WHUFC.com
Matthew Upson believes West Ham United can return to winning ways at the end
of the week
06.12.2010
Matthew Upson admitted Sunderland had out-boxed West Ham United during a
closely-fought Barclays Premier League bout at the Stadium of Light.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson landed the knockout blow, sending a
rising first-time drive past Robert Green's out-stretched right glove eleven
minutes before half-time. Captain Upson conceded that, had the match been a
boxing match, the Black Cats would have won a marginal decision despite a
spirited display from the Hammers. "We don't really feel like we laid too
much of a glove on them, at least as much as we wanted to. It was a decent
performance but we're a little bit disappointed coming away from a game
where perhaps we could have thrown a bit more at them and created a bit more
and possibly taken some points."
The visitors mounted a strong defence during the opening stages, only to let
their guard down for Henderson's winner. Asamoah Gyan sprung the offside
trap before cutting the ball back into the path of the youngster, who drove
an unstoppable shot inside Green's far post. "It wasn't so much just the
final third. In the first half we didn't pass the ball well enough or keep
the ball well enough and they had a lot possession without really hurting us
apart from the time when they scored. "The second half was a better effort.
We had a bit more of a positive effort going forward. We got into the box a
bit more often and looked a bit dangerous and as if we were going to score.
We're just a little bit disappointed coming away having lost."
While he was naturally unhappy to leave Wearside without a point to show for
his team's efforts, Upson insisted that the Hammers were still in a better
place psychologically following victories over Wigan Athletic and Manchester
United - the latter being dismantled 4-0 in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.
"We've had a big week, obviously with the big game on Tuesday, so it would
have been nice to have kept a non-losing streak going, as such. To have
taken a point would have been a really good result after the week we've had.
"It wasn't to be but we've got to take the positives from the whole week
really, regroup, and go again next Saturday. "I think we've improved. We
look like we've got a chance whereas, maybe two weeks ago, we weren't
looking in such a positive state as we are now. It's good that the team can
feel like that and I'm going into every game thinking we can take something
from it."
It will be important for every player in claret and blue to share that
positive attitude when West Ham host big-spending Manchester City at the
Boleyn Ground this coming Saturday afternoon. Upson, for one, is determined
to build on last week's two successes on home turf. "We need to set about it
with a great attitude and a high tempo and really make them aware that we're
up for the fight. We need to set our stall out like we have in our last two
home games, really take it to them, press the ball and decide how the game
will pan out. I'm looking forward to it."
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Olympic Stadium demos planned
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 6th December 2010
By: Staff Writer
A group of Hammers fans are planning to stage a series of demonstrations
against the board's plans to move the club to Stratford. A new website -
mywhufc.com - has been created to outline the group's reasons for opposing
the move which, should West Ham's bid be accepted, will be completed in time
for the start of the 2014/15 season. As recently revealed in a KUMB.com poll
(the results of which you can see here) the majority of supporters remain
opposed to the move and it is hoped that the website will give fans the
opportunity to express their reasons for opting to stay at the Boleyn
Ground.
The main bone of contention is the club's plan to keep the stadium's running
track in situ, meaning that supporters will be some considerable distance
from the pitch with views akin to those at the new Wembley Stadium. This is
unacceptable to many fans who feel it is necessary for the stands to be as
close to the field of play as possible. It is also claimed that the club
have failed to keep to their ten point pledge as revealed at the end of last
season, in which it was stated that the club will 'listen to supporters'.
As of yet, the board have failed to respond to fans' fears regarding the
move which will see the Boleyn
Ground close after 106 years as West Ham's home.
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Upson calls for fighting spirit
Hammers skipper calls on players to dig deep in basement battle
By Chris Burton Last updated: 6th December 2010
SSN
Matthew Upson claims West Ham were out-boxed by Sunderland, with the Hammers
barely throwing a punch. The Hammers slipped back to the foot of the Premier
League table on Sunday after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light.
They offered some resistance in the North East, but the Black Cats were able
to fend off their sporadic attacks with relative ease. Upson admits Avram
Grant's side need to show more stomach for a fight over the coming weeks if
they are to climb off the canvas, with three points still separating them
from safety. Using a boxing analogy to explain the defeat on Wearside, the
England international told the club's official website: "We don't feel like
we laid too much of a glove on them, at least as much as we wanted to. "It
was a decent performance but we're a little bit disappointed coming away
from a game where perhaps we could have thrown a bit more at them and
created a bit more and possibly taken some points." Despite suffering an
eighth defeat of the season on Sunday, Upson believes the Hammers have begun
to show signs of improvement.
Improved
They may have been unable to build on last week's morale-boosting 4-0
hammering of Manchester United in the Carling Cup, but feel they can welcome
Manchester City to Upton Park on Saturday with their heads held high. He
added: "We've had a big week, obviously with the big game on Tuesday
(against United), so it would have been nice to have kept a non-losing
streak going, as such. To have taken a point would have been a really good
result after the week we've had. "It wasn't to be but we've got to take the
positives from the whole week really, regroup, and go again next Saturday.
"I think we've improved. We look like we've got a chance whereas, maybe two
weeks ago, we weren't looking in such a positive state as we are now. "It's
good that the team can feel like that and I'm going into every game thinking
we can take something from it."
On the weekend meeting with City, he said: "We need to set about it with a
great attitude and high tempo and really make them aware that we're up for
the fight. "We need to set our stall out like we have in our past two home
games, really take it to them, press the ball and decide how the game will
pan out. I'm looking forward to it."
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Prem duo keep tabs on Henry
Millwall winger catching the eye in the Championship
By Pete O'Rourke Last updated: 6th December 2010
SSN
Skysports.com understands Premier League duo Stoke City and West Ham United
are tracking Millwall winger James Henry. The 21-year-old joined Millwall
from Reading in the summer on a three-year contract after impressing in two
loan spells at The Den. Henry has continued to catch the eye with the Lions
in the Championship as Kenny Jackett's side sit in the top half of the
table. The wide-man's consistent performances have not gone unnoticed higher
up the ladder, with clubs taking note ahead of the January transfer window.
Stoke and West Ham are both monitoring Henry, who scored his first
Championship goal of the season in the Lions' impressive 3-0 success over
Scunthorpe at the weekend.
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Hammers register Carew interest as Cole nears the exit door
Published 23:00 06/12/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham are among the January suitors for John Carew and aim to ship out
Carlton Cole to move for the Aston Villa striker. Villa boss Gerard Houllier
is desperate to offload unhappy hitman Carew, 31, next month. The pair do
not get on from their time together at Lyon and Villa want the
£52,000-a-week marksman off their huge wage bill. The struggling Hammers
have registered an interest in the Norwegian international, who fancies a
move to London.
West Ham manager Avram Grant has admitted the club will listen to offers for
struggling striker Cole, who could go to Liverpool. And if Cole, 27, leaves,
then Carew may replace him as he is available for just a nominal fee with
his contract up next summer. Houllier is also stepping up his search for new
players next month and is determined to bring in at least one new keeper.
Villa have been told they can have Rangers shot-stopper Allan McGregor for a
bargain £2million. Cash-strapped Rangers intend to sell McGregor,28, unless
the club is taken-over. Houllier wants to find a long-term successor for US
veteran Brad Friedel,39, who is out of contract in the summer. Villa
goal-keeping guru Rafael Gonzalez watched 6ft Scottish international
McGregor in action recently against Manchester United. Villa are also
keeping tabs on United's back-up shot-stopper Tomasz Kuszczak and
Middlesbrough's Jason Steele. Houllier could buy two new keepers as deputy
Brad Guzan is out of favour. If Villa are successful in their pursuit of a
new shot-stopper, Friedel may go on a free transfer to MLS side Columbus
Crew who want him as a player-coach.
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Hammers target Bridge in City fire sale
December 6, 2010
ESPN
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
West Ham hope to take Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge on loan in
January as Roberto Mancini begins offloading players to make way for the
next wave of big signings at Eastlands. Blackburn Rovers are also keen on a
temporary deal for the former Chelsea left-back, with Bridge seemingly
reluctant to return to London. At the start of the season, Mancini made it
clear to Bridge that he was part of City's future plans, but the manger has
since publicly rebuked the 30-year-old, saying he cannot give him more
playing time because he is always injured. Meanwhile, Manchester City have
targeted Benfica's brilliant Brazilian centre half David Luiz, Wolfsburg
centre-forward Edin Dzeko and Barcelona full-back Dani Alves. City have
moved for Alves after contract talks with Barcelona broke down, but the
Catalan club won't sell the Brazilian if there is any chance of agreeing a
new deal. Wolfsburg have recently slapped a ¬40 million price tag on Dzeko
and Benfica are compelled to sell if City agree to the buyout clause Luiz's
contract. City's wealthy owners are willing to swallow big losses on
outgoing players, and pay what it takes to land the replacements Mancini
believes will enable the club to cement a Champions League place. The
surplus players are reported to be England internationals Joleon Lescott,
Shaun Wright-Phillips, plus three centre-forwards, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque
Santa Cruz and Jo.
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Tottenham and Liverpool prepare Parker bids
ESPNsoccernet staff
December 6, 2010
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have made Scott Parker their top January
transfer target, but West Ham United are refusing to sell their prized
asset.
It would take a massive bid to persuade the Hammers to change their minds,
but the club are expecting a renewed bid for their influential midfielder,
who only recently signed a new record-breaking five-year contract. West Ham
are perturbed to discover that their captain is once again a target after
the club threatened to report Tottenham to the Premier League for their
pursuit of Parker in August. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had a £7 million
offer turned down in August and West Ham are preparing to rebuff an improved
£8 million bid. The club are shocked that a source from inside Upton Park
apparently suggested that Parker wants to leave and that the club would
reluctantly accept his request to switch to a big club. West Ham want Parker
to stay and honour his new contract. But Spurs are not alone now in the hunt
to prise Parker away. Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has money to spend in
January after the Anfield takeover and has earmarked the midfielder as one
of this top priorities. ESPNsoccernet reported in the summer that it would
take an offer approaching £20 million to tempt the Hammers to even think
about selling - and neither Spurs nor Liverpool would pay that much for a
30-year-old player.
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WEST HAM SHOULD DITCH COLE
MONDAY, 06/12/2010
SHOOT
by Elliot Dawson, Shoot's West Ham blogger
It has been a huge week for West Ham United. Back-to-back wins against Wigan
and Manchester United took us off the bottom of the Premier League table and
into the semi-finals of the League Cup. With seven goals scored, and only
one conceded, we travelled to the Stadium of Light confident of stretching
our unbeaten run.
Sunderland had only beaten us four times in 18 games before Sunday's clash,
with their last win in the league coming over two years ago. We went into
the match looking for our first away win of the season knowing that a draw
would save us from the ignominy of another week as relegation favourites.
However, once again we were subjected to a miserable performance from the
players who never looked interested in getting anything from the
game.Following a poor start, it came as no surprise when in the 34th minute
some woeful defending allowed Asamoah Gyan to skip through unchallenged and
set up Jordan Henderson for the opening goal. Moments later Gyan could have
doubled the lead when he was unlucky to see a deft chip strike the bar with
Rob Green a mere spectator.
With almost an hour of the match remaining there was still plenty of time
left to salvage a result. Jonathan Spector, retaining his place in the team
after an impressive midweek display, could have drawn us level after
pirouetting through the heart of the Black Cats defence. But his composure
deserted him when he needed it most and from that moment the game slipped
slowly from our grasp.
There are very few positives to take from result. Our defence was too
frequently and easily breached. Shooting opportunities were created more by
luck than judgement and nothing we did ever really looked like troubling the
score-line.
The fact that we didn't completely collapse, despite some intense periods of
pressure, is credit to the work Wally Downes has done in his brief spell at
the club but there's clearly much still to do.
It is difficult to see where we go from here – our mini-revival has proven
to be yet another false dawn. We were a shambles from start to finish and
deserved to leave Wearside empty-handed.
The 1-0 defeat was our eighth loss of the season. We can lament the missed
opportunity to put breathing space between us and our bottom-three rivals
but we can't deny that our position reflects our performances this season.
It's clear changes have to be made, including stripping the club of it's
dead-wood. Carlton Cole in particular would be a welcome departure,
especially if the rumours of a £10m transfer fee are to be believed. Other
like Luis Boa Morte, Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer will also need to
improve quickly if they're to avoid the New Year bargain bin.
The time has come for change at Upton Park. For the sake of our club's great
traditions we can only hope that they don't come too late.
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A Lost Opportunity, But We Have To Try to Dig in and Push On!
West Ham Till I Die
The Sunderland result was a great disappointment. The challenge was to
follow up on the victories over Wigan and Man Utd, with a creditable three
points at the Stadium of Light. In short, to demonstrate that most valuable
of traits, consistency! Unfortunately, consistency has eluded the Hammers
side all season and, once again, this proved to be the case. Only, this
time it was West Ham's attacking play that fell short, not an increasingly
solid defence.
Indeed, the side defended well again, with James Tomkins exceptional
alongside Matt Upson. Tal Ben Haim covered well at right-back and Danny
Gabbidon did a reasonable job in the troublesome left-back slot.
Similarly, Parker, Spector and Boa Morte were industrious, although midfield
creativity was in distinctly short supply. Perhaps it was the effectiveness
of Sunderland's pressing game, but we played far too many square balls and
back passes. In short, the team failed to play with the movement,
penetration and invention of the previous two games.
Worryingly, Sunderland beat us to the ball, with an urgency, and will to win
that we did not often match. This was particularly true in the first half,
where Sky calculated that Sunderland had 70% of the possession!
Sunderland's winning goal had a touch of off-side about it, but there was no
questioning the quality of Henderson's finish.
In the second half, West Ham had far more of the play, but still failed to
muster many threats in the, all important, final third. The nearest we
came to equalising was an Obinna shot that went desperately close. Apart
from that I can only recall an excellent effort by Carlton Cole, in which he
turned Anton Ferdinand (a la Johnny Evans) and fired just wide of the post;
and a scuffed shot at the end of a surging run by Jonathan Spector. There
was also a clear foul on Kieran Dyer in the box, near the bye-line, that the
referee failed to penalise. Other talking points were the alleged two
footed tackle by Boa Morte on Kieron Richardson and the continuing harsh
treatment that Carlton Cole appears to receive from referees whenever he
challenges for 50/50 balls.
However, on the balance of play, Sunderland just about deserved their
victory. We let ourselves down on the day, but, there was not that much to
choose between the two sides, regardless. We could and should have beaten
Sunderland, but we did not raise our attacking play to the levels formerly
achieved in beating Wigan and Man Utd. But it was still a highly
competitive match and, in the absence of the current PL table, you would
not have guessed that there were 12/13 places separating them. So far this
season, apart from abject away defeat to Liverpool, it is true that we have
not suffered the heavy defeats that are invariably a trade mark of
relegation strugglers. Our essential problem has been that we have drawn
far too many games that we should really have won.
An illness derailed my plans to attend the match. And I ended up watching
Sky's coverage. Thankfully, I do not rely on Sky live match
commentaries/analysis that often, because I am usually in attendance. In
the end I turned off the sound and just watched the action, minus the
delights of the expert commentary.
There is no pretending that we are presently in a good place, but our
situation is not hopeless. There is still a lot of football to be played
and points to be won. The club need to follow through on their intention to
secure a specialist attacking coach, hopefully the newly qualified Paulo Di
Canio, to fine tune the forward play and sharpen the finishing. We must dig
in and try to push on in the period prior to the opening of the January
transfer window. Immediate remedies are only to be found via hard work on
the training ground.
When the window does open we should probably target an experienced left-back
and a striker. The board need to make some decent funds available make the
deals a reality. They might well state that selling to buy is the only
viable option open to the club, but that could merely contrive to weaken one
area of the squad in an attempt to strength another. Far better, ideally,
to keep the current squad together and endeavour to add more quality and
strength in depth. This would be a case of investing to save the c.£40m
potential loss of revenue arising from a disastrous relegation from the PL.
Surely even the banks, to whom West Ham are indebted, can see the wisdom and
necessity of taking such a course of action?
The Sunderland defeat, has now placed greater pressure on West Ham getting a
result against Man City, this weekend. Hopefully, the players will once
again respond to the challenge and deliver another memorable home victory.
Man City may have spent c.£200m to assemble their expensive squad, and can
undoubtedly be exceptional on their day, but we can seek some reassurance in
the fact that they do not always travel that well.
Lets hope that they are not firing on all cylinders and that the likes of
Carlito Tevez have an off day. I would strongly suggest that we unsettle
him with another vocal display of affection and unadulterated hero worship.
From the perspective of the West Ham players, they need to rediscover the
commitment and invention that they recently unleashed on the red side of
Manchester. If they do that, driven on by the Upton Park crowd, we will
have a chance of getting a result.
SJ. Chandos.
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