By: Matt Porter
If ever a photograph could sum up a football club, there was something
strangely amusing about seeing Manuel da Costa on crutches leaving court
today having pleaded guilty to assault and, tragically for him I'm sure,
having been ordered by the judge to stay away from the illustrious Faces
Nightclub in Ilford.
In one click of a lens, we have the combination of injury and the courts
– two of the great constants of the last couple of years for West Ham
United.
If it's not a player in the courts, then it's more than likely the
club's name is being dragged through the legal system. With the
Sheffield United debacle finally dealt with, West Ham now look set to be
implicated in more proceedings as the esteemed Messrs Levy and Hearn
have multiple axes to grind over the Olympic Stadium.
But then what good is a 60,000 capacity for a team playing outside the
top tier? Let's put the stadium issue on the backburner for a month or
so while the Irons' Premier League status hangs in the balance.
To be frank, however, Saturday's capitulation at home to Aston Villa
means that survival hopes are not so much in the balance, but more on
the slide. After a mini-revival with wins against Liverpool and Stoke
last month, things have taken a nasty turn for the worst as the Hammers
have once again failed to build any sort of lasting momentum with their
results.
The familiar combination of sloppy mistakes and a lack of attacking
threat are back with a bang. Things look ominous.
It was a source of constant irritation back in 2007 to hear West Ham
referred to as a one-man team because of Carlos Tevez. This time around
it's harder to get annoyed as the same thing is said about Scott Parker.
Save for the consistent Robert Green, Saturday's performance was
inadequate and worryingly lacking in urgency for a team rooted in the
relegation zone.
This is no time for finger pointing, but I think it's fair to say that
certain players weren't pulling their weight. Last season I pondered how
a squad that looked stronger than its rivals on paper could continue to
struggle so badly. Well it's a different season but it's the same question.
Walking away from the game we pondered how many West Ham players would
attract the interest of Premier League clubs in the event we got
relegated. The conclusion was that West Ham would get a hell of a lot
more enquiries about players than the likes of Wigan, Wolves, Blackburn
or Blackpool would.
You only have to look at the team that went down in 2003 for an example
of a collection of seemingly talented individuals who were somehow
incapable of functioning as a unit. There seems to be something
inherently toxic about West Ham that makes this a recurring pattern in
recent years.
Unfortunately I'm at a loss to explain it. Right now I get the feeling
Avram Grant can't explain it either.
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West Ham defender Manuel Da Costa admits nightclub assault on woman
(Mail Online)
Manuel Da Costa has admitted assaulting a female clubber after a row
broke out at a nightclub.
The West Ham defender, 24, admitted attacking the woman at Faces
Nightclub in Ilford, on October 17 last year.
Da Costa hobbled into the dock at Snaresbrook Crown Court on crutches
sporting a plastic cast on his right lower leg after clashing with
Darren Bent in Saturday's home defeat to Aston Villa.
He admitted common assault but denied a sexual assault on the same woman
and was ordered to stand trial in September.
Dressed in a black suit and white, open necked shirt he spoke only to
confirm his name and enter his pleas.
The Portugal under-23 international, arrested on October 19 last year,
has made just 13 Premiership appearances for the Hammers so far this season.
The defender arrived at the Upton Park club on a three-year contract in
August 2009 from Italian side Fiorentina, having previously played in
France for AS Nancy and in Holland for PSV Eindhoven.
He has been capped 22 times by Portugal at under-20, under 21 and
under-23 level.
Da Costa, of Docklands, east London, was remanded on conditional bail to
stand trial on September 12.
He was ordered not to enter Faces nightclub and not to contact the
complainant.
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Hammers boss missing midfielder's influence
WEST HAM boss Avram Grant admitted Scott Parker's absence may have cost
the team three points against Aston Villa.
Parker was missing with an Achilles injury on Saturday, and the Hammers
missed his presence in midfield, as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat.
The result saw West Ham drop to second-bottom in the table, with Chelsea
and Manchester City the next two games on the slate.
Grant admitted the pressure of the situation was difficult to deal with
without Parker. "We dealt with the pressure very well in January," he
said. "We were the last team in the table and many points behind, it was
a big pressure and everybody thought we were already relegated.
"So we were fighting with this pressure very well and dealt with it
well, but today it was maybe because Scott Parker was missing, we got an
injury after just a few minutes, we were more nervous than I expected.
"We need him (Parker) as soon as possible, but we need to wait and see
if he can do it."
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Hammers boss sets goal for last five games
AVRAM Grant believes West Ham need nine points to avoid relegation.
The Hammers were beaten by Aston Villa at Upton Park on Saturday, with
Gabby Agbonlahor's late header sealing a 2-1 defeat.
Grant accepts the task ahead of him and his players is a tough one, but
he insists survival is still possible, despite the next two fixtures
being trips to Chelsea and Manchester City.
"I think we need nine points to save ourselves," he said. "It will be
difficult but it is possible. The next two games are very hard, but we
are still not going to give up on them. So yes, our target is nine points.
"We need to take points from one of the next two games."
West Ham close their season with a home game against Blackburn, a trip
to Wigan and another home clash against Sunderland.
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Lancaster and Lee extend Dagenham loan deals
Oliver Lee Oliver Lee is the son of former England and West Ham
midfielder Rob
Dagenham & Redbridge have extended the loan deals of Tottenham forward
Cameron Lancaster and West Ham midfielder Oliver Lee until the end of
the season.
Lancaster, 18, and Lee, 19, have played four games each since joining
Daggers in March.
Neither player has yet made a senior appearance for their parent club,
where they came through their respective academies.
Both players will now be at Victoria Road until 7 May.
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Don't blame Rooney! Brooking says lack of respect in football starts at
grassroots level
Sir Trevor Brooking believes it is unfair to point the finger at big
stars such as Wayne Rooney when people discuss a perceived lack of
respect in football.
Brooking, the Football Association's director of football development,
was at the forefront of the campaign calling for action to be taken
against Manchester United and England striker Rooney, who swore directly
at a television camera after completing a recent hat-trick against West Ham.
He received a two-game ban and was criticised for setting a bad example
to youngsters who witnessed his outburst.
Don't blame Rooney! Brooking says lack of respect in football starts at
grassroots level
But Brooking feels it is too easy just to blame the likes of Rooney and
that the right behaviour should be shown by clubs and players at the
lower end of the game.
Brooking said: 'We are always conscious as managers and players that
what is reflected at the weekend in the professional game is an issue.
'I do understand that high-profile figures do have a responsibility.
'On my travels with grassroots football, you get people saying 'you've
got to improve that sort of thing' - and we will try and improve it.
'But I also think it is important from the grassroots level that you set
your own standards.
'If you are running a team, I'd like to think the people involved will
set those standards.
'I think sometimes we use someone else's behaviour as an excuse not to
behave properly ourselves.'
Brooking was speaking at the launch of the Grass Roots Football Show
2011 which is being staged at the NEC in Birmingham from June 3 to 5.
The former West Ham star also recognises the importance of more English
players participating in the Premier League being available to be
selected by their country.
Brooking is encouraged by the quality of players in the current England
under-16 to 18 age groups.
He said: 'Thirty-five per cent of English players in the Premier League
is a pretty static figure. (England manager) Fabio Capello says we need
to try and double that figure.
'In Spain the figure is about 70%. But we are starting to develop better
players.
'The under-17s won the European Championships last year and I like the
look of the under-16s this year.
'I do think in five years' time, for the 2016 and 2018 tournaments that
our senior side will have a greater depth to choose from.'
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