WHUFC.com
Why not head along to the U18s this weekend and see the likes of Jake
Larkins in action?
06.10.2011
Jake Larkins is relishing being the No1 for the all-conquering Academy side
this season. The Hammers goalkeeper has already had a taste of first-team
action, sitting on the bench behind Ruud Boffin at Blackburn Rovers last
December at the tender age of 16. This campaign has seen him established as
the first-choice keeper for the Under-18s and Larkins has played a major
role in their run of seven unbeaten, including five wins. While the likes of
England starlet Leo Chambers and scoring sensation Elliot Lee have taken the
headlines on occasion, Larkins has gone about his work with a quiet
efficiency. That was until the 3-1 defeat of Coventry City last month, when
coach Nick Haycock singled him out for a man of the match display that saw
him turn in "a commanding performance".
Speaking to West Ham TV, Larkins said: "It has gone well. I have played all
but one of the games. We won the first five matches by keeping as a team. We
haven't changed too much, everyone has played their part. We are on top
form, even in training. "When you are in a good team you have to be
organised, and keep switched on just in case you are needed. [Against
Coventry] it was good. It was a hard game, there were loads of balls in the
box, the wind was pretty strong and they were much bigger than us. One of
the strikers was a first-team player but we did play well on the day."
Larkins knows he is under pressure from David Wootton, currently out on
loan, and first-year Sam Baxter with Academy goalkeeping coach Jerome John
setting high standards. "[The competition] is good. I have been waiting for
the shirt and now it has come, I have to keep it. I have to keep my form up.
If I have a bad run, they will be waiting to take my place."
Hammers fans missing the first-team action this weekend can always go along
to see Larkins and his team-mates in action on Saturday at Little Heath. The
Academy side will be bidding for an eighth game unbeaten at home to Ipswich
Town, with kick-off at 11am.
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Henri helps England win
WHUFC.com
Henri Lansbury helped England to a comfortable win in UEFA U21 EURO action
on Thursday
06.10.2011
Henri Lansbury lined up for England as they won 3-0 in Iceland on Thursday
to make it two wins from two in UEFA European Under-21 Championship
qualifying.
The Reykjavik contest was the second qualifier in the bid to reach the 2013
finals in Israel, with Lansbury having scored two and made two in the first,
a 6-0 defeat of Azerbaijan last month. He also registered four days later in
a 4-1 friendly win against the Israelis. Arsenal winger Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain was the hero for Stuart Pearce's Young Lions this time,
scoring all three goals. The England squad will now travel to Drammen to
take on Norway on Monday night in their third qualifying match of the
campaign.
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McNaughton wanted by Wimbledon
WHUFC.com
Callum McNaughton has extended his stay at league newcomers AFC Wimbledon
for a month until 9 November
06.10.2011
Callum McNaughton has extended his stay at league newcomers AFC Wimbledon
for a month until 9 November. The central defender has played six times for
the Dons already, having also made his Hammers first-team bow this season.
McNaughton's arrival has coincided with a good run of form with Wimbledon up
to fourth in League Two and through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy
quarter-finals. Having overcome a succession of injuries to first earn a
third-year scholarship, be made reserve-team captain and finally be rewarded
with a professional contract in the summer of 2011, McNaughton has made good
progress through the ranks at the Boleyn Ground. The popular Bishop's
Stortford-based defender's most recent league outing saw him perform well
against club-mate Frank Nouble in a 3-1 defeat of Gillingham last Saturday.
Nouble is also on a short-term stay with the Gills.
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Hall stays on
WHUFC.com
The 17-year-old striker Robert Hall is to have a longer stay at Oxford
United
06.10.2011
Robert Hall has extended his contract with Oxford United until Wednesday 9
November. The new arrangement will allow the striker to be selected for
Oxford's Johnstone's Paint Trophy quarter-final after he scored in Tuesday's
2-1 win against Aldershot Town. Hall has had a major impact in his first
month at Oxford, hitting three goals in five unbeaten matches. Still only 17
until 20 October, he was singled out by manager Sam Allardyce in last week's
matchday programme as one to watch for the future. Other youngsters on loan
are Olly Lee (Dagenham & Redbridge), Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Callum
McNaughton (AFC Wimbledon), Frank Nouble (Gillingham), Cristian Montano
(Notts County) and Jordan Brown (Aldershot Town).
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Hall on the ball
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 6th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
Young striker Robert Hall is to remain with Oxford United for a further
month after his loan spell was extended. The 17-year-old forward has proved
to be a huge hit at the Kassam Stadium since moving there on an initial
one-month loan at the beginning of September, having scored three goals
already for the League Two club.
The England youth international opened his account for Oxford, currently
sixth in League Two with the only goal of the game at Dagenham & Redbridge's
Victoria Ground on September 13th. After two games without a goal he
returned with back-to-back strikes against Hereford and Aldershot, who
Oxford beat earlier in the week to secure passage into the qaurter finals of
the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Hall will now remain with the Us until
November 9th. Meanwhile fellow Academy graduate Olly Lee has agreed to stay
with Dagenham & Redbridge until the end of October. Lee, son of former
Hammer Rob has spent the whole of the current season at Victoria Road thus
far.
Loanees: who's where and until when
Cristian Montano: Notts County, October 9th
Frank Nouble: Gillingham, October 15th
Jordan Brown: Aldershot Town, October 26th
Olly Lee: Dagenham & Redbridge, October 29th
Robert Hall: Oxford Utd, November 9th
Callum McNaughton: AFC Wimbledon, November 9th
Ahmed Abdulla: Swindon Town, January 7th
Pablo Barrera: Real Zaragoza, May 2012
Jordan Spence: Bristol City, May 2012
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McNaughty but nice
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 6th October 2011
By: Staff Writer
Callum McNaughton has extended his loan with League Two club AFC Wimbledon
by a further month. The young central defender - who made his first team
debut for West Ham during the ill-fated 2-1 defeat against Aldershot* in
August during which he was sent off - will remain at the Kingsmeadow Stadium
until November 9th.
During that period McNaughton - who has appeared for fourth-placed Dons on
six occasions so far - could make a further six appearances before his loan
spell ends, with AFC due to face Morecambe (a), Crewe (h), Crawley (h),
Torquay (a), Shrewsbury (a) and Barnet before 9th November. So far, the
19-year-old's presence in the AFC team has resulted in a record of lost one,
drawn one and won four - including Tuesday night's penalty shootout success
over Stevenage that sent Wimbledon into the quarter finals of the JP Trophy
for the first time in their brief history.
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Carew - Challenge being favs
Striker says Hammers must get used to burden of expectation
Last Updated: October 6, 2011 3:27pm
SSN
John Carew admits West Ham United need to cope with the burden of
expectation in the Championship this season. The Hammers were relegated from
the Premier League last term and Sam Allardyce's side are favourites to go
straight back up to the top flight. West Ham currently sit fourth in the
table, but have already suffered home defeats at the hands of Cardiff City
and Ipswich Town. Summer signing Carew admits opponents raise their game
against the Hammers and believes the players must become accustomed to such
a situation. "In the Championship, we are almost like Manchester United in
the Premier League," said the Norwegian striker.
"Everybody wants to get points off us and will probably raise their levels
slightly. "It's always a challenge when you are favourites and probably the
best team in the league - it's something we have to cope with."
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West Ham United still keen on taking Manchester City outcast Carlos Tevez on
loan
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt, Deputy Football Correspondent11:00PM BST 06 Oct 2011 Comment
West Ham United are serious in their intent of taking Carlos Tévez on loan
even if the club privately put their chances of completing the deal at a
more than modest one per cent. Still one per cent is better than zero and
initial emails from West Ham to Manchester City, and to Tévez's adviser Kia
Joorabchian, have been followed up with phone calls in the past few days.
The bid had been dismissed by some as a stunt by the Championship club but
there is real hope that once the investigation into Tévez's alleged refusal
to play against Bayern Munich is complete a move can be properly discussed.
There is no immediate time frame for either the inquiry to be resolved –
although that should happen next week — or a deal to be struck as the window
to loan from Premier League to Championship does not close soon. Tévez has
returned to Argentina, with City's blessing, while he serves his two-week
suspension and waits to see what happens with the inquiry findings. He has
agreed to return within 24 hours notice. The saga is mired in legal issues,
of course, with City considering imposing a fine of six weeks' wages —
amounting to more than £1.2 million — and Tévez also keeping his options
open as to what his response could be.
It's highly unlikely he will be sacked for breach of contract but highly
likely that City will seek to sell him in January for a cut-price £20
million if a buyer can be found.
A return to Brazil, to rejoin Corinthians, would appeal of course, given the
interest in the summer, but what do City do with Tévez until the end of this
year given the emphatic statement that he will never play for the club again
made by manager Roberto Mancini? Never say never, but there can surely be no
way back for both parties. Should the investigation go against him City may
decide sending Tévez out on loan is not a punishment while West Ham will
want nearly all of the player's wages covered by his present employer. A
deal does seem unlikely but, for sporting reasons, it might be the best
option for Tévez. A dialogue is ongoing.
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