WHUFC.com
Leo Chambers and Rob Hall have both been called upon by England at age-group
level
06.02.2012
West Ham United youngsters Leo Chambers and Rob Hall have both been called
upon by England at age-group level. Chambers helped England's Under-17 side
to win the Algarve Tournament in Portugal, while Hall has been selected for
the Under-19s' forthcoming friendly meeting with Czech Republic. Defender
Chambers played a starring role in Portugal, captaining his country and
scoring a last-minute winner in England's opening 2-1 victory over the host
nation on Thursday 2 February. The young Hammer was in the right place to
head home a free-kick as the Young Lions made the perfect start to the
friendly competition. The 16-year-old was involved again as England drew 2-2
with Netherlands on Saturday, coming on as a fifth-minute substitute.
England were reduced to ten men but were only denied victory over the Dutch
by a late penalty save. Chambers was also a used substitute as John
Peacock's side completed the tournament with a 2-1 win over France on Monday
- a victory that saw England win the four-nation tournament. Looking
forward, Hall is in Noel Blake's squad for a friendly meeting with Czech
Republic at Leyton Orient's Matchroom Stadium on Tuesday 28 February. The
forward has made four substitute appearances for Sam Allardyce's West Ham
United first team in recent weeks and has long been part of England squads
at age-group level. Still only 18, Hall was part of the squad that won the
UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Liechtenstein in 2010. He has made a
total of 24 appearances for England, scoring ten goals, and netted on his
Under-19 debut against Denmark in November 2011.
England will use their meeting with the Czechs to prepare for their UEFA
European Under-19 Championship Elite round qualifying matches, which will be
played later this year. Blake's side are seeded and receive a bye through
the Qualifying round.
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Your chance to quiz Maynard
WHUFC.com
Nicky Maynard will be taking part in an exclusive Facebook interview this
week
06.02.2012
New West Ham United No8 Nicky Maynard will be answering your questions
during an exclusive interview on West Ham United's official Facebook page.
The deadline-day signing from Bristol City will be selecting his top ten
questions from those sent in by West Ham fans through the club's space on
Facebook. The 25-year-old will then pick out his favourite question from all
of those submitted, with the lucky fan who submitted it winning a shirt
signed by the striker. To take part, simply 'Like' the Hammers Facebook page
and leave your questions under the 'Quiz Maynard Story' post. The video will
appear on the page later in the week so make sure you check back to see if
your question was chosen.
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Hammers resilience impresses Cole
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole believes victory over Millwall was the perfect illustration of
West Ham United's spirit
06.02.2012
Carlton Cole believes Saturday's npower Championship victory over Millwall
was the perfect example of why West Ham United are top of the table. The
Hammers overcame the loss of Kevin Nolan to a ninth-minute red card and the
disappointment of seeing Liam Trotter equalise for the Lions midway through
the second half to pull off a dramatic win. Cole was central to West Ham's
success, scoring a vital goal on the stroke of half-time and producing an
outstanding individual performance full of strength, power and
determination. The No9's superb display was one of many from the men in
claret and blue, who fully deserved a victory that took them four points
clear at the summit. "The fact that we went down to ten men early and still
came out with a victory shows you that we are together and the spirit of the
team," Cole told West Ham TV. "We didn't panic and the Gaffer didn't make
any decisions that would cost us the game and fair play to him because
that's the sort of manager he is - he sticks to his guns and knows what
players can do what and how to use the players properly. "You've got to put
a shift in. Everyone has got to stand up and be counted when you're down to
ten men. We put the pressure on Millwall. They [the eleven men] were
expected to score, so when you put a shift in against them you are sometimes
harder to play against because everyone is grafting. You become a more
resilient team and Saturday showed that."
Cole's appetite for the game was perfectly illustrated by his 45th-minute
goal, when he leapt in front of Darren Ward to head the ball powerfully past
former West Ham trainee David Forde. "It's what I expect of myself.
Sometimes I can be criticised for not getting into those positions and I
need to do that more. On Saturday, I did it and it was an important goal and
an important time. We went in 1-0 up so that was the main point."
The England striker's goal was his ninth of the season but the first since
he netted at Birmingham City on Boxing Day. Cole is hoping the arrival of
Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison will provide him with
plenty of opportunities to add to that tally between now and the end of
April. "I'd say they are not in my position really. I'm the No9 and they are
more wingers and No10s. All I've got to do is try to help create goals and
be strong up there and be that safety pin up front to hold their defence
back. "I know I can score goals - that's not a big problem for me - but it's
getting around the goalscoring opportunities and there's not been a lot
coming my way in the last two or three weeks. I've not been in the positions
to miss and that's what I need to get back to doing. "On Saturday I was in
the position to score and I was really happy with that. More service is
better for the No9. Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction and
helping each other to score more goals. That's why the manager has brought
in players who can score and create."
With Cole and both his new and old team-mates firing on all cylinders, the
striker believes West Ham can extend their advantage at the top over the
coming weeks.
"We need to keep on ticking off the wins and getting in the right positions.
We're up there at the moment and we're not up there by accident - we're up
there because we've grafted to get there and Saturday just showed the
endeavour and the spirit of the team."
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was in buoyant mood after his 'best ever' result as a manager
06.02.2012
Sam Allardyce was a proud man after seeing his ten-man West Ham United side
run out deserved 2-1 winners against Millwall on Saturday. Despite their
numerical disadvantage, the Hammers outplayed the visitors for much of the
game to extend their lead at the top of the npower Championship table to
four points following Southampton's draw with Birmingham. Big Sam looks
likely to enjoy a slightly clearer schedule in the build up to Saturday's
visit to Peterborough following the drama of last week's loss at Ipswich and
last-minute transfer window negotiations. "To us it feels like a six pointer
after being with ten men from nine minutes in," Allardyce said. "We've got
to continue to understand there are no easy games for this division and we
played an Ipswich side that tore us to bits on occasions. If you allow
complacency to slip in you'll see what you get as we did at Ipswich. "Every
time apart from once this season when we've had a hiccup we've bounced back.
Doing it under the circumstances we were faced with on Saturday should help
us kick on from here and it was a fantastic result and a fantastic three
points."
Another tough game against Peterborough now awaits Allardyce's side, but
they will certainly go into the match in high spirits following a superb
demonstration of teamwork, effort and resilience against their local rivals.
"If anyone doubted our character we answered their questions on Saturday. It
was a terrific result on the back of losing so shockingly to Ipswich. I knew
it would be hard with ten men and it just shows everybody who had a bit of
doubt about the team that we have spirit there in abundance. "The desire to
get out of this division was shown in every department by all the players
who took part and the willingness to work hard for each other, cover for
each other and support each other. We then still had the belief to go
forward and to create chances and to win it. It sent everyone home 100 per
cent delighted. "Momentum comes from slowly building a unity among your side
so teaching it is not the right word but building it is. It's about
everybody pulling in the same direction and being nice to each other. They
weren't so nice to each other after the Ipswich game on Tuesday which was
good. It was good to see and they were digging themselves out on their own
poor individual performances. They then took that on the chin and came back
against Millwall."
The game's deciding goal was delivered through a cracking volley from an
unlikely source in central defender Winston Reid just three minutes after
Liam Trotter had cancelled out Carlton Cole's first-half opener. The Kiwi
crashed an unstoppable 25-yard volley into the net to register a rare goal
open-play goal for the Hammers.
"I've never even seem him score a goal like that in training," Big Sam
added. "Perhaps we were a bit fortunate on the earlier decision on the
keeper but he still had to put it in the net. I still think the keeper could
have caught the ball and it could have been a foul then. "It was a stunning
finish. I thought it would have been tough for us to win the game after it
had gone to 1-1 after all the effort we put in and we're down to ten men.
Reid's goal was the first time we've scored in open play for God knows how
long so it's been a long time coming. "But that's why we've bought Ricardo
Vaz Te and Nicky Maynard particularly. That's why we're looking to up our
record of goals from open play."
West Ham must do without the services of Nolan, whose dismissal for a tackle
on Jack Smith meant the Hammers had to play for over 80 minutes with one man
down. The West Ham captain will start a three-match ban as a result of the
red card, missing the games with Peterborough, Southampton and Blackpool.
"We have got the squad together to compensate and hopefully we'll get
someone now to come and fill in. We've didn't do so badly without him on
Saturday so we have to make sure we do alright without him next time!"
Nolan's early exit meant a quick change in formation and the responsibility
of leading the forward line fell almost solely to Carlton Cole. The West Ham
No9 rose to the challenge superbly, with Allardyce joining Millwall manager
Kenny Jackett in warmly praising his performance after the game. "The good
thing about the balls that were going up to Carlton was that they were good
enough to hold on to as had we just been knocking it up into the air and not
with a bit of quality then it would be difficult for him. "His control and
his desire to hold on to the ball gave us real opportunities to get forward
and push men forward. It also gives the midfield players and the widemen the
confidence to set off early, so when the ball gets delivered to Carlton
people know we can create an attacking situation where we can score a goal.
We did it very well, certainly at the back end of the second half and that's
why we got the goal. While wanting to keep the result in perspective,
Allardyce believes the nature of the victory could prove key as the season
draws to a potentially dramatic conclusion. "I hope it might be a defining
moment as there has been a lot of pressure on us because we're expected to
do it and sometimes that can get us a bit nervous and a bit anxious. A
performance like this and a victory likes this should diminish all those
fears you might have in your ability and say 'Come on let's push on and
flourish from here.' "It's not that easy as it's the business end of the
season and those at the top end and bottom end are fighting and the fans get
more and more nervous. You've got to be able to keep the right composure on
the field and I thought our composure in possession was great."
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Hammers still want stadium
Vice-chairman Brady remains optimistic of securing stadium move
Last Updated: February 6, 2012 9:38am
SSN
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady insists the club remain committed to the
idea of moving to the Olympic Stadium. The Olympic Park Legacy Committee
abandoned the original deal to sell the venue to the Hammers last October
amid concerns over delays caused by legal challenges from Tottenham and
Leyton Orient.
The stadium will now remain in public ownership after the Games and will be
rented out from 2014 to the successful bidder. Reports last week suggested
the Hammers had cooled their interest in the prospect but Brady insists
their hat is still in the ring. She told The Independent: "I wouldn't be
dragging my body to all the meetings, or reading through a 900-page document
every night, if we weren't still committed. "We do genuinely believe that we
could make the stadium a success, both in terms of our physical presence,
and encouraging football supporters to become involved in other sports.
Serious
"It's too big and too serious a conversation to say 'if I were betting'. And
I don't want to negotiate in public. This is a serious process to make sure
everything is right.
"We're not going there for one match, it's 99 years. But our commitment to
make the stadium work is still there. Bids are due in by 23 March, and we've
done that."
Brady admits she was bitterly disappointed to see West Ham's proposed
takeover of the venue fall through after playing a central role in preparing
their original bid.
"My biggest disappointment is that I spent two years of my life getting to
be preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium," she added. "It was their
competition, their rules, and we abided by that, and then not being the
preferred bidder, and having to go through another process, is like someone
giving you the keys and then changing the locks. "We should now be planning
a future there, as opposed to having to go back and review everything."
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Hammers won't appeal Nolan red
Allardyce hopes he has the squad to compensate for skipper
Last Updated: February 6, 2012 12:41pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce has confirmed West Ham United will not appeal against the red
card shown to captain Kevin Nolan against Millwall on Saturday. Nolan was
dismissed after just nine minutes following a two-footed challenge on Jack
Smith, but the Hammers overcame the setback to beat their London rivals 2-1.
Allardyce felt referee Mike Jones had made a 'poor decision' to dismiss
Nolan and that it was 'harsh' on the midfielder. However, Allardyce has
accepted he will now be without his skipper for the next three games after
admitting the Football Association would be unlikely to rescind the red
card. "It would be frivolous because they won't change their mind, there are
far too many instructions going out to referees today," said Allardyce. "We
have got the squad to hopefully compensate now, we'll get someone to fill
in. "We didn't do badly without him with 10 men so we should make sure we do
all right without him with 11."
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Nolan must serve ban
Published: Today
The Sun
KEVIN NOLAN must sit out West Ham's next three matches. The club yesterday
opted not to appeal against their skipper's red card for a two-footed lunge
at Millwall midfielder Jack Smith during Saturday's 2-1 win at Upton Park.
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West Ham to send Piquionne to Donny
Published 22:00 06/02/12 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
West Ham are ready to send out-of-favour Frederic Piquionne to lowly
Doncaster Rovers on loan for the rest of the season. Piquionne will be the
odd man out in Sam Allardyce's squad with the arrival of three new forwards
- and Rovers are desperate to land him for their survival fight. The Hammers
also have interest in Piquionne from Birmingham City and tried to send him
to Rangers before the window shut - only for Ally McCoist to turn down the
deal. Now Doncaster are trying to agree a split in Piquionne's wages to
bring him in and make up for the goals lost when Billy Sharp was sold to
Southampton.
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Hard-fought West Ham win earns Mark Noble praise
Ken Dyer
6 Feb 2012
Evening Standard
Mark Noble today hailed West Ham's 2-1 win over Millwall as a pivotal match
in the race for the Championship title. West Ham moved four points clear of
second-placed Southampton despite playing with 10 men for 81 minutes
following skipper Kevin Nolan's red card for a tackle on Jack Smith. Noble
said: "After losing our captain we knew it was going to be tough but
everyone seemed at their best and the commitment was terrific." Manager Sam
Allardyce, who said the victory was one of the best of his career, claimed
that Nolan's dismissal was harsh and Noble said: "I was pretty close to it
and it was a 50-50 challenge. Their player made a lot of it.
"When it's nine minutes in and the ball is rolling between two players, you
have to go for it." Julien Faubert appeared to foul keeper David Forde
before Winston Reid's winner. He said: "Maybe it was a foul but the manager
had told me to put pressure on him so I tried to do it."
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Blake: 'Ravel Morrison is one of the best young players in Europe'
by Alex Varney | Monday, February 6, 2012
TalkSport
England Under-19 coach Noel Blake joined Keys & Gray in the studio to name
his squad for the upcoming game against Czech Republic and, despite leaving
Ravel Morrison out of his party, said the new West Ham signing is "one of
the best young players in Europe".
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