WHUFC.com
Bookworm Jonathan Spector was delighted with the plot of Tuesday's Carling
Cup quarter-final
01.12.2010
Not even self-confessed bookworm Jonathan Spector could have dreamt up the
plot of Tuesday's 4-0 Carling Cup quarter-final win against Manchester
United. Not only did the US international score twice against the club that
brought him to England as a 16-year-old, but those goals were his first for
West Ham United - on his 97th appearance. Factor in that Spector was
appearing for the first time in a new defensive midfield role and the
storyline takes on fantasy proportions. "I don't think too many people were
expecting that!" the 24-year-old told WHUTV with a smile. "I was delighted
with the result, most importantly, because we played really well. It was a
great performance and a bit of a bonus getting the two goals."
Spector's goals were his first at senior level in 158 appearances for the
United States, Manchester United, Charlton Athletic and West Ham. Both were
laid on by Victor Obinna, who enjoyed a memorable night of his own by
chalking up assists for all four Hammers goals. "I think I have Victor to
thank for both of them. He put a great ball in for the header and for the
second one he went for the shot and nicked it a little bit and I was just
there to pick up the pieces. "I was a bit fortunate but it worked out
great!"
The Chicago-born player has spent the vast majority of his career in defence
- either as a full-back or centre-back - but has recently been training in a
defensive midfield role at Chadwell Heath. The move paid immediate dividends
against his old club. "It was nice to have a bit more freedom. I think if I
had been playing with any of the other central midfielders that we have
[other than partner Radoslav Kovac], they probably would have been a bit
more advanced than me. "It was good playing with Kova. He's a great player
and he helped me out a lot."
Spector has enjoyed some big moments in his career, making his Manchester
United debut in the Community Shield at Wembley, helping the Hammers stave
off relegation at Old Trafford and winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in his home
city of Chicago in 2007, as well as helping the US to defeat Spain at the
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Tuesday's events have joined those matches in
the American's own personal hall of fame. "I suppose for me personally that
was up there. It was also a great team performance as well. "The win at the
weekend against Wigan was probably bigger for us, but hopefully we can
continue on this track and push on from here. "It's been a bit frustrating
and disappointing but at the same time you have to wait for your chance and
it came on Tuesday."
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Hammers to play Birmingham
WHUFC.com
Only Birmingham City stand between West Ham United and a place in the final
of the Carling Cup
01.12.2010
West Ham United will take on Birmingham City in the last four of the Carling
Cup. The semi-final first leg at the Boleyn Ground will be in the week
commencing 10 January 2011, with the second leg at St Andrew's following in
the week commencing 24 January 2011. Away goals do not count if the
aggregate scores are level at the end of 90 minutes in the second leg. Extra
time would then be played and were the score to still be level at the end of
that additional 30 minutes, then away goals would come into play. Arsenal
will meet Championship club Ipswich Town in the other semi-final. The final
will be played at Wembley on Sunday 27 February. West Ham have reached the
League Cup final twice in their history, losing out on both occasions. West
Brom ran out 5-3 aggregate winners in 1965/66, while Liverpool earned a 2-1
replay victory at Villa Park in 1980/81 after the initial game at finished
1-1 at Wembley. Birmingham won the 1963 final with a 3-1 aggregate success
against Aston Villa. and were beaten 5-4 on penalties by Liverpool in the
2001 final after a 1-1 draw.
Click here for all the latest ticket news. Provisional selling dates are as
follows:
* Season ticket holders - Friday 3 to Monday 13 December
* Club members - Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 December
* General sale - Saturday 18 December onwards
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Carling Cup semi-final draw
Gunners face Keane's Ipswich, Hammers tackle Blues
Last updated: 1st December 2010
SSN
Arsenal will face Ipswich and West Ham take on Birmingham in the semi-finals
of the Carling Cup. Championship side Ipswich have been handed a tough task
against favourites Arsenal if they are to reach Wembley. Roy Keane's side,
who beat West Brom in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, will play host to
Arsenal at Portman Road in the first leg before travelling to the Emirates
Stadium two weeks later. West Ham, who knocked out holders Manchester United
in stunning style on Tuesday, will take on fellow Premier League side
Birmingham in the other semi-final in something of a grudge match. There is
no love lost between the two clubs because of unrest between members of both
boards. Former Birmingham co-owner and current West Ham co-owner David Gold
was barred from St Andrews for the meeting between the two sides last month
after a row with Blues vice-chairman Peter Pannu. Birmingham, who overcame
bitter rivals Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, will travel to Upton Park
for the first leg before welcoming the Hammers to St Andrews.
Semi-final draw:
Ipswich v Arsenal
West Ham v Birmingham
First leg played w/c 10 January, second leg w/c 24 January
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Grant senses Cole goal-glut
Hammers chief believes striker is back on song
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 1st December 2010
SSN
Sunderland v West Ham
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1, Sky Sports 1, Sky 3D and online with Sky Player
West Ham United manager Avram Grant has hailed Carlton Cole's return to
goal-scoring sharpness. The England international netted twice in the
second-half of Tuesday's shock 4-0 win over Manchester United to book the
Hammers' place in the last four of the Carling Cup. Cole took his goal tally
to three from 19 appearances, hardly a prolific return for a player who has
hit double figures in his previous two campaigns. But Grant has backed the
former Chelseafront-man to play a crucial role in West Ham's bid to lift
themselves out of the bottom three. He said: "Carlton lost a little bit of
his confidence and was not fully fit on the physical side as well. "But in
the last few weeks he's been working really hard and I'm delighted. We need
him because he's a good striker." West Ham take on Sunderland at the Stadium
of Light this weekend in a game which can be seen live on Sky Sports.
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Grant inherited 'second-tier side'
Hammers co-chairman dismisses reports of Spector exit
Last updated: 1st December 2010
SSN
Co-chairman David Gold believes that West Ham's struggles at the start of
this season must be measured against the fact that Avram Grant inherited a
'Championship side'. The Hammers narrowly avoided Premier League relegation
at the end of the last campaign under former boss Gianfranco Zola after
finishing only one place above the drop zone with 35 points. Despite only
Reading (36) in 2007/08 and Sheffield United (38) in 2006/07 finishing with
higher points tallies since West Ham were demoted in 2002/03 with 42 points,
Goldbelieves his club were fortunate to avoid relegation. And in the wake of
last weekend's Premier League win over fellow strugglers Wigan and Tuesday
night's Carling Cup hammering of Manchester United, he thinks there are
signs that the Upton Park outfit can climb away from the foot of the table.
Gold told Sky Sports News: "It has to be remembered that, basically, Avram
did inherit a Championship side because with the 35 points that we got last
season that would normally get you relegated. "Nine out of 10 times, 35
points would get you relegated. So in actual fact he inherited a
Championship side. "So it has been difficult for him. He is building, he is
re-gilding and slowly you can see, with six players brought into the team
last night (against Manchester United), the strength of the squad and things
are starting to come together.
Target
"It is only two victories, but it does give ourselves hope that we can get
off the bottom of the table. "That is our next target and once we have done
that it is of course to get out of the bottom three." Jonathan Spector
scored twice against former club Manchester United on a rare first-team
outing for the American. There have been reports that Spector could move to
Germany in the January transfer window. But Gold insists that is not the
case, saying: "I don't know where those rumours have come from, absolutely
no idea where that has come from."
Regarding the possibility of West Ham signing new players in the winter,
Gold added: "Avram will talk to us and we will see what options are
available. He will no doubt tell us where he believes we need to strengthen.
"But you can see after last night's performance that we have the nucleus of
a great squad."
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Cold comfort for stranded Gold
The Sun
By PAUL JIGGINS
Published: Today
DAVID GOLD missed West Ham's 4-0 Carling Cup win over Manchester United as
he was stuck in the snow. The Hammers' co-owner had to listen to radio
commentary of Tuesday's quarter-final triumph after his car got caught in
traffic jams on the M25. He said: "To miss that game was awful. I sat in the
jam listening to the radio. "When we went 2-0 up, I couldn't believe it. I
was jumping up and down in the car like a maniac. "There was a lady parked
alongside, who must have thought I was crazy."
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Fergie should've gone to Specsavers
The Sun
ed: 01 Dec 2010
JONATHAN SPECTOR made a right spectacle of Alex Ferguson as United suffered
Carling Cup humiliation. The American, flogged by boss Fergie to West Ham
four years ago, dumped the holders with a classic double. And Carlton Cole
added two more in this quarter-final caning at snow-lashed Upton Park.
Stunned Ferguson, who sported a bright red woolly hat, admitted: "I didn't
expect that, that's for sure. "The goals were absolutely too soft. You can't
give away goals like that at this level. There were young players out there
and there is probably a lesson for them in it. "But it was a quarter-final
tie and we had a real good opportunity of winning the cup again."
Premier League leaders United had their 29-game unbeaten run ended by the
side that is rock bottom of the table. Defender Spector, making only his
second appearance of the season, was played in midfield by Hammers boss
Avram Grant. And it worked a treat as the American netted twice in the first
half before Cole added a double after the break. Grant admitted: "This was
an unbelievable result. "To perform like this against the best team in the
country, score four goals and keep a clean sheet, I couldn't ask for more.
It's a very special night. I thought we could win, but not like this."
Spector, who had never scored in 128 games before last night, said: "I'm not
really sure why I've not scored before. "Playing in a different position
helped, I moved forward a bit more. "The first goal was a great ball from
Victor Obinna and the second it was Victor again - he was unfortunate to
swipe and miss and I picked up the pieces. "We decided to work hard and give
it a go. We were the underdogs but knew if we stuck together we could get a
result and that is what happened. "It's been disappointing and frustrating
not being in the team but I've been working hard."
Cole, who had only got one goal in 18 games before last night, admitted:
"It's nice to get up and running. I've only got three for the season but
hopefully I can capitalise on this in the next games. Hopefully I can
improve my performances."
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Now kick on you Hammers
The Sun
Published: 01 Dec 2010
AVRAM GRANT hopes West Ham's stunning Carling Cup victory over Manchester
United can establish a winning mentality at Upton Park. The Hammers stunned
the holders with a 4-0 thrashing that has propelled them into the
semi-finals for the first time in over 20 years. But with Premier League
survival their priority, boss Grant wants his troops to take confidence into
the clash with Sunderland on Sunday. He said: "It's very important for us to
build a winning mentality and the best way to do that is with wins like last
night. "The way that we did it was amazing. Last night was great football.
Other than the poor performance at Liverpool and the second half against
Newcastle, we've played well. "We've also played better than our opponents
in 90 per cent of games. "But we didn't win and sometimes the players doubt
what we need to do. "We did not need to make any big changes but continue
playing this football, improving a few things, and they did it yesterday and
last Saturday against Wigan. "I can't say that Saturday was a better game
than the one before but we were more clinical and it's very, very important
to continue this progress."
Carlton Cole scored twice in the second half, lifting the England striker's
tally to three goals in 19 appearances this season. The 27-year-old has been
criticised for his recent form but Grant believes he is starting to impress
once again. "Carlton lost a little bit of his confidence and was not fully
fit on the physical side as well. "But in the last few weeks he's been
working really hard and I'm delighted. We need him because he's a good
striker."
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Why Carling Cup rout really can help Avram Grant save West Ham's season
By Dan Silver in Mirror Football Blog
Published 12:15 01/12/10
The Mirror
Having spent the last five days in a co-codamol and ibuprofen-induced coma
following a back injury, I was half expecting to emerge this morning to
discover that West Ham had lost 2-0 to Wigan, 5-0 to Manchester United and
that England was embroiled in a 110C heatwave.
Amazingly, I hadn't hallucinated any of it. Avram Grant really had
engineered what was only his side's second league win of the season,
Manchester United's unbeaten run stretching back to April was ended in
emphatic style, and the country actually is paralysed by precipitation.
The crunch clash with fellow strugglers Wigan had been billed by the
Hammers' reclusive co-owners Davids Sullivan and Gold as the 'Save our
Season' game, a kill or cure tactic they employed to similar effect during
the relegation run-in last season by stating that their players should take
a pay cut. Avram Grant may have laughed off this latest outburst as a
marketing ploy, but there's no denying the effect it has had on his side,
just as it worked similar wonders on Gianfranco Zola's last spring.
If anything, Grant should be grateful rather than dismissive: these
back-to-back wins won't necessarily have saved West Ham's season, but they
have arguably saved his job. As Sullivan and Gold have publicly admitted,
though, there's only so many times you can utilise a last resort, and the
onus has now switched back to both the Israeli and those over-paid but
under-performing players.
Just over a month ago I wrote about why, if forced to choose, I'd rather
West Ham won the Carling Cup and got relegated than got knocked out and
stayed up. That sentiment still stands, although obviously I'd rather the
club achieve both aims.
And for the first time since the Hammers' pre-season optimism evaporated
amid the white heat of Marc Albrighton's Premier League debut at Villa Park
on the opening day of the campaign back in August, there's finally some
cause for optimism that survival could be secured.
The 3-1 win against Wigan was nowhere near as convincing as the manager's
post-match press conference would have you believe – had Mauro Boselli not
confused his penalty with a back pass, and Steve Gohouri's legitimate
last-minute goal stood then Avram Grant might have been watching last
night's Carling Cup on the television rather than from the sidelines. But,
crucially, it was a win for a side that had seemingly forgotten how to
convert one point into three.
And while Grant's critics will attempt to downplay the significance of last
night's victory over a poor Manchester United side – in Fergie's defence,
it's true that you never know what to expect from a side made up of kids,
reserves and veterans, although he wouldn't have expected them to score four
goals – the confidence it should bring will prove priceless.
More importantly, it's given Grant's side a commodity as rarely seen in
recent times at Upton Park as Carlton Cole goals: momentum .
Only one of West Ham's next seven league games - a home fixture against
Manchester City – is against top four opposition. And it is that run of
games, surely, that represents Grant's genuine chance to save the season.
Start winning those and Hammers fans really will feel like they're in
dreamland.
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West Ham co-owner Gold missed cup triumph because he was stuck in the snow
Published 23:00 01/12/10 By Mike McGrath
The Mirror
West Ham co-owner David Gold has revealed he MISSED his team's amazing
Carling Cup win over Manchester United because he was stuck in a traffic jam
created by the snow. Gold suffered problems on the road after snowfall and
had to listen to the 4-0 victory on the radio before turning around and
heading back home. "Of all the games to miss," he said. "I've only missed a
few in my 17 years in football. I was sitting in a traffic jam. There I was,
jumping up and down in the car and there was a woman parked next to me
thinking there is a crazy man behaving like a maniac. "I was sitting in
traffic for an hour and a half, not moving. Eventually it started to move
and it was half-time. "I was still 20 miles away, so I turned around and
managed to watch the last couple of minutes on television."
The Hammers are in the Carling Cup semis, but are still bottom of the
Premier League. However, Gold has backed boss Avram Grant to lift them out
of the relegation zone. Grant has been under pressure but Gold has praised
his work after inheriting a team fit for the Championship. He said:
"(Co-owner) David Sullivan and I do stick by our people, we have a track
record of that. "It's not blind faith but we pick the manager in the first
place and where we can we stick by him. "It has to be remembered that
basically Avram inherited a Championship side - the 35 points last season
would normally get you relegated.
"It's been difficult and he's been rebuilding and you can see with six
players brought in against United there is strength in the squad. "We're
still at the bottom of the table but this will give us great hope and
optimism for the coming games. Our next target is to get off the bottom and
out of the bottom three." Gold also confirmed there are no plans to sell
two-goal hero Jonathan Spector to German club Cologne, added: "I don't know
where those rumours come from."
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West Ham on the up thanks to Downes
Published 23:00 01/12/10 By Mike Walters
The Mirror
Call off the search party seeking the key to West Ham's revival - just solve
the puzzle Where's Wally? Coincidence or not, and the improvement has been
too startling to suggest it has anything to do with planetary alignment, the
Hammers have been transformed following the arrival of Wally Downes as
manager Avram Grant's new assistant. Soft touches, if not pushovers, before
Downes walked through the door at Upton Park, they have beaten fellow
strugglers Wigan and thrashed Carling Cup holders Manchester United since
the founder member of Wimbledon's Crazy Gang started work.
If cynics scoffed at the concept of Downes, 49, as a messiah, they have been
swiftly disabused of their prejudice. The real Wally is not the pugnacious
nephew of former world middleweight champion Terry Downes who became
embroiled in an ugly touchline spat with Neil Warnock at Reading three years
ago. The real Wally is the right-hand man who became Steve Coppell's trusted
lieutenant at three clubs and Alan Pardew's sidekick at Southampton, and a
common denominator in their successes. Less than a week after his arrival,
West Ham players have formed an orderly queue to praise Downes' impact in
the East End - and the coach himself has revealed he was on the case even
before his surprise arrival as a replacement for the unpopular Zeljko
Petrovic.
Downes said: "Initially, Avram asked me to have a look at a few of the goals
that have gone in recently and where it could have been different.
"Basically, it is easier to tighten up a defence more than it is to instil
attacking philosophies into the players. You can make a short, sharp
difference with some structural stuff with defenders - give them a bit of
attitude and aggression. "I went up to Liverpool (where West Ham lost 3-0 in
a blaze of apathy) and although it was a bad performance, it in no way
reflected the way the team has been playing. "The amount of games where the
team has been in front and could have won, there is obviously a
disappointment that builds up and that culminated in the Liverpool
performance, but that has come and gone now. "It was a great time to wipe
the slate clean - it's about aggression and a will to win, it's about the
players and making sure they are on the front foot."
Downes' presence in the technical area was a voluble feature of the Hammers'
3-1 win over Wigan last weekend, and his barking could again be heard in
Barking during the shock 4-0 demolition of United. Two-goal hero Jonathan
Spector said: "Wally has made a big difference. Although I've been switched
to midfield and haven't been a beneficiary of all the work he's been doing
with our defence, all the players seem to like him and they are responding
to him."
And Carlton Cole, whose two goals against United may have scuppered
Liverpool's hopes of snapping up the England striker for £10 million next
month, concurred: "Wally is an excellent coach - defensively he's got us
playing as a unit, and we needed that. "This could definitely be a turning
point for us. Everyone was saying the Wigan game was a 'save-our-season'
match, and now we have beaten Manchester United three days later. We've got
to build on this and make progress."
Spector, meanwhile, was still basking in the glory of his unlikely stature
as a goalscorer after finally opening his account after 128 games. The
American international has often been damned with faint praise as a utility
defender at West Ham, but in a more advanced role he was as unplayable as
the snowstorm swirling around Upton Park. He said: "It was a great team
performance, a good result for us and obviously I was delighted to score my
first two goals in English football, but most importantly we got the win and
advanced to the semi-finals. "I had possibly played only once, or twice at
the maximum, for West Ham in that position before. I can remember starting
there once against Arsenal at the Emirates, but then after about 10 minutes
there was an injury and I was forced to move back into defence. "Of course,
I enjoyed playing there. Absolutely. But I think I enjoyed the win even
more, and that's the most important part. "I think we've found the right
mentality - not that we didn't have it before, but finally it's come right
for us. We've had some bad luck here and there with certain results and
calls against us, but we've kept the right attitude and eventually we knew
it was going to turn for us."
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Grant aiming to use Hammers' cup shock as a league springboard
Published 16:01 01/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Avram Grant hopes West Ham's stunning Carling Cup victory over Manchester
United can establish a winning mentality at Upton Park. The Hammers stunned
the holders with a 4-0 thrashing that has propelled them into the
semi-finals of the competition for the first time in over 20 years. More
importantly, Grant hopes their second successive triumph will inspire their
Barclays Premier League survival bid. Sunderland are their next assignment
on Sunday and Grant has urged his players to continue their revival. "It's
very important for us to build a winning mentality and the best way to do
that is with wins like last night," the West Ham boss told talkSPORT. "The
way that we did it was amazing. Last night was great football. "Other than
the poor performance at Liverpool and the second half against Newcastle,
we've played well. "We've played better than our opponents in 90% of games,
but we didn't win and sometimes the players doubt what we need to do. "We
did not need to make any big changes but continue playing this football,
improving a few things, and they did it yesterday and last Saturday against
Wigan. "I can't say that Saturday was a better game than the one before but
we were more clinical and it's very, very important to continue this
progress."
Carlton Cole scored twice in the second half, lifting the England striker's
tally to three goals in 19 appearances this season. The 27-year-old has been
criticised for his recent form but Grant believes he is starting to impress
once again. "Carlton lost a little bit of his confidence and was not fully
fit on the physical side as well," he said. But in the last few weeks he's
been working really hard and I'm delighted. We need him because he's a good
striker."
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Barcelona inspired two-goal Jonathan Spector, declares West Ham boss Avram
Grant
By SIMON CASS Last updated at 12:42 AM on 2nd December 2010
Daily Mail
Leo Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and now Jonathan Spector. All right, so West
Ham's converted right back who shone in midfield against Manchester United
might not be ready for the Nou Camp quite yet. But watching Barcelona slay
the galacticos of Real Madrid 5-0 can do wonders for your game, according to
West Ham manager Avram Grant. In an email to fans, Grant raved about
Spector's two-goal display in the 4-0 thrashing of United in the Carling
Cup.
Remarkably, Spector had never scored a senior goal before Tuesday night. But
that did not stop Grant claiming he had taken his cue from the Catalan
giants. 'I think Jonathan Spector saw the Barcelona game on Monday and
thought, I can do that!' quipped Grant. 'It is great that he scored two
goals.
'He is a good professional who always tries hard. The last month we changed
his position in training to midfield and he has done very well.' The Israeli
even hinted that Spector has given him a selection headache for Sunday's
vital trip to Sunderland, where West Ham will attempt to ease their
relegation worries with a third consecutive win. Grant added: 'Scott Parker
will come back into the team on Sunday so I have to think about my team. I
always look for problems like this with selection.' Grant decribed making
the Carling Cup semi-finals at the expense of Sir Alex Ferguson's side as
'something else', and praised his other twogoal hero, Carlton Cole.
Responding to the criticism Cole has received from some West Ham fans for
his lacklustre displays this season, Grant said: 'Carlton Cole knows the
best way to do things is to speak on the pitch. He was brilliant. From the
first moment he worked very hard, caused a lot of problems and scored goals.
Every player sometimes has bad times but we have to wait and judge them at
the end of the season.'
Presumably, co-chairman David Gold was not referring to Spector or Cole when
he attempted to absolve Grant of responsibility for West Ham's poor start to
the Barclays Premier League season, laying the blame firmly at the door of
former manager Gianfranco Zola. 'Avram did inherit a Championship side
because with the 35 points that we got last season, that would normally get
you relegated,' said Gold. 'It has been difficult for him. He is building.
He is re-gilding and slowly you can see, with six players brought into the
team (against United), the strength of the squad. Things are starting to
come together.
'It is only two victories, but it does give ourselves hope that we can get
off the bottom of the table. That is our next target and once we have done
that it is of course to get out of the bottom three.' Also less than
impressed with United was former defender Viv Anderson, who used the club's
television channel to criticise Ferguson's youngsters. 'I don't think they
are quite up to the task,' said Anderson. 'He (Ferguson) is going to have to
really think about the younger lads.' Ex-United star Lou Macari added: 'They
were given an opportunity. Show us what you've got. They have let him
(Ferguson) down.'
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So, it's Birmingham City in the Carling Cup Semi-Finals!
West Ham Till I Die
As stated in my previous blog, I had a strong feeling that that we would
draw the winners of the Villa-Birmingham City quarter-final tie in the
Carling Cup Semi-Finals. And that is exactly how it has transpired, with us
playing Birmingham City at Upton Park in the first leg and at St Andrews in
the 2nd leg in January.
I would have preferred to face them away in the first leg, but what the
hell! Personally, I do not see any reason why we should fear Birmingham
City. The recent PL away match illustrated the fact that we have their
measure and that our new found defensive organisation can only increase our
confidence that we can get the required results over the two legs to
guarantee our passage to Wembley.
And, as we know, confidence is very important in football, it can make the
vital difference between success and failure, even, help secure victories
that seem unlikely on paper. One of the key factors that I observed in the
Man Utd tie was the total freedom, and lack of fear, with which the team
played. Too often this season West Ham have looked nervous and inhibited
playing at Upton Park, yet those problems was completely absent in this
match. One can only hope that this new found freedom and lack of inhibition
carries over to our PL programme and helps lift us up the table over the
next few matches.
We need a scenario like the 1974-75 season, where a 6 goal demolition of
Tranmere Rovers (who included a young winger called Steve Coppell), in the
then League Cup, fired a radical upturn in our league fortune and ultimately
led to FA Cup success the following May. I was only a youngster then, but I
well remember how bleak West Ham's early season prospects were, until the
addition of Bobby Gould, Billy Jennings, Keith Robson and Alan Taylor to the
squad completely transformed the situation.
We now need to see similar signs of a positive cross-over from our cup to
our league performances. We do not need reminding that, last season, for
all Portsmouth's cup heroics it contributed absolutely nothing to improving
their PL position. In our own club history, older fans will recall that
the 1988-89 relegation season saw a great League Cup run, including a truly
remarkable 4 goal victory over mighty Liverpool at Upton Park (on 30
November 1988). In that match the combined brilliance of Devonshire & Brady
and two goals by a young Paul Ince were instrumental in blowing away
Dalglish's mighty Liverpool, the reigning league champions.
We did eventually rally in the league, with a winning run in the final
weeks of the season, but the improvement came too late (a 5-1 reverse at
Anfield, in the final match, ironically sealing our fate)! But there was no
decernible link between progression in the cup and any later improvement in
league results.
So, it will be interesting to see how the team responds on Sunday at the
Stadium of Light? We must hope that West Ham exhibit the level of
commitment and skill that ensured the defeat of Man Utd. If it is present
then there is no earthly reason why we cannot return from the north-east
with the three points and then go on to get a result against Man City at
home, the following weekend.
So, is the Man Utd result to be a turning point in our 2010-11 season or a
Carling Cup false dawn? I shall attend the match at the Stadium of Light
with much nervous expectation. But I am backing it to be a case of the
former over the latter (1974-75 over 1988-89 as it were!). We shall see?
As a post-script to the match on Tuesday evening, it was noticeable how
vocal the Man Utd fans were at kick-off and that they were reduced to total
silence as the result went against them ! Contrast that with the
traditionally defiant (and humorous) response to footballing adversity by
the Hammers' own travelling support, demonstrated over many years, but most
recently up at Anfield last month. That's why this club's greatest asset
is the single minded, stoic loyalty of its fan base. Such great,
inter-generational support deserves better than the continuing anguish of
perpetual struggle, internal crisis and periodic relegation!
SJ. Chandos.
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Carlton Cole puts himself in the shop window after stunning two-goal show
against Manchester United
West Ham United may sell Carlton Cole in the January transfer window if they
receive a suitable offer for the 27 year-old.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt 6:30AM GMT 02 Dec 2010
Liverpool made a summer deadline-day bid for the striker, who returned to
form with two goals in the Carling Cup quarter-final victory over Manchester
United on Tuesday, and may renew their interest next month. Other Premier
League clubs, including Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur, have
previously debated whether to move for the England international. Cole has
2½ years left on his West Ham contract and the club would want him to agree
an extension by next summer or be put up for sale. West Ham want around £10
million for Cole, who recently criticised the tactics of manager Avram
Grant, only later to apologise. The club are hoping to open contract talks
with several players, whose deals expire before Cole's, in the next few
weeks. However, given the state of their finances, it appears that they
would listen to offers for any player — apart from Scott Parker. He agreed a
new four-year contract earlier this year and is not for sale, despite
interest from Spurs.
Chief among those will be Matthew Upson, who is out of contract at the end
of the season and has not yet signalled his intentions. West Ham want the 31
year-old to sign a new deal but are prepared to let him leave for free if
they have to. Selling Upson in January is also an option but it may unsettle
the team, who are facing a relegation battle. Liverpool have expressed
interest in him in the past and need to decide how to cope without Jamie
Carragher.
Another player whose future has been uncertain, and who is effectively up
for sale, is Jonathan Spector, who made his first start since August in the
4-0 win over United, scoring twice. Spector played in central midfield and
will now be considered for that role in future. The United States
international has previously been regarded as a defender but has been asking
Grant to play in midfield. Spector said that the arrival of new defensive
coach Wally Downes had helped change the team's fortunes. "He [Downes] has
made a big difference. I've actually been playing in the midfield for the
past couple of days, since he's been here, so I haven't been a beneficiary
of everything he's been doing, but all the players who have been playing in
the defence seem to like him and are responding to him," said Spector.
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West Ham boss Avram Grant puts £10m price tag on Carlton Cole following
interest from Manchester City - report
2 Dec 2010 07:47:00
Goal.com
Following his brilliant display in Tuesday night's League Cup match against
Manchester United, West Ham United's have reportedly told Manchester City
the can sign striker Carlton Cole for £10 million. According to ESPN
Soccernet, the price tag will kick into gear when the January transfer
window opens, and any offers will be welcomed in the aftermath of a fall out
between manager Grant and the striker. The 27-year-old England international
was cut from the Hammers "Save Our Season" Premier League fixture against
Wigan Athletic, a game which saw the London team return to winning form.
Cole's subsequent return was only as a result of injuries, but his
magnificent two-goal impact against the Red Devils made ha mark. There are
possibilities that Cole may stay at Upton Park, but only time will tell
whether player and boss can let bygones be bygones for the sake of the club
after Cole's public criticism of Grant following a loss against Liverpool.
Many clubs showed strong interest in the 6ft 4in striker last summer,
including Sunderland, Liverpool and Birmingham City, Fulham and Stoke City,
but a deal with the Reds fell through on the day of the transfer deadline.
Previously, heftier price tags have been commanded of Cole, including the
Hammers wanting £12m and £15m for him. ESPN Soccernet also reported that
Grant requires new funds to "rebuild" his team and cannot wait until the
summer, as the club sit on the bottom rung of the Premier League ladder.
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