WHUFC.com
The manager was full of praise once more for his team after another
excellent league win
05.03.2011
Avram Grant summed it up with his first words post-match after the 3-0 win
against Stoke City brought the Hammers back to back league wins for the time
since February 2010 "It has been quite a week," he said minutes after the
Stoke success, which came hard on the heels of last Sunday's 3-1 defeat of
Liverpool. With the club out of the bottom three and an FA Cup quarter-final
against the Potters to come next Sunday week, it is not hard to feel the
optimism coursing through the Boleyn Ground. "Everyone is happy. "It is the
first time in a long time that we have back to back wins in the league but
we are happier that it came with good football. We are scoring lots of goals
- we cannot ask more than this. "I said to the team one month ago, we only
have to think about what we need to do. Not worry about the other teams.
Only when the league is done should we look at what the other teams have
done. We need to focus on ourselves and that is what they are doing every
time."
On Saturday, at a packed Boleyn Ground, the focus was certainly on the home
side. Once Demba Ba had scrambled in his fourth goal in three games, the
Hammers were off and away. Manu da Costa - one of two changes in the side,
Carlton Cole being the other - underlined his aerial strength with a bullet
header before Thomas Hitzlsperger smashed in a game-clinching third. The
manager dismissed suggestions that upcoming league fixtures like Tottenham
Hotspur and Manchester United would pose stiffer tests than Stoke. "They are
tough games coming up but no game is easy in the Premier League. Stoke are a
very difficult side. Our target is to be hard to beat ourselves and I am
sure our next opponents will also think that we are tough opposition.
"We have always believed in ourselves. We analyse the football we played
earlier in the season and, except for the Liverpool and Newcastle games, we
have played well but didn't get the points we deserved. Now we are more
efficient because we have players that can finish."
The presence of his four January signings - along with Hitzlsperger - has
galvanised everyone but the manager was also pleased with his established
spine of Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Cole. There is belief
throughout the side and he traced the extra impetus back to the second-half
comeback against West Bromwich Albion last month. "I think it started off in
the second half against West Brom and then Barnsley in the FA Cup. We are
developing step by step and we are doing it at the right time. It is good to
see us playing well and winning. "We are playing with confidence, we have
many good footballers. It is easier and the players that have come back from
injury add a lot to this team. I am very pleased with the way we are passing
the ball, we are creating chances. The whole back four was very good again."
While Lars Jacobsen and Gary O'Neil had done nothing wrong in being dropped,
the manager explained that he had needed to match Stoke's considerable
aerial threat. "When you play against a team like Stoke, you want to adapt
but also keep to your own way. "We wanted to play our football but we know
their strengths from set-pieces. We didn't change the style but we changed
the personnel slightly to cope."
One constant remains, though, in Parker. The Barclays player of the month
was the man of the match again and battled on gamely despite needing an
injection in his damaged shoulder before kick-off - as he had against
Liverpool as well. "Everyone is different. He wants to play with this and we
want him to play. It is not easy for him, he had an injection before the
game. He is a special guy and it would take a lot to stop him playing. He is
a key player. He starts all the attacks and dictates the build-up of the
game. "He did a good job but everyone did well today and did their job. It
was a good team performance and we had a very happy dressing room. "We have
good momentum, it is good but we have to keep it going for as long as
possible. The most important thing is to do the right things, when you do
that you will get your rewards. Even when players have been frustrated in
the past they kept going. It is a good time now to show our quality."
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Winning start for Spence
WHUFC.com
Reserve-team captain Jordan Spence was a solid performer as Bristol City won
away on Saturday
05.03.2011
Jordan Spence made a dream debut for Bristol City with a 90-minute run-out
in a 4-1 win away to Coventry City. The 20-year-old had played a dozen games
in the Championship last season with Scunthorpe United and quickly showed
his ability again at the Ricoh Arena. Playing at right-back in a defence
featuring Wales international Lewin Nyatanga and in front of England keeper
David James, Spence justified Keith Millen's decision to take him on a
month-long loan from the Boleyn Ground earlier this week. The win lifted
Bristol City up to 15th in the 24-team Championship, ten points above the
relegation zone. They are a point and a place above Barnsley, where Frank
Nouble did not feature in a 0-0 draw at Derby County. The third young Hammer
out on loan is 20-year-old Matthew Fry, but he also did not play as Charlton
Athletic ended a run of four losses in League One with a 1-1 home draw with
Tranmere Rovers.
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U18s lose out at Ipswich
WHUFC.com
West Ham United went down 1-0 at Ipswich Town in the FA Premier Academy
League on Saturday
05.03.2011
West Ham United Under-18s were edged out 1-0 by Ipswich Town in an FA
Premier Academy League fixture on Saturday. Hammers Academy Director Tony
Carr MBE named a young starting XI, with schoolboy Eliott Lee and first-year
scholars Jake Young, Danny Potts, Declan Hunt and Lamarr Hurley handed a
place in the team. The only goal of the game was scored early on when West
Ham conceded a corner and an Ipswich player got in ahead of his marker to
head the ball past goalkeeper David Wootton. West Ham's cause was not helped
by centre-back Kenzer Lee being injured in the pre-match warm-up, while Hunt
was forced off with a head injury, meaning striker Paul McCallum moved to
the heart of the back four as an emergency defender.
Defeat leaves Carr's youngsters sixth in the Group A table, seven points
behind leaders Crystal Palace with nine matches remaining. A full report and
post-match reaction from the Academy Director will appear on whufc.com,
while exclusive highlights will be available to view on West Ham TV soon.
West Ham United U18s: Wootton, Young, Potts, Hunt (Lletget), Sanchez,
Hurley, Hall, Moncur, E.Lee (Tombides), McCallum, Purdy (Turgott)
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Parker takes top prize
WHUFC.com
The Barclays Player of the Month award has gone to Scott Parker as a reward
for being February's finest
04.03.2011
Scott Parker has enjoyed a February to remember, inspiring West Ham United
to two valuable Barclays Premier League victories and into the FA Cup
sponsored by EON sixth round. The Hammers' outstanding No8 capped a
memorable month by scoring the opening goal in last Sunday's thrilling 3-1
win over Liverpool. The 30-year-old also made a timely return to the senior
England side, impressing many with his assured display in the 2-1 friendly
international win over Denmark in Copenhagen. Parker has been rewarded for
his efforts with not one, but two awards - Barclays Player of the Month and
SBOBET Player of the Month. For the former, the midfielder polled the most
votes in a decision made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes
representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and football
supporters. "It is certainly a great honour," said Parker. "Things are
obviously going well personally and I'm absolutely delighted to win this
award and am very pleased with the way things are going. Personally, it's
very good. "To get this award is very pleasing, so hopefully we can now pick
up some results and stay up to round it off."
The two-time Hammer of the Year was also thrilled to be voted SBOBET Player
of the Month by the club's supporters for the third consecutive month.
"I've built up a good rapport with the fans here and obviously they
appreciate what we do. They appreciate everyone. I'm sure they will be right
behind us today and urging us on to get the three points we need. "For sure,
it makes a massive difference when you're out there and your fans are behind
you."
While Parker was happy to collect his personal accolades, he was happier to
see West Ham pick up seven Barclays Premier League points from a possible 12
in February, giving the club an increasing chance of avoiding relegation
this season. "I do feel like I'm playing the best football I have played in
my career. Obviously I'm a little bit older and a little bit wiser and
personally things are going really well on the pitch. "It's not just me,
it's the team, and we've picked up some good results along the way, so it's
going really well. "I certainly believe we will stay up. I've been saying
since a long time ago that I do honestly believe we have the squad to get
out of the predicament that we're in. "We have under-performed at times this
year and that's why we're in the position that we're in in the league, but
if you look at our squad, we have a strong squad. We can certainly score
goals and we're looking good. "We've got a few games left and we need to
pick up some more points along the way."
Concentrating on this afternoon's visit of Stoke City to the Boleyn Ground,
Parker believes the confidence drawn from last Sunday's victory over
Liverpool will spur on Avram Grant's side to collect three more crucial
points in their battle for survival. "We're certainly up for it. It's a
massive game for us. We're coming off a great result last weekend against
Liverpool and hopefully we can get another three points and start climbing
up the league. "Liverpool came here and we really dominated the game.
Especially in the first half, we looked like we could score a few more
goals. I was absolutely delighted to get the three points and now we need to
push on and get a few more." "We're looking good. We need to dig in and pick
up some results. We know we're getting to the business end of it all now and
hopefully we can pick some more points."
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West Ham 3 - 0 Stoke
BBC.co.uk
By Julian Shea
West Ham moved out out of the bottom three and made it two home wins in a
week as they capitalised on a poor first-half display by Stoke. A defensive
mix-up allowed Demba Ba an easy opener with Manuel da Costa heading a second
before the interval. Stoke upped their game after the break with substitutes
Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones posing more threat. But they failed to
find a way through and Thomas Hitzlsperger sealed the win with a thunderous
shot late on. Stoke went into the game on a run of five successive away
Premier League defeats, and made a cautious opening as the home side
dominated early possession. But for all their neat passing and approach
work, West Ham created little of note in front of goal, and the first chance
of the game fell to the visitors. Rory Delap crossed from the left wing into
the path of Jon Walters at the near post, who flicked the ball up towards
the top corner, only for keeper Robert Green to push it behind for a corner.
The scare seemed to spark the home side into life and on 23 minutes they
took the lead, courtesy of some catastrophic defending by Stoke. Mark Noble
sent a speculative ball straight down the middle, into the path of Ba, whose
marker Marc Wilson went to clear the ball as goalkeeper Asmir Begovic came
out to do the same. The pair left it to each other, allowing the Senegalese
striker to poke the ball into an empty net for his fourth goal in three
league starts since joining the Hammers from Hoffenheim. The home side
looked to have the better of the Stoke defence, with both Wilson and Ryan
Shawcross booked in the first half hour as they struggled to deal with the
pressure - Wilson for hauling Carlton Cole to the ground and Shawcross for a
foul on Scott Parker which led to West Ham's second goal. From the resulting
free-kick, Hitzlsperger's ball found da Costa unmarked at the far post and
he headed the ball into the net.
Both Hitzlsperger and Frederic Piquionne went close to adding a third for
West Ham before the break as they continued to keep the visitors on the back
foot. The pressure was maintained after the restart, with James Tomkins
heading against the outside of the post, and it was no surprise when Stoke
replaced Jermaine Pennant with Etherington in an attempt to liven things up.
The shake-up injected some life attacking purpose into Stoke and Delap went
close anyone when he tested Green from distance, but the England keeper
blocked his effort and Tomkins mopped up. More poor defensive communication
between Begovic and Shawcross almost let in Cole for a third but the Bosnian
keeper did superbly to recover and block the striker's goalbound shot. Stoke
then sent on Ricardo Fuller and Jones, who caused West Ham more problems,
when he headed just wide from an Etherington cross.
This seemed to rouse West Ham out of any complacency and Cole came
agonisingly close with a shot just wide of the goal before Hitzlsperger
smashed the loose ball into the roof of the net after Stoke failed to clear
a Piquionne shot. The visitors did their best to claim a consolation goal
but West Ham's defence stood firm to earn a rare clean sheet and
back-to-back home Premier League wins for the first time since last April.
West Ham manager Avram Grant: "It's a happy dressing room, first because
we're winning and second because of our belief about our football. "I'm very
pleased with Ba and Hitzlsperger, they are players we wanted to sign - many
players are on loan but they belong to us so it's very good. "Injuries are
part of the game but they happened to us from the start [of the season],
which is not when we want. When everyone's fit you see big competition and
we have momentum."
Stoke manager Tony Pulis: "We did smashing until the first goal and to
concede such a poor goal was disappointing, then two goals in 10 minutes
killed the game. "Matty Etherington gave us a lot more impetus but we needed
goal and we didn't get it. Even in our two previous games, we haven't played
that badly but we're getting our pant pulled down and our bottoms slapped
for every mistake we make." "We haven't had certain amounts of luck, be it
from officials or from players making decisions, but you have to take it on
the chin and get on with it and be ready for the next game."
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Wenger & Parker win Premier League awards for February
BBC.co.uk
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and West Ham midfielder Scott Parker have been
named Premier League manager and player of the month for February. Arsenal
won three of their four league games in the month and drew 4-4 with
Newcastle, having led 4-0. It is the 11th time Wenger has won the award in
his 15 years at the club. Parker helped West Ham haul themselves off the
foot of the table with stellar performances in their 3-1 wins over Blackpool
and Liverpool.
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Taking flamin' Liberties
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham fans are up in arms after it was revealed that Upton Park tube
station will be open for just ONE of the club's remaining home fixtures this
season. Transport for London (TfL) - who have been slammed on a number of
occasions in the past for failing to provide a service to supporters wishing
to travel to Upton Park - are planning outages on no less than four of the
five remaining home game match days this season. News of the disruption to
service has led to accusations that West Ham are simply not doing enough to
ensure supporters are able to get to the Boleyn Ground. Meanwhile others
have suggested the ongoing delays and cancellations are of a rather more
sinister nature, being deliberately timed to turn fans in favour of moving
to the Olympic Stadium.
TfL's planned disruptions
5th March (today): Stoke City
District Line: No service between Bromley-by-Bow and Upminster. Between 1pm
and 7pm, no service between Bromley-by-Bow and Upney eastbound and
Bromley-by-Bow and Barking westbound. Replacement buses operate.
Hammersmith & City Line: No service between Liverpool Street and Barking.
2nd April: Man Utd
Both District and Hammersmith & City lines open.
16th April: Aston Villa
District Line: No service between Bromley-by-Bow and East Ham.
Hammersmith & City Line: No service between Liverpool Street and Barking.
7th May: Blackburn
District Line: No service between Embankment and East Ham.
Hammersmith & City Line: No service between Kings Cross St.Pancras and
Barking.
22nd May: Sunderland
District Line: No service between Barking and Tower Hill.
Hammersmith & City Line: No service between Kings Cross St.Pancras and
Barking.
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Obinna looking to pastures new
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 4th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
Victor Obinna has given the clearest indication yet that he sees his future
away from West Ham. The on-loan Nigerian striker, whose contract with parent
club Milan expires this summer told the BBC's Oluwashina Okeleji that he
will sit down and consider a number of offers before reaching a decision.
"The most important thing at the moment is to think about playing for West
Ham United and to make sure we stay in the Premier League," he said. "At the
moment I'm just trying to get fit for the next game against Stoke. "My
future is bright; I have so many offers at the moment but it's left to my
agent to talk about that. I would love to stay in the Premier League. My
future lies in an important club, a good club that deserves my service,
knows what I can do and what I can bring to the team. "I'm a free player and
anything can happen. We still have a few months until the end of the season
and as a free player you have [offers from] so many clubs - I have offers
from Italy, Spain and in England where everyone sees me play. "But the most
important thing is to go and play where I am happy."
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Hitz praises 'Player of the Year' Parker
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 4th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
Thomas Hitzlsperger says team mate Scott Parker deserves to be named
Footballer of the Year. The German midfielder, who made his long-awaited
full debut for the Hammers in their recent 5-1 FA Cup win over Burnley
believes that the England international 'stands out' from the competition.
"I would definitely endorse the push for Scott to be Player of the Year," he
told the Evening Standard's Ken Dyer. "There are some outstanding
midfielders in the Premier League but I would vote for him if I could
because, in a difficult season, he stands out. He scores goals, he sets
people up to score, he makes tackles - he's an all-round midfield player.
"I am enjoying playing in the same midfield as Scott and Mark Noble. They
are both very good players, they like to pass the ball and move again. They
can be physical if they need to be but they just want to pass the ball, set
up the strikers and support the back four which is what I like to do.
They're both good lads as well."
The 28-year-old also admitted that in an ideal world he would not choose to
play in a stadium with a running track - as West Ham will be from 2014.
"I was at Bayern Munich for a long time so I knew the Olympic Stadium there
well," he said. "It was an old stadium, not like the one here at all, you
can't compare the two. It all depends on how the team plays in it. "The
athletics track is not ideal as everyone would agree but I believe it will
be a good stadium in which to play. I am sure that the club will do their
best to create a good atmosphere but it depends on the players and how they
perform. "There is still a long time before we go there - but I would
certainly like to play there for West Ham."
* The one and only Hammer to have won the Football Writers' Association
Footballer of the Year award was Bobby Moore, back in 1963/64.
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Hammers top form table
WHUFC.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham go into today's home game with Stoke with the best recent form of
the Premier League's bottom seven teams. Avram Grant's side have picked up
eight points from their last six matches - two wins, two draws and two
defeats - which leaves them at the top of the recent form table for those
clubs battling relegation. The Hammers have been defeated just once in their
last five Premier League outings - the narrow 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham
- having picked up seven of those eight points in their last four games.
Conversely, today's opponents Stoke have lost four of their last six - all
away from home without scoring a single goal. Overall, West Ham currently
lie eighth in the full Premier League form table, which is currently topped
by Arsenal with 16 points from their last six games.
Current form table - bottom seven, last six games
1. West Ham Utd W2 D2 L2 - 8pts
2. Birmingham W 2 D2 L2 - 8pts
3. Wolves W2 D1 L3 - 7pts
4. Wigan W1 D2 L3 - 5pts
5. Blackpool W1 D1 L4 - 4pts
6. WBA W0 D4 L2 - 4pts
7. Blackburn W1 D1 L4 - 4pts
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Gold leaves hospital
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
David Gold is recuperating at home having been released from hospital. The
74-year-old co-chairman was admitted ten days ago and diagnosed as suffering
from cholangitis - an infection of the common bile duct - and septicaemia
(blood poisoning). Having spent a week in hospital, Gold was finally given
the all-clear to return home - from where he saw West Ham thrash Stoke 3-0
this afternoon, a result that lifts the Hammers out of the bottom three.
Although he is thought to have seen off the worst, Gold still requires
surgery; should he continue to recover, that is likely to happen within the
next few days. KUMB.com would like to wish Mr Gold a continued speedy
recovery on behalf of all our readers.
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Pulis on... West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
A defeated - yet far from demoralised - Tony Pulis looks back at his team's
3-0 defeat at the Boleyn Ground this afternoon...
Tony: were you disappointed that your team seemed to cave in so easily
today?
I was disappointed with the [first] two goals we conceded. I thought up
until the two goals - especially the first one - we were well in the game
and if anything had more control of the game. Then we gave a silly goal away
and they scored again from a set-play which is disappointing from our point
of view.
From then on they deserved to win it. Second half, for all our possession
and having a go - and we did have more of a go second half, for 30 minutes -
they break and score. West Ham's day; fair play and good luck to them.
It seems a certain irony that Demba Ba got the first goal for them?
No, no; that's the way football is and that's the way it works. We did what
we had to do in good faith and you can never criticise people for doing what
they have to do in good faith. The medical side said what they had to say
and you get on with it.
There's no-one who's done it out of any animosity or badness, or anything
like that - it was just the view that the football club took and you get on
with it.
A bit of a worrying away run now?
Even today I don't think we've played. We've been to places and played very
well - we played very well at Arsenal, we played well at Birmingham and come
away with nothing. Like I say, in patches today. For the first 20 minutes,
up until the first goal I thought we were well in the game today.
What do you think your lack of goals is down to? Is it a lack of confidence,
or something else?
We need one to go in off someone's backside as mcuh as anything else. Even
second half, Ricardo [Fuller's] effort looks as if it's a goal and it goes
wide; Kenwyn [Jones] has had a great header and it's just gone wide. We've
had opportunities and chances today that have not dropped for us.
You know, we've played games and played teams who have two chances in a game
and score. Sometimes we have eight, nine chances and don't so you need that
bit of luck. But we'll be alright, we'll keep working at it. It's a tough
old league, this one. We know what it's all about.
Are you concerned about the relegation situation?
I think everybody is. My argument is we have to get to 40 points as quick as
we can and then look at the table from there. That's always been my view.
I think if you look around, if you're always looking over your shoulder or
looking to see what other teams are doing you take your eye off the ball in
respect of what you've got to achieve - and the focus at our football club
has always been what we achieve, what we can do. And that will always be the
case, let everybody else worry about what everyone else is doing.
The most important thing is affecting what you can affect - and we can only
affect what Stoke City do.
West Ham were the better side overall but they seemed to get the benefit of
a lot of decisions, just little 50/50s whether it was throw-ins, or
free-kicks or whatever?
And good luck to them. Fine, it happens!
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Grant on... Stoke City
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 6th March 2011
By: Staff Writer
Avram Grant reflects on an excellent week that brought back-to-back wins and
a first clean sheet in the Premier League in 2011...
Avram: back to back wins; six goals for, one against and out of the
relegation zone. What's happened?
Tell me?! No, it was a good week. Also in the last two or three league games
we've scored three goals every game and in the cup we scored five. Our game
is better from game to game, the injured players are coming back slowly - or
not slowly - so it's a good day for us.
What about Thomas Hitzlsperger? It's only his third game for the club but
already the interaction between him, Parker and Noble... he seems to have
fitted in striaght away?
Yes. You know we made four signings in January, I think we had five because
Thomas is like a fifth signing. Thomas was my first signing in the summer
and we was not so happy when he had this injury with the national team. I
hope he will not go on the next international break to Germany!
But he has a big impact, because with him our midfield is more balanced - to
defend, to pass the ball, to score like today - what a goal. He's important
for us, but I must say that all the new signings are doing well and also the
players that played before. For them now it's easier. Competition, more
competition and we have the momentum at the right time.
Someone like Carlton Cole? He looks a different player; I know you wanted
more from him earlier in the season but today he'd really come on?
Again we have competition between the forward players and that pushes you
forward. Coley was very professional when he didn't play; he trained very,
very well and very hard so now he's in good condition to play football and
he played very well today.
Are you confident that you'll score goals every time you go out now?
We will not score three goals every game, that's for sure. Nobody does this.
But I think that [although] we are playing [the same] system from the
beginning of the season, we now have more players that can score. I believe
in this football, I believe in attacking football. Of course you need
balance and we are doing this better and better with every game but we have
many forward players who can score now.
You must be glad that Stoke turned down Demba Ba?
Yes, I'm very happy that they did! But nobody knew about Demba before I
wanted to sign him; Stoke, Everton and other teams that wanted him, I don't
even think they knew who he was. I've followed him a long, long time, [he's]
one of the best strikers in Germany and it's happened. We brought him here
and when his name was in the paper all the other teams started to be
interested in him.
But at the end of the day he came to the team that wanted him from the
beginning and he wanted to play for us. I'm very, very pleased for us
because all the players we signed wanted to come to us, even if we were in
last place [in the Premier League]. They know the football we want to play
and they're happy to play for us.
Some difficult games coming up now; how big a boost to confidence are these
two wins?
Difficult games? I don't think there are any easy games in the Premier
League. We have difficult games ahea dof us but our target is to be a hard
team to beat and I think we are on the way to doing it and as I say, it's
easier now the squad has less players who are injured. A few times we didn't
have 18 players, now everybody's fighting to also be on the bench. It's good
for us.
You must have been worried before; things weren't going right, there was
speculation about you and now all of a sudden it's turned round?
Yes, but I must say I told you I had confidence in this team. We analyse the
games; sometimes you're bottom of the table and you don't play football. As
you saw in our games except the [away] games against Liverpool and
Newcastle... Let's take the 10 or 12 times that we've drawn; in 80 per cent
we were the better team - and even the games we lost.
So we were confident that if we improved a few things - and with injured
players coming back - it would be easier. And I must say that our signings
were in the right place at the right time in January. We needed to do it
before.
Are you now as sure as you possibly can be that you're going to be alright?
You're going to be okay and survive?
Well I had confidence that we would do it when we were bottom of the table
five points behind the others so now, of course, I have more confidence. But
I know that it will not be easy and we have a lot of games ahead of us.
Does this run of three successive home victories change your attitude about
the cup game next week? Which might have been seen as just another game, but
now could mean West Ham come up with something at the end of the year?
Yes. All the teams that I've worked for, I've worked for the short-term and
also for the long-term. In the long-term we want to have a winning mentality
and develop a winning mentality. One of the things you need to show to the
players is that you want to win every game. A player, even in training needs
to want to win; we did when we were playing at school. I don't believe in
going to a player and saying "this is a game you [must] win, this game is
not so important". Then you cannot control it.
We want to win like we did in the Carling Cup when we had a good run; it was
not easy for us because we played in the Carling Cup with a lot of injured
players and with a squad of 14, 15 players. Now, when we are coming to the
quarter final [of the FA Cup] it's a game that we want to win. It will not
be easy because it's Stoke and it's not easy to play there.
Do you know what Wembley looks like?
Yes, I know it and I like it. I'd like to be at Wembley, but not in the
stands!
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Grant revels in progress
Boss lauds captain Parker
Last updated: 5th March 2011
SSN
West Ham manager Avram Grant praised the progress his side are making after
the 3-0 win over Stoke City. An attacking formation paid dividends for Grant
who had plenty to smile about as his side ran out comfortable winners. Two
of Grant's recent recruits were on the scoresheet, with Demba Ba and Thomas
Hitzlsperger on target in addition to Manuel Da Costa. With three valuable
points lifting the Hammers free of the drop zone, Grant praised the strength
and spirit shown by his side. "We are developing step by step and doing it
at the right time at the end of the season," Grant told Sky Sports. "We are
playing with confidence and we are playing with many players who know how to
play football. The players that come back from injury add a lot to this
team. "We created some good chances and our back four was very good today,
[Stoke] did not create any chances. "Always when you play against any team
you want to adapt to their game but we wanted to continue playing our
football."
Full fitness
Hot on the heels of the recent return to fitness of Matthew Upson, the game
also saw a return for Victor Obinna after a number of weeks out. With a
return for on-loan striker Robbie Keane also imminent, Grant has a number of
reasons to be positive as his squad nears full fitness with crucial games
ahead. He added: "Football is very strange. Three months ago everybody said
we did not have players good enough for the Premier League and now we have
many players. "When everybody is fit we have a good team. We had a little
problem in the beginning with too many injuries. Everything is good now but
we need to continue like this."
Lead by example
Grant singled out Scott Parker for special praise after the midfielder
player with a pain-killing injection after a shoulder injury. The
30-year-old put in another inspirational shift in the centre of the park,
yet gave the home fans a scare following a collision with the advertising
barriers. "He had a problem in his shoulder but every player is different,
he wanted to play with this [injury] and we want him to play so it is good
for us," said Grant. "It is not easy to play because of the injection before
but he is a special guy. "He is a key player for us he starts all the
attacks in the build up and he is very important for us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers dominate sorry Potters
Potters away form drags them into relegation fight
Last updated: 5th March 2011
SSN
MAN OF THE MATCH: Demba Ba was lively all day and showed Stoke were wrong to
turn him down.
GOAL OF THE MATCH: West Ham put the game beyond doubt with Thomas
Hitzlsperger's powerful strike, made by some great work down the right by
Scott Parker.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: A stunning mix-up between Asmir Begovic and Marc Wilson
led to an easy tap in for Ba to make it 1-0.
SAVE OF THE MATCH: Begovic redeemed himself somewhat by getting a hand to a
rasping first-half drive from Hitzlsperger.
TALKING POINT: Stoke's poor away form goes on, will it drag them further
into the relegation fight?
West Ham put in one of their best performances of the season to beat Stoke
City 3-0 at Upton Park. An attacking formation from manager Avram Grant saw
West Ham on the offensive for large amounts of the game, capped by strong
performances from the likes of Scott Parker and former Stoke target Demba
Ba. Stoke were again found lacking away from home, allowing the Hammers to
dictate the game in a dominating first-half performance. Ba proved a real
menace and was there to latch on to a terrible error from Stoke keeper
Begovic to make it 1-0 after 21 minutes. The Hammers doubled their advantage
just eight minutes later courtesy of a rare Manuel Da Costa goal, the
defender rising highest to direct a Thomas Hitzlsperger set-piece past
Begovic. A powerful Thomas Hitzlsperger strike was enough to put the game
beyond doubt late on to make it three and drag Stoke into a relegation
dogfight.
Fast start
The Hammers had come out flying against Liverpool last week and looked set
to do the same again when the recalled Carlton Cole - playing in a three-man
attack - mis-hit a left-foot volley wide. But Stoke soon began to take
charge and could easily have gone ahead when Robert Green tipped over Jon
Walters' flicked finish from Rory Delap's low cross. The Hammers' three-man
attack was making almost no impact but Stoke were the architects of their
own demise in the 21st minute when Ba was gifted his latest goal. There
looked little danger when Mark Noble played the ball through but Asmir
Begovic and Marc Wilson got in each other's way trying to clear and Ba
outmuscled the latter to bundle it into the net. Wilson's woes were quickly
compounded when he was booked for hauling down Cole, with Ba seeing a shot
blocked following the resulting free-kick. Potters captain Ryan Shawcross
followed in the 29th minute for a poor tackle on Scott Parker and this time
the visitors were made to pay. Hitzlsperger curled in the left-footed
free-kick and Da Costa rose unchallenged at the far post to power home a
header, his second goal against Stoke this season and first in the Premier
League for 11 months.
Dominant
West Ham were rampant and Frederic Piquionne missed a great chance to make
it 3-0 when he hit the side-netting after a shot deflected straight to him.
Danny Pugh became the third Stoke player yellow carded before Hitzlsperger
unleashed a trademark volley on the stroke of half-time that was tipped over
by Begovic. A desperate Robert Huth clearance prevented Ba pouncing early in
the second half and James Tomkins nodded against the outside of the post
from the resulting corner. Stoke soon threw on former Hammers winger Matthew
Etherington for Jermaine Pennant. Green produced an ugly parry from Delap's
long-range drive as Stoke finally managed another shot on target, while
Begovic was at full stretch to tip Cole's curler around the post at the
other end. West Ham were looking content to play on the break and their
opponents tried to add more pace to their own attacks when the ineffective
John Carew was replaced by Ricardo Fuller. Stoke's defence dropped another
clanger midway through the half when Shawcross' attempt to nod the ball back
to Begovic was seized upon by Cole, but this time the goalkeeper recovered
to save.
Reinforcements
Kenwyne Jones immediately replaced Delap as Potters boss Tony Pulis played
his final card and the new man soon flicked a header inches wide from fellow
substitute Etherington's cross. Jones was making an impact, feeding Walters
for a 20-yard shot straight at Green, who then reacted well at the feet of
the latter after the ball ricocheted to the forward. Cole shaved the post
with a left-foot strike as West Ham tried to kill off the Stoke fightback
before Ba was withdrawn to a standing ovation for Gary O'Neil. The game was
over seven minutes from time when Piquionne's shot from Parker's cutback was
blocked and Hitzlsperger thundered in the rebound. Fuller went close to a
consolation with a curler and Victor Obinna came on for Cole and Danny
Gabbidon replaced Parker as West Ham comfortably ran down the clock.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker playing at peak
Hammers midfielder reflects on stand-out season
By Chris Burton Last updated: 4th March 2011
SSN
Scott Parker believes he is playing the best football of his career and is
tipping West Ham to beat the drop. The midfielder has been the Hammers'
leading light this season, with his all-action approach helping to inspire
others. His efforts have not been enough to steer the club clear of trouble,
but there is still plenty of time in which to clamber out of the Premier
League's bottom three. Parker will play a vital part in that survival bid,
with the England international having become the ace in Avram Grant's pack.
The 30-year-old admits he is pleased with his form this season and hopes he
can offer enough to help West Ham preserve their top flight status. "I do
feel like I'm playing the best football I have played in my career," Parker
told the club's official website after being named Premier League Player of
the Month for February.
Wiser
"Obviously I'm a little bit older and a little bit wiser and personally
things are going really well on the pitch. "It's not just me, it's the team,
and we've picked up some good results along the way, so it's going really
well. "I certainly believe we will stay up. I've been saying since a long
time ago that I do honestly believe we have the squad to get out of the
predicament that we're in. "We have under-performed at times this year and
that's why we're in the position that we're in in the league, but if you
look at our squad, we have a strong squad. We can certainly score goals and
we're looking good. "We've got a few games left and we need to pick up some
more points along the way."
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Grant - Ba picked best club
Grant says West Ham was striker's first choice
Last updated: 5th March 2011
SSN
Avram Grant claims Demba Ba is happy with the way things have turned out
after the striker joined West Ham over Stoke in the January transfer window.
The Senegal international was on his way to the Britannia Stadium until he
failed a medical, which allowed the Hammers to resurrect a deal and sign the
forward from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim. Grant is adamant that the
25-year-old is pleased to have joined the Upton Park outfit because they
play better football than their Premier League rivals.
First choice
He told the Daily Star: "We were always first choice, he also said that in
the papers. "He was very brave because many players can use it for their own
good in negotiations but Demba said it. "I liked it that he wanted to play
here and when I met him he said he wanted to play at West Ham and I think he
made the right choice. "Everton and other teams also wanted him, and our
target here is to have players that many teams want."
Reputation
Grant claims he was able to bring players to the club because of their
reputation of playing attractive football. He said: "West Ham, despite our
situation, are a good club and players like our football. "Robbie Keane
could choose other teams but came to us. Wayne Bridge could choose teams but
came to us.
"Thomas Hitzlsperger could choose other teams but came to us. "Even though
we are at the bottom, players on the side like the football we play and the
environment inside. "Everyone believes in something, I believe in this
football and that the supporters enjoy it and the players enjoy playing. "I
think if we do it in the right way, you also enjoy it and can get results."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brasy's Football Diary
The Sun
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Published: 05 Mar 2011
Saturday, February 26
ANOTHER dive on the emotional rollercoaster. Nothing against Wolves but
their victory over Blackpool today twists the relegation plot yet again and,
even though it's still only February and I'm having a few days somewhere
where the sun shines, my nerves are well frayed. I've dropped a few pounds
and I'm feeling quite good on the beach when I bump into a Premier League
director who I've never seen eye-to-eye with - although that's probably
because he's at least a foot shorter than me! 'Are you worried about being
'papped', he asks. "Who's likely to give me a double-page spread?" I reply,
rather proud that the tan and non-drinking have worked a little magic. Later
I see him tipsy at the bar and he confesses his wife thinks he's in Moscow
on business. He's on business all right - the monkey type. Oh well, at least
he'll be good for a loan signing next season as I do some pap work with my
mobile! And how he'll explain his tan to his missus is anyone's guess.
Sunday, February 27
HOW can a team who played like West Ham today be in the relegation zone? Our
win against Liverpool burned all the blues away. And, writing of the Blues,
what a wonderful League Cup win for my old club. Few outside the St Andrew's
faithful will understand what it means to them. Congratulations, too, to
manager Alex McLeish and all the staff there. I had been warned that a
training-ground injury to Scott Parker might mean he would be missing. But
he was there all right, scoring the first goal and proving again that he is
a true pro and the best English midfielder. I love to see people fight back.
Robert Green has done so - one save today was amazing - and, on a different
level, so has referee Mark Halsey. He is excellent today but that's not the
point.
When you have confronted your own mortality through serious illness, as he
and I have, you appreciate the gift of hope and the power it can provide.
Useful tools for a career in football!
Monday, February 28
OH, heavens above, I can't believe it. I WAS papped on the beach (see
Saturday's entry) and the photo appears in a newspaper today. Looking at it,
it looks as if the only pounds I've lost are from my wallet and I now regard
it as an act of cruelty for a picture of anyone over 25 on the beach to be
published. David Beckham is clearly less bothered about who sees his body
whether in underpants or displaying wildly unsuitable tattoos. He's unveiled
a new one on his chest, Jesus being carried by three cherubs, starring
himself as the saviour and his three sons as the chubby fellas. It isn't for
me to tell Beckham what he should do with his body, especially in light of
my picture, but I can have an opinion. His chest art might be worthy of the
Louvre but I wouldn't let it out of the loo. It's the time of the season
where a clearly offside West Brom equaliser at Stoke sends waves through
every relegation-fearing club. It's going to be that tight.
Tuesday, March 1
PETERBOROUGH have gone really posh with their offer of a £15,000 season
ticket to sit in the director's box at every match. I've been in boxes where
I'd have paid that much to stay out - and one from which I was banished for
being a woman. Posh have acted with enormous initiative and I have always
believed that no matter how many avenues are closed another is round the
corner. There was a terrific reaction when we started our 'kids for a quid'
scheme at St Andrew's and some derision when I even managed to find a
sponsor for the naming of subs as they ran out. It all helped to keep
revenue rolling in and we stayed in the black, as we are on turnover at West
Ham. Sir Alex Ferguson is bemoaning the fact that Brazilian David Luiz was
not sent off at Stamford Bridge tonight, yet he originally defended Wayne
Rooney for a non-carded elbow against Wigan. Fergie has a peculiar problem
with his eyes - he can see only red.
Wednesday, March 2
THE Premier League have written to me and other chairmen defending their
judgment in fining clubs who in their opinion do not field the strongest
available team. Their thinking is wrong as well as naive, if you ask me.
They talk of maintaining the honesty and integrity of each result as if
managers are impressionable boys unable to make such judgments. Wolves and
Blackpool have both been punished for this alleged offence and that's no
accident.
With respect, clubs with lesser squads are bound to be more at risk in the
league's system which is founded on the number of games in which a player
appears. Hasn't it struck them that Wolves and Blackpool don't rotate
players as, say, Manchester United and Arsenal do, because they turn out the
so-called best team among their registered 25-man squad far more often than
either? Mick McCarthy and Ian Holloway made the decision that the clubs and
the integrity of the league would be best served by the teams they fielded
on the day. This surely is the proper test. And remember this, the Wolves
team at Old Trafford last season performed most capably while Blackpool were
within a whisker of getting a draw away to Aston Villa. The logical question
is this: Why is the League not threatening to punish clubs who field
knackered footballers because they have played too much?
Thursday, March 3
AN historic day for West Ham as London Mayor Boris Johnson and the
Government approve our move to the Olympic Stadium. After the closing
ceremony in 2012 we will take over the greatest stage in world sport and our
promise is that it will remain at the heart of competition in this country.
We have been bequeathed the sporting equivalent of the crown jewels. We
promise to keep the shine on them. And now the real work begins - planning
the move and then completing it by 2014. A few words to Spurs and chairman
Daniel Levy: I absolutely believe ours was the best bid by miles - but no
hard feelings.
Friday, March 4
COMPETITION for the Premier League title is about to become political and
there's no greater expert in the cuter arts of deflecting pressure than Sir
Alex.
Actually, I suspect he's already at it. When the going gets tough the Man U
manager reaches into every nook and cranny for ways of taking the weight off
his players and adding more of it to his rivals. Maybe I'm wrong but the
current attack on referee Martin Atkinson owes as much to easing the tension
on his players as to fury at debatable decisions. Meanwhile, a man who has
learned about Fergie's techniques at some cost, Arsene Wenger, stands in his
way and surely must expect a few rapier blows should Arsenal stick around to
examine United's championship credentials. I don't see another team capable
of doing it. Against Sunderland on Saturday, Wenger's team have to beat the
shivers that beset them so often when they near the big prizes because they
could all but be in the box seat should Liverpool beat United on Sunday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 3 Stoke 0
The Sun
Published: 05 Mar 2011
DEMBA BA shoved Stoke's transfer snub down their throats with a crucial
relegation strike. The Senegal hitman was turned down by the Potters after
his dodgy knee failed to come through a medical in the transfer window. But
the Hammers took a chance on Ba and he repaid their faith with his fourth
goal in four games to lift the club out of the drop zone. Hammers boss Avram
Grant was asked about Stoke's decision to scrap the Ba deal. "I'm very happy
that they did," he said. "Nobody knew about Demba before I wanted to sign
him. "Even Stoke and Everton and other teams that wanted him, I don't think
they knew who he was. "At the end of the day, he came to the team that
wanted him from the beginning."
Stoke chief Tony Pulis insisted he had to go along with the club's medics in
their assessment of Ba. He said: "You never criticise people for doing what
they have to do in good faith. "The medical side said what they had to say
and you get on with it." Ba took advantage of some slapstick Stoke defending
to bundle home on 21 minutes. Manuel Da Costa's header and Thomas
Hitzlsperger's thumping finish sealed the win which brought the Hammers to
within three points of their opponents in a congested bottom half. Stoke's
defeat was their sixth successive away from home - the club's worst ever
run. And Pulis insisted his men must look up not down to get out of trouble.
He said: "We have to get to 40 points as quickly as we can and then look at
the table from there. "If you're always looking over your shoulder or
looking at what other teams are doing, you take your eye off the ball with
respect to what you've got to achieve."
Grant claimed his free-scoring Hammers can also climb to safety. He said:
"We have momentum at the right time. We will not score three goals every
game, that's for sure. Nobody is doing this. "I believe in this football, I
believe in attacking football. "You need balance and we're getting the
balance better and better every game. "But we have many players forward that
can score now."
The Hammers came out flying against Liverpool last week and looked set to do
the same when Carlton Cole mishit a left-foot volley wide in the opening
seconds. But Stoke soon began to take charge and could easily have gone
ahead when Robert Green tipped over Jon Walters' flicked finish from Rory
Delap's low cross. Ryan Shawcross also got on the end of a loose ball but
there was no power in his header. The Hammers' three-man attack was making
almost no impact but Stoke were the architects of their own demise in the
21st minute when a horrible mix-up gifted Ba the opener. There looked little
danger when Mark Noble played the ball through but Asmir Begovic and Marc
Wilson got in each other's way trying to clear and Ba outmuscled the latter
to bundle home.
Wilson's woes were quickly compounded when he was booked for hauling down
Cole, with Ba seeing a shot blocked following the resulting free-kick. Stoke
were rocking and Hitzlsperger fired another free-kick into the wall before
his next set-piece brought the Hammers' second goal. The German whipped a
high to the far post where Da Costa timed his leap perfectly to nod
powerfully past Begovic. West Ham were rampant and Frederic Piquionne missed
a great chance to make it 3-0 when he hit the side-netting after a shot
deflected straight to him. Stoke settled before Hitzlsperger unleashed a
trademark volley on the stroke of half-time that was tipped over by Begovic.
A desperate Robert Huth clearance prevented Ba pouncing early in the second
half and James Tomkins nodded against the outside of the post from the
resulting corner.
Stoke soon threw on former Hammers winger Matthew Etherington for Jermaine
Pennant. Green produced an ugly parry from Rory Delap's long-range drive as
Stoke finally managed another shot on target, while Begovic was at full
stretch to tip Cole's curler around the post at the other end. Stoke's
defence dropped another clanger midway through the half when Ryan Shawcross'
attempt to nod the ball back to Begovic was seized upon by Cole but this
time the goalkeeper recovered to save. Kenwyne Jones came on for Delap and
he soon flicked a header inches wide from fellow substitute Matty
Etherington's cross. Jones was making an impact, feeding Walters for a
20-yard shot straight at Green. Cole shaved the post with a left-foot strike
as West Ham tried to kill off the Stoke fightback before Ba was withdrawn to
a standing ovation for Gary O'Neil. The game was over seven minutes from
time when Piquionne's shot from Scott Parker's cutback was blocked and
Hitzlsperger thundered in the rebound.
West Ham: Green, Tomkins, Upson, da Costa, Bridge, Noble, Parker (Gabbidon
90), Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Cole (Obinna 86), Ba (O'Neil 82). Subs not
used: Boffin, Spector, Hines, Jacobsen. Goals: Ba 21, da Costa 29,
Hitzlsperger 83.
Stoke: Begovic, Wilson, Huth, Shawcross, Pugh, Pennant (Etherington 51),
Delap (Jones 68), Whitehead, Whelan, Walters, Carew (Fuller 65). Subs not
used: Sorensen, Collins, Diao, Wilkinson. Booked: Wilson, Shawcross, Pugh.
Att: 33,066
Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Now it's a Cole new ball game
The Sun
By BEN HUNT
Published: 05 Mar 2011
CARLTON COLE is back in form to dish some damage on Stoke today. The West
Ham striker feels confident after scoring four goals in his last three
games. And he said his team-mates are gunning for three Upton Park wins on
the spin. He said: "The team is buzzing. I think the boys are in a good mood
and we could do some damage. "Morale is the best it has been for a while and
I'm happy with the manager's attitude towards us. "We're bonding as a team.
That's what we need." West Ham also face Stoke a week tomorrow in the FA Cup
- away. But Cole says they cannot read too much into what happens today. He
said: "Everyone is going to put their all into every game, whether it be the
first match or when we've got them in the FA Cup. "We're not going to take
anything lightly, we know they will come gung-ho and we need to capitalise
on all their mistakes."
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Grant to snub pal Roman
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 05 Mar 2011
AVRAM GRANT is ready to snub his pal Roman Abramovich to stick with
struggling West Ham. The Hammers boss has been linked with his old director
of football job at Chelsea. But Grant said: "I love this club and I have a
contract here. "I enjoyed it as director of football but I enjoy it now as a
manager, except when we are not winning. "I really, really believe in this
club. "First step, we have to stay in the league but I came here to build
something and I am sure we can do it."
Grant faces a battle to keep his post regardless of whether the Hammers stay
up. But West Ham's bid has been lifted by Demba Ba. The Senegalese striker,
25, failed a medical with today's rivals Stoke before joining the Londoners
on a pay-as-you-play deal worth up to £6million. West Ham have paid just a
£500,000 deposit on him because of his dodgy knees. And Ba has responded
with three goals since signing from Hoffenheim. Grant added: "We were always
first choice. Despite our situation, we are a good club and players like our
football. "I think a player, just like me, always has a point to prove."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vinny's Stoke Report
Vinny 06 Mar 2011
Wesy Ham Online
West Ham United 3 Stoke City 0
West Ham secured another vital three points as Stoke City were easily
brushed aside after another excellent performance which has given every West
Ham supporter belief that we may well get out of relegation trouble.
Much like last weekend against Liverpool this was a much improved
performance and we controlled the game.
This was not a smash a grab win and we were in no way lucky to have come
away with victory. Simply put, we were the better side and fully deserved
the points.
Stoke could not get near us at times and I was delighted by the way we
approached the game. Whilst the result is of course the most important thing
at this moment in time, to see the team playing so well and with so much
confidence is an encouraging sight.
There were a number of players you could identify as man of the match which
just goes to show how well we played. It wasn't just that we won 3-0 but the
way the team worked and did the right thing at the right time was great to
see.
Another talking point is the sheer amount of goals that we are scoring at
the moment. In our last four games league and cup we have scored a
staggering fourteen goals. Match this with a much more solid defensive look
and it is no wonder we are starting to hit a little bit of form.
Whilst winning consecutive games is exactly what we need, we have not fought
off relegation just yet and there is still a long way to go to secure our
Premiership status but like most fans it is hard not to have felt a shift in
mood throughout the club.
I had been confident going into the game off the back of the Liverpool
result last weekend but I like many did think the tactical decisions made by
Avram Grant were a little risky as they seemed to play into the hands of
Stoke City and their brand of football.
Grant made two changes to the side who comfortably beat Liverpool at Upton
Park last Sunday as he dropped right back Lars Jacobsen in favour of Manuel
Da Costa. This saw James Tomkins start the game in an unfamiliar right back
position.
The other change game in midfield with Gary O'Neill also dropping to the
bench and Carlton Cole came into the side.
This saw a three man attack of Demba Ba on the left, Cole through the middle
and Piquionne on the right.
It seemed clear that Grant wanted height in the team to help deal with the
inevitable high balls into the area from corners and of course the long
throws from Rory Delap.
Back on the substitutes bench was Victor Obinna who was returning from
injury.
The first twenty minutes were evenly contested with both sides offering
little going forward. It was Stoke who had the first half chance when a low
cross into the area found Jonathan Walters who diverted his shot towards
goal with the outside of his boot which Robert Green turned away for a
corner.
We began to settle down after this and looked to get our midfield three on
the ball. It was clear that Scott Parker was being targeted as our danger
man and he initially found very little space to receive the ball.
What this did was free up space for Noble and Hitzlsperger who were starting
to get on the ball and spray passes around.
With around twenty minutes on the clock we took the lead as Mark Noble found
space and played a good ball through the middle for Demba Ba to run on to.
It seemed as though the goal keeper Begovic was going to get to the ball
first but he completely missed his clearance as the ball rolled towards goal
and from there it was a battle of strength between Stoke's Marc Wilson and
Demba Ba with our dear Demba out muscling Wilson and bundling the ball over
the line.
This was the fourth goal Ba has scored in his three Premiership starts and
against a club who he seemed poised to sign for only to fail a medical and
sign for West Ham a few weeks later.
The confidence was beaming from Demba Ba and a wonderful cross field pass to
Piquionne was another display of a very confident and in form striker we
currently have. Piquionne was eventually brought down and Hitzlsperger his
the resulting free kick into the wall.
A poor tackle from Ryan Shawcross on Scott Parker saw a free kick awarded
and Shawcross seeing the yellow card which is not a surprise for such an
un-cultured thug of a player Shawcross is.
The free kick was whipped into the area brilliantly by Hitzlsperger and it
found the head of Manuel Da Costa who put his header firmly past Begovic to
make it 2-0. It was a great header from Da Costa which complimented the
superb delivery from Hitzlsperger.
We were firmly in control of the game at this point and were all over Stoke
by this point. With ten minutes of the first half remaining we really should
have scored a third.
A cross from Wayne Bridge was cleared only as far as Demba Ba who took the
shot on the volley as it looped in the air and his shot deflected off the
defender and into the path of Piquionne who just had the keeper to beat but
put his shot into the side netting.
Cole was starting to get the beating of his markers and showed good control
and great touch followed by sublime clipped pass over the top for Piquionne
only for his control to let him down.
Piquionne was involved again when he went on a good run and was brought down
by Pugh. The free kick was clipped up towards Cole who controlled and laid
the ball back for Hitzlsperger to unleashed a superb dipping effort which
was saved well by Begovic.
Half time. 2-0, and in firm control of the game. Only a fatal mistake could
prevent us from winning this game.
The second half saw Stoke see more of the ball but that was to be expected
given the score line but with just three minutes on the clock a corner from
Hitzlsperger found Tomkins at the back post and his header smacked off the
post and out.
Stoke make their first change of the game with just six minutes of the
second half gone with Jermaine Pennant (who I thought had been their best
players) and he was replaced former Hammer and 2003/04 Player Of The Season
Matthew Hetherington.
A pass thought to Carlton Cole saw the striker in space and he ran towards
the area with the defenders backing off and tried to curl a left foot effort
into the goal only for Begovic to make an excellent save to push it away for
a corner.
Cole would have another chance with around twenty minutes left when
Shawcross and Begovic showed poor communication with Shawcross heading into
the path of Cole who hit his shot well enough but Begovic made an
outstanding save to prevent the goal.
Stoke introduced Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyn Jones in an attempt to get back
into the game and Jones beat Da Costa in the air as he flicked his header
towards goal from an Etherington cross in a rare Stoke chance
The visitors were applying a bit more pressure and the game was being played
in our half a little too much for my liking but Stoke were not having great
chances and unlike Liverpool last weekend they did not possess the quality
to get back into the game even for a moment.
Cole should have scored when Tomkins crossed into the area to find him but
Cole saw his shot go agonisingly wide when he should have at least hit the
target.
Demba Ba came off with Gary O'Neill replacing him with eight minutes to
play. Ba received a great reception from the West Ham fans and it was nice
to see us like players again.
A third goal would give the result the gloss it deserved and a third goal
came on 83 minutes and it was another good finish.
Mark Noble played the ball down the right for Scott Parker who got into the
area and pulled the ball back for Piquionne whose shot was blocked and the
ball rolled out towards Thomas Hitzlsperger who belted the ball into the
back of the net and he nearly ripped the net apart with this ferocious
strike.
Stoke were well beaten and will need to be a whole lot better if they are to
dump us out of the FA Cup next weekend.
We have found a team who can get results, play good football and score
goals. We must keep the momentum going because this was impressive.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
A near spectator for most of the first half and generally only had routine
saves to make through the second period. His first clean sheet since at home
to Blackpool on 13th November.
James Tomkins
I was initially concerned that he was going to be playing at Full back as he
has been playing so well at centre half but this position change didn't seem
to bother him as he played very well. His form in recent months has been
outstanding and has gone largely unnoticed.
Manuel Da Costa
Back in the side and was a beast in the air. Had a tough task with
contending with John Carew but did this well and did not let him have a
sniff. Made few mistakes and scored a good goal.
Matthew Upson
He may not be a popular figure with some but Upson was magnificent in this
game. His defending was of the highest quality. He read everything and he
won everything. He was strong, and some of his tackling was really on the
money. Made one wonderful tackle in the second half which summed up his
performance.
Wayne Bridge
Saw a lot of the ball and was constantly involved. As we didn't play with
out and out width Bridge was important on that left wing and he ran and ran
for the whole game.
Mark Noble
With the focus from Stoke being on Scott Parker this game Noble a bit more
room to manoeuvre. Noble covered as much of the pitch as he possibly could
and whilst he does tend to tire in the second half he kept going. When given
a bit of time his passing was inventive and had a big part to play in the
first goal.
Scott Parker
Looked pretty fucked during the second half and a collision which saw him
crash into the advertising board could not have helped. I thought he was
going to come off sooner than he did (it was injury time when he did) and he
does look as though he needs a rest. But with a massive game (and it is
massive) against Stoke again next week with a chance to reach an FA Cup Semi
Final he simply has to play.
Thomas Hitzlsperger
I have really tried not to refer to him as 'Der Hammer' because quite
frankly it's a bit shit. But what is not shit is the way 'Der Hammer' (fuck)
is playing and he has added some real quality to our midfield. He is always
available to receive the ball and willing to make a tackle. His goal was
well taken and he is going to be very important to us for the remainder of
the season.
Frederique Piquionne
Should have got himself on the score sheet in the first half with a chance I
would have expected him to take. Found quite a lot of space in the first
half and brought other players into the game with his intelligent runs both
on and off the ball. Operated in a more deeper role during the second half
and made some important defensive headers.
Carlton Cole
No goal for Cole but I thought he had a decent game. He was actually quite
unlucky not to score in the second half when Begovic made a very good save
to prevent him. Worked hard, had a few chances and looked a threat.
Demba Ba
The first goal may have been fortunate due to a mistake from the keeper but
Ba scoring is no coincidence. It isn't luck that you are in the right place
at the right time as we all know from good goal scorers of years gone by. Ba
seems to have the knack of getting in those positions at the moment and he
put in another good display capped off with another goal.
Subs Used
Gary O'Neill (on for Ba 82 mins)
What I like about O'Neill is that he always wants the ball and whilst he was
only on the pitch for a short amount of time he did all the right things
with it.
Victor Obinna (on for Cole 86 mins)
Having got into the ground just as we were kicking off I was unaware he was
even on the bench so it was pleasant surprise to see him available for
selection once again given his form just before his injury. Good to have him
back as he gives us another option.
Danny Gabbidon (on for Parker 90 mins)
There was around 30 seconds left of stoppage time when Gabbidon came on and
he didn't see the ball.
Subs Not Used: Boffin, Spector, Hines, Jacobsen
Bookings: None
Man Of The Match: Matthew Upson
Stoke City: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Pugh, Pennant, Whelan, Delap,
Whitehead, Walters, Carew
Subs: Sorensen, Collins, Wilkinson, Diao, Etherington, Jones, Fuller
Attendance: 33, 066
Overall
Back to back wins (for the first time since February 2010) has seen us move
out of the relegation zone but with Tottenham and Manchester United up next
in the league we could well find ourselves back in it over the next few
weeks.
But regardless we are quite clearly on the right track with players
returning from injury and a more settled first team being established.
To have had so many players come away from this game having played so well
is for me a fantastic thing and confidence will surely be as high as it has
been in our squad for quite some time.
Next Game - Stoke City (a) [FA Cup Quarter Final]
This is the second time this season we have been one game from Wembley and
whilst we fucked up the first chance, this is a great opportunity to make
amends.
The Premiership is undoubtedly very important but to me this is another very
important game which takes us a step closer to possibly winning something,
which as a supporter of a football club is what I want to see us do.
We have beaten Stoke in the League Cup this season, drew up their in the
league and of course beat them in this encounter. It is therefore fair to
say that we have had the better of them this season and this is something I
am sure Tony Pulis will make his team aware of and they will be determined
to make sure they do not get turned over again.
I think we know that we have the players to hurt Stoke and if we can apply
ourselves as we have over the last couple of game we will be going to
Wembley for a Semi Final.
The View From Grant
"It has been quite a week, "Everyone is happy. "It is the first time in a
long time that we have back to back wins in the league but we are happier
that it came with good football. We are scoring lots of goals - we cannot
ask more than this.
"I said to the team one month ago, we only have to think about what we need
to do. Not worry about the other teams. Only when the league is done should
we look at what the other teams have done. We need to focus on ourselves and
that is what they are doing every time."
They are tough games coming up but no game is easy in the Premier League.
Stoke are a very difficult side. Our target is to be hard to beat ourselves
and I am sure our next opponents will also think that we are tough
opposition.
"We have always believed in ourselves. We analyse the football we played
earlier in the season and, except for the Liverpool and Newcastle games, we
have played well but didn't get the points we deserved. Now we are more
efficient because we have players that can finish."
"I think it started off in the second half against West Brom and then
Barnsley in the FA Cup. We are developing step by step and we are doing it
at the right time. It is good to see us playing well and winning.
"We are playing with confidence, we have many good footballers. It is easier
and the players that have come back from injury add a lot to this team. I am
very pleased with the way we are passing the ball, we are creating chances.
The whole back four was very good again."
"When you play against a team like Stoke, you want to adapt but also keep to
your own way.
"We wanted to play our football but we know their strengths from set-pieces.
We didn't change the style but we changed the personnel slightly to cope."
"Everyone is different. Parker wants to play with this injury and we want
him to play. It is not easy for him, he had an injection before the game. He
is a special guy and it would take a lot to stop him playing. He is a key
player. He starts all the attacks and dictates the build-up of the game.
"He did a good job but everyone did well today and did their job. It was a
good team performance and we had a very happy dressing room.
"We have good momentum, it is good but we have to keep it going for as long
as possible. The most important thing is to do the right things, when you do
that you will get your rewards. Even when players have been frustrated in
the past they kept going. It is a good time now to show our quality."
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Noble gives West Ham clear sight of survival
West Ham United 3 Stoke City 0: Grant's new-look side cut Stoke down to size
to escape relegation zone
Independent.co.uk
By Nick Szczepanik at Upton Park
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Whether through daring team selection, the feebleness of the opposition or
even a new lucky scarf to replace the one he threw into the crowd in
January, West Ham's manager, Avram Grant, can enjoy a week above the
Barclays Premier League relegation zone for the first time since his team
beat WolverhamptonWanderers on New Year's Day.
Grant broke the manager's rule of never to change a winning team, adding
height to his side in order to counter Stoke's physical threat, and was
rewarded with goals from Demba Ba, Manuel Da Costa and Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Back-to-back wins, and 14 goals scored in four matches in all competitions,
suggest that West Ham have turned a corner since abandoning their pursuit of
a possible replacement for Grant in January. The signing of four players,
including Ba, and the return of Hitzl-sperger from injury have also helped.
"It was a good week," Grant said afterwards. "We are getting better from
game to game. All the new signings are doing well and we have momentum. I
followed Ba for a long time, and Thomas [Hitzlsperger] is like a fifth
January signing."
Ba was the pick of the forwards, profiting from a goalkeeping error by Asmir
Begovic to score his fourth goal in as many matches since joining from
Hoffenheim. But Mark Noble was arguably their most influential player.
Stoke are seldom thought of as a soft touch, but this defeat set a club
record of six successive Premier League away defeats. Tony Pulis's side are
also without a goal on their travels for 500 minutes. They are especially
uncomfortable in the capital, where they have lost five times this season,
and relegation remains a possibility, if a remote one.
"We need one to go in off someone's backside," the Stoke managersaid. "We
will be all right, but it's a tough old league. We need to get to 40 points
as soon as possible and then look around."
West Ham might have appeared the ideal antidote, but although their 4-3-3
seemed at first to leave them short on the wings, when they took the lead
after 21 minutes it was straightforward ball down the middle that unlocked
the defence.
Noble's pass sent Ba racing towards the penalty area with Marc Wilson, the
right-back, at his shoulder. Begovic, rushing from his goalline, was still
favourite to reach the ball first, but the goalkeeper kicked only air and Ba
reached the ball before Wilson to score.
Pulis was reminded that Stoke had almost signed the Senegal forward in
January only to pull out on medical advice. "We did what we did in good
faith and you'd never criticise [the medical staff] for that," he said.
Eight minutes later it was 2-0 as West Ham beat Stoke at their own game from
a set-play. Hitzlsperger flighted a free-kick on the left to the far post,
where Da Costa outjumped Jonathan Walters to head powerfullypast Begovic.
Begovic touched Hitzlsperger's goal-bound drive over the bar and James
Tomkins headed against the post, but Stoke did not surrender without a
fight, and Rory Delap put Robert Green under pressure with a 20-yard shot as
well as a series of throw-ins.
But West Ham settled the match with nine minutes to go. Noble's pass found
Scott Parker, who went past Danny Pugh and cut the ball back to Frédéric
Piquionne. The Frenchman's first-time effort was blocked by Ryan Shawcross
but the ball bounced into the path of Hitzlsperger, who hit his first League
goal for the club with a shot that nearly burst the net.
It is hard to see Stoke being as compliant next weekend, when the two teams
meet again at the Britannia Stadium in the FA Cup sixth round. "I was
disappointed with the first two goals," Pulis said. "Until the first we were
in control of the game, and then they scored from a set-play, which was
disappointing. After that it was all West Ham. Good luck to them."
Attendance: 33,066
Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Noble
Match rating: 7/10
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