WHUFC.com
David Gold has sent a message to supporters after many had contacted the club to wish him well
01.03.2011
West Ham United Chairman David Gold has thanked the many well-wishers who have sent messages of support to him in hospital. The club has been inundated with emails and phone calls from concerned Hammers fans, as well as receiving kind words from supporters of other clubs, since confirming he was being treated for cholangitis - an infection of the common bile duct - and septicaemia. As such, he was unable to attend Sunday's 3-1 home win against Liverpool. However, he watched the game on television from his hospital bed and has since been in touch with club staff to congratulate the team on the victory. His daughter Jacqueline said: "My father is still feeling very poorly but his consultant is very pleased with the way he is responding to treatment and we are hoping he will be well enough for surgery next week. "I know Dad would like to thank everyone for their support and best wishes and there is no doubt that Sunday's victory has helped lift his spirits."
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Upson example pleases Grant
WHUFC.com
The manager was delighted with the determination shown by Matthew Upson to face Liverpool
01.03.2011
Avram Grant has commended the performance of his captain Matthew Upson in leading from the back against Liverpool. The Hammers skipper returned from the treatment table to play a commanding 90 minutes against Liverpool's big-money forward Luis Suarez, and admirably kept the Uruguay striker at bay. Upson had been wrongly ruled out in some quarters for the rest of the season, and refused to let his achilles tendonitis keep him out of a massive match that the Hammers won 3-1 at a packed Boleyn. "It was amazing," Grant said of the captain's commitment, having revealed before the game that his skipper was "desperate" to pull on the shirt. "Some said he had finished for the season but he said he could play. You can go by the book, but it depends on the individual. Matthew wanted very much to play. "He did everything he could, he went from doctor to doctor so that he could play and he did very well."
Upson had forged a strong partnership with James Tomkins at the back but knows he has competition for his place. Every single one of Grant's defenders is fit, with Danny Gabbidon, Winston Reid and Manu da Costa all having to force their way back in from the sidelines. With Kieron Dyer and Victor Obinna hoping to take some part in training later this week, and Jack Collison possibly back in full training within a week or two, only Robbie Keane (thigh) and Junior Stanislas (hernia) are not in the manager's more immediate thinking. It is telling that the reserves could line up in tonight's reserve match against Arsenal with the likes of Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, Winston Reid, Radoslav Kovac, Luis Boa Morte, Pablo Barrera and Zavon Hines involved. Also positive is the fact that the hopes of back-to-back wins for the first time this season in the Barclays Premier League have been furthered by a second straight home game, with Stoke City arriving on Saturday. "It is always good to play at home. You feel the supporters are behind us as they are when we play away. I know the first half of the season has not been easy but they understoood the problems we face and have stayed behind us. Our target is to win the next game and always this is the most important thing for us."
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Reserves 3-2 Arsenal
WHUFC.com
Two goals from Dylan Tombides and one from Zavon Hines hand Steve Lomas a winning start
01.03.2011
WEST HAM UNITED v ARSENAL
BARCLAYS PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
WOODSIDE PARK, BISHOP'S STORTFORD FC
TUESDAY 1 MARCH 2011
KICK-OFF: 7PM
Full-time score - West Ham United reserves 3-2 Arsenal reserves
94 mins - That's full-time. Another three points for the reserves and a winning start for Steve Lomas as reserve-team manager. Don't forget, exclusive highlights and post-match reaction will appear on whufc.com and West Ham TV soon.
93 mins - Moncur twice gets in important challenges as the Gunners throw men forward. Montano pumps a long clearance forward as we approach the final minute.
92 mins - Arsenal are pushing for a late equaliser. Can West Ham hold on to their lead?
90 mins - We will have at least four added minutes.
89 mins - Lee challenges in the air and Tombides lofts the ball over the top for Montano, but his left-foot effort flies well over the top from the edge of the penalty area.
87 mins - Boffin keeps West Ham in front. Arsenal keep the ball well around the Hammers box before it breaks to Deacon. He shoots from 14 yards but Boffin is there to block before Faubert clears. West Ham counter and Hines cuts inside before stabbing a low shot a couple of yards wide.
85 mins - Montano should make it 4-2 as Faubert's cross falls to him ten yards out. He takes a touch and smashes his left-foot shot a yard over the top as he is challenged.
82 mins - Arsenal make a third and final change, with Aneke going off and Webb coming on.
81 mins - Hines and Edgar do well before the former finds Lee wide on the right, but his cross is cut out and hacked into the stand. West Ham make a final change as Moncur replaces Edgar for the final few minutes.
77 mins - So close to a fourth for the hosts as Faubert crosses low, Tombides lets the ball run and Montano runs in to apply the finish at the far post, only for a defender to make a miraculous block to keep the ball out. The resulting corner flies straight into the side-netting at the near post.
74 mins - The attendance is announced as 857, which is a very decent number on a cold Tuesday night.
71 mins - So nearly a dream start for Lee, who starts a move in midfield by finding Hines. He finds the overlapping Faubert, whose cross is headed back by Montano. Lee has followed up and heads goalwards, but the ball hits a defender and is cleared.
70 mins - Boa Morte has contributed two assists tonight but his race is run as he shakes the hand of referee Matt Stewart before doing likewise with Lee, who takes his place for the final 20 minutes or so.
69 mins - The game has just petered out a bit in recent moments. West Ham are going to bring on Olly Lee shortly.
67 mins - Montano replaces Barrera.
66 mins - We're going to see Cristian Montano introduced shortly. Before he is, Barrera and Ilunga combine before Edgar flashes a right-footed drive wide of the far post.
64 mins - A great chance for Edgar inside the penalty area, but his touch is a little heavy and Shea is out in a flash to dive at his feet and claim the ball.
62 mins - So close to a hat-trick Tombides. Hines runs on to Boa Morte's through ball and crosses. The ball bounces out to Tombides, but Angha flies in with a timely block and the ball spins wide. The corner comes to nothing.
61 mins - Boa Morte collects a throw out from Boffin before beating two men and laying in Hines, but the No11 is offside. He shoots anyway and Shea saves.
58 mins - A loose throw-in from Arsenal's Brislen-Hall falls to Tombides, who lets fly with a low left-foot shot that Shea can only help on to the base of the post. Barrera gets to the loose ball first but he's offside. Moments later Tombides has another shooting chance with his left foot, but Shea is there to pat the ball down before collecting safely.
56 mins - West Ham nearly work something as Hines closes down a clearance and the ball ricochets to Edgar, but his touch lets him down a bit and he concedes a throw.
52 mins - GOAL! The ball is given away in the middle of the pitch and Arsenal break through Aneke. He slots the ball left to Murphy, who impudently clips the ball high over Boffin and it drops into the net. Great finish.
51 mins - Faubert is booked for dissent as Arsenal are awarded a throw down their left flank.
48 mins - Barrera delivers from the left towards Hines and Cruise heads behind. The corner is half-cleared to Boa Morte, whose shot is deflected inches wide of the top corner. The second corner is cleared.
46 mins - Arsenal make a couple of half-time changes, replacing Hajrovic and Boateng with Martin Angha and Josh Rees. The Gunners get the second half up and running...
Half-time score - West Ham United reserves 3-1 Arsenal reserves
48 mins - That's half-time.
47 mins - GOAL! They will definitely have the lead at half-time now as Tombides heads in his second of the night from Boa Morte's in-swinging left-wing cross. It was another confident finish from the Australia-born youngster.
45 mins - It looks likely that West Ham will go into half-time with the lead. We're going to have at least two added minutes, though.
41 mins - Good from Tombides, who collects Spence's ball down the left before holding off Boateng, turning the defender and being hauled to the ground. Barrera takes the free-kick and fizzes it in low, but Shea holds on at the second attempt.
38 mins - The goal came just moments after Lomas had changed Barrera and Hines over flanks, so you could give the manager some credit for that goal, too.
37 mins - GOAL! Hines heads West Ham back into the lead from a peach of a cross from Faubert. The Frenchman whipped the ball in with real pace and Hines nipped in ahead of his marker to head high into the top right-hand corner. Good goal, that.
35 mins - A shooting chance for Hines from Boa Morte's pass, but Cruise is across quickly to block the shot behind for a corner. Barrera takes it short to Edgar before receiving a return pass before crossing low. The delivery is cut out at the near post.
34 mins - Not much in the way of goalmouth action to report, to be honest. Arsenal are playing most of the football inside the West Ham half but the home side look like they could conjure something on the break. Manager Lomas has been out shouting instructions at his players from the edge of the technical area.
31 mins - Arsenal are on top here. Cruise delivers and Boa Morte heads behind for a corner. Cruise takes and Kovac heads clear.
27 mins - Spence brings the ball forward and when West Ham lose it, Arsenal have a four-on-three break and Aneke drops his shoulder and beats one before finding Ebecilio, but he is crowded out by Reid.
26 mins - GOAL! That was a tad fortunate. The free-kick is played low into the box and not cleared far enough. Hajrovic's shot hits a defender and loops over Boffin and into the net.
25 mins - Ebecilio runs at the West Ham defence and tries to roll in Murphy, but Reid blocks the pass with his arm. Free-kick in a shooting position for Arsenal.
23 mins - Hines goes up for a header and receives a thump in the face from Cruise for his troubles. Free-kick to West Ham wide on the left about 30 yards from goal. Boa Morte delivers and the ball spins high into the air. Kovac volleys but the effort is wayward and Shea collects.
20 mins - The corner is worked back along the touchline before a cross comes in, but Kovac is there to volley the ball behind. The second corner is headed clear by Ilunga before Edgar leads the break. Tombides tries to play in Hines, but the striker is offside.
19 mins - The young Gunners are working really hard and pressing high up the pitch, winning first a throw from Reid and then a corner off the same player.
16 mins - There is a very good crowd in at Woodside Park tonight, despite the low temperature and the lure of Chelsea v Manchester United on television.
14 mins - Having gone behind, Arsenal are now enjoying their best spell of the game in terms of possession, but the Hammers are working hard and closing down the space. As a result, the visitors are unable to fashion an opening.
11 mins - GOAL! Dylan Tombides volleys in neatly from Boa Morte's right-wing cross. Kovac played an important role in that goal, taking a quick free-kick to release the Portuguese while Arsenal's defence was sleeping. It was a very good finish from Tombides on his weaker left foot.
9 mins - Edgar releases Hines down the left. He draws a defender before releasing the overlapping Ilunga, but the left-back's cross is cut out and Ebecilio clears his lines.
7 mins - Tombides releases Barrera with a neat touch but the Mexican's cross is blocked before he is fouled by Boateng. Faubert's free-kick hits a defender and Edgar lashes the loose ball over the stand and out of the stadium from 25 yards.
5 mins - The Hammers build down the right and Barrera gets in a low cross that eludes the defence and finds Boa Morte on the edge of the box. It's a tough chance and the Portuguese can only drag his shot wide of the left-hand post.
4 mins - West Ham have recovered from their very early scare and are on top. Hines is actually playing on the left of a front three, with Barrera on the right. Boa Morte, Kovac and Edgar are in midfield.
2 mins - Ilunga heads down for Hines, who bursts down the left and is impeded by Aneke. Ilunga takes it short to Boa Morte, whose cross is too high but is worked to Faubert. His cross is high and Hines attempts a scissor-kick, but completely misses the ball. It bounces up for Boa Morte to volley a couple of yards wide of the angle of post and crossbar.
10 seconds - Arsenal win possession and almost take the lead within ten seconds as Ebecilio gets in behind Reid and shoots low. Boffin blocks with his legs for a corner. The delivery is too high and West Ham clear.
7.01pm - Tombides and Hines get things underway...
6.58pm - Here come the two teams. It's a bitterly cold night here on the Essex/Herts border, but West Ham have the players to warm the hearts of the Hammers fans who have made the trip up the M11. West Ham will kick-off...
6.55pm - A few changes to both sides from the advertised team sheets. Goalkeeper Jake Larkins and George Moncur are drafted in for Deniz Mehmet and Ahmed Abdulla. Arsenal have made three changes, with Sead Hajrovic, Oguzhan Ozyakup and Chuks Aneke all starting.
Good evening and welcome to Woodside Park for West Ham United's Barclays Premier Reserve League fixture against Arsenal.
The Hammers will be taken for the first time by new reserve-team manager Steve Lomas, who took charge of the second-string on Monday. The former West Ham midfielder spent eight-and-a-half years at the club as a player and is relishing the opportunity to hone his coaching skills.
Lomas will have an experienced side at his disposal tonight, with no fewer than ten players with first-team experience in the West Ham starting lineup - six of the full internationals.
Ruud Boffin will be handed a start in goal, while Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, Jordan Spence and Winston Reid making up the back-four. Anthony Edgar and Pablo Barrera will play on the wings, with Radoslav Kovac and Luis Boa Morte forming an experienced central midfield pairing, while Zavon Hines will partner scholar Dylan Tombides in attack.
Arsenal, in contrast, contested the Carling Cup final on Sunday and will be in FA Cup action on Wednesday. With those fixtures in mind and a number of promising young players out on loan, Neil Banfield has an inexperienced squad at his disposal. The reverse fixture, contested at the Gunners' London Colney training ground on 19 October, ended in a 4-1 victory for Arsenal. Ahmed Abdulla was on target for West Ham, while Julien Faubert was sent-off as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas bagged a hat-trick for the hosts.
West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Faubert, Spence, Reid, Ilunga, Edgar (Moncur 81), Kovac, Boa Morte (Lee 70), Barrera (Montano 67), Tombides, Hines
Subs not used: Larkins, McNaughton
Arsenal reserves: Shea, Hajrovic (Angha 46), Boateng (Rees 46), Cruise, Brislen-Hall, Deacon, Ebecilio, Ozyakyup, Freeman, Aneke (Webb 82), Murphy
Subs not used: McDermott, Ansah
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Gold set for surgery
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st March 2011
By: Staff Writer
Hammers co-chairman David Gold is said to be improving after being admitted to hospital. The 74-year-old, who bought West Ham along with business partner David Sullivan just over a year ago was taken into hospital last week where he was diagnosed with cholangitis and septicemia - which, if not caught early enough, can in many cases prove fatal. However the good news is that Gold's condition has improved - and he could be fit enough to face corrective surgery within the next few days, according to daughter Jacqueline. "My father is still feeling very poorly but his consultant is very pleased with the way he is responding to treatment," she said. "We are hoping he will be well enough for surgery next week. "I know Dad would like to thank everyone for their support and best wishes and there is no doubt that Sunday's victory has helped lift his spirits."
* Those wishing to leave a message of goodwill for Mr Gold may do so by visiting the KUMB.com forums.
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Benni heading south
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st March 2011
By: Staff Writer
Benni McCarthy is in talks with League One side Charlton with regards to a loan move. The out-of-form, out-of-favour and out-of-shape Hammers striker has already failed to reach an agreement with both Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday but now hopes to land a short-term contract with the Addicks, reports the Daily Mail. McCarthy, who joined West Ham some 14 months ago is still to score his first goal for the club although his appearances have been restricted somewhat as he has rarely been fit enough to play Premier League football during that period. Former West Ham reserve team boss Alex Dyer is now assistant to Charlton manager Chris Powell. Dyer, who moved to south east London in January has since been replaced by Steve Lomas.
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Grant hails 'amazing' Upson
Hammers skipper refused to accept injury diagnosis
Last updated: 1st March 2011
SSN
Avram Grant has saluted West Ham captain Matthew Upson for refusing to accept his Achilles injury would keep him out for the season. The England international was given an initial diagnosis that his tendon problem would keep him out for the remainder of the campaign. But with the Hammers battling to beat the drop in the Premier League, Upson sought a second opinion and was able to take to the field for Sunday's clash with Liverpool at Upton Park.
The former Arsenal and Birmingham defender then produced an excellent display to shackle Luis Suarez as Grant's men gave their survival hopes a major lift with a vital 3-1 success.
Amazing
Grant told the club's official website: "It was amazing. Some said he had finished for the season but he said he could play. "You can go by the book, but it depends on the individual. Matthew wanted very much to play. "He did everything he could, he went from doctor to doctor so that he could play and he did very well." Grant has also saluted the Hammers fans for giving the team their full backing despite a miserable season on the field.
Understood
And he now wants his players to claim back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time this season when Stoke arrive in the East End of London on Saturday. He added: "It is always good to play at home. You feel the supporters are behind us as they are when we play away. "I know the first half of the season has not been easy but they understood the problems we face and have stayed behind us. "Our target is to win the next game and always this is the most important thing for us."
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Bridge is Av-ing fun at Hammers
The Sun
Published: Today
WAYNE BRIDGE has blasted critics who accuse West Ham boss Avram Grant of lacking passion. Defender Bridge, on loan with the relegation-threatened Hammers from Manchester City, said: "Avram is a character. "Sitting in team meetings, you realise what a positive person and manager he is. "Everything is geared to making the players feel good about themselves and going on to the pitch with the right attitude. "Avram wants everyone to be positive on the pitch, to get forward and play attractive, attacking football."
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Benni doesn't want loan move
Posted: 2011-03-02 09:23
Kickoff.com
West Ham United striker Benni McCarthy is ready to turn his back on a loan move to Charlton or Sheffield Wednesday because he believes he can still perform at a higher level. The former Bafana Bafana striker is available after he was cut from Avram Grant's 25-man Premier League squad and has been targeted by the two League One sides. But McCarthy, who joined the Hammers from Blackburn for R25-million last January, does not want to drop two divisions and is likely to reject any proposed switch in the hope that a Championship side may make a move. "Benni wants to revive his career but he feels he deserves to play at a higher level than is being offered," a source told Goal.com UK. "He could still be a very good player in the Championship or a foreign league."
There are also financial issues over how much of McCarthy's wages – believed to be worth around R400 000-a-week – Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday would be willing to pay. The 33-year-old has struggled to control his weight during his time at Upton Park and is yet to score a goal in 14 appearances for the Hammers. McCarthy has not started a game since the League Cup win over Stoke in October and is now only eligible to feature in FA Cup matches.
He had an unsuccessful trial at Queens Park Rangers in January and is now being offered an opportunity to put himself in the shop window at the Valley or Hillsborough. The former Porto star has rejected West Ham's offer of R10-m to tear up his contract, which runs to the end of next season.
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Collison set to boost West Ham's relegation fight with return to fitness
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:12 PM on 1st March 2011
Daily Mail
Jack Collison will hand West Ham's relegation scrap a major boost by returning to full training next week after being out for 12 months with a knee injury.
Collison, 22, could make his first-team return for the derby at Tottenham on March 19.
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Upson defies medics and declares himself fit for West Ham's relegation fight run-in
Published 11:20 01/03/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Matthew Upson has declared himself fit to lead West Ham to Barclays Premier League safety - days after being told he would miss the rest of the season.
Upson returned to captain the Hammers in yesterday's 3-1 win over Liverpool, defying an Achilles injury that threatened to end his campaign and possibly his Upton Park career. The 31-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, was told by one medic that he would not play again this season, a diagnosis that was widely reported last week. But the England defender sought a second opinion and was duly given the green light to help West Ham try to pull off the great escape. "There was a bit of cloudiness on the diagnosis, which was the problem and probably why it came out that I was out, because it was one verdict," he said. "I've had a couple of people look at it - it's been a confusing couple of weeks - but I feel confident about it now and can play 90 minutes."
He added: "It is still a problem I need to sort out. "It's getting a lot better, so I'm hopeful in the next few weeks I'll clear it up."
The news will come as a huge relief to Hammers fans and Avram Grant, who needs a fit and firing Upson to give him the best possible chance of becoming only the second manager to keep up a side that were bottom at Christmas. Yesterday's victory, which hauled the club back off the foot of the table and within one place of safety, was a massive confidence boost for a team who looked doomed in December. Upson admitted Wolves' 4-0 win over Blackpool 24 hours earlier had piled the pressure on West Ham against Liverpool but they produced the perfect response. He said: "We are running out of teams to play in and around us. "We need three points against a team like Liverpool to stay up. "You always look around you to see where people are but we have to focus on ourselves. Only three points will do for us at the moment. "We can nick a draw here and there but we need three-point games and, if we do that, we will give ourselves every chance."
Yesterday's performance was arguably West Ham's best of the season, while Liverpool were a shadow of the side who had put together an eight-match unbeaten run under new manager Kenny Dalglish and former Upton Park assistant boss Steve Clarke. Upson said: "I was maybe expecting a little more but they had a tough Europa fixture in midweek and people may have been subdued from that. "It was an opportunity to get into them in the first half and we did that with our two-goal lead. "They have had a surge of late since the new manager came in and have really picked up. "I can say that I have worked with Steve Clarke and he'll have a positive impact on that team, coaching-wise and tactically. They have some top players still. "It is a big job for them but they are on the right track and have proven that in the last few weeks. "I still think they look a good team."
Despite West Ham having demonstrated the true potential yesterday, Upson was reluctant to let the result determine his own future. "After a game, you are emotional and you have an emotional feeling about how things are," he said. "I enjoy playing here and always have. The last four years have been brilliant. "All I can say is that I enjoy my football and what happens next year will happen. We'll have to wait and see."
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West Ham co-owner Gold responding well to treatment
Published 13:40 01/03/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham co-chairman David Gold is recovering well from cholangitis and septicaemia, his daughter Jacqueline said today. Gold went into hospital on Sunday after being taken ill on Wednesday evening. Since then, the Hammers have been inundated with messages of support for the 74-year-old, who missed the team's crucial 3-1 win over Liverpool last weekend. Jacqueline Gold said this afternoon that her father is responding well to his treatment and wanted to thank all the people who have wished him well. She said: "My father is still feeling very poorly but his consultant is very pleased with the way he is responding to treatment and we are hoping he will be well enough for surgery next week. "I know dad would like to thank everyone for their support and best wishes and there is no doubt that Sunday's victory has helped lift his spirits."
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Hitzlsperger admits West Ham are lucky to have Parker
By talkSPORT
Tuesday, March 1
Thomas Hitzlsperger is convinced his partnership with Scott Parker at the heart of the West Ham midfield can help his new club retain their Premier League status. Hitzlsperger has been forced to miss the majority of the season after undergoing surgery to clear up a muscle tear in his thigh after he picked up the injury playing for Germany in a friendly against Denmark, just three days before the season got underway, But the former Aston Villa midfielder has made a successful recovery and has made an immediate impact on his return to the first-team and helped his team record a memorable 3-1 win over Liverpool last Sunday. Hitzlsperger is convinced West Ham have enough quality to beat the drop and feels his relationship with Parker can play a key role in helping the east London club move clear of the bottom three. Hitzlsperger said: "Scott is very influential, a top-class player. He does everything very well and we are lucky to have him. "It's only the second game I've played with him but I've watched him before and he's shone out. He's one of the players that plays well consistently and that is difficult if you are in a team that is not playing well every week. "It says something about your qualities. He's not just a great player, he's a great person as well. That sums it all up. It's good to play with him and have him around. We benefit from him every week."
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Would Have Preferred To Have Stayed At Stuttgart - West Ham Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger
West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger laments having been forced out of Stuttgart last January.
By Clark Whitney
Mar 1, 2011 2:50:00 PM
Goal.com
Following a six-month injury lay-off, Thomas Hitzlsperger has enjoyed an impressive start to his career at West Ham. Speaking to German publication 11 Freunde, however, he revealed that he would have preferred to remain at his former club Stuttgart. When asked whether it was a mistake for Stuttgart to let him go, the midfielder replied: "I'm not the one to answer that. I would have preferred to remain longer at VfB. But that did not only depend on me, so then came the separation." The 28-year-old Hitzlsperger was a key figure at Stuttgart between 2005 and 2009, but fell out of favour at the Swabian side and moved to Lazio in January 2010. There he struggled to make an impact, and in June he was transferred to West Ham. After a long injury absence initially prevented his participation, Hitzlsperger scored a stunning goal against Burnley and recorded an assist in Sunday's 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League.
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Demba, Demba, have you scored a goal? Yes sir yes sir, so has Carlton Cole!
West Ham Till I Die
Typical! So much to say about Sunday's game and by the time I get to sit down in front of my PC Iain and Mr Chandos have said everything I wanted to say and all the contributors have said all the things I was thinking. Which leaves me yet again to mop up the bits and make the stupid comments.
I would not for one moment want to detract from what was an amazing performance against Liverpool, but I have to say that in 27 years of attending games at Upton Park, that was by far and away the worst Liverpool side I have ever seen.
By my reckoning it's the first time we have popped three goals past Liverpool in a league game since 1982-83 season (we won 4-1 in the cup in 1988) so the volume of the achievement cannot be underestimated, however the Liverpool of the 1980's was a different proposition to what we saw on Sunday. (As an aside we also beat Manchester United 3-1 at Upton Park in 1982-83. Bring it on!)
I thought that everyone played superbly, the only possible exception being Wayne Bridge who was constantly being caught missing the overlapping player. Their goal could have been defended better and at 2-1 I could hear 35,000 foreheads being slapped. I would had done the substitutions in reverse order (Cole then Spector), but otherwise an impeccable display from Mr Grant also.
It has been noted here several times before that I am no expert on tactics and formations, and I have never played the game at any level higher than school representation, but I think I know what good looks like, and it's obvious to me that one of the reasons why the team has looked so balanced in the last two matches has been the arrival, at last of Thomas Hitzelsperger. In my opinion he not only gives the midfield a much needed balance but he also has a range of passing that has been missing, not just accurate but finding some unexpected angles.
That, combined with the power and athleticism of Demba Ba has made us look a lot more promising, but I have seen enough false dawns to know that I should not be lining up eggs and counting my chickens just yet.
Speaking of eggs it had been bothering me for some time who it was that Freddie Picquionne reminded me of, then on Saturday night it came to me whist watching "Cool Runnings" on BBC3. He is Sanka. I wonder if he passes his lucky egg around the dressing room before the game and Wally Downes smacks him on the head just as he comes up the tunnel. "Thanks Coach!"
We have to get rid of that Demba Ba Kumbaya song, it's cringesome. It makes us sound like a bunch of Girl Guides round a camp fire. I would like to propose an altogether more macho and testosterone-laden song, which my nephew Sam and I composed during the game on Sunday. To the tune of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" it goes something like: "Demba, Demba have you scored a goal? Yes sir yes sir, so has Carlton Cole." Actually, I must confess that as we came up with it, it was considerably less positive and involved the words "no, no and nor." However such is the fickle nature of the football fan that I was able to amend it quickly and I hope it gets heard. Maybe.
Ok moving on… I know that 'bubbles' is our theme tune and everything but it is really necessary to soak the pitch by tunnel with six tons Fairy liquid before every game? I few bubbles is nice..pretty..but it's like a Siberian snow-storm out there.
Someone had definitely slipped something into Martin Allen's half time bowl of water. Whilst I thought he was very funny I could also feel he was in danger of overstepping the mark. Jeremy Nicholas is a mate of mine and I felt for him as Mad Dog made himself the most awkward interviewee since Russell Harty got clobbered by Grace Jones or Rod Hull and Emu chased Parky around the table. It was harsh to call Scotty's goal a toe-poke. I suspect he'd been at the hospitality sauce, but his opening comments about Germans not being popular in East London etc, made me think Jeremy should have cut to the highlights a few minutes earlier.
There was some bizarre refereeing none more so than the throw-in given to West Ham after Gary O'Neil attempted to take Wayne Bridge's head off. I've not been a huge fan of Bridge since his arrival but that was going a bit far Gary. I don't think anyone in the ground could understand it – Halsey played it safe all afternoon and showed no courage with his decision making – sadly, as the stakes get higher this type of referring is increasingly endemic. For example, I can't remember who the defender was but he had a handful of Piq's shirt. The ball comes over and hits Piq on the shoulder. Ref gives free kick to Liverpool. Gutless.
I would like to join the list of people wishing David Gold a speedy recovery, much as I dislike the man and his comedy-Dave sidekick I I would not wish hospital food on anyone. Interesting though that he had a bile duct infection. Must have used up all his bile in January cursing Grant and O'Neill.
Grant does look a different man, gesturing and even smiling on a couple of occasions. At one point I thought he was going to burst into a chorus of "What a beautiful noise." Then I realised what has happened. O'Neill did get the job after all but he was so upset and embarrassed by the mess that Gollivan made of it he insisted on doing the job incognito – disguised as Grant. This explains the upturn in form, and the improved body language of the manager. The truth is out there.
The only people who haven't had a pat on the back after Sunday has been the crowd. We were magnificent. Loud and supportive throughout. and lots of love for Jonjo Heuerman after his walk from Wembley for The Bobby Moore Moore Cancer Trust. Bobby would have been proud of everyone. More of the same next week when it may not be going so well. All together now: "Demba, Demba…"
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West Ham's Benni McCarthy Set To Reject Loan Switch To Charlton Or Sheffield Wednesday
Striker will snub League One sides as he wants to play at higher level
By Greg Stobart
Mar 1, 2011 4:41:00 PM
Goal.com
West Ham United flop Benni McCarthy is ready to turn his back on a loan move to Charlton or Sheffield Wednesday because he believes he can still perform at a higher level. The South African striker is available after he was cut from Avram Grant's 25-man Premier League squad and has been targeted by the two League One sides. But McCarthy, who joined the Hammers from Blackburn for £2.5 million last January, does not want to drop two divisions and is likely to reject any proposed switch in the hope that a Championship side may make a move. "Benni wants to revive his career but he feels he deserves to play at a higher level than is being offered," a source told Goal.com UK. "He could still be a very good player in the Championship or a foreign league."
There are also financial issues over how much of McCarthy's wages – believed to be worth around ￡40,000-a-week – Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday would be willing to pay. The 33-year-old has struggled to control his weight during his time at Upton Park and is yet to score a goal in 14 appearances for the Hammers. McCarthy has not started a game since the League Cup win over Stoke in October and is now only eligible to feature in FA Cup matches.
He had an unsuccessful trial at Queens Park Rangers in January and is now being offered an opportunity to put himself in the shop window at the Valley or Hillsborough. The former Porto star has rejected West Ham's offer of £1m to tear up his contract, which runs to the end of next season.
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Hammers unable to shift
5:36pm Tuesday 1st March 2011
Guardian Series
WEST HAM seem stuck with flop striker Benni McCarthy. He has rejected loan moves to League One clubs, say reports. The 33-year-old is convinced he belongs at a higher level. But the £40,000 a week striker failed a trial with Championship leaders Queen's Park Rangers, in January. Boss Avram Grant is spoiled for striking options at West Ham, so chances for action look slim for McCarthy.
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