WHUFC.com
Although it was a busy night of internationals, Lars Jacobsen was the only
Hammer involved in UEFA Euro action
12.10.2010
Lars Jacobsen was the only West Ham United player to take part in UEFA Euro
2012 qualifying on Tuesday night as Denmark were 2-0 winners at home to
Cyprus. The Hammers full-back played the whole 90 minutes of a comfortable
contest, although the Danes had to wait until the second half before Morten
Rasmussen and Kasper Lorentzen scored.
Elsewhere, Tal Ben Haim was suspended as Israel lost 2-1 in Greece and
Robert Green was also not part of the 18 when England drew 0-0 at home to
Montenegro.
Jonathan Spector and Pablo Barrera were both hoping to figure for the United
States and Mexico respectively overnight into Wednesday morning UK time.
Spector's US were at home to Colombia while Barrera's Mexico were welcoming
Venezuela.
Earlier in the day, Winston Reid earned a late red card as New Zealand lost
2-0 in a friendly at home to Paraguay.
Marek Stech and Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson were also not in action but both can
look forward to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals in Denmark
next summer. Stech was an unused substitute as the Czech Republic sealed a
5-0 aggregate victory against Greece in their play-off while Eyjolfsson's
Iceland booked their passage with a 4-2 two-legged success over Scotland.
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Young Lions trio ready
WHUFC.com
The Hammers will yet again have strong representation in upcoming England
youth internationals
12.10.2010
Blair Turgott and Matthias Fanimo will be on England duty from next weekend
as England begin the defence of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship
crown. The attack-minded Hammers duo - both regulars in Tony Carr's Under-18
team - stepped up from helping the Young Lions win the Victory Shield at U16
level last season and are part of a 18-man squad heading to Georgia for the
qualifying mini-tournament. England begin against Sweden on Monday week
before taking on hosts Georgia two days later. They then conclude the
section with a game against Poland on Saturday 23 October. The two nations
will progress to the Elite round next spring. Meanwhile, young Academy
centre-back Leo Chambers will be part of the England squad that travel to
Wales this Friday for the 2010 Victory Shield opener. England are bidding to
make it ten triumphs in a row in a competition that has long had an
association with the Hammers. Notable former winners include Trevor
Brooking, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Jordan Spence and Robert Hall.
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Perfect preparation for Wolves
WHUFC.com
Paul Groves has spoken of the positives from the Lee Goodwin Testimonial
match at Dagenham
12.10.2010
The Hammers coaching staff were left more than content after a positive
night's work in Monday night's 3-2 win away to Dagenham and Redbridge in the
Lee Goodwin Testimonial. A strong first eleven were quick out of the blocks,
putting together 23 passes from the kick-off before scoring through Benni
McCarthy. The Daggers did not touch the ball until the restart but from then
it was a competitive contest. With a host of half-time changes, the home
side equalised before Freddie Sears and Freddie Piquionne made the game safe
- although there was a late consolation. McCarthy's goal was his third in
three appearances, Sears got the reward for some fantastic form of late and
Piquionne continued the run he has in the first team with his fourth goal in
four successive matches including Barclays Premier League and Carling Cup.
Strikers scoring goals is key, according to senior coach Paul Groves, and
Carlton Cole was also a lively presence.
Cole and McCarthy, in particular, are putting real pressure on current
first-choice forwards Victor Obinna and Piquionne. "One or two now have got
90 minutes under their belt and played some reserve games. They have put
themselves in contention and we want competition for places. "I am pleased
three different strikers scored," said Groves. "It is good for the
confidence and nice if they get opportunities that they take them. It all
bodes well. "There was a good pace about the game despite it being a
testimonial. The first goal was obviously very pleasing - the fact we moved
the ball very well and scored without them touching the ball. In terms of
the return of effort and the players' attitude towards the game was
fantastic."
The Hammers put on a good show for Daggers favourite Goodwin, who has had to
retire from the game because of injury. Avram Grant fielded the likes of
Cole, Mark Noble and Scott Parker to name but three. "It was good exercise,
a worthy cause and it went well. Hopefully Lee has had a good night and a
good return. IT should be a decent send-off for him."
Groves was also pleased with how the younger charges coped after the
interval, with several teenagers up against the League One newcomers. "A
side that has just come off the back of promotion is a tough place to come
in any circumstances. It was good for the younger players."
The focus is now fully on Wolves at the weekend and the coaches will be
waiting to make sure the last few internationals away - namely Robert Green,
Marek Stech, Lars Jacobsen, Tal Ben Haim and Pablo Barrera - come through
unscathed. "The next three or four days will bring about preparation for
Wolves and making sure we can go in and compete against a tough side. This
week has given us the opportunity for one or two to have a little bit of a
break where it has been full on for a while. "We have to err on the side of
caution for a couple and see how those cope who are coming back from
travelling are. In the main the international break has allowed the whole
group to recuperate, recharge and go again."
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Reid off in All Whites loss
WHUFC.com
Hammers defender Winston Reid got another welcome run-out on Tuesday for New
Zealand
12.10.2010
Winston Reid was sent off as New Zealand lost 2-0 to Paraguay in the early
hours of Tuesday morning UK time. The Wellington friendly was a rematch
after the teams drew 0-0 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. Reid was making
his second appearance in four days after a positive 90 minutes in last
Saturday's 1-1 draw with Honduras in Auckland. Paraguay proved too strong
for an All Whites side without key players Ryan Nelsen, the captain, and
Shane Smeltz. The South American side took control midway through the first
half with goals from Nelson Valdez and Osvaldo Martinez and never looked
back. Meanwhile, Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson will play at the 2011 UEFA European
Under-21 Championship in Denmark next summer after Iceland beat Scotland in
a two-legged play-off. The young Hammers centre-back was suspended for last
night's 2-1 win in Edinburgh that sealed a 4-2 aggregate success.
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West Ham striker Freddie Sears willing to leave Hammers on loan
Hackney Gazette
Matt Diner
Tuesday, 12 October, 2010
14:37 PM
West Ham striker Freddie Sears is desperate for regular football and
concedes he will probably have to go out on loan to get it. The 20-year-old
has struggled to break into the first team set-up at Upton Park and is
behind the likes of Carlton Cole, Victor Obinna, Benni McCarthy and Frederic
Piquionne in the pecking order. Sears has only made the one league
appearance this season and that was coming off the bench against Bolton with
just four minutes left. The striker found regular football in the
Championship for both Crystal Palace and Coventry and the young Hammer would
seriously consider a return to the division. "(I want to) try and break into
the first team, if its not at West Ham go somewhere on loan, play a couple
of games, score a couple of goals and take it from there really," he said.
"If you're not in or around the first team you have to go out on loan. But
I'm trying to do a bit and see if I can get back into the first team. "It's
nice to know who you are playing with, and playing week in, week out which
is why the way the loan system works helps players out. Go out play a couple
of games and then come back to your parent club." "The Championship is a
good league to be in, its great. Reserves is a little bit of a step down.
It's good to play reserve team football. The standard has been good this
year, but it's not going to be the standard of Premier League football."
Sears has struck up a useful partnership with McCarthy in second string
football and is optimistic that boss Avram Grant has taken note. "Hopefully
the manager will give me a chance and then it's up to me to take it," he
said. "Sometimes its hard. You're disappointed not to play a part now and
again. You train well and you want to play, but sometimes you have to
patient and see what happens. "I've got three years left on my contract so I
still have got plenty of time I have to see what happens."
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Hammer time: Spurs ace O'Hara linked with January move to West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:18 PM on 12th October 2010
Daily Mail
Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara could be on his way to West Ham in
January, according to reports. The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at
Portsmouth under Avram Grant after being frozen out by Spurs boss Harry
Redknapp. When Grant took over at West Ham, the Israeli contacted O'Hara
about joining him at Upton Park but the move broke down over Spurs' £6m
asking price. However the Hammers will reportedly make another attempt to
sign O'Hara in the January transfer window with the player said to be keen
on the move. He wants to play regular Premier League and to stay in London
because of his family. West Ham would also be willing to meet the
midfielder's £30,000-a-week wages, say reports. The only snag is the two
clubs have not been on the best of the terms recently as West Ham were
furious over Spurs' pursuit of their midfielder Scott Parker in the summer.
They are also both battling to take over the use of the Olympic Stadium
after London 2012. But Redknapp could be willing to cut his losses and let
O'Hara, who has never figured in his plans, go if he can get a decent return
on a player with three years of his contract remaining. Redknapp said
earlier this season: 'They [West Ham] were talking to Jamie O'Hara all
through the summer. Jamie told me he'd been getting phone calls all summer.'
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McCarthy braced for backlash
Wolves boss accepts the pressure is on
By Ben Collins Last updated: 12th October 2010
SSN
Mick McCarthy admits the heat is on as Wolves prepare to host fellow
strugglers West Ham on Saturday. Wolves are on their worst losing run in six
years having suffered four straight defeats, putting them second-bottom of
the Premier League with just one win from seven games. Although West Ham are
propping up the table - below McCarthy's men on goal difference - they are
unbeaten in four. And with successive games against the top four to follow,
the Wolves boss knows he faces a fans' backlash if they fail to win.
Frustrations
"West Ham at home is a huge game and the pressure will be on," he told the
Express & Star. "I'm not going to appease people with words, that's just the
way it is. "If we don't win, the frustrations will be all the worse and fans
will be coming up with whatever anagram they can for 'super Mick' -
'big-nosed whatever' - because I've seen it before. But you won't find a
more pragmatic bloke than me."
McCarthy may spend hours trying to mastermind an upset when his side prepare
to face each of the top four. But with so much at stake against the Hammers,
he is confident he will have to do little to rally his troops this week.
Motivation Results have been poor, but we're doing everything we can here to
get results," he added. "In terms of motivation, the West Ham game takes
care of itself. "If we win, we could be one point off 10th spot, and in a
great position going into a really tough run of games. "Sometimes you say
'balls to it - we need a performance, so come on, let's play West Ham.' "You
can put all the 'paralysis by analysis' in the bin and just try to give a
performance."
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O'Hara to Arrive in January?
West Ham Till I Die
The rumour has resurfaced that Spurs midfielder, and ex-Pompey loanee, Jamie
O'Hara will join the Hammers during the winter transfer window. Certainly,
O'Hara is a player that Grant knows and rates, so it is a possibility that
the deal could happen. O'Hara wants to stay in London, apparently, so that
could be an extra imperative in the transfer.
The obstacle to a summer move was Spurs' insistence that they wanted a £6m
fee for a player that has played little or no part in Harry Redknapp's first
team plans to date. That was obviously a specially inflated fee just for
us! However, there is now an emerging opinion that says that Spurs might be
ready to reduce their asking price in order to move the player on and, at
the same time, generate additional transfer funds. We shall see?
If O'Hara does come, it will be important to ensure that he is fully fit and
ready to play his part in the squad. The deal may see him brought in as a
replacement of Behrami and/or Kovac. It would certainly be wise to seek
midfield cover if one or both of these players were moved on by Grant.
Berhami is perpetually injured these days and must be under domestic
pressure, with the failure of his wife to settle in London. So, a move back
to Serie A looks on the cards. I just hope that we get decent money for
him, Roma were obviously playing games with us in the summer. We need to
show them that we mean business on the fee and/or sell him to one of the
other interested parties, such as Palermo.
In the meantime, I would like to see Eyjolfsson get a first team
opportunity at some point this season. If not at centre half, then in an
anchor role in midfield. I saw a recent performance by him for the Iceland
U-21s and he looked very mature and assured, good on the ball and strong in
the tackle. Indeed, he is quite a prospect and appears to be working hard
at is game and seeking to improve all the time. He has had the obligatory
spells on loan (including in the Belgium League) and deserves his chance.
Also, what is the situation with Jordan Spence? Spence had big reputation
as a highly talented young centre half. A real one for the future. Like
Eyjolfsson, he has dutifully had his periods on loan, but has made a couple
of brief appearances for the first team. I certainly expected Spence to be
firmly in the first team selection frame by now. Hopefully, he will at
least make the bench for the Carling Cup Tie against Stoke City.
On that game, I hope that Grant sticks with Stech for the tie. The young
keeper did very well in the victory over Sunderland and should retain his
place for this match. Personally, I would give Green the night off and
start with Stech and have Ruud Boffin on the bench. On Boffin, he has done
very well in the reserves and kept some clean sheets. So, hopefully both
Stech and Boffin will now start to compete with Rob Green and force him to
justify his first team selection.
Finally, well done to West Ham for putting out a team for the Lee Godwin
testimonial that included so many first teamers. We also appeared to put
in a lot of effort on the pitch and this was reflected in the match, 2-3 win
for the Hammers. Hopefully, Lee Godwin got a good pay day and the West Ham
players a decent run out!
Ex-Hammers Academy graduate Godwin was a contemporary of Ferdinand and
Lampard Jnr, in the Hammers youth team After leaving the club he settled
down at Dagenham & Redbridge FC and provided ten sterling years of service
in the lower leagues. No doubt Lee has enjoyed his career and one one can
only wish him well for the future.
SJ. Chandos.
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Hammers coach delight at trio's performance against Daggers
10:56am Tuesday 12th October 2010
Guardian Series
WEST HAM coach Paul Groves was pleased to see three strikers find the net in
last night's victory over Dagenham & Redbridge. Freddie Piquionne, Freddie
Sears and Benni McCarthy all netted in the 3-2 win in Lee Goodwin's
testimonial match; a player that graduated from the Hammers' academy and
spent ten years with the Daggers. Groves said: "I am pleased three different
strikers scored. It is good for the confidence and nice if they get
opportunities that they take them. It all bodes well. "There was a good pace
about the game despite it being a testimonial. The first goal (from
McCarthy) was obviously very pleasing – the fact we moved the ball very well
and scored without them touching the ball. In terms of the return of effort
and the players' attitude towards the game was fantastic."
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