WHUFC.com
Cristian Montano marked his first start at left-back with an outstanding
goal for the reserves
16.02.2011
Cristian Montano will travel with a strong squad to Chelsea this afternoon
looking to build on his impressive reserve-team progress. The 19-year-old is
in confident mood, following last week's Barclays Premier Reserve League 4-1
victory at West Bromwich Albion. Not only did he belt in an unstoppable
30-yard screamer, but he also produced an impressive performance on his
first-ever run out as a left-back. Montano, who won the Doris Bell Award for
the best player in the Academy and finished as the youth team's top scorer
last season, has recently returned from injury and is aiming to finish his
first campaign as a professional on a high. The Colombian-born player told
West Ham TV of his delight at putting in an all-round performance against
the Baggies, combining his trademark dribbling skills with an impressive
array of defensive talents, most notably his aerial prowess in repelling set
pieces.
The undisputed highlight of his afternoon, though, was the wonder goal he
smashed past West Brom goalkeeper Ryan Allsop three minutes before
half-time. "I think we crossed it from the right-hand side, they cleared it
out and I controlled it. I heard people calling my name and shouting 'Cross
it, cross it!' but I looked up and saw Olly Lee behind three defenders. "I
thought about it and heard someone else say 'Shoot' so I took a touch and
saw the goalkeeper was to one side so I went for it and hit a clean strike
into the top corner. You can't ask for more! "We all enjoyed it and, apart
from the goals we scored, the three points is the most important thing.
Playing away and getting a good result is a good thing, so well done to the
lads."
West Ham's victory saw them leapfrog today's opponents Chelsea into fourth
place in the Southern Division and, with games in-hand on the three teams
above them, the Hammers' second-string have hopes of ending the season on a
high. Montano is eager to play his part, whatever position he is asked to
fill. "It was quite good. It's the first time I've played there so I didn't
think I was going to do that well, especially getting a goal as well from 30
yards!
"I've played left-back in training but not in an actual game. The lads
encouraged me and told me that I could do it because I had done it in
training, so I went out there to show that I can play in another position.
"I'd consider playing as a defender and if I'm asked to then obviously I
would, but I'm an attacking player. When I play on the wing, I have to track
my defender which is obviously a similar role, but I usually spend most of
my time attacking.
"Obviously when I play on the wing I get more freedom to go forward, whereas
when I play at left-back I have to be more disciplined. I thought I played
quite well there and it will be useful for the future."
* West Ham reserves travel to Chelsea's Cobham training ground to face the
Blues at 2pm. As ever, there will be live text updates on whufc.com.
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Hitz plays, Benni scores
WHUFC.com
The reserves left the management with plenty of food for thought after a
competitive contest
16.02.2011
Thomas Hitzlsperger continued his comeback while Benni McCarthy returned to
scoring ways as the reserves just lost out to Chelsea by the odd goal in a
seven-goal thriller on Wednesday. German international Hitzlsperger was
playing his second match in a week, having got an hour in a 4-1 win at West
Bromwich Albion seven days previously. There were plenty of other positives,
with McCarthy looking sharp in a 45-minute run-out capped by a clinical goal
- a timely strike as he is potentially eligible for Monday night's FA Cup
fifth round visit of Burnley. Elsewhere, young forward Freddie Sears and
Zavon Hines also got on the score-sheet and winger Pablo Barrera did well
with two assists. All three will also hope to be in Avram Grant's thoughts
for the cup date, with a quarter-final place at stake for the winners. The
team were taken by Kevin Keen, with Wally Downes also involved on the
sidelines at Chelsea's smart Cobham training ground. Ultimately, the Blues
had the edge with their established reserve side - featuring first-team
prospect Josh McEachran and hat-trick hero Fabio Borini - nicking it at the
end through Milan Lalkovic's winner.
"The lads showed good resilience," said Downes. "We came back from losing an
early goal to take the lead 2-1 and then got it back to 3-3. We showed a
really positive attitude and were just unfortunate to lose out in an end to
end finish to what was a competitive contest. "Thomas got through 70 minutes
which was always the plan. It is another step forward on his comeback and
hopefully he will feel good in the morning. Up front, Freddie got better and
took his goal well, while Zavon was always dangerous."
There was also special mention for the professionalism of South Africa
striker McCarthy, who looked lively throughout and scored a well-taken goal.
"Benni played well and would have played for longer. He only came off
because he got a whack and it left him with a dead leg. It is nothing
serious and he was sharp. He took his goal very well and showed he is a
natural finisher."
The first-team squad will step up their preparation for Burnley with a
special team-building awayday on Thursday. They will then be in for a
lighter session on Friday before the intensity picks up again as usual in
the two days preceding the match on Saturday and Sunday. "It is a good
opportunity to change things a bit this week," added Downes. "Morale is good
and everyone is looking forward to the next match."
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Leyton Orient want 2012 Olympic Stadium decision delayed
BBC.co.uk
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has written to Prime Minister David
Cameron asking him to look into the decision to award the Olympic Stadium to
West Ham. The Hammers were named preferred bidders but Orient, the club
closest to the site, believe their existence would be threatened by their
arrival. Hearn said he asked Cameron and Mayor of London Boris Johnson "not
to rubber-stamp West Ham's move at this stage". "Give us the respect, the
decency and the right to put our case forward."
Hearn said he is also consulting lawyers about possibly launching a judicial
review. That could significantly delay the process of confirming West Ham's
tenancy at the venue in Stratford, east London. Hearn has outlined his
concerns to Cameron and Johnson as well as Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state
for Culture, Media and Sport, and Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the
Olympics. "How on earth has nobody even considered us and how on earth has
the government or Premier League, or anybody else, not even had the respect
to discuss it with us?" said Hearn. "It's a question of due process and
whether the Olympic Park Legacy Committee, the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport and even the Prime Minister have given consideration to Leyton
Orient in these discussions. "The government has a responsibility to take
into account all the effects of any ruling they take. "We are awaiting what
I assume is a rubber-stamp decision from Boris Johnson and the DCMS to award
West Ham the stadium. "But I find it incredible they would even consider
making the decision before undergoing due process in regard to the effect on
the incumbent football club."
Hearn's major concern is with the suggestions from West Ham that they would
offer free and heavily discounted tickets upon their arrival in the new
ground. Their average Premier League attendance this season is about 33,500,
with the Olympic Stadium likely to hold around 60,000. Hearn fears the
incentives on offer to locals to fill the ground could force his club, based
within a mile of the Olympic site, to the wall. "The comments last week
about the number of complimentary tickets available and family tickets for
the price of a single ticket have grave implications for our club," he
added. "Leyton Orient has been in existence for 130 years and by any stretch
of the imagination we are the incumbent club. "To have a giant like West Ham
on our doorstep offering discounted and free tickets would seriously bring
into question the survival of Leyton Orient. "We have asked our lawyers
about the benefits or otherwise of a full judicial review where we will be
challenging the right of the government to make that decision. "I have
written to David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Hugh Robertson and Jeremy Hunt
asking them not to rubber-stamp West Ham's move at this stage and at least
give us the respect, the decency and the right to put our case forward about
the continuation of our football club."
Leyton Orient's current home, the Matchroom Stadium, is 2.1 miles from
Stratford, according to the AA's route planner. It seats 9,271 spectators
but currently averages less than 5,000 and has only exceeded that figure
three times this season. West Ham's home at the Boleyn Ground is 2.4 miles
away, and 4.2 miles from Orient.
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Orient to contest Olympic move
Orient chief refuses to be 'bullied' by football authorities
By Rachel Griffiths - Follow me on Twitter @SkySportsRachG Last updated:
16th February 2011
SSN
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has revealed he is consulting lawyers
over the decision to give West Ham the Olympic Stadium. Hearn has written to
Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson asking them to
delay the confirmation of the Hammers as the future tenant of the venue
after they were named preferred bidders by the Olympic Park Legacy Company
board last week. Orient could launch a judicial review as they look to prove
football authorities failed to follow due process by ignoring the impact
West Ham's move to Stratford will have on the League One outfit.
Concerns
The showpiece £537million Olympic Stadiumis situated close to Orient's
Brisbane Road, and the club have continually voiced concerns that the
arrival of fellow East Londoners the Hammers could swamp the smaller outfit.
Hearn is set to hold talks with Premier League chief executive Richard
Scudamore to seek reassurance over the sustainability of Orient on Friday,
insisting the Hammers' relocation could spell the end of the club. He told
Sky Sports News: "We are taking legal advice as to one, whether due process
has been followed, in other words, has consideration been given by the
government, by the Olympic Legacy people to the future sustainability of
Leyton Orient Football Club, never mind West Ham? "The second argument is,
are the Premier League themselves in breach of their own rules by
sanctioning a move by a club closer to a resident football league club which
would have an adverse effect on its sustainability. "I don't like bullies, I
don't like to feel I'm being bullied, and I think the best way is to back a
bully up." He added: "There's no doubt in my mind, and I think a blind man
would say, that they can see West Ham moving to the Olympic Stadium will
have an enormous adverse effect on Leyton Orient. "So my question to Richard
Scudamore is, what are you going to do for us? How can you help us achieve
our sustainability, bearing in mind this does seem to be a pretty prima
facie breach of your own rules."
Hearn, whose club take on Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup this
weekend, insists the matter is close to his own heart, and is certain West
Ham's move would not be in the best interests of the East London community.
Important
He added: "This is something that's very important to me, it's important to
the community of East London, it's important to the fans of Leyton Orient
Football Club. "Whereas I expect my players against Arsenal on Sunday to
give 100 per cent, I can guarantee you one thing, I will give 101 per cent
in this fight. "This club is a too important part of this community to let
it just die and I don't think we've been considered properly by the people
in high office when they've been making their Olympic decisions."
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Orient's Olympic Stadium anger
The Sun
By JUSTIN ALLEN
Published: 16 Feb 2011
BARRY HEARN says he will fight Premier League and government "bullies" over
West Ham's move into the Olympic Stadium. Leyton Orient chairman Hearn
claims he has not been contacted by anyone from the Premier League or
government to discuss the impact on his club. And he will take legal action
if they refuse to consult with Orient before the move is rubber-stamped by
London Mayor Boris Johnson. Hearn has talks with Premier League chief
Richard Scudamore tomorrow. The O's Brisbane Road ground is close to the
Olympic Stadium, and Hearn fears West Ham could put Orient out of business.
He said: "We have not been shown respect by the Premier League or
government. They are big bullies, who just think they will get their way.
"This is a matter of life and death - and they've picked on the wrong guy."
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I'll raise the Ba with my pal Carlton
The Sun
Published: Today
DEMBA BA believes his partnership with Carlton Cole can save West Ham from
relegation. Ba struck twice and Cole once as the Hammers came back from 3-0
down to salvage a draw at drop zone rivals West Brom on Saturday. The
Senegal hitman, a £6million January buy from Hoffenheim, said: "I definitely
think myself and Carlton can work together. "With Carlton it was very nice
because we have a certain friendship. "I'm very happy with my two goals but
very tired as it is a long time since I played from the beginning."
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Faubert set for second chance at West Ham
By talkSPORT
Wednesday, February 16
Julien Faubert looks set to be given the chance to get his West Ham career
back on track after storming out of Upton Park last week - after turning out
for the reserves. Faubert must have thought his days in east London were
numbered after he refused to sit on the substitutes' bench for the recent
1-0 defeat against Birmingham. The French international failed to make the
squad of 16 and left the ground in disappointment - despite being needed as
an emergency late call-up following an injury to James Tomkins. Grant was
unhappy with Faubert's attitude and said the matter would be dealt with
internally - but the Frenchman could be back in his plans after completing
the full 90 minutes in a 4-3 reserve team defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday
afternoon. Grant was also boosted by another successful run-out for German
international Thomas Hitzlsperger, who came through 70 minutes unscathed and
is set to make his first-team debut against Burnley in the FA Cup fifth
round on Monday night. Hitzlsperger has yet to feature for the club
following his move from Lazio last summer after he suffered a thigh injury
playing for Germany against Denmark and needed surgery to clear up a muscle
tear.
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Premier League club's scheme is no-go - Hearn
5:17pm Wednesday 16th February 2011
Guardian Series
SEASON ticket giveaways by West Ham at the Olympic Stadium would break rules
governing football, claimed Orient chairman Barry Hearn. "Premier League
rules and Football League rules are there to be followed," said Hearn today
(Wednesday). "It is black and white: they will not sanction a move by a club
closer to another club, if it has an adverse effect on that club. A blind
man could see it (West Ham's plan) will have an adverse effect." Hammers'
chief executive Karren Brady this week promised to sell tickets at
knock-down prices for games at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. West Ham
Utd risk "devastating" the League One outfit at the Matchroom Stadium, where
the capacity is 9,300. "It's 750 yards from the Olympic park here, said
Hearn. "The idea I hear that West Ham are going to give away family season
tickets for the price of one season ticket, that will have a devastating
effect on our football club."
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Essex CCC works with Irons on stadium
10:50am Wednesday 16th February 2011
East London Guardian
CRICKET: Essex County Cricket Club say they are working closely with West
Ham to make their dream of staging Twenty20 games at the Olympic Stadium a
reality. The cricket club was a vital part of the Hammer's successful bid to
take over the 60,000 all-seater stadium when the 2012 Games has finished.
The plan is for Essex to play some of their Twenty20 fixtures in Stratford,
although their current base at the Ford County Ground, in Chelmsford, would
remain their home ground. Essex would use the Olympic Stadium as a "festival
ground", much in the same way as they have used grounds at Colchester and
Southend at times during recent seasons. Playing at the stadium would also
allow Essex festival cricket to return close to the west of the county for
the first time since the festival week at Ilford's Valentines Park was axed
in 2002 to save money. The stadium could also be used play by England for
future international Twenty20 matches. Essex's chief executive David East
said: "We are delighted that West Ham has been confirmed as the preferred
bidder for the legacy use of the Olympic Stadium. "We have been supporting
the West Ham and Newham Council bid for many months and exploring the
possibilities of staging Twenty20 cricket in the stadium as part of its
multi-sport use. "The bid still needs to be ratified by the Government and
the London Mayor's office, and we clearly hope this will be agreed so we can
start working with West Ham to bring this vision to fruition."
l Honorary Football League president Lord Mawhinney claimed it would be
"cowardly" for the Government to reject the recommendation of the Olympic
Park Legacy Company that West Ham should take over the London 2012 stadium
after the Games. The former chairman of the Football League said at question
time in the House of Lords yesterday: "It would be a weak and cowardly
decision to reverse what the legacy organisation has already decided as far
as the Olympics is concerned." The OPLC board unanimously backed West Ham
and rejected Tottenham's bid for the £537 million Olympic Stadium on Friday.
Ministers and the London Mayor's office now have to approve the decisions.
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