WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears was all smiles after kicking-off 2011 with his first West Ham
United goal since March 2008
01.01.2011
Freddie Sears admitted he was tempted to jump into the Bobby Moore Stand
after netting his first West Ham United goal in nearly three years. The
21-year-old kicked-off 2011 with a superb first-time finish to cap the
Hammers' 2-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The New Year's Day win meant West Ham have now picked up seven points from
three matches since Sears was re-called from his loan spell at Scunthorpe
United. After producing impressive displays against Fulham and Everton, the
life-long West Ham fan ended a dream week by scoring for the first time
since his debut header against Blackburn Rovers on 15 March 2008. "It was a
great feeling. Just to be back playing in West Ham colours is a better
feeling but to get the win and to get the goal was great. There is a great
feeling around the place and the dressing room is buzzing. "My first and
last goal was obviously on my debut so it's been a long time coming. It was
against Blackburn two or three years ago but I've played a few games since
then and been out on loan and now I've got the second goal. "I scored a goal
at Palace that got disallowed but this is my first senior goal since my
debut. It was great to score in front of the Bobby Moore Stand and I must
admit I nearly jumped in there with the fans!"
Saturday's success lifted West Ham off the bottom of the table and into 15th
place ahead of Wednesday's trip to Newcastle United. With the Hammers
heading to Tyneside unbeaten in four matches, Sears knows it is important
that they keep that confidence-boosting run going at St James' Park. "If you
look at the table now we've pushed up to 15th, but it's so tight and
everyone is beating everyone at the minute, so we've got to kept getting
points and working our way up the table. "Hopefully we can keep winning
games. We've had three hard games but we've done well and we've all dug in
and worked hard and got good points. We need to keep doing that."
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Grant on a high
WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears sealed a great day for West Ham United that left his manager
delighted
01.01.2011
Avram Grant was all smiles at the end of "a good week for us" having seen
his team move up to 15th place in the Barclays Premier League. A 2-0 home
win against Wolverhampton Wanderers secured by Freddie Sears' strike after
an own goal was just reward for a battling display. It followed the Boxing
Day triumph at Fulham and the 1-1 draw against Everton last Tuesday. "It was
a good week for us. We needed to get these points and I am very happy. It is
much nicer to look at the table now and nicer than carrying the whole league
on your back. We know we have a long way until we can relax but it is a nice
feeling."
Hailing Sears' contribution, Grant paid tribute to all the Academy aces
helping his team out including defensive rock James Tomkins and winger
Junior Stanislas, who took a hefty whack for his troubles during a
competitive contest. "They are young players from our Academy and they are
all doing a good job. Fredddie went on loan and got some good experience at
Scunthorpe. Even though he didn't score there we scouted him and knew he was
doing well."
The manager also hailed a second straight man of the match display from
Robert Green, who single-handedly repelled Wolves in their bright opening to
the second half. That laid the foundation for the Hammers to take the lead
when Ronald Zubar put through his own net on 51 minutes before Sears pounced
on Tal Ben Haim's cut-back eleven minutes from time. "I don't need to say
how they are in the dressing room. You can imagine how they feel. They are
very happy, especially as we are getting the rewards for our good play. We
have been like this for a long time but we have become more efficient. The
feeling is good. They are very happy but we have a long way to go. "We
always knew the gap was not a big gap but we will go to Newcastle on
Wednesday and want to make a good result there. We remember the last match
at home, when we played 20 minutes like Newcastle but they took over and
deserved to win. "The spirit was always good and the players always wanted
to get out of this situation. We have played three games in a week, and have
played well even though we have had to rotate the team. I am very happy and
we need to continue like this and stay efficient."
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West Ham 2 - 0 Wolverhampton
BBC.co.uk
West Ham struck a crucial blow in the battle to beat the drop
By Kevin Darling
Freddie Sears scored his first goal since March 2008 as West Ham beat Wolves
to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. Robert
Green made a string of saves to deny Wolves before Ronald Zubar's own goal -
from Frederic Piquionne's cross - put the Hammers ahead. Matthew Upson's
header was tipped on to the bar before Sylvain Ebanks-Blake hit the woodwork
at the other end. Sears then rammed home Tal Ben Haim's cross to lift the
hosts off the bottom. The defeat means Wolves replace West Ham at the foot
of the Premier League table. The home side's heroes in a frantic match were
the exemplary Green and 21-year-old Sears, who had not scored since netting
on his Hammers debut over two-and-a-half years ago. Industrious Wolves were
left to rue several missed chances in a scintillating second half of a match
where all the key moments seemed to go West Ham's way. The last time these
two sides were involved in a relegation six-pointer, at Upton Park last
March, Wolves ran out convincing 3-1 winners, prompting Hammers co-owner
David Sullivan to openly criticise then-manager Gianfranco Zola. There will
be no such indignity for current incumbent Avram Grant, who has been
similarly under pressure, and the Israeli may have just done enough to be
entrusted with Sullivan's January transfer budget after picking up eight
points from four games in the Christmas period. Yet it was a nervy opening
from Grant's side with Wolves almost benefiting from an early goalmouth
scramble after the Hammers had failed to clear a corner.
Ebanks-Blake then headed straight at Green from five yards after another
Wolves set piece caused problems in the Hammers defence. But it was the
hosts who created the game's first clear-cut chance on the half-hour mark
when Scott Parker's through-ball made its way to Carlton Cole after George
Elokobi's slip, only for the striker to scuff the ball wide from a few yards
out. The improving Hammers went even closer to scoring shortly before the
break when the impressive Sears' fierce close-range strike was brilliantly
cleared off the line by Richard Stearman. After a tense and reasonably tepid
first half, the second period began in blistering fashion with Wolves
creating four chances to score in as many minutes. Green made three fine
saves in quick succession, denying Christophe Berra, Stephen Ward and one of
his own defenders with diving stops, before Nenad Milijas sent a free header
just over the bar.
Just after surviving the Wolves barrage, West Ham went ahead in the most
fortunate of circumstances. Piquionne, possibly offside, raced clear on the
right and set up Cole for an easy finish but the England striker completely
missed the ball and it instead bounced in off the knee of unlucky defender
Zubar.
Cole's reaction, walking to the celebrating fans with a shrug of the
shoulders and an embarrassed grin, said it all about the Hammers' good
fortune. Still, the hosts set about taking full advantage and went in search
of a second goal, with Upson's header from a Parker corner superbly tipped
on to the bar by Hennessey. The Hammers were on top but Wolves came inches
away from drawing level when Ebanks-Blake hammered substitute David Edwards'
pinpoint cross against the bar. Once again, Wolves were punished for the
missed opportunity as West Ham hit back with a goal on the counter-attack.
Parker released Ben Haim on the right and the Israeli bided his time before
cleverly picking out Sears, who swivelled and finished crisply past
Hennessey to seal a win that propels the Hammers five places up the Premier
League table to 15th.
West Ham manager Avram Grant: "It has been a very good Christmas, a good
week for us. This is a massive win. "I felt before this run that we were
very efficient. Now we are getting the wins we deserve so we're very happy.
"There is a long way to go but I can tell you the spirit was always good, I
am sure we will continue like we are."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "We are two points from safety and as far as I
am aware we are not getting relegated in the morning. "We are scrapping away
and we played well enough today, we should have equalised to be honest. "We
have to just keep playing the way we have in the last two games without
giving goals away."
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Grant on... Wolves
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 1st January 2011
By: Staff Writer
A naturally delighted Avram Grant reflects on a week from which an
impressive haul of seven Premier League points were gained...
Avram: it's been a good Christmas?
Yes, a very good Christmas; I'm starting to like this holiday!
It was a good week for us. I think we felt before that we deserved [more]
but we spoke about it before, we needed to take the points. It was a good
week for football and [I felt we] were very efficient.
Nice to look at the table and see that West Ham are finally out of the
bottom three?
It is nice, but we know we have a long way [to go] until we will do what we
want to do. But it's a very nice feeling.
And Freddie Sears has been a breath of fresh air in the last few weeks?
Yes, Freddie Sears and [James] Tomkins before, Junior Stanislas... they're
young players from our Academy and all of them are doing a good job. Freddie
Sears was on loan, he had some experience, even though he didn't score at
Scunthorpe he did a good job. Last week he was good for us and scored a
fantastic goal [today].
What will it do for the players to look at the league table in the morning
and not see the team in the bottom three? It must be a huge psychological
boost?
I don't need to say, I think you can imagine how they feel now. They're very
happy. Especially, as we said before, our game didn't change much in the
last week - we were just more efficient. We played a certain way before, we
did a good job on the football side but we didn't win games.
Now we've won games that we deserved to win - here against Wolves, who
played vey well against Liverpool. So you can imagine the feeling, they're
very happy. But we have a long way [to go].
It's quite good though, if you beat Newcastle on Wednesday you can go up to
12th?
Yes... we always knew the gap was not too big. But we want to get a good
result at Newcastle. It's not easy, you remember our last game against
Newcastle? We played for 20 minutes like we were Barcelona and then we
played like we weren't even on the pitch. They deserved to win the game at
the end of the day so even if we don't look back, we want to get a good
result.
Robert Green made three great saves at the start of the second half?
Yes... I think sometimes you need to listen to me - I told you at the
beginning of the season... [laughs] I said to Rob 'thank you very much'. He
said 'for what?' I said 'at the beginning of the season, 20 minutes of every
press conference was about you...'
No, we spoke about [it]; I told you at the beginning of the season that it's
better not to reach a conclusion after two or three games. He didn't start
the league so good which can happen to anyone but his reaction was good -
and not just in this game, in the last game he showed that he is a very good
goalkeeper.
How do you see the rest of the season going? Can you stay out of there?
We can learn.. we are trying to learn first for ourselves at this stage of
the season. Last week it was all about an intelligent game and a good
spirit. I can tell you we didn't know which players were fit until the last
moment so we didn't know which 11 players to pick. We had a lot of problems.
But I can tell you that in training, the spirit was always good. The players
always showed that they wanted to get out of this situation. In the last
week we've played three games in six days; we've played good, we've taken
points and half of the players didn't play before and they did a very good
job.
So I'm very happy. We need to continue like this - and stay efficient.
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McCarthy on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 1st January 2011
By: Staff Writer
A downbeat Mick McCarthy reflects on a defeat that leaves his Wolves side
bottom of the Premier League...
Mick: how do you reflect on that performance?
I think we played well in the game. But we made mistakes which cost us the
game.
At the start of the second half you must have thought 'it's not going to be
our day' when Rob Green made three great saves?
Well actually I thought it was going our way - quite the opposite. When we
were playing well and Green was making great saves I thought it was going
our way and we should have kept it going that way. We didn't need to try and
play offside, we've loosened up at the back and it's ended up in the back of
the net, an own goal.
I think both teams would have been a little bit sensitive, fragile, it they
were to concede the first. We should have equalised, to be honest.
You're back at the bottom of the table, but there's still a long way to go?
Two points from safety apparently, as far as I'm aware we're not being
relegated at the moment because of our position. Hey - we're in the bottom
three, we're scrapping away. We've played well enough today in a game that's
a huge, big game for us.
West Ham have had a great Christmas period. We've just got to keep playing
the way we have in the last two games but not give goals away like we have
today.
[Question regarding how close the pack at the bottom of the table are]
I must say I don't study leagues regularly, but it does seem strange that
it's as tight as it is.
Do you think it's going to be like this all season?
I hope not, I hope that we've got about 34 points in the next four or five
weeks - but it aint going to happen! I think it'll be tight all the way
through, yeah.
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Sears delighted to end drought
Winger pleased to score for first time since debut in vital victory
Last updated: 1st January 2011
SSN
Freddie Sears was delighted after ending his long goal drought to help West
Ham beat Wolves and climb out of the Premier League drop zone. The
21-year-old scored on his debut for the Hammers back in March 2008 but had
failed to find the net since. But he was a threat all afternoon at Upton
Park and had an effort cleared off the line by Richard Staerman in the first
period. Following a Ronald Zubar own goal, he then netted the crucial second
with 11 minutes remaining to help Avram Grant's side off the bottom and into
15th in the table.
Great feeling
The 21-year-old, a product of the club's academy and lifelong Hammers fan,
told Sky Sports: "It was great, a great feeling obviously to get the goal
and to get the three points as well. "The three points are the most
important but personally for me it was a great time to get my second goal in
the Premier League." The Hammers have taken eight points from their last
four games to get out of the drop zone and Sears said the dressing room was
buzzing.
"The boys are really happy at the minute, so a real buzz around the place,"
he said.
Impetus
Sears believed Zubar's own goal on 51 minutes gave the Hammers the impetus
to go on and win the game. He said: "I think we worked hard, we pressed
them, we tried to play football as well. "I think the only thing that was
missing in the first half was the goal and as soon as we got the goal second
half we really put it to them and made them make mistakes, like they did for
the goal and that really gave us our lift."
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Sears sends Hammers clear
Hammers climb out of relegation zone for first time after vital win
Last updated: 1st January 2011
SSN
Man of the match: Freddie Sears. He scored for the first time since his
debut in March 2008 to seal the victory. The youngster also had an effort
off the line in the first period and was a threat all afternoon.
Goal of the match: Sears'. Scott Parker released Tal Ben-Haim down the right
who crossed into the centre for the 21-year-old to side-foot home from near
the penalty spot.
Attempt of the match: Matthew Upson headed powerfully at goal from a corner
which Wayne Hennessey did well to push onto his crossbar.
Save of the match: As above - Hennessey's. The keeper appeared to slip just
before making the save which made it even better.
Moment of the match: Robert Green made a string of good saves at the start
of the second half before Ronald Zubar's own goal put the Hammers ahead.
Talking point: West Ham moved out of the relegation zone for the first time
this season with the win. Can Avram Grant's side now push on up the table?
A Ronald Zubar own goal and Freddie Sears effort saw West Ham climb off the
bottom at Wolves' expense. Sears, who scored on his debut three seasons ago
but had not found the net since, had an effort cleared off the line by
Richard Stearman in a tight first half. After the break, Robert Green made
several good saves to deny Wolves before Ronald Zubar turned Frederic
Piquionne's cross from the right into his own net on 51 minutes after
Carlton Cole had missed the ball. Wayne Hennessey pushed Matthew Upson's
header onto the crossbar before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake headed against the
crossbar at the other end as the game opened up. Sears then made sure of the
points with 11 minutes to play when converting Tal Ben-Haim's cross from the
right. The 21-year-old, a product of the club's academy and lifelong Hammers
fan, struck from 15 yards for his first goal since March 2008. The victory
saw Avram Grant's side climb out of the relegation zone for the first time
this season - up to 15th - while Wolves sunk to the foot of the table. Grant
made four changes to his team after their 1-1 draw with Everton, bringing
back Cole, Ben-Haim, Danny Gabbidon and Junior Stanislas who all featured in
the Boxing Day win at Fulham, while Wolves were unchanged following their
success at Liverpool on Wednesday. Wolves went close when Stephen Hunt
almost curled a corner from the right inside the near post, but Piquionne
headed over his own bar.
Combined
Cole and Piquionne combined for the first time in the 10th minute,
culminating in the latter lashing a 20-yard strike high and wide. With Hunt
on the left and Matt Jarvis on the right, Wolves had plenty of quality,
while Hammers wideman Stanislas was also heavily involved early on and the
hosts might have benefited had his crossing been of a higher standard.
Wolves won their fifth corner in the 19th minute and Hunt's delivery was a
good one, culminating in Ebanks-Blake heading straight at Green. At the
other end, Sears sidestepped Christophe Berra before drilling a left-footed
shot which Hennessey dealt with comfortably. Cole should have scored after
captain Scott Parker threaded a pass through the Wolves defence and into the
striker's path, but the former Chelsea frontman made a hash of his finish
from 10 yards and the ball bobbled wide of the left post. Piquionne and
Stearman clashed off the ball just after the half-hour mark, when the French
striker lashed out but escaped with a warning from referee Lee Probert. West
Ham went close to taking the lead when Stearman, on the goal-line, booted
away a firm shot from Sears. Wolves had the first opening of the second half
when smart play from Hunt fed Ebanks-Blake. The striker's wayward shot took
a deflection to bring about a corner, and then came a flurry of attempts on
Green's goal, with the England keeper saving a Cole deflection, Berra header
and a crisp left-footed strike from Stephen Ward before Nenad Milijas headed
over from close range.
Bizarre circumstances
The visitors were then dealt a huge blow after 51 minutes when West Ham took
the lead in bizarre circumstances. Piquionne sprinted down the right and
sent over a cross which Cole ought to have smashed past Hennessey. The
striker missed his kick, yet his blushes were spared by Zubar, with the ball
trickling off the defender's knee and into the bottom right corner. Stearman
was booked for a foul on Parker, with the crowd baying for a heavier
punishment. Upson looked a certain scorer in the 61st minute when he met a
corner from Parker, but Hennessey managed to turn his header against the
crossbar. Mark Noble came off the bench to replace Stanislas after 69
minutes, and Wolves made a double switch when Steven Fletcher and David
Edwards replaced George Elokobi and Hunt. Ebanks-Blake should have equalised
after 76 minutes but planted his close-range header against the bar after
Fletcher picked him out with a cross from the right. The cost of that miss
was emphasised three minutes later when Sears steered Ben Haim's measured
delivery from the right into the bottom left corner. Sears celebrated
exuberantly in front of the joyous home fans, who after seeing Grant's side
take eight points from a four-match unbeaten run can look forward to the
rest of 2011 with growing optimism.
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Grant - We deserved it
Boss believes Hammers finally getting points their displays deserve
By Steve Pass Last updated: 1st January 2011
SSN
Avram Grant felt West Ham had deserved to win after his side beat Wolves to
climb out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. Freddie
Sears saw an effort cleared off the line in a tight first period before the
Hammers had Robert Green to thank for keeping Wolves out as Mick McCarthy's
side made a blistering start to the second half. The Hammers then took the
lead on 51 minutes via a Ronald Zubar own goal before Sears notched his
first goal since March 2008 with 11 minutes remaining to make sure of the
points. The victory lifted the Hammers off the bottom and into 15th in the
table, with Grant's side now taking eight points from their last four games.
The West Ham boss believed his side have been playing well for a long time
and are now finally getting their just rewards.
Right things
He told Sky Sports: "We are very happy because for a long time we have felt
that we are doing the right things. "Even when we had a lot of problems, we
did the right things, we played the football that we wanted to play and we
didn't get the reward that we wanted in terms of points. "I think this week
- and we have spoke about this before - we were more efficient and, of
course, it is a good week for us." He added it had been a difficult game but
his side had deserved to win. "You saw from our attacking football we scored
two goals today, we (also) created three good chances and we deserved to
win."
Transfer targets
But Grant is not resting on his laurels and confirmed he would be looking to
bolster his squad in the transfer window as he seeks to push the Hammers up
the table. "We are trying to do some business because our squad is short and
we have a lot of games in the next four or five months," he said. "Any
player that can improve the team we will take (a look at)."
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West Ham 2 Wolves 0
The Sun
Published: 01 Jan 2011
WEST HAM finally stepped out of the drop zone by downing relegation rivals
Wolves. An own goal from hapless Ronald Zubar and a second from Freddie
Sears sent the Hammers up into 15th. It is the first time they have been out
of the bottom three this season. But that dismal record is trumped by boss
Avram Grant — who ended an incredible run of over a YEAR in the relegation
places. Zubar turned in Carlton Cole's fluffed shot just after the break
before Sears wrapped it up with 10 minutes to go. And it spelt bad news for
Mick McCarthy's men, who are now rooted to the foot of the table. The win
makes it eight points from four games for the Hammers — all unbeaten. And
Upton Park chief Grant said: "It has been a very good Christmas, a good week
for us.
"I felt before this run that we were very efficient, but you can imagine how
the players feel — they are very happy. "Now we are getting the wins we
deserve, including this one against Wolves, so we're very happy but there is
a long way to go." "It's much nicer to be out of the bottom three but we
know we have a long way to go to do what we want to do. "But after what's
happened in the last month this was nice."
It is not looking good for Wolves yet boss Mick McCarthy said: "We are two
points from safety and as far as I am aware we are not getting relegated in
the morning. "We are scrapping away and we played well enough today. "We
have to just keep playing in the last two games without giving goals away.
"Both teams would have been a little bit sensitive and fragile, whoever
concedes the first, yet we should have equalised to be honest."
Cole had a sniff after four minutes, creating an opening for himself only to
run the ball through to keeper Wayne Hennessey. At the other end, Wolves
went close but Stephen Hunt's curler was nodded over by Frederic Piquionne.
The Hammers then survived a mad goalmouth scramble before Robert Green saved
from Stephen Ward. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Freddie Sears were next up to
trade shots but neither could force a way through. Cole blew a golden chance
following Scott Parker's pin-point ball through after half an hour. But the
former Chelsea striker made a right hash of his shot and the ball bobbled
wide from 10 yards. Sears almost broke the deadlock but his shot was booted
off the line by Richard Stearman and the relegation rivals went into the
break all-square.
It did not stay that way for long, however, and West Ham took the lead on 51
minutes in bizarre circumstances. Cole had a glorious chance but made a mess
of Piquionne's dangerous cross — only to see it trickle in off Zubar's knee.
Matthew Upson looked nailed on to score in the 61st minute but Hennessey
tipped his thunder header on to the bar. But it did not matter as Sears was
on hand to turn in Tal Ben Haim 79th-minute cross and send Grant's men into
dreamland.
West Ham: Green, Ben-Haim, Tomkins, Upson, Gabbidon, Sears, Parker, Kovac,
Stanislas (Noble 69), Cole, Piquionne. Subs Not Used: Boffin, Reid, Barrera,
Boa Morte, Hines, Obinna.
Goals: Zubar 51 og, Sears 79.
Wolves: Hennessey, Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi (Fletcher 76), Jarvis,
Foley, Milijas (Bent 87), Hunt (Edwards 76), Ward, Ebanks-Blake. Subs Not
Used: Hahnemann, David Jones, Mujangi Bia, Batth. Booked: Stearman.
Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
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Obinna commits to West Ham - if the price is right
Published 23:59 01/01/11 By Alan Nixon and Dean Jones
The Mirror
Victor Obinna has assured West Ham he will stay and sign a permanent deal if
they make a good enough offer, writes DEAN JONES and ALAN NIXON.
Aston Villa have been in contact with his parent club Inter Milan to check
on his availability. But the Hammers are in the driving seat. Obinna, who
spent last term on loan at Malaga, said: "If West Ham want me then I'll
speak to them because I am happy here and the Premier League is sensational.
"I have been out on loan a lot in recent times and my desire is just to
settle. I would like that to be here in England – even though I do not like
the weather!"
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Bundesliga side reject Hammers' loan move for Senegalese striker
Published 23:59 01/01/11 By Dean Jones and Alan Nixon
The Mirror
West Ham's move for Hoffenheim's Senegalese striker Demba Ba is on the rocks
– after a loan bid was thrown out by the German club. Powerful hit man Ba
was in London for a few days last week, waiting for approval to speak to the
Premier League strugglers about a big-money move to Avram Grant's club. But
Ba will have to wait before he leaves the Bundesliga outfit, who have
rejected an offer of a £500,000 loan fee and a permanent £5million switch if
they stay up. Hoffenheim want straight cash and are hoping that Blackburn
firm up an interest and come in for the French-born forward. The Germans
also want to get a replacement in before they sell. So the delay suits
Hammers, who are trying to raise the cash to buy him.
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Grant hails forgotten man Sears us Hammers climb out of danger zone
Published 22:55 01/01/11 By Anthony Clavane
The Mirror
West Ham boss Avram Grant last night hailed the return of forgotten man
Freddie Sears as the Hammers climbed out of the bottom three for the first
time this season. Sears' first goal for the club since his debut winner
against Blackburn in 2008 sealed victory for Grant's side against relegation
rivals Wolves.
The 21-year-old right midfielder is an Academy product who was recalled to
Upton Park by Grant last week following his loan period at Scunthorpe
United,
"He is from our family and he scored a fantastic goal which he deserved,"
said Grant. "He has been on loan of course – but he has played very well in
the last few games. "He hasn't come back at an easy moment for us. "But it
has been a good week for us. We still have a long way to go but the players
are very happy. We have had a good Christmas."
The 2-0 win against Mick McCarthy's team made it eight points from the last
four games for the Hammers – but McCarthy's strugglers are at rock bottom.
The Wolves boss said: "We played well, but mistakes cost us the game. The
game was going our way and Robert Green had to make some great saves before
we put the ball into our own net (Ronald Zubar). "We're still only two
points from safety and it's very tight down there. We're not being relegated
in the morning as far as I'm aware. I think we will be all right."
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West Ham 2-0 Wolves: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 22:55 01/01/11 By Anthony Clavane
The Mirror
If West Ham defy tradition and escape the drop everyone knows they will have
their Fab Four to thank – a quartet of English stars who are key to their
survival. But it was their forgotten young Englishman – Freddie Sears – who
sealed the most important win so far. Their four Three Lions internationals
are the spine of Avram Grant's side and all played their part in this
classic relegation dogfight which ended with the hosts moving out of the
bottom three for the first time this season. Keeper Robert Green made three
superb saves, Matthew Upson defended magnificently and hit the bar at the
other end, Scott Parker put in another driving display and Carlton Cole led
the line with his usual bite.
But it was Sears, an Academy product recalled to Upton Park only last week
from his loan at Scunthorpe, who really stepped up to the plate. Sears moved
to Scunthorpe in October, trading one relegation fight for another. But the
pacy forward shone on the right-hand side of midfield – and scored his first
goal for the club since his debut winner against Blackburn in 2008. Grant
said: "He scored a fantastic goal which he deserved. He is on loan of
course, but he has played very well in the last few games."
On this evidence, the old adage about the team who are bottom of the Premier
League on Christmas Day being destined for the second tier could be blown
out of the water. True, only West Brom have ever avoided the drop from such
a perilous position, but any side boasting Green, Upson, Parker, Cole and
the revitalised Sears has more than a fighting chance. "As a West Ham fan,
it has been hard to see the club where they are," Sears said. "Personally,
I'd love to stay and try to lift them up the League. We'll see."
The Hammers went in front after 51 minutes when Freddie Piquionne tore down
the right flank. England striker Cole made a great run into the box but
completely fluffed his shot. Luckily for the home side, however, Ronald
Zubar followed up to put the ball into his own net. Wolves hit back after
the break, with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's header hitting the bar, but Sears
calmed the Hammers' nerves when he coolly slotted home Tal Ben Haim's cross
after Parker had played him in on the right. Wolves were expecting far more
after their win at Liverpool, but boss Mick McCarthy refused to panic. "We
are two points from safety and as far as I am aware we are not getting
relegated in the morning," he said. "Both teams would have been a little bit
sensitive and fragile, whoever concedes the first, yet we should have
equalised."
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Grant reflects on 'very good Christmas' for West Ham after win over Wolves
Published 19:22 01/01/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Avram Grant reflected on a "very good Christmas" after West Ham finally
dragged themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory over fellow
strugglers Wolves at Upton Park. Freddie Sears, a product of the West Ham
academy and lifelong Irons fan, secured what could prove to be three crucial
points 10 minutes from time with a first goal since scoring on his debut in
March 2008. Grant's side had goalkeeper Robert Green to thank with a string
of fine saves before they went ahead when Ronald Zubar scored an own goal at
the start of the second half. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hit the woodwork as Wolves
rallied before Sears then rammed home Tal Ben Haim's cross to haul the
Hammers off the bottom and send Wolves there instead. Grant had reportedly
been given the hectic festive schedule to turn around his team's fortunes,
or face the axe. After a win at Fulham and then the 1-1 draw with Everton,
the former Chelsea and Portsmouth manager can perhaps rest somewhat more
easy. "It has been a very good Christmas, a good week for us," the Israeli
said. "I felt before this run that we were very efficient, but you can
imagine how the players feel - they are very happy. "Now we are getting the
wins we deserve, including this one against Wolves, so we're very happy but
there is a long way to go."
Grant added: "It's much nicer to be out of the bottom three but we know we
have a long way to go to do what we want to do - but after what's happened
in the last month this was nice. "We are trying to play for ourselves at
this stage of the season. I can tell you the spirit was always good, they
wanted to get out of this situation. "We played three games in six days and
we have done very well. So I am very happy and I am sure we will continue
like we are doing and stay efficient. "We always knew the gap to the others
was not a big gap, but we want to make a good result in Newcastle on
Wednesday."
With the Irons boss seeing his options depleted by injury, Grant was also
glad to see fellow academy graduates James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas make
an impression as well as Sears, who was recalled from a loan spell at
Scunthorpe. "The three of them are young players from our Academy and are
doing a good job," said Grant. "Freddie has done well on loan even if he
hasn't scored, but today he scored a fantastic goal."
For Wolves, the result was a major disappointment following their superb
midweek victory at Liverpool. Next up is a clash against champions Chelsea,
before a trip to Manchester City followed by dates with Liverpool again,
Manchester United and Arsenal in February. However, with his side still only
two points behind the 15th-placed Hammers, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is not
about to throw in the towel just yet. "We are two points from safety and as
far as I am aware we are not getting relegated in the morning," he said. "We
are scrapping away and we played well enough today. "We have to just keep
playing in the last two games without giving goals away. "Both teams would
have been a little bit sensitive and fragile, whoever concedes the first,
yet we should have equalised to be honest."
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Oh, Freddie Freddie!
West Ham Till I Die
Well, after my negativity earlier in the day, that was a bit of a relief
wasn't it? The result I mean, as the performance was still dodgy to say the
least. It was a very strange game in that I don't think I looked at my watch
once, and yet there were parts of it that were dire. We had a lot of
possession but still didn't look like we would do anything with it unless
Scott Parker was on the ball. Carlton Cole was at his most irritating.
Brilliant one minute and laughably incompetent the next. The less said about
the first goal the better, but it summed up Cole's afternoon. But there were
occasions at the end of the first half when he looked like a world beater.
Just a pity they weren't repeated in the second.
Defensively we rarely looked troubled apart from a two minute period in the
second half when we just couldn't clear the ball and nearly paid the price.
Tomkins was outstanding and I thought Ben Haim had his best game for us so
far. Strangely, Gabbidon looked better going forward than in defence and
went on a couple of astonishingly mazy dribbles.
But it was in midfield where we won the game. I thought Kovac looked very
solid, and that's not something I thought I would ever type. Scott Parker
put in yet another man of the match performance and was at the centre of
everything good we did. Stanilas was poor and Freddie Sayers disappeared for
large parts of the game, but when he got the ball and ran at their defence
he put the fear of God into Wolves and I was delighted he got a goal. It
will have lifted a huge burden from his shoulders and I hope he gets a
prolonged run in the side. I think he is far more comfortable on the right
side of midfield than as a striker.
Piquionne did better as the game went on but at times looked completely
disinterested. And Cole, well, enough said.
We are now up to 15th but we have played a game or two more than other teams
around us so we needn't get too carried away. I still think Avram Grant will
never be the manager we need but I recognise that he is here at least for
the short term.
So, relief all round. Now, all we need to get is three points at Newcastle
on Wednesday!
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Manchester United want Macheda games guarantee in any loan deal
By JOE BERNSTEIN Last updated at 12:11 AM on 2nd January 2011
Daily Mail
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will send teenage striker Federico
Macheda to the club where he will play most games. Ferguson has already had
his first phone call from a Premier League side, believed to be Aston Villa,
about taking Macheda, 19, on a six-month loan, but the United boss expects
others, including Everton, Wigan, West Brom, Birmingham and West Ham to show
interest. He said: 'Macheda has to play games. Clubs who convince me and
the player that he'll get games are the ones we'll consider.He's thinking
about Italy, but I hope it's going to be in the Premier League because it is
competitive and it's where he is going to end up playing.' Ferguson already
has Danny Welbeck (Sunderland), Mame Diouf (Blackburn) and Tom Cleverley
(Wigan) on loan. But he is wary of Macheda ending up in the same situation
as Giuseppe Rossi a few years ago at Newcastle. 'They never played him. And
he was an outstanding player,' said Ferguson.
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Chelsea weigh up joining Birmingham and West Ham in race for Cardiff striker
Bothroyd
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 12:11 AM on 2nd January 2011
Daily Mail
Chelsea have emerged as surprise contenders to sign £2million Cardiff City
striker Jay Bothroyd following his England debut earlier this season.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones accepts that Bothroyd - out of contract this
summer - will leave this month and Carlo Ancelotti has joined Birmingham and
West Ham in showing an interest. Ancelotti, whose budget has been seriously
restricted by Roman Abramovich, feels Bothroyd could cover for Didier Drogba
and would represent good value for money.
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Hammers in clear water after Sears ends goal drought
West Ham United 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
By Matt Butler at Upton Park
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Independent.co.uk
The last time Freddie Sears scored, Alan Curbishley was in charge of West
Ham and the current manager Avram Grant was on his way to the Champions
League final with Chelsea. Times may have changed but the West Ham forward's
goal to seal a win over fellow strugglers Wolves was never more important as
it lifted the Hammers out of the bottom three.
Sears had not found the back of the net since his debut for his boyhood
club, back in March 2008. Since then he has been farmed out on loan to
Crystal Palace, Coventry and Scunthorpe, with no joy.
But after West Ham had gone ahead with an own-goal that was memorable for
sheer comedy value, Sears struck with the calmness of a man to whom scoring
may not prove a problem now he has that 74-match monkey off his back.
Grant, who has won seven points out of a possible nine over the Christmas
period, was understandably elated. "Freddie has done well on loan even if he
hasn't scored, but today he scored a fantastic goal.
"It's much nicer to be out of the bottom three but we know we have a long
way to go to do what we want to do.
"I felt before this run that we were very efficient but you can imagine how
the players feel – they are very happy."
Both West Ham and Wolves kept faith with the same starting line-ups that
posted much-needed festive victories, with Grant's men having beaten Fulham
away and Mick McCarthy's outfit having stunned Liverpool.
With the two sides beginning 2011 propping up the Premier League, it was
understandable that they started the game in nervy fashion. The first clear
cut chance arrived on 29 minutes with Carlton Cole squandering the
opportunity. Scott Parker slid a perfectly weighted pass to the striker on
the edge of the area, before defender Christophe Berra slipped to leave him
with only goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to beat. But Cole sliced his shot well
wide of the post.
Then five minutes before half-time Sears had a shot cleared off the line by
Richard Stearman, before Junior Stanislas's follow-up was batted away by
Hennessey.
Directly after the restart Robert Green was tested twice in two minutes, as
he first managed to keep out a loose ball after it bounced clear from a
goalmouth scramble, then Berra rose to head towards goal and the goalkeeper
made an instinctive stop.
Five minutes later the home side went ahead as a perfectly placed Cole swung
and missed Frédéric Piquionne's cross, then the ball bounced in off the
defender Ronald Zubar.
Parker then crossed for Matthew Upson's powerful header, but Hennessey
clawed the ball clear. After Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hit the hosts' crossbar,
Sears calmly sidefooted home to seal the match.
McCarthy said: "We are two points from safety and as far as I am aware we
are not getting relegated in the morning. We are scrapping away and we
played well enough today."
Attendance: 33,500
Referee: Lee Probert
Man of the match: Sears
Match rating: 5/10
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West Ham United 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 (Home)
Posted by Billy Blagg 9 hours, 38 minutes ago
ESPN
Rumours that Avram Grant needed extra tissues to stem the flow of blood from
the nosebleed induced by the Hammer's dizzying rise to 15th place in the
table can probably be discounted, but there is no doubt this home win, which
took West Ham out of the bottom three for the first time this season, was a
crucial result.
It's true that the home side made the most of the chances that fell to them
while the visitors were guilty of failing to take theirs, but there is a
feeling that confidence is growing with this unbeaten 5 match run and the
points taken over the holiday period so far have made a significant
difference to the outlook for the rest of the season.
As it was, the Hammers had Freddie Sears to thank for securing the points
with a smartly taken second goal in the 79th minute after Wolves had
contributed to their own downfall with an own goal from Ronald Zubar in the
51st minute. The opener had been a bit of a comedy of errors as far as both
teams were concerned; the Wolves defenders wildly waving for offside when
Piquionne received the ball wide even though the player was correctly ruled
to be on, the former Pompey player's cross was missed in embarrassing
fashion by Carlton Cole who tried an emphatic air-shot, but the ball bounded
off of Zubar and into the corner with Cole shaking his head in bewilderment
and the Wolves defenders all looking at one another. Hilarious!
Wolves had opportunities to equalise though - none better than that by
Ebanks-Blake, who headed against the bar with the Hammers defence all at sea
following a poor clearance by an otherwise impressive Rob Green. Matt Upson
came close with a header that the Wolves keeper tipped onto the bar just
after the hour but it was Sears who scored only his second goal since his
debut in 2008, running superbly into space to receive a cross from Ben-haim
who had done well to get forward.
Wolverhampton had looked dangerous at times, particularly after half-time
when Green had to be smart to save from Berra just seconds after scrambling
away a back header from Tomkins, but West Ham can point to similar chances
when Cole made a hash of a Parker through ball, seeming to slip as he was
about to shoot and Sears was unlucky when he saw his power shot cleared off
the line in spectacular fashion by Steadman.
Chances and possession then were pretty equal but West Ham took their
chances and Wolves didn't. With the promised addition of some more firepower
up front and the introduction of - please God! - a couple of full-backs, the
Hammers may prove even my pessimistic expectations wrong. All in all a very
good day.
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Bosses 'broke own rules' over Tottenham's Olympic bid
By NICK HARRIS
Last updated at 11:52 PM on 1st January 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have accused the Premier League of ignoring their own rulebook by
saying they will not oppose a move by Tottenham from north to east London if
Spurs' bid for the 2012 Olympic Stadium is successful. West Ham will seek a
judicial review if Spurs get the ground instead of them, according to secret
legal papers seen by Inside Sport. A series of explosive letters, all sent
in the past fortnight, lift the lid on the acrimonious row over the venue,
which West Ham and Spurs both want.
In the letters, from West Ham's lawyers, the Premier League are effectively
accused of failing to undertake any assessment of the impact of a move by
Tottenham away from their historic White Hart Lane home, either on the
clubless area left behind in the borough of Haringey or on the various clubs
whose 'patches' would be impinged on by Spurs. West Ham are most opposed to
Spurs moving nearer to them, but Leyton Orient, Millwall, Dagenham and
Redbridge and Charlton could all suffer from a big-name rival being
parachuted closer. Premier League rules say club relocations must not damage
others.
Tottenham also face vociferous opposition from the leader of Haringey
Council, Claire Kober, and their own MP, David Lammy, both of whom have
separately written to the League to ask why they would not oppose a
Tottenham move. A Spurs anti-move group, We Are N17 — slogan 'No to
Stratford Hotspur' — argue that any Spurs move to the Olympic site would be
akin to the hugely controversial 'Franchise FC' move of Wimbledon in 2003 to
become MK Dons in Milton Keynes. 'The vast majority of Spurs fans are
against moving,' says spokesman Tim Framp. 'This is about history,
tradition, territory and the identity of Tottenham, both the place and the
football club.' The Olympic Park Legacy Company will choose between West Ham
and Spurs this month. The Premier League declined to comment.
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