WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s were denied a seventh straight league win as
Southampton won 4-3 at Little Heath
29.01.2011
West Ham United U18s 3-4 Southampton U18s
West Ham United Under-18s were denied a seventh consecutive FA Premier
Reserve League victory as Southampton scored twice in the closing five
minutes to score a dramatic 4-3 win. The Hammers looked set to score a
notable success over the Group A leaders when strikes from Robert Hall and
Blair Turgott and an own-goal put them 3-1 up with half-an-hour remaining.
However, the Saints launched a determined late comeback at Little Heath,
taking advantage of some loose defending to score three times to leave Tony
Carr wondering what might have been. "We should have won the game - we were
2-0 and 3-1 up but just blew it in the last 25 minutes," said the Academy
Director. "We made mistakes and got tired. All credit to Southampton,
because they kept going and we gifted them their last two goals in the final
five minutes. "We had it won but we just gave it to them. To be fair to
Southampton, they worked very hard, played very direct and had two very
quick forwards. "Unfortunately, Paco Craig and Callum Driver - who up to
then had played very well - made individual errors and Southampton took full
advantage."
West Ham went ahead through a low shot from Robert Hall that Southampton's
goalkeeper allowed to slip under his body, and it was 2-0 before half-time
when Matthias Fanimo's low cross was diverted into his own net by a Saints
defender. Southampton pulled a goal back before Blair Turgott (pictured)
re-established the Hammers' two-goal advantage when he cut in from the left
and drilled a low shot into the net. "With 25 minutes to go, the game was
dead and, if anything, we looked like scoring again rather than conceding,
then Paco made a poor clearance and one of their boys scored with a
fantastic strike to make it 3-2. "We then conceded two poor goals in the
closing minutes. The first came when a free-kick was left by everybody and
one of their boys just didn't give it up. He hit a low ball across the face
of goal and we just went to sleep and they tapped it in. "Then, Callum
should have just kicked a long ball out of defence out, but he tried to
control it. He was dispossessed and they crossed the ball very quickly and
scored the winner. "I am very disappointed because we played really, really
well for an hour against the league leaders and then blew it - that's the
only way to sum it up."
Following Saturday's defeat, West Ham sit sixth in the Group A table with 22
points from 16 matches, while Southampton are top with 30 points.
West Ham United U18s: Larkins, Modelski, Craig, Chambers, Driver, Turgott,
Lletget (Vose), Powell (Hunt), Fanimo, Hall, Tombides
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Dyer moves on
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 30th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Alex Dyer has left West Ham United to join Chris Powell at Charlton. Powell
replaced the sacked Phil Parkinson at the Valley earlier this month and only
last week admitted that he was keen to bring United reserve team boss Dyer
in to work as his assistant. KUMB.com understands tonight that Dyer, having
since been offered the position has elected to join Powell at Charlton - and
will commence work with the League One club immediately. A popular figure at
Chadwell Heath, 45-year-old Dyer joined West Ham in 2004 when he worked
alongside sports scientist Tony Strudwick, another of the backroom staff
hired during Alan Pardew's spell as manager. In 2007 he became conditioning
coach but just a year later was appointed reserve team coach, a position he
has held since.
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Ba - I will save Hammers
Senegal striker insists he is not trouble
Last updated: 29th January 2011
SSN
New West Ham striker Demba Ba has declared that he will 'save the club' from
its relegation troubles. Ba comes to England with a prolific reputation
after scoring 40 goals in 103 appearances for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
The 25-year-old failed a medical at Stoke earlier in January but was able to
prove his knee troubles are behind him before signing a deal until 2014 at
Upton Park. West Ham sit rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table,
yet are only two points from safety, a destination Ba hopes his goals can
take the Hammers. "This situation is not easy for West Ham but I will give
everything to play these last 14 games and to win the maximum games as
possible," Ba said. "I will do my best to score as much as we need. That is
what I am here to do.
"I'm not here to be a hero, I am here to save the club in the Premier League
with the squad that we have. "I won't be a hero if West Ham stay in the
Premier League - the whole team will be heroes."
No trouble
In addition to his well-documented knee problems, the Senegal international
also comes to England with a reputation as a trouble-maker. Reports in
Germany revealed Ba had gone on strike at his former club in a bid to push
through his move to the Premier League. Despite his bad press and the
appearance safeguards West Ham built into his contract, Ba is confident he
has all the ingredients to be a success at Upton Park. "Everybody was
talking about there being a problem but I played the first half of the
season in Germany without any big problems," he added. "I know that I can
fit with this league. I think I can adapt fast. I love playing football and
being in teams that have the ball and play good football. "The first time I
spoke to Avram Grant, my first question was about his conception of
football. He gave me his answer and it was a good point. "Thierry Henry was
my idol for a long time. [Didier] Drogba is still scoring goals and he has
everything a striker needs to have. "I have my qualities and I want to play
my game and hopefully score my goals."
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It's a time for heroes - says West Ham new boy Ba
Published 23:00 29/01/11 By Bill Mills
The Mirror
West Ham striker Demba Ba has told his team-mates they will be heroes if
they avoid relegation from the Premier League. The Senegalese striker, 25,
who joined the Hammers from Hoffenheim this week, said: "I won't be a hero
if West Ham stay up - the whole squad will be. "I will give everything to
play these last 14 games and win the maximum games possible."
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Hammer legend Dicks waiting for Avram's SOS call
Published 23:00 29/01/11 By Anthony Clavane
The Mirror
West Ham legend Julian Dicks wants Avram Grant to pick up the phone and
invite him to join the Hammers' survival battle. Grant, whose side are
rooted to the foot of the Premier League, admitted morale at Upton Park was
rocked after the Carling Cup semi-final defeat by Birmingham. But Dicks
believes that he can do "a Kenny Dalglish" – and give his old club a massive
lift. The former West Ham skipper, who twice played a major part in helping
them stay up in the 1990s, admires the way that King Kenny has brought the
feel good factor back to Liverpool. "I could do a similar thing at Upton
Park," he said. "I'm not comparing myself in any way to Kenny, but if West
Ham fans see me in the dugout, or just involved in any way at the club, I
think morale will be raised.
"I'd love to be involved in any capacity, whether it was as assistant coach
or being in charge of the kids. I'd walk on my hands and knees if Avram gave
me a call. "I would bring the passion and pride that I had when I was a
player there."
One of football's finest hard men, Dicks was nicknamed 'The Terminator'
because of his no-nonsense approach to tackling. Now boss of Isthmian League
Division One North club Grays Athletic, he became a West Ham legend after
playing 315 times and scoring 64 goals in 10 years at the club. He said: "It
was bitterly disappointing not to get to the Carling Cup final. But all the
league games from now on should be cup finals. "Playing against Nottingham
Forest in the FA Cup is a tough one and winning will give us a boost. But
the priority is to stay up. "I've got experience of doing that at West Ham
and Birmingham.
"Dalglish going back to Liverpool has got everyone fired up, and they've
improved a lot since he came.
"What we need at West Ham is for all of the players to stand up and be
counted. There are some very good players at the club – Rob Green, Matthew
Upson, Scotty Parker, Mark Noble and Frederic Piquionne. "And I think Wayne
Bridge [left] will turn out to be a very good loan signing. He is a top
defender. Avram is a good manager with a proven track record. The fans are
the best in the world. "I'd be delighted to be asked to help in any way –
even if it was just looking ugly in the dugout."
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Boot-iful deadline day for West Ham target Robbie Keane
By JOE BERNSTEIN Last updated at 9:15 PM on 29th January 2011
Daily Mail
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has cleared out his boots from the club in
anticipation of a third consecutive January deadline-day move - this time to
West Ham. Keane gave the clearest indication yet he is definitely moving
away from Spurs by collecting all his boots from the training ground on
Friday - a traditional sign that he is not planning to return. West Ham
want to tie up a loan for Keane but want to delay a £6million fee until they
have secured Premier League survival. Sunderland last night signed
26-year-old Benin international Stephane Sessegnon from Paris St Germain for
£6million. He will join Sulley Muntari, who signed on loan from Inter Milan
with a view to a £6m permanent move in the summer.
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