WHUFC.com
The manager said his team came up against a side on Saturday that could take
the title
11.12.2010
Avram Grant admitted on Saturday evening that his team were second best to a
team that could well be champions come the conclusion of the Barclays
Premier League in May. Manchester City were worthy 3-1 winners at the Boleyn
Ground but the manager was equally certain that his team would make up the
four-point gap to safety - and more - over the coming weeks. UEFA Champions
League winner Yaya Toure was the City hero, scoring the first and making the
second, before England winger Adam Johnson sealed the win with a late third.
James Tomkins added a consolation but the three points that took City
joint-top were never in doubt. "Three-one was a little bit hard on us," said
the manager, who had to reshuffle his pack again with the injured Danny
Gabbidon dropping out of his ever-changing back four and Julien Faubert
coming in. "Especially with the way we came back in the second half but they
are a good team with good players. They are very strong physically and have
a lot of quality. "We did not pass the ball well in the first half and gave
the ball away cheaply but we were better in the second half. We started well
after half-time and were on top but they scored again on a counterattack and
it was very difficult to come back."
Grant refused to complain about what seemed a certain penalty denied for the
Hammers after Yaya Toure's apparent handball but was prompted to respond by
the media. "I saw it now. It was a penalty but the referee didn't see it.
It could have changed the game but we won't complain about this."
Moments later, City had doubled the advantage. Yaya Toure burst clear off
the otherwise exemplary James Tomkins - who had frustrated the substituted
Mario Balotelli all afternoon - to shoot against the post and see the ball
cannon in off the back of Robert Green. The move had stemmed from a loss of
possession in midfield and Grant said such mistakes would always be punished
by such opposition. "Manchester City are a better team than us, especially
when we are playing without seven or eight first-team players. They have
players that didn't even make the bench, like Shaun Wright-Phillips and
Wayne Bridge. "But the boys are trying and they will not give up the fight.
They didn't give up against a team that can take the championship for sure.
They have a big balance between quality players and physical players. They
were not in the game but they were able to score in a moment. That was the
difference."
While the league table does not make for good reading, Grant was defiant and
determined. "We expect better from ourselves and even today we could have
done something. We know what we need to do and we will make it happen. It
won't be easy but we will get to a better position."
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Hitz back
WHUFC.com
Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger returned to Chadwell Heath on Friday
10.12.2010
There was a welcome sight at Chadwell Heath on Friday in the shape of
Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger. The 28-year-old has been denied the
opportunity to make his competitive West Ham United debut after suffering a
thigh injury in August. Hitzlsperger underwent surgery in Germany in October
and had been recuperating in his homeland before returning to the Hammers'
training ground this week. Capped 52 times by his country, the former VfB
Stuttgart star is determined to get back into action and aid the club's bid
to climb the Barclays Premier League table. "It's a tendon injury and I
needed surgery," Hitzlsperger told WHUTV. "I spoke to several doctors and
they all said the same - I needed surgery and it would take me four months
to get back to playing. It got done in the middle of October so I should be
back in the middle of February. "There's not a lot you can do after this
kind of surgery. The doctors told me to rest for the first four weeks as I
was on crutches and couldn't really do much. I started to do conditioning
work and to run a week ago. "Now, the healing process is going well and I'm
quite optimistic I'll be able to play in February. Things could obviously
happen in between but I'm just hoping I will continue making the same
progress over the next two months and I'll be back in February."
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West Ham 1 - 3 Man City
BBC.co.uk
By David Ornstein
Manchester City served notice of their title ambitions by outclassing West
Ham to move level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
City took a deserved lead when the superb Yaya Toure fired past Robert Green
from Gareth Barry's cut-back. And they made it two at a subdued Upton Park
as Yaya Toure's shot hit a post and went in off Green's back. Adam Johnson
rounded Green to seal the points before James Tomkins headed a consolation
for rock-bottom West Ham. The result sees big-spending City leapfrog Chelsea
and Manchester United to join Arsenal on 32 points, although the Gunners'
goal difference is superior by five. Chelsea will go top if they win at
Tottenham on Sunday, while Arsenal and United have the chance to take pole
position when they meet at Old Trafford on Monday. West Ham, by contrast,
stay bottom of the league on 12 points with only two wins all season.
Their loss at Sunderland last Sunday kept them at the foot of the table, but
a run of five home games without defeat in all competitions provided cause
for optimism ahead of this one. And despite featuring four changes from the
side beaten on Wearside, the Hammers looked lively and cohesive from the
outset - snapping into tackles and breaking forward at pace. Boss Avram
Grant dropped Carlton Cole to the bench as Frederic Piquionne came in to
partner Victor Obinna up front, and the Frenchman was ably supported by
wingers Pablo Barrera and Junior Stanislas. Yet it was City, unbeaten in the
league since October and with five victories from nine away games, who
carved out the best chance in the early stages. With captain Carlos Tevez
ruled out of a return to his old club through suspension, City fans could
have been forgiven for approaching the match with trepidation. The Argentine
striker had scored 48% of his side's league goals this season - a higher
proportion than at any other club. But it was his replacement, the Brazilian
forward Jo, who produced a fine run and low cross from the left to tee up
Mario Balotelli in the fourth minute.
The in-form Italian ghosted in front of Matthew Upson at the near post, only
to angle his first-time finish wide of the far upright. Seemingly unfazed by
that close shave, West Ham went back on the front foot and Scott Parker
volleyed wide before Stanislas curled a free-kick over and shot powerfully
at Joe Hart after cutting in from the left. However, City gradually began to
exert an influence on proceedings - dominating possession and frustrating
their opponents with a slick brand of pass-and-move football - and reward
was forthcoming. West Ham were warned of the threat posed by Yaya Toure when
he ran half the length of the pitch before shooting straight at Green - but
the lesson was not heeded. In the 30th minute, the Ivorian fed Gareth Barry
on the left, got ahead of a dozing Jonathan Spector to meet the cut-back and
rifle a first-time drive past Green from the edge of the penalty area. It
was a stunning finish and one which West Ham worked hard to bounce back
from, Parker dragging a drive narrowly wide and Piquionne glancing a header
over from Julien Faubert's cross. City reached half-time fairly comfortably
and the flat atmosphere at Upton Park did not exactly make for a rousing
opening to the second period.
Obinna drilled in a promising centre from the left that was gathered by Hart
with Piquionne lurking, but a second City goal was looking more likely than
a West Ham equaliser. Yaya Toure stung Green's palms with a fierce strike
following another ranging run, while Balotelli was squeezed out by Tomkins
after being released by the former Barcelona man. Balotelli was becoming
increasingly irritated by his inability to make an impact and shortly after
picking up a caution for dissent, he was withdrawn by manager Roberto
Mancini. The 20-year-old's petulance appeared to disrupt his team's rhythm
and allowed the momentum to swing back into West Ham's hands. Grant's men
set about pressing with real intent, forcing a couple of defensive mix-ups
and an unsuccessful penalty appeal for what looked like a handball by Yaya
Toure. On came Kieron Dyer and Cole as Grant went for all-out attack and
there was to be another goal - but it went the way of City. Yaya Toure raced
forward to collect Nigel de Jong's pass and waltzed past Tomkins to go
one-on-one with Green. His shot came back off the woodwork but ricocheted in
off the goalkeeper's back. It was three when Johnson, on for Balotelli,
latched on to David Silva's slide-rule pass and evaded Green to roll into an
unguarded net. Tomkins nodded Obinna's corner past Hart with the aid of a
deflection off Kolo Toure at the death, but it proved too little too late.
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West Ham Utd 1 Man City 3
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 11th December 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are now four points adrift of safety after going down 3-1 at home
to title-chasers Man City at the Boleyn this afternoon. With just one game
to play before Christmas, Avram Grant's side are in serious danger of going
into the holiday period bottom of the table - a position from which only one
team has managed to survive since the Premier League's inception. Yaya Toure
gave the visitors a half time lead with a fiercely-struck drive on the half
hour mark. But it wasn't until the 74th minute until that lead was doubled
when Rob Green was credited with an own goal after Toure's close range
strike rebounded off the post and rebounded off the unfortunate 'keeper. Sub
Andy Johnson added a third with the Hammers defence at sixes and sevens nine
minutes from time before James Tomkins notched a consolation goal with a
header from a corner. Avram Grant revealed after the game that he was
annoyed by referee Phil Dowd's decision not to award a penalty for a fairly
obvious second half hand ball with the score at 0-1. Grant has regularly
criticised referees for decisions going against his team this season.
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Toure too good for Hammers
Efficient City go level on points with Gunners at summit
Last updated: 11th December 2010
SSN
Man of the match: Yaya Toure takes the award for an all-action display that
included opening the scoring and inducing Rob Green into an unfortunate own
goal for the second.
Goal of the match: All three of City's goals were well-worked, but Toure's
opener gets my vote as he unleashed a powerful effort which was beyond Green
and into the back of the net before the keeper could move.
Moment of the match: Balotelli's show of petulance in marching straight down
the tunnel after being substituted shortly after the hour mark will
doubtless generate plenty of questions over his attitude.
Pass of the match: David Silva showed his class with a slide-rule ball
through for Adam Johnson for City's third goal nine minutes from time.
Talking points: How important was it for City to prove they could win
without Carlos Tevez? Can West Ham drag themselves off the foot of the
table?
Yaya Toure inspired Manchester City to a functional 3-1 victory over hapless
West Ham at Upton Park to move level with Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Roberto Mancini's men, missing captain and star striker Carlos Tevez, took
the lead midway through the first half when the Ivory Coast international
midfielder lashed home a powerful effort after being found by Gareth Barry.
And the former Barcelona man helped make it 2-0 to the visitors 17 minutes
from time, although it was unfortunate Hammers keeper Rob Green who was
credited with an own goal after Toure's shot hit the post and came back out
only to deflect home off the diving shot-stopper. Substitute Adam Johnson,
on for Mario Balotelli who had little impact on the match, added a third
nine minutes from time, rounding Green after a delightful slide-rule pass
from David Silva. City then switched off at the back to allow James Tomkins
to head home from a late corner via a deflection off Kolo Toure, but Avram
Grant's men remain rooted to the foot of the table after their latest
reverse. The visitors should have taken an early lead when Balotelli -
involved in a training ground bust-up with team-mate Jerome Boateng earlier
this month - missed his kick in the six-yard box from Jo's low cross. West
Ham looked to hit City on the counter-attack, but despite some promising
runs from Scott Parker, there were few options offered in the final third
and Junior Stanislas fired his 25-yard free-kick high into the Sir Trevor
Brooking Stand. Upton Park nearly sparked into life after 22 minutes when
Stanislas cut inside the City box from the left and drilled an angled strike
goalwards, which Joe Hart did well to hold.
Crashed
Yaya Toure ran through the West Ham rearguard, but his flick from just
inside the penalty area lacked power. City went in front after 30 minutes
after a quick break when Barry fed the ball back to Yaya Toure just inside
the area. Despite an attempted diving tackle by Jonathan Spector, the
midfielder crashed his shot into the top corner. The visitors went close to
a second goal when Pablo Barrera hacked Balotelli's header off the line. The
home fans, though, had little to cheer about, with the atmosphere inside
Upton Park very flat. Parker remained industrious and created space for a
20-yard effort, which sailed harmlessly wide. Julien Faubert did well to
turn and whip the ball across the City penalty area, and Frederic Piquionne
was unfortunate to see his header fly just over. West Ham needed some
inspiration for the second half, but there was little forthcoming - much to
the frustration of the home support. Victor Obinna drilled the ball in
towards the near post from the right, but Hart got there just ahead of
Piquionne. Yaya Toure tried his luck from long distance with a fierce
effort, but Green showed strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air.
Temperamental
There were more than a few hefty challenges being put in by both sides, as
referee Phil Dowd did his best to let the game flow. However, as the hour
mark approached, Balotelli had pushed his protests too far and was
cautioned. Mancini withdrew Balotelli immediately, sending on England
international Johnson, possibly to avoid the temperamental Italian getting
himself sent off. It just about summed up West Ham's afternoon when Obinna
cut the ball back from the byline, and Piquionne stepped over - only for
Barrera to blast his shot high into the Bobby Moore Stand. This was a good
spell for West Ham now, as for the first time in the match, City came under
some sustained pressure. There were penalty appeals for handball against
Yaya Toure as a corner came in, but with so many players jumping as the ball
ricocheted onto his arm, it would have been somewhat harsh. After 73
minutes, Yaya Toure picked up the ball on the left, ghosted past marker
Tomkins and darted goalwards. His shot hit the near post, bounced off the
unfortunate Green's back and into the net for an own goal. Not surprisingly,
all the spirit was drained from the hosts, who continued to defend deep. The
home side were caught again when Silva slipped in Johnson, who rounded Green
and wrapped things up for big-spending City with nine minutes left, before
Tomkins headed in a late consolation.
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Grant - City better than us
Hammers boss looks to upcoming fixtures for solace
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 11th December 2010
SSN
Avram Grant admitted West Ham could not match Manchester City after watching
his side slip to a 3-1 defeat at Upton Park to remain at the foot of the
table. The under-pressure Israeli believes the forthcoming fixtures against
Blackburn, Fulham, Everton, Wolves and Newcastle will prove to be much more
important in their battle to beat the drop. Yaya Toure opened the scoring in
East London with a powerful strike in the first half before inducing Rob
Green into conceding an own goal after a driving run into the box for the
second. Adam Johnson added a third from David Silva's slide-rule pass before
City switched off at the back to allow James Tomkins to head home a late
consolation, with the visitors taking all three points without hitting top
gear. Grant admitted his struggling squad were simply not as strong as the
star-studded visitors, although he claimed his side should have been awarded
a penalty when the ball ricocheted off Yaya Toure's arm at point-blank
range.
Better than us
He told Sky Sports: "We played against a very good team, with very good
players. "They are a team that are better than us. Now we are going to play
against teams that are at our level and we need to do more. "There are too
many things this season, many strange things. You saw the handball when it
was 1-0, it was a penalty for us, but we decided not to complain and to try
and do our job. "The most important thing now is the next game. Our next
games are against the teams who are around us, teams that we need to take
points from and that is what is important. "We wanted to do something today,
the boys tried, but they were too strong for us. "Now we are playing games
that we can take points from and that is what is important. It will not be
easy, but we can take points."
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West Ham 1 Man City 3
Published: 11 Dec 2010
The Sun
YAYA TOURE put on a masterclass as Manchester City pushed their title
credentials at lowly West Ham. The Ivorian midfielder fired City into a
first-half lead before another rasping drive set up Rob Green's 73rd-minute
own goal . Adam Johnson came off the bench to fire a third, with James
Tomkins' header a minute from time scant consolation for the beleaguered
Hammers. City now move into second in the table, level on points with
table-toppers Arsenal ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Monday.
West Ham meanwhile remain rock-bottom, four points from safety. Boss Avram
Grant had made four changes going into the game, with Julien Faubert, Pablo
Barrera, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Piquionne all named. City top-scorer
Carlos Tevez missed out against his old club through suspension, with
Brazilian Jo partnering Mario Balotelli in attack. And it was the visitors
who started the brighter, with Balotelli missing his kick in the six-yard
box from Jo's low cross. West Ham looked to hit City on the counter, but
despite some promising runs from Scott Parker, there were few options
offered in the final third. On 13 minutes they did get a free-kick 25-yards
out, only for Stanislas to fire his effort high into the Sir Trevor Brooking
Stand. Upton Park nearly sparked into life on 22 minutes when Stanislas cut
inside the City box from the left and drilled an angled strike goalwards,
only for Joe Hart to hold on. City went in front on 30 minutes after a swift
break. Gareth Barry fed the ball back to Yaya Toure just inside the area,
who crashed his shot into the top corner. The visitors then went close to a
second when Barrera hacked Balotelli's header off the line.
Upton Park was flat, although Parker continued to be their brightest spark
in midfield. The Hammers did carve one last chance before half-time though,
with Piquionne was unfortunate to see his header fly just over. City had won
their last nine games when they had boasted a lead at half time and West Ham
did not look like changing that. Victor Obinna drilled the ball in towards
the near post from the right, but Hart got there just ahead of Piquionne.
With Balotelli booked, City boss Mancini took him off for Johnson possibly
to avoid the temperamental Italian getting himself sent off. West Ham made a
change on 65 minutes, replacing Stanislas with Kieron Dyer and enjoyed some
sustained pressure. But their hopes of getting back into the game were
dashed with a huge slice of bad luck.
Yaya Toure ghosted past marker Tomkins and darted goalwards. His shot hit
the near post, bounced off the unfortunate Green's back and into the net.
Not surprisingly, all the spirit was drained from the hosts, who continued
to defend deep. The Irons were caught again when Silva slipped in Johnson,
who rounded Green and wrapped things up for big-spending City with nine
minutes left. Tomkins' late header did little to cheer up the departing
Hammers fans.
West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ben-Haim, Barrera (Cole 71),
Spector, Parker, Stanislas (Dyer 65), Piquionne (Hines 80), Obinna. Subs Not
Used: Stech, Reid, Boa Morte, Kovac. Booked: Ben-Haim.
Goals: Tomkins 89.
Man City: Hart, Boateng, Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Jo, Toure
Yaya, Silva (Milner 86), Balotelli (Adam Johnson 61). Subs Not Used: Given,
Richards, Santa Cruz, Lescott, Vieira. Booked: Balotelli, De Jong, Zabaleta.
Goals: Toure Yaya 30, Green 73 og, Adam Johnson 81.
Att: 32,813
Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
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Match Report: West Ham 1 Manchester City 3
West Ham Till I Die
I do hope David Sullivan and David Gold listened to Avram Grant's post match
interview with Sky, because if they did, they will realise that he has not
got a clue as to how to rescue us from the precarious situation we find
ourselves in after this defeat. All he could repeat was the fact that the
next few games look easier than the last few. Wow. What a rallying cry that
is. Tactically, he had nothing in the box when we went one down and I don't
think anyone felt that there was any way back for us.
Having said all that, did we really deserve to lose 3-1? We held possession
for most of the first half of the second half, but to what effect? Apart
from a Stanislas shot and a Piquionne header we didn't threaten where we
needed to. Indeed, we didn't really threaten at all. There wasn't any lack
of commitment, it has to be said. Even Barrera got stuck into a good few
tackles. But we just couldn't, in the end, compete with the power of Toure,
De Jong and Barry. Spector was largely anonymous to the extent that I forgot
he was on the pitch. Parker, as usual, put in a tenacious performance but I
got the feeling he pulled back a little from some challenges, mindful that
he is on a suspension if he gets another yellow.
Defensively, right up until James Tomkins got turned for the second goal, we
had looked sound. I thought Tomkins, apart from that goal, was the man of
the match, totally eclipsing his defensive partner Upson, who yet afain was
completely anonymous. Indeed, why is he captain? Because it's in name only.
It was Parker who had to take up issue after issue with the dreadful referee
Phil Dowd. He gave so many decisions to Man City in the first 20 minutes it
was laughable. Ben Haim had a good game, and until the last part of the
game, so did Faubert. But where on earth was he for the second goal.
Obinna was busy, but to little effect, but he's the sort of player who you
always think might "do" something. Piquionne, I thought, was again
disappointingm but not quite as disappointing as Carlton Cole. Did he do
anything at all in the 25 minutes he was on the pitch? I certainly can't
recall much.
I have to admit, like many other people, I left after the third goal. I know
it's wrong, but I just couldn't help myself.
My only consolation today was meeting David Cross and his son for lunch in
Ken's Cafe. What a lovely man. He told a great story about a particular
superstition, which I am going to get him to write up for the blog.
Green 7
Upson 5
Tomkins 7
Ben Haim 7
Faubert 6
Spector 4
Parker 7
Barrera 5
Stanislas 6
Obinna 6
Piqionne 5
Dyer 5
Cole 5
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Carlos Tevez wants to quit Manchester City: Troubled striker hands in
transfer request
EXCLUSIVE By JOE BERNSTEIN Last updated at 10:14 PM on 11th December 2010
Daily Mail
Homesick Carlos Tevez has rocked Manchester City by telling them he wants to
quit the club. Tevez has shocked club officials by handing in an official
written transfer request after deciding that he cannot carry on with his
life in Manchester. The 26-year-old is said to be suffering distress at
being separated from his two daughters, who live in Argentina, while his
relationship with City's Italian manager, Roberto Mancini, has been
stretched to breaking point. Tevez has told friends he will carry on working
hard for the team while he remains at the club but he is adamant that his
longterm future lies elsewhere. The bombshell move will devastate City fans
on the day they went joint-top of the Premier League on points - Arsenal
have a superior goal difference - with a 3-1 win at West Ham. The City fans
have taken Tevez to their hearts following his controversial £26.5million
move across Manchester from United and he has repaid them with 39 goals in
60 games and wearing the captain's armband. There will be no shortage of
takers for Tevez, with Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan all
admirers of the player. But the striker has not ruled out retiring from
football altogether to be a full-time father. City's reaction to Tevez's
transfer request will be fascinating. Senior figures such as chief executive
Garry Cook have regarded him as the club's talisman from the moment they
displayed controversial 'Welcome to Manchester' posters around the city to
wind up United.
Following last weekend's standup row between Mancini and Tevez after the
manager substituted him in the win against Bolton despite the striker
scoring the winner, City media outlets ran a major interview with the player
during which he praised his boss and pledged his loyalty to the club. But
that is already out-of-date and City's wish to offer him a lucrative
five-year deal in the summer is just a pipedream. The club would ideally
want at least £35million for Tevez and that is if they can get their heads
around losing him. But the player will hope they accept his personal reasons
for wanting to leave. He has complained in the past about missing his family
and he makes regular trips back to Argentina. Although respected by other
City players, his lack of fluent English means he often cuts an isolated
figure and, significantly, he did not attend the club's Christmas party last
Saturday. A big admirer of City's previous manager, Mark Hughes, Tevez does
not enjoy the same relationship with Mancini. The pair clashed in the
dressing-room at half-time during this season's home game against Newcastle
and Tevez was visibly angered by being taken off against Bolton.
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