WHUFC.com
The club have their first new recruit of the transfer window with the
signing of Wayne Bridge
12.01.2011
West Ham United are pleased to announce the signing of Wayne Bridge on loan
until the end of the season. An attacking left-back, the 30-year-old will
add proven quality to the Hammers' defence for the vital Barclays Premier
League run-in. His debut could come in the evening match with Arsenal at the
Boleyn Ground on Saturday. Bridge, who has joined the club from Manchester
City, was capped 36 times by England before announcing his retirement from
international football in 2009. The defender has spent his entire
professional career in the Premier League, making 289 appearances for
Southampton, Chelsea, Fulham and Manchester City, scoring three goals. "I am
delighted to sign for West Ham United," Bridge told whufc.com. "I am just
looking forward to meeting everyone at the training ground, starting work
and getting out on the pitch and playing in front of the fans. I am glad the
loan is sorted and I'm ready to play. "It will be great to play a part in
helping keep West Ham in the Premier League," added Bridge. "It would be a
big achievement."
Bridge was at the Boleyn Ground for Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first
leg with Birmingham and will be eligible for the return at St Andrew's on
Wednesday 26 January. Manchester City have also granted permission for him
to play in the FA Cup - but it is the Barclays Premier League where he will
hope to have the main impact. "I know a few of the players from England and
I know the physio. I spoke to Scotty Parker and a few people and they told
me what a great club it is. That definitely helped me make the decision to
come here. "There is a lot of quality here and I know we can move up the
table. The first half on Tuesday was great. There should have been a few
more goals and then the team came back with ten men. If we can play like
that every week we'll be fine."
Bridge has also featured in the UEFA Champions League during six seasons
with Chelsea, where he won the Premier League title in 2005 and the FA Cup
and League Cup double in 2007. At international level, the left-back made
his senior England debut against Netherlands in February 2002. He was named
in the national team's squad for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup finals and
the 2004 UEFA European Championship finals. With competition for places at
Eastlands fierce following the summer arrivals of Germany international
Jerome Boateng and Serbia left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, Bridge has made
seven first-team appearances for Manchester City this season - four in the
UEFA Europa League and three in the Barclays Premier League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tomkins standing firm
WHUFC.com
Arsenal are up next but young defender James Tomkins is up for the derby
date
12.01.2011
James Tomkins has been a pivotal part of the Hammers good run of late -
culminating in his man of the match display against Birmingham City. The
England Under-21 defender is enjoying a positive campaign and is determined
to make sure the season finishes positively for his team as well. "I feel
like I'm coming along. The more games I play, I'm getting better and better.
I'm learning more and getting more experienced. The experienced lads are
helping me along the way. I'm just enjoying playing at the minute and
hopefully I can keep improving more and more. "I feel like I'm growing up a
lot more this year and it's important that I keep doing my best for the team
and enjoying my football."
The centre-back said there was no reason why the side could not aim to
continue their run of three straight home wins after the success against
Wolves, Barnsley and Birmingham City - with just one goal against in that
time. Arsenal arrive on Saturday but Tomkins will not be overawed. "We have
to keep plugging away and trying to get results because we don't want to be
where we are in the table. We need to concentrate on getting victories.
We're in the bottom three and we need results - that's the most important
thing for this club. "We go out confident that we can get a good result.
Arsenal are a good team but we held out well at the Emirates. If we can do
that again, who knows what can happen? It'll be a hard task but we're
obviously looking forward to it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Avram Grant to be spared West Ham sack
BBC.co.uk
West Ham boss Avram Grant has been given a stay of execution as the club's
manager, BBC Sport understands. Owners David Gold and David Sullivan refused
to comment on Grant's future after a board meeting and the Israeli's side
now faces Arsenal on Saturday. The 2-1 Carling Cup semi-final first-leg win
over Birmingham and the FA Cup win over Barnsley last weekend has helped the
immediate pressure on Grant. But he must guide West Ham out of the
relegation zone to keep his job. West Ham have suffered just one defeat in
seven games and the Israeli said his future has been unfairly scrutinised.
"We are one point from Wigan, Fulham and others but with them everything is
quiet," said Grant. Four of those last seven games have been won and the
55-year-old added: "Unfortunately, we have to fight these rumours. I don't
want to think about other things, I want to fight."
After the win over Birmingham, which leaves the Hammers 90 minutes from
their first trip to Wembley since the 1981 League Cup final, Grant was keen
to deflect attention from his own situation and focus on the team instead.
"Don't worry about me - I will be fine in any case," he said. "I really,
really appreciate that you are worried about me and you like me and you want
me to be near you! "I like you also, by the way. Why do you need to ask me
about something that is not in my control?" Grant's Birmingham counterpart
Alex McLeish was sympathetic to his plight. "It's not easy that, when you're
reading about yourself in the papers and you have no control of it," he
said. "I don't want to interfere in someone else's business but we know how
football works, and we are all vulnerable when we get bad results."
Midfielder Mark Noble says 10-man West Ham's battling display showed how
much the players believed in their manager. "So much has been said over the
last couple of of weeks and months, but you can see how the boys worked
tonight," he said. "If they didn't like the manager I don't think you would
have got that effort off them. That shows we're behind him and we're playing
for the club and that's what we need to do."
Despite West Ham's recent success in both the FA and Carling Cups, they were
recently thumped 5-0 in the Premier League by Newcastle, leaving the London
club a point adrift of safety. Grant's job may be safe for now after
substitute Carlton Cole came on to score the goal that gave West Ham victory
on the night and a precious advantage going into the second leg at St
Andrew's on 26 January. There was a large element of fortune with the
strike, which was tame but somehow squirmed through the clutches of
Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster. Grant quipped: "It was a fantastic goal.
Any goal is a goal but the attack leading up to the strike was great and
then... no complaints." Birmingham manager Alex McLeish described the goal
as "a little bit of a monstrosity".
He said of England goalkeeper Foster: "He's a big man, he takes it on the
chin, he doesn't hide and he apologised to the players. "He's saved us many
times and he'll save us many times in the future." Noble gave West Ham the
lead in the first half before the visitors equalised thanks to a Liam
Ridgewell header. The Hammers were reduced to 10 men after Victor Obinna was
shown a straight red card for kicking Sebastian Larsson, although Grant
would not comment on the incident after stating he did not see it. However,
he had high praise for his side, adding: "I feel good. We won with 10
players and the spirit was great. "We have recently played every three days
with a small squad and you saw spirit. They didn't give up tonight and won
the game because of the spirit. "We played very well in the first half. We
could have scored more but the last ball was not so good. "In the second
half, Birmingham scored from a corner, which is unusual for us. Then there
was the red card but we did very well, despite the setback, and the
substitution [Cole for Frederic Piquionne] changed the game."
Meanwhile, McLeish thought that his side had a valid claim for a penalty
when Matthew Upson appeared to push Barry Ferguson, with the score level at
1-1. "It's a stone-waller - I've seen it about five times," McLeish
commented. "It wasn't just an impediment, it was a barge in the back. "If
that's a shoulder charge then I don't know what I'm talking about."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bridge over troubled water
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 12th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Wayne Bridge has completed his loan move to West Ham United. The 30-year-old
confirmed his move to east London earlier this evening, telling whufc.com:
"I am delighted to sign for West Ham United. I'm just looking forward to
meeting everyone at the training ground, starting work and getting out on
the pitch and playing in front of the fans. "I am glad the loan is sorted
and I'm ready to play. It will be great to play a part in helping keep West
Ham in the Premier League. It would be a big achievement."
Bridge - who began his career at Southampton before moving on to Chelsea and
then current club City - is also a seasoned international, despite retiring
from international football following the much-publicised scandal involving
John Terry in 2009. "I know a few of the players from England and I know the
physio," he continued. "I spoke to Scotty Parker and a few people and they
told me what a great club it is. That definitely helped me make the decision
to come here. "There is a lot of quality here and I know we can move up the
table. The first half on Tuesday was great; there should have been a few
more goals and then the team came back with ten men. If we can play like
that every week we'll be fine."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Milito shuns England
Argentine has Spanish and Italian options
By Francisco Acedo Last updated: 12th January 2011
SSN
Gabriel Milito is understood to have shunned the chance of moving to the
Premier League this month. The Argentine international is believed to have
been told by Barcelona that he can move on loan. The likes of Blackburn and
West Ham were linked, but the 30-year-old is believed to have rejected the
opportunity to play in England. Now reports suggest that Malaga and Genoa
are leading the chase to land his signature. Milito is anxious to get some
first-team football in the second half of the season as he wants to
guarantee a place in Argentina's squad ahead of this summer's Copa America.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spurs reveal Olympic plans
Tottenham look to create purpose-built venue
Last updated: 12th January 2011
SSN
Tottenham have hit out at rival bidders West Ham as they unveiled their
plans for the Olympic Stadium. Spurs confirmed that if they won the bid and
elected to move from White Hart Lane they would demolish most of the
80,000-seater athletics arena and replace it with a 60,000-capacity
purpose-built football venue. The club said they would also revamp the
Crystal Palace athletics stadium to fulfil the legacy commitment made when
Great Britain was awarded the 2012 Games. West Ham are favourites to take
over the Olympic Stadium after next year's Paralympics, with their bid
backed by both London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and UK Athletics. With just
over two weeks to go before the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) select
their preferred bidder and less than two months before the final decision,
Spurs have chosen to hit back after regular attacks from the Hammers. Spurs'
architect and club vice-president, David Keirle, said: "The debate, such as
it is, has been one-sided because we've not entered into this. It's been
very ill-informed." Keirle, chairman of leading architects KSS, criticised
West Ham's plans to retain the Olympic Stadium at a reduced capacity of
60,000, claiming they risked turning it into something of a white elephant.
No atmosphere
"There'd be nothing worse than, five years down the line, for a failing club
not being able to meet its obligations because it's not getting 60,000, fans
saying there's no atmosphere," he said, pointing out numerous problems with
football being played in athletics stadia. Keirle insisted Spurs'
purpose-built ground would be far more sustainable and lucrative for the
OPLC. He was also adamant Tottenham's plans for an athletics legacy were
more viable than West Ham's, claiming the sport would benefit more by the
rejuvenation of Crystal Palace than by retaining a 60,000-seater stadium
they would struggle to fill and would only have access to outside the
football season. Spurs have promised to boost the capacity of Crystal Palace
by 9,500 to 25,000, with the ability for it to be extended by up to 15,000
for a World Championship. "We think that we will deliver a legacy with
athletics at its core, 365 days a year," Keirle said, revealing the
Tottenham also plan other ventures to increase participation in athletics.
The British Olympic Association have confirmed their commitment to the
Olympic Stadium athletics track remaining in place after the 2012 Games.
Following a board meeting in London, led by chairman Colin Moynihan, the BOA
said in a statement: "The board reaffirmed that it is the position of the
BOA that the commitments offered as part of the original London 2012 bid
should be honoured; in particular, the commitment to deliver a lasting
sports legacy through effective utilisation of Olympic venues following the
Games, including retaining an athletics track in the Olympic Stadium."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bridge happy with Hammers move
Defender targets Premier League survival after loan switch
Last updated: 12th January 2011
SSN
Wayne Bridge has signed for West Ham on loan until the end of the season and
has set his sights on helping the club stay in the Premier League. Sky
Sports News reported earlier on Wednesday evening that the Manchester City
defender had completed his medical at Upton Park and the deal has now been
confirmed. Bridge, 30, who had been limited to just nine appearances for
City this season, now wants to play on a regular basis and is ready to fight
against relegation with the Hammers. Ahead of a possible debut against
Arsenal on Saturday, the left-back told the Hammers' official website: "I am
delighted to sign for West Ham United. I am just looking forward to meeting
everyone at the training ground, starting work and getting out on the pitch
and playing in front of the fans. I am glad the loan is sorted and I'm ready
to play.
Quality
"It will be great to play a part in helping keep West Ham in the Premier
League. It would be a big achievement." Bridge watched West Ham's Carling
Cup semi-final first-leg victory over Birmingham at Upton Park in person.
And the retired England international has no doubts that he has made the
right move in joining Avram Grant's side on a six-month deal. "I know a few
of the players from England and I know the physio," said Bridge. "I spoke to
Scotty Parker and a few people and they told me what a great club it is.
That definitely helped me make the decision to come here. "There is a lot of
quality here and I know we can move up the table. The first half on Tuesday
was great. There should have been a few more goals and then the team came
back with 10 men. If we can play like that every week we'll be fine."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant remains at the helm
But Hammers board stay tight-lipped on his long-term future
By James Riach Last updated: 12th January 2011
SSN
Sky Sports News understands West Ham manager Avram Grant will still be in
charge of the club for the weekend clash with Arsenal. Speculation has raged
that the Israeli coach could be relieved of his duties with the Hammers
currently rock-bottom of the Premier League, but he is now expected to stay
in the post. Grant's time at the East London outfit has often been called
into question this term but the club have revealed his future was not
discussed at a board meeting on Wednesday. Owners David Gold and David
Sullivan were rumoured to be considering wielding the axe but a 2-1 victory
over Birmingham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday
night has earned him a reprieve. The 55-year-old appears to have bought
himself time to convince his employers he is the man to keep the club in the
top-flight.
Miserable
However, it has been a miserable campaign for West Ham so far and the future
looked bleak for their coach following the woeful 5-0 thrashing at the hands
of Newcastle. But barring that collapse at St James' Park there has been an
improvement in form and the defeat on Tyneside has been their only loss in
seven games. There has hardly been a ringing endorsement of Grant from the
club, though, and the board refused to comment directly on his future
following their most recent meeting. This has added further fuel to the fire
that he remains on thin ice and that his reign at the club could still come
to a premature end. Saturday's clash with the Gunners is expected to be a
tough encounter for the Hammers and, if another capitulation is witnessed,
it may still be Grant's last game in the dugout.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers in the mix for Sasha
West Ham lead race for Brazilian starlet
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 12th
January 2011
SSN
West Ham have handed a trial to highly-rated Brazilian midfielder Sasha,
skysports.com understands. The 20-year-old, full name Lucas Pacheco Affini,
is out-of-contract with his current club Gremio Prudente, and he is taking
the opportunity to open talks with a number of English clubs. West Ham have
now stepped to the head of the queue to check on the former Brazilian youth
international. Sasha, who began his career with Brazilian giants
Corinthians, has played most of his career as a holding midfielder, but can
also play out wide or as a full-back. The fact he also has Italian
citizenship means he can play in England without the need for any work
permit. The likes of Blackburn, Newcastle, Leeds and Charlton are also
believed to be keen on him.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spector open to offers
USA star could leave in January
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me on Twitter @skysportspeteo Last updated:
12th January 2011
SSN
Skysports.com understands West Ham star Jonathan Spector is open to offers
in this month's transfer window. Spector is out of contract at the end of
the season and as yet no new deal has been agreed and indications are the
24-year-old is unlikely to be offered a contract extension. West Ham are
thought to be willing to offload Spector this month rather than risk losing
him for nothing in the summer. The news has alerted a number of clubs to
Spector's possible availability for a cut-price fee before the close of the
transfer window. Spector has been a revelation for West Ham in recent weeks
after being deployed in a central midfield role and the American has popped
up with three goals in seven games, including two against former club
Manchester United in the Carling Cup quarter-finals. The USA star's
versatility makes him an attractive proposition to a number of clubs in
England and abroad who are looking to bolster their squad options in the
transfer window.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
O'Neill in torment
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
MARTIN O'NEILL is tormented over whether to rescue struggling West Ham.
Hammers boss Avram Grant will be in charge for Saturday's crunch London
derby at home to Arsenal after surviving yesterday's board meeting at Upton
Park. But should his team crash badly against the Gunners, then West Ham
will launch a final bid to replace him with O'Neill next week. The former
Aston Villa boss is worried the task of saving rock-bottom West Ham from the
drop is already too great with only 16 games left. And the Ulsterman dreads
the thought of being remembered as the manager who took them down. However,
O'Neill also remains desperate to get back into top-flight management and
increasingly realises there may be few, if any, other job opportunities in
the summer. West Ham have also considered axed Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce
as a possible successor, although O'Neill is their overwhelming favourite.
Grant steered West Ham into a 2-1 first-leg lead from Tuesday night's
Carling Cup semi-final against Birmingham. But inconsistencies in the
Premier League have alarmed the West Ham owners. One man who did agree to
help them yesterday is former England left-back Wayne Bridge. Bridge, 30,
completed a loan move from Manchester City after the Hammers outbid Villa,
paying £2.5million in wages and fees. The ex-Chelsea defender will go
straight into the team to face Arsenal in a vital game for the club and
manager's prospects. Bridge has signed until the end of the season on an
£80k-a-week deal. He said: "I'm delighted to have got a chance to get out
and play some regular football. "I'm fully focused on one thing. Helping to
contribute to keeping West Ham in the Premier League."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers want Sol
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today
WEST HAM are set to make a dramatic bid for Sol Campbell. Newcastle will let
the defender leave as he has failed to impress on the pitch or settle in the
North-East. West Ham boss Avram Grant believes Campbell can add some
experience to his back four. The former England star, 36, was hoping to
return to Arsenal for a third time but boss Arsene Wenger is unwilling to
make a move. Campbell would be prepared to move to Upton Park but is hoping
to be offered more than a six-month deal. He has made just six appearances
for Newcastle this season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham offer trial to Brazilian defender as Cardiff eye Danny Gabbidon
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:30 AM on 13th January 2011
Daily Mail
Cardiff are considering a move for West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon who has
failed to agree a new contract with the Premier League club and will be free
in the summer. West Ham, who have rebuffed enquiries from Stoke for
midfielder Mark Noble are giving a trial to versatile Brazilian Sasha. The
20-year-old, full name Lucas Pacheco Affini, is a free agent after leaving
Gremio. He has Italian citizenship and can also play at right-back.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Avram Grant limps on at West Ham even without support of his board
Grant's potential replacements have been reluctant to take job
Selection problems eased by arrival of Wayne Bridge on loan
David Hytner
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 12 January 2011 22.30 GMT
Votes of confidence from board level are not what they are cracked up to be,
but when they come from inside the dressing room an under-pressure manager
can take heart. Avram Grant limps on in charge of West Ham United, not
because of any strong backing from his employers or the realisation that he
might be doing a decent job under difficult circumstances but because
neither of his potential replacements, Martin O'Neill or Sam Allardyce, has
leapt at the chance to take over. West Ham's players, though, continue to
put it in for themselves, the fans, the club and, crucially, for Grant. When
they lost 3-1 at home to Manchester City on 11 December, they sat at the
foot of the Premier League table with 12 points from 17 games. They were
four points off the safety of 17th and, looking further up, eight points off
14th.
Since then, however, they have taken eight points from five matches,
although the lone blip was an ugly one – the 5-0 defeat at Newcastle United
last Wednesday. They have also beaten Barnsley in the FA Cup third round and
established a 2-1 first-leg lead in the Carling Cup semi-final against
Birmingham City. They remain at the bottom of the pile but they are now only
one point from safety and two behind 14th place.
Grant has routinely detailed the selection problems he has faced, most
recently after the Birmingham game yesterday, when he said that he had "only
16 senior players available". But his argument that the club would not have
fashioned such an encouraging run if the players had lost their faith in him
bears scrutiny.
"We're definitely playing for the manager," said the captain, Scott Parker.
"If you believed everything that was written and everything that you hear
about West Ham, you would be a rather stressed man. As players, we just keep
our heads down and get on with our jobs.
"The manager seems very relaxed. I think that's his demeanour. He seems
quite relaxed and chilled out and that filters down to the players. The lads
are fighting as much as the gaffer is fighting. We're all in the same
corner. The manager's got tonnes and tonnes of experience so, yeah, he's
doing a good job."
The board meeting at Upton Park this afternoon passed off without incident.
There is concern among the directors about the prospect of relegation and
whether Grant is the manager to lift the team clear of trouble but the
co-owner David Sullivan is not about to fire him without an alternative
lined up. Stasis endures.
Transfers were also on the agenda. Wayne Bridge has signed on loan from
Manchester City until May and Queens Park Rangers are considering a loan for
the striker Benni McCarthy. The South African is back in shape after his
well-documented struggles with his weight, although he is currently out of
action with a muscular problem. West Ham would subsidise his wages were he
to move to QPR.
"Bridge will be fantastic," Parker said. "He's a great player and he will
enhance the squad."
Grant was forced to start the central defender Matthew Upson at left-back
against Birmingham but he will have have Bridge in place for Saturday's
visit of Arsenal.
Grant is fed up of the uncertainty surrounding his position and he remarked
pointedly yesterday night that he was the only manager in the Premier
League's bottom seven who was being forced to endure such prolonged
speculation. The subtext to his comments seemed to be that the other six
managers had publicly supportive directors.
His focus, though, is on Arsenal and the tonic that an upset of the north
London club could offer. Grant and Parker felt that the team had shown
plenty of character to dig out the result against Birmingham, having been
reduced to 10 men by Victor Obinna's foolish 59th-minute red card and
although Carlton Cole's late winner was hugely fortunate they will take what
they can get at present.
"In football, sometimes you get a bit of luck and things turn around for
you," Parker said. "We're feeling positive. Take the Newcastle game out of
it and we've picked up some good results. We'll go into the Arsenal game
confident."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
AVRAM GRANT STAYS AS MARTIN O'NEILL SAYS NO
Daily Express
Thursday January 13,2011
By Matt Law and Frank Wiechula
AVRAM GRANT was last night still clinging to his West Ham job after the club
were told any ambitious move for Martin O'Neill would be likely to fail.
The Hammers held a scheduled board meeting where Grant's future was top of
the agenda. Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first-leg 2-1 victory over
Birmingham helped him survive, but potential successors have been discussed
within the club and former Aston Villa and Celtic boss O'Neill is believed
to be the top target. But the Daily Express last night learned that West Ham
have been informally told that O'Neill is looking to re-enter football at a
club significantly higher up the Premier League table. It is also believed
O'Neill has serious misgivings about whether the Hammers squad, who are
bottom of the table, are strong enough to survive and doubts whether the
club have enough money to achieve his ambitions. It leaves West Ham
considering an approach for Sam Allardyce or Chris Hughton – who played for
the club and is known to be keen on a return. Grant's stay of execution may
not last past the weekend if his team are comfortably beaten by Arsenal on
Saturday, and the club are desperately hoping captain Scott Parker can play
after picking up an ankle injury. Wayne Bridge has arrived on loan from
Manchester City and the club are also considering a move for veteran
defender Sol Campbell, who has been told he can leave Newcastle. West Ham's
need for a centre-back could intensify if Matthew Upson, who may emerge as a
target for former club Arsenal, leaves this month.
Neither of the Hammers' joint owners, David Gold or David Sullivan, chose to
say anything to waiting TV cameras following the two-hour meeting at Upton
Park. Grant, who said after the 2-1 Birmingham win that the speculation was
unsettling all round, may be left wondering if his continued tenure is on a
virtual match-to-match basis, which would be an entirely invidious position
for any manager. Grant has won four, drawn two and lost one of his last
seven matches in all competitions, an impressive record most clubs would be
delighted with. But it was that one defeat, the 5-0 Premier League thumping
at Newcastle on January 5, and the manner of it, which is understood to have
upset the Hammers hierarchy, especially as they dropped back to bottom
again.
But, such are the current vagaries of the league, one win would lift West
Ham back to 14th. And, if they manage to avoid defeat against Birmingham on
January 26, Grant will have achieved the feat of leading the club to a
Wembley final. What is clear, however, is that his players are solidly
behind the manager. Midfielder Parker said: "The lads are fighting as much
as the gaffer is fighting. "We're all in the same corner. We're all trying
to do our best for ourselves, for the manager, for the club. "The manager
has tons and tons of experience so he's doing a good job. "If you believed
everything that was written, and everything that you hear about West Ham,
you would be a rather stressed man. "As players we just keep our heads down
and get on with our jobs. "He seems quite relaxed and chilled out. That's
his demeanour, and I think that echoes down to the players. It was a big win
for us and we're feeling positive. We'll go into the Arsenal game confident
and, hopefully, we can pick up some more points."
Bridge, who was watching the victory over Birmingham from the Upton Park
stands, said: "It will be great to play a part in helping keep West Ham in
the Premier League. It would be a big achievement. "I know a few of the
players from England and the physio. I spoke to Scotty and a few people and
they told me what a great club it is. That definitely helped me make the
decision to come here. There is a lot of quality here and I know we can move
up the table." About his future, Grant said: "I have been answering these
sort of questions since day one. But you don't need to worry about me
because I will be fine in any case. "You need to give these players respect,
though, for what they have achieved. "I'm doing my job but if everything was
quieter it would help."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
