WHUFC.com
While James Tomkins and Robbie Keane are injured, Robert Green and Carlton
Cole are back for England
06.02.2011
Robbie Keane and James Tomkins have withdrawn from international duty with
the Republic of Ireland and England Under-21 squads respectively with
suspected calf injuries - while Robert Green and Carlton Cole have been
added to the senior England party. Keane's absence after he was substituted
in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Birmingham City was confirmed by Ireland manager
Giovanni Trapattoni on Sunday evening, meaning the striker will play no part
against Wales in Dublin on Tuesday. "It is a pity for Robbie because this
game was an opportunity for him to continue playing after joining West Ham
last week," he said. "We hope he recovers quickly."
Centre-back Tomkins was hurt in the warm-up before the Birmingham fixture.
The club's medical staff notified the Football Association of his injury and
his absence from the international friendly in Italy on Tuesday was
confirmed later that evening. Danny Gabbidon had already withdrawn from
Wales duty to face the Irish, having suffered a hamstring injury against
Blackpool in midweek. Elsewhere, Green and Cole could play alongside Scott
Parker against Lars Jacobsen when England travel to take on Denmark in
Copenhagen on Wednesday. Green and Cole were called up on Sunday night after
Ben Foster and Peter Crouch withdrew with injuries, while Parker's hopes of
playing were raised when Steven Gerrard also pulled out.
The same day, Pablo Barrera's Mexico face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the American
city of Atlanta, while Victor Obinna could line up for Nigeria against
Sierra Leone in Lagos and Marek Stech has been included in the Czech
Republic U21 squad for an international friendly with Netherlands in
Waalwijk..
Tuesday will also see Academy midfielder Eoin Wearen turn out for Republic
of Ireland U19s against Croatia in Zagreb, while his compatriot Kieran
Sadlier will represent the Irish U17s in two friendlies against Italy in
Lecce on 8 and 10 February.
Looking further forward, Matthias Fanimo and Blair Turgott are both in
England's U17 squad for the Algarve Tournament, which will see the Young
Lions take on Romania, Germany and hosts Portugal at the end of this month.
The U17s will use the tournament as preparation for their UEFA European U17
Championship Elite Round qualifiers at the end of March, where they have
been drawn to face Northern Ireland, Spain and mini-group hosts Belgium.
Defending champions England won the European U17 title last summer, with
West Ham's Robert Hall a member of the winning squad.
Finally, Leo Chambers has been named in England's U16 squad for a friendly
international meeting with Slovenia in Koper on Tuesday 15 February.
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Birthday blues for Grant
WHUFC.com
The manager said his team had needed to take the game to their visitors but
came up short
06.02.2011
Avram Grant said his team paid the price for letting their visitors dictate
the pace of the game as Birmingham City were 1-0 winners at the Boleyn
Ground on Sunday. The manager, who admitted he would not be celebrating his
56th birthday after the loss, said his team struggled to play the vibrant
attacking football that had seen off Nottingham Forest and Blackpool in the
previous two games. His plans were hampered when James Tomkins suffered a
calf injury in the warm-up before his replacement Matthew Upson limped off
at half-time having tried for ten minutes to continue because of an achilles
tendonitis problem. That said, his rearguard performed manfully with young
duo Winston Reid and substitute Manu da Costa, back himself after three
months out with an ankle injury, his latest centre-back partnership. The
Hammers were undone by Nikola Zigic's headed goal on 66 minutes, with an
incisive Sebastian Larsson free-kick eluding everyone but the towering Serb
at the back post. "I think the tempo of the game disappointed me most," said
Grant. "We're used to playing with a higher tempo and a high confidence and
we didn't influence the game as we know we can. "It's the first game we've
lost to a team near us. Most of the games [against our rivals] we've taken
points from so today it was very important. We could have won the game in
the first half but we didn't. Then we didn't deal well with the set-pieces."
The manager admitted that Zigic and Birmingham have been something of a
nemesis for the Hammers this campaign, earning a home point from being two
goals down before triumphing in the Carling Cup semi-final. "They have done
very well against us. They've used Zigic and the tall players very well and
unfortunately we lost. "Of course they scored from two corners in the
semi-final and they scored here. I'm not happy about this. We need to deal
with this. Larsson is good and the delivery is very good but we need to deal
better with this."
Grant added that there was a need to avoid giving away free-kicks in the
first place, with Mark Noble conceding the foul on David Bentley when there
appeared to be little danger. "We gave them free-kicks when we know these
are their strengths because they couldn't create chances from open play."
The manager will be cheered to have Da Costa back while Thomas Hitzlsperger
is in contention for a reserve game this week and Demba Ba was a lively late
replacement for his Hammers debut. However, Grant admitted there was also
some concern over Robbie Keane's fitness with a tight muscle after a second
gruelling game in five days. "We need to think about the next game. We need
to look at the positive things that have happened in the last few weeks and
look forward because it will be a battle until the end. "The situation is
not easy. Also it is not easy to lose players in the warm-up and after 35
minutes like Upson. But we need to deal with this and take points. We have
the quality to do it. "If you look at what we've done this season you'll
know that after every disappointment we've recovered very well. This is part
of the thing we are working on and I hope it will prove to be the case
again. "We need to learn from this between now and the end of the season
because we deserve to stay but we need to do it. We cannot lose games like
this."
With an awayday at West Bromwich Albion next Saturday, the manager knows the
story could change quickly - before a resurgent Liverpool arrive in three
weeks. "You cannot say that time is running out as we've got 12 games until
the end of the season and there are not so many points between all the teams
that are in the relegation zone. So we have time to do it but we want to do
it as quickly as we can."
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West Ham 0 - 1 Birmingham
BBC.co.uk
By Alistair Magowan
Birmingham leaped out of the Premier League's bottom three with a crucial
win over fellow strugglers West Ham. Nikola Zigic scored the only goal of
the game when he headed in Sebastian Larsson's free-kick on 65 minutes. West
Ham's Demba Ba came off the bench and also almost marked his debut with a
goal but his shot hit the post. Birmingham had their defence to thank for a
clean sheet, although they were lucky to escape when Manuel da Costa shot
off-target and then headed wide. The hosts went close on several occasions
with Victor Obinna and Robbie Keane impressive in the first half, yet they
had trouble carving out many clear openings and the defeat leaves them at
the bottom of the Premier League on goal difference, two points from safety.
It is a huge blow for the Hammers after encouraging displays in their last
two games where they beat Blackpool and Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
Birmingham were also victorious the last time these two teams met,
thrillingly overturning a deficit in the second leg of the Carling Cup last
month.
But with both sides in the Premier League's bottom three before the game
began, the three points at stake made for a cagey match. West Ham were the
more threatening to start with Obinna, fresh from five goals in his last two
games, at the heart of much of the hosts' good work. The Nigerian forward
lined up on the left of a front three with Keane in the middle and Frederic
Piquionne on the right, and it was from Keane's lay-off that the former
Portsmouth striker curled a shot straight at Ben Foster on 20 minutes. The
Irishman's ability to hold the ball up and find space in congested central
areas was a help to Avram Grant's side, and his lay-off allowed Obinna to
shoot left-footed but he was off-target. For Birmingham, David Bentley
attacked with purpose on a couple of occasions and shot over early on, but
Alex McLeish's midfield were struggling to link up with the front pair of
Zigic and Cameron Jerome. Roger Johnson came closest to scoring for the
visitors in the first half when he headed over from six yards following Lee
Bowyer's cross, but he made up for that by producing some sterling defending
to head clear Obinna's bullet centre.
Grant had to make a last-minute change to his starting line-up with Matthew
Upson replacing the injured James Tomkins in the heart of the defence but
Upson, himself, could only last until half-time. Da Costa replaced the
England defender and it wasn't long before he was under pressure when
Bentley found Zigic but the Serbian's header was wide. McLeish then made
what looked like a negative decision to take off Jerome and replace him with
midfielder Larsson just before the hour. But the Swede justified the faith
his manager showed in him when his set-piece from the left was headed in at
the back post by Zigic - his sixth goal of the season. West Ham argued that
the free-kick awarded to Birmingham was a soft one, with Mark Noble barging
over Bentley, but the appeal emphasised the growing frustrations of the West
Ham supporters. The hosts had several penalty shouts too but, in truth,
referee Chris Foy was about right to deny them, including a push on Keane
and handballs where the ball struck Birmingham defenders from point-blank
range.
Carlton Cole replaced the increasingly ineffective Piquionne with Keane
switching to the right, but the introduction of Senegalese forward Ba almost
had an instant impact when he hit the post following a free-kick. Urged on
by an expectant crowd, West Ham were pressing for the equaliser, but
struggled to produce any further saves from Foster. And as Birmingham
retreated, it was left to defender Da Costa to help out in attack. He had a
long-range shot which left Foster scrambling across goal, and then his
far-post header was narrowly wide. Zigic then almost doubled his tally near
the end after good hold-up play, but shot straight at Robert Green and, even
though he was not involved for long periods of the game, his telling
contribution proved decisive. West Ham left the field to boos at the end and
they will now need to reinvigorate themselves to exit the drop zone once
again.
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Avram Grant needs new West Ham players to gel quickly
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Avram Grant admitted his new signings must settle quickly
after seeing his side slump to a 1-0 defeat by Birmingham. Robbie Keane had
a quiet home debut for the Hammers and substitute Demba Ba hit the post from
close in as Grant's side returned to the bottom of the league. "We need to
adjust as quickly as possible," Grant told BBC Sport. "We have a very
important game next week [against West Brom] and I think the good players
will adjust quickly."
Birmingham beat West Ham in the Carling Cup semi-final in January and their
victory on Sunday, courtesy of Nikola Zigic's 65th-minute winner, lifted
them out of the bottom three. But Blues are only three points above the
Hammers, albeit having played two fewer matches, while a mere seven points
separate the Premier League's bottom 11 teams. West Ham looked promising in
the early stages but they could not carve out many clear openings and the
closest they came to scoring was through Ba's angled drive that rebounded to
safety off the near post. The result added even greater significance to the
Hammers' next game against West Brom, who parted company with manager
Roberto Di Matteo on Sunday despite being outside the relegation zone. "It's
the first game we have lost against a team which is near us," Grant said.
"So it is not so good and we are not so happy with this. He added: "It is
the most interesting season there has been both at the top and the bottom.
"Between us and West Brom there are only two points and three or four points
to the others, so it will be a fight until the end of the season. I think
there will be five or six teams in it."
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish conceded the style of victory was not one
for the purists but was pleased that a second-half tactical switch to
replace striker Cameron Jerome with midfielder Sebastian Larsson paid off.
"I am delighted and relieved," said the Scot. "It was a difficult game to
watch from the sidelines and I don't think it was that pretty. I'm sure the
critics will have a dig at it. "But in saying that there is a lot of tension
in the Premier League at the top and the middle and the bottom as well.
There's not a lot between the middle teams and those at the bottom - four or
five points can take you soaring up the league.
"It's a cracking result for us today. In the second half we were better, we
changed the tactics around a wee bit and it worked a bit better for us.
"Larsson gave us a bit more speed and nous on the flank where we probably
needed it most. Credit to Sebastian; his contract is up in the summer but he
was wholeheartedly committed and his effort was fantastic." McLeish added
that predicting which teams would finish the season in the relegation places
was a near impossible task. "The league deserves a lot of respect," he
added. "Some day, unfortunately, three teams will have to go down and
everybody is fighting for their lives. "The spirit and quality in the league
is amazing and the fact that there is not a huge difference in terms of
points between bottom club and 10 to 11 places above shows the quality is in
abundance. "Every game is a hard one and there is no guarantee you can win
them but what we could do with is to swing a couple back-to-back now. It
would just ease pressure and lift everybody in terms of their confidence
levels. "We haven't lacked confidence, we certainly haven't lacked
commitment. You could see that against Manchester City [who Birmingham drew
2-2 with on Wednesday] and you could see that again on Sunday."
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Tottenham 2012 plan a corporate crime - Karren Brady
BBC.co.uk
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has called Tottenham's plans to demolish
London's Olympic Stadium once the 2012 Games are over as a "corporate
crime". The Hammers, who are vying with Spurs to move into the east London
stadium have vowed to keep the athletics track. Brady told the BBC: "It's a
corporate crime to spend £500m on a stadium and, just four weeks after the
Games have finished, bring the bulldozers in."
However, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has branded Brady's claims
"irresponsible". He said in a statement: "A lot of emotive phrasing has been
used regarding the dismantling of the stadium and it is scaremongering and
irresponsible. "If we look at the facts, the Olympic stadium as we now see
it was never intended to be kept. The original 2012 legacy promised to
dismantle all of the stadium above ground leaving a sunken 25,000-capacity
athletics arena - that has proved unviable. "Our plans involve the same
amount of dismantling and this is in no way a loss of £500m of stadium
infrastructure. "Given how much of the original groundworks, substructure
and podium will remain, around £420m worth, we are talking about £80m of
above-ground infrastructure - all of which will be recycled or re-used.
"Additionally, our bid sees a return to the public purse which far exceeds
this figure and our bid does not require any public sector funding."
A decision on the future of the Olympic Park site is expected this week. An
announcement was originally due on 28 January but was postponed because the
Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) wanted more time to study the bids. And
the OPLC also has a third option of converting the stadium into a
25,000-seat mixed-use venue for sporting, cultural and community events.
An athletics legacy was one of the key promises made to the International
Olympic Committee by the London bid team in 2005 when it won the right to
stage the Games. "The Olympic Stadium was built on a promise, made in the
Queen's name, to have a legacy for athletics," said Brady, during an
interview for BBC Breakfast. "Through [West Ham's] design there will be over
£90m spent on reconfiguring the stadium so it sits perfectly for athletics
and football and cricket and major events. "Once the conversion is done,
with the roof and some of the seats, there won't be a single seat within
that stadium that has a worse view of the pitch than Wembley."
The Hammers, in a joint bid with Newham Council, want to create a
60,000-capacity arena that will also be used for concerts and community
events.
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and former Olympics minister Tessa Jowell have
both backed West Ham's bid to to take over the stadium. And Lamine Diack,
president of world athletics governing body the IAAF and an International
Olympic Committee member, told BBC Sport in January that London 2012
organisers will have "lied" and Britain's reputation will be "dead" if an
athletics legacy is not left at the Olympic Stadium. Tottenham, who are
joint bidders with sports and entertainment company AEG, have said they
would create an athletics legacy by contributing to the refurbishment of the
National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is
firmly against keeping the running track between the stands and the pitch at
the Olympic Stadium. Supporters of West Ham, Tottenham and Leyton Orient,
who are the closest league club to the Olympic Stadium and believe they will
be adversely affected if either of the two Premier League clubs moves in,
have demanded a meeting with the OPLC before it makes its recommendation.
Any OPLC recommendation will have to be ratified by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport, the Department of Communities and Local
Government, and the London Mayor's office. The ultimate deadline for the
OLPC is the end of the financial year, although currently there is no
suggestion it will take that long to make its decision.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Olympic Stadium decision imminent
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 7th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
The decision as to who will be nominated as the preferred bidder for the
Olympic Stadium could be announced within the next 36 hours. West Ham/Newham
and Tottenham/AEG, the two bidders involved in the process had initially
been expecting a decision to be announced at the end of January.
However that was postponed after the Olympic Stadium Legacy Committee (OLPC)
admitted that they needed more time to study the two bids - with no definite
time frame announced. However KUMB.com understands that West Ham United
expect to a decision to made announced this week, possibly within the next
36 hours -with the club hopeful that their joint bid with Newham Council
will prove successful. The war of words between both parties continued
unabated at the weekend; speaking for West Ham, Karren Brady insisted that
Spurs' bid was tantamount to 'corporate vandelism'.
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Faubert goes AWOL
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 7th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Julien Faubert has been fined for going AWOL during yesterday's 1-0 home
defeat against Birmingham City. According to this morning's edition of the
Sun, the French defender was told upon arriving for the game that he hadn't
made the 18-man first team squad, However with James Tomkins sustaining an
injury during the warm-up, a place became available - but when Avram Grant
ordered staff to find Faubert, it was discovered that he had already left
the stadium.
When asked to return in order to sit on the bench Faubert is understood to
have refused - exaplaining why West Ham only had six substitutes on the
bench for the game. An, an usual, unnamed club source confirmed: "Julien
turned up as normal before kick-off only to be told he was not in the squad.
But without telling anyone he must have just gone home. When someone finally
got hold of him on the phone, he refused to come back."
Faubert's career at West Ham has been littered with problems. Just two weeks
after signing in a £6million deal he ruptured an achilles, immediately
putting paid to his season. Then, having returned from injury and being sent
on loan to Real Madrid, he was caught dozing on the substitutes bench during
a game.
The sad loss of his mother immediately preceeded his best spell of form for
the club. However this season has proven to be another frustrating one for
the once-capped French international, whose days in east London will surely
be numbered following today's events.
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Green and Cole called up
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 6th February 2011
By: Staff riter
West Ham duo Carlton Cole and Robert Green will fly to Denmark with the
England squad this week after being called up as late replacements.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Tottenham's Peter Crouch and Ben Foster of
Birmingham have pulled out of the squad with injuries purportedly sustained
over the weekend, whilst Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor is out due to
'personal reasons'. England face Denmark in a friendly on Wednesday night in
Copenhagen. Fabio Capello's squad includes two debutants - Fulham's
25-year-old back-up 'keeper David Stockdale and Aston Villa's Kyle Walker.
Cole and Green join Scott Parker in the squad.
England squad v Denmark
Robert Green, Joe Hart, David Stockdale; Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill,
Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Kyle
Walker; Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott
Parker, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young; Carlton Cole, Darren
Bent, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney.
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Keane doubt for West Brom
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 6th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Robbie Keane could miss next week's trip to West Bromwich Albion after
sustaining an injury during today's 1-0 defeat to Birmingham. The Irish
striker, who started his second game in five days despite having barely
played all season prior to his move across London, was substituted with 15
minutes of the game remaining to make way for debutant Demba Ba. Although
there were no obivous signs of injury as Keane left the field, manager Avram
Grant later revealed that he had been replaced after feeling tightness in
his leg. "It may be a calf [strain], we need to wait and see," said Grant.
"I hope [he will be fit for West Brom] but he will not be fit for the
[midweek] international."
* Next week's opponents announced today that they had sacked manager Roberto
Di Matteo following their recent slide towards the relegation zone.
First team coach Michael Appleton assumes control of first-team affairs and,
unless a replacement is named beforehand, will lead Albion into next
weekend's vital relegation clash with West Ham.
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Grant on... Birmingham City
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 6th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
Happy birthday Avram... or not, as the case may be. The Hammers boss chews
over the bones of a demoralising defeat in tonight's post-match press
conference...
Avram: you must be disappointed what with all the chances you had in the
first half to go in goalless at half time?
Yes, very disappointed. It's the first game we've lost to a team near us -
we've taken points from the others and today it was very important. We could
have won the game in the first half, then we didn't deal well with their
set-pieces. Birmingham did very well against us with the tall players they
have. Unfortunately we lost.
It's the second time you've played against Zigic and he's obviously proving
too much for your back line to cope with. Are you annoyed that your
defenders couldn't cope with him?
You know, of course. They scored from two corners in the semi final and
they've scored here. Of course I'm not happy but we need to deal with this
now. When the delivery is very good, we need to deal with it better.
Do you think there's also problems with a lack of concentration? The
free-kick that led to the goal was perhaps needless? Some of the composure
wasn't there?
First we gave them easy free-kicks when we know that this is their strength.
From their open game they didn't create much against us; [nor] in most of
the games we've played against them. So I think yes. I also think the
referee gave them easy fouls that weren't fouls before.
It seems to be one step forwards two steps back, this season for you?
It looks like it, but we need to think about the next game. The
disappointing thing is that we lost to a team near us, a six-pointer. Until
now we've won these games. But this has happened, we need to take the
positives that have happened in the past few weeks and look forward -
because it will be a battle until the end.
The situation is not easy. It's also not easy to lose players in the warm-up
[James Tomkins] and after 35 minutes - Matthew Upson - but we need to deal
with it and take points, because we have the quality to do it.
Psychologically, this win is massive for Birmingham. How bad is it for West
Ham?
If you look at what we've done this season, when we've disappointed we
recover really well and I hope it will be like this again. Psychology? We
were carrying a good momentum with a great win on Wednesday. But the
psychology changes, we need to deal with these situations and we will.
Happy birthday by the way...
It's not so happy... [laughs]
It's a terrible birthday, isn't it?
Yeah.
The weekend's terrible; are you going to do anything for your birthday? Is
it all cancelled?
All cancelled.
What were you planning to do?
I will tell you later... [more laughs]
Have you celebrated it at all today?
How can I celebrate? We didn't score, we didn't win... No it's not a happy
birthday but it's not me that's important, it's the team. I think we took a
few steps forward and then one step back. We need to learn from this and go
forward, because we'll battle until the end of the season. We deserve to
stay up but we need to do it. But we cannot lose games like this, it doesn't
matter how.
You've always been kind of laid back and confident; this is the strongest
I've ever heard you say that you're beginning to think time is running out -
and that this is a really big blow today?
I cannot say that time is running out because we have 12 games until the end
of the season - and there are not so many points between the teams in the
relegation zone. We have time to do it, but we want to do it as quickly as
we can. But we didn't want to lose today.
What disappointed you most about the performance today?
I think the tempo of the game. We're used to playing with a high tempo and
high confidence but today we didn't stamp our authority on the game.
What is Matt Upson's injury, is it serious?
I don't know, we need to see. We have a few new injuries; Tomkins, when
warming up, Matthew Upson. Also Robbie Keane.
Robbie Keane's injured?
Yeah. Maybe a calf [strain], we need to wait and see.
So is he fit for next weekend at West Brom?
I hope, but he will not be fit for the [midweek] international.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant - Benni not quick enough
Hammers striker has met weight target but left out of 25-man squad
Last updated: 6th February 2011
SSN
Avram Grant has suggested Benni McCarthy is now too slow to make an impact
at West Ham United after the striker was left out of his 25-man Premier
League squad. McCarthy has struggled to impress at Upton Park and has not
started a game in the League for the Hammers this season. The South African
has met Grant's challenge to lose weight, but the West Ham boss admits the
33-year-old will not be involved in the club's battle for top-flight
survival. "He is not in the 25 because we have other players who can do the
job," said Grant. "He hit his weight target, but I think it has affected
movement and other things. He is one of the best finishers I have ever seen,
but we need players with movement and it is an advantage if players are
quick. "He can play in the cup and apart from that, I don't know. If he had
scored goals before then the situation would be different, but this is
life."
Disheartened
McCarthy had a trial at Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers last month
and the former Blackburn Rovers forward's agent Rob Moore insists he wants
to be playing. Moore told the Mail on Sunday: "He wants to play and is not a
guy who wants to sit around and collect his cheque. "Avram has a job to do
and the team are in a difficult position, so you can't blame him for making
decisions he believes in, but Benni has had hardly any game time and it's
inevitable he would get a bit disheartened. "He's at the level of fitness
and weight the club prescribed and they are happy with that. But he is 33
years old and we have to be realistic."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brady blasts Spurs plans
Hammers vice-chairman feels Spurs will destroy Olympic legacy
Last updated: 7th February 2011
SSN
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has slammed Tottenham's plans to
demolish the Olympic Stadium should they be successful in winning the rights
to the ground. The Hammers and Spurs are competing to become the full-time
owners of the venue following the 2012 games next year in West London, with
the former wanting to keep it as it is. Spurs, however, are planning to
knock it down to provide a purpose-built football arena, as well as
refurbishing the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace. A decision over
the rights is expected later this week, having been suspended at the end of
January due to the committee needing more time.
Corporate crime
Brady has now blasted Spurs' plans, stating that it would be a 'corporate
crime' to destroy an Olympic legacy so shortly after establishing it. "It's
a corporate crime to spend £500m on a stadium and, just four weeks after the
Games have finished, bring the bulldozers in," Brady said. "The Olympic
Stadium was built on a promise, made in the Queen's name, to have a legacy
for athletics. "Through [West Ham's] design there will be over £90m spent on
reconfiguring the stadium so it sits perfectly for athletics and football
and cricket and major events. "Once the conversion is done, with the roof
and some of the seats, there won't be a single seat within that stadium that
has a worse view of the pitch than Wembley." International Association of
Athletics Federations (IAAF) president Lamine Diack, who is also an
International Olympic Committee member, is also against the move, claiming
Britain's reputation would be 'dead' if a legacy is not left. London 2012
chairman Lord Coe and former Olympics minister Tessa Jowell have also given
their backing to the Hammers' bid.
Levy response
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy however has issued a response, branding her
claims "scaremongering and irresponsible" in an official statement. "A lot
of emotive phrasing has been used regarding the dismantling of the stadium
and it is scaremongering and irresponsible. "If we look at the facts, the
Olympic stadium as we now see it was never intended to be kept. The original
2012 legacy promised to dismantle all of the stadium above ground leaving a
sunken 25,000-capacity athletics arena - that has proved unviable. "Our
plans involve the same amount of dismantling and this is in no way a loss of
£500million of stadium infrastructure. "Given how much of the original
groundworks, substructure and podium will remain, around £420million worth,
we are talking about £80million of above-ground infrastructure - all of
which will be recycled or re-used. "Additionally, our bid sees a return to
the public purse which far exceeds this figure and our bid does not require
any public sector funding."
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Grant - We won't give up
Hammers boss looks towards next game against West Brom
Last updated: 6th February 2011
SSN
Avram Grant insists West Ham United will fight until the end to stay in the
Premier League following the defeat by relegation rivals Birmingham City.
West Ham slipped back to the bottom of the table on Sunday afternoon after
Nikola Zigic's second-half header secured Birmingham a 1-0 win at Upton
Park. The result lifted Birmingham out of the bottom three, while Wolves and
Wigan Athletic both picked up vital wins on Saturday. The Hammers' next game
is away to fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion and Grant is staying
optimistic about his team's survival prospects.
Believe
"I think it will be a fight until the end," Grant told Sky Sports. "We don't
have the intention to give up and we believe we can do it. "We need to take
more points, but we did it well in the last 12 games. We won most of our
games and we need to continue and think about the next game." Zigic's goal
arrived on 65 minutes when the giant Serbian striker headed home a free-kick
from Sebastian Larsson following a foul by Mark Noble. However, Grant was
more disappointed by referee Chris Foy's decision to penalise Manuel Da
Costa moments before Noble's infringement. He added: "We conceded a goal
from a set-piece and it was a massive decision for the set-piece against us.
"Before this it was not a foul by Manuel Da Costa. I think the decision of
the referee I don't agree with this. "But, what can you do? This is the
situation and we need to deal better with this."
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Blues continue Hammers hoodoo
Zigic's second-half header sends West Ham back to the bottom
Last updated: 6th February 2011
SSN
Birmingham City piled further misery on West Ham United as Nikola Zigic's
second-half header secured a 1-0 win at Upton Park. Fresh from reaching the
Carling Cup final at West Ham's expense last month, Birmingham moved out of
the Premier League's relegation zone and sent their opponents back to the
bottom after a hard-fought success. The Hammers had been the brighter of the
two teams in the first half, but were made to pay for a slack piece of
defending when Zigic met Sebastian Larsson's free-kick with 25 minutes to
go. The first half was bereft of any clear-cut chances, although West Ham
new boy Robbie Keane volleyed over just before the break after skilful work
in the box. Birmingham improved after the interval after a lacklustre
opening 45 minutes and made the decisive breakthrough on 65 minutes.
Substitute Larsson, whose future had been in doubt throughout the January
transfer window, whipped in a free-kick to the far post and Zigic guided his
header inside the upright. West Ham tried to rally and came closest to
snatching an equaliser through debutant Demba Ba with 13 minutes to go when
his well-struck volley thundered back off the post. Hammers boss Avram
Grant, who was celebrating his 56th birthday, will now undoubtedly find his
position come under scrutiny once more as a result of the defeat.
Troubled season
The Israeli went into the match knowing a victory would see West Ham record
their first back-to-back league wins in what has been a troubled season so
far. Their attempts were hit by a calf injury to James Tomkins in the
warm-up which meant an early recall for Matthew Upson, who had missed the
midweek win over Blackpool with tendonitis. The former Birmingham
centre-half was paired with Winston Reid, who came in for the injured Danny
Gabbidon Cameron Jerome and Barry Ferguson both overcame ankle injuries to
make a Birmingham team that was unchanged from Wednesday's 2-2 draw against
Manchester City. The match was a chance for the Londoners to avenge their
Carling Cup semi-final exit to their Midlands rivals last month.
Ben Foster, whose howler gifted West Ham a first-leg lead in that tie,
started nervously, punching an early Gary O'Neil cross clear when it was
easier to catch. The England goalkeeper came out to snatch the ball from
Frederic Piquionne's feet after he was put through by the in-form Victor
Obinna. After a quiet opening 15 minutes, West Ham started to pressure the
visitors' goal. On-loan Tottenham striker Keane played Piquionne in with a
clever backheel but the former Portsmouth striker could only fire a tame
curler at Foster. Obinna, who had scored five in his previous two matches,
then struck a 25-yard effort just wide and Scott Parker threatened with a
dangerous low cross that was hooked clear. Robert Green was called into
action for the first time when he collected a low shot from Lee Bowyer on
the half-hour. Jerome beat Green to a header from a corner soon after but
the former Cardiff marksman could only glance wide. Roger Johnson beat
Piquionne to a cross but flashed a free header over the bar from 10 yards.
Johnson cut out a dangerous cross from Obinna with a superb diving header as
Piquionne lurked at the back post. A late sliding challenge on David Bentley
from Mark Noble earned the Hammers midfielder a yellow card. West Ham felt
they should have had a penalty late on in the first half when Lars
Jacobsen's strike hit Liam Ridgewell on the arm but referee Chris Foy turned
down their appeal. Obinna had an appeal for another spot-kick turned down
moments later when his shot hit Johnson on the arm in the box and Keane
volleyed over under pressure in stoppage-time.
Frustrated
Manuel da Costa came on for Upson at half-time to make his first appearance
in three months. Birmingham started the second period brightly and Bentley
found the towering Zigic at the back post but he headed wide, much to Alex
McLeish's frustration. The Birmingham manager brought Larsson on for Jerome
in the 57th minute and Grant replaced Piquionne with Carlton Cole soon
after. The West Ham crowd were getting frustrated with their team's scrappy
play and their hopes were further dashed when Zigic gave Birmingham a
65th-minute lead. The 30-year-old took advantage of some slack marking from
Wayne Bridge to meet Larsson's free-kick at the back post and nod home from
six yards for his second in two matches. Grant looked to Demba Ba for
inspiration, the Senegalese coming on to make his Hammers debut in place of
Keane. The former Hoffenheim striker almost made an immediate impact when he
slammed a volley onto the woodwork after the ball ricocheted around the
Birmingham box. Da Costa almost caught Foster out with a fierce 35-yard shot
but the Birmingham keeper scrambled across his line to save. The defender
was at the forefront of West Ham's late push for an equaliser as he headed
just wide of Foster's goal from eight yards. Parker slipped into the box in
stoppage-time but was met by a sea of Birmingham defenders. Obinna and Da
Costa were booked for late challenges in injury time and West Ham's threat
petered out, the game ending with a chorus of boos from the home crowd.
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Calf injury troubles Keane
Striker set to miss international
Last updated: 6th February 2011
SSN
Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane looks set to miss his country's
Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales. West Ham striker Keane limped out
of his home debut against Birmingham with a calf injury. Hammers boss Avram
Grant, who was forced to substitute his new loan signing after 75 minutes,
believes the 30-year-old is out of the Dublin clash. But he is hopeful Keane
could return for West Ham's crucial relegation battle at West Brom. Grant
said: "Robbie Keane is injured. His calf has tightened. "We will have to
wait and see. I hope he will be fit for next weekend but he will not be fit
for the international." If Keane does pull out of the squad then Ireland
boss Giovanni Trapattoni is likely to call up Celtic's Anthony Stokes as his
replacement.
But the skipper's absence would be another blow for the Italian after
already losing Newcastle striker Leon Best and Portsmouthmidfielder Liam
Lawrence from his original squad.
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Hammers delay Obinna decision
West Ham wait on permanent deal
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 6th
February 2011
SSN
West Ham boss Avram Grant will wait until the end of the season before
deciding whether to sign Victor Obinna on a permanent deal. The 23-year-old
forward joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Inter Milan at the
start of the campaign. He has performed well for Grant and has really come
to light in his last two games with five goals, including a hat-trick
against Nottingham Forest. West Ham have an option to sign him, but they are
still in the middle of a relegation battle and will not be making a decision
on his future until they know how the season has gone. "He is a big player
with big talent and we like him. I think he wants to stay here," said Grant.
"We like him but we will have to wait until the end of the season."
Obinna's somersault celebration is now being seen on a much more regular
basis and Grant has no issues. "I love his somersaults, I hope he will have
a lot of reasons to do them again this season," he said. "It took him time
to adjust this season because he didn't play much in Italy, but he is
playing well now."
Confident
Obinna himself is confident West Ham will stay up, saying: "In December we
were out of the relegation zone and then we lost at Newcastlewhich brought
us back. It's not an easy process. "We're getting the confidence back. We
just have to continue this way. "We started very badly, losing four games in
a row and lacking confidence but I believe now everything has changed. "Last
Saturday, when we beat Nottingham Forest, I noticed there was a fantastic
atmosphere in the dressing room before the game. "It was special and even
better with leaders like Robbie Keane in the team. "At this point I think
West Ham are too good to go down."
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Faubert Fury
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
WEST HAM'S relegation battle has been rocked by a wildcat walkout from
defender Julien Faubert. The French full-back plunged the Premier League's
bottom club into a fresh crisis by refusing to sit on the bench for
yesterday's defeat by Birmingham. Faubert, 27, was called into the
strugglers' 18-man squad at the last minute by boss Avram Grant because of a
calf injury to defender James Tomkins in the pre-match warm up. But the
maverick had already gone AWOL and told stunned team officials he would not
return to Upton Park when they finally managed to reach him - 10 minutes
AFTER kick-off. West Ham had to make do with only six subs instead of the
permitted seven. A Hammers insider said: "It's unbelievable. The whole club
is shocked by it. "Julien turned up as normal before kick-off only to be
told he was not in the squad. "But without telling anyone he must have just
gone home. "When someone finally got hold of him on the phone, he refused to
come back."
Faubert will be fined two weeks' wages by furious boss Grant and faces a
massive rollicking. He had been given a couple of days off earlier in the
week because one of his kids was ill. It is the last thing West Ham need,
having been sent back to the bottom following Nikola Zigic's 65th-minute
goal.
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Grant cancels birthday plans after Birmingham defeat
Published 17:52 06/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Avram Grant called off his birthday celebrations after seeing his West Ham
side sink to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League table with a 1-0 home
defeat to Birmingham. The Hammers appeared to be on the up after a midweek
win at Blackpool but they looked back to their inconsistent worst today,
rarely threatening the visitors' goal throughout in a disjointed
performance. Nikola Zigic's second-half header was enough to see the home
side off and put Grant's position as manager back under the spotlight. The
win moved Blues out of the relegation zone but the Hammers are now two
points off safety having played a game more than most of their relegation
rivals. Grant admits the defeat has put a serious dent in his team's chances
of staying up, and as a result his plans to celebrate his 56th birthday have
now been shelved. "I am not so happy, my birthday is cancelled," Grant said.
"How can I celebrate? We didn't score and didn't win. "It is not happy
birthday but it is not me that is important, it is the team. "We take a few
steps forward and one back and we need to learn from this. We deserve to
stay up but we need to do it. We cannot lose games like this. "The
disappointing thing is that we lost to a team near us and it is a game of
six points. "Until now we have won these games. It will be a battle until
the end but we need to take points because we have the quality to do that."
Grant's misery was compounded by a calf injury to Robbie Keane and Matthew
Upson had to be withdrawn at half-time after earning a last-minute recall
when James Tomkins picked up a calf problem in the warm-up. Upson will be
seen by the club doctors tomorrow but Keane, who scored on his debut against
Blackpool in midweek, is a doubt for the Hammers' match against West Brom
next week and is definitely out of the Republic of Ireland's game against
Wales on Tuesday. Zigic dealt the fatal blow when he nodded home from a
Sebastian Larsson free-kick with 25 minutes remaining. It was the Serbian's
fourth league goal of what has been a frustrating first season for the
towering striker. Zigic struggled to adapt to the physicality of the English
game at the start of the year but his manager believes the 30-year-old has
now turned a corner. "He's upped his game and is at a good level now,"
McLeish said. "He's an international player and it's been a challenge
getting used to England. "He's beginning to hold his own. He was pushed in
the back for the goal but he managed to stay firm and get his head on it."
McLeish had faced calls to drop the 6ft 7in striker but he kept faith with
him and now thinks he can go on to play a big part in Birmingham's quest to
stay up. He said: "I'd like to see a big return in this half of the season -
maybe 20 goals! "He's making his mark and has been powerful for us in the
last three of four games. "If he can continue to cause havoc and create
assists then he'll chip in with one or two himself. I don't think he's ever
been prolific." After seeing rivals Wolves and Wigan register shock wins
yesterday , McLeish admits his side were desperate to pick up three points
today. "Psychologically it was a huge win," the Scot said. "The players were
sat like ghouls watching the results come in on Saturday. "I said: 'Don't
watch it. You'll only get yourself upset if it doesn't go for you'. "A few
results went for the bottom teams and then Wolves go and beat Man United."
McLeish hopes that Birmingham can now kick on in their next two home games
against Stoke and Newcastle, but has warned that achieving survival will not
be easy. "Hopefully the confidence will gather pace but there are no
guarantees," McLeish said. "I don't think there are any bad teams in the
league."
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Tony Cottee Column: McLeish got his tactics spot on against West Ham
Tony Cottee, East London Advertiser Columnist
Monday, February 7, 2011
1:14 PM
THE Birmingham defeat is a massive blow and it's a good job West Ham
registered that great win over Blackpool or we would be in deep trouble.
Unfortunately too many big players had an off day on Sunday. Scott Parker
and Mark Noble struggled to make an impact on the game and the front three,
who played so well last Wednesday did not work. Frederic Piquionne had a
really poor game and Robbie Keane was clearly short of match practice.
Nobody in claret and blue really had a particularly good 90 minutes. Wayne
Bridge did well in the first half, dealt with David Bentley and it's good to
see a natural left back in the side and makes it look more balanced. It was
a poor game and neither side played particularly well, but the win for
Birmingham keep them away from us and I'd expect them to move further up the
table. Alex McLeish is an excellent manager and he showed that in the second
half. He brought on Sebastian Larsson for the ineffectual Cameron Jerome and
switched form a 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1. Larsson prevented Wayne Bridge getting
forward from left back and provided the cross for the winning goal, so
McLeish must be given a huge amount of credit. The goal was a comedy of
errors from everyone. Mark Noble gave away a stupid needless free kick and
why Bridge at 5 ft 9 is the man marking Nikola Zigic I don't know.
The marking was so bad I'm not sure if we were using man to man or zonal
marking, but either way it didn't work. Losing James Tomkins before kick off
and Matthew Upson at half-time would have made a huge effect. The changes
caused a lack of organisation and could be why the Hammers conceded the
goal. In contract Birmingham were extremely well organised are built on
solid foundations with a good goalkeeper and back four, with Roger Johnson
particularly impressive. I was disappointed to hear that Julien Faubert
despite being named, did not take his place on the bench. As a former player
and now a fan I can see it from both sides. Obviously supporters hate to see
a player not wanting to play for their side and they find it hard to get
their head around why they wouldn't. Of course there is no excuse for it and
I hope he does get fined two weeks wages. I've been in the same situation as
Faubert though when I was at Everton. I was drifting in and out of the first
team, training with the second or even third team and I became frustrated. I
was fined and got on with it.
A current Hammer who has been in trouble a fair amount with the club is
Benni McCarthy. The South African has not even been named in the 25 man
squad. He's been fined numerous times over his weight and overall it has
been a poor signing by the club. He should have been brought in on loan
until the end of the season and not bought for £2.5million and given £40,000
a week wages on a two-and-a-half year deal. You can't blame the player for
signing the contract and it's happy days for him, but you wonder why we
offered him such a long deal. Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson give
one-year rolling deals to players over 30, so why do we do it differently?
Tony Cottee was talking to Matt Diner
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