WHUFC.com
Victor Obinna has admitted a half-time lecture from Avram Grant spurred
Saturday's second-half comeback
18.10.2010
Victor Obinna has admitted a half-time team-talk from manager Avram Grant
inspired West Ham United to come from behind to snatch a 1-1 Barclays
Premier League draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers. With a number of players -
Nigeria forward Obinna included - not returning from international duty to
resume training at Chadwell Heath until Thursday, the Hammers made a poor
start to proceedings at Molineux. After falling behind to Matt Jarvis's
tenth-minute volley, West Ham were indebted to goalkeeper Robert Green, who
kept the visitors in the game with fine saves from David Jones and
Christophe Berra. Green's heroics were to prove invaluable as Grant's
half-time team talk and tactical change - the manager switched from an
ineffective 4-4-2 to a free-flowing 4-3-3 - led to an impressive second-half
recovery. Mark Noble equalised from the penalty spot after Obinna was fouled
eight minutes after the break, while both the No33 and fellow forward
Frederic Piquionne had opportunities to secure victory for their side. "The
manager was really mad at us for the first half because he knows what we're
capable of doing, the kind of team we are and the quality in the team. He
was upset with the way we played in the first half and told us a few words
and said 'Guys, you know you are better than this. Go out and prove
yourselves and win this game'. "He was not really, really angry - he was
upset. I think he was justified. I think Wolves were the better side in the
first half because they had good ball position, good movement and everything
about the first half. "Their fans were also pushing them to do well and
mostly the first half was not that good for us. We tried to play our
football, but their goalkeeper was kicking lots of long balls and their
midfielders were taking the second balls. It wasn't the game we wanted to
play. "In the second half, we changed the play and the way we wanted to
play. We played 4-3-3 and you saw how the game changed."
Obinna pointed to the midweek round of international fixtures as a factor in
West Ham's slow start. He and DR Congo defender Herita Ilunga both returned
to their home continent for CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while
Mexico's Pablo Barrera and the United States' Jonathan Spector both made
trans-Atlantic trips and Winston Reid returned to New Zealand to turn out
for their countries in friendly matches.
Closer to home, England's Robert Green, Denmark's Lars Jacobsen, Israel's
Tal Ben Haim and Czech Republic Under-21 goalkeeper Marek Stech were all
absent on UEFA European Championship qualifying duty. "I think everybody is
here now and the team is full. I believe a lot of us went to play for our
national teams and we came back lately - some of us did not return until
Thursday. It's pretty difficult for the coach to prepare for a game like
this when you don't have a full team until Thursday. "We didn't play very
well in the first half but I think the second half was much better. We came
back with the spirit. We know how to play football. We moved the ball around
and we dominated virtually the whole second half and tried to play the sort
of football we want to play. "I believe we wanted to win this game. We
wanted to continue the positive run we have started in the previous four
games. While Obinna will give everything to defeat Newcastle United at the
Boleyn Ground this weekend, the on-loan Internazionale player believes
Piquionne had done just that to Wolves. The France forward appeared to have
won all three points for the Hammers when he controlled and coolly finished
past Marcus Hahnemann in added time, only for referee Mark Clattenburg to
rule the 'goal' out for handball. "It was a clean, clean goal. You could see
it was here [Obinna points to his upper chest] and his hand was behind. I
don't know what the referee was thinking. There was also a one-on-one
situation before the end of the game when he whistled instead of waiting to
see the ball. It was very bad. I think he should have played advantage."
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Parker proves perfect
WHUFC.com
The manager has hailed Scott Parker for his continued excellence for the
claret and blue cause
17.10.2010
Avram Grant has hailed Scott Parker after yet another star turn at the heart
of the Hammers midfield. Captain in the absence of Matthew Upson in the 1-1
draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Parker demonstrated yet again why he is the
two-time Hammer of the Year. Parker may have just turned 30 last Wednesday
but his manager believes he is in the peak of his form and unrivalled among
domestic players in the Barclays Premier League. "If you look at the English
midfielders, there are no better players than Scott Parker," said Grant of
the No8. "From the start of the season, there is no doubt that he is the
best English midfielder."
Parker is the only Hammers player this season to start all eight top-flight
matches and both Carling Cup dates, emphasising his importance to the cause.
Grant said the midfielder should also be an England regular and would back
his man to be selected for the glamour friendly at home to France at Wembley
on Wednesday 17 November. Grant added: "You will need to talk to Fabio
Capello to find out why he is not in the England squad. I am not the England
manager but Scott deserves to be there. He is good offensively and
defensively and does well with the ball. "He's very clever and he's
professional. Scott's a good guy and very positive. It would be good for the
English game if he is there in the squad."
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iPhone app proving popular
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant and Luis Boa Morte exclusives, plus match highlights, are
available from the official iPhone app
17.10.2010
Download the Official West Ham United App for iPhone and iPod Touch today
and get all the post-match action and reaction from Saturday's match at
Wolverhampton Wanderers. This feature packed app is a must-have for all
Hammers fans and with great features to keep you close to the team on and
off the pitch. The app is available from the App Store now for just £2.99
and features include:
• Latest club news
• Fixture listings
• League table
• Free videos
• Match stats
• Free wallpapers (usually £3 each!)
• Latest scores - match stats and scorers available for all Premier League
matches
• Player profiles - new enhanced player profile link available in match
section
...Plus much more
The application also features an unrivalled matchday experience, with live
audio commentary*, interviews from WHUTV* and mach highlights*. Among the
clips playing today are the Wolves highlights, the post-match thoughts of
Avram Grant and Luis Boa Morte, and much much more. Wherever you are in the
world, as long as you have mobile reception you can listen in to EVERY
Hammers match live. Bonus features include push notifications* providing you
with match info and news alerts straight to your iPhone/iPod Touch *Feature
requires subscription - £2.39 per month/ £24.99 a year.
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/official-west-ham-united/id385916479?mt=8
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Grant - Parker for England
Hammers boss thinks midfielder deserves international recall
Last updated: 17th October 2010
SSN
West Ham manager Avram Grant is surprised that midfielder Scott Parker has
not earned a recall to the England squad. Parker has not been involved in
Fabio Capello's international plans since he was one of the unfortunate men
to be axed from an initial 30-man squad before this summer's World Cup.
But Grant thinks that the 30-year-old is the star midfielder in the Premier
League so far this season after several all-action performances. And after
watching Parker put in another impressive display in Saturday's 1-1 draw at
Wolves on Saturday, the Hammers boss thinks his former Newcastle, Chelsea
and Charlton man deserves a chance to add to his three caps. "I think if you
look at all the English midfielders, with respect to others, there is no
doubt that Scott, from the beginning of the season, has been the best
midfielder," Grant said. "I need to talk to Capello! I am not the England
manager, but I am sure that Scott deserves to be there.
Clever
"He played well offensively and defensively, was good with the ball. He has
a great record for blocking shots of the other team and is very clever and
professional, a good guy - very positive. "I think it would be good for the
England team if he was there, and especially in this form." Carlton Cole has
also found himself out of the England picture and with no goals to his name
in the current campaign the striker has been on the bench for West Ham's
last four matches. Grant brought Cole on with a little less than 15 minutes
to go at Molineux and afterwards praised his contribution. "Coley came very
well into the game," Grant said. "He made himself available and created two
good chances for himself. I was very pleased with his performance, but he
needed a little bit of luck to score."
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Av a go Grant revives Hammers
The Sun
Published: Today
VICTOR OBINNA has revealed how a half-time blast from Avram Grant sparked
West Ham's Molineux revival. The Nigerian striker said: "He was really mad
because he knows the quality in the team and he was really, really upset
with the way we played. "He just told us to go out and prove ourselves. It
was justified from the manager as I think Wolves were the better side in the
first half." Obinna was convinced Freddie Piquionne's late 'goal', which was
ruled out for handball, should have stood. He said: "It was a clean goal. It
hit him on his chest."
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Grant tips Hammers ace Parker for England call
Published 23:00 17/10/10 By Ann Gripper
The Mirror
Hammers boss Avram Grant is leading the 'Scott Parker for England' campaign.
The Hammers midfielder has been overlooked by Fabio Capello since being cut
from the initial 30-man World Cup squad. And after England's plodding
display at Wembley last Tuesday, Grant believes it would not hurt Capello to
look again at his midfield general. Grant said: "With due respect for
others, there is no doubt Scott has been the best midfielder this season.
"I'm not the England manager but I'm sure Scott deserves to be there. He
plays well offensively and defensively and he's good on the ball. "I've
been working with Scott for four months and he is a top, top professional.
"He can be an example to everybody because he always gives his best if he's
in a good mood or not in a good mood. I don't think it just came as a gift,
he made it happen by training well, by behaving well, by always being
positive." And West Ham striker Victor Obinna joined the Parker campaign.
"He's the engine room of our midfield and a fantastic player," he said. "He
has to be in the England squad."
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Vinny's Wolves Report
Vinny - Sun Oct 17 2010
West Ham Online
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 West Ham United 1
West Ham stretched their unbeaten run to five games as a second half fight
back saw the points shared at Molineux.
This was certainly what you would call a 'game of two halves' with Wolves
dominating the first half and should have scored more than the one goal they
did manage. In the second period we can be very pleased with our performance
as it was us who totally dominated the game and should have had at least
another couple of goals with poor finishing and poor refereeing denying us.
If you had said to me at half time that we would play like we did in the
second half I would not have believed you given how poor we had been up to
then. It was similar to many of the away games last season when teams just
over ran us and our players couldn't get a kick. Whatever was said at half
time certainly worked and we were aided by the penalty early in the half
which Mark Noble scored from.
Whilst we still may be bottom of the league we are looking much better and
unlike this time last season I really do not see us in this position for too
much longer. Also unlike last season we are a threat going forward and have
goals in our locker.
There was just the one change to the side who started against Fulham a
couple of weeks ago with Team Captain Matthew Upson out with injury and
replaced by Tal Ben Haim who was making his first Premiership start for the
club.
I seemed as though this would be a straight swap but it was Danny Gabbidon,
impressing at left back recently who went to centre half alongside Manuel Da
Costa and Ben Haim was at left back. Herita Ilunga was on the bench as was
the returning Valon Behrami.
The West Ham players were all wearing black armbands in respect to former
player Malcolm Allison who died early in the week aged 83. Allison made more
than 250 senior league and cup appearances, scoring ten goals, between 1951
and 1957.
The West Ham fans took up the entire of the Steve Bull Lower Tier. I was
situated towards the end where both goals would be scored very close to the
home supporters in Row A. Unfortunately the 'supporters' around me were not
interested in the game in the slightest as it was the Wolves fans who seemed
more interesting than a game of football which they had paid £28 to see.
The opening quarter of the game saw Wolves take the game to us and we fell
back looking shocked at how quickly Wolves had begun. It was the perfect
tempo to start any home game and the hosts looked dangerous from the off.
The first half chance Wolves had was from a corner when Robert Green punched
the ball only as far as David Jones who hit a half volley way over the bar.
A couple of minutes later Wolves did take the lead after faliure to clear
the ball on a few occasions led to a poor goal conceded from a West Ham
point of view.
It started when a ball into the area to Jarvis saw three West Ham players go
towards him and Noble actually did make the interception but he took one
touch to many and gave the ball back to Jarvis who managed to get the ball
back to Jones who played it wide and the cross from Ward saw Robert Green
palm the ball to Jarvis who hit the ball on the volley into the goal.
A terrible start to the game and it looked as though it would only get worse
with another chance following soon after when Jarvis got the ball on the
left and played it back for Jones to hit a left foot shot which was well
saved by Green as he tipped it away for a corner.
The home side were close to getting that second goal when a ball into the
area for Jones eventually found its way to Doyle who fizzed a ball across
goal which Ben Haim was close to putting into his own net but was put away
for a corner.
The resulting corner was only cleared as far as Foley who put the ball back
into the area for Fletcher to head across goal and Green just got to the
ball before Spearman who looked poised to score.
We were being murdered and playing as badly as we could have feared. Going
forward we offered nothing with only Kieron Dyer looking lively on the right
hand side but his final ball was often poor. We just could not get involved
in the game and the most positive thing to take out of the first half is
that we had only conceded one.
Wolves came out for the second half much like most teams do when they are
leading by one goal. They have more than likely been told by their manager
(in this case the useless Mick McCarthy) to keep it tight for the first ten
minutes. This sees them try and sit back and defend which only plays into
our hands as we have more than likely been told to go out and try and get an
early goal.
I would think the Wolves fans will be very disappointed to how they started
the second half as they had done so well in the first pegging us back with
high tempo attacking. We were able to get the ball on the floor and play
some neat football and finally settle in a game which was already into its
second half.
The only tactical change we had made was to start Obinna on the left hand
side with Dyer going to the right. This move paid off only seven minutes
after the restart when Obinna took the left back Foley on and burst into the
area only to be bundled over by the Wolves man.
Referee Mark Clattenburg immediately pointed to the spot to the howls of
anger from the Wolverhampton support. From where I was sitting it seemed
like a very clumsy challenge and replays suggest that this was a penalty.
Mark Noble stepped up to score his second goal of the season (both from the
spot) sending Marcus Hahnemann the wrong way.
From then on we played like we would hope we would play in most away games.
We took the game to Wolves and had a host of chances to score a second. Even
thinking about the chances we had and the good positions we got ourselves
into I am scratching my head to how we didn't manage to score. Of course
some will point out that we did in fact score through Piquionne but I'll get
to that in a moment.
A quite sublime pass from Luis Boa Morte sent Frederique Piquionne through
down the left hand side with the Frenchman hitting a superb left foot effort
which beat the keeper but smacked off the cross bar.
Wolves couldn't get hold of the ball and we were picking up everything in
midfield. Mark Noble and Scott Parker had taken control of the game and Da
Costa was winning everything in the air.
Going forward the three man attack of Piquionne, Obinna and Dyer were
causing their defence problems.
We should have got the second goal when Piquionne went down the right hand
side and cut the ball back for Dyer who fluffed his shot when he had seemed
poised to smash the ball into the goal.
A glorious chance presented itself when Dyer latched onto a pass from Ben
Haim and with his shot being blocked and ball coming out to Obinna who hit a
goal bound shot which was just slightly deflected but it was that deflection
which took the ball just past the post. Some of the West Ham fans were sure
it was going in with celebrations about to begin but a corner was won
instead.
With just under fifteen minutes to go Avram Grant took off Kieron Dyer and
replaced him with Carlton Cole. If there was any concern that we would be
happy with a point this change indicated otherwise.
Cole gave us an option to play the ball over the top into space although I
felt he looked a little lost when running for some of these passes. I know
he has never been what you would call quick but he looked way off the pace
when running for the ball.
Carlton Cole would get his golden chance to score but unfortunately for
everyone he fluffed it. A ball towards Piquionne was head into the path of
Cole who showed fantastic control and looked poised to smack it past the
keeper but he made no real connection to his left foot shot and Hahnemann
easily saved.
One incident which hasn't been discussed is Piquionne being quite clearly
fouled in the area with just a few minutes left. It was a poor challenge
from the Wolves player with even the Wolves fans gasping at the mis timed
tackle. The problem for us was it was Piquionne who was fouled and this type
of foul is not going to knock the big striker down. If he had gone over it
was as clear a penalty as you would ever seen.
In to the 94th minute and there was to be late drama as a superb flowing one
touch move saw Ben Haim flick the ball into the path of Piquionne who would
slot the ball past the keeper in what surely would be the winning goal only
for referee Mark Clattenburg to rule out, claiming that Piquionne had
handled the ball.
Replays suggest that there was no handball and the referee got it so very
wrong although I'll be honest from my angle I thought it was handball
straight away.
Another league away game without a victory but a very positive second half
display.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
Has to take some of the blame for the goal although if it had been cleared
like it should have been it would have never come to that. Green actually
was very good in the air as he caught and punched just about everything. You
could argue that he was unlucky for the ball to go straight to Jarvis who
was able to volley in but when you palm the ball into the centre of the area
you have to be aware that an opposition player will be ready to pounce.
Lars Jacobsen
Like most of our defenders in the first half he struggled with his
distribution of the ball. His passing was poor but like most of our entire
team he got better in the second half was not troubled.
Danny Gabbidon
Back at centre half and looked shaky in the first half. The defence was
under pressure and his failure to clear the ball in to an area which didn't
put us back under pressure was frustrating. It was very comfortable for him
in the second half with little pressure being applied by Wolves.
Manuel Da Costa
His passing in the first half was atrocious with balls being lumped forward
no where near the attackers. We was struggling against Doyle but in the
second half he made amends as he totally dominated the Wolves attackers. He
was arguably our player of the second half and certainly one of them.
Tal Ben Haim
Played us into trouble more often than not in the first half with a lack of
left foot hindering his clearances. It was a little surprising to see him
start the game at left back after Gabbidon had been playing well there and
Ilunga was on the bench. In the second half he wasn't so wobbly and got
forward really well showing a lot of pace which I was unaware he possessed.
Mark Noble
Had a part to play in the Wolves goal with him conceding possession the his
own area. He was not in the game in the first half but when he got hold of
the ball in the second he was excellent and he and Parker dominated the
midfield. He took his penalty well and was positive on the ball throughout
the second period.
Scott Parker
Another top performance from Parker who drove the team on as the game wore
on. He was making many tackles, picking up the loose balls and driving
forward in possession. He was fouled on so many occasions which one us free
kicks in good areas.
Luis Boa Morte
You would be forgiven for thinking he wasn't even on the pitch in the first
half given how ineffective he was. In the second his aggressive nature
popped up which was important as we needed to get tighter to the Wolves
players and not let them find any flow to their football. Boa Morte did well
regarding this and even put a quality pass through for Piquionne who hit the
bar.
Kieron Dyer
Just couldn't find that final ball or final shot which would have probably
seen him get most peoples man of the match award. Still, he was dangerous
and it is great to see us have players in the side like him and Obinna who
are willing to take on their man. Having Dyer in the side makes us stronger.
Victor Obinna
Playing as an attacking winger on both flanks throughout the game he always
looks a threat and was very unlucky not to score in the second half. Won the
penalty thanks to his willingness to take on his man and this was another
good display from the Nigerian.
Frederique Piquionne
He is a striker who is always a threat. He makes things happen and I was
very pleased with his performance. He hit the ball, had a goal disallowed,
won things in the air, set up a couple of glorious chances and had a real
impact on the game.
Subs Used
Carlton Cole (on for Dyer 77 minutes)
Low on confidence, low on goals and low on support from the fans. Cole
fluffed his big chance to score and looked sluggish during his time on the
pitch. Whether this is simply confidence, continued disappointment about not
going to the world cup or injury things do not look good with Carlton Cole
at the moment. He desperately needs a goal.
Subs Not Used: Stech, Tomkins, Behrami, Ilunga, Faubert, McCarthy
Bookings: Piquionne
Man Of The Match: Frederique Piquionne
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hahnemann, Foley, Craddock (Stearman 5), Berra,
Ward, Mancienne, Jones (Ebanks-Blake 87), Edwards, Jarvis, Fletcher (Van
Damme 68), Doyle
Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Milijas, Bent
Attendance: 28, 582
Overall
I was a little disappointed coming away from the game as I really thought we
should have scored a second. Of course you can point out that we were lucky
to not have been three or four down at half time given how many chances
Wolves had.
We played some very nice football in the second half and dominated
possession. Wolves couldn't get near us at times just as we couldn't get
near them in the second half.
If we continue to create that many chances away from home then a win will be
coming fairly soon and as long as we continue to be creative going forward I
will not panic about our current league position.
Next Game - Newcastle United (h)
A 5.30pm kick off against newly promoted Newcastle will see a game really
there for the taking and we could really do with getting the three points as
despite being unbeaten in the last four league game we have only picked up
one win.
We may be bottom of the league on goal difference but the last month has
seen a massive improvement as we look a much more settled side. We have
options on the bench to change things when needed and I believe we will
start picking up wins very soon.
The View From Avram
"We started the game very well for the first five or ten minutes and created
some possibilities to score goals but then they became better than us, they
scored a goal, they passed the ball well and were very energetic.
Wolves were the better team in the first half but then we were better in the
second half. We played better, we created chances and could easily have won
the game.
"At half-time we spoke about changing things tactically so that Wolves could
not dominate the game. It was an away game and we spoke about the need to
show character and spirit. We've had problems in the past but this is the
second game that we have come back from being a goal behind. That shows good
character."
{On the disallowed goal}
"Afterwards, I looked at it [on the television monitor] in the tunnel and
saw that it was a goal. Ten minutes before that, he gave us a foul, when one
of our players was in front of the goal.
"In my opinion, Mark Clattenberg is one of the best referees in the game but
they are human beings and they make mistakes. Unfortunately, it was against
us and it cost us two points.
"It's not the first time that's happened. The first goal at Aston Villa, at
Manchester United and against Bolton Wanderers the referees made mistakes
but I must say that Mark is a very good referee.
"In the very last minute it could also have been very sweet for us. It was
clear that the ball hit his chest. Frederic Piquionne said that the ball was
not even close to his hand."
"The away win will come. Today we won but then the referee decided not! If
we can play like this in the away games then a win will come at the end of
the day."
Season 2010/11 Scorers and Bookings
Scorers
Scott Parker 3 (2 League, 1 Cup)
Frederique Piquionne 3 (2 League, 1 Cup)
Mark Noble 2 (2 league)
Victor Obinna 1 (1 Cup)
Bookings
Noble - 3
Parker - 3
Cole - 2
Upson - 2
Tomkins - 1
Faubert - 1
Behrami - 1
Boa Morte - 1
Gabbidon - 1
Piquionne - 1
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