WHUFC.com
The Board has significantly cut all ticket prices for the big Boleyn cup tie
against Stoke next month
29.09.2010
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that ticket prices for the home
Carling Cup last-16 match against Stoke City have been cut to just £15 for
all adult season ticket holders and £5 for children who hold season tickets.
After insisting on significantly reduced prices for the second-round tie
against Oxford United, the club were determined to continue to reward loyal
supporters for their fantastic backing. The tie will be played at 7.45pm on
Wednesday 27 October - and will not be screened live on television.
Non-season ticket holders can sit anywhere for just £20 for adults and £10
for children. With a host of big names already eliminated from the
competition and just 16 teams left to battle it out for the right to reach
Wembley on 27 February, it promises to be a big night at the Boleyn.
West Ham United Chairman David Sullivan said: "We are pleased we can once
again offer significantly reduced prices to our loyal fans. After the
terrific performance away to Sunderland in the previous round, everyone was
delighted to get a home draw in the last 16. "We know that if we win this
match we are two rounds from Wembley and a packed stadium can only help the
manager and his team. Like the Fulham Kids for a Quid match this weekend,
the Board especially as we are keen to give something back to our young fans
who are the future of the club."
Any adult season ticket holder purchasing their seat will be able to do so
for just £15 with children being able to reserve their usual place for just
a fiver. The Board took the decision with younger fans in mind, especially
keen to give something back to those who are the future of the club."
Tickets will go on sale to season ticket holders from Thursday 30 September
to Monday 11 October, before club members get their exclusive chance to
purchase on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 October. General sale will begin
from Thursday 14 October onwards, with demand expected to be high for a
contest that could see the club reach the quarter-finals.
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Gold leaps to Green's defence
Hammers co-owner plays down gesture after Spurs win
Last updated: 29th September 2010
SSN
West Ham co-owner David Gold has defended goalkeeper Robert Green following
his gesture towards the press box after the 1-0 win over Tottenham at the
weekend. The 30-year-old shot-stopper made the defiant gesture after
performing well against Spurs at Upton Park, following a traumatic summer.
Green was guilty of a shocking blunder while playing for England during the
World Cup in South Africa, allowing a tame long-range shot into his own net
to deny the Three Lions victory in their opening match against the USA. He
has since been cast into the international wilderness by England coach Fabio
Capello,and his club form suffered at the beginning of the season. However,
Green turned it around last weekend with some fine saves and Hammers
co-owner Gold believes his gesture was warranted. "I have to say I don't
think there was any malice in it whatsoever," he said. "I think he was just
saying: 'Didn't I have a good game guys? Look, this is the real Robert
Green. I'm back.' "I think that was what happened and we ought to allow him
to have that moment because that's all that it was. "If the FA have written
to him to explain that then fair enough, that's fine. Let's move on. He
didn't kill anyone."
Right direction
West Ham have made a poor start to the season but that win on Saturday moves
them above Everton at the foot of the table. Gold believes Green is the
right man to continue between the sticks for Avram Grant's side and says he
is worthy of an England recall. "When that game was over I thought, wow,
what a performance," he added. "He made some world class saves. "In my mind,
he is the England goalkeeper. He will have a bad day from time to time,
goalkeepers do. "Robert Green is an international goalkeeper, full stop. I
would like to think he'd be back in contention for a place in the squad for
the next England match. "If I was the manager, I would pick him. He is a
class act and he has a great character and a strong fibre within him. He's a
great professional and I'd like to see him back in the England side on a
regular basis."
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Avram's Bourne Ultimatum
The Sun
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT is plotting a move for Bournemouth midfielder Marc Pugh. The
West Ham boss sent first-team coach Kevin Keen to watch Pugh, 23, on
Tuesday.
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Hammers' Dyer expected to face Fulham
Published 23:00 29/09/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer is expected to be fit for the Premier League
game against Fulham on Saturday. Dyer has been outstanding for West Ham in
the opening part of the season but was forced to leave the field after 42
minutes during the 1-0 win over Tottenham. There were fears the England
midfielder had suffered another injury setback, but manager Avram Grant
revealed after the game he was feeling sick before the game. But Dyer has
returned to training this week and is expected to take his place for the
London derby at Upton Park this weekend.
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West Ham boss Avram Grant eyeing move for Bournemouth midfielder Marc Puch
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:43 PM on 29th September 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham manager Avram Grant is weighing up a surprise move for free-scoring
Bournemouth midfielder Marc Pugh. Grant sent first team coach Kevin Keen to
watch Pugh, 23, score his fourth goal in nine games in Bournemouth's 3-0 win
over Exeter on Tuesday.
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Gold: No malice in Rob Green's press box gesture
By Soccernet staff
September 29, 2010
ESPN
David Gold says there was "no malice" in Rob Green's gesture to the press
box after he starred in West Ham's 1-0 win over Tottenham. Gold, who co-owns
the Hammers with David Sullivan, defended his goalkeeper after he made a
string of impressive saves to help his side record their first Premier
League win of the season, against their London rivals.
Green has been a target of criticism since his mistake handed USA a goal in
the opening game of England's World Cup campaign and made an obvious gesture
at the assembled media on Saturday afternoon. The Football Association has
written to Green to remind him of his conduct in future matches but has
imposed no fine.
"I have to say I don't think there was any malice in it whatsoever,'' Gold
said. "I think he was just saying: 'Didn't I have a good game guys? Look,
this is the real Robert Green. I'm back.'
"I think that was what happened and we ought to allow him to have that
moment because that's all that it was. If the FA have written to him to
explain that then fair enough, that's fine. Let's move on. He didn't kill
anyone.''
Green has failed to add to his 11 England caps since his error in South
Africa, but Gold thinks his performance at Upton Park will put the
goalkeeper back in Fabio Capello's thoughts for next month's Euro 2012
qualifier against Montenegro.
"When that game was over I thought, wow, what a performance,'' Gold said.
"He made some world class saves. In my mind, he is the England goalkeeper.
He will have a bad day from time to time, goalkeepers do. Robert Green is an
international goalkeeper, full stop. I would like to think he'd be back in
contention for a place in the squad for the next England match.
"If I was the manager, I would pick him. He is a class act and he has a
great character and a strong fibre within him. He's a great professional and
I'd like to see him back in the England side on a regular basis.''
A striker shortage at Fulham means that Green could come face to face with
Clint Dempsey on Saturday for the first time since the American struck the
tame shot which he failed to handle in South Africa. Green's error has
caused him to be the subject of heckling from opposition fans ever since his
return from the World Cup, but Gold is confident that his goalkeeper will be
able to handle the pressure upon him at Upton Park on Saturday.
"I have no doubt in my mind that he will deal with it with absolute
consummate professionalism,'' Gold said. "It won't even enter his mind. He
will prepare like he normally does and I'm sure he will give another
outstanding performance when called upon.''
Fulham's poor away form in the league - they have failed to win on the road
in 13 months - represents a golden opportunity for the Hammers to climb out
of the relegation zone by stretching their unbeaten run to four matches.
Gold continued: "Last week's victory was a brilliant result. We were in a
very tough position. It was against someone who got into the top four. It
was a fabulous victory, particularly on the back of a draw against Stoke and
a win over Sunderland.
"It has been a great week and we are feeling good about ourselves at the
moment. We all know that if you get back-to-back wins in the Premier League
then it has a fantastic impact on your position and morale. It lifts your
fans and your players.''
Meanwhile, Scott Parker, Carlton Cole and Mark Noble are just a few of the
West Ham players who will deliver the club's joint bid with Newham Council
to run the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games to Number 10 Downing Street
on Thursday.
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Hammers defender seeking to impress to secure new deal
2:10pm Wednesday 29th September 2010
Guardian Series
DEFENDER Danny Gabbidon admits he will have to 'prove my worth' this season
if he is to earn a new deal with West Ham. The Welshman's contract at Upton
Park runs out at the end of this campaign, and he is determined to remain in
manager Avram Grant's first-team plans to secure an extension to his
contract. If he keeps performing as he did against Tottenham this week then
a deal will surely be forthcoming. Gabbidon was charged with keeping Spurs
and England's flying winger Aaron Lennon quiet from the unfamiliar
surroundings of left-back on Saturday. But the former Cardiff man equipped
himself brilliantly, being beaten only once all game, and on that occasion
keeper Robert Green came to his rescue, pulling off a stunning save to deny
Luka Modric, after Lennon's pull back had found the Croatian in space. Asked
if left-back is where the future lies for him, Gabbidon laughed: "I don't
know. Obviously I prefer it in the middle, but at the moment I'm having to
do a job there. I'm just enjoying playing at the moment. If it means playing
left-back I'll do that for the team. I'm not bothered about that. "I played
there a couple of times there last season. I did start as a right-back at
West Bromwich Albion, so it's not totally foreign to me as a position. But I
haven't played there for a few years, but if the manager wants me to do a
job there. I'll play striker if he wants me to."
The defender admitted he would need to stay fit to secure a new deal, having
been plagued by injuries in recent years. "This is my last year now, so it's
quite an important season for me. I want to stay fit and play games and
prove I'm worthy of a new contract," he said. "We haven't started talking
about one yet. I think I'll have to play a few more games and prove my
fitness for a little bit longer. If I can keep playing, and playing well
that hopefully will come."
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Are West Ham heading in the right direction?
Sport.co.uk
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 29 September 2010 - 11:11
Author: Jonny Abrams
Things, reasoned West Ham United fans at the start of this season, couldn't
possibly get any worse. Could they? Getting routinely swatted aside at Upton
Park by the likes of Wolves, Stoke and Bolton? Avoiding relegation solely by
being fortunate enough not to be quite as abject as the three sides below
them? Plummeting to such depths of desperation so soon after a promising 9th
place Premier League finish in Gianfranco Zola's first season? Surely, held
the theory, things could only get better under Avram Grant and the new
ownership (though it already feels like years) of David Gold and Sullivan.
Four defeats from this season's opening four games had Hammers fans fearing
that the worst was yet to come. However, four points from two games and a
League Cup win at the Stadium of Light later and it would seem that the
traumatising first few weeks under Grant were merely a necessary,
hot-poker-in-rear-end-inserting extension of the nadir.
Embattled
Robert Green was not the only Iron making a show of defiance on Saturday –
it was pervasive throughout the whole side. While the embattled England
goalkeeper was rightly lavished with praise for his excellent performance in
keeping Tottenham Hotspur at bay in West Ham's 1-0 win, a collective patting
of backs is merited for a performance marked by resilience, commitment and
no little flair.
The return of the no-nonsense and aerially dominant Manuel da Costa at
centre-back has coincided not just with an upturn in results but also an
overdue upturn in form for Matthew Upson alongside him and, if the pair can
continue in this vain, then James Tomkins may be allowed to fulfil his
potential in a far less pressurised environment. Certainly, regular football
for the Hammers last season seemed to demoralise the 21 year-old as goal
after goal against flew in.
The inability thus far of Herita Ilunga to recapture the form of his first
season looked to have created a catastrophic vacuum at left-back but Danny
Gabbidon has returned from his long absence to fill in admirably in the
position, while new signing Lars Jacobsen – who had previously been third
choice right-back at both Everton and Blackburn Rovers – has so far been a
quiet revelation, if there is such a thing, with the Denmark international's
intelligent positioning and aura of calm in particular coming to the fore.
Options
In midfield, the indomitable Scott Parker continues to provide compelling
evidence that excluding him for England in favour of Michael Carrick should
be a sectioning offence, while Mark Noble – fresh from his first proper
summer break in years - is playing perhaps his best football since the
great, Carlos Tevez-inspired revival of 2007. Valon Behrami has also begun
to feel his way back into form, while new boy Thomas Hitzlsperger – so
impressive in pre-season – will push hard for a first team berth when he
recovers from his thigh injury, as should young Jack Collison when he's over
his knee ailment.
Out wide, it suddenly seems like a long time since the 3-0 opening day
defeat at Aston Villa, when the right and left midfield spots were filled in
uninspiring fashion by Julien Faubert and Luis Boa Morte. Now, however,
Grant can call upon all of the exciting and dynamic Victor Obinna, the
promising Pablo Barrera and the revitalised Kieron Dyer in what is starting
to look like an unexpected yet glittering array of options.
Up front, Frederic Piquionne has brought elegance and a goal-scoring touch
to make up for the nosedive in Carlton Cole's form. However, if the latter
can get back in the groove then Grant could be presented with the luxury of
being able to switch between 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 as and when it becomes
necessary to do so. A lack of flexibility was one of the downfalls of the
side last season but – especially if Benni McCarthy can shed the pounds and
start scoring again – this may no longer prove to be a problem.
Scrutiny
Finally, special mention must be reserved for the manager, whose decision to
play Marek Stech in League Cup games has done Robert Green well in terms of
removing himself from the increasingly unbearable scrutiny which seemed to
be affecting his game. If Green's match-winning performance against Spurs is
a sign that he has put his recent woes behind him, then West Ham could come
season's end be several points better off for it.
Life as a West Ham supporter is rarely plain sailing but, although there are
doubtless more peaks and troughs to come, the last few games have at least
done much to dispel the previously solid-looking notion that the Hammers are
relegation certainties.
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Redemption for Robert Green, as the Statistics Do Not Always Tell the Full
Story!
West Ham Till I Die
One of the most pleasing aspects of Saturday's victory over Tottenham
Hotspurs was the return to form and confidence of Robert Green. It was a
real redemption performance by someone in a very dark and depressing place.
The mishandling of the ball against the USA will be with Green forever, but
as with every bad experience the objective is to confront and overcome it.
Green pulled off two or three top notch saves and generally commanded his
box well. Let hope that this is, indeed, a redemption rather than a false
dawn. West Ham need a confident and on form Robert Green as a pre-requisite
of turning our season around. An added bonus is the emergence of Stech as
an able deputy; in addition to the presence of the wonderfully named Boffin
as experienced back up.
It was nice to see Harry Redknapp take his first Hammers defeat so well.
Emphasising the injury absences in defence and the missed chance. It would
seem that it was more a case of Spurs lost the match, rather than West Ham
winning it! This was reflected in Monday's match report in the Sports
Mirror, where they chose to crown Spurs as the 'pass masters,' rather than
focus upon the Hammers winning performance. Very strange! Indeed, the
Sports Mirror published match stats that we had approximately 36% of the
possession, yet we had more corners and shots on goal. While Spurs
apparently had approximately 64% of possession, but obviously did a lot less
with it.
It seemed that we had far more possession than that, but it was obviously a
question of quality over quanity. Perhaps they spent an inordinate amount
of time passing the ball in areas that failed to threaten the Hammers?
Whatever, it was a good match and Spurs deserve some credit for making it
so, but just not as much as the super hammers!
Now we look foward to the very different challenge of breaking down a
disciplined Fulham outfit. We certainly must not take Fulham lightly after
the success against Spurs. Down that road lies frustration and defeat. We
must analysis their strengths and weaknesses and exploit the latter, whilst
negating the former. The good piece of news today is that Dyer is fit for
the match. He has been in good form and has looked hungry to make up for
lost time on the injury teatment table. If he only manages 45-60 minutes
per match at full pelt then I will be happy with that. After all, we then
have players of the quality of Barrera and Faubert to call upon when he runs
out of steam!
Beyond that we have a tough home Carling Cup tie against Stoke City. I
favour playing McCarthy in that fixture. I believe that McCarthy is
building up his fitness and sharpness and that he will play a significant
role at some point his season. At the end of last season I prophesied that
McCarthy could come back to make a contribution this season, to much
criticism at the time. We shall see?
Finally, thanks for the support and kind comments in response to the last
Parish Notice. It was good to get the issue out in the open for discussion.
Although I accept that many did not agree with my response. We will have to
agree to disagree on that one.
Anyway its time to draw a line under that and focus on the much welcome
resurgence of West Ham's season. On that, hopefully, we can all agree.
SJ. Chandos.
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Hot-shot Frank aims to keep hammering in the goals
This Is South Wales
FRANK Nouble is planning to follow Scott Sinclair's lead as he tries to send
tongues wagging all over again at West Ham United this winter. Nouble marked
his third Swansea City appearance with the first goal of his senior career
at Watford on Tuesday night. Now the powerful centre-forward wants more.
Nouble shot to prominence at Upton Park with a spectacular full Premier
League debut for the Hammers in January this year. Only 19 last week — and
with four years to run on his West Ham contract — the 6ft 3in Londoner has
plenty of time to make his mark in the East End. But, as things stand, he is
only in Swansea for three months, so there is some pressure as he looks to
leave an impression. And Nouble is using Sinclair, a former colleague when
they were together at Chelsea, as his inspiration. "I'm young and I will
keep striving to be my best because if I can go back to West Ham with
everyone talking about me again then I've done my job," Nouble says. "I've
got a manager here who is confident in what I can do and a team that can
play some great football, so the chance is there for me. "I excited a few
people coming through first of all, just as I think any player coming into
the Premier League at 17 would, but it is about being consistent and I've
come to an age where that's what's got to happen now. "We've seen it happen
with Scott Sinclair. "He's a bit older than me, but he left Chelsea to have
that chance to be consistent. "He's playing week-in, week-out and it's no
surprise he's had a great start because of it. "For me it's a case of
following that lead."
Nouble did just that at Vicarage Road, climbing off the bench to tap home
what proved to be a crucial third goal after Sinclair had set the ball
rolling. It was a breakthrough moment for Nouble, who made a limited impact
during loan spells at West Brom and Swindon last season. "It's a learning
process," he adds.
"I played wide left for West Brom, and Swindon had two in-form strikers
(Charlie Austin and Billy Paynter) playing well at the time, so it was a bit
quiet at times for me in those loans. Brendan has told me to show my
qualities and what I can do and, if I get to play, I think I can do well.
"I've only been here a week so relationships in the team are only just
coming for me. I intend to be here for a good three months, and I'm sure
I'll get my chances."
Chances to play and, no doubt, chances to score goals. After the final-third
travails of last season, Swansea are really starting to look like an
attacking force again under their new manager. A glance at the statistics
tells all. Swansea have scored 23 goals in their 12 games in all
competitions so far this term. Compare that to the last campaign, when Paulo
Sousa's team scored just 45 goals in 49 games. If Rodgers's men continue at
their current rate, they will hit the target twice as many times as the
class of 2009-10 did. And Nouble has already seen enough to believe that his
former Chelsea youth boss can lead Swansea to a memorable year. "Brendan is
a great manager and I won't be the only one singing his praises here," he
says. "Hopefully, at the end of the season, he will get what he deserves,
which is a team at least in the play-offs. "Other teams have spent big and
have some big-name players but they aren't doing much in the league at the
moment. "This is the season where it could happen — but only at the end of
the season, because right now it's about doing it on the pitch."
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http://www.justgiving.com/sandhy-cycles-kenya
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