WHUFC.com
Captain Matthew Upson believes a confident West Ham United can beat anyone
on current form
21.03.2011
There were just eight minutes of the 90 remaining in West Ham United's
Premier League meeting with Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on 29
December 2007 and the scoreline was locked at 1-1. Five minutes earlier,
Anton Ferdinand had equalised Cristiano Ronaldo's opening goal, turning the
stadium into a cauldron of noise. Patrice Evra conceded a right-wing
free-kick and when Mark Noble curled the ball into the penalty area, Matthew
Upson soared to head the ball high past goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak and send
east London into a collective state of euphoria. Three-and-a-quarter years
later, Upson is taking aim at the Barclays Premier League champions again
ahead of the Red Devils' visit on Saturday 2 April.
"At the moment, I think we're on a good run and, whatever game gets thrown
at us, we'll go out there and give a good performance," the No15 told West
Ham TV. "That's the key. I think we need to stop worrying about results.
"Obviously results are the most important thing but the performances will
dictate the results and if we just focus on supporting each other, working
hard for each other and keeping the spirit high, I think the results will
take care of themselves. "There is absolutely no reason why we can't go out
there and get amongst them. It's our home patch, we can raise the tempo of
the game and be physical as much as we can and try to take some points from
the game."
Upson's confidence is drawn from a run of one defeat in seven league matches
and recording back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in 13 months. The
second of those clean sheets came in Saturday's resilient goal-less draw at
Tottenham Hotspur - a result that took West Ham out of the relegation zone.
"I'm definitely pleased with another clean sheet. To go to Tottenham on
Saturday against a really strong attacking force, I thought we set out well
from the start and soaked up a lot of pressure, to be honest. We coped well
and a couple of good individual performances saw us over the line. "These
last three [league] results have been massive confidence boosters. The group
has come a long way, not only in terms of results but our performances have
been good and we've been more of a threat. "I thought, in the first half,
that we soaked up a lot of pressure but also created a couple of chances
that, on another day, we might have scored. "We did hang on in there in the
second half a little bit, but that was always going to be the case at
somewhere like Tottenham. We felt we deserved a point."
While Upson was one of a number of heroes in a claret and blue shirt,
left-back Wayne Bridge was particularly outstanding, repelling the threat of
the jet-heeled Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale with a defensive display full of
experience, pace and tactical know-how. Behind the pair of them, goalkeeper
Robert Green also proved his international class, making two breath-taking
saves to deny former Hammer Jermain Defoe and push man-of-the-moment Bale's
free-kick onto the crossbar.
The duo drew deserved praise from captain Upson. "It was obvious that Wayne
just needed games. He'd been out of the thick of it for quite a long time
and had some injuries, so he was slow starting like you'd expect. He's got
into his stride and he's showing just what a class player he is. "Greeny
made a couple of outstanding saves. His one from the free-kick - I don't
know how he's got there. To get enough of a hand on the ball to divert it on
to the bar was just fantastic."
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SBOBET player poll open
WHUFC.com
Six Hammers are in the running in the fan poll to find March's main man at
West Ham United
21.03.2011
Who will be the SBOBET player of the month for March 2011?
Scott Parker may have won for the last three months in a row but he faces
stiff competition this month with five other nominees in the running. Robert
Green, Wayne Bridge, Manuel da Costa, Matthew Upson and Demba Ba have all
been shortlisted for the fan vote after some outstanding displays. The
voting will remain open until Friday. To register your vote in the monthly
poll, click here and go to the vote in the bottom right-hand corner of the
page. The previous SBOBET winners this season have been:
February 2011 - Scott Parker
January 2011 - Scott Parker
December 2011 - Scott Parker
November 2011 - Victor Obinna
October 2011 - Mark Noble
September 2011 - Manuel da Costa
August 2011 - Kieron Dyer
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
The Hammers are on a high but do not play again until Man United on Saturday
week
21.03.2011
Avram Grant will have fewer numbers to work with this coming week because of
international commitments but has pledged to keep spirits high nevertheless.
While the majority of the first-team squad are away, there will still be
plenty of senior figures around Chadwell Heath to ensure productive work is
done. Three of the defence from Saturday's draw at Tottenham Hotspur -
namely Wayne Bridge, Manu da Costa and Matthew Upson - will get to hone
their rearguard work while Mark Noble and Thomas Hitzlsperger have also
remained behind.
Crucially, the enforced break will mean Frederic Piquionne can rest his foot
injury in the hope of being available for the visit of Manchester United on
Saturday week and Jack Collison can get another fortnight of solid training
under his belt. It is not thought any of the above will feature in
Wednesday's reserve match at Blackpool, but others will get a chance to
stake their claim.
Among them could be Julien Faubert, Radoslav Kovac, Freddie Sears and Zavon
Hines while Junior Stanislas is hoping to be back in training soon after his
hernia problem. Whoever he is working with, the manager is expecting the
positives of a four-match unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League and
the team's presence outside the bottom three to come to the fore within his
depleted squad.
On the back of away draws at West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham, either side
of successive home wins against Liverpool and Stoke City, there is a real
sense of the Hammers being on a high. "We are in very good spirits," said
Grant. "Saturday's draw was a good result against a very good team. Maybe it
was the best defensive performance for an away game. The team defended like
a team and we have only conceded one goal in the last three games and that
was against Liverpool. "It is good because we have been scoring a lot of
goals but we know that if we want to take points we need to keep clean
sheets."
A strong defence proved crucial at White Hart Lane, with Robert Green and
Wayne Bridge particularly impressive. "Robert is a good goalkeeper and he
did well from Gareth Bale's free-kick at the end. It was a great save at the
right moment. It is very important to score a lot of goals lately but it was
important also to keep the balance and to keep clean sheets. "Wayne did very
well defensively. On his side, it was not so easy because we left him alone
[against Aaron Lennon and then Gareth Bale]. I played Demba Ba as more of a
striker than on the left wing and Wayne did very well with little
protection. We know we can trust him. "Wayne was my player at Chelsea so I
know his quality. He is a very good player but he hadn't played for a long
time [when he first joined] which made him very hungry to play but in need
of more games. With every game he is better and better. He is a very good
player and he is a good lad."
So to Manchester United and the title favourites will be eager to avenge
their 4-0 defeat in the Carling Cup when they return to the Boleyn Ground
for a sold-out fixture on 2 April. The Red Devils will also be hindered by
having their manager in the stands with Sir Alex Ferguson's touchline ban.
"I don't think [Sir Alex] missing will make a difference," added Grant.
"They are a very good team, they are aiming to be the champions and they
know how to play football. But we showed against Tottenham that we know how
to play and we will give them a good game."
The prospect of having a fully-fit squad to choose from is a headache that
Grant is willing to have, with Piquionne and Robbie Keane both set to
compete with Demba Ba, Carlton Cole and Victor Obinna for places. "I hope I
will have these problems all my life. The problems I had in the first half
of the season were not good and we missed so many players. "Competition is a
good thing. Since we have had competition, you have seen all the players
play better. Since Robbie came and Demba came, Freddie and Coley have been
playing better. This is why you need competition. "Our recent form has given
a lot of confidence to the players. It is not about one game. Week after
week since January we have picked up points and played better and better so
we have good momentum. We need to continue with this. "It is frustrating we
are not playing next weekend but we will make the best of the break. For us
it is not good to lose the players this week as we are have momentum but
this is not something we can control. We will work hard and be ready to
welcome all our players back for the next important game."
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Noble knows
WHUFC.com
Homegrown hero Mark Noble relished getting another one over the club's
London rivals at the weekend
21.03.2011
No one need tell Mark Noble what it meant to Hammers fans to stifle Spurs at
the weekend and move West Ham United out of the bottom three in the process.
The homegrown Hammer is loving life in a midfield three boasting
international-class performers in Scott Parker and Thomas Hitzlsperger. He
has not looked out of place in such exalted company over the last four
unbeaten Barclays Premier League games and nearly stole the headlines with
his spectacular second-half bicycle kick.
"Obviously when you play with good players, it makes your life easier you
know," he said in reflecting on the goalless draw at White Hart Lane.
"Thomas coming back has helped me and Scotty has been brilliant in the last
month or so since he has been back.I am just enjoying playing in there at
the minute. When you come to a place like Tottenham and hold your own, you
can walk away quite proud."
In the end, a precious point in the fight for survival was as good as it got
on Saturday but the tireless Noble was not complaining. "We beat Liverpool
the other week, then Stoke at home in the league and now a point away to
Spurs," he added. "This is a team who have cemented themselves now as one of
the best teams in the country and in Europe at the minute, so we are happy.
"Obviously Spurs had their chances, but so did we, I think at the end of the
day, a 0-0 draw was the right result and not a bad one for us, not the
worst. We defended in numbers - when you come to a place like this, you have
to do that otherwise you would be murdered - they have shown what they can
do to teams."
When Spurs did get through they still found Robert Green in imperious form.
Noble paid tribute to the outstanding No1. "Greeny is fantastic, we all know
that already. We also got that little bit of luck as well. That wasn't
happening at the beginning of the season for us. Now as well we have brought
in some top quality players. "We have Thomas back, you know, Bridgey has
come in, Demba and we have Robbie Keane to come back in again as well, so
obviously we are looking up. Bridgey is a full international, knows how to
handle himself and, in the last month or so, he has been fantastic for us."
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West Ham manager Avram Grant denies FA conduct charge
BBC.co.uk
West Ham manager Avram Grant has denied an FA charge of improper conduct
over his comments following the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Stoke City on 13 March.
He must now attend a personal hearing to be scheduled no later than 7 April.
Grant hinted referee Mike Jones had favoured Stoke out of guilt for missing
Frederic Piquionne's apparent handball in scoring the equaliser for West
Ham. "Until they scored [the second] goal he gave fouls, a penalty,
everything for them," said Grant after the match. Grant was also annoyed by
a decision not to award West Ham a penalty. If found guilty, the former
Israel, Chelsea and Portsmouth manager could be banned from the touchline.
After Robert Huth had given the Potters the lead in the quarter-final at the
Britannia Stadium, Piquionne levelled matters in the 30th minute although
the French striker appeared to control the ball with his upper arm before
finishing.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis stated after the match that play should have been
halted for "a stone-banker handball". Jones, who awarded 14 fouls against
West Ham and five against Stoke during the match, then blew for a penalty
for the home side after 14 seconds of the second half when Matthew
Etherington was challenged by Scott Parker and James Tomkins. Etherington
missed the spot-kick, but Danny Higginbotham fired home a free-kick to send
Stoke through to face Bolton in their first FA Cup semi-final for 39 years.
Grant also believed his side were denied a chance to equalise for a second
time when Tomkins was jostled by Jon Walters. "It was a penalty for us at
the end which he didn't give. Maybe he felt a little bit guilty. I think it
was the effect of the first goal for us," added Grant.
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Grant denies FA charge
Hammers boss to have personal hearing no later than 7th April
Last updated: 21st March 2011
SSN
West Ham United manager Avram Grant has denied a Football Association charge
of improper conduct. The charge relates to comments made about referee Mike
Jones following the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Stoke City at the
Britannia Stadium on 13th March. Following the 2-1 loss, Grant was unhappy
with Jones' handling of the second half, which began with Stoke being
awarded a penalty just 13 seconds after the restart. Matthew Etherington
missed the spot-kick, but Grant intimated he felt that Jones had been swayed
by the home fans after Frederic Piquionne appeared to handle in the lead-up
to West Ham's opener in the first half. "I think maybe this is the reason
the referee started the second half very strange," said Grant. "Until they
scored (the second) goal he gave fouls, a penalty, everything for them.
"Maybe he felt a little bit guilty. I think it was the effect of the first
goal for us." Grant will have a personal hearing with the Football
Association, which will be scheduled at a date no later than 7th April.
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Mr Parker, We Salute You
March 21st, 2011 - 11:37 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
Tonight, on behalf of all WHTID readers, i'd like to pass on our sincere
condolences to Scott Parker and his family after the loss of Scott's father
after a long illness. Mr Parker died on Friday, only hours before Scott took
to the field at White Hart Lane. The two were very close, with the Hammers
midfielder recently dedicating his goal against Liverpool to his Dad, Mick.
Scott, we salute you. And your Dad.
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Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3
March 21st, 2011 - 2:24 pm by Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
If memory serves me, Ian Dury was a West Ham fan. He also sung a song called
Reasons to be Cheerful, and I reckon if he still inhabited this earth, he'd
be pretty cheerful nowadays. And the performance against Spurs illustrated
why.
If we had been battered by a team like Spurs earlier in the season, I reckon
we'd have conceded three or four goals. Although at times we certainly rode
our luck, it was at times a brilliant defensive performance. Rob Green
scored the highest rating of any West Ham player in any match this season,
Wayne Bridge had his best game for us, turning Corluka into a gibbering
wreck. Jabobsen was awesome and the two central defenders also turned in
magnificent performances. it is no coincidence that we have finally
discovered the art of keeping a clean sheet. And for that we must be truly
thankful. It's no surprise that we have done this at a time when we have
been playing the same 5 players in defensive for several games at at time.
We can fiddle round with Jacobsen/Tomkins or Tomkins/Da Costa, but we all
now know roughly what the defensive 5 will look like.
And the same goes for midfield. We now know that Noble, Hitzlsperger and
Parker will all play, if fit. It is only the fourth slot that is now up for
grabs.
And thirdly, Demba Ba. His performances since signing from Hoffenheim have
been superb. But we can all see that he plays best when he is rampaging
through the centre, the same position that Carlton Cole cherishes. I do
think Cole and Ba can play together, but we're not going to get the best if
we play him out wide.
I'm now more opitmistic than ever that we can beat the drop.
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Brave Scott's tragic secret
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
SCOTT PARKER will soldier on with England this week in the wake of his
father's death. The brave West Ham midfielder played a key role in the
Hammers earning a valuable point at Spurs on Saturday lunchtime less than 24
hours after his dad Mick passed away. And he has told pals that doing his
duty for the Three Lions in this Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against
Wales is the best way for him to deal with his grief. Parker's dad had been
ill for some time but managed to watch his son score a stunning goal against
Liverpool at Upton Park four weeks ago. Modest Parker dedicated it to his
dad but wants his sad loss to remain as private as possible and he will
remain focused on doing his best for club and country. Parker's West Ham
team-mate Carlton Cole sent out a message of sympathy over the weekend which
read: "Gotta say I admire players like Scott Parker and Jack Collison for
reasons that are bigger than football. Family is such a precious thing."
West Ham midfielder Collison's dad Ian was killed in a motorcycle accident
on his way to watch his son play against Spurs in August 2009. Collison did
not find out until after the final whistle but played just a few days later
when the Hammers took on Millwall in an infamous Carling Cup tie
overshadowed by widespread crowd trouble.
Parker has been called up for England as reward for his inspirational
performances and unflinching commitment for West Ham in a season dogged by
relegation worries. He also delivered a rousing team-talk when skipper for
the day at West Brom recently after which his team fought back from 3-0 down
to earn a draw.
Parker, 30, shuns the spotlight and leads a quiet life away from football.
He is hugely popular with West Ham fans and has been voted Hammer of the
Year by them in both of the last two seasons. Having been overlooked by
England boss Fabio Capello for last summer's World Cup finals despite being
called up for pre-tournament training, Parker was given a recall for the
friendly in Denmark on February 9 and played the second half. An England
insider said: "Scott believes carrying on with football and staying with the
England squad will be by far the best way for him to deal with what's
happened."
Hammers boss Avram Grant has repeatedly hailed Parker for his unflappable
spirit - not least when he scored against Liverpool in a vital win after
seriously injuring his shoulder in training the day before. A West Ham
spokesman said: "All our thoughts are with Scott and his family at this
difficult time."
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