WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee scored twice and Kenzer Lee once as the Hammers secured an FA Youth Cup win at Wolves
07.12.2011
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v WEST HAM UNITED
FA YOUTH CUP THIRD ROUND
WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 7PM
Final score - Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-3 West Ham United
95 mins - Fanimo could make it 4-2 but his touch is just too strong from Hall's pass and Cotman plunges on the ball. It matters not, however, as referee Mr Law blows for full-time! The Hammers are through to the fourth round.
94 mins - Elliot Lee heads the free-kick clear from inside his own penalty area. Goalkeeper Cotman was up for that set piece!
93 mins - Turgott gives away a free-kick wide on the Wolves left. This could be the hosts' last chance to take us to extra time. Forde's initial deliverty is cleared but Potts fouls his player and kicks the ball away. He's booked.
91 mins - Into the first of four added minutes and Elliot Lee has a great chance to clinch the match. He gets in behind the Wolves defence and shoots low across Cotman. The ball slides a yard or two wide of the far post.
89 mins - Ismail gets the ball up and down, but it's too close to Larkins. He catches confidently. Good stuff from the No1.
89 mins - Wolves have a chance. Hall flies in and scythes down Forde. Hall is booked and Wolves have a free-kick 25 yards from goal just left of centre. Ismail to take...
87 mins - Heart in mouth time as Ismail beats about three men before finding Forde wide on the right. He has time to cross but Larkins is there to pat the ball down and collect at the second attempt.
86 mins - West Ham make a change, too. Left-back Frazer Shaw is on for Taylor Miles. Hall drops into midfield.
85 mins - Kellerman is replaced by Robbie Parry, while Whittall is off and Josh Shepherd. The attendance is 569.
83 mins - GOAL! LEE! It's Kenzer this time, though. Fanimo's corner causes havoc and drops between a sea of legs. Kenzer gets control before thumping a shot past Cotman from about 12 yards. No chance for the goalkeepr. Wild celebrations from the visitors.
82 mins - Aaaargh! Elliot Lee streaks away and is in on goal. He shoots and the ball flies past Cotman and hits the inside of the far post. Ismail puts the ball behind for a corner.
81 mins - Controversy! Ismail appears to get the better of Chambers and he is clean through. The referee blows for a foul by the Wolves No11 but I'm not sure there was much in that! West Ham break and Elliot Lee wins a free-kick from Iorfa just on the left edge of the Wolves box. Hall curls the free-kick over and Kenzer Lee heads JUST wide at the far post. Head in hands for the No5.
77 mins - Wolves attack through Ismail, who beats two men and cuts a cross behind two defenders to the unmarked Forde. Larkins is out quickly to narrow down the angle and Forde slams his shot over the top. At the break in play, Kellerman is booked for a late challenge on Powell a minute eariler.
75 mins - Elliot Lee does well to spin away from Bashford and find Turgott, who wins a corner. Powell crosses and the ball hits Kenzer Lee and rolles into the arms of Cotman. Frustration for the centre-back.
74 mins - Anxious moments as Larkins' clearance falls to Forde about 35 yards out. He beats a man shoots, but the goalkeeper makes amends with a catch low down in front of his body.
72 mins - After a fairly long stoppage, Powell lets fly with the resulting free-kick but it's narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
70 mins - Both physios are on after a coming together between Fanimo and Kostrna on the far side.
68 mins - GOAL! I spoke too soon... Ismail is now back on the left and he gets to the byline before standing a cross up for McAlinden to power a header high into the net from eight yards. We're back on level terms and heading for extra time as it stands.
67 mins - A little more than a quarter of the game to go and West Ham are standing firm. The away fans in the crowd - there are a fair few - are singing 'Bubbles' with plenty of gusto!
64 mins - Hall is OK to continue and, for now, West Ham are containing their hosts well inside their own half. Hall shows no ill-effects as he lets fly from 30 yards. Unfortunately, he hits it too well and the ball flies over the top.
62 mins - Hall needs the physio on after a challenge deep inside the Wolves half.
58 mins - Another warning for West Ham - and some. Left-back Cranston dances past Turgott and another challenge and gets deep into the box. He shoots right-footed and the ball thuds against the outside of the far post and bounces away to safety. Wolves working up a head of steam again.
56 mins - A warning that a one-goal lead is seldom enough. Forde cuts inside from the left - he and Ismail have switched flanks - and shoots low. It might be going wide, but Larkins isn't to know and pushes the ball aside. Potts clears.
55 mins - Wolves are wobbling as Elliot Lee breaks into the box and beats his man. He crosses low across the six-yard box but neither Hall nor Fanimo have gambled.
53 mins - Young blocks a clearance and Miles finds Hall with a header. He elects to shoot from 25 yards but drags a low effort a few yards wide. Goal kick.
52 mins - Well, well, well... Can the Hammers hold on to their second lead of the night? They will need to keep the ball better than they did before the break if they are to advance.
50 mins - GOAL! Out of absolutely nothing, West Ham lead. Fanimo crosses it and Bashford slices goalwards. Cotman palms the ball on to the bar and the ball drops down and bounces up for Elliot Lee to nod home from close-range.
49 mins - Potts is penalised. The free-kick comes in low and only poor control averts a shot on goal. Wolves keep possession though and have the ball in the net through McAlinden, but he's offside.
48 mins - Wolves have had the lion's share possession so far and it is they who threaten first, winning a throw down their right off Kenzer Lee.
46 mins - No changes from either manager as Wolves get the second half started...
Half-time score - Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 West Ham United
48 mins - That's the end of a frenetic half. Don't forget, if it's still level at the end of 90 minutes, we'll have extra-time...
46 mins - We'll have two added minutes, at least.
45 mins - Chambers is beaten in the air and Kempton is through but his shot is too close to Larkins. Seconds later Cranston gets down the left again and crosses low. Kempton is there again but his shot flies over the top from eight yards. Let-off after let-off at the moment.
44 mins - Young is back in play. West Ham need half-time. Chambers hacks up field from another blocked shot from Kempton and Elliot Lee wins a pressure-lifting free-kick. Potts takes but it's straight through to Cotman.
42 mins - This is getting a little bit fraught now as Chambers concedes a corner. It drops to Kempton in the box and Miles somehow clears off the line. After another blocked shot West Ham somehow clear their lines. Young needs the physio on, so we'll finally get a break in play.
41 mins - McAlinden should put Wolves ahead but instead his low shot cannons back off the face of the post. The No10 had cut inside Potts using his body well and had time to pick his spot, but he aimed just too far right of Larkins. The ball rebounds out as far as Whittall 25 yards out but his first-time effort flies wide of the other post.
38 mins - Wolves come again and Forde sees his cross blocked behind by Potts. The corner is worked to Forde and Turgott blocks with his legs. That was travelling. Wolves keep up the pressure before Ismail cuts in from the left and smashes his shot high and wide.
37 mins - Chambers and Young stand firm as first McAlinden and then Ismail threaten.
37 mins - Real desire shown there by Miles to win two challenges near the left touchline. He is a physical player for his size, is the West Ham No4.
36 mins - Finally a few moments without some goalmouth action. I have a feeling the chances will continue to flow, to be honest. It's been an open game.
32 mins - West Ham build before Chambers' pass gifts possession to Wolves. A lofted pass finds Ismail in space but Young gets back to concede the corner. Ismail himself takes and Bashford heads wide. Nervous times for West Ham.
29 mins - Larkins is out quickly to claim a through ball before firing a superb low clearance to Fanimo. He flicks it on for Hall, who finds Elliot Lee. The striker takes on Iorfa and wins a corner. Powell takes and Elliot Lee heads wide again at the far post.
28 mins - It's getting tasty out there as the home crowd shout for a foul by Powell. Mr Law gives nothing and then blows for a foul on Potts. Powell launches it long and diagonal, but there is too much pace on the ball. Goal kick.
26 mins - Wolves have their tails up now as Forde breaks away from two Hammers and crosses. Kempton flies in with Chambers and the shot flies wide.
25 mins - GOAL! Wolves are level through centre-back Bashford. The initial header from Iorfa is cleared off the line but only as far as the No5. He slams the ball in and it's deflected past Larkins.
25 mins - Now Wolves have a corner! Chambers cuts out a cross but his clearance hits Young and goes behind.
24 mins - The first corner is worked short before being cleared but West Ham pick up possession again. Miles finds Turgott wide on the right and he wins another corner. Hall takes this one high and Wolves head clear through Iorfa.
23 mins - It's all going on here, I can tell you. First, left-back Cranston bursts past Young but Kenzer Lee makes another important interception. Turgott completes the clearance and Fanimo beats two men before trying to play in Elliot Lee, who wins a corner.
22 mins - Powell's free-kick is just too high and Cotman punches clear with two hands.
21 mins - Forde takes on Potts and crosses low. Kenzer Lee slides in and concedes a corner before clapping his hands and shouting encouragement to his team-mates. They heed the advice and clear the corner. Fanimo then breaks down the left and is fouled.
18 mins - Powell gives away another free-kick and the Wolves manager Mick Halsall is not happy. Referee Mr Law responds by giving Powell a talking to. Wolves take it short and win a corner down their left. It comes over and is headed straight to the edge of the box to Kellerman, whose shot goes sideways. A follow-up shot is blocked by Miles before being slammed clear.
17 mins - Another set piece for Wolves as Miles is penalised for a shove on Ismail. It's on the Wolves right this time, about 35 yards out. Cranston the left-back takes but it's too high and Larkins makes another confident catch in front of his face.
14 mins - Another chance as Powell lifts a ball over the top for Turgott to chase. Bashford gets a toe to it, but he's out of the game as it drops to Turgott. The winger elects to shoot from the angle but his effort flashes high and wide at the near post.
13 mins - More action as Whittall shoots for Wolves and the ball is half-blocked. Larkins is out quickly again to dive on the loose ball before Kempton can pounce.
12 mins - West Ham work their socks off again and force Cotman to concede a needless corner. Powell curls the ball in and it just clears the goalkeeper. Elliot Lee is there but he is slightly surprised and can only direct his downward header wide.
11 mins - Superb stuff again from the visitors as Powell tracks back to help out Kenzer Lee. Lee wins a header and Powell hooks the ball down the line with his left foot. Turgott chases into space and lays the ball back to Fanimo. He curls in a delicious cross but Elliot Lee is offside.
10 mins - Elliot Lee chases a lost cause and forces Iorfa to pass straight to Fanimo. He looks for Hall on the edge of the penalty area, but the striker's touch is a little bit loose and the chance is lost.
9 mins - A chance for Wolves as they win a free-kick wide on their left about 40 yards from goal. Chambers clears it well and Hall is fouled. The free-kick is taken quickly by Powell but Turgott is offside. It's all-action so far!
8 mins - That goal will have really settled West Ham down. They are playing some nice stuff now. Potts wins a header and Miles spins away before finding Young. Turgott and Miles then combine before Hall is stopped on the edge of the penalty area.
6 mins - It's being played at a lightning pace is this game. Both sides are trying to move the ball quickly around the immaculate playing surface here at Molineux. Wolves attack down their right but Fanimo makes a fine sliding challenge and wins a throw.
4 mins - What a start that is from West Ham! The celebrations were massive and Nick Haycock was out quickly to calm his players down. Also out quickly is Larkins to make another confident act to stop a Wolves attack. This time he slides out to claim the ball off the toes of McAlinden as the No10 bursts into the box.
2 mins - GOAL! Elliot Lee puts the Hammers in front. A throw-in is worked to Fanimo and on to Hall, who crosses low to Lee inside the penalty area. He has far too much time and space to take a touch, turn and fire a shot into the bottom right-hand corner via Cotman's fingertips.
1 min - Only 25 seconds gone as Forde gets behind Young and crosses. Kenzer Lee heads high and behind for a corner. Ismail takes and Larkins makes a confident catch. That'll do him a power of good.
7pm - Here we go...
6.59pm - The Hammers have a huddle and break with loud shouts of encouragement. They will kick-off...
6.57pm - Here are the two teams. West Ham are in claret and blue shrits, white shorts and white socks. Wolves are in old gold shirts, black shorts and old gold socks. Captains McAlinden and Potts meet the referee Mr Law for the pre-match coin toss.
6.55pm - Both teams are back in their dressing rooms for some last-minute instructions. It actually feels like it has got a bit warmer in the last half-hour, which is a bit strange. Maybe I'm just getting used to the cold! Anyway, Wolves look to be a big, physically imposing side but if the Hammers can play their football, they will be a match for their hosts - of that there is no doubt.
6.40pm - The Wolves lineup is now published below. Jake Kempton has scored nine times for the table-topping hosts, while Liam McAlinden has got six goals to his name and Zeli Ismail and Robbie Parry five each. According to the West Ham boys, Ismail is some player. We shall see...
6.35pm - Assistant manager Neil McDonald is here to watch the youth team in action, while Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is also in attendance. The crowd may not fill Molineux tonight, but this is the biggest game of the young lives of many of the players on both teams. They will either shrink under the pressure or rise to the occasion. The Hammers were shown a motivational DVD on the coach on the way to the stadium showing all the goals they have scored this season, plus plenty of other positive images. Let's hope they do the trick!
6.30pm - The Hammers are warming up in t-shirts emblazoned with the message 'Get well soon Dyl'. The message, of course, is for their youth-team colleague Dylan Tombides, who is currently undergoing a course of treatment after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer. Tombides scored at this stage of the competition against Aldershot Town last season and is an extremely popular member of the squad.
6pm - It is a bitterly cold December evening here in Wolverhampton. The floodlights are on inside Molineux and the Hammers have been out for a look at the facilities. A few of the lads have been taking photographs. Make no mistake about it, this is a big night for them. Many, of course, will have never played in a stadium of this size before.
Good evening and welcome to Molineux for tonight's FA Youth Cup third-round tie between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United. The Hammers arrived in the Black Country earlier this afternoon and are eager to begin their road to what it is hoped will be a fourth triumph in youth football's most prestigious competition. West Ham have previously lifted the trophy in 1963, 1981 and 1999, but they will face a tough task against 1958 winners and four-times runners-up Wolves.
West Ham are boosted by the availability of England U19 forward Rob Hall, who has returned temporarily from his loan spell at League Two club Oxford United, while Academy Director Tony Carr and U18s coach Nick Haycock also have the likes of Republic of Ireland U18 midfielder Kieran Sadlier and England U18 wingers Matthias Fanimo and Blair Turgott at their disposal.
However, Wolves have won their previous seven FA Premier Academy League fixtures and sit top of a Group C table that also contains Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton. The West Ham team has been announced. I'll have the Wolves lineup for you as soon as possible.
Wolverhampton Wanderers U18s: Cotman, Kostrna, Cranston, Whittall, Bashford, Iorfa, Forde, Kellerman, Kempton, McAlinden, Ismail
Subs: Shepherd, Flatt, Parry, Ifil, Dell
West Ham United U18s: Larkins, Young, Chambers, K.Lee, Potts, Turgott, Powell, Miles, Fanimo, Hall, E.Lee
Subs: Baxter, Shaw, Siafa, Sadlier, Nasha
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Barca snatch our Euro record
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 7th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's 30-year-old European record was finally beaten by Spanish champions Barcelona last night. The current Champions League holders equalled West Ham's unique record of scoring in 27 consecutive European ties last month with a 3-2 win against Milan, meaning that should they score against FC BATE in the Nou Camp last night the record would be exclusively theirs. In the end it took just over half-an-hour for the Barca team, who had an average age of just 23, to score the goal (in a half-full Nou Camp) that saw them snatch United's record; Sergi Roberto grabbing the goal that ensured they have now scored in their last 28 consecutive ties.
To see highlights of the Barca/BATE game, click here. The matches that constituted West Ham's record run, as set in 1980, may be viewed below.
1964 (Cup Winners Cup)
R1L1: La Gantoise 0-1 West Ham Utd (Boyce)
R1L2: West Ham Utd 1-1 La Gantoise (Byrne)
R2L1: West Ham Utd 2-0 Spartak Prague (Bond, Sealey)
R2L2: Spartak Prague 2-1 West Ham Utd (Sissons)
1965 (Cup Winners Cup)
QFL1: Lausanne 1-2 West Ham Utd (Dear, Byrne)
QFL2: West Ham Utd 4-3 Lausanne (Dear 2, Peters, Tacchella og)
SFL1: West Ham Utd 2-1 Real Zaragoza (Dear, Byrne)
SFL2: Real Zaragoza 1-1 West Ham Utd (Sissons)
FIN: West Ham Utd 2-0 TSV Munich (Sealey 2)
R2L1: West Ham Utd 4-0 Olympiakos (Hurst 2, Byrne, Brabrook)
R2L2: Olympiakos 2-2 West Ham Utd (Peters 2)
QFL1: West Ham Utd 1-0 Magdeburg (Byrne)
QFL2: Magdeburg 1-1 West Ham Utd (Sissons)
SFL1: West Ham Utd 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (Peters)
SFL2: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 West Ham Utd (Byrne)
1975 (Cup Winners Cup)
R1L1: Lahden Reipas 2-2 West Ham Utd (Brooking, Bonds)
R1L2: West Ham Utd 3-0 Lahden Reipas (Robson, Holland, Jennings)
R2L1: Ararat Erevan 1-1 West Ham Utd (A Taylor)
R2L2: West Ham Utd 3-1 Ararat Erevan (Paddon, Robson, A Taylor)
1976 (Cup Winners Cup)
QFL1: Den Haag 4-2 West Ham Utd (Jennings 2)
QFL2: West Ham Utd 3-1 Den Haag (A Taylor, Lampard, Bonds)
SFL1: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 West Ham Utd (Paddon)
SFL2: West Ham Utd 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt (Brooking 2, Robson)
FIN: Anderlecht 4-2 West Ham Utd (Holland, Robson)
1980 (Cup Winners Cup)
R1L1: Castilla 3-1 West Ham Utd (Cross)
R1L2: West Ham Utd 5-1 Castilla (Cross 3, Pike, Goddard)
R2L1: West Ham Utd 4-0 Poli Timisoara (Bonds, Goddard, Stewart (p), Cross)
R2L2: Poli Timisoara 1-0 West Ham Utd
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FA Cup decision due Friday
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 7th December 2011
By: Staf
West Ham should discover on Friday when their third round FA Cup tie at Sheffield Wednesday will take place. With both Sheffield Wednesday and United drawn at home in the competition - and given the history between the two Uniteds - South Yorkshire Police and the two Sheffield clubs are currently discussing the possibility of altering kick off times. Although it is likely that at least one of the fixtures will be moved to avoid both clubs playing in the city at the same time, it is not unknown for both United and Wednesday to be playing at home on a weekend. United - who are yet to face West Ham on a football pitch since extorting some £25million out of the club as a result of the Lord Griffiths fiasco - will face the winners of the Grimsby v Salisbury second round replay, a tie that takes place next Tuesday.
Meanwhile current Wednesday boss Gary Megson - who previously managed Kevin Nolan, Joey O'Brien and Matt Taylor when manager of Bolton - admitted that he was happy to pull West Ham out of the hat, even if United's away record this season is set to give him nightmares. "It will be nice to see a few players I know," he told the Sheffield Star. "It's a good draw for us because we're at home against an attractive side. Possibly it could be more difficult because of their away record."
All third round fixtures are due to take place on the weekend of January 7th/8th.
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Hammers eye African ace
Habib Habibou training with West Ham
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated: December 7, 2011 9:41am
SSN
Skysports.com can reveal that Habib Habibou is currently training with West Ham United, with a view to sealing a January move. The Hammers tried unsuccessfully to land the 24-year-old front-man from Zulte Waregem in the summer. Habibou, who has also previously been linked with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, emerged as a West Ham target after he hit 12 goals for Waregem. The striker, who hails from the Central African Republic, has since been in dispute with Waregem over various issues, which has seen him limited to just five appearances this season. Now the club have given him permission to train with West Ham and he has already made an immediate impression. Skysports.com understands that Habibou was the unnamed trialist that scored twice in a behind-closed-doors game with Brentford on Monday.
Habibou is desperate to seal a move across the Channel, and he will be hoping that West Ham opt to push through a deal ready for January when the transfer market reopens.
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O'Neil: I feared it was over
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
The Sun
GARY O'NEIL has revealed how he feared he would never play again. The West Ham winger played his first game since April on Tuesday but admits his recovery from ankle ligament damage still has some way to go. O'Neil, 28, was injured against Aston Villa way back on April 16. But he turned out for 45 minutes in a development squad match against Brentford and admitted: "It was nerve-racking. "Training is one thing and going out and playing against opposition who don't know or care that you've been injured is different from playing against people who know you've been injured and take it easy. "A few months in I wasn't sure whether I would play again so it's been really good. "The ankle is still going to take some time to get it where I need it. "It's been hard. I've never had a long-term injury before. "I had to have my ankle up above my hip for 55 minutes of every hour for the first two-and-a-half months — I was only allowed to put it down to go to the toilet or make a cup of tea. "We've still not achieved what we want to achieve which is to get me back to where I was before the injury but we're definitely getting closer. "It was a big step and I'll go home happy."
O'Neil could be drafted back into the first team squad by the New Year to further boost West Ham's promotion push from the Championship. He added: "It's just a case of getting it strong enough and getting rid of the aches and pains. "There is another game next week that hopefully I can get involved in."
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West Ham duo are nominated for November awards
London24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Thursday, December 8, 2011
6:00 AM
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce and striker Carlton Cole have been nominated by for the npower Championship manager and player of the month awards for November. The Hammers picked up 13 points out of a possible 15 last month, as they beat Hull City, Coventry City, Derby County and Middlesbrough, along with a goalless draw against Bristol City. Those results saw the Hammers top the Championship form table for the month, along with Cardiff City, whose manager Malky Mackay is also nominated for the award. The other two nominations for the manager prize are Derek McInnes from Bristol City and Barnsley boss Keith Hill. Cole has been nominated for the player award after he impressed on his comeback from a knee injury. The England striker scored three goals in five games last month that included just one start. Cole recorded some impressive cameo appearances, most notably at Hull and Coventry, when the introduction of the 28-year-old at half time changed the course of the matches in the Hammers' favour. The other nominations for the player prize are Peter Whittingham of Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers' Billy Sharp, and Liam Fontaine from Bristol City.
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Tomkins: Burnley defeat was just a bad day at the office
Lon don24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
6:00 PM
Defender James Tomkins was disappointed after a bad day at the office saw the Hammers lose 2-1 at home to Burnley on Saturday. Sam Allardyce's side had taken the lead through captain Kevin Nolan, but the skipper's effort was then cancelled out by his opposite number Chris McCann, before Sam Vokes secured all three points for the Clarets. "Obviously, after the good run we've been on it is disappointing to end it the way we did," said Tomkins. "We created a lot of chances, but didn't put them away, and they've had two chances and scored them both. That's the way it works sometimes, but it was a slip and hopefully it will go our way next weekend."
With league leaders Southampton losing at Doncaster, the Hammers squandered a chance to go top of the Championship for the first time this season, but Tomkins believes the loss was just a blip. "We're definitely disappointed that we missed the chance to make it a nine-point week," he said. "It was a good chance for us, especially having seen the Southampton result, but we will pick ourselves up with the characters that we have in the dressing room. "Teams come here and defend for their lives and that is what Burnley did. We need to work on how to break them down better than we did. "We created chances, and as long as we are still creating chances then I am sure that we will put them away."
What disappointed the England under-21 international more was that both of Burnley's goals came from set-pieces, the first from a throw-in and the second from a corner. "We do a lot of set-pieces on the training field and we have been strong from them all year," he said. "We slipped up and it has cost us, but I'm sure that with the manager we have got, he will make sure that we defend them better in the future. "He was disappointed that we didn't get the win or even draw. "He feels it just like us or the fans, we are all going home disappointed, but it is all about next week now."
Since Winston Reid suffered a dislocated shoulder, Tomkins has been partnered by the experienced head of Abdoulaye Faye at the centre of the Hammers' defence, and the youngster is relishing the chance to learn from the Senegal international. "He is a man with a lot of experience and has played at the top level," said Tomkins. "I'm learning from him, the cool customer he is. He's giving me some of his nerves, because he doesn't have any, nothing fazes him."
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Exclusive - O'Neil: No date set for West Ham first team return
By Alex Varney
Wednesday, December 7
TalkSport
West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil has told talkSPORT of his delight at recovering from a career-threatening injury but says no date has been set for a first team return. O'Neil was told he only had a 50/50 chance of playing again after suffering a horrific ankle injury against Aston Villa in April but, having stunned medics with his quick progress, played 45 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday night. The 28-year, however, says he will take his time before making himself available to Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. "There's no timeframe set for the first team. Playing 45 minutes against a Brentford development squad and then being trusted to go into a promotion battle is worlds apart," O'Neil said, speaking to H & J. "It's been a lot of hard work over the last seven and a half months, not just from me but from all the medical staff as well, so it was nice to finally get some reward. "Getting back to the first team and being able to compete when it really matters, and when there is lot of pressure on the line, is still a way off. We haven't really set a date for that but it was a big step yesterday just to get out and play against people who don't necessarily know you've got a bad ankle. "Doing it in training against your mates who might leave you alone a little bit because your ankle is sore is one thing, but to go out against a team that isn't too bothered about your ankle is a big step."
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Shanghai Shenhua set to Nic Anelka from under West Ham manager Allardyce's nose
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:57 AM on 7th December 2011
Daily Mail
Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua are confident of beating West Ham to the signature of Nicolas Anelka. Anelka, out of contract next summer, is set to leave Chelsea in January after the club accepted transfer requests from the French striker and central defender Alex. The pair have been frozen out of the first-team squad and can leave next month. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce wants to take Anelka on loan when the window opens having worked with the 32-year-old at Bolton. But Shanghai Shenhua will table a longer deal, reportedly worth over £6million, to persuade the former Paris St Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Fenerbahce forward to move to Asia. Talk of the switch first surfaced in November and a club spokesman said: 'It will be a three-year contract and will involve both football and commercial cooperation.' And chairman Zhu Jun added: 'We started to talk about every detail from the first minute of the negotiations. 'The whole contract is made up of details. It's comprehensive and complicated, involving the player's image and the commercial cooperation.' As well as the riches on offer, there is the prospect of playing under former Fulham boss and fellow Frenchman Jean Tigana, who is said to be close to being confirmed as Shanghai Shenhua's new manager.
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Allardyce insists that his Hammers are on track
London24
Nathaniel John, West Ham correspondent
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
2:21 PM
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has insisted that his side are on course for automatic promotion, despite seeing his team slip to a third home defeat of the season last weekend. The Hammers went down 2-1 to Burnley at Upton Park, but remain on their two points per game target which Allardyce has said will guarantee them a spot in the top two promotion places come the end of the season. "We are where we are because our record says two points a game," he said. "Our record says automatic promotion points in the bag based on the last five years. "This period has been better than the last. We have increased our points tally from 18 to 22 in the last 10 games. "We have caught up two points on what our first target was – 22 points out of the last 10 games is a really great achievement, considering what we have had to cope with. "All the injuries that we have had through this period mean we have never been able to pick the same team twice."
Indeed, the treatment room at the Boleyn is once again a crowded place, with up to six first-team players currently out through injury. On-loan Spurs midfielder David Bentley has returned to his parent club following surgery on his knee, while long-term absentee Gary O'Neil is still a few months from fitness. Winston Reid, Sam Baldock and Henri Lansbury are all thought to be a couple of weeks away from returning following their shoulder, hamstring and knee problems respectively, which should give the Hammers a timely boost going into the hectic Christmas period. However, another blow on Saturday was the limping off of midfielder Matt Taylor, following a recurrence of his calf injury that could see the wide man sidelined for a number of weeks. "It is a big blow to us (losing Taylor)," explained Allardyce.
"It is another calf injury and it is his third one since he arrived. He says he has never had one before and that is a real worry for us. "But I suppose every team at some stage suffers the injuries but at the moment that is a bit of a blow."
Tempted
Allardyce then went on to state that he could well be tempted to dip into the transfer market in January to boost his depleted squad. "It's not too early to be looking," he said. "We hope to get a couple of players in January. "We need them at this time of year. It's not just injuries, it's suspensions, and it's the flu season and we could lose more players. "We have to hope we don't get too affected, but we will get in the market for a couple of players."
■ One player that the Hammers have signed is 17-year-old midfielder Pelly Ruddock. The youngster joins from Blue Square Bet South side Boreham Wood after impressing in a recent trial. It is thought that the teenager will be involved in the development squad this season.
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West Ham take Habibou on trial after netting brace in friendly win over Brentford
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 7th December 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham are giving a trial to Zulte Waregem striker Habib Habibou. The 24-year-old featured in a friendly against Brentford on Monday and scored twice.
The 6ft 4in forward has spent the week training with West Ham after being given permission by his Belgian club.
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