WHUFC.com
The manager is certain that the team's spirit and mentality will see them
get the right rewards soon
13.11.2010
Avram Grant admitted his team's search for three points is proving a
difficult task but remains steadfast that West Ham United will thrive once
that victory comes. "We need that first win," said Grant as he faced the
media immediately after the goalless draw at home to Blackpool that made it
three straight draws. "With the football we play, once we have that win,
that will give us confidence and many wins will follow. It is very hard but
I am sure that it will come. We will continue to fight." "It is very strange
situation. When you have one win in 13 matches, you might say things are not
good but the players have developed, they are better from month to month."
The manager also thanked the supporters for their patience, having
understandably been frustrated by a week that saw leads lost at Birmingham
City and at home to West Bromwich Albion before Saturday's contest. "The
supporters are great. They supported us to the last minute. They saw the
effort - this is not a team where you can complain that one player didn't
give everything. "We are doing a good job and the wins will come. I have no
intention to give up on this."
Although his team have lost just twice in the last eleven matches -
including a narrow defeat at Arsenal - the wins column remains telling. The
Hammers felt they were unlucky again on Saturday when an early penalty shout
was denied when visiting defender Craig Cathcart handled Victor Obinna's
shot midway through the first half. Although further decisions were then to
go equally against both sides, it was clear that early call could have had a
major bearing on the outcome. That said, Grant was making no excuses.
"Football is a game of goals and we didn't score unfortunately. We also
almost conceded from counterattacks at the end as we looked for the goal."
The manager could not fault his players attitude and application that almost
got a reward when Carlton Cole's first touch after entering as a substitute
hit the post in the 72nd minute. "We had enough chances to win two games. We
did everything right, I cannot say any bad words about the players. They
pressed the ball well, they passed and moved and they created a lot of
chances. "We want the right decisions from referees but we also created
enough chances and didn't score. Maybe the players lost a bit of confidence
because we are at the bottom of the league. We created a lot of chances. I
don't know what to say after a game like this. Everything was right, the
players gave everything. There wasn't one player who didn't fight."
With Mark Noble turning in a man of the match display on his return to the
side just 12 days after having his appendix removed, Scott Parker was again
tremendous alongside him and Robert Green produced another couple of notable
saves. There were clearly positives to take. When asked what could change
things for the better before the trip to Liverpool next Saturday evening,
Grant added: "The answer is to continue like this and keep creating chances.
In football, we know what we can do better but only if the spirit and
mentality wasn't good would we need to change things. This is not the case."
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Green earns England call
WHUFC.com
England have called up Robert Green for the glamour friendly this Wednesday
at Wembley
13.11.2010
Robert Green is the only West Ham United player to be called into the
England squad for Wednesday night's friendly at home to France. The
goalkeeper has retained his place in Fabio Capello's squad on the back of
some superlative displays in the past month, including away to Arsenal and
at home against Blackpool on Saturday. However, there was no spot for the
in-form Scott Parker, who has excelled for a third straight season in the
Hammers midfield. Fabio Capello has sprung a few surprises with Chris
Smalling, Jordan Henderson, Jay Bothroyd and Andy Carroll included in a
senior squad for the first time.
Other Hammers away on international duty include Lars Jacobsen (Denmark v
Czech Republic), Jonathan Spector (South Africa v United States), Victor
Obinna (Iran v Nigeria) and Herita Ilunga (DR Congo v Mali in France).
England squad
Ben Foster, Robert Green, Joe Hart
Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott,
Micah Richards, Chris Smalling, John Terry
Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, James Milner,
Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young
Gabriel Agbonlahor, Jay Bothroyd, Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch
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Mixed day for loan pair
WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears tasted defeat while Matt Fry was part of an emphatic victory
on Saturday
13.11.2010
Loanees Freddie Sears and Matt Fry experienced very different fortunes
during Saturday's npower Football League programme. Sears, who has impressed
during his time at Championship side Scunthorpe United, was part of the Iron
starting XI as his side went down 4-2 at home to new leaders Cardiff City.
The striker was replaced after 82 minutes at Glanford Park, having assisted
for his side's first goal. Scunthorpe have 20 points from 17 games played
and sit 18th in the Championship table, three points above the relegation
zone and six points adrift of the play-off places. In League One, Fry
completed the full 90 minutes as Charlton Athetic defeated Peterborough
United 5-1 at London Road. Playing at left-back, the defender enjoyed a
fantastic day as the Addicks climbed to second and an automatic promotion
place following an emphatic victory against the Posh. Charlton return to
league action by hosting Yeovil Town at home next Saturday, while Sears'
Scunthorpe travel to Derby County on the same afternoon.
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West Ham 0 - 0 Blackpool
BBC.co.uk
By Mark Ashenden
West Ham's struggles at the foot of the table continued as they failed to
break down Blackpool, who made 11 changes. The hosts dominated the first
half and were unlucky to be denied a penalty when Craig Cathcart appeared to
use an arm to block Victor Obinna's volley. Luis Boa Morte and Pablo Barrera
wasted good chances and Carlton Cole hit the post as the Hammers continued
to press. But Blackpool's Marlon Harewood was guilty of the worst miss of
all when he shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Boos rang out around Upton
Park at the final whistle but for a side lacking in confidence, West Ham's
players produced plenty of endeavour in an entertaining encounter which
lacked only a goal. Both teams had a hatful of chances to grab a late winner
but the defences held out and both managers had to be satisfied with a
hard-earned point.
Most of the pre-match talk focused on Ian Holloway's selection policy after
the Blackpool boss threatened to quit if he is punished for making 10
changes for the midweek game against Aston Villa. He went one better this
time by changing his entire starting line-up but often cut a frustrated
figure on the touchline as his team carved out few opportunities in the
first half, against a West Ham side without a win in their six previous
league games. In the first league meeting between the sides since 1971,
long-range efforts by Elliott Grandin and Neil Eardley and a fine run by
David Vaughan was all the Seasiders could offer. All the pressure though was
on the bottom-of-the-table hosts with midfielder Scott Parker demanding
improvement and Kieron Dyer uttering the words "doomed" and "fear" in the
build-up to the match. Parker was a bright spark throughout but many of his
team-mates looked edgy, wasting a number of opportunities in the final third
of the pitch.
Frederic Piquionne nodded wide from a corner by Barrera - on for the injured
Dyer after just 15 minutes and Hammers boss Avram Grant was rueing his luck
when referee Kevin Friend failed to award a penalty after defender Cathcart
slid in and blocked Obinna's volley with his arm. Blackpool had to change
their keeper at the interval with Ghanaian Richard Kingson replacing Matt
Gilks and his first job was almost picking the ball out of the net as
Portuguese midfielder Boa Morte latched on to a cute through-ball by Parker
but shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post. The game became an end-to-end
spectacle with both teams sensing the three points could be theirs but
chances went begging time and again. The irrepressible Parker burst down the
left and squared the ball for Barrera to shoot straight at Evatt's legs and
Barrera was again involved as substitute Cole deflected a shot on to the
post. Holloway's men looked dangerous on the counter-attack and immediately
after West Ham's flurry of chances, Gary Taylor-Fletcher blazed over.
Harewood should have settled the match against his former club when a
left-wing cross arrived at his feet less than six yards from goal but he
only managed to send the ball back in the direction from which it had come
and out for a goal-kick. Despite that, Blackpool looked the most likely to
snatch a late winner and Robert Green had to be alert to save Cathcart's
volley from four yards. The draw, however, was enough to give them hope of
further progress in the weeks ahead, while Grant was left to ponder the
possible ramifications of failing to achieve the seven points from four
games demanded by co-owner David Sullivan earlier this month. After a third
successive draw, they can only reach six, even if they beat Liverpool at
Anfield next Saturday.
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Hammers held by resilient Pool
Ref denies Hammers two penalties and Harewood effort chalked off
Last updated: 13th November 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Tough decision, but I'm going for Charlie Adam. The
midfielder put in an outstanding individual performance just ahead of West
Ham's Mark Noble.
Moment of the match: Adam provided moment of magic when his effort from the
halfway line caught Robert Green off his line, but the ball found the top of
the netting.
Save of the match: Green made a stunning stop to deny Craig Cathcart from
point-blank range.
Gaffe of the match: Marlon Harewood received a standing ovation on his
return to Upton Park but the striker missed an open goal from three-yards
out late-on from Stephen Crainey's cross.
Talking point: Will the draw spell the end of Avram Grant at West Ham? How
many changes will Ian Holloway make for the home game against Wolves next
Saturday?
West Ham and Blackpool settled for a point apiece in a game of missed
opportunities at Upton Park. Blackpool boss Ian Holloway had threatened to
quit if fined for making 10 alterations for the midweek defeat at Aston
Villa, and elected to make 11 for this clash as he recalled his main men
against the Hammers. Referee Kevin Friend took centre stage when he denied
the home side what looked two clear first-half penalties much to the
disappointment of the home supporters. Pablo Barrera thought he had been
taken down in the box by Stephen Crainey before Craig Cathcart seemingly
handled Victor Obinna's goal-bound effort. Second half substitute Marlon
Harewood, on his return to East London, thought he had given Pool the lead,
but the striker's effort was ruled out by the referee's assistant for
offside. Harewood was in the thick of the action late on when he somehow
managed to miss from three yards out after Crainey had driven the ball
across the box. Robert Green was called into action several times and was
relieved to see Charlie Adam'sspeculative effort from the halfway line drift
narrowly over.
Hammers striker Carlton Cole hit the post after coming off the bench but
neither side was able to break the deadlock. West Ham remain rooted to the
bottom of the table after recording their third successive Premier League
draw while the Seasiders remain just two points above the drop zone.
Positive
West Ham had not won in the league since the end of September. However, it
was a positive start by the Irons, as fit-again Mark Noble stabbed a 20-yard
effort wide.
Frederic Piquionne, who scored a penalty in the 2-2 draw against West Brom
here on Wednesday night, broke down the left and cut inside the box, but his
shot was charged down before Daniel Gabbidon headed a corner over. West Ham
were forced into a change after 18 minutes when midfielder Kieron Dyer, just
back from a hamstring problem, was replaced by Mexico winger Barrera.
Blackpool had a good spell, as DJ Campbell fired a snapshot straight at
Robert Green. West Ham had what looked a strong penalty claim turned down by
referee Friend when left-back Crainey appeared to trip Barrera out on the
right touchline. At the other end, David Vaughan drove into the left side of
the West Ham area before releasing a low shot which flew just wide of
Green's post.
Screaming
The home side were again screaming for a spot-kick when Obinna's fierce
18-yard drive struck Cathcart on the arm, but once more the referee was not
interested. Blackpool had to replace goalkeeper Matthew Gilks at the start
of the second half, after he had appeared to jar his knee when clearing a
goalkick, with Richard Kingson coming on for an unexpected second appearance
of the week. West Ham had another great chance when Luis Boa Morte was
slipped into the left side of the penalty area by Scott Parker, but dragged
his shot wide of the far post. Blackpool captain Charlie Adam spotted Green
off his line and so tried an audacious chip from just inside the West Ham
half which, fortunately for the backpedalling keeper, dropped over the bar.
Obinna drilled the ball high and wide after it was cut back from the
touchline - much to the frustration of the Irons fans behind the goal in the
Bobby Moore Stand.
Scrambled
Blackpool substitute Harewood almost returned to haunt his former club, but
his scrambled goal from a free-kick was ruled out for offside. Parker
scampered into the Blackpool box before cutting the ball back to Barrera on
the penalty spot, but his sidefoot effort was blocked by Ian Evatt. West Ham
substitute Carlton Cole almost had an instant impact but his deflected
close-range effort struck the outside of the post. Gary Taylor-Fletcher then
skied the ball over the bar when arriving in the penalty area following a
quick Blackpool break down the left. Kingson made an acrobatic one-handed
save to tip Noble's curling 20-yard effort behind. There was an almighty
let-off for the hosts when Harewood somehow stabbed the ball wide from six
yards before Green deflected away a goalbound effort from Cathcart. In
stoppage time, Benni McCarthy headed over as once again the Hammers were
booed off by the disgruntled Upton Park faithful.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant laments missed chances
Hammers boss felt his team were better but admits result was not good
Last updated: 13th November 2010
SSN
Avram Grant felt his West Ham side created enough chances to win more than
one game as they were held to a 0-0 draw against Blackpool. The Hammers
remain rooted to the bottom of the table after their third consecutive
Premier League draw. West Ham were twice denied being awarded penalties
despite their vociferous appeals. In the first half, initially for an
apparent trip on Pablo Barrera by Stephen Crainey and then after Craig
Cathcart appeared to block Victor Obinna's shot with his arm. Robert Green
was called into action several times while at the other end striker Carlton
Cole hit the post after coming off the bench.
Dominated
Grant told Sky Sports: "We were much the better team, we dominated the game
by putting a lot of pressure on them. "There were enough chances to win
three games and enough penalties to win two games. We did everything right.
"I can't say a bad word about the players, they pressed well, moved, passed
and created a lot of chances. "We created so many chances and many were good
chances and even two penalty appeals for us which the referee failed to
give, so of course I am very disappointed. "The supporters saw the effort
everyone has given. Some were disappointed about the game of course, because
the result is not good.
Grant added: "I don't want to speak about referees that everyone sees on
television. What happened this season is a disgrace. Every game the
decisions (go) against us. "There were two clear penalties. One with the
hand, he (Cathcart) saved it better than the goalkeeper. Our players also
are too honest. Pablo tried to stay on his feet."
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West Ham 0 Blackpool 0
Published: 13 Nov 2010
WEST HAM and Blackpool traded horror misses as it ended in stalemate at
Upton Park. On 70 minutes, sub Carlton Cole was left red-faced when the ball
bounced off his legs and against the post. But that was nothing compared to
Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who blazed over with goal at his mercy moments later.
There was still time for Marlon Harewood to fluff one and for Robert Green
to pull off a heroic save from Craig Cathcart. Avram Grant insisted his side
had done enough to take all three points. The Hammers boss said: "The
supporters saw the effort everyone has given. "Some were disappointed from
the game of course, because the result is not good. "There were enough
chances to win three games and enough penalties to win two games. We did
everything right. "I can't say a bad word abut the players, they pressed
well, moved, passed and created a lot of chances."
Ian Holloway made 10 changes during the week but went one better and named a
whole new XI at Upton Park. But it was West Ham who started brightly with
Mark Noble poking an 8th-minute shot just wide. Frederic Piquionne then
threatened before disaster struck for Kieron Dyer. The serial crock lasted
just 18 minutes before he limped off, with Pablo Barrera taking his place.
Barrera almost had an instant impact but his penalty pleas fell on deaf ears
after he was chopped down by Stephen Crainey. The Hammers were up in arms
again soon after when Victor Obinna's blast struck Cathcart on the arm. Ref
Kevin Friend was having none of it, however, and waved play on. West Ham
were piling forward and Neal Eardley almost hit them with a sucker punch but
the Blackpool star shot into the side netting. Just after the break Luis Boa
Morte was left kicking himself after missing a glorious chance to score. Boa
Morte was set free by Scott Parker yet could only side-foot wide from just
ten yards out. Luke Varney's shot then squirmed to Marlon Harewood, who
found the back of the net. But the former Hammer's joy was shortlived and he
saw his strike chalked off for offside. Both sides then traded astonishing
misses. First, Cole shinned wide with his very first touch after Barrera had
sent it into the box. And then Taylor-Fletcher and Harewood missed as it
ended goalless.
West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, Upson, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Boa Morte (Cole 71),
Noble, Parker, Dyer (Barrera 18), Obinna, Piquionne (McCarthy 82). Subs Not
Used: Stech, Tomkins, Kovac, Spector.
Blackpool: Gilks (Kingson 46), Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Adam,
Vaughan, Grandin (Phillips 59), Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell (Harewood 67),
Varney. Subs Not Used: Euell, Sylvestre, Edwards, Carney. Booked: Adam.
Att: 31,194
Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
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West Ham 0 Blackpool 0: 'I'm not quitting', says Hammers boss Avram Grant
By ALEX MONTGOMERY
Last updated at 11:44 PM on 13th November 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham will have to sack manager Avram Grant after he promised last night
that he will never quit the job. The Hammers suffered what was a sickening
goalless draw against a Blackpool team feeling their way in the Premiership
and having made ELEVEN changes. But as the vultures gathered over Upton Park
and Grant took what must be another step towards the trap-door, the Israeli
made it clear there is not the slightest possibility of him going quietly.
West Ham have won just one league match since Grant took over from
Gianfranco Zola in the summer — an abysmal record that must terrify owners
David Sullivan and David Gold. They are in the process of watching their
multi-million pound investment imploding if they drop into the Championship.
But Grant refuses to buckle under the most intense of pressure. He
confirmed: 'I do not speak about myself, but I have no intention of
quitting.' And he added defiantly: 'If there are too many things wrong
withwhat I'm seeing then I would say we must change. 'But I cannot fault my
players. What is the answer? We must continue as we are playing, because
we're producing excellent football. 'What do we need? We need to winagain.
We produce chances but we do not take them. It's down to a lack of
confidence.'
The Hammers did produce chances but, as too often in this desperate season,
they do not have strikers competent enough to convert them. Initially,
Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna carried the weight of expectation up
front, and even after Carlton Cole came on as substitute they continued to
dither and allow themselves to be psyched out by Blackpool's defenders.
Grant complained about the refereeing of Kevin Friend and they could have
had a penalty — but, against that, Blackpool were also denied a spot-kick
and a disallowed 'goal' that clearly was not offside. It was no real shock
when Blackpool boss Ian Holloway swung the axe on his team, each and every
one of them, despite having caused so much controversy with his selection
for the narrow defeat at Aston Villa in midweek.
However, the extent of his cuts was extraordinary — 11 changes quite surely
suggest he had been saving certain players to face the Hammers. His decision
to make 10 changes for Villa Park had already placed him under investigation
by the Premier League and may yet cost Blackpool the same level of
punishment — a suspended £25,000 fine — which slapped the wrist of Wolves
last season. This was a must-win occasion for both teams, though of more
significance for the Hammers and manager Grant. Blackpool would always have
considered a share of the points acceptable, though both teams went for each
other as if their seasondepended on the result. It may not have been classic
controlled football but it was highly competitive and, in its own way,
enthralling.
West Ham produced the more cultured stuff but there was a commitment about
Blackpool which meant they were never going to be overwhelmed.
What they, like West Ham, missed were the goalscoring finishers who would
have rewarded some fine approach football. The hosts were denied what seemed
a clear penalty when defender Craig Cathcart blocked an Obinna shot with his
hand in the 27th minute. There were furious and perfectly justified protests
when referee Friend decided there had been no infringement, but surely there
is no excuse for his assistant missing it as well. This was a bad day for
the match official as he missed another hand-ball, this time by West Ham's
Scott Parker, just before the interval. Parker controlled the ball with his
hand as he raced outside the 18-yard box as Blackpool began their protests.
The pace went from high octane to frenzied then desperate. Blackpool looked
to have scored the winner in the 69th minute when Marlon Harewood steered
the ball past Robert Green, only to find that Friend had judged he was
offside.
It was a blunder from officials who had crucially failed to notice the
former Hammer had moved perfectly and legally into position to strike.
Holloway rated this the best goalless draw he had ever seen. The man cannot
stop joking.
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Hammers off bottom for just two minutes
West Ham United 0 Blackpool 0: Grant pledges not to give up but the decision
might not be his to make
By Glenn Moore at Upton Park
Sunday, 14 November 2010
For two minutes yesterday West Ham climbed off the bottom of the table, then
Wolves pulled a goal back against Bolton to match their goal difference and
the Hammers hit bedrock again.
With a third of the season gone West Ham are five points adrift of safety
with no sign of escaping the relegation zone. Avram Grant pledged: ''I have
no intention to give up," but the manager sounded like Comical Ali on
Mogadon as he insisted everything was fine except the results. This was the
third of four matches from which co-owner David Sullivan had demanded seven
points. So far the return is three draws, and the final match of the quartet
is at Anfield on Saturday. Grant's first recourse was to blame the
officials. "I am waiting for the day I do not have to speak about
decisions," he said. "What has happened this season is a disgrace. We had a
clear two penalties."
One claim was borderline; even after several replays it was not clear if
Stephen Crainey had fouled Pablo Barrera. The other, a handball appeal
against Craig Cathcart, would have been a tough call, and it was balanced
when Scott Parker similarly escaped punishment for controlling the ball with
his arm in the other penalty box.
After it was also pointed out to Grant that Blackpool had a decent goal
chalked off when Marlon Harewood was wrongly adjudgedoffside as he turned in
Luke Varney's 68th-minute shot, he conceded: "It is not just about the
referee."
Grant added: "We created enough chances, we did everything right, we just
did not score. Maybe the players have lost confidence because we are at the
bottom of the League. In the last two games we scored twice but conceded two
goals. Today we kept a clean sheet, but we did not score."
West Ham kept a clean sheet only because Blackpool's finishing was equally
abysmal. It was an open game, the sort to make Roberto Mancini hold his arms
aloft in bemusement, yet though both defences were opened up continually and
according to the statisticians there were 47 shots, the three goalkeepers
made only one decent save between them.
That was by Richard Kingson, a half-time substitute for Matt Gilks, who
acrobatically clawed away a shot from Mark Noble with 12 minutes left. Noble
was playing 12 days after having his appendix removed, the sort of spirit
West Ham need in their growing crisis. Grant's other team change from their
midweek draw with West Bromwich was also unexpected, Victor Obinna replacing
Carlton Cole.
Ian Holloway was more radical. While he does not countenance suggestions
that the dirt-trackers who played in midweek were an under-strength side,
noting they had given him a "fantastic" selection problem, dropping them all
did devalue that assertion. The last manager to make 11 changes at Upton
Park was Sven Goran Eriksson, at half-time in England's defeat by Australia.
Holloway has been as unapologetic about his team changes as Eriksson was,
but it did seem to cock a snook at the Premier League, who are already
investigating the 10 he made at Villa Park.
The Hammers last lost at home to Blackpool in 1934, when George V was on the
throne, Bonnie and Clyde were on the run, and Stanley Matthews was a
promising teenager. It was also the last peace-time occasion that Britain
had a coalition government. Blackpool thrice went close in the last 20
minutes. Gary Taylor-Fletcher missed from four yards, Harewood from even
closer, then Taylor-Fletcher inadvertently blocked Cathcart's close-range
volley.
For West Ham the outstanding Parker set up three excellent chances with his
driving running and clever passing but Barrera, twice, and Luis Boa Morte
wasted them.
The game finished with Barrera shooting wildly wide when a simple cross
would have provided a tap-in for Parker. The latter was disgusted, and to
judge from the response of the home support as the whistle went seconds
later he was not alone.
Attendance: 31,194
Referee: Kevin Friend
Man of the match: Parker
Match rating: 7/10
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