WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien admitted he had caused his own red card in Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Reading
10.12.2011
Joey O'Brien admitted he had been his own worst enemy in being sent-off in West Ham United's 3-0 npower Championship defeat at Reading. The Irishman had been introduced as a fourth-minute substitute for thigh-injury victim Guy Demel, only to spoil his day by being booked twice within five second-half minutes. The first yellow card came following an altercation with fellow countryman Noel Hunt before referee Neil Swarbrick reached to his pocket again after a late challenge on Jobi McAnuff.
O'Brien's red card was followed within 60 seconds by Alex Pearce's opening goal - two incidents described as the game's turning point by manager Sam Allardyce. "Of course I didn't expect my day to turn out like that. It was a very bad day for the football club and for me personally getting sent-off and watching the boys concede three goals," he told West Ham TV. "It was a bad day at the office. "To be fair, the first one was silly on my behalf. I reacted to Noel because I thought he left a little bit in the challenge and I think the ref had given the free-kick. Being booked, I suppose committing a foul so soon after the incident it was in the referee's mind and he sent me off. "I was very disappointed because we were right in the game. We didn't play particularly well but we were in the game and looking all right, then I got sent-off and they scored straight away. It rubbed salt in the wound for me personally. "At one-nil down you still feel you have a chance but we didn't really give anything after that so we're really disappointed."
O'Brien will now be suspended for Saturday's visit of Barnsley along with Jack Collison, who was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Jimmy Kebe late on. With Demel, Winston Reid and Sam Baldock also on the sidelines with injuries, O'Brien knows the remaining squad members will have to rise to the challenge against the Tykes. "It's a squad game but we're disappointed for Guy because it looks like a bad injury. Saying that, Henri Lansbury will be back and has been training and Matty Taylor could be there or thereabouts. They are top-quality players so hopefully they can come in and do a job. "The other results sort of went half-decent so we can't get too down because we're still second in the table. Next week, I'm sure we'll get a reaction out of the boys and hopefully we'll do the business at Upton Park."
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Players spread Christmas cheer
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins was among five Hammers meeting young fans at the club festive party
12.12.2011
James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Winston Reid, Freddie Sears and Henri Lansbury brought Christmas cheer to West Ham United's younger fans. The five players dropped in to meet Youth Academy members and young season ticket holders who were enjoying their annual Christmas party held at the Boleyn Ground. All the youngsters enjoyed party games, disco and a visit from Father Christmas before meeting the players who signed autographs, posed for photographs and had a chat with everyone. Defender Winston Reid who is working hard to get back from a shoulder injury and is making good progress, said: "It was great to meet all the children, they looked like they were having fun and we were only too glad to come and meet them all. "It is the second year I have done this since arriving at West Ham and it is a good thing for the club to do, giving a little something back for the young supporters."
All players got into the festive spirit by wearing claret and blue Santa hats as they took part and even met Father Christmas themselves before they left the stadium. It is not clear if they asked for the present of three points at home against Barnsley this Saturday while chatting with Santa but they were wished well by all. Lansbury - who is getting near to recovering from injury as well and was part of the squad that travelled to Reading at the weekend, said there was a real Christmas feel to the event. He added: "All the children were great. These events give us players a good opportunity to mix with our fans and it is important - we hope that they all have a Merry Christmas!"
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The thick of it
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Foolish followers of West Ham's local rivals Tottenham have been asked to refrain from sending Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy vile messages via Twitter after they confused the Scot with referee Chris Foy. Foy became a hate target for fans of Spurs after he made a number of perplexing decisions during their team's 2-1 defeat at Stoke yesterday. However a number of Tottenham fans clearly couldn't tell the difference between the letters 'F' and 'H' and subsequently bombarded Hoy, who was knighted in 2009, with vile messages via his account on the social network. Replying to the tirade of abuse that rather unexpectedly came his way following Spurs' defeat, Hoy commented: "Just for the record, 1) I don't need glasses and 2) I do not lead a double life as an English Pemier League referee. That's Chris Foy."
@chrishoy from an educated football fan, I would just like to say you spoiled a bloody good game yesterday. My bet is you never ref again!"
- a Spurs fan posting on Twitter today showing remarkable foresight
Despite Tweeting the message this morning the abusive coments continued to arrive in their droves throughout the day, leading Hoy to later post: "I'm still getting some rather amusing grief from Spurs fans! On the plus side I've learned some new four letter words today."
And when asked whether or not he would be available for interview by Sky Sports' Georgie Thompson this afternoon, he replied: "Sorry Georgie, I'm in Australia. Maybe Chris Foy would like to instead?"
For the benefit of our friends in N17
(please read slowly)
Sir Chris Hoy
Born: 1976 Edinburgh, Scotland
Age: 35
Occupation: Track cyclist
Major Achievements: World Champion 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007; Olympic Gold medallist 2004, 2008 (x3)
Chris Foy
Born: 1962 St. Helens, England
Age: 49
Occupation: Premie League Referee
Major Achievements: Upsetting Tottenham supporters
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The 2003/04 play-off semi final
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 12th December 2011
By: Tom Logan
Please join us in extending a warm KUMB.com welcome to our newest writer, Tom Logan. For Tom's first article, we look back at a memorable night at the BG...
Every football fan has an archive of memorable matches stashed away in their brain. There are many reasons we remember matches; perhaps it was a big win over local rivals or a sensational Cup final win. Or maybe it was a game that was so shockingly bad that it's engraved into your memory forever.
This match is my first in a hopefully long running series, simply because of the sheer intensity of the atmosphere that was created that night at a jam-packed Boleyn Ground.
It is written into football folklore that the atmosphere 'under the lights' in Upton Park is one of the best in football and even got a mention on the commentary of FIFA 11. This night was no exception.
It was the end of a season that had been a little disappointing. We had been expected to go up automatically and ended up finishing fourth, 12 points away from second place.
I cannot put into words just how electric that night was – 35,000 fans all on their feet trying to encourage the team the way they know best. Non-stop singing for the whole 90 minutes, every time West Ham got within the final third everyone would hold their breath with anticipation.
After losing 1-0 from a Darren Bent header in a hard-fought first leg at Portman Road the Hammers needed to win by two clear goals, which having already been beaten by them at the Boleyn Ground earlier on in the season was going to be a tough ask (but by no means impossible).
If I am honest, I don't remember much about the game apart from the two goals - one an absolute screamer from the season's Hammer of the year Matty Etherington and the other a scrappy collector's item from the superb Christian Dailly.
What I do remember vividly is that every single West Ham fan stood together. When I look back to that day it seemed every cough, cheer or groan was performed in unison. I can honestly say I have never been a part of an atmosphere like the one that night at the Boleyn and I can only hope I will experience it again.
I remember like it was yesterday, watching the short corner from the right taken by Michael Carrick roll across the floor to Matty Etherington, who left it to roll onto his favoured left foot. With an Ipswich defender quickly closing him down, he spanked the ball with so much power into the top left hand corner.
Tthe place just went completely mental; Matty wheeled away swinging his shirt over his head and I felt a feeling I have rarely felt as a West Ham fan, a feeling that we were actually going to bloody win.
But it wasn't over yet. We still had another goal to score and, more importantly, had to make sure we didn't concede. If I told you we carried on pressing for a goal and were totally on top after the goal I would be talking out of my arse because, as I said, I have no real chronological memories of the rest of that game.
My next memory after the Matty Etherington goal is a corner taken by the goal scorer from the left hand side at the Bobby Moore Stand end. I was stood on my chair as my season ticket was down the opposite end in the Dr Martens lower. The ball came in and ping-ponged around the box before falling in front of the veteran Dailly, who stroked it home. It might not have been a strike quite as sweet as Matty's, but we didn't care.
If I thought it had gone mental when Etherington scored this was just a pure eruption of joy. People hugging each other, some jumping on other people's backs. I think if I had been in reaching distance of Dailly I would have puckered up and planted one straight on his lips. Even Alan Pardew couldn't resist jumping into crowd and celebrating with the fans.
Now this was my first year as a season ticket holder and my first match had only been the season before, so I hadn't had a lot of experience at Upton Park - but when the final whistle blew I knew I had been a part of something special.
We piled out of the stadium to the tune of 'Hi Ho Silver Lining', West Ham's 'go to' song every time we win a big match. We all shared the greatest optimism for the final against Crystal Palace at the Millennium Stadium and even though, apart from the goals, I have no real memories of the events of the actual game, I will never forget this day for as long as I have claret and blue blood running through my veins.
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O'Brien repentant over red card
West Ham defender accepts first booking was 'silly'
Last Updated: December 12, 2011 5:42pm
SSN
Joey O'Brien has conceded he had only himself to blame for being sent off during West Ham's 3-0 defeat at Reading. The full-back came off the bench to replace the injured Guy Demel early on and received two bookings in the space of five second-half minutes, the first after squaring up to Noel Hunt. "Of course I didn't expect my day to turn out like that," he told West Ham's official website. "It was a very bad day for the football club and for me personally getting sent off and watching the boys concede three goals. "To be fair, the first one was silly on my behalf. I reacted to Noel because I thought he left a little bit in the challenge and I think the ref had given the free-kick. "Being booked, I suppose committing a foul so soon after the incident it was in the referee's mind and he sent me off."
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Gillingham to decide over duo
Last Updated: December 12, 2011 4:42pm
SSN
Gillingham are hopeful of tying up a permanent deal for Jo Kuffour in January and may make another loan move for Frank Nouble. Kuffour had been expected to leave parent club Bristol Roversbefore the close of the summer transfer window having expressed a wish to move closer to London, but later embarked on a three-month loan deal at Priestfield which expires at the end of December. Five goals in 11 appearances has convinced Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler to make a move for the 30-year-old and talks continue to take place between the parties involved. Hessenthaler told Gillingham's official website: "I've spoken to the chairman and Jo has expressed his desire to come to the club, and we want him to stay. We'd like to get it sorted and I think we can do that come January."
Kuffour is ineligible to face Rovers this weekend, which means West Ham forward Nouble may come in for what is the final match of his maximum three-month loan spell before he returns to Upton Park. Hessenthaler added: "We can't do anything about that because his 93 days are up. When it (the January window) opens again we might be able to do something but we'll wait and see."
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West Ham crock Demel's one unlucky Guy
Published 22:30 12/12/11 By MirrorFootball
West Ham are fearing the worst over Guy Demel's latest injury nightmare. The Ivory Coast defender was forced off early in the defeat to Reading with a thigh problem and faces another spell on the sidelines. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce had only been able to pick the 30-year-old twice since his arrival in the summer because of a hamstring complaint. The ex-Hamburg right-back had scans on Monday, and the club are worried he has torn a muscle. "We're disappointed for Guy. It looks like a bad injury," said team-mate Joey O'Brien. O'Brien came on for Demel at the Madejski Stadium only to be sent off, along with team-mate Jack Collison.
The pair are now suspended for Saturday's home clash with Barnsley, but Henri Lansbury (knee) and Matthew Taylor (calf) are closing in on returns. "Henri will be back and has been training and Matty could be there or thereabouts," O'Brien said. "They are top-quality players so hopefully they can come in and do a job."
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Japan striker Ryoichi Maeda recieves offer from Championship side West Ham
Goal.com
The two-time J-League Golden Boot recipient could triple his salary at the Championship side, but could face challenges in acquiring his working papers to play in the UK.
Dec 13, 2011 6:45:00 AM
By Dan Orlowitz
English Championship side West Ham have made an offer to acquire Jubilo Iwata and Japanese national team striker Ryoichi Maeda according to Nikkan Sports.
Maeda is set to become free agent after his current two-year contract with Jubilo expires. In addition to his current club offering an extension, he has received interest from fellow J-League side Yokohama F. Marinos as well as other teams. The 30-year-old recorded his 250th appearance this season, his 12th with the Shizuoka-based team. He failed to earn a third straight Golden Boot after scoring 20 and 17 goals in 2009 and 2010, but finished the season with a respectable 14 strikes despite mid-summer injuries. Maeda stood out as a member of this year's Samurai Blue squad, scoring three goals in Japan's championship run at the Asian Cup. He also scored against Tajikistan in World Cup qualifying this fall. "I definitely want to challenge myself overseas as I'm not getting any younger," the player said in January following his country's Asian Cup victory. "But right now that's all hypothetical."
Questions are arising, however, of whether the star would be able to earn a UK working permit. Current rules require players to appear in at least 75% of their country's 'A' matches in a two-year span; Maeda would not meet those figures despite having earned eight caps in 2011, but exceptions have been made in the past.
West Ham, currently second in the Championship, is said to have offered Maeda a two-year contract at roughly €1.5 million per year. If accurate, the veteran would earn triple the amount he is believed to be recieving from Jubilo. Maeda would be the second Japanese player in the Championship, following Leicester City defender Yuki Abe. "It's true that Maeda is on our list [of potential acquisitions]," an un-named West Ham official admitted, according to the paper. "But we can't comment as to whether or not we've made him an offer."
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