him? If Kenwyn
Jones had still been at Sunderland, and offered in exchange, then I might
have been tempted. But if the proposed replacement offers no improvement,
or has a poor injury/fitness record, then I would probably just stick with
Carlton Cole! At his best, Cole is a very good centre-forward and he
clearly wants to play for us. At the end of the day, I suppose it all
depends who we can get in with the c.£15m supposedly on offer?
There are other rumours that we have a deal lined up for Inter-Milan's
Victor Obinna (potentially a very good signing) and have enquired about
Lorient's promising striker, Kevin Gameiro. In addition, we are supposedly
interested in loan deals for Kyle Walker from Spurs and Ryan Babbel from
Liverpool. There was also an interesting report at the weekend that West
Ham were prepared to 'bite the bullet' and do a deal with Spurs involving
Robbie Keane plus cash for Scott Parker. I would certainly welcome a
forward of Keane's experience and proven PL goal scoring ability, but the
loss of Scott Parker is probably too high a price to pay.
All just media speculation? The next two weeks will separate the wheat from
the transfer chaff.
SJ. Chandos.
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West Ham United v Oxford United - Match Preview
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 24th August 2010
By: Preview Percy
If you take an infinite number of monkeys and give them word processors it
is said that eventually they will produce one of the classics. Unfortunately
we couldn't afford the monkeys so here's Preview Percy to run his eye past
our League Cup opponents Oxford United....
Next up we play host to Oxford United from Division 4 (or "League 2" as the
blazers insist on calling it). The visitors currently lie in 18th place in
the nascent league table having two goal-less draws (away at both Burton and
Wycombe) and a 2-1 home defeat to Bury leaving them with two points. The
lack of goals in the league contrasts strongly with the 6-1 home victory
over Bristol Rovers in the previous round of a competition that they
actually won back in 1986. Heady days.
We haven't actually met them at the Boleyn since we shaded a tight defensive
game 5-3 back in what we used to call Division 2 in 1992/93. We went down
1-0 in the reverse fixture at their old home, the Manor Ground. They've not
been our most frequent of opponents, our paths having crossed a mere 14
times before. For what little it's worth we lead the head-to-head stats 8-4
with two draws.
This is their first appearance in the competition for five seasons, having
spent that time in the Conference. In league terms they are a relatively
young club having been elected to Division 4 (as it was properly called back
then) in 1962 when they replaced Accrington Stanley. In one of those neat
little coincidences that permeates the football world, Stanley were the club
that replaced Oxford back in 2006 when they were relegated.
Oxford are currently managed by Chris Wilder who came on board from Halifax
Town back in 2008 and led them back to the Football League last season by
way of a 3-1 win over York City in the play-off final, having finished in
third place. Also on the payroll as coach is former Hammer Andy Melville who
played 17 matches as part of the 2005 promotion squad.
Having been promoted it comes as no surprise that the visitors have brought
in a few new faces as part of their bid to maintain their league status.
Thirteen players have come in as a matter of fact. One of these was former
Hammer trainee Mitchell Cole, who, following his release from Chadwell
Heath, went to Grays Athletic, Southend and Stevenage Borough, with whom he
won the Conference last season.
However, the star man last term was James Constable, whose 26 goals earned
him both the players' and supporters' player of the year awards. He made it
a hat-trick by winning the Conference award. Constable netted twice in the
last round, as did new signing, midfielder Simon Heslop. Constable's fellow
striker Matt Green is rated "highly doubtful" for this game having picked up
a knock against Wycombe. Damian Batt will also miss out with Ben Purkiss
likely to replace him art right back.
Another new signing (well sort of) was midfielder Alfie Potter. This is a
brilliantly old-fashioned name for a footballer – so much so that it would
have come as no surprise had Barnstonworth United featured amongst the
players' former clubs. As it happens Potter spent all last season at Oxford
on loan from Peterborough United. Potter appeared as a sub in the play-off
final scoring the third goal that rubber stamped their promotion and his
loan spell was converted into a full transfer during the close season.
Oxford have something of a super sub in the form of 19 year-old midfielder
Sam Deering. Blessed wit pace, he is currently in the bosses' bad books for
turning up late for two matches running. The tubes will be running for this
match so he'll have to come up with a better excuse should he wish to avoid
the further wrath of Wilder.
League Cup matches are notorious for being used by managers to give fringe
players a run out. It will therefore be interesting to see which players
Grant "rests" for this one and which he picks, as it may give an insight
into the pecking order as the boss sees it. Matthew Upson is unlikely to be
risked however, following the boot in the face that Saturday's ref somehow
missed despite all the blood and the fact that he was staring straight at
it. Winston Reid may start in his place. Another we probably won't see is
Diamanti who, it appears is on his way back to Italy. Arrivederci is, I
believe the expression. Der Hammer won't be risked while Behrami will also
be given a bit longer to recover. We may therefore see the likes of Kovac
starting if Noble and Parker are asked to take it easy.
Similarly up front it would not come as much of a surprise if Benni McCarthy
were given a start in a bid to prove that he is worth a place ahead of
Victor Obinna who is being linked with a move from Internazionale.
I felt rather sorry for the team on Saturday. With just a little more
composure in front of goal we could have gone in streets ahead at the
interval, instead of which ref Marriner became the latest official to turn a
blind eye to Davies' thuggery, an (in)action which turned the game. The team
therefore ought to be looking for something of a morale booster in this one.
Whichever side we put out this ought, on paper, to be a win. Except that we
are, of course talking of West Ham for whom nothing is straightforward. The
draw is organized so that at this stage of the competition we will always
face a team from the lower leagues and such is our traditional form against
such opposition even the tv companies don't bother covering us live in such
matches anymore – "West Ham lose to lower league opposition" is right up
there with "Sam Allardyce is fat" as a headline. On the other hand we really
ought to be too strong for Oxford on this occasion surely?
I'll therefore keep my optimistic hat on for the prediction for this one and
I'll go for a (possibly nervy) 2-1 win to send us one step closer to
Wembley.
Enjoy the game!
Last season: N/A
Danger Man: James Constable – the prolific striker will be up for this one –
there again they all will.
Referee: Mr J J Linington – no, me neither.
Daft fact of the week: In their pre-league days up to 1960 they were known
as Headington United and had the rather strange nickname of "The Boys From
Up The Hill". Which must have been a sod to get into a decent chant.
Travel tip: Whilst the District Line is, for once, open, supporters from
south of the river should be aware that the Blackwall Tunnel Southbound bore
is due to shut at 9pm. Which leaves you the Rotherhithe Tunnel, Dartford
Crossing or – if you're quick – the last Woolwich ferry at 10pm. Good luck!
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Oxford United relishing Carling Cup opportunity against West Ham
David Sullivan's decision to charge just £10 to watch West Ham's
second-round Carling Cup tie against Oxford United on Tuesday evening, and
his announcement that it will be the best bargain Upton Park has seen in
more than a decade, might be a marketing ploy but it is rather appropriate
all the same.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Sandy Macaskill
Published: 7:59PM BST 23 Aug 2010
After all, the last time the Londoners played Oxford was in the second tier
in 1993, in the dying days of the decently-priced ticket. At the time Oxford
were still coming to terms with the death of their owner, the publishing
baron Robert Maxwell, who had drowned in the Atlantic a little more than a
year before. Players had been sold to keep the club alive, but Andy
Melville, now a coach at the club, found the net at the Manor Ground for a
1-0 win.
It was a rare glimmer of light that season — one of only seven home league
wins — and there will be few with fond memories of the campaign. The season
would end in promotion for West Ham, but it was the beginning of 16 years of
decline for Oxford, who fell through the tiers until they found themselves
four years ago in the Conference for the first time since 1962.
Under the guidance of manager Chris Wilder, who has stressed that is time
that the club "forget the hard luck stories", Oxford have started the
process of rebuilding. The club are back in the Football League this season,
having been promoted via the play-offs after defeating York City 3-1 in only
their second-ever visit to Wembley. A cup tie against a misfiring West Ham
must seem too good to be true. Oxford's time outside the Football League
means that they are competing in the Carling Cup for the first time in five
seasons. And although their start to life in League Two has not been ideal -
with two draws and a loss in - they returned to the League Cup in some
style, hammering Bristol Rovers 6-1 in the first round. Yet even the
Pollyannas would agree that the odds are against Oxford, whose start to the
season has seen plenty of pretty football but not enough follow through. "I
don't want to be too critical," Wilder said, "but I don't want us to be one
of those teams that plays well and loses. We're not playing the Forest
Greens and Eastbournes any more, remember, we're playing good sides now."
West Ham could not exactly be called a good side by Premier League standards
at the moment, after defeats to Aston Villa and Bolton, but Avram Grant will
be desperate for his side to put on an improved performance against lesser
opposition. After all, it appears as though the match will be a sell-out
given it is just a tenner a ticket.
Beauchamp's sacrifice
One of last Oxford United players to compete against West Ham was winger
Joey Beauchamp, whose own fortunes have rather mirrored those of the club
for whom he made over 350 appearances. Beauchamp moved to West Ham for a
club record fee of £1.2 million on June 22 1994, but he decided that he
could not stand the traffic travelling from Oxford each day, and he refused
to move closer to London. He did not play a single competitive game for West
Ham and was sold to Swindon after two months. But by November 1995 he was
back at Oxford. Beauchamp scored against Swindon in Oxford's 3-0 victory the
following March, and he would make a further 238 appearances in the yellow
and blue, making him one of the club's longest-serving players.
Beauchamp, now 39, has spent 20 months battling drink and depression. He
revealed recently that he never wanted to join West Ham, but felt he had no
option because he was told by Keith Cox, Oxford's managing director, that
the club would go under if he was not sold. "What was I supposed to do?" he
said. "I could never have lived with myself if I refused to join West Ham
and then Oxford did go under. So I had to go."
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West Ham talking to Obinna
ESPN staff
August 23, 2010
ESPNsoccernet can confirm that West Ham are in talks with Inter Milan over
the signing of their 23-year-old Nigeria forward Victor Obinna. Obinna, 23,
spent last season on loan to Spanish side Malaga and has been linked to
clubs including Brescia and Stoke City this summer. He has played in 34
games for Nigeria and scored 11 goals. West Ham have been linked with a long
succession of forwards during the summer, including French strikers Thierry
Henry and Loic Remy, Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz and they have also
made three unsuccessful bids for Everton's Yakubu. The club are desperate to
bring in a striker having scored just one goal in their opening two games
(defeats to Aston Villa and Bolton), as Carlton Cole, Benedict McCarthy and
Frederic Piquionne have not impressed and Alessandro Diamanti is on the
verge of a return back to Italy. Youngsters Fred Sears and Frank Nouble are
deemed too green for regular action and manager Avram Grant knows that with
Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs to come in their next four Premier
League games, the situation at Upton Park does not look like improving until
more quality is brought into the side.
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West Ham's Cole still a transfer target as Sunderland remain interested
24.08.10 | Andrew Slevison
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is still a transfer target for
Sunderland who are experiencing difficulty in luring Asamoah Gyan from
Rennes. Cole has been linked with both Liverpool and the Black Cats this
summer but West Ham's asking price of £15million has deterred them thus far.
Steve Bruce was keen to bring Ghana international Gyan in from France but
also wants a player with Premier League experience and Cole fits that bill.
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Franco expected to sign with Wigan today
24.08.10 | tribalfootball.com
Guillermo Franco is set to sign with Wigan Athletic. The Wigan Evening Post
says Franco, who is a free agent after being released by West Ham at the end
of last season, will become Martinez's latest summer signing – possibly as
soon as today. Franco was disappointed at not being retained by new Hammers
boss Avram Grant, but remained in England in an attempt to secure another
chance in the Premier League.
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Spurs boss Redknapp not giving up on West Ham ace Parker
24.08.10 | tribalfootball.com
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp remains hopeful of signing West Ham United
midfielder Scott Parker. The London Evening Standard says Redknapp has still
not given up hope of luring Parker from West Ham and the midfielder has yet
to sign a new contract, which he was expected to do last week. West Ham
cannot afford to buy Spurs striker Robbie Keane outright and may take Keane
plus cash in exchange for Parker, although chairman David Sullivan insists
the 29-year-old is not for sale.
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