WHUFC.com
Scott Parker has told West Ham TV he is ready for the vital Barclays Premier
League run-in
03.02.2011
Scott Parker has told West Ham TV that Wednesday night's win at Blackpool
has given the Hammers a massive opportunity to push on and secure their
Barclays Premier League safety. The two-time Hammer of the Year was at his
talismanic best at Bloomfield Road, charging into tackles, making heroic
blocks and keeping the team ticking over with a typically-energetic midfield
performance. The three points collected lifted West Ham up to 18th in the
table ahead of the visit of Birmingham City on Sunday and a trip to West
Bromwich Albion on Saturday 12 February.
"It's a massive result for us, but whoever the game was against it would
have been a massive game for us because we had 14 games left and every one
of them is going to be vital for us," he told West Ham TV. "The new boys
have probably lifted us coming into the squad and we dominated the first
half and really controlled the game. We're absolutely ecstatic and hopefully
now we can really push up the table. "It's an important period but I think
we realise that every game between now and the end of the season is going to
be important for us because the position we find ourselves in, there is no
other way.
"We've got to find a run between now and the end of the season and every
game is going to be big for us but if we keep going the way we did on
Wednesday night and can pick up some results, that will be brilliant."
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The east London collective
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd February 2011
By: Staff Writer
First team coach Wally Downes believes West Ham's new signings have given
the squad enough quality to steer clear of relegation. Downes, speaking on
Talksport tonight praised the board for backing Avram Grant during the
winter transfer window - whilst insisting that a newly-discovered
'collectiveness' was behind the team's gradual improvement.
"There's games where we've played well but not battled and there's games
where we've battled but not played as well as we could," he said. "But now
we're just about getting that balance right and it could be coming at the
right time.
"They were getting themselves in positions to win games all season but just
not seeing it out. It was a new manager and some new players and it's taken
a while to gel. The first third of the season was pretty disastrous really
after a bad start; middle third kept us in touch and now we feel that we've
got a strong squad, got that little bit of collectiveness together and I
think it's looking good to push on now.
"Since Christmas time there's been like a collective destiny with the
players. They're all pulling in the same direction and it's good. The
dressing room is back bubbly and bouncy again and the players are looking
forward to the final third of the season, because now we've strengthened
where we need to strengthen we can push on.
"That's all credit to the people upstairs. They've been in charge of the
club for little over a year now - and I suppose there's been a couple of
cock-ups - but [not] the big decisions, the ones that mattered. They've
certainly backed Avram in the transfer market. He's gone out, identified the
positions which we need strengthened and he's done it."
The former Reading coach, who has been at the Boleyn Ground since last
November and is contracted until the end of the season also feels that
having risen from the bottom of the pile the next few weeks could prove
crucial to the final Premier League table.
"It's a relief to jump up a couple of places," he added. "We could have got
out of the bottom three if Birmingham hadn't have equalised but we got lucky
in the last minute with a bad back-pass at Wolves, so that sort of levelled
it out a bit.
"We've got a batch of three games now which is similar to Christmas time,
we're playing the teams around us. We've got Birmingham on Sunday then we
play West Brom after that. The teams around us have got some quite tough
fixtures over the next three games so we've got a chance to pick up some
points and put the pressure on."
The collective spirit which Downes attributed to the playing squad also
appear to have spread amongst the back-room staff - something that Downes
feels is having a positive effect on the whole club.
"All the staff, Kevin Keen and Paul Groves, we've sort of gelled together,"
he said. "Avram's a great listener, you don't get any immediate answers from
him but he'll listen to what you've got to say and then half-an-hour later
he might be walking down the corridor and he'll have mulled it over, thought
about it and he'll tell you whether he likes it or not. He gives us the
freedom to implement what we want to do on the training pitch - but
obviously the final say is his. "
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Supporters back Olympic Stadium move
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd February 2011
By: Staff Writer
A majority of supporters now want to move to Stratford, according to the
latest KUMB.com poll. With just over 1,000 votes currently cast nearly three
in five supporters now back the move to move to Stratford - a stunning
turnaround since our last poll six months ago when 72 per cent of voters
voted against leaving the BG.
The key component in that enormous swing appears to be the emergence of
Tottenham, whose plans to challenge West Ham for the stadium were only
revealed after the June 2010 poll was conducted - suggesting that whilst
many supporters still oppose the idea of moving, it is a sacrifice they are
prepared to make in order to prevent Spurs' relocating to east London.
The results of our three polls on the Olympic Stadium thus far are as
follows:
Do you support the Board's plans to move WHUFC to the Olympic Stadium
post-2012 games?
(January 2011)
Yes 57%; No 32%, Undecided 11%
Do you support the proposed move to an Olympic Stadium with a running track,
post-2012 games?
(May 2010)
Yes 18%; No 72%; Undecided 10%
Do you support David Sullivan's plans to move WHUFC to the Olympic Stadium?
(January 2010)
Yes 54%; No 21%; Undecided 25%
* The latest poll is still open, should you wish to add your vote (KUMB.com
members only) at http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=128486
Notes: The Jan '10 poll was conducted prior to the revelation that a running
track must remain at the Olympic Stadium. The May '10 poll was conducted
once those plans has been revealed. The most recent poll (Jan '11) was
conducted after Spurs had revealed their own plans to move to Stratford.
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Lucky seven?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd February 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have cut prices across the board once again for the fifth round FA
Cup tie with Burnley. The added bonus of an almost unprecedented seventh
home cup tie in one season - which takes place on Monday, 21 February
(8:00pm kick-off) - has allowed the club to lower prices around the ground,
with tickets for season ticket holders starting at just £15 for adults (a
fiver for under-16s). Season ticket holders have until 9 February to grab
their regular seats. Academy members can purchase tickets from the following
day (10 February) and the remainder go on general sale the day after (11
February).
Althogh it remains unconfirmed the club are likely to once again introduce
pay-on-the-door turnstiles for those turning up on the day. West Ham have
won all six of their home cup games this season with only one - the Carling
Cup win over Stoke - going beyond normal time.
Fortress Upton Park: 20010/11 Boleyn cup games
August: Oxford 1-0 (Carling Cup round two)
October: Stoke 3-1 (Carling Cup round three)
November: Man Utd 4-0 (Carling Cup quarter final)
January: Barnsley 2-0 (FA Cup round three); Birmingham 2-1 (Carling Cup semi
final); Notts Forest 3-2 (FA Cup round four)
February: Burnley (FA Cup round five)
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Nothing in my way
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd February 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham new boy Robbie Keane insists that his best is yet to come. The
30-year-old striker opened his Hammers account with the second goal in last
night's 3-1 win at Blackpool - but believes that West Ham fans have yet to
see him at his peak. "I enjoyed the game and it was nice to get 80 minutes
under my belt. I haven't played for a long time but I felt good, as the game
went on I felt stronger," Keane told the BBC. "As the other games come now
I'm sure I'll feel a lot stronger as the weeks pass. "I'm just happy to be
here. For me it was always about playing football, I'm not one of these
people who like to sit on the bench, pick up my wages and be happy with
that. It's just not me. I love playing football, always have and that will
never change. I think you probably saw that out there today."
Although naturally delighted with his goal, Keane insisted that all that
mattered was the overall team performance - and the three points that lifted
the Hammers off the bottom of the Premier League table. "As a striker and a
person who's just come to a new club it's always important to get of to a
good start, becasue as a striker you're judged on goals," he admitted. "But
it was important - not just for me but for the team - to get a good result
here today and get three points. We did that and I think we certainly
deserved to win the game."
And Keane also believes that his new club has what it takes to escape the
spectre of relegation - despite United remaining odds-on with most bookies
for the drop. "The reality is we're down there," he added. "There's players
in there - even before I came - I believed were strong enough and [there's]
a good [enough] squad to stay in the league. I still firmly believe that
now. "You look at the players in there, top quality players - the Nobles
and Parkers and what-have-you. So they've got good players and if I can add
a little bit to that, great."
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Hammers trust in Higgins
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 3rd February 2011
By: Staff Writer
A former editor of the Sun newspaper has been drafted in to help West Ham's
Olympic bid. Stuart Higgins, of Stuart Higgins Communications has been hired
by West Ham to promote United's bid to take residency in Stratford post the
2012 games. One of SHC's key tasks has been to persuade sporting luminaries
to back the West Ham bid, leading to world 100m champion Usian Bolt and
former world champion Michael Johnson coming out in support.
Also on the team, according to prweek.com are former hurdler Alan Pascoe and
Portsmouth's ex-director of communications, Gary Double. Tottenham's bid is
being handled by Vero Communications whose chairman, Mike Lee, has
frequently represented West Ham over the past few years. Vero and Lee were
responsible for persuading former World Cup winner Pele to back Spurs' bid
recently. A decision on the preferred bidder had been scheduled for the end
of January, however the process has now been delayed with a final decision
now expected by the end of March.
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Parker positive for Hammers
Hammers talisman feels signings will make a big contribution
Last updated: 3rd February 2011
SSN
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is confident the club can avoid relegation
following the arrival of new players. The Hammers claimed a vital 3-1 win
over Blackpool on Wednesday at Bloomfield Road to lift them off the bottom
of the Premier League and level on points with 17th-placed Birmingham.
On-loan striker Robbie Keane scored on his debut after moving from Tottenham
on deadline day, whilst other January signings Gary O'Neiland Wayne Bridge -
who has recovered from a shaky start - were also effective. The talismanic
Parker now feels the team are moving in the right direction under Avram
Grant, and is backing them to beat the drop come May. "The additions we've
made in January have improved us massively," he said. "You look at us and
we've got a strong squad, one which can go and win Premier League matches.
"It's a massive result for us but it would've been a massive result whatever
the game would've been. "We've got 14 games left and every one will be big
for us. "We fully deserved the win, we dominated in the first half and
really controlled the game.
Ecstatic
"We're absolutely ecstatic and hopefully we can build on this and really
push up the table. "When you win games, it breeds confidence and we haven't
won many games this year. "That feeling of winning is one we want to keep
and hopefully we can do that." The feeling around Upton Park has been one of
great uncertainty in recent months, with Grant failing to produce results
and seeing his side bottom for quite some time. Rumours suggested that the
Israeli was on the verge of the sack in January, but a U-turn has seen him
stay at the club, something that Parker is pleased about and says will
result in a huge turnaround in fortunes. "It would be a massive achievement
for us," he added. "I think we're good enough to stay in this league but we
need to prove that and win games. "It would be massive for everyone in there
because it has been difficult at times this year, on and off the field.
Sometimes it's not been easy. "We've made things difficult ourselves but all
we can do is stay together and try to win football matches. "We'd defy
history if we could stay up so it would be great."
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Levy defends stadium plan
No moral obligation to keep running track claims Spurs chairman
Last updated: 3rd February 2011
SSN
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy insists there is no moral obligation to
retain a running track in the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games and
claims a takeover of the venue by Spurs would see money pouring into the
public purse. Spurs are bidding against West Ham - who would keep the track
- to take over the stadium and have faced criticism from those who say
London should honour the promises made to the International Olympic
Committee when they were awarded the Games. Levy, who added Tottenham fans
must put emotions to one side and embrace the proposed move if the club are
to find a permanent place among football's elite, said London's original
plans for the Olympic Stadium had already been proved unworkable. "There is
no moral argument to retain the running track," he said. "Any bid process
sees commitments made and then things change. "The original plan was to
reduce the stadium to a 25,000-seat stadium just for athletics and nobody
wanted it. The minute they went away from that commitment then it all
changed. "The commitment to have no white elephants is also relevant. London
2012 also planned to hold certain events in a venue next to the O2 arena and
now they are being held in Wembley Arena - circumstances change. "From the
viewpoint of the taxpayer and therefore the Government a lot of money has
been spent on the Olympics and it is important the taxpayer is not asked to
put more money into it in the future. "We will actually be providing
significant returns to the taxpayer through lease payments."
Myth
Spurs' plan would see the Crystal Palaceathletics stadium redeveloped for
that sport instead, and Levy insisted the plan to demolish the Olympic
Stadium and construct a purpose-built football ground in its place was not a
waste of the £500 million public money already spent on it. "That's a myth,"
said Levy. "The £500 million is the total investment for the total site and
it was always intended for much of the structure to come down after the
Games - at a cost of £80 million. "Under our proposal the vast majority of
the stadium will be reutilised in the new stadium or at Crystal Palace. "The
notion that the whole thing is being knocked down and wasted is incorrect."
Levy said he understood fans' concerns at the club uprooting for north
London and moving to east London but insisted that was a step that had to be
taken. He said: "I understand that because I have been a Spurs fan all my
life. But our fans travel on average 40 miles to each game from all around
London and the south east. "If we have to move five miles down the road for
the greater good of the club, then that's what we have to do. "I believe the
vast majority of fans support us if it means progressing and sometimes you
have to make bold decisions. If you look across Europe we are the only major
club to play in such a small stadium. "Our capacity is 36,000 and we have a
waiting list of 36,000. We know we will sell the Olympic Stadium out every
week, we have substantial financial backers, we have a fantastic partnership
with AEG and we know therefore there will be no white elephants and that is
so important in what will be the entrance to the Olympic Park."
Incompatible
Levy said that athletics and football in the same stadium did not work for
either sport. He added: "In my opinion we would bring a much bigger
contribution to athletics at Crystal Palace, the original home of athletics.
The only thing we would not do is have it in the Olympic Park. "The Olympic
Park Legacy Company have to take the emotion out of this and look at the
long-term viability of the Olympic Park. If they get this wrong it could
impact on the public purse for years to come.''
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Sotherton: Track must stay
Heptathlete keen to see Olympic stadium retain athletics capability
Last updated: 3rd February 2011
SSN
Kelly Sotherton has criticised Tottenham's "astonishing" plan to tear down
the Olympic Stadium and insists West Ham's commitment to holding post-Games
athletics meetings in Stratford will help inspire Britain's next generation
of athletes to glory. Sotherton's sentiments are echoed by former Olympic
champion Sally Gunnell and world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu. A
decision on who will occupy the 60,000-seater stadium is likely to be
announced later in February, with West Ham the favourites to prevail given
they have pledged to keep the running track around the stadium. Spurs, on
the other hand, plan to demolish the £537 million stadium and replace it
with a purpose-built 60,000-capacity football ground. Tottenham, though,
intend to honour Britain's commitment to providing a post-Olympics athletics
legacy in London by refurbishing Crystal Palace. Their plans have angered a
number of senior figures in athletics including London 2012 chairman Lord
Coe and UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee. Now Sotherton, who won
bronze in the heptathlon in Athens before coming fourth in Beijing four
years later, has criticised Tottenham's bid, insisting the club would betray
Britain's commitment to maintain a post-Olympics athletics legacy in London
if they are successful in their plan to move to Stratford. "The track and
the stadium must stay, definitely," the 34-year-old said. "The stadium must
not be demolished. How can you knock down an Olympic Stadium? I think these
comments have come from people who have never experienced an Olympic Games
or been part of a team that has been to an Olympic Games. "I have been to
three Olympic stadiums and competed in two Olympics and just being in that
stadium was amazing. "To think that the legacy that it holds for all the
people in that part of London, the country, and the whole world could be
knocked down would be astonishing. "If West Ham win the bid they have said
they will keep the track, let's hope they do and make it multi-use so that
everyone in the country can benefit from having a world class athletics
stadium in their own country.''
Reputation
Spurs have defended their plans to make Stratford a football-only ground by
insisting the country does not need a 60,000-capacity athletics venue. Van
Commenee has hit out at that suggestion by warning Britain risks dropping
below the levels of Lithuania and Estonia in their reputation if it does not
have a national stadium committed to athletics. Sotherton, who aims to
compete at the London Olympics in the 400 metres, admits having a national
stadium would help influence the development of future athletics stars. She
said: "That stadium will host one or two meets a year and it will be one of
the best stadiums in the world for athletics and that's what we want it for.
"It can be used for community and other needs and for people to visit, train
and run on a track where Usain Bolt may have run 9.05 on.''
Idowu is hoping to go one better than his silver in Beijing when he takes
part in next year's Olympics in his home city. The triple-jumper grew up
just four miles from Stratford in Hackney and he is also desperate for West
Ham to win the race to occupy the stadium. "It would mean a lot more to me
to come back after the Olympics and compete in one of the Grand Prix in the
Olympic Stadium," the 32-year-old said. "That would be a lot more special to
me because that's just down the road from me - that's home, where I lived,
grew up and went to school. "The only London Grand Prix we have right now is
at Crystal Palace. That's special. It's always nice to compete in front of a
home crowd but performing at an Olympic venue is something else.''
Gunnell, who won the 400m hurdles in Barcelona in 1992, added: "I'm
absolutely horrified at the thought of Tottenham being allowed to flatten
the site within a few months of London hosting the Olympics. "I'm very
passionate about athletics, and there is no way it should be bulldozed to
make way for football - what a waste of public money. "I grew up on the
outskirts of east London and I know how desperate we are for tracks here. We
are crying out for new facilities and I cannot comprehend the logic of
building a stadium just to take it down again."
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Scott: Hammers will beat the drop
The Sun
Published: 03 Feb 2011
SCOTT PARKER is confident West Ham will still be a Premier League club next
season. The Hammers pulled away from the foot of the table with a 3-1
victory last night to ease the pressure on boss Avram Grant. On-loan
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane scored on his debut while Victor Obinna hit a
double to secure three precious points. And Parker, 30, believes the
struggling Londoners have finally turned the corner. He said: "The additions
we've made in January have improved us massively. "You look at us and we've
got a strong squad, one which can go and win Premier League matches.
"Blackpool was a massive result for us but it would've been a massive result
whatever the game would've been. "We've got 14 games left and every one will
be big for us.
"We fully deserved the win, we dominated in the first half and really
controlled the game. "We're absolutely ecstatic and hopefully we can build
on this and really push up the table. "When you win games, it breeds
confidence and we haven't won many games this season. "That feeling of
winning is one we want to keep and hopefully we can do that."
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Parker backing Keane to save West Ham
Published 23:00 03/02/11 By David Anderson
The Mirror
Robbie Keane can shoot West Ham to safety, according to Scott Parker. Keane
scored on his Hammers debut in the 3-1 win over Blackpool on Wednesday night
that lifted Avram Grant's side off the bottom of the Premier League. Parker
is highly impressed with Keane and claims the on-loan Tottenham striker will
give them the edge over their rivals in the fight for survival. "He's only
been here a few days, but he's experienced and his quality is here for
everyone to see," said Parker. "He's an outstanding forward player, who
brings massive quality to our squad. "I think everyone in our squad will
step up to the plate. We know what we need to do and the quality of players
we've brought in, like Robbie and Gary O'Neil, in January add strength and
quality to our squad.
"I think the likes of Robbie can be the difference for us. The additions
we've made in January have improved us massively. You look at us and we've
got a strong squad - one which can go and win more league matches."
Keane, 30, was thrilled to net his first Barclays Premier League goal in 15
months and says he is focused on keeping West Ham up. "It's always nice as a
striker to score on your debut, but the most important thing was getting the
win," said the Republic of Ireland's all-time leading scorer. "This is just
one little step forward to what we want to achieve and it's important that
we maintain it now."
West Ham's win at Bloomfield Road was only their second on the road in the
league this season and Parker sees it as a defining moment in the relegation
battle. Only goal difference now keeps them in the bottom three and after
their grim first half of the campaign, which so nearly cost Grant his job,
Parker claims the dressing room is buzzing. "This is definitely a turning
point," said the midfielder. "It's not good when you're at home looking at
the table and you see yourself bottom, so it's very pleasing we're off the
bottom. "It was a massive result for us. It would've been a massive result
whatever the game would've been. "When you win games, it breeds confidence
and we haven't won many games this year. That feeling of winning is one we
want to keep and hopefully we can do that."
Only two Premier League teams have stayed up after starting February in last
place and Parker has challenged his West Ham team-mates to buck that trend.
"It would be a massive achievement for us if we could stay up and we'd be
defying history if we could do it," he said. "It would be massive because
it's been difficult at times this year, on and off the field, and we've made
things difficult ourselves by what's been said. All we can do now is stay
together and try to win football matches. "We've got 14 games left and it's
vital we realise that every single game to the end of the season will be
important for us. The position we find ourselves in, there's no other way.
"I think we're good enough to stay in this league, but we need to prove that
by winning games."
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West Ham United want Football Association to pay compensation for Dean
Ashton injury
By Jason Burt, Deputy Football Correspondent 7:15AM GMT 04 Feb 2011
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham United are serving a writ demanding £6.8million in compensation
from the Football Association after the injury to Dean Ashton that ended the
striker's career. The FA's decision earlier this week to settle Ashton's own
action against them has encouraged West Ham to believe that their case will
also be successful. The writ is believed to have already been issued and
covers the amount Ashton was insured for by the club - £8 million — minus
the £1.2 million in wages which the FA covered for a year, the 2006-07
season, while he tried to recover from a broken ankle. Ashton was injured in
a tackle with Shaun Wright-Phillips back in August 2006, in his first
training session after receiving his first England call-up ahead of a
friendly against Greece. He underwent a series of operations and even
managed to win an England cap, in June 2008, but the injury recurred and he
retired from football in December 2009. The terms of the out-of-court
settlement with Ashton, now 27 and still troubled by the ankle, announced by
the FA were undisclosed but the very fact that they have settled will
encourage West Ham's legal team that their case is likely to succeed because
it would appear there is an acceptance that the player retired as a result
of the injury sustained with England.
There had been a fear at West Ham that because Ashton did play again, making
31 appearances for them and scoring 10 more goals, then the case may be
harder to prove. An added complication for the club – and this may end up
being the sole defence mounted by the FA's insurers — is that they may have
claimed too late under the insurance policy rules. West Ham, however, are
confident that they can prove this not to be the case and it's believed they
have evidence, albeit gathered under the previous regime, that they
requested claim forms on several occasions before eventually receiving them.
The FA beefed up its insurance following the dispute with Newcastle United
over Michael Owen's injury travails, but this case is the biggest they have
faced so far given Ashton, who surely seemed destined to be England's
first-choice centre-forward and was an exciting talent, had to quit the
game.
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Axed Player to Pocket £4m
04 Feb 2011
Thisdaylive.com
REUTERS
West Ham's Benni McCarthy has refused a £1m pay-off to leave Upton Park -
despite not even being in the club's 25-man squad, reports Reuters.
McCarthy has been axed from the squad after a miserable stint at West
Ham: he has made just 11 appearances and not scored a single goal for the
Hammers since joining them from Blackburn on transfer deadline day last
year, with injuries and weight problems both contributing to his lack of
form.
And the Daily Mirror reports that the South African is now set to sit
back back and pocket his £50,000-a-week salary rather than take the
seven-figure bonus to go and find employment elsewhere. With McCarthy's
contract running until June 2012 that means he is likely to trouser around
£3.75m from the East London club for waiting out his deal.
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Strength in Depth and Competition for Places is Key!
West Ham Till I Die
I was looking for a 'Blackburn Rovers' type turning point up at Blackpool,
on Wednesday evening. I am, of course, referring to the pivotal 1-2 victory
over Blackburn, at Ewood Park, in the 'Great Escape' of the 2006-07 season.
Hopefully, that is exactly what the 1-3 success at Blackpool will prove to
be. The season defining game when the team clicks and it is the start of a
positive run of results that secures PL safety.
West Ham now have the forwards, the strength in depth and competition for
places to survive. Obinna, Piquionne and Keane look a good strike force,
with the re-assuring presence of Cole, Demba Ba and Hines as competition for
a starting place. In midfield, Noble, Parker and O'Neill combine well and,
when Collison and Hitzlsperger are available, we will have good quality
cover there as well. Indeed, it is just so welcome to anticipate a much
stronger bench, which delivers greater options for the remaining games of
the season. When everyone is available, we will have good competition for
places for once. Historically, that is one of the things that West Ham have
frequently lacked, far too often players have been virtually guaranteed
their starting places. A lack of competition breeds complacency, poor
motivation and static performance levels.
I am a fan of Robbie Keane and have advocated buying him for the last couple
of seasons. He is a proven 1-in-3 PL goal scorer, who also brings that most
valuable of commodities, experience. As he demonstrated in taking the
second goal against Blackpool, give him a chance in the box and he will put
it away with a predatory efficiency. Happily, Obinna has also suddenly
found his feet in the English game, with a stunning 5 goals in 2 matches.
He always had great potential, anyone could see that, but now he is really
applying himself and using the tools at his disposal. I said that he should
use the three match suspension, after the home Carling Cup semi-final 1st
leg, to re-evaluate his game and refocus. It appears that is exactly what
has happened. He also showed maturity in apologising to the fans for his
dismissal and promising that the incident will not be repeated. He deserves
credit for that. Anyone can make a mistake, the point, however, is to learn
from it and it appears that he has Now he must continue to show his quality
and terrorise PL defences over the final 13 matches. And West Ham must move
quickly to take up the option to sign him in the summer. We could very well
need up with an outstanding, international class talent.
Things look good in midfield and up front. However, the defence still looks
a bit suspect. That Charlie Adams goal from the corner kick was a joke.
Personally, I think that our first choice back four of Jacobson, Bridge,
Tomkins and Upson will be solid. But if injuries or suspensions mean that
any of those four are missing then it could be a problem. Gabbidon is now
injured and I am not sure how serious it is; while Winston Reid probably
just needs to adapt to the 'cut and thrust' of the PL. It may be that it is
a case of 'needs must' and Reid is going to go through a very steep learning
curve in the run-n to this season.
We should have brought in a another centre-half, or even a utility defender,
like Tal Ben Haim, who could have provided cover right across the back line.
But it looks like we will have to go with what we have defensively, if so
then lets hope that we are lucky with injuries and the likes of Reid step up
to the plate when required. Happily, Manuel Da Costa made a return to
reserve team action in the recent 1-1 draw with WBA. And he formed a good
partnership with Jordan Spence, a young man whose first team opportunity is
probably over due. No, I would not chose to put Spence in to the team, in
these circumstances, but if events require it, he is another that will just
have to stand up and be counted. Ideally, it will not be necessary and he
will make the first team break through, in less difficult circumstances,
next season.
I am now really relishing the match against Brum on Sunday. It is a real
test of whether we can show the consistency to put together back-to-back
wins. We must build up some momentum on the back of the Blackpool victory
and that means putting Birmingham City to the sword. It will, hopefully,
lift us out of the relegation zone at their expense. Once we are out of the
bottom three, we are going to have battle to stay out of it and push up the
table. Especially with matches against Liverpool, Spurs and Man Utd coming
up. We can do it! Indeed, would it not be a twist of fate if Brum now got
sucked into the bottom three quagmire and suffered relegation. It is
certainly not beyond the realms of possibility. Now that would be irony in
football boots!
As for Blackpool, providing we achieve safety, I hope that they also stay
up. They have guts and play the game the right way. Wednesday's match
struck me as a bit of a throw back to football in the 1970s and 1980s, when
formatons/tactics were less regimented and teams often went for all out
attack. They deserve another go at the top tier, and I sincerely hope that
we play them again next season in the PL.
SJ. Chandos.
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