WHUFC.com
James Tomkins and Freddie Sears have been named by Stuart Pearce in his
initial UEFA EURO squad
03.05.2011
James Tomkins and Freddie Sears have both been named in the 40-man
provisional England squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship this
summer.
Tomkins was part of the squad that reached the 2009 final while Sears is
recalled after his recent good form for the Hammers. The eight-nation finals
will take place in Denmark this June. The squad will be cut to 23 players by
1 June. There was no place for Jordan Spence or the injured Junior
Stanislas, despite both featuring under Pearce in the past.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers
Frankie Fielding (Blackburn Rovers), Scott Loach (Watford), Jason Steele
(Middlesbrough), Alex McCarthy (Reading),
Defenders
Joe Bennett (Middlesbrough), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Kieran Gibbs
(Arsenal), Phil Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Michael Mancienne (Wolverhampton
Wanderers - loan from Chelsea), Ben Mee (Leicester City - loan from
Manchester City), Kyle Naughton (Leicester City - loan from Tottenham),
Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), James
Tomkins (West Ham United), Kieran Trippier (Barnsley - loan from Manchester
City), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa - loan from Tottenham Hotspur),
Midfielders
Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Jack Cork (Burnley - loan from Chelsea), Tom
Cleverley (Wigan Athletic - loan from Man Utd), Mark Davies (Bolton
Wanderers), Adam Hammill (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jordan Henderson
(Sunderland), Jonathan Howson (Leeds United), Adam Lallana (Southampton),
Henri Lansbury (Norwich City - loan from Arsenal), Josh McEachran (Chelsea),
Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose
(Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Sinclair (Swansea City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards
Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Nathan Delfouneso (Burnley - loan from Aston
Villa), Gary Hooper (Celtic), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley), Freddie Sears (West
Ham United), Daniel Sturridge (Bolton Wanderers - loan from Chelsea), James
Vaughan (Crystal Palace - loan from Everton), Danny Welbeck (Sunderland -
loan from Man Utd), Connor Wickham (Ipswich Town)
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Hammers win reserves friendly
WHUFC.com
A solid display by a youthful West Ham side saw off Charlton Athletic in a
Tuesday test
03.05.2011
George Moncur and Danny Subuola were on target as a West Ham United XI won
2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday
afternoon.
Moncur struck in the first half before Subuola made the game safe after the
interval at Sparrows Lane. It was an impressive display by the young team
fielded by Steve Lomas, especially with no players with first-team
experience on view. Robert Hall was a particularly lively presence in the
opening 45 minutes, although it took almost the whole half before Moncur
slammed in after great work in a wide position by Dominic Vose. The lead was
doubled ten minutes after the restart with Subuola stretching to convert
from close range after a corner. The Hammers will have a host of friendlies
between now and the end of the season, having concluded their Barclays
Premier Reserve League campaign, and fans can keep up to date with them via
whufc.com.
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Blair plays in England draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were represented by Blair Turgott in England U17 action on
Tuesday
03.05.2011
Blair Turgott played the whole match as England drew 2-2 with France in the
opening match of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Serbia on
Tuesday. The Academy attacker played the full match but was not on target.
Instead the Young Lions scored through Hallam Hope and Nick Powell, although
Sebastien Haller twice equalised for Les Bluets. Turgott - aiming to follow
in the footsteps of club-mate Robert Hall who helped England lift the title
in Liechtenstein a year ago - was a key man in qualifying for the
eight-nation finals, especially playing his part in the Elite round
elimination of the ever-strong Spain. Turgot will hope to feature again in
England's second match when they meet Denmark in a 2pm match on Friday 6 May
- to be televised live on Eurosport - and then take on host nation Serbia at
4.15pm on Monday. The top two in the group will progress to the semi-finals,
while the top three will also play at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico this
June.
The UEFA U17 EURO semi-finals will be played on Thursday 12 May, with the
final being held on Sunday 15 May. All three matches will take place in Novi
Sad.
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Lewis passes away
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers striker Eddie Lewis has died in hospital in South Africa aged
76
03.05.2011
Former West Ham United forward Eddie Lewis has died in Johannesburg at the
age of 76. The Manchester-born attacker scored 15 goals in 36 appearances
between 1956 and 1958, playing a key role as the Hammers ultimately returned
to the top flight ahead of the club's golden age in the 60s. Having helped
West Ham to promotion, he did the same for Leyton Orient when they reached
the top flight in 1962. A former 'Busby Babe' at Manchester United, he had
moved to east London from Preston North End in an exchange deal that saw
Frank O'Farrell move in the other direction. Lewis later played for
Folkestone Town and managed Ford Sports in the Greater London League. He
then emigrated to South Africa and spent the last four decades in the
country. Hugely respected in his adopted country, which also became home to
Johnny Byrne, Johnny Sissons and Andy Malcolm, Lewis was a well-known TV
pundit and was involved with several different clubs. His work also took him
to the 1998 FIFA World Cup with the national team, as well as two CAF
African Cup of Nations tournaments. The club would like to send their
condolences to his family and friends.
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Two in - and a win!
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd May 2011
By: Staff Writer
Freddie Sears and James Tomkins have been named in the provisional England
under-21 squad for this summer's European Championship Finals. The Hammers
pair - 21 and 22 respectively - made under-21s boss Stuart Pearce's party,
which was confirmed by the FA today. However there were no places for Jordan
Spence, set to return to east London from his loan spell at Bristol City or
Junior Stanislas. Tomkins made his debut for the young Lions two years ago
next month and has amassed nine caps, his most recent coming against Iceland
in March. Sears has made just three appearances with one goal to his name,
in a 2-1 win in Macedonia back in 2009. His three appearances at under-21
level all came in the same year. Both players have proved to be good omens
for the under-21s; Tomkins' nine appearances have resulted in just one loss,
whilst Sears is yet to taste defeat. Elsewhere there was further good news
as a West Ham team finally tasted victory. Reserve team manager Steve
Lomas' 'West Ham XI' took on Charlton at Sparrows Lane this afternoon - and
recorded a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from George (son of John) Moncur
and Danny Subuola.
The (very) full provisional 40-man England under-21 squad
'Keepers
Frankie Fielding (Blackburn Rovers), Scott Loach (Watford), Jason Steele
(Middlesbrough), Alex McCarthy (Reading).
Defenders
Joe Bennett (Middlesbrough), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Kieran Gibbs
(Arsenal), Phil Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Michael Mancienne (Wolves via
Chelsea), Ben Mee (Leicester City via Man City), Kyle Naughton (Leicester
City via Tottenham), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling
(Manchester United), James Tomkins (West Ham United), Kieran Trippier
(Barnsley via Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa via Tottenham
Hotspur).
Midfielders
Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Jack Cork (Burnley via Chelsea), Tom
Cleverley (Wigan via Man Utd), Mark Davies (Bolton Wanderers), Adam Hammill
(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland), Jonathan Howson
(Leeds United), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Henri Lansbury (Norwich City via
Arsenal), Josh McEachran (Chelsea), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Jack
Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Sinclair (Swansea
City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Forwards
Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Nathan Delfouneso (Burnley via Aston Villa), Gary
Hooper (Celtic), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley), Freddie Sears (West Ham United),
Daniel Sturridge (Bolton Wanderers via Chelsea), James Vaughan (Crystal
Palace via Everton), Danny Welbeck (Sunderland via Man Utd), Connor Wickham
(Ipswich Town).
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Jordan or bust
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd May 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have asked Bristol City to release full-back Jordan Spence from his
loan spell due to injury concerns. Spence, who celebrates his 21st brithday
later this month has been on loan at Ashton Gate since the beginning of
March, where he has made 11 appearances for the Robins. The City website
claimed tonight that United had requested the return of Spence in order to
cover yet another injury crisis at the Boleyn. Manager Keith Millen told
bcfc.co.uk: "West Ham say they have injury concerns over two defenders. They
have a 24-hour recall. "It looks likely he'll be going back to them, but
we're hoping the injuries clear up and Jordan would then be able to end the
season with us before going back for the last few games in the Premier
League. However, as things stand it looks likely Jordan will head back to
them."
Should captain Matthew Upson, who limped out of Sunday's 2-1 defeat at the
City of Manchester stadium fail to recover in time for this weekend's match
against Blackburn, James Tomkins - who has provided cover at right-back for
Lars Jacobsen of late - will be brought in to replace the England
international. Spence, whose sole first team appearance for West Ham thus
far came on the final day of last season (as an 88th-minute substitute for
Alessandro Diamanti in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City) would provide
cover for Jacobsen, with Julien Faubert seemingly out of the picture.
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Scraping the barrel
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd May 2011
By: Staff Writer
Avram Grant is set to become the third West Ham manager to finish bottom of
the top flight. Grant - whose team sit in 20th position in the Premier
League, having suffered five successive defeats - are hot favorites for the
drop, despite having three 'winnable' games yet to play. It is widely
believed that West Ham need to secure a minimum of seven points from their
final three games of the season - at home to Blackburn, away to Wigan and
home to Sunderland on the final day of the campaign - in order to stand a
chance of avoiding the drop. However with the Hammers having won just five
league games at home this season - and only three away from home in the past
TWO YEARS - supporters' hopes of survival are based very much on hope,
rather than any belief in the under-pressure manager or his under-performing
playing squad. The only two managers to finish bottom of the top flight
whilst in charge of the club are Syd King in 1931/32 and Billy Bonds, in
1991/92. John Lyall's squad finished second from bottom in 1988/89, whilst
Glenn Roeder (2002/03) and John Lyall (1977/78) both went down finishing
third from bottom.
Six pack? West Ham's five previous relegations...
Premier League 2002/03 - finished 18th (third from bottom)
Glenn Roeder's team - temporarily managed by Trevor Brooking - are relegated
on the final day of the campaign at Birmingham despite amassing 42 points -
a total that in most seasons would have seen them stay up comfortably, and
one that remains a record for a team relegated from the Premier League.
Twice since the Hammers have accrued a lower total and stayed up.
Division One 1991/92 - finished 22nd (bottom)
A game best remembered for a Frank McAvennie hat-trick was the last at the
Boleyn before the Hammers were relegated in the final year of pre-Premier
League football. Never higher than 14th at any stage of the season, Billy
Bonds' side are eventually relegated on 25th April after going down 1-0 at
Coventry.
Division One 1988/89 - finished 19th (second from bottom)
The season that did for long-term manager John Lyall - and one that came
just three years after he had led the club to their highest ever finish in
the top flight of English football. Five defeats in the final six games of
the season - including a 5-1 thumping at Anfield on the final day - see the
Irons' relegated for the second time under Lyall's leadership.
Division One 1977/78 - finished 20th (third from bottom)
Despite enduring a torrid season - in which the Hammers are 18th or below
all year - Lyall's side, who had won only four games at home all season went
into the final game of the campaign (at home to Liverpool) knowing that an
unlikely win could keep them up. A season-best crowd of 37,448 pack into the
Boleyn to see the Hammers go down 2-0.
Division One 1931-32 - finished 22nd (bottom)
West Ham - under the tutelege of Syd King - are relegated for the first time
in their history having spent nine season in the old Division One. A bright
start to the campaign saw the Hammers in the top half during September -
before nine defeats in 13 games left them at the wrong end of the table,
where the remained. The managerial reins are handed over to Charlie Paynter;
King commited suicide a year later.
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When the going gets tough...
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd May 2011
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has admitted that he missed West Ham's weekend defeat at
Manchester City as he was fed up with the team's recent disappointing
performances.
West Ham United's directors' area was completely empty at the City of
Manchester Stadium on Sunday as the Hammers went down 2-1 to the Champions'
League contenders. But Sullivan has revealed that the no-show - described by
one journalist as 'the first time time' he'd ever seen an entire directors'
box empty - was due to the team's inability to avoid defeat. "Watching our
poor away performances week after week and not having the ability to
influence things has impacted on us," he said. "My family think I'm mad
devoting so much time and money to the club. "We couldn't influence the
result (so) we donated the cost of the private plane to charity. We thought
that would do more good."
Sullivan also had a dig at the club's absent supoprters, adding: "We only
took 1,100 yesterday. Like us, the bulk of the West Ham United supporters
preferred to watch it on TV."
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Nine out of ten fans say sling your hook
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 3rd May 2011
By: Staff Writer
Just one in ten supporters want Avram Grant to remain at West Ham United
next season, according to a KUMB.com poll. Grant - who has consistently
claimed to have the backing of the supporters - will need to change his tune
after the poll revealed just nine per cent of fans want him to remain in
charge of the club next term, regardless of which division West Ham are
playing in.
The poll - which was conducted after the revelation that Martin O'Neill and
Norwich's Paul Lambert were under consideration as replacements for the
Israeli - saw Irishman O'Neill top the poll with 36 per cent of the vote,
closely followed by Lambert on 27 per cent. Meanwhile 26 per cent voted for
'none of the above' - three times more than the figure who felt that Grant
deserved a second term in charge (nine per cent).
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Parker ready to fit in for Hammers
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: Today
The Sun
SCOTT PARKER is ready to declare himself fit for West Ham's crunch clash at
home to Blackburn on Saturday. The midfielder has missed rock-bottom
Hammers' last three games with an Achilles problem but is desperate to help
seal the club's survival. Parker, 30, will almost certainly be joined in the
starting line-up against fellow strugglers Rovers by Matthew Upson, back
from the dead-leg he suffered during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.
Full-back Wayne Bridge will also be in the mix after he was refused
permission to play against City while on loan from the Eastlands club. More
of a concern is the knee injury suffered by England Under-21 defender James
Tomkins at City. But Hammers boss Avram Grant is convinced his side can pick
up the seven points he thinks they need to stay up and end a run of five
straight defeats — starting against Rovers.
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Hammers go to War for Neil
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM are ready to make an audacious move for Neil Warnock. Boss Avram
Grant is running out of time with the team bottom of the Premier League and
only three games remaining. Warnock has just taken QPR back into the
big-time by clinching the Championship title but Hammers insiders still
reckon a deal could be done to lure the controversial Yorkshireman from West
to East London. QPR's promotion is still undecided with the outcome of the
FA disciplinary hearing into illegal third-party dealings over the signing
of Alejandro Faurlin not expected until Friday. Warnock is a hate figure
among West Ham fans after he considered a personal lawsuit against the club
in the wake of the Carlos Tevez affair. But an Upton Park source said: "Even
if QPR did make it into the Premier League, Warnock's still a target. "He
has a fabulous track record of getting teams promoted and the view is that
he'd stand a better chance long-term of managing in the top flight with West
Ham than with Rangers, because of the relative sizes of the clubs. "The fans
hate Warnock but if he won a few matches and knocked the team into shape
would they still hate him or swallow it and back the team?" Norwich boss
Paul Lambert is also on the West Ham wishlist with Grant looking doomed
after just one season. An official move for Warnock would probably have to
wait until the summer should West Ham go down.
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West Ham are so bad even I can't stand watching them, admits co-owner
Sullivan
Published 09:55 03/05/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has blamed his side's "poor away
performances" for his decision not to attend Sunday's defeat away to
Manchester City. Neither Sullivan, fellow joint-chairman David Gold nor vice
chairman Karren Brady travelled to Eastlands for the 2-1 loss at the hands
of Roberto Mancini's side, choosing instead to watch their
relegation-threatened team play on television. "Watching our poor away
performances week after week, and not having the ability to influence
things, has impacted on us," Sullivan admitted. "My family think I'm mad
devoting so much time and money to the club and, as the match was on TV, I
decided to watch it on TV. "We couldn't influence the result, we donated the
cost of private plane to a charity for terminally ill children, we thought
that would do more good.
"Had it not been on TV we would have been there. None of us draw any salary
or expenses from West Ham United. We are not £20k-£60k-a-week footballers.
"We only took 1,100 supporters. Like us the bulk of the West Ham United
supporters preferred to watch it on TV. We'll be at Wigan as will 4,500
supporters."
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Dicks: Hammers must not let Parker go on the cheap
Published 10:00 03/05/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham legend Julian Dicks insists the club should not be forced into
allowing Scott Parker to leave on the cheap if they are relegated from the
Barclays Premier League. His team may have been struggling to battle
relegation all season, but Parker has enjoyed the most successful year of
his career. The midfielder's outstanding performances at the heart of the
team have earned him a regular place in the England squad and the player of
the year award from the Football Writers' Association. He was the subject of
a bid from Tottenham last summer and is expected to be offered several
escape routes out of Upton Park if the Hammers are relegated to the npower
Championship. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold admit relegation will
hit the club hard in the pocket but that should not mean selling their
most-prized asset cheaply, according to Dicks. "It's down to the club if
they want to sell him or not," said the former West Ham skipper. "He's under
contract. They can make him stay there so at the end of the day if they want
£10million for him then they should hold out for £10million for him. If it
happens it happens and if it doesn't then he stays at West Ham."
Dicks, who played over 300 times for the club, blasted some members of the
current squad yesterday for not showing the fight they need to get
themselves out of the relegation zone. He insists that manager Avram Grant
still has an outside chance of leading his men to safety, but has warned
that they will probably have to win their remaining matches against
Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland to do it. "The next three games are very
winnable, and for me they have to win them all," said Dicks, who now manages
non-league side Grays Athletic. "I think they can do it. Sunderland are
struggling, so are Blackburn, and so are Wigan, so if West Ham go out and be
more positive and work harder then they have a great chance of staying up."
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Obinna insists West Ham's survival the priority not his future
By talkSPORT
Tuesday, May 3
West Ham striker Victor Obinna has distanced himself from any talk about his
future at the club. The 24-year-old forward has been on a season-long loan
from Inter Milan and West Ham are believed to have first option on the
striker who is out of contact at the Italian club in the summer. The east
London club's precarious league position means Avram Grant would be hard
pressed to convince the Nigerian to commit his future to the Hammers before
their Premier League status is confirmed and Obinna seems to agree. "I have
said before, the most important thing is that I have really enjoyed my time
here," the forward said. "I have been given an opportunity to play and tried
to give my maximum for the fans because they have been outstanding this
season even though we have been losing some games.
"They have always been there for us. The priority is that West Ham stay in
the Premiership, after that we will see what happens."
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