WHUFC.com
The Hammers were well represented by Blair Turgott and Matthias Fanimo on
Young Lions duty
24.10.2010
Blair Turgott and Matthias Fanimo will return to Little Heath this week
after an excellent week's work with England.The Hammers duo helped the Young
Lions to qualify for next spring's Elite qualifying round of the 2011 UEFA
European Under-17 Championship.
The attack-minded Turgott notably scored the only goal of the 1-0 win
against Poland that made certain of top spot in their mini-tournament group,
after a 3-0 victory against Sweden and 1-1 draw with hosts Georgia
previously. Turgott played the whole game of the final nervy date with the
Poles, while Fanimo came off the bench in the 73rd minute. The duo are used
to success in national-team colours, having been part of the England squad
that won the Victory Shield last summer at Under-16 level. Both could be
back in U18 level for the Hammers next week when Tony Carr's side go to
Charlton Athletic looking to return to winning ways. England, meanwhile,
will learn their Elite round opponents when the draw is made on 30 November.
Should they progress from that stage, the final tournament for Europe's best
eight U17 nations will be held in Serbia between 3 and 15 May.
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Grant looking for reaction
WHUFC.com
A disappointing evening against Newcastle United has not deterred the
manager from his aims
24.10.2010
Avram Grant is backing his players to show the form of the previous month
when they next return to action against Stoke City in the Carling Cup on
Wednesday. The Hammers have the chance to bounce back quickly after the
disappointment of a second-half showing on Saturday that led to a 2-1 defeat
at the hands of travelling Newcastle United. It had all started so brightly
with Carlton Cole scoring on his first start for a month but after that the
Magpies took control and won through Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll. The
manager was left to wonder what had happened, given the way his side
appeared in total control in the opening stages with some free-flowing
football. "We were more close to the second goal after we started the game
so well but then they scored and we didn't react like we had in the other
games when the other team had scored. Our game was not good in the second
half. "Sometimes you don't know the reason. We didn't push so much, we
didn't press well. We give them too much space to pass the ball. Even if we
played the second half with two strikers we gave a lot of balls away."
Responding to praise for the way the team played in the early stages that
demonstrated why they had gone five games unbeaten, he added: "The first
half was a good game. Even Newcastle told us they thought we would score two
or three. "We were close to this, we used three quick players [in Cole,
Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne]. They pressed well, everything was
good. After we scored we didn't continue to do what we did before, though."
He rightly gave equal praise back to Chris Hughton's side, who showed the
form that has got them important wins against the likes of Aston Villa,
Everton and Chelsea this season. "They played well. We gave them the space
to play in the second half. They are good players and they passed the ball
well.
"They didn't create so many chances but we knew the strength of their
crossing because they play two physical strikers but we didn't deal with it
like we should."
With Stoke and then Arsenal away next Saturday, the tests come thick and
fast. The manager will hope for good news on Matthew Upson's hamstring and
the knock picked up by Freddie Piquionne, while Kieron Dyer was kept out as
a precaution as his return continues to be managed carefully. "I remain
positive. It is harder now but there is just under 30 games to go and we
have games in the next two months that we can win. If we play like we did
until now when we had five games unbeaten and all the draws we were more
close to winning, we will be OK. "The owners told me they are patient, they
understand. We knew that this season would be tough, we don't want to be in
this situation."
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Sears a winner again
WHUFC.com
His one-month loan may be less than a week old, but Freddie Sears has
settled in quickly at Scunthorpe
24.10.2010
Freddie Sears continues to make an impressive impact on loan at Scunthorpe
United - helping the Championship club to a second successive win in just
five days. The Iron's new No10 played a key role in last Tuesday's 3-2 win
at Preston North End and then did well again on Saturday as they won 2-0 at
home against in-form Watford. Indeed, Sears was given a standing ovation
from all four corners of the ground when substituted on 83 minutes with the
game won against the Hornets. Sears nearly capped his all-action display
with a superb individual goal just before the hour. Collecting the ball on
the halfway line, he beat three men with a mazy run before firing in a shot
that England Under-21 keeper Scott Loach only just tipped away to safety.
Elsewhere, 18-year-old Frank Nouble was an unused substitute as Premier
League promotion chasers Swansea City moved up to third place with a 2-0
home win against Leicester City. In League One, centre-back Matt Fry played
the whole 90 minutes as Charlton Athletic won 4-3 away to Carlisle United to
move within a point of the play-off positions.
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Upson refusing to panic
Upson staying claim under the relegation pressure
Last updated: 24th October 2010
SSN
Matthew Upson is refusing to hit the panic button after West Ham failed to
move off the foot of the table. The Hammers were beaten 2-1 by Newcastleand
are now three points adrift of safety, having suffered their first loss
since 11th September. But Upson, who was a member of England's World Cup
squad, feels the East London team are in a false position.
Panic
"We're not hitting the panic button," said Upson. "People can get carried
away with our performances and our position but before this game we went on
a five-match unbeaten run. We weren't on a drastically bad run. "We just
need to turn a few draws into wins." The final whistle triggered a chorus of
boos as the West Ham fans starting calling for the head of Avram Grant. "We
massively wanted to win," added Hammers skipper Upson. "We want to give our
supporters something that is worth turning up for and maybe in the second
half we didn't achieve that. "We looked dangerous in the first half but we
just fell away. We have to analyse that and find out why."
West Ham owners David Gold and David Sullivan are remaining steadfastly
behind their Israeli manager. And despite having to travel to Emirates
Stadium to face Arsenal next week, he remains optimistic.
Anything
"There are no easy games in football and away games are tough but anything
can happen," said Grant. "Maybe Arsenal away will be the toughest game of
the season but we will try to do our best there." West Ham have the unwanted
record of having the worst goal difference in the division, having only
scored five times this season. But with Carlton Cole returning to
goalscoring form in what was his first start in a month, Upson is confident
he can fire them to safety. "When Carlton's fit and playing he's a great
asset for us," continued Upson. "With him back playing and fit it gives a
good selection of strikers, that's important for us because I don't think
we've scored more than one goal in a game in the league. We need to increase
that ratio."
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We'll Av to get it right quick
The Sun
By CARL LONG
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT has admitted the pressure is getting to him and his struggling
side. After being pushed on his future, the under-fire West Ham boss said:
"We have confidence in football, but you never know what's going to happen.
"We know we are going through a tough season but I think even having lost
this game, I am sure we can do it and we will stay positive. "Maybe Arsenal
away on Saturday is the toughest game of the season. We will try to do our
best."
Skipper Matthew Upson insists the Hammers will not push the "panic button".
The England defender, 31, took himself off early after straining a hamstring
in the second half. But despite just one win in nine games, the skipper -
who faces another spell on the sidelines having only just returned from a
neck spasm - believes things will turn things around. He said: "We're not
hitting the panic button. People can get carried away with our performances
and our position. "But before this game we went five unbeaten. We weren't on
a drastically bad run. We just need to turn a few draws into wins."
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Vinny's Newcastle Report
Vinny - Sun Oct 24 2010
West Ham Online
West Ham United 1 Newcastle United 2
West Ham stay rooted to the bottom of the league after a poor performance
saw Newcastle take the points which condemns West Ham to their third home
league defeat of the season.
Having gone unbeaten over the previous four league games many identified
this game as the one which would help get us out of trouble but instead we
come away from the game more concerned than at any other point during the
season.
I had been confident that we were heading in the right direction with
performances getting better and results slowly improving but it is difficult
for me not to see this as a big set back and with Arsenal next up in the
league I don't see us moving away from the relegation zone any time soon.
The second half display was not good enough and we failed to test the
Newcastle keeper with any meaningful attempt. It was such a gutless
performance and any hope that we may be able to avoid another depressing
relegation battle this season has evaporated replaced by that same
depressing feeling we have been feeling for far too long.
To have had just one shot on target during the entire game (which of course
was the goal) is not good enough when playing any team at home let alone a
newly promoted one. Newcastle did not have to do too much to get their
victory with Robert Green having to make very few saves but they won every
second ball and their midfield was a lot stronger than ours.
Avram Grant made three changes to the side who drew at Wolverhampton last
weekend. In defence Matthew Upson was fit again and replaced Tal Ben Haim
who dropped to the bench. This saw Danny Gabbidon go to left back.
In midfield Luis Boa Morte was dropped to the bench in favour of Valon
Behrami and Kieron Dyer was yet again missing from the squad and replaced by
Carlton Cole.
This saw Cole play down the middle with Piquionne on the right hand side of
him and Obinna on the left.
Managing Newcastle United was Chris Houghton who had a spell as a player at
West Ham playing over 30 games between 1990 - 1992.
We started well and at the right tempo attacking Newcastle from the off and
looking dangerous in the process. It was clear that we did not want to let
them settle and this is some we do at home far too often.
There wasn't ten minutes on the clock when we had a penalty shout at Behrami
slipped the ball into the area for Cole who seemed to be dumped to the
ground by the Newcastle defender Williamson only for the linesman to flag
for a free kick against Cole.
Another good move came shortly after as Cole came deep to win the ball and
played it to Noble who raced forward slipping the ball down the left for
Obinna whose cross found Piquionne but the linesman flag went up although
the finish from Piquionne was saved by the keeper from point blank range.
We had started the better and I felt a goal was coming and indeed it did
when Noble played a delightful ball over the top for Piquionne who had kept
onside and his scuffed left foot shot went straight into the path of Carlton
Cole who applied the finish to score his first goal of the season.
It was what we had deserved for our start to the game and seemed to be
proving at this stage that the decision from Avram Grant to play three
forwards was the right one although as the game wore on we saw that this
would be something that would hinder us not help.
Newcastle slowly but surely got back into the game and began to retain
possession making it harder for us to get hold of the ball. There seemed a
surprising lack of urgency from our players from this moment on and although
Newcastle were looking better given the high tempo start we had made it
seemed strange that we would try and sit back and soak up pressure.
Newcastle had the plan to get it into the area for Andy Carroll to get his
head on the ball and the midfielders to get on to any loose ball.
The visitors were finding space down the flanks and it was from one of many
crosses they put in to the area where they would find their equaliser. It
was a horrible goal to concede which had an element of luck from a Newcastle
perspective (not that they will care), as Barton whipped in the cross for
Carroll to go up with Da Costa in the air and it fell kindly for Kevin Nolan
who scored from a few yards out.
Our lead had only last eleven minutes and in that time we had lost any spark
we took into the game. It was worrying to see how flat we had become so
quickly and we would struggle to have many stages of controlled possession
for the rest of the game.
We did have the next chance in the game when some wonderful skill and pace
from Obinna down the left saw the Nigerian feign to cross the ball on a
couple of occasion and when he finally did he drove the ball across the six
yard box and Cole could not find any control on the ball to divert it goal
wards.
If Avram Grant could muster up a half time team talk like at Molineux last
weekend then we would be in for a good second half but sadly this wasn't to
be any the second half performance was as bad as any we have seen this
season.
We were just never in the game and creative players such as Parker, Noble,
Obinna and Piquionne especially we never able to get into the game and make
something happen.
Our football would be predictable and flat and even with the changes made by
Grant to make something happen things would continue to get worse as the
half wore on.
A first warning in the first half was a ball over the top for Nolan to knock
down for Carroll but his low shot was saved by Robert Green.
If our defence looked unsettled before the departure of Matthew Upson with
injury served only to cause disarray in our backline. Herita Ilunga replaced
Upson which saw Gabbidon move into the centre alongside Da Costa.
Another injury came our way when Frederique Piquionne hobbled off to be
replaced by Benni McCarthy who has been in goal scoring form of the reserves
over the last couple of months.
Things would go from bad to worse when Newcastle struck with around twenty
minutes to go. Patient build up saw Ameobi knock the ball back for Joey
Barton who would deliver another wonderful cross which Andy Carroll would
read correct and thump his header past Green from a few yards out. It was
awful defending from Da Costa who had read the cross so very wrong allowing
Carroll to easily score.
It would be Newcastle that would look more likely to score the next goal as
we had not reacted to going a goal down and continued to look shocked by the
fact that Newcastle had started to really dominate the game. The trouble is
that had been happening from the moment we scored back on the 11th minute.
Noble was caught in possession by Barton who raced forward and hit a shot
which was deflected over the bar off Gabbidon.
A pass into the feet of Nolan saw some good hold up play as he lay the ball
back for Ameobi who hit a shot which was deflected and looked as though it
may creep in only for the ball to go just wide as Robert Green looked on.
A ball forward to the isolated Andy Carroll saw the striker turn and race
towards goal and despite there being around three or four defenders in front
of him he still managed to get a shot off which went just wide.
There was to be no late rally or one great chance for us to get back into
the game. There was to be nothing positive to take from the second half only
more disillusionment and disappointment.
The confidence we generated from the Tottenham game has now evaporated. That
was the game which should have changed our season and although we could get
over the Fulham game to have been beaten and outplayed by a side who we
would hope to be at least a little bit better than feels like a punch in the
stomach.
I really don't know what to make of it all. We don't seem to be kicking on
and the last three games should have been giving us at least four points. We
now need to get some confidence or some luck from one of the tricky games we
having coming up.
Player Review
Robert Green
Didn't have to make any big saves as most of Newcastle's attempts (apart
from the goals) had come from long range. Nothing he could do about the
goals.
Lars Jacobsen
Continues to look assured defensively but struggled to get forward into the
space in front of him.
Manuel Da Costa
Whilst I thought he had a decent enough game it is hard to over look the
part he played in the two Newcastle goals. The second goal was dismal
defending and he had just totally switched off.
Matthew Upson
We looked a lot better at the back when he was on the pitch and the rest of
the defenders do not seem to panic as much when he is there. Our defending
after he went off was a lot like last week at Wolves where we would look
nervous which only gives the Newcastle forwards confidence. It showed how
much we need Upson to be playing as we do not have the quality of
replacement.
Danny Gabbidon
Better at left back than he was at centre half but I thought he put in a
good display. He made countless blocks and interceptions especially in the
second half where a number of Newcastle shots would be deflected over from a
Gabbidon block.
Valon Behrami
Ran about , kept running, looked sluggish, poor on the ball, did nothing of
note. The quickest he ran was when he came off.
Mark Noble
He was excellent for the majority of the first half but then disappeared
with Barton dominating the midfield and Noble looked lost.
Scott Parker
Not often we say it but this was a below average Scott Parker performance.
He could not get to grips with the game especially the second half which saw
Parker anonymous for the majority and you know that if Parker is not in the
game then we are not going to do much.
Victor Obinna
On the left hand side he looked dangerous going forward showing skill and
pace to beat his man. His crossing and shooting remain erratic which is
frustrating given the positions he gets into.
Carlton Cole
I wouldn't have had Cole starting given his recent form and how playing him
and Piquionne does not seem to work in the same team. But this seemed to be
wrong conclusion as Piquionne set up Cole for his first goal of the season.
Whilst I do not think the system worked, we wanted a goal from Cole and we
got one. So, here is to more goals from West Ham player Carlton Cole.
Frederique Piquionne
It seems simple to me - play him down the right and he isn't effective, play
him down the middle and he is. During this game he played down the right and
offered nothing.
Subs Used
Herita Ilunga (on for Upson 53 mins)
Been a while since we have seen him. Looked a little rusty although nothing
really to report about his performance. If Upson is out for the next game
I'm not exactly confident about him.
Benni McCarthy (on for Piquionne 67 mins)
Not in the game at all. I remember him doing little.
Pablo Barrera (on for Behrami 76 mins)
He saw a lot of the ball and was dreadful when he got it. Couldn't cross,
couldn't beat his man and Junior Stanislas must be looking at him thinking
'I can do that'.
Subs Not Used: Stech, Ben Haim, Faubert, Boa Morte
Bookings: None
Man Of The Match: Danny Gabbidon
Newcastle United: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio
Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Cheik Tiote, Jonas
Gutierrez, Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Ole Soderberg, Danny Guthrie, Wayne Routledge, Peter Lovenkrands,
James Perch, Ryan Taylor, Alan Smith.
Attendance: 34,486
Overall
There were many things wrong with the performance and of course the decision
to change the team and the shape of the side can be called into question. In
midfield we had no aggression and say what you like about Luis Boa Morte but
he gives you that and I feel with him in the side over the last few game we
have been difficult to beat.
Up front I saw no reason to not play Piquionne and Obinna who have been
causing problems over the last few games. Cole scored and wasn't terrible
but his inclusion took away the threat of Piquionne and neither he or Obinna
seemed to close enough to Cole to win any second ball.
Newcastle must have been surprised at how comfortable they were in the
second half and they deserved to win.
I am really struggling to take anything positive away from the game and any
confidence I had had has been erased.
Next Game - Stoke City (h) [League Cup]
Maybe a win against Stoke in the cup would bring back some much needed
confidence. We are one game away from a quarter final which is quite
shocking considering we have been bottom of the league for so long.
I have no prediction as I do not know what West Ham will turn up. Will Grant
make wholesale changes? I would hope that we would goal all out for a
victory as any win is welcome.
Another season of possible relegation looms. I had just hoped it would be
different this time around. I have no one to blame but myself for that but I
am not enjoying my reality check.
The View From Grant
"Sometimes you don't know the reason. We didn't push so much, we didn't
press well. We give them too much space to pass the ball. Even if we played
the second half with two strikers we gave a lot of balls away."
"The first half was a good game. Even Newcastle told us they thought we
would score two or three.
"We were close to this, we used three quick players [in Cole, Victor Obinna
and Frederic Piquionne]. They pressed well, everything was good. After we
scored we didn't continue to do what we did before, though."
They played well. We gave them the space to play in the second half. They
are good players and they passed the ball well.
"They didn't create so many chances but we knew the strength of their
crossing because they play two physical strikers but we didn't deal with it
like we should."
"I remain positive. It is harder now but there is just under 30 games to go
and we have games in the next two months that we can win. If we play like we
did until now when we had five games unbeaten and all the draws we were more
close to winning, we will be OK.
"The owners told me they are patient, they understand. We knew that this
season would be tough, we don't want to be in this situation."
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)
Carlton Cole 1 (1 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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West Ham assist Carroll in discovering his sanctuary
West Ham United 1 Newcastle United 2
By Nick Szczepanik
Monday, 25 October 2010
When Joey Barton said after Saturday evening's match that Newcastle United
had been "under a little bit of pressure created this week by people who
shall remain anonymous," he was not kidding, except that Andy Carroll has
been anything but anonymous. Last week's papers were full of the England
Under-21 forward's misadventures, which included a night in the cells and a
court appearance.
But when Barton added: "I am guilty of it as much as anyone down the years,
so it isn't my place to comment," he was well off the mark. His experience
of the pitfalls of a life lived in the glare of publicity - and occasionally
on CCTV - makes him uniquely placed to advise Carroll on the best way
forward.
Concentrating on football, as Carroll did on Saturday, helping to create
Newcastle's equaliser and scoring the winner himself, is the right thing to
do, according to Barton, who knuckled down on the right and supplied the
crosses for both goals.
"I always found the pitch can be a little bit of a sanctuary," he said.
"I've been in Andy's shoes. My reputation hindered me for a long, long time
and I will try and guide him to stop him from going down that path. Andy is
a good guy. He comes into training and works hard every day, and all the
lads in the dressing room support him, as does the gaffer. If he loses that,
he will be in trouble. We have a massive team spirit, the likes of which I
haven't felt at any club I have been at before. You go 1-0 down in the
Premier League, and the stats say that 80 per cent of the time you don't
win. We gave West Ham a goal today and clawed that back. We had a ropy 15
minutes but we showed an enormous amount of character at a place which isn't
easy to come to."
It was polite of Barton to say so, but is it true? This was West Ham's first
defeat in five league matches, but it was not the first time conceding a
goal has revealed their early confidence as fragile. Avram Grant, their
manager, talked of winnable games to come but the next three visitors to
Upton Park - West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic - have all
beaten better teams than his on the road this season.
Grant tried his best to sound confident that he will survive a sequence of
matches that also includes testing visits to Arsenal [on Saturday],
Liverpool and Sunderland. "We know we are going through a tough season but I
think, even having lost this game, I am sure we can do it and we will stay
positive," Grant said. One win would help, as it did for Newcastle's Chris
Hughton, said to be under pressure last week. But finding it will be the
tricky part.
West Ham United (4-3-3): Green; Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson (Ilunga, 53),
Gabbidon; Behrami (Barrera, 76), Parker, Noble; Piquionne (McCarthy, 67),
Cole, Obinna. Substitutes not used Stech (gk), Ben Haim, Boa Morte, Faubert.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique;
Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez; Carroll, Ameobi. Substitutes not used
Soderberg (gk), Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, R Taylor, Smith.
Possession West Ham 48% Newcastle 52%.
Shots on target West ham 1 Newcastle 8.
Referee C Foy (Merseyside). Attendance 34,486.
Man of the match Barton. Match rating 7/10.
Match facts
Possession West Ham 48% Newcastle 52%.
Shots on target West ham 1 Newcastle 8.
Referee C Foy (Merseyside). Attendance 34,486.
Man of the match Barton. Match rating 7/10.
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