Daily WHUFC News - 21st April 2012

Corden expecting special night
WHUFC.com
James Corden says the Player Awards night is the ultimate experience for
West Ham United fans
19.04.2012

Hammers fan James Corden has spoken about what a great experience the annual
West Ham United Player Awards evening is. Corden hosted the prestigious
event two years ago and he says it was an evening he will never forget. This
year's event will see the Hammer of the Year crowned plus several other
awards including Best Team Performance, Young Hammer of the Year, Goal of
the Season, Save of the Season and Top Goal Scorer. "When I hosted it, it
was such a great night.," Corden told West Ham TV. "What's great is if
you're like me and you're a massive Hammers fan, these are players you cheer
on every week so it's an honour to be in the same room as them. It's
fantastic to hear the Chairman speak too and ultimately the whole night is
just a really fantastic experience for any West Ham United fan."

The event this year takes place on Monday 30 April at the prestigious London
Hilton on Park Lane. The entire first-team squad and management will be in
attendance once more, making it the perfect event for any Hammers fan.
Corden said, "You get to meet your heroes, that's the best thing. There's no
other night quite like it, it's a must for West Ham United fans I think."

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Carr ready for final test
WHUFC.com
The Under-18s are gearing up for their final Academy game of the season on
Saturday
20.04.2012

Tony Carr is looking for West Ham United Under-18s to finish their season on
a high when they travel to MK Dons on Saturday. It will be the first time
the young Hammers have met the Dons this season, with the game being one of
the ten cross-group games that take place at either end of the season.
Academy Director Carr wants his side to sign off the season with
back-to-back wins following a 2-0 victory over Leicester City three weeks
ago. "It's one of those where at the beginning and end of the season you
play teams from other groups. Earlier in the season we played away at
Coventry and Sheffield United and in the last few games we play Leciester
City, Reading and Cardiff City. "It's our last league game so we're hoping
to end on a good note."

With a number of Carr's side having made the positive step up to the
Development Squad this season, he is likely to name a side comprising
current senior players and some of those that will be hoping to make the
step up next season. Elliot Lee and Blair Turgott were both on target
against the Foxes and the duo are likely to be inolved again, as Carr aims
to sign off what has been a positive year, which has seen three Academy
youngsters make their first-team debuts, with three points.
"It will be a young side and a mixture of some of next year's team and some
of the boys that will go up to be second years' next season. You always want
to end up on a positive note if you can. The season may be over but let's
set a high standard to finish on."

The highest Carr's side could finish in the Premier Acadmey League Group A
this season is third if they were to secure a comprehensive win, while a
defeat could mean Crystal Palace overtake them in the final standings.

*Check back on whifc.com next week for Tony Carr's review of the season

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Hasn't It Been a 'Fantastic Season'? Er, No Sam, It Hasn't
By Iain Dale About 13 hours ago
West Ham Till I Die

Now, take a deep breath. This is an extract from Sam Allardyce's London
Evening Standard column.

We will know, by the time we play at Leicester on Monday, whether we still
have a chance of automatic promotion or are in the play-offs. Whatever
happens, though, it has been a great season, considering what we were faced
with at the start of the campaign. Statistically, it's not easy to go
straight back up to the Premier League. In the last 10 years, out of 30
relegated clubs, only eight have made it back at the first time of asking.
It's one of the toughest challenges in football — to deal with the
consequences of relegation and to bounce back immediately.

Sam Allardyce, London Evening Standard

Let's just analyse that, shall we?

"It's been a great season". Er no, it has not. If we go up he can make that
case and not before. But even then, a season with more than eighty points
has yielded only a handful of games which one could say have been a real
pleasure to witness. "Considering what we were faced with at the start of
the campaign". What we were faced with was the most talented squad in the
division, with an England class goalkeeper, and a team which ought to have
walked automatic promotion, having been bolstered with several new signings.

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Sorry, Mr Platini, but I can't see your financial rules adding up
Evening Standard - Sam Allardyce
20 April 2012

Next week, while most football fans in this country are preparing to embrace
the climax of another domestic season, the Championship clubs are due to
vote on new financial fair play rules. Superficially, it looks a dry subject
and you can understand fans turning away from it to concentrate on more
crucial matters such as who will be going up or down at the end of it all.
That thought consumes me, too, at the moment but, taking a longer-term view,
the new fair play rules could precipitate a fundamental change in our
football in the years to come — and not for the better.

Basically, UEFA president Michel Platini's idea for financial fair play has
some merit because it would encourage clubs to live within their means. My
view, though, is that unless the rules are implemented very carefully, they
could stunt the ambition of investors and clubs plus ultimately seriously
damaging gates and future investment in years to come.

As an example, I'd ask you to consider Sky TV when it first appeared. Early
on, there were estimates that it was losing £1million a day and it certainly
had to be propped up by the banks. Look at it now, though, and consider,
because of its success, the financial support it has been able to give
football in this country. If owners are dissuaded, by threat of huge fines,
of speculating on strengthening playing squads with promotion or titles in
mind, entertainment value is bound to be affected and gates will drop along
with the support of television and, ultimately, sponsors. If an ambitious
club are allowed to spend only what their income generates, then how do they
cope with the huge pressure for instant success and ever-increasing
expectation levels demanded by their fans?

Had financial fair play rules already been in place throughout football,
would Chelsea have been backed by the millions of Roman Abramovich and been
in the position to take on and beat Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the
semi-final of the Champions League?

Would Manchester City have the considerable financial help of the Abu Dhabi
United Group and be ready to take on the best clubs in Europe on an equal
footing?

I am not against 'fair play' in principle but it's always dangerous to leave
rules to the number-crunchers. I'm a football man and I can see grave
implications down the road. I can see, for example, a scenario where a club
and a manager, desperate for success, would say: "Let's forget about
financing the youth academy — we need that money in the first-team budget."

Would that be good for football? Bolton had £45m of debt when I was there
but, because I had a 10-year contract, I could afford to look at the bigger
picture. If I was on a one-year rollover deal, my priorities would have been
very different.

On paper, the proposed new rules might look all well and good but if
implemented — and for me that is a big if — there has to be a reasonable
adjustment period. Bring them in too quickly and there is likely to be
chaos.

Football is an emotional industry and it attracts all types of investors and
owners. Take the example of a businessman sitting on huge wealth who wants
to invest some of that in a club he has supported all his life and for whom
he played as a youngster.

Should he be told how much of his money he can spend on fulfilling his
dreams? Let's face it, football has never been a level playing field.

In the past, when the game belonged to the fans, it was unfair that one club
who could attract 45,000 fans could spend more on players than another with
a 20,000 capacity.

Now it's different and we have to look after and protect what is a fantastic
product worldwide and one which provides spectacular entertainment for
millions of people.

The main questions everyone should be asking themselves before next week
are: Will these new rules enhance the game? Are they going to protect the
entertainment value? Are they going to encourage investors, sponsors and
protect fans?

My advice is to think very carefully about the implications because, if the
rules are adopted but then found to be flawed, it may be too late. A perfect
example of that can be found in the Bosman ruling. It was supposed to be
great for football but it turned out to be the opposite, with large amounts
of money going out of the game.

Instead of transfer fees, clubs were forced to pay huge wages to players out
of contract. As a result their highest-paid players were quick in demanding
parity. It worked for the top five per cent but for the rest, it didn't.

I would say we need to learn our lesson from that disaster. Be careful, very
careful, with what you wish for.

Odds are against us but we won't give up

We will know, by the time we play at Leicester on Monday, whether we still
have a chance of automatic promotion or are in the play-offs.

Whatever happens, though, it has been a great season, considering what we
were faced with at the start of the campaign.

Statistically, it's not easy to go straight back up to the Premier League.
In the last 10 years, out of 30 relegated clubs, only eight have made it
back at the first time of asking.

It's one of the toughest challenges in football — to deal with the
consequences of relegation and to bounce back immediately.

If the probable becomes reality, then we will deal with two extra games —
not three.

The hardest thing is to get through those two legs of the semi-final. If you
are successful, then that's the time to think about and plan for the final.
Physically and mentally, the play-offs are unique. There is no pressure in
football like them and the truth is not many players have experienced that
unique experience.

One thing I would like to do through this column is congratulate Brian
McDermott, his staff and his players, for what they have achieved at
Reading. It has been a fantastic season for them.

A truly Olympic feat

It's the Olympic football draw next week and while the tournament promises
to be unforgettable, it will take some managing.

I would never prevent one of my players from participating in the event —
it would be a truly unforgettable experience for them — but there are some
potential hazards. If, for example, a player who finishes an arduous
domestic season is picked for summer internationals and then the Olympics,
he would not be fresh at the start of the new club campaign.

He might be okay for a time but somewhere down the line, the player's tank
will be empty.

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Introducing West Ham Under-23s
Posted on: Sat 21 Apr 2012
Cambridge-United.co.uk

West Ham United are sending a team of young players, many with first team
experience, to The R Costings Abbey Stadium this Tuesday 24 April to play in
a special fixture to mark the start of Cambridge United's Centenary
Celebrations against a side made up of our home-grown players [details].
Widely known as "The Academy of Football" West Ham United has a long history
in producing top class players. Those who have graduated include Frank
Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, Michael Carrick and Jermaine
Defoe to name just a few. This fixture presents us with a tremendous
opportunity to see our youngsters play in a match against a club synonymous
with youth development, some of whom could be playing for the Irons in the
Premier League next season.

The npower Championship club are bringing with them a highly talented young
squad and you could potentially be seeing the next generation Premier League
or international stars in action. West Ham's development squad are managed
by former Barnet and Dover Athletic manager Ian Hendon and below is just a
flavour of the kind of players that he will be bringing with him to the R
Costings Abbey Stadium on Tuesday.

STEPHEN HENDERSON
Born: 2 May 1988, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Talented Republic of Ireland Under-21 international goalkeeper signed on
loan from npower Championship rivals Portsmouth in March 2012.

DAN POTTS (above)
Born: 13 April 1994, Barking, England
England Under-18 left-back who has forced his way into the Hammers starting
XI at Christmas. Dan is the son of former West Ham United defender Steve
Potts.

EOIN WEAREN
Born: 2 October 1992, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Tall and vocal centre-back who helped Republic of Ireland to reach the UEFA
European Under-19 Championship final in summer 2011.

SEBASTIAN LLETGET
Born: 3 September 1992, San Jose, California, United States
United States Under-23 international attacking midfielder blessed with
superb technique and the ability to open up defences with his range of
passing.

RAVEL MORRISON (above)
Born: 2 February 1993, Wythenshawe, England
Highly-rated attacking midfielder who joined West Ham United from Manchester
United in January 2012, making his first-team debut at Leeds United on 17
March.

MATTHIAS FANIMO
Born: 28 January 1994, London, England
Speedy left-sided winger with a low centre of gravity who has already signed
his first professional contract. Has been a regular for England at age-group
level.

BLAIR TURGOTT
Born: 22 May 1994, London, England
England Under-18 winger who has caught the eye this season by banging in
more than 15 goals at Under-18 and Development Squad levels.

BRIAN MONTENEGRO
Born: 18 June 1993, Asunción, Paraguay
Paraguay Under-20 international forward signed on loan from Uruguayan club
Deportivo Maldonado. Made his first-team debut in an FA Cup defeat at
Sheffield Wednesday in January.

ROB HALL (above)
Born: 20 October 1993, Aylesbury, England
Outstanding England Under-19 international forward who has enjoyed a
breakthrough season, making four first-team appearances and going on loan to
Oxford United and MK Dons.

These are just some of the players in line to represent West Ham on Tuesday
and, as you can see, many of them already have first team and even
international experience so be sure to attend the game and see them in
action!

You can purchase tickets in advance from the ticket office or by visiting
the CFU online shop. Fans will also have the chance to buy their tickets
from members of the Cambridge United first team squad ahead of this
afternoon's match against Fleetwood Town [details].

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Youngster Furbert handed Hammers chance
Royalgazette.com
By Stephen Wright
Published Apr 20, 2012 at 8:00 am (Updated Apr 20, 2012 at 8:08 am)

National academy striker Jahkari Furbert is to have trials at English
Championship side West Ham United. Bermuda Football Association have been
granted $4,329 from the Ministry of Sport to cover the costs of sending
Furbert to train with the Hammers. Furbert, who plays for Dandy Town,
received his award at yesterday's National Junior Youth Sponsorship
Programme ceremony at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. Several National
Academy players have had tryouts with West Ham in recent years including
Paul Douglas and Rai Simons, both past recipients of Ministry of Sport
grants, and Amar Lewis. West Ham's International Academy entered a mutually
beneficial partnership with the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) two years
ago, which gives the Hammers first pick of the national academy's best
youngsters. BFA director of player development, Devarr Boyles, said Furbert,
a 13-year-old Whitney Institute pupil, had shown plenty of promise while
training in the National Academy.

"This is the first time we've picked someone (for trials) so young," he
said. "The earlier we can get him into this sort of environment can only
bode well for him in making the step up. "We think he has a chance (to make
it) and we're giving the opportunity to train with a professional football
club."

Junior Minister of Youth, Families and Sports, Diallo Rabain, handed out
around $60,000 to 14 different sports governing bodies, at yesterday's
ceremony. Bermuda national team cricketer Joshua Gilbert, 18, received
$6,372 to attend the Norfolk Cricket Academy in the UK where he will further
develop his skills. The Somerset Cricket Club spinner said: "It's a nice
opportunity and a real blessing for me. I'm just trying to become the best
player I can be and help push Bermuda cricket forward."

Baseball player Jacinto Brown, 17, was awarded $4,082 that will enable him
to compete for the North American Prospects IMG Academy Baseball Team in
Rome, Italy. Marquise Cann, a top junior cyclist, who finished third in last
year's Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race, was handed $5,237 to take part in
this summer's Longsjo Classic, and attend a training camp in Austerlitz, US.
Promising golfer Justin Dixon-Watts, 16, received $5,980 to cover the costs
of sending him to the IMG Academy in Florida for two weeks where he will
have lessons from a local professional and take part in the HJGT Tournament
in October. Triathlete Justin Ferreira, 15, will attend the USAT Skills Camp
West in California after being awarded a grant of $6,372, while Bermuda
hockey goalkeeper Latonia Fray, 16, will head to a training camp at the
University of Maryland after receiving $2,835.

UK-based tennis player Jack Keyes, 17, was given a grant of $4,329 to attend
an intensive training camp in Paris, France; squash player D'Vario Thompson,
15, was the recipient of $3,400 to allow him to play in the CASA
Championships in Jamaica and the Canadian Open Championships.

Silver medallist at the recent Carifta Games, Kyrah Scraders received a
grant of $5,500 so she can continue her progress by competing at the Russell
E Blunt East Coast Invitational Championship, the United Age Group Coaches
Championships and the Division 1 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Iowa.

Sailor Owen Siese, who finished 14th at the Orange Bowl International
Regatta in Miami, was handed $5,100 to attend the 2012 UK National
Championships in Wales and the Youth National Championships in Dublin,
Ireland.

Warwick Academy student Khaleb Tota, 15, received a sum of $6,500 to assist
in his development in equestrian. He will be attending the Hunting Valley
Training and Development Programme for three weeks.

Golden boy Jesse Washington, who claimed seven medals including five gold,
at the recent Carifta Swimming Championships in Bahamas, was awarded $4,714
to further hone skills. The 12-year-old will be heading to compete in the
Caribbean Island Swimming Championship in Aruba.

Asante Chapman, who was nominated for the Bermuda Junior Athlete of the Year
award, received $3,960 to have trials at the Surrey County Netball Academy.

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